Goa, India

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Month: August 2017

3 Disasters To Avoid When Going Abroad!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Going abroad is a very exciting thing to do. You’re going to be taking a very long trip to get somewhere that you’ve never been to before, getting to experience different cultures and climates, eating new food and visiting new places, it’s a really wonderful time! However there are some really horrendous mistakes that people make when they go abroad, so here’s what they are and how to avoid them!

Not Booking A House To Stay At 

When people go on a trip, a lot of us think that it’s okay to not book somewhere to stay because we’re going to be able to find a hotel that will accommodate us, and for small trips this sometimes works! But in other countries, you cannot take this risk, especially if you’re going to a very tourist heavy area! You’ll find that once you get there, everything is going to be booked up and you’re going to have nowhere to stay. This is why it’s a good idea to rent or even buy (if you’ve got the cash) a house before you go over to your holiday destination, and you can do this from companies like alamo homes. By renting out or buying a house where you plan on going then it saves you the hassle of sorting it out, and failing, whilst you’re actually on holiday! 

The Plane Doesn’t Land Near Your Destination

Another seemingly simple thing that people overlook a lot of the time is where their flight is actually going to take them. People often just see it as simple as they’re getting a plane from America to say the United Kingdom, but there are loads of different airports that you can land at! If you’re going to stay in London, but end up in Manchester, then you’re going to spend a very long time getting to your destination which could waste a day or two of your holiday time! This is why you need to book your flight and know what airport you’re landing at, ensuring that you land as close to your destination as possible so that you can start enjoying your holiday straight away.

You Haven’t Got Enough Cash

A lot of places around the world haven’t quite caught up yet with technology, or maybe they have chosen not to in order to preserve their feel, but for whatever reason not all places in the world do not accept card, and you’re going to need cash for things. Paying for parking and other things require cash in other countries, so you need to make sure that you have ample amounts of it! You can get foreign currencies from place like Travelex, giving you the ability to pay for the small things that you need to so you’re not going to be caught without it!

You need to make sure you have all of these things checked before you go away. Ensure that you’ve got the right currency for the country just in case you need it, check to see where your plane is landing so it’s as close to your destination as it can be to reduce your travel time and make sure you’ve got dedicated accommodation in advance! There are not only these mistakes to be made, but medical ones too, so check this out to make sure you stay safe abroad.

Routine Maintenance: Caring For Elderly Family Members

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

No one likes the idea of their parents, grandparents, or other elderly relatives having issues in their later life. Instead, you want to protect these people, giving them the best possible chance at a good life, without taking away any of the joy they used to have. This sort of challenge can be a hard one, as most people are busy enough looking after themselves, let alone having the time to care for someone else. To help you out with this area, this post will be going through some of the key considerations you should be making. Along with this, it will also be helping you to achieve this goal for your own loved ones.

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When something goes wrong with someone’s body, it can often be hard for them to admit that there is an issue. As people notice more and more issues, as they usually do into their later life, it can be hard to be vocal about them, and a lot of elderly people will simply suffer in silence. The best way to combat this issue is through monitoring. You should always be looking out for differences in mood and behavior, as well as the way that they move. If you suspect a problem, they should get medical help as soon as possible.

Once you have started to monitor your loved ones, you can consider the ways that they will be cared for. In most cases, it’s best to avoid giving intimate care to someone you’re very close to. Taking this work into your own hands will hurt the memories you have of them, as you will see them in a very vulnerable and undignified state. To take this sort of work out of your hands, loads of companies have been started in recent years which can handle this care for you. 

A lot of elderly people have to spend their mornings and evening popping pills to make sure all of the chemicals in their body have the right balance. From treatments which help with blood pressure, to ones which fight much more serious conditions, this medication is very important. To avoid any mistakes with this, an aged care medication company can deliver all of the treatments required, as and when they’re needed. This makes it a lot easier to keep on top of the medicines your loved one takes, while also ensuring the right options are used.

As you get older, having to rely on care from others and support in most aspects of your life can be very depressing. Just imagine becoming a child again, losing a lot of the abilities you once had and having to go back to being looked after. Of course, though, elderly people are adults, not children, making this a hard pill to swallow for most. All of the work you do for your loved ones should be to try and maintain as much of their independence as possible. For example, even if it might be easier for you to do all of the food shopping on your own, taking them with you will give your relative the chance to make their own choices.

