Month: July 2016

Sandwich Factory-Home to Global Foods at Reasonable Prices

I was recently invited at this cozy little joint called Sandwich Factory in Mayur Vihar, and though its little far off for me but it was definitely worth the visit. The place is small, and doesn’t have too many covers, but is an ideal place to grab a quick bite with your family or friends. The menu isn’t very elaborate, but still they have a handful of options to choose from and all of them are very very delectable. The prices are very pocket friendly and will appeal to the youth a lot. The ambience is cool, cosy and vibrant and you would love to spend time sitting, chilling and enjoying your food there.

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Starters:

Masala Fries, Chicken Nachos and Chilli Garlic Nuggets, the fries were crisp and had chatpata spicy taste and the chilly garlic nuggets were good too. The nachos do have a scope of improvement, as instead of chicken cubes I think shredded chicken should be used so that the chicken doesn’t run away from nachos and also there should be a little more cheese to bind the chicken with nachos. Both the owners of the place, Amit and Yashdeep were present there and took our suggestions very positively.

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Mains:

Signature Bruschetta was served first and it was surely the best, I just loved it and this is definitely that one dish that I can go back for anytime. The bread was so soft and the topping just perfect. There was then the Creamy Bruschetta which too was great, but I would still any day prefer the signature version.

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Next was the Jumbo Chicken Focaccia Burger, now this burger is inviting as soon as you look at it. You will know what I mean when you see the pic, it is a burger that has expressions, little naughty and quirky types and is so much fun to only see it. The taste was great too and that added to the entire experience of eating this burger. It seems like a friendly burger who first you don’t wanna eat(you can’t eat your friend), but one bite into it and you will only put your hands down after finishing it off.

 

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Last but not the least were the Mexican Chicken Quesadillas and I enjoyed them a lot. The filling was just perfect and I loved it. It was the second best dish for me after the Signature Bruschetta.

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Drinks:

we tried the Watermelon Mojito and the Mint Ginger Mojito, both of them were simple and refreshing, by simple I mean that the original tastes were very much retained and not overdone or over powered by any of the ingredients used. A lot of times people end up using too many ingredients which kills the real essence of the drink, but nothing like that here. I liked them a lot.

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The only disappointment was lack of desserts which they accepted and are working on a special dessert menu to be included soon. I look forward to visit the place again especially when they include some delicious desserts too.

All in all, the place is definitely worth a visit and I give it a generous rating of 4/5.

 

Sandwich Factory Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Ribbon Trap-Book Review

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The Ribbon Trap is the first publication of its Author Shine Syamaladevi born in a small village in Kerala.Himself an avid reader and a daydreamer he got the opportunity to travel across the nation on various official appointments.

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The journeys across fuel led his passion and resulted in this, his first book a true labour of love .
The Ribbon Trap is a poignant love story of Krishnaprem and Smita.
The author beautifully captures the undying love of both right from the very young age of school going mates.
The journey from childhood to adulthood is very beautifully sketched amidst an array of emotions.
The ever changing life has one constant,their unwavering love for each other.
No hesitancy or doubts creep into their love even when they are staying apart in different cities due to work related postings.
As they grow so does their love for each other.
Then as destiny would have it Smita is pulled into a game of deceit and murder.
Embroiled in the falsely implicated case she goes through living hell only on the unwavering strength of her love for Krishnaprem to whom she wants to return.
Krishnaprem is also with her and for her all through the horrendous turn of events in a backdrop of political intrigue,police brutality,and shockIng betrayal from certain very close individuals.
I again stress the beautiful and undying love for each other for me is the underlying strength of the story.
Well worth the read. Commendable first attempt.


Book Price: Rs 256/-


Available on Amazon


 

Transcend’s DrivePro Car Video Recorders: Drive Safer with a Reliable Eyewitness

Transcend Information, Inc. a leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products, is proud to announce the complete DrivePro Car Video Recorder series, including the DrivePro 50, DrivePro 100, DrivePro 200, DrivePro 220, and DrivePro 520. Day or night, your DrivePro Car Video Recorder is your most reliable eyewitness on the road.

