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<center>*There is no great genius without some touch of madness.*</center>

<center>**- Aristotle -**</center>
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Australia was a reasonably racist place when I was growing up as a boy in the 1970's. Being *'coloured'* in a small rural town meant vilification, pointed fingers, verbal, physical and emotional abuse and other unpleasantness earned from people too stupid to know better. It all felt rather hurtful although I stop to think now how it was for my father, a sponsored immigrant the country *wanted here for his skills* who was married to a forth-generation (very white) Australian woman. I know it wasn't easy for them either. 

As time passed Australia became more diverse. The Greeks and Italian's that arrived in the 1950's after the second world war were joined by the Vietnamese fleeing the war there in large numbers throughout the 1970's and beyond. Since then Australia has grown into a very culturally-diverse country and whilst racism will never be stamped out, *anywhere in my opinion*, generally, the type of abuse I was subjected to is almost non-existent now. Almost. 

I've learned a lot by what happened to me as a kid and whilst it's been extremely negative at times so many positive things have come of it from a character perspective. Thinking more broadly about multiculturalism though, there has been many positives to come and whilst there's still issues, even ones I have as a born and bred Australian, generally it's been quite positive with one distinct benefit being the food-culture Australia enjoys. 

How is this post related to coffee shops and cafés though, you may ask. 

I was recently invited to have a catch-up with a friend of mine who suggested a café I'd not been to previously - basically because it doesn't resemble a café from outside and, after I went there neither does it from inside - well, no café I'd ever been to here in Australia anyway. 

My friend assured me the coffee was good and, as she intended to eat lunch during our meeting, decided it was a legit meeting place. I was dubious. 

The café is is an odd mix of Indian grocery store with bags of rice, shelves full of spices, ghee, herbs, packets of things I couldn't read and...well, just lots of stuff. The air was heavily-laden with scents and I had the thought I was in a bazaar somewhere in the middle of India. I walked through to the back and the racking opened up into a pretty uninspiring space with a counter, several tables and some scattered chairs. Nothing matched. I stopped dead wondering if it was too late to change the venue and...it was. My friend sat at one of the tables and had turned and waved. 

#### What madness is this

I walked over and the look on my face must have said it all. She grinned and said, *seriously, don't worry - the coffee is good and the food is amazing.* I'll concede that the smells emanating from within a less-than-savoury-looking kitchen did smell wondrous but the sensible side of me screamed, *what madness is this - flee you fool, whilst you still can.* I greeted my friend, nodded to a fellow behind the counter and sat.

I was a little confused as there was no mention made of the food-service on the outside of the store, or even inside. It was presented as a grocery store and café however I guess the food was a natural addition considering the environment. I ordered two coffee's and started chatting although was rather distracted by the smells coming from the kitchen. My friend declaring she was ordering sealed the deal and I decided to also eat.  

There was no menu. You had what they had available or nothing. Hmm, ok well let's just have two plates of the *we have no bloody choice* please. 

What ensued was two cups of the best coffee I've had in a long time and the tastiest butter chicken and palak paneer, served with rice and naan bread I think I've *ever had* - all served from that less-than-savoury-looking kitchen.

I recall leaving thinking how strange the whole experience was, and if I'd *ever get the smell of Indian food cooking out of my clothing.* (I did, just for the record.) I suppose the owner had only so much space available and wanted to make the most of it. Shoppers could stop for a coffee and some food and that would help pay the bills. *There is no great genius without some touch of madness,* as Aristotle said.

I've travelled all over the world, drunk coffee and eaten in some of the strangest places but this spot really *weirded me out*. I'd not expected to see it. I'd driven by a thousand times and seen the sign, *Indian Grocery* above the otherwise nondescript door with a tacked on sign announcing *We Have Coffee*, but had never thought to stop. Why would I? 

It's not my kind of place - as far as coffee shops go I mean - and I'd certainly not hold business meetings there but it felt...well, normal I guess. 

It wasn't pretending to be anything other than it was. Indeed, it didn't even advertise what it was. The people were friendly, if difficult to understand, and the food and coffee was certainly top notch. It was just so different to what I've come to expect and am used to, but it was still legit. I wasn't disappointed, I mean my expectations were so low they could have served me warmed up water from the Ganges and I would have not been surprised, but it really exceeded expectations and if I'm driving by and want a coffee I'd definitely stop in.
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There's many problems this country, and others, have to face when it comes to immigration, the influx of many different cultures and how they integrate into an already-established culture. When I say many problems I mean, *many*. But that aside, I believe we are lucky to have such a diverse range of cultures and most Australian cities embrace and promote it, whilst trying to maintain the *Australian way of life*. It's a tough balance but in comparison to what I experienced as a kid the way things are seem to be a better balance.

Thinking about different people and cultures and how we're all connected through the fact we live on the same planet, I'd say we're also connected through food and whilst it may differ from place to place the similarities  are that we all like it, indeed, *need it.* The same goes for coffee, or at the very least the enjoyment of a shared moment over a beverage of some kind. 

Tea and coffee have long been established as go-to beverages but in my opinion it's the shared moment, the *company* that truly makes the moment. Of course, weird coffee shops like this can deliver top notch coffee which helps the moment along...And with the added bonus of legit food...There's a lot to like.

<center><sub>The image is my own - what I had for lunch, shared with my friend. I took some photos of the interior of the place but I'll be honest, it looked so bad I didn't want to sully my post with them.</sub></center>


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Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - *Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind*