Title: Circle with no centre

Author: Deepak Khurana

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Publisher: Notionpress

Pages: 307

Paperback

Lately, I have been really leaning into contemporary fiction, because they are so relatable! Gone are those ages of fairy tale, die hard romances of the classics (which, believe me, I used to worship). But who has those kind of romances any more? Call me old fashioned, as I found my husband of 14 years in a fairly non dramatic way; he asked me to marry him on our second date, even in that period of casual dating and flings. However, the dating scene had been deteriorating drastically ever since, and with the advent of dating apps and video calls, it has just gotten worse. So, yes, we need more practical love stories and not some mushy fairy tale like tale. 

Circle with no centre is a story about "situationship". For the uninitiated, a situationship is a "relationship" where the status is not clearly defined. The two individuals are romantically (and sexually) involved, but there is no commitment, possessiveness or even exclusivity. 

The male and the female protagonist bump into each other on a dating app, after a decade of being barely known college mates. They belonged to a very big circle in their college, but they had never spoken to each other and only knew each other by face value. The girl was in a steady relationship during her college duration and barely interacted with anyone else in the group. Her breakup with her college boyfriend post college was a news to the alumni of her batch. And hence, absolutely heartbreaking and embarrassing for the girl. 

They instantly recognise each other on the app and decide to meet, and hit off instantly. However, they both are walking on eggshells, very wary of commitment. Both are sceptical of getting hurt again, although they like each other extremely but still wary of getting their guard down. 

The girl is a popular Youtuber, that is so urbane in this era. She had poured her heart and soul into her channel and it had been her escape from heartbreak and realism. 

How the story unfolds is really fascinating, and I love the urban scenario that the story is set in. The writer uses all the Millenial and Gen Z terminologies, which makes it super relatable for readers like us. Our parents on the other hand, might not get it..

It's an easy breezy pleasant read and I loved every bit of it. 

Eating: 5/5

Check it out here. 

This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program

 June is my birthday month. Yes I am a June baby!! I have had a complicated relationship with my birthdays. Yes I am one of those people, who used to get super excited about birthdays! I have celebrated with my friends throughout the school years, at home only, as my birthday falls during summer vacation. 

However the real excitement of birthdays arose during my college years, as there is no vacation in medical college and I had a thick group of friends, who would start countdown as soon as the month of June would start. Those 5 birthdays are my best memories, and then I got married and perspectives shifted. Sometimes birthdays have to revolve around treating in laws, while some years it would be taking the kids out, for their own pleasure. 

The husband often suggested for a quick getaway, but I always turned it down, as I wanted to be "available" to accept everyone's wishes and all. Birthdays have always been a big deal for me, I too celebrate my loved ones' special days with lot of pomp and show, so expected a bit in return too, on my own day. However, every year turned out to be worse than the previous ones. As I turned off my Facebook birthday reminder, even close family members and friends forgot to wish me. I realized how shallow everything is. 

For the first time in 35 years, in 2023. I spent my birthday in Tanzania, holidaying, away from my parents and my younger one. I definitely missed them immensely, but it felt so so so damn good. My phone wasn't reachable and I didn't even care who bothered to wish me. Of course, very significant people in my life remembered after a couple of days, on seeing my post on Instagram. 

I have been a happier person for the past 3 years because I am editing my life, weeding out all the unnecessary family members. This year, I will be in Finland, celebrating my birthday with my husband and elder daughter. Of course I would terribly miss my little one and my parents, but I am ready to be selfish to have the time of my life. I know, barring my close college and school friends, no one is going to remember me. And when I will post on Instagram, my so called friends and fam members would be posting stories and whatsApp statuses. 

I have let go of expectations and of course celebrating others too, who don't make me feel good. It's my day and I don't need anyone else to make me feel good. Thankfully, my husband is taking me on this grand Baltic/ East European trip, so that I can celebrate it my way. I am very grateful for that. No expectations, no disappointment.

What kind of birthday person are you? Are you the one celebrating in a grand way with friends or an intimate one with family? Or, not a birthday person at all, whatsoever? 

 This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (June) Challenge with theme word (Day).