Every model in the DrivePro series captures crystal-clear Full HD 1080P (1920 x 1080) video at 30 frames every second, faithfully recording everything happening on the road with its wide 130° to 160° viewing angle and large aperture lens.

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Your DrivePro safeguards your valuable video record with its built-in battery to keep recording for 30 seconds in the event of power failure or interruption, plus the G-sensor emergency recording function protects video files from erasure after any unusual shock or impact is detected. The Auto Power On/Off feature ensures your DrivePro is ready whenever you need it.

The bright built-in 2.4″ color LCD screen lets you review video at any time, and your recordings can also be copied to PCs and other devices, and viewed with Transcend’s free-to-download DrivePro PC Tool for Windows. There’s also a quick snapshot feature to take photos at any time.

Capture every detail and every moment

The camera of a Transcend car video recorder is built to the highest optical standards, to capture critical details such as license plates, even in sub-optimal conditions. The DrivePro camera uses not just one, but 6 or even 7 glass lenses, plus an infrared filter lens, for sharp and clear images. Unlike competing products, this design avoids fogging from heat generated during long periods of operation, reliably recording in difficult conditions. The large aperture of the lens, from F/1.8 up to F/2.0, ensures clarity in low light.

Powerful navigation, driving assistance, and safety features 

Choose the DrivePro that’s most suitable for you. Start your journey into car video recording with the entry-level DrivePro 50 and DrivePro 100, move up a gear to the DrivePro 200 and 220, or accelerate to the front of the field with the powerful DrivePro 520. Features available in the range include GPS, rear-facing in-car camera, collision warning and driving assistance, and a mobile app with Wi-Fi connectivity.

The top-of-the-line DrivePro 520 features a dual lens camera: drivers can clearly capture both the road and the interior of the vehicle simultaneously, thanks to the rotatable rear lens with infrared LEDs for night vision.

Both the DrivePro 520 and the DrivePro 220 record GPS coordinates along with video, to precisely determine the location of an incident, or to display your journey path later with the free PC software.

The DrivePro 220 also offers innovative driving assistance functions, including Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) to keep a safe distance at speed, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) to warn if the vehicle is drifting out its lane while moving at high speed, and Parking Mode, to record video and capture evidence automatically if the car is bumped while parked unattended.

DrivePro series car video recorders all include a free high endurance microSD Card, and are available with a choice of either a suction mount or adhesive mount and include a car lighter power adapter. Every DrivePro product is protected by Transcend’s two-year Limited Warranty.

Read more about the Transcend Car Video Recorders at: http://in.transcend-info.com/product/cvr

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.in/transcend

Transcend is a globally recognized leader in the manufacture of storage, multimedia and industrial products. Established in Taiwan in 1988, Transcend offers a full line of standard and proprietary memory modules, flash cards, USB flash drives, portable hard drives, solid-state drives, digital music players, card readers, multimedia products and industrial products. Transcend has established offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Korea, China and Hong Kong. As a customer-focused company, Transcend has the ability to quickly respond to the market’s changing needs. For more information, please visit http://in.transcend-info.com/

Be known as a ‘FASHIONISTA’ with the new clothing range from Monte Carlo..

Want to make your mark in college as a ‘fashionista’; delve into Monte Carlo’s latest collection. This specially curated range will add colour and vibrance to your wardrobe & help you stand out in the crowd.

Monte Carlo, a name synonymous with style and quality has come up with a range of fashion wear for you to flaunt in college and make others go green with envy.  So whether you pick a shirt or a skirt from this collection, you’ll definitely create a fashion statement that everyone will rave about!

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The new range features interesting styles and products exclusively designed keeping the latest trends in mind and also the target audience. Summer blazers, dresses, shrugs, denim shirts, polo t-shirts, digital print kurtis, crop tops, tees and shorts are some of the attractive options for girls.

Printed Top by Monte Carlo

Red Top- Monte Carlo
Narrow fit Palazzo Trouser- Monte Carlo

 

The collection for guys includes a wide array of denims, cotton shirts in cool colour palette, polo t-shirts, graphic prints tees, lowers and Bermudas to name a few.

