Month: July 2014

PROS AND CONS OF ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING

Almost everybody has computers or if not then mobiles make sure they do have internet access. Gone are the days when we used to stay in the crowd outside the mall or shops having 50% sale on the items. Malls have become more like a hangout spot and there is little countable stuff that you can’t shop for online. For the internet savvy generation of ours we don’t prefer to sweat much for shopping households and clothing. Just be on the mailing list of thee online shopping websites and they’ll make sure you’re notified about any clearance sale or end of season discounts on the items available. From furniture to nail lacquer almost everything is covered under the online shopping but when it comes to groceries and staples, is online shopping reliable option? Let’s look upon some of the PROS and CONS of online grocery shopping.

PROS

NO MORE QUEUING UP!

They are becoming increasingly popular option of shopping, especially in urban centers and metropolitan cities. Why? Because we all somewhere hate the rush in the grocery shops, the limited sale or discounted items and waiting in long lines for checkout. These websites offer discounts and reward points and deliver as per the convenience of the customer.

INDULGE IN VARIETY!

Additionally apart from providing the convenience of sitting at home and shopping, online grocery shopping offers products available from different brands and in various quantities.
One can opt for organic or hybrid vegetables and in staples different brands are available to choose for like from fancy expensive brands to homemade/cooked ones.

ROUND THE CLOCK SERVICE!

You can shop anytime in 24 hours, start the computer, visit the website, select items, choose the desired delivery time and you’re all set. No more visiting fish market every Sunday when you can just order from your computer where selection varies from local to exquisite seafood delivered at your home. The door to door delivery system also makes sure customers get their groceries at the desired time slot too. So, if u work or by any chance not at your home at the delivery time, you can always reschedule the delivery.

THE END OF OVERSPEND!

Websites keep a sidetrack of total cart cost which helps customer to prevent overspending too much. Admittedly, we all have a list ready when we enter the store and checkout with spending double the preset budget. They also seasonally introduce discount, offers and combo packs by which you can buy more, saving more.

TIME SAVED!

The online shopping websites offer you different features, one of which is “Smart Buy”. Here, you can save up your frequently bought groceries and staples which save up time for the next purchase. So, it doesn’t require all that effort to put the items you often buy browsing different categories in the website.

FOR THAT LAST SECOND RUSH!

Online shopping for staples is lifesaver for the last moment panics! Forgot about the dinner plan or wasn’t able to prepare any sweets for the special occasion and no time to visit a store and buy all of it? Buy it online and get it delivered on your doorstep!

NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE?

Almost every website covers Returns and refunds procedure totally hassle-free! If not in cash, there are now features like “E-wallet” which stores your refunded amount to be used for future transactions on the websites.

CONS

Now, highlighting some of the problems with the obvious convenience of online shopping of groceries and essentials:

FOR THE SHOPAHOLICS!

Come on, we all can admit that buying an item from a store still have that personal attention paid to the merchandise and attached reliability than getting it delivered on the doorstep.

FOR THAT CUSTOMIZED QUALITY CHECK

When we buy groceries especially fruits, and that considering buying from “mandi’s” we have the privilege of tasting a bite or two for the “Quality check”. This is pretty much missed in online shopping where either the user or the websites rating can be trusted and we have to be either satisfied with quality or return it every time.

FOR THE ONLINE PAYMENT PITFALL

Though there is a clear advantage to have the convenience of payment transactions online, it cannot always be relied upon. If not fraud then the technical errors may sometime lead to deduction of amount from the account without the completion of transaction.

CAREFUL OF THE COST COVER UP!

As mentioned above, websites offer discounts and money saver combo packs which make the shopping much less costlier but in some cases this is made up through shipping charges or the minimum cart value for delivery services.

CHECK FOR RETURN AND REFUND POLICIES!

If the website you’re shopping on doesn’t cover all the items under return or refund policies then it would be difficult to get reimbursement for the items. Website’s customer care service also defines what quality of service they would be providing you.

Online shopping is so convenient that we can access it not only from the computers but also from your own Smartphone! So, if we keep some points in check we could save ourselves the sweat from carrying 3 kilo grocery bag all up to the 4^th floor and enjoy the benefit of getting the chores done by some clicks! Happy Shopping!

July 7, 2014
Not a nut, but a fruit!

The human body is like a machine in its way of functions. It is a common known fact that a machine heats up when it does work. So, to cool it, a suitable coolant is used and the most common that is naturally available, is water. Similarly, the human body also needs water to cool itself down and to maintain its normal temperature. Earth is the only known planet in our solar system lucky enough to contain the elixir of life in its liquid form. Apart from the common sources from where water is obtained, it is also got from certain fruits like tender coconuts.

A short description

Even though it is named, coconut, it is actually a type of fruit and not a nut. It belongs to the palm family and is mostly found in the tropical and the sub-tropical regions. It can be especially found in abundance, in the Indian sub-continent. The southern parts of India are literally the home for these fruits to grow. They are usually tall trees, which have thick trunks, but almost no branches. Instead, these trees have very long leaves, with some of them even growing up to 25 feet. These leaves make up for the default branches that an average tree usually has. The tree itself may grow up to a 100 feet tall or approximately around 30 meters in height. This type of tree has a fibrous root system and requires sufficient water to grow. The fruit formed is a multi-layered seed that is extremely hard. The hardness is to protect the soft, fleshy part of the coconut pulp inside.

