Barbequed fish skewers – a quick deal to spice up your Christmas meal!

  

Barbequed fish skewers!What more for a festive season? 

Well, Christmas nearing and you must be thinking where and how to celebrate this festive season. While there are various options to celebrate at restaurants or a plethora of home delivery option from the nearest food joints, why not take a chance to decorate your table with some awesome dishes? Trust me, I tried this fish barbeque and it was truly awesome as my friends loved it madly. I used air fryer and the minimum possible oil. Let me share with my food lover friends’ who are planning to spice up their Christmas meal.

For: 3-4 people

Ingredients:

1.       Fish fillet ( 3-4 packets),

2.       1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar,

3.       1 teaspoon of ginger garlic paste,

4.       1 teaspoon red chili paste,

5.       ½ teaspoon of salt,

6.       3 tomatoes chopped roundish

7.       2 onions chopped roundish

8.       3 bell peppers chopped roundish

9.       Lemon juice for topping

Equipment used:

Air fryer, brush for putting oil.

Procedure:

1.       Marinate the fish fillets with vinegar, salt, red chili paste, and ginger garlic paste. Keep in this condition for 30 minutes.

2.        Now place them in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes on both sides. Remove and set aside.

3.       Place the chopped vegetable- tomato, bell- pepper and onions inside the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes.

4.       Take bamboo skewers and skew the fish and vegetable in a series. You can make your own series.

You can top the beautiful, luscious skewers with mustard paste and some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Well, your Christmas palette cannot be more colorful without this barbequed skewed fish.

A day trip to Roman bath, the ancient city, travelling back 2000 years

              

Roman bath - a prehistoric site 

The Roman baths are a historical site, well preserved for public viewing and the construction dates back to the 18^th century AD.  While you dig into history, the archaeological evidence testifies that fact that the site must have been a center of worship that was practiced by the Celts. The springs are just an artifact of dedication to Goddess Sulis, who was identified by Romans as Minerva.

Means of traveling to the Bath city from the center of London: The city of Bath is situated 100 miles west of London and the same is 16 km East of Bristol. You must explore the enticing city on foot. You get frequent trains from London city to the Bath and the time taken to travel depends from 1 hr 15minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes.  Traveling by bus will prove to be a cheaper one and that will take 3-4 hours to reach the city. The coaches do run an interval of 90 minutes. Traveling by taxi, private cars area lays permissible. You may explore the town in bicycle or on foot.

https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/getting-here

 (for your reference you may see the map that clarifies the various routes.)

You have to pass various areas before reaching the historic bath.

       

The entrance of the Roman bath 

Entrance:  The entrance is a well decorated are with huge sized paintings all over.  You can buy your tickets here, afford audio-guides and hire a courtesy child carrier for your toddler.

             

Terrace depicts statues of political celebs 

The terrace:  You will be elated to visit the terrace which is lined with statues of British governors and Roman emperors. Well, this is a great scope to have worthwhile memories and get pictured around.  The statues were constructed in 1894. The site is actually a huge area and found under the modern ground level.

  

  

A roman slave of the then era ( enacting although)

    

Meeting the Romans: There is a great attraction here in the Roman bath. You actually get to see people who once lived here. They are no other than people who study the Roman history well and enacts like the ancient people living 2000 years back. Don’t be surprised when these people dressed in ancient Roman robes introduce as they come from time machine. They say they were slaves or warriors and answer all your questions in the ancient world. Well, the figures are quite near to the ones you observe in pictures. Don’t get scared. They are not ghosts.

  

A coffin of the then era 

Temple pediments:  While you see the front of the temple, the statue of Goddess Sulis Minerva was housed, and the area recently portrays the roman time looks which are quite evident once you go through the animation show.  

                

Visuals of the changing room 

You will be going through the era when men and women used to bathe naked in the same pool and avail some massage and other body relaxing services. Well, this is a lesson to learn from that person from that era used to be open-minded and progressive. 

Hot water originating from the bath 

Skeleton of the then era 

Gorgon's head - a figurine 

You may see the head curved over the wall which is called the Gorgon’s head, that stands as the symbol of power for Goddess Sulis Minerva.

                

Tourists observe the courtyard from suspended metallic bridge

Temple courtyard: You may take a walk around the temple courtyard along the suspended metallic bridge. You can observe the stones which still have a bit of grass and fern in it. They were believed to belong to the Roman era and the time where sacrifices were made towards God. Truly, I felt like I was observing a sprawling civilization that came to an end with no notice from the destiny makers. Still, I am fortunate enough to observe the place which was conserved with great care.