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Surfing Tshirt_Monte Carlo

“The first day of the college is all about creating a long lasting impression. Amidst the nervousness & excitement, a perfect and appealing outfit has a huge role to play. Our college wear range has been specifically designed keeping in mind the various outfit options that students tend to pick. Additionally, we have also ensured complete comfort in terms of fashion, style, fabric and design, in accordance with the season. The range has lot of options in the current favourite – Indigo colour and denim fabric to match the ongoing trend. Providing a wide range of options to choose from, our collection takes care of comfort, style, protection and appeal for all the college goers,” said Ms Monica Oswal, Executive Director, Monte Carlo.

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Shirt by Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo has created a niche for itself in the apparel market and is winning the loyalty of new customers, with its wide range of contemporary clothes lines.

ABOUT MONTE CARLO 

With the years of enriched experience & expertise, Monte Carlo has successfully established itself as a respectable and ethical player in the apparel industry. It has cemented a stronghold in the garment industry with its huge range of all season clothing. It is one of the few fashion apparel brands that are listed at Bombay Stock Exchange & National Stock Exchange.

Monte Carlo’s products reach the end user through different channels like, Exclusive Brand Outlets, Multi Brand Outlets & Large Formats Stores. Currently, Monte Carlo is available through more than 225 Exclusive Brand Outlets & over 1500 Multi Brand Outlets in India and abroad. Monte Carlo has also marked its presence in Nepal & Bangladesh with its exclusive outlets. The company’s products are also available online now, retailing through its dedicated website www.montecarlo.in and is also available on other leading ecommerce portals such as Jabong, Myntra, Snapdeal, Amazon etc.

For more information about the brand and the group, login to:

www.montecarlocorporate.com

www.owmnahar.com

Teesri Panchayat-Redefining the concept of partying on weekends with Myolo

As we are all aware after the hard grind at work during the week we all look forward to the weekend.To meet our friends and party away.
What generally ensues is long conversations between friends to choose a venue which is suitable to all and more so it has to pocket friendly too. Generally speaking all these pubs bars and restaurants today are frightfully expensive. So to find a decent place with reasonable prices is quite a task. Now here is where Myolo comes in with a refreshing concept of House Party.
Members are sent invites through social media and networking for the party which is held in a house.

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The entry fee is 300/Rs for which a pint of beer is free.
For every subsequent beer you take it costs you Rs 99/.
They also have a sort of quiz at the bar and if you get the answers right the pint will cost you Rs 50/
They have a game called beer pong for which you can register and play.
The winner is entitled to free beer all through the evening.
The atmosphere is downright casual with some lounge sofas thrown in.
You don’t have to worry about dressing up just the shorts tees and comfy footwear will do.
What I mean is anything will do.
You get the chance to mingle and make new friends.
Now when we go to any restaurant pub or a bar there is no entertainment value available apart from large screen TVs.
Here is where Myolo scores big.
They have an evening spread out with great entertainment value. This as they fondly called was the Teesri Panchayat, the third evening in a live performance series events. The next Saturday will be the Grand Finale between those who have performed in the last three weeks.
You have a stand up comedy act and the one I attended was superbly done by Amar a stand up comedian.The act was specifically youth oriented and enjoyable.

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Then they have an open slot for a five minute performance by budding artists.
This time it was another stand up comedy act by a young and upcoming artist Rishabh, which was commendable.

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Then came the slot for some Sher-O-Shayari.
This was presented by Honeish Batra and I was quite impressed with the young fellow who had incorporated lot of modern day content into his Shayari.

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Last but not the least there was a live musical performance by Prabhjot and he sang some awesome English songs, melodious and foot tapping too.

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Lovely performances.
All this while you are lounging on the sofa a bottle of chilled beer in your hands with some chips and peanuts provided on the house.
Really a nice way to party with no hang ups .Just the cool casual atmosphere with friends all around.
For the young its the  ideal way to spend your weekend with friends without hurting your pocket with entertainment galore.

