DocDivaTraveller: July 2019

Have you ever wondered what's your purpose on earth? One may be content with their lives but I am sure that at one point or the other, one is compelled to stumble across this question in one's mind. If you have studied psychology then you must have read about Maslow's law of hierarchy. The primitive requirements (food, shelter, sex) are the most basic needs of a man. And as we go higher, the needs graduate from basic towards spirituality and the highest need is 'self realisation'. I too have come across this question several times in my mind and that is why I have decided to discuss this book.

Title: What on earth are you doing?

Author: Abhinav Goel

Genre: Non fiction, motivation

Pages: 217

Author Abhinav is a successful corporate professional who decided to give up his comfortable profession to pursue something that he loved. And that's what made him pen this book. He wants to help others succeed and reach their dreams because that is what he loves to do. He realized that his life purpose is to harness his creativity to inspire people to live a life filled with love, courage and freedom.

This book is a practical guide to help you find success, lead a more meaningful life and find a purpose of one's existence.

I would like to particularly highlight few points which I learned and loved.

1. Accountability: You should be accountable for yourself. How many times does it happen that we blame our failure on our spouse/circumstances/boss/family etc etc? We have to stop doing that. When we will start holding ourselves accountable, the chances to fail would drop miserably too.

2. If you are not early then you are late. We, especially Indians should learn this because IST (Indian Standard Time) means two hours later than the mentioned time. Time is money. When should we start valuing it?

3. Ikigai

This is a Japanese concept which doesn't have an exact translation in English. It helps to decipher:

What do you love?

What are you good at?

What does the world need from you?

What can get you paid for?

If we are able to decode these questions, our life is solved.

Law of attraction: I have read so much about this but I am yet to be convinced because I haven't had success so far. Maybe I need to crave more for a particular thing before it starts showing results. But I am really impressed the way Abhinav explains this and teaches to exploit it to the fullest.

Last but not the least, lines by my favorite writer Mark Twain which Abhinav mentions:

The two most important days in your life are the day when you are born and the day when you find out why.

Presently, author Abhinav Goel is a success and happiness coach and a speaker whose purpose in life is to 'inspire people to live a life full of love, courage and freedom'. He has been a student of world renowned teachers like Jack Canfield and Dr Marshall Goldsmith. He believes he was born again at the age of forty. Currently resides in Delhi, he is a father of two teenage sons.

You can follow him on Instgram at Yourbreakthroughlife for more inspiration.

July 31, 2019 14 comments

I am a single child. Not that it is something that I am sad about; I have always got the sole attention of my parents. I have been pampered to the hilt and have always been the element of envy for my friends. But there used to be a single day in the entire year when I used to feel the poorest. That day used to be Rakshabandhan. Yes this very beautiful day when every girl waited for the gift from their brother and every boy waited to have a wrist full of rakhis! How I wished I had a brother!

After I got married I was deeply touched by the strong bond my husband shared with his elder sister.No matter wherever she is, she manages to send rakhi gifts to India for brother. Since Rakshabandhan is just around the corner, I have decided to narrate an incident from their lives from decades ago when buying online rakhi gifts for brother was tough.

My husband has been brought up in a very close knit family. But as the child of working parents, he got very less time from his father and mother. He is the younger of the two siblings and hence his elder sister has been a mother to him. Though she is just three years older to him, but maybe it's the maternal gene or pure love that she has always treated him like her baby. When he was just three and she six, she used to comb his hair, tie up his shoe laces just like a mother would do while going to school.

So he is more of a sister's boy than a mamma's boy.

As they grew up they drifted apart physically but got fonder of each other. They were in different medical colleges in two different cities. But there used to be two days in the calender when nothing could keep them apart...her birthday and of course Rakshabandhan.

About twenty years ago when they were in school, his didi had gone to NCC camp. Rakshabandhan always falls in the rainy season. She was posted in a remote area far from their hometown of Varanasi. No one was allowed to see her during the camp. It could not have been possible that he would not visit her on Rakshabandhan...he had to meet her at any cost. So his parents accompanied him to her camp posting. They travelled the entire day by train and then took an autorickshaw and then walked across the forest to reach her camp. It was raining cats and dogs and was muddy everywhere.

