INTRODUCTION

Recently, I became a non-vegetarian for the umpteenth time. I have been traveling between the dominions of vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism for a fairly long time. The travel has always been prompted by some external and internal influences. External factors like Hare Krishna movement, non-availability of vegetarian food and the awesome range of non-vegetarian. Internal factors are my health, my own craving and lack of conviction. My doctor has advised, or warned, me that I may disappear altogether if I don’t put on some weight, before its too late.

As much as we discuss about vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism, the core of the issue seems to be food. Food is not just for sustenance and subsistence of the human body. It has manifested itself into an expression or symbol for love, affection, friendship and humanity. It is not just the food but also the circumstances that play a very important role. Most of the times, it is not the ingredients that make the food tasty but the people who provide them.

For me, eating has always been a good learning experience. Every new meal seems to bring new experiences, new tastes and new friendships. I have made new friends in restaurants, have seen new dimensions of friendships, and have encountered some cheap shots. Food and process of eating has taught me about so many different customs, tradition and practices in different countries. It has also revealed different facets of humanity.

I remember that I have had some very memorable experiences in search of food. I welcome all of you to join me as I travel back in my time capsule to capture those wonderful moments. We travel back to discover new things, new interpretations - during our journey towards vegetarianism and back.