Tag Archives: kotiruoka

Roti’n’Roll part 3

Viimeinenkään pitempiaikainen majapaikka Kandyssa  ei jättänyt meitä nälkäisiksi. Täällä tuli ehkä tehtyä enempi ruokaa kotosalla niin lounaaksi kuin iltaruoaksi. Ensinnäkin siksi, että vettä satoi ensimmäiset 3 viikkoa melkein koko ajan eikä aina hotsittanut lähteä suhailemaan sateessa kylille ruokailemaan. Toiseksi siksi, että täällä keittiö oli ehdottomasti parhaiten varustettu – oli jopa grilli, jota kylläkin käytettiin ensimmäisen kerran vasta sitten kun liesien kaasu loppui eikä heti saatu lisää 🙂

Aamupaloja tuli tehtyä neljän viikon aikana melko monta, vaikkei ihan jokaista päivää oltukaan asunnolla. Päivän tärkeimmän aterian sisältö vaihteli simppelistä jogurtti-myslistä aina suurempaan kavalkadiin sisältäen niin paahtoleipää ja munakasta kuin hedelmäsalaatteja ja tuoreita mehuja.

A simple breakfast at home - yogurth with muesli, toested bread with cheese and freshly made watermelon-papaya juice

A simple breakfast at home – yogurth with muesli, toested bread with cheese and freshly made watermelon-papaya juice

A bit more hearty breakfast - sri lanka style masala omelet, toast, fresh juice and tea & coffee

A bit more hearty breakfast – sri lanka style masala omelet, toast, fresh juice and tea & coffee

The Christmas Day breakfast would not do without the rice porridge. This time though it was kind of a cross between that and local version called kiribath.  Fresh fruits and juice and toast complete the thing.

The Christmas Day breakfast would not do without the rice porridge. This time though it was kind of a cross between that and local version called kiribath. Fresh fruits and juice and toast completed the meal.

The breakfast at Avasta Resort & Spa in Anuradhapura. Apparently you could not get it without the chicken sausages, which sadly were left un-eaten, though, Eero did take a small nibble on one of them.

The breakfast at Avasta Resort & Spa in Anuradhapura. Apparently you could not get it without the chicken sausages, which sadly were left un-eaten, even though Eero took a small nibble on one of them.

New Years days breakfast at Ohiya Hill Safari Eco Lodge. I can't say the food there would be the main reason to visit, but this special days breakfast was nice, including two types of kiribath, toast, eggs and good company.

New Years day breakfast at Ohiya Hill Safari Eco Lodge. I can’t say the food there would be the main reason to visit, but this special breakfast was nice, including two types of kiribath, toast, eggs – and good company.

Rice & Curry on Sri Lankan perusruokaa. Sitä saa lähestulkoon joka kulmalta niin päivällä kuin illallakin eikä annos ole yleensä kovin kallis. Hinta pyörii useimmissa paikoissa euron molemmin puolin. Sitä tuli syötyä niin ravintoloissa kuin take-awayna, mikä on näppärä tapa saada halpa ja hyvä lounas kotiin vietäväksi.

A rice and curry on a road side diner. Basic price gives you the selection of few veg curries and on top you can buy "add-ons" like the fish curry we have on separate plate. Tasty and cheap.

A rice and curry in a road side diner. Basic price gives you the selection of a few veg curries and on top you can buy “add-ons” like the fish curry we have on separate plate. Tasty and cheap.

A rice & curry at one of our favorite restaurants which conveniently was also the closest one. Perhaps not as great as the other dishes in the plate, nor it was not the biggest portion out there, but nonetheless still quite good. On the back is veg club sandwich which on the other hand was excellent. As well as the pink faluda drink.

A rice & curry at one of our favorite restaurants which conveniently was also the closest one. Perhaps not as great as the other dishes on the plate, nor it was not the biggest portion out there, but nonetheless still quite good. In the back is veg club sandwich which on the other hand was excellent. As well as the pink faluda drink.

Take-away rice & curry from a railway station restaurant. Neatly packed in a plastic and newspaper wrapping. Special here is the soya curry on the right. This one was a bit spicy as the restaurants main clientele is just the locals.

Take-away rice & curry from a railway station restaurant. Neatly packed in a plastic and newspaper wrapping. Speciality here is the soya curry on the right. This one was a bit spicy as the restaurant’s main clientele is locals.

In some places if you order the rice & curry for two, you get them in shared plates like here. Then you will probably get even more food than having separate portions - ev''en too much! Eero's expression also gives out the spiciness of these curries.

