I attended this event two years ago and blogged about my experience. However, I enjoyed it much more this time because I got to share it with my loved ones.

For some reason, I was expecting a sit down restaurant with exotic décor. However, the décor is simple, and patrons place their orders with the cashier upon arrival. Maiwand Kabob’s main dish is of course kabobs, which come in chicken, lamb, beef and kofta (ground beef). The Afghani flavor is added with seasoning and various side dishes, such as mint/garlic yogurt sauce, chickpea curry, samosas and bolani.

We both ordered the lamb and chicken kabob combo, which came with homemade Tandoori bread, rice, salad and a yogurt sauce, as well as a side of chickpea curry. I like how they cook your meal upon ordering so everything is hot and fresh. After about 15 minutes, our number was called to inform us that our food was ready. I was surprised at the enormous serving; we could have split one order.

When I originally read the menu, I assumed the food would taste just like Indian food; however, I was wrong. The flavoring was milder, not as spicy, and everything tasted different but in a great way. The meats were juicy and cooked to perfection, and the rice was sweetened with raisons.  While the chickpea curry and somosa tasted good, I definitely prefer the spicier Indian versions. Also, I had a diet coke, but I wish my stomach had room to try the mango shake or yogurt drink.

Overall, I am very excited about this establishment because it adds variety to local options like Bob Evans and Ruby Tuesdays. I cannot wait to go back and try other items on the menu, such as mantu, ground beef and scallion filled dumpling topped with homemade yogurt, meet sauce and mint, and mashawa soup, bean and lentil soup with chicken topped with yogurt.

For those of you that live in Maryland near Columbia and Arundel Mills, I encourage you to check out the Maiwand Kabob establishment in your area.

Hotel – we stayed at Kabuki Hotel, which is an interesting property that offered a mix of Japanese and western décor. Our room, while small with all the typical furnishing, had huge Japanese print screens in front of the windows, a long deep tub and shower without walls and a Zen like shrine with a spotlight. Outside, there was a Japanese garden adjacent to the hotel with a koi pond and small walking bridge. There was also a Japanese spa, but there was no time to relax with all the activities just steps away.

Shopping – our hotel was connected to a mall filled with mostly Japanese stores, including sushi bars, a dollar and general store with “made in Japan” products, toy stores with a lot of Hello Kitty merchandise and clothing stores with kimonos. While there, we spent a lot of time in the bookstore to peruse through magazines, cookbooks and origami books. Yes, we could not read Japanese; however, fashion and humor are universal. We also enjoyed a snack from Bo’s favorite crepe café.

Dinner – For our first night, Steph and I ate sushi at the hotel restaurant, as we were quite exhausted from a long flight and still on east coast time. However, with Becky’s arrival on Friday, Bophany took us to Shabu-Sen restaurant. Shabu-shabu is a Japanese dish that is like fondue – you dip and eat. Shabu-shabu comes with a pot of steamed broth, thinly sliced beef, seafood, tofu, vegetables, rice and dipping sauces. To eat, you throw whatever you want in the pot, wait a minute or two for it to cook, pull out the food with chopsticks, dip it into the peanut or soy sauce, take a scoop of rice and eat. It’s so easy and fun, especially when you have a cup of sake on the side.

Festival – a Cherry Blossoms festival took place over the weekend on the same street as our hotel. While Washington, DC’s festival is way better (see my blog posting on April 10, 2010), I did enjoy the various vendors, sword fighting demonstration and musicians. Best of all, they rolled out a large banner that read “SF Cares for Japan” in honor of the earthquake/tsunami victims in Japan. They took an areal photo of the crowd holding the banner and plan to send it to Japan.

On every occasion I stay in San Francisco, I usually make a point to visit Chinatown, which is one of the best in the nation. However, this time, I did not miss it because I had Japantown. This new location made my trip so much more interesting, especially when I got to share it with the ladies!

A few more photos from my weekend:

I love the look of foreign fabrics, as they are a reflection of various cultures. In this exhibit, there was a large collection of ikats from the 19^th century that were made into elaborate robes (a.k.a chapan or chalet). In order to learn as much as possible about this unique material, I took advantage of a tour led by the docent. She informed me that in the 1800s only individuals from the elite class wore ikats due to the time and money it took to make them. They exchanged ikats as gifts at political or economic meetings and also used them as dowries for brides. However, over time people from middle to lower incomes wore ikats but just for special occasions.

