Monsoon Winds

Before immigrating to America, I lived in India for a short period of time. Although my time in India was ephemeral, the sights, sounds, and smells of my small fishing village imprinted into my young mind. I remember those memories so vividly that the smells draft into my memory occasionally. Bendamurlanka sits engulfed by the Indian Ocean and the sacred Godavari River. It is in this village where I experienced my first monsoon and taste for exotic spices.

The monsoon winds are responsible for the lush vegetation in India especially surrounding Bendamurlanka. The monsoon winds and rain affect all aspects of Indian life. Ancient temples are built with sloping roofs to protect the buildings against the torrential downpour. The monsoon winds blow from the coast of Africa through the Arabian Sea bringing rain to the Western coast of India. It is said that early sailors used these winds to develop the trade routes between India and the rest of the world. The complex network of sailing ships, dependent on seasonal monsoon winds, carried cargoes from India and Southeast Asia to ports throughout the ancient world. The routes along the monsoon winds brought the Indian world of fragrant and exotic spices to the rest of the world. Just like the monsoon winds brought a new world of spices to the far away lands, I also hope to expose visitors to a new world of cuisine.