Maru Gujarat (My Gujarat)

Over the months of December through to late January, I had the privilege to pack my bags and take Khao 'on the road'. Alongside some preplanned and some unfortunatly cancelled events, I was able to take a much needed break and visit Gujarat. Whilst the trip was somewhat planned around a family function that took place in Rajkot, it was the part of the trip where I took a much needed break. But before I went, I had planned to go here and visit this factory and that farm and those manufacturers. All of these planned almost felt unnecessary once I arrived.

The freshness of the cool winter mornings, the sound of the temple bells and prayer calls from the mosque, the trips to the vegetable markets and the long drives to see family, not to mention the food. And there's no other way I would have had it. Sometimes, letting go of plans and the stress or worry of 'what I should be doing' is instantly replaced with a calmness. I don't have much more to write, as I'd love to share some post cards of moments from Gujarat for you to enjoy:

< Fields of Fatana, my father's village in rural Kathiyawad, Gujarat.

Everyone turns up for lunch time >

Top Left: Chiku farm, other wise known as Sapodilla - a brown, sugary sweet fruit with small black seeds.

Top Right: A homewares, utensils store in Junaghad, selling almost every item you'd need in the kitchen!

Bottom Left: A classic wall-hung organiser.

Bottom Right: Papaya tree in Fatana, Gujarat.

Above: Classic Chai, Nashto breakfast of gathiya, jalebi, sambharo & marcha.

Above: A selection of Thali's I enjoyed, each one with a different bread, from puri to a thin chapati called par. Different shaak, daal or mung, sometimes fried fritters called bhajiya or dhokla.

< Porbandar, one of the main market squares.

Gujarati attire, often spotted in the rural areas, worn by men >

Above: Selection of moments from all over, including the many cups of chai, fresh local produce of garlic, and badam - a green almond fruit and moments captured from colourful truck art to powdered displays at the market.

< Ordering Pav Bhaji in Gujarat to take -away and the cook gives you a taste to make sure it's okay!

A Jamnagar must - Thika Or spicy Ghughra with two chutneys and spiced peanuts >

Pomegranate plant Lime Tree Mango Tree Fields of wheat