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This is How I Planned My Budget-Friendly, Sustainable, Eco-friendly, and A Simple Wedding

Published by Rekha

Last year on this day, Sushant and I got married at a temple in Nandi Hills, Bangalore. After 13 years of courtship, we decided to take the plunge. I am agnostic. These religious things, big fat weddings with too many guests are not my cup of tea, so I always thought if I ever get married I would have a simple wedding or a court marriage. But in India we hardly get a say in our weddings, right? So, court marriage was out of the picture, and we had to give in and settle for a small, intimate 120 guest wedding. But not without having a few of our criteria like it should be budget-friendly, intimate, fun, sustainable, and eco-friendly as much as possible. Why am I writing about it now? Because I still get asked to share the details of our wedding. Friends and family who were part of the celebration claim to love it. I presume, either they love us a lot or they are good liars. Nevertheless, I believe them.

So, here are our thoughts behind planning this wedding and why we choose:

– A temple that doesn’t allow any décor.

– An eco-friendly place for other small functions

– Having as minimal wastage as possible.

– Supporting local artisans and social enterprises

Venue

Why Nandi Hills

We got married at a temple in Nandi Hills, Bangalore. We never thought of having a destination wedding, but it turned out to be one eventually. And also the fact that it was in Nandi Hills was another highlight for us, as we both love mountains and are into trekking and adventure. Nandi Hills was also equidistant for us from Bombay and our extended families, mine from Mangalore and Sushant’s from Hyderabad. The tickets weren’t very expensive and the travel not very hectic.

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple for the Wedding Rituals

We weren’t keen on getting married in a hall, we wanted a place, which holds significance and reflected our personalities. We wanted an outdoor venue, which had heritage and history. Sushant always wanted to get married in a temple (he has his reasons), so we started looking at many temples in and around Bombay, but nothing attracted us. So we decided to check South Indian temples, as both of us love South Indian Temple architecture. After a lot of research, I came across Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple at Nandi Hills. When I saw the photos online, I fell in love with the beautiful and intricate architecture and its history. It was just what we wanted. I managed to get the temple office number online and spoke to the manager. He asked me to visit the temple once. So, we decided to visit. The first time when we saw the temple in real, we just knew it that this is where we want to get married. There is something very positive and calming about this temple that pulls you towards it. If you haven’t been to this place yet, then you must. After a quick chat with the manager, he told us that they do not entertain anything fancy inside the temple. The rules were clear:

– No Decoration

– No Flowers

– No Eatables

– No Chairs

– The Wedding rituals would be as per the temple tradition.

The moment we heard the rules, we were happy because it was just how we wanted. We zeroed on the place for its simplicity, history, and the gorgeous architecture.

Bhoga Nandeeshwara is said to be the oldest temple in Karnataka. It is said that the initial construction happened during the 9th century AD by the Bana Queen Ratnavali. What attracted me about the temple is that it has been built by five various dynasties during their ruling period – the Ganga dynasty, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pallavas, and finally the Vijayanagara kings and is dedicated to Lord Shiva and various stages of his life – childhood, adolescence, and marriage. Over the years various sections were added and renovated by these dynasties without hampering each other’s architectural style as a mark of respect.

Discovery Village for other functions

We choose Discovery Village for our pre-wedding functions and post-wedding lunch. It is an eco-friendly resort at the foothills of Nandi Hills. They follow zero-waste policy and sustainable environmental practices like rainwater harvesting, composting, alternative energy optimization upcycled, and eco-friendly architecture to name a few. It is surrounded by the picturesque Nandi Hills, greenery and wildlife just the way we like. The cottages are tastefully done and have a rustic look. The roof of each of the cottages is made of Mangalore tiles giving it an earthy feel. The rooms are named after various birds that one can spot there (which is in abundance).

What I loved about this place is – their polite and humble staff including their marketing representative Priyanka. She was our point of contact from day 1 when we first visited the resort till our wedding day. Priyanka would hear all our queries with a smile never even once saying a no to anything. She came up with a solution for everything and made sure that everything went smoothly. She was in constant touch with us for almost six months before the wedding and even recommended Sushma and her team for helping us in planning the decoration and other coordination. I think more than us, Priyanka was worried about our wedding. This speaks a lot about a person and that’s how experiences are made in the hospitality industry. I am a fan of these humans of Discovery Village for life. In fact for our anniversary, we had plans of visiting Discovery Resort.

The Functions

As I am a Mangalorean and Sushant a Telugu, we tried to incorporate rituals from both the side to respect each other’s family. So there was Haldi as per Telugu tradition, followed by a fun Mehendi with some games and music, and the evening ended with a dance night where we wanted our guests to let their hair down and dance their night away and the next day morning, we had our wedding at the temple. The temple follows its own wedding rituals, and all the weddings that take place there happen as per their rituals. So we followed it and added one or two of Mangalorean and Telugu elements.

We didn’t have a structured flow for any event. We kept it fluid so that people didn’t feel constrained and could enjoy it. As it was a small guest list of close-knit family and friends, we just wanted them to have fun and enjoy the beauty of both Discovery Resort and Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple.

Haldi

Mehendi

Dance Night

Wedding

Wedding Trousseau

Special occasions especially if it is a wedding, we end up buying things that we might not use again in our life. These things come with a price because the moment you say the word “Wedding” the prices shoot up (long live commercialization). There is so much pressure about making everything look grand, that we often forget the beauty of simplicity. Simple things can equally look grand too. Sushant and I love buying things locally from artisans and sustainable brands and also of recycling as much as possible. So, we involved products made by local artisans and social enterprises.

I don’t apply make-up. For me, make-up = kajal, so for my Haldi and Mehendi, my sister did my make-up, which was just a kajal, eyeliner, and some shimmer compact. The only time I had a stylist was for the dance night and the wedding.

Mehendi Look

As Mehendi gets messy, I choose to wear a silk-cotton top and a skirt. I got the top stitched from my longtime designer Ritu and the skirt is from one of my favourite sustainable clothing brand, Ukti Everyday. Along with being a sustainable clothing brand, they also work with artisans. I wore my favourite silver FabIndia necklace and earrings from my personal collection for the Mehendi.

Dance Night Look

For the dance night, I upcycled my old saree gifted by Sushant through Shweta from Why So Blue. She converted this saree into a gorgeous lehenga and a blouse that I could be used as separates for any future occasion. I paired it with a junk neckpiece and earrings from my accessory collection.

Wedding Look

I was very specific that I want to buy my saree from a weaver, hence after much researching and with a friend Neha’s help, I managed to buy my wedding saree from the weavers. Neha is a designer and works with local artisans; hence I knew her contacts are going to be authentic. As for the jewelry, I choose to include pieces that are dear to me. I am very close to my Amma, my sister and to my late grandmother and as respect towards these women in my life, I wore my mom’s wedding necklace, my favorite pearl earrings gifted by my sister for one of my birthday and my late grandmom’s bangles. Along with this, I wore my sister’s vanki (armband) and other imitation temple jewelry, you can say why to spend so much when you can reuse or recycle as I don’t believe in spending a bomb on wedding trousseau.