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Hopefully, this post will arm you with everything you need to start making your loved one’s lives as comfortable as possible. During this time in their life, it’s very easy for someone to lose a lot of the things they once loved. This is a shame, though, as it doesn’t have to be the case. Instead, you just need to start working harder to help them.

Experiencing great North Indian food at The Yellow Chilli, Goa!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

When you are away from your home town, apart from missing your loved ones back home, you miss the typical home food the most. During my recent trips to Goa, one evening I was really missing the typical Indian food, especially the Dal Makhani and some Butter Naans and then I remembered The Yellow Chilli by Sanjeev Kapoor which is housed in the very famous Mall de Goa and I immediately jumped with joy, grabbed hold of my friends and we all headed straight to the restaurant.

The quirkiness of the places catches your attention immediately, with some amazing caricatures adorning the walls. The seating is casual dining type and is apt for families and youngsters both.

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To begin with we settled for some Masala Papad, Dahi Ke Kebab, Tangra Chilly Paneer, Lehsuni Murg Tikka and Chanak Tawa Masala. The Chanak Tawa Masala was easily the best dish, nice and crispy fish with a flavourful masala and I simply loved it. The Lehsuni Murg Tikka was another delightful preparation, the chicken was mouth meltingly soft and the taste of garlic was just right.

Dahi Ke Kebabs were nicely done and I loved the small innovation of adding a bit of cheese in the centre, which tasted quite well. The Chilly Paneer was good, but could have been better, as the taste of salt and garlic overpowered everything else.

For drinks, we tried Jaljeera, Butterscotch Caramel and Tarbooza and all of them were good. I personally loved the Jaljeera, my friend ended up ordering the Butterscotch Caramel twice so I am very sure it would be awesome too.

For the mains we settled for Lalla Mussa Dal, a hot favourite at the Yellow Chilly and Ghee Roasted Chicken. Both the dishes were great, and we relished them with butter naans.

Bebinca with butter made for our dessert and it was delicious. You can’t miss on trying a bebinca especially when in Goa. Overall it was a great experience of having typical North Indian food in Goa and satiating my taste buds to the fullest. So when in Goa do try the Yellow Chilly and I am sure you will love it.

The Yellow Chilli Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Dakshin Food Festival at Crowne Plaza Rohini!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The word Dakshin, by default doesn’t excite me much, because I am not a big fan of South Indian Cuisine, but recently when my foodie friends decided to visit the DAKSHIN Food Festival at Crowne Plaza Rohini, I reluctantly agreed. I am so glad that I actually went, because my perception of the Dakshin food changed completely, it was so so good that I can actually now say that I relished it.

The spread was an elaborate one and offered wide variety of dishes for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. I tried quite few things and I have to admit that I loved each one of them. Some of them need a special mention, The Rawa Fish was an amazing preparation, crispy outer coating to an otherwise tender fish, it just melted in mouth. Chonka Idly, Maysore Bonda and Paneer 65 were other delightful preparations. I loved the tiny tiny crisp idly a lot. Mulagu Vada too was a delectable dish and so were Chicken 65 and Meen Pollichathu.

Then we tried the Veg Stew with Appam and it was simply delicious. Rasa Omelette was a dish that stood out for its awesome flavours. Ulli Theeyal Mutton and Mangalorian Fish Curry were relished with Malabari Paranthas and trust me they were drool worthy.

After a hearty platter of desserts, we ended our culinary trip to Dakshin, without having to go their actually and enjoyed ourselves to the core. Now I can say that I look forward to more such festivals and I am extremely open to explore more South Indian dishes.

Unforgettable, That’s What Your Wedding Should Be

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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We’re sure that you want your wedding day to be remembered for years. Not just by you or even your partner but by everyone who was there to watch you say I do and start the next chapter of your life. Well, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are plenty of ways to make your wedding stand out, feel completely unique and be absolutely unforgettable. Here are a few of the best ideas.

Choose A Unique Location

 

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If you have a little imagination, there is no boundaries as to where you can get married and exchange vows. We think it’s only a matter of time before someone gets married in space! But for now, let’s keep our feet on the ground. What type of ground is a little more debatable. You might want to think about get married on a beach somewhere tropical such as a Greek island. If your guests don’t mind paying the airfare, this could be a wonderful choice. Just imagine, declaring your love just as the sun begins to set across the ocean, the waves lapping across the sandy shores.

