DocDivaTraveller: June 2015

My hair after the Nioxin Treatment....

Slowly and steadily I am venturing into beauty blogging! So its been about twenty days that I had undergone the Nioxin Treatment. We had been given Nioxin kits to try at home for twenty days and then blog about our experience. I had been given Kit no 2 which is for visible thinning for fine hair. Well its time to let the cat out of the bag. I have some pretty amazing revelation about my hair as well as about the product.

Nioxin kit no 2

I was supposed to use them for twenty days continuously. But let me get honest. I don't wash my hair daily. In fact, I can't! I have a bundle of curly hair which is quite long; to top it off my mornings are crazy busy with seven days working! I can barely manage to wash them twice a week. So I could use Nioxin products only for around eight times.

The kit has three products: cleanser shampoo, scalp revitaliser and scalp and hair treatment.

The cleanser is a normal shampoo. While the scalp revitaliser is the only conditioner that is for the scalp! The hair and scalp treatment is a kind of leave in conditioner. All the products contain exotic herbs and are infused with peppermint that leaves me with a cool mint sensation.

What I loved about the products that apart from solving my scalp problems, they absolutely refreshed my hair!

Applying the cleanser shampoo on wet hair!

The cleanser had to be applied for two minutes on your hair and scalp. After rinsing your hair, apply the scalp revitaliser. Take the required quanity in your palms and massage your scalp gently with your fingers. The fact that the product is working is the cool mint sensation on your scalp. I don't know whether it was the previous dermabrasion treatment or the overall effect, dandruff absolutely vanished from my scalp!

The only conditioner that is for the scalp! Gently massage your scalp with the revitaliser.

After keeping it on for about five minutes, rinse your hair completely. Towel dry your hair and take out the scalp and hair treatment. The product is in the form of foam and comes in a spray bottle. The unique part is that it contains sunscreen with SPF 15. As Nioxin believes in the skincare approach to hair, sun protection is also important for our tresses!

After towel drying, apply the scalp and hair treatment. It comes in the form of foam and is very easy to apply.

Applying the foam into my hair. It is like a leave in conditioner which has SPF 15 in it!

The overall effect was pretty satisfactory. I don't know whether my hair is visibly thicker or not; its too early to comment on that. But what I felt was that my scalp became squeaky clean. No dandruff, no flakes. I also felt reduction in hairfall.
The kit is quite expensive as it is 2400 INR for the three products. But I feel that its really worth the moolah!

Nioxin products sitting pretty with the other toiletries

“You can try and experience #NioxinNowIndia at your nearest salon. This activity is in association with BlogAdda.com”

6/25/2015 12 comments

Happy Fathers Day to all the awesome fathers out there! I am sure that everyone would agree with the title of my post! Our father has always been our first hero! He has always been our pillar of support, the strongest shoulder to cry on and the person with the deepest pockets who would never run out of money!

Two water babies vacationing in Puri...

I share a very subdued relationship with my father. My dad is a very inexpressive person and at times its really tough to understand him. I have had two phases of relationship with him. My parents tell me that I was a total papa's girl during infancy and early childhood. I used to look like him too! With really short hair and in shorts and tee, I was a tomboy in my childhood. But tables turned during an unfortunate situation when I was four.

The very first photograph of my parents' camera...I was six months old...

My mother got really ill and she had to be hospitalised for a long period. During that time Bapi (as I fondly call him) took a break from his office. He used to cook my favourite things, take me to buy jewelery (yes i have been fond of them since time immemorial) and toys as many as I demanded. He tried to fill the void that was formed due to my mom's absence. But somehow I really missed her and when she came back fully cured, I became clingy towards her. I would not let her leave my side even for a single moment. And that is how I became a mama's girl. And as I grew, I started resembling her too!

Me and my eternal love for flowers!

Throughout my late childhood and teens, I and Bapi shared a silent relationship. I never clung to him nor he was vocal about his feelings. But one thing was very apparent, he loved me more than my mom did. Being a single child, he was very protective and possessive of me. Even if my discipline yearning mom punished me, he would come to my rescue. And since mom was too weak to carry me, I was always in my Bapi's lap! Yes, on his shoulders,in his arms...whenever I could!

