This is a simple, no-rules chicken curry recipe—everyone makes chicken in their own way, and this one was shared by my friends. It’s perfect for beginners or bachelors because it doesn’t require any strict measurements.
Prepare the Masala Paste Add the whole spices, garlic, green chillies, and tomatoes to a mixer jar. Grind into a smooth paste without adding any water.
Fry the Onions Heat oil in a pan. Once hot, add the chopped onions and cook until they turn golden brown.
Cook the Chicken Add the chicken to the browned onions. Fry for 3–4 minutes until it changes color.
Add the Masala Paste Pour in the ground masala paste and let it cook for a few minutes on medium flame.
Mix the Spice Powders In a small bowl, combine cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala, and chicken masala. Add a little water to form a smooth mixture.
Add Spices to the Curry Pour this spice mixture into the pan. Mix well.
Cook on Low Flame Add salt to taste. Let the curry cook on a low flame until the chicken becomes tender and the oil separates.
Finish the Curry Add water to adjust the gravy consistency as you like. Cook for a few more minutes.
Garnish Top with fresh coriander and sliced green chillies.
A couple of new experiences this week too!! Roommates out of town, which meant I have the whole house to myself. Was it fun? Yes and No!!
It is nice to have people home when I return from university at night. A late-night bus on an almost empty bus with some light music playing in my ear followed by a small banter with roommates marks the perfect end to my day.
This week my roommates, all of them, including the German ones, were having a fun time in India. So I decided to have some fun on my own here as well. To make full use of the empty house, I called friends over for potluck (I am too lazy to cook)
Potluck
The gathering started small but soon grew in number. We were I guess, about 10 people. But here is the thing with potluck. The more the merrier! There are more varieties of food and more games to play.
We were supposed to meet at 12. Since most were Indians they followed IST (read Indian Stretchable Time). The Indians only started arriving at 13:00. The Greek girl thought she knew Indians and arrived 30 minutes late 😂 and she was still the first to arrive.
The food was as delicious as ever. The seasoning with hunger on top, made it all even better.
Food!!
We finished our lunch and still one hadn’t arrived. He took the stretching of time far too long even as per Indian standard. We decided to play a prank on the poor soul. We decided to tell him that everyone left. That broke his heart!! He was so sad that he did not notice the 10 pairs of shoes when he entered the house. I even showed him my roommates room as my own as everyone was hiding in my room. He failed to notice the heels, or he thought I have a weird fetish and decided to ignore it.
Late Lateef
We decided to play UNO. Unfortunately, I did not know the game. Yes, I didn’t know and it is embarrassing. I also didn’t know they would get this game. I would have learnt it on YouTube if I had known.
They looked at me the way airport security looks at an unattended suitcase—just because I didn’t know the game. Generation gap things!! I’m catching up, slowly but bravely
The game was easy and fun and time flew and I didn’t realize it was time for people to leave. I hate it when good things come to an end but all good things eventually end. We had a hot cup of tea and then bid goodbye.
The German friend did stay back for dinner. So for me, the fun continued into the late night. There were enough leftovers to fill us in and I got to see my German friend on TV!! He is a big shot back home!
The weather was cold at -8 degrees. Freezing some water to test the cold was the last fun thing for the night.
Snowfall
The weather report had been predicting snow since someday. The cold from the potluck night might have helped it to snow the next night.
This was the second snow of the season, but it was heavier this time. I would have missed it again unless my friend had messaged me. The rooms in Germany are warm and noise proof.
It was past midnight. I was prepared to sleep when I got the message. The room was so cozy that I was reluctant to leave it at first. But my friend insisted so I went out.
View from the house
Without doubt it was the best decision. There is a nice feeling of walking in fresh snow. It is soft and leaves a crunching sound as the tiny snow grains fracture. It was lovely. It also got a bit warmer than the -8 the previous night.
Walk in snow
After enjoying the snow, the following morning I woke up worried. My shoes aren’t waterproof and if all that snow melted, it would make my feet cold.
Surprisingly, when I looked outside the roads had already been cleared of snow and the city workers were clearing the footpaths. That was a relief because it meant as long as I keep to the footpaths I won’t be getting my shoes wet.
When I reached university, I was greeted with a snowman.
Snowman in the evening
The snow started melting the next day as the temperature was above 0. It got wet everywhere but not so much to wet my shoes. After 3 days most snow had melted. The temperature has been hovering between -1 and 3 for the week. 1 week since the snow I still see some piles of ice where the city workers had piled it.
In the meantime, I took advantage of the black Friday week to buy myself a good winter shoe. I am now waiting for the next snow when I shall walk over to my fill.
Studies have picked up pace and I also have more friends now. It gets difficult to find spare time. In the midst of the time crunch, is the Stomach! It demands food all the time.
When it comes to food I was a pampered son, student, employee and husband. I never had to worry about food from my childhood through the education and then in my work places and finally at home. Food was always available cooked on my plate. Now, I think about the next meal before I finish the current.
