Langkawi - A serene getaway!

The biggest advantage of living is South East Asia is that you can hop off to exotic beach getaways at a short notice. Swim, snorkel, ride a bike or just relax and rejuvenate! These locations are perfect for any mood and any activity. One such gem is Langkawi in Malaysia.

Langkawi is actually an archipelago made up of some 99 (mostly uninhabited)  islands in the Andaman Sea some 30 km off the mainland coast of Malaysia. Pulau Langkawi is the largest of these islands and is one of the four island inhabited. It has a very beautiful, rustic country side feel to it.

We have been to Langkawi twice - once for a week long leisure vacation and then again a flying visit as a land tour which was a part of the cruise vacation we had taken. (More of that later) This island is definitely a small piece of heaven on earth! On one hand turquoise waters and the pristine beaches entice you and on the other hand the lush paddy fields and wild green hills lure you to explore them. Its a constant war of wanting to just relax on the beaches and giving in to the adventurous side in you.

The first time round, we stayed in Mutiara Burau Bay Resort. I don't know about others, but this is definitely an awesome place to stay. It has a bunch of tiny wooden cabins built about a meter above the ground on a foundation of concrete pillars, wood and bamboos. The front decks face the sea. All you have to do is stroll about a 100 meters and you are on the private beach. The beach in itself is littered with inviting beach chairs and the shady trees which have swings tied on them. What more can one ask for!

I guess if you are in Langkawi it makes sense to stay at a resort with a private beach. Though these resorts are obviously away from the town, you can always hire a bike to venture out (which you must). The bikes here are small motor bikes that remind you of a scooter. We hired one and explored the whole island like nomads! It was amazing! Small clusters of houses give way to stunning paddy fields and lush green forests and a never ending coastline! Halt anywhere click pics or just seep in the beauty! 

Another must see attraction in Langkawi is the cable car ride to the Langkawi Sky Bridge in the Oriental Village, Pantai Kok (at the foot hill of the Machincang mountain range). Arrive here by a bike or simply hail a cab. The queue for the cable car ride is usually very long, especially during the school holidays. So, do the smart thing like us and go for the paid 'Express Ride Pass' if you are short on time. We not only saved time but also got a pin badge and a shot glass as a souvenir in return. So double whammy! We were super excited to take the ride since it was a first time for my hubby.

The ride was so exciting and fun and the view of the lush green forests below and the seven wells waterfalls  was so stunning that we soon forgot all our fear and didn't even realize when we reached the middle station. Here we got off and went on to explore the surrounding area and then off we went to the Top Station. This is the top of Gunung Machincang, 708 meters above sea level. The breeze here was super cool and the view simply amazing! We could see the entire forest land and endless sea dotted with ships that looked like toys. We were lucky the first time and also got to visit the Langkawi Sky Bridge which was closed for maintenance the second time. This is the bridge where the Bollywood movie Don: The Chase Begins Again was shot. The ride downhill was a bit scary but fun!

Once down, the Oriental Village is a perfect place for some cheap retail therapy. You can find variety of knick-knacks ranging from clothes to souvenirs to lovely decorative pieces made from bamboo or shells. You can also relax and enjoy some fish pedicure. But I would advise to keep shopping for later on. 

We didn't go island hopping or for water sports here because we well planning to just a rest and relax on this break! There are lots of other activities ranging from water sports to trekking that one can indulge in in Langkawi. I hope we'll be going back for them soon! But we really didn't miss anything as we spent the mornings in the pools or in the spa, afternoons reading under the trees and evenings strolling on the beach, making small talk, sipping yummy cocktails and watching the sun go down! Absolute bliss!

I guess enough of me and let the pictures speak thousand words!

Do let me know if you liked it!

Our Wooden Cabin in the resort!

Bar! At high tide, it gets surrounded by water!

Relaxing Beach chairs!

  Views from the private beach!

Entrance to the Oriental Village!

Oriental Village!

Langkawi Sky Bridge!

Beauty Tips

Like every mom my mom too is a whole encyclopedia on tips from health and beauty to life in general... Growing up I used to call it nagging. But now I know it was her way of preparing me to be independent and live on my own, just the way the little birdie teaches its young one to fly, knowing very well that the day the baby learns the art, away it'll fly.

