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Langkawi
  • November 21, 2016
  • 5046
  • 6
  • 15

Dinner in a Rice Paddy: Seashells Restaurant, Langkawi

Beijing
  • November 25, 2017
  • 7963
  • 12
  • 10

The Great Wall of China: An Iconic Travel Experience

Princeton
  • October 10, 2016
  • 2723
  • 6
  • 11

An Evening Stroll in Princeton University Campus

Dubai
  • August 14, 2016
  • 3004
  • 6
  • 12

Farzi Cafe: Bringing Indian Cuisine back “in-Vogue”

Chicago

Review: Sony Alpha 6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera

  • July 20, 2016
  • 9020
  • 14
  • 4
Dubai

Online Boutique for Premium Scarves

  • October 22, 2017
  • 7066
  • 5
  • 9
Princeton

An Evening Stroll in Princeton University Campus

  • October 10, 2016
  • 2723
  • 6
  • 11
San Francisco

Brave the Stairs Up Telegraph Hill For Stunning Views of the City!

  • November 4, 2016
  • 2978
  • 8
  • 17
Reviews
Hajj & Umrah
Recipes
Uncategorized

A Simple Blog Post

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.Typi non habent claritatem insitam;…

  • October 13, 2015
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Boston

Vintage Car Show at the Faneuil Hall

Does your local market host vintage car shows? Mine neither. Even if there were car shows here, the weather in the UAE is so hostile…

  • August 24, 2015
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  • 3
  • 0
London

When it’s Three o’clock in New York, it’s Still 1938 in London

“When it’s three o’clock in New York, it’s still 1938 in London.” ― Bette Midler Masood and I spent three days in London, way too short to…

  • August 21, 2015
  • 3166
  • 12
  • 1
San Francisco

Musée Mécanique: Show Your Grandchildren What You Did for Fun When You Were Their Age!

“We will take you on a journey from turn of the century hand cranked music boxes to modern video arcade games. This is a trip…

  • August 20, 2015
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All dressed up in NYC
New York

On Her Way to School

Yes, I had to ask where she was going. I’m usually not the one to make small talk with strangers, but I was just too…

  • August 12, 2015
  • 1906
  • 2
  • 1
burj al arab by the sea
Dubai

Food, Chopping Boards, Coasters & Other Random Stuff

This post is strewn with random photographs that I’d taken over the last few months, in no particular order whatsoever. It’s an update post of sorts;…

  • August 3, 2015
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  • 6
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Yosemite

El Cap: The Biggest, Grandest Piece of Rock in Yosemite Valley

“Climbing is all about flirting with the impossible and pushing the boundaries of what you think can be done,” says Tommy Caldwell. Together with another professional…

  • June 28, 2015
  • 2495
  • 5
  • 1
the pacific ocean
Carmel

Story of the 100-Year-Old Whalers Cabin

When a blue whale dives into the water, its head is already deeper than most scuba divers dare to go before its tail leaves the…

  • June 25, 2015
  • 2542
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  • 2
Picture taken from airbnb
San Francisco

First Airbnb Experience. How is it Different from Staying in a Hotel?

It’s been around since 2008, but it wasn’t until October last year that I’d first started looking for a place to stay in using airbnb. Masood and I…

  • June 14, 2015
  • 3162
  • 6
  • 1
Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Final Part – The walk from Jamarat to Makkah

Translating my thoughts and emotions into words for the Hajj Journal series is not easy. First, whenever I reflect on this Holy journey, the entire…

  • May 26, 2015
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  • 1
Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Part 8 – The Last Day in Mina was the Best of All

“Get some rest. We’ll leave for Mina by 10am,” said our group leader as he instructed us where and when to meet later. We were…

  • May 2, 2015
  • 4376
  • 8
  • 1
Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Part 7 – The Stoning of Jamaraat

He hurled the tiny pebble toward the wall with too much force and fury. It was as if an enemy stood in front of him, all…

  • April 1, 2015
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madinat jumairah
Dubai

The 4 Most Luxurious Honeymoon Resorts in Dubai

From almost nothing but acres and acres of untouched land, in more recent years the United Arab Emirates has now established itself as one of…

  • April 1, 2015
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Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Part 6 – Spending the Night in Muzdalifah

We were going to sleep on the roadside tonight, and I was pretty excited about it. After spending the entire day in Arafat, all the…

  • March 29, 2015
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Minced Beef Pancake (32 AED) Home minced beef, rice, spices and coriander rolled in a crunchy slightly fried pancake.
Dubai

Fukurou House, DIFC

Fukurou means owl in Nihongo. In Japan owls symbolize good fortune, protection from hardships and suffering, and wisdom. I was, therefore, under the impression that I’d be…

  • March 9, 2015
  • 4169
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arafah
Arafah

