DocDivaTraveller: April 2020

Title: Summer Days and Summer Nights

Author: Roy Callaghan Vegas

Genre: Fiction, Short Stories

Pages: 64

So my quarantine reading goes on. And for the first time in many years, I devoured a short stories book. I have been a novel reader since my teenage days. For the past two years, my category of short stories have been those which I read to my toddler every night. However I am glad that I read this book as fell in love with this category all over again.

Why should you read short stories?

For busy persons (read working moms) these are especially helpful as you don't lose connection. You can finish one story every night. One book provides a lot of variety. Also those who find book reading tedious, can start with short stories to develop their reading habit.

Have you played a prank on anyone? Or worse, have you ever been a victim of some practical joke? My answer is yes to both of them :D

Without further ado, here is my review.

This book is a collection of 7 stories, based in India, mostly Southern and Western part of India. The stories are very relatable. Most of them have a prank in them which would leave you in splits. One story is particularly very emotional.

The Last Practical Joke: This one is about a mischief (as the title suggests) that falls backwards.

The Taekwondo Kid: Again this has a prank but it's quite shocking. You would not even expect the story to end this way. Also it teaches us that strength lies in our minds. The most thoughtful story of this collection.

The Journey: A train voyage of three friends which lands up in an intelligently executed theft plan.

The Meeting place: An overtly emotional story that left me in tears. Beautifully penned down.

The Treasure Tree : A combination of nostalgia and prank. How a childish act/prank of two brothers changed their family's life forever.

Recognize Me: A story of how one kid's pride turns into his worst nightmare! One would get a hearty laugh after reading this.

Cannibals: Again a hilarious story of a prank, with the essence of friendship deeply embedded. How scary is it to be chased by a cannibal?

Roy Callaghan Vegas has done an incredible job of penning down these stories. His writing style is simple yet so descriptive and beautiful. There are hand illustrations in most of the pages that add more charm to the book.

This collection of stories is bound to be loved by every age group. You can buy this book on Amazon

Rating: 5/5

April 28, 2020 15 comments

We all are sailing on the same boat of isolation and insecurity during this phase of lockdown. And if you are a parent, then entertaining the kids has been the biggest challenge. You are not guilty if you are babysitting them with television. However the challenge is to give the kids quality screen time. If my daughter is watching television, I would like her to be creatively entertained as well as learn something. Thank God for ZEE5 Kids, my toddler has an unlimited source of entertainment.

Zee group has launched ZEE5 Kids, especially for children which is available in a wide range of genres as well as languages. The library is spread across multiple languages like Hindi, English, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam and Bhojpuri. This section of India's beloved OTT ZEE5 encompasses varied genres, languages, formats and age-group based curations for kids. ZEE5 Kids’ content is a mix of acquired and exclusives by onboarding leading production houses like Lionsgate and Cosmos Maya.

It has 4000 hours of uninterrupted entertainment. That means we parents can sit back and relax while our kids are engaged and entertained. The best part? It's free for the users.

So what all am I loving on ZEE5 Kids for my toddler?

I love the fact that kids shows have so much to teach. Take the example of Chhota Bheem. There is so much bravery, strength and intelligence. We get to learn about friendship and sticking to good and fighting against evil. Isn't that what we want to instill in our kids?

Shows like Vir the Robot Boy teach kids the intricacies of friendship and superhuman stuff while certain legends such as Robinhood, Hatim, Christopher Columbus or epics such as Ramayana, Mahabharata imparts much required knowledge to the kids.

There is something for every kind of kid. From action and adventure to drama, comedy, mythology, inspiration, superhero, fantasy & DIY. Across 9 languages and varied formats - live-action, animation, fiction, Reality shows, etc. your child (no matter whatever age group) is bound to get hooked and leave you free. It's going to be #NonStopBachFun

If watching shows/serials is not your child's thing, there are endless number of kids movies that would get them hooked. Since my toddler loves animals and the majority of the kids do so, I am enlisting a few of my personal favourites.

Image Source: ZEE5

You can also binge watch other ZEE5 digital content.