Ikat Display

The ikats on display varied in color, size and patterns. The robes made for women were more tailored by the waste and arms than for men. Some patterns were shaped in figures that represent nature (e.g. trees, flowers and birds) and meant to reflect spirituality. The ikat robes on the outside were either all silk or silk mixed with cotton and on the inside were all cotton in a different pattern . I also learned that many Jewish craftsmen made ikats during this time. They mostly died their yarn in blue, which differed from red, the more popular color. The docent informed me that this region is hot during the day and cold at night, which explained why people wore layers underneath the ikats. Furthermore, she said that individuals in Uzbekistan continue to wear ikats today, but usually for special events like weddings and other cultural events.

I completely enjoyed the detail and vibrant colors used to make each ikat. While most ikats are made into robes, I was told that they have been transformed into other types of clothing and wall hangings. I wonder if there are any merchants in the U.S. that sell ikat products. If you know of any, let me know. I’d love to wear something made in this incredible fabric.

Today I visited stores that sell jewelry made from all over the world. I went to Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade organization that sells handcrafted merchandise made by Asian, African, Latin American and Middle Eastern artisan groups. I bought a gorgeous gold necklace with rich green stones made in India and brass earrings from Kenya. I also went to Pier 1 Imports, an eclectic global retail store, where I found a bright green beaded necklace made in Indonesia.

While I did not buy much, I know I can continue to liven up my little black dress or sweater by purchasing ethnic accessories at different places. Next time, I will go to a cultural museum shop or my “go to” international store, World Market. If you have any other suggestions, let me know.

For lunch, we started with spring rolls that were filled with steamed prawns, fresh herbs and rice noodles and served with a side of peanut sauce. To drink I had kumquat soda with fresh kumquats, a very refreshing beverage. For my main dish, I ordered Bun Bo Hue, a spicy noodle soup with large round rice noodle in anchovy broth with seafood and pork slices served with fresh bean sprouts, shredded morning glory and banana blossoms. At first I was a little reluctant because the seafood and pork slices reminded me of sliced spam. However, I focused on the taste, not the look, which helped me enjoy my meal. I found the dish to be very flavorful and not too light or heavy, which was perfect after a nice workout. This was probably my third time eating Vietnamese food. I have yet to be disappointed and want to continue to explore new dishes.

Throughout my trip, we sampled other great ethnic cuisines, including Mexican fish tacos and Japanese sushi, and explored fun local neighborhoods, from Queen Anne to Pike Market. There is so much to do and see in Seattle. I can’t wait to go back to eat at more local restaurants, sample more Washington wines, visit more areas, and catch up with good friends.

The wedding celebration took place at Woodend Nature Sanctuary – Audubon Naturalist Society, a symbolic location for the bride and groom. The evening started in a small garden with a concert of Native American music. By 7PM, all guests arrived, and the wedding began on time. Throughout the entire ceremony, explanations were given for each ritual, which gave me a better understanding and a sense of engagement.

Processional and Opening – the wedding started off like most Christian weddings where the groom came in first to wait on his bride’s arrival. However, the bride’s entrance was completely different than what I expected. Lina did not come in after a procession of bridesmaids; instead, the women in her family surrounded her and led her into the garden area. If you recall, I was with Lina a month ago when she selected her dress. I cried then but was way more emotional this time. Lina looked stunning and so in the moment; I was incredibly happy for her.

Once the bride and groom were together, their mothers welcomed their child’s future spouse. Lina’s mom presented Paul a candle on a decorated copper tray, and Paul’s mom placed her hands on Lina’s face and whispered something personal in her ear. Reverend Green of All Souls Church welcomed everyone, which was followed by the fathers giving garlands to their child’s future spouse to signify two souls proclaiming their love and acceptance of each other.

Prayer, Reflections and Pledge – a moving poem written by Paul was read; a reading and reflections were provided; and family and friends gave a pledge of support.

Hindu Ceremonial Rituals & Wedding Vows – the wedding continued with spiritual rituals that I had never seen before:

Hasta Melap (Blissful Union) – friends of the couple tied Lina and Paul’s right hands together with a shear white scarf to symbol eternal love.

Mengal Fera (Holy Circumambulation) – while the scarf was still tied to them, a small fire on the ground was made in front of them. Depending on the faith, the fire can signify spark of life, Universal witness, Earth symbol, sustenance, Spirit and the presence of God. At that time, Lina’s parents made offerings to sustain the fire, and then Lina and Paul walked around it in commitment to the four sacred Hindu wedding vows:

Dharma – walking in the highest path of good, towards each other, their families, society and the Universe

Artha – generating and receiving with joy the abundance of the Universe.

Karma – celebrating life, love respect and passion in life.

Moksha – taking the journey of spiritual growth and evolution.

