DocDivaTraveller: August 2020

We all have shades of grey in us. We women go through so many ups and downs in life that at some point or the other, we need to lash back with vengeance. And guess what? This aspect has been tapped in a very intriguing way in ZEE5's latest original series 'Churails'. I got absolutely hooked since I watched the very first episode.

Show: Churails

Genre: Thriller

Cast: Sarwat Gilani, Mehar Bano, Nimra Bucha and Yasra Rizvi

Year: 2020

Origin: Pakistan. Original web series on Zindagi

This series, as the name suggests is a women centric one and revolves mainly around 4 feisty females from different backgrounds.

Image Source: ZEE5

Sara, played by Sarwat Gilani is an erswhile lawyer who had given up her career to nurture her family. Her husband is a big shot industrialist who is filthy rich, arrogant, strict and travels most of the time. He hardly values his family and does not pay heed to his wife's aspirations. Sara had been reduced to the status of a 'Trophy Wife'.

Jugnu played by Yasra Rizvi is a luxury wedding planner. She is an extravagant and spoilt woman who's mindless lifestyle has landed her into a financial fiasco.

Batool is played by Nimra Bucha. She is an ex criminal who had been convicted for murder. She is a dark, mysterious personality. She is hired by Jugnu as her housemaid.

Zubeida played by Mehar Bano is a young college student with high aspirations. She sneaks out of her conservative home under the pretext of college to pursue boxing classes, which is her actual passion. She has to bribe her little brother on a daily basis to keep his mouth shut; as he accompanies his sister everywhere. Irony of her life: A poor, battered girl like her has been named Zubeida.

The story is set in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. When Sara is mocked by the Principal of her children's school about her law sabbatical, she unleashes the 'Churail' in her and punches the stapler on the Principal madam's fingers. On the other side of the city, Jugnu causes a chandelier crash at her organised wedding that almost killed ten people. Zubeida goes on a date after her boxing classes who happens to be a seasoned computer hacker. She meets him through a Dating app and they really like each other. Jugnu washes away her financial stress in alcohol while Batool joins her as her new housemaid.

A single instance of Zubeida being unable to pay her brother lands her in trouble. (She spent that money on buying a new pair of boxing gloves). Her parents (especially father) batter her up badly, raid her phone and throw her in a locked room. Batool is one of their neighbours and watches this entire episode from a distance. She helps Zubeida to flee by placing a ladder. While in the world of the privileged, Sara discovers the dark, philandering activities of her husband. Devastated, she drives upto Jugnu's home in the middle of the night. Batool also enters Jugnu's home with battered and shocked Zubeida.

Image Source: ZEE5

In the midst of the darkest phase of her life, an entrepreneurial idea hits Sara and she convinces the other three women to join the same. Sara blackmails her husband to invest in her business. She acquires a big building with swanky resources and opens up a boutique 'Halal Designs'. While in reality, the boutique is a cover for their undercover business of hunting down cheating husbands. Zubeida's boyfriend becomes the latest to join their gang as his hacking skills is highly coveted in their investigative agency.

What follows next is adrenaline pumping adventures and thrill. Will these women be able to tap the 'Churails' in other women and be able to give them moral justice? We all have that witch hidden somewhere in ourselves. Don't we? At least #MainChurailHoon

Watch this show for some real thrill. Be ready to see the women kick men's as* and drink and smoke and swear. They don't give a damn to the entire world. I am literally hooked!

August 24, 2020 18 comments

Twinning with the wall. Street art is in every nook and corner of the city.

What do you look for when booking an accommodation? For us it's first the proximity to either the city center or near a famous landmark. The bare amenities and hygiene are of course non negotiable. However there are always brownie points for things like a swimming pool or a beach facing apartment. And like everyone else, we love a good buffet breakfast.

One Bedroom window looked to the ocean, the other one to the swanky street

When we were looking for homes to stay in Sydney, we were very clear about one thing. Either we wanted to stay on the Sydney Harbor area or on one of the most famous beach in the world... Bondi Beach! Staying on the beach meant being really far from the city center. However accommodation was really expensive in the Harbor area. And anyways we were supposed to visit the Bondi Beach and do the beach trail along the Pacific ocean. So we decided to book an apartment on the Bondi Beach itself.

The Pacific Ocean a hop, skip and jump away

Luckily we saw an apartment that was right beside the beach on Air BnB and we booked it immediately. It looked kind of old and tumble down ( especially our apartment in heart of Melbourne was so modern and the Villa in Blue Mountains was so dreamy and quaint) but we decided to take the plunge. Some compromise for renting a shabby area to be near the hottest spot in Sydney.

How to reach Bondi Beach from Sydney Central station?

