Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Jacky Chaat Corner

If you ever visit Mumbai, there are some things you just ought not to miss out on in every city, over here it is the famous Mumbai Chaat. You'll find people selling it in every nook and corner of the city. On flight, they always announce on arrival  that one must visit Juhu Beach and pamper themselves with delicious street food.



Well, the topic for today though doesn't deal with the beach, but Juhu is the area where you'll find the amazing chaat corners. I remember it being my routine to stop by at Sahakari bhandar (popularly known as Amrapali Mall today) , whilst returning from school for a bite of Sev Puri at Sharma Chaat wala which is still located there.

But amongst the oldest is the one behind Tiwari Bros at Gulmohar Road, it is called Jacky Chat Corner. Now, for those of you who do not know what chat is - it is a healthy mix of various Indian herbs, spices and chutneys prepared as a delicious delicacy. That was as good as I could've gotten, you need to risk giving it a try if you have no clue.

This guys stuff is wow. The only problem he faces is management. If there is a crowd, they are unable to hold stable ground and deliver in a disciplined way to all present. They all get shaken and tend to make small mistakes. It is advisable you visit this guy in non-crowded times, and enjoy the various chaat options he offers....

Pani Puri... Sev Puri.. Dahi Puri.. Sukha (Dry) Bhel.. Bhel Puri... And finally golden bhel

Golden Bhel is his USP and speciality. It is just slightly different from others in the way that it has more of Puri's as compared to normal Bhel having more of puffed rice.

I've been as local as possible yet keeping the borderline of parlance to ensure comprehension from people who read this. So to tap a few more points :  The Health Benefits - there are none. This is solely a delicacy full of carbs. Maybe the green chutneys and sweet chutneys can be said to have few minimal benefits but the way they are diluted in the preparation of these dishes there's no nutrient element left.
The Origins is vague and unknown to me. However, it is my theory that this was invented in an impoverished society where the means of the people were little and the resources had to be made optimized use of in order to serve and keep starvation at bay. So, it was probably first made in some distant village of Maharashtra and soon after started gaining popularity to have reached where it stands today.

Todays day, Mumbai is synonymous to chaat. IF you've not had chaat prior flying back then you never toured the city and went outside your hotel room.


So go out and enjoy this wonderful delicacy... :)) and end it with this - Sev Mumra


Monday, November 17, 2014

Mobile App - GroupOn

Well folks it has been a while now since I last posted a review here, much that I hate to admit that I've lost so much time, I'm happy to inform you'll that I found something worth exploring and sharing with you all here.

The review of the day is dedicated to -

Groupon is the next gen absolutely mind blowing mobile app, offering daily deals to the people by way of coupons or gift vouchers. You got to simply sign up to this app (which is free)  and then enjoy the vast array of offers it gives you. You'll find everything in there - from superb meals in hotels, free movie tickets, one on one free travel offers for the frequent flyers, superbly discounted massage services and many more exciting deals. 

It is available not just locally but internationally - since it first started out in the year 2008 at Chicago and then moved to other places like Boston, New York and Toronto. Now it is widely known across more than 150 countries. So no matter wherever you are - just Groupon ... now that's the parlance which advertisers use, isn't it? ;))

For the business minded people, you can post your deals and see how it goes. To strike an agreement and partnering with the site you need to approach them on info@groupon.co.in ; I majorly enjoy browsing through the stuff I get to check out more than actually using the offers. 

However, one thing I learnt by experience is... This is specifically just for Indian users , is that you must never go without the printed copy of the page which gives you the code activating the offer once you've purchased a deal. Even if it says in the app that just showing the code on the mobile app will do, You don't want to find yourself in a fix where the other side insists that you give them a printout without which they won't let you use the offer. Although, last time I got saved where the sweet chap there (probably the manager) offered to have the codes printed from their back office of the place where I had to avail my offer if I emailed them the coupon which I did. 

BEWARE!!!   

Having said that it is an truly amazing website. Anything that pops up in your mind that you want to do, the first option you must consider is going to GroupOn and check whether there is anything in it for you. There are high chances that you'll get where to go and what to do instantly. This site simply works as an Anytime anywhere answering machine for all your questions and shelves away inquisitiveness, you no longer need to get boggled with too many options which one to choose. Just go for the one that this site is giving and you're sorted. 

Don't wait for a moment, just go and download it, it ain't costing you no thing. Then, why naught explore this app and enjoy!! 

What is sometimes terribly bugging is the daily emails and messages in your phone about the various offers. Its like they are scared that you might forget the app exists and dump the whole idea in a jiffy. Hell! Give the person some space, they will come to you in times of need. 

Technology is the future as the rubble of the gossiping woman will put it. They aren't wrong actually, think about it, how many people out there have made GroupOn their life. Ever considered starting a business module where you purchase deals on GroupOn and sell the same to ignorant buyers locally with a profit. Isn't that a crazy idea, however, I have enough on my bowl to be getting on with - so I gotta admit tis for a freebie not me. 

