DocDivaTraveller

5/25/2018 No comments

What's in a selfie? I am not talking about just pout and wink. I am talking about some serious stuff here. Selfies while taking outfit shots, while travelling alone or while sitting in the car fresh in the morning. I,like every other girl (or boys even) love selfies. Like a true photo blogger I need crisp, clear pictures. A selfie does not truly satisfy my criteria to make it to my blog. It takes immense skill and patience to take the perfect shot.

So why do we love selfies?

1. Its an independent action. I mean who has an in house photographer all round the clock to click precious moments?

Moments like this need to be 'selfied' immediately!

2. Its indeed a blessing for us bloggers...whether fashion, travel or even tech ones, all are obsessed with selfies. Whether its getting clicked on a major landmark or capturing an outfit for running errands, selfies are a boon!

3. It makes us ambidextrous...he he he :D

4. It helps to check if there is anything wrong with our face and hence makes us more presentable before any kind of rendezvous!

Do I look okay for the date?

And the list goes on...

Last but the most important...We need to freeze a particular moment. Chocolate smudged all over our kid's face, dough in hair when cooking for the first time, all those trivial moments which are priceless.

But then somehow they are not blogworthy or contest worthy....

Why? What are the problems faced with clicking the perfect selfie?

1. The front camera is usually of low resolution. Even if the rear camera is 13 MP, the front one is just 5 Mp!

2. No flash on the front..means no selfie in the dark!

Its difficult getting the perfect illumination for the perfect selfie...

3. There is a lot of problem in gripping the phone, clicking the shoot button and so on.

4. It's damn hard to fit everyone in the frame. It's either you or the backdrop. Most of the time it's just the face in an awkward angle.

This why I often drag my photographer (read husband) to feminine events just because I need him to click me.

Now what is the solution? Well it's time for a new revolution! The Vietnamese brand Mobiistar was launched in 2009 with the vision to Enjoy More. So what in 2018? They have come out with a groundbreaking smartphone!
Here is what they have to offer so that we can Enjoy More!

120 degree wide angle Dual selfie camera:
Can you even imagine what all you can do with such an wide angle? Groupies would be a cakewalk! So the next time you are at a reunion or team dinner, be assured that everyone is going to get in the frame without any awkward positions of course 😁

Solo travelling would be fulfilling on a newer level!

Imagine you are along the bank of Pangong Lake, Ladakh. You want to freeze that moment in that freezing temperature. But when you try to take a selfie it's either the pristine blue lake or your face (looking much bigger). With such a wide angle lens you would be smoothly able to fit yourself along with the picturesque background.

Selfies have become an indispensable part of our lives. We want to live every moment and capture it too. That is why we need a phone that we are able to just pick up and freeze that perfectly 'natural' moment. Selfies promote more of 'real life' than a staged portrayal. You don't need to put your make up on for that. Selfies look more beautiful in its natural imperfections.

So what all can we enjoy more?
Mobiistar promises to give an unparalleled experience to its users at very affordable prices. Moreover, it has been crafted along with Flipkart to suit it seamlessly with the Indian public.

Long lasting battery: Are you sick of lugging your power bank all the time? Me too! This problem has been well taken care of.

Fast Snapdragon processor: For seamless multitasking! Being an influencer/blogger myself, I can very well resonate with the need for a fast phone. I am continually switching tabs, tweeting, clicking pictures etc etc. Now no more hassles!

So peeps, get ready for the grand launch of this intelligent smartphone on Flipkart!

5/22/2018 3 comments

5/18/2018 3 comments

Wayanad is a picturesque hill station in the southern state of Kerala. Abundant natural beauty, endless scenic vistas, a romantic charm, and beasts of the wild are some of the amazing things to be enjoyed here. It really does boast a plethora of fun activities to enjoy with loved ones during family holidays.

Here are some fun things to do in Wayanad that must be included in your itinerary.

Chembra Peak

Standing tall at 2100m, this is the highest summit in Wayanad. Here, you can enjoy sweeping views of Wayanad and Kozhikode districts along with trekking and photography. Remember to stop by its heart-shaped lake.

Muthunga Wildlife Sanctuary

Also known as Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is included in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is one of the best tourist places in Wayanad. Come here with your kids to spot elephants, deer, monkeys, sambar, eucalyptus, bamboo trees, and a lot more!

Pookot Lake

Bring your kids to this natural freshwater lake for boating. The lake is surrounded by lush greenery all over.

Soochipoora Falls

These three-tiered falls cascade down rapidly and provide amazing waters for making a splash with kids. It is also a great spot for rock-climbing and family picnic.