So today I thought of sharing some of her beauty tips using ingredients from our kitchen

Face-pack for Oily Skin

1 tsp besan (gram flour) - [absorbs the excess sebum]
1 tsp plain curd - [brightens the complexion]
pinch of turmeric - [antiseptic - helps dry out pimples]
1/2 tsp honey. - [natural moisturizer]

Mix them well to form a smooth paste. Apply on a cleansed face and relax for 10-15 mins. Now wash off with lukewarm water. This pack has amazing effect! Do follow up with an oil free moisturizer.

Face-pack for a Dry skin

1 tsp Glycerin [seals in the moisture]
4-5 drops of lemon juice [ brightens up]
1 tsp milk [ moisturizes]
1 tsp mashed banana [lightens skin and gives a natural glow]

Mash the fruit well and add the other ingredients. Mix well and apply. Leave for 15 mins and wash off.

Banana can be substituted with papaya or strawberry.

Face-pack for pimple prone skin

1 tsp fullers earth (multani mitti) [ absorbs excess sebum]
1 tsp rose water [gives a cooling effect]
1/4 tsp turmeric (preferably ambe halad) [ antiseptic]
1/2 tsp neem powder (optional) [ antiseptic]

Mix well and apply on the face. Rest for 10-15 mins. Wash off and follow up with an oil free moisturizer

Dandruff

Coconut oil - [ nourishes the roots and conditions hair]
2 small sized Camphor tablets [ relieves dandruff]
1 tsp lemon juice (optional - avoid if leaving over night) [ relieves dandruff and conditions hair]

Heat water in a pan. Pour oil in a steel bowl and place on the water. once the oil warms up, add the powdered camphor. Remove from the heat. Apply lukewarm oil to the scalp. Leave overnight. Wash off the next morning.

This will not only provide relief from the dandruff but will also induce a sound beauty sleep.

P.S. If you are prone to colds or the weather is cold, leave it on for only couple of hours. You can tie a towel (dipped in hot water and squeezed) to enable better penetration.

Dull and Dry skin

2 tsp masoor dal (split red lentils - soaked over night and ground coarsely)
1/3 cup fresh milk
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp olive oil

Mix the ingredients together. Apply all over the body and massage well. Shower off and follow up with a moisturizer.

Face packs are a great way to pamper and care your skin. But nothing can replace a balanced diet and a happy heart! Try to relax, listen a song or enjoy some aroma therapy while your pack dries.

Hope these easy tips help you stay beautiful! :)

Back to Blogging!

Hey!

Its been literally ages since I last shared something..... This always happens with me! I am a true blue Gemini! Nothing holds my attention for long. My bad! :(

You know what they say about Geminis? That they are total free spirited souls like butterflies. Everything attracts them for just a while! ;)

So talking about what have I been doing all this time, what all have I not attempted! I tried cracking FRM Exam [and learnt to fail :(], earned a scholarship offer from one of the finest colleges from India and then changed my mind about doing MBA again! I shopped and traveled and went on a cruise and danced in weddings and learnt to swim! Phew! And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

But am back now and will hopefully continue blabber online now! ;) Will share all about my antics in my blogs soon.

Swimming like a fish!

Hi! I know I have hardly blogged since past few days... So many things to share, but no time! Why you ask? People fail to understand what keeps me so busy, given my unemployed status…. I am a total unadulterated Gemini! So some thing or the other keeps catching my attention and every few days I have a new interest, a new hobby! One day its cooking, the other week it’s dancing, next I wanted to explore Singapore on foot; reading, makeup, aromatherapy, craft, painting, henna painting, you name it and I have tried it! So I wanted to share my latest interest with you... Remember when I shared my snorkeling experience, I said I can't swim? Well that's going to change.  I have joined a swimming class! Yeah! Yours truly has decided to go move that lazy bum!

