DocDivaTraveller: May 2018

What is your greatest prerogative while buying a phone? For me it's camera quality and speed. I usually change a phone when it becomes slow. Not to forget that budget too is a big factor. So when Indiblogger announced the launch of Mobiistar, the latest smartphone in the market with a smarter selfie camera at an unbeatable price, I knew I had to dig deeper.

It had been a year and a half since an Indiblogger meet. The last one was Berger XP. The moment the homepage flashed of an Indimeet in Delhi, we all jumped in excitement. It was on a Wednesday but who cared? We all managed our day jobs somehow and made it to the meet on time.

Like every Indimeet, this too was organised in a posh hotel, The Hyatt Regency to be precise. We started with a cup of coffee and were ready for the unraveling of the latest budget smartphone. The meet started with meeting of many fresh faces in the Indiblogger community. Then the stage was taken over by the beautiful anchor Shobha to be handed over to the CEO of Mobiistar, Carl.

Mobiistar is a Vietnamese company which was launched in the year 2009. It's motto has been 'Enjoy More' as it had always served great features in its phones at an affordable price. This time it is fully ready to grab the market in India. They did a comprehensive survey (blind) with the people here and reached the decision that maximum people voted Mobiistar selfies as the best. We Indians are known for going after the best at competitive prices and for that it has partnered with Flipkart as it's distributor. Now coming to the phone.

We all love taking selfies. Don't we? But don't we struggle for that perfect groupie? Fitting everyone into the frame is a tough task indeed. What else irks us? Easily draining battery I bet! Also for multitasking, we need a fast processor. Especially for us bloggers, we are doing multiple things simultaneously. Seems Mobiistar has jugded our woes and has crafted a phone that would suit perfectly to our needs.

Two variants of Mobiistar are ready to take the Indian market by storm: Mobiistar CQ and Mobiistar XQ Dual. The XQ Dual as the name suggests has a dual front camera.

8 MP and 13MP camera. USP: 120 degree angle camera for the WIDEST selfie! How cool is that? Moreover 5 inch Full HD display with 2.75D curve.

Now at the end of the meet we clicked one huge groupie (more than 200 people) with the Mobistar XQ and believe me everyone got accomodated! Mission accomplished! It was truly the moment of #EnjoyMore

It has a 3GB RAM and 32 GB ROM which is expandible upto 128GB. Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for faster multitasking.

13 MP rear camera.

Can you guess the price? It's freaking shocking! It's 7999 INR!

Coming to the Mobiistar CQ variant.

13 MP front camera.

2 GB RAM and 16GB ROM which is expandible to 128GB.

Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 425.

Battery in both is 3000mah that means no need to carry a power bank.

Now can you guess this one's price? It's a shocking 4999 INR!

That's not all. They are giving a wide variety of other privileges and discounts too. You can exchange your old smartphone for 1000 INR guaranteed.

Moreover extended guarantee and a host of other services is being provided by Flipkart at a meagre 99INR. It has also tied up with Jio for data services at very lucrative plans.

Do I need to say anything more? Even I phone users for the past decade have been attracted to its 'Enjoy More' features at such a competitive price.

With the elegant Shobha taking over the mic from Carl, our Indi host Kartik split us into teams for a fun filled game. We had to weave a story with the theme 'Enjoy More' with the help of 15 to 30 selfies! It was chaotic yet superbly fun. Clicking selfies had never been easier yet so efficient.

After a grilling session of Q's and A's with Carl, it was time for a sumptuous high tea. Then we all got to try out (touch and feel) the two awesome Mobiistar phones. Man, the camera was superb and so was the interface. Then we clicked innumerable pictures with the big happy Indiblogger family and bade goodbye.

I am definitely ordering my Mobiistar from Flipkart. What about you?

5/26/2018 3 comments

5/25/2018 1 comments

What's in a selfie? I am not talking about just pout and wink. I am talking about some serious stuff here. Selfies while taking outfit shots, while travelling alone or while sitting in the car fresh in the morning. I,like every other girl (or boys even) love selfies. Like a true photo blogger I need crisp, clear pictures. A selfie does not truly satisfy my criteria to make it to my blog. It takes immense skill and patience to take the perfect shot.