Wedding Wastage

Weddings create beautiful memories, but they are also high on wastage. Our main objective while planning this wedding was to have minimal wastage as much as possible mainly by following sustainable ways of doing things and recycling. And to control wastage, we had minimal decoration using only local flowers like marigold, and wherever possible we tried using the natural beauty at Discovery Resort. The Haldi was set-up in the butterfly garden of the resort, and the space for Mehendi was under a small fig tree overlooking the pool. The only big function we had was the dance night a day before the wedding. This was set-up in the open ground. And our wedding lunch was served on a banana leaf in a true South Indian style.

The flowers used during the functions were used for composting by the resort. Discovery also follows a strict food disposal system, so food wastage during the two-day functions got segregated and used by them.

Welcome Kit and Favours

For the guests, we had a Welcome Kit, which had local South Indian delicacies and a note. I love giving handwritten notes/letters and customized things to my loved ones. Keeping this in mind, I wanted to give something that expressed our gratitude and would remind the guests of us. To express our gratitude to the guests who took the time to be part of our wedding, we presented:

– Nandi Bull representing Nandi Hills (the place we got married). This was sourced locally and is made by local artisans in Bangalore.

– Bride and Groom fridge magnet dolls made by the talented Handmade Cottage. This is a home business run by two sisters in Manipur. I must say there were only two weeks left for the wedding when I contacted them and asked them to make these dolls. In such short notice, they managed it so well.

– Handwritten “Thank You” note with our wedding artwork.

– A trinket holder made by the women of Dishaa Pratishthaan, an NGO working for the betterment of the women.

Photographers

The most important thing for me was having a photographer who understands our personalities and captures the moments as it is. When we were looking for photographers, I realized that I might have to sell my kidney to pay them (just joking). I understand that it is a lot of work for a photographer, but when you have a tight budget you can’t afford to splurge. I had lost hopes of finding a photographer fitting our budget, that’s when, I came across Aamras Studio, recommended by a friend, Kartik. They did an excellent job of capturing every moment.

Good things not necessarily have to be expensive, and we as a country are blessed to have so many talented artisans and handicrafts. All you need to do is approach them because buying and supporting local brands, artisans and social enterprises are equally important.

And this is how our wedding was planned. It came with its share of difficulties; because according to the norms, weddings should be over the top and when you ask for simple things, not everyone understands it. Indian Wedding Industry is estimated to be around 40-50 billion in size. Perhaps that’s why there is a generalized perception that any couple planning to get married must look at a wedding celebration defined by this industry. But, what if there are couples that do not want to follow the set rules of a wedding celebration? For such couples, it becomes difficult (not impossible) to deal and to explain that Weddings can be in a different way too. While one decides to marry, the biggest worry often is, “If we don’t follow the usual way of a wedding, then what will people say?” A simple solution to this is, “You still do what you want to do.” People will keep talking, but what is important is you are marrying for your happiness and not for others.

We are lucky to have families that understood why we wanted a close-knit wedding celebration without many frills around. But it wasn’t an easy task to explain these things to the world including a few vendors. The moment you say the words, “wedding, bride and groom” everything changes and the prices hit the sky. Though we did our best to make our wedding a simple affair and have minimal wastage through incorporating sustainable and recyclable ways and by having minimal use of plastic, yet we realized there are a few things that go out of your control because the wedding industry and the society are still not fully aligned to this thought. But it’s changing with more and more couples being thoughtful and conscious of the things they do for the wedding.

We had a very tight budget, which many told us was impossible to work with for such unusual demands. And not the one to spend lavishly on things, we were adamant about doing it our way instead of following the usual norms. Everything was managed on a shoestring budget without compromising on anything. And I would like to believe that we were able to do a good job. And as with any event, there were a few things that didn’t go as per the plan, and about which I still crib to my family, hahaha, nevertheless it gave us many memories to cherish lifelong.

“Celebrations can be simple, yet beautiful. We just need to be conscious of how we do it without creating much damage to the environment and to our pocket.”

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How to stay Positive during the Lockdown

Published by Rekha

The Covid19 pandemic has put a stop to the World. Most countries are under lockdown and the only talk everywhere is of Covid19. The constant talks, news of Covid19 and the uncertainties surrounding our life can have an impact on our physical and mental well-being.

The times are bleak, but not everything has to be negative, right? There are people around the world that are trying their best to spread positivity and happiness in these daunting times. While there are famous personalities sharing positive news like standup comedian, Atul Khatri who is doing a special short-video programme “Only Positive News!” and Faye Dsouza with her “Good News Tonight” series on Instagram, there are also common people like you and me trying their best to be positive and add positivity in other’s life. Hence, I have jotted down the names of people that are adding positivity to my lockdown time.

After witnessing so many stories of pain and sufferings of people from various strata of the society, the things that have most hit me since the lockdown are my privileges. And the least I can do is be grateful for these. I am privileged that I have the comfort of my home, where I can do these leisurely activities and I am grateful for that and I am grateful to the following people for giving me the much needed positive vibes in this lockdown.

1. Joel Menachery

Joel is a certified CrossFit, Animal Flow, and Crossfit Kids trainer. He runs a fitness studio called The Jym in Chembur. A week before the lockdown, Joel started taking sessions online as he didn’t want people to miss their fitness routine. He was one of the first ones in my circle to start taking online video sessions. The online classes started on March 15. In the wake of the lockdown, he has kept the group sessions open for all. Every day from 7.30 p.m – 8.30 p.m, people from across the world joins this one-hour CrossFit session with Joel. And, yes somedays we also have one hour of non-stop dancing. The sessions are a great stressbuster especially for the people that are locked alone, away from their families. Joel is also taking personal online sessions for those interested in having private coaching. Below are Joel’s details in case you want to join either the group or the personal sessions.

Contact: The Jym (Fitness and Health Centre)

Ground Floor, Near Sai Baba Mandir, Close to the 12th Road Chapp, 12th Rd, Chembur, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400071.

Follow The Jym on Instagram

2. Pratishruta Adhikari

Pratishruta is a certified yoga instructor from Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Nashik and has more than 5 years of experience teaching Yoga. She also has a Master’s Degree in Yoga from Svyasa, Bangalore. Pratishruta has been conducting classes regularly for yoga lovers, senior citizens, and corporates. What I really love about her classes is the way she teaches – calm, composed and generous with her wisdom. Since the lockdown, she has been conducting online Yoga classes every day in the morning from 8 a.m – 9.a.m. Till the expected lockdown April 15th, 2020, her sessions are going to be available for all. Join her online for a calm and positive start of the day.

Contact:

Pratishruta on Facebook at Pratiswasthya Yog

3. The Anand Family

In 2017, I had the privilege of knowing and staying with the lovely Puja Anand and her family in Dharamshala. You can read about my stay here. The house has three generations staying together and is an open house for anybody and everybody. I have had firsthand experience of their hospitality, generosity, and madness. Since the lockdown, Puja has been sharing some amazing and hilarious videos and photos of the things that they are doing.

Somedays Puja and her daughter Aloka dance on the famous South Korean band BTS’s songs, and some days Puja’s mother Dr.Chandrama Anand sings beautiful songs and somedays they paint and share their thoughts. Of all these things, my favorite is the recent addition of funny “Knock, Knock, who’s there?” series by Puja and Aloka. In these videos that Puja shares on Facebook, you can see her dressed up in various characters and introducing her friends in a funny way. Aloka does the make-up and get-up and Puja does the acting. Their videos are a great example of how one can lighten up themselves even in these gloomy days. The videos along with the gorgeous background of the mountains can lit up anyone’s mood. All I can say is I miss the warmth of this family and their lovely home.

If you too know someone like them who is making others happy during the lockdown, then do let me know, I would love to add them to this list.

Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Pancake

Published by Rekha

Who doesn’t like pancakes, right? They are the easiest and quickest to make. And that’s what I like about them, it is such a simple recipe, yet utterly delicious to eat. I have a thing for simple recipes that do not require advance planning or many ingredients.

In these unprecedented times, some of us are finding solace in cooking and baking. Though the resources are available, still I have decided to use them wisely. And these pancakes are perfect for these times. With only 4 ingredients you get a yummy meal. This gluten-free eggless banana pancake is my all-time favorite meal because it doesn’t need any fancy preparation. Just a one-bowl simple recipe with all my favorite ingredients whisked together.

Fun Fact – The origin of Pancakes can be dated back to 5,300 years ago. Otzi the Iceman whose remains were discovered in the Italian Alps had a dish that was in the form of a pancake for his last meals. Actually, Pancake can be said to be an ancient dish made from simple ingredients.

Originally Pancakes call for eggs, but I don’t use them in this recipe. I have also substituted the flour with Banana Flour, if you do not have banana flour, then you can make this recipe with wholewheat flour as well. Likewise, you can either omit or substitute jaggery with any sweetener of your liking.

So, here is my step-by-step instruction for making super-filling and nutritious Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Pancake.

Take 3-4 ripe bananas in a bowl. Mash them with a fork.

Add jaggery powder to the mashed bananas. Mix well.

Sieve the flour into the banana, jaggery mixture, add little water.

Mix them into a thick, smooth batter without any lumps.

In a pan, drizzle little oil. Drop one spoon of this batter and cook on both sides till brown. Yum Pancakes are ready!

Do tag me on trippinoverlife on Instagram if you try this recipe.

Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Pancake

A quick, easy, delicious and nutritious meal made up of banana, jaggery, and banana flour. It can be made for breakfast, snacks, or simply as a dessert.

Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Pancake

A quick, easy, delicious and nutritious meal made up of banana, jaggery, and banana flour. It can be made for breakfast, snacks or simply as a dessert.

3-4 ripe/overripe Bananas
1 cup Banana Flour (If you do not have Banana Flour, you can add Whole Wheat Flour)
Jaggery or any other sweetener of your liking
Cinnamon / Choco Chip

1. Mash the bananas with a fork.
2. Add jaggery or any other sweetener as per your liking. Mix banana and jaggery.
3. Sieve the flour and cinnamon into the banana mixture.
4. Add little water and make a thick batter.
5. In a pan, add little oil, drop one big spoon of batter, and spread it a bit. Pan-fry the side with little oil till brown.
6. Serve with honey, maple syrup, chocolate sauce or any nut butter.

65 movies, documentaries, and shows to watch on Netflix, Amazon, and Hotstar during the lockdown

Published by Rekha

I am sure by now you would have watched Contagion. This 2011 movie has become the most-watched movie online in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic. Now that we are under 21 days lockdown, and the only conversation you hear everywhere is about the pandemic. These constant talks can get depressing, so to divert your mind watching some good content can be a good idea. So here is my list of movies, documentaries, and show recommendations to watch while you are homebound.

Halki Pulki Watch:

Hindi

1. Khosla Ka Ghosla (Netflix)

A story about a family to reclaim their family land from a ruthless builder.

2. Hrishikesh Mukherjee Movies (Amazon)

One can never get tired of any Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s movies, can they?

3. Mard ko Dard Nahi Hota (Netflix)

A story of a young man who cannot feel pain due to a rare medical condition decides to train in martial arts inspired by his martial arts hero.

4. Love per square foot (Netflix)

Two individuals dream of buying their own home with their modest income.

5. Tu Mera Sunday (Netflix)

A group of five friends lookout for a place to play football in the overpopulated Mumbai city after a local politician bans playing sport on the beach.

English

6. Before Sunrise (Netflix)

A romantic-drama about two strangers that meet on a train in Europe and decides to spend a day before boarding their respective trains.

7. Before Sunset (Amazon)

A follow-up movie to Before Sunrise.

8. Hachiko (Netflix)

A heart touching true story about a master and his pet dog.

9. Eight Below (Netflix)

A survival story of sled dogs that are left behind in Antarctica during an expedition.

10. Julie and Julia (Netflix)

A real-life story about two women separated by time, yet following their love for food.

11. Devil wears Prada (Hotstar)

A young graduate lands a job as an assistant to a demanding editor-in-chief of a high fashion magazine.

12. Billy Elliot (Netflix)

A beautiful story of a boy who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer while also fighting societal prejudices.

13. Begin Again (Netflix)

Gretta, a budding songwriter’s chance encounter with Dan, a record label executive brings a new meaning to their life.

14. Joy (Netflix)

Despite facing several hardships, a divorced mother of two rises dreams of being an entrepreneur.

Kannada

15.Katheyondu Shuruvagide (Amazon)

Tarun, a resort owner, faces severe losses in his business venture and struggles to keep his resort intact. However, his life takes a drastic turn when Tanya enters the resort as a guest.

16. 99 (Amazon)

Classmates Ramachandra and Janaki meet after 20 years of graduating high school at a reunion. They start reminiscing their past days and talk about their present lives.

Malayalam:

17. Ente Ummante Peru (Amazon)

A young man sets out on an adventurous and emotional journey to find his biological mother. However, his life changes dramatically once he finds her.

18. Bangalore Days (Hotstar)

Cousins, Divya, Kuttan and Arjun, relocate to Bangalore. The movie revolves around their new lives and struggles in Bangalore.

19. Sudani from Nigeria (Netflix)

In a small town of Kerala, a football manager recruits three Nigerian footballers for his team. When one of the players, is injured, he is forced to keep him at his home.

20. Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (Amazon)

A story of a conservative old man whose son relocates to Russia for a job, leaving behind a robot to care for his old father.

21. Solo (Netflix)

Four short films based on the theme of various human emotions.

22. Charlie (Hotstar)

To avoid getting married, Tessa runs away from home and rents a room. She stumbles upon the sketchbook of the previous occupant with an incomplete story and decides to know more about the story and the occupant.

24. Ustaad Hotel (Hotstar)

Faizi, an aspiring chef, returns to his hometown in India when he fails to receive support from his father. He tries to fulfill his dream by helping his grandfather, Kareem, run his hotel.

25. Kumbhalagini Nights (Amazon)

Watch it for its beautiful cinematography, acting and story. A story of four siblings who don’t get along.

Marathi:

26. Take Care Good Night (Amazon)

What will you do when overnight you realize you and your family have been a victim of cybercrime? A family comes together to battle cybercrime.

