Kiddie Vacations Made Special

As parents, we look forward to taking our little one on that first vacation. As kids grow really fast and move away, it is these cherished moments that one would always remember having spent together as a family. And therefore it has to be extra special.

A lot of planning is required when taking the kids on a trip. First comes the destination. It has to be a place which engages their curious minds. A jungle safari or a gushing waterfall for example would captivate most of them. Visit to heritage destinations is also a good option once they are old enough to understand the importance of appreciating and preserving culture. Second comes the accommodation. It has to be safe and comfortable. Since most of them are fussy eaters, cottages with a small kitchenette that allow one to rustle up something healthy in no time are always welcome. Alternatively great room service that is available 24 X 7 would also do. Availability of an in-house doctor or someone on call is also something that I keep in mind while taking my kid for a vacation.

Since it is difficult to pack in too much in a day's span if you are tagging kids along, it is best to cover one or two places in a day. The rest of the day can be spent at the hotel or resort unwinding with the kids. Though most of them are powerhouses of energy, they tend get irritated if made to do too many things at the same time. So, it is best to take things at a relaxed pace.

Pools are always a great option for kids as they love to splash about in the water. Most resorts also have a play area with some swings/slides/etc and toys which is why many parents prefer them to regular hotels. While some resorts also host cultural activities during the evening hours, look for ones that have facilities for indoor games so that the kids have an alternative if they get bored. Pack a few books and board games or even an inflatable toy or two so that the kids stay entertained even if they have to be holed up in the room.

Even with the best of destinations and accommodation, some kids tend to feel homesick or insecure when removed from their comfort zone. As parents we can help alleviate such feelings by packing some of their regularly used items like a blanket or a stuffed toy, favorite chips/cookies/packaged juices and talking to them about the wonderful things they would see and learn. Buying small souvenirs so that they can gift it to a loved one or preserve it as a memory of the trip is also a good idea. With some planning and care, we can make the trip a memorable and enjoyable one for the kids.


This entry is written for Club Mahindra

Lakme Lip Love Lip Care Cherry Review

I love winters as it allows me to indulge in loads and loads of lip balms. But since I have pigmented lips just like the majority of Indian women, I prefer those with a hint of color. And the Nivea Lip balm in the shade 'Pomegranate' is by far the best thing that I have tried. However when Lakme launched these 'Lip Love Lip Care' beauties, I could not resist from trying them out. Got them from Amazon during the GOSF. But did they live up to the hype. Read on to find out more -

Lakme Lip Love Lip Care in the shade Cherry

The product promises -

• Luxurious creamy core that moisturizes your lips
• Swirl of color for a hint of tint
• SPF 15* helps protect from sun damage

It comes in 4 flavours - Cherry, Peach, Strawberry and Vanilla. Priced at Rs 200 for 3.8 gms.

My take on the product - 

I picked up the most pigmented variant which is the shade Cherry. The balm leaves behind a light red stain on the lips which will not really show up on very pigmented lips. The moisturization part is ok though not the best. If looks unflattering if you apply it directly on chapped lips. Apply it after a bit of exfoliation for best results. I personally wear it layered under and over the Lotus Pure Color lipsticks which are quite hydrating during the winters. And I do need to reapply it every 3 hours.

Though it looks different in the swatches, I find it to be similar to the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm "Cherry Kiss" when worn on the lips. 

Bottom one - Cherry(Lakme) : Top - Cherry Kiss(Maybelline)

Bottom one - Cherry : Top one - Cherry Kiss 

Pro's of the product -

1. Has SPF 15

2. Looks quite attractive

3. Nice bubblegum flavor

4. Quite moisturizing if one does not mind frequent re-application

5. Tube packaging makes it hygienic.

Con's of the product -

1. Does not really show up on very pigmented lips. 

2. Pricier than the Maybelline Baby Lips Color Balms which delivers similar results.

Rating - 3/5. If you are specifically looking for tinted lip balms during the winter months, buy Nivea or Maybelline Baby Lips. They are not only better but also lighter on the pocket.