Here is a list of Best Animal Movies for kids which they are definitely going to love.

1. Felix: All around the world. This classic movie is a must watch. It's based in Norway, so you can see a lot of snow! Felix decides to spend his summers there with Sophie and family. It becomes a big adventure because he gets lost and has to find way to his home, alone.

2. Zoo Wars: A funny movie about a city elephant with a boring desk job and space dreams. It becomes a super adventure set in the galaxy.

3. Penguin Rescue: Again an adventure movie set in space. Intergalactic space explorers are assigned to save a little penguin on planet earth.

4. Bee team: Two bees: Zip and Zap try to catch thieves who have been stealing their queen's honey. They make new friends on this mission.

5. Fish Tales: A beautiful fairy tale like story. A 12 year old girl meets a mermaid while living on a Greek island. The twist is that the mermaid faces threat from an evil fisherman.

There are so many other animal movies for kids to watch like Sea monsters, Wee Dragon, Pup Scouts 2, The funny world of pets, Easter Sing, Sea monsters, etc.

Believe me all these are so entertaining that the entire family is going to get glued to the screen.

So are you excited for a non stop entertaining session for your kids? What are you going to show them?

April 27, 2020 15 comments

With the lockdown being extended, I am sure we all girls are thinking of the same thing... When the hell would we be able to visit the salon? But I am not that perturbed. Firstly because with my crazy lifestyle I hardly ever get the time to visit the salon. So it's not something that I look forward to. Secondly, I have equipped myself with the all the essential stuff as well as skills to fulfill all the functions at home. So today I would like to share a simple at home routine to groom yourselves.

1. Get rid of body hair: Use NEUD Hair Removal Spray to get rid of body hair. It removes hair in a jiffy.

Apply NEUD After Hair Removal lotion for smooth skin after waxing.

Why NEUD After Hair Removal Lotion?

Our skin is exposed after hair removal whether we do waxing or use depilatory creams or NEUD Hair Removal Spray. Our skin requires closing of the pores and moisturisation which is provided by NEUD After Hair Removal lotion.

What does it contain?

It contains Aloe vera, Jojoba oil, sunflower oil, Vitamin E, clove oil, menthol and all safe ingredients.

How to use?

After waxing or using hair removal cream or NEUD Hair Removal Spray, apply liberally on the skin.

Allow the lotion to be absorbed fully.

Do not wipe or rinse.

How does it feel afterwards?

The depilated skin feels absolutely smooth and soft. There is no sign of redness which is usually there after waxing. The post waxing inflammation is gone after application.

There is sensation of coolness (because of menthol and aloe vera)

The smell isn't too significant.

No stickiness afterwards.

Price: 290 INR for a 100 gm bottle. It is available on all e commerce sites.

Packaging: Comes in a pump bottle in a gorgeous gold and black packaging. Lotion is very easy to dispense.

2. Use a tweezer to shape your eyebrows. One doesn't need skillful threading to shape the eyebrows every single time. For emergency purposes (like this lockdown) this is sufficient. Trim the upper part of the eyebrow arch with scissors in the end.

3. Give yourself a home manicure and pedicure: Washing dishes and mopping the floors have taken a toll on our hands. After the whole family goes to bed, soak your hands and feet in warm water (turn by turn) Trim your nails. Scrub your palms and feet with a body scrub. File your feet. Dry with a towel and then paint them in your favorite color. After the paint gets dry, slather your limbs in body butter and go to sleep.

4. Use a face scrub and face mask once a week. If you have run out of them, use besan as scrub and multani mitti (fullers earth) as mask.

5. Don't forget the skincare essentials: Don't forget to apply sunscreen after washing your face in the morning. Reapply in the afternoon. Don't skip night cream and an under eye cream at night.

6. Wash your hair at least once a week. Give them a trim if necessary.

I know if you are a mom, these are easier said than done. But these small steps would go a long way to make us feel good. What say?

April 24, 2020 8 comments

Title: My Ramyeon Girl

Author: Nethra A

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Kindle version

What's better than curling up with a nice romantic book in these gloomy lockdown days? Nothing! Well my quarantine reading goes on and my current read is a cute little romantic novel.