If you want something a little less expensive, you could always get married on a hill top with a sweeping view of swirling green landscapes below. If you are interested in possibilities like this, you just need to get in touch with the private landowner or the local council. They should be able to tell you whether it’s a possibility and if it is help set it up.

Of course, you could be a Disney fanatic with money to burn. In Disney World, there is a private chapel where you can get married, and yes, we’re told it is possible to have the characters as your guests.

Styled To Stun

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You might want to think about what you’re going to wear on your wedding day too. You can have a professionally designed dress to make sure that you look completely unique on your wedding day. Wedding dresses can be bought off the rack, or they can be bought from an individual designers from bridal shops. If you want people to remember how you looked on your wedding day for years, make sure that you choose the latter option. You should look at all the classic designers such as Vera Wang, but sometimes you find a gem by seeking out an unknown name.

Find Your Song

 

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You might think that when you walk down the aisle towards the rest of your life, the wedding march needs to be playing. This isn’t the case at all. Instead, you can have any song you wish playing as you walk towards your future. Perhaps you have a favorite love song. If that’s the case, you might want to think about seeking out the instrumental version. Or, perhaps you could have a live band playing it as you walk towards the future. That would certainly make an impression on your guests.

If you take this advice, you can make sure that your wedding day is completely memorable.

 

 

 

Why Sobriety Feels Better Than Anything

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Becoming an addict can be much more of a slippery slope than we ever thought. If you enjoy an experience, your brain will be hooked on it from that first time and want to experience it again and again. Battling against this can feel like a hopeless cause, but recovery has so many more benefits than just improving your physical health. So with that in mind, why is choosing to stay or become sober a better idea than the alternative?

 

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Being in rehab is supportive

When it comes to both having an addiction and coming out of one, it can be awfully lonely. By choosing recovery, we place ourselves back onto the path for support and friendliness. Going to a rehab center such as The Recovery Village is one of the best ways to stay sober and feel good about it as you’ll be surrounded by specialist care and like minded people who understand what you’re going through. You’ll never be alone in your suffering, and you’ll get out of it faster than you would without any aid.

There’s no chance of withdrawal symptoms

This is a huge benefit for both your physical and mental health. For example, if you’ve been on prescription drugs for the past 10 years, getting off them is a complete drain on your mental health for both your state of mind and chemical balancing. But if you’re sober, there’s no possibility of going through withdrawal symptoms for the first time again. Relapses can and will happen, but they’re often minor and can be gotten over quickly. The longer you stay sober the less likely you are to relapse and the years get easier and easier.

Your relationships will be deeper than ever before

Hanging around other people who have an addiction like yours, whether it be gambling, smoking, or taking drugs, makes it a lot harder for you to break the habit. Peer pressure affects us all and is a form of bullying. Learning how to say no is a big step in anyone’s life. This can be made easier if you take the time for yourself and make a conscious decision on your own terms to give up something. Becoming sober and going through recovery gives you a chance to cut these kind of toxic actions out of your life and build up the good ones from the people who truly love you. What someone thinks of us can be all we focus on, so by removing the nasty perceptions, we can increase our self esteem levels and allow ourselves to be loved again.

We all like to casually partake in substances, like a few drinks at a party and a couple of pills when we have a headache. But for some, it’s a huge part of their reality. Knowing this, becoming sober is a big decision for a lot of us. However there is more understanding and support out there than you realise, so let yourself enjoy life again on your own terms.

 

Preparing Yourself For The Fight Against Time

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Time can be a very negative thing for anything organic. When a plant or animal is first created, it has loads of fresh cells and hardly any problems to deal with, making it easy to function and carry out its jobs. Of course, though, as it gets older, parts of its construct start to become weaker and will fall apart. For humans, this means discomfort, pain, and difficulty living, with a lot of people experiencing problems in their later life.

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Of course, though, problems like this only have to exist if you allow them to. Modern technology and science have reached the point where age doesn’t have to matter, as long as you’re willing to do some work. Along with eating well and doing plenty of exercise, it’s important to monitor certain areas of your body. This will help you to avoid future issues, while also keeping yourself healthy. Below, you can find some examples of these areas, as well as the work you can do to preserve them.