Bathua Saag-Dal curry

Bathua Saag or lamb's quarter is a leafy green vegetable that is found during winters. It is quite easy to prepare as both the leaves and stem are edible. It is best to choose stems that are firm. Rich in iron and calcium, they also serve as a good source of vitamins and fiber.

Since I made this vegetable for the first time and was not so sure about the recipe, I decided to cook it along with dal, a hint of tomato and lots of onions. With just one teaspoon of oil going into it, this turned out to be one of the tastiest low calorie dishes that can be paired with rotis. Read on for the easy recipe -

Preparation Time - 15-20 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 1/2 cups bathua saag (chopped & tightly packed)
• 1/4 cup toor dal
• 1 large onion
• 1 small tomato
• 2-3 garlic flakes
• 1/2 tsp pancha phutana (alt - use a mix of mustard-cumin seeds)
• 1-2 dry red chili
• 2 pinch turmeric
• 1 tsp rice bran oil
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash the bathua greens in plenty of water. Drain excess water and chop into small pieces.

Chop the onion and tomatoes into small pieces.

Cooking - Transfer the chopped greens into a pressure cooker. Wash the toor dal and add to the cooker. Also add half of the onions and the tomato along with turmeric, salt and 1/4 cup water.

Close the lid and cook for 2-3 whistles. Allow steam to escape before opening lid.

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the pancha-phutana and broken red chili. Once it gets spluttering, add the remaining onions and crushed garlic. Fry for a minute before pouring the contents of the pressure cooker into the same pan. Allow to simmer for 2-3 mins before removing from the flame.

Serve hot with rotis.

Note - One can also add one palak / amaranthus to the bathua greens to make it more nutritious. Usually people in Odisha use moong dal instead of toor dal for this recipe.

Chilika Travel Diaries

Last week I realized my long cherished dream of visiting the Chilika lake. Had caught some glimpses of the vast expanse of this lake (the geographically correct term would be 'lagoon' or a area of sea water separated from the ocean by a reef/sandbar) during my train journeys on the Hyd-Bbsr route and had been mesmerized ever since. Though it is merely a two hour jouney from BBSR (which is my in-laws place), something or the other kept coming up during our Odisha trips and we could never make that trip. That is until last week when destiny finally smiled on me ( my husband has been there a number of times during his school days ). For the uninitiated folks, the beautiful Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon of India. Spread out over an area of 1100 square kms , it covers the Puri, Khorda and Ganjam districts of Odisha. It host a large number of migratory birds in the winter months and offers a whole plethora of scenic spots within the periphery of the water body.

We started off quite late from BBSR as we were in a big group and everyone took time to get ready and reach the starting point. It was almost 11:30 am by the time everyone got into the car . Though we had booked an Innova for the trip, it felt a bit cramped as there were 10 of us including the driver and two kids. Except for a 5 min halt to sip some sugarcane juice and sample dahi bara-ghuguni-alu dum, we travelled without any halts and reached Balugan by 1:20 pm. The trip was planned for a Wednesday as it is one of those days (the other being Friday) where everyone can indulge in non-veg food without offending any God or Goddess (strictly in accordance with Odia culture, others please excuse).

On reaching Balugan, we headed straight to the Chilika Dhaba, which is touted as the sea-food Paradise of Odisha. Though it looked quite nondescript, the sheer number of people who were having their meals here baffled us. There were different sitting areas designated for different sections of travellers or more importantly different budgets. The waiter guided us to a dining hall which was exclusively meant for families/couples. We ordered for crab, prawns, chicken and fish ("pohola", a local delicacy) along with rice, dal, papad and mineral water. The food was served in about 15 mins. Everything turned out to be delicious though the prawns were a bit overdone. To finish it off, we ordered for some masala cold drink. At the end of it, we were handed over a bill of Rs 1600 which sounded too good to be true.

