DocDivaTraveller: March 2018

Whoever said that diamonds are a girl's best friend deciphered the fairer sex too well. And whosoever said that these precious gems are a guy's worst nightmare, knew the macho people even better! Believe me, I have seen and heard about relationships which have crumbled because of the lack of diamonds. Sometimes the boy proposed with a non diamond ring or a smaller gem and the girl said no. Sometimes the guy called off the relationship because he couldn't afford one. And sometimes divorces occurred because the husband couldn't gift his wife the much promised diamond. The reason to all these situations is very simple. The lack of funds.

Since time immemorial, diamonds have been outside the normal buying capacity of a person. If someone was rich, then he looked for bigger diamonds, more intricate designs making it way more expensive than he could afford. And if he belongs to the middle income strata, then these gems are already out with of his reach. So what to do now? Should we curse our lack of funds or start looking for smarter alternatives? Well an intelligent man never accepts defeat.

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3/29/2018 1 comments

Being an Indian, monkeys do not fascinate me much. I mean come on, I have seen them and bore their wrath since I was born. But it's not the same with people of the Western World. I have seen Caucasian tourists being fascinated by them in Vrindavan and Agra. So it's a no surprise that the Sacred Monkey Forest in Bali is one of the top tourist destinations. When we were planning our trip, we had decided to skip it but then after knowing about it in detail, we finalised it on our itinerary.

The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali is the home of more than 700 monkeys (crab eating macaques; also known as Balinese long tailed monkeys to be precise) and 186 species of trees spread over a vast area of 12.5 hectares. The entire area is heavily forested and filled with quintessential Balinese architecture; all covered with centuries old moss to preserve their integrity. There are 3 temples in the compound which are of course not open to the public.

We had heard a lot about the nuances caused by the monkeys and I was really scared and apprehensive. I have hated monkeys throughout my life but could not skip exploring as it was such an important spot. We decided not to buy any bananas to feed them. I was more interested in seeing the architecture rather than those pesky primates. As soon as we entered, I was overjoyed to witness such a plethora of raw Balinese architectural beauty in the backdrop of a dense natural forest.

Spot the real and fake monkeys

The monkeys (old, young and babies) were jumping everywhere and harrassing almost every second visitor. People were feeding bananas as anything else is prohibited. The officials feed the monkeys with sweet potatoes three times a day and chopped sweet potatoes were kept in baskets at regular corners. Hubby picked a handful of those chopped vegetables. Gradually we reached a deserted place where there were no other tourists. Suddenly a monkey jumped on his shoulders. He then climbed on my husband's head and started slapping his cheeks. Little we realised that those potatoes were the root of our trouble. As soon as we spotted his gaze, hubby threw the potatoes to the ground and he went away. We heaved a sigh of relief but got really alarmed. Thankfully he was not hurt.

How many monkeys can you see? Spare us though 😁

As we walked further, we came to a popular spot where there were many tourists and monkeys were entertaining us. It was really amusing to watch their interaction with the humans. A white tourist was feeding bananas when suddenly the animal lost its mind. It snatched his backpack and started ripping it apart. No one could stop him. First it tore a box of wipes. Then some papers (who knows how important they were). After pouring a bottle of lotion on to the ground, the worst happened. That crazy animal took out the wallet and tore all the currency notes. We all were silent spectators. No one could do anything. Then it slapped its victim and lept away.

We all were in shock. We just realised how important travel insurance is because you just don't know when your trip might take an ugly turn.

With heavy hearts, we became all the more careful. The place was indeed very beautiful. We had reached late and the closing time was 6 PM so we had less time in exploring the place. Since the trees are very tall, it was dark already.

The monkey forest has a spiritual goal of creating peace and harmony among visitors from all over the world. It follows the philosophy of Tri Hata Karana doctrine i e harmony between humans and humans, humans and natural environment and humans and the Supreme God. There are 3 temples in the complex: The Great Temple of Death which is the main temple, Pura Beji or Holy Spring bathing temple and Pura Prajapati. My favorite was of course Pura Beji because of the small spring.

I am just madly in love with Balinese 'Pura' i.e temple.The water flowing, the banyan roots, moss covered artefacts and the typical Balinese statues...they all have stolen my mind. We did not come out till the guards blew their whistles repeatedly and forcefully drove us out....manually :D This happens with us everywhere...believe me..we are such pesky tourists!

