Chandigarh - The City Beautiful

A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams. ~ Herbert Caen

There are very few cities in our country that can lay claim to matching this definition of a city, expressed by America's Pulitzer prize winning journalist Herbert Caen. We all know how most of our cities are a picture of chaos so far as their design, lay-out and attitude is concerned. But there are a few exceptions too - cities that were designed with precision and attention to details, cities that stand strong today, a beautiful testimony to the dreams of its planners and makers.

In a recent blogging campaign, when the popular auto-mobile brand Tata Motors asked bloggers to write about their favourite city with respect to three key features - design, drive and connect, names of few cities popped up in mind. As I started analysing them one by one, I realised that if I were to pick up one favourite city that has vision and greatness as its foundation stone, it would undoubtedly be Chandigarh, the city fondly nicknamed - The City Beautiful.

About Chandigarh: Design

Chandigarh, the dream project of India' first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, was designed by the famous Swiss-French architect and designer Le Corbusier. Corbusier prepared the master plan for the city and also contributed specific designs for several buildings in the city.

Located at the scenic foothills of Shivaliks, Chandigarh is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in India. The city is composed of sectors, enclosed by roads allocated for transport. Each sector caters to the daily needs of its residents and also has a green strip where vehicular traffic is forbidden. 

Chandigarh: Drive

Chandigarh's roads are broad and well laid out, making driving around the city a pleasurable experience, unlike our metros where even a little time out on the road is enough to stress anyone out. Moreover the roads in the city are divided into categories that keep the traffic flow sorted. Beside this, the presence of roundabouts at all intersections also helps keep traffic jams at bay.

Chandigarh: Connect

Chandigarh is well connected to other states and cities by road, rail and air. By road, the city is well connected by NH 21 and NH 22 and Inter-state bus services operate buses to the neighbouring states such as Delhi and Himachal Pradesh and different cities of Punjab and Haryana.

Needless to say, the vision and planning gone behind building Chandigarh is the top most reason for its popularity. Now before I wrap this post, here's some trivia about the city!

• Chandigarh's official emblem is the 'Open Hand' which signifies message of give and receive. The symbol also sends out a message of peace and reconciliation.
• This city composed of sectors has no sector 13, following the popular belief that number 13 is not auspicious.
• There are no roads named after any person or historical figure, neither are there statues or memorials at crossings. This was a condition put forth my Le Corbusier and is followed till date.

This post is a part of #madeofgreat zonal war campaign by Tata Motors, in association with Indiblogger. To know more about the campaign, please visit the Tata Motors website.
Zone: North
Photo courtesy: Chandigarh Tourism

When the Kids Get Grooving! #MaxFreshMove

Colgate's new advertisement Taazgi ka dhamaka, featuring popular south Indian star Allu Arjun and glamorous DJ Anushka Manchanda has become quite a rage among children, thanks to its foot tapping beats and the fun choreography. The promotional song is so full of energy and positive vibes that it does not take long for even non-dancers to get grooving to its beats. The video for the song shows both Arjun and Anushka jazzing up a wedding scene with their fresh and peppy taazgi ka dhamaka composition. Their fun and infectious moves affect the guests and everyone from the wedding party joins in the fun!

Given how much fun the Taazgi ka dhamaka song is, when I asked kids from my neighbourhood to dance to its peppy tunes, they were more than happy to oblige. What followed was hours of craziness, with the kids giving a free reign to their dancing skills. While many of them opted to go freestyle and were unique in their own ways, I made this video of little Kittu dancing with such élan that others stopped dancing to watch her perform. It was a pleasure to watch her gyrating to chatak patak Taazgi ka dhamaka...

Check out this video below and I am sure that you too would agree that she is quite a natural when it comes to dancing. Click on it and I am sure you will have as much fun watching it as I had recording it.

Hope you enjoyed the video and if you too have participated in the #MaxFreshMove campaign then love to read about you dance stories. Do share!

I am dancing for #MaxFreshMove activity at BlogAdda. If you are not blogging, you can join me in the #MaxFreshMove facebook activity.

Theme 3: Kids dancing to the music

Grooving to the Tunes of Taazgi Ka Dhamaka!

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching..."

Every time I lament my two left feet, this lovely inspiring line by William Watson Purkey springs up to my rescue, and prompts me to let go of my fear of dancing and give in to the call of music. And only when I let go of all my dancing fears that I realise how liberating it is to try something you are not very confident at or something that intimidates you.

