Food-Walking : Healthy Exercise For All Ages

I love food.

I love walking.

So – I love food-walking.

Let me tell you some memoirs of foodwalking from my wonderful Mumbai days.

Here is the first story...

“FOODWALKING” – A HEALTHY EXERCISE FOR ALL AGES 
Ramblings of a “Retired” Navy Veteran 
By
VIKRAM KARVE 

In my younger days – in school, college and my early days in the Navy – I played active sports for exercise.

Later – my exercise comprised less physically strenuous activities like swimming, jogging, brisk walking/hill climbing etc.

When I crossed my mid-40’s – and landed up in Mumbai more than 18 years ago – in the early part of the year 2000 – when I was around 45 years of age – I started my “foodwalks”.

I had two “foodwalks” every day: 

1. The first foodwalk in the morning from 6 AM to 7:30 AM 

2. The second foodwalk in the evening from 5 PM to 7 PM 

(On Sunday mornings I had a super-long “foodwalk” which started at 6 AM and sometimes extended upto 9 AM or even 10 AM) 

These “foodwalks” had various stages:

1. First – after a warm up brisk walk – I jogged on Marine Drive for around 3 kms till the end of Chowpatty.

2. This was followed by a brisk walk.

On weekday mornings – I would walk back to Stadium Restaurant at Churchgate for a Bun Maska, Bun Omlette or Kheema Pav and Refreshing Irani Chai 

And – on Sundays – it was a super-long foodwalk to Noor Mohammadi Hotel near Bhendi Bazar for Nalli Nihari – or to Vinay Lunch Home near Thakurdwar in Girgaum for Misal. 

In the evenings – when I had more time at my disposal – my foodwalks would be more exploratory.

I would take new routes every day – and – I would explore new eating places – starting from Colaba and Cuffe Parade in the South – to various places in Central Mumbai like Grant Road, Byculla, Mohd Ali Road, Crawford Market, Girgaum, Kalbadevi, Chowpatty etc – wherever my legs would take me.

3. So – it was first a brisk walk – then a “replenishment halt” for food – and – after the “replenishment halt” – it was a leisurely walk back home – fully satiated – and – stomach full and morale high.

Retirement is a big comedown – and – my glorious “foodwalks” came to an end.

However – I have decided to revive my “foodwalks” again – and this morning I went on a long “foodwalk” – culminating in a “frugal” vegetarian breakfast.

During this rather lacklustre foodwalk – I remembered my most memorable foodwalk in Mumbai.

So – let me delve into my Foodie Archives – and pull out this “memoir” for you to read...

MOUTHWATERING MUMBAI MEMORIES

I enjoyed the 6 Best Years of My Life in Mumbai – six glorious years from the years 2000 to 2006.

During these six best years of my life, I lived in EMPRESS COURT – my all time favourite home – the best house I have ever lived in during my entire life.

I wish I could have had my retirement home in that lovely neighbourhood, or nearby, but then, can an honest naval officer afford a house in South Mumbai?

Maybe a Merchant Navy Officer can afford a house in “So Bo” (South Bombay) – but if you have spent your life honestly serving the nation in the “Fauji” Indian Navy – forget about Mumbai – you will not be able to afford a home in the heart of Pune – and you would probably have to settle down in some faraway suburb like Wakad or Baner or Kharadi – or in one of those military veteran “fauji ghettos” like Mundhwa, Kondhwa or Mohammadwadi where most retired service officers have settled down.

But in your mind’s eye – you can always hark back – and relive your “good old days” with nostalgia. 

That is what I did on this lovely morning – during my foodwalk – I reminisced about my glorious Sunday Morning “Food Walks” in Mumbai.

Let me tell you about my memorable Sunday mornings in Mumbai.

UNFORGETTABLE MUMBAI FOOD WALK

NALLI NIHARI at BHENDI BAZAAR

Mouthwatering Memories of an Early Morning Food Walk followed by a Sumptuous Nourishing Breakfast

By 
VIKRAM KARVE 

I love good food.

I am a foodie – I am certainly not a snobbish “high-falutin fine-dining foodie” – but I would rather describe myself as a simple Trencherman.

As I said, I love good food.

And I love walking around searching for good food. 

So, whenever I get an opportunity, I set off on my frequent “food walks” searching for good food.

It was in “maximum city” Mumbai that I enjoyed my best food walks.

Let me tell about one of my favourite food walks – a fulfilling early morning food walks culminating in a nourishing breakfast.

 

This is probably my first piece of Foodie Writing. 

I wrote this in the year 2000 – more than 18 years ago – after returning from one of my food walks.

So – Dear Reader – here are some mouthwatering memories of a glorious early morning food-walk in Mumbai culminating in a wholesome breakfast.

