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?

Phuket - A wild and wet vacation!

When we got married, my husband had just joined a new Company and we were setting up a new home in a new country… So, we couldn’t have a typical honeymoon getaway… He promised to make it up to me and he did it, with lots of lovely vacations at places of my choice… On one such getaway last August, we went to Phuket, Thailand. 

I love private beaches and a beach front cabin is just so perfect! We found this perfect resort that offered us both! 

View from the sun deck!

 

A private beach party is held in the resort every Wednesday…. This allows the guests to mingle, swap stories and enjoy some good sparkling wine and Thai starters – all free!

Waking up to the first rays of sun and sound of the waves, 

now that’s a perfect start of the day…

Usually Shashi likes to just relax on the beach chair or in the pool… But this trip, I was determined to try other activities as well and so, dragged him to the town near Patong beach. Tip: If you plan to have an activity filled trip, book your hotel near the town area. You’ll have to forgo private beach but you’ll save time and money travelling… Anyways since we had already booked for 8 days, we couldn’t change that…

When in Phuket, you have to go island hopping! The waters around Phuket are filled with stunning smaller islands and islets. So we hopped on the speedboat to James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay, Krabi and Phi Phi...  Next three days were spent exploring Maya Bay beach, Pileh lagoon and the Viking caves…  I guess I should let the pictures do the talking here!

We canoed to explore the hidden caves and lagoons; we saw the stalactite caves, bird nest formations and the stunning isles covered with dense forests jutting majestically from the sea… We watched the waves rise and fall and the jelly fishes and sea snakes glide along… the monkeys hopping around and bats hanging high… 

But the best part was snorkeling… Now, I don’t know swimming, but life jackets take care of that and our guide was kind enough to navigate me in the waters… The view was heavenly! The fishes in all colours in the world gliding by gracefully, the coral reefs, and the entire underwater world and in all this you feel one with the nature… You are aware of every single breath you take…. I was totally in awe of the mighty creator…. I guess this is the best form of meditation…  All I can say is that it was magical…

Rest of the days were spent in strolling in the city, shopping, general sightseeing and hunting for good Indian vegetarian food (Hubby dear’s basic need)…. And yep, we were lucky! We met this guy who had come from a small village in Punjab to open a Punjabi family restaurant in Phuket. He was god sent! The food was delicious and so cheap; it was almost a shame… No wonder we went there again next day for the dinner… Every dish we tried in this small restaurant was scrumptious!  We spoke to the owner, who turned out to be a very nice gentleman….

We also experienced the wonders of Thai massage and Lomi massage, tried Thai food, and spent couple of days alternating between the sea waters and the pool! The evenings were spent either strolling on the beach and sipping wine at the bar or lounging on our private sun deck, watching the sun go down to let the stars twinkle into the night… 

If there an expression to describe this tour to the land of Buddha its just this - Absolute bliss!