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How Stellar Data Recovery Saved My YouTube Channel Launch

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

My Passion for Photography

Both in my professional and personal life, traveling has played a very integral part. While traveling professionally, I have traveled the length and breadth of the country and even across the globe, from deep down rural to ultra-urban cities. And even in my personal life, I have shared some of the best moments, traveling with my family. Traveling has been a great teacher in my life and the different places and experiences have taught me a lot of aspects of life. It’s strange, how even over the years, memories of all trips remain so fresh in my mind. But I have to admit that photographs have played a big role in keeping those memories intact. Especially as a blogger, photographs became important not just as to keep memories, but also to maintain my blogging and Instagram on a regular basis. Over a period of time, these photos have become an imperative part of my life and my phone is always full of different photographs collected from different trips.

Storing Pictures

Earlier days, we used to keep our albums safely and securely locked away to ensure they don’t spoil away. But today, living in the digital world, albums have become a thing of past and its all about keeping the photos stored on digital platforms, whether it’s our phone, cloud memories or the hard drives.

But are the photos always safe, when stored digitally? No, while cloud memories are often expensive to buy, we end up storing our pictures on our phone and then maybe a back up in hard drives. But have you ever faced an issue with a hard drive? Well, I have and trust me it was devastating.

My Singapore Trip

At the beginning of the year, I visited Singapore with a friend of mine, and it was my first trip to Singapore. Also, this trip was very important to us, as we are launching women based travel channel, and this was our maiden trip for our channel. So you can very well understand the importance of this trip for us. First of all, it was an international trip and secondly, more of a business value for us than anything else. We clicked thousands of pictures because we not only had to keep our personal Instagram accounts filled with it, but also the new business venture needed those pictures. And since it was a YouTube channel that we were launching, we had over 200 videos in a 4-day trip, which were to be compiled into web series and first and foremost a launch video.

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The Panic Moment

Now imagine my plight, that when I took the hard drive to my editor, in which all our thousands of pictures and 200 videos were transferred, did not open. We checked to plug in the hard drive into different computers, but it did not read even in one. It was a moment to panic, as I realized that the hard drive had probably corrupted. All my dreams came shattering down, as I practically had no time left for my launch. I was just a fortnight away from the launch and these videos and images were so important to me. And obviously, Singapore was not a local place that I could go back and shoot again, so a chance had to be taken for data recovery. Checked with a couple of local service providers, but no one gave a guarantee of data recovery and rather scared me that the data won’t be recovered at all. I was in a total mess.

Stellar, To The Rescue

A friend of mine then told me about Stellar Data Recovery Services, she told me they were very professional and their recovery rate was very high. They provided services for all most all kinds of data recovery and they were my only recourse.
Before going to their branch, I checked and read about them online and a lot of information was available on their site itself. Their service advantages really caught my attention and I was convinced of their professionalism.

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Kinds of Services Provided

Hard Drive Recovery
SSD Data Recovery
Server Data Recovery
Storage Box Data Recovery
RAID Data Recovery
Encrypted Data Recovery
iPhone Data Recovery
Android Data Recovery
CTB Locker Virus Recovery
Laptop/Desktop Data Recovery
Flash Data Recovery
MacBook Data Recovery
Pen Drive Recovery
SD Card Recovery
Ransomware Virus Recovery
CCTV/DVR Recovery
iPad Data Recovery
Removable Media Recovery
Email Recovery
Tally Data Recovery
Photo Recovery
File Recovery
Database Recovery
Disaster Data Recovery

Why Trust Stellar

They are the only ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified organization in India. Not the one who claim on papers to be ISO certified, but the ones who practice ISO guidelines inside their data recovery operations.

They are India’s first data recovery service company founded in 1993, and Stellar can proudly boast of experienced research & development team who have developed numerous data recovery software’s. This proprietary software and tools can recover data from different kind of storage devices in various conditions. So, in addition to the expected recovery of your data, they ensure your data is safe & secure within their organization. They have a success rate of 95% on data recoveries.