EARLY MORNING FOOD WALK IN MUMBAI : Mouthwatering Memoir by Vikram Karve

I start early – at dawn – from my house near Churchgate.

I admire, in the early morning pre-sunrise light, the impressive silhouettes of the magnificent Gothic structures of the High Court and Mumbai University across the Oval.

I hear the clock on Rajabai Tower strike 6 AM (0600 Hrs).

I walk briskly past Oxford Bookstore, KC College and CCI towards Marine Plaza Hotel.

Then I cross the Marine Drive, turn right and start off towards Chowpatty.

I greet with a smile the morning joggers and walkers and rinse my lungs with the fresh invigorating sea breeze.

I walk briskly on Marine Drive. 

Soon I am past Marine Lines, Taraporewala Aquarium, Charni Road, Chowpatty, Wilson College – and after the brisk vigorous walk of about 30 minutes I break out into a slight sweat as I reach the northern end of Marine Drive.

 

Here I ponder for a moment. 

 

Should I turn left up the Walkeshwar Road to Teen Batti and Banganga? 

 

Or should I turn right towards Babulnath?

 

Or should I turn back towards Nariman Point? 

 

I experience a sense of true freedom. 

 

I can make whatever choice I want and go wherever I desire. 

 

That’s freedom!

 

I choose to cross the road, and walk fast, straight up the steep path towards Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill – trying to exercise my heart and lungs. 

 

I take a round of garden atop the water tank near Kamala Nehru Park (is it now called Phirozeshah Mehta Udyan?). 

 

Then I canter down to Kemp’s Corner where I turn right – a U-turn really – past Crossword Bookstore – and I walk down Hughes Road.

I turn left past Gamdevi towards Nana Chowk and I cross the railway over-bridge and keep going onto Grant Road past Novelty Cinema.

Then I turn right at Delhi Durbar on Falkland Road – reach VP Road – walk past Gol Deval, Alankar cinema – and soon I am at Bhendi Bazar.

My destination Noor Mohammadi Hotel is right in front of me across Mohamedali Road.

 

Almost two hours of brisk walking has built up in me a voracious appetite and I am ready to devour a sumptuous breakfast. 

 

I am hungry. 

And I eat only when I am hungry.

 

I enter Noor Mohammadi Hotel, a Spartan no-nonsense eatery, and order a Nalli Nihari and Roti.

Nalli Nihari is a pure ghee version of Mutton Nihari cooked with bones filled with marrow. 

 

Within a minute a bowl of piping hot gravy, with a generous chunk of succulent meat floating in it, and a fluffy khaboosh roti is placed in front of me. 

 

I dip a piece of the soft roti in the spicy rich gravy, let it soak for a while, put it in my mouth and close my eyes to luxuriate in and relish the gastronomic experience in its entirety.

 

I can feel the juicy gravy soaked roti melting on my tongue, releasing its delicious flavours and spicy aroma which permeate into my soul. 

 

I am in seventh heaven and keep on attaining higher states of sheer heavenly bliss with every succulent bite of the mouth watering concoction.

They say that Nalli Nihari is a mutton bone marrow and wheat gravy – but I don’t delve too much on the contents of a dish.

It’s the taste, delicacy, eating experience and ultimate divine feeling of satiation that matters.

 

It is a delectable beginning to a delightful day as the luscious taste of the delicious Nalli Nihari lingers on my tongue indefinitely. 

 

Yes, it is epicurean satiation of the highest order – a blissful experience I can never forget.

Here is a picture of Nalli Nihari 

(Today – I click and post foodie pictures using my smartphone – but since this happened more than 18 years ago when there were no smartphones – I will take the liberty of posting a picture of Nalli Nihari – freely available on the internet – from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository, file url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nalli_Nihari.JPG  )

Nalli Nihari

Dear Reader – if you happen to be in Mumbai – and – you are ready for a sumptuous non-vegetarian breakfast – take a brisk stimulating food walk early in the morning – and – begin your day with Nalli Nihari at Noor Mohammadi in Bhendi Bazar. 

 

I assure you that it will be a fortifying and stimulating experience.

 

Don’t forget to tell us how you enjoyed the food-walking experience.
 

But – remember one thing. 

If you want to truly appreciate this splendid Heritage Gourmet Trencherman’s Breakfast Dish to its fullest – you must build up an appetite for it. 

Yes – if you really want to enjoy good food – you must build up an appetite for it.

And – what better way to build up an appetite than a brisk long walk in fresh air – aka – “Food Walk”

Happy Walking. 

Happy Eating. 

Happy Food-Walking.

Remember – in order to enjoy your food – first build up an appetite – and then satiate it.

