The Tiger‘s Nest, Bhutan

One of the world’s most precariously placed monasteries, Paro Taktsang (better known as the Tiger’s Nest) perches tentatively on a cliffside in the upper Paro valley in Bhutan. The elegant structure is built around a cave in the cliff face that is said to have been used by Guru Padmasambhava for meditation in the 8th century. Legend has it that he flew to the cave on the back of a female tiger.

Discovering the Tamarind

There is a Buddhist parable about the tamarind tree in which its seeds are said to be symbols of faithfulness and forbearance. While the story doesn’t say much about the tamarind as food, it does illuminate a little bit about the history of this venerable plant and its incredible sweet and sour fruit. Originating in Africa, the tamarind tree spread all over the world and was widely known in Buddha’s time. In the early 1600s, the tree and its delicious fruit were introduced to the Western Hemisphere, specifically, Mexico and the Caribbean. This widespread importation and trade of the tamarind over so many years is a testament to both its usefulness and its possibilities for today’s chefs.

The Tamarind Fruits

Green Paradise® dwarf sweet tamarind Tamarindus indica 1 Healthy live plant seedling : Amazon.in: Garden & Outdoors

Amazing Facts About the Tiger

As the largest member of the cat family, tigers are strong, powerful and one of nature’s most feared predators. Their beautiful orange and black striped coats provide camouflage when hunting prey at night when they can reach speeds of 65 km/hr (~40 mph).

The tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the genus Panthera and the largest living cat  species native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is traditionally classified into nine recent subspecies, though some recognise only two subspecies, mainland Asian tigers and the island tigers of the Sunda Islands.