Long before Instagram was a thing, photography and food enthusiasts had a knack of capturing food on their cameras, without thinking of posting it anywhere. When I was in college, I had a simple mobile camera, but I made sure that I documented all the meals that we are out, the beautifully laid o

This picture was taken on Firangiri beach, the most popular beach town of Penang island, Malaysia. It was a beautiful evening, and this eatery was right on the road. I ordered Tom Yum noodles with shrimps and husband ordered a plate of simple egg noodles.The shrimps on my plate looked absolutely tempting and it tasted better than it looked. Now, shell fish are notorious for triggering allergies in sensitive people, which I am not at all. In my (almost) 37 years of existence, I don't know of a single food item, that is known to evoke any allergy in me. So I am pretty experimental in what I can put inside my tummy. I am willing to try everything and anything. And being a Bengali, shrimps and prawns are far from experimental, they are a staple of anyone's diet. I relished every morsel, oblivious of the fact what my future held for me. 

I couldn't sleep that night because of intense itching all over my body. The husband was deep asleep, and I didn't wake him up. I kept slathering body lotion all over myself, thinking that the pruritus was because of extreme dryness from sea bathing and swimming. I couldn't notice any rashes too, as it was dark and we had only warm white light in out hotel room. 

As soon as dawn cracked, my jaw fell when I started noticing the redness all over my body. The sight was horrendous, something I had seen only in textbooks; not even on any patient of mine. I shook my husband awake in anxiety, and it took him some time to come to his senses and realize the gravity of the situation. We were not carrying an anti histamines, as it was a short trip, the kids were not there and allergy was the least of our concerns. However, this incident proves that you can never be over prepared. 

We rushed to the nearest chemist shop (not so common on a beach side) and got the substitute of whatever we get in our country, after trying to convince the chemist that we are registered medical practitioners from India. 

My redness, swelling and hence itching subsided after 12 hours, but along with it came intense drowsiness. In all, we lost 2 precious days of our trip. I am still not sure what exactly triggered that allergy, I could only pin the shrimps as the culprit. Now, I would be super apprehensive of trying shrimps or prawns, (or would keep an Epi pen with me).. 

It could have been much worse too. I could have gone to an anaphylactic shock and died, if it had been too severe. 

Could you imagine this story while looking at these happy pictures? I bet not! There's usually a long saga behind every picture, and from next time onwards, let's ponder over other possibilities, instead of just drooling on the food!

This post is part of #BlogchatterFoodFest

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Ratna Prabha.

 Title: Dynasties of Devotion

Author: Deepa Mandlik (original in Marathi) 

Translated by: Aboli Mandlik

Genre: Non fiction, Travel, History

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 184

As the title suggests, this book is about temples. There are 6 Indian temples and one that is situated abroad, the largest in this world. Can you guess which one is it? Yes, it's the Angkor Wat of Cambodia. Did you know that this huge structure (or city rather) was hidden amidst thick forests before a French naturalist discovered it? Well there are various fascinating facts revealed, about every temple that is described here. 

The book starts with the magnificent Kailasa Temple of Ellora. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ellora caves need no new introduction. The temple derives its name from Kailasutthan, whose sculpture is well preserved and admired. This temple was built during the rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, and a lot of sculptures depict the relationship between Shiva and Parvati. There's also a legend associated with this temple, that it has been carved vertically. A queen had kept a fast for her ailing king, that she wouldn't eat, unless she would see the temple shrine. A very talented architect, Kokas, took up this challenge of carving the temple vertically, which meant that the shrine was ready in a few days. He carved out a mountain, which resulted in this magnificent structure, and also prevented the queen from dying from hunger. There are a ton of intriguing facts about this temple, which are elaborated in this book very nicely. 

The second chapter deals with the creator of Kailasa temple. Because of its unique nature, there's legend that it's the work of aliens that have created this iconic structure. Out of the 34 caves of Ellora, the aliens are attached to only one cave. The temple is monolithic (made from a single stone) and gigantic, which poses as an incredible feat. 

The third chapter deals with the Brihadeeswara Temple of Tanjaur, Tamil Nadu. Part of the Great Living Chola Temples, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The writer dives into the history of each temple described, the rulers under whom it was built, architectural marvels, legends associated with it and her experience while visiting that particular temple, which is a lot of information. 