Sandhya Aarti rituals in the Ganges, Haridwar

As I entered medical college he became more supportive. That is a phase where children tend to get farther from parents and I was no exception. I got very little time to spend with them. Vacations were the only times when I bonded with him.

We both just love water!!

A drastic thing happened when I got married. I wanted to marry the man I loved and he supported me without any glitch (I never thought he would because of so many reasons!). That time I found him expressing himself. He would drop household tips now and then. He started counselling me about how I should be understanding about my hubby (as he was new at household too). I should be less demanding as every man struggles to find his foothold at the threshold of matrimony. That was very surprising as I had never expected him to be so open about all this.

The day when I got married,when he gave me away to my husband, I saw tears first time in his eyes. I had never ever seen him weeping before and that moment I realised that how much I meant to him.

After marriage, I take care not to speak rudely to him or take him for granted. He had brought me up so lavishly, fulfilled my every wish and pampered me like a princess. The least I can do is to take care of him. Even if he has a myriad of annoying habits (we all kids think so about our respective Dads)

Once again a very Happy Father's Day Bapi!

Our last trip to Dubai was awesome bonding time with my Dad!

6/21/2015 9 comments

Travelling to new places is a good experience in life as you unravel many hidden destinations and explore fascinating destinations. An avid traveler needs a lot of patience as they are not quite sure of how the things are at places which they go. Mostly they have an unplanned journey, on buses, cars, carts and on what not! But, if you are a person who loves to travel atleast once a year, to explore places that you have been longing for, and then a detailed planning is required, where you can make the best with your spending.

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6/20/2015 8 comments

Last time when I visited Goa with my parents, I had tried almost every crazy sea food on the menu but could not try Red Snapper. The ones which were available were too large for single consumption and my ( less adventurous with food) mother refused to share it with me! So this time, red snapper was on the top of my eating list. Since I had landed here, I had been devouring everything except red snapper. The reason being it too big!! Not for a single person. So that day I decided to try it no matter what. We had a speedy lunch courtesy the scare at Lamgao caves here and then a fall before Anjuna Flea market here. Now that four of our destinations of the day were covered and it was just five in the evening, we could relax at Morjim beach. I ought to have red snapper here. Morjim beach is also known as Turtle Beach as sea turtles are found here.

We had come a really long way from Calangute. I wanted to start our journey back before it became too dark. There were no street lights and the roads were deserted and flanked by forests. But as usual, we were late.

Don't get deceived...these impressions are rock hard!!

fooling around...

gobbling up the setting sun!!

When we reached Morjim beach the sun was on its way down. Late sunrise early sunsets; I hate these kind of days!! After we played on the beach and photoshoot, it was quarter to six. By the time we started swimming, the lifeguards blew their whistles. We came out, waited for them to disappear and then again jumped into the sea! Sweet are the effects of breaking rules!

A mauritian guy in Morjim beach..ha ha..I really love this tee shirt!!

It was dark when we realised we were getting late. We ran to the nearest beach shack and ordered my long awaited red snapper. The waiter suggested me not to go for it. It was 1.2 kilos and quite expensive and not meant for a single person. Still I ordered. Poor hubs settled for fries and salad. When the ordered arrived, I was shocked. It was actually huge!! It was longer than my forearm! How could I possibly finish it? Anyways like any other Bengali would do, I started. As I ate piece by piece, hubby stared in dismay. According to him how could one possibly eat everything..that is head and tail?When I finished it, he showed me his watch. I had taken exactly one hour to finish its every bit and now we were terribly late. We quickly paid and ran towards the parking.

This picture does not do justice to the size of this red snapper....it was 1.2 kgs and measured about a forearm!!

me gorging on red snapper and hubby a dumbfounded spectator!!