This fruit is unique in the sense that it has the ability to store water taken in from the roots inside its shell to help it to germinate and grow. However, it can be harvested much before and the water inside it can be consumed. The stored water, even though has its source from the water taken in from the ground, it is very different from the actual groundwater. This is because of the various changes taking place inside the shell that affects the water stored inside it. By a certain set of chemical and biological changes happening inside, the coconut pulp is formed which takes up some water and by the process of diffusion, gives some amount of sugar and taste to the otherwise bland water.

This water formed is very rich in potassium and electrolytes, compounds which helps in replenishing the human body from lost nutrients. This is the reason why coconuts are the best source of natural electrolytes and natural coolants especially during the summer months. The human body tends to lose a lot of vital nutrients during the hot months and the water of a tender coconut consumed at a time like this replenishes and energizes the entire system. However, coconuts kept for a long time tend to lose its water content, as the pulp inside begins to dry up, thus consuming the available water to maintain the required moisture. A coconut at this stage is no longer called tender. Instead, it is just the matured form of the fruit and it has a soft flesh which is very sweet in taste.

It also has a lot of oil content and so, these pulps are usually squeezed and cultivated to produce coconut oil. The dry coconut easily comes off its outer shell as there is nothing holding it to the walls of the shell. This is also because of the fact that the coconut as a whole shrinks in size, thus loosening itself from the shell. For the diet conscious, this fruit suits best as it does not known stored natural fats and its cholesterol content is very low. Thus, tender coconut water is a very healthy way to start one’s day.

The vegan way

Vegan is a type of diet which contains non-dairy and non-animal products. People who follow this diet are called vegans. It is very popular all over the world. For the diet conscious vegans, tender coconut water taken every morning keeps their heart and their body sound. Coconut water has the property of cooling one’s body by maintaining the blood flow and its pressure. It regulates the body’s natural temperature and also helps in lowering the cholesterol levels. Vegans usually consume tender coconut water or the fleshy pulp inside as a substitute for artificial electrolytes and vitamin enhancer.

The diet of vegans consists only of plant products. As many of these dishes and recipes tend to have a lot of fiber content, sometimes, it becomes tough for the stomach to digest all the fiber consumed. Fibers from plants sometimes contain quite a high amount of cellulose content. Cellulose is one of the main constituents of green, leafy plants. Through the process of evolution, humans have lost their ability to digest cellulose like herbivores. So, it takes quite a lot of time for the stomach acids to break down cellulose consumed in the form of salads rich in leafy vegetables. However, when taken in large amounts, it may cause indigestion. Now this is where coconuts and tender coconut water play an important role. They are known to be natural appetizers and antacids, improving digestion and preventing from indigestion. Consumption of tender coconut water after a meal of salads rich in greens, improves the stomach’s ability to secrete the digestive juices, while protecting the walls of the stomach from the rancid effects of the juices at the same time. It is for this reason why vegans prefer coconuts water more than any other fruit juices.

July 7, 2014
Food Walk – Part I

Photo Walk.

Sure.

But how many of you have heard of “FOOD WALK”?

Food Walk (definition):

You walk. You go places. You try out different delicacies. You eat, eat and eat.

Your knowledge of food increases tenfold. Your waist-line – not so much, since you are literally walking the whole way and that makes up for all the calories you intake.

Going around the city with my friends from college, I have learnt a great deal about my Kolkata and its food culture. We, more often, hit the old cabins of the yesteryears than the posh Park Street restaurants – because, well, we are students at the end of the day with just enough cash for our endeavors.

One of the very first places we went to was Das Cabin, situated in Gariahat. We googled it’s speciality : Moghlai , Kosha Mangsho( Spiced Chicken/Mutton) with Roti and Kobiraji. And the foodies that we are, we ordered all three. The prices were quite reasonable and the food was impeccable. The Moghlai was small and soft with a considerable amount of filling. I would have to say I have had better – in South Pole, to be precise, which is also in Gariahat(Note: South Pole serves Moghlai only after 3 p.m.). The Kosha Mangsho was delicious and can give good competition to the one in the famous Golabari in Shyambazar. And the Kabiraji – o the kabiraji! – was crisp, made with the right amount of spice in the patty and with each bite, you could literally hear the angels sing.

A try-at-home recipe –

Fish Kobiraji

Ingredients: 10 bhetki fillets, ½ tsp mustard powder, ½ tsp black pepper powder, 1 tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp coriander and mint leaves (chopped), 10 Eggs, 2 tbsp cornflour, 2 tsp Breadcrumbs (optional), Juice of one lemon, Salt

Direction: Wash the bekti fillet under running water, pat them dry and soak in salt and lemon juice for 20 minutes. Mix the mustard powder, red chili powder, black pepper powder, coriander and mint leaves together and apply on the each side of the fillets evenly and refrigerate it for another 20 minutes. Beat the eggs and mix the cornflour, breadcrumbs with salt. Heat some oil in a pan and add two tablespoons of egg mixture. As soon as it becomes fluffy add the marinated fish fillet and quickly cover it with the egg mixture. Fry on low to Medium heat till done. Serve hot with kasundi (Bengali mustard sauce) and salad.

Another day, we decided to walk from Presidency University to New Market, from there to Sudder Street and thereby, in the end, landing up in Park Street. If you walk to the right of Presidency University, a little near College Square, you will find a tiny old cabin reminiscing its old world charms. Favourite Cabin is a cabin which has tales etched in all its nooks and corners; oft frequented by the older generation, it felt amazing to sit there, the only people below 55, sipping 3-rupees-milk-tea, biting into crunchy Cream Roll and observing the theatric conversations buzzing around us.