We were coming back from our one day trip in Katoomba and hence our point of entry to Sydney was Sydney Central Railway station. In entire New South Wales, you need an Opal Card to travel which is accepted in all modes of transportation. Public Transport is quite expensive in Sydney...in fact in entire Australia. Unlike the Myki Card in Melbourne which costs 6$ itself, Opal Card is free of cost. You just have to top it up with the fare amount. From Sydney Central, we took the train to Bondi junction. There are a lot of buses from Bondi junction to Bondi Beach. The best part about their public transport is that the NSW Opal app guides you in everything and every route.

The moment we stepped into the bus, we were submerged in the tropical vibe. Everyone inside the bus was in a bikini and we were probably the oldest passengers!(and just 28 and 32 respectively 😂) It was a Sunday and all the youngsters were for a treat!

Busy neighbourhood

The bus dropped us right on the beach. Bikini clad youngsters thronged the beach like houseflies. Just like any Air B N B apartment, it was tough to locate. But our host Ed was sweet enough to come down to the street to guide us. Ed was a British who settled in Australia ages back. He was like 22 years old. The century old house was right beside the beach, flanked by expensive showrooms and facing a swanky hotel. We had to climb all the way up to the third floor with our heavy luggage. The carpets were dirty and walls were shabby but as soon as we saw our room, we were overjoyed.

The window looked straight to the beach and also to a very happening street downstairs. We could spend hours looking at all the beautiful people lazying around in the swanky hotel ( if only we had time) Also the kitchen had the most beautiful view of the ocean.

Kitchen window looking to the ocean

That place may not be the best that we could have afforded in entire Sydney but staying over the Bondi Beach was an different experience altogether. We could have easily gotten a cheaper yet much better place in another neighbourhood. But laying on the sand till midnight on one of the most famous beaches in the world was only possible because we were staying there.

The kitchen that looked straight to the Pacific Ocean

Best part of exploring Sydney on a Sunday?
The fare cannot exceed 2.6$ no matter how much you travel that day!

Street Art everywhere

So basically even though we were far from the 'Hot Spots' of Sydney, the Bondi beach at a stone's throw distance is a luxury that only the lucky can avail.

August 19, 2020 8 comments

2020 has been like no other year. Not only our health is under major threat but our entire existence has become questionable. Since the pandemic spread like wildfire during March, work came to a halt and the world almost shut down. As days progressed, 'normal' seemed distant and businesses waited for their revival. However the pandemic didn't seem to end and businesses started shutting down. The worst to suffer have been MSMEs.

In this period of liquidity crunch, Poonawalla Finance Private Limited, one of the most capitalised NBFC of India, has come up to offer a collateral-free special term loan scheme.

Much to the respite of Chartered Accountants , Poonawalla Finance has come up with a loan scheme which will further shore up their financial requirements towards their professional practice as well as to meet their personal exigencies during this difficult time.

Within the first month of the launch of this scheme, Poonawalla Finance has already received more than 4,000 loan applications and has sanctioned loan worth Rs.150 crore to more than 1,500 Chartered Accountants.

Mr. Adar Poonawalla, Chairman, Poonawalla Finance

What are the special features of this loan scheme?

It is tailor made to benefit over 3 lakh Chartered Accountants across India who are members of ICAI.
Personal and professional loans at an attractive interest rate with zero prepayment charges.
It is a collateral free special term loan scheme.
100% online digital processing
Option to take over the existing loan at higher interest rates.

"It is delightful to have the special loan scheme to support the credit needs of the Chartered Accountant professionals in these unprecedented times. We believe that offering credit support to the MSMEs and professionals like Chartered Accountants and Doctors for business development will further strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystem and boost economic growth," said Mr. Adar Poonawalla, Chairman, Poonawalla Finance.

While commenting on the loan scheme, Mr. Abhay Bhutada, MD and CEO, Poonawalla Finance said, “This special loan scheme is a part of our mission to offer credit support to enterprises and individuals so that they can meet their credit requirements. In the prevailing market scenario when access to credit has emerged as a challenge, our affordable and digitally-enabled loan scheme will help chartered accountant professionals fulfil their aspirations. This will help us expand our reach nationwide and fuel enterprise-driven growth.”

Mr. Abhay Bhutada, MD and CEO, Poonawalla Finance

Poonawalla Finance Private Ltd started in April 2019. It is a systematically important non deposit taking NBFC (Non Banking Finance Corporation) having a net worth of USD 11.4 billion. It is part of the Cyrus Poonawalla group and is one of the most well capitalized NBFCs in India. In only an year and a half, it has crossed INR 1500 crores in AUM (Assests Under Management). It has its headquarters in Pune and offers business loans, personal loans and loans to professionals.

Why should you opt for Poonawalla Finance?