Most of the path was along with the river on one side and jungles on the other. It was freezing as we zoomed! Every other biker had worn warm clothes with hoods and we were the only fools to be riding in beachwear! We took a break midway to get Sprite and stopped in front a a cute restaurant called pink chilis. This pretty place made us take a quick few snaps.

driving a pink autorickshaw!! an overdose of pink!!

So probably you would have guessed the restaurant's name by now..its pink chilli :D

It took almost one and a half hour to reach our hotel. Our limbs were numb from the cold breeze. After a quick hot shower, I was again ready for pub hopping in Baga! A true traveler neither stops nor gets tired!!

6/17/2015 7 comments

When a child is born, a mother is also born! Because before the birth of the baby, the woman was not a mother! So that way, I am a fourteen month old mom! Yes its fourteen months already! Time flies! She is my #FirstLove!

As a mom (that too a doctor mama) I am constantly striving to find out what's best for my baby. Inspite of my best efforts, there are times when I fail miserably. Sometimes its because of my overworked self while at other times out of sheer laziness. Believe me its darn difficult being a mother!

There are a few things that can not be compromised upon. The first is of course food and the second is the bath routine. Since time immemorial, too much importance has been given on the pre bath routine. Our grandmothers have sworn by oil massage as the most important pre bath application. Its no surprise that this tradition is continuing even today!

My doll was underweight when she was born. That means she had tinier limbs than the normal tiny bodyparts! But the 'tininess' did not deter her grandma from massaging her daily. I remember her wriggling body lying helpless on my mom's lap while my mom rubbed her tiny buttocks and limbs.

Its said that massaging daily with vitamin enriched oil helps strengthen bones and ligaments. Its true..(ask my bone specialist husband ) :D So even before she started looking like a normal human or could hold her neck, she got her spa treatment. What used to amuse all of us that even though she was a big cry baby back then; she never used to wail during massage. That meant she actually used to enjoy it!

I have always looked out for olive oil for her. My mom had used it upon me during my infanthood and I was carrying it forward. Normally associated with the Mediterranean region, its widely available in our country now. Olive oil has been used for skin care since the Egyptians and Greeks ruled the world. As far as infant skin care goes, it prevents infant dermatitis. Grandmas are always wise, aren't they?

Its massage time for mamma and baby!

For me, oil massage for my baby is a quality bonding time with her. I tickle, play and make her laugh. Its the best time to cuddle with her. It is something I look forward to everyday!

Recently I received three bottles of Dabur baby massage oil with olive and almonds. The main two constituents really enticed me. I was already using olive oil on her. Almond oil is rich in Vitamin E and D and hence even better for her skin! So the combination of olive and almonds makes it a super oil!

The packaging is as cute as her toys!

I started using it on her and was not at all disappointed. Dabur never fails me and this oil is really awesome! No artificial colour or perfume. Its dermatologically tested and is brimming with wholesome goodness!

My doll playing with her bottle of oil...

Work done....Time for fun!

‘I am writing about Dabur Baby Massage Oil with the goodness of olive and almond for the #FirstLove activity atBlogAdda.’

6/10/2015 39 comments

Happy June loves! My favourite month of the year is here!

I am not a beauty blogger but I have tried my hands on it a few times. Its not surprising as like any other girl, I love cosmetics too! So when I was invited to the Nioxin event, I was overjoyed!

Like almost everyone, I have been losing hair too. Being a hair and skin consultant, I get such kinds of problems everyday. My condition worsened especially post partum. But thankfully, the number 1 brand for fighting hair thinning got launched in India. Yes, its NioxinNowInIndia!

The venue was the Wella salon at Select city walk. Again, I love meeting fellow bloggers and trying out new products!

All excited to try out Nioxin products!

The presentation began with Amy introducing the product. Then Nikhil from the Affinity salon carried the presentation forward. We were explained the various products of Nioxin and how they work. The main motto of Nioxin is the skin care approach to hair. The end result? Visibly fuller and thicker hair. All our queries were answered.

After that we were supposed to undergo the treatment. As the first three bloggers began their treatment, the rest of us started chatting!

