The thrills of travel!

An acquaintance once told me that he didn't care much for monuments or history, that he found sightseeing to be boring and all he preferred to do whenever and wherever he travelled was shop. I won't deny that I felt quite sorry for him! I mean, what's the point of traveling anywhere if you have no interest about the place, its people, its past, its cultures, its flavors? Because every place in this world is unique and different from every other place. This particular acquaintance was on a stringent diet so trying out local cuisines was also out of the question for him! And worst was that he's one of a lucky few who have to travel regularly and extensively on work, from that moment on, all I could think was, what a waste that he gets to travel so much!
I, on the other hand, like millions of others, suffer an insatiable greed for travel. The excitement bubbles right from the moment travel plans are initiated. Once tickets are bought and flights are booked then the frenzy builds. I score reviews and posts of the experience many gone before me, brushing up on my history of the place I would soon see, charting the must-see spots, listing the cuisines I should try out and basically making sure I fill every moment of my stay with activities that would create the most wonderful memories of the trip ever.
From day one, every minute is an adventure and my imagination kicks into overdrive. While strolling down centuries-old forts or palaces I can see how life must have once been, rich and rustic, all those years ago. Of course one needs a really high sense of imagination when it comes to the forts of India with most in dilapidated states of destruction. Yet the magnificence of a regal past speaks loudly from the ruins. One such fort that took my breath away was the Amber Fort of Jaipur, sitting high and lofty on the hills.
History has always fascinated me. I enjoy the link the past has with the present and it helps me understand why today the world is the way it is. The experiences of a place over the years builds it character, develops its culture and gives it that touch of the unique that makes it different from another place. The customs of a place is unique to it too. For instance, in traditional Kerala, it used to be a custom for people to wash their feet before stepping into a house. Most homes would have vessels of water placed at the front door step for this very purpose!
I enjoy new flavors of foods I know I may never taste again and I relish the experience, though there are occasions when I have deigned to refuse a local delicacy or two, raw beef, however elegantly presented is a big no for me! I especially prefer to try out small eateries that appear popular with the locals, they serve the best fare. Of course, people would argue that you get all kinds of food at your doorstep these days, but watered down versions are incomparable to the original flavors brought on by authentic local ingredients.
However, though I claim to be a great fan of traveling, I unfortunately wouldn't call myself a nomad, for the heart is where home is and eventually I find my thoughts shamelessly wandering back home while the being is on the exotic streets of unknown regions and then I know, it's time to head back home, but only until the call of travel hunger returns.

A tough job!

There are times when I really wish there was a Bible on parenting. You know, just the one book that we can follow and be sure that if the principles are obeyed and faithfully acted upon then a happy and prosperous relationship will exist forever between parents and children. No such luck! Instead, we’re left to follow our instincts, our stupid beliefs that what we do and say is for our child’s benefit and most times end up making a mess of things!

Why is it so difficult to accept that the cute little baby who looked up at us with those ever-adoring eyes now prefers Facebook to your company? Since when did she develop a mind of her own when not so long ago she needed you to decide what she was to wear?

When did kids get so smart that they can figure out within seconds how your computer works when it took you ages?

Though the heart longs to make a friend of your child, you can’t curb the maternal instincts that lash out every time she makes a mistake or takes a wrong turn.

When do you stop being a mother? When do you be the friend you believe she needs? Or do you be a mother who’s the friend? Can that really happen?

Do you ever stop worrying?

At first it was mere common colds and indigestions that got you worked up, then it’s exams and school and boyfriends, where does it go from there? The worry never really stops, does it?

And what sort of parent would be the best, the ideal kind of parent? The strict one? The relaxed one? The caring one? Or the one who just lets be?

There are some parents I know who can’t help being strict, they’re so sure they’re doing what’s best for their child that they don’t see how badly the tender relationship they have with their child is deteriorating. They blindly believe that one day the child would know they were only acting in his best interest. But what if that day never came? Then what?