So for Colgate's latest MaxFreshMove campaign, all I had to do was channelise these inspiring words to get myself to grove to the immensely entertaining Taazgi ka Dhamaka song. This foot tapping number features popular south Indian actor Allu Arjun and DJ Anushka Manchanda energising a wedding scene up with their fresh and rocking Taazgi ka dhamaka composition!

The song is all about fun around singing and dancing and the reckless abandon showcased in the video is so infectious that everyone who listens to this foot tapping number get energised! So besides Purkey's words, the foot-tapping music of this video too motivating me to get going on the make-shift dance floor! Of course it helped that I had chilled out friends to dance with! We laughed, we giggled, we acted goofy and WE DANCED!

Every time I faltered, these lovely little friends were there to cheer me on. Needless to say I had a fun time dancing to chatak patak taazgi ka dhamaka! Here, check out the video and I am sure it will cheer you up too. And if this video inspires you to dance and you need dancing lessons, now you know whom to contact! ;)

I am dancing for #MaxFreshMove activity at BlogAdda. If you are not blogging, you can join me in the #MaxFreshMove facebook activity.

The video is based on theme 2 of the activity - Dance with your friends or family.
Photo courtesy: Quotes for Healing

Airtel's 4G is Here. At 3G Prices!

As a travel and lifestyle blogger, most of the times my biggest woe while travelling or while attending an event is the dismal phone speed. Imagine this – I get super excited about some amazing view or experience and want to share it with my friends and readers, only to discover that the network bars on the phone are putting up a poor show. Many a times, even the 3G speed is so slow that investing more money on a recharge seems like a huge waste of money. But now with the commercial launch of Airtel’s high speed 4G services (also called LTE), it looks like my woebegone rants about slow phone speed would soon become a thing of the past. 

What's adding to the fun factor is the fact that Airtel has put up a challenge too - if your other network is faster, then they will pay your mobile bill for life! But guess with a challenge like that, I am sure they have some sure shot aces up their sleeve to beat their competitors.

I had been hearing my tech savvy friends discuss about the 4G launch and now with the kind of buzz the launch has created, it looks like people are really looking forward to get their hands on the free 4G SIM – yes, if you already have an Airtel 3G pack, you are entitled to a free 4G upgrade, and get the same data benefits as your 3G pack. So in effect, if one has an Airtel 3G pack, they will get to enjoy high speed 4G speeds at no extra cost.

Another great initiative by Airtel is that the brand is offering unique 4G SIM delivery service wherein any Airtel user with a 4G compatible handset can tweet suing #GetAirtel4G to get a 4G SIM delivered to them for free. Once a user tweets #GetAirtel4G he gets a reply from @Airtel India handle directing the user to a link where the user needs to enter their details for SIM delivery. Of course I have already tweeted for a free 4G SIM and now eagerly await the delivery. I am sure with 4G service all my slow internet woes while travelling would be taken care of and I would be able to share all my travel updates in real time rather than waiting to arrive at destination with stronger network.

The 4G services have been commercially launched in 296 towns across India, and Airtel customers can enjoy 4G services at 3G data prices, with packs starting at Rs. 25. To know more about Airtel 4G services, and the other aligned products launched today, you can browse through the Airtel website. The brand's new website will take you through all the offerings of the new services. 

nexGTV - Premium Entertainment on the Go!

In the current tech-savvy age, smartphones are smartly taking care of all our day-to-day planning, shopping and infotainment needs. Be it news updates from across the world to latest weather details to notification about flash sales on your favourite eCommerce website, there's plenty on our mobile phones to keep us engaged.  And of course, besides the constant stream of updates, there's Live TV right on your mobile, to provide you with non-stop entertainment.

When it comes to mobile TV apps, nexGTV app is making waves as an interesting and exhaustive app for premium entertainment. If you have not heard about the app already, nexGTV is an entertainment application offering 150+ LIVE TV channels, movies, TV shows and videos on demand.

I had heard about this app from a friend and had a vague idea about it being an app that offered an assortment of TV channels for mobile phone view. But on downloading the app, I discovered that there's more to nexGTV than just TV channels - from breaking news to trending videos and latest movies and songs, this app is one of the best apps to find comprehensive entertainment on the go. What's more, the app is pretty user friendly with easy to navigate interface for enhanced viewing experience. 