But nothing could deter him from meeting her. Finally they reached her tent.

Those were not the days of mobile phone. His sister never expected them to turn up but deep inside she was dying to meet them. So she was immensely surprised when she found her family at her door step. Their joy knew no bounds. He took out the rakhi and let her tie it on his wrist. Since they were not allowed to stay there, they immediately had to return, all amidst the rain ....all the way back to Varanasi. That journey remains the most testing of all in all these years. Nothing could stop from meeting his darling mother like sister on Rakshabandhan.

Now eight years into this loving family,not only my husband, but we all look forward to meeting her on this day every year. She has two sons and we have two daughters (the second addition this year), it's a huge festival for both of our families. I am also involved in this process and I try to buy personalised Rakhi gifts for brother. We travel all the way to Rishikesh and celebrate the pious bond of brother and sister.

July 29, 2019 17 comments

I went to the Johnson's 'School of Gentle' in the beginning of this month and graduated with full marks! Yes, I got to learn myriads of facts about the baby products that we use and I can proudly say that I am a more informed mother now! We moms were flown from all over India and our school was established in Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

My day started with my baby dropping me off to school. I was taught 'Turn to learn' Whenever you get any product in your hands, you should turn to read about the ingredients i.e what all are present in the product.

I have always been a Johnson's mom and use Johnsons on both of my babies. However I have always been intrigued by so many ingredients in the products. In this school of gentle, we were taught about all the ingredients present, their common names and of course their roles.

Johnson's Baby uses the most essential and only safe ingredients. When you turn to learn, you get to know what all you are using on your baby.

We were divided into 4 batches and taken to different classrooms. My first class was that of fragrances....Did you know that fragrance helps to connect emotionally? Johnson's baby uses fragrances that are IRFA certified. Formulated by scientists and tests conducted all over the world.

In our next class we went to study about baby lotion. Johnsons baby lotion is absolutely non sticky yet very moisturising and no harmful chemicals. We did a few tests too to establish this fact. Our favourite big bottle comes with a pump. The lotion is white in colour. It's non sticky yet very moisturising. Me and my daughter have always loved it!

Then we went to 'Microbiome of Baby skin' class. We were taught about the infant/baby skin, how sensitive it is and how to protect its integrity by applying the right products. We were also taught about good and bad microorganisms (especially bacteria) and how the bad ones attack when the baby skin is not intact. The class was taken by Dr Preeti and she did a great job in explaining us everything. There were fun activities too!

We also learnt that cuddling with the baby is important as it helps to transfer the good bacteria from the mother to the baby (provided the mother is absolutely clean of course). Gentle products like Johnsons help to make the baby skin healthy and strong.

Our last class was in a chemistry lab where we made top to toe wash ourselves. This class was taken by Dr Ram Shukla, the Head of R n D, J n J. Johnsons baby products are formulated after years of research and undergo rigorous quality checks. You can be blindly assured of their safety, efficacy and mildness. This revolutionary baby wash is free from suphates, pthalates and parabens like every other J n J product. It is clear which means no dyes. The bigger bottles come with a pump which means easy to use. We mums have to multitask all the time.... ain't it? Also the pump can be locked which would prevent your naughty munchkin from committing any mishaps!

Now why are not Johnson's products preservative free?

Preservatives are important. They are indispensable for the longevity of products. Suppose if a drop of water goes inside a bottle of shampoo/baby lotion, it would become contaminated if it does not have preservatives. Again that contaminated product when used on a baby would cause harm.

So they opt for a milder preservative Sodium benzoate. Now food products contain Sodium benzoate. So you can understand how mild it is.

Whatever Johnson's baby uses in their products are 100% safe for your baby. They have been researched over 100s of years and are the result of pure science as well as hard work. Ruling for 125 years is not easy!