There are some parents who trust their children blindly. Letting them do and be as they please. Allowing them to make their own choices and decisions without guidance or care. Is that really fair? Don’t they see how lost and alone the child is?

And then there are parents who prefer to talk and communicate all the time. Patiently explaining and describing and apparently caring yet never admonishing even when the need for admonition is dire. They refuse to see the sort of menace their child is turning out to be. Is that real parenting?

Who then is the perfect parent?

Why is it so easy to aim to be caring when care is needed, to listen, to love, to scold and to support the one person who’s most important in the life of a parent, and yet when it comes down to the real thing, why is it that the parent loses all sense and control? And ends up doing and saying the stupidest things?

How often do you get the chance to make up for all the parental mistakes you make?

If only there was a Bible on parenting that we could follow blindly. How easy life would be for many, many parents!

My secret addiction!

I have to confess, I'm seriously addicted! Probably it's because colors fascinate me and always have. Or maybe that's just a lame excuse and maybe I just enjoy the way a light touch of color changes me, not just the way I look but even my mood too! There are probably hundreds of others who share the same addiction, and maybe that's why the giant brands of cosmetics are just growing bigger and bigger by the day! Anyway, here's the truth, I adore makeup! It's amazing how different you can look with just the right dash of color on your eyelids, lined with just the right hint of darkness. A splash of shine on your lips can add softness to your smile and a feathering of hue on your cheeks accentuates features you didn't know you had. But it's serious business too. You should search and search until you discover the right products and right colors for you and more importantly, for your skin. And once you find what's good for you, just keep searching because there's always something new coming up that could be better! But remember, what's most important is you always choose to use a good brand of good quality. Your skin must never ever be made to suffer.

Always start from the very beginning. It can be quite tedious, I know, but in the course of time you tend to get used to the process. Think of yourself as an artist, so as artists do, start with a clean slate. Or face, in this case. And to have a clean face, use a face wash that's best suited for your skin type and follow it up with an appropriate toner, personally I find the Clinique range to be quite good. Body Shop has a couple of fabulous face washes too. What comes next is what I call a boon to skin, serum!! Just a couple of dots can spread across your face and make a world of a difference! Follow this up with a moisturizer and again, it's extremely important you find the right type for your skin type. My skin tends to dry easily so I need a heavier moisturizer but for those who have more balanced or oilier skin types, choose a lighter one. Foundations are a must for me, I still bear the scars of my acne-prone teenage years, but just a light coat is fine and I have a select few that I use, varying from one to the other depending mostly on the weather. Chanel and Estee Lauder have some fabulous choices, lightweight and soft, you won't feel you're wearing any makeup and for the harsher winter months, Mac has some great options too. But be wary of the Mac Studio Fix if you tend to breakout. My recent discovery is the Dior BB cream which works wonders and is a must try! Clinique's BB cream is a great choice too!

And now, we come to my favorite part! Adding the colors! And of them all, I love lipsticks the most!! There's something about a lipstick that makes me feel all grownup and confident and quite pleased with myself! I have an amazing range of colors and brands, to suit almost every occasion and every outfit possible, but, I don't deny, I'm still on the prowl for more!! My favorites range from Chanel to Estee Lauder to Mac to Clinique to Givenchy and the list goes on!! I love lip glosses too, and my favorites are the lip glass range from Mac, they have some amazing shades! My latest fav are the chubby sticks of Clinique, which double up as lip balms too. I use quite a bit of kajal too, and have been stuck with Shehnaz Hussain's kajal stick for a while now. I love to add a light hint of eyeshadow to my eyelids, preferring darker shades for evenings and nude choices for the day. Mac has a fabulous range of eyeshadows in almost every imaginable color, while their paint pots are a rare range of eye color that just stays on and on. Different shades of eye pencils and eyeliners add just the right finishing touch and again Mac has some fabulous choices, my personal favorites are Buried Treasure and Earthline. The Mac fluid line range has some great gel liners that are soft and dusky and great if you prefer the smoky look. Some swear by mascara but honestly, I am not much of a mascara fan. However I do use color occasionally on my cheeks and I love Bobbi Brown's Sheer Color Cheek Tint which comes in an easy to apply tube, especially when you're on the go. There's nothing like a touch of blush to change the entire way you look!