The best part is that their data recovery service comes with a 100% money back policy. They work on No Recovery- No charge policy*. Which means if they do not recover data specified by you, they don’t charge for it.
They even allow you to step into their lab and see the work getting done, being completely transparent about their processes. This is a Class 100 Cleanroom lab for Data Recovery, the only one of its kind in entire India.

Process

They follow a simple process for data recovery

The Stellar Strength

2 Million+ Satisfied Customer
8000+ Partners Worldwide
In Lab Data Recovery Service Provider
Strong Presence in USA, Europe & Asia
350+ Employees
Microsoft Gold ISV Partner
ISO/IEC 27001 & ISO 9001 certified
80+ R&D Engineers
60+ Data Recovery Experts

Advantages for opting for Stellar

No Recovery, No Charge*
15 Locations Across India
Accurate Efficient and Reliable
35000+ Data Recovery Jobs Annually
World Class Infrastructure of Class 100 Clean Room Labs
Free Door Step Drive Pick Up
Risk-Free, Privacy Ensured

To Conclude

All I can say is I was really thankful to Stellar for the video and photos recovery from my hard drive that too with a quick turn around time. In fact, I also read about preventive measures for hard drive crash on their site and know at least I can be more future ready. I was able to get my video edited and the launch did happen timely without any delays and further panic.
So remember this name whenever you face such a situation. I can easily say that there is no one better than them.

Check Out My Launch Video Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35sNx4_5TlA&t=94s

Mother Sparsh Water Based Wipes; Proving The Mildness With Flame Test

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Baby Skin Care

When it comes to Baby’s Skin Care, no mother wants to take chance with her choice of products she uses on the baby. Nothing but only the best and the most gentle products are used for the children. Their skin is so sensitive that taking a chance could sometimes lead to a big skin problem. Rashes and allergies are especially common when it comes to using skin care products. One has to be very particular and also try and use only trusted brands.

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Trusting a Brand

How to gain trust in a brand is also a challenge these days, a lot of brands may claim their gentleness but in the true sense, they are not. They end up hiding the list of chemicals they use and do not disclose the details of the elements used in making those products. But then there are some brands that go out of the way to not just claim but also challenge you enough to see the proof with your own eyes.

 

Mother Sparsh Wet Wipes

Mother Sparsh Wet Wipes is one such brand/product that is 100% true to its claims. They claim 98% water in the water wipes, unlike the other competing brands that have more lotion content that is made of chemicals and preservatives.

But this kind of claim is not easy to believe, 98% water obviously means that the product is extremely safe for baby use, but to prove such mildness is another thing. Also claiming that the wipes are made from 100% biodegradable material and are not synthetic is a very important claim.

I have been using these wipes for quite some time and I am extremely satisfied with the same, but recently a friend of mine almost challenged me on the quality of the product and I really took it personally to prove her with a simple ‘flame test’

Also Read- Mother Sparsh Wipes- The Next Best Thing To A Mother’s Touch

Flame Test

In this extremely simple flame test that you can conduct at the comfort of your home, if you burn a wipe and it burns like paper, turning into ashes and the whole wipe getting disposed of with fumes, it proves that it is made of biodegradable material.

Other Brand Wet Wipe
Mother Sparsh Wet Wipe

If at all the wipe is synthetic and made of polyester, it won’t burn fully and its corners will remain hard. It won’t completely turn to ashes and this test is a proof enough to confidentially say that Mother Sparsh Wipes are extremely safe for the baby’s skin.

Mother Sparsh Wet Wipe Burns with Ashes
Other Brand Wet Wipe- Burns Like Plastic with Hard Corners
Flame Test Comparison

Conclusion

I conducted this test in front of my friend using Mother Sparsh Wet Wipe and other well know baby care brand that my friend was using. While the Mother Sparsh Wipes burnt completely to ashes, the other one left a lot of residues behind. Hence my trust in the brand was multiplied and also the brand found a new customer in my friend.

