DocDivaTraveller: June 2022

If you are a 90's kid, then you must have fond memories of computer games. Those days when the Joystick of the television had been taken over by the mouse and keyboard. Ain't it? My father gifted me a Compaq computer which was installed with Windows 98. And it came preloaded with four games: Solitaire, Freecell, Hearts and Minesweeper. So three out of four were card games and that's how my obsession with card games began. I started with Solitaire (found it the easiest; I was really young) and then moved over to Free cell and Hearts gradually. With time, I mastered the game of Hearts and started beating good opponents (online games) but it was Solitaire which still remained my comfort game. Whether feeling low or high, bored or simply blah, I used to play Solitaire for hours. This is way before I got into medical college and career and life took over my passions of pastime.

Fast forward, there are millions of games available today; especially online. Believe me, I don't at all feel the temptation to play them. Most of them require downloading the app, and if you are anyone like me, you will refrain from overloading your phone further. Also, if I play online, too many ADs bombard the page, rendering you confused and irritated. Hence, I could not find what I was looking for. Clean online games like good old times; before I came across solitaire.org

What attracted me was its name. I clicked it planning to play my favourite good old Solitaire, but it turned out to be more than that! And the best part? It's free! From various Card games to Logic games, Word games to hidden object ones, you are spoilt for choice. What tempted me as a Solitaire game, turned out to be a Pandora's box for me.

Even the Solitaire game has varieties like Classic, Klondlike, Spider, Freecell, Pyramid etc. Among the various Card games, some are Blackjack, Jim Rummy, Hearts, Crazy Eights, Spite and Malice, etc. It means, if you are more in to the addictive types, this site has you covered. Remember Tetris? Did you like it? You can play Tetra games here !

However it were the intellectual games that got me hooked. Of course, you can take the person out of the academy but can you take out the academician out of the person? I guess nope!

I started with Crossword puzzles. There is one puzzle daily which is printable. Of course, I have become rusty (don't remember the last time I solved one on a newspaper or magazine) that's why time was running by. And PS, I didn't cheat. With google the very next page, I could have easily typed my way into victory, but I did not!

Next what got me going was Worduku. Yes. it's dear Sudoku's cousin! The Word games are my jam. From Word Scramble to Letter Logic, Word Search to Crossword, I love them all.

Well there are so many other logic games like dear old Chess, Sudoku, Tetra Blocks, Sokoban, Battleships etc While if you want to jump into the fantasy land, then games like Candy Fiesta, Candy House, Treasure Atlantis, etc are for you. The graphics of these games as well as the background scores are top notch.

So guys, if you slightly relate with me (using computers to play, likes free games, no app download, etc) then what are you waiting for? Go visit Solitaire.org and thank me later. PS let me know your favourite game in the comments section!

6/30/2022 10 comments

Call it a good habit or bad, but I don’t give up on things very easily. From solving that pesky math questions after innumerable trials and errors to working on relationships that have gone sour, I like to keep trying until the problem is fixed. I apply the same notion to my hair. I have been blessed with thick, voluminous but supremely frizzy curly hair and the humid Indian weather doesn’t help the cause. Over the years I was looking for a solution to tackle the frizz and in the process tried plenty of hair care ranges formulated for Indian curly hair, which claimed to moisturize dry hair. While some worked, most of them did not. However, I am happy to report that I have finally found a solution for managing my frizzy, curly hair and I am about to reveal it. Drumrolls, please…

A new brand that has come up with specialized products for Indian curly hair. Luckily the range has been working wonders to define and refine my curls. It's a fairly new brand named Curlvana and they have a total of 5 curl care products formulated to banish frizz from curly hair.

If you’ve noticed, curls remain intact and have great bounce during the winters; it is the summers that causes dryness to curly hair. This is because the humidity in the air causes dry hair swell up and absorb environmental moisture. Those of you who are aware of the Curly Girl Method might be aware that curly hair needs a lot of hydration and therefore, products containing sulfates, silicones, and other harsh chemicals are an absolute no-go.

Curlvana’s entire range is made of ultra-hydrating and nourishing ingredients like Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, and Fermented Rice Water Extract. It is a cruelty-free brand that is dermatologically approved and CG-friendly. The products are formulated to suit wavy, curly and coiled hair. Curlvana has the ideal curly hair routine that has helped me rejuvenate my tresses, which is why I wanted to pen down my honest Curlvana Products review.

The Curlvana Ultimate Kit Review

Thankfully there are quite a few CG-friendly brands in India, and Curlvana is one of them. Back in the day, there were hardly any products dedicated to curly hair, which is why we had to make do with whatever was available in the market. Lucky for us the tables have turned and the emergence of CG-approved brands in India is a welcome change.