I tend to prefer the soft shine as compared to a matted skin, so a spritz of Mac's Fix+ adds a touch of natural moisture to finish my look.

Now remember, it can be tedious but there's no choice in the matter, it has to be done. Removing your makeup is as important or even more so than applying it. So swipe the colors off with a good makeup remover, again Estee Lauder has some great choices, wash with the right face wash, tone and never ever forget to moisturize!

We've all heard all of this before and over and over again, so I guess I'm being repetitive, but even at that risk I must say, stick to the routine, enjoy the colors and discover a new you every time!  

Romancing with the past

I've always been fascinated with the past, right from my college days, when majoring in English Literature demanded that I study British and World History as well. And those subjects were a treat! It was fascinating to realize how everything that happens in the world today is the direct result of what happened yesterday and what happened yesterday was because of the events of the days and years before. To learn that a revolution in one country led to a war that involved continents which then led to the next war, and to understand that peace follows turmoil to be followed by peace yet again, was to finally understand why the world is where it is today.

Likewise, I enjoy reading about historical personalities, of seemingly ordinary people lead by extraordinary visions and who thus became great. I find it interesting to learn what lead them to become who they were, what their dreams and ambitions were, what their efforts and struggles were. In fact, I find that the past can actually be quite addictive, but thankfully it's an addiction with a bonus. My job often allows me to follow the lives of great people that once lived and if you happen to check my website, you'll notice that most of the stories posted on destinations are reviews of historic places. Being a writer who's often assigned to review destinations, I enjoy the thrill of digging out the history of each place I'm assigned to, after all, every place has a tale to it and what's even more fascinating is that most tales have various versions and each version is corroborated with it's own set of facts, so the most trying of it all is trying to figure out the real truth. 

Reading about great kings and their lives had always been enjoyable but to actually and physically visit the palaces they lived and reigned in is always a treat beyond belief. Visiting the Versailles was one such unforgettable experience. Likewise visiting the Edinburgh Castle. In India, visiting the Taj Mahal had been a dream come true. I'd also enjoyed visiting the home of the Gandhis in Delhi which presents the various stages in life and the personal effects of the Gandhis, including Indira and Rajiv. 

But it isn't just events and people of the past that I find interesting. I also enjoy visiting historic sites and historical monuments. The Golconda Fort in Hyderabad was enthralling and Stonehenge had left me literally breathless. I suppose, my pleasure comes from the fact that I somehow never fail to realize that the people I learn about and the places I visit were once and will always be renowned, they will always have a place in history and I am lucky to witness their historic presence. 

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What your suitcase needs..

I’m definitely no travel expert but having been on the road quite consistently for almost a decade has had me formulate my own modus operandi on preparing, packing and eventually traveling, be it on work or holiday, regrettably mostly work though!

Anyway since it works for me, I figured, just maybe, my formula would work for someone else too! So here goes!

If you’re planning on taking a short trip from a couple of days to a week then it’s always best to leave your packing till just the day before. Sounds weird? Probably, but trust me, it’s the best thing to do. Of course you’ll have to organize everything you’ll need for the trip earlier on so plans should begin a week before the trip, but I would advise you to leave the actual packing till the end. And this is mostly because packing early or over a couple of days inevitably results in missing out many things you’d actually need on the trip or eventually forgetting what you’ve got in your suitcase and what you’ve left out.

Start packing with the basic essentials – inner wear! No matter where you’re headed you can’t do without those! And always try to pack a couple of extras, just in case!

