DocDivaTraveller: February 2020

'Ye Army pyaj ki tarah hai madam, jitne partein khologi utne partein niklenge '. This line in the trailer of the new show of ZEE5 , Code M caught my attention and I decided to binge watch this spine tingling thriller. Television mogul Ekta Kapoor is ruling the digital medium with Code M.

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Cast: Jennifer Winget as Major Monica Mehra

Rajat Kapoor as Army Chief

Tanuj Virwani as Angad Sandhu

Seema Biswas as Ammi

Genre: Thriller

Summary: Brave slain soldier Ajay Paswan dies in cross firing while dealing with two dangerous alleged terrorists on the Indo Pak border. However locals and social media blow up this firing from a different perspective that those 'alleged terrorists' were innocent people killed in a fake encounter. Things really take an ugly turn when their mother 'Ammi' played by Seema Biswas sets herself ablaze and is in a critical state. Now the Army chief is compelled by the higher authorities to set facts right.

That's when Major Monica comes into scene. A feisty and fearless Army Lawyer (a would be bride) who is fully committed to her work. However things get twisted when she finds out that the two important army officers who were the only ones present during the encounter are probably linked with the terrorists.

Was Ajay Paswan murdered? Or did he sacrifice his life for his nation? This fast and thrilling journey of Major Monica to unravel the truth is a must watch.

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What is your usual expectation when you watch a digital show? For me it's sharp plot, relatable storyline, fast moving and uncensored content with some really great performances. ZEE5 as an OTT platform never ceases to amaze me in terms of its content.

Now you must be wondering what is OTT?
Over The Top media service is a streaming media service that offers content to viewers directly through the internet. No cable operator or satellite television is involved in the distribution of the entertainment service. These media run on subscription based services that offer access to the shows via internet.

Launched in India in February 2018, it has content in 12 languages. Zee5 is available on web and smart televisions and Zee5 app can be downloaded both on iOS and Android devices. With variety like Live TV, catch up TV, lifestyle shows, children programmes, exclusive short series and acclaimed plays, there is lots to choose from. For movie buffs, they have an exhaustive collection of Bollywood and regional movies. Bengali, Tamil, Malyalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Punjabi and of course Hindi and English...these are the 12 languages in which they offer 1.25 lac plus hours of entertainment. The video streaming speed is really fast and the sound in crystal clear.

Code M has got some really great actors. From veteran performers like Seema Biswas and Rajat Kapoor to talented young stars Jennifer Winget and Rati Agnihotri's son Tanuj Virwani, everyone has done an excellent job. The vengeance with which Seema Biswas aka Ammi pours kerosene over her and sets herself ablaze would scar the soul. And so would Rajat Kapoor's poignance after his future son in law's demise. Winget justifies her role in every possible way.

Whether you are fond of army tales or not, a thriller of such kind is bound to get you hooked. The best part of web series is that they are really consuming and Code M gets wrapped up in 8 episodes.

Do you love watching web series? Which one is your favorite?

2/28/2020 6 comments

If you are anything like me; I mean travel crazy (I bet you are lest you won't be reading this :D) you must be fascinated with the 12 Apostles. However have you ever wondered why are they called so? Or better are there even twelve of them? Well let me burst the bubble, there are just eight now. The ninth one collapsed in 2005. Even I did not know this before I researched just before laving for this place.

12 Apostles were the twelve most important disciples of Lord Jesus. Now why these huge limestone cliffs are named so is upto God himself (or the Australian Tourism officials). Speaking of huge, I never knew how huge they are. I mean I must have seen a thousand pictures till now, but never in my life I could have imagined there enormity if not for my eyes in real. I mean look at my pictures too. They don't seem much big. Actually these are taken from quite a distance. Maybe that's why they never appear mammoth. The moment I landed in Oz, I found everything big...huge buildings, vast parks, tall ceilings, tall people and now again these colossal rocks proved a testimony to my theory.