Having said that, it is an excellent tool for entrepreneurs. Advertising is just not in their dictionary with the time  limitations they face dedicating their energy to more pertinent work. This is where GroupOn makes it convenient for them. It is doing all the hard work of reaching you to a large audience. what more can one expect? 

With this, I am weeing off now for a nap .. you too must stop going wild on GroupOn , now that you've discovered something new and maddening, go take a chill pill. Don't dream about finding raunchy stuff on GroupOn but feel free to dream about Groupon. 

Keep watching out for my next review .... 

Thank you for reading my blog. 

GOODNIGHT !! 


Friday, September 26, 2014

Uncharted Trilogy PS3 Game

Today I'm gonna write about a Playstation 3 Game series which I managed to successfully complete over a span of over 6months with lots of breaks (sometimes even for weeks) between playing the game. But yet, it never dampened my spirit to continue from where I left it even then and that's a real compliment to the flow and format of this game.

Uncharted follows a Shooting game format with a great deal of story invoking romance, suspicion, thrill and surprises with a lot of adventure and immense amount of things you get to learn about historical artifacts or rather myths. Even though, its just a game and much of what is narrated must've been tweaked to befit the storyboard of the game this game certainly keeps you hooked onto it, to discover and find out whats coming up next.

Uncharted Drake's Fortune : 



Although, this game is a thrill and personally my favorite amongst the 3 games. It does run the shivers down your spine as those ghostly creatures from the dead spring up from everywhere towards the end. One feels relieved when they're no more.. 
Otherwise, the game is really cool with good lot of stunts and great art direction. In fact, the art direction is superb in ALL the games. 

Uncharted Among Thieves



What I liked about this game is the creativity and ideas that the game designers have come up with. I mean a train falling off almost at the cliff of a mountain and he climbs back on. This is actually the midpoint of the game and yet it is where the game actually starts off. It is really pretty cool.

I feel this game has no levels which are scary and also this game bubbles up the love story to the next level between the two... Oh come on I'm not talking about Sully .. its Elena.. Oh how these guys find love by escaping together from plenty of sticky spots --- really charming!!! Always on the edge of things between life and death and all that philosophy retold over and over... yawn yhawn.

Lastly , coming to   Uncharted Drake's Deception : 




So Naughty Dog also knows how to give a happy ending with a friendship element in the end.. Now, this game was something of a reckoner.. it had a whole bunch of chapters in between which totally fell off the script.. I wonder if they were inspired from Hindu Mythological stories, if they were, total failure at it.. co Hindu mythological stories always makes sense when one sees the bigger pictures later on.. with so much layering in each event that takes place. 
Anyway, personally I enjoyed this game as it covered the desert lands pretty well.. they've got large portions of inaction in this one with more of story enacted here.. for a change it was good.. 

Practically, the time frame in terms of days or years showcased as the running time covering the series of incidents in reality is much less than other games. This game first gets drake kidnapped which is a toal waste plus later he drinks water and is totally gone bonkers in some fairyland illusionary world. 

On the whole, I feel this is the best shooting game series I've played till date... To be honest, I've never been a fan of shooting games but this game turned my perception 180 degrees. The biggest victory any game , story , or work of art can have is by converting a person who despises and hates 
something  into making that person actually not just love it but become a real fan of it.

Kudos!!!


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Cadbury Silk Caramello

This time its sinfully nothing but indulgence that can bubble your temptations to irresistibility.

Have YOU tasted Silk lately !!!!

This one is a definite must have for chocolate freaks and children. As Cadbury gets you in the mood to slurp up and invent new ways of having a gala time having  this chocolate..... 



 lets see what else is there left to explore. 

Caramello Silk is a chocolate which was launched by Cadbury very recently. Churning up the guilt within you whilst you cherish momentous paradise. Not to mention, a diet conscious person would see the nutritious facts as Excess Carb intake of 38gms with 15gms Fat... But, who thinks of these things when your enjoying something so rich. All that one wants to focus on is the taste. 

This crazy Silk Caramello has been out for just over a short span of time in India, maybe over a month or a little more but what's actually interesting to know is this isn't something new. This has already expressed its presence in few western countries for over two decades. 

Was this made available on public demand?? Now, that's a question I also need an answer to. Curiously enough, this is a question worth putting up on poll and seeing the general response from the masses.  Sure enough, it has to be out after a market research or is Cadbury taken its chances by testing the waters for Caramello's potential in India... 
India a place where it is synonymous to chocolate. 

Except, its digital and online media coverage it has chosen outdoor advertising and print media and magazines to be a very good medium to spread the word about around.. Sure enough, it is done well till now to reach out to a great market of chocolate gobblers. 



