Vegetables Galore

I love vegetables. I am rare one of those, who after school raided the kitchen for leftover vegetables and ate it by the bowl as a snack.

I am not a fan of salads or raw vegetable platters but I love the veggies my mom cooks.

வாழைக்காய் (Plantain), அவரைக்காய் (couldn't find the English word), வெண்டைக்காய் (Ladies Finger/Okra), முருங்கை (drumstick), சேனைக்கிழங்கு (Elephant Foot Yam), சேப்பங்கிழங்கு (Colocasia), பாகற்காய் (Bitter Guard), Butter beans, any and all kinds of கீரை (greens) are few that I devour when I am in Madurai. These vegetables (I think, vegetables in general) taste way better there.

Vegetable markets in Madurai were like eye candy for me.

Some pictures from the Friday Market in bypass road, Madurai. The freshness and the colors - Oh my!

Friday Market - bypass road

Piles of cabbage, radish, cilantro, ginger and green chilis

Greens, Cluster beans, drumstick, brinjal, green beans and அவரைக்காய் (lower right corner)

வெண்டைகாய் (Ladies Finger/Okra)

Butter Beans (peeled as well!)

வாழைப்பூ (Banana Blossoms)

கீரை (Greens)

சேப்பங்கிழங்கு (Colocasia), சேனைக்கிழங்கு (Elephant Foot Yam)

வெங்காயம் (Onions and shallots)

பாகற்காய் (Bitter guard)

நெல்லிக்காய் (Gooseberry) - Not a vegetable, a sour fruit - also a favorite

The trees of Madurai

We visited the 'Eco Park' when we were in Madurai this July.

I have been there once before, about 7 years ago. The place was crowded and I think it was relatively new that time. There were fancy lights fixtures on trees. There was a fountain show and there were boat rides.

This time there was no water in the park, the big water structures were empty and the boats were grounded. The lights on the trees looked damaged and few electrical wires were precariously exposed.

Keeping up the maintenance seems to be a challenge for the city. Rather than go with fancy, decorative unrealistic approach I wish they had stuck with simplistic design, preserving the natural space. 

I loved the huge beautiful trees and the walkways paved through the park.

The park also has a play area for the kids to climb, swing and slide.

Banyan Tree

Flame of the Forest

Peepal Tree