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Leica hosted its third session of ‘Coffee with Leica’ , a photo talk by Canadian Diplomat, Roger Chen

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A leader in luxury camera segment worldwide, German Luxury Camera brand ‘Leica’celebrated the cultural heritage of India with the third session of ‘Coffee with Leica’on Saturday, 21stJuly 2018 by joining hands with Canadian Diplomat and proud Leica user- Mr. Roger Chen. The brand through this initiative not only promoted the Indian culture but also sharing Leica’s experience with the new generation of photographers.

Post the amazing response received for the first two sessions of ‘Coffee with Leica’, the third session was sculpted around Roger’s latest collection ‘Devotion- A Journey through India’, where he displayed photographs taken during his three years stay in India, capturing festivals, religion, culture and tradition. The session addressed new generation of photographers, sharing valuable information around ‘The art of capturing Indian streets which is filled with the amusing culture of India’ and photography journey with Leica.

The way Roger went on telling stories about each of his capture, it was a great narrative not just about photography nuances but also the culture of India. He also shared why some of his pictures, which he loved, never made it to the exhibition. All those minute details which change our perspective of looking at photographs in a certain way was just so interesting and intriguing.

His collection is up for exhibition at Leica Store, New Delhi from July 16thto July 26th, 2018.

About the Speaker

Mr. Roger Chen has been a diplomat working overseas over the past 25 years in locations such as Jakarta, Kuwait, Shanghai, São Paulo, Cairo, Beijing, New York and the past three years in Delhi. As an avid travel photographer, Roger has thrived on capturing the diverse cultures, traditions and customs he has been to be privileged to witness. In his Leica journey he documents the world through the Leica M10 and a 35mm f/1.4 Summilux. Follow him on Instagram to see India through his lenses.

About Leica

Leica is a 107-year-old popular German, luxury camera and sports optic brand. Known to be held by renowned photographers and celebrities worldwide, Leica a pioneer in camera and optics for decades, aims at bringing in a class apart photographic experience with their first store in the heart of the capital at Connaught Place, New Delhi in India.

Leica is headquartered at Wetzlar, Germany and has branch offices in Australia, China, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, the UK and the US. Leica would be holding such interesting photo talk events and photo walks every month, for those who are keen to attend, must follow them on Instagram to get regular updates.

I throughly enjoyed myself and all I can say is that apart from gaining knowledge, I am filled with much more enthusiasm to try new techniques in photography, break the rules and simply keep experimenting. I also had a small chit chat with Roger and here is what he said

Wishes and Blessings Organise a Painting Competition at Balwant Rai Mehta School!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Established in 2014 with a mission to ‘inspire and empower dreams’, Wishes and Blessings is a registered NGO that has emerged as a unique platform for helping the underprivileged. We aim to spread blessings and fulfil wishes by linking beneficiaries with donors. We work across
the spectrum of society surpassing age and gender barriers on diverse causes including education, health, skill development and relief. With their continuous effort in various fields, they strive to reach out to as many needy people as possible and according to their age and requirements, they put in efforts to fulfil their wishes.

Recently in association with Balwant Rai Mehta School, they organised a painting competition for children and I was bestowed upon an opportunity to be present their as a judge. Though judging the talent of these amazing kids is never justified and always a difficult task, but like the say its not about winning or loosing, its about the passion and the spirit. The moment I entered in the hall, I could sense the high spirits, excitement and passion that children were putting in painting their imaginations on sheets. As I kept moving, I felt as if each painting spoke something to me, it spoke to me of their sheer dedication, it spoke to me of the fact that they were not doing it for any competition, it didn’t matter if they won or not, they were doing it to satiate their own creativity. And each painting better than the other, put me as an artist to shame. The imagination that these children possess, their vividness is something we can never achieve as adults.

The best part about the event was that specially abled, and hearing impaired children were also part of it, but they were not made to feel any different. They were sitting like regular children and till the time, one actually doesn’t interact and come to know of their issues, its never showcased. And I would say that probably we as adults feel more for their disabilities, but the confidence they show, the way they carry themselves is unmatched.