Actually, to be honest the credit goes to hubby. He encouraged me, then induced me and then finally resorted to torture! He's served me an ultimatum - no vacation (except the India trip already scheduled) unless I learn to swim! Now that would mean my Bali trip will get postponed due to his work commitments and it'll be blamed on me! See how he tortures a poor soul! Totally heartless!

So, finally I scoured the net and called up agencies and found a female trainer who trains in the evening! Yay! That satisfies my 2 concerns. .. First I wanted a female coach as male trainers are too ambitious and don't understand when to stop.. They push and push till you are dead. .. I know this because I have tried 4 trial sessions with one at my gym... Never again! 2nd I wanted evening classes since I know what Singapore sun and the pool water can do to my complexion! It’s only now that I have stopped getting pimples and am in no mood to deal with another skin problem!

Anyways, back to my swimming! My coach, Hester is an angel! She gives me enough attention to ensure I am well taught and then she gives me enough space so that I can continue practicing without someone keeping me under constant microscopic attention! I hate someone breathing down my neck!

First few sessions were totally relaxing.  Just take a deep breath and try to float on the water, just let go! Wow! Heavenly! Feeling the buoyancy of the water is so therapeutic! But then the actual workout started. Nowadays I am usually seen kicking and pushing the water and trying to breathe like some crazy possessed one! That too in a pool with pint sized kids easily swimming around. What a sight that must be for the other swimmers! Don’t blame me if someone drowns in a fit of laughter on seeing me!

It’s been 6 sessions now and I can now float and move in water as much as one deep breath allows… She's now trying to teach me to twist my body so that my nose and mouth can come out of the water to allow me to breathe without sinking.... Ahem, not an easy task! Don't get fooled by the grace of the swimmers. .. It looks very easy but is actually very hard.. You have to keep kicking your legs and push the water with your hands while trying to remain afloat and twist your body without forgetting to inhale and exhale! Huh! That exhausted me! And I am nowhere closer to achieving this feat! But the good news is that my paunch hates all this too and I am slowly but surely losing it! Yay! Don't be too happy Pritam, we all know the list of goodies you plan to hog on in Mumbai... So, Ahem.... So what? I can still be happy, right? Finally, I have found the exercise that works for me! Have to rush now, have a class today. Wish me luck, hope I can master it today!

My phone story!

Hey! It’s been a really long time since my last post...  I am sorry but I have been really occupied. It’s because hubby dear has made it his mission to keep me busy.... He's been a sweetheart and gifted me my first smart phone as a belated birthday gift... It’s a Samsung Galaxy S4! It’s awesomely wonderful and yes this is my first smart phone... Now that may surprise or even shock some because it so common to see even the small kids around carrying smart phones nowadays... So today, I want to share the story of my phones!

Growing up in a middle class family meant all our needs were always catered to very well, but always with priority to important things and with strict control over what those things are! So I never owned a cell phone during college days and this was not a rarity in India in the late 90s and early 2000s...  None of my friends owned one and it didn't make an iota of difference to any of us... We didn’t have to rely on technology to keep in touch! And there was an added advantage to this… By the time we met early morning, before the class, we would be bubbling with things to share and this made every morning so exciting! Oh! The magic of those innocent days! Anyways life went on and even after college the good old reliable landlines did their job... It was only in 2005, while I was pursuing my MBA that Papa got me my first cell phone! I was thrilled to own that humble Nokia piece that did nothing more than the basic function of calls and sms. Still, it had a colour display and that was enough for me. I loved it!

I have never be a tech geek, so was happy using the same old phone even after rising the corporate ladder to become a Branch Manager.

It was around this time that my kid bro got all grown up, completed his Engineering and got a job... Now, traditionally I had been the one to splurge and get best of the stuff for him - be it the latest phone or laptop or clothes... Buying stuff for him gives me more joy than buying things for me... However, this time round Amit (my sweetheart brother) decided to surprise me... He spent his entire month's salary of 14000 INR to buy me the latest phone Nokia E5... I was so shocked and happy...

It wasn't the first time he had done something so cute... When he was in 4th grade, he towed all the old newspapers to the scrap dealer and earned Rs.10 to buy me a ring for raksha bandhan gift... Yeah! I know I am super-duper lucky to have such a loving bro!