Edakkal Caves

F. Fawcett discovered these prehistoric caves in 1890. Teach your kids about the Neolithic paintings that adorn their walls while you soak in some ancient history too.

Sulthan Bathery

This is an ancient place with a diverse history. It is home to some great Jain temples that were built by early settlers. It also served as a commercial center many years ago. Apart from that, Sulthan Bathery also served as a storage space for Tipu Sultan’s arms and weapons. It is a great place to bring your kids to learn about this place’s diverse history.

Banasura Dam

This is the largest earthen dam in the country and is ensconced in the Banasura Hills. It is a gorgeous place to visit with family as it serves as a picnic spot and photographer’s paradise. Make sure to explore the diverse flora and fauna in the surrounding hills as well as marvel at the vistas of the dam!

Where to stay

You can stay at Vythiri Village Resort, a Club Mahindra’s affiliate, when you are vacationing in Wayanad. This Wayanad resort is the perfect base, from where you can access all the fun tourist spots in this destination. It also boasts spacious and comfortable rooms that are perfect for rest and rejuvenation after a long day of exploration.

Also, read through these Club Mahindra reviews on Wayanad resort & get a sneak peek of how Club Mahindra members are spending their family vacations at Wayanad resort.

Book your fun family vacation in Wayanad by logging onto Club Mahindra’s website or mobile app today!

5/17/2018 3 comments

Life is a book and those who don't travel have seen just the cover. Well I totally follow this saying. One needs to travel to know about the world, to unplug from one's mundane routine and to discover the world. People can have either of the above reasons for travel or all of the above. I (read my family) belong to the latter. We usually fly out of the country once a year and take short breaks throughout. These quick getaways make us feel alive all over again.

It's been 6 months to our trip to Australia. After that we had a mini vacation in Agra. Then there was a long silence. We were drowned in work and I was feeling uninspired, almost soulfully dead. It was high time that we took a break. So we decided to explore one of the nearest places to Delhi... Manesar.

Manesar is a fast growing town in the state of Haryana. Situated about 20kms from Gurugram, it's kind of a satellite township. It's studded with housing complexes with high rise buildings and industries. However nestled in its centre is Heritage Village which is an oasis of luxury.

I had heard a lot about Heritage Village before and I was thrilled when the husband surprised me with this getaway. It was the perfect break that I needed to get back to life.

Everything in Heritage Village is tradition oriented. I mean the buildings are built in typical Rajputana style. The staff is dressed traditionally and the guests are welcomed with 'tika' as they enter. The rooms are called clusters and suites 'darbar'. The halls are called Sabha and so on. It is such a welcome change from our daily westernised lifestyle.

There is a lovely swimming pool just behind the reception that overlooks a huge garden. The garden is for special functions. Like there was a wedding when we were there. There are lifesize Rajput statues at every corner. The furniture, the artefacts etc all are heritage style. I am totally reacharged by this trip!

Why I recommend this place?

Room rates can be booked at as low as 5000INR per night which is very decent.
Room has complimentary drinking water, tea/coffee and toiletries. Brush and Shaving kit can be availed on request.
There is no compulsion to have meals here unlike the Neemrana Fort Palace. The city of Manesar is just 10 minutes ride away. You can easily have your meals at any restaurant out there. It will save you a lot of money.
Activities like cricket, volleyball, paintball can be played but their rates are on the higher side. However there is a park with swings and lots of other rides where your kids can enjoy and is complimentary.
With such a variety of things to do in the property, it's a great place to recharge yourself and your family.

Coming to the outfit, most pieces are from my favourite shopping website Zaful.com I really love this striped shirt. The broad belt I had been eyeing for years now and these wedges are apt for a resort getaway!

Dress: Globus

Hat: From Philippines

Wedges: Zaful

Top: Zaful

Belt: Zaful

5/15/2018 3 comments

Surrounded by a blissful blue lake, enormous mountains and breathtaking landscapes lies the small hill station called Naukuchiatal. It is also known as ‘lake of nine corners’ and is located within an enchanting valley. This little land of serenity situated in Uttarakhand offers visitors an opportunity to relax and unwind amidst nature that remains untouched by the modern world.

Naukuchiatal hosts people from different parts of the country throughout the year. It attracts tourists who come here to have great family vacations, enjoy adventure sports and witness the stunning vistas. But, if you are planning to travel to Uttarakhand and explore this scenic destination, there are five important things you must remember to carry along:

1. The right clothes: Naukuchiatal experiences pleasant summers but winters are quite extreme here. So, if you choose to travel in summers, you can opt for light clothes but ensure you carry your woollen in winters as this region often witnesses heavy snowfall.