The 12 Apostles are the most famous and hence the most photographed location on the Great Ocean Road. The spot is 275 kms from Melbourne, ie a 4 hour drive if you don't stop on the way. However we stopped at a lot of places and hence we left Apollo Bay at around 3 30PM (where we had lunch) It was a two hour drive from there and we decided not to get distracted in between. After all the 12 Apostles was THE most important stop of our road trip. If it got dark before we reached, we could not forgive ourselves forever. Moreover we had two more stops after that. The later we left, the later we would complete our road trip back to Melbourne (read post midnight).

Just a couple of kilometers before 12 Apostles are the Gibson's Steps. According to me, this is the best place to watch the first two Apostle up close and personal and marvel in their prodigiousness. A lot of people skip this stop as its not too comfortable; neither its safe. There are 86 steep stairs leading to the beach from where you can gawk the first two apostles in awe. Moreover they are slippery and water is oozing from them. There are warning signs everywhere: Not to go close to the cliffs or touch them; they can collapse anytime! How scary is that? We are using those stairs knowing that we may even die!

What we deduced during this roadtrip of ours is that the Southern Ocean has excessive erosive action. It has literally eaten away all the cliffs bordering it and is now carving and crumbling them further. There is also a hike trail that leads from the Gibson's steps straight to the 12 Apostles. However we did not have time.

I was literally shocked at their enormity when I reached the beach. They were colossal! The wind was freezing and it was forbidden to go near the sea. Very well understandable...it was too dangerous!

After 5 minutes drive and then 10 minutes of walking, we reached the place for which I was looking forward the most in the entire trip. We reached the view point of the 12 Apostles!

The lookout was bustling with crowd and I hated that. Moreover, the rest of the 6 Apostles were on the Western side which meant the sun was above them. Therefore unsatisfactory pictures. Many travellers do the reverse Great Ocean Road trip so that they can capture the 12 Apsotles during the best time.

The Apostles were huge and they were spread along a very wide area. The remnants of the collapsed ninth apostle could also be seen on the beach. The best way to get their view is to take a helicopter ride. But neither we had time nor money for that.

There was something so magical about the waves that they left a wide frothy line every time a wave receded. I just gazed at them till my husband poked me to hurry up.

We were on our last leg of the Great Ocean Road Trip. But the most important part had already been covered. I started feeling nostalgic.

2/12/2020 14 comments

This is a much asked and sorted topic for not only all the mums out there but a major deciding factor for many figure conscious females too. Although I am far for an expert myself (I am yet to lose my baby fat; leave a flat belly after six years of giving birth,) I decided to throw some light on this topic as too many moms had been asking me lately. Also I wish I knew about plus size shapewear bodysuit during my puerperum stage. Since I had two c sec, waist trainers would have helped me a lot in achieving what I haven't in the last six years.

1. Healthy diet: Well the hard truth is weight loss/maintenance is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I know...how terrible does this sound especially for foodies like me? The fact is that in order to lose weight, one has to burn more calories than what is consumed. So it's easier to consume lesser calories than trying to burn out hundreds of them. It's not even feasible. Avoid sugar, too much salt, oily food and restrict carbs. Although one should definitely consult a dietitian before taking the plunge as dietary requirements are different for everyone. A feeding mom trying to lose baby weight needs a different approach altogether from a man who is suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

2. Exercise: As cliched as it may sound, exercise is fundamental in reducing weight. It can be yoga, gymming, swimming or even brisk walking. You need to burn those stubborn fat... ain't it? Also regular exercise helps to maintain the lost weight too and also protects us from various diseases. And that endorphin rush? The high which you get can match no other happiness. But always remember to consult your doctor before starting any regime. You can resume full fledged exercise 3 months after giving birth but only after consulting your OB/GYN. You can also find best shapewear at Shapellx to help flatten your belly like this However this should also be worn after consulting your doctor. One should wait for at least 2-3 months (depending on the condition) to wear this.

For females with normal labour, they can resume exercise after 6 weeks itself but only after consulting your OB/GYN.

3. Have a healthy state of mind: Although Shapellx would help you a lot in reaching the desirable, but having sound mental health is very important. Depression is a major cause of weight gain and Post partum depression is very common after giving birth. Even I was a victim of that! For a cheerful person like me, I know it's hard to imagine but it's true. I fought strongly to get my older self for a a full six months.