The price of the product is on the higher side where it is selling for Rs 70 per bar. Which makes it susceptible to users to only go for it on special occasions like birthdays and occasional celebrations and festivals. It is unlikely that a majority of the Indian segment may opt for it as a chocolate they can have on a routine basis. 

The packaging of the product although is standard and gives a great appeal. I personally feel, can be little more worked on and made more attractive. Just to suggest a few pointers here, the word Caramello does not catch the eye so quickly the font of the text must be made legible. Except that, the inner packaging needs to be taken sensitive attention owing to the liquid nature of the caramel inside the chocolate. 


This product would have much more takers if it introduced miniatures like a pop in choc of just one piece seen in the image above. Perhaps if I'm not mistaken, it already has a bar like 5star available , if it doesn't that'll also do pretty well... 

What are the + points ??? 

1. Its a caramel favorite 's teddy bear. 
2. Its attractive and indulgent and tasty. 

What are the - points ??? 

1. Primarily the packaging. Once I had an experience where I bought one and opened it to find the whole caramel having leaked out into the paper and foil wrapper inside with a total mess. The chocolate was all wasted over. The crack in the chocolate was horrendous. 

The thought that passed me was - this couldn't be just one case. If statistics are drawn, one can derive facts and figures of such cases in a much larger number all across where the distribution channels of cadbury are reaching out this product. 



After all being said, don't look for more here... Just tip toe out of your house and cheat yourself with this delight. Or else, simply run a mile and then stop by a shop and grab a bite... 




ENJOY!!!!!  

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Beer Shampoo



So today I've decided to review something which got launched in the market, less than a year back. Before I get into that, I want to first share an interesting episode that happened. 

---------........................................ 

So, I was in Bangalore during September last year. Wistfully, I enjoyed my lonesome presence in a almost empty Cafe Coffee Day sipping a Frappe. As I waited for my Sandwich, a person who I'd not noticed earlier walked upto me. He was carrying out a promotion of a soon - to-be launched shampoo by Park Avenue. He gave me a small bottle 2inch x 1inch , which must have held 10ml of the shampoo and said he was there conducting a free promotion of this product and I would only need to fill out a simple form (which I did) , incidentally - 

An unprecedented event took place, which has never happened with me in a CCD. The Sandwich that they served me was cold, served in a morose fashion and served after much delay. I don't know what got into me that day, that I erupted on those waiters  and they immediately made amends. I shouted out, " I would leave a negative feedback about them online. The resultant was that, I received a FREE Sandwich from them and they didn't even charge me for the coffee. 

So this is how I found out about this fascinating product called : 
                                             THE BEER SHAMPOO BY PARK AVENUE 

I practically used that Tester for over 3 months, and trust me my hair really started breathing even with such careful application. The reason being, one - I genuinely thought that the product had quality and a milestone for it would allow the user to use a little more than a drop to be good enough for your hair wash at a time. I believed the product was so good that it maybe extremely costly when it got launched so I would use it sparingly. 

Having read some of the reviews from other users, I suppose the Park Avenue staff would be relieved to know that I didn't really discover about the cap mechanism until 4months of using this product. I simply thought it to be of aesthetic sense  giving it a really cool look to the product. 


I have recommended this shampoo to many friends of mine, party animals and even a few relatives. I love the smell. My hair feels so good to me, it is soft and healthy. In fact, it is because of the effects this shampoo is having on my hair - I've been growing my hair really long, a feat I've never before dared to achieve before in life. My hair fall has reduced marginally. This shampoo is truly breaks a cliche about shampoo's with sweet fragrance preferred. 

Not just that, the packaging of the product is so ground breaking. It is rather demented and cheap but that itself gives the product an attitude element attracting only those consumers who find the shape inviting. It plays a role, in positioning its brand for only that segment of the society. The yellow color gives it a feel of being real beer. 

As Conclusion, I would want to say - don't drink this like beer, use it ideally like a detergent for your hair , minimal and optimal. If you're amongst explorers of new things that come out in the market, this one should not disappoint you. At the same time, you are bound to be disgruntled, if you keep your expectation too high. Keep them at bay or  on sea levels and you'll do just fine and enjoy this beauty. 


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                                                             THE END 

Disclaimer : This review is simply a personal opinion of a user of the product. It is written with simple intention of sharing their experience. 

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Sonakshi Sinha - A Review of an Actor in Bollywood

It was only after I went and watched her latest Bollywood action  film - Holiday  that I decided to write a review on her.


Sonakshi Sinha - Portfolio Picture 

She is the cutest and the sweetest star kid to have made it in the Indian Film Industry. She displays a persona of simplicity. She comes across as a pampered daughter of erstwhile superstar parents. 

Normally, the actors bring the ethos in the films which sets the trend for the industry to explore a vibrant arena of scripts and ideas befitting the star, usually referred in the reverse manner as type casting;  whereas the truth is the stories are written in a manner which would make the actors shine out the most. 