 

                               

Souvenirs for yourself:  While exiting from the historic place, you may observe some stalls displaying beautiful souvenirs that include artifacts, show pieces, books, pens, and other stationeries which bear the logo or any symbol of the Roman bath. Carry home some great memories at the mere cost of some pounds.

Visiting the 3500 years old Archaeological structure, the Stone Henge :

                   

Stone Henge observed from a distance 

One of the most popular sites that existed around 5,000 years before and rated as one of the most popular UNESCO heritage sites is Stone Henge. It’s an enormous structure when a single stone rests over two other, thereby justifying the power of balancing act which is empowered by the divine power. The archaeologists say that it was first constructed 5000 years back and thereby it underwent another phase of construction at 2500 BC. Sources say that the structures were developed during the Mesolithic era and consist of several barrows that date to the 3500 BC.

You are not allowed proximity to this huge structure and expected to view it just from some yards away. The complex is open to tourists until 5 pm and it’s better to buy tickets online so as to avoid the length of the queue.  There is a various arrangement to be picked from the center of London, else you can make it on the way back from the Roman bath.

Well, I was happy as I have toured some pre-historic sites and to my understanding, London and surrounding have been the bull’s eye of settlement since ancient civilization that dates back from the Roman Empire.  As the saying goes, ‘Rome was not built in a day’, similarly, London and surroundings are evidence of the fact that civilization was a long built road in history.

Touring Oxford, the education hub of United Kingdom

    

Oxford, the epitome of a learning center.

We set for Oxford, the education hub of United Kingdom the next day.  Oxford is accessible by train or by bus from the center of London. In fact, there are various day trips organized by professional tour agents. They pick from central London and after the completion of the trip drop at the same place. The trip might cost you $52 per person excluding lunch. Touring the city bustling with International students was really fun. Moreover, summer is the best time to visit places of interest in Europe.

                 

Oxford has more cycles than any other vehicles

While entering Oxford, my eyes caught series of the cycle by the roadside which the students use to move around. In fact, there is no single university, but a group of colleges under the same University. We opted for a walking tour and passed around the famous Trinity College, Keble College, Balliol College, Wadham College and many more.

                      

Trinity college ( collected) 

   

Read the notice near the entrance 

The Trinity College: The holy college of Trinity founded by Sir Thomas Pope in 1555 is the target for many International as well as students based in the UK. The college was an all-male one till 1979 and then became a co-educational one. Various movies were filmed over here including the Brideshead Revisited, Last Enchantments, Lewis and Endeavour.  It’s a medium-sized college over a spacious site in the city and enjoys harmonious relation with the student and teacher.  The college is located in the main entrance of Broad Street and at a stone throw distance from Bodleian Library.

                      

Keble College 

Keble College: This College was established in 1870, as a monument to John Keble. The original teaching of the college was theological but the college reflects a wide range of subjects presently that reflects the diversity of degrees. After the Second World War, the trends of the college were towards science subjects. The college has four squads- Pusey, Haywards, Liddon, and Newman. The brick complex was designed by Butterfield.  The college has approximately 425 undergraduate and 246 graduate students. The college offers a supportive environment that enables not only academic excellence but also supports music, sports, and drama.

                            

Balliol College:  This College was founded in 1263, and it’s one of the constituent colleges of Oxford University of England. The college alumni have three former prime ministers. Noble laureates, numerous philosophical and literary figures once highlighted the benches of the famous college. In 1979, the college accepted the admission of women in its premises. We saw the front quadrangle and garden quadrangle. We were taken through the dining hall, the long stretch if tables and chairs where the genius was once seated to have meal and chit chat with fellow students.

Spotted the Mathematics department

We passed through the famous museum road and various departments that were scattered all over the city. Students who are regular visitors are quite versant with the buildings. We saw both professors and students used cycles for communication. 

                 

Bus to Oxford city tour 

There are regular tours for tourists over buses that read ‘Oxford tour’. In fact, the city was vivacious with students, tourists, and teachers. We were lucky to see some students dressed in graduation gowns.

