Author Archives: memoriesandsuch

In My Hands Today…

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The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science – J. Kenji López-Alt

Ever wondered how to pan-fry a steak with a charred crust and an interior that’s perfectly medium-rare from edge to edge when you cut into it? How to make homemade mac ‘n’ cheese that is as satisfyingly gooey and velvety-smooth as the blue box stuff, but far tastier? How to roast a succulent, moist turkey (forget about brining!)—and use a foolproof method that works every time?

As Serious Eats’s culinary nerd-in-residence, J. Kenji López-Alt has pondered all these questions and more. In The Food Lab, Kenji focuses on the science behind beloved American dishes, delving into the interactions between heat, energy, and molecules that create great food. Kenji shows that often, conventional methods don’t work that well, and home cooks can achieve far better results using new—but simple—techniques. In hundreds of easy-to-make recipes with over 1,000 full-color images, you will find out how to make foolproof Hollandaise sauce in just two minutes, how to transform one simple tomato sauce into a half dozen dishes, how to make the crispiest, creamiest potato casserole ever conceived, and much more.

World Breastfeeding Week

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World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually from August 1st to 7th, stands as a global testament to the importance of breastfeeding in nurturing healthy infants and supporting maternal well-being. This week-long observance, first celebrated in 1992, commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF, and other organisations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

World Breastfeeding Week emerged from a collective recognition of the need to prioritise breastfeeding on a global scale. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), a global network dedicated to protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding worldwide, organises this annual event. WABA collaborates closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to ensure that aid reaches the right communities and individuals.

The overarching goal of World Breastfeeding Week is multifaceted. It highlights the importance of breastfeeding, encourages and promotes breastfeeding practices, and improves the health outcomes for babies and mothers globally

World Breastfeeding Week adopts a specific theme to focus its efforts and messaging each year. For 2025, the theme is “Prioritise breastfeeding: create sustainable support systems.” The campaign underscores the importance of prioritising breastfeeding by building robust and sustainable support systems. A supportive environment for breastfeeding benefits families and significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with artificial feeding. The week aims to connect actors across all levels involved in breastfeeding support to create resilient and sustainable support systems.

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Breastfeeding stands as the gold standard for infant nutrition, offering many benefits that extend far beyond basic sustenance. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants, offering a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat: everything a baby needs for healthy growth. This natural food is provided in a form that’s more easily digested than infant formula.

One of the most significant advantages of breastfeeding is the transfer of antibodies from mother to child. These antibodies help infants fight off viruses and bacteria, providing a crucial boost to the developing immune system. This immunological support translates into tangible health benefits including a lower risk of respiratory tract infections, fewer ear infections, reduced incidence of diarrhea, and a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The benefits of breastfeeding extend well into childhood and even adulthood. Research has linked breastfeeding to lower risk of asthma and allergies, reduced likelihood of obesity in childhood and adulthood, decreased risk of type 1 diabetes, and potential improvements in cognitive development and IQ scores.

The impact of breastfeeding on global health cannot be overstated. Increased breastfeeding to near-universal levels in low and medium-income countries could prevent approximately 820,000 deaths of children under the age of five annually. This statistic alone underscores the critical role of breastfeeding in reducing infant mortality and improving global health outcomes.

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While breastfeeding offers numerous benefits, it’s equally important to understand the potential consequences when infants are not breastfed or when breastfeeding rates are suboptimal. Infants who are not breastfed face higher risks of gastrointestinal infections, respiratory infections, otitis media (ear infections), necrotising enterocolitis, particularly in premature infants. These conditions can lead to increased hospitalisations and doctor visits, placing a burden on both families and healthcare systems.

The absence of breastfeeding can have lasting effects on an individual’s health. These include an increased risk of childhood obesity, a higher likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes, and the potential for lower IQ scores and reduced cognitive development.

On a broader scale, suboptimal breastfeeding practices have significant health and economic consequences. A study in the USA attributed 3,340 annual excess deaths to suboptimal breastfeeding, with 78% of these being maternal deaths due to myocardial infarction, breast cancer, and diabetes. Additionally, 721 excess pediatric deaths were attributed mainly to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and necrotising enterocolitis. The economic costs associated with not breastfeeding are substantial. In Australia alone, it’s estimated that costs related to not breastfeeding amount to 1.448 million Australian dollars per day.