After soaking myself in their art for about an hour, when I could not take my eyes off their working, it was finally time to judge the top 3 in all categories and this I would say was the most challenging part. In true sense each painting was better than the other and on several occasions we ended up being confused on which one to chose. After juggling our heads for long, finally 3 winners were chosen in each category, and all thanks to the support from Wishes and Blessings, the first winner in each category got scholarship worth Rs. 10000, to help them pursue their dreams further in the field of art.

It was a great event and I felt very privileged to be a part of it. I am looking forward to attend more events by Wishes and Blessings and somehow in my own little way contribute to the well being of mankind.

Blurb Hosts Hotel Marketing Round Table Discussion in Goa

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Blurb, a leading PR agency in Goa which caters to Luxury Hotels and Restaurant Industry is all set to host a round table discussion on the Hotel Marketing. Well known players from the industry will be seen taking the speakers position and throw light on the current industry standards. Names like Saurabh Khanna, GM, The Park Hotels, Sachin Patil, STAAH Channel Manager & Rubiq Website Development, Wilbert Egipsy, Digital Marketing & Ecommerce Unomas, Sol De Goa, would grace the occasion and raise the standards of such a round table discussion as they bring with them years of experience and are encyclopaedias of the industry in their own rights.

Blurb was created to work in this area with a special focus on social media marketing. At the time, there were no agencies in Goa specialising in end to end marketing solutions for hospitality brands. Over the past four years, its success stories include most of Goa’s leading restaurant and hotel brands, such as the Black Sheep Bistro, Mustard, Simba Craft Beer, Habanero Goa, and Vivanta by Taj Panaji to name a few.

The start-up was created by Sapna Shahani, an enterprising female entrepreneur who spent her formative years in the tech rich city of San Francisco, California and later returned to her hometown Mumbai. Goa was always a home away from home where she spent family holidays, so setting up business in Goa felt more comfortable than the overcrowded business capital of Mumbai. Sapna completed a fast-track MBA course at the Indian School of Business (Mumbai) which was specially designed for working women entrepreneurs. This gave her the confidence to make the shift from TV/ documentary production to running her own full-fledged PR and marketing agency.

“Blurb aims to promote innovative businesses in the hospitality space and only plugs businesses that we believe in. Hiring a consultancy like Blurb is like taking out an insurance policy for your business. An external set of eyes helps you take customer-centric decisions to advance your brand’s relevance in the market. In today’s fast-paced world, there are so many marketing activities that entrepreneurs need to do to stay visible that it makes more sense to engage specialists for this responsibility, who have the bird’s eye view of the industry,” remarked Sapna.

Since its inception, Blurb has worked with premium five star hotels like Fort Tirakol to niche cafes and restaurants like Artjuna. ‘Every business has a unique story to tell and the Blurb team knows how to share it’. This catch phrase helps build the right brand perception in the eyes of the customer. 

So what are you waiting for, if you want to hear the industry experts speak their knowledge out, pre-register yourself for the event and make the most of it.

7 Reasons Camping Is Beneficial for Your Health

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

If you want to make the most of your time with friends or family, then you should look into camping. There are many activities to indulge in, ranging from fishing, campfires to hiking and biking. But there is a lot more to camping than meets the eye.

Camping interestingly has numerous health benefits. In fact, spending time outdoors camping can add years to your life. Not sure how? Here are 7 reasons for you to consider.

1.   Exercise

When you are camping, you get a great deal of exercise. You get to partake in different activities, like the ones mentioned above, which in turn allow you to burn those extra calories in no time. Additionally, exercising outdoors and doing as many activities as you can also benefit your heart and lungs greatly.

2.   Healthy Food

During your camping trip, your options are limited when it comes to the food you can actually consume. Basically, you have to make do with meals that can be grilled or cooked on a campfire.

If you choose foods that require preparation, your digestive system will get a break from all the fast food you have had previously. Also, rather than taking pies and candies, promote healthy eating by taking fruits, nuts and granola bars instead.

3.   Sufficient Sleep

The best part about camping is that you can sleep in for as long as you like. The environment and quiet nature will do wonders for you when it comes to getting proper sleep. After a tiring day of activities, you will find it incredibly easy to doze off under the starry sky. Rest assured, with sufficient sleep, your body will function more effectively than ever before. Surprisingly your sleep cycle will improve by leaps and bounds.