The Curlvana range claims to reduce frizz in all weather conditions because they have no glycerine in their formula. Glycerine which is a moisturizing agent on the skin works adversely on the hair by attracting environmental moisture, and that is the prime cause of frizz.

I used Curlvana products for about 5 weeks and have made up my mind about them:

Shampoo: Curlvana’s Fortifying Curl Cleanse is their gentle shampoo that clears scalp buildup and dirt without drying the hair shaft. It contains gentle surfactants which don’t dry out the hair but clean it thoroughly nonetheless. It contains plant protein that works on all different hair porosity levels and strengthens the hair. Since I have very thick hair, it tends to get entangled and breaks while combing. After using this shampoo I noticed less hair on my comb, which is proof that this product does what it claims.

Conditioner: Next in line is Curlvana’s Curl shine gentle conditioner. It is a very nice lightweight product that has a lot of slip allowing me to finger-comb my hair and get rid of tangles. It coats each hair nicely and adds ample shine, but the best part is, that it doesn’t weigh down my hair. The other CG-friendly conditioners in the market make my hair look flat, but this one adds lots of bounce and volume.

Leave-In conditioner: A leave-in conditioner is an absolute must when it comes to styling curly hair. It helps to add definition while holding the curls for longer. I apply it to damp hair and then scrunch my hair to form the curls, then I finger coil my bangs so that they hold shape for long. Curlvana’s leave-in conditioner is light and spreads easily without making my hair sticky. It provides a soft hold and helps in eliminating frizz. I think it is one of the star products from this line.

Hair Gel: Flaxseed is known to be excellent for curly hair and that is the prime ingredient in Curlvana’s curl-defining styling gel. Gelling the hair can make or break your whole look, therefore, selecting the right product is imperative. My suggestion would be to opt for a light, silky gel that doesn’t leave a crunchy cast behind. The hair gel by Curlvana is not too thick and not too watery, it spreads easily on wet hair and adds a lot of shine and bounce. It also helps reduce frizz on second and third daya after hair wash.

Hair Mask: Curly hair needs all the hydration in the world, so a mask is crucial in maintaining it. Curlvana’s Deep Nourish Double Cream hair mask is godsent for dry, frizzy curly hair. It has a rich but lightweight consistency, that applies and spreads easily. I notice little to no frizz every time I use this product and my hair feels absolutely amazing. This mask should be a part of every Indian curly hair routine because it smoothens the curls like no other.

My take on Curlvana products

If you are looking for CG-approved products in India, then Curlvana is going to be your best bet. The range has everything that you need. Plus, it makes sense to use an Indian curly hair routine from the same line as the products work in conjunction with each other and provide desired results. I think Curlvana is a very promising brand and I appreciate their effort in putting so much effort into formulating such a great line. I would give them a big thumbs up and would highly recommend all their products to anyone who is looking for Indian curly hair products.

6/06/2022 14 comments

Title: Tijara's Mystery Codes

Author: Hemma Myers Sood

Genre: Thriller, Mythology, Fiction

Pages: 277

Review: This story is set in the premises of the grand palace of Tijara Fort, Alwar. Right now the Tijara Fort Palace is a luxury hotel which sits in the lap of Aravallis in Neemrana. It's a stunning work of architectural, and the writer has set the story so vividly here that you can actually feel living through those times.

The story starts with the story of King Pandu and how he angers the Rishi when King Pandu kills him when he was making love. As a result, King Pandu got cursed that whenever he would get aroused, it would be his moment of death. As a result, he was made to drink Amrit to remain immortal, but as one day he just loses his control and gets involved with his wife, he perishes. Queen Madri offers herself on Sati in his memory and burns to death.

There began the history and mystery of Amrit or the nectar. The Amrit definitely had maintained the health of Pandu, too bad it couldn't save him from the curse.

The story then moves to the current scenario and ruler of the Tijara Fort. Seems someone had discovered the much sought after formula of the Amrit. And guess what, a doctor is murdered in the Tijara Fort premises.

An investigation is started to find out the murderer, and for that, a super competent detective from Delhi , Siddharth is sent. He had solved a huge number of cases so far but used offbeat clues for the same and relied heavily on intuition and omens. This makes the solving of the mystery even more exciting.

The story again moves to the most turning point of Mahabharata, when the Pandavas had completed exile and the Kauravas were trying to deceive them again.

This murder mystery moves in the most unexpected ways, with references from the Mahabharata and other historical anecdotes in between and finally presents a very justified ending.

I loved how detailed Syd's observations were, and how he reached conclusions. Also the description of Tijara Fort is par excellence. I personally love this palace and had been reminiscing my stay while reading the book, as if I was actually there with Syd.

If you are a fan of murder mysteries, with a twist of Mythology, then this book is a must read for you.

6/05/2022 1 comments