POHA

Breakfast is a very different meal here, but I have to say Poha is a tasty way to start things off.  It's made from rice flakes with added basil leaves and nuts.  The first time I had Poha was in the canteen at the University and I took my little saucer of flakes to a table under a ceiling fan - mistake !  The rice flakes are so light that half of it blew away onto the laps of my friends !   Two South Indian dishes are also served for breakfast - Idly - a rice cake in the shape of a flying saucer, served with dahl and dosa, which looks like a Christmas Cracker made of rice pastry, with  a parcel of potato in the centre.  You fold the ends over to make a square shape and then eat it with dahl.  Guajarat, is known for its heavy food, a lot of oil and also sweet flavours, but in the South of India, the food is often steamed and the emphasis is on subtle spices. The life style too is different, the South of India more relaxed, festivals celebrated with prayers, whereas Gujarat, the commercial hub of India, is more dramatic, with the emphasis on dance to celebrate their major festivals.