27. Baapjanma (Amazon)

When life throws an unexpected surprise at Bhaskar, an old widower, he decides to mend his relationship with his estranged children.

28. Muramba (Netflix)

When Alok and Indu, decide to part ways after three years of relationship, Alok’s parents decide to step in to mend the relationship.

29. 15th August (Netflix)

A story of various events that take place among the residents of a building while they gear up India’s Independence Day celebration.

Kuch Seeklo Documentaries and Series:

30. Free Solo (Amazon)

This Oscar-winning documentary features Professional rock climber Alex Honnold’s attempt to conquer the first free solo climb of El Capitan’s 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

31. The Dawn Wall (Hotstar)

Get your dose of inspiration from the legendary free climber Tommy Caldwell’s journey as he attempts to scale the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

32. The Explained (Netflix)

As the name suggests this series from Vox explains a wide range of topics like the water crises, why diets fail, etc.

33. The Great Hack (Netflix)

This documentary is on the controversial data company Cambridge Analytica. Learn the dark side of social media and online data.

34. Our Planet (Netflix)

Climate Change is real! Witness how climate change impacts all living creatures through this beautifully shot video.

35. Dancing with the Birds (Netflix)

Watch the colorful world of gorgeous birds as they flaunt their best moves to get a mate. Trust me, it is a treat to watch the breathtaking colors of the birds.

36. Raja, Rasoi aur Kahaniyan (Netflix)

All the food lovers get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this series that take you on a food ride.

Shows:

37. You (Netflix)

A bookstore manager uses every trick using social media and the internet to get close to a girl he met in his bookstore. But what seems harmless soon turns into obsession.

38. Dark (Netflix)

If you like sci-fi, then you must watch Dark. It will blow your mind. When a boy goes missing in a small German town, the past comes back intertwining the lives of four families.

39. The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)

Based on Shirley Jackson’s novel by the same name, the series follows siblings’ life post their escape from living in the most famous haunted house in the country.

40. Unbelievable (Netflix)

Based on a true story, Unbelievable is the story of a teen who reports being raped, then goes on denying it. So what really is the truth? Two female detectives track the evidence to find the truth.

41. Money Heist (Netflix)

A team of thieves plans to pull off the biggest heist — to print billions of euros in the Royal Mint of Spain. Will they succeed in printing the money and keeping the police at bay?

42. Stranger Things (Netflix)

Enter the world of Supernatural forces and government secret experiments through the eyes of four, young friends.

43. Locke and Key (Netflix)

It is based on the comic by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Following their father’s murder, three siblings move into their father’s ancestral house filled with magical keys.

44. Black Mirror (Netflix)

An anthology series focusing on how technology manipulates human behavior.

45. Delhi Crime (Netflix)

Based on a Delhi gang-rape case, this follows the Delhi Police investigation into the finding of the men who committed the crime. Watch it for Shefali Shah and Rasika Duggal’s marvelous acting.

46. Made In Heaven (Amazon)

There is more to weddings than just having that perfect celebration. Experience the big fat Indian Wedding as two wedding planners Karan and Tara take you on a journey with them.

47. Yeh Meri Family (Netflix)

If you are a 90’s kid, you will enjoy this. It is a nostalgic trip down the memory lane.

Dimag Lagao Movies:

Malayalam

48. Uyare (Netflix)

An aspiring pilot’s career comes to a standstill when her obsessive boyfriend attacks her with acid.

49. Virus (Amazon)

A story about how the Kerala Government dealt with the outbreak of the life-threatening Nipah virus.

Telugu:

50. Awe (Netflix)

Various stories unfold inside a restaurant. While watching the film, you might think about what is happening, but trust me you continue watching it, the ending will surprise you.

Tamil:

51. Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (Amazon)

Based on a true story. In the ’90s a series of house robberies happen along the highways in Tamil Nadu. A newly appointed police officer and his team is given the case to handle and track the dacoits.

52. Thupparivaalan (Amazon)

A detective is approached by a child to investigate the mystery behind his pet dog’s death.

53. Imaikkaa Nodigal (Amazon)

A serial killer is on the move targeting the rich and the famous. Anjali Vikramadithyan, a CBI officer, sets out to track down the killer before things go out of hand.

54. Bhaagamathie (Amazon)

An IAS officer imprisoned in a secluded house for interrogation on the murder charges of her husband gets possessed by a spirit. Available both in Tamil and Telugu language.

55. Super Deluxe (Netflix)

On a normal-looking day, the life of an unfaithful wife, a transgender father, and an angry boy is going to change. Watch it for the incredible cinematography, acting, and story-telling.

Kannada:

56. U-Turn (Amazon)

A reporter investigating a murder becomes the prime suspect.

57. Kavaludaari (Amazon)

When a mysterious case of three skulls near a metro construction site comes up, Shyam, a traffic constable starts investigating it with the help of a former cop.

Hindi:

58. Masaan (Netflix)

Set in Varanasi, the story revolves around four people dealing with the caste system, moral policing and prejudices.

59. Soni (Netflix)

How a young policewoman in Delhi is working amidst is working to address the growing crisis of violent crimes against women but suffers significant professional and personal setbacks.

Spanish:

60. Wild Tales (Netflix)

A black comedy anthology film of six standalone short stories on the theme of revenge and vengeance.

61. The Bar (Netflix)

In a Madrid bar, a few people get stranded after witnessing a murder outside the bar.

62. Mirage (Netflix)

A space-time continuum glitch allows a woman to change an event in the past, which alters her present life and results in her daughter going missing.

English:

63. Into the Wild (Netflix)

A biographical adventure drama about Christopher McCandless, a young graduate who decides to hitchhike across America.

64. Side Effects (Amazon)

A woman is accused of killing her husband. The evidence points to the side-effects of the new drug prescribed by her psychiatrist.

65. The Age of Adaline (Netflix)

Over the past eight decades, Adaline Bowman hasn’t aged. She remains youthful at 29 years of age. This miracle doesn’t allow her to lead a normal life.

Happy Watching! And, do not venture out.

What I experienced Volunteering In Spiti.

Published by Rekha

“Bas itna hi dig kiya, itne mein kya hoga? Aur deep dig karo!” said Nawang, our uber-cool guide. The sun was killing us with its harsh rays and lifting the 16 kg pickaxe and shovel was just adding to it. But this didn’t deter Nawang from commanding us. For him and his village people working at the field under the sun is an everyday job, but not for us, “The so-called city folks.” Frankly, at an altitude of 4270 meters, doing anything is a task, and here we are talking about digging up trenches.

I, along with 8 volunteers from across the globe was part of Spiti Ecosphere’s Trek and Volunteer Programme. Spiti Ecosphere is a social enterprise that has been involved in creating sustainable livelihoods for the local community with a focus on nature and culture conservation. Our basic task was to build a rainwater/snow harvesting system (you can read more about it here) by digging-up trenches alongside a hill outside a village called Demul. These trenches are important for the village because Spiti is a rain shadow area, where rain is negligible. The trenches act as storage to collect the snowfall during the winters, post-winter when the collected snowfall melts, it is used for agriculture by the villagers, thus keeping their land alive for the next six months when the sun is out and shining. This was designed and developed by Spiti Ecosphere. They do some really great work for the betterment of the locals in Spiti. There have been numerous projects undertaken by Spiti Ecosphere in the capacity of providing a livelihood, spreading awareness about global-warming and respecting the environment.