The story is about a South Korean star Jung Su who is not romantically committed but always on the set, shooting. His friendship with a male friend of his had been splashed in the media as 'gay'. His manager Min-Sik is pushy, ambitious for him and had been trying to set him up on blind dates to remove the gay tag and to get him romantically involved. Sadly he is least interested.

Jung Su used to take the help of a disguise whenever he had to step out in the public. One fine afternoon he decides to have some ramyeon. He puts on his cap and sunglasses and enjoys his meal alone only to be intrigued by a foreigner girl on the next table struggling with chopsticks.

That girl was Meena, from India who did not know him, the superstar. She treated him like a regular man even after he googled his identity and showed that to her. Their encounter was rather funny. He trained her how to eat Ramyeon with chopsticks.

Jung Su was strangely drawn to that brown girl. They crossed paths again but she did not pay heed to him. Part of that irked him, part of that attracted him further to her. But then he resumes his normal life with her in the back of his mind. He also starts a blog which garners humongous pageviews.

He goes for shooting under the famous director Su Woo and that's such an enriching experience of his life. He gets trained in martial arts, has to take reshoots for the fight scenes but everything is so worth it. After 6 months when it gets wrapped, he gets so nostalgic. On the very last day of goodbyes and autographs and gifts, he gets hit by a stranger so bad that he lands up in the hospital.

His sister had been taking care of him but all he could think of was Meena. Later at an award ceremony he comes to know that Meena is a writer from India and he chides himself for not expressing interest in knowing her background. Instead he had just projected himself to be a biggie. That was so narcissistic. So finally he gathers the courage and calls her and invites her for lunch. The place was not too fancy but definitely way better than the old man's ramyeon shop, where they first met.

Does Jung Su actually fall in love with Meena or is it just an infatuation? What would be the future of this international/interracial love story? Is love really blind? Do people accept interracial relationships? How much importance should be given to the fellow Koreans' feelings given that Jung Su's job is highly public?

My Ramyeon girl is a beautiful love story that refuses to follow the traditional rules of the society. Whether you are a romantic or not, this story is bound to touch your heart in many ways. The ending is unpredicatable.

April 23, 2020 9 comments

Not an apt time to talk about travelling but we can dream and plan anyway! There are two types of travellers in this world: the tourists and the explorers. The tourists love to follow the trodden path, tick off the most famous places from their list when on a tour and spend majority of their vacation days relaxing. An explorer however consciously avoids the trodden path, abandons places that are popular yet overcrowded and tries to unravel something new at every place he visits. We are undoubtedly into the second category; rest is the most alien word when on a trip and we are always on the hunt to explore some place untouched by regular Indians. Having said that, we also make sure that we don't miss out any important landmark of a city. For example, Cinque Terre in Italy and Paros Island in Greece was indispensable but we also took pictures with the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Acropolis which are iconic and symbolic of that particular city. In fact I spend quite a few days researching the best angles for photography for each iconic landmark we plan to visit.

Similarly on our Australian trip, we spent an entire day in the Blue Mountains, which is a famous area for locals in the state of New South Wales. However a trip to Australia is incomplete without seeing the famous you know what: Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. It was the number one thing to do on my list ( my partner couldn't agree with me) However the Harbor bridge is so huge and long that I spent quite a chunk of my time researching as to what was the best place to capture both these iconic structures. Turned out, a lot of people try to find that out and so here I am sharing my findings with you.

If you want the picture of the Opera House in front with the Harbor Bridge arching over it's back, it's from the Royal Botanical Gardens. However that's not all. The botanical gardens is really vast and it may take ages to reach it's Bay area. So aim for the Mrs Mcquarie point.

It's a historic point with a chair along the waterfront in the gardens. The moment you start walking along the water, you realize that you are at the right place.

Tip: Its better that you take pictures in the morning as the lighting would be best. In the afternoon the sun would be above the bridge and your faces would turn out dark. We were of course didn't know that and hence these pictures are without optimal lighting.