In some places if you order the rice & curry for two, you get them on shared plates like here. Then you will probably get even more food than having separate portions – even too much! Eero’s expression reveals the spiciness of these curries.

Rice & curry in a bit more fancier place. Price goes up in the same and you could some 7-8 sets from a street diners. Good, but not that good, though the beetroot curry was very nice. The pasta we had also was a nicely something different for a change.

Rice & curry at a bit more fancier place. For the same price you could get some 7-8 sets from a street diner. Good, but not that good, though the beetroot curry was very nice. The pasta we also had was a nice for a change.

Jo ennen lähtöä fiilisteltiin että täältä saa dosaa joka on yksinkertaistettuna etelä-intialainen täytetty lettu. Tai sinnepäin. Jotkut tykkää kuin hullu puurosta ja jotkut ei. Me ollaan sitä ensimmäistä. Harmillisen vähän tuli kuitenkin niitä syötyä ja lopulta siitä paikasta mistä sai parhaat niin haettiin vain kerran mukaan.

The best dosas we had. One is masala dosa and other is onion dosa. Usually they are served with some gravy which you dip in or coconut sambol around here.

The best dosas we had. One is masala dosa and other is onion dosa. Usually they are served with some gravy which you dip the dosa in – or coconut sambol around here.

Another version of the masala dosa on the right. On the left is the Sri Lankan kottu which is basically a mix or different vegetables fried with spices. Simple but very delicious.

Another version of the masala dosa on the right. On the left is the Sri Lankan kottu which is basically a mix or different vegetables fried with spices. Simple but very delicious.

Rice & curry ja dosa ei tosiaan ollut ainoa mitä syötiin vaan välillä tuli otettua muutakin.

Unlike in Finland, Sri Lanka has quite a few Baskin Robbins outlets through out. We did try their ice cream once.

Unlike in Finland, Sri Lanka has quite a few Baskin Robbins outlets. We tried their ice cream once.

Not in too many places you find proper salads on the menu. This place was a bit more on the "hip" side and all this kind of stuff also. Naturally this attracted quite a few western tourists in, though perhaps almost half of the customers were locals.

Not too many places offer Western style salads. This place was a bit on the “hip” side and had all this kind of stuff on the menu, which naturally attracted quite a few western tourists in.

One of the surprising things we found (via guidebook though) was The Soya Food Centre which catered all kinds of food based on soya - even ice cream :) All the food were super good and no wonder the place was packed with locals on a hot day having a few cones of frozen soya.

One of the surprising things we found (via Tripadvisor) was The Soya Food Centre which served all kinds of food based on soya – even ice cream 🙂 The food was super good and no wonder the place was packed with locals on a hot day having cones of frozen soya.

One of the best meals we had in place called Muslim Hotel. Despite the odd name they had super good food. Here we have the kottu and roti at the bottom and egg biriyani at the top. In the middle there is again the most excellent drink faluda shake.

One of the best meals we had was in a place called Muslim Hotel. Despite the odd name they had great food. Here we have the kottu and roti at the bottom and egg biriyani at the top. In the middle there is again the most excellent drink faluda shake.

Again something different. Our New Year's eve special dinner was special, but in perhaps the most flattering way. We got noodles with potatoes, cabbage, eggs and loads of chillies. Also we got chicken :) They gave also us few bits as they thought Eero might have some. He didn't though.

Again something different. Our New Year’s eve special dinner at Hill Safari Lodge in Ohiya was special, but not perhaps in the most flattering way. We got noodles with potatoes, cabbage, eggs and loads of chillies. Also we got chicken which they gave because they thought Eero might have some. He didn’t though.

Jostain syystä tuli myös vedettyä aika monta hampparia matkalla. No, ei oikeasti niin hirveän monta, mutta niitä on kiva syödä vaihteeksi täällä suunnalla, kun kasvisburgerit voi olla oikeasti jotain muuta kuin raastepihvillisiä kummajaisia.

Maybe the worst burger we had. And the same goes for the pizza slice. They pineapple juice was excellent, though. I made it myself :)

Maybe the worst burger we had. And the same goes for the pizza slice. They pineapple juice was excellent, though. I made it myself 🙂

This burger may not look much, but was very surprisingly very, very good. Also worth noting are the "normal" cucumbers they've put inside. These our normal cucumbers are quite rare and also expensive out there.

This burger may not look much, but was surprisingly very, very good. Also worth noting are the “normal” cucumbers they’ve put inside. These kind of cucumbers are quite rare and also expensive here.

Not quite burger, but something like. In most of the street side small eateries they sold some kind of buns or such. They are quite excellent value as this egg and seeni sambol bun did cost only 0,25 euros.

