#BloodyHypocrisy

The constitution of India provides equal opportunity to women in every sphere of life. There are special laws in our constitution to avoid the exploitation of women in our nation. Although India has been trying to empower women, are Indian women really empowered?

It's paradoxical. At one point we say that women are empowered yet a female can't buy/ hold a sanitary pad in public. That is why when a female need to change her sanitary napkin, she would never take a walk of pride to the restroom instead she would either grab a purse or any cloth to hide her sanitary pad in it.

Not every woman in our nation is equally privileged & blessed to have a safe and broad-minded environment to discuss their menstruation queries or experiences in their home which leads to a lack of menstrual awareness and an abundance of menstrual myths. On one hand, Indian women like Falguni Nayar from Nykaa and P.V Sindhu Badminton Player have made not only the nation but the whole world proud by brightening up India’s name.

And on the other hand, there are girls out there, dropping out of school due to a lack of menstrual awareness. Who knows if these little shining stars would be the next Falguni Nayar and  P.v Sindhu? 

There are numerous factors contributing their part to this unfavorable situation of women in our nation and one of them is “Hypocrisy”. We believe Hypocrisy has played a major role in this whole scenario as for centuries, women have been on the center stage whether we talk about  Vedic culture, where the most important early divinities were women like Usha or dawn. In fact, in our culture, Navratri is celebrated where for 9 continuous days a girl is worshipped and people would touch her feet, and offer her everything that brings her comfort and joy.

On the contrary, no one would be concerned about her comfort when it comes to those days of the month. This is what hypocrisy looks like and we need to put an end to it.

ABOUT INITIATIVE

We took a step forward to make the world understand the meaning of “Women Empowerment” by making them realize how they are incompletely empowering women. The empowerment of women has been somewhere limited to what has been written in books. No one is taking a step forward to think out of the book and empower women in real ways. We realized that people have understood the concept of “Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao” but what next? Yes, Indians are trying their best to empower women but Why is women's empowerment limited to education only? Real empowerment starts from home. And Indian women do not have the right to openly discuss and talk about periods in their homes. What kind of empowerment is this? What is the point of giving education to your daughters when they don’t have the freedom to express their views openly?

OUR MOTIVE

Our motive is to complete this incomplete empowerment without leaving any space for exceptions. We want the world to know the literal meaning of “Women Empowerment”. We are looking forward to encouraging families to have an open discussion about periods in their homes so that our little angels don’t have to roam here and there to accumulate information to know themselves and their bodies more accurately.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?

 We request you to help us reach as many families as possible with this campaign so that we can encourage open discussions about menstruation in our society.

• Tie a red scarf around your waist and post a picture with #BloodyHypocrisy. Don’t forget to tag  @everteen_wd

                                               OR

• Tie a red scarf around your waist and post a picture in the frame attached (link) with #BloodyHypocrisy. Don’t forget to tag  @everteen_wd

                                               OR

• You can also use the filter (Link will be attached) and record yourself while checking your hypocrisy level and post it on your social media with #BloodyHypocrisy. Don’t forget to tag  @everteen_wd

                                               OR

• You can use the frame (Link will be attached) and record yourself saying “agar chot ka blood normal hai to period k blood par chuppi kyu?” and post it on your social media handle with #BloodyHypocrisy. Don’t forget to tag  @everteen_wd

10 PEOPLE WITH THE MOST ENGAGING POSTS WILL BE GIFTED A HAMPER WORTH  RS.50,000 

Let us women be empowered in the truest sense.

If you have least interest in Geography, you know that Indonesia is the land of active volcanoes. Bali, the most popular island for tourists has three active volcanoes: Mount Agung (which erupted in 2019), Mount Batur and Mount Braya Bratan. These volcanoes are popular for trekking/hiking, and we like any other adventurous traveller, wanted to get a taste of it.

Also read: Trek to active volcano in Philippines

The volcano is indeed beautiful from a distance but it gets concealed by clouds more often you would like. Hence we could hardly capture it to our satisfaction. It was afternoon when we started and while on the way, we spotted a very pretty restaurant. We were really famished (had breakfast early in the morning) and the place offered stunning views of the Mount Batur. We were sold. Later on ,after we returned to India, we realised that Amora Bali is a really famous restaurant that deserves a visit.

We decided to have lunch on the balcony (of course for the view). They offered buffet only. and I had a really good time with all the sea food and stuff. The husband had a variety of vegetarian options.

Also read: Philippines: The archipelago

By the time we were full, it was already 4. It was too late. Also, we were pretty satisfied looking at the volcano while stuffing ourselves. So we decided to head to our next destination, Tirta Ganga, which was located on opposite side of the island from there. It meant a really long ride.

By the time we reached Tirta Ganga, it was dark. It was one of the saddest moments of my life. I mean we rode all the way and Ubud (the place where we were staying) was one hell of a ride from there, all was for nothing! The place is poorly lit; it's not meant for after sunset. It's absolutely stunning and we regret till date about not having being able to visit this place in its full glory.