All the ingredients are listed on the back and the products are absolutely safe and gentle for your baby. J n J does not hide anything from anyone. The products are 100% scientifically tested and clinically proven mild. Do you read about the ingredients? Do you #CHOOSEgentle for your baby?

July 25, 2019 19 comments

July 23, 2019 9 comments

Traveling abroad is one of the most enriching experiences of our lives. As long as we are away from our family, friends, and co-workers, it’s essential to stay connected with them. Back in the day, staying connected was not easy due to lack of technology and poor Wi-Fi signals. Today technology has evolved and it’s never been any easier to communicate with our loved ones. Here are the 5 simple ways to stay connected on your travels.

Buy a Local SIM

Local SIM cards are the go-to options to make calls and use the internet on your travel. They offer good quality voice and good internet speed and local minutes as well. If you’re traveling to a single such as the USA, Thailand, China, Canada, Australia, etc. local SIM cards are really cost effective. You can obtain a SIM after arriving at the destination from the airport. Registration of the SIM generally requires your passport. You can discard the SIM on your return.

International SIM cards

An alternative to buying a local SIM is to purchase an international SIM card in advance. TSIM offers really good SIMs at very low prices. Many of the SIMs are cheaper than what you get at the airport. International SIM cards come handy when you’re traveling to multi-country. For e.g., Europe SIM card and Global SIM card. This helps you to bypass the hassles of activation and documentation at the airport.

Portable Wi-Fi device

If a SIM card isn’t your thing, then you have an alternative to it. Traveling with a portable Wi-Fi device makes sense if you have heavy internet usage, and if you’re carrying your laptop. Countries where public Wi-Fi isn’t reliable, this device comes across quite handy. This is an excellent option if you’re travelling with other people and have multiple devices to connect.

Activate International Roaming

The most pain-free way to stay connected on your travel is to activate international roaming on your existing number, though it comes with a price. The bundles offered by our home network carriers are very expensive and the bills are likely to give you a heart attack. However, if you can’t afford to change your number and need to make frequent work-related calls then this is the only option you’ve got to stick to.

Rely on public/hotel Wi-Fi

Lastly, you can say no to all the above option and rely completely on Wi-Fi in your hotel and public spaces. Wi-Fi is pretty widespread in most countries like the US, Thailand, Canada, and Australia. While there are countries such as Brazil, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and Turkey where Wi-Fi isn’t accessible as easily. Don’t forget to Google the Wi-Fi accessibility in the country you’re traveling if you’re considering this option.

The following apps will let you stay in touch when you have access to Wi-Fi: Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Google Duo, FaceTime (for Apple users), and Facebook.

July 18, 2019 23 comments

Although monsoon means a beautiful white sweater, but who wants summers to end anyway? Then what would happen to endless glasses of Pina colada, lazying under a beach umbrella in a palm print swimsuit and all the cute outfits from ? Well guess I am lucky as I live in Delhi; that part of North India where you have summers for 10 months! So when people in the West are busy prepping up for fall, I am still basking in the sunshine. I also have a couple of getaways coming up. They are of course summer destinations so I have a long list of items to be stocked before I leave!

Africanmall has always been my go to websites for vacation shopping or in fact all sorts of shopping. I have bought tonnes of things in the past and would continue doing so as they have so many cute items! Not only they are well priced but they are offering 3 items for $24.9. And that's a major deal maker for me. I am simply on the hunt for great offers !

So for my next getaway, here is what all I need:

Dressy Jumpsuits And Rompers Nothing screams summer more than a pretty romper. Bright colour, punchy print. Floral prints are not ground breaking but when you have such happy sunflowers all over, who can resist this gorgeous number? This all white jumpsuit is so elegant and dressy. You can wear it to a wedding to...right?

Cute Matching sets: Who goes to the beach or even on a vacation without cute matching sets? Not me at least! Its a sin!

tops for women: I like to keep a variety of tops with me on a vacay or even in my wardrobe so that I can switch my look from time to time without spending much! How cute is this shimmery eye top? You can dress it up or down, depending on the occasion or your mood!