They are easily available online, you can buy it on Amazon

 

Reasons To Consider Renting A Cabin For Your Next Vacation

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Family vacations don’t come around often enough. Because of this, it is important to make the most out of the time you get. There are many lodging choices to consider. While each has its own benefits to consider, there are extra advantages that come with planning a cabin vacation such as with Beavers Bend cabin rentals. They have many great cabins to choose from on their site at www.beaversbendlogcabins.com.

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Peace And Quiet

While getting a hotel room is a go-to when planning a family vacation, there is an appeal of cabin rentals that you cannot get with staying at a hotel. One great benefit of staying out in a cabin is that you will get lots of peace and quiet. Most hotels are crammed to capacity with noisy guests and events. A cabin is set out in the woods with much less people around.

Scenery

A cabin will offer you a lot of beautiful scenery to enjoy on vacation. Depending on where you rent your cabin, you could have a view of a beautiful lake or mountains in the background. At night, the distance away from the city will allow you to see the sky and stars more clearly.

Space And Privacy

Most cabin rentals will offer more privacy and space compared to many hotel rooms. There are a variety of sizes and styles that can accommodate most families and budgets. If you are planning a huge family vacation, there are cabin rentals that can fit up to 30 or more people.

Pet Friendly

If you want to bring your family pet on vacation, the best option would be to get a cabin. If you have a dog, they will have plenty of room to run around and play without worrying about parking lots and other guests putting them in danger.

There is nothing wrong with staying in a hotel on your family vacation. However, if you want a unique and relaxing experience, a cabin rental is a great choice. You will notice how amazing it really was once you get back to the city and notice the difference.

ZEE5 Lockdown Episode 3 – A Musical Twist Like No Other

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

What is Lockdown?

I was keen on exploring ZEE5. To my amaze, I stumbled upon this new show called, ‘Lockdown’, a ZEE5 Original. This is a musical show, which has an extraordinary concept that rules out the stereotypical concept of music shows. It features various artists, both from Bollywood as well as digital who join hands to recreate 2 songs. The challenge is that the songs have to be created within a span of 24 hours.

First Episode

The first episode has rapper Badshah and singer Jonita Gandhi who come together in the beautiful town of Chandigarh and create a new version of the song ‘Tip Tip Barsa Paani’ and ‘Kala Jora’, which is a Punjabi folk song.

Second Episode

The second episode featured Kailash Kher and Raja Kumari, who in the town of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh crafted a new version of two songs with their talent.

Third Episode- A Shaandaar Musical Combo

Episode 3 features Benny Dayal and Bryden and Parth, who follow the same concept of coming together and crafting a beautiful melody for the audiences. They are amongst the beautiful beaches and bylanes of Goa. Apart from the limited time frame given to the artists to create the song, another tough challenge is for them to choose the right song. But what marveled me was their unique way of choosing the right songs through a little game they play. They chose Gilheriyaan from Dangal and Gulaabo from Shaandaar to recreate with their magic touch.

The Core Idea

The entire idea of this show focuses on the fact that the artists have to seek inspiration from the exotic locales that they visit and recreate the melodies, making it completely different from the already existing one. If you want to watch something interesting then this show on ZEE5 is a perfect mood lifter for you, especially after a tiring day.

What to Do If You’re Facing Unemployment as an Expat: 4 Important Tips

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

There’s no two ways about it: losing your job is tough.

And for expats, facing unemployment can be particularly devastating.

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While you shouldn’t have to needlessly stress out over “what-if” situations, expats should have some sort of plan in case their job suddenly falls through.

But what happens if you don’t have a padded emergency fund? What if your gig that you thought was a “sure thing” has suddenly fallen through?

If you suspect that you might soon lose your job or know that the clock is ticking on your current situation, you can’t afford to take such news lightly. Instead, you need to get your mind right and start plotting your next move ASAP.