Next are the bathroom necessities. Toothbrushes are a must especially if you’re not too keen on using the standard issue that most hotels offer. Hairbrush comes next. Try to avoid max sized toothpastes, shaving creams, perfumes, moisturizers etc and opt for the mini-sizes, they save space and add a fair bit to scaling down the weight of your luggage. If you’re prone to allergies or are easy prey to colds and headaches, make sure you have sufficient supplies of your choice of medicines just in case a bout hits you. 

Make-up bags are a must for ladies wherever we go, so make sure you pack in accordance to your regular routine, it ensures that nothing’s missed and must include your moisturizer, foundation etc.

Normally carrying three or four different shades of lipsticks ranging from a nude and light pink to a couple of darker shades suited for evening wear should suffice plenty. Mascara of course, eyeliner too if needed and preferably in black which would go with every color or outfit you choose to wear. A light and a dark hued eyeshadow should be adequate and of course add your favorite blusher too. The best thing would be to have a combo palette of blush and eyeshadow, but it may not be easy to get all your favorite shades in a single palette. As for perfumes, try to carry just one perfume and see if you can get a bottle of 25ml or 50ml instead of the bulkier larger bottles. Hair accessories to be minimal and only if necessary. Try and avoid traveling with expensive jewelry and choose costume jewelry instead. If carrying anything valuable, avoid packing it into your suitcase, rather carry them on you in your handbag. 

By the way don’t forget to add that tube of sunscreen, especially if you’re headed for the beach.

Next in line is the most important of them all, the clothes!! Deciding your wardrobe for the trip primarily depends on where you’re headed and secondly on the purpose of the trip.

If you’re headed for anywhere tropical, choose light cottons. If it’s on work, pick light cotton shirts or blouses that go well with lightweight pants or skirts. Luckily cotton is a fabulous fabric that looks good as both casual and formal wear. They do tend to get crushed when packed but most hotels offer irons in the room or provide the same when requested for. Replace the pants with shorts if on a holiday.

The good thing about tropical destinations is that though it may be a tad too warm the temperature would remain more or less constant. Unless you’re headed for someplace during monsoons!

If headed for colder regions, make sure you’re aware of the general climate and temperature and pack accordingly. If it’s rainy or windy or even snowing, make sure you’re well equipped to brave the cold with ample supply of thermal wear, socks, wool scarves, cardigans and of course jackets, ensuring you have enough to last the trip and for a trip of more than 4 days, carry a lighter jacket too, if possible. And always make sure you have something nice added in for an evening out no matter where you’re headed.

Of course, always, always carry a pair of jeans! They go with anything, anywhere!

Next is the footwear. Try to limit yourself to three pairs and always wear your most comfortable pair while actually traveling. For warmer regions strappy sandals with heels works for evening wear and formal wear while flip-flops or wedges are a favorite choice for casual wear. And for the cold, boots would be a good choice. Pumps are fine wherever the destination may be. Remember, while picking the footwear for the trip, try to pick pairs that would match up with more than a couple of the outfits you’ve set aside.

Get yourself a pouch for all those chargers you’ll need for your computer, phone etc, slip your camera in as well and hopefully you’re pretty set for your trip now!

Letting loose!

I won't deny that it took me a while to start this blog because initially all I had in mind was the need of a platform to showcase my hmm.. writing 'prowess' :) and hence, after much contemplation I finally opted to put up a website, after all I told myself, websites are professional, aren't they? But somehow it just didn't feel complete. I mean, it's great having a website that carried personal favorite articles and stories that impressed editors but the limitations were immense. There's so much I want to say about so many things but could hardly put them on a website meant to distinguish me as a serious writer so I finally gave in to the magical spell of the blog. I don't deny I'm a bit apprehensive but I have a strong feeling I'm going to love letting loose online! I hope you enjoy the ride too!!! :)  

Falling in love!