The other temples described here are Gangaikondacholapuram of Tamil Nadu, the Airavateswara Temple ( the 3rd of the Living Chola temples), Chennakeshava Temple of Karnataka and Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Thiruvananthapuram. 

What I absolutely loved about this book are the vibrant coloured pictures of every temple described. A picture says a thousand words. And when you are reading about something so much in detail, regarding the architecture and all, one needs to have a proper visualisation, and not entirely rely on imagination. Also, like a true travel book, those glossy pages evoke the desire to go and visit these temples. The writer shares her experience of visiting all these temples like a travelogue, which provides a personal touch to the book, as then it's not just pure history. 

If you are a history or architecture lover, then this book is for you. This book unravels numerous fascinating facts about these temples, which is indeed fuel for history lovers. 

This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program

My elder one just turned 11 this March. She's a proclaimed Potterhead ; something that we introduced her to last year and there has been no looking back ever since! Maybe it's the age group (imagination runs the wildest I guess in this phase), she got totally absorbed into the world of Harry Potter. So it was a no brainer when it came to deciding the theme of her 11th birthday, it had to be a Harry Potter one! Because this is the year when one gets accepted into Hogwarts! IYKYK! 

While we all were excited about this year's theme, I was anxious more, being the party planner. I am always looking for simple and budget ways to organize birth parties, without going overboard; because that's not who we are. 

So how to organize a Harry Potter birthday party on a budget? 

1. How to invite people? 

Well, invitations do have a major role in setting the mood for the party. So I got custom HP scroll like invites printed, which I designed myself. I also mentioned the dress code there. (Very important for a theme party) 

2. How to choose the theme colour? 

If you are familiar with Harry Potter, then you know there are 8 colour combinations of the four houses. 8 is a lot, so we zeroed down on Griffindoor colours (obviously) ie Maroon and yellow and of course black and metallic. For balloons, we stuck to maroon, yellow and black. Me and my husband wore black while the birthday girl donned yellow with a black cape and so did her little sister. 

3. How to select the HP theme birthday cake? 

If you look up on Pinterest, it can get pretty overwhelming. There are so many options. Also, I don't prefer full fondant cakes. Most of that goes waste. So I wanted something that used minimal fondant while keeping the theme intact. So we opted for a Gtiffindoor themed base with fondant sorting hat, spectacles, Snitch, wand and an all in one Harry Potter cake topper. My little Potterhead was pretty satisfied with how the cake turned out. The details were everything!

4. How to keep easy HP games? 

Harry Potter might not be familiar to everyone. So instead of going too complicated, we did a simple HP quiz and an HP memory game. For quiz, we sorted the groups in to 4 houses and for the memory game, I spoke out 40 HP related words, and the kids had to recapitulate and produce them on paper. Of course there were other normal games too, like Tambola and Passing the parcel. 

5. How to imbibe the HP theme amongst the guests? 

We got HP themed photo props for all and that was a hit with all! Of course there was snatching between Griffin door tie and Slytherin tie, Harry's cloak and so on. But what's a party without some hiccups! 

Mohi's best friend gifted her a Letter from Hogwarts and that was a cherry on the cake. My birthday girl loved the party and so did her Potterhead friends and non Potterhead ones too. It was one hell of a party to remember and cherish for the rest of our lives! 

Are you a Potterhead? At what age did you become one? 

This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (Monthly) Challenge with theme word (How).

You can check the full interview (including a detailed itinerary here. 

Last week, my interview as a traveller was published on Just Dial, about a place that has left a lasting impression on me. I could think nothing but Zanzibar, as it definitely is one of the greatest destinations of life. Here is the raw version of the Q and A. 

1. Let’s start with a little bit about you! How would you describe your travel style? Do you seek adventure, cultural immersion, or something entirely different?

OR

If your travel personality had to be summed up in 1-5 words, what would they be? Think of it as your personal travel tagline!

I am on a mission to explore new lands, learn new languages, mingle with the locals and taste new food.