In her case, she tread very cautiously. Her fear was very visible when one saw her as a newcomer. Even though that is natural she used it to her advantage. She brought in a flavor which was never seen before, at least by the actresses in the past 15years. She poured out a serenity, austerity and grace with a shy tinge, which re-invented her as a person.  

But in Holiday, there is a striking growth in her as an actress. She comes across with forceful confidence of an experienced actor. She blows away the cliche concept of females called the weaker sex, with her kicks and punches. In fact, I kept my fingers crossed with expectation to see a more active exposure of her boxing skills during the climax of the film. She surprised me, because I got to see a side of her which I thought didn't exist. 



Her style of Nakhra (Drama) , is one which has been very thoughtfully created. Its a hue in a character such that demands a challenge for another actress to replicate. That, makes it an original trait which the audience and film makers can only identify  with her. Obviously, it goes without saying actors put much of their time and hard work in watching films and making notes. She's definitely done her homework  and it paid off well.

Actors influence lives of people. People try and mimic the actors just as they're seen on screen. This point can be argued by being claimed the other way round. But, for the purpose here she's created a whirlwind of change which will contribute productively to her fans and benefactors.  

Coming to her films ......

She made her entry with Dabangg, which brought her out as a most promising debut actress.
After Dabangg, I liked her in Lootera which I myself being a poet loved the film. Although she did a tremendously elusive job there , her work still had a cliche feel to it, in the sense, that her characterization seemed very similar to what work she'd done previously. Which she broke in  Holiday with a bang.


Devil's Advocate

It is a star studded industry but to get work even then is difficult. No doubt that she is blessed to be from a celeb family, yet, when one goes to see  - her own twin brothers Luv and Kush struggle tirelessly to get a breakthrough into the industry. 
I had the pleasure of personally meeting Luv, as he was taking Acting classes in the same institute I was. We even became friends then. I would see him carrying a data bank of over 100 bollywood films every where he went. He would rigorously practice acting exercises, dancing and voice over. 
He yet remains hidden by the eyes  of the people, away from the big screen since the "Sadiyaan" released in 2010. 


You are an asset to the industry, Sonakshi Sinha. May you flourish with many more films that are in the pipeline. I express my humblest and warmest wishes and wish you all the very best. I have enjoyed devoting my energy and time in writing this review and I hope you find it gifted with all the virtues. 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Hotel Nidhivan at Vrindavan

I've always wanted to write a review of a Hotel so here goes the fulfilling journey of my words, riding over the plain lands of Vrindavan.

First of all, I must admit here - it takes pure spiritual prowess and determination, to visit Vrindavan as it is primarily a village land open to the skies. Literally, there aren't any airports there so one has to take a flight to either Agra or Delhi and from there take a train or bus... I would suggest a train journey.
A bus journey is typically over crowded with people sitting on your head on top of the bus  and cramping inside the bus so much so that one who is travelling for the first time,  may wonder how the bus didn't topple and it is a miracle they made it to the destination.


For my Indian friends, you've seen the film  Swadesh, now you've developed an urge to travel on top of a bus, here's how you can fulfill it - go to Vrindavan. Personally, I had the fortune of finding a female companion to travel with all those ghastly 3.5hours and she kept on chatting with me all through as though, she had found her soul mate.
Now, Vrindavan is a town in U.P. and has an ancient history. It is known to be the place where Lord Krishna grew up winning the hearts of all the wenches. in his youth. Likewise, even if one visits the town today, you will find the people there are very simple, loving and easily trusted. 
The place breathes peace and love. Although, there is a high probability of people thieving with the conditions in which they live there most people aren't like that, most people can be easily befriended and their state of joy, would make you forget all your worldly worries whilst you are there. 
With me, the series of miracles and events which led to me visiting the place in itself made me believe it was pure Destiny. As though, the lord called me there and guided me removing all obstacles with such serenity as Lord Krishna is known for. I've always called Him my friend as though he exists in spirit inside me.I continue to do so. 

In the place, such as this, I stayed at a Hotel which adds glamour to the town. You will not find another hotel such as this, in the entire place. Not even ISKCON temple, is as good as this one. Hotel Nidhivan--- 


The Best thing about the hotel is the food. In fact, many foreigners and tourists stay there, just for their delicious food. One may wonder, why is the food so fussed about -the answer to that question you will know only when you are actually there. It is a point to be noted and kept in mind. Needless to mention, their staff is very cooperative, friendly and helpful. They go an extra mile to make sure your at comfort and get everything you need. 

During the day, one can see vast green fields on the back side of the hotel and it acts like a calming drop to your senses. Your eyes truly feast upon the greenery with a huge banyan tree in the centre, from your room. And on the side, you can see an array of temple one after the other. 