Now that I have explored nexGTV for a few days, I find that it is indeed a pretty engaging app providing non-stop entertainment for the non-stop generation. Sharing here some nexGTV app features that make it stand out as a reliable destination for mobile entertainment - 

1. nexGTV provides access to over 150 live TV channels, latest movies and songs, TV shows and videos on demand.
2. While more than 80 channels and the entire TV shows library are free to watch, the rest of the premium channels and movies are available at a nominal monthly price.
3. The app runs across 2G, 3G, 3G, EDGE and Wi-Fi networks.
4. nexGTV is compatible with most of the popular smartphone platforms including Symbian, Android, BlackBerry, and iOS. Consumers can access nexGTV irrespective of their bandwidth limitations or operating platform.
5. Full screen viewing and picture-in-picture mode for quick switch between channels.
6. There's a feature of Pause and Resume where you one can resume watching movies and videos from where they left off.
7. The interface is easy to navigate with genre-wise and language-wise content display
8. Social media sharing via Facebook and Twitter that enables you to share what you are watching with friends.
9. Integrated Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of one week for all channels.
10. Adaptive bit rate streaming to auto adjust the video quality as per network bandwidth.

With all these features, nexGTV indeed makes for an engaging one-stop destination for entertainment on the go. I love catching up on my favourite films on this app, and also being a news geek, staying updated about the latest news developments too has become easier.  In all, nexGTV offers a great combination of free and premium entertainment that cuts across different niches and that precisely is its USP. So what are you waiting for? Download the app and explore this exciting world of mobile entertainment for yourself. From your favourite TV shows and comedy series to the latest songs and movies, it's all in there!

Dud in Dancing? Some #MaxFreshMoves For You!

I have two left feet. Dancing is beyond me.

Some people just cannot keep a beat. They will sway to their own music or at best may just clap along to a beat. I am one of them. No matter how hard I try, I never seem to remember dance steps. But then, this might change real soon, for Allu Arjun's superb dance moves in the Colgate's #MaxFreshMove video is looking like a crash course in effortless dancing!

Colgate's new advertisement video featuring superstar Allu Arjun and DJ Anushka Manchanda is hitting just the right notes among music and dance lovers. More than a product advertisement, it is coming across as a fun video inspiring people of all ages to freshen up and get up and get grooving to life's happy tunes! Set against a theme of a wedding, the video has popular DJ and singer Anushka Manchanda getting ready to liven up a wedding party with her entertaining tunes. Just as she is done setting up yet music station, Allu Arjun joins her to set the dance floor on fire with his explosive moves!

Ever since I have come across this video, I have been so taken in both Arjun and Anushka's dance performance that I have earmarked a few steps to practice and flaunt on cousin's birthday.

In the music video, Arjun cuts a naughty picture twisting his jacket collar from side to side. I absolutely love the way he executes the step with such ease, and since this step looks easy to do, I am definitely picking this one up. Even with my bad dancing skills, I am sure with a couple of practice sessions, I will get the hang of it!

Here is another interesting step from the video. The hand movements look tricky but both Arjun and Anushka are absolutely in sync in this one and it has come out really good in the video. this is it! It looks like they are both fluttering their hands like butterflies and then they change the hand gesture to make it look like they are sprinkling freshness all around.

And this one is another fun step! The chair step, I will call it - holding on to friends on your sides and pretending to be sitting on an air-chair.  If you want to add more fun to this step, just rock to and fro like Arjun is doing in the video! I am sure my friends and cousins too would love to experiment with this one! 

Now that Allu Arjun and Anushka's entertaining dance moves in the #MaxFreshMove video have inspired me to try my hand, or rather leg at dancing, let me get going with the practice sessions, and master the moves before the 'two left feet' excuse strikes back!

I am blogging for #MaxFreshMove activity at Blogadda in association with Colgate MaxFresh.

Tired? It's Time for Some Taazgi ka Dhamaka!

Colgate's new advertisement video featuring superstar Allu Arjun and DJ Anushka Manchanda is hitting just the right notes among music and dance lovers. More than a product advertisement, it is coming across as a fun video inspiring people of all ages to freshen up and get up and get grooving to life's happy tunes!

Set against a theme of a wedding, the video has popular DJ and singer Anushka Manchanda getting ready to liven up a wedding party with her entertaining tunes. Just as she is done setting up yet music station, Allu Arjun joins her to set the dance floor on fire with his explosive moves!

The Taazgi ka dhamaka video is fun enough to eliminate boredom and tiredness out of any soul. And now that I am all rejuvenated with this dose of freshness, I thought why not prepare a playlist to go along! After-all, when one's dancing, who says no to more of foot tapping numbers! So here, when you are done with dancing to the very entertaining Taazgi ka dhamaka, there are 9 more foot tapping numbers in store for you!