We were stationed at Demul during our volunteer work. We were divided into a group of three and each group was given a family to stay with. The homestay where I was put-up belong to a couple “Nawang Chhopel and his wife” (Yes, even my host’s name is Nawang). Like most locals at Demul, Nawang and his wife are farmers and every day from dawn to dusk they work at their field.

Tirik, breakfast, bread, chutney, volunteering, travel, spiti, bread

Tirik (Spitian Bread), curd, and chutney.

Our task started around 8.30 a.m. post a wholesome breakfast of Tirik, Spitian bread, and chutney that our hosts stuffed us with saying that we would need the energy to work on the field. After fueling ourselves, we started our small hike carrying the tools to the hill where the trenches were to be dug. Nawang (our guide) along with one more local gave a quick demo on how to operate the tools. Suddenly, Nawang said, “Aaj main aap logon ka guide nahi, supervisor hoon. Kaam thik se hona chahiye. Ek break gyarah bhaje hoga, phir lunch break ek bhaje. Chalo kaam pe lago.” Nawang had this sarcastic sense of humor that made him cool. By now we were used to his humor. We started the work.

At work.

This was my first time picking up any digging tools. And frankly, I did struggle initially, but after a few rounds of let’s say warm-up, I kind of got my grip on them. Digging trenches is a two-man job, where one is required to use the pickaxe to loosen the soil and the other one to shovel the loosened soil. The work might sound easy, but trust me, it wasn’t. It needed all our muscle-power to be put in use. We started the work by dividing our selves into four groups of two where one would use the pickaxe and the other would shovel. In between, there would also be a switch between our tasks.

The harsh sun and the altitude made the tasks hard for us, but the breakfast kept us going until it was time for lunch. There were mini-breaks in between for water and some rest, but a lunch break was much needed. As the soon became harsher, Norbu (Amchi – the local village doctor), Nawang, his wife, and one more villager got us some cold sherbet and hot food. We quickly assembled and sat together in a circle around the food. Over some conversation about Demul, it’s people and the water scarcity in the mountains; we finished off the delicious meal. Nawang extended our break for another half-an-hour (maybe he realized these guys are useless to finish this task). This break was spent sleeping against a wall, which was the only shade area. After some rest, we got started with our work. The work continued till evening, until Nawang said, “Aaj ke liye bas! Ab andhera hone ko hai. Chalo, jaate hain.”

We packed our gear and started walking towards the village. Though it was tiring and my arms had given up, there was a sense of content in my heart of contributing point zero percent of my time and energy in doing something good. As a person from the city with access to many luxuries, I never thought building trenches would be this hard. How many times would have we looked at the people that work day and night digging the land for various works like wiring, water connection and etc? The answer might be, hardly. In our everyday chaotic life, we often ignore the ones that do these jobs so that we have comfortable lives. When things are easily accessible to us, we often take them for granted and do not value it. That day in Spiti, after digging the trenches I realized the effort and the hard work that goes in while doing this work. I felt more grateful and humble towards the people that help us live a comfortable life.

Some of us are lucky to have a life with basic amenities, luxury, and comfort. Let us be grateful for the things we have, and “VOLUNTEERING” is a great way of bringing the feeling of gratitude in us. There are volunteering opportunities available with many organizations; all you need to do is choose the one that interests you the most. And for volunteering you do not really have to travel, you can choose to volunteer in your city too. Try it once, it will definitely change your life and the way you look at things. When I took this trip to Spiti, I thought that I am going to make a change in someone’s life, but little did I know that it was going to be the other way round.

It CHANGED me.

Have you volunteered before? Let me know.

*If you are interested in volunteering or exploring Spiti in a local way, then do check out Spiti Ecosphere. They have some off-beat experiences to choose from.

Live Life, Not Age because living has no age

Published by Rekha

Birthdays are always exciting, aren’t they? At least they are for me as it makes me grateful for having a good life. But, turning a year old on your birthday also means having to face the countless two-cents and questions (regarding your life, marriage, kids, career to everything) thrown at you by the society.

And as I turn a year older today, I am reminded of many such two-cents and questions thrown at me over the period of time on “Living my life according to my age.” And why do I receive this? you may think. Maybe because I love exploring and learning new things and I am usually engaged in some or other activities like trekking, running, volunteering, learning new skills, developing a new hobby or attending workshops and that keeps me busy.

We all receive these pieces of advice almost every day of our life, don’t we? And that is because everything in our society revolves around certain set rules that are time and age bound. The moment we are born, we are handed a “This is how you live life” rulebook by the society that tells us how to behave, at what age to do and not to do certain things, how to talk, what to talk and the list goes on and on. This rulebook takes over our lives and even before we know, we have already started living our life according to the book. Start school at the age of 3, finish school at 16, at 21 graduate, at 23 Masters, at 25 get a job and get married, at 28 have kids and the cycle continues. And in between all of these, we are constantly reminded to act according to our age.

But, who decides at what age one should do what? Aren’t we supposed to decide it ourself? Only because we are climbing the age ladder shouldn’t be the reason for asking us to stop doing certain things. Trust me, age is just a number my friend, and living our life shouldn’t depend on it. There are teens that are doing incredible jobs and are as serious as their grandparents, and then there are grandparents exploring new experiences in life and are as fun as their grandkids. Somebody wants to be a CEO at the age of 16 or somebody wants to travel the world alone at the age of 70, it’s up to them, age has no role to play, the only thing that is important is the desire to do it. One shouldn’t slow down because age is catching up, in fact, one should live each and every moment because age is catching up. Frankly, if you ask me, I don’t think there is ever going to be the right time or the right age to do what you want to do. If you want to learn swimming at the age of 60 be it so or if you want to start a new hobby at 40 be it so.

Live a dream, be a storyteller of your own life and leave behind the race of doing things according to your age. I left this race many years back, and I am glad I did it. And now instead of getting worried about getting old, I celebrate it with the same enthusiasm of that a child by exploring new experiences on my birthday. Six years back, I started this by traveling to a new place and doing a new activity on my birthday. So, on my birthdays in the past, I have scuba-dived, bungee jumped, paraglided, explored caving, trekked and did much more. Not that I have done greater things in life by doing these things. In fact, there is still so much to see, learn and do. But exploring these things is just my way of celebrating getting old.

And as I bring in my birthday today, curiosity to know more, the urge to learn new things, the willingness to try new experiences, the desire to meet people that are inspirational, passionate only gets stronger. And, I still refuse to slow down to follow the age-bound rules that dictate our lives. Two-cents should be taken seriously only when it makes sense and is good for us, not otherwise. Next time somebody gives you a sermon on behaving according to your age, tell them, “Life is being an Ageless Explorer.” So, go LIVE life not according to your age, but according to what you LOVE.

Destination is not important, your Journey is!

Published by Rekha

“Look at Sharma Uncle’s daughter. She always comes first.”

“Such a bright guy, he excels in everything that he does.”