While much focus is placed on infant health, breastfeeding also offers significant benefits to mothers. Mothers who breastfeed experience faster postpartum recovery: Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reduce postpartum bleeding. Breastfeeding burns extra calories, potentially aiding in postpartum weight loss. Breastfeeding is associated with lower risks of breast and ovarian cancers. Some studies suggest breastfeeding may lower the risk of osteoporosis. Breastfeeding is linked to a decreased risk of hypertension and improved cardiovascular health. Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and child through skin-to-skin contact and eye contact, fostering a sense of security and emotional connection.

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Despite the clear benefits, many mothers face challenges in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week aims to address these challenges by promoting education and support. Some of the common barriers to breastfeeding include a lack of knowledge about breastfeeding techniques and benefits, insufficient support from healthcare providers, workplace constraints, including lack of paid maternity leave and lactation rooms, cultural and societal pressures, and medical issues that may complicate breastfeeding.

World Breastfeeding Week emphasises the importance of a multi-faceted approach to supporting breastfeeding mothers. The week educates and informs families about the benefits of breastfeeding and proper techniques, trains healthcare practitioners to provide effective support to mothers and babies, encouraging peer groups and community initiatives to promote and sustain breastfeeding, advocates for breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, including adequate maternity leave and lactation facilities, and pushing for policies that protect and promote breastfeeding rights.

World Breastfeeding Week has become a powerful platform for raising awareness and driving change. It is celebrated in more than 170 countries, uniting governments, organisations, and communities in the common goal of supporting breastfeeding. The week serves as a catalyst for policy changes at national and international levels, increased funding for breastfeeding support programmes, greater public awareness of the importance of breastfeeding, improved training for healthcare professionals in breastfeeding support, and the development of breastfeeding-friendly initiatives in workplaces and communities.

2025 Week 31 Update

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Today’s quote is not attributed to anyone, and yet, it offers a powerful metaphor for awareness and awakening, not just in the literal sense, but on an emotional, mental, or spiritual level. It suggests that often, we go through life on autopilot, caught in routines, assumptions, or unconscious patterns. We may believe we are fully awake or engaged, but only after a moment of clarity, growth, or transformation do we realise how unaware or disconnected we had been.

“Waking up” here refers to becoming conscious, to truths about ourselves, our relationships, our purpose, or the world around us. It could be triggered by a life-changing event, a deep insight, or even a quiet shift in perspective. The quote reminds us that true awareness often comes in hindsight, and it encourages us to live with greater mindfulness and presence. Ultimately, it’s a gentle call to live more deliberately, to open our eyes to the depth and wonder of the present moment, and to keep questioning what we think we know—because that’s where real growth begins.

It’s the start of yet another month, and here’s wishing a fantastic month of August to everyone. This month, I walked more than I had walked in a month since I started tracking my steps back in 2021 during the Covid months. As of the end of July, I’ve crossed into Malaysia and crossed the top part of Kedah and Penang and am back in Kedah for a short while before I will enter the state of Perak. I am about 700 odd km from home and if all goes well, I will be home sometime in mid-September. I am so excited to be seeing the end of this almost five-year long walk come to an end. What shall I do next? I have some ideas, so I’ll share more once I have finalised them.

I am about halfway through my 2025 reading challenge and as I pretty much say each month, I need to read more. Maybe this monthly check-in is the push I need each month to start reading more. So here’s to hoping I read more and crush my 2025 reading goals.

GG ended her internship on a high note – she was interning at an accounting big 4 company and got a priority offer for when she graduates. She still is not sure if she will accept it or not, but it’s good to be wanted and may be just the impetus she needs to work harder and end school with great grades. BB, on the other hand, is nearing the end of his national service obligation and now has the unenviable task of looking at what he wants to do once he ends – whether he wants to join the workforce, study or a combination of the two.

That’s all from me this week. Here’s to a fantastic month for everyone! Stay positive and keep smiling!

In My Hands Today…

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The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations from the author of the bestselling The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene

Over the last 22 years, Robert Greene has provided insights into every aspect of being human whether that be getting what you want, understanding others’ motivations, mastering your impulses, and recognizing strengths and weaknesses. The Daily Laws distills that wisdom into daily entries.