It's a combination of both adventure and cultural immersion. That's why you will never find me chilling in a Maldivian resort island for a week. I prefer to stay on local islands with the locals. I might visit the resort just once during the entire stay to get a slice of that luxury, but can't stay away from local culture throughout.

2. What fuels your wanderlust? Is it the thrill of the unknown, the stories waiting to be discovered, or simply the joy of stepping into a new world?

All of the above! The thrill of exploring a new place or revisiting an old one (Goa/Malaysia Duh!) Wanderlust is fuelled by the new people, new landscapes, different food and of course different language and culture.

3. Every journey has a spark—what was it for this one? Was it the allure of breathtaking landscapes, the pull of rich history, the rhythm of the local culture, or something deeply personal that made this destination call out to you?

It was a combination of stunning beaches and culture. There's not much history of Zanzibar, it became a part of Tanzania in the 1960's. However it was the centre of African slave trade, and the museum literally brings tears to your eyes!

You can find the local Masai tribe inhabiting the island, which I was very excited about. I had never interacted with any tribal clan of Africa before. And Zanzibar has stunning landscapes. It's the most underrated island of the Indian Ocean.

It has pristine beaches like Maldives, luxury resorts like Mauritius, adventure like Reunion and marine life like Seychelles, all wrapped richly in culture!!

4. Did you have a budget in mind for this trip? How did you creatively manage your finances to squeeze every bit of magic out of your travel experience?

Of course, there's no trip without budget! The flights were the biggest expense and we got a good deal from Saudia Airlines. New Delhi to Jeddah, Jeddah to Dar Es Salam. While that flight cost us 45k, the 25 minute flight from Dar Es Salam to Zanzibar was 7k!

We rented a car for 7 days, and chose to stay in 3 resorts, 2 luxury and 1 budget, in 3 different parts of the island.

The activities and excursions were expensive, which can be customised according to one's choice and will.

5. What’s one fascinating fact about Zanzibar that sparked your interest? Was there a moment or place that truly stood out to you?

The fact that Zanzibar has not lost itself to ruthless commercialisation was a big magnetic factor. Also, the phenomenon of high tide and low tide is very prominent on every beach, every 12 hours.

I was ready to swim in the turquoise Indian Ocean, walk over the softest silver sand and eat sea food while immersing in the African culture. 

We went on a boat ride from Nungwi, the northern part of Zanzibar to an area called "God's swimming pool".

It was a vast area shallow water in the middle of the ocean, where we could wade on the sea bed and the water was crystal clear. Every grain of sand beneath was visible. All while being surrounded by turquoise water!

Our guide served us a huge fruit platter and we munched on them while relaxing in the crystal clear water.

On that very excursion, we swam with dolphins and picked up star fishes! It was a never before experience!

6. If someone had just a few days in Zanzibar, what are the top five spots they absolutely shouldn’t miss? Bonus points for any hidden gems!

If you know swimming and are not scared of the ocean, I highly recommend swimming with the dolphins. Also, you can swim with rescued sea turtles in a lagoon, it's not scary in Baraka Natural Museum. Visit Stone Town, the hub of culture and the birth place of Freddie Mercury of Queen rock band. Explore wildlife in Jozani Forest Zanzibar and experience dining or just even coffee at the stunning Rock Restaurant.

7. Food can make or break a trip! Did you dive into any must-try local dishes? Which ones stole your heart (or your taste buds)? Any tips for our readers?

Zanzibar food is a combination of Swahili, Arabic and Indian flavours. So even pure vegetarians like my daughter and husband didn't have any issue and enjoyed the culinary experience to the fullest!

Like their Pilav is similar to our Pulao and my family had it everyday while I tried sea food everyday. Be it octopus or lobster, pomfret or red snapper. It was served with rice with a side of salad and fries. It was very satisfying, both to the taste buds and tummy.

You get very fresh sea food there (obviously!) 

To dine in "The Rock" restaurant is on the bucket list of every tourist who visits Zanzibar. It's a restaurant situated on the top of a big rock, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. 

During high tide, you have to take a boat to reach there (it's complimentary) while during low tide, you can wade on the wet sea bed to reach there!

