Sev Upma

Ingredients
1) Vermicelli - 1 cup
2) Onion - 1
3) Tomato - 1
4) Groundnuts - 50 gms
5) Green Chillies - 2
6) Red Chilli - 1
7) Chana Dal - 5 gms
8) Udit Dal - 3 gms
9) Mustard seeds - 2 gms
10) Salt - 1 spoonfull
11) Curry leaves - 4
12) Jeera seeds - 5 gms
13) Refined Oil - 2 spoons
14) Water - 2 cups

Procedure
1. Take oil in pan and heat it. Add mustard seeds, chana dal, udit dal, red chilli(make it to 2 -3 pieces), green chillies, curry leaves to it.
2. Once the colour of the chillies changes, add onion(cut into pieces), tomato(cut into 5-6 pieeces) and groundnuts and fry them. Put the flame in medium.
3) Once the groundnuts are fried, add water and salt and stir well. Close the pan with lid.
4) Boil the water for 5 mins(until bubbles start) then add vermicilli. While adding vermicilli continuously stir, so that it gets thouroughly mixed.
5) Close the pan again with lid and put the falme in low. Continue heating until the water gets drained.
6) once the water is evaporated sev upma is ready.
7) Serve hot Sev Upma.

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Mumbai to Hyderabad

I went to Hyderabad on 21st July by bus.

Journey Details:
Travels: HKB, muli axle, volvo, semi sleeper
Time: 8:45 pm vashi old toll naka
Date: 20th July 2012, Friday

Journey experience:
I reached Vashi stop at 7:45 pm. Had  dinner and reached the boarding point by 8:30 pm. The bus arrived late as expected but just half an hour late. 9:15pm the bus  arrived at Vashi. Bought Water bottle, Chips packet and boarded the bus. I booked a window seat, fourth row from the front. Bus Started in another 5 mins. My next seat  was not occupied. Felt heppy. Occupied both seats. FM started in the bus. I was under the impression that they will start movie in some time. Suddenly the bus boy  started distributing water bottle, biscuit packet and chips packet. This was a suprise. When co passengers enquired about the movie the boy replied that TV is not  working. Maybe the bottle and eatables are given as a compensation.
                                            We crossed Kalamboli and still no one occupied my next seat. I was convinced that I was lucky.  Looking out of glass window and observing the speed of the bus by passing vehicles. Reached Khalapur Toll plaza around 10:20 pm. We are Travelling on Mumbai-Pune  Express way. Inida's best expressway. Crossed many tunnels on the way. It was great experience. Reached Talegaon Toll Plaza at 11:08 pm. By 11:20 pm reached central  park Dhaba. Food at the Bhaba was ok but as usual expensive. We started around 11:52 pm from the dhaba. Again journey started, enjoying the bus speed. Crossed Pune  university. It was huge campus. Very well built. Then crossed NABARD, Meridian hotel and bus finally came to a halt at Graficon Arcade, Pune by 12:27 am. Only one  person boarded the bus and he sat beside me. This was unexpected. My happiness hadnt last long. Bus started again. It went on went on. Not Sure when I was asleep. Woke  up when the bus stopped at Naseeb dhaba for morning break by 06:07 am.Entered Andhra Pradesh area. Reached Mehdipatnam last stop in hyderabad around 9:45 am. It was a  safe journey. All is well!
                           

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Trek to Prabalgad

I had done a trek to Prabalgad on 14th July. The fort on top of Prabalgad is destroyed by the British. It is one of the twin forts along with Kalavantin.

Trek Location
Name: Prabalgad
Base Village : Thakurwadi
Distance: 53km from Mumbai and 14 km from Panvel
Route to reach base: From mumbai take eastern express way, reach panvel. take a rick(or tum tum) and reach Thakurwadi.(On the way we cross Shedung Phata, Belavli and Vardoli)
Ascent time: 5hrs(include time for photo shoots,enjoy the view of the hills and breakfast)
Descent time: 3 and half hours(include lunch)
Height of the Lohagad fort: 2320ft