Honestly, it is not very bad. I feel responsible and the need to eat, shop and cook sets my timetable. I feel I am getting more disciplined in time management. So, I like it (as if I have an option there😉)
All this rant is because my food is sorted tonight. My flatmate has cooked which I eat. There might be “No free lunch” but there sure is free dinner tonight!
The Spidy Flatmate
Since the free food comes from my flatmate, I should write about her first. Some people are too well connected. One such is my flatmate. She spins her web of network way too well.
In just one week I have met three people from different countries. I feel I am making new friends all by myself but seems we always have the common connect, my flatmate. It just makes so much easier to make friends when the person is already a friend of your flatmate!
So, she was in a college club called BEST which among other things actively helps network with people. These clubs are quite fun. You make friends from all over the world. That’s how people from neighboring countries – those who have just started studying masters with us, already know her.
This is the second personality in my life at FAU who is so well connected. This has been my secret sauce in making friends quickly.
Evolonic
There are several clubs in the Univeristy. Evolonic is a club which works with drone and now in robotics. They focus on fire detection and rescue. The club isn’t as big as BEST or EELISA. But, it interests me! So I am joining it. It feels like I have too many things in my plate, but let’s see where it takes me.
The guys here are cool. They know so much about electronics and building drones and robots. What is more exciting is that they are now going to start new projects in robotics – My passion from during Bachelor study.
What is even better is that there are talks of buying a robot dog. I am too scared of dogs to go anywhere near them but I think this one shall be an exception. They will have to pull me away from it!
Missing Photo from Bambreg
The last time I went to Bamberg I missed visiting one spot. I was looking forward to visiting it again and this week I could do it.
I had enrolled into a Buddy program. The Buddy volunteers arranged for a city walk in Bamberg. It was meant to meet new people and to have a nice time.
We were only few people in this group. The small size of the group helped in knowing the people better.
I also got a chance to click the photos that I missed in my first trip. I had missed seeing the old Rathaus from the smaller bridge. It shows that the Rathaus was built on an artificial island. I also visited the “Little Venice” part of Bamberg.
Sheep Parade
This is one of the most interesting that I have witnessed in a long time. I never thought I would be so hyped to see a few hundred sheep walking together.
In Nurnberg, every winter the shepherds migrate their sheep from the summer pastures to the winter grazing grounds. The summer pastures are near Pegnitz Valley. The high grounds here get very cold often remaining at negative temperatures. Due to this reason the sheep are moved to the warmer ground of the winter pastures near Furth.
They roughly walk a distance of 20 kms from the east to west of Nurnberg. This migration also forms a part of their tradition. They walk through the Hauptmarkt (Main Market). My friends and I were among the hundreds others who had gathered to see this sight.
By the time we reached the place, tall Germans were already there. After a long hunt we found a suitable spot to see the sheep. There were excited kids and us. We were equally excited if not more to watch the 800 sheep cross.
After much wait they arrived! They were a train of sheep and they walked very fast.
Then came the obvious question: what happens to all the poop they leave behind? Dog owners have to pick up every tiny turd… so are the shepherds going to pick up after 800 sheep? Absolutely not. They just smile and keep walking.
What actually happens is kind of magical: people step on it, smear it around, and gradually redistribute microscopic sheep-poop particles across the entire city. City cleans itself soon
After this serious research over the sheep poop we wanted to see the sheep again. It was like they way we enter a crowded Hindu temple and after hours of waiting you just get a very short glimpse. So, we decided to take a tram and travel to the west of Nurnberg (Pegnitztal West).
This turned out to be a great decision. This was an open field and it wasn’t as crowded as before. We arrived before the sheep and we got some nice photos of the sheep, us and the shepherds. The sheep were happy too to see so much grass and so few humans.
I learned a thing. In German sheep makes the sound “bähh, bähh” and in India “Meh”. But the sheep don’t seem to care. They sounded the same!
I also realized the smallest most random thing has the potential to make us happy. Chase sheep and happiness will follow!
The university started 1 month back. We have already made some good friends but we haven’t yet met outside the university so far. So we decided to go for a trek. And what better way to plan a trek than give the responsibility to the only German in our class.
We chose him as the leader and he did an exceptional job as choosing the spot. There were caves, hills and beautiful autumn colors. We decided to go to Muggendorf which is 1 hr from Erlangen.
We formed the WhatsApp group with 11 people who wanted to join. We ended up with 7 (6 Indian and 1 German) people finally. Some had other priorities and one woke up with a sore back.
The Group
Off we go
The plan was to take the morning RE29 train to Forchheim. From there change to RB22 Ebermannstadt. Finally, a bus would take us to the start of the trek at Mugendorf.
I was supposed to board the train at 0825 from Erlangen. There were 2 from Nurnberg and they started the journey earlier at 0810. Another friend wanted to join us directly at Forchheim. This guy, we accidently spotted him seated in the train at the Erlangen station so we got him off the train.
The journey started for some with a small hiccup for some – as the day was the first day of the month, the Deutchland ticket (bus pass) did not renew for some. So, they were not sure if they could travel. One did not join and the other one braved and joined us.
So the five of us boarded the train but we couldn’t meet the other two inside the train. A short 20 minutes ride brought us to Forchheim. Here we met the other two and we changed the train to RB22.
