Hello all, just joined...had no idea such a great site existed. I hope to be able (in the fullness of time) to be able to contribute as well as to gain knowledge and experience. My journey has been, like so many of us, from Vesta, to ignorant diner at 3am after a night on the town clubbing, to curious, to novice, to serious experimenter, to competent amateur curry-chef. I have travelled the globe in my search for a great curry (but I have yet to visit the South Asian nations...maybe soon). I won't apologise for asking what may seem basic questions for some who have been curry enthusiasts for longer than me...we all have to learn. However, it seems that many of my Indian friends are reluctant to share some of the secrets of the elusive great curry...so hopefully I will find out about the holy grail of curry-making in these web pages. Thanks for letting me in. Alvidar.