FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH the story behind garam masala I lived and worked in North India/Punjab in late 2008 it was a whole new world - like on another planet I was a fish out of water but loving this a 2 day recovery from jet-lag in my hotel room, slowly waking to this smell, no fragrance of a cumin and curry blend these sounds outside even the birds sounded different - surreal getting up, looking out my window - clear blue sky need coffee - squinting, sun is still tilted like it is in Toronto yet it's summer here - wow, a lot of street people, ok and holy shit ... DOGS everywhere and frikkin' dirty diwali is tonight I'm invited to a ritzy wedding reception in Sector 10 in Chandigarh a better caste shall we say, a sizable staff, band/dj
and massive fireworks
ornate room
warm/cool shower
because hot is intermittent having shampooed/conditioned my hair turning on the large flatscreen in my hotel room channels upon channels of this dancing and singing crap annoying the first day or two, all there was then I just started watching it, mostly because that's all there was, it seemed provocative, hypnotic even allowing myself to be pulled into a gentle transition, butonce IN? no words
I was offered a job with all the perks in Mohali invited to come and live there full-time my own apartment, driver, cook and a decent compensation package easy/simple and I turned it down now wondering why did I do that? maybe it was because I wouldn't be able to see my little girl grow up