So why do we love selfies?

1. Its an independent action. I mean who has an in house photographer all round the clock to click precious moments?

Moments like this need to be 'selfied' immediately!

2. Its indeed a blessing for us bloggers...whether fashion, travel or even tech ones, all are obsessed with selfies. Whether its getting clicked on a major landmark or capturing an outfit for running errands, selfies are a boon!

3. It makes us ambidextrous...he he he :D

4. It helps to check if there is anything wrong with our face and hence makes us more presentable before any kind of rendezvous!

Do I look okay for the date?

And the list goes on...

Last but the most important...We need to freeze a particular moment. Chocolate smudged all over our kid's face, dough in hair when cooking for the first time, all those trivial moments which are priceless.

But then somehow they are not blogworthy or contest worthy....

Why? What are the problems faced with clicking the perfect selfie?

1. The front camera is usually of low resolution. Even if the rear camera is 13 MP, the front one is just 5 Mp!

2. No flash on the front..means no selfie in the dark!

Its difficult getting the perfect illumination for the perfect selfie...

3. There is a lot of problem in gripping the phone, clicking the shoot button and so on.

4. It's damn hard to fit everyone in the frame. It's either you or the backdrop. Most of the time it's just the face in an awkward angle.

This why I often drag my photographer (read husband) to feminine events just because I need him to click me.

Now what is the solution? Well it's time for a new revolution! The Vietnamese brand Mobiistar was launched in 2009 with the vision to Enjoy More. So what in 2018? They have come out with a groundbreaking smartphone!
Here is what they have to offer so that we can Enjoy More!

120 degree wide angle Dual selfie camera:
Can you even imagine what all you can do with such an wide angle? Groupies would be a cakewalk! So the next time you are at a reunion or team dinner, be assured that everyone is going to get in the frame without any awkward positions of course 😁

Solo travelling would be fulfilling on a newer level!

Imagine you are along the bank of Pangong Lake, Ladakh. You want to freeze that moment in that freezing temperature. But when you try to take a selfie it's either the pristine blue lake or your face (looking much bigger). With such a wide angle lens you would be smoothly able to fit yourself along with the picturesque background.

Selfies have become an indispensable part of our lives. We want to live every moment and capture it too. That is why we need a phone that we are able to just pick up and freeze that perfectly 'natural' moment. Selfies promote more of 'real life' than a staged portrayal. You don't need to put your make up on for that. Selfies look more beautiful in its natural imperfections.

So what all can we enjoy more?
Mobiistar promises to give an unparalleled experience to its users at very affordable prices. Moreover, it has been crafted along with Flipkart to suit it seamlessly with the Indian public.

Long lasting battery: Are you sick of lugging your power bank all the time? Me too! This problem has been well taken care of.

Fast Snapdragon processor: For seamless multitasking! Being an influencer/blogger myself, I can very well resonate with the need for a fast phone. I am continually switching tabs, tweeting, clicking pictures etc etc. Now no more hassles!

So peeps, get ready for the grand launch of this intelligent smartphone on Flipkart!

5/22/2018 6 comments

5/18/2018 2 comments

Wayanad is a picturesque hill station in the southern state of Kerala. Abundant natural beauty, endless scenic vistas, a romantic charm, and beasts of the wild are some of the amazing things to be enjoyed here. It really does boast a plethora of fun activities to enjoy with loved ones during family holidays.

Here are some fun things to do in Wayanad that must be included in your itinerary.

Chembra Peak

Standing tall at 2100m, this is the highest summit in Wayanad. Here, you can enjoy sweeping views of Wayanad and Kozhikode districts along with trekking and photography. Remember to stop by its heart-shaped lake.

Muthunga Wildlife Sanctuary

Also known as Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is included in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is one of the best tourist places in Wayanad. Come here with your kids to spot elephants, deer, monkeys, sambar, eucalyptus, bamboo trees, and a lot more!