Getting back to the car, it took us another 5-10 mins to reach PanthaNivas/OTDC, Balugan.  Walking towards the lake, I started to lose my nerves and was literally shaking by the time we got into the boat. Though there are quite a few kinds of boats to choose from, the elders decided to go for a old fashioned motor boat. It had no lights, no life jackets and some rod kind of thing which the old boatman used for steering the boat. Though I thought that it made more sense to go for one of the hi-tech boats, I was too scared to mouth any kind of disapproval at that moment. My fears kept rising as the boat moved away from the horizon and the likeness of any civilization grew increasingly smaller. After around thirty minutes we reached a point where we were completely surrounded by water and there was no sight of any shore. This was the point where I was so taken by the glorious beauty of nature that I completely shed any lingering fear and started to truly enjoy the sights. We saw quite a few varieties of birds like the sea fowl which was serenely sailing along the waters, some were swooping down to catch fish, a kind of crane/ergot standing on one leg on a protruding piece of rock and flocks of white,black and yellow birds (sorry but I am no good with those names) flying very low over the waters. We also caught a lone fish jumping out of the waters. The golden rays of the setting sun had colored the lake in beautiful hues of green, blue and red. No wonder that the beauty of this place during the dusk has inspired a beautiful Odia poem 'Kalijai re sandhya'.

We were headed to famed temple of Maa Kalee Jaee/Kalijai, the reigning deity of the lake. Legend attributes the birth of the Goddess to the appearance of the spirit of a young woman who drowned while traversing the lake to reach her husband's home situated on the other side of the lake ( a village by the name of Parikuda which still exists ). While her own life was tragically cut short by the cruel waters of the lake during a storm which suddenly engulfed the boat, she decided to save others from a similar fate. To this very day, people offer their prayers to the Goddess while boarding a boat on this very lake. Folklore depicts her as a 'pratekshya devi' or an omnipresent force who appears whenever her devotees are in distress and some people say that her cries are still heard on the island during the dark stormy nights.

Image courtesy - Wikipedia

We reached the island just as the evening prayer (or 'aarti') was about to begin. Though small, the temple has a unique charm of its own. There were loads of 'lali sankha' (or the red bangle that married women in Odisha wear) tied almost everywhere by the women folk who pray to the Goddess to keep their marriage intact. We also caught some friendly goats and chicken running around on the island. An elderly member in our group informed me that those animals had been gifted to the Goddess by the devotees whose wishes had been fulfilled. The most important festival here is the Makar Sankranti during which a fair called the 'Makarmela' is organised on the island.

I made the return journey in a great state of mind as a long cherished dream had been fulfilled. The Goddess had finally answered my prayers.

Happy Dhanu Sankaranti To All my Odia readers !!

Drive Smart Stay Safe

Did you know that the fatal car crash that killed the much loved Princess Diana and her then partner Dodi al Fayed might have had a different ending if those two had their seat belts on ? This one was the first such accident that instilled the importance of wearing a seat-belt in my mind .

Then there were two more such accidents, this time much closer to home. Couple of years back a family friend was killed while driving back from his elder brother's wedding. The strain from the journey and the lack of sleep proved fatal as he ended up dozing at the wheel. His father was also deeply injured and stayed in a coma for years. This incident radically transformed the financial condition of a well to do family and somehow things could never be the same again.

Another one was quite recent. A much adored cousin was returning home after dropping a newly married couple (who happened to be his wife's close relatives) at the groom's house. In both the incidents, the person driving the car was in a state of sleep disorientation after a night of wedding festivities and most importantly, not wearing a seat belt. Various studies and research has always thrown up figures which claim that wearing seat belts can reduce the rate of car crash fatalities by more than fifty percent and cut down on moderate to critical injuries by an equal number. A simple habit that can save many lives. That is what road safety is all about.

These are some general guidelines which I feel that people should adhere to in order to make the roads a lot more safe than they are  -

1. Do not drive if you are in a sleep deprived state. The same holds true if you have consumed alcohol. It does not matter if you think that things are under control. Both slow down your reflexes.

2. Do not talk on the phone while driving. Instead use a hands free if the call is critical. Though most of us like to believe that we are great at multi-tasking, it is better not to put lives at risk just to make a point.

3. Do not brake suddenly if a stray dog/cat comes in your way and your vehicle is going beyond 70/kmph. Though animal lovers would cry foul, it is the practical thing to be done as the vehicle travelling behind you will not be able to anticipate your move. Still worse, your own vehicle may skid/spin out of control.