The view from the restaurant is to die for and so is the fresh sea breeze! It's a multi cuisine restaurant, however quite expensive.

We ordered a cold coffee and tiramisu because we were there for the experience and not for the food. It was beyond my expectations. Must do activity!

8. Traditional attire often carries cultural significance. Did you notice any distinct styles or customs in local dressing that caught your eye?

The Africans, especially the Masai tribe are extremely well dressed and fashionable. Think of bright colours, quirky accesories and the best hairstyles!

The Masai men and women would give the runway models a run for their money with their gorgeous head gears.

Zanzibar is an Islamic territory, so you will find little children in hijabs. 

9. How would you describe the nightlife there? Whether it is bustling bars, serene night markets, or cultural performances—what’s the vibe like?

Zanzibar is a Muslim island, so the public is conservative. However it's more open than the local islands of Maldives.

It's more open inside the resorts in terms of bikini, alcohol and nightlife.

There are a ton of bars and discos on the prominent beaches like Paje, Nungwi, Michamvi, Kendwa etc. All the big resorts host parties at night and really big ones during the weekend.

Our resort, Antonio Beach Resort hosted a fabulous party where they got DJ from Namibia and we danced the night away with the Masai people and other international guests.

10.How was your experience with the local hospitality? Can you share a moment when a small act of kindness or a heartfelt interaction made you feel completely at home, even miles away from your own backyard?

The Zanzibarian people are very kind and thankfully we have only positive experience with them.

Our snorkeling guide was very encouraging and it was because of him I gathered the courage to jump into the ocean to swim with the dolphins, despite being extremely sea sick. It was really not easy, yet he was very patient and encouraging.

11.In your eyes, who would make the most ofzi this destination? Is it the intrepid solo explorer, the romance-seeking couple, the thrill-chasing adventurer, or perhaps the perfect spot for a family getaway?

Zanzibar is perfect for every kind of traveller. A solo explorer as well as a n adventurer would have the time of their lives exploring this huge island. The abundance of luxury resorts with stunning beaches makes it an ideal honeymoon destination. 

We visited as a family of 3. Me, my husband and our 9 year old daughter and it's one of the most memorable experience of our lives till date. We not only explored the marine life like never before, but the interaction with the local Masai tribe has left a deep impact on her.

12.Would you hop on board for another round at this destination? If so, what fresh adventures or unexpected twists would you plan to make your next visit even more unforgettable?

Definitely want to revisit this place with the entire family. We didn't take our younger daughter as she was just 4 and we were unsure of the African environment.

Would love to go more on snorkelling trips, spend more time discovering marine life and try new sea food (just for me 😉) The next time, we would love to plan our stay in other parts of the island, just to have a novel experience, although I would love love love to revisit the previous properties.

13.Let’s wrap up with a rapid-fire ‘This or That’—

Road trip or train journey? Road trip 

Cosy coffee shops or sizzling street food? Sizzling Street Food

Stick to a map or get lost on purpose?Get lost in purpose 

Pack light or overpack (just in case)? Overpack any day! (Fashion blogger problems duh!)

Travel to escape or travel to discover?

Stay connected or digital detox? Digital detox 

DSLR camera or just a phone for photos? Both are equally important.

I am participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

Where there is sun and sand, then there should be options to venture out into the water too, what say? Goa is the epitome of leisure and luxury. It also happens to be the party capital of India. So how does partying on the water sound? While there are speed boats and cruise ships for the same, nothing beats the luxury and fun of a private yacht. 

I discovered the yacht Club of Goa on my 3rd visit to the smallest state of India. We were headed to Fontainhas and had crossed the Bardez bridge. We spotted cute looking Portuguese style houses and started walking through those lanes when I spotted the yacht Club. 

The Yacht Club is in Porvorim and almost 25 years old. They rent all types of yachts and catamarans for private purposes and epic celebrations. The prices are definitely not for the faint hearted. While I have been on a number of yachts and cruises, I have never experienced a private yacht. Speed boats, yes. But a yacht loaded with food and party stuff for the entire night, just for us, not yet. Maybe will get there someday. 

I am participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

Have you had a private yacht party? How was your experience?