The Chinese Taste In Riyadh

Craving for the Chinese cuisine in Riyadh? Well, Indians in Riyadh should think once again before heading towards the next Chinese Restaurant signal. While the largest city, of Saudi Arabia boasts many food outlets for experiments with your palate, Indians find it difficult to locate a good Chinese Restaurant here.

The first Chinese Restaurant that we tried in Riyadh was the Riyadh Chinese Restaurant at Sulaimaniya Thalatheen. The well furnished ambience and friendly staff gave us the impression that our search for Chinese food at Riyadh has been fulfilled. However as we’d opened the menu itself, we could find the difference between the Chinese Restaurants in India and Riyadh.

Vegetarians find it really hard to locate a suitable dish from the limited cuisines. The interesting fact is that you can find the listings of ‘Shrimp Vegetarian Chopsuey’, ‘Beef Vegetarian Chopsuey’, and ‘Chicken Vegetarian Chopsuey’ etc. under the listing of Vegetarian Dishes. We also had a taste of Saudi Champagne and beer here. Riyadh is the only place where you get a chance to taste them in the form of apple juice.

The exquisite ambience in Riyadh Chinese Restaurant is remarkable. We enjoyed the open ambience in total contrast to the closed family sections in other Riyadh restaurants. There was another Kerala family sitting at the next table and they were arguing with the waiter to get a smoker out of the restaurant. Interestingly smoking is publicly allowed in Saudi Arabia. We waited for our food eavesdropping into their arguments.

Then the food arrived! Fried wontons, Corn soup, Fried Rice, Vegetable Chopsuey, Vegetable noodles and Chicken in hot sauce. While little Shreya enjoyed experimenting the food with knife and fork, we kept on asking for extra supply of sauces all through the meal. As we came out of the restaurant, we found ourselves loaded with parcels of leftover food. Now it is our turn to modify the food or to throw it away.

Well, we are not disheartened. There are few other Chinese restaurants that our friends have suggested for us. Our search continues...

The ‘Daughters’ Of ‘Mothers’

‘Wake Up Nishi, Now, you don’t sleep again”..... “Why can’t you do exercise regularly?”.... “Please do brush and take this coffee, it’s getting cold”..... “Why are you sitting with your lunch for hours?”... “Nishi, I don’t like you wasting your leave without studying...” “Haven’t you finished talking over the phone? What have you got to tell your friends so much, whom you meet every day at class?”

I am away from home hardly for one week. However these dialogues really make me feel at home. Though I am married and with a baby girl, these moments really take me back to my teenage days. I felt that the ongoing dialogues between Nishi and her mother is an echo of my teenage days with my mother.

I was never a hard working student. Rather I would call myself as a dreamy person, who used to ponder for hours on so called insignificant things. I used to curl up in bed while my peers used to study hard, I never did exercise regularly in my life, I used to sit with plates filled with my favourite food for hours in front of TV or with a book and certain subjects during my study days still give me nightmares.

I used to get so irritated when my mother used to tail behind me telling to do this or that. However these days when I see Nishi getting irritated at some times, I long for those moments. How I miss those days where there was the warmth of caring admonishes around me. Now, I see another aspect that I missed during my teenage days. A wink of smile in Nishi’s mother’s eyes that I am sure my mother also must have had.

Yes, all mothers were daughters at a time. Even I started bossing over little Shreya to do this and to do that. At present she protests with shrieks and rolling sessions on floor. I am sure she will also be a free spirited teenager as she grows up. Then.... she will also miss me when she is away.

The good thing is that we are ‘daughters’ of ‘mothers, who were ‘daughters’ too. I feel this as a beautiful cycle in life. I know that I passed through the beautiful age that will never come back again. Yet I have a chance to relive the time with my daughter and with a smile in eyes.

P.S: I don’t know anything about the ‘Sons’ of ‘Mothers’. Please excuse me here.

Air India-‘Jai Ho’

All departures carry a baggage of tears out of the separation from the loved ones. Though it was not the first time that I was travelling away from my home, this time it was different for some reason. As we reached the Nedumbassery International Airport in Kerala, I was almost fighting back the tears. I’ll have to take Shreya from her dear grandparents, I’ll have to go away from my parents and there are worries about the excess weight in the bags, which I carry.

As I took the giggling Shreya from my parents’ hands, both the parties were almost waiting to get it over. The pain of separation is less after experiencing it rather than anticipating it. My parents all of a sudden started looking so old and tired. As I entered the Airport I just waved back to them and then immediately filled my mind with the next procedures.

As expected my baggage exceeded the permitted weight to carry. Thanks to the help of some good minded assistance, very soon I was carrying more than 10Kg that is permitted earlier. The staff at the airport was very friendly, in total contrast to the Bangalore airport staff. They really made me feel that my homeland will miss me while I am away.

The last moments at the airport were spent with Phone Calls, Shreya’s explorations and frequent Hi-Hellos. I was not happy with the allotted seat No. ’57,’ since it was expectedly at the backseats of the plane. However as I boarded and found my seat, I started to feel that this is going to be the best air travel I have ever made.

I was positioned comfortably at the front row with ample leg space. I was at the aisle that allows Shreya enough time to pace around. After the take off, an air hostess approached me and ushered us to a three seater. Now, Shreya can blissfully stretch herself in between dreams and I have a window seat to let my dreams wander or to read at peace.

Time soon passed with a fulfilling lunch and a short nap. After experiencing the scorching February heat at Kerala, the cool A/C was powerful enough to knock both of us to hours of sleep. As I woke up, the air hostess who assisted us was ready with a cup of tea for me.

Her name was Prafulla. She was very much different from the air hostesses that I had seen at Kingfisher, Thai airways, Saudi Airlines or Sharjah airlines. Very soon we started the chit chat of her asking me about the life in Saudi and offering me help in future journeys too. She soon became friend with Shreya and the latter found her hands full with chocolates.

As the announcement of landing announced, I was hoping for some more time to chat with her. I was one among the last people to get out of the plane and Prafulla handed me over her contact details. Yes, it is really good to know a person like her!

There were other air hostesses around me with smiling faces and good bye. As I came to declare my baggage, everything was ready and I just had to claim them. When I walked out of the airport with the baggage and a dancing Shreya next to me, all of sudden I realized that I am back to earth. Here is a loved one waiting for me and after that happiness, I have to call and console my other loved ones far away from me...