Trek Experience: Started early in the morning. Reached panvel station by 7:20 am. Had Samosa and waited for other members in the group to join for the trek. By 8:30 am everyone reached panvel station. Direct bus to Thakrwadi is at 7:45 am. I missed it. Next Bus is at 10:00 am. So took a tum tum direct to Thakurwadi. Reached the village at 9:25 am. Started Ascent at 9:30 am. It was drizzling while I started.The route upto base camp is little steep. There is a proper trail upto the base.I had halted at few points to have breakfast and to enjoy the view of the hills. At Base Camp I had delicious Poha. From the base camp the route to Kalavantin and Prabalgad will vary.Taken left from the Camp.There is a wooden gate, once I crossed that there is a narrow trail. Followed the trail.There is an electric pole, where I had taken right directly towards the face of the Prabalgad rock. The trail is steep and looks like a cattle route and very little exposure of sky. I reached the huge rock face of the Prabalgad. Followed the trail. I crossed the water stream.I now saw the rock patches. Here I see Arrow Marks pointing downwards(to track the route).I reached a flat terrain, with narrow trail covered with green grass on both sides. It was a little length walk on the terrain along the narrow trail.As I followed the trail, I came across two routes, taken left. Here I was going down. I saw a water tank to the left and to the right, I saw a machi in shape of horse shoe. I moved straigt along the trail. Reached the top of the Prabalgad. The view from the top is amazing. Kalavantin is clearly visible with all the steps. Also I was ableto see Chanderi, Karnala from the top. At 4:00 pm started descent. By 5:00 pm reached the base camp. Had Bakari-Pitla, Rice-Dal. At 6:00 pm started towards the base villaged. Reached Thakurwadi by 7:30 pm. The last bus from Thakurawadi to Panvel station is at 8:00 pm. The bus came around 8:25 pm. Boarded the bus and reached panvel station around 9:15 pm. Had Bhutta and then left for Mumbai.
                             

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Tomato Dal

Ingredients
1) Toor Dal - 1 cup
2) Tomato - 3
3) Green Chillies - 2
4) Red Chilllies - 2
5) Tamarind - 10 gms
6) Garlic - 2
7) Mustard seeds - 3 gms
8) Chana Dal - 5 gms
9) Udit Dal - 3 gms
10) Jeera seeds - 3 gms
11) Curry leaves - 5
12) Turmeric Powder - 1/5th spoon
13) Salt - 1 spoon full
14) Coriander Leaves - for garnish

Procedure
1. Boil the toor dal(for one cup of dal take two cups of water). While rice  is prepared, soak the tamarind in water(tamarind should be completely in  immersed in the water).
2. While dal gets ready, cut the tomatoes, green chillies into smaller  pieces.
3. Take a pan, add 3 spoons of oil and heat it.
4. Add mustard seeds, chana dal, udit dal, jeera seeds. Put the flame in  medium and fry them until the colour of dal changes to brown red.
5. Add green chillies, red chillies, garlic, curry leaves. Put the flame in  sim and fry them until the colour of chillies changes.
6. Add tomatoes to the chillies and mix all the ingredients well. Close the  pan with the lid.
7. Wait for 2 mins and open the lid. All the tomoatoes get fried and add  the tamarind water(squeeze the tamarind to get the water absorbed by  tamarind). Add Turmeric powder and salt and mix well.
8. Now add the bolied dal and mix the dal properly with the contents in the  pan. Leave the pan for 2 mins and then turn off the flame.
9. Garnish the Dal with Coriander leaves and serve the Hot Tomato Dal.

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Curd Rice

Ingredients
1) Rice - 1 cup
2) Milk - 1 cup
3) Curd - 1/2 cup
4) green chillies - 2
5) red chillies - 2
6) Mustard seed - 3 gm
7) Jeera seeds - 5 gm
8) curry leaves - 5
9) Salt - 2 spoonfull
10) Coriander leaves - optional

Procedure
1. Boil the rice(in pressure cooker) and keep it ready. Cool the boiled  rice.
2. Add milk and curd to the cold rice. Mix them well.
3. Cut the green chillies into small pieces and add them to the aboce mix.  Add curry leaves as well.
4. Take two spoon oil in pan, heat it.
5. Add mustard seeds, jeera seeds, red chillies to the oil and fry them  until the colour of chilli changes(or until small pop up sounds are heard)
6. Add the above heated oil, seeds and chilli to the rice. Add salt and mix  well.
7. Add coriander leaves for garnish.
8. Curd Rice is ready.

