Chinese noodles

I started reading the novel The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones three weeks ago. As usual, I read it slowly, savouring every scene, page, word. I have this habit if going deep into the setting, feeling the environment that the author describes.

These last few weeks, it was as if I was living in China. From Los Angeles I travelled with Maggie the protagonist to write a food article in China. Maggie's personal reason which was why she had made this trip to China, resoled as the story of food progressed. Rather than her personal story, it was the story of the Chinese cuisine that held centrestage, which was the main aim of the writer.

The foods that were described were so evocative, the preparation, the ingredients. This is the first time I had a close look at Chinese food, separate from what is available outside of China. It was a surprise to know that the Chinese noodles and soups that we find in countries like India and the US, is not the real Chinese food. The actual Chinese cuisine is far more refined, gourmet, deeper than the flash in the pan kind of Chinese food that we outsiders get to eat at Chinese restaurants.

It was a great experience reading this book, as it brought me insights into Chinese culture, food, the way food holds centrestage in their culture. Food in hina is never served individually, but to the group. Food holds its importance from sharing, not by itself.

I have always held Chinese culture fearfully until now. As if they were more militaristic and strict about everything. But they have a culture that is so different from that had been known after Tiannanmen Square and the government atrocities. The people's culture is far different from the picture that the government portrays.

A Palm Springs getaway

A day before New Year eve, we arrived in Palm Springs, traversing traffic jammed freeways for many hours more than we had expected. And it was a mistake to go through entire Los Angeles when the cars and SUVs were merciless and fuming, holiday bound and restless to reach their destination.

But once we reached Palm Springs, it was worth all the gas fumes and the short distance of fog in which we nearly lost our way. This small town of only 35,000 population is very hot in summer. The desert sands, of which it is composed, blazes and raises the temperature. We were there at the best time of the year. The air was cool and pleasant, and we felt hardly any difference from our home in Santa Barbara.
Palm Springs is a quaint town. The decorative lights gave it a festive appearance, which was elevated in mood by the art galleries and arts and crafts displays. It was clear instantly that there is a thriving art industry in Palm Springs. The visitor pamphlet informed us that Thursdays, special art shows are held in a wide area where people could come and have a look and pick good art.
There was no dearth of interesting restaurants around town. And the variety was large for such a small place. It served Thai food at many places, as it did Japanese, Italian, Mexican, and Indian food apart from the American stuff. Many of these places offered Happy Hours for beer and drinks, and unmistakably that drew in customers and kept their bar full.

Where to Spend this Vacation

There has been a major dilemma for us at present. Where to go for the year end celebrations. I've been in the US for a year and a half now. Except for one person, all others of my family are in India. So there is no family here to spend the Christmas or New Year with.

But a host of friends have gradually taken the place of my family here. Most of them are my Equal Half's colleagues, their wives, and their children. Then there are also his acquaintances, whom he had met in various places, on various occasions, and with whom close ties have formed over the years.

And one such family, with whom we spent last Christmas too, Have invited us this Christmas Eve too. Amazing how an unrelated group of people could become so close to you. We attend their birthdays, weddings, other anniversaries. When there are public functions like Solstice Parade, etc. we meet on the roadside and watch the parade go by.

We have lunches and dinners outside too. We are making a program to visit Big Bear early next year. We've been wanting to visit Los Angeles together as a group, but that has not materialised. Maybe because LA is so nearby.

So it is friends who have become the center point of vacations. When there are people and friends around, do we need a better place to go to? Aren't we all social animals?