Not quite a burger, but something like. In most of the street side small eateries they sold some kind of buns. They are excellent value. This egg and seeni sambol bun cost only 0,25 euros.

Again at our local restaurant. Veg club and superb chips at the back and veg submarine or  sub at the front. All very delicious.

Again at our local restaurant. Veg club and superb chips at the back and veg submarine or sub at the front. All very delicious.

A burger with a bit of style. Or at least some try to do so. The burger was quite nice, even though the  odd olive there on top does look a bit out of place (it was concealing the toothpick that was holding it together). We also had eggplant caprese salad (in the middle) and vegetable noodles.

A burger with a bit of style. Or at least that’s what they aimed at. The burger was quite nice, even though the odd olive there on top does look a bit out of place (it was concealing the toothpick that was holding the burger together). We also had eggplant caprese salad (in the middle) and vegetable noodles.

Kotosalla syötiin myös aika monta kertaa, niin lounaita kuin illallisiakin. Kotona syömisen etu (oli sitten itse tehnyt tai ottanut noutoruokaa) oli se että sai syödä ainakin hitusen rauhallisemmin, kun ei tarvinnut toisen olla koko ajan perässä seuraamassa kun Eero haluaa juosta ympäri ravintolaa, kadulla tai kiivetä portaita.

Our first meal in Kandy. We had some take-away from the local restaurant, which proved to be very good. Here we have veg curry (the red rice we boiled at home), shawarma and roti on the right and some dessert cakes.

Our first meal in Kandy. We had some take-away from the local restaurant, which proved to be very good. Here we have veg curry (the red rice we boiled at home), shawarma and roti on the right and some dessert cakes.

One of our new favourites: pumpin. When we think about it, it is not that odd we liked it here too, since we "found" the butternut in South Africa few years back and liked it. The ones here were pretty similar in taste. Sometimes we boosted it with some tofu.

One of our new favourites: pumpkin. When we think about it, it is not that odd we liked it here too, since we “found” the butternut in South Africa few years back and liked it a lot. The ones here were pretty similar in taste. Sometimes we boosted it with some tofu.

Otherwise this does not look much, but the thing here is the stuff on the right. Those are actually soya pieces, which you could buy from a store in various flavours: shrimp, squid, chicken and so on. Totally vegetarian still, though. Sadly, the these didn't taste that good, because they would have been very good instant food option.

This does not look much, but the thing here is the stuff on the right. Those are actually soya pieces, which you could buy from a store in various flavours: shrimp, squid, chicken and so on. Totally vegetarian still, though. Sadly, the these didn’t taste that good. They would have been very good instant food option.

Eero develop a fancy for the pomegranate. He called it "candy" :)

Eero developed a fancy for the pomegranate. He called it “candy” 🙂

The normal routine for Eero to eat: watching Pingu and stuff bits once in a while into mouth.

The normal routine for Eero to eat: watching Pingu and stuffing bits of food into his mouth every once in a while.

Pretty much the only option to order home delivery on something was Pizza Hut. There were some other places too, but they required to phone in and quite frankly it was not too fluent to make the order with them in English and be sure you'd get what you wanted. From Pizza Hut you could do the order online :)

Pretty much the only option to have home delivery was Pizza Hut. There were some other places too, but they required phoning in and quite frankly it was not that easy to make the order with them in English and be sure you’d get what you wanted. From Pizza Hut you could order online 🙂

Maiju did couple of times this "woodapple crumble". Woodapple is a local fruit which is quite unappealing to eat by the looks of it. We did not fancy that much for its raw taste either, but it was ok for baking. Here served with yogurth and kithul treacle.

Maiju made a couple of times this “woodapple crumble”. Woodapple is a local fruit which is quite unappealing to eat by the looks of it. We did not fancy that much its taste raw either, but it was ok for baking. Here served with yogurth and kithul treacle.

On our anniversary we had bought some wine, which proved to be a good one and bought only that afterwards. Cheeses are rare and expensive, though we did find some brie and other cheese they call "gouda", but was quite far from it. Despite that it was edible and being chili flavored, it was perfect for omelettes.

On our anniversary we had bought some wine, which proved to be a good one and bought only that afterwards. Cheeses are rare and expensive, though we did find some brie and other cheese they call “gouda”, but was quite far from it. Despite that it was edible and being chili flavored, it was perfect for making omelettes.

Towards the end of our stay our stove ran out gas and only then we got ourselves to do some barbecuing. Here we have clockwise from the top-left: gourd (kind of sour zucchini), plantains (cooking bananas), tiger prawns, tofu, more gourd, lady fingers and pumpkin.