                  

Skeleton of Dinosaur

The museum of natural history has much to explore 

Oxford Museum of Natural history:  We entered the Oxford Museum of Natural history where we were taken through an invaluable specimen of 4.5 million years of the history of the earth. I was just amazed to see the skeleton of dinosaur towering over my head, the label read ‘Iguandon’ and ‘T- Rex’. These must have been enormous creatures that dominated the world in pre-historic times.  I posed with my grinning face over the closely similar ‘T–rex’ supposing it could have been my sister once upon a time. The first dinosaur that was described by scientists were Oxfordshire’s Megalosaurus. We experienced the evolutionary history of fish, birds, reptiles, mammals and even more.  We were taken aback by the display of whale striking from the walls. We went to see the British bird display on the first floor. 

Dinosaur head to imagination 

We got an opportunity to see how the minerals were formed beneath the earth surface, stratified in the quarries.  The paleontology section had wonderful collections of fossils around the world. The area is a rich source of marine fossils starting from the late Jurassic to the middle ages. There was the presence of 20 touchable specimens that included animal skulls, fossils, and snakeskin.

It was an exciting tour to experience the remains of various prehistoric species.

          

Bodleian library, the greatest collection

The Bodleian Library: Libraries of Oxford are amongst the most celebrated ones in the world. Some of them are known to be from during the middle ages. The Bodleian Library group were attached to faculties, and it’s been a legal deposit over 400 years. It has a deposit of over 12 million items. Situated in Broad Street, it has a collection of books, newspapers, journals, magazines, maps, prints, drawings and manuscripts. There is a special occasion to be a reader of the library. The venue is open for various exhibitions and other events.  Only the people who are affiliated to a college, department of Oxford University receive membership for Bodleian Library.  Reader’s cards are not available to anybody.

 

Radcliffe camera 

Radcliffe camera: The Radcliffe Camera is a dome-shaped building of Oxford University, which was designed by James Gibbs and built in neoclassical style during 1737- 49. The word camera comes from the Latin word denoting ‘room’. It’s house to the Radcliffe library. The building was named after Radcliffe, who’s the most successful physician of England. The easiest way of accessing Radcliffe Square is from High street, besides the St. Mary Virgin church. Spending a few pounds, it’s possible to climb the tower to a platform above Radcliffe square.

               

Bridge of sighs, Oxford 

Bridge of sighs: the bridge is a link between the old and new quadrangles of the Hartford College. The architect of the structure was Sir Thomas Jackson.  It’s supposed to have similarity with the Bridge of sighs of Venice.

                        

St Mary Virgin church 

 Church of St Mary virgin:  This is situated on the northern side of the high street.  The best part of this church is that it allows a north view straight to the Radcliffe.

                  

Something interesting

The ghost tour of Oxford: As I passed the city, a hoarding attracted me which read’ guided ghost tour’. Well, for some people who are adventurous enough, this can be a golden opportunity. Well, the tour costs 12£ per person and it starts at 6:30 in the evening. A guide wearing a mask will take you through the nooks and corners of the city which are believed to be haunted. The tours generally start from the gate of Trinity College in Broad Street. Well, you will be taken through the dark chapters of history that reins in the walls of the colleges. These are the stories of agony, horror, torment as well as terror. 

 

Iconic buildings standing tall for years 

If you are lucky you might be a shadowy figure while whizzing past (although it’s a matter of belief). Well, I feel this is just a marketing gimmick and a policy to attract tourists. But, all you see if what you believe. So, if you have an open mind and heart, you will definitely love to explore the opportunity of meeting some English ghosts.

       

Some souvenirs as memento

The souvenir shop:  You will come across numerous souvenir shops across Oxford. You may shop various displays that include fridge magnets and oxford accessories.  You may buy glasses and mugs with printed oxford icons, as well as buy hoodies, keyrings, pens, spinner bell, mugs, and T-shirts.

The quick triple layer snack- power packed yummy deal!

  

The three-layer power-packed meal  

Being a mom is no joke, truly! Sometimes it feels hectic with loads of responsibility and dearth of energy to fulfill it. It was a tough day for me traveling almost 90 km. and back at home to cook something yummy for my kids. I had an innovative idea and implemented that with ease. The snack was just a triple layered one; carbohydrate, vitamins, and protein-packed meal. It’s wholesome and tasty. Well, now my kids demand it almost every day. Well, with some boiled potatoes and some cooked veggies, anybody can make this yummy meal.

Preparation: For 3-4 people

Ingredients:

(For the first layer)

3-4 medium sized boiled potatoes, de-skinned and mashed.