Sudder Street, however shady it may be, has quite a few good food places – Blue Sky Café and Spanish Café being the most popular ones. I’m yet to visit Blue Sky Café but having chanced upon Spanish Café, I got to say it serves reasonably priced and yummilicious food. Their Café Bombon is a must-have! The Chocolate Pancake is simply a piece of ambrosia. The Mint Tea is refreshing – the way you feel when you hear Richard Stoltzman’s The Maid With Flaxen Hair. In short, you absolutely must try them!

Here are the home-made alternatives –

Chocolate Pancake

Ingredients: 1 cup refined flour (maida), 3 tbsp chocolate grated, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, ½ tsp soda, 1 cup Milk, 2 tbsp butter melted, 1 egg, ¼ cup sugar, ½ tsp salt, Castor sugar (to sprinkle)

Direction: Sieve together flour, baking soda, cocoa powder into a bowl. Add milk, melted butter, egg, sugar, salt and mix well. Heat the skillet and pour a ladleful of batter on the skillet and cook on both sides until brown. Serve hot sprinkled with caster sugar and grated chocolate on top.

Mint Tea

Ingredients: 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves (pudina), 2 tea bags or 2 tsp tea leaves, 2 and half cups of water (each cup being equal to 250 ml), milk, sugar (as per taste)

Direction: Wash the mint leaves in water. In a tea pan or tea maker, add water. Add the mint leaves. Boil the water for 3-4 minutes till the flavors and aroma of the mint starts infusing in the water. The water will start becoming green. Let the quantity of green color in the water increase considerably. Add the tea leaves. Add sugar. Add milk and let the tea come to a boil. Serve the mint tea with light tea-time biscuits. If using tea bags, then put off the burner. In the hot water, dip the tea bags for 2-3 mins. Add sugar and hot milk. Stir and serve.

(To be continued)

July 7, 2014
Rice Is Nice!

Rice is a part of the Bengali’s ‘Mach Dal Bhat’ and most of us have had it for a better part of our life – Rice for dinner. Rice for lunch. For some, rice for breakfast too. It is the staple food of Bengal. And it goes well with a myriad of delicious sides.

Rice can be cooked in various ways. It can be steamed, boiled, spiced up, etc. it can be simply stirred with jeera to make ‘Jeera Rice’ or made into a pulau, a biriyani or porridge; you can even make a risotto (this I learnt from MasterChef Australia). It can be used in soups, in sushi, stuffed in vegetables or wrapped in grape leaves.

Rice provides more than one – fifth of the calories consumed by humans all around the world. So, why not learn how to cook ‘em?

Jeera Rice

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups Basmati rice, 2 tsp Cumin seeds, 1 ½ tsp Ghee, 1 bay leaf, 1 black cardamom, 1 2 inch cinnamon stick, salt

Directions: Wash rice thoroughly and soak in water for half an hour. Drain. Heat the ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds, bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon. When cumin seeds crackle, add the rice. Add salt to taste. Stir till ghee coats every grain of rice and it looks glossy. Add three cups of water. Bring to a boil. Stir once. Reduce heat to minimum and cover the pan with a lid. Leave a little gap, otherwise water will boil over. Rice will be done when holes appear on the surface and water has been completely absorbed. Fork the rice out onto a serving dish. This will separate each grain. Serve hot with any curry.

Vegetable Pulao

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 2 cups long grained or basmati rice soaked for 30 minutes, 2 or 2.5 cups of chopped mixed veggies (cauliflower, carrots, green peas, potatoes, broccoli, corn kernels, baby corn, french beans ), 1 large onion (sliced), 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 green chili (chopped), 1 medium size tomato (chopped), 4.5 cups water or vegetable stock, 2 to 3 tbsp oil or ghee, salt, whole spices (1 tsp cumin, 1 bay leaf 2-3 cloves, 2 green cardamoms , 1 black cardamom, 1 pinch of mace, 1 small star anise, 1 inch cinnamon)

Directions: In a deep pot, heat oil and fry all the whole spices till the oil becomes fragrant. Add the onions and brown them. Add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for a minute. Add the tomatoes & green chilies and saute for 2-3 minutes on a low flame. Add all the veggies and saute again for 2-3 minutes on a low flame. Drain the rice and saute for 2-3 minutes on a low flame, so that the rice gets well coated with the oil. Pour water and stir. Season with some salt. Cover tightly and let the rice cook on a low flame, till the water is absorbed and the rice is well cooked. Fluff and let the rice stand for 5 minutes. Serve the vegetable pulao hot with some side salad, sliced onion & lemon wedges.

Hyderabadi Vegetable Biriyani

Time: 45 minutes

Serves: Served 4

Ingredients:

For the Rice: 1 and half cup basmati rice, 2 green cardamoms, 2 black cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, , 2 mace strands (javitri), 3 cups water, salt

For the Vegetable Gravy: ½ medium sized cauliflower (florets removed), 1 medium sized carrot (diced), 1 medium sized potato (cubed), 1 cup of chopped french beans, ½ cup frozen fresh peas, 1 and half onion (finely sliced), 1 green chili, slit, 2 tbsp ginger (julienned), 1 tbsp chopped garlic, 1 tsp caraway seeds, 2 green cardamom, 2 black cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, 2 mace strands, 100 gm whisked yogurt, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chili powder or cayenne pepper, 2 tbsp cashew nuts, 1 tbsp sultanas or raisins, 2 tbsp almonds (blanched, peeled and sliced), 3 tbsp ghee, salt

For the assembling (herbs and spices): ½ cup chopped coriander, ½ cup mint leaves, 100 gm whisked yogurt, a few saffron strands, 1 tbsp milk

Directions:Pick and clean the rice in running water. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Now microwave or pressure cook the rice. Cook the rice till its ¾th done. In a pressure cooker or a microwave cooker, add the pre-soaked rice, add all the spices mentioned above and salt. Cook till the rice is almost done. Fluff the rice and keep it separate. Heat the ghee in a handi. Add cardamom, mace, clove, cinnamon and bay leaf. Fry them till they crackle. Add the onions. Fry them till golden brown. Add the green chilli, ginger and garlic. Fry for a minute. Add the turmeric and red chili powder. Stir. Add the vegetables and stir for a minute. Add the curd. Stir and then add ¾ cup water. Add salt. Stir the mixture well.