Prem Temple, is most beautifully lit with colored LED lights over the entire temple. At night, the temple is alight with visitors and religious travelers. However, the hotel promotes conservation of water too since the water supply there is quite limited. 

The Hotel has a very neat and organized basic setup for a room with free wifi connection. There room service is excellent and brings water in my mouth as I recall the delicacies I enjoyed whilst I was there. 

One thing, by which I was awestruck was that time. It really passed very slowly there. And I mean it. Many a times, when I felt more than 4hours had gone by, I would be surprised to know that not even 1 hour had gone by. 


This place is simply the one stop destination if you decide to visit Vrindavan. Their services are top class. The staff there speak in English and Hindi languages. Their packages are most affordable and reasonable for a low budget traveler. The location of the hotel is in walking distance to all popular temples such as Prem Temple, Banki Bihari amongst others. 

The best time to be here, is during the Festival of Holi. As it is known to celebrate the festival for over a month, where in other places across India you will find it being celebrated just one day or maximum a week. 
Unless , of course, your children make it a month long festival where you stay. 

Amongst other facilities, the hotel has an intercom to reach the reception and house keeping and other services. The hotel provides a drop off to the railway station (which is actually in Mathura), almost 45minutes from the hotel. It is a 5 star rating hotel and has elevators.




The administrative and management of the hotel will be the best you can find in Vrindavan. It has an impressive structure, you can see the hotel from afar. One cannot stay there for more 3 days. Since a visitor spends most of their time in the hotel, you would want your hotel to be --- 






HOTEL NIDHIVAN

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Meetup.com

How is Everyone doing today??  Well, if your answer has been a yawn, rolled up eyes, a mumble or a soft "OK" then be ready to pop out your eyes for some life changing read. After you've read this review, you can thank me later.


Today's review is about a particular website online which is quite caught up globally, it is one of thee most coolest thing that can exist. This website isn't a " New Thing" , and yet how many of us out there know that it exists??? My bet will be very few.
It offers people from all kinds of backdrops to find people who have the same common interest. Who doesn't enjoy hanging out with a group of people who relate with what you like, think, do and share. Half the time people either give up or doubt their own beliefs and thoughts because no one around them seems to think like them, so they start thinking that there is a change that is required in them and not the world around them - this website changes the world around those people, thus preserving them.
Are you a loner with social starvation? This is for you.
Are you bored of your usual weekend outing and want to explore something that makes your life more exciting? This is for you.


Alright!!! I'm coming there, so the review I'm going to write is about a website called   MEETUP.COM!!!!



Now, if you want to know what the website offers, whats it all about and all the stuff you can easily find, by simply visiting the website. Seriously, all I can say is get some Nike-  just do it and then become McDonald's and say I'm loving it. But anyway, I will cover some bits in the latter part of this review in another perspective, if you are still apprehensive and lazy types to take the leap of faith and just jump into the cool website.

I believe this website started around 2009. Today, it has over 2.07million people across the globe who RSVP and join a local group, which responds to their hearts; spread over 196 countries and more than 315000 meetups taking place every month, this is something worth your time.

For a Local Person, who doesn't leave the city so much - this websites offers a breath of fresh air. One could optimistically network with local people around them, spread the word about their business, find a date , make very cool friends, and do lots of fun activities.

For a frequent traveler, one can relate to people from different cities and expand their horizons beyond their place of residence. Being amongst local people in another city gives you a good feel of the environment and culture of the place.

For a globe trotter, this website is paradise. It virtually makes true a vision of "One World Family" , you could literally see people in different countries and make friends with them.



Since, everyone here on meetup is to socialize, you will find everyone friendly and upcoming. They will make you feel you are valuable and raise your self esteem, even if they don't realize it or probably need it themselves and are getting it from you.



  • You could also create a group yourself and organize great meetups.
  • This is a spam free website. 

Some of the groups I recommend 

Book Exchange Club of Mumbai : This is a group dedicated to intellectual discussions on topics related to literature and books. The group promotes a free exchange of books in order to gain access to books one might have never come across or else has heard about. They even encourage aspiring authors to realizing their dreams. 
The organizer of the group, Mr. Deepak Gupta, is the heart throb of the group. 
This group has showcased itself on a number of occasions in the newspapers. 
I personally had the pleasure of visiting the Jaipur Literature Fest in January'14 and conducting  a Grand Book launch event in Mumbai with their support.


Jaipur Literature Festival '14 

Discussion on Relevance and Impact of Ancient Wisdom with Book Exchange


Similar Groups : Delhi Book Lovers, Book Club - Asian Authors, Bestsellers Book Club. 

Mumbai Board Gamers : It is a group organized and run by a few enthusiasts who simply have the passion for playing board games in them. This group offers periodic gatherings in different places on weekdays and weekends alike. Rest assured, that the games you will play here are not Monopoly, Business , Cluedo or Battleship. The kind of games these people put you throw will trigger a lot more than your calculative and strategic abilities.