Consider the following four tips first and foremost if unemployment appears to be looming and you don’t want your expat journey to come to a sudden end.

Cut Down on Discretionary Spending

 

Adopting frugal habits and staying thrifty when you’re jobless or on the chopping block flat out makes sense.

Whether it’s selling odds and ends online or cutting back on entertainment, anything you can do to keep more money in your pocket is fair game. Likewise, consider how you can spend less on essential expenditures such as remittance with the help of services such as Remitly. In your current situation, adopting an “every penny counts” mentality is a brilliant move.

CAN YOU REALLY DO WHAT YOU WANT FOR A LIVING- READ HERE

Don’t Panic

 

Your gut reaction to losing your job might be to go into a full-blown panic mode, but that doesn’t do you any favors. Neither does assuming you need to pack your things and catch the next plane back home. Instead, take a step back.

Take a look at your savings account and overall financial situation, assessing how long you have before you’re in a legitimate financial crunch. If you have a few weeks of time in the proverbial bank, you may very well be able to nail something down in the nick of time or seek some quick financial relief from friends and family. In short, you might need little more than a hold-over.

 

Begin Your Job Search Under the Radar

 

For those who suspect their current role is coming to an end but aren’t 100%, it never hurts to start looking at opportunities now so you’re not kicking yourself when your paychecks stop coming. There are plenty of reputable international job boards in addition to sites like LinkedIn where you can jumpstart your job search.

 

As a side note, be wary of speaking too much to coworkers about your desire for a new job. You could put yourself in needless hot water by announcing that you’re looking for a new gig prematurely. That said, talking to people outside of your office is fair game as in-person networking still remains such an effective way to find a new job.

SPORTS THAT CAN TURN INTO A CAREER- READ MORE

Make Sure You’re Not in Legal Trouble

 

Of course, if you have an employment-based immigrant visa, your employment status may have instant implications on your ability to stay in the country. In this case, you may have no choice but to depart. Don’t assume you’re in this situation and, as always, speaking to a lawyer is probably your best bet for peace of mind.

 

Simply put, locking down steady employment should be your top priority as an expat. If you suspect that yours might be coming to an end soon, make sure you keep these pointers in mind as you focus your energy on getting back to work.

 

 

At What Age Should My Children Not go to a Paediatric Dentist?

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Pediatric dentists are ideal for children as they have the special education, training, and experience necessary to provide children of all ages with quality dental care. If you have a baby, toddler, elementary school child, pre-teen, teen, or special needs child, you can count on a pediatric dentist to care for your child’s oral health.

 

By taking your child to a paediatric dentist, you can ensure they are at ease when undergoing a teeth cleaning or another dental procedure. A paediatric dentist will do everything they can to make your child feel comfortable in their office.

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Should Teens Visit Paediatric Dentists?

If you have a teenage son or daughter, you may be wondering whether they are too old to visit a paediatric dentist. The truth is that even though your teen is no longer a small child, they are going through an important growth stage in their jaw and face. They are also receiving their last permanent teeth, which are especially susceptible to cavities.

Should You Get Two Teeth Cleaning A Year From A Dentist– Read More

You may switch your child to a regular dentist once they turn 18 or encourage them to continue to visit their paediatric dentist who knows their history until they graduate from college. Your child’s specific needs paired with their behavior, maturity level, and overall dental health will all help you determine whether they should be visiting a pediatric or regular dentist.

5 Common Mistakes When Looking After Teeth- Read Here


If you’re in search of top-notch pediatric dentists that are ideal for children, teens and college students look for a highly rated local dentist in your area.

Should You Get Two Teeth Cleanings a Year from a Dentist?

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The importance of visiting the dentist to get your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year should not be overlooked. By receiving two cleaning per year or one every six months, you can ensure optimal oral health while preventing conditions such as cavities and gum disease. Here are several other reasons bi-annual teeth cleanings are so vital:

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Whiter Teeth

You likely eat or drink food and beverages that stain your teeth. A professional tooth cleaning at the dentist can remove these stains and help your teeth appear whiter. If you are particularly concerned about the stains and/or discoloration on your teeth, you may opt for professional teeth whitening services.

