Do you like chocoate?

Do you like chocolate?

I am sure you do. 

How is your temptation for it compared to your childhood? 

hmmm..... you are taking your time to think about it, eh? well, I guess, for some it is the same and for many it changes over the period of time. 

In my case, I have shifted towards dark chocolate and continuously look for different varieties of it.

But do your really know about chocolate? the history of it?

The big names like, Cadbury, Lindt, Mars, Hershey, Nestle and many more, what roles did they all play in making this bean a household name. How did they do it? 

It took them a lifetime making this happen. The Chocolate kings, I call them, they were the pioneers full of passion and enthusiasm. 

To all the chocolate fans and book lovers, I recommend the following two books to really enjoy the history and development of this bean which is rivaled closely by the coffee bean.

The first books is "The Chocolate Wars" by Deborah Cadbury.

200 years of history. All big names, their life stories, their success, their failures, their dreams and their achievements. Kit Kat, Mars, Dairy Milk Chocolate, M&Ms, and many more names, how were they created. You'll find this and much more in this book.

Deborah Cadbury

I also recommend the following book

CHOCOLATE: A BITTER SWEET SAGA OF DARK AND LIGHT by Mort Rosenblum.

The authors tells the story of the cacao bean starting from South American continent and spreading into the rest of the world. How a bean was used as a currency and a means for trading, also, the bitter rivalry by the powers who controlled the cacao bean trade.

The author also talks about expertise of Belgian, Swiss, French chocolatiers and how they do magic with cacao bean.

 Mort Rosenblum

My special tip: read this book when you are free of daily hassles and have some form of chocolate with you, preferably hot chocolate, chocolate shake or simply a bar of chocolate. 

I am sure you will enjoy reading these lovely books. And next time, when you look at a Dairy Milk bar or kit kat, you will remember how they were created. 

Do share your thoughts with me, did you like these books and did you really enjoy reading them. 

Before I go, I'll share the following quote which really translates what I mean to say:

Nine of every ten persons say they love chocolate.

The tenth lies.

 Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

All is Lost

Just a few days back I saw a wonderful movie that really kept me hooked till the very end. Remember 'Cast Away' in which Tom Hanks got stuck on an island? well, this time Robert Redford plays the role of a determined mariner who faces all sorts of odds against him.

I highly recommend this movie, watch it on a weekend. Make yourself properly comfortable to enjoy the visual impacts and the message.

This film is a gripping, visceral and powerfully moving tribute to ingenuity and resilience. Deep into a solo voyage in the Indian Ocean, an unnamed man wakes to find his 39-foot yacht taking on water after a collision with a shipping container left floating on the high seas. With his navigation equipment and radio disabled, the man sails unknowingly into the path of a violent storm. Despite his success in patching the breached hull, his mariner's intuition, and a strength that belies his age, the man barely survives the tempest. Using only a sextant and nautical maps to chart his progress, he is forced to rely on ocean currents to carry him into a shipping lane in hopes of hailing a passing vessel. But with the sun unrelenting, sharks circling and his meager supplies dwindling, the ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his mortality in the face.

Sunway Resort

Last year, I visited Malaysia on a business trip and after the busy meetings schedule I took some time off to enjoy the time there. I visited Putrajaya, Genting Highlands, had a day long tour of Kuala Lumpur city and also stayed at the Sunway Resort near Kuala Lumpur. I've, in my earlier blogs, shared most of that trip except Sunway. So, here's a little bit about the place.

Sunway Resort is a very famous Hotel, Mall and Extreme Sports recreations area. The Mall stands among top 10 biggest malls of the world. My colleagues and I had a 3 day meetings and activities planned at Sunway Resort. After day long business meetings and tiring sessions, It  really was very interesting to wander off in the Mall or resort area.

We had one full day planned in Extreme Park which has a zoo, theme rides, water park, extreme sports and lots of other stuff. Oh, and yes they also have the world's longest rope bridge. walking over it is a really good experience.

 

Inside the reception area

Bird Park and Zoo

 Colorful Nights

 

Rinema

I am hugely addicted to movies and so far I have seen thousands of movies in English and other languages. It's been a long time since I got hooked on to movies.  On an average I watch more than 1 movie per day, on TV and DVD. I also have a decent collection of my own. Very recently I came across a website for movie fans who can add movies to their total, rate them and put reviews for them. Follow movie fans and exchange views.

If you are hooked to movies like me then check out :       www.rinema.com 

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