Yes – remember the “FOOD-WALK DICTUM”:

First build up an appetite – then satiate it 

First – “WALK WALK WALK”

Then – “EAT EAT EAT”

Once more – let me wish you Happy “Food-Walking”.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

Revised and Updated Version of the Article Written by me Vikram Karve 18 years ago in the year 2000 and First Posted on my Foodie Blog by me Vikram Karve at url: http://creative.sulekha.com/heritage-cuisine-by-vikram-karve-a-sumptuous-breakfast_146309_blog  and  http://food.sulekha.com/a-hearty-breakfast-in-the-heart-of-mumbai-id21759-39642-recipe.htm   and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/12/mouthwatering-mumbai-memories-food-walk.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/05/foodwalking-healthy-exercise-for-all.html

Qualitative Living

“COUNTING” KILLS ENJOYMENT – PRECISION DESTROYS PLEASURE 

A money-conscious friend asked me: “How much money did you spend on your recent New Zealand trip...?” 

“I really don’t know the amount of money I spent...” I said, “but I enjoyed my New Zealand trip immensely...” 

“Didn’t you calculate the precise amount you spent...? Don’t you keep accounts...?” he asked. 

“No – I never keep precise accounts. I generally see that I don’t spend beyond my means – so – a rough idea is enough...” I said to him. 

One thing I learnt in the Navy is that – if you want to enjoy life – never “count” too much. 

“Counting” Kills Enjoyment 

Precision destroys Pleasure 

If you want to enjoy “Quality of Life” – it is better to live a “Qualitative Life” – rather than a “Quantitative Life” 

Here is an article I wrote a few years ago on the topic.

Read on...

QUALITATIVE LIVING

Experiential Wisdom from a Navy Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

It was a grand Navy party on our ship.

There was lots of bonhomie and spirits were high.

Booze was flowing freely – and the stewards were offering drink after drink to officers, especially the guests.

“Come on Sir – your glass is empty – here is a drink for you...” the steward said, offering a glass of whisky to a guest officer.

“No – No – I have had 3 pegs already...” the officer said.

“Sir – you have had 5 pegs of Whisky – but who is counting…?” the steward said.

I laughed.

The wizened steward had a point – if you are going to count your drinks – then why drink at all...?

The aim of drinking alcohol is to feel happy – so you must drink till you feel happy.

Why “count” your drinks...?

Happiness depends on your drinking mood – not on the number of drinks you consume.

It is the same with eating good food.

The moment you start counting calories – you lose the enjoyment of food – you keep focusing on calories in a dish – instead of its taste.

At buffets – I have seen “figure conscious” beauties looking wistfully at the lavish spread of delicious food – counting the calories in every dish – and then settling for just a little bit of salad – and even skipping the enticing “calorie laden” desserts.

Later – I am sure they wish they had eaten to their heart’s content.

Why go to a Feast it you want to Count your Calories...?

In this “digital” age – people “count” everything.

Long ago – during my glorious Mumbai days – one Sunday morning – I took a friend on one of my enjoyable Sunday special super-long walks in Mumbai.

Let me give you an idea of the route.

We started early – at dawn – from my house in Empress Court – opposite the Oval near Churchgate – admiring, in the early morning pre-sunrise light, the impressive silhouettes of the magnificent Gothic structures of the High Court and Mumbai University across the Oval – we heard the clock on Rajabai Tower strike 6 – then we walked briskly past Oxford Bookstore, KC College, CCI, Marine Plaza Hotel till Marine Drive.

We crossed the Marine Drive, turned right and started off towards Chowpatty, greeting with a smile the morning joggers and walkers, rinsing my lungs with the fresh invigorating sea breeze, and soon we were past Marine Lines, Taraporewala Aquarium, Charni Road, Chowpatty, Wilson College and at the end of Marine Drive.

 

Here we turned left up the Walkeshwar Road to Teen Batti – we did not go towards Banganga – but turned right towards Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill – took a round of garden atop the water tank near Kamala Nehru Park (is it called Phirozeshah Mehta Udyan?) – cantered down to Kemp’s Corner where we turned right - a U-turn really – past Crossword Bookstore – down Hughes Road – left past Gamdevi, Nana Chowk and crossed the railway over-bridge – and we kept going onto Grant Road past Novelty Cinema – turned right at Delhi Durbar on Falkland Road – kept walking till we reached VP Road – walked past Gol Deval, Alankar cinema and there we were at Bhendi Bazar – looking at the inimitable Noor Mohammadi Hotel in front of us across Mohamedali Road – our first “halt” – for rest and replenishment.

Around 3 hours of brisk walking had built up in me a voracious appetite – and I was ready to devour a sumptuous breakfast.

I was hungry – and I eat only when I am hungry.

(Even here – I do not “count” – I do not look at the clock and eat my meals – I do not eat lunch just because it is “lunchtime” – whenever I feel hungry – I eat – I have had my lunch anywhere between 11 and 3).