Talk to people who understand you. Meditate. Ask for help who can take care of your baby so that you can go out, inhale the fresh air, laugh with your friends. Keep away from negative people. Remember, the most important relationship in the world is the one with yourself.

4. Be gentle on yourself: Although we all want to be that perfect little woman (in our own terms) that we were before planning to become a mom, it's not possible always. We should never forget that we have given birth to a life and that is the best thing (and special) ever. There are so many factors that stop us from achieving that desirable body: genetics, change in metabolism, hormonal changes, etc etc. We should not punish ourselves for being unable to do that. Although the best waist trainer for women is definitely the best way out but nothing is more rewarding than holding your bundle of joy in your arms.

Tell me pretty ladies, have you lost that weight? Or are you still struggling?

2/08/2020 8 comments

As TikTok continues its path to inspire creativity and spread joy, it also encourages and pushes its community to stay safe on the internet. TikTok through several online and offline campaigns has been a leader of sorts to encourage its users to advocate internet safety through challenges, quizzes, and other activities.

The platform has the maximum number of safety features for its users with comprehensive Community Guidelines that help users understand that TikTok is a place that promotes positivity and aims to have a safe in-app environment and experience for everyone. In addition to this, TikTok also highlights its Safety & Privacy features that further solidify its commitment to safety. Educating and encouraging users of safe online practices such as avoiding sharing passwords and personal details with others.

Moreover, in a bid to sensitise India’s growing digital population about safe and responsible use of user-generated content platforms, TikTok launched a campaign called #WaitASecToReflect, to inspire users to pause for a second and think of their online behaviour before going ahead and posting content.

As part of this campaign, TikTok has also partnered with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) to execute a digital literacy programme focused on the usage of user generated content platforms. During the first phase, DEF conducted awareness workshops among consumers across key cities in 10 states of India.

TikTok is Rolling Out a New 'Dark Mode' Option

The idea behind the campaign comes following the rapid rate at which the internet has penetrated in India. With the deep penetration and the easy availability of smartphones and creating millions of minutes of content on platforms such as TikTok, there arises a need to drive awareness around safe user behaviour. Through #WaitASecToReflect, TikTok aims at encouraging all digital citizens to use the internet and online platforms in a more responsible, respectful and constructive manner.

Through the campaign, TikTok reached its followers across the length and breadth of the country to make them think before they posted anything negative on the internet. As part of the campaign, TikTok also created a Wait A Sec microsite.

But these campaigns weren’t all that TikTok has promoted to promote safety. Last year, keeping safety as its priority, TikTok also introduced a local safety initiative called #SafeHumSafeInternet to spread awareness about Internet safety in India. As part of the #SafeHumSafeInternet campaign ushering in Safer Internet Day in India, TikTok also partnered with the Cyber Peace Foundation, an award-winning NGO and global think tank of cyber security and policy experts, to promote online safety. Together, they held an event in New Delhi today, to highlight and discuss the importance of online safety, educate internet users of safety practices to follow, along with efforts that should be taken to promote online safety.

Many popular Indian celebrities and TikTok users such as Arjun Kanungo, Shirley Setia, Neha Kakkar and Tamil TechGuruji amongst others also joined the #SafeHumSafeInternet initiative by creating and publishing short videos on TikTok promoting Safer Internet Day, encouraging users to be safe and sharing tips on how users can practice online safety.

As a part of this campaign, TikTok users in India could also participate in the #SafeHumSafeInternet online challenge by applying customized stickers designed to encourage the adoption of positive online habits. With these stickers, users embraced positive hashtags such as #likes, #Respect, #Positivity, #Creativity, #Security, and shove away negative hashtags such as #5badhabits #Cyber-bullying, #Negativity, #Trolls, #Anxiety, and #Haters. As part of this challenge, TikTok also encouraged users to take part in a quiz in order to test their online safety IQ through our in-app safety quiz.

Promoting a safe and positive app environment is TikTok’s top priority, and it has a number of measures in place today to protect against misuse. These include privacy settings, filters, in-app reporting, and moderation. For more information about TikTok’s safety efforts, please visit: https://www.TikTok.com/safety/.

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