Also Read– Tips for Getting Whiter Teeth, Naturally

Early Oral Cancer Detection

During teeth cleanings, a dentist will examine your mouth to search for signs of oral cancer. In the event a dentist notices a sign of oral cancer, you may undergo a test to determine whether it is present. Oral cancer screenings are essential as they can detect oral cancer in its early stages when it’s most treatable.

Are You Doing Everything For Your Teeth- Read Here

Reduced Risk of Teeth Loss

In addition to reducing your risk of developing cavities and gum disease, professional tooth cleanings twice a year can lower your chances of tooth loss. Tooth loss can hinder the way you speak and chew and can also lead to bone loss. Although you can replace missing teeth with bridges, dentures, and implants, natural teeth are always preferred.

5 Common Mistakes When Looking After Teeth- Read More

If you’re searching for a highly skilled and experienced dentist in Raleigh, North Carolina, contact Lane & Associates. We’ll be happy to clean your teeth twice a year and help you achieve optimal oral health.

11 Great Reasons To Drink More Water

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Every day, you hear that it’s important to drink more water. But why? You feel fine, so why should you increase the amount of water you drink? It turns out that there are a wide variety of reasons to drink more water.

The traditional wisdom is that you should drink eight 8-oz glasses of water every day. Is that accurate? It sounds like a lot, but that’s actually not enough. According to the Mayo Clinic, men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of water every day, and women should drink 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) every day. How much does that look like?

Picture a 2-liter bottle of soda. Men should aim to drink one and three quarters 2-liter bottles full of water every day, while women should aim for one and a quarter of 2-liter bottles.

Better yet, get a 24-ounce water bottle. Men should aim to drink five full water bottles every day. Women should aim to drink nearly four full water bottles every day.

Without making this list long enough to bore you, here are 11 great reasons to drink more water.

 

1.      You’re constantly losing water

 

According to Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, “Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health.”

 

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more water than you consume. Are you drinking enough water to compensate for how much your body is getting rid of? Are you sure?

 

2.      Your body is 60% water

 

Your body requires water for a surprising number of functions including digestion, absorption of nutrients, blood circulation, the creation of saliva, transporting nutrients, and maintaining steady body temperature.

 

Failing to drink enough water can slow down all these processes. If you don’t feel right, drinking more water may help you feel better if your body isn’t doing what it needs to due to lack of hydration.

 

3.      Water reduces your heart attack risk

 

A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that drinking more water decreased the risk of developing coronary heart disease while drinking other liquids increased that risk.

 

This is because drinking water helps prevent a buildup of plaque that can lead to a heart attack. Drinking more water seems like a fairly simple way to reduce your risk of having a heart attack.

 

4.      Drinking water can improve physical performance

 

While you can start to feel the effects of dehydration after losing only 2% of your body’s water content, athletes can lose 6-10% of their water weight from sweating. This can lead to symptoms like reduced ability to maintain the temperature of your body, reduced motivation, and increased fatigue, which can make exercise feel physically and mentally harder.

 

When you’re in the middle of an intense workout, you may not want to stop and drink water, but you’ll have a better, easier workout if you do.

 

5.      Dehydration can impact your mood and memory

 

Studies have shown that only 1.36% water loss has a negative effect on the mood and concentration of women while increasing their reported rate of headaches. At the same time, losing 1.59% of their water weight caused men to suffer from increased anxiety and fatigue while experiencing a reduced function in their working memory. If you’re feeling rotten or foggy, try drinking water to positively affect your mood and memory.

 

6.      Water helps you lose weight

 

According to Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan, “What works with weight loss is if you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim calorie intake.”