Few of the games, are Agricola, Saboteur, 7 Wonders, Carcasonne and Ticket to Ride.
Internationally, the idea of gatherings to play board games has been ethically perceived  as a big contributor towards "people finding dating partners" over such events. It may probably true as many of the games make you reveal a lot about yourself and know about the others. So it is pretty much the hot thing in your vicinity. Although , that's not quite caught up in my country its more of the trend in the USA and UK.
There are groups by the similar names you may find on meetup held in those countries.

Startup Saturdays Meetup : These guys are also pretty good. Their idea is to have monthly meetups which are generally theme based to encourage newbies rolling out in the world with cut throat competition. Although, the audience may not be the best suitors getting conversions but they certainly take back a lot of very innovative stuff that people are doing and perhaps sometimes, the presenters receive very adept advice on their work to boost their success rate.

Hackerspace Mumbai : Although my interest is nothing to do with IT, yet this guys meetups are truly amazing. He is one passionate person who even welcomes other people to present stuff related to development and progress in IT. Its more than a IT gathering, you even have the opportunity to social network and meet people from interesting backdrops.



-----------------...----------------------------

There are groups working on social causes, entrepreneurship, sport activities, yoga and fitness and practically everything required by an individual to develop a lifestyle including partying and travelling with groups.

Few other  interesting Websites which provide such opportunities are  :


  1. Eventbrite.com
  2. Couchsurfing.com
  3. VolunteerMatch.org
  4. Groupon.com
  5. Penpalworld.com
  6. Checkiday.com


Although, all the groups and their activities are pathetically safe and wonderful - I got to give a short disclaimer here saying that, in the event of a mishap or accident, planned or co-incidental in the life of the person gaining inspiration from this review and experiencing any untoward circumstances  shall not  hold me responsible. I, on my part, having fore warned you about it and you must bear in mind that your actions are your own, in the end, , even if they are influenced from anywhere.

So guys, hope you'll had a treat. Do go ahead and feast yourself with the website and get into action.




Monday, May 12, 2014

Book Review : In Search of Love By Ehsaan Nashad

When I first met Ehsaan Nashad he was the writer of some novel (to me) called True Lies and Hump  which had sold a considerable number of books for it to be titled a "Bestseller", as he rightly introduced himself to a group (which had nothing whatsoever to do with writing and books and hence I'm refraining to mention). I was interested because I, myself am pursuing writing passionately. During a brief excerpt then, I gathered that he was coming up with another novel very soon and the book was yet untitled. 

I was specifically associated with a group dedicated to books, here in Mumbai for the past few months. On one such occasion, I dropped in a word about the author, to the organizer, whom I expressed I'd met and  whose 1st  book had "sold over a million copies " presumably by now. Next, came the Book Launch of Mr. Ehsaan Nashad that was held on the 10th May'14 @ Press Club, Fort Mumbai. 


[If you are reading this Ehsaan, I'd like to thank you here for the warmth I got from you. Your embrace when I came to take the book signing, felt like , as if you had wordlessly expressed your deepest gratitude towards me ( for something I didn't know)  ] and that my friend made my day. 

 


In Search Of Love,  is not a book. It is a thought that drives the world. There are millions of nameless living beings in the world who give away their lives in its pursuit and each one expresses this differently. It is the restlessness that denies to exit one's existence, with a stubborn intention of resting inside them. The endurance of pain and love is severe but never ending. It doesn't let you live but you are not allowed to die either. There is an incessant craving to be accepted, loved and understood by your parents, you family, your friends and the society and one gets ready to go to any lengths to get that. 

This Book, taps the life of a boy whose name is Rehaan Merchant. He is a child who has had a troubled childhood with his over abusive and drunken father and cultured helpless and caring mother. Memories of his childhood shape up his life and cling to him as an only abstract identity of him for life. It is inertly unsettling for him as he begins to hate  the concept of love and the institution of  marriage. Yet, never having received consolable love from his father or mother really  he journeys relentlessly In Search of Love 
 It marrs his self image and self esteem totally when he finds his parents on the verge of splitting up,  pulsating contempt inside him for his father, who is so bashful that he betrays his mother in marriage, insults her family and even displays a show of rage over self shattered persona in the few visits  when Rehaan gets the chance to spend time with him. His father goes to the point of disregarding his mothers life when she has just delivered a girl child, when he turns up late and isn't really in town when the mothers family has already tackled some grave complications that prop up during her pregnancy.  His mother having brought him and his younger sister up.




There is always an unspoken disconnect between him and his sister, maybe because of their upbringing or perhaps because the ugly secrets her sister knows of him as an outcome of all he is. On an occasion, he is caught in his 4th grade displaying sexual interest in a girl from his school. Only he doesn't really know the term is " sexual attraction" , at his age and is just simply attracted towards a girls private parts. His sister reports this to her mother, even though she is well aware of the pain it'll cause her - simply out of sibling rivalry. But yet there is a deep connect too between siblings on certain occasions. 