4.   Decreases Anxiety and Depression

Based on research carried out, green spaces are known for decreasing depression and anxiety. By camping, you will break away from your hectic lifestyle. It is here where you can develop clarity to better understand yourself.

5.   Socialization

Tired of your everyday routine? Well, that is where camping comes into the picture to give you the much-needed break you need from your place of employment and otherwise. Since you will get time with your friends or family, you can socialize and learn more about them, without any distractions of course. Socialization, according to the American Journal of Public Health, can increase your lifespan and defeat memory problems.

6.   Fresh Air

Once you have set up camp, you can finally take a deep breath of fresh air, which alone will make you feel refreshed. The feeling of excitement is not because of the long vacation, but because of all the surrounding greenery. Said greenery gives off high-quality oxygen, which improves brain functionality, all the while making you feeling happier and decreasing stress levels as well.

7.   Sunshine

Whether you are camping in your RV or sleeping outdoors, it really does not matter. The bottom line is that spending time outside will have a positive impact on your health. Apart from that tan you always wanted, the sun gives your body the Vitamin D it needs to absorb phosphorus and calcium so that your teeth and bones stay strong.

Now that you know of the health benefits that lie in store for you on your next camping trip, pack your Canvas tentASAP. Remember, the more you stay outdoors, especially with your friends or family, the better you will benefit in more ways than you can imagine.

Author Bio:

Judy Robinson is a passionate health and lifestyle blogger. She loves to write on healthy lifestyle, travel,  fitness 101 and DIY related topics. Follow @judyrobinsonfor more updates.

Everything You Want to Know About Meditation

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Meditation has different meaning for different people. For me, its a soothing effect on my mind, body and soul. I don’t practice it regularly but whenever I do, it surely helps me declutter. I will admit that it takes a lot to meditate. It doesn’t come easy and even now I am not a pro. It really takes months and years of practice, because merely closing your eyes and deep breathing is not meditation. Meditation is like a connect with your own soul, to hear your innermost voice and to feel each and every breath that you take. Its difficult, but once you are able to do so, the peace is unmatchable.

Here is everything you wanna know about Meditation

Prepare Your Car For A Holiday

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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If you are looking out take a road trip this summer with the family, there are a few things you will want to think about before you leave. Unless you are choosing to hire a vehicle for the trip, you will need to do a few things to get your car ready for the trip.

Extra storage

Sometimes you won’t have enough room in your car to take everything you want. To make sure that you don’t have to leave anything behind when you go on holiday you can install a roof rack from 4WD Supacentre and then get yourself a car box. This box will be able to store your clothes and other bits which will save you some room in the car.  

Check your car  

There are a few different checks you can do on your car before you go on holiday, and this will involve taking a trip to your local garage. Here you can have the tyre pressure, tread, oil levels and brakes checked to make sure that they are all in working order for a long trip. If you want to use electronics, you might consider a secondary deep-cycle battery to prevent damaging your main starter battery. This will give you some peace of mind and it will allow you to enjoy your holiday without worrying about your car.  

Clean it

There’s nothing better than giving your car a good old clean before you head off on holiday. You don’t want to have to sit in a dusty and muddy car on the long trip to your destination, so make sure that you take the time to give it a good scrub before you head off on the trip.

Spare plastic bag

If you are going to be in the car for a long while, you will want to keep a plastic bag in your car. Not only can you use this for your rubbish when stopping for snacks on the way, but you can also use it just in case any of the kids become car sick on the journey. It is always better to be safe than sorry so make sure you keep this on you!

Air con

Make sure that your air con is working before you go off on a long journey! The last thing you want when you go for a long trip in the car is to be stuffy and hot for the whole trip. Take your car to the garage and make sure that everything is in working order before you go on your holidays.  

Snacks  

Always, always, always keep your car full of snacks when you go on holiday. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with no food or drink, so stick up with crisps and biscuits before you set off to make sure that you all have enough to keep you going during the trip.

Now that your car is ready to go, you can have a fun family holiday on the road and enjoy yourself! Make sure to bring lots of food, drink, music and have an umbrella on standby in case it rains!


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All In The Candy

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Instead of spending hours trying to come up with the perfect gift for a special occasion or to brighten someone’s day, consider a gift basket. Most people enjoy getting candy, and you can use almost any kind of candy in a basket for any holiday, birthday, or even a retirement celebration. You can find candy gift baskets for all ages and genders, but make sure the person you’re getting the basket for isn’t allergic to things like nuts or other items that might be in the candies that are used.

