About women.

A woman is no mystery. Treat her with love & respect and be assured of lifetime companionship. But, do remember hell hath no fury as a woman scorned in love... Therefore, Handle with Care !!

1.  Women want an understanding partner who offers unlimited love and care: An unlimited supply of love is a pre requisite but don't get overbearing....give her some space as well. An evening out with the girls or a shopping trip, will do wonders for her and of course your life together.

2. They love to be pampered: A woman loves to be pampered, forget flowers and chocolates..think out of the box. So go ahead and surprise her !

3. Stop ogling at other chicks in front of your woman: Just not acceptable. 

4. PMS: Yeah, its that time of the month, being sensitive to her needs may really help.You know she is irritable, so stay out of her way. 

5. Sense of humour: Women want guys with a sense of humour..They should be able to handle a joke and laugh on themselves as well. It helps if they can be witty and make their women laugh too.   

They say  men are from Mars and women from Venus and the two are radically different. But I believe, if you take some extra effort, understanding women is no big deal !

When you are a tourist in Mumbai.

Mumbai, aka Bollywood, is the commercial capital of the country. It is buzzing through the day and has a vibrant night life. It is also known as the city that never sleeps.

Haji Ali Dargah by sunset

So if you are new to the city , then these are a list of things you must do !!
1. Travel by the Victoria Carriage:  These carriages are very easliy visible in South Mumbai, around Gateway of India. The carriage guy may try to fleece you, so bargain with him. But this ride is worth ever bit of penny you have spent on it.

Victoria Carriage at Colaba

2. Travel by the local train: Mumbai's local trans are its lifeline. Ferrying millions of passengers through out the city, you must try to partake of this madness. But do remember to travel by first class and definitely avoid a Virar Train. A Virar train is good for the thick skinned locals otherwise you may get toatlly unnerved.


3. Festivals:  You must try to visit Mumbai during any festival. all festivals are celebrated with great gusto, gaitey, colour and enthusiasm. Holi, Diwali, Eid, Ganpati, Christmas or Mount Mary Fest - each one of them is worth experiencing.

Dahi Handi festiavl on Janmashtmi

Mumbai's beloved Ganpati bids adieu

4.Bollywood Abodes: In Mumbai, you must visit the homes of Bollywood stars. Juhu is home to Prateeksha, Jalsa- houses of Amitabh Bachchan. Mannat on Bandstand is Shahrukh's house , the list is long, and if you are lucky you may just spot your fav star entering or exiting from his house. 

Mannat- SRK 's house

5. Eat Mumbai's street food: Chaat, pav bhaji, dosas, bombay sandwich,indian chinese, rolls, kebabs- you name it and they have got it. Delicious and easily available, Mumbai's street food is hard to miss.

Simply superb street food

About Mumbai lingo.

In Mumbai, you speak Bambaiyya . Its a bhel puri with inputs from numerous languages and a dollop of Marathi and Hindi...It is quintessentially Mumbai!!

1. Bombay duck: Has no resemblance or connection to the duck but is in fact a fish. Yeah !! It's a favourite of  Mumbaikar's and tastes delicious. Local restaurants have it on their menu, so do sample it next time you are around.

Underworld Slang

2.Ghoda, tapori , khoka, kauva, chhaavi : Slang words used by the various Bhais that Mumbai is notorious for ...ghoda is gun, tapori is no good guy,kohka is crore, kauva is a cell phone and chhaavi is girl friend.   

3. Town: Town does not refer to some place out of city, but refers to the portion of Mumbai south of Mahalakshmi Race Course.This set of Mumbaikar's like to refer to themselves as townies and pretend to ignore the rest of the city.

4. Pandu: The traffic constable is fondly called Pandu or Mamu.
5. Vaat : totally screwed !! 

There are many words/ phrases but these I think are sufficient to know...

Bas Kya ??

When you are down and out.

There are days when things just don’t go your way… Your problems are way too many and life sucks :( I am sure you will be better if you follow these tips:

On one of the low days....

1. Cardinal Rule: "This too shall pass". There is nothing constant in life. Like all things, this phase of life will end to welcome a happy one.
2.  Listen to your favourite songs : My all time favourite when I am down in the dumps is ‘Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen’ by Baz Luhrmann . It can lift your spirits in no time….You can even try ‘Don’t worry be happy’ by Bobbie Mcferrin.
3.  Chicken soup for the soul: Curl up in bed with a copy of chicken soup…An instant mood lifter, there are many versions, so pick the one most suitable for yourself and Enjoy.
4. Support system: Rally around friends, family, loved ones who are your support system. No matter what if they love you, they will be around for you.
5. Play with children or pets: The unconditional love you receive is amazing. It is incomparable and guess what it is for free :) A great stress buster and it lifts up your spirits instantaneously. 

Read it when your low-Inspirational....

When you wanna look like a red carpet diva.

Looking like a diva is no big deal…just keep these style tips in mind and u could look   stunning too.