Thankfully we came out safe. No one was hurt and nothing was lost/stolen. I however would never revisit this place if we ever go to Bali again.

Some important points to be kept in mind while visiting the Monkey Forest:

Make sure you have a travel insurance.

It will save you from unforeseen circumstances. I mean all the terrible events that can happen here are covered by the Asia Travel Insurance from Reliance General Insurance, the one that we had purchased. It would cover all the medical expenses caused to you either by accident or illness (in this case, monkey bites)
It would cover the cost of issuing a fresh or duplicate passport (in case the monkeys get hold of it)
It would provide you with emergency financial assistance in case of theft (the way our fellow travellers lost all their money)
Reliance travel care policy Asia plan is very easy to book with family plans starting from a meagre 306INR and no paperwork.

Keep your valuables safely. It's better to keep your passports at the hotel.
Don't get too adventurous with your camera. Keep your gadgets secure inside your bag.
Always hold your children. Don't let them lose.
Do not try to touch the monkeys or show affection to their adorable young ones.
Do not run on seeing a big group. They may suspect something fishy and attack you.
I would suggest not to feed these unruly primates and be on the safer side.
If any monkey jumps on your shoulders and caresses you, do not panic. He will go away eventually.

Entry Fees: 50000 IDR per person i.e 250INR

Opening Hours: 8 30 AM to 6 PM

3/27/2018 6 comments

Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is located in the Kashmir Valley, on the banks of the river Jhelum.

Ringed by an arc of beautiful mountains, Srinagar's main attraction is its mesmerizingly serene Dal Lake. Here, an array of brightly coloured houseboats swarm the scene with locals and tourists in tow. Offshore, the Mughal gardens, the towering fortress and the wooden mosques add to the city’s landscape. Throw in some mild summer weather and feisty Kashmiri cuisine, and you have India’s top tourist drawcard destination.

So without further ado, let’s explore how you can make the most of your weekend family holiday in Srinagar.

On your first day, it is best to start your sightseeing early in Srinagar. There are several places to visit and things to see on your first day. As a starting point, you can visit the famous Mughal Gardens. Built by Mughal emperors centuries ago, these gardens are especially enchanting in the spring. Peripherally located on Boulevard Road, some popular gardens are Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Cheshm-E-Shahi. Nearby, Pari Mahal offers a seven-terraced layout with a bird's-eye view of the city. As the sun sets in the evening, you can saunter through the shopping streets of Srinagar - Lal Chowk and Polo View Market.

Your second day offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a spiritual experience visiting rustic temples and revered dargahs, including the beautiful Shankaracharya temple and the blissful Jama Masjid. In the afternoon, you can proceed to Challi point and take a shikara ride on the gorgeous Dal lake. This is an utterly unique experience – one you should not miss.

You can make the most of your last day in Srinagar by leaving early to embrace the breathtaking snow-capped mountains of Gulmarg. Known for its allure, this pristine little town is a hotspot for tourists, adventure lovers, and those seeking serenity. It also serves as the perfect family getaway especially with kids. Gulmarg has abundant activities to keep everyone entertained. Other than skiing and sightseeing, there is also snowboarding, snow scooters and snow bobbing. For this, you can either visit the Gulmarg Ski Area or simply take the Gondola lift. A major attraction, the lift is the only cable car in Asia that is at an elevation of over 13,500 feet above sea-level. It provides aerial views of the valley and is a must-see when you’re visiting Gulmarg!

Notably, Gulmarg also has a world-renowned ski resort and is home to the second highest cable car ride in the world.

Whart more can we say! Srinagar, the city of lakes and ethereal beauty, offers experiences that you will treasure for a lifetime. Enriching the entire experience is the R K Sarovar Portico, Srinagar, a Club Mahindra affiliate resort in Srinagar. It provides the very best amenities and facilies for you and your loved ones. You can enjoy a blissfully comfortable stay with all that Club Mahindra has to offer. All put together, this place is heaven on earth! Read more positive Club Mahindra reviews by our happy members about how they enjoyed their holidays with family.

3/20/2018 4 comments

So Dandenong Ranges are a chain of low laying mountain ranges in the state of Victoria, 35 kms East of Melbourne. Now the first thing that one is expected to experience in the Dandenong is to board the Puffing Billy train. However I learnt later that it runs in Brisbane too! So where is the exclusivity? Anyways, for people used to the mighty Himalayas (ie us) these mountains won't impress you much but the surroundings definitely would! The trees are extra tall and the roads are beautifully winding. Since we visited in spring, the foliage had special colours which was very new for us.