(For the second layer)

A ½ floret of broccoli (medium sized),

2 medium-sized onions chopped,

1 medium sized tomato chopped,

1 medium-sized bell pepper chopped,

½ cup of sweet corn,

(For the third layer)

3-4 eggs

Salt,

Garlic paste,

Soya sauce (3 teaspoons),

Three slices of cheddar cheese,

Oil for cooking,

1 teaspoon of mixed herbs.

Equipment required:

Microwave

Procedure:

1.       Put all the chopped vegetable- onion, bell pepper, tomatoes to a container and cook them with the slightest oil. Add garlic paste and the toss all the vegetable nicely. Add soya sauce to the mixture and leave. Keep the cooked vegetable aside.

2.        Take the eggs in a bowl and prepare a batter. Add salt and herbs to it.

         For the first layer:

1.       Take a bowl and layer with the mashed potatoes for the bottom layer. Add one slice of cheddar cheese and then microwave for 2-3 minutes till the cheese melts.

For the second layer:

2.       Place the second layer with a ladle of cooked veggies. Add another slice of cheddar cheese and then microwave for 2-3 minutes till the cheese melts.

For the third layer:

3.       Take the battered egg and put some herbs to it. Place over the layer of veggies and then microwave for 5-6 minutes.

The egg layer will settle and then it’s ready to be served.  The meal should be scooped and put in a plate to enjoy. The three layers become distinct. Trust me, the taste is simply heavenly. Simple ingredients put together to form a delicious wholesome meal.

Jewels of London that allure the tourists ( part 5)

                   

Hop on - hop off buses are a  great way touring London 

London is a place of varied culture and preserved heritage. Starting with the Romans of the historic age and ending with the modern immigrant, London has been the best place to settle. The city embraces people from various diversities and made a place for each community. The beauty of London lies in the eyes of the beholder; yes, but she has some iconic landmarks that call tourist from beyond boundaries.  I was almost completing the tour of the city, and the last day I accomplished a walking tour and saw some famous landmarks without which my tour would have been an absolute zero.

                  

Piccadilly Circus when bustling with tourists 

Piccadilly Circus: We strolled across Piccadilly Circus to have some views of the place and I felt like this place is so known to me, courtesy the media. Eventually, the word circus refers to animals, acrobats, and tents but there was nothing that sort. The word circus is being derived from the Latin to mean circle. This is around the junction with a famous statue at the center and surrounded by videos and neon signs.  The British lexicon Piccadilly Circus is used to refer to a place that means exceptionally busy. 

                      

The iconic angel stands amidst the busy crossing 

The word Piccadilly has been into existence since 1600 as ‘piccadills’ or a type of fancy neck collar used to be available.  There’s mention of the place in various novels including many of Charles Dickens.  The place has six illuminated screens which are switched off at regular intervals.

                                        

A screen that is the trademark of Piccadilly square 

 The famous screens are of Coca-Cola, TDK, Mac Donald, Hyundai, Samsung, and LG.  The place is accessible from other attractions like Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, National portrait gallery, National Gallery, and St. Martins in the fields.

                  

Strolling along one of the busiest streets of United Kingdom

Oxford Street:  Next, we started strolling along Oxford-street. Oxford Street is one of the busiest places of London which is home to almost 300 shopping centers. I was basically wooed to see the brands flashing, hoardings and yes, I was lucky to avail the special summer discounts for some brands. The famous brands that jostle space are – Selfridges, John Lewis, BHS, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and many more. We were told that Oxford Street gets specially decked up for Christmas. This is the major road of the city of Westminster situated in the west end of London. 

                     

Where brands jostle space 

The road runs from Tottenham court road to Marble Arch. Almost half a million visitors come here every day to satiate their shopping spree. 
                                             
                                        

Great landmarks that denote the city's opulence 

There is no dearth of restaurants and cinema complex in Oxford Street. It’s a thrill to walk among the busiest streets of the UK.

           

Trafalgar Square visited by tourists

Trafalgar Square: We whizz passed the Trafalgar square while on the Big Bus tour. Then took some time to explore the iconic place of the Queen’s city. This is a public square situated in central London, which was formerly known as Charing Cross.  The iconic structure was built to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar where the British naval won victory against France and Spain in the Napoleonic War. The famous place is surrounded by galleries, museums, historic buildings, and cultural spaces. This place is famous as any political party holds their rallies and demonstrations. The Mayor supports this democratic tradition. The main attractions here are Nelson’s column, fountains, statues, and the fourth plinth. The statues in the display are General Sir Charles James Napier, General Sir Henry Havelock, and King George VI. It was fun to loiter across Trafalgar square. We had a great photography session. Nice to capture great moments at great places.