Song number 2 in my Taazgi ka Dhamaka playlist is the supremely entertaining Oh la la oh la la from The Dirty Picture! Remember the frenzy and furore this song created - the very sensuous Vidya Balan and the overtly mischievous lover-boy Naseeruddin Shah romancing each other with some hilariously over-the-top dance moves! But then the song fit seamlessly with the theme of the movie and fits seamlessly in my playlist too!  

Song number 3 in the list is Mera joota fake leather from Gangs of Wasseypur 2. Thank you Sneha Khanwalkar for this psychedelic, foot tapping number! Its magic is such that even those born with two left feet can effortlessly dance on this one.

Song number 4 is the soup song! Or the flop song! Hahah...'Why this Kolaveri di' it is! It is one of those songs that can compel anyone to burst into dance moves.  Song 'Why this Kolaveri di' did not just get south India actor Dhanush into limelight, but also played a huge role in popularising the concept of 'viral videos'. 

The next song on my Taazgi ka Dhamaka playlist is all about positivity and living life to the fullest! And icing on the cake - it makes for a beautiful dance number! Ik Junoon - Paint it Red it is - song number 5! Easy on the ears and fun to dance on!

'Tu mere agal bagal hai' is one song that everyone around me loves dancing on. Right from the grown-ups to the still-learning-to-walk toddlers - everybody loves this cute song! And the most fun comes with the lyrics - tere doggy ko mere bhonkne na nahi - and everyone goes berserk mimicking Shahid Kapoor's doggy step! So yes, 'Tu mere agal bagal hai' is song number 6 on my Taazgi ka Dhamaka playlist! 

The next number in my Taazgi ka Dhamaka playlist is a veteran if you were to compare it to other songs listed here. But they don't say 'old is gold' for nothing! 'Beedi jalayi le jigar se piya' is pure gold! Song number 7!

Song number 8 brought to life the hitherto forgotten dance number - Hungama gya...and how! Featured in the film Queen, this one shows Kangana Ranaut going all out enjoying herself on her single honeymoon. Her cute dance moves in bar in a phoren country won people's heart and it showed in the film's box office collections!

At every wedding, I can see the DJ putting this one on loop! And why not, it can get even those with two left feet to shake a leg or two on the dance floor! And frankly one does not really need any dancing skills to master this one! It's so much fun - one solid thumka and you are done! Here's it is - song number 9 - London Thumakda!

And now for song number 10, I have the flavour of the season in my playlist! Of course it has to be Chittiyaan kalaayiyaan! Everyone seems to humming this one, and also swaying to it's tune! What a fresh feel this song has - right from vivacious Jacqueline Fernandez', her gorgeous aura, the fun dance steps...everything has a breezy feel about it!

So this is it! If you are tired or bored, this Taazgi ka Dhamaka playlist will sure rev you up, just like it freshens me up!  

I am blogging for #MaxFreshMove activity at Blogadda in association with Colgate MaxFresh.

Groom Your Baby with Natural Oils

When I first held my nephew Rehaan in my hands, I was petrified inside. Yes, petrified is the word. He was all of 10 days, and felt like a little bundle of silk - so soft, so light. I was petrified that even my little hug would hurt him. His cute pink face, his tiny little fingers rolled up in a fist, his soft feet - everything about him was delicate. As much as I wanted to put him on my lap, his delicate little body and the fear of hurting him helped me resist the urge to pick him up. All I would do was hover around him and caress his smooth skin every now and then.

And then came the time to start his massages. But how could this little baby be massaged, and what if the massage oil harmed his delicate skin? I had doubts galore. But they don't say mothers know everything, for nothing. My mother too had answers for all my doubts. Massage forms an essential part of an infant's healthcare and grooming routine and helps in baby's growth, she explained. But at the same time it is imperative that the baby massage oil is enriched with healthy ingredients that nourish the baby's skin.

So what are these ingredients that would do wonders for the bay's skin, I wondered out loud. Of course mother had the answer!

Olive Oil - Olive oil does wonders for the baby's skin. When applied on baby's soft scalp and hair, it strengthens hair roots and softens frizzy hair. 

Almond Oil - Almond oil is a common ingredient in many massage oils. Many parents prefer massaging new-borns with almond oil as it is an excellent source of Vitamin E. Pure almond oil provides superior nourishment to baby's skin.

Jajoba oil - Research shows that jajoba oil protects and nurtures delicate skin and helps heal skin irritation and nappy rashes. Besides, this oil is also an effective moisturiser for the skin.

