Hello Creatives Times( HCT)

Pouring sugar cane juice

Street food is common across India, especially in the north, and so are street drinks.

The two most common drinks are fresh crushed sugar cane and fresh lime soda and, of course, we’ve had both.

Our first one this trip was in a restaurant in Khan Market in New Delhi. Poor John noticed a sign that said 100 rupees for a fresh lime soda. It was blisteringly hot, so we went in and ordered two sweet–salted sodas, which were delicious. But imagine our surprise when the bill was for 333 rupees (almost A$7) instead of 200!

Turns out the posted price applies only to takeaway. The same drink inside the restaurant is 120 rupees and then there are all sorts of taxes in the big city. Sure reminded us that Khan Market is very upmarket!

Last week in Munnar we had lunch at Rapsy, a family-style restaurant, with…

A service station all dressed up for Diwali

Beginnings of an elaborate rangoli

Note: I tried to post this yesterday, but couldn’t get a stable connection. Diwali officially started Sunday.

As of yesterday, India is in the midst of celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and one of the happiest and most important holidays of the year for Hindus all over the world.

Wherever Diwali is celebrated, you will see millions of candles, lamps and party lights twinkling from rooftops and verandahs, outside doors and windows, at temples and businesses, through whole communities—even trucks and tractors get the works.

Dad buys flowers for his daughter’s hair

Accompanying the lights are floral displays, colourful decorations, rangoli (chalk designs), new clothes, copious amounts of food, fireworks and blaring music.

Spiritually Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. It is a…