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About Myolo: Myolo headquarters otherwise houses an office of young team members who are working on a revolutionary dating app. They also hold some specific dating events and are coming up in a big way.

Terrific 25-New Menu Launch at Aanch

Aanch, a chic and urban restaurant in Rajouri Garden has been successfully running since 5 years. Bringing innovation to menu and food presentation ideas is the need of any restaurant today to constantly keep surprising their customers and retain their interest. Aanch is also all set to do the same, as they planning to launch 25 new dishes in their menu. We were recently invited for a preview table of this Terrific 25 menu and honoured with this privilege of tasting everything before it opens for general public from August onwards.

The place is located at the top floor of shoppers stop mall, and is an extensive spread with a huge terrace and outside expanse where in private parties and weddings are held.

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Drinks:

Coming to the menu, we were first served the new mocktails on the menu, the regular mocktails done with an India twist to them. The first one was Tulsi and Melon Fantasy. It was refreshing but the flavour of basil was a little overpowering, and if that is taken control of, it definitely a perfect summer drink.

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Next was the Veggie Virgin Marry, which was a desi twist to the popular Virgin Mary, but here there was no use of tobasco to make it spicy, it was instead made spicy by using red chillies, also there were cut pieces of capsicum in the drink which made it spicy and crunchy at the same time. I am a virgin mary lover and thus I preferred this Veggie Virgin Mary and loved it. It was slightly on the spicier end, but yet it was amazing. I also loved the presentation of the drink very much.

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I also tried the Virgin Orange Caprioska and Very Berry Slush, both of them were good too, but the berry slush was mind blowing, it was best of the lot and I highly recommend the same.

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Starters: To clear the palette, water melon cubes with cheese was the first thing to be served and it was refreshing.

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Soups- Mushroom Cappuccino and Chicken Tom Yum, both of them were amazing, though I preferred the creamy mushroom soup over the chicken one. Mushroom soup was served with a mushroom toast which was good and the fried chicken roll that came with tom yum soup was just amazing.

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Mahabali Paneer Tikka- a spicy version of the regular paneer tikka, this one was truly awesome. I also loved the presentation of the same.

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Roti pe Boti-This was an out of the menu dish, that the chef created especially for us bloggers to taste and I fell in love with it instantly. It was a soft and tender galauti kebab placed on a very khasta mathi with a dollop of green chutney. The combination was amazing, the galauti kebabs just melted in the mouth and I can go back for this dish anytime. In fact I would really urge them to include this as a part of their regular menu.

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Shahi Be Mahi- This was a very tender Fish Malai Tikka, and it was one of the best starters of the entire evening. The fish just melted in the mouth, was mildly spiced and too delicious. This one is a must try.

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Gabbar Ke Sholey- It was an innovative and interesting way to present bread rolls stuffed with cottage cheese, they seemed like small hand grenades that looked amazing and tasted good too.

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Lemon Grass Mushrooms- Oh these went on to become my personal favourites. The spices were perfect and the most amazing part was a mild cottage cheese filling between two mushrooms. I haven’t eaten anything like this before. It was really awesome. Also the presentation on a small rolling cart was very very cute.

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Galouti Golgappe- These were the golgappas filled with a small piece of galouti topped with some green chutney, onions and pomegranate seeds. The concept was good but the golgappas need to be a little more juicy, they were dry.

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Tawa Ka Burrah and Chooza Murg were next, both the dishes were regular, the mutton burrah was tasty, juicy and tender and I loved the way it was presented. Chooza Murg was like Tandoori Chicken, and was perfect.

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Banana Chik and Mango Chicken were presented next, they both came in sweet looking hand carts. The Banana Chick tasted more like a Thai steamed chicken which I didn’t like much. The Mango Chicken had a tangy fruity taste with a hint of Chinese flavour and it was good.

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It seemed like a marathon of starters, as they were just not ending, and trust me it takes a lot to taste and try 25 items on the menu, but they were all so exciting that even though the tummy space was reducing, we just could not give up.