If using a pressure cooker for cooking the vegetables, then cover the cooker with a lid and pressure cook for 2 minutes. If not using a pressure cooker, then bring the entire vegetable mixture to a boil. Then simmer until the vegetables are cooked. Add the dry fruits (almonds, raisins and cashew nuts) to the vegetable gravy.

Warm the milk. Add saffron to it. Let this saffron-milk mixture cool. Add the curd to this mixture and mix well. In the same handi with the cooked vegetables, sprinkle half each of saffron-flavored curd, mint and coriander leaves. Now spread half of the rice. Sprinkle the remaining saffron-flavored curd/yoghurt, mint and coriander leaves. Spread the remaining rice. Sprinkle rose water. Place a moist cloth on top. Cover with a lid. Then seal with wheat flour dough or keep a heavy weight on the lid. Place the sealed handi on the gas stove at low fire. Cook for 20-25 minutes more.

If using an oven, preheat the oven to 190 degree C and bake the biryani for 15-20 minutes. Assemble the vegetable biryani as mentioned above in an oven proof utensil and then bake it.

July 7, 2014
Your breakfast is waiting, where are you?

Let us see what the morning is like for the following three people who decide to give the breakfast a miss.
Scene 1

A lousy you is woken up by your shouting mother. You bury your face into one of the pillows and tell her that you did not want to have breakfast and were not hungry. She shouts back that it wasn’t your choice to decide and had to have it. You go off to sleep anyway and your mother continues to shout.

Scene 2

The alarm clock strikes 8. You wake up startled and realize that you are late again. You curse yourself for forgetting such an important meeting! You take a shower hurriedly and get dressed, pick up the important files and documents, grab the wallet and the keys. You storm out of the door in an eye’s blink.

Scene 3

The sun has not even risen fully yet and you are up and going. You take a bath, offer the morning prayers. It’s time to wake up the children and the dear husband. You prepare the breakfast. You prepare the lunch and fill in their lunch boxes. At the same time, you are running around and tying your 5 year old son’s shoe laces. And who will braid the daughter’s hair but you! And oh, you got to make sure that your husband doesn’t forget the wallet and the watch again. Everyone leaves for their destinations. You are so tired by now that you simply sip in a cup of tea and watch a re-run of the last night’s television show you missed.

This is the daily routine of most of the people. Time is less and the work to be done is a lot. Or maybe it’s just ignorance. Whatever might the reason be, missing out on breakfast is not an option but a terribly bad idea. Scientists and researchers say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You can skip any other meal but this one. In today’s world that is so fast and furious, everyone is missing out on the importance of the morning’s meal, breakfast.
The top most important reasons for starting your day with breakfast are:

1) Re-fueling the body
Breakfast when broken into two gives its clear meaning, breaking the night long fast. You last ate at night and there happens to be a lot of time difference between the two meals if you skip breakfast and rather have lunch directly. Your body cannot endure that. You need to feed in that little boy something time to time! Like you have a timely routine to follow, the body has too. It needs to be refueled in order for it to work properly.

2) Controlled and maintained body weight
All the weight issues the mother of those two doting kids always complains about can be put to a rest. That is, if she decides to take care of herself like she takes care of her children and husband. It would take her an extra 5 minutes to sit along with them and have her breakfast. If she can do it for them, why can’t she do it for herself?
Having a timely and healthy breakfast reduces the chances of obesity and controls and maintains the body weight.

Keeps your body weight on check.

3) Lessened concentration issues
The guy who missed the breakfast because he woke up late and had an important meeting to attend will anyway be not able to concentrate in the meeting. Reason you ask? An empty growling stomach! All those lousy students in class who do not understand a thing about what the teacher is saying in the classes before lunch, can increase their concentration levels if they have a healthy breakfast. It enhances the brain power and makes you feel more energetic. Wish to attain higher grades? Start your day with a breakfast.

Concentration issues at school? Have some breakfast, you!

4) Reduced stress
The body does not get the required energy in the morning when you don’t have your breakfast. It then tends to take up whatever is available in the energy reserves and takes the fuel from them. This leaves you all irritated and stressed out due to the release of the stress hormones. You are not able to concentrate and work effectively. You do not produce a good result. On the other hand, if you do have a healthy breakfast, your energy reserves remain untouched and you remain stress free.

So much to do and so less time. Helps if you have your breakfast properly.

5) Reduced intake of unhealthy snacks
When you set out for office or school with an empty stomach, hunger creeps in hours before lunch. And as lunch is a time where you sit and eat a proper meal, it is not convenient for you to have a full meal before it, even if you maybe very hungry. Hence you decide to have some sort of snack here and some sort of snack there in order to quieten the growling stomach. The intake of such unhealthy snacks disrupts the functioning of the body. It also increases fat and sugar levels. The metabolism of the body gets adversely effected. A healthy breakfast in the morning kills the cravings for junk foods all together.

