*/ This post is inspired by Weekly Photo Challenge Earth /*
You may like to read International Mother Earth Day – Best Places of Interest
Mother Earth
Interview with TeaCake Travels
Friends, I would like to introduce you to travel blogger Alice from Teacake Travels.
Me: For the readers, please could you introduce yourself and your blog?
Alice: Strong-minded, honest, inquisitive, straight-talking and in search of the next thrill, I’m Alice at Teacake Travels! It’s all about solo female travel in Asia and pushing your boundaries to reach your full potential through travel. It’s for the traveller who is on a path to find out more about themselves and test their limits but also for the armchair reader who wants to go deeper into life’s reflections and life lessons through all the experiences I put myself through.
Me: What was the motivation behind starting this blog?
Alice: What started out as just writing a piece for my friend’s blog about teaching English abroad quickly turned into an addiction to travel writing and promoting women’s rights. I always had it in my mind that I would write a book or make a zine but discovering blogging through all these ideas into one platform. I absolutely love it. It’s my baby, it’s real, it’s me and it’s proving to be a great resource for women to gain strength, courage and motivation to go out there on their own and conquer their adventurous dreams.
Me: How do you fund your travels?
Alice: Through many ways! I predominantly funded my travels for the first five years through Teaching English Abroad in South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. I adore teaching and get immense satisfaction by giving others the gift of English. Then the other things I love brought my money too. Playing the drums in bands, performing in Burlesque shows and now through Travel Blogging.
Me: Which are favourite travel destinations?
Alice: The challenging ones! I write about solo female travel in Asia and to date my most favourite country has been Bangladesh. The experience was fantastic because of the Bangladeshi people (possibly the nicest people in the world) and the food and the scenery and the architecture and (I could go on and on).
Me: Where is your next travel destination?
Alice: In July, I’m driving from the UK to Mongolia across 21 countries with four amazing women in 50 days to raise money for and document women’s rights. It’s all part of the Mongol Rally and it’s going to be one hell of a journey to follow. Make sure to follow along with us! After that, I think I’m gonna need some respite and TLC. I’ll be heading to Bali to catch some waves and recover.
Me: What is it like to travel solo? Any tips for the first-time solo travellers?
Alice: It’s the best! Please don’t be scared. This planet is awesome with amazing people and extraordinary places and if you want to find out who you are, what you want, what you need and what you want from life, solo travel is for you. There’s no better way to educate yourself on these matters. You’ll be challenged and treated to some life-changing experiences and your old-self will be thankful for taking the leap and deciding to travel. No one wants to leave this earth not having fulfilled their dreams. If you’re dreaming, seize the desire! If you’re travelling for the first time, check out my backpacking packing tips and build up for excitement and motivation here.
Me: The best meal you’ve eaten anywhere?
Alice: Kimchi Jiggae in South Korea. I’m nuts about Korean food. Even if I’m in Germany or made it to the North Pole, I’d go out of my way to find a Korean Restaurant.
Me: Who is (are) your inspiration in the travel world?
Alice: Women who do crazy stuff, strong stuff and stuff other women don’t do are pretty much my heroes. This includes Iris from Mind Of A Hitchhiker and Jessica from Comfort Is For Wimps.
Me: Are there any books you read as a child that inspired your travel interests?
Alice: Alice in Wonderland!
Me: What is your travel motto?
Alice: Grab fear by the balls, push your boundaries and reach your full potential through solo female travel. I use to travel for life lessons and to be the best person I can be by trying to learn from others and myself.
Me: Name three hardest things/setbacks that you experienced through your blog?
Alice: Setting up a blog is a bit of a minefield. I’m constantly learning new things and having to backtrack, making changes, chopping things up…it’s a never-ending learning process. I integrated Pinterest at a much later date than I really should have. I only learnt about SEO six months ago and I have a newsletter advertised but still haven’t sent one out! Rome wasn’t built in a day. That’s what I tell myself ><
Me: Name 3 (personal travel stories) setbacks that you experienced in your travels?
Alice: Oh man, where do I start? I accidentally became pregnant on my first serious backpacking trip and had to head to Cambodia for an abortion. Whilst I was there I witnessed a death at a funfair to add a cherry on top of it all and lately, I had to deal heavy-handedly with a Chinese guy.
Me: Have you ever faced a ‘writer’s block’? If yes, how do you overcome it?
Alice: Hell yeah. I hate it when that block comes and trust me, it can come every couple of months sometimes. I love writing and I love sharing my experiences with everyone. Sometimes the ideas and experiences come crashing across the ocean with full gusto but other times tumbleweeds are rolling across the desert in my mind. You can’t force yourself to write if the passion isn’t there. I just wait, keep on travelling and try to experience my days with full awareness for that next story to come along. It always does.
Me: Any tools you can suggest that bloggers could use in their first year?