The Dandenong Ranges has many picturesque parks and we intended to visit the most famous one: Alfred Nicolas Memorial Gardens. It is definitely the most beautiful park of our lives. But our day did not start as planned and I was sure that the park had been closed by the time we reached.

We arrived in Melbourne at around half past 10 in the morning and then immigration and travelling all the way to the city centre by public transport and then checking in, swimming (even for a jiffy) and then renting a car sucked up all our time. My old friend (who now lives in Melbourne) came to visit us and was along with our adventures. So when I was soaking in the warm water, husband and Soniya went to rent the car. By the time we were out in the city driving, it was half past three in the afternoon.

Our original plan was to see the Puffing Billy train at the most picturesque location, Belgrave and then proceed to Alfred Nicolas Gardens. However GPS predicted that we won't be able to reach Belgrave on time and hence we had to ditch the idea altogether. But when we entered the location of Gardens in the GPS, it said that we would reach there around 5 15 PM. Now the Gardens close at 5 PM. Damn. I was super frustrated. First we lose Puffing Billy and now the Gardens. Our first day in Australia was turning out to be fruitless. To top my frustration, the roads in Melbourne were bustling with traffic. It took more time than expected to leave the city and take the highway. At one point, we thought of giving up. What was the point in going all the way to find the Gardens closed? However I thought that I would just get clicked in front of the gate and come back. I was super depressed.

We reached the Garden at 5 30 PM. Me and Soniya ran to enter while husband parked the car. The entire place was deserted. Not a single soul within a periphery of tens of kilometres. It was heavily raining on the way and now that we were out of the car, it was drizzling. The only sound that could be heard was the pitter patter. The gate was open. But the office area was deserted. Good. We ran inside.

The leaves were of the most beautiful colours (brown, red and orange) and there were bright coloured flowers everywhere. We felt that we were in paradise. The rhododendrons were loaded with its colourful blooms and the ground below them were covered with those petals. The trees were sky high tall and the roads were flanked by beautiful flowering plants. It was FREEZING but who cared? I was not even wearing a sweater!

Since it was going to get dark very soon, we went towards the area that fascinated us the most: The lake. There was a lake house too (a wooden one) and the place looked straight out of a Greeting Card. I could not be happier. All my misery vanished and I was on top of the world. This place is a favourite for couple shoots, maternity shoots and for weddings and parties. The reason is very obvious. The place was dreamy.

Soniya did an excellent job in clicking me and husband which is very rare. Usually our tripod does this part. I have decided to share those photos on our anniversary which is going to be my next post.

Although we did not wanted to leave but it getting darker under those tall trees. We sensed that wild animals could be out at any time! So we decided to go back to our car and leave.

This Garden is definitely the most beautiful place in Dandenong Ranges!

Entry: Free
Opening Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM
Park remains open after 5 PM but public facilities and office shut down.

3/20/2018 3 comments

Life is unpredictable. It is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, happy and sad moments. Had it been only smooth, there would not have been any excitement! A healthy heart ECG is up and down too...a straight line indicates death. Life is a journey and not a destination. And in order to make the most of that journey, you need the support of strong relationships.

A road trip is very similar to life. It is full of unknown curves and unprecedented traffic jams. Sometimes there may be ditches while at other times you may be cruising at 100 KMPH. Just like life, the requirements of a road trip are pretty similar. You need a good car (of course) which has been serviced recently, its tank full of gas, a stepney, a tool box and a charged battery. The car battery needs to have stamina, strength, and quality for that hassle-free road trip and these qualities are connotative of Amaron batteries.

Over the years, Amaron batteries have been known for their dependence and durable life. They last really long and make your car maintenance absolutely hassle-free. Just like life becomes easier with a dependable partner, an Amaron battery is that solid companion that makes your life calm and road trip hassle free.

I have always loved road trips over flying or taking a train. Being an avid traveller, it is not too rare for me leaving for a far off destination in my car. I am of course confident that my trip would be harmonious as I use the best car battery. I would like to share one such memory from not too long before.