Say no to munching on unhealthy snacks! time for breakfast.

6) Reduced risk of chronic diseases
There are certain vitamins and minerals that only the breakfast can provide. Having a balanced and healthy breakfast reduces the risk of chronic diseases like heart attack by maintaining the cholesterol levels. A proper intake of breakfast maintains the blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diabetes.

Keep your cholesterol in check by having a healthy breakfast.

All the points very well establish the fact that it is extremely necessary to have a balanced, nutritious and energy enhancing breakfast. If you had to opt for one meal out of the three, go for breakfast. It is the meal that lets you survive the day.

July 7, 2014
Best hotels you could visit in the world!!

There is hardly someone who does not like travelling and hasn’t ever dreamt of going on a world tour yet. But it’s not possible to visit and every city and if at all you happen to be in one of these cities below, here is a list of great hotels that are almost close to heaven. Luxury and ambiance of these hotels has captured hearts of international tourists ever since they were constructed!

1. Palms, Las Vegas

Planning a party in sin city? I tell you, it is impossible to get a place better than the Palms in Las Vegas. It is everything that a perfect party place should be! Rooftop suites, Jacuzzi, glass elevators that will show you the night-time Vegas, gym, full fledged bar and what not! You name it and you get it here. Its is a dream come true for every party loving guy out there.

2. Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai

You sure have seen a floating sail-shaped hotel in a lot of Bollywood movies or even in photographs. We all know its USP, don’t we? It is the one and only Burj Al Arab. Breathtaking views, luxurious suites, tennis courts and a helipad (I know it’s grand!) are the remarkable amenities of this hotel. Burj Al Arab has made everyone enthusiastic to visit it ever since it was built. Royal treatment is something you can expect off the polite and helpful staff here.

3. The Westin Excelsior, Rome

Rome, as you think about it, incredible history is something that comes to your mind first. Situated in Via Veneto district, this hotel was built in 1906 and has been recently renovated to suit the modern lifestyle. It now consists of the largest suite in Italy called ‘the Villa Cupola Suite ’. Even though it was renovated, the hand-frescos and antique furnish still gives it the royal look. Domes, gyms, sauna, formal dining rooms are other enthralling facilities available here.

4. The Plaza, New York City

Would you like to visit the best hotel in New York which gives awesome views of Manhattan? We all know, only The Plaza can get you requirements fulfilled! Visiting this place gives you a feel of turn of centuries. Libraries, gyms, kitchen for personal chefs, private elevator, and a great Butler service and of course, best views of Manhattan are the specialties of The Plaza. This place was built a long ago i.e. in 1907 which is why the architecture reminds you of the old era

5. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

The submerged Atlantis city has always been a fascination for everyone. The stories claim that it was no less than paradise. This hotel is built as an accolade to Atlantis. Now you know why people flock around here so much. This 141 acre place is actually a resort. Their Royal Towers Bridge Suite is located on the 23^rd floor and offers posh rooms with pianos, a 22 karat gold chandelier and a formal dining room.

6. CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, Anguilla

Originally designed and built for the owner himself, this resort later started made room for guests. Villas and the large well-furnished rooms here are located on beautiful fascinating beaches. The Golf course, Spa and fitness club are the major attractions which have succeeded in attracting even a lot of celebrities here.

7. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Have you watched Yeh Jawani hai Deewani? I am sure that you marveled at the place where Aditi’s (Kalki’s) marriage ceremony was shot! It was none other than Udiapur’s Oberoi Udaivilas. After watching the movie, you don’t really need a description of this Marwadi beauty. A boat ride takes you to this private 50-acre land located in Lake Pichola. Views of Udaipur palaces, wildlife in the nearby forests and grand special rooms with private swimming pools and terraces together form a great combination for the guests.

8. The Boulders, Arizona

Can you imagine something which is 12-million-years old? Well, the rock formations here are! This spa resort got its name from the rock formations and it is nurtured by Mother Nature herself. The Boulders is spread over an enormous 1300 acres of the Sonoran Desert and offers two golf courses as well. Extreme privacy and secrecy about the guest celebrities is the top priority for the extremely loyal staff.

9. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay, New Zealand

Golf being the chief attraction, such a lodge is ought to lie in the North Island countyside. This place offers 22 suites, two tennis courts, three swimming beaches, indoor/outdoor fireplaces and also one of New Zealand’s best spas .The Owner’s Cottage offers wonderful golf course views, two bedrooms and a large 4200 square feet for your leisure.

10. Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a serene place and so is this hotel. Along with lush green scenery, wildlife, white-water rafting and kayaking are the things that tourists look up to. The owner Leo Ghitis has thought of an irresistible combination of huge decks, hot tubs and plantation furniture for the guests. The wine bar here which is an all-time favorite serves best vintages to the guests whenever required.

So, aren’t these places really worth visiting? After looking at this list of features, anyone will go crazy thinking about visiting these hotels which are believed to be the best in the world!

July 7, 2014
Jainism Rituals and Principles
Jainism, popularly entitled as Jain Dharma is one of the ancient Indian religions in the world. It believes in Ahimsa and follows the path of non-violence towards all human beings. It underlines the fact that all forms of life are equal. It basically derived from the root ‘ jin’ which means to conquer. Their history has been traced through the succession of the Tirthankaras.

Jainism is partitioned into two major sectors Svetambara and Digambara. There are about 4.2 million people in this religion. This is a small number so they are counted under minority community. There are various immigrants in Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan and United States. Though they are minority sector, but they possess highest literacy rate in India i.e. 94.1 %. They have the oldest manuscript libraries in the country.