Hajj Journal – Part 5 – The Day of Arafat

  “There is no day upon which Allah frees His servants from the Hellfire more than the day of Arafat. He draws near and then…

  • March 1, 2015
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Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Part 4 – Leaving Our Possessions Behind for Mina

About 8 kilometers east from the Holy city of Makkah, cradled in a low-lying valley, lies the incredible city of tents called Mina. What’s even…

  • February 22, 2015
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IMG_2621
Dubai

Bait Misk: Lebanese Restaurant at the Fisherman’s Harbour in Jumeirah

  This quaint Lebanese restaurant is located in the Fisherman’s Harbour in Jumeira 1, a place that is a pain to locate for those who…

  • February 18, 2015
  • 5058
  • 2
  • 1
DSC_4017
Ras al Khaimah

Glamping in the UAE

“…the redness had seeped from the day and night was arranging herself around us. Cooling things down, staining and dyeing the evening purple and blue…

  • January 2, 2015
  • 4295
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moroccan lamps
Dubai

Global Village: A Must-Visit Each Year!

From hosting 18 country pavilions in 1997, Global Village has expanded over the years to now include 31 pavilions representing more than 70 countries, with…

  • December 28, 2014
  • 4397
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Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Part 3 – Umrah and Coming Out of Ihram

Umrah was being discussed over freshly-baked bread, chicken sausages, spicy omelets, and green tea. All the meals at Anjum Hotel were elaborate with good selections from various…

  • December 23, 2014
  • 3630
  • 6
  • 1
anjum hotel makkah
Hajj & Umrah

Hajj Journal – Part 2 – The Hotel Quandary

The bus crawled its way slowly through the massive traffic of Makkah. We were passing through a tunnel and everyone was wide-awake by now. Right…

  • November 27, 2014
  • 4416
  • 9
  • 1
Abu Dhabi

Hajj Journal – Part 1 – The Journey from Abu Dhabi to Makkah

While the world outside was running its business as usual, there was an unmistakable feeling of excitement within me. The taxi smoothly cruised along the…

  • November 17, 2014
  • 4340
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Makkah

A Quick Update From the Fog City

  One day I’m in the heart of Arabia, performing Hajj amidst more than two million Muslims, and a few days later I find myself…

  • October 16, 2014
  • 3711
  • 15
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Dubai

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik

In about fourteen hours, we are about to embark on a journey that is the most important one for every Muslim, insha’Allah. We received our e-tickets…

  • September 27, 2014
  • 4353
  • 10
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papad
Dubai

iZ: An Indian Restaurant in Grand Hyatt

IZ (pronounced as ee-zee) is an award-winning high-end Indian restaurant within the Grand Hyatt hotel that serves tandoori cuisine prepared and served at live cooking stations. They…

  • September 25, 2014
  • 3960
  • 8
  • 1
london tower bridge
London

You mean, that’s not the London Bridge?

Oh, the heartache upon learning that my favorite bridge isn’t actually the London Bridge; it’s called the Tower Bridge, a very unimpressive name, if you…

  • September 14, 2014
  • 3094
  • 18
  • 1
new hampshire apples
Wolfeboro

Cortland Apples & Bly Farm’s Ice Cream

It’s been a long, long drive and we’re completely relying on the GPS to guide us. We’ve just spent an evening in an inn at…

  • August 31, 2014
  • 2814
  • 17
  • 0
Recipes

Chicken Noodle Sizzler

There is an Indian restaurant here in Dubai called Little Hut that my family and I frequently go to whenever we crave for some good sizzlers.…

  • August 24, 2014
  • 5263
  • 10
  • 2
Gulmarg

Finding Ourselves Suspended at 13,500 Feet Above Sea Level

It’s minus 3°C and the visibility is getting lower with each passing minute. “They closed Phase 2 this morning,” announced the guide as he leads…

  • August 21, 2014
  • 2634
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About

Tips, advice and inspirations to help you plan your next adventure.

Places

nadiamasood

Visual storytelling from India and beyond.
Moved to Hyderabad in 2020.
#ExpatInIndia

Nadia Masood
Mango-banana milkshake with saffron. Yet another d Mango-banana milkshake with saffron. Yet another delicious shake by @masoodxb.

I can totally get used to this!

What are you having for Iftar tonight?
Our Kashmiri neighbours returned from their hometo Our Kashmiri neighbours returned from their hometown earlier today and gave us some freshly-picked apples from their orchard.

Before eating them, I just had to take this shot for @thenawabees apple blossoms honey. This particular honey variant is quickly becoming a bestseller at both Amazon and Flipkart.

Have you tried this type of honey?
Do you love hummus? I feel like it’s one of the Do you love hummus? I feel like it’s one of the best dips in the world!

I am yet to find good hummus here in Hyderabad - the kind one finds in middle eastern restaurants.