There is a great deal of transformation as the story progresses with  Rehaan, to the point that at sometime he feels that he's turned into his father. 


The story movies on, and he has a series of relationships with several woman - in search of love, but there is always something or the other which draws him apart from them. Finally, he accidentally meets a girl who he had got hard on in his youth even though she was at least a decade younger to him. He meets her when he is in his late 30's and she's just  turned 18 and later marries her. It has been possible only because she's accepted him her life ever since she was small and sticks on to that, she imposes upon him to believe that she has not wanted anyone else in her life and was delighted to see him after so many years.  
Only to finally loose her too, due to rare condition called Hemophilia which results in the death of his hard found love for life, after she leaves behind a baby girl to him.  
The child  is just like her mother, at first boils up anger and irritation inside him and then smiles, which triggers him to somehow instantly cool down and relax, miraculously. 

The book deals with a lot social causes and abuse. The read isn't smooth and easy for every reader to absorb and accept every episode described in the book. It has a very revolting language in many places which describes the lust which perforates in the personality of the hungry animal, Rehaan - In search of love. There is a lot of bold content in the book with a witty edge in many places. Sometimes, the reader is left disgusted at the extent the author has gone in narrating the story. But, at the same time, the cause of such actions is also known and that's what makes the reader move forth in the book and get hooked on. Pure lust is exposed very descriptively in the book in  several varied circumstances. 



Love is even mistaken for lust at times and misunderstood for Sex. There may be a large chunk of men out there and maybe women too who would connect with the story as their real life experiences in many ways. There maybe a large chunk, who would comprise of the illiterate too, who wouldn't know this book even exists and yet may have experienced most or at least one episode in their lives out of all that is shared. This book can raise topics of lot of controversy, debate and social turmoil and that's most needed. Only if issues are addressed can they be resolved. 

Amongst the author's guild, I believe controversy, revulsion and contempt is balanced equally in the popularity scale when it comes to themes exactly opposite to them. It matters not, in the end which side of it you are on as long as you've put in your heart to deeply express those things. 
The harsh realities of life exist, and those who possess the ability to express them in the purest form are talented. I applaud the author with his work, especially considering it is a fiction novel, the amount of depth the author is gone into is commendable. The proof reading of the book is lacking and one can see it had the potential to improve upon the quality of the content manifolds. 



Life is about the choices one makes. If your dream is to achieve love, then your definition of love first should be clear. When ones definition about love is skewed, it never  purges one's soul and drives them in the ocean of sins that only ends with death. The only way out of it is observation of those leading better quality lives but that isn't enough one has to first retrospect and find the golden pearls in their blood through research and study and invest on it. Determination is the key to all the things!!! 


Conclusively,  I congratulate Mr. Ehsaan Nashad for his second book and wish him well with his subsequent publications. The book earns a great deal of sympathy vote and out there it means en cashing big time with the people thirsty for love but scared to explode and expose their true feelings. I'm sure the readers who've liked his first book will definitely pounce on this one blindly out of pure curiosity to discover what the author has unearthed this time. There was a discussion about whether fiction has its bases on reality once ?  Recalling that, I'd like to say here that after reading this book one may firmly believe that fiction is just a figment of imagination and can only vaguely deal with or has no connection whatsoever to do anything  with facts. 

Do pick up and enjoy the book!! 

Cheers All....Feel free to share your thoughts too  ;) 

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Inch By Inch - The Body Temple

This review will cover a gym meant for an elite class of the society, located in the western suburbs of Mumbai in the heart of the, soon to be, centrally located area called Versova. Incidentally, very few know that this gym in particular is not the first of its kind and ain't a "new thing" in this world (or at least to Mumbai), for it has been doing pretty well in other areas of the city - like Marine Drive, Matunga and Tardeo.





This is the first of its kind in the suburbs though. It got launched a little more than a month ago, where it was initially scheduled for a launch in the last week of November'13. The launch invited many known faces including actors like Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi and Ronit Roy.  I felt rather humbled to be given the honor of doing the lighting of the gym by the respected owner, Mr. Sunil Agarwal himself. I was bursting to say, it was primarily my father who did the work.