Each entry delivers refined and concise wisdom from one of his books, in an easy to digest lesson that will only take a few minutes to read, as well as a Commandment — a prescription or prompt for the reader to follow.

Not only is The Daily Laws the perfect entry point for those new to Greene’s penetrating insight, but it will also help the many Greene fans throughout the world understanding and internalizing the many lessons that fill his books. It is a guide to a lifetime of reading and re-reading about power, seduction, strategy, psychology and human nature.

Sacred Stones, Spaces and Stories: Shakthipeeta Part 13

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Bhagavathy Temple, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Nestled at the southernmost tip of mainland India, the Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari is dedicated to Goddess Kanya Kumari. Historical records and legends suggest that the temple’s roots may reach back to the early Sangam period between 300 BC and 300 CE.

The temple is believed to be over 3000 years old, with its original sanctum possibly dating back to this era. Over the centuries, the temple has undergone numerous renovations and expansions by various ruling dynasties. The Pandyas are credited with the initial construction, while subsequent contributions and enhancements were made by the Cholas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Travancore royalty. Sage Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, is said to have performed the consecration of the temple and installed the main idol of Devi Bhagavathy. This blue stone image, facing east, is believed to have been consecrated by the sage himself.

According to tradition, it is believed that the right shoulder and the area around the spine of Goddess Sati here. The Shakti Peetha here is known as Sarvani, and the temple is often referred to as the Sarvani Shaktipeeth. The presence of Kundalini Shakti in the region is attributed to the falling of these parts of Sati’s body. At the Bhagavathy Amman Temple, the goddess is worshipped as Devi Kanya Kumari, an incarnation of Parvati, the divine consort of Shiva. The name Kanyakumari itself is significant, with Kanya meaning Virgin and Kumari meaning Girl. The Bhairava, the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva who accompanies the goddess at each Shakti Peetha, is known here as Nimish.

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The temple showcases the magnificent Dravidian style of architecture, characterised by its impressive gopuram or gateway tower, intricate carvings, and grand mandapams or pillared halls. Situated at the confluence of three great water bodies: the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, the temple offers a unique spiritual and geographical setting. Perhaps the most famous feature of the temple is the diamond nose ring worn by the goddess. This nose ring is believed to be so dazzling that it once caused a merchant ship to crash on nearby rocks, mistaking its sparkle for a lighthouse beacon.

Due to the incident with the nose ring, the eastern door of the temple is kept permanently closed, only to be opened on special occasions like Chitra Pournami. The temple complex houses several other shrines dedicated to various deities including Lord Surya Deva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyappa, Goddess Bala Sundari, and Goddess Vijaya Sundari. An ancient well within the temple premises is believed to be connected to its Shakti Peetha status.

Every day, sacred texts are read from 8 to 9:30 am, organised by the temple trust. Women gather daily in the afternoon to sing devotional songs. Every evening, there is a recitation of the Devi Purana, followed by storytelling and kirtana. Puja is performed in the morning, with aarti conducted both in the morning and evening.

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Navratri is celebrated with great fervour. Daily mantras are recited by learned Brahmins, and women perform havan on Ashtami, the eighth day. The Vaisakha Festival is a significant celebration at the temple. On Chitra Pournami, the eastern door of the temple is opened, a rare occurrence. The best time to visit the temple is believed to be during the Brahma Muhurta, from 4:30 to 5:30 am.

According to Hindu mythology, the demon Banasura gained a blessing that he could only be killed by a virgin girl. To eliminate this threat, Goddess Parasakthi took the form of Kumari, a virgin girl. The goddess eventually defeated Banasura. Saint Narada and Lord Parasurama then requested the goddess to exist on earth until the end of Kaliyuga, which she accepted. Another popular legend tells of how Goddess Kanya Kumari was set to marry Lord Shiva. However, on the wedding day, as Lord Shiva was on his way from Suchindram, Narada assumed the form of a rooster and crowed prematurely. Hearing this, Shiva believed he had missed the auspicious hour and returned, leaving Kanya Kumari unwed. It is said that when the devastating tsunami struck the region in 2004, the Bhagavathy Amman Temple was one of the few structures that escaped destruction, believed to be due to the divine protection of the goddess.