I was on a mission to explore Telangana in my new SUV. I started from Hyderabad to be precise. For the uninitiated, there are lots of hilly roads there. Everything was in perfect condition and I, of course, had the best automotive battery in my car. Since I had started early in the morning, it was quite dark outside, and the headlights had to be switched on.

However since the sun shone and it was bright all over later on, I completely forgot that the headlights were on. They remained on during all the short breaks I took. It was during lunch that I stopped for a longer while. I still did not have any clue that the lights were on and went for a quick nap like that. I took a pretty long break as I was really tired. It was almost dusk when I came out for starting on the road again and then I could not believe my eyes! How could I have left the headlights on? That too for so long? What if my car did not start? Then I would be marooned on that deserted area! There was just that eatery/Dhaba and a couple of its employees. What if I needed assistance with my car?

Fearfully, I turned the ignition on. Deep inside my heart, I had confidence in my Amaron Battery. The car started in one go. I heaved a sigh of relief. I sped my car towards the next city and vowed never to be careless again. However, once again the strength, stamina, and quality of Amaron batteries were reinforced.

We spend so much time in research while buying a car. We ponder on its engine, its mileage, its tyres, and what not. Often we neglect thinking about its battery which is the real heart and soul of a car. A battery is like that unsung hero. Had it not been for Amaron batteries, I would have been in serious trouble. Let's get the best car battery for our beast and depend on its strength and stamina with closed eyes.

3/19/2018 No comments

Summer is my favourite season of the year. It comes as a surprise to many as Delhi summers are unbearable...not to forget that Delhi winters too!! After three months of freezing winters, I welcome the glaring sun with wide open arms. I love going to beaches and all sunny places and deliberately skip the cold, gloomy regions. The only downside of the heat is that you don't get to camouflage your flab. All the tyres and love handles which you had been hiding under the coats come out in the open! As a result people start crash dieting. I often get patients who come to me to lose weight or to combat the bad effects of crash dieting. All said, there are easy methods to lose weight.

I have been a foodie throughout my life. And my love affair for good food is increasing day by day..courtesy all those parties at five star hotels. If I continue eating like this without doing anything, a day would come when I would burst! Well I would never let that happen of course...lest what would happen to my wardrobe? (ha ha) Being a doctor I believe in eating healthy. So what if I am a foodie? I try to have more and more healthy alternatives. Crash diets are absolutely no for me!

Losing weight is more about choosing the right lifestyle. Eat healthy, work out and stay fit! Exercise is a crucial part of healthy lifestyle. Since I have a crazily hectic schedule, I simply neither have the time nor energy to exercise. I have a predominantly sitting job (physicians and bloggers have to sit all through the day) so I try to incorporate little movements in between my work. I deliberately take the stairs, walk to the market and try to do household chores on a daily basis. Rest of my exercise is provided by my naughty daughter!! When on a holiday, I try to swim and do Yoga in the beautiful scenery around! You can carry inflatable gymnastics mat for some activity!

Now comes the diet part. Being a huge foodie I can't give up food; given the fact that I am trying to lose my baby weight. Instead I have corrected my food habits. I start my day with a glass of warm lemon water with Honey. Its the best way to detoxify your system at the beginning of the day as well as it helps to lose weight! Its an age old tradition. Also honey prevents cough and cold and gives your skin a beautiful glow! Its in the Ayurveda!! Secondly, I try to have natural things. Like I substitute sugar in my diet (coffee or desserts) with honey or jaggery. Believe me honey in yogurt tastes heavenly! I don't take diet drinks which are laden with chemicals and instead prefer the natural ones like juices and mocktails. Whatever I put inside my system I make sure contains no chemicals! I would still stick to the fact that my naughty kid provides 90% of my exercise. I am planning to get her a pink air floor gymnastics for kids air track to divert her from myself. Also pink is her favourite hue.

I have known people who resort to crash diets to lose weight. Remember there are no shortcuts to success. Crash diets may help you lose a couple of kilos but would harm you more in the long run. Body would get deprived of the essential nutrients and your skin and hair would lose its charm. One may gain more weight in the future (as soon as you stop taking crash diet). And those low calorie sweeteners and drinks would eventually damage the kidneys. What's a slim body with a defective system? Well nothing! So instead of having low calorie 'chemicals', opt for naturally healthy things like honey. Its a long and beautiful life, let it remain that way! Air Track Factoryc is an interesting way to incorporate fitness anywhere!