Looking Back at 2015

Resolutions! There’s so much of that stuff going around these days. But honestly, I stopped making them years ago. While goals are great in business, I find that what works better on a personal level is taking a closer look at the year gone by because you’ve actually lived through it. 

Here are some of the things that stuck with me through these last 12 months

1. Love what you do. It’s ok to quit what you hate – Digital and Content Marketing fascinated me for the longest time… and I thought I could fuel this passion by working for a company. How wrong I was. The more time I spent working, the more I realized I was a mere puppet with limited growth and no learning – at the mercy of a paycheck. After quitting, I’ve learnt more than I ever have in those two years and I’m happier than ever before. Passion makes you look for ways to fuel it – I furthered my knowledge through Youtube, through people I met, and the opportunities to earn and grow, although uncertain at times, are endless! 

2. Never Settle for Average –I don’t understand people who settle for mediocrity. How does one satisfy oneself by doing just enough to get by? Whether it’s spending days trying to fix that glitch in my blog with zero technical experience (thank you, Google) or planning the next step in my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve learned that those who get ahead are hungry enough to not be average.

3. People Matter – Living in Mumbai has taught me that those who get ahead are those who value people. Technology and new gadgets are great, they save time, etc, etc. But business and life is and will always be about people. The more you understand that, the better off you will be. 

4. Persistence Pays. Always. – In business, in blogging and in general, results don’t always come when you want them to. Being persistent is so tough... but also the most rewarding. Blogging for half a year with barely any traffic, walking the entrepreneurial path for a year (and then some) with no results is excruciating. But if the vision is strong enough, instant gratification just doesn’t matter. Giving up on something I spent months and years building is just out of the question.

5. The Power of a strong, clear vision is amazing – It’s the only thing that will see you through setbacks. If you need a breakthrough, you must believe in your vision 100%

6. Make friends with people who make you think – Because anyone can ask you “Whats Up?” Those who talk about happiness, ethics, spaceships… anything! Those are people who make you think. I'm soooo over small talk!

7. Stop giving people second chances – This one was hard, because I always believe that given a second chance, people can change. Sadly, some never do. Waiting for someone to change only drags out the inevitable. If the person proves they are incapable of changing, why believe otherwise? Do yourself a favour and stop giving people second chances. It’s a waste of valuable time, they stop taking you seriously and you look + feel like a complete moron

Taking a look at what you have learned is just as important as planning for the year ahead. . I hope my lessons add value to your life. And if you have something to add value to mine, I’d love to hear them!

Wishing you the best of everything in 2016!

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Restaurant Review - Bodega

Trying out new restaurants in Goa isn't as easy as I would like it to be. Because by the time I relish a few home cooked meals and visit a couple of my favorite food joints, it's time to leave. 

Then again, restaurants here start up and shut down as quickly as you can say "Fish Curry Rice" Which means that if someone recommends a place that isn't on the tourist map, it has probably shut down before you have the opportunity to try it out.

I visited Bodega Cafe today to meet up with a Tweep! Cicero is someone who regularly interacts with me on Twitter and he suggested visiting the place for the "best red velvet cupcake ever." 

Located in Panjim, in one of Goa's most well known art galleries, Sunaparanta Arts Centre, there are a list of things that set it apart, some good, some great!

Bodega is located atop Altinho hill, in an old, restored heritage mansion - one of the most stunning I've ever seen. With it's well kept lawn, brilliant white and blue facade, clay tiled roof and artistic grills - the place will have an architecture lover's jaw hit the Portuguese tiled floor! This tranquil little bistro looks like it belongs in a place like Pondicherry. One can't help linger around to take in the serene atmosphere that most cafes lack. 

Secondly, Bodega doesn't have the same menu everyday. One needs to check their Facebook page to look at what's on offer - or go there and be pleasantly surprised. Not many cafe's or restaurants take the trouble to do something as innovating as this on a daily basis, that too, given the small kitchen they have. The food is cooked right behind the ordering counter, and you can see the chefs at work on the menu for the day. Indeed commendable.

Patrons can sit around the open courtyard or in it on wooden furniture with a canopy of trees overhead. An ideal way to spend the evening reading the newspaper (that they conveniently provide) or catching up with an old friend.

Another thing that's worth mentioning is that apart from sinful desserts and refreshing drinks, they also have gluten-free options. 

Did I mention they have free wi-fi? Although I couldn't connect to it for some reason, there were a lot of people using it. I'm yet to come across another cafe that provides the same. 

Bodega is a semi-self-service restaurant. You place your order and pay the bill at the counter, but the food comes to your table. The service isn't very quick, but that's OK - considering that it's a place you come to laze around at. 

I ordered the Red Velvet Cupcake and Chocolate Milkshake. While it was nowhere close to the best red velvet cupcake, it was pretty decent. I love mine with soft cream cheese frosting, and this one came with semi-solid butter-cream frosting that isn't as exciting. The chocolate milkshake was rich and indulgent... just like it should be.

I noticed most of the patrons either opted for the English style breakfast of eggs and bacon with toast or the Waffles, even at 4 pm. I'm definitely making another trip at a brunch appropriate time to try these out.

Here are a few of the artworks on display inside the house. Isn't the shutter art work cool?

I absolutely adored these mosaic tiles at the side of the front lawns. Imagine sitting here and watching a performance!

What would make it better: I visited on an... uhmm.. warm winter's day and it was hottt! Uncomfortably hot, once I finished my chocolate milkshake. A couple of more fans are definitely needed!

Meal for Two: Rs. 600/-

TGG Tips