Good thing hummus is super easy to make at home!

Please swipe left for the recipe, including how to make your own tahini paste with only 2 ingredients, and also for tips to help you make your own creamy hummus at home.

Don’t forget to bookmark or share this post ❤️
What’s your favourite shake or smoothie? For us What’s your favourite shake or smoothie?

For us, using seasonal, locally-grown fruits is important. Not only do they taste better, they are healthier.

Seasonal, locally-grown fruits are fresher and often harvested at peak nutrition and ripeness. This also leads to better flavour, whereas produce grown elsewhere during off-season is picked days (even weeks!) prior to consumption and ripens on the shelf or is force-ripened by artificial methods.

When we buy seasonal produce, we also support our local farmers!

Pictured above is a banana-mango smoothie by @masoodxb. He is inspired by the countless tiny ‘cafeterias’ in the UAE that serve a variety of fresh juice and shakes (named ‘Burj al Arab’ and ‘Internet’ etc) even at 2 am. Most of them deliver at your doorstep too. 
So what’s your favourite smoothie? I’d like to have some ideas. I mean, I need help thinking beyond mangoes 😂
Do you agree that food tastes better outdoors? Pro Do you agree that food tastes better outdoors? Probably something to do with fresh air and nature.

The flask pictured in this post is 4 years old. We bought it in Dubai, and it has been a constant picnic companion since.

Everyone in the family loves tea. Not the weak, bland, tea-bag-in-hot-water fiddle-faddle, but properly brewed karak chai. Therefore we make tea at home and take it with us on picnics or long drives.

This picture is taken on a recent drive out of town. An aunt packed us lunch and we made tea. Along the way, we found a nice spot under a tree and had lemon rice, rotis and gosht ka achaar.

It doesn’t even matter how simple your meal may be. Eating outdoors make any type of food taste more delicious.

What is your favourite picnic food?
Out to get pure, 100% natural honey. We’ve stop Out to get pure, 100% natural honey.

We’ve stopped buying commercially-available bottled honey and are getting directly from local beekeepers instead.
Freshly-squeezed orange juice, courtesy of @masood Freshly-squeezed orange juice,
courtesy of @masoodxb. He is kind enough to share the recipe as well.

Recipe: Cut oranges in half. Squeeze into a clean bowl. Pour into glasses. Enjoy 😀

He wants me to tell you that the secret ingredient is 🍊🤣
Did you know that Kashmir is the prime source of t Did you know that Kashmir is the prime source of the total apple production of India?

Our friend and neighbour recently went home to celebrate Eid with his family in Kashmir. When he returned, he brought these apples for us - picked from their own orchard.

The horticulture industry is one of the pillars of Kashmir's rural economy and apples remain the jewel of this industry.

Unfortunately since the lockdown, which coincides with the harvest season, locals are unable to sell their produce. Most of it are either rotting on the trees or in the vehicles or fruit markets.

I pray things start getting better for them and also for the rest of us.

These apples brought back so many wonderful memories of the time @masood and I spent in Kashmir. That hand-carved wooden bowl was also bought during that trip, something that always reminds me of that beautiful trip.
Noodle wrapped chicken by @makskitchenhyd. Hot, cr Noodle wrapped chicken by @makskitchenhyd. Hot, crunchy and deep-fried! It was so good.

This can easily be made at home. Maybe you can bake these instead of frying, but I’m sure the taste won’t be the same.

There are several recipes online but the one we tried was by @sooperchef, which came out great.
Tag someone who loves shawarma! This is our homem Tag someone who loves shawarma!

This is our homemade chicken shawarma that I’m truly proud of and so excited to share with you!

Swipe left for the recipe.

EDIT: It’s ‘wheat’ not ‘whear’, and jalapeño ‘pickles’ not ‘pepper’. Thanks!

Thank you to @masoodxb for being our shawarma wrap & grill expert. Having had countless shawarmas in the UAE, even at 2am(!) I’m so glad we can recreate something close to the original right in our home.

Guys, toasting or grilling the wrapped shawarma before serving makes such a difference, so don’t skip this last step.
Did you know that there are only 2 countries that Did you know that there are only 2 countries that do not sell Coke?

Cuba and North Korea.

I found this abandoned roadside restaurant along the highway the other day.

While so many didn’t pay attention to it, I was drawn to its vintage-y charm.

Also, I’m showing you the unedited version of the photo as well. It’s sort of a reminder that almost all content on social media platforms go through some sort of editing.

#instagramvsreallife
#beforeandafter
It’s their reflection that caught my eye. While It’s their reflection that caught my eye.

While some beaches of Vizag are crowded and, quite unfortunately, dirty, there are some that are clean and peaceful.