The session on natural massage oils was enlightening, to say the least. But I was surprised that instead of putting together a concoction of these oils for Rehaan's massage, mother brought out a bottle of Dabur Baby Oil instead.  It's the same as natural oils, I was told. The new Dabur Baby Oil is specially formulated for babies and is enriched with olive oil and almond oil. Moreover, it does not contain any artificial colours and is dermatologically tested to ensure skin safety.

Needless to say, I was relieved to know the details, but to be doubly sure, I checked up on the ingredients on the pack - Natural oils containing Sunflower, Sesame, Olive, Almond and Jojoba. Good. The sense of relief had gone notches higher - Rehaan's oh-so-soft and delicate skin was in good hands. And Dabur Baby Oil was not just taking care of his delicate skin, but also ensuring healthy bone and muscle development too.

I am participating in the #FirstLove activity at BlogAdda in association with Dabur.

Natural Oils are Best for Your Baby

Massage forms an essential and integral part of an infant's health care and grooming routine and helps in the baby's growth, so it is imperative that we use a massage oil that is not just enriched with healthy ingredients, but is also devoid of parabens and paraffins. These days we get many cosmetic and childcare products that claim to be parabens and paraffins free. Here's why the tag paraben and paraffin-free matters -

• Parabens are chemical preservatives used to increase the shelf life of cosmetic products.
• Recent research says parabens may be linked to breast cancer and fertility issues.
• In some studies, skin problems such as dermatitis, and skin allergic reactions have been linked to parabens.
  

• Paraffin oils are petroleum by-products obtained from petroleum refining process. 
• Lately there have been studies and reports that say paraffins might be carcinogenic, and since they easily penetrate the skin, one can imagine the kind of risk it poses.
• Refined petrochemicals are generally regarded as unhealthy so it's an unnecessary risk to regularly use therm on your skin.

Massage is also a great way to bond with the baby, and while the way you massage your baby is important, with what you massage your baby is equally important. In India, elders across the country stress on the use of natural oils for massaging babies. And rightly so. It is important to apply good quality natural oil on baby's skin to keep it moisturised and healthy.  Here are some natural oils that make for good massage oil option for babies - 

Olive Oil - Oilive oil does wonders for baby's skin and works as great massage oil. Research shows that olive oil not only nourishes the skin, application of olive oil on scalp strengthens hair roots and also softens frizzy hair.

Jajoba Oil - Jajoba oil protects and nurtures delicate skin and helps heal skin irritation and nappy rashes. Research shows that jojoba oil closely resembles the skin's own natural sebum (oily secretions which lubricate and waterproof the skin) and makes an effective moisturiser for baby's soft skin.

Tea Tree Oil - Tea tree oil has high antiseptic properties and is used for treating many skin allergies. The oil softens baby's skin and gives a relaxed feeling.

Almond Oil - Almond oil is a common ingredient in many massage oils. Many parents prefer massaging new-borns with almond oil as it is an excellent source of Vitamin E. Pure almond oil provides superior nourishment to baby's skin.

Chamomile Oil - This oil is recommended for newborns as it is good for sensitive skin. Chamomile oil is also useful for treating rashes and other skin breakouts. This oil is specially good for babies who suffer from colic and helps them to put them to sleep.

All these natural oils work their own different magic on a baby's delicate skin. While many working parents find putting together a concoction of all these oils at home a messy and time consuming task, trusted brands like Dabur have brought products like Dabur Baby Oil with Olive and Almond to make their task easier. 

The new Dabur Baby Oil is specially formulated for babies and is enriched with olive oil and almond oil and is parabens and paraffins free. Moreover, it does not contain any artificial colours and is dermatologically tested to ensure skin safety. So if you are looking for the goodness of olive oil and almond oil in a baby massage oil and that too without the harmful effects of harsh chemicals, then Dabur Baby Oil is the product to pick up.

I am participating in the #FirstLove activity at BlogAdda in association with Dabur.

5 Benefits of Eating Healthy

Every other day I keep coming across a number of 'Before' and 'After' snapshots. More often than not, these photos advertise just one thing - tricks and tips for quick weight loss. A woman who seems plump (photoshop for all you know!) in the 'before' photo, transforms into a model-esque figure in the 'after' photo - and the impact of such photos is so beguiling that it is very easy to be taken in by them. Go on a crash diet, and you too can look like us, they stress. But doctors and health experts warn that people should not opt for quick-fixes to lose weight, for their benefits are only temporary and the ills effects permanent.

Instead of going on crash diets, eating healthy in the first place makes more sense.  A well balanced nutritional meal not just keeps us healthy but also prevents creating a scenario where one might have to go on diets or detox programs. While the advantages of eating healthy are many, listing below 5 benefits that inspires all of us to put nutritional food on our plates.

