2 safaris and 22 chapatis later........

It's about time I dedicated some serious attention to describing the joys of Indian food. Don't worry, I'm keeping a detailed journal with short recipes of especially surprising foods.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I've always loved Indian food, but this is taking it to a whole 'nuther level. Everyone who comes to India talks about how they can't deal with all the spice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I disagree! I never tire of rice (they even have it for breakfast sometimes - you'd love it, Dad!) and I think a spicy breakfast is a great way to wake up to the day and get that extra burst of energy.
So, one of the best surprises has been the idli. This is a steamed rice flour bun, served with (as the rice is always served, sambhar - spicy sauce with veg). You can eat them with your fingers or a spoon (if the sauce is really hot or buttery). I remember trying them in US Indian restaurants but they weren't that great. Let me tell you, fresh steamed idli with piping hot okra and orange-y spicy hot sambhar is a fantastic breakfast!
Another popular weekend breakfast is dosa, sort of like a crepe, but made of rice flour (hand ground, of course!). This is also served with veggies, anything, potato, okra, beet, and sometimes chutney. Chutneys here are not the western idea of chutney. Here it can be blended peanut, chili, green tomato, for example (basically like a burning spicy hot tahini) or coconut, cilantro, peanut, etc. Basically, dosa is not too far off from pancakes or crepes, except for the rice factor, and the fact that you don't really put sweet anything on them.
Other tidbits (yum, yum):
----mixing food with your hand and constantly touching your food and playing with it like a kid is not only necessary, but insufficient mixing or not continually touching and re-arranging mini-handfuls of rice and veg is looked down upon
----there are quite a few rules about how you should push the food into your mouth, making eating with your hands as complicated as French dining etiquette (well, almost)
----I love eating with my hands now. It's so satisfying and fun!
----roti in the south is also made with hand-grounded rice flour, not with wheat like in the north. I've had some incredible masala roti, bursting with cilantro, hot chili, cumin, etc, soooo delicious. I've also had a variation of masala roti with hardish lima beans and dill.
----They use so many fresh herbs and leaves here. It's super healthy and bursting with green flavor.
----Another fantastic protein packed dish is sprouted seed and bean curry. Deep dark brown sauce, almost meaty in flavor, with 5 different kinds of beans, sprouted for extra life force energy!
----There's nothing like home-cooking! ;)
----They eat so many beets here that even a beet lover who can eat 4 big ones a week like me is a bit beet-ed out. I had beets like 5 or 6 times this week, I think.
----you don't need to use hand cream on your right hand because the ghee in the food is a natural moisturizer
----I could go on about the food for probably like 12 pages, which is why I'm thinking of buying an old typewriter or something so I can write about food to my heart and stomach's content!

So, I'll write about the safari later. It was fantastic but I find computers boring these days.

PS. Lots of love and I promise one day I will post some pics.