Alice: Ooh yes! Travel Blogging is about 20% and 80% social media promotion. There’s no point writing a masterpiece if no one is going to see it. Get clued up on how to use social media and market yourself then use a couple of tools to help you manage all of it. I recommend Tailwind for Pinterest and Hootsuite for Twitter.
Me: Any comments, suggestions.
Alice: Feel free to pop me an email at aliceteacake@teacaketravels.com if you want to ask me anything and stay connected with the chaos on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!
COLOUR ME “SAFFRON”
Once in 12 years, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh , India explodes in the colour SAFFRON as it is home to the “SIMHASTHA KUMBH”.
The Gulmohar Trees ( Hindi), Flamboyant ( English) , and Delonix regia ( Scientific name) join the celebration of Faith in the Month of May and explode in the colour of the season, Saffron.
The Kshipra River In Ujjain is seen through the Flamboyant Saffron flowers of the Gulmohar Tree.
The Trident or “Trishul” is the Symbol of the Ruling Deity of Ujjain, “Mahakaal” or Lord Shiva.
The Trishul rises over the flamboyantly flowering Gulmohar Trees and the Saffron Bridge across the Kshipra River during the Maha Kumbh Festival.
The Ghats of the River Kshipra turn Saffron too as the River is worshipped in celebration of the Life-giving Powers of Water.
Millions will bathe in the River during the Month long festival ” Simhastha Mahakumbh” held once in 12 years during a time determined by the Planets and Stars. The Sun enters Aries and Jupiter the constellation of Leo symbolizing the timing of this explosion of Faith and the colour saffron.
The “Dumroo” or Drum, held by the Saffron Sadhu,is another symbol of Lord Shiva.
The reverberating and enchanting sound of the “Dumroo” symbolizes the healing Power of Sound.
Be Enchanted by the saffron colours in Ujjain as I take you through the Heart of India during a Festival of Faith.
A recent update of this site
Six die as storm hits Kumbh Mela. Lightning and thunderstorms hit the site of the ongoing Simhastha-Kumbh Mela in Ujjain. Four devotees and one sadhu died when a pandal collapsed due to strong winds. A woman pilgrim died after being struck by a bolt of lightning. Squall, coupled with rain, suddenly hit the area, uprooting several camps of sadhus.
Source: Mukul from Enchanted Forests and news sources.
Recipes for Quinoa
Continuing from my earlier post “Superfood called Quinoa“, the following are a few recipes with quinoa
Grilled Chicken & Quinoa Salad
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups water
¼ cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets
½ tsp. ground fresh black pepper
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp chilli flakes
½ tsp smoky paprika
2 tbsp. lemon juice
100 gm cherry tomatoes halved
3 spring onions, sliced finely
1 small cucumber cubed into small pieces
4 cups rocket leaves
1 bunch basil leaves torn (1/2 cup packed)
Method:
- Combine the water and quinoa in a large saucepan and bring to a boil, over high heat. Cover and continue boiling for about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse the quinoa under cold water. Spread on a tray to dry out.
- Heat a grilling pan over a medium flame and brush about a tablespoon of olive oil over it. Sprinkle the chicken with a ¼ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ teaspoon of the crushed pepper, the chilli flakes, and the smoked paprika and rub it well into the chicken. Layer the chicken on the grilling pan and cook on both sides until slightly charred and cooked well. Cool for 5 minutes and cut into thin slices or cube if preferred.
- Combine the remaining olive oil, salt, pepper with the lemon juice and the mustard in a bowl and whisk until well combined. Toss in the tomatoes, cucumber, and spring onions, toss well to coat with dressing.
- Finally, combine the dried quinoa, grilled chicken rocket and basil leaves along with the tomato and cucumber and spring onions mixture. Toss well in a large serving bowl and serve.
Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf (Pulav)
Quinoa vegetable pilaf is a protein-rich, gluten-free and delicious dish. It is quick and easy to make. This can be served as a main dish or side dish.
Recipe will serve 2-4
Ingredients:
For quinoa
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1-1/2 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of turmeric
For vegetables
- 1/2 cup peas
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/2 cup carrot cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced ginger
- 1 green chili minced
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 bay leave
- 1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
- 3/4 cup tomato chopped for garnishing
Method
- Wash quinoa gently changing the water several times.
- In a saucepan combine quinoa, water, oil, salt, and turmeric. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed. This should take about 15 minutes.
- While quinoa is cooking heat the oil in another saucepan over medium heat, Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if it cracks right away oil is ready.
- Add the cumin seeds, black mustard seeds, and bay leaves, as seeds crack add all the vegetables, carrot, corn, green peas, ginger, green pepper, and salt.
- Let the vegetable cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender but firm.
- Turn off the heat. Add quinoa to the mix of vegetable and gently fold it.
- Finish off by adding lemon juice and tomatoes.
Enjoy this nutritious, nutty and colorful dish!
Source: Manjula’s Kitchen for the vegetarian recipe above.