Jainism origin is not so clear, but during the 6th century BC twenty four great teacher known as tirthankaras revealed the existence of this religion. Mahavira is recognized as the founder of this religion. There is no evidence of the existence of these tirthankaras but Parsva, predecessor of Mahavira was found to exist somewhere in the 7th -9^th century.

There are several principles that people in this religion follow. The fundamental principle of Jainism is related to a man’s personality. They believe that man has dual personality i.e. Spiritual and material. They consider that every soul is bounded by Karma, a delicate particle of matter. Our soul is attached to our Karma just like gold in any alloy which can’t be separated.

Next principle is based on the imperfectness of the human soul. They believe that no soul is perfect and to attain perfectness, it must have four characteristics: infinite power, infinite knowledge, infinite bliss and infinite faith. After attaining these soul is said to be in its eternal state. Third principle states that material nature can be controlled by the spiritual nature of a man. To attain freedom and happiness there must be an entire suppression of matter. Control of thoughts ad senses would lead to the perfection of the soul. The last and fourth principle states that man is solely responsible for his happiness and his problems would not be affected by any other human being. He has to experience the fruits and results of his own actions, whether it may be good or bad. They believe that God has no concern with any of the happenings in the world. This principle makes Jainism different from Christians, Islam or Hindus.

Jain community is categorized into two main sects: Svetambara and Digambara. These two sectors belong to the same community but they are quite different in their culture and rituals. Digambara people believe that desire for materialistic things led to sorrows so they avoid wearing clothes. This is mainly for males and females are generally seen wearing white material and they are known as Aryikas. While Svetambara monks wear white clothes and believes that scriptures does not condemn wearing of these clothes. Females in this community are referred to as Sadhvi. Digambaras considers Mahavira to be unmarried while Svetambara considers them to be married. Svetambara is further partitioned into terapanthi, Sthanakavasi and Murtipujaka while Digambaras is divided into Kanjipanthi, Terapanthi, taranapanthi and Bisapanthi.

The way of worshipping God is very different in Jainism. They start their worship with the Namokara Mantra. This is simple and fundamental prayer of this community which does not include reference to any of the Tirthankaras. They never believe in demanding any of the material things or personal favors from god. This prayer endowed a feeling of respect for other human beings in it and reminds them about their final goal i.e. moksha. The ultimate objective of their prayer to make their soul free from worldly desires and attachments towards material things. Jain has six duties to follow which is called as avahyakas. These are:
- Samyika means practicing serenity
- Vandan means respecting monks and teachers
- Pratikramana means introspection
- Kayotsarga means stillness
- Pratyakhana means renunciation
- Chaturvimshati means praising 24 tirthankaras
The most significant festival they celebrate is Paryushana. It lasts for 10 days for Digambara and 8 days for Svetambara. Svetambara called it as Paryushana while Digambara called it as Das Lakshana. Paryushana literally means ‘coming together’. At the end of this festival they usually spend a day saying sorry for any wrong deeds to the other people and make a commitment that this will not be repeated in the near future. They say sorry in the form of Khamat Khamna or Michammi Dukadam. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Chaitra in each and every corner of the country. They do fasts on various occasions and sometimes they avoid eating anything for the whole day to reduce the effect of their negative karma. They also believe in meditation, which provides a feeling calmness for some time. This is known as Samayika. It is mainly done during the eight days of Paryushana. It helps in managing one’s passion and emphasize mainly on the control of our senses and thoughts. During this festival they avoid eating green vegetables and any sort of food item after sunset.
July 7, 2014
Delicious Rajasthani Dishes

Rajasthani culture itself includes warlike lifestyles of its people. Along with the royal heritage Rajasthan possesses royal cuisine too. For mouth-watering aroma the food is especially cooked in pure ghee. Rajasthani dish is delicious to taste..!! Rajasthani thaali is a combination of two to three sweet dishes, several rajasthani curries, bajra and missi roti. So here come several famous Rajasthani dishes which need to be tasted if you haven’t tasted it once.

Kalakand, a sweet dish preferred by all the people of the region. It is also famous by the name called Mishri-Mawa. It is prepared with the help of cottage cheese and sweetened milk. It was firstly originated and prepared in Alwar so people usually called it as Alwar’s Kalakand. In several places it is known by the name Milk Cake. Because of its delicious and excellent taste it is renowned all over the state and even a place is named after this particular dish in Alwar.

Dal Bati Churma is a well-known Rajasthani dish which includes three individual servings i.e. Dal, Bati and Churma. Its preparation is quite easy, but take more time as compared to other Rajasthani dishes. It is considered as the most eminent and common dish for all kinds of occasion, whether it be any religious occasions, wedding parties or any small get together. Dal is basically made of tuvaar. It is prepared with the same common recipe as it has. Baati is prepared using wheat flour which is mixed with dahi, salt and water. Now the prepared ball sized round balls and put it into a well-heated oven. After it becomes brown it is served with ghee. Dal-baati is generally served with pudina chaatni, kari, green salad and buttermilk or chaach. Dal baati is incomplete without Churma. It is made of ground wheat, which is crushed and mixed with ghee to make it rich in calories. It is like a tradition to be followed in Rajasthan.

Jodhpuri Mawa Kachori, a special sweet originated in Jodhpur. As we know Jodhpur is known for having Rajasthani delicacies. Various different dishes were originated in Jodhpur like Pyaaz Kachori, Mirchibada, Makhaniya Lassi etc. Mawa Kachori is a sweet dish prepared from mawa which is stuffed in Kachori. It was firstly prepared by famous Rawat Mishthan Bhandar in Jodhpur. Since, from that time it is serving the best mawa kachori in the whole state.