Towards the end of our stay our stove ran out of gas and only then we got ourselves to do some barbecuing. Here we have clockwise from the top-left: gourd (kind of sour zucchini), plantains (cooking bananas), tiger prawns, tofu, more gourd, lady fingers and pumpkin.

Our last meal, which meant we had to empty fridge from all the left over food we had. We had some thalapath fish, mushroom-onion fry, pasta, curried pumpkin and vegetable fingers.

Our last meal, which meant we had to empty the fridge from all the left over food we had. We had some thalapath fish, mushroom-onion fry, pasta, curried pumpkin and vegetable fingers.

Siinä ne oli ne Sri Lankan ruoat. Nälkä ei jäänyt kertaakaan ja useammin kuin kerran sai pökerryttävän hyvää ruokaa. Toki matkaan mahtui huonompiakin ruokia, mutta keskiverrosti jäätiin reippaasti plussan puolelle. Kasvissyöjälle ei Sri Lanka ehkä tarjoa niin loputtomasti vaihtoehtoja kuin naapurimaa Intia, mutta ei kylläkään ehditty tällä parin kuukauden matkalla kyllästyä yhden ainoaan ruokaan. Useampaa olisi tehnyt mieli syödä vielä useammin, mutta päivät ja samoin ruokailukerrat on aina rajalliset.

Kolmesti Koggalassa / Three trips to Koggala

Useampaan otteeseen käytiin Mirissasta parinkymmenen kilometrin päässä sijaitsevassa Koggalassa, koska siellä asuu tutuntuttuja. Sri Lankassa paljon aikaa viettäneen Maijun opettajan/kollegan Panun kautta olimme saaneet yhteyden Koggalassa asuvaan Vishakaan ja hänen perheeseensä. Vishakasta tekee täkäläisittäin melko poikkeuksellisen se, että hän puhuu erinomaista suomea, koska on asunut suomalaisten ”kummiensa” luona Lievestuoreella.

Harjaleikit / Playing with the broom

Harjaleikit / Playing with the broom

Ensimmäinen visiitti tehtiin heti maanantaisen tulomme jälkeisenä keskiviikkona. Silloin Vishaka tarjosi lounasta ja esitteli taloa ja perhettään. He pyörittävät kotinsa vieressä liikettä, jossa myydään matonkuteita (ja valmiita räsymattoja). Keskiviikko oli kiireinen päivä, kun räsyjä oli tullut tehtaalta hirmu läjä lajiteltavaksi. Perheen tyttö Yenushi oli vaatinut saada jäädä koulusta kotiin ja oli siksi paikalla leikittämässä ja syöttämässä Eeroa.

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Toisen kerran käytiin Koggalassa seuraavana maanantaina, jolloin Vishaka ja hänen miehensä Prijantha käyttivät meitä venesafarilla Koggala-järvellä. Rannat ja järven keskellä olevat saaret ovat vehreän kasvillisuuden peitossa, ja järvivesikin liplattaa vihreänä.

Koggala-järvi / Koggala lake

Koggala-järvi / Koggala lake

Safarin pysähdyspisteet itsessään olivat jo Intian-reissuilta tuttuja, vähän väkinäisiä turistiaktiviteetteja. Yhdellä saarella esiteltiin pikaisesti kanelipuun käsittelyä, tarjottiin teet ja tuotiin tarjolle ostettavaksi (tyyristä) kanelia eri olomuodoissaan.

Eero & Vishaka

Eero & Vishaka

Kanelin käsittelyä / Cinnamon-making

Kanelin käsittelyä / Cinnamon-making

Seuraavalla kierrätettiin ylimalkaisesti halki maustekasveja täynnä olevan puutarhan, tarjottiin teet ja johdatettiin myymälään, jossa oli jos jonkinlaista yrttirohdosta ilmeiseen turisti- eli ylihintaan (esim. supermarketista ostettu 475 millilitran sitruunaruohoöljy hyttysten karkottamiseen Rs 340 VS spice gardenin 100 ml puteli hintaan Rs 700). Kun kuitenkin oli tarvetta sekä kanelille että neem-puun öljylle Eeron saamien hyttysenpaukamien hoitoon, niin pidettiin mekin osaltamme tätä turistitaloutta.