Another 20 minutes and we were at the Ebermannstadt station. We changed to the final bus which would take us to the start of the trek.
And then came of moment of truth — would the mighty PDF ticket rescue the ones whose app wasn’t reflecting the ticket update? Since this was a smaller place the bus driver wanted to check the tickets of everyone. Luckily, he was ok with the PDF and we reached the start of the trail.
A single coach train
Cave 1
The trek was supposed to be a 12 km long trek. The view from the bus stop was already beautiful. The woods had wonderful colors. Knowing that we were going to walk through it filled us with anticipation.
The hills we climbed
There were few other people also walking the trail whom we met. We greeted them with the only German words we knew – Hallo!! The woods have so many different trails one could follow that for the most parts we were alone in the woods.
The trek started with a steep climb through the village. And the we entered the woods. We were walking so slowly pausing every some distance to take a snap. Finally, there was a group of old people. The German friend reminded us that we might get overtaken by the oldies – that hit our pride and we immediately started walking faster.
In that hurry, we missed a turn and we reached above the cave we were supposed to go into. We then started going down a slippery steep slope for the cave. We noticed that the oldies overtook us.
Just before we got overtaken
Nevertheless, the slope was fun on its own. Adventurous and a bit risky. Some already started slipping. But we managed to reach the cave without anyone getting hurt.
The cave mentioned that it might have bats inside. The entry to the cave was narrow. I pictured myself running out being chased by bats like in Scooby doo.
The cave was empty and dark. There were some used up candles to the side. I finally saw stalactites and stalagmites for the first time! I knew what they were in theory, but I only realized which was which after our German friend explained it.
Autumn colors and Cafe
We continued the hike. We still had 11.3 kms to cover atleast. This first spot was just 700 m but we made it longer because of the missed turn.
A short distance from there we got the view of the open fields and beautiful autumn colors. The walk was on mostly flat grounds.
Autumn Colors
Fields
A colourful tree
The long road
Sunflower
Berries, Stream and Cafe
One of our Indian friends asked our German buddy if a berry we found was edible, and he confidently said yes — but I noticed he didn’t eat it himself.
A little further down the trail, we spotted the same berries again, and this time I saw him pop one into his mouth. I asked if he was sure it was safe, and he grinned, saying he had checked after the first encounter. If the German was eating it, I figured I could too. The berries were sour but was interesting.
Then we ate the berries as we walked beside a stream. Soon we reached a beautiful cafe. It was a flour mill powered by the stream. The turbine still worked but mostly for aesthetics I guess. It was now a small cafe.
Cafe
Stream
Riesenberg
At this point we were slightly getting hungry. We ate some fruits and decided to have our lunch at the next view point. It was some 2 kms away.
We traced our path back along the other bank of the stream.
Stream enroute Riesenberg
We reached Riesenberg.This was an interesting structure with use arches. This was originally a cave that caved in, leaving behind the huge arches. This was covered with leaves making the place look more captivating.
Some passerby offered to click our group photo. This was the second time in the day when people volunteered to click our photo. The first time was the group photo above.
Collapsed cave
View from the cave
The wall had this inscribed on it. Quite ironic since the rock collapsed! Rock is also not permanent afterall.
“Following the path of the wind, come to the rock — the clouds may move and shift, but the rock stands unchanging through time.”
Rock Engraving
Lunch and Cave 2
We now had to find a good place to have lunch. All the good places were occupied so we climbed up some rocks like a bunch of monkeys. Had our lunch. Hunger indeed is the best appetizer. Everything tasted so delicious.
Up the rocks
After the lunch we walked to the next cave. On the way, we met couple of interesting people. An old husband who has collected wild flowers and gifted his wife those. Then a cyclist climbing a very steep climb. To top it all off, a mother was on the hike with her adorable little baby, under one year old, snugly secured in a kangaroo-style baby sling.
Another steep downhill slide and we made it to the final cave.
Cave again
Way back
The way back was fairly uneventful as we wanted it to be. We were all a bit tired after the 12 kms hike. We were extremely lucky to reach the bus stop at exactly the right time. If we had missed the bus the next bus was after 2 hours.
I was surprised the whole time to see so many people on hike. I love it that people here are so active and fit. I also met people with cheerful smiles and greetings all along. I also found the locals very welcoming with two of them volunteering to click our snaps even.
Our German friend was surprised why we clicked so many photos. For us everything was new and for him everything was usual. I secretly wished I could always see things with the same awe as today and I never get used to it!
Iteniary
Outbound: Nürnberg Hbf → Muggendorf Forchheimer Str.
Time
From / Platform
Transport
Duration
08:10
Nürnberg Hbf, Platform 4 C-F
R-Bahn RE 29 → Erfurt Hbf
24 min
08:40
Forchheim (Oberfr), Platform 8
R-Bahn RB 22 → Ebermannstadt
19 min
09:05
Ebermannstadt
Bus 389 → Gößweinstein Freibad
12 min
Return: Muggendorf Forchheimer Str. → Nürnberg Hbf