Chilly Chicken Pao and Veg Cheese Quesadilla were next in line. The chilly chicken pao was spicy and nice and so were the quesadillas.

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After trying so many delectable starters, there was hardly any space left for the main course, but being a blogger one has to try and write about it, sometimes its not easy you see. But yes I did. The first thing on the menu was Haleem, followed by Balti Murg, Murg Makhanwala, Creamy Gosht, Dal Makhani and Paneer Pasanda. All the dishes were perfectly done, minus the murg makhanwala, as I found it a little too sweet. The creamy gosht could have been a little better too and I am sure the management will take our feedback constructively.

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There was Cheesy Baked Pasta and Chicken Spatchcock too, but they seemed a little out of place with the more emphasised Indian menu. They were good no doubts, but certainly didn’t gel with the entire palate.

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Finally the meal came to an end and the dessert was served, It was Coconut Cigars with Vanilla Ice-Cream. The Coconut Cigars were crisp and tasted excellent dipped in Vanilla Ice-Cream. The presentation was great and it looked like a few birds sitting in a pool of ice cream.

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Overall, it was a fantastic experience. We also met the owner Mr Bhuvnesh Bhalla and his wife who paid attention to every feedback we had to offer and they came across as very warm and hospitable people. Also met Chef Ashish Massey who is the man behind this amazing culinary experience and is a great person. Last but not the least this privileged of experiencing a new menu before it gets launched for general public was bestowed upon due to my friend and an excellent PR person Neha Bahl from Qube Communication and had a pleasant experience meeting other blogger friends too. The menu gets launched for public August onwards, please do give it a try and you will be pleasantly surprised with the small twists and innovations.

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Aanch Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Feng Shuii- Oriental Dining, Restaurant Review

Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. Feng Shuii, a newly opened oriental dining restaurant resonates this meaning in the truest sense. Located at the upcoming Gallery on MG, which would soon host some of the nicest Restaurants, this one is surely gonna be a hit. The moment you enter the place, the ancient art form of Feng Shui, the artefacts, and the harmony greets you and takes you in the Chinese Era. The ambience is beautifully done and one cannot ignore the tastefully placed art pieces that reflect the true essence of Feng Shui. I mean you would really want to get up from your seat, take a stroll inside the restaurant, and just stare at these art pieces, they are so beautiful.

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I somehow always feel that the place that emits positive vibes has to be good overall, and in case of Feng Shuii this stood absolutely true. Not just the ambience and environment is so harmonious and beautiful, but also the food is excellent. I was called here for a bloggers review meet and I am so glad I could make it.

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Drinks:

Their drinks menu consists of fresh juices, some mocktails and aerated drinks. I settled for a coke this time, as I love the fizz with Chinese Food.

Starters:

Chilly Paneer, Chicken Satay and Chilly Fish were served for starters. Chilly Paneer was simply amazing, perfectly done, neither too spicy nor sweet or bland. My son isn’t very fond of oriental cuisine as such but he always enjoys Chilly Paneer when I make it at home. We have tried Chilly Paneer at a lot of places, and most of the times it ends up being too spicy especially from a child’s point of view, but here at Feng Shuii, my son just loved it, in fact so much so that he didn’t have anything else but two servings of Chilly Paneer.

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The Chicken Satay too was delectable and was served with a subtle peanut dip. Chilly Fish is my all time favourite, but again barring a few places I never like the way it is prepared in restaurants. The best that I had was at Drums of Heaven restaurant, but now Feng Shuii is going to be my new favourite for Chilly Fish, it was mind blowing. The fish was tender and yet has a very crisp coating, the spices perfect, and the veggies added to the flavour and crunch. I can back for it anytime, in fact my mouth is watering as I write this review.

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Dimsums:

We tried the Mushroom & Cheese Dimsums and also the Juicy Chicken. Being a hard core non vegetarian, I still preferred the Mushroom & Cheese dimsums, they were just lovely. It was such a mouthful treat, the creaminess of mushrooms and cheese made it so rich in taste. I am praising mushroom dimsums doesn’t mean the chicken ones were not good, they too were delicious, all I wanna say is that even if you are a non vegetarian, please give the mushroom version a try, you won’t be disappointed.