Sun Hat: Do you want to squint at the glare of the sun falling on your face? No! A wide brim sun hat not only protects you but ups your style quotient exponentially.

Beach Tote: You need so much to carry when at a beach: water, sunscreen, books, some snacks, towel, etc etc. For that you need a big bag. Straw bags are really hot right now. And with those colourful pompoms hanging, you need it ASAP!

Sunnies: Its important that you protect your eyes from the harmful Ultraviolet rays. Grab this elegant cat eyed sunglasses for dual purpose.

What's a vacation without dresses? Is there any girl who does not like dresses? Well no one that I know of! Stripes are a universal favourite; especially vertical ones as well as bodycon dresses and high low ones. We always hear that one should dress according to the body type and not according to trends. Having said that, both can be combined too! So embrace things that are classic yet always trendy like stripes. Here are my few favourite dresses.

Maxi Dress: This kind hugs your body at just the right places and slims your pelvis and elongates your lower half. High Low dress: The best part about this style is that the longer back hides your bottom which is often the most insecure part of a female. I love how flirty it is without being revealing. Also you can stoop without any worries! See through dress: Okay so this may not be for everyone but is very flirty nonetheless. You can layer with a cami or just go with it as it is! Here are plenty of see through dress for you!

Is there anything I missed in my vacation wishlist? Let me know! Head over to to complete your summer shopping!

July 16, 2019 No comments

When you go away to relax and spend quality time with your loved ones, you want to be as comfortable as possible. Even if you plan to do an active vacation in Australia such as the location of Perth; it could at times be strenuous from activities such as hill walking, but there are things that you can do to make the experience that little bit more enjoyable.

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels

Dress Codes

You’ll never know how hot or cold it’s going to be on the plane, so ensure everyone wears clothing that can easily be removed but avoid wool. Go for soft, breathable clothing like sweatshirts and cotton t-shirts will help you feel more relaxed and comfortable. Feet tend to swell on flights, so wear socks or bring a pair of slippers so your feet can breathe, so you want something that can be loosened, gives some support for walking and comfortable. Try to stay away from high heels or clunky boots when flying. You want shoes that are not only comfortable but can slip on and off easily so you can get through airport security.

For the rest of your journey, and depending on the nature of activities you are doing in Perth be sure to have packed a couple of pairs footwear that is comfortable yet suitable towards the vacation orientated activities. Flip-flops for the beach, boots for hikes, etc.

Check in Early

Check in early for your flight and hotel. When you check in for your flight, you will save yourself potential long waits in queues and will be able to pick the best seats available. Grab a refreshment and wait for the plane to start boarding. Take yourself a form of entertainment and get comfortable.

Checking in early can get you settled in and allow you to unwind from the trip from your flight. Depending on your flight duration and then the journey to your hotel, you may want to consider ordering a local takeaway. Ask your hotel restaurant for any recommended dishes from the local area.

Day Backpack

Whether you are planning to see Perth by cycling, take the subway, drive or walk from destination to destination, have a day bag prepared full of small necessities such as water, a small healthy snack and anything else you need. As a family, you may need a large backpack and a medium or small to cater for the little ones.

A Daypack can come in handy when you need to top up on sun cream or store gifts on trips out. If you plan the compartmental space into sections, dedicate some to supplies and water, potential purchases and the families daily equipment.

Hire Bicycles or Car Rental

If you plan to see the sights or check out numerous beaches, then why not take a gentle family stroll on a bike venture, alternatively, you could go for car hire. There is usually car rental near Perth airport, but be sure to shop around for the best deals. When renting a vehicle abroad there will need to be an identification process so be sure to carry all of your relevant documents in your day bag.

When going on vacation, there is a log of extra traveling involved and depending on the excursions or activities, always pack accordingly and wear the correct clothing. Have you recently been on hols and have a few tips to share on what made the experience more comfortable, share them in the comments below.