Silly Us Girls !

I remember this old aunt of mine , settled abroad , surprised at the growing numbers of divorce cases abroad , she meekly said "These firangs (foreigners) confess their love every day every hour and still cant cross two years together ... look at us crossed a lifetime together without hearing I love you even once!"

It was kind of true and though that style of romance is fading away I really enjoy looking at the elders and seeing their romance flourish even without staring at each other or holding each other hands.

If you ask them to hug each other for a picture, they will shy and blush as if two strangers put together. If you ask them how it all started they will tell out a bit and quickly try to change the topic. ..at times even before starting the topic. And yet they have crossed decades together.

My mom still holds this one gift that DAD ever gave her during their 30 yrs together - this umbrella that he got her for their 1st anniversary ...Bright Maroon with a Silver carved knob. ..pretty one .... and she still has kept it close and safe.

Now try getting that for a gurl like me ... I would probably break it into two on my hubbys head and saying what were you thinking ? Its not even rainy season for god sake !!

Yes we 20th century gurls come with high expectations and even higher maintainence ...Flowers , gifts , cards , a Jimmy Cho would not hurt either , we want it all and More !! ... and hey we are not materialistic ... we are just pampered little beings !! :)

Mystery Shopping

I came across this concept recently while browsing through some magazines. Its seemed like an interesting concept and then I had to do what I do the most browze browze and more browze and find out all the information.

It is still in its nacent stage in India, whereas abroad it is a much wider concept and a lot of companies are looking out for people.

This is my shortlisted best ( probably the only ones too I found online ) mystery shopper companies:

1. Bare Associates
2. Grass Roots India
3. Kaiz Consult
4. AQ International
5. Shop Max
6. International Service Check

I have tried all of them and only Bare Associate will reflect jobs in their profile. Rest none of them will show any jobs at all . I even mailed a few of them asking if there are any jobs in their profile but no response.

So if you want to try a bit of mystery shopping in India then register with Bare initially.

The money is peanuts , Do not do it for cash, do it for the experience and the fun of it . As being upright and on a look out all the time with eyes wide open , you wont even be able to enjoy the free meal ! .

Mystery Shopper pay you INR 250 - INR 500 . That will include travel allowence, purchase and for any reason you have to redo the shop , you will not be paid extra travel allowence either and over and above you will be spending 1 hour online atleast filling up the questionaaire.

If you are one of those who have a job and feel you are not paid well - do give mystery shopping a shot , you will end up loving your job !

Its is a good experience to try and enjoy. The more shops you perform the more comfortable you will get with trying to observe 10 things and still enjoying the free meal and in some time you will be on auto pilot.

I will try to keep updating the list, if I read anything more. Please share if you are aware of more companies in India.

Happy Shopping !! Just Shopping ... No Mystery .

Cake Mania Again

This is my latest try - cake toppers, I don't have to say it is inspired from Annie2 (she is the best!!). It is for our 5 yrs old niece, she started her school last year and its the same school that literally the whole side of my hubby's family went to.
The heart is a prop she uses for her Shaimak Davar dance class.
And the teddy is "Lemony", or so she calls her teddy that is always with her.


Lots of fun and lots of hard work and lots of colored fingers....

Tried and Tasted !

This post is for Zlamushka's Spicy Kitchen, event Tried and Tasted , this month its Meeta's What's for Lunch Honey?. I have to say it out loud, she has one of the prettiest blog around . At time I just feed my self just looking at the pictures of her creations.

This is my first try at Meeta's Wheat Pancake. I made a little changes as ours is a vegetarian home and cooking with eggs is a big No - No !. So I just swapped the egg with Baking Powder ( 2 tsp) and added it before adding the milk.

I had to take this picture in the kitchen , as every time I went out to the dining table from the kitchen to take a snap , it used to find its way to someone's tummy. .. so I took a snap in the kitchen just in case I am not left with any pancake to take a snap of.