2. Trekking shoes are a must: Naukuchiatal is an extremely popular destination for trekkers and hikers who are looking for a few challenging climbs to add to their list. If you are an adventure junkie, this place will be your best pick. However, make sure to carry trekking shoes and the associated gears that are built to withstand the steep slopes.

3. Don’t forget a sunscreen lotion: Although summers in Naukuchiatal are quite pleasant, the temperature can rise up to 30 degrees. So, you need to ensure you carry a sunscreen with SPF 50, which will protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun. Plus, if you are here to indulge in some sports adventure, do not miss adding this product to your luggage.

4. Take your camera along: Naukuchiatal boasts of some hidden gems like Bhimtal, Almora, Sat Tal and of course Nainital, which offers such delightful landscapes that you will be compelled to click dozens of pictures of these amazing vistas, even if you are an amateur photographer. For professional photographers, a trip to Uttarakhand is an absolute must, because here you can capture Mother Nature at her best.

5. Pack extra snacks: While there are many local restaurants and eating joints in Nakuchiatal, thanks to its gaining popularity among tourists, it is always a better idea to carry some extra food, just in case you are stuck on the mountain roads or the nearest hotel shuts down early. Packets of biscuits or dry snacks also come in handy if you are travelling with kids.

The most important task is to look for a Naukuchiatal resort that ensures your trip turns out to be just as you imagined. Especially, if you are going on a family vacation, select a resort like the Club Mahindra resort, which is beautifully designed to give your family the comfort and a memorable holiday they truly deserve.

Plan a vacation with Club Mahindra today & have a pleasant and memorable stay at Naukuchiatal resort in Uttarakhand with family. Also, read through these Club Mahindra reviews of Naukuchiatal resort & get a sneak peek of what Club Mahindra members have to say about this resort in Uttarakhand.

5/11/2018 1 comments

It's one of my life's biggest dreams to get clicked with every famous monument/landmark of the world. While I have been privileged to have fulfilled quite a part of that wish pretty early in my life, still a major chunk is remaining like the Christ of Redeemer, Machu Pichu, Petra, etc etc. We Indians are very fortunate that we have one of the wonders of the world right beneath our nose..The Taj Mahal! I had been to the Taj numerous times during my childhood. Sadly I had never written about it as I did not have digital pictures. Few months ago, I got to visit it with my family and it is one memorable experience!

Often I have heard people wonder why the Taj is one of the wonders of the world. If there is no word limit, I could go on and on. But I would like to keep it absolutely short.

It is the largest mausoleum of the world. It took 22 years to complete.
It took more than 20,000 artisans to build it and more than 1000 elephants were used for transportation.
Emperor Shah Jahan spent around 32 million rupees that time to build this which is equivalent to 400 million$ according to today.
Artisans and craftsmen were called from all part of the world like Persia, France, Italy, Turkey etc.

It's fully made of marble which changes color according to the time of the day. In early dawn it's pearly grey which turns to pink on sunrise. In midday it's dazzling white and then it turns golden during sunset.

It is absolutely symmetrical.
The marble and the 28 types of precious stones engraved in it were sourced from various parts of the world.

As you move away from the main entrance, the size of the Taj gets bigger. We experienced this personally on recommendation of a guide.

And there are so many points. But I would like to stop here. Do you really need a reason to visit the Taj? Who knew that the labour of love could give birth to such a masterpiece? Mumtaz Mahal was one lucky wife...don't you think so?

I deliberately chose this black and white aztec print top from Dresslily. Does not it go nicely with the surroundings? Dresslily is one of my most favourite online shopping destinations. Their USP is free shipping which is what I love. Because shipping all the way from China is not cheap!

Here are a few of my picks that is perfect for day trip like this. When you are visiting a famous monument, you ought to dress up aptly! That memory is going to be etched forever!

Maxi Dress: Your luggage just cannot be complete without a nice maxi dress! This ombre dress is so breezy and summery, just like what your vacation.

Vintage Dress: Polka dots would never go out of style. Believe me. Vintage dresses are perfect for posing in front of monuments. just like the Taj Mahal. If you want more such classic dresses as well as fashionable plus size ones, you can shop now.

Romper/Jumpsuit: A romper or a jumpsuit is the best invention ever (according to me) Provided it is not too difficult to take off (I have one such). It gives you the freedom of wearing pants with a feminine feel and silhouette. A vacation wardrobe is incomplete without one!