I love the vivid culture India has where one gets to learn about different religions as well as their festivities. I have enjoyed the splendour of Christmas as much as I enjoy Diwali so when I got an invitation for a Ramadan Food Walk from Novotel Hyderabad Airport we could not say ‘NO’. After a 2 hour flight we landed in Hyderabad, the City of Nizams from where in a few minutes we entered the plush and beautiful hotel. A look around and I was captivated with the serene surroundings filled with greenery and nature.
Well, if I think of Rajasthan, the first few things which come to my mind are Jaipur, havelis, forts, history…and this time my Rajasthan trip was about all these things except Jaipur. Yes, it was a trip to Bikaner. It was time to visit Gaj Kesri, Bikaner. I did a little research on the property and its website said “Gaj Kesri is a small elegant hotel in the outskirts of Bikaner with easy access to the city and its chief attraction”. The gallery showcased the best of pictures combined with modernity and tradition and I instantly said yes to visit the place.
Always ready to explore the unexplored, we caught an early morning flight (ATR) to Bikaner. It’s the only flight operated between Delhi and Bikaner. I was quite amazed to see the cozy Bikaner airport operated by Indian Air Force where the luggage does not come on a conveyer belt but it’s transported manually. Due to security reasons, photography is not permitted and I controlled my urge to take pictures.
Fashion Week is a great time! You see Fashion everywhere-whether it’s on the ramp or off the ramp.
It’s time to give you a download of our favourite designers from recently concluded #LMIFWAW19. Fashion Design Council of India presented Lotus Make-up India Fashion Week AW’19 in association with Liva at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi from March 13 to 17, 2019. In the article, I am going to talk about the leading designers and their creative outbursts.
Let me tell you about my third trip to Jaipur, actually first with parents! My first trip to Jaipur was with friends which was after college when we had started working and saved our meagre salary for a trip to the touristy city, my second trip was for my Corporate Communications job and now I am in Jaipur again which is a trip with parents. When parents travel, they want everything to be comfortable and cozy that too at a central location. It wouldn’t have been ok if I had booked a secluded place for our little getaway! At times I become melodramatic! 😉
So we chose Lemon Tree Premier Jaipur to be our abode. Located at Bani Park, Jaipur, the property is known for plush and spacious interiors taking the zing up a notch. The hotel is a short distance away from Collectorate Circle and MI Road in addition to being be easily accessible from the railway station (2.5 kms). Since ours was road travel, it was a smooth drive for us as the hotel is 3 kms from Ajmer-Delhi National Highway. The hotel is also in close proximity to major tourist attractions like Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and the walled city of Jaipur. Hence, we were sorted whether we wanted to go for shopping or visiting tourist attractions.
It was Nidhi’s birthday recently on 19th Jan and we as family thought of celebrating her birthday as a getaway! While growing up her birthday used to be during exams and we were mostly confined at home. Now that we are pass through those grilling school and college days, it’s time to look at bigger celebrations. Afterall we work day and night, why not cherish those special moments!
Surprisingly, what we got was not only a getaway but an experience in itself! You would have got a glimpse of our experience on our Instagram stories and posts too, but now is the time to tell you every bit of our experience!
We started at 9 AM from Delhi by road to reach Alila Fort Bishangarh, a luxurious 22 acre heritage fort-hotel. Opened in July 2017, Alila Fort Bishangarh is the only warrior fort that has been converted into heritage resort. With 10 years of restoration, the fort retains the fantastic combination of the rugged, untouched inhabited parts of the old fort. It is a magnificent property which boasts of carefully reconstructed royal residential areas, recreating the truly authentic flavour of Shahpura’s royalty. The navigation was simple and the highway led us to Bishangarh village and then to the gates leading us to the majestic property. We were welcomed at the Haveli tent- a massive space which welcomes its guests under a tent with fountains on the sides. It’s such an amazing feeling that you get! There is no front office and one relaxes at the comfortable Haveli tent where welcome drinks in the form of shikanji/tea are served along with gur (jaggery). Then comes the twist in the tale. A jeep comes and takes you up to Pehla Darwaza and into the fort. An ancient era is what we were reminded of when we looked around after coming out of the lift.
Birthdays are always special for everyone! After all, it is the day you came in the beautiful world and were held in the arms of your loved ones. The excitement of a birthday starts from the birthday month itself. I was born 2 days before the New Year and often used to joke that if I was born 2 days later it would have been a Grand celebration as it’s the New Year time.
The style of celebrating birthdays has differed as we grew up. Early school days used to be chilling at the school canteen with friends over Chowmein, Chole Kulcha, Burgers and Cold Drink. High school used to be about chilling at the latest QSR’s be it McDonald’s, Pizza Hut or Domino’s. As we entered college it used to be party time at our favourite café or longe and the same trend continued in my early professional stints too!
However, our preferences change as we grow older and now I prefer to be in the company of loved ones who would wish the best for me. As the time passes you make friends from school, college and earlier organizations with whom you have spent a beautiful time. You want to meet up with them and bond over the nostalgic years where you have had the most fun time with you but the busy lifestyle which we all lead these days makes it almost impossible.
I was planning to travel to Mumbai and while deciding where to stay Holiday Inn came up in the options. I had already stayed at Holiday Inn at Phuket and had loved my experience so without a doubt I finalized it. Stepping in at Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport brought back the lovely memories of my time at Holiday Inn Phuket!
~ Kids dictate our choices but when it comes to Kids choices you know how particular they are. Such were Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards! ~
I have re-lived my childhood days courtesy my kid brother (as I like to call him with an age gap of almost a decade plus though he is an adult now). There used be certain times of the morning as well as evening when we would not let anyone touch the TV remote because screen time during those was reserved for us. That was the era when TV was one of the only sources of entertainment as Internet was still a luxury which not many could afford. Our favourite cartoons and TV shows were not to be missed by us at any cost and we would gang up being the youngest in the three siblings and dictate our terms! Love the nostalgia of the golden era gone by! 😉
“Think about the style of the occasion before you plan your outfit” – Jenny Packham
This Fashion Week, I wore an outfit which was elegant, unique, experimental and just perfect- not only in style but comfort as well! Fashion week is the time to experiment and the recently concluded Lotus Make Up India Fashion Week Spring Summer’19 {#LMIFW SS19} spread across four days witnessed glitz and glamour not only on the ramp but also off the ramp.
My glamorous moment this LMIFW was with an outfit by Adi by Aditya Khandelwl. The two-piece outfit consisted of a jacket with chain stitch work and multicoloured threads with flare on sleeves. Comfort and style goes hand in hand with this mouse grey outfit which possessed the right aura. The cold shoulder sleeve with net at the back is alluringly designed for more sultriness defining my body and personality. The floral colourful pattern in the front made the dress a masterpiece and with Aditya’s craftsmanship I could not have asked for a better outfit with the various cuts in the silhouette and the frilly layers of the skirt.