Most of us have grown up hearing these kinds of dialogues from our parents, teachers and from almost everybody around us, haven’t we? It so happens that most of us are brought up in an environment where we are constantly told that coming first and winning is the ultimate mark of achievement. Every now and then, we are told to compare and compete ourselves with others and their achievements. And in this competition, if we do not end up being the winner, we end up feeling guilty about not being good enough to do anything. The thing to ponder is why should it always be about I v/s others? Shouldn’t it be about I v/s I? where you compete with yourself in becoming the better version of self.

In this aimless race that we are conditioned to follow in life, we often forget to celebrate or acknowledge the most important thing “Taking the First Step.” It is this first step that makes us do everything in our life. Think about it! How many times have you felt happy or proud of taking that first step in doing something that you imagined was unlikely to do? In our quest to be the winner, we often ignore this important part and forget that we are already a winner the moment we decide and commit ourselves to do unimaginable things.

I have never really been competitive in nature, for me competing with someone is and will always be a waste of time. The only competition that I ever think of is with myself. Wanting to be a better version of my present self is all aim for. Perhaps, that’s why when I started running marathons race timings never bothered me. Race timing is extremely crucial for marathon runners, so much so that your timings and PBs (Personal Best) becomes your identity. But somehow, for me, it never mattered. All I am ever bothered is of completing the race and enjoying the journey towards the finish line.

My Not Winning Moment:

In the above photo, that’s me jumping in ecstasy after crossing the 42.195 km mark at the BMW Berlin Marathon, 2017. I finished my run at a timing of 5.32, which in serious running is not really considered a benchmark, but it didn’t really bother me. I was still proud of my achievement and of myself for running a Marathon and finishing it comfortably. There is a famous saying among the runners “It takes a special kind of idiot to run a marathon.” Indeed! But it doesn’t take a special kind of idiot to take that first step and embark on the journey of possibilities. We all have it in us; we just need to acknowledge it. I took the first step in doing something that many thought won’t be achievable for me, but I did it and I am extremely proud of my run because I know the sacrifices I had to make to cross the finish line. From alienating myself from all the social gatherings to spending Sunday mornings running with street dogs for company (at 4-5 a.m what do you expect), from running under the horrible sun till the humidity killed me to fighting the demons of self-doubt, I went through all and that’s why crossing that finish line with a smile, without fatigue and pain and no cribbing, is my biggest achievement. Even after the race, I was so comfortable walking, jumping around and generally happy and content about my timing and myself. And no, I didn’t win the race or had great timing to boast about, but I won happiness and the confidence of doing something unimaginable for myself.

In today’s world, where we are constantly told that we are never good enough and we need to keep achieving things, it’s important to celebrate little steps like this be it in running or otherwise. It takes a lot to overcome our fears and do something, which is not expected of us. So, it is okay if you haven’t won races, haven’t topped the exams, haven’t been able to achieve things like your peers have. Every one of us is an achiever in our own ways. We just need to be empathetic towards ourselves and be proud of the things we do. There is never the right time and right way to do anything, you do things when you feel like doing so be it learning to pedal a cycle at the age of 30 or wearing western clothes after years of only wearing a saree or completing your degree along with your teenage kids. Do things with pride and enjoy the journey of finishing it, irrespective of you going to win it or not, irrespective of what the world tells you.

Official Photo by BMW Berlin Marathon photographer

So, this post is for all of us who dare to take that first step in doing things undreamed-of. Next time you do something, JUST BE PROUD AND ENJOY! And remember the below line from the famous song “Everbody’s free (To Wear Sunscreen) written by Mary Schmich and sung by Baz Luhrmann.“

“Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind
The race is long
And in the end, it’s only with yourself.”

And if you are running the BMW Berlin Marathon, the following are some tips to remember:

– While entering the expo, the participant need to take a wrist tag, which not only gives you entry to the expo but also to the start point of the run. So do not remove the tag until you finish the race.

– Enjoy the expo, there are lots of good brands to explore and shop. The vibe is great!

– Do not worry about the cold, there are blankets available to keep the runners warm till the start point and post the finish line. Hence, no need for wearing a jacket and running.

– Keep yourself hydrated, lack of hydration can lead to cramps especially because it’s going to be cold and you definitely don’t need cramps while running.

– Enjoy the various bands and music on the route. They are awesome!

– Do not miss the phenomenal cheering! Entire Berlin comes on the road to cheer the runners. It’s going to be a big party on the Berlin Road.

– Remember to deposit the running chip post run. There is a fee if not deposited.

– The feeling of running in the phorenland and standing in the pool of some 20,000 plus runners from across the World is something else, which can’t be expressed. I would like to say just “Enjoy the run.” It is one of the best-organized marathons.

—————————– HAPPY DOING AWESOME THINGS! —————————-

7 Superheroes of Travel I met in Europe

Published by Rekha

While walking on the streets of Berlin during my solo trip to Europe, I came across a piece of Berlin Wall with an artwork that said, “Be Nice.” As rightly mentioned on the wall, “Being Nice” is the biggest gift that we could give to anyone. And, I was lucky to have received this gift from some of the nicest people I met in Europe. While planning this trip, I was warned by many that I may have to face the elitist behaviour at few places, but they were so wrong. In fact, my stay wouldn’t have been this wonderful, if it wouldn’t have been for these amazing people I bumped into. To me, they are the Superheroes that appeared out of nowhere sometimes to help me, sometimes to guide me, sometimes to make me smile and sometimes to just show me the magic of goodness. They are my “Superheroes of Travel” and here’s why:

1. Zulfukar, my Uber-cool driver

I met Zulfukar during my Uber ride in Berlin. While I was busy looking at the passing houses and streets, I could see Zulfukar’s smiling face and hesitant eyes looking at me through the rear mirror. Perhaps, he was afraid because of our language barrier, nevertheless, he took the first step to talk to me. He started with the usual question “Where are you from?” I said “India” and instantly, his eyes lit up. In his broken English with a hint of Turkish accent, he said, “I love India and the Indian Food.” Likewise, I love Turkish cuisine.

Our love for each other’s country and cuisine sparked many conversations. I was so engrossed chit-chatting that I realised I had reached my destination only when Zulfukar said, “Ma’am, we have reached. Please do not pay the entire amount, two euros off for you.” I was overwhelmed with his sweet gesture. I thanked him for the lovely time, bid my goodbye and left. Little did I know that there was more to this story, the next day when I reached my room after a day of wandering the city, a box of Lindt chocolates sat on the table waiting for me. The box had a note on it, which said “Have a nice trip. Thank you! Zulfukar.” Need I say more? Gratitude often comes from people you least expect, doesn’t it?

2. Lady at the Station

As a tourist, the first thing you will do is visit the nearest railway station, right? Following this protocol, I visited the nearest station (Hermannplatz) to the place where I was put up. Most of the ticket vending machines in Berlin are automatic, so was the case at Hermannplatz station. Now, it’s not a big deal getting a ticket from an automatic machine, but it becomes a big deal when everything on the screen is displayed in German Language. Usually, you can find a translation tab on the screen, but somehow I failed to notice it that day. With a baffled look, I stood there staring at the machine trying to figure out the words. Suddenly, I hear a frail voice. I turned around and see an old lady maybe in her 80’s speaking to me in German. She pointed at the screen and with the help of some hand actions and German words guided me in booking a train ticket. I thanked her for helping me and moved on.