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Lohagad Trek

I had done a trek to Lohagad on 7th July. There is a fort on top of the  hill which is of 2000 year old. Lohagad fort is also known as Iron Fort. It  is on west of Visapur Fort(They are twin forts).
Trek Location
Name: Lohagad
Base Village : Lohagad Base
Distance: 130kms from Mumbai(approx)
Route to reach base: From mumbai take eastern express way take the next  exit from lonavala(Karla exit). Once the exit is taken, there is Kusgaon  Toll Plaza. Then travel towards Malvali station and from there direct route  towards Lohagad base
Ascent time: 2hrs
Descent time: 1hr 30 mins
Height of the Lohagad fort: 3400ft
Trek Experience: Started from Mumbai early in the morning. Reached Vashi.  Boarded the bus arranged by the trek organizers. Reached the base. Had a  good view of waterfalls at Baje(near the base) and nice view of top of  Visapur and Lohagad Forts covered with little fog.Started ascent. There was  little drizzle during ascent. The path is very slippery due to rain.  Reached the Lohagad Fort. Very Well constructed Fort. It was raining  heavily and the fort is covered with fog. Had Lunch. Explored the fort. The  view of Vinchu Kata is amazing. Initially it was not visible at all due to  fog. Once the fog was cleared the view was awesome. There was a huge 16- sided lake on the top. There was a spot where I experienced reverse  waterfall. It was a thrilling experience. Started Descent. The path became  more and more slippery due to heavy rainfall. Got Completely wet. The view  of Waterfalls of surrounding hills during descent is wonderful. Reached  base. Then started to Mumbai and reached home safely. Overall an awesome  experience and wonderful trek duing monsoon.
                                   

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Trek to Chanderi

I had done a trek to Chanderi on 1st July. It is actually a hill and the top is big rock(pinnacle) and technical climbing skills are required to reach the top. I went upto the base of the pinnacle. 
Trek Location
Name: Chanderi
Base Village : Tamsai
Distance: 53km from Mumbai and 14 km from Panvel
Route to reach base: From Mumbai take eastern express way, reach Panvel. take a rick(or tum tum) and reach tamsai.
Ascent time: 2hr 30 mins
Descent time: 2 hrs
Height of the Chanderi: 2330ft
Trek Experience: Started from Mumbai early in the morning. Reached Juinagar. Friends picked me in Scorpio and we reached Panvel. Then with help of trek organizers reached the base village Tamsai. Road is ok, mini buses can go by the route.Had Idli has breakfast. Then set off for the trek. No rain even at start of July. Scorching heat. I got wet by sweat but not by rain. The path to the top comprises steps, passes through forest and waterfalls. Lot of water streams are seen on the way. Steps are very steep. Reached the top(base of the huge rock) by noon. There is a cave on  the top and Shiv Mandir is present inside the cave. Had lunch at the cave. Then Explored the hill. Very good panoramic view of various other hills Mhaismal, Prabalgad, Matheran, Irshal, Shri Malangad, Navra-Navri. Started descent. The path is very slippery. There was little drizzling while descending. Reached base by evening. Had Snacks and then left for Mumbai and reached home. There is another route to Chanderi via vanghni(tougher than the one i took).

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Tamarind Rice

Ingredients
1) Rice - 1 cup full
2) Tamarind - 50 gms
3) Ground nut - 50 gms
4) Chana Dal - 5gms
5) Udit dal - 5 gms
6) Turmeric powder - 1 spoon
7) Green chilli - 3(large in size)
8) Red chilli
9) oil - 4 spoon
10) Curry Leaves - 5
11) Sesame seeds powder - 1 spoon
12) Salt - 2 spoon full

Procedure
1. Boil the rice(in pressure cooker) and keep it ready. While rice is prepared, soak the tamarind in water(tamarind should be completely in immersed in the water), cut the green chilli along the length.
2. Take oil in pan and heat it. Add ground nut to it.
3. Fry the groundnuts until the colour changes and then add chana dal, udit dal, green chilli, red chilli, curry leaaves. Mix them well. Put the flame in medium.
4. Once the colour of the chillies change, add the tamarind water(squeeze the tamarind to extract the water from it). Add turmeric powder. Mix them well.
5. The mixture gets thickened andgets closer.
6. Take the boiled rice, add salt, mixture and sesame powder(crush sesame seeds to make it powder) and mix thoroughly such the mixture is distributed evenly to entire rice
7. Serve the Tamarind Rice hot.

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