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Main Course:

The main course consisted of both Thai and Chinese dishes. The main course was served like a buffet, but the fun part was that rather than we walking up to the buffet lay out, the buffet came to us in very smart serving trolleys that come equipped with electric heaters and can keep the food warm for upto 8 hours while being unplugged. These small little innovations and changes in food presentation make a lot of difference in ones overall experience.

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The first dish that was served was Massaman Curry with Nasi Goreng. Massaman Curry is a relatively mild Thai Curry that in itself is an interpretation of a Persian Dish. The flavors of the massaman curry paste (nam phrik kaeng matsaman) come from spices that are not frequently used in other Thai curries, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, nutmeg and mace and this makes it very different. This paste is first fried with coconut cream, and only then are meat, potatoes, onions, fish sauce or salt, tamarind paste, sugar, coconut milk and peanuts added. It is usually eaten with Rice, and in this case it was Nasi Goreng. Nasi goreng, literally meaning “fried rice” in Indonesian and Malay, can refer simply to fried pre-cooked rice, a meal including stir fried rice in small amount of cooking oil or margarine, typically spiced with sweet soy sauce, shallot, garlic, ground shrimp paste, tamarind and chilli and accompanied by other ingredients, particularly, chicken. These came across as one of the best fried rice I have ever had, I just loved it. I can eat them anytime, with or without any gravy.

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Next was the Thai Green Curry served with Steamed Rice. I have never been really fond of Thai food, and here also my perception and taste didn’t change. I did try some of it, but didn’t find it too exciting.

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Fish in Black Bean Sauce was good, I tired it with some Veg Fried Rice, but somehow the gravy was little too salty, so inspite of being good, the salt spoiled the taste.

Hakka Noodles with Chicken in Sweet Chilli Sauce was good too. The Chicken was tender and gravy little sweet, but still it was a good combination with hakka noodles.

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Dessert:

The best part is always reserved for the end I guess, this simple yet amazing dessert Belgium Chocolate, did just that. It was a perfect ending to the delightful meal. It wasn’t over the top, not even had a very fancy presentation, but the taste was just wonderful. Its heaven for chocolate lovers. Must try.

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Service & Hospitality:

The staff was very very hospitable and attentive. The service was a little slow but I am sure they will improve it.

Overall the experience was just amazing and I give a generous 4.5 star rating, do it give it a shot and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Fengshuii. The art of Oriental Dining Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Thought for the Day

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Thought for the Day…!!

There comes a time in life when you got to stop calling people who don’t call you, stop visiting people who don’t know where you live and stop spending your time on people who don’t have time for you.

Stop investing on people who don’t spend on you or else you will go bankrupt emotionally.

You can love someone from a distance and I am not talking about a romantic relationship but anyone be it relatives or friends.

Treat people the way they treat you and do not go overboard showering love where it is not returned. Life is complicated enough without having to beg people for love.

So wake up and surround yourself with people who genuinely love and care about you.

People who don’t see you as an option but truly want you in there lives.

Let no one treat you as replaceable because if you are then so are they.

Move on.

Pages from a traveler’s diary- Rishikesh

Nestled scenically in the laps of Sivalik Range in Himalayas; is a spiritual town of Rishikesh. Located in Dehradun district in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand, the holy city is a revered pilgrimage center among the Hindus. Burgeoned in natural splendor the city is a Gateway to Himalayas and an origination point for the “Char Dham” pilgrimage; one of the most sacred pilgrimage tours — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Flourished at the foothills of Himalayas this sanctified city gets its name “Rishikesh” after Lord “Vishnu” which means ‘lord of the senses’.

The city comprises of the main town of Rishikesh along with few distinct sections encompassing hamlets and settlements on both the banks of the river Ganges. Primarily the main town Rishikesh comprises of an expansive commune known as “Muni-ki-Reti” meaning “sands of the sages” and the home of Sivananda Ashram; The Divine Life Society founded by Swami Sivananda popularly known as Sivananda Nagar. The north of Rishikesh comprises of the temple section of Lakshman Jhula, and a little further north are the assorted Ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank.