The Bhagavathy Amman Temple is a living link to India’s rich spiritual traditions, inviting all who visit to experience the divine presence of the Mother Goddess in her manifestation as Kanya Kumari.

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Shuchi Temple, Suchindrum, Tamil Nadu
Nestled in the southernmost district of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, the Shuchi Temple in Suchindrum is dedicated to the trinity of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The exact date of the temple’s establishment remains uncertain, but historical records and legends suggest that the temple’s roots may reach back over 3000 years. The temple is said to have been built by Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Over the centuries, the temple has undergone numerous renovations and expansions by various ruling dynasties. The earliest lithic records of Suchindram belong to the 9th century. The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Thirumalai Nayak and the Travancore Maharajas. The temple’s construction took place over an extended period of at least six hundred years, with parts of the temple dating back to the late 8th century, while others are from the 15th century. Until Kanyakumari became part of Tamil Nadu, the Suchindram Temple was under the administration of the Travancore Kings.

According to tradition, it is believed that the upper teeth of Goddess Sati fell here. The Shakti Peetha here is known as Shuchi, and the goddess is worshipped as Maa Narayani, wife of Narayan. Suchindrum is the location where Lord Indra achieved Suchi or purification. At the Shuchi Temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Sangharor Samhara or the destroyer. The Bhairava, the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva who accompanies the goddess at each Shakti Peetha, is known here as Samhara Bhairava. He is present in a nearby village, and in Suchindram, he is locally called Sthanu Shiva.

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What makes this temple truly unique is the presence of Sri Sthanumalayan, a representation of the combined forces of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The name Sthanumalayan is derived from Thanu representing Lord Shiva, Mal representing Lord Vishnu, and Ayan representing Lord Brahma. This unified representation is rare in Hindu temples and makes the Shuchi Temple particularly special.

The temple showcases the magnificent Dravidian style of architecture, characterised by its impressive gopuram or gateway tower, intricate carvings, and grand mandapams. The Thousand Pillared Hall is a magnificent hall featuring precisely carved pillars, each telling different stories through their sculptures. The hall serves as an excellent example of Dravidian architecture and artistic excellence. The temple is famous for its musical pillars, a unique architectural feature. There is a huge beautiful idol of Nandi the bull made from a single stone in front of the temple. The temple complex houses several other shrines dedicated to various deities including Lord Surya Deva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyappa, Goddess Bala Sundari, and Goddess Vijaya Sundar. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 44 m.

The temple follows a strict schedule of six daily pujas: Ushakalam at dawn, Kalasanthi in the morning, Uchikalam at noon, Sayarakshai in the evening, Irandam Kalam at night, and Ardha Jamam at midnight. The various festivals celebrated in the temple include Margazhi Thiruvadhirai in December-January, Thai Pongal in January, Panguni Uthiram in March-April, Chithirai festival in April-May, Navaratri celebrated with twice a year, Shivaratri, Suchindram maargali festival and Rath Yatra, Avani in August, and Masi festival in March.

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According to the Sthalapurana, Indra suffered a curse from sage Gowthama when he stealthily cast amorous glances at Ahalya, the wife of Gowthama. Unable to bear the mortification brought about by the curse, Indra sought immediate redemption. He came to Gnana Aranya, as this place was then called, and offered worship to Lord Shiva. Relieving Indra of his curse, Lord Shiva granted his wish that the place where he attained purification should henceforth be called Suchindrum.

Another story tells that the Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, cajoled by their divine consorts, came down to Earth to test the chastity of Anusuya, wife of sage Athri at Gnana Aranya. The Gods, for this misadventure, had to suffer a curse from the Rishipatni and undergo the purification process before they could be restored to their former glory. One of the legends of Suchindram is related to the chastity of Anasuya, wife of Sage Atri. The legend says that the trimurtis appeared in front of Anasuya as begging brahmins. When she was about to serve them, they imposed a condition that they would eat only if she served them naked. Through the power of her chastity, she converted the three Gods into babies and suckled them.

As you stand in the temple courtyard, surrounded by centuries of devotion and the echoes of ancient rituals, you can’t help but feel a connection to the spiritual heritage that has shaped this land for millennia. The Shuchi Temple, with its blend of myth, history, and living faith, continues to be a powerful force, inviting all who visit to partake in its timeless spiritual journey.