 

The next time you think you’re hungry, try drinking a glass of water instead of reaching for a snack. Most likely, your body is actually thirsty instead of hungry, so water can help you feel full better than a small snack.

 

7.      Your skin will look better

 

Hydrating your skin by adding a moisturizer to its surface will only do so much. You can hydrate your skin more effectively from the inside by drinking plenty of water. If your skin seems dry, try drinking more water. That’s a much cheaper solution than buying progressively more expensive moisturizers.

 

8.      Drinking water reduces your odds of developing kidney stones

 

Studies have shown that increasing the amount of water you drink can reduce your odds of developing kidney stones if you’ve suffered from them in the past.

 

Since increasing the amount of water you drink also means you’re increasing the amount of fluid passing through your kidneys, the minerals that cause stones to form don’t have as much of an opportunity to crystallize into painful clumps.  

 

9.      It prevents constipation

 

A certain amount of water is required to move everything smoothly along your digestive tract, so it’s only natural that failing to get enough water through your diet can lead to constipation. In fact, drinking plenty of water can help make up for lack of fiber in the diet when it comes to digestive regularity. Don’t put away the prunes just yet, but try drinking more water to see if you get symptom relief.

 

10. Water prevents hangovers

 

Since alcohol makes you lose more water than you take in, drinking plenty of water during and after consuming alcohol can reduce the terrible morning after effects of indulging in a good time. For best results, drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic drink and a large glass of water right before going to bed. No more cottonmouth!

 

11. Your joints will feel better

 

Your joints contain synovial fluid to keep them lubricated and moving smoothly. Without enough water, the bones in your joints will rub together more, causing a lot of pain and inflammation.

 

Maybe it’s time to stop reading and grab a nice large glass of ice-cold water. What do you say? Not many things can bring you quite as many benefits as drinking plenty of water.

 

 

About Dr. Brent Wells

Dr. Brent Wells is a graduate of the University of Nevada where he earned his bachelor’s of science degree before moving on to complete his doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College. He founded Better Health Alaska Chiropractors in 1998.

 

He became passionate about being in the chiropractic field after his own experiences with hurried, unprofessional healthcare providers. The goal for Dr. Wells is to treat his patients with care and compassion while providing them with a better quality of life through his professional treatment.

Dr. Wells is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.

 

 

 

Nature’s Nest Goa- A Staycation Close To Nature!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra
Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers

Well on some of the days, we really wanna get away from the hustle bustle of daily life and that is one of the prime reasons I left Delhi and chose to live in Goa. Goa in itself is so peaceful and surrounded by nature that I find it refreshing me all the time, but even then, sometimes we want to go a little far away from the daily life and spend a couple of days relaxing. What better than staying close to nature for a perfect getaway and relaxation.

Nature’s Nest

I had read about a lot of places that offer accommodation in the lap of nature, and Nature’s Nest true to its name was the one name that cropped in my head. I discussed it with my friend, and she too readily agreed to the trip. We chose the Independence Day Eve as a perfect day for our mid-week adventure. Nature’s Nest is located in Surla area of Goa, which was approximately 60kms away from where we stay. Its truly surrounded by nature, its close to the Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary and very popular with bird watchers and trekking lovers, as it offers perfect spots for both.

The Journey

We set out around 10 AM from our place, as it would take us 1.5 hours drive to Nature’s Nest and the check in time was at 12 Noon. The weather was totally on our side and once you cross Ponda, the drive becomes even more beautiful. The narrow roads, with greenery in abundance on both sides, makes for a fantastic view. We added some music in the background, grabbed a couple of drinks and snacks for the way and we were all set. We reached Nature’s Nest quite on time, at 12:15 we were at the reception of the resort.

The Ambiance and Rooms

The ambiance has a very raw appeal to it and is surrounded by greenery. It’s like practically living in mud and bamboo cottages in a middle of a jungle and in one look, I loved it. The greenery seemed even more alive and fresh after the rains and as per me, monsoons are definitely one of the best times to visit this place, not that you cant visit during other months, but trust me monsoons are the best. After a warm welcome at the reception along with a refreshing Kokum drink, we were directed towards our cottage. The resort houses 10 cottages and they look so lovely.