If you want the Harbor Bridge to be in the front and Opera House at the back, there is another spot. Although why wouldn't you want the Opera House? Anyways for that you have to cross and reach the other side of the Bridge ( on the northern Sydney side) There is a lovely promenade besides the Luna Park which offers spectacular views of the bridge. We spent the entire evening there and witnessed the city light up beautifully.

April 15, 2020 11 comments

After China was declared Corona virus free, the number of dicorce cases rose many folds. Reason? Too much 'un' quality time with each other, locked up at home. Relationships can take a back seat during this tough time. With work from home jobs taking up the major part of our day and gadgets and household chores the rest, we really don't carve out time for ourselves. Real conversation is fleeting these days; that too along with scrolling your Instagram feed or other phone beeps. And worse, if you are married and have kids, then romance goes for a toss altogether. So how to rekindle that passion which you once had in the simplest yet cutesy way possible?

Make breakfast in bed: This applies both for men as well as women. Don't think that I only expect the girl to make breakfast for her guy. Love is mutual and so the gestures should too!

Everyone loves a good meal after a night's sleep. And during this depressing/uncertain time if it comes floating to your bed, nothing is better! You don't have to be a super chef for the same! Everyone knows how to toast bread, spread butter on it and make tea/ coffee. Or you can even opt for juice! Cut a bowl of fruits too. Presentation matters so don't forget to add a rose bud or a cute love note!

Go twinning with your better half!

Twinning became a rage last year and continues to do so! With mothers and daughters, sisters, fathers and sons dressing up alike, its time that partners too start wearing their hearts on their sleeves...literally! Actually its a very cute concept. Once you and your partner dress up in matching or complimentary clothing, then you don't need to scream from the rooftops that you love each other. Your outfits would do that for you! Funny part/Non quarantine implication: If you get separated from each other in a crowded place, you may spot him/her very easily!

Spend a lazy day sans phone:

We all tend to associate weekends with going out or eating out but wait, are you able to connect in a public area? With lockdown in full swing, try to plan an entire Sunday at home, with no distractions, not even your phone (which is in fact the biggest one). Prepare food the previous day and lay inside the blanket, watch a movie marathon or a series on netflix. Don't forget to take breaks in between for real conversations!

Whisper sweet nothings without reason:

Love is supposed to be unconditional...Ain't it? So do you really need an ocassion to say "I love you''? But in the hustle bustle of daily life we forget to do so. I guess we utter those special words only during birthdays and some other significant days. Be expressive more frequently. These three words or any other mushy phase work like magic!

Actions speak louder than words:

Tiny actions like plugging in your partner's phone when he has forgotten and fallen asleep signifies how caring you are. Daily romance does not mean expensive gifts. Its the daily tiny gestures that help your better half. Give a head massage after your partner finishes working from home. All the exhaustion will vanish rapidly! Place a cup of tea/coffee beside his/her laptop during work. Small gestures like this go a long way.

For females only: Gift him a new you.

If you are a mother, then childbirth has taken a toll on your emotional as well as your physical health. Normal delivery distends the birth canal extensively and relaxes the vagina forever. It's frustrating both for the female as well as the male partner. To overcome this, use Everteen Vaginal Tightening and Revitalizing gel.

What does Everteen Vaginal Tightening and Revitalising gel do?

Tightens and Revitalizes Vagina

Rejuvenates vaginal muscles, tone and vigor

Improves lubrication and reduces dryness

Removes harmful bacteria in the vaginal lining

Restores Post-Delivery Vaginal Elasticity

What is it made of?

It is a unique gel extracted from pure and natural ingredients like Ficus glomerata, Woodfordia floribunda, Butea frondosa, Sphatika, Quersuc infectoris, Aloe vera...al those Ayurvedic ingredients that are known to help moisturize, tighten and revitalize the vagina.

How does it work?

It promotes cell regeneration in vaginal walls which further heals epidermis of vagina and rejuvenates it.

The rare ingredients in everteen vaginal gel get absorbed quickly in the vaginal mucosa and help in enhancing the elasticity of muscles in the vaginal area.