Rajasthan is not only famous for sweet dishes instead its spicy dishes is as yummy and delicious as its sweet dishes. When we talk about spicy the first name comes to our mind is Kachori. Pyaaz ki Kachori is one of the variants of Rajasthani Kachori which was originated in Jodhpur. It is made of fried pastry which was stuffed with spicy onion. People across the country and especially travelers after entering into Rajasthan firstly wants to have this excellent taste in their mouth. This dish has become popular all over the country and is served in every Rajasthani outlet and restaurants. People here in Rajssthan prefer to have this spicy dish in their breakfast and snacks.

Ghewar is another renowned Rajasthani sweet dish. The demands for this sweet dish remain high during all the seasons, but especially it becomes a part of the meal during Teej. It gives an indication of the beginning of the festive season. It is made of wheat flour given a shape of rounded cake. After this preparation, it is poured into sugar syrup and then served. It has several variants that distinguish its taste. Rabdi Ghewar is generally famous and prepared on the occasion f wedding ceremonies which include a topping of rabdi along with the crunch of nuts over it. On the occasion of Gangaur, Makar Sakranti people used to celebrate their happiness with this Ghewar.

Mirchi Vada, another famous snack in Rajasthan. As we know everyone has a different taste varying it from sweet to spicy, so here comes a blend of both. Mirchi vada is combination of spicy and sweet flavours both. It is a spicy fried dish made from Mirchi stuffed with potato in it. It is served with tomato sauce, tamarind chatni, curd and with mint too. But during its preparation, make sure to remove the seeds of Mirchi so that it does not become spicier.

The meal is incomplete without rotis and in India there are different variants of rotis, paranthas etc. So when Rajasthani thali comes into concern it is incomplete without Missi Roti. Missi Roti is a specialty of Rajasthani cuisine. In ancient period it was prepared on a traditional chulha with the coals, but now a day’s people started using ovens for its preparation. Its preparation is quite simple. Initially you need to mesh wheat flour and besan along with dhaniya, red chilly, oil, salt and jeera. A stiff dough is prepared. After this thick rotis are made and brushed with melted ghee. Then it is ready to be served with Shahi Gatte, green chilly and pickle.

July 7, 2014
Do’s and don’ts for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a sort of chronic metabolic disorder which leads to a failure in converting body sugars, starches and other foods into energy.Generally during the process of digestion the food we take is converted into glucose which is carried through the body by the bloodstream.This glucose is converted into energy by the hormone insulin.But in diabetic people the body does not make enough insulin or it wont make better use of it.Generally there are two types of diabetes.

Type 1:

This type of diabetes is generally known as Juvenile Onset Diabetes.In this stage the body produces very little insulin or no insulin.This can be occurred mostly in children or in the teens.People who is having this type of diabetes need to take daily insulin injections.People who are having this type of diabetes must take balanced diet and and regular insulin injections daily to stay alive.

Type 2:

This type of diabetes mostly occurs for the people between the age of 35 to 40 years.Out of these two type of diabetes type 2 occurs the most for about 80 percent of the diabetics.In this type as though the pancreas produce sufficient insulin but the body cells show less sensitivity towards it.This is occurred mainly due to obesity and the best way to control is to have controlled diet and regular exercise.Some times insulin injections are also needed for this type of diabetes.

Food that must be avoided:

1) Salt:

Salt is the most regular culprit for the occurring of diabetes.As we intake vegetables they contain sufficient salt,so we can reduce the intake of inorganic salt.

Salt

2) Sugar:

Sugar is containing large amounts of calories and carbohydrates.In order to digest this sucrose we need more calcium.So it is better to replace sugar with its substitute like honey, jaggery etc.,

Sugar

3) Fat:

It is better not to take large amount of fats as it is not good for health.In our food we must try to avoid fried items completely.But we must see that the intake of fats must be sufficient for the soluble of vitamins especially like vitamin E.

fat-content

4) From non vegetarians:

It is not advisable to take dark red colored meat completely as the intake of it also leads to diabetes.Going to vegetarian diet is helpful for the people who cant leave the consumption of eggs poultry.But eating fish is good for health and also some of the fats and oils present in it are good for body metabolism.

Avoid non vegetarian

5) Whole milk and products:

Taking in pure milk is not so good for health but we can take low fat milk and milk derived products like yogurt or curd.Milk based products like cheese contains lot of fat and it can be replaced with low fat cottage cheese.

Milk products

6) Tea and coffee:

It is better to avoid decaffeinated tea every day and we can switch to herbal teas instead of it.Drinking two cups is not restricted but more than that is not so good for diabetic patients.

Coffee-Tea

7) White flour and its products:

Replace the flour products with whole grains,wholewheat or soya breads and unpolished rice.As it is very healthy and reduce the fat level in the body.

Soya breads

8) Foods with a high glycemic index:

The food items that contain high glycemic index are white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and banana as they increase the blood sugar levels.

Special foods for diabetes:

1) Bitter gourd ( Kaakarakaya ):

This is a vegetable that contains high level of insulin dosage and it helps in lowering the blood sugar levels.It has very bitter taste and if we have the juice of three to four bitter gourd every day early in the morning on an empty stomach it can naturally work as a medicine and reduces the blood sugar.It can also be taken in the form of powder by mixing it with water.