  • Areas To Think About

Compared to other primates, humans have some of the weakest joints out there. Unlike our close ancestors, like Neanderthals, humans have very small joints which are prone to damage over time. Along with this, your bones are also very sensitive. So, it’s important to make sure you look after these parts correctly, making sure to avoid impact-based exercises and the wrong sorts of food. If you ever experience extreme or irregular joint pain, you should see a doctor as soon as you can.

Like a car losing horsepower, your body will become less efficient when it comes to creating the different hormones and chemicals it needs to work as it gets older. The impact of this can be huge, from a little bit of weight gain to mental issues like depression. Thankfully, this sort of issue can be solved with some simple hormone replacement therapy, but you’ll have to keep your eyes open to figure out when it’s right to go. This sort of treatment is perfect for women going through menopause.

Without your eyes, it would be very hard to live, as you wouldn’t be able to rely on your vision to get you around. Along with this, living without your teeth could also be a huge problem. Issues with these parts of your body will be very common but can be solved as quickly as they come. If you notice pain in your mouth, going to a dentist will help to solve the issue. Problems with eyes, though, will have to be dealt with by an optician.

Finally, going back to your body’s similarities to a car, you’re going to need some regular servicing to make sure everything is working into the future. Doctor’s appointments are very important, and you should be having them done regularly to make sure you’re at your peak level of health. Most clinics will allow you to book appointments going into the future, enabling you to make this part of your bi-monthly routine.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start thinking about the future of your body. It’s easy to ignore this part of life, putting it off until you’re just a little bit older. Doing this will only result in difficulty later on, though. So, it’s worth starting as early as you can.

Avoid These Medical Mistakes When Travelling Abroad

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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It’s easy to neglect your health when on holiday. Even if you’re not climbing mountains or diving with sharks, you can still pick up a nasty bug or have a drunken accident after a few cocktails by the beach that could result in a need for medical treatment. Preparing for such eventualities could make such a disaster less of a scare – both to your health and your wallet. Here are just a few of the big medical mistakes to avoid when planning your trip and what to do instead.

Not getting insured

Travel insurance is worth taking out to help cover not just medical treatment but events like flight cancellations, baggage loss, delays and personal property damage. Not all travel insurance schemes will cover all these eventualities, so it’s worth always looking into what’s covered. Medical cover can be one of the most important things to look out for as a trip to a hospital abroad could cost thousands in some cases if you’re not insured. Travel insurance is generally cheap and you can sometimes get family deals. Whilst some holiday companies and airlines will try to sell you it as an add-on, shopping around may get you a cheaper price. Print these insurance documents off and take them with you in case a doctor needs proof.

Ignoring vaccination advice

Some areas of the world may be high risk zones for diseases such as malaria or yellow fever. Whilst you don’t have to get vaccinated, you could be putting your health in serious danger by doing so. Vaccinations are costly and can be scary to needle-phobes if they involve jabs, which can lead some people to take a gamble and forgo them. Weigh up the risks and leave yourself enough time to go through the vaccination process.

Not researching local emergency contact details 

You should always try and make a record of the local emergency number in case you need to ring an ambulance. If you’re travelling somewhere remote without a local guide – especially if you’re taking part in an extreme sports such as mountaineering or off-piste skiing – it could be worth also researching into medevac services. You don’t want to be in need of medical attention but unable to obtain it simply because you don’t have the contact details.

Forgetting travel meds

Bringing all the right travel meds can also keep you prepared in an emergency. Some may be more important such as insulin, EpiPens for allergies and inhalers for serious asthma. Others may be more of a convenience such as antihistamines for hayfever, Imodium for diarrhoea, tablets for period pains and travel sickness pills. Plasters and bandages can also be handy to have.

Drinking local tap water 

In some places in the world, the local tap water may not be as clean as what you’re used to back home. Drinking it may only result in the runs, but in some cases could result in catching more serious diseases. In such locations, always buy bottled water. You should also be wary of buying drinks that contain ice – always ask for drinks without ice cubes just to be safe.

 

Important Trinkets To Take Care Of For Your Wedding Day

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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At some point during your wedding planning, you’ll start to realize that there are so many more finer details that you have to cover off than you first thought. Because there’s always a lot more that you need to do to make your wedding day come together than you can first imagine. But that doesn’t mean you have to let your wedding planning process stress you out. Once you’ve got some of the bigger plans in place, you’re then going to want to think about some of the smaller things, like the important trinkets you need to have with you on your special day.

