"Never be a food snob. Learn from everyone you meet - the fish guy at your market, the lady at the local diner, farmers, cheese makers. Ask questions, try everything and eat up!" (Rachel Ray)

Rachel Ray is right, during my one (1) month stay in the south of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, I met a lot of people and learn from everyone of them... all local people of these 2 southern states of India whom I met on the streets , in their small teahops, in their little kitchen... yes, I learned so much from them, how to prepare their food, how to make the best cardamom tea, get to know more about their culture, how to appreciate small things, how to be patient during hard times and be happy no matter how hard life is.

Yes indeed, I asked questions, how they make their food so delicious and what spices to grind and what spices to be used for tempering so I wil come out with delicious simple fish curry. I tried everything... i eat everything from the streets, from the small teashops, everything that they offered me. I even ate a Vada in a glass container with flies while wet from the monsoon rain and thurderstorm in one corner of a small store.

YES, I ate and drunk in south India and it was all worth it. I am looking forward to see the other part of India.. i will dream of it again and surely i will never be a food snob.

He is my lemon guy