During the next few days, every time I passed the station, I would see her standing next to the ticket machine. One day, I went to her and asked, “I see you here every day. Do you stay close-by?” She replied, “I come here every day to help tourists buy a ticket through the machine.” Sweet, isn’t it? I was so touched by her gesture that I bought some flowers from the nearby florist and gave it to her. And in return, I got a nice, big, warm SMILE from her.

3. The Happy server at Layaly Beirut

I love Lebanon cuisine, so the moment I came across Layaly Beirut in Interlaken, I knew I had found a good dining place for myself. As I entered the restaurant, a friendly and helpful server welcomed me. He made sure I was fed well, gave me company while I dined and spoke about his life, Lebanon, Switzerland and various cuisine. Of course, that’s their job, but what I didn’t really expect is getting treated by him to a nice, expensive Red Wine. When I said that I didn’t call for a wine. He said, “This is from us to a lovely lady travelling on her own. Enjoy the drink!”

4. Chocolate Lady from Schuh

In Switzerland, my everyday ritual was to visit different chocolate stores in the town. One such store that I visited frequently was Schuh. Every time, I enter a patisserie or a chocolate store, I am in a dilemma of choosing what to eat. I stood there like a kid staring at the counter and getting confused as always. The lady at the counter, a charming and polite lady sensed my plight and came to my rescue. I wanted to know everything about each chocolate that was on display and patiently, with a smile she would describe it to me. And every day that I visited the store, she would make sure to give me one truffle free.

5. Ever-smiling Elena

I met Elena at the place where I was put up in Interlaken. While exploring a new place, I like taking advice from the locals, because they know the best and Elena was so helpful and resourceful. Every day, I would trouble her for suggestions for exploring the town around and she would happily oblige to help me. Thanks to her, I took the cruise ride on Lake Brienz which I would have skipped otherwise. The cruise is my most favourite experience of the trip.

6. Supergirl Anne

My lovely host in Lyon, Anne is an inspiring woman and I am so glad that I had the chance to spend some great time with her and her beautiful friends and colleagues (Thanks to my friend, Sajid for connecting us). She not only opened up her house to me but also made me feel so much at home. At the end of my Lyon trip, I literally felt like I belonged there. From making me Indian Dinner to inviting me to her office, from making me try Ethiopian dinner to taking me to her rock climbing sessions, thanks to her I discovered Lyon and it’s people. By the way, did I mention that Anne cycled from India to France? Yeah, see now you know one of the reasons that make her inspiring.

7. Owner of Mont Liban

On my last night in Paris, I came across Mont Liban, a quaint-looking Lebanese restaurant. I had walked past through this place number of times, but never really paid attention until I read Lebanese food. The cuisine was enough for me to step in. An old, pleasant looking man greeted me warmly and gave me a table at a cozy corner. There was something about him that was so comforting just like the vibes that you get from grandparents. But what is interesting is that during my trip, I was reading Ruskin Bond’s “Falling in Love Again” and this man looked like Mr. Bond’s Doppelganger. And he had the same warmth as that of Ruskin Bond’s words.

I was engrossed in reading the menu when I heard him say, “Are you on your own?” By now, I was used to this question. Everywhere I went, the first thing someone would ask me was this. “Yes”, I told him. And our conversation started. He was happy to know that I am from India and mentioned to me about his dream of settling in India post-retirement from his restaurant business. He was from Lebanon, settled in Paris for many years and has been running Mont Liban. As the conversation kept flowing, so did the food on my table. No, I didn’t order so many things. I had ordered just one dish and a glass of wine, but my generous host kept ordering food and bottle of wine for me. At the end of my meal, I felt like a balloon about to burst.

My food marathon didn’t end here, after treating me with some starters and a bottle of wine, he also gave me a special dessert wine from Lebanon and my favourite sweet Baklava. By the way, I had ordered only one Baklava, but he gave me four. Somehow, I managed to polish it off. When I was handed over the bill, I realized he had only charged me for the dish and the glass of wine, everything else (Baklava, the bottle of wine, starter and the dessert wine) was on the house. I insisted on paying for it, but he refused, shook my hand, gave me a warm hug and asked me to visit next time I am in Paris. I couldn’ have asked for a better end to my trip, but what I regret is not having a photo with him. Maybe, I was so engrossed in conversation with him that I completely forgot to get a photo clicked. Nevertheless, this moment has etched in my heart and mind forever.

I believe, for every bad, there is a good and when I meet such superheroes, my belief just grows stronger. Humanity doesn’t care where you from, what you do, it just looks past through your colour, race, religion and looks, and sees you as another human being. Next time if you come across such heroes in your travel or in everyday life, cherish them and the moment because that’s what creates beautiful memories. These are the moments that we should care for.

Happy Traveling and Meeting Superheroes!

8 things to do as a wannabe local in Dharamshala

Published by Rekha

Have you observed how the world is becoming a place of hatred? Never were we this angry, aggressive or intolerant towards each other. At the drop of a hat, we have people getting on to each other. And, while this is happening in one part of the world, in other part, there are strangers humble enough to trust each other and open up their life. I was part of one such world of strangers who now, have become friends. I met these amazing people on my recent trip to Dharamshala, where I was a guest at their house. They provided me with a room to stay and in exchange, I shared one of my skills with them. Interesting, isn’t it? I thought so too, that’s why I were happy to be part of this concept.

Few months back, I got a mail from Stay On Skill informing about my selection for India Tour 2017. Stay On Skill is a platform that allows travelers to barter their skills for a stay, thus building a community of like-minded people keen on learning different skills and exploring the world in a different way. It’s a win-win for both the host and the traveler. The host gets a chance to learn a new skill and the traveller gets a stay, along with an insider’s tips and guidance on exploring.

Meet The Good Host

(From top left) – Me, Subashji, Sonika, Rohini, Aloka and Puja

My host in Dharamshala was Puja Anand, her lovely daughter Aloka and mother Dr. Anand. They stay in a beautiful village called Mohali overlooking the enchanting Manuni Khad. Puja’s abode is a powerhouse of energy which easily gets transmitted onto anybody entering the house. It’s a happy place with happy people, which also include her extended family Sonika, Rohini and Manju, fearless, young women from the nearby villages. There are very few people who find joy in simplest things and Puja’s family is one such example. They are content with whatever they have. Frankly, I think my trip wouldn’t have been this beautiful if it wouldn’t have been for them.

I loved everything about Puja’s house, but the best part for me is the gorgeous view of Manuni Khad from her backyard. It was my everyday ritual to sit there listening to the burbling of the mad rapids while; the vastness of the clear blue sky mesmerized me. There are trips then there are trips that are special to you, this was one such trip. This trip was different for many reasons, one of the biggest reason is it made me feel more like a local, or lets say a wannabe local. I kind of had a taste of local life. Here’s what I did to feel more local and less as a traveler, perhaps in your next trip, you could try doing them too:

1. Being Local

Games we play with her neighbourhood Bhaiya

Imagine visiting the local shopkeeper for grocery shopping or exchanging morning greetings with the neighbours or having a conversation with the house gardener. Well, when you start doing such routine things during your trip, you are entitled to be somewhat local. I went there as a tourist, but came back as a local, maybe because I got the chance to spend my days as I would do it in my own city. Mingling with the people around is a good way to feel part of that place.

