Dark chocolate sets the mood

Not that the mood is dark!

Yappy Noo Ya folks! And with the new year, I post something that I've never posted before. A review of my stash of dark chocolates I got as gifts.

I start with Green & Black's Organic dark chocolates. It is a UK-based chocolate company, owned by one of two companies formerly known as Kraft Foods. The company produces a range of chocolate bars, ice cream, biscuits and hot chocolate. 

Interestingly, its products are organic and therefore priced at a premium. 

The box i got. Yummy!

 The box included two rows of five different flavours of chocolates: Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts, Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts and Black Currants, Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa Solids, Dark Chocolate with Ginger, and Dark Chocolate with 85% Cocoa Solids.
 

 

This was my favourite. For obvious reasons. Two actually: dark chocolate and hazelnuts! 

You can see the black currant and hazelnuts jostling for space. The mini bar had enough ingredients inside to keep you pleasantly occupied for a good...umm...5 minutes?

 

The classic dark chocolates, both 70% and 85%, were perfect. They were reminiscent of the lovely Dove dark chocolates that i was fortunate to have some months ago.

 

  
The ginger one was a surprise. It actually had tiny bits of sweetened ginger bits, which was nice but a bit too sweet for dark chocolate. 

There was a sweet note at the back of the box. Very thoughtful. It said:

Hopefully, my next box will have the cherry bar. The company has an amazing range of chocolates - milk chocolate with Anglesey sea salts (whoa!), dark chocolate with six spices including chillies (oh my god!), and so much more. 

For more chocolate porn, see Green & Black's website.   

SIkkim to host winter carnival this December

Sikkim is the latest region to add carnivals to promote tourism. It is gearing up to host the first winter carnival this December.

So if you still haven't booked your Christmas holiday, this is a good option. The carnival will be celebrated from December 22-24. 

The first winter carnival will promote its ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture, cuisine and organic products. 

Sikkim is also great for adventure sports and witnesses a lot of international tourists from Japan, Europe and England.

It has reportedly spent close to Rs 1 crore to organise this winter carnival. Let's see if it proves to be worth it and not turn out to be another Commonwealth Games.  

Guest post: Christmas lights in London (part II)

So here I am. Another day in London. Working by day and admiring the amazing Christmas decorations by night. It's probably the best time to be in the city.

It is perhaps mandatory to at least walk by Harrods when in London. And there I was too. Walking by.  

Harrods

Harrods

Hyde Park was exactly this. A winter wonderland!

Hyde Park

Coming out of the Holborn tube station, I saw this massive tree decorated with lights. 

Near Holborn tube

On my agenda was also to make a visit to Somerset House overlooking the Thames. Despite the windchill, I enjoyed my time there. There was something very warm about the place and you will see what I mean in the photographs. 

Somerset House

Any visit to Europe would be incomplete without a visit to the Christmas markets. I chose the Southbank Centre Christmas market.

Southbank Centre Christmas market

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The contributor of this article continues to remain anonymous. To read the first part of this post, see here.

Guest post: Christmas lights in London

Tis the season to be jolly. It's when all the lights and the decorations from last year are taken out and put up. 

A lot of people plan their holidays around this and visit destinations that are known for their Christmas lights and decorations on the streets and in the shops. I was lucky enough to have to visit London on work around this time and witness the city's Christmas lights. 

Here are some of this years snapshots of what London looks like this December. And it was pretty as hell!

A London street

Leicester Square

A pretty cafe in Leicester Square

A pretty Christmas tree on Regent Street. The out-of-focus shot is due to...er...windchill 

A cafe in Covent Garden

Covent Garden

A clothing shop on good ol' Linking Road

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The contributor wishes to remain anonymous on grounds of possible defamation by the owner of this blog and much against her wishes. But it must be said that 'he' is an avid hockey and footballer player and a budding photographer. He constantly struggles to maintain his work-weight balance. To pass on useful tips on any of the above, you can write to me and your message shall be delivered.

**Sweet revenge, thou art mine!**