Our cottage was named Kunjan, and once again the raw appeal of the cottage, the mud walls, the thatched roof, all reminded me of the times I have spent in the villages and it was nostalgic. The room was spacious and comfortable, twin beds, with side tables, a dressing table and an open cane shelf for keeping clothes etc. The bathroom too was very spacious and huge, it almost felt like another room.

Lunch

After settling in the room and chilling for sometime imbibing the nature, it was almost time for lunch. At 1:30, we headed towards the restaurant area and a traditional Goan lunch was waiting for us. Prawn Curry, Chicken Xacuti, Rawa Fish Fry, Veg Gravy, Bhaji, Dal, Solkadi, Salad, Papad, Bhakri and Rice, the menu was quite a big one and was perfect for both vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians. It was freshly prepared and had the authentic taste of Goan flavors. Loved the kheer for sweet-dish.

More in Goa Food- Habanero- A Tex-Mex Culinary Experience

Activities

After lunch, we retired to our rooms for a power nap and returned to the activity area at 4 PM. We indulged in 3-4 activities before our dinner and they were:

Artificial Wall Climbing

Well, this one was not for me, as with my fingernails I just could not get the grip and climb even one step. My friend did try a bit, but even she couldn’t do much. So we kind of skipped this one and moved to the next activity.

Flying Fox and Zip Line

Now both of these were really fun, I had never tried a zip line before and although it wasn’t a very high or long one, I really enjoyed it. Zipping between the greens and with raindrops drenching me, it was something I really loved.

Trek to a Plateau

Well, this was an evening trail amidst nature, we trekked to a nearby plateau, the slight uphill climb was beautiful. The sounds of a peacock and a flowing stream were almost filling the entire place. View from the top point was breathtakingly beautiful. I could not manage a lot of clear pictures because it rained heavily while we went there and also some of the pics came blurred because of this reason. Nevertheless, what I captured in my mind and soul will remain with me for a long time. We also saw an insectivorous plant and a pair of Hornbills, they looked amazing as they flew from one tree to the other. Their flight looked magically beautiful.

This point is otherwise very famous for sunset, but as we were in monsoons, there was no sunset to watch, but a lot of refreshing greenery, the water stream, plants, birds, frogs, and yes the peacock. I felt so so good after this trek. Also met an Ornate Flying Snake Baby, never had a chance to see a snake so closely, it looked so so beautiful. And strangely enough, I wasn’t scared.

Night Trail

By the time we returned from our trek, it was almost 6:30, we came back to our rooms to freshen up a bit and then at 7 PM headed for a short night trail. This night trail was specifically to show us a luminous kind of mushroom that glows in the dark, so complete darkness was important.

After a walking for a short while, we reached the spot, though we were using our flashlights to walk through the dense forest, at this point, our guide, Mr. Ramesh, one of the partners at Nature’s Nest instructed us to switch off all lights and close our eyes for a few seconds. After those few seconds, when we opened our eyes we were astonished. A full tree branch, from the ground to the top was glowing, it felt as if someone had put a tube light there. We even held one of the branches in our hand, with the flashlight on, it felt like any other branch, with nothing special to notice, but the magic happened when it turned dark.

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Dinner and a Good Night’s Rest

After this night trail, we were a bit tired with the day’s activities and chose to have an early dinner. A spread of simple dishes including Kadhai Chicken, Mushroom Curry, Dal, Baingan Bhaji, Rice, Roti, and Seviyan was laid out. It felt like a home cooked comfort food, nothing fancy, but simple yet tasty. Though we had all intentions to retire to bed early as we had to go for a morning trek too, but we ended up chatting for long hours sitting and relaxing in the restaurant itself and then with some background light music supported by the music of falling raindrops on the roof, the sounds of the cricket and watching the fireflies glow near the window, we drifted into to a good night’s sleep.