Sorry for the really bad picture - it was take from a Mobile Camera but the pancake was absolutely yummy !!


Enjoy !

Manali Trip - Part II

Next day trip was to Janna Falls. Again not one of the touristy places but immensely beautiful. We really enjoyed the drive - full of tall , green trees on both sides of the road with a peak into the valley here and there.

One hour drive from Manali. The only landmark for Janna Falls is a small shed cum restaurant you will see on the right side of the road.

(Our Restaurant's Kitchen/Landmark at Janna Falls )

( next to the fall )

We Ordered Himachal Food : Red Rice , Curry , Rajma (Red Kidney Beans ) and some sort of beans.(sorry,I didn't ask the name of the bean dish - it was so awful , I thought the faster I forget about it the better) . Rest of the food was good.

We also ordered Maggi .... Yum Maggi...and the whole fun of eating right next to the fall..Delicious.

Food Driven as I am ... I could not keep my self sitting near the fall ... had to see this feeble shed...

(Hot Stove at Janna Falls )

( Cooked curry)

The guy from the restaurant .. will take you for the trek up the falls. There are three spots one can hike to - every point progresses to a more gigantic and scenic fall. We could just complete two, it was too dark to go to the third spot.

Very Romantic Spots. More so if you are with the one you love. Blush. Blush.

On our way back, we stopped at Naggar Town. Naggar has all the foreign Tourist coming in and thus a lot a bakeries. Since it was late we stopped at The German Bakery(as that was the only one open).

( The German Bakery)

This is what I ordered. Hot Ginger Honey Lemon Tea....an absolute refreshment after the long day at Falls.

Time to go Back ......

Manali Trip

Now I have realized that the real beauty of any destination lies in the unknown ( basically non commercialized ) areas. So, this trip to Manali , we skiped the Rhotang Pass and the Manikaran and the innumerous Manali Temples .. and took the road less traveled and Boy ! were we glad...

Our first trip was to Bijli Maha Dev.
A quaint temple with a powerful Shiva Lingam ( Known to be naturally created ) .

Up, Up and Up we go ....

It was a long strenuous hike ( 2 hours ) all the way up only to find if you take not as less traveled road you can get cars up till the area.

But we did not crib at all , the views are breathtaking ( also literally so after the hike I was waffing for air )

Kullu Valley

I could feel myself let go in sheer nature .. So away from the plains and so close to the sky.


Flower Bed - Path to the Temple

After saying Hi - Hello to our dear Shiv Ji.

We came back to these small fragile stalls ( which I belive can be blown away if it gets too windy ) - serving Top Ramen , Momos and Chai.

Food Finally... We ordered vegetable Top Ramen , Veg Momos and Mirinda....

It was not the best food I have tasted but considering the height at which these guys are places and the accessibility of the place I will give the them Thumbs Up !

A Girl at one of the lil stalls . This is her idea of smiling....

Ever Time I asked her to smile she would frown a little More . I found her adorable..

After spending an hour in the laps of nature , we were ready to troll back.

Lazy Lamhe ....

Back to our Resort - NatureNotes. This was another one of our road less travelled decision - decided to give luxury a skip, and Nature a hug !!

Some Views from the resort :

Pond next to the Riverside

Riverside at the Resort

Thats what I call "Lazy Bum" Photography - Too Lazy to get off the Hammock

Salt Water Pedicure

Tonic for the Eye ..

Cake Mania !

This was my first try at cake decoration .. though not extremely pleased with the result , I absolutely loved and enjoyed every bit of it.

The inspiration for this comes from Annie2 ( from Extra Icing On The Sugar) , her craft is amazing and if you actually see her videos - her hands move magically .. No kidding ! ..

Its a chocolate tea cake with strawberry butter cream icing between layes
and choco chip icing on the outside.

The figure is a girl with a coat on a g .. its for my fashion desginer sis.

and the teddy as she is still the kid of the house ..

(P.S I have no idea how to invert this picture !!! )