Greetings, fellow sojourners!
Edition 4 of Portmanteau here! We thank each and every one of you for the response for Portmanteau 3, and we're excited to showcase our latest edition with a diverse collection of stories as usual.
Our feature story is an insight into the culinary, spiritual practices that followers of the Buddha partake in.
In our on-going journey to find places off the beaten path, we look at Earth's southernmost point, and what mysteries it holds. We also feature a recipe for some mouth-tingling chilli oil, and feature THE Alain Ducasse, culinary extraordinaire and entrepreneur, whose restaurant I was fortunate enough to dine in, at the Dorchestor Collection hotels in Paris.
Our Travel Record this month features some of the world's hit artists, all with birthdays this month! And this edition's Reel showcases 3 of the best animated movies in the last few years, with a surprise classic from the world of anime. And our Thinking Owl had a rather obscure thought the last time
we heard from him!
We hope you enjoy this edition of Portmanteau. And we always welcome stories or thoughts from you, our patron.
Sharing the mutual love for travel!
Ashish
A deep dive into a story that's arcane, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous!
Japan is steeped in history that sets itself apart by the fact that it keeps perfecting its traditions rather than radically moving away from it. Interestingly this approach has led to as much innovation as any other developed society with contrasting ideologies has.
Continuation and incremental changes are the defining factors of the Japanese way of life and sound very familiar to the new age mantra of sustainability.
Germany's most celebrated drinking festival is here at last!
If you’re a fan of froth, chances are you’ll have heard of the 14 day beer extravaganza in Germany known as Oktoberfest. One of the world’s oldest festivals that has been in existence since the 19th century, Oktoberfest is a volksfest: A typical German carnival that means “people’s fest”. More than 6 million people currently attend the festival every year!
Calvin may just have a point as to why we haven't met any aliens yet.
For this edition, we've gone back in time a little. Remember the early days of film where animation was a big deal? The power of bringing things to life with little more than a paper and pencils was witchcraft, and it continued growing with the advent of computer generated graphics.
This edition of The Reel showcases three of the best animated movies to have come out in recent times. 2 from Disney-Pixar, and a Studio Ghibli classic.
WALL-E is one of Pixar’s most celebrated titles ever, for good reason. The storytelling and animation present in this film defy all stereotypes, and the film becomes a grandiose spectacle.
The Earth is dead due to pollution and no greenery, and no humans seem to be calling it home anymore.
The only “inhabitant” of the planet is a robot named..you guessed it. WALL-E has a knack for collecting trinkets, has a pet cockroach and likes dancing to Broadway musicals. Then, one day while at work, he finds a small plant that’s alive and healthy. And the story takes a wild twist from here, across galaxies and spaceships.
Up is the perfect example of a movie that has everything: Romance, comedy, adventure and dollops of humor. Up tells us the story about Carl Fredriksen, a balloon salesman who has the spirit of adventure. Carl’s biggest dream was to travel to Paradise Falls, which is actually based on Angel Falls in Venezuela.
Carl befriends and marries Ellie, and the couple move into the perfect house that they build together. However, as time moves on, Ellie becomes sick, and eventually passes away, before they can embark on their trip. A stricken Carl becomes an introvert, and a grumpy old man. Until a boy scout named Kevin pulls him out of his comfort zone and leads him on the kind of adventure only Disney can conceive!
This classic Studio Ghibli hit is a tear jerker for all the right reasons. Grave Of The Fireflies is a tragic story about the survival of two siblings during the violent clashes of World War 2, or rather the last few months of the great war. The hardships these young children face, their relationship as siblings, and the big, unkind world throwing everything at them, and the tragic losses they endure on their goal to survive the war.
Every moment in Grave is one that makes the viewer introspect. With a beginning and end that might be one of animated film’s best ever, Grave Of The Fireflies is a heavy watch that will make you introspect about the atrocities of war
Have you ever wondered what the last point on Earth possibly looks like? Read more about travelling to Antarctica.
(Illustration by Edward Adrian Wilson)
Seldom do people think of vast expanses of icy wonderlands when they think of a travel destination. And yet, Antarctica is one of the most exotic, improbable places that one can currently travel to.
This seemingly barren continent holds within itself a wonder of sights and treasures. But most of all, a kind of isolation that cannot be found anywhere else. Literally.
How is it that noses can run and feet can smell?
If you’ve been averse to spicy food all these days, we have something from the Orient that might just change your mind.
Every time you’ve walked into a restaurant that serves Asian cuisine, you may have noticed a trio of condiments on every table. The standard accompaniments are usually soy sauce, vinegar and chillies. But some restaurants, usually more contemporary or classic establishments and especially old school eateries, make do with one single component on the table: Chilli oil.
This numbing, spicy, umami packed oil is a staple in every single Chinese household and restaurant.It can be used with rice, noodles, meat, eaten directly or used in cooking: Simply one of the most iconic condiments of the country. And like all foods from China, this too has a story: The chilli oil varies greatly across regions, and every household has their own recipe for it.
However, most people will agree in unison that the quintessential chilli oil hails from Sichuan, which is known for its bold, sharp and flavorful cuisine. And the component that gives Sichuan chilli oil its characteristic flavor? Sichuan peppercorn, a small fruit that’s surprisingly a member of the citrus family.
500g neutral flavored oil (sunflower or rice bran)
200g dried chilies OR 200gm sichuan chilli flakes
Spices To Toast:
2 bay leaves
3 pieces star anis
2 pieces of cinnamon
3 pieces black cardamom
1/2 Tbsp dried fennel seeds
1 Tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
5 slices of ginger
5 garlic cloves, abused and destroyed
1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 cup crushed peanuts
1/4 cup sesame seeds
For this travel record, we go with 10 tracks across mixed genres. But with a twist: All the hit artists that we chose to feature in this edition celebrate their birthdays in October!
Puzzles to get your neurons firing.
Email us a screenshot when done!
We speak to Alain Ducasse, the mastermind behind farm-to-table dining in Europe. With a whopping 21 Michelin stars to his name, it's no wonder why the world loves Alain!
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