Reese Witherspoon looks stunning at the Golden Globes

Bling bling !!

1. Outfit: Keep abreast of fashion trends such as colour, cut and designs. Metallic tones or glimmer shimmer help jazz an outfit and makes sure you stand out for a diva is always the cynosure of all eyes. Look out for sexy and stylish outfits.  Scour fashion magazines, web sites and follow celeb styles but do make sure that you have tried your outfit on in advance for the last thing you need is a wardrobe malfunction ;0
2. Accessories: A stylish handbag / clutch and matching jewellery are perfect accessories for u’r diva look. A simple outfit can be spruced by wearing chandelier earrings. On the other hand if you already have a ott dress then toning down the accessories might help nail the look u want.   
3. Groom yourself: A diva looks the way she does after putting in great efforts as regards to her health regime. So pick an exercise schedule, get in shape and look stunning on your d day.
4. Make up: Importance of makeup cannot be highlighted enough. Pick up the latest trends but do keep your outfit and colour schemes in mind. Bold eyes, nude lips, pink blush, and shimmer are essentials but do remember you want to highlight your best features and not look like a painted canvas. The trick is ‘less is more’.  
5. Hair: A bad hair do can ruin your look completely. So be careful in selecting your hair do. Opt for a uber chic upswept hair do or then simply let your hair down au naturale !!

Opt for Reese's hairstlye and minimal make up.

So what are you waiting for? Go girl strike a pose !!

When you are gifting.

Who doesn’t love to receive gifts? From kiddos to oldies and all the middle aged people, I am sure each one of us loves to receive gifts. 

But are we as excited when we gift others? For many of us deciding and then picking up the gift is an ordeal and we don’t really enjoy doing it ….Keep these pointers in mind as through the year there are numerous occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas , and of course Valentines day where you can make your loved one feel special. 

1.  Personal taste: Keep the tastes (likes / dislikes) of the person whom you are to gift. It is no rocket science but elementary. So, go that extra step to find out more about the person and then shop accordingly. If possible find out if there is something he wants to buy for himself.

2.Vouchers: Vouchers are a safe bet and you can’t go wrong with them. Dining, shopping, movie etc vouchers are available and usually are valid for long periods. You even have Baskin Robbins offering vouchers for their ice creams.

3.Personalised gifts: Try to personalise the gifts such as photo mugs, calendars, T-shirts or towels or cushions with the receiver’s name. It's fun to see your name or photo on the gifts.

4.Pack it well: A simple gift but beautifully packaged is always welcome. Be careful about your packing as people do judge a book by its cover even now.

5.Self made gifts: If you are low on cash and don’t want to shop, then try to make something yourself. A written note, poem or a card are also treasured, simply for the effort one puts in it.

Exquisite Wine and Chocolate Hamper 

Spa Hamper to pamper your loved one

When you wanna knock off those extra kilos.

Enough number of articles and books have been written about weight loss. They offer all sorts of advice- some practical and the rest impractical and difficult to follow. I am completely against following crash diets such as the General Motors diet, cabbage diet, fruit and juice etc etc. Follow these simple tips and am sure it won’t be long before you will be smiling when you hit the scales.

From fat to fit - Mission accomplished

1. Drink green tea: One of the secrets to a successful weight loss plan is to drink at least 2 cups of green tea. Have one cup immediately before you start exercising. It helps burn fat faster and eventually to a slimmer you. 
2. Chalk out a plan and mark out your goals: It is more important to be fit than skinny. Size zero is not attractive; instead opt for a healthier body with an optimum body weight. After all you would not want to look like a Somalian, would you? 
3. Avoid junk food: Ok, now we all know this … but eventually it is extremely difficult to follow. Gooey chocolate cake, juicy burgers with colas and cheese pizzas are far too tempting to resist. But, how about rewarding yourself with these when you achieve your goals instead of gorging on them all the while. Avoid processed and pre packaged foods as well as they contain zero nutrition but loads of calories. Munch on healthier options such as nuts, puffed rice, carrot and cucumber sticks. 
4.    Eat every two hours: I know strange as it may sound but eating every two hours does help loose weight. By doing this you help maintain your metabolic rate. Starving yourself will result in loss of muscle but not fat. So do realise that by eating sensibly every two hours you can shed the excess flab. 
5. Stick to an exercise regime: Consistency helps you gain the edge in your battle. Pick up an activity such as weight training, gymming, jogging or better still indulge in your favourite sport – swimming, squash, football or cricket. As long as you like it and you are consistent, weight loss will be easily achievable. Better still work out with friends, so that you always have someone to motivate you J

Battle of the bulge is not as difficult as it seems. Just keep going and eat right and the flab will melt away (quite literally)!!  

When you wanna gorge on Mumbai's street food.

Mumbai is a haven for foodies. It offers a wide array of gastronomical delights, which everyone can afford. Mumbai street food is normally hygienic (ok I know u may mention the pani puri vendor from Thane…but he is an exception rather than the norm) and lip smackingly tasty.