4. Avoid driving in fog or during heavy rains. The reduced visibility sharply cuts down the response time available to one under normal circumstances.

5. Do not jump a red light even if the roads are deserted. There might be another idiot out there doing the same thing.

6. Do not use a high-beam while driving on the city roads. It temporarily the driver of the vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. High-beams are exclusively meant for poorly lit roads on the countryside and the highways.

7. Most importantly, use the seat belt. Even the passengers in the rear seats should abide by it.

With some common sense and discipline, we can make the roads a safer place for all.

This post is written for Nissan Safety Driving Forum which is committed to safety on the road. It endeavors to bring about a much needed change in the mindset of the people so that they realize their responsibilities while driving on the roads. NSDF is an annual activity that started in 2012 and has been conducted in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Beauty Lies beyond Fear

Whether it is the fear of addressing a large crowd or the fear of looking down/jumping from heights or even something as common as the feeling of being stuck forever within a small space (also known as claustrophobia), each one of us has a personal Goliath that we would like to conquer. It keeps us from reaching greater heights and often doing things that we would love to do. Dragging us down into a vortex of self-doubt and ignominy, it makes life miserable till we decide to overcome it with sheer grit or will-power.

One of my personal fears was getting into water. Obviously not the crystal-clear aqua blue sort of waters that one finds along the beaches of Thailand or Maldives but the dark murky waters that make one fathom what lies beneath those. To my virile imagination they seem to hold a great many secrets in those churning waves and I only keep wondering about how many lives/boats they would have swallowed. That fear kept me from exploring places that I would have given a hand and a leg to visit.

It had to be overcome if I had to realize a long standing dream of exploring the beautiful Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lagoon of India. Spread out over an area of 1100 square kms , it covers the Puri, Khorda and Ganjam districts of Odisha. It host a large number of migratory birds in the winter months and offers a whole plethora of scenic spots within the body of the lagoon. One such spot is the famed temple of Maa Kalee Jaee, the reigning deity of the lake. Legend attributes the birth of the Goddess to the appearance of the spirit of a young woman who drowned while traversing the lake to reach her husband's home situated on the other side of the lake. While her life was tragically cut short by the cruel waters of the lake during a storm which suddenly engulfed the boat, she decided to save others from a similar fate. To this very day, people offer their prayers to the Goddess while boarding a boat on this very lake.

This time however I decided to put my fears to rest and take that boat ride to visit the Goddess and enjoy the beauty of that lone island during the sunset hours. Most of the boats that ferry people to that island are old fashioned ones which lack even basic amenities like life jackets and a light. And my resolve almost gave away the moment I stepped into the boat and it started to sway wildly. But I held on amidst the growing nervousness as the boat moved away from the shore and the likeness of any civilization grew increasingly smaller. After around thirty minutes we reached a point where we were completely surrounded by water and there was no sight of any shore. This was the point where I was so taken by the glorious beauty of nature that I completely shed any lingering fear and started to truly enjoy the sights.

The sea fowl serenely sailing along the waters, a few birds swooping down to catch fish, some kind of crane/ergot standing on one leg on a protruding piece of rock and flocks of birds flying very low over the waters and the golden rays of the setting sun which had colored the lake in beautiful hues of green, blue and red were some of the rewards that I received in lieu of conquering my fears and making the journey. We reached the island just as the evening prayers (or 'aarti') was about to begin. My mind was at peace as the Goddess had already answered my prayers and freed my mind of fear. I made the return journey in a great state of mind and survived to share this wonderful experience with my readers.

This post is written for Mountain Dew . Check out their awesome video -

Coconut-coriander Chutney

Most of the chutneys are meant as accompaniments with snacks or finger foods. Maybe except for some vegetable chutneys like the ridge gourd chutney or the tomato chutney from Andhra, they taste quite insipid with rice. However, this one is an exception. Made this on the day after the Chilika trip when we were feeling quite exhausted and wanted a very simple lunch which included loads of salad and yogurt.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 5 mins


Ingredients -

• 1 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut
• 1 cup coriander leaves (lightly packed)
• 1-2 green chili
• 2 pinch cumin seeds
• 1-2 pieces dry mango(ambula)
• 2-3 tbsp yogurt (optional)
• salt to taste 

Preparation - Grind all the ingredients (except for the yogurt and salt) together into a paste.