So, the Nokia E7 stayed with me for more than 3 years and I still love it but I needed the new apps, especially the whatsapp so that I could chat with my family and with especially my bro anytime! My new Samsung Galaxy S4 allows me to do that and much more... Let me tell you honestly, it’s an awesome piece! Am so happy... So now you know what's keeping me busy these days!

I have most of my close ones on my whatsapp and this has become my lifeline. I am so happy and so thankful. They say technology is driving people away from each other, but I feel it’s just a blame game. Ultimately if the bond is strong, the time, distance or technology, nothing can keep you apart… Btw, have you noticed how’s it with your best friends – you may lose touch, not talk for ages, not think of them every day, but when you get in touch, you simply pick up the strings where they were left and go on, like you were never apart! That’s the beauty of love!

I'll surely share my review of my new phone but that’s for some other time... For now adios and keep loving your god given best friends and your siblings!

(Image courtesy Pinterest)

Managing my bag!

Hi all! How often have you left home feeling you are carrying everything you need for the day ahead and on reaching the bus stop realized that you have forgotten the travel card home? Or needed a lip balm badly for your dry lips and found that tiny winy tube missing? Sounds familiar? Welcome to my world! :)

They say ‘A girl carries her world in her bag’… I am sure every girl will agree with it… You really can tell a lot about a girl by looking at the contents in her handbag…  We do need different bags for different outings… for the gym, for shopping, for a date, for a brunch with girls, for a walk… But there are certain things that you have to have with you always… Only girls will understand the importance of having a cleansing wipe or safety pin handy! 

However, the woe of my life used to be that I would always end up missing out a thing or two whenever I changed bags… Worst part is most often than not, it used to be some simple but important article like a comb or a hair clip or a lip balm… Another most common issue is finding a small article in a big bag, especially if the bag doesn’t have multiple pockets! Try finding your SMRT card (travel card) or a pen in a tote full of medley of tissues, makeup, book, sunglasses, wallet, snacks, accessories and scarf! It takes ages! 

Now, you can buy those cute bag organizers… But how do you use it in a back pack or a tote?

Ugh! Finally I got tired of my frequent tiny disappointments and came up with a simple strategy to handle this problem… This is what I did:

Simple planning goes long way! I sorted and listed must haves in the bag.

Face

• ·         Moisturizer 
• ·         Sun screen 
• ·         Lip Balm 
• ·         Lip liner 
• ·         A lip stain/ gloss 
• ·         An eyeliner 
• ·         Mascara 
• ·         Compact 
• ·         Tissues and wet tissues

Hair

• ·         A comb 
• ·         Bobby pins/ clips – 1 or 2 
• ·         A scrunchie/ band

Health 

• ·         A bottle of water 
•        An umbrella 
• ·         A quick snack 
• ·         Sunglasses.

Others

• ·         Pen
• ·         Safety pin
• ·         A small diary/ notepad

Gym

• ·         Shampoo
• ·         Conditioner + serum
• ·         Face wash
• ·         Deo
• ·         Body lotion

And now, the most important, wallet and phone!

My on the go beauty stash

My hair care and gym necessities fit in this cute pouch... All except the deo... But that's fine!

 When in Singapore water, sunglasses and umbrella are a must have!

Once I had my list ready, I found appropriate little pouches and filled them up accordingly… So I have one pouch holding everything I need for my face, one holding hair accessories, another holding my gym necessities…  So now, whenever I need to change my bags, all I have to do is just transfer these pouches and voila, I am done! The chances of me forgetting stuff are minimal… Also I can adjust my carry on stuff according to the time of the day and duration of outing! So if I am just going out for dinner with hubby, I may just carry my beauty pouch and wallet and still have everything I need to touch up… Or if I am going to be out in the Singapore weather where we have scorching afternoons and rainy evenings, I am still prepared for both…

Another trick that has helped me reduce my baggage is to carry samples or miniatures…. So I buy a 2 dollar travel version of my favourite shampoo to carry around and simple refill it from my huge bottle at home whenever needed. 

Do you have any such tricks? Would you like to share them?