1. Eating a healthy well balanced reduces the risk of quite a handful of diseases including chronic diseases, such as heart diseases, cancer and diabetes. So make sure you include a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fats.

2. Another important benefit of switching to a healthy diet is increased energy levels. Avoiding excess fatty foods, sugars and refined carbohydrates helps prevent blood sugar fluctuations. On the other hand, unprocessed carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables are nutritious, and allow us to maintain steady blood sugar level. In addition, they keep us energized through the day.

3. Include honey in your diet. Regarded as a power-food, honey is a treasure chest of nutritional and medicinal values and its health properties have been valued since ages. It contains antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart diseases. Recent research also shows that honey treatment may also help in reducing ulcers and gastrointestinal disorders. Also honey is fast becoming a healthier and tastier alternative to sugar since it is sweeter than sugar but contains fewer calories.

4. Eating balanced, nutritional food also helps in weight control. For example simple healthy choices such as replacing soda with water and choosing salads over fast food not only helps lose weight, it also ups your health quotient.

5. And last but not the least, eating healthy gives you cosmetic benefits too - a brighter smile and a flatter belly! Nutrition experts say that a healthy diet that limits sodium and high-sugar carbonated drinks promotes a flatter stomach. Also food with high water content, such as fruits and vegetables, moisturise  the skin and keep us hydrated. They also contain antioxidants that protect against cell damage thus helping the skin look fresh and younger.

Stressing on nutritional food does not mean starving oneself or being very picky about what to eat, rather it means eating a diet balanced in lean proteins, carbohydrates and fats. So fret not about crash diets any more and switch to a well-balanced, nutritional plate rich in healthy food. 

Photo Source: Natural Ways

Surf it All! Surf it Fast!

Saying that in India, cricket is a religion in itself would be like stating the obvious. We love cricket and adore our cricketers. We rejoiced when Team India lifted up the World cup in 1983 and 2011, and felt shattered when Sachin bid goodbye to the game. In India, there are fans who have dedicated their entire lives to the game of cricket and travel the world following their passion. So in such country, if a cricket lover has no access to the latest match for some reason or the other, you can very well imagine the state of mind he'll be in - in all probability feeling lost and looking for the quickest opportunity to gain access to TV or a computer or a smartphone!

I remember, during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, I lived in a hostel and never had access to the television. Though our hostel did have a TV in the common room, but more often than not, it remained besieged by soap opera loving populace. Requests to switch the channels to allow cricket lovers to match the world cup matches were met with incredulous stares and ridiculing comments. Since the soap opera loving group was almost always in the majority, we hardly ever got to watch the matches in the hostel. 

So in such a scenario, if one could not go to a pub or a friend's place to watch the match, the only option left was either tuning in to the radio, or constantly checking score updates on cricket websites. I remember remaining hooked to these websites at work too, for the job was new and I found it inappropriate to constantly express my enthusiasm towards cricket in an office full of new co-workers. Many a evenings would also be spent outside electronic showrooms, where they would screen the match on huge TVs and would put it on the display windows so that passers-by could catch the update. This would sound funny, but believe me, nothing beats the experience of watching an India match on the streets, with fellow Indians. The collective feeling of patriotism, the exhilaration every time a Indian takes a wicket or hits an aggressive shot is unparalleled!

Cut to present, now getting access a cricket match is not a big deal. With UC Browser, you do not need to slyly look for opportunities to catch the latest match on. Not just at work, even when you are travelling during a match, you can access the live action while on the go. Just click on the UC Cricket tab on the UC Browser, and you will get access to LIVE scores and latest cricket updates.

This video from UC Browser presents the woes of catching a cricket match on smartphone in an entertaining manner. And since they know the woes, they know the remedy too - switch to UC Browser for the best cricket service in India!

Reigning in Shopping Impulses!

Shop till you drop. If there’s one maxim that fit my shopping habits to the tee, it would be this. Not that I am proud of it. And no, I am neither flaunting my shopping skills here, nor advertising the depth of my pockets. To tell you the truth, I hate my shopping impulses. I shop like a maniac, and in the shopping frenzy buy stuff that I can very well do without.

Photo courtesy

What’s furthermore annoying is the fact that the moment I am back home, I immediately start regretting buying half the stuff in my shopping bags. Ah, this shirt is one size too small, and still I bought it, why! The nail paint looks gaudy, what was I thinking? Another pair of stilettos, but where am I going to wear these! Alas, it’s always too late to regret and I am stuck with stuff that I don’t know what to do with. Many a times I give them away as gifts to my friends and cousins, but the nagging regret of wasting money on impulse purchases takes a while to go away.