It offers the lowest rate of interest with zero prepayment charges in the NBFC sector.
It follows a customer centric and relationship based business model.
It offers the simplest and the most customizable digital lending.
It is built on leading technology and has adopted multiple online and offline ecosystems.
It helps to accelerate the growth of individuals, professionals and MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium enterprises) with flexible funding options.
It aims to meet the dynamic financial needs.

August 14, 2020 27 comments

So you are in one of the most scenic places of Australia ie Victoria. And the one must do activity in Victoria is to drive along the Great Ocean Road. The mighty Southern Ocean on one side and the gorgeous cliffs and vegetation on the other makes this drive one of the most picturesque in the world. Although every turn on this road has something to offer in terms of natural beauty or a landmark, there are particularly few stops which you simply can't avoid. Since we completed the 243km stretch in a single day, we stopped only at the must visit places. Still we got late as we reached the last leg of the drive and it got dark.

So I am listing the must visit stops that can be done in a single day which are absolutely not to be missed!

1. Bells Beach: This is the first stop of the drive. It's located in the town of Torquay. Although you would come across lots of beaches on this road ( the entire drive is along the ocean) this one is quite important. The sunrise from here is spectacular. Also the wooden stairs that lead to the beach is so postcard like. We also saw kangaroos for the first time here. Since you would visit this place early in the morning, it's bound to be chilly and windy here. So be prepared.

Also read: Bells beach..the first stop on the Great Ocean Road.

2. Aireys Inlet: According to me, this is the prettiest stop on the GOR. I mean how beautiful is this light house that overlooks the Southern Ocean (the first picture at the top). Not to forget the creek and the river flowing into the sea.

Huge chunks of limestone on the ocean. Since we visited during spring, there were vibrant blooms all around... making the place all the more picturesque. Also the cute Willow tea cafe deserves at least a photo of..if not Breakfast or a cuppa!

Also read: Aireys Inlet: the most beautiful stop on the Great Ocean Road.

3. Memorial Arch: The GOR was built by the army to connect the small towns and villages in this part of the country. Therefore an arch has been built in the memory of those 3000 soldiers who worked for this coastal road. You need just a few minutes here to get clicked with the arch.

4. Lorne: For Indians it's shocking how a population of 1000 people can qualify as the most populated village of a particular region! I mean more than 1000 people reside in my parent's apartments! Anyways Lorne is the biggest and the most populated village on the GOR. It's an excellent place for a night stay in case you are covering the trip in 2 days. Lorne is self sufficient with a market, lots of cool restaurants, cottages for tourists, the cute Eskine river, a hundred year old suspension bridge, a pier and a really wide beach. Also there is Teddy's lookout, which offers jaw dropping views of the GOR.

Also read: Lorne: the best place for a night stay on the GOR.

5. Port Campbell or Apollo Bay: This is quite a drive from Lorne. If Lorne is for having breakfast then this place is for lunch. There are lots of cool eateries and supermarkets to replenish your car munching snacks. This populated stop comes 100 kms after Lorne. The surroundings are pretty picturesque too.

Also read: The area with the Kangaroo signs and picture perfect valleys.

6. Kennett River: Never in my life I could have imagined to spot and gawk at adorable koalas lazying in the wild. Yes, you can spot as many as you want! All you need is patience and sharp eyesight!

Also read: Where to find koalas in the wild?

7. Gibson Steps: As the GOR comes to its conclusion, so does the beauty of the ocean multiply many folds! This stop is 200 km from Melbourne and you reach there at around 5pm. This is the best place to see the 12 Apostles up close and personal and rave the in their awe. But mind you, you have to brave 84 rickety stairs for the same.

Also read: The best place to see the 12 Apostles

8. 12 Apostles: This is undoubtedly the most famous stop on the GOR. Although there are just 8 apostles remaining now. It's easier to photograph the two apostles on the East side. The remaining ones on the West has the setting sun above and hence incapable of being captured perfectly. Those who have a lot of time or exclusively visit for photography, make this stop their first in the morning. You can do the road trip backwards i.e start from the London Arch.

Also read: Why are the 12 Apostles called so?

9. Loch Ard Gorge: This is probably one of the most fascinating landforms in this area. Stalagmites and stalactites on one side and a gorge on the mighty Southern Ocean on the other.

Also read: Why should you visit the Loch Ard Gorge?

10. London Arch: This is the farthest stop from Melbourne. This particular stretch of the Southern Ocean is so erosive that it has enormous chunks of limestone in it carved into peculiar shapes by its consistent corrosive action. The London Arch is a few kilometers ahead from the London Bridge.

This 243 km (one way) drive was definitely the most fascinating road trips of our entire life. If you plan to visit Australia, this should top your list!

August 04, 2020 9 comments