There was a time when the world was flat. Or at least people thought the world was flat
Just fancy that!
Then soon they found the world was round
And travelled on foot , then went on wheels as carts and trains and cars.
They went by sea on boats and ships
And distances became smaller .
And now as I fly above the clouds
The distance becomes still smaller .
I wonder if a time will come when we can think ourselves in another place
And cross the distance
In a moment!
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
If I’m asked this question before noon, the answer is always YES but come afternoon, and I like to have tea.
There are coffees and coffees like instant and filtered . Then there are lattes and cappuccinos and decaff and not .
http://www.latteartguide.com/2016/01/different-types-of-coffee.
I had my first cup of coffee way back in my teens when Mummy used to have her friends over for a coffee morning. I loved seeing her stir up the instant coffee with a teaspoon of sugar and a spot of water, stirring vigorously till the dark brown turned into a light mocha creamy mixture. Then she would pour over a boiling mix of milk and water to make it into a frothy, half inch thick,foamy, home made cappuccino.
That’s the kind of coffee I like .
But there was a time when our house was open to our Dutch business associates and the house would smell of freshly ground Philips Peaberry as it percolated just the way Erwin liked it – strong till it came up to his gills. He claimed he needed it to wake up but basically it was to clear his head of the Amaretto he had quaffed the night before.
And to make life simpler for me, I too would have a cup of strong black coffee.
Tea time was an afternoon ritual in my mother’s home. Sharp at 4, (after a short siesta) she would ask the maid to bring out a well laid tea tray. The pot of tea brewed under a tea cosy. Four teacups sitting prissily in matching saucers shared space with a bowl of biscuits, crisp and crunchy to dip into the tea.
I still remember my introduction to tea on a school trip to the Tea Board as an 8 year old . After a film showing how tea was grown we were told that to make a good pot of tea you needed to use one teaspoon of tea per person and one for the pot !
Which brings me to the question what is my poison?
Well quite obviously it’s both!
I’m linking up with Sanch and Corinne for #FridayReflections.
Come the month of May and most of my compatriots are on holiday. Many of them travel overseas to escape the oppressive heat that descends on us before the monsoon rains. America is a popular destination with hundreds of Indians having one or two relatives whom they can visit . And New York is high on the itinerary. However, many people miss the #NewYork Botanical Garden. Me included. In fact if it weren’t for my dear friend C and her sister-in-law , I would have missed this hidden gem.
It was a glorious Sunday morning when we set off to the Bronx with Ms .Papaya belting out her endless rendition of Happy Birthday a sure sign that she was happy. Thanks to Google Maps, we found our way to the NYBG but had to make a loop around to find the entrance to the parking lot. We waited a fair bit as there was a long line snaking ahead of us but we did eventually get in.
Apart from the flowers, the main attraction for us was the current Chihuly exhibition which I’ll tell you about in my next post.
Starting out from the herb garden outside the magnificent Conservatory, we were struck by the wonderful Irises and poppies and wild roses that were blossoming nearby. It was idyllic really with kids strolling around, some actually rolling on the grass , hanging from boughs ( both forbidden ! ) , families enjoying a day in the sun amidst the abundance of nature.
The Peony walk was a riot of colour with blossoms that were tight buds just two weeks ago.
The New York Botanical Garden has something for everyone. You can find a variety of exotic tropical plants in its magnificent conservatory. And there even is a wonderful collection of cacti.
There is a garden with Native American plants, while another one with Wetland Plants.
There even is an Adventure Park for children with interesting activities for little ones to do.
ABOUT NYBG
The New York Botanical Garden is an iconic living museum, a major educational institution, and a renowned plant research and conservation organization. Founded in 1891 and now a National Historic Landmark, it is one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world and the largest in any city in the United States, distinguished by the beauty of its diverse landscape and extensive collections and gardens, as well as by the scope and excellence of its multidisciplinary exhibitions and programs.
LOCATION & HOURS
2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10458
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
NYBG is closed on Mondays with the exception of special dates.
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Twenty- five Seven 