Safarin tuoreimpana oli vetonaulana kala-jalkakylpylä, jossa sai n. kahdella eurolla lilluttaa / kutituttaa jalkojaan vartin ajan (ken tahtoi). Pikkurahjojahan nämä ovat, mutta ei voi olla tuntematta oloaan aina yhtä höynäytetyksi, kun kulkee kuin pässi narussa kohti exit through the gift shoppia…

Kalakylpylä / Fish spa

Kalakylpylä / Fish spa

Järvisafarin jälkeen vierailtiin vielä paikallisessa kilpikonnahautomossa. Nämä kilpparifarmitkin ovat turisteihin nojaava elinkeino, jota harjoitetaan eri puolilla rannikkoa. Paikka oli vähän surullinen paikka pienine betonialtaineen (verrattuna siihen, kun on sukelluksilla nähnyt kilpikonnia avomeressä), mutta pyrkimyksenä on suojella kilpparinpoikasia munien kuoriutumisesta siihen saakka, että ne voidaan vapauttaa mereen.

Vastasyntynyt "kimmuuki" tai "kilppi" / A newborn turtle

Vastasyntynyt “kimmuuki” tai “kilppi” / A newborn turtle

Osaa Sri Lankan kilpikonnahautomoista pidetään nykyään ei-niin-pyyteettömin tarkoitusperin, koska niillä voi tienata turisteilta helppoa rahaa. Uskotaan kuitenkin sinisilmäisesti ettei oma käyntikohteemme kuulu niihin. Ainakin meitä opastanut tyttönen oli luottamusta herättävän suloinen.

Eero & Prijantha

Eero & Prijantha

Oli käyntikohteista mitä mieltä tahansa, meillä oli oikein hauska retkipäivä hyvässä seurassa. Retkellä Eero otti kaverikseen erityisesti Prijanthan. Lisäksi Vishakan talolla oli taas leikkikaverina Yenushi ja tarjolla jälleen herkullinen lounas. Paljon safaria kiinnostavampi kokemus olikin se, että pääsi kylään paikallisten ihmisten kotiin ja kurkistamaan vähän heidän arkeensa.

Innokas museovieras / An excited museum visitor

Innokas museovieras / An excited museum visitor

Wickramasinghen kiesikokoelma / The carriage at the Wickramasinghe

Wickramasinghen kiesikokoelma / The carriage at the Wickramasinghe

Seuraavana perjantaina Vishaka halusi vielä järjestää meille läksiäisillallisen ennen kuin jatkamme matkaa rannikkoa pitkin vähän pohjoisemmas. Iltapäivä Koggalassa käynnistyi visiitillä Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museumissa. Kuten meidän opaskirjakin toteaa, kyseessä on yllättävän mielenkiintoinen kansatieteellinen museo. Jännimpiä olivat värikkäät naamiot (mm. erilaisia demoneita ja esim. poliiseja, sotilaita, partureita ym. ammattien tai kansanryhmien ilmeikkäitä edustajia), perinneasut eri puolilta Sri Lankaa ja isot kokoelmat erilaisia rattaita ja veneitä. Paikalla oli myös pari koululaisryhmää, mutta oppilaille taisi museokäynnistä jäädä päällimmäiseksi mieleen Eero. Museo oli selvästi suunnattu ennemmin paikallisille kuin turisteille (toisin kuin järvisafarin käyntikohteet), ja oli senkin puoleen kiva käyntikohde. Voidaan kyllä suositella kaikille jotka sattuvat liikkumaan näillä main.

Eero & ihailijat / Eero with his fan club

Eero & ihailijat / Eero with his fan club

Exit through the book shop

Exit through the book shop

Kun palattiin Vishakan luo, oli illallinen jo hyvällä mallilla tekeytymässä. Työnjako oli se, että Vishaka valmisti, me tarjosimme. Ihan reilua varmaan, mutta pakko sanoa että illallinen tuli melko tyyriiksi jopa täkäläisellä hintatasolla. Ruoka oli kuitenkin hyvää ja sitä riitti monelle. Lisäksi diiliin kuului Eeron viihdyttäminen niin että saatiin itse syödä rauhassa, kerrankin 🙂

Kookosraastetta / Scraping the coconut

Kookosraastetta / Scraping the coconut

Isäntäväen kanssa / Us with our hosts

Isäntäväen kanssa / Us with our hosts

We visited Koggala, 20 km from Mirissa, three times because of friends of a friend who live there. They prepared lovely meals for us and showed us some local sights. The Koggala lake safari was a bit of a disappointment with touristy visits to a cinnamon farm, spice garden and fish spa, whose main point was exiting through the gift shop. Also the Koggala turtle hatchery was a little gloomy, but let’s hope they are in it not for the money but for the conservation of turtles. The Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, on the other hand, was an interesting place to visit and is highly recommended. And of course, it was great to be able to visit a local home and get a glimpse of Sri Lankan everyday life.