A benefit of a candy basket is that you can make it as customized as you want depending on the occasion and who the gift is for, such as a child or someone who is older who might enjoy some of the elegant candies instead of the fun ones available. If you know someone who is in college or someone who is away from home for any reason, you can make or order a care basket with all types of candy that they enjoy. A box would be better for this gift instead of a basket so that it’s easier to ship to the recipient. You can put colored paper on top of the items as well as around the items to keep them secure. Make a basket of candies from a specific decade. Another option is to make baskets using candies that are all one color. If you want some of the items to stand up, then attach them to craft sticks using hot glue. For someone who is older, you could make a basket of decadent chocolates or smaller chocolates and candies that are easier to eat than some of the harder ones. Combine a few flowers with the basket for a woman or a few cigars for a man when you make a candy basket or once you get one that you order online.

4 Good Habits for Fostering Creativity

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

If you’re one of those people who make a living or get their enjoyment from being creative, then you’ll know that it’s an attribute that can feel all too fleeting. One day, our output seems extraordinary; at others, it seems like inspiration is a million miles away. But what if you could control your creative levels, wouldn’t that be something special? While you’ll never be able to have a tight grip on this elusive attribute, there are things you can do to make sure you have more of it. We take a look at a few methods below.

Source: Pexels.com

Spend Some Time Alone

There are some advantages to working with others, but if that’s all you’re doing, then you’ll be doing your creative side a disservice. Contrary to popular belief, collaboration doesn’t always result in a more creative output. If you spend time alone, then you’ll be narrowing in on your own thoughts and feelings, and that’s what you should be channelling into your artistic projects. It’s easy to get caught up in whatever’s popular, but this will only show that you have a sense of what’s trendy – and that’s a very different thing to creativity.

Kick the Vices

Another myth about creativity is that it is given a boost by alcohol and other illicit substances. This is not the case; there is a long list of artists who have had their promising career destroyed by drug and alcohol abuse. If you’re currently relying on mind-altering substances to open up your creative pathways and can’t seem to stop, then click here. Once you’re in a healthier position, you’ll find that your creative mind is much more productive.

Escape Your Echo Chamber

We’re all guilty of falling into a routine, walking the same way to and from work, listening to the same type of music and so on. While there are benefits to this way of living for normal types, if you’re creative, then you might be cutting off a good source of inspiration: diversity. If you can momentarily escape your echo chamber, then you might discover a new way of thinking or doing that propels your artistic side to the next level. It can be as simple as selecting a new way to get from A to B, visiting a city you’ve never been to before (and would ordinarily not visit), trying yoga, or tuning into a different radio station every now and again. Also, don’t underestimate the value of striking up a conversation with a person who you would not normally talk with!

Perseverance

Some creatives think that waiting for inspiration to strike is the worst sin of all. Because this feeling is so elusive, you could be waiting for a long time, and then when it does arrive, find that it only lasts for a few moments. Instead, foster your perseverance side. It’ll be the tool that allows you to sit down and get to work even when you don’t want to. Sometimes, just doing it is what it takes to get your project up and running.

7 Unique Tricks to Deep Clean Your House

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A clean home is a reflection of you and your life style. Dirty and messy unhygienic surroundings can cause many health issues, everyone does the basic regular cleaning almost daily, but still deep cleaning of your home should be your top priority especially in spring and summer season. If your home is not clean it can be home of pests and germs. You may feel stressed and overwhelmed while start cleaning your home but it is a must to do thing which you certainly can’t avoid. If you are having a tight schedule you can call for home deep cleaning service or quality pest services to share your workload. Still if you want to DIY, I am going to share some stress-free hacks and unique tricks that can help you to clean your home easily.

Remove all the unusable items

For clean and tidy look, removal of unnecessary items is very important. It will also make it easy for you to clean your home quickly. Pack all the unusable items and place them in to your store room or send them to charity places. Pay more attention to interior of your home; a house looks cleaner and beautiful when there is much space to move.