It's basically a royal palace, with water fountains all around and bright and big goldfishes swimming in those waters. You can jump from one stone to another over the pond for pictures. It's a delightful experience.

This palace was almost destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Agung in 1963.

Heartbroken, we clicked what we could manage and then left in a hurry because Ubud was really a long way.

Has this ever happened to you? That you had planned of something and were unable to explore it properly; even after you reached there?

As soon as you start researching about Bali (to plan a trip), you realize that the entire island is littered with temples or Pura. It's a no surprise though owing to its rich cultural heritage and Hindu history. But as soon as you land here, you realize that the 'Puras' are literally everywhere! From small shrines to temple complexes spread over several acres, the land of temples takes over a new meaning altogether.

It's impossible to visit all the big ones, since they are so many. However you should not miss out the six main temples (mentioned in my post on Uluwatu Temple) blog post. So today I would love to elaborate on Pura Taman Ayun, which literally translates into the Garden Temple.

This temple is located in Mengwi, and is a temple with a garden and water features. This temple had been built as a family temple for the Mengwi empire and was reserved only for the royals. Built in the 17th century, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the prettiest temples of Bali.

How to reach:

We were staying in Ubud so it was not much of a long ride (only 8 kms). And it is 18 kms from Denpasar, the capital. I would highly suggest to hire a scooter (if you are two people) as it is definitely the fastest way to get around.

The Taman Ayun temple is spread over an area of 100X250 metre square and consists of 4 courts. The temple which literally means " A Beautiful Garden" will be welcoming you with fountains and well manicured lawns. What fascinated me the most were the lineup of thatched roof shrines. Most of the temples in Bali have thatched roofs but this Pura has lots of them, clustered together, which gives the temple such a unique look.

There are 9 different Gods guarding the cardinal directions of the second court.

In one of the halls, there is a Barong, which is a Balinese mythological character. He is a panther like creature and the king of spirits, the leader of good and the nemesis of Rangda. Of course and the main character of the Barong dance to represent the eternal battle between the good and the evil.

All these things were very novel to us, and hence we took lots of pictures. Everything is so exotic in Bali!

Then what's even travelling without interacting with locals? Over the years, we have found out that the best way to interact with them/ break the ice is to request them for a photograph. If they are friendly, a conversation is bound to start! These two sweet cyclists were really nice to talk to, and we are connected on social media even now! Despite running against time, we had quite a chat with them. These experiences are what makes a trip so special. We try to make friends wherever we go!

Are you an introvert when travelling abroad? Or do you like to make friends like us? 

Even the policemen were dressed in fancy sarongs and were friendly!

 If you have planning a trip to Bali, I am sure you would have considered to stay in Ubud (even if it's for a day or two). Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali and has a vibe of its own. Not to forget, 60% of tourist spots of Bali are in Ubud itself. And in Ubud, there are two palaces: The Ubud Palace and the Ubud Water Palace. Now the main Ubud Palace is known to everyone. But the water palace is known by its other name: Saraswati Temple or Pura Taman Saraswati. Whether you are able to visit the main palace or not, the Saraswati temple is a must because it is so unique!

All the temples/places of interest require a ticket to enter. Although the price is not too much (some temples are expensive as per Indian currency) , the best part of Saraswati Temple is that the entrance is free! 

This temple has one of the prettiest cafes in Bali, Cafe Lotus, which offers uninterrupted views of the lotus pond. There is a Starbucks right outside, and as soon as you enter the temple premises, you are greeted by lush lotus ponds on both sides. Lotus maybe the national flower of India, but it's not that common barring the Eastern parts of India. So watching them all over here is such a treat to the eyes!

Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge (according to Hindu mythology) always has a lotus in her hand and that explains the boisterous lotus ponds.

Like all the Balinese temples, this temple too has sections called Mandalas. There is a specific opening and closing time, but we visited very early in the morning (before heading to the airport for departure).

It is mandatory to wear a sarong and cover the knees during the visiting hours.

The Ubud Palace is adjacent to the water palace and is not very big. You will probably explore it within 15 minutes. It also does not have any entrance fee (thankfully). There is a dance performance every evening for which you have to buy tickets.

The palace belonged to the Royal Family of Ubud. Built in the 19th century, this entire place has intriguing architecture and statues. 

We visited the Ubud Palace the previous night and it was dark everywhere. We were staying in Ubud itself so it wasn't much of a hassle. The most satisfying thing about this trip were the places we chose to stay.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures because this is what you are here for!

 'This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla and sponsored by BakezbyDaizy.'

If you are planning a trip to Bali, or have heard/ researched about it, you must have come across the word 'Nusa' several times. Nusa Penida, Nusa Dua, Nusa Dharma, etc etc. Nusa in Balinese means Island. So Nusa Dua means twin island. Because both the neighbouring islands are very close to each other. 