Pookot Lake

Bring your kids to this natural freshwater lake for boating. The lake is surrounded by lush greenery all over.

Soochipoora Falls

These three-tiered falls cascade down rapidly and provide amazing waters for making a splash with kids. It is also a great spot for rock-climbing and family picnic.

Edakkal Caves

F. Fawcett discovered these prehistoric caves in 1890. Teach your kids about the Neolithic paintings that adorn their walls while you soak in some ancient history too.

Sulthan Bathery

This is an ancient place with a diverse history. It is home to some great Jain temples that were built by early settlers. It also served as a commercial center many years ago. Apart from that, Sulthan Bathery also served as a storage space for Tipu Sultan’s arms and weapons. It is a great place to bring your kids to learn about this place’s diverse history.

Banasura Dam

This is the largest earthen dam in the country and is ensconced in the Banasura Hills. It is a gorgeous place to visit with family as it serves as a picnic spot and photographer’s paradise. Make sure to explore the diverse flora and fauna in the surrounding hills as well as marvel at the vistas of the dam!

Where to stay

You can stay at Vythiri Village Resort, a Club Mahindra’s affiliate, when you are vacationing in Wayanad. This Wayanad resort is the perfect base, from where you can access all the fun tourist spots in this destination. It also boasts spacious and comfortable rooms that are perfect for rest and rejuvenation after a long day of exploration.

Also, read through these Club Mahindra reviews on Wayanad resort & get a sneak peek of how Club Mahindra members are spending their family vacations at Wayanad resort.

Book your fun family vacation in Wayanad by logging onto Club Mahindra’s website or mobile app today!

5/17/2018 3 comments

Life is a book and those who don't travel have seen just the cover. Well I totally follow this saying. One needs to travel to know about the world, to unplug from one's mundane routine and to discover the world. People can have either of the above reasons for travel or all of the above. I (read my family) belong to the latter. We usually fly out of the country once a year and take short breaks throughout. These quick getaways make us feel alive all over again.

It's been 6 months to our trip to Australia. After that we had a mini vacation in Agra. Then there was a long silence. We were drowned in work and I was feeling uninspired, almost soulfully dead. It was high time that we took a break. So we decided to explore one of the nearest places to Delhi... Manesar.

Manesar is a fast growing town in the state of Haryana. Situated about 20kms from Gurugram, it's kind of a satellite township. It's studded with housing complexes with high rise buildings and industries. However nestled in its centre is Heritage Village which is an oasis of luxury.

I had heard a lot about Heritage Village before and I was thrilled when the husband surprised me with this getaway. It was the perfect break that I needed to get back to life.

Everything in Heritage Village is tradition oriented. I mean the buildings are built in typical Rajputana style. The staff is dressed traditionally and the guests are welcomed with 'tika' as they enter. The rooms are called clusters and suites 'darbar'. The halls are called Sabha and so on. It is such a welcome change from our daily westernised lifestyle.

There is a lovely swimming pool just behind the reception that overlooks a huge garden. The garden is for special functions. Like there was a wedding when we were there. There are lifesize Rajput statues at every corner. The furniture, the artefacts etc all are heritage style. I am totally reacharged by this trip!

Why I recommend this place?

Room rates can be booked at as low as 5000INR per night which is very decent.
Room has complimentary drinking water, tea/coffee and toiletries. Brush and Shaving kit can be availed on request.
There is no compulsion to have meals here unlike the Neemrana Fort Palace. The city of Manesar is just 10 minutes ride away. You can easily have your meals at any restaurant out there. It will save you a lot of money.
Activities like cricket, volleyball, paintball can be played but their rates are on the higher side. However there is a park with swings and lots of other rides where your kids can enjoy and is complimentary.
With such a variety of things to do in the property, it's a great place to recharge yourself and your family.

Coming to the outfit, most pieces are from my favourite shopping website Zaful.com I really love this striped shirt. The broad belt I had been eyeing for years now and these wedges are apt for a resort getaway!