                                   

St. Pauls Cathedral, media's favorite 

St Paul’s Cathedral: We came across St. Pauls Cathedral, the awesome dome-shaped religious center which marks an iconic structure across the skyline of London. There is a collection of awe-inspiring history once you step inside the cathedral. This was mostly viewed when royal marriage and other State events were telecasted. Oh yes, how can I forget the fairy tale marriage of Charles and Diana?  The entry fees to the cathedral are £18 per person.
                                 

Inside St. Paul's Cathedral ( collected)

 It is accessible by bus from various corners of the city. The attraction is covered in the city tour plan of Big Bus, Original tour and other hops on - hop off city tours.  St Pauls is an Anglican church and the seat of the bishop of London. They offer free guided tours on arrival. The audio guide is available in eight different languages.

In one word, London can woe any visitor with her charm and elegance. The more you see the more you feel short of words describing her opulence. A quiet stroll near the tower bridge, a panoramic view of the city from the Shards or might be a cruise along the Thames River is not enough to realize the magnificence of the Queen’s city. She has a rich history, a great future and presently the bull’s eye of travelers and International students. Yes, London has a wide array of options for any cosmopolitan crowd and you will simply love the varied culture she offers.

The next day, we decided to visit Oxford, the education hub of the United Kingdom. 

Jewels of London that allure the tourists (Part 4)

                         

360 view of the Queen's city from Shard 

The aim to visit London was to look at the Queen. Yes, I was excited to see the official residence of the Queen, Buckingham Palace. Looks like the gate, the balcony is so known to me although I saw that for the first time. We were so excited at the view of the historical palace. There is a tour conducted by travel companies that take you into the Staterooms as well as observe the change of guards. Change of guards is a colorful ceremony and you have to be present 45 minutes before the march takes place. The march starts exactly from 11 o’ clock in the morning. In fact, the time can change depending on weather, but it is generally informed to the visitors. The ceremony is beguiling to watch.

Buckingham Palace tour and change of guards:   Observing the change of guards is an enthralling affair. But, there is a long queue, entry ticket for the palace. It’s better if you can buy the tickets online. The State house of the palace is open to the public for two months, starting from 27^th July till 30^th September. 

                

Buckingham Palace gate 

After observing the change of guards, the visitors are taken inside the palace. You will definitely get goosebumps. There’s a lot to see and feel. Those moments when the British channel broadcasted special moments like Lady Diana’s interview, Queen’s interview and of course the family get together, are all here.

                    

Throne room @ Buckingham Palace ( collected)

 In fact, cameras were not allowed in general. All photographs in the blog are taken from special sources. The visitors are generally enchanted to see the throne room, ballroom and there are other State rooms of the Palace.

                             

Royal corridors ( collected)

 There are 19 staterooms out of which one is working, where the Queen meets her guests. There are priceless decorations inside the staterooms that include paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Canaletto.

       

Historic chariot in vogue from King George VI

It’s enchanting to view the royal coach that is displayed in the royal mews. It’s fascinating to view the State Gold coach which was used from the time of King George VI. The rooms are just a combination of aristocracy and style. The coach is now used during official ceremonies like engagement, coronation, baptism, and weddings. It's a great chance to observe from a close distance. 

   

The Royal garden @Buckinghamm palace ( collected)

There is an arrangement where the visitors are taken to Doubletree Hilton or the Grosvenor house for afternoon tea. This arrangement is included in the ticket. Tea and snacks are served. You will be fascinated with the taste of scones, pastries, and sandwiches along with tea. It’s a great feeling to be royal among the royals in the royal garden.

                            

The breath-taking view of the city

360-degree view of London from Shard, the highest point of Western Europe: Afternoon I was off  for Shard, is the highest point of Western Europe. We bought tickets at the gate for the family to visit the observatory tower. In fact, Shard is the address to various restaurants and offices. A view of the city from here is truly breath-taking. You may cherish a dining experience and also enjoy the disco. Well, all you can do is experience is taste the world-class champagne available here. Various events and festivals occur here and tourists from around the globe desire to pay a visit here.

In fact, apart from the glass covered watchtower, there is another open sky deck from where you can see the Queen’s city. In fact, this was one of the best views I saw and took photos. I have seen cities like Paris and Dubai from the tallest manmade structures, but London is just ‘wow’. It’s a lifetime experience that will be framed in golden in my memories.