Coming back to our story – we enteredr the Spartan no-nonsense eatery – and I ordered Nalli Nihari and Roti for both of us.

Within a minute a bowl of piping hot gravy – with a generous chunk of succulent meat floating in it – and a fluffy khaboosh roti was placed in front of me – and one in front of my friend.

I dipped a piece of the soft roti in the spicy rich gravy – let it soak for a while – put it in my mouth – and closed my eyes to luxuriate in and relish the gastronomic experience in its entirety.

 

I felt the juicy gravy soaked roti melting on my tongue – releasing its delicious flavours and spicy aroma which permeated into my soul.

I was in seventh heaven – savouring the luscious taste of the delicious Nalli Nihari – epicurean pleasure of the highest order - sheer bliss – when I opened my eyes – and I noticed that my friend had not started eating.

“Come on – eat up – or the roti and nihari will get cold...” I said.

“Look at the amount of oil floating in this greasy gravy – there must be so many calories in there…” he said.

“Come on – we have walked so much to build up an appetite…” I said.

“How much did we walk – we walked for nearly 3 hours – so if our walking speed was…?”

I could see he was “calculating” the distance in his mind – so I interrupted him – and I said to him: “How the hell does it matter how much we walked…?”

“I am just trying to calculate whether the calories in this dish are more than the calories we spent walking…”

“Why are you “counting” so much...? You enjoyed the walk – didn’t you...? Now – you enjoy the food…” I said.

It is crazy – the way people “count” while exercising.

The aim of exercise is to make you feel healthy – and more importantly – exercise must make you feel good.

In our school and college days – and later in the Navy – we played team games like football, hockey, basketball, water-polo etc.

No one kept time – no one counted the goals – no one bothered who won or lost – we just enjoyed playing the game.

Later – I used to swim.

As I grew older – I started walking.

I always like to listen to my body while exercising– one day I may exercise more – one day it may be less – I never “count” – it all depends on my mood.

Recently – I came across some crazy “counting” types who put up updates on Social Media (Facebook/Twitter) about the exact distance they have walked 

(I believe there is a device that measures the precise distance you have walked – even the number of steps you have walked).

Instead of enjoying the walking experience – these “quantitative” types are obsessed with distance/speed/heart-rate/pulse-rate/calories expended while walking/jogging/exercising.

The aim of exercise is to make you feel good – and all this “counting” ruins the enjoyment of exercise – and – in fact – may even cause stress in you if you do not meet your “targets”.

Exercise should be a pleasure – not a pain.

Yes – the root cause of this “counting” disease is the all-pervasive competitive environment – and everyone’s desire to “set goals” and “meet targets”.

I remember an incident at work.

Our team was working on an intricate design problem and we were nearing the solution – when suddenly the siren sounded for “lunch break”.

“Sir – it is 12:30 – should we break for lunch...” someone said.

“Are you so hungry that you will drop dead if you don’t eat right now...?” I asked him.

“No, Sir...” he said.

“See – we are in the mood now – so let’s finish off what we are doing – if we break off now we will lose our mood and synergy by the time we assemble again after lunch – also we won’t be able to enjoy our lunch because this unresolved problem will still be on our minds – so let’s finish this off first and then we can have a relaxed lunch…” I said.

By the time we finished – it was 1:30 PM – and we were enjoying our lunch – when my boss paid a surprise visit to my office.

Since he was a “clock-watcher” type – he was annoyed that we were having lunch outside the “prescribed lunchtime”.

Next morning – I felt hungry at 11 AM – so I opened up my lunchbox and was enjoying eating my lunch – when my boss made an appearance.

“You are a crazy chap – yesterday – you were eating lunch at 1:30 – and today you are eating at lunch at 11 in the morning…,” my boss remarked.

“Sir – I eat when I am hungry…” I retorted – but my stickler boss did not seem quite convinced.

Also – I sleep when I feel sleepy – not just because it is “bedtime”.

Well – I can go on and on till the cows come home – but I am sure you have got the gist of what I want to say.

“Counting” Kills Enjoyment

So – Dear Reader:

Stop Counting.

Stop Measuring.

Stop Clock-Watching.

Precision destroys Pleasure.

Counting Kills Enjoyment.

So why not live a more “Qualitative Life” – rather than the “Quantitative Life” you are living now...? 

PS: Whenever I head for a party – especially a get-together of ex-Navy Buddies – I do not take my watch and I switch off my mobile phone.

I am not going to count anything – no counting drinks – no counting calories – no clock-watching – just unrestrained “qualitative” enjoyment – yes – “Qualitative Enjoyment” – that is the way to have a jolly good time…

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh. 

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

This is a re-post of my self-help article COUNTING KILLS ENJOYMENT posted by me online earlier at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/04/counting-kills-enjoyment-self-help.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/precision-destroys-pleasure-counting.html