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The sacred river representing country’s piousness, the Ganges flows through Rishikesh. Shredding her teen image of playful rivulet flowing from the Shivalik Ranges of the Himalayas, here she grows into a blooming young river commencing her journey further into the plains of northern India. Her turquoise hued clear water gushing swiftly with expeditious currents paints a devastatingly exquisite scene. Thousands of devotees, pilgrims and tourist throng the city each year from India and overseas. The feeling of divinity captivates one’s senses even whilst staring the banks of Ganges adorned with delicate flowers, and a converting of solitary Saints, Monks, priest and spiritually awakened individuals passing by.

Rishikesh, ever so often tagged as “the world capital of Yoga”, houses numerous yoga centers those are much older than any other yoga organizations in the world. One of the oldest yoga establishments is Kailas Ashram Brahmavidyapeetham; an institution dedicated to preserve and promote the traditional Vedantic Studies has been a part of this institution for more than 120 years. Legendary personas such as Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ramanand Tirtha and Swami Shivananda were alumni of this institution prior commencing their noteworthy journeys. The tinsel town has been a silent observer of lives of several yogis and Sages having lived and practiced penance here. It is said and well – believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to self – realization and “Moksha” and so does a dip in the divine river that flows throughout.

The town awakens at the early hours to the bellowing of conches and the “Vedic” chants. Blossoming with fragrant lilacs, roses, gerberas and holy basil which is considered of prime significance in offerings among the Hindu Gods the spirituality then emanates in the air. Most of the congregations of worshippers take a dip in the river as a part of a ritual and then proceeding ahead to perform “Pujas” in the temple.  Later the Gods are bejeweled in the colorful garlands, vermilion, turmeric and are ornamented in silk attire. Array of colognes emanate off the incense sticks followed by rhythmic chanting of prayers or “Vedas” in the temples mesmerizing one’s curiosity.

The bridge that bridges the banks of River Ganges is popularly termed as “Laxman Jhula” and is a well-known landmark in the city. The existence of this bridge dates back to the mythological era of “Ramayana” and is believed that “Laxmana” the brother of Hindu deity Lord Rama, crossed river Ganga on jute rope where the present bridge stands today. The 450 feet long jute-rope Bridge was replaced by iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889 by a British Officer but unfortunately it was washed away in the 1924 floods and afterwards was then replaced by a stronger present bridge. To the west of the bridge stands a temple devoted to “Laxmana”; the brother of Lord “Rama”.  “Laxman Jhula” offers an astonishing view of ravishing beauty of River Ganges. Watching the mountains roofed in green belt with turquoise hued Ganges flowing by and chilly breeze swirling around, crafts the bridge as a great place to be at. The river here abounds of fishes and often pilgrims are seen feeding a stream of fishes from the bridge or at a place where the fishes gather while the pilgrims drop food for them. A boat ride down the river is recommended as it offers a panoramic view of the bridge. The background colored with lush green mountain ranges and an unblemished steely grey Lakshman Jhula in the foreground seems like a portrait in itself autographed by Mother Nature.

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Blending its modern appearance with inner enlightenment the 13 storey Kailash Niketan Temple is the next stop post crossing Laxman Jhula. The Temple houses several sculptures of Gods and Goddesses and is a pure example of contemporary manifestation enlightened with the rays of serenity and spirituality.  The experience of spiritually is not only limited to the plains of Rishikesh but is also felt at an altitudes. Commanding an extravagant view of the region, situated on the altitudes of 5500 feet, abiding in equanimity is the legendary temple of Nilkanth Mahdeo. Encircled by serenity of the forests the temple is situated on a hilltop above “Swarg Ashram”. Legend goes that in the mythological era when the ocean was being churned for ‘Amrit’ (Potion for immortality), first venom oozed out and this was the place where lord Shiva had drunk the venom to save the mankind. After consuming it, his neck had turned blue with the poison and hence he was called ‘Neelkanth’, the one with blue neck. Every year in the months of monsoon – mid July to August – fairs are held where thousands of devotees visit temple, taking a holy dip in the fresh water spring within temple complex pilgrims proceed to pay visit to the lord. Scorched eyes long to have a view of the Lord Shiva who has been marking his presence since ages and eras, in a serene pose yet so very powerful and commanding by nature, the deity welcomes and blesses one and all.