Mix in the yogurt (if at all used) and salt just before serving.

Can be had either with snacks or rice.

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Who decides what is right or wrong ??

The very mention of pre-Marital sex is like one of those minefields that I personally fear to tread. Considered taboo in India, I find that almost everyone has a strong opinion on the topic. And most of the time, they are dead against it (or at least they proclaim to be). Surprisingly, many of those people would easily brush aside matters like dowry, sexual harassment and even child sex abuse even without offering an opinion. Often it is looked upon as one of those alien imports that happens to be the unfortunate side effect of modernization/globalization. As if our ever burgeoning population does not provide sufficient testimony to the healthy sex drive of the Indians.

There are two ways of looking at the issue of pre-marital sex. The inside out approach and the outside in. While the first one deals with how it affects the individual, his/her perceptions about the act and his/her overall relationship with the current or future partner/soul-mate. The latter deals with how the immediate family and society perceives an individual who indulges in the act.

Focusing on the inside out approach, the degree of commitment in a relationship and awareness are the vital parameters that the individual should consider before getting into the act. While some folks may find the one-night stand approach quite cool, I feel that it has its repercussions in the long run. It lends a degree of casualness to sex and dilutes the emotional aspect of the act. Somehow all those images that we are regularly bombarded with, thanks to the omnipresent nature of today's media, the entire focus seems to be on the act itself and not on the relationship to which it should have been the natural extension. And the easy availability of contraceptives like the 'morning-after' pill seems to have exacerbated such behavior.

While pre-marital sex itself is not bad, studies have shown that it might lead to emotional problems and substance abuse at a later stage. And when the individuals involved are minors, the problem becomes much more pronounced. Teenagers are more prone to peer pressure and get influenced into doing 'it' for all the wrong reasons.

When individuals have found true happiness in each other's company and share every aspect of their life, physical intimacy is only a matter of time. It may or may not wait for the marriage decree which is merely a social sanction. Some may even choose to live-in for a short period before getting married so that they can judge the compatibility level of their relationship. However, they should be ready to deal with heartbreak if such relationships fail.

But looking at the matter from the larger perspective of the society (especially in India), women have always been treated as the sole property of men. Before marriage she is belongs to her father/brother and after her marriage she is transferred to her husband's family. Her virginity/chastity is treated as being synonymous to her family's honor and any deviation from the deeply entrenched social norms is met with harrowing consequences like honor killings. Guys are however exempt from such bindings and many of them choose to lose theirs to an older female relative or cousin or even a prostitute.   However things are changing slowly with youngsters moving to larger cities for pursuing better education/career prospects. A complete turn around maybe a long time away, but the future certainly looks brighter.

I do stand for pre-marital sex when it comes with a relationship but at the same time I would say that youngsters should have enough maturity to deal with the baggage that come with it. After all, nothing can come between consenting adults...maybe except a condom.


This entry is written for Poonaam Uppal's latest offering, A Passionate Gospel of True Love .Buy it online on Flipkart( click here ).

Sajana Phula Patua (Drumstick Flower in Mustard Paste)

This was the last dish that I made with drumstick flowers before leaving my native. A simple and authentic preparation usually made in my mother's family, it is delicious yet very healthy. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 1/2 cup drumstick flowers
• 1 medium sized potato
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 green chili
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 3 tsp mustard oil
• 2 pinch turmeric
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash and clean the drumstick flowers. Cut the potato into thin pieces.

Grind the mustard seeds, chili and garlic into a smooth paste.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the potato pieces. Fry for 2-3 mins.

Add the mustard paste along with 5-6 tbsp water. Throw in the drumstick flowers. Sprinkle turmeric and salt. Cover with a lid and cook on low flame for 3-4 mins.

Remove from flame and serve hot with rice/rotis.

Check out more drumstick flower recipes on my blog !!!