Chopsticks!

I remember a time growing up in India where using chopsticks was a rarity and a skill indeed, given you rarely saw them at a regular Chinese restaurant, only at the 5 stars. Honestly, I loved visiting these restaurants predominantly because I knew Id be able to use chopsticks that day. An art I didn't get to practice very often.I'd later take the chopsticks home, thinking I'd spend more time with them, becoming more proficient in the bargain. That never ended up happening. Two tries later I'd ditch the chopsticks and opt for my spoon or fork instead, it took much less effort and was so much faster. 

However on the odd occasion that presented itself wherein I was in the company of people who were dexterous with these two sticks, I'd do my best to look well acquainted with them. My levels of concentration and determination on that particular day would decide how accomplished I'd be.

And then many years later I get married and move to chopstick heaven - THE EAST! Singapore and now Hong Kong. Over here its survival! Whether its takeaway or you being seated at the local food court,  that's all you will get to eat your meal with. Chopsticks and a soup spoon! A spoon I grew up hating. Could never understand why anyone would substitute the use of a perfectly well designed table spoon, with this bulky thick piece of ceramic to shove more mass volume,than soup down into my then very little mouth. 

And so be careful what you don't wish for, because its more than likely that that's exactly what you will end up with :) Having said that today I could give the chinese a run for their money with my chopstick skills ;)

Hair mousse = Clothes Starch?

A strange thought occurred to me this morning after a shower. 

I recently permed my hair, and as lovely as it looks, it insists on the use of some sort of hair stiffening lotion/cream/serum when its wet, so that it may set into lovely curls when dry. I've never been one to use or propagate the use of unnecessary products and cosmetics, however Hair Mousse seems to have become a must in my hair maintenance routine the last month. 

This morning however, I happened to wear a low back dress which made the wet mousse come in contact with my skin, and so when it dried,  it ended up feeling like a film of starch on my back. Which made me think!Both Hair Mousse and Starch serve the same purpose- temporary stiffness, which if stretched  the stiffness disappears. 

This reminded me of what my grandmom said people of her generation did to starch cotton sarees in Kerala. As rice is the staple food of that region, most households stored the starchy water after cooking their rice and later that afternoon dipped their washed cotton sarees in it and hung it out to dry on their terraces/fields. The result was a perfectly starched cotton saree. All this of course much before the advent of chemical starch available in stores today. 

And now for my theory - if I were to rinse my hair out in Rice water after a shower and let it dry, would it serve the same purpose as hair mousse? A safer, healthier more natural product wouldn't you say?