Then it was my turn. the treatment began with a detailed consultation. I already knew that I was going to hear so many complaints!

Nikhil, the Nioxin guy comes to my rescue. He does an analysis of my scalp and hair. Ironically I do this to my patients everyday. But I am usually too scared to try it on myself! Its just like not opening your own report card...the result? D!!

Then the treatment began. First the 'Facial' of the scalp..the Dermabrasion Treatment. This is to be applied every one month depending on your scalp's condition. It cleanses your scalp from scratch. The product was left on for ten minutes.

Then Pankaj washed my hair with the cleanser and then a scalp revitaliser was applied. I felt a cool peppermint sensation. After towel drying, scalp treatment was applied. Then the tedious process began...blow drying my curly crowning glory!

My curly tresses always turn straight with blow drying. After a head full of straight hair, I could not recognise myself!

Work done, time for some fun! With the lovely Ankita of Blogadda!

My photographer who came to my shooting emergency from his hospital!

Bloggers raising a toast to Nioxin!

More than happy with my hair!

We were given products to try out at home according to our hair type. My hair had been diagnosed as noticeably thinning untreated fine hair which was Kit No 2.

The detailed review of the kit is coming up on my blog soon!

“You can try and experience #NioxinNowIndia at your nearest salon. This activity is in association with BlogAdda.com”

P.S How do I look with my hair straight? :D

Dress: Mango

Accessories: Forever 21

bag: From Dubai

Watch: Swatch

Lips: MAC Candy Yum Yum

6/06/2015 12 comments

It was the third adventure of our third day. After a scary encounter at the Lamgao caves here, we were happy to be alive! I still can anticipitate that old man's axe coming over our throats! After that narrow escape, I was apprehensive whether to visit Arvalam or to move onto the next stop. The main attraction of Arvalam were the Arvalam caves and waterfalls and the word cave tingled my spine!!
Hubs sensed my fear and assured that Arvalam caves were situated on a hill beside the main road so there was no need to worry. It neither involved jungles nor trekking and hopefully no scary old man either. So I decided to go ahead with the plan.

Also known as Pandava caves as the Pandavas had stayed their during their exile, these caves were situated a bit farther than the town of Bicholim. These caves are rock cut caves dating back to the 5th or 6th century. These are excavated into the laterite hill and consist of two major chambers. These caves attract both tourists and archeologists alike. Right now its converted into a Shiva temple.

After the caves we proceeded towards Arvalam waterfalls (also known as Harvalam). The falls are picturesque during the rainy season. Like any other waterfall it had dried up during the winters. There was a beautiful Rudreshwar temple in the vicinity.

Our next stop was the Anjuna flea market which was an important weekly tourist spot. held every Wednesday, this market was visited by thousands of tourists. Spread over a vast area, it offered everything from food and beverages to apparels, furnishings and trinkets! The history of this market goes back a long way. Decades ago the foreign tourists used to spend the bitter winter months in the sunshine state of Goa. When they used to leave in spring, they used to sell their belongings. Those things were sold to the local people in the flea market. Today its just a tradition. All the new stuff are sold here.

On the way to the market we met with an unfortunate event. A motorbike jammed our vehicle from the back and I fell. I injured myself considerably; with some serious abrasions, but thanked God that it was not more serious. Had I fallen just a few centimeters farther or even rolled a bit more; I would have fallen into a canal and God knows what would have happened then. Hubs was more shocked than me. He wanted to go back to the hotel but I insisted that since we have come so far, we should pay the market a visit.

The market as anticipated was huge and chaotic. Tourists were swarming and so were the vendors. I was of course not in a good shape; I limped the whole time. We started with a glass of fresh sugarcane juice. Hubs tried to cheer me by agreeing to buy everything that I laid my eyes on!!

We tried to wrap our shopping quickly as we had two more spots to cover and they were quite far. On the way we stopped at a pharmacy and got antiseptics and dressed up the wounds. I really enjoyed the flea market inspite of all the odds!!