Chatpata paani puri

Colourful golas

1.Gola: Kala khatta, Rose, Khus etc the list is long and the golas are amazing especially on a hot summer day when you want to beat the heat. Hit any of Mumbai’s many beaches and its hard to miss a golawala standing with his handcart, well stocked with colourful bottles of syrups ready to serve you

2.Vada Pav: Vada pav is the staple food of Maharastrians and they can eat it for any meal… Some people have it for breakfast, or as a mid day snack or even as their dinner…  This versatile snack is reasonably priced and easily available all over Mumbai. Hot and spicy served with chillies and chutneys, vada pavs are Mumbaikar’s all time favourite snack.

3. Chaat : Chatpata chaat is another hot favourite with Mumbaikars. Bhel puri, sev puri, paani puri, paapdi chaat etc the list is long. Spicy, tangy, sweet.. There is always something to suit your palate,, why my friendly chaat wala even serves diet chaat.

4.Bombay sandwich: Bombay sandwich is another specialty with usually a fixed set of veggies that go into it – cucumber, tomato, potato (very important), onion, beetroot, capsicum. And the bread is always soft and white. Some sandwichwals add their own twist to the sandwich. The ones in town top up their sandwiches with sev and dollops of butter. Others serve magi cheese, mysore masala toast and chocolate toasts as well. But the diehard sandwich lovers need’nt worry for the original remains and is easily available all over the city.

5.Pav Bhaji: Hot buttered pav served with spicy and tangy bhaji garnished with coriander leaves and served with lemon wedge is another favourite of Mumnbaikars. Top it with cheese or extra butter, its mouth wateringly delicious !!

So in Mumbai, you must sample the street food or you will miss out on the essence of the city.

Cutting chai with Vada pav - Mumbai's favourite

When you are travelling the world.

A jaunt overseas for most of us holds promise of fun and excitement. However, there are certain pointers to keep in mind before you embark on your journey.

1. Pick a Lonely planet on your destination: A Lonely Planet is a super guide to most of the destinations in the world. It’s a great help for those looking to travel on a limited budget but yet want to see it all.If possible, have your reservations done in advance. With fantastic web sites such as Tripadvisor, Expedia, that offer awesome discounts for early reservations, you are in safe hands. 
2. Know about the weather conditions of your destination: Make sure you do know about the weather conditions for you don’t want to be caught in torrential rains without your appropriate rain wear…. For instance- in Hong Kong there are down pours in the month of May….so don’t be surprised if you get a wet welcome… Keep in mind that places in the southern hemisphere would have winter in the months of April- June and vice versa for summer. 
3. Pick up a few words of the local language: Always helps to know a few important words of the local language for countries where English may not be widely spoken. Such a tourist is definitely more welcome than a snooty one who couldn’t care less. 
4. Keep maps handy : Better still enable GPS on your mobile phone.GPS navigator as well as Google maps are a boon for foreigners and will make sure you never get lost.
5. Copies : Keep photocopies of important documents such as your passport, visas, tickets and hotel reservations. You never know when you misplace them and would need a back-up. Keep the copies in your suit case and the originals in your handbag or carry all.

 Here’s wishing you Bon voyage. Have fun, enjoy yourself and create a treasure chest of beautiful memories!!

When you want the perfect hair cut.

This one is essentially for the girls…. I am sure most of us have had terrible hair cuts at some point or other in our lives…I remember mine. The hair stylist was a bloke and before I could realise what was happening he had chopped my locks. I was aghast and hoped that this nightmare would just vanish and when I wake up I have my hair like it used to be… Alas, it took a few months for me to recover from the shock and for my hair to grow back…But if you don’t want to go through the similar ordeal then I have 5 tips for you:

Don't pull your hair in despair

1.       Recommendations : Make sure you do not walk into any salon and ask just about anybody to touch your precious mane. Ask people to recommend a hair stylist they are happy with and to whom they would entrust themselves. P.S check out the hair style of the person recommending as well. Don’t bother with the ones you don’t like.


2.       Clear Idea: It helps to have a clear picture of what you are looking for. Otherwise you would be at the mercy of the hair stylist unless of course you are really in a mood to experiment. Are you in a mood to go funky or do you want to stick to the conventional. It ‘s all about your personal taste.


3.       Approachable Hair stylist:  If possible have a word with the hair stylist before you book your appointment. This would help you gauge how approachable he or she is. It is important that you can convey your requirements to the hair stylist and he or she is willing to hear you out.


4.       Depending on the shape of your face (long, oval, round, square) and the texture of your hair (curly, dry, wavy, straight, limp, oily) choose appropriate hair styles. Do remember you can never go wrong with shoulder length hair. It is most flattering to all women and extremely popular with the celebs as well.


 5.       Maintenance: Are you willing to put in an hour everyday to style our hair? Or would you prefer a style where you have to put minimum effort but yet look smashing.

Follow these simple guidelines and I am sure you will be smiling your way out of the salon…looking super hot and sexy !!