2. Walk in the Woods

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I love exploring places on foot. It gives me a sense of freedom to enjoy the place at my own pace, so obviously I was more than happy to go on all the walks that Puja took me to. So, there were days when we used to stroll around the nearby villages and exchange the customary greeting of “Namastey” with the native residents we met on our way. And on some days, we would just take off on a whim to lesser-known mountains filled with leeches in search of the enthralling waterfalls. While exploring these paths, we would often take turns into either transforming ourself into a leech fighting warrior or into a happy kid plucking the figs and wild berries on our way.

3. For the Love of Food

Diverse meal party at Puja’s house

Dinner with Kamla Bhasin and her team

Shamelessly, I admit food is my weakness. In fact, I never leave any chance of exploring any new cuisine, food joints or a new dish. So, when Puja said that the famous poet, activist and feminist Kamla Bhasin has invited me to join them for dinner, I didn’t even think twice before saying, “YES.” We chatted, laughed, discussed and shared stories about everything under the sun. From dinner invite to a house party, I was getting luckier. On one of the evenings, Puja and her friends decided on having a house party of home-cooked food. We gorged on the lip-smacking Sorshe Ilish, Dal, Rice, Cherry Parfait and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Try hooking up with a local and you never know, a dinner invite might come on your way.

4. Exploring Dham, a traditional Himachali meal

Dham is a traditional meal that’s often served on important occasions and festivities. It comprises of a full course meal of rice, pulses, dal, rajma, chole, paneer or mixed sabzi and ends with a dessert (sweet rice). I accompanied Puja for a birthday party where I got an opportunity to indulge in Dham. Needless to say, I savored it. And, I have decided next time when I’m in Himachal, I’m going to self-invite me for every dham I come across. On your next trip to Dharamshala, you should probably try getting yourself a Dham invite.

5. Do the Good

Puja is associated with a local NGO called Nishtha, that’s working towards the betterment of the villagers especially women and kids. It also acts as a community centre, where the kids are taught English, computers, arts and crafts and women are empowered with certain skills to make them independent. I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with the excited kids. We taught them to make hand puppets and ended the workshop with a story-telling session. Spend time in a NGO whenever you go on a trip, trust me it will be the best time of your trip. You will not only see the best things, but will also see the harsh realities of that place.

6. The Kitchen Chronicles

Baking with Aloka

Some of our bakes

The best part about my trip was cooking and baking in a stranger’s house. There were initial hiccups of working in an unfamiliar kitchen, but it soon vanished once I started teaching the eager, curious minds. Everyday, we would bake desserts and savory treats. Teaching them and watching them relish the goodies was definitely a high point of my trip. You can try cooking or baking only if you are staying in a homestay. So, on your next trip perhaps you could book a homestay. And you could request the host to allow you to cook or help them in the kitchen, in all probability, the answer would be “YES.”

7. Movie Time for the Movie Buffs

Have you ever tried watching a movie while you are on a trip? I did, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I, along with Anand family and their friends watched the movie “Mom” in the recently opened multiplex Gold Cinema. Unlike, the huge city theatres, this was a small, close to 100 seater theatre fully equipped with all the latest facilities. Try watching a movie in your next trip, it’s fun.

8. Run in the Mountains

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Being a fitness enthusiast, I carry my running shoes on every trip. Running on the beautiful mountain, amidst the nature and minus the pollution was a refreshing change from road running. If you are into fitness, you should definitely try indulging in a sport of your liking while travelling. Running and walking are the easiest and simplest ways of exploring the hidden pathways and the bylanes.

I hope you try some of these things in your next trip to get the feeling of being local. To know quick tips to become a pro first time Stay On Skill traveler, click here http://trippinoverlife.in/travel/quick-tips-to-turn-you-into-a-pro-stay-on-skill-traveler/

Note: All content on this web site, like images, text, logos and graphics are copyright protected. Please contact me if you want to use any of it.

Quick tips to turn you into a pro Stay On Skill Traveler

Published by Rekha

When I came back from my recent Dharamshala trip, many of you were curious to know how, when and what made me go with Stay On Skill, a platform that helps people travel the world for free by using their skills. One of the common query that everybody asked me was, “Is it safe?.” Team Stay On Skill follows a very strict selection procedure, so I would say, all necessary measures are taken to make the trip as safe as possible. There are certain things to be considered before embarking on such a trip where you are going to be a guest in a stranger’s house. I usually follow a checklist for all my trips, and this was no different. So, here are some quick tips that you could follow if you are planning to go on your Stay On Skill experience:

1. Do not fake your skills

I understand having a place to stay while traveling can be a tempting offer. But then do not give in to the temptation and fake up your skills. Be clear and truthful about your skills while registering.

2. Go with an open mind

Staying with a family is not like staying in a Hotel. So, don’t go with expectations of luxurious stay. You would definitely get a comfortable and homely stay and in some cases luxurious too, but going with an open mind will help you in accepting the new place better.

3. Read about your host

The most important thing to do before any trip is to read and research about the place that you are going to. In this case, it’s also important to know about the people with whom you are going to stay. Stay On Skill follows a stringent way of selecting the host and the traveller. A complete detail is sent to the traveller and the host before they accept each other, please read carefully all the details and try researching from your end too.

4. Plan your skill sharing classes

Remember you are there not only for a vacation, but also for imparting your skills. Speak to your host beforehand to understand what they want to learn from you, devise a plan accordingly and dedicate few hours everyday to teach them.

5. Keep your itineraries flexible

Locals are your best guides for exploring any place, hence keeping your itinerary flexible helps. Speak to your host, learn more about the place, ask their recommendations and then tweak your plan accordingly.

6. Gifting is a good way to show gratitude

Photo: (mnn)

I believe opening up your house to a stranger is a big thing and this needs appreciation, hence I took a cookbook and some baking supplies for my host family. It’s completely on you if you want to take something for them.

7. Inform your whereabouts to your family

While you might be happy being on a vacation, your family might be worried for you. It’s extremely important to keep your family and closed ones informed about your whereabouts. Share your everyday itinerary with them, right from the places that you are going to visit to the cab driver details, your host’s address and details. Call them everyday and let them know if there is any change in the plan, safety should always be a priority.

8. Make your host family your family

Be polite to your host family and the locals. Treat your host family and his/her house as if you would treat your own. Happy people around you mean you will have a happy time during the trip.

Why I recommend Stay on Skill?

You will be less tourist and more a local.
It will open up your mind and soul to a new culture, new learning and will make you humble and grateful to life.
You will make new friends.
You will see a different perspective of the place that you wouldn’t see otherwise.
In the bargain of teaching skills, you will learn new things.
You will meet interesting and inspiring people.

Go on a STAY ON SKILL trip now, and you can thank me later, just kidding.

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