More About Goa- Artjuna- A Perfect Combination of Food & Lifestyle Place

The Talde Waterfall Trek

We got up early the next morning, as, after a quick breakfast of omelet, poha, pav and black coffee, we had to leave for the Talde Waterfall Trek. We left the resort at around 8:30 AM. The trek point is about 10 minutes drive from the resort and its a 30 minutes trek into thick forest with very narrow lanes. 20 minutes of the trek is more of a straight walk, but like I said the walk is on a very very narrow lane which can barely fit one person, and the last 10 minutes of the trek are tougher with more of an uphill climb on slippery stones and rocks, but once you reach the waterfall, its all simply worth it.

The view is mesmerizing, the noise of the waterfall filled me with so much calmness that I words will fall short to explain my feelings. It’s definitely worth a visit. For me, it was my first experience of almost dipping in the water and feel a waterfall so closely. Its one of those experiences that I will never forget. We spent a good half an hour enjoying the waterfall and after capturing memories in my camera, we started on our way back. Once back to the resort, we did our check out formalities and came back home completely refreshed and rejuvenated.

This entire experience filled me with so much of positive energy that as soon as I was back home, I was raring to go for another adventure. I did not feel even a bit tired. This staycation was a much-needed break for me and although I was not very sure about anything, as everything was new for me, all I can say is I am glad I took this decision and chose Nature’s Nest.

Also Read- Exploring the Fontainhas, Goa

As per season, Nature’s Nest offers a lot of activities like Bird Watching, Jungle Safaris, Night Trails, Trekking, Waterfall Treks etc. Make sure you check with them of the available options and plan your travel accordingly.

Useful tips For Anyone Starting Hiking As A Hobby

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

If you have always loved being outside and have a passion for adventure, then you might be considering taking up hiking as a hobby. The fact is that hiking is a great hobby as not only is an excellent form of physical activity but it’s also an excellent way to spend more time outdoors, exploring your local area, as well as areas that are a little further afield.

 

Of course, like any new hobby, there’s a lot that you need to know before you head off over the hilltops to explore. So bearing that in mind, below is a guide to the ins and outs of taking up hiking as a new hobby – read on for all of the best tips and advice.

 

Photo from Pixabay

 

Learn to map read

 

If you can already map read, you can skip this step. If you can’t map read and don’t understand how to use a compass, you might want to take the time to learn. It’s all well and good exploring the local area with just the wind to guide you, but as you head further afield, you will need to know how to map read and use a compass to navigate across different routes.

 

You might be able to join a local orienteering class to learn the basics or a survival group. If there isn’t a local group for this kind of thing, you should be able to find various map reading and compass using tutorials on YouTube to follow and learn from.

 

Invest in the right equipment

 

If you are going to be hiking regularly, then you need to invest in the right equipment. The most essential item is a pair of good quality walking boots or trainers that are comfortable and designed for exercise – to learn more about this head over to biopods.com and have a browse of the designs and resources available on there.

 

In addition to needing footwear, you will also require a backpack, a compass, a map, a water bottle, a torch, and camping supplies for any overnight hiking trips that you might like to plan in the future. Hiking can be a lot of fun, but it’s essential that you understand the need to always be prepared, which is why investing in the right equipment is so essential.

 

Be safe

 

When it comes to hiking– or any hobby – it’s crucial that you always put your safety first. Hiking can be a great way to stay fit and get out and about more, but if you aren’t smart about the approach to hiking that you take, you could end up putting yourself in danger, which is not what you want to do.

 

Always ensure that you tell someone where you are going and when you should be back. If you are walking alone, share a copy of your hiking trail with a friend or relative, so that if you don’t return on time, they know where you should be. Always carry a fully charged phone with you for emergencies, so that you can contact help, should you need it.

 

There you have it, everything that you need to know about starting hiking as a hobby.

 

 

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