Next, Lina’s brother reads Saptapadi, which are the seven steps the couple will take to symbolize the seven pillars of marriage: receiving abundance; physical health; spiritual growth; love, gratitude and support; service; intellectual and personal growth; and truth and loyalty.

Afterwards, Paul presented Lina with a Mangual Sutra, a sacred necklace, to symbolize his love for her.

Personal Vows and Pronouncement – Lina and Paul read emotional and loving vows to one another before they exchanged rings. They were pronounced husband and wife, which was followed by a passionate kiss and a blessing by the parents.

Afterwards, another blessing was made though a circle of love by family and friends. This is where the parents circled Lina and Paul and placed one hand their shoulders. Next, their immediate family placed their hands on the shoulders of the parents, followed by the rest of us circling the family and placing our hands on the shoulders of the family. This powerful and energizing gesture showed Lina and Paul that we support and love them. What an incredible and spiritual moment.

After the ceremony, we partied all night long. There was a cocktail hour, a dinner with both American and Indian food and dancing to American and Bollywood music. I had a blast and enjoyed the friendly group of family and friends. Lina and Paul perfectly fused together their cultures for this special occasion. Their spirit and love for the earth and one another is so incredible that I have no doubt that there love is everlasting.

Congratulations to you both!

While the café also offers basic flavors like butter pecan, pistachio and strawberry, I decided to try something new and exotic to my taste buds. Therefore, I asked to sample Soursop (Guanabana), which has the coloring of vanilla. As the server prepared my sample, I asked her where the fruit is grown because I had never heard of Guanabana before that day. I learned that the fruit is found mainly in the Caribbean, Central America and parts of Africa. The flavor tasted citrusy with a hint of banana; I found the combination to be great. I immediately ordered a single scoop on a cone to go. Yes, I was surprised to find out that after all these years there are flavors better than mint chocolate chip, my all time favorite. Regina sampled a pineapple flavor for the first time. She is a huge health nut and was surprised to find the ice cream light and incredibly good.

I am sure there are local ice cream shops around the country that sell one or two of these flavors. On your next hot summer day, go treat yourself to a tropical ice cream cone. You will enjoy every lick!

Yoga comes in many forms and is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation. For our lunch session, we watched a beginner Gaiam DVD featuring Robert Yee, a well-known yoga instructor. Instructor Yee took us through a 50-minute workout where we held several poses, including the Namaste position. As a reminder, Namaste translates to  “I greet the god within you” or “I bow (respectfully) to you” and is said during a customary greeting by pressing your palms together close to your chest. The music on the DVD is new age, a form of music influenced by Indian, Tibetan and Native American cultures. It’s the sort of music one would hear at a spa or mediation retreat.

By the end of this session, we all felt relaxed and ready for a nap, but projects and meetings were calling our names. Luckily, this session reenergized us to power through the rest of the day and allowed us to better focus on the tasks at hand.

If you want to try this ancient Indian ritual, I encourage you to take a yoga class at your local gym or use a DVD at home. And if you want to try yoga right now, watch this online video.

Well, it’s 95 degrees outside so I thought today was a good day to drink bubble tea. As I looked at the menu, I noticed a selection of iced flavored tea and milk tea that came in twenty varieties, including honey, mango, sour apple, peach, honeydew and blueberry. I was a little overwhelmed with the selection, plus there was no heading for bubble tea. I really needed help so I asked the server several questions. She informed me that all of the teas listed were bubble tea and that the milk flavor was more popular. Therefore, I decided on the passion fruit milk tea.

Another person behind the counter heard my order, shook something up and presented my tea in a clear cup with a sealed top. The chilled tea was a caramel color with a bunch of brown little balls on the bottom. They told me to take one of the large straws, punch it in the top and drink. As I drank the tea, the small balls came through the straw. They tried to explain that the balls were made of caramel and had a consistency of gummy bears. At every sip, I was forced to chew on these gummy balls, which tasted like Mascoto grapes, not my favorite. I tried to drink only the liquid, but the flavor of the caramel balls kept coming through.

While I did not love the drink, I was still curious about the tea so I went online. On bubbletea.com and Wikipedia, I learned that bubble tea is also called boba tea and originated in Taiwan. The drink has five components: a flavor (syrup or powder), creamer (milk, creamer or half & half), sweetener (sugar or honey), liquid (black or green tea) and tapioca pearls (the balls). The Tapioca pearls are jelly like and consist of caramel, starch and chamomile root extract or sweet potato, cassava root and brown sugar. The popularity of bubble tea in Taiwan and Hong Kong are just as big as soda and coffee in the U.S.

So do I recommend you try bubble tea too? Most definitely! It’s an interesting drink and worth the cultural experience.