God is a Tyke and a Mallu!

The cab driver from the railway station, who drove us to 'The Star Inn' in Harome near Helmsley gave an impromptu narration of Yorkshire, it's chocolate factories and the weather, all in a warm friendly appealing accent that's instantly lovable. That was a start of a 2 day stay in Yorkshire - God's own country! Yeah Tykes call it so and now i know that God is a Tyke and a Mallu!

Yorkshire runs up from the plains to the hills with a landscape of brooding moors and green dales and then rolling down to a dramatic coastline. It's breathtaking and the weather is nose-numbing cold now. Food was cold too but high on flavours. I almost ate a menagerie of animals - shot and killed otherwise. The dinner on day one at Star Inn, a Michelin star restaurant adjoining our hotel was memorable. The heads of some of the animals that gave up their lives at the Michelin star chef's chopping board ended up on the coarse walls of the hotel - stuffed, their patriotic eyes still gleaming with pride. Bhakts, now that's a cue for you!

History peeps at every alley and square - from Roman times, to the Vikings until the 21st century.
But Yorkshire's greatest appeal lies in its friendly and opiniated people. Our second cab driver Rachel, giggled every time she spoke. Aishwarya Rai is a stoic nun compared to her and we would immediately forgive Ash for all the giggles she threw at Oprah and Karan. Jostling with the locals in the bars, cafes and on the streets, you'll come away believing that the Tykes are not as cold and erratic as their weather!

There is much to walk around and eat. We queued out in the cold to get into the 97 year old Betty's Tea Room and the dinner on our last night in Yorkshire was at the Black Swan - perks of travelling with a foodie - Matt Jinu. Off to Stratford-Upon-Avon - the homeland of Shakespeare!