With its vasoconstriction property, it constricts blood vessels and freshens up the vaginal area resulting in a naturally tightening effect.

It enhances the feminine vagina muscle elasticity and tightens the vagina.vaginal area resulting in a naturally tightening effect.

The antioxidant properties of everteen gel restore health, tone, and vigor of the vagina

The ingredients of everteen gel help in preventing infection and infuse life in the cells and tissues of vagina and prevents infection.

How to Use everteen Vaginal Tightening & Revitalizing Gel?

Wash your vagina & hands with clean water
Sit in squatting position.
Remove the cap from bottle.
Press one full pump to take 2-3 gms gel on your finger tip.
Apply gel with your fingertip inside vagina in circular motion.
Sit in a comfortable position for few minutes.
Apply everteen Gel twice daily.

Precautions:

Do not use this gel during pregnancy or periods.

everteen Vaginal Tightening & Revitalizing Gel is suitable for all the phases of a girl's life: unmarried, married, post child birth and post menopause too. You feel new again!

Price: 1999 INR for a 50 gm pack and is available on all major e commerce sites. 30 gm pack available too.

So how are you handling your relationship with your other half during this lockdown?

April 14, 2020 11 comments

So we have reached the 14th day of Lockdown but there is no sign of flattening of the curve. Sounds so scary right! Only one week is left and after that we have to resume our normal schedules. Then what? Not all of us can work from home. And given the density of population in our country, social distancing is almost impossible without an imposed section 144 or curfew. But we have to take all the necessary precautions till COVID-19 treatment becomes accessible to all. Otherwise, we all would end up infecting each other.

1. Social Distancing: This is the foremost precaution we have to take irrespective of lockdown or not. Forget going to malls. movie theatres or attending/hosting parties. Isolation is better than suffering. I guess all would agree.

2. Face masks: Don't even think of stepping out of the house without a face mask. A face shield helps in protecting yourself as well as others in innumerable ways.

The droplets are not released in to the air.

The shield prevents the infective droplets from reaching our respiratory passages.

Since this novel Coronavirus seems to survive on surfaces for days, it's important that you cover up yourself fully before stepping out.

Disposable face masks are useful to protect against, dust , fluids, germs, and weather.Perfect mask when travelling through congested airports, bus terminals, malls, parks , and busy city streets.

A face shield with screen visor for eye protection provides added defence. You just have to remove the entire thing before entering your home.

3. Use a Body Temperature Gun: We all are social animals even in this time of social distancing. We rely on a number of people for our daily needs. Like the food delivery boy or the parcel person or even our home guards. We need to let the entry of certain outside people too in our homes. How can we know whether they are infected or not?

By using a Non contact digital infrared thermometer Body temperature gun.

How does it work?

You point on the forehead of the concerned person and it displays the temperature.

Any reading above 37°C would raise the suspicion of fever and it's best to send that person for medical check up.

Features:

*1. 100 sets of measurement data memory recall.
*2. One-button measurement for easy operation, contact-free to avoid cross infection.
*3. If there is no operation for 15s, and the measurer is automatically turned off.
*4. Fever reminder function, you can set the temperature of fever reminder freely. (The default reminding data is 37.3 °C)
*5. The data unit can be switched between Celsius and Fahrenheit, and switching between object and temperature measurement.
*6. Electronic infrared temperature measuring instrument with high accuracy, suitable for infants, children, adults.
*7. Large LCD screen with backlit function.

4. Maintain hygeine all round the clock: Disinfect all the appliances in the house frequently. Switches, door knobs, faucets and all other things that are used by multiple members of the house. Wash your hands with soap and water repeatedly and don't touch your eyes and face. Use a sanitizer when water isn't available. Wash clothes and dry them in the sun. Deep clean your home regularly.

5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Thankfully Shieldhelp is here to provide us rest of the protective gear like hand sanitizer, light sterilizer, goggles, tissues, gloves, masks, etc . They ship worldwide and have excellent customer service.

What precautions are you taking in this period?

April 08, 2020 27 comments