The way to the Nusa Dua beach is interesting. After you park your vehicle, there is a vast park which is bustling with tourists and local people. There are several restaurants (nothing fancy but awesome nonetheless) in that area and we had a hearty and cheap lunch there. Food in Bali is really sumptuous and of course cheap.

The Nusa Dua beach is dotted with five star resorts like Mercure and all facing the beach. Although there is a public beach too where anyone can swim. The water is absolutely crystal clear. You can see your feet on the sea bed. The water is warm and this beach is a must even if you are not a water baby.

However the one thing about what I intend to speak is located 4 kms from here. It's the Waterblow. As the name suggests, it's all about watching the water splash ferociously against a cliff! The waves of the Indian Ocean crashing the jagged limestone cliffs is a sight to cherish forever. Thankfully the entire area is guarded.

As exciting as it sounds, it's not for the impatient. Because the waves depend on high and low tides, you may have to wait for a quite a bit before you can witness a really high splash. And it's even the worst case scenario for photography enthusiasts. Because when you are focusing, you may not get a high enough wave and the moment you miss clicking, it might have been the highest of the day!

Another fool proof way to capture it might be putting up your camera/phone on a tripod and record continuously. I, personally am not a fan of this process as I don't have unlimited storage space and always seem to have memory full on all of our devices.

After a lot of attempts, we managed to witness and capture some really good waves. The wave can go as high as 26 feet but we were not that lucky. Lesson learned: You need to have a lot of time on hand if you are planning to witness such nature's wonders. If you love the ocean (which I am sure you do; lest you would nit be in Bali), this is indeed a novel thing to enjoy.

Caution: The cliffs are really sharp and rugged so don't even think of going into the ocean no matter how good swimmer you are. Also the sun is really harsh. So don't forget SPF, umbrella/hat and a bottle of water.

Have you seen such a thing like Waterblow anywhere else? 

 'This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla and sponsored by BakezbyDaizy.'

 You don't need to be religious to visit temples; unless you are on a pilgrimage. While some travellers are put off by the mention of religious sites, I have always considered them as a piece of architecture and history; rather than associating them with some faith. 

When you are in Bali, you are supposed to visit temples. After all Bali is the land of Pura (Balinese for temple). Every temple is a piece of marvelous architecture, backed by centuries of intriguing history. However you may suffer from temple fatigue too; since there are just too many to visit. So when churning out an itinerary,  don't forget to add the exquisite Uluwatu Temple to your list.

Here's why you should definitely make the effort to go all the way upto the Southern most tip of the island.

1. It is one of the 6 must visit temples of Bali. 

When you are in the land of hundreds of temples, it's a bit of a task to narrow down on what all to visit. I will make the list simpler for you: there are 6 main temples which you just can't miss and Uluwatu is one of them.

The word 'Ulu' means land's end and 'Watu' means rock. The name basically justifies its location: at the edge of the cliff. 

Apart from the Pura Luhur Uluwatu, the other five main temples are: Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, Tanah Lot Temple, Pura Tirta Empul, Taman Ayun and Goa Gajah temple. When you are a tourist, you just can't afford to miss out an important spot.

2. Its location is unprecedented and next to a never before experience.

How many times have you visited a temple which is located on the edge of a cliff with the blue ocean waves crashing below? I guess never! Since the temple is at the edge of a cliff, the walk to the end offers you vistas of the blue ocean, the endless sky and all the green vegetation around. It's picturesque.

3. The sunset is spectacular from here.

Every sunset is spectacular right? But none can be as magnificent as this one. The entire west side has the blue ocean so basically you can see the Sun go down into the water.

4. The most scenic spot to witness the famous Balinese Kecak dance.

The Kecak Dance is one of the most famous dance forms of Bali and there are male performers doing it everyday evening, here in Uluwatu temple premises with fire and vigour. It's a must watch and an integral part of their culture. There are separate tickets for the dance (apart from the temple entry tickets)

5. The Uluwatu beach below is nothing short of unforgettable.

Rocky beaches are magnificent. They may not be ideal for swimming but hold impeccable charm. The crashing of waves on the rocks are my favourite part. Don't forget to give the beach a visit before going all the way up to the temple.

6. The sarong, blue ocean and temple on a cliff: Stunning combination.

Like every other temple in Bali, men and women both need to wear a sarong. However, that's the beauty of travelling. Unless you imbibe the culture of that particular place, did you even visit that place?

The sarong, ocean and the architecture: a match made in heaven.

7. The uphill road leading to the temple is a ride to remember.

We explored Bali on a scooter. It's the easiest and fastest mode of transport as roads are narrow and winding (so cars are not that helpful). The climb upto the cliff is definitely a ride to remember.

Have you visited the Uluwatu Temple in Bali? Which Pura is your absolute favourite?

 'This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.'