The Wedding Rings

Hopefully, this won’t be one of the things that you forget; it may even be at the top of your smaller things list, but you have to get your wedding bands sorted. You may even know what kind of rings you want to go for based on your engagement ring design. However, whether you go for something like the Tacori wedding bands at Whiteflash or even something you’ve designed yourself, you need to pick them out. Then, you should also make sure that you keep the safe until the big day.

The Bridesmaid Gifts

After your own rings, there are some other trinkets that you need to cover off for other people on the wedding day. Traditionally, during the speeches, the groom will give the bridesmaid their gifts. So, you may want to think about what you’re going to give yours. Whether it’s memento from the day or even a piece of jewelry, this is something that you’re going to keep in mind as a part of your trinket search.

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Something For The Parents

Next, you may also want to think about gifts for the parents. Here, you’ll often find that traditionally flowers are given to the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom. But, you may also want to think about other gifts to give them that could be a bit more personal. Plus, if your parents have helped you out with the wedding planning or even the cost, you may want to think about a thank you gift that you could get for both sets of parents as a whole.

A Gift For Each Other

Then there’s also the gifts that you give to each other. Although you’re going to be spending a lot of money on your big day (yes, even when you have a small budget), it’s also beautiful to be able to give each other a gift. So, when it comes to the presents you choose for the bride and groom gift exchange, make sure that they are personal to you, and not what you feel like you should be giving each other.

Favors For The Guests

And, of course, you’ve also got the wedding favors that you give to the guests. Again, if you’re going to go with tradition, these will be sugared almonds. However, you could also tailor this choice based on your wedding theme or even something personal to you both.

 

 

Corduroy skirts will be huge this fall!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Fancy making a statement this fall with your outfit? Well, then corduroy skirts are your answer. Corduroy skirts have been in fashion for a very long time. In fact, many retro outfits boasted of skirts in corduroy paired with a frilled top. When it comes to corduroy skirts, Taylor Swift is the real icon. While this singer has been known for her courageous fashion and obsession with chic retro clothing, Taylor Swift was seen many at times in public with outfits of short corduroy skirt.

Beginning in the 20th century, skirts were a huge thing among the working women. It was comfortable to walk in and easy to handle. They also formed the basic outfit for family occasions and more. However as fashion trends waxed and waned, skirts slowly lost their game to the denim that was revolutionizing the industry. Skirts, including that of corduroy, were sidelined to special occasions. But they did have their identity and has been in style in a minimal sense. This fall let us rediscover corduroy skirts and their antique charm, to add to the wardrobe.

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Fall being the season will a cool weather, corduroy skirts are perfect for your attire. Comfortable fabric, with its velvety and ridged texture, these will keep your warm without having to cover in multiple layers of clothing. Unlike skirts of other fabric, corduroy ensures that the skirt is firm and steady. Being corduroy, these need to not be iron as well.  Since the fabric is quite heavy, having a fully fledged, a complete pleated skirt can add a lot of weight to your skirt. This is why corduroy skirt comes with fewer pleats or no-pleat designs. In this respect, buttoned down corduroy skirts are a real trend.

How to Wear Them?

Picking the right color is essential when it comes to matching a  skirt and top. As for corduroy skirts, the usual trends are. dark shades paired with a light or pale colored top. However, this doesn’t mean that you should stick to the clichés. Corduroys are brilliant in gray and pastel shades too. If you are a person of retro tastes, a brown corduroy skirts would do you well. Team this up with a beige blouse and you can indulge in your retro-ness.

For short corduroy skirt designs, you can pair it with a full sleeve body- hugging sweater for a trendy look. If you are going for mid length or longer designs, you have a plethora of options. A crop top would pair well with a long corduroy skirt, at the same time, lending a designer look to your outfit.  A shirt tucked in would be another way to make your corduroy skirt outfit splendid!

lotusboutique.com, has an amazing collection of corduroy skirts to compliment your fall outfit. Browse their catalog of fall collection to find your perfect skirt. Handpicked by their designers, these belong to the latest trends in fashion. Shop for the trendiest corduroy outfit at lotusboutique.com, the one stop for all your fashion needs!

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