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To the east of the Ganges is a place bustling with activities all the times, better known as “Swarg Asharm”.  Ashrams, temples, restaurants, shops, eating joints are well developed in this area. Founded by Swami Vishuddhananda fondly known as “Kaali Kamli Wale”, the ashram is one of oldest in Rishikesh and is adorned by many statues. The spiritual air of the spiritual soul pacifies one and all. Crossing over the “Ram Jhula” towards the western bank of Ganges is Shivanand Ashram: The Divine Life Society: One of the oldest and most active ashrams in the area. A doctor by profession, Swami Shivanand renounced his life in Delhi and came to Rishikesh in the year of 1924 and set up Divine Life Society in 1936. He authored approximately 200 books on yoga, health and spiritual life prior his death in 1963. The ashram organizes regular yoga classes, meditation courses and performs and promotes studies in texts like Upanishads and Gita very often. Spiritual and activities related with Hinduism are the practiced every day. The ashram runs a biggest charitable hospital from which hundreds of localities avail the facilities of free of charge medical services.

Located in the heart of the ancient town of Rishikesh near Triveni Ghat on the banks of River Ganges, abiding in silence since centuries is an aesthetic “Bharat Mandir”. “Adiguru Shankara Charya” built the temple; a renowned saint who lived in the 12th century. The internal chamber of the temple houses an idol of Lord Vishnu, which is carved out of a single rock of “Saligram”; a rock that possess divine powers. An awning of “Shree Yantra” shelters from above the idol. The temple also houses several other old statues, coins, pots and other things of historical significance.

Nothing seems phenomenal as the “Ganga Aarti” of “Triveni Ghat”.  The ghat is a foremost place where pilgrims crowd to take a holy dip and a spectacular “Ganga Arati” is performed regularly in the dusk. Being a principle place for taking a holy dip in, the Ghat derives its name due to confluence of three rivers namely, Ganga, Yamuna & Sarawati.  The most enthralling and eye – catching event at the dusk being “Ganga Arati” scores of devotees throng the steps of ghat at the dusk for performing Arati. The priest and saints carry out the ritual, while the fiery orange fuelled with multiple hued golden flames transpire out of massive pure ghee lamp being rotated in the circular motions brightly lighting up the whole place. The Triveni Ghat then witnesses the illuminated statue of Lord Shiva amidst the river and Vedic chants fill the atmosphere in the praise of the river Ganges.  The bellowing conches and religious songs spiritually awaken the atmosphere with divinity blending in air mesmerizing one to the tunes of the songs sung in devotion. It is here at dusk, that scenario quenches one’s thirst for peace and the soul entwines into the feeling of oneness connecting itself with the universe. It is then when the whole cosmos conspires together to gift mankind the tranquility and inner joy beyond expression or one’s imagination. Later devotees float their respective leaf bowls filled with flowers and an oil lamp into the river. The reflection of lamps enamels the water with golden ripples. The radiance emitting out of the statue of Lord Shiva amidst the river soothes the tired souls and eyes follow the lamps till they disappear. The ceremony symbolizes a revival of hope, remembrance of the kind deeds of the river since ages and praying for the betterment of the mankind.

Rishikesh is one of the holiest communes in India and every corner of the city is considered as sanctified one. The city possesses the magic of a casting spell to transform and balance the inward journey with an outward adventure. Dwelling on the laps of lower Himalayas, surrounded by untouched countryside with panoramic views, numerous village treks, jungle walks in rhododendron forests, with the banks of Ganges that is dotted with numerous ancient temples transforms the holy town into a heaven making one say “Come home to Rishikesh”

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Goa, India