Bitter gourd

2) Fenugreek ( Menthulu ):

Many of the people who is having diabetes choose this to control their sugar level.This can be taken in the form of powder by grinding the seeds and mixing it in water.It can also be taken in the form of seeds by soaking it in water and leaving it aside for one night.Few people also take it in the form of chapatis by mixing the fenugreek seeds powder to it.

Fenugreek

3) Indian blackberry ( Nerudupandu ):

This is a type of fruit and is used for controlling the diabetes.After eating the fruit the seed present in it is made into powder and is taken in.It contains glucoside which prevents the conversion of starch into sugars.

Indian blackberry

4) Garlic( Vellulli ):

This is also a very useful in controlling diabetes.This garlic is having potassium and it replaces the potassium that is getting lost during urine.Along with this it also contains zinc and sulphur which are the major components of insulin.Taking daily is better for good health.

Garlic

5) Onion:

Onion is one of the best medicine against diabetes because of its digestive properties.Taking raw onion is more advisable.

Onions

6) Flax seed ( Avise ginjalu ):

Flax seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.These help in controlling the diabetes as they are maintaining the sensitive cell of the membrane that helps in providing insulin and also provide glucose from the cells.

July 7, 2014
Bathukamma – A festival of flowers in Telangana

Bathukamma is a festival of flowers that is celebrated by Hindu women in Telangana region.This festival is celebrated every year during the month of September and October.According to lunar calender this festival is celebrated during the Bhadrapada Amavasya ( also known as Mahalaya Amavasya ).This is a festival that is celebrated for complete nine days during Navarathri.On the festive day of Durgashtami the main festival Pedda Bathukamma or Saddula Bathukamma is celebrated just before two days of Dussehra.Bathukamma the festival of flowers is followed by Boddemma Bathukamma which is a seven day festival.Actually the festival Boddemma indicated the ending of varsha ruthu and the festival Bathukamma indicated the starting of sharath ruthu.

Bathukamma – a festival of flowers

The culture of Telengana can be seen clearly in this festival.In this festival the flowers are arranged in a stack manner which are very rare and unique seasonal flowers.These flowers which are rich in medicinal value are arranged in the form of layers like a clay pot.The word Bathukamma itself says that it means the mother goddess to come alive and in this festival goddess Maha gouri who is a life giver is worshiped in the form of Bathukamma.Women wear traditional dress on this special occasion,mostly women like to wear saree and few teenage girls wear half sarees with the matching jewelry and accessories.It intensifies the importance of womanhood.

Traditional sarees and half sarees on this special occasion

This is the second largest festival after Vijaya Dashami in the Telangana region.Goddess Gauri who give life giver is worshiped in the form of Bathukamma.In that festival women try to seek blessings of goddess gauri to give them prosperity and do good for their family for the whole year.Very bright and colorful flowers are arranged step by step in the form of a cone and at the top of it turmeric are placed which signify both life and eternity in their colors.The goddess is created every year and is worshiped for the whole 9 days completely with divine and pure heart, later on the tenth day the goddess is immersed duly in local water bodies.This is the largest festival in Telangana and was started long ago about centuries back and is still celebrated as grand cultural event in this region with great enjoyment.

Bathukama-colorful-flowers-arranged-in-the-form-of-cone

This festival involves mainly flowers the goddess Gauri devi is arranged in as a beautiful flower stack in seven different layers as a conical mound.As the flowers arrangement resembles goddess they are generally unique and having medicinal value.Men from the houses go around and search for the flowers like Gunuka, Tangedi, Lotus, Alli, Katla, Teku flowers and gather them which bloom during this festive season in most vibrant colors in the uncultivated and barren lands of the Telangana region.By using these gathered flowers women prepare their goddess Bathukamma by using a wooden plank or wide plate and arrange these flowers which are fragrant in the form of layers.After the plank is taken the flowers are taken and they also use pumpkin to decorate the flower top and also keep tumeric on the top of this flower mound.

On the occasion of Bathukamma the arrangement of flowers and decorating Bathukamma

After the completion of 9 days on the tenth day the visarjanam or immersion of Bathukamma is done in the nearest water bodies.This festival is celebrated with complete devotion and interest throughout the Telangana region.The Women of Telangana region participate in this festival with most enthusiasm and great fervour by dressing up in the complete traditional dresses like wearing traditional silk sarees and wearing matching jewellery for it, whereas the young girls wear langa voni or half saree with complete accessories.The women of Telangana gather in large numbers and place Bathukamma in the middle and dance around them by singing songs related that are of stirring Bathukamma folk songs.Along with the songs women move round the bathukamma by clapping their hands which give a wonderful look for the festival.

Maleeda

Bathukamma festival which is also known as Bodemma looks amazing when the lakes are filled with flowers.On this day, Maleeda is made which is offered to the god as a prasadam made of jaggery and at the end of the day,it is distributed to the people.The festival ground is filled with women as male companions aren’t allowed here and young girls participate in large numbers.

There are many myths regarding this festival.One of the myths according to legends is that Bathukamma or Parvati is a lover of flowers.Flowers are arranged om a square wooden plank with that size of frames forming on top of it which resembles the shape of a temple known as Gopura.On the top of the flowers,a lump of turmeric is kept and this little floral mountain is worshipped as Goddess Bathukamma.

Bathukamma festival

This festival is celebrated with utmost joy and gaiety.There are many dance performances,traditional music,dramas for many tourists who visit to watch this splendid festival.This festival is attracting thousands of tourists and many are coming here just to watch this festival.During this month long celebrations, Jataras ( fairs or melas ) are also held.If you are a traditional lover,then this festival sure will attract yor attention towards it and it fills your mind and heart with joy.

July 6, 2014