Gulshan Grover 
Ronit Roy with Mansi

Arshad Warsi with Mr. Sunil Agarwal and Shital 


The gym is a one stop destination for fitness enthusiasts with the best of facilities one could ask for. It has the facility for PT only sessions where every member is appointed a Personal Trainer, but first, all the trainers are monitored, trained and guided with vigilance at all times -  by a Master Trainer Mr. Shane  who I personally believe to be a Fitness magician with a ingrained passion for workouts and gymming. The exercises he designs and gives you are something you may have never come across in your life. That , truly makes you trust his judgement and experience and  that he has truly put in his heart and soul and knows what he is doing.
Then, there are the Functional training group sessions - if PT has been the ultimate workout experience and you believe you have seen everything then let me tell you , you are definitely in for a bundle of surprises that are coming your way. As  they employ the latest techniques most efficient for weight loss known as Kettle Bell Workouts along with some creative inventions of the Master Trainer himself you tend to enjoy the workouts. 
At no point, you will feel like you are dragging yourself to the gym or the workouts are becoming monotonous or boring, because these workouts get changed periodically to keep your motivation and energy levels up. You may have experienced many gyms and trained with many trainers across Mumbai, but once you visit this gym you'll see there is yet more to explore. 
They even have a Spa which provides an assortment of services, I haven't tried any of their Spa services myself but I'm told they are worth a visit. They have a tie-up with a Thai based Spa. 
A Spinning Studio managed and run by Top Spin gears up a session on alternate days.  A detoxifying peppy workout with an electrifying trainer who conducts the show. I was fortunate enough to do a trial  session, after which, I would certainly recommend any and everybody to adjust your schedules and devote an hour full of fun and frolic to your body - be it just for a spinning session. 
Their Group Ex Studio offers a whole variety of sessions including TRX training, Zumba, Kickboxing and Yoga. They even have Tarang from Kolkata who are offering music classes to learn varied kind of instruments. 
A Revive Saloon, operates on the  lower ground level offering a variety of services. I personally found their services for Men very reasonable as compared to the others in the area. Even their Face packs and Facials are worth the money. They give you good value for every service. 
There is also a Swimming Pool, where many novice swimmers come to learn swimming and others simply come to beat the heat. There are a few people like me who just love the water and are ready for a dip anytime. 
That's not the end of it folks, there is more- they have a lounge outside which is open to the public. the outside area excluding the swimming pool section, is where people are welcome to hangout, bring their laptops and work sipping a coffee or tea or else simply just rejuvenate themselves with fun games and books displayed in the racks over there. The assortment of food items are well selected and nutritious. 
On weekends, they even have wine served in the bar made over there. When I say weekend it implies Friday, Saturday , Sunday. 
There's still something left, I almost forgot to mention it - They have steam facilities provided in the shower and changing area of the gym for their members. 
 I feel the Upside of the gym is that : 
1. Their facilities ensure personalized attention. 
2. It is a members only gym, no trial sessions are provided. 
3. You are here for your body not to socialize, they shout out " Focus" 
The Downside is :
Since every member is given a PT, the number of members who are there in the gym are limited. Thus, many people find it a sign of the gym being rated " No Good" , when they see that. They claim that they get the pump to workout out and go to the gym everyday just because of the buzz in the gym with the great crowd which visits everyday. The momentum does not build when they are on their own seeing only one face and that is of their trainer. 
Some people like to " stay with the club " , so if the crowd goes to a gym they join the same gym. Over here, there isn't such a phenomenon. People here come for genuine attention to their body, mind and soul. Not the glamour and glitterati. 
Personally, I find the gym closest to my house and best intact with all possible facilities. I get to meet a few known faces and few others I'm opportune to relate to coming from nearby places. My workouts are optimized, my travel time is saved, my swimming experience is soothing and pleasurable and I am getting everything I need. In fact, none of the gyms around are offering such a vast variety of options to choose from. 
The ambiance and interiors created for the gym is not like any gym I've ever visited.   I've been to the best of gyms in town like True Fitness, We can Work it Out, Leena Mogre, e-Gym, Gold's Gym, Fitness First  and small gyms like Physio Flex, Barbarian and Daljit Gym. None of the gym worked anywhere close to creating a serene soothing setup like this gym, in fact I can safely say - no gym has even worked at the slightest towards this aspect. 
They have truly meant it when they said " Body Temple" creating an ambiance of Thai Temple or a Buddhist temple. It feels very soothing and sets you up when your senses nourish the sight, smell and feel of the place. By the time, you begin your workout you are ready. 
If the Customer Relationship Management of the gym is poor then the gym may have the best of facilities, most qualified trainers, latest high end equipments; but the gym does not last long. At Fitness First specially I'd faced a very indifferent arrogant management who were totally rigid in  their approach to resolve any queries or complains concerning their members. But what made this gym stand out amongst the rest was their Friendly and humble relationship with every member. The management would pay heed to each complain and genuinely put in efforts to resolve them and thus in turn not just satisfy the customer but also improve their overall services offered to rest of their members.

When I met the owner Mrs Shital Nahar, herself, I was surprised to find her closely informed about my progress and workouts. A unique feature I'd not come across any gym before. It meant that the gym was paying attention and reporting every little detail upwards, their communication channels were well set. Where other gyms would've addressed it differently, this was one big plus point. I mean I felt I was given great value and care I expect a gym to give me.

In conclusion, The gym rocks !!!!