The Darjeeling Limited

Sometimes...you just need some space. Late at night when its all quieted down around here I hear the pratter of the three men in this distinctly off-beat comedy slash introspective drama just outside my mind's eye. Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola (Frances' son) wrote a story about three men whom are lured to a train traveling across India one year after their father's untimely death.

The vibrancy of color and its' contrast to my neutral laden life really blows my whistle. I'm in love with India. As director, Wes Anderson decides to turn up the dial too. Every opportunity is taken to splash the screeen with pigment. Even an otherwise drab coach on a train is awash with hyper-turquoise. I wonder if the director shares my inflection of neutrality or my distaste of it as of late. The only two other travelers in the movie from outside the country, are two squaking women drapped in...khaki. I felt a subtle commentary on all of us. Black is not all there is!

Outside color, I really feel as though there are many levels at which you could digest this film. As a result, I find myself watching it over and over these days. Satisfying in so many ways. Maybe your first time should be right about now. Just before Spring really hits. Then there is still time, should you feel the urge, to book passage out of your routine before summer is through. Don't let cash be a burden. There is always a way.

This flick seems to carry with it an overwhelming desire to smoke a cigarette and sip on a tall cool beverage. Eating would not be appropriate this time around. However; if your sipping gets you feeling a little tipsy, we have a solution nonetheless. This go around we are doing Sweet Lime and Savory Snack from our shots traveling on the train. All aboard!

"Sweet Lime" Juice
Sanskirt name: Mishta Nimbuka
Hindi name: Meeta Nimbuka

Tamil name: Sathukudi

Indications (in Ayurveda)
relieves thirst
toxicity
weightloss
nausea
vomiting

Properties (in Ayurveda)
balances Vata and Pitta (two Ayurvedic Doshas, there are 3)
sweet in taste
heavy to digest
helps in detoxification
strengthening, nourishing improves taste perception

 Ingredients:

 1 sweet lime

30 ml honey (2 tbp or 1/8 c.)

purified water

Method

~ proportion to your liking, ready to drink immediately

*recipe and info for sweet lime coutesy of medindia.net

Vegetable Chips

Ingredients:

100g potatoes (7 tbsp)

50g carrot (roughly 3.5 tbsp)

50g lanki (obo or calabash squash commonly called bottle squash)

50g cucumber

2 green chilies

1 onion, chopped

1 cm piece ginger

2 tbsp oil

1 cup maida (all-purpose) flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp red chili powder (optional)

                                                                                                                             

 Method:

Peel, wash and cut all the vegetables.

 Grind in the blender.

Add salt, sugar, maida, oil and knead into a stiff dough.

Roll the dough out into thin chapathis (chips).

Cut into squares or rounds.

Fry them in oil on medium heat till light brown.

Serve with tea.

*recipe courtesy of daawat.com with tweeks by Ouisa

Satnam,

Ouisa