Keep your curtains, cushions, bed linens clean

In order to go on a voyage of cleanliness, washing is second stop. Curtains give your home brighter look but they can be home for dust and many pests which are not good for your health. Washing of curtains time to time is important and for this you can make it handy by using different DIY methods such as soak the dirty curtains for couple of hours and then put them in washing machine. You can also get them washed from drycleaners. Make sure to keep clean your bed linens and cushions too.

Don’t miss to clean the Carpets

Carpets as being used all the time gets dirty frequently, launder your carpets and then use vacuum cleaner to clean them completely. To clean carpet regularly is not easier in this busy schedule, to make it convenient you can try throw rugs and runners on top of the carpet because they are easy to vacuum or wash than carpet.

Clean every nook of home from ceiling to floor

Start your cleaning from ceiling of your home. Use vacuum cleaner or fluffy brushes to clean every corner of ceiling. Clean your walls by using dusters and detergent. Vacuum all dust from titles of floor and then use mop with antibacterial solution to get rid of all germs and have brighter floor.

Kitchen the most important place of home

The most critical and important part of home is kitchen. A clean kitchen shows how smart and tidier a house lady is. Wash all the crockery, cutlery and other items of cooking. Clean all cabinets and drawers and use some pest control spray or powder to save them from germs and pest. Scrubs the tiles and cooking range with cleaning products and place all the things in order.

Bathroom… A store of germs – needs deep cleansing

Bathroom is the place that should be washed and cleansed regularly. Start your bathroom cleaning from its ceiling by using fluffy brushes. Then use some bleaching solution to deep clean the wall tiles and floor tiles of the bathroom. Clean every corner of the bathroom; you can use various types of liquid soap and bathroom cleaners, easily available in the store. Don’t forget to clean back of the sink. In the cleaning process don’t forget to clean the bathroom vents. If they are jam-packed with dust and rubbles, now is the time for deep cleaning it on priority, take warm soapy water and scrub the vent thoroughly and then us a vacuum cleaner to suck away dirt.

Hire pest control service

A messy home is always a home for many germs, insects and pests especially in spring and summer season. After deep cleaning your entire house, the next step is to get rid of such harmful pest and germs. You can google for pest control near me and can get the best pest control service around your area. You can also grab some of the best deals from pests control companies for pest control; they can offer you daily monthly or yearly services.

Cleanliness and hygiene are very important as they are directly connected to your health, body, and mind. With little efforts and techniques you can easily make your home look neat, tidy brighter and germs free.

Is A Care Home Right For Your Parents?

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Watching your parents get older is one of the hardest things in the world. After all, you’ve probably spent your entire life looking up to them and having to come to terms with the fact that they’re not able to do things that they used to do or that they are struggling to take care of themselves can be incredibly painful. However, it’s not something that you, or they, can afford to ignore and it often involves a lot of tough choices. One of the toughest choices of all is whether or not it’s best for your parents to live full time in a care home. It’s something that a lot of people are hesitant to think about but it can often be the best thing for everyone involved. Here are some things that you need to do if you’re considering suggesting a care home for your parents.

 

Discuss it with them

 

The first thing that you need to do is to discussthe prospect of moving into a care home with your parents. After all, they’re not going to respond particularly well to the idea that you’re trying to push them into it. Sure, if they’re suffering from any kind of memory loss or other age-related conditions then you may have to make the tough choice but most of the time it’s best to make sure that it’s their own decision.

 

Be honest about what you’re capable of

 

You might not want to end up putting your parents in a home and you assume that you’ll be able to take care of themyourself. However, there’s a good chance that that’s not going to be the case. The truth is that if you have things that you need to take care of in your own life, you simply might not be able to look after them. If you already have a family and a career then you might not be able to provide the full-time care that your parent’s need.

 

Find the right place

Of course, not all care homes are created equal. There are plenty of wonderful places where your parents would be extremely happy but there is also the possibility that they’re not being treated well. There’s plenty of advice online for what to do if you suspect nursing home abuse. But the best thing is to do your research in advance. Make sure that you visit any prospective homes and that you do thorough background checks on all of them. After all, if it’s the kind of place where your parents are going to be living then you want them to get the very best care possible.

 

More than anything else, you have to remember that moving into a care home must be your parent’s decision. You might think that it’s for the best but you can’t be the one to make that choice for them. In the end, all that you can do is to support them in whatever choice they make or that

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