And finally I too joined the elite club of the very lucky very few who’ve been fortunate enough to experience the rare and blessed opportunity of true love at first sight. The highly acclaimed sensations that claim to refresh life and which sends delicious thrills tingling down your spine, which sweeps your breath right out of you and leads you to discover yourself longing to capture and experience these sensations forever, were truly nothing less than a revelation. As we drove down narrow cobbled streets fringed with age-old trees on either side, I felt my heartbeat quicken rapidly, and as the tall imposing buildings with their carved facades looked down upon me I knew I was in love. No other place could possibly fascinate me more.  I yearned to learn of the many tales these structures would have surely witnessed through the long centuries of their existence. From rich tales of the famed lives of abounded royalty to the horrific etchings of one of the greatest bloodiest revolutions ever, Paris has known it all and still stands tall and proud to tell it all. Here I was, right in the middle of Champs Elysee , staring straight ahead, beyond the corner store of Louis Vuitton to behold Arc de Triomphe. It can only be in the world’s oldest famed city that monuments honoring brave dead rub shoulders with glamorous brands as scores of people casually walk on.

The Louvre was yet another revelation.  Walking across impeccable gardens that resound in the past’s brilliant glories with its many marble statues and exotic plants and trees that had been brought in from across the world to suddenly come upon spectacular modernity as an immense glass triad stands right in the center of the palace’s courtyard inviting you to venture into its rich being. Try as one may it is barely possible to even imagine that the wide marbled corridors that stretch across the belly of this enormous edifice leading to its many treasures had once been the palace’s notorious and much dreaded dungeons where many poor souls were known to have been abandoned and forgotten. But now, the Louvre, perhaps in repentance of the mindless savagery it had been forced to witness during its glorious past, has dedicated its existence to honoring artistry of all ages.

With its immense collection of rare art, one could spend days on end admiring the greatness of great talents from the vast display of exquisite original creations. The huge gallery of sculptures lead on to the private boudoirs of Napoleon III and as one strolls through these high ceilinged rooms, clad with regal chandeliers, heavy silken brocade curtains, gold leafed furniture and gold crusted walls one could imagine the magnificence the palace had owned in its heyday.  

The great arts housed in the many museums of this city seem to spill over into the streets of Paris as one strolls by the languid Seine. The huge boulders of delicately carved beings look down upon you from atop age-old structures and gardens and it doesn’t take much effort to imagine young noble damsels strolling by in their carousels and frills across green lawns with shady trees over fresh scented flowers. A slow boat ride down the Seine transports one back through many centuries as the city’s historical landmarks dating way back to Gothic ages take their place by her side.

And talking of Gothic, the halo of spirituality that surrounds the Notre Dame could not possibly be created by any ordinary human hand and must’ve surely inspired every visitor who steps beneath the carved depiction of the last supper and through her aged wooden doors to witness a sense of holiness and almost every head bows in prayerful reverence as the faith of hundreds of years is felt in the statues, paintings and even the walls around you.

Many have spoken of the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower, as one of the greatest wonders of human technology, perhaps I see things differently, for though I can’t help but acknowledge the immense efforts and engineering brilliance that made the Eiffel Tower, what really struck me to the core was the fabulous view right from the very top of the tower. A view that stretched on and on across the great palaces and sprawling gardens, across the gliding Seine and past the many many monuments and statues and bridges and so much more that altogether live to make Paris a great city and the Eiffel Tower stands high as it’s crowning glory providing a vision that would never have been seen or known if not for its existence.

And then, just as you begin to feel a little too overwhelmed with yesterday’s magnificence around you, there’s always just the right spot around almost every street’s corner, for you to just sit, take a deep breath and slowly return to the present. Lazing at any of the multitudes of street cafes that dot the corners of every Parisian street with their small tables set right out on the pavements, sipping chilled wine and gorging yummy breads while the world passes by was a pleasure I would grab at every opportunity at least to allow my senses imbibe and swallow every sight and sound I had witnessed. And as it all sinks in, I feel different, changed, and discover that I cannot withhold myself but must speak of it all, all that I had felt and understood of one of the greatest cities ever.

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