Saw these girls walking and noticed their reflection on the shallow water. It rained in the morning so we thought our trip to the beach would be canceled. Fortunately the sun shone and we made it.
How do you incorporate pomegranate into your cooki How do you incorporate pomegranate into your cooking?

As a little girl, I’d been fascinated with pomegranates. I imagined them as leather-bound gifts with a bow on top. If I was lucky, I’d open my gift to reveal bright red rubies.

Pomegranate has inspired legends, tales and poems throughout history. In Ancient Egypt, kings were buried with pomegranates so that they could take them into the afterlife. Hades tricked Zeus’ daughter with a pomegranate.

Now talking about food, pomegranate seeds are generally sprinkled on dishes and desserts or made into syrup, molasses or pomegranate vinegar. Pomegranate is commonly used in dishes and sauces in Iran, its biggest producer.

In India, its second-biggest producer, pomegranate seeds are dried and crushed to create a spice called anardana, which is used to add tartness to various dishes.

The pomegranate is also used extensively in many Middle Eastern cuisines. Pomegranate juice is reduced and this is used to add a sweet-tart flavor to many dishes.

I’m planning to make some pomegranate molasses (for the first time!). What’s your favorite dish that uses pomegranate as an ingredient? Let me know in the comment section!
They’re finally in season! For me, black plums, They’re finally in season! For me, black plums, or jamun, are one of the most anticipated fruits of the year (the other is mango). These little purple fruits are packed with antioxidant property, display antidiabetic property, may help reduce bad cholesterols and triglycerides in the blood, anti-inflammatory property, and may also help strengthen the immune system.
How’s the lockdown situation where you live? Ou How’s the lockdown situation where you live?

Our state has finally eased up on the lockdown since June 1. While there’s still curfew after 9pm, and restaurants only allow take-aways, most businesses are now open.

Interstate traveling is now permitted. For more than 2 months, we weren’t allowed to travel more than 3km from home.

So we had our first long-drive in forever when a cousin asked if we could come pick her up from the neighbouring state’s border (restrictions are still in place for Andhra Pradesh, we couldn’t cross their border). It felt a bit strange driving so far from home, and it feels surreal that the highways are mostly empty.

But it felt so good to be able to drive freely!
If you could have any breakfast tomorrow, what wou If you could have any breakfast tomorrow, what would you eat?

This is salmon and egg Benedict with capers, raspberries, slices of oranges, chives - everything coming together to make such a delicious breakfast.

I had this in San Francisco, at a restaurant that I woke up super early for (since it gets crowded real quick). I miss this every time I see this picture.

What is your dream breakfast?
This dessert is easy to make and pretty enough to This dessert is easy to make and pretty enough to make a good impression!

Fresh mango chunk topped with fluffy whipped cream, then wrapped with a thin, moist and elastic crepe, this pillow-shaped Hong Kong style mango crepe is a must-try.

For a better presentation, use a single piece of mango for each crepe. When you cut the crepe through, a nice neat look will appear on each side.

These are originally called Mango Pancakes, by the way. You can experiment with other fruits, like bananas and strawberries.

Have you tried this before? Don’t forget to save this post if you haven’t yet!
I haven’t been baking for a few months now. Turn I haven’t been baking for a few months now. Turned the oven on today only to find that the flame was going crazy and the temperature was all over the place. But @hooknweavebysabiha, @sumaiya_2110 and I were determined.

And in the end, we have warm, delicious homemade chocolate banana bread with toasted almonds!

#QuarantineDayWhatever
This is a classic, easy, and healthy Mediterranean This is a classic, easy, and healthy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern hors d'oeuvre.

Mutabbal is a smoky, lemony eggplant dip that’s a mezze-table favorite all over the Levant and beyond.

So many call this Baba Ganoush. I did some research and discovered that while both have roasted eggplant as their base, Baba Ganoush does not have tahini. It contains chopped tomatoes and pomegranate molasses.

Mutabbal has tahini, garlic, lemon juice, cumin powder, red chili flakes, and even yoghurt. Extra virgin olive oil is a must.

I didn’t have parsley at home so I used cilantro instead. Plus, I didn’t want to deal with yeast to make pita so I made roti instead.

This is a delicious, healthy dip that I highly recommend. After all, there’s more to life than hummus.

Also feel free to adjust the ingredients! I may have added more lemon juice and cumin powder.

What’s your favorite dip?
What’s your go-to photo editing app for Instagra What’s your go-to photo editing app for Instagram?

Mine is Snapseed. I use it for almost all my photos. I rarely post unedited photos (because I like my feed to look pretty). For this particular image (taken using my phone camera), I first edited the colours on Snapseed so they appear more saturated.

And then I used Pixaloop to make the clouds move. So cool, right? This app has been sitting in my phone since forever, and I now wonder why I’ve never used it!

I’d love to know what you use to edit your photos!
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