Rewardme to the Rescue

Given that most of my impulsive shopping sprees result in pointless purchases and leave pangs of guilt behind, I keep looking for tips and advices to help me counter the temptation to shop. While some experts suggest avoid going to the malls altogether, many advice against getting attracted to the 'SALE' word. Of course for people like me, these tips are easier said than done. But while browsing the RewardMe website, I came across an article that seems to have been written to help hapless impulsive shoppers like me. In the website's Family section, I came across this compelling article offering interesting tips to help curb shopping impulses. Titled '9 Tips & Tricks to Stop Impulse Buying' , the article lists down strategies to reign in those wallet draining impulses.

While the article has listed tips to curb shopping impulses, there are some out-of-the-box tricks too! One that I found really amusing and which I am going to try out for sure is freezing my credit cards. The writer suggests putting all the credit cards in plastic pouch, fill it up with water, zip it and put it in the freezer. Whenever I will have the shopping impulse taking over, I will take the pouch out, and I am sure by the time the pouch thaws, the impulse would be long gone! Now this is not just easy, but fun too!

I am glad I came across this article, and needless to say I am going to bookmark Rewardme website for it sure is a treasure trove of useful information about a wide range of topics. From health and lifestyle to content on family and good housekeeping, there are plentiful of handy articles here that can help readers enhance their knowledge. 

I am participating in the 'Ready for Rewards' activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.
Theme: Best from Rewardme.in

Shopping Online? Rewardme has Tips for You!

In my last post, I had written about impulsive shopping and how it not just leaves us with lots of unwanted junk but also makes the monthly budget go haywire. Now with the boom in e-commerce space, shopping has become an even more easy and quick process. Just a click of few buttons and in a matter of few minutes, your order not just gets placed but also ready to be shipped..

 Photo courtesy

Of course this super-fast process is convenient but it sometimes leaves us with little time to reflect about whether we actually need the product or not. Moreover given the virtual nature of the transaction, there's always a chance of things going wrong and leaving you caught up in a maze of customer care follow-ups. So if you have had one too many irritating-annoying-time-wasting conversations with the customer service of your favourite shopping sites, it's time you read up about some tips and tricks to keep in mind while exploring ever expanding world of e-commerce. Luckily while browsing P&G's RewardMe website, I came across this neat article in the family section, that talked about tips to keep in mind while shopping online.

Titled  '4 Great Tips for Shopping on the Internet' the article lists down pointers that will help you get the most out of your online shopping experience.What I like about this article is the fact that it is clutter and jargon free. Rather than creating a long list of DOs and DON'Ts, the write-up focusses on a few major aspects of shopping online. The most important among them is to not to shop online if you don't have anti-virus and malware protection on your computer as your personal information can be compromised. Another important tip is to never shop on a site if you can't verify that it is secure. The article also advices about checking return policies before buying online, so it's easier for you to return items if you find issues with them.

Information such as these go a long way in helping new online shoppers have a better online shopping experience. Besides handy tips on safe online shopping, Rewardme website has a plethora of information covering a wide range of topics. From health and lifestyle to pointers on good housekeeping, from beauty tips to latest fashion trends, there are plentiful handy articles on the website that can help readers enhance their knowledge and skills. Do check it out share your take on the treasure trove of information available there.

I am participating in the 'Ready for Rewards' activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.
Theme: Best from Rewardme.in

From Smelly Kitchen to Smiley Kitchen!

I come from a Punjabi household - so desi ghee ke paraanthe for breakfast, oil dripping veggies for lunch and tadke waali daal for dinner - more often than not, this comprises the standard food menu in my house. If you have ever been to a punjabi dhaba (I am sure you have!) you can very well imagine what my kitchen or for that matter my house must smell like. If your faculty of smell (and memory) refuses to oblige, let me tell what it smells of - it smells of desi ghee.  All the time. 

The smell of desi ghee and tadkas has permeated every single corner of the house. No amount of air fresheners, room perfumes or fancy fragrant oils seem effective against this headache inducing desi ghee aroma. All they do is counter the smell for an hour or two and then after a while it's back to square one. The smell comes back with a vengeance, stronger than ever, thanks to the fresh cooking session under-way in the kitchen.

Given my exasperation with the smelly situation, Ambi Pur Air Effects' new advertisement featuring Boman Irani was something that got my curiosity piqued. In the advertisement, he is shown tackling a smelly kitchen, plagued with similar problem of tadka smells overflowing to other parts of the house. And what takes care of the smell and makes the house smelling all fresh and flowery? Ambi Pur Air Effects, of course! 

Of course I had to check this smell fighter messiah out!

(15 Days Later)

Okay, so cutting back to present, I have been using the Blossom & Breeze variant of Ambi Pur Air Effects for more than two weeks now, and I can vouch for its handiness. A few quick sprays of this fragrance across the house and all smell of desi ghee and onion and spices is blown away and the house keeps smelling of flowers all day long. Ambi Pur Air Effects' claims about 'eliminating odours and freshening the air' are bang on target and it does precisely that.

While the fragrance of Ambi Pur Air Effects is pleasant, I like the design of the spray can too. Unlike many other aerosol sprays where the if the nozzle breaks or distorts, the product goes waste, this one is very well designed and has an innovative natural Nitrogen-based propellent within an easy-to-use trigger system, delivering a perfect arc of pure fragrant mist. 

Ambi Pur Air Effects' is being marketed by The Procter & Gamble Home Products Limited, a name quite trusted in India, though it is manufactured in Thailand and imported from there.

Price: Rs 250 for 275g spray can.
Well the price is not exactly a steal, but given the fact it's been 15 days that I have been using the spray and it does not look anywhere close to running out any-time soon, so I would not mind spending money on it again.

I am blogging for #SmellytoSmiley activity at Blogadda.com in association with Ambi Pur.

Pearl Academy Portfolio 2015 - a Fashion Extravaganza

Creativity, fashion and glamour...the coming together of these three elements makes for an eye catching extravaganza, and in the week gone by, I got an interesting opportunity to cover one such intricately planned and executed extravaganza - Portfolio 2015, the annual graduating event of the renowned Pearl Academy. Held at NSIC Exhibition Ground, Okhla, New Delhi, Pearl Academy Portfolio 2015 marked the entry of trained students into the professional realm of creative businesses. Spread across 3 days, the event had lots of fashion and fun packed together, with graduating students not just putting up their best creations on display but also sharing their vision about their area of expertise. And icing on the Portfolio 2015 cake was the presence of ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who graced the event with his presence and shared words of professional wisdom with the graduating students.

Day 1 at Portfolio 2015 was spent taking in the engaging catalogues, art pieces and captivating designer items created by the students from all the graduating batches across the 4 schools of the Pearl Academy - School of Fashion, Styling and Textiles; School of Communication, Media & Film; School of Design; and School of Creative Business.

This exhibition put together by the students was a treat for the eyes - from lovely clothes with beautiful patterns and motifs, to quirky stationary items to recycled products, every single exhibit had something unique to offer.

While the designer clothes had everyone yearning to own them, other artistic creations were no less attractive. There were a lot of items that were high on the quirk element - coffee mugs, cushions, little trinkets and home décor display items were some such stuff that caught everyone's fancy. Besides these various innovative art installations too kept the visitors engaged.

Day 2 of Portfolio 2015 was all about panel discussions, grand fashion shows and of course the Guest of Honour, designer Manish Malhotra. The excitement about his visit was pretty apparent and when he finally arrived to address the students, it was a proud moment for both the students and the faculty. A superbly put-together fashion show was what followed next where students got the opportunity to showcase their designing talent before Manish Malhotra.

At Portfolio 2015, while the creative brilliance of graduating students left everyone mesmerised, their passion and professional approach towards the event and towards putting the exhibits together was something that impressed me the most. Indeed this professionalism together with their innate creativity and training at Pearl Academy will go a long way in establishing them as successful professionals in their chosen fashion domain.

About Pearl Academy

Founded in 1993, Pearl Academy is India’s largest private institution in design, fashion and creative businesses, and delivers over 30 uniquely designed under-graduate, post-graduate and professional programs through its 4 campuses in Delhi, NOIDA, Jaipur and Mumbai.

Pearl Academy was earlier known as ‘Pearl Academy of Fashion’. Over the past few years, this brand has evolved from being known as a cradle to fashion designers to India’s largest higher education institute offering courses in design, fashion and creative businesses. These courses are broadly categorized under 4 Schools: 

• School of Fashion, Styling & Textiles
• School of Design
• School of Communication, Media & Film
• School of Creative Business

PORTFOLIO 2015 – Portfolio is Pearl Academy’s annual graduating event where all the students from the graduating batches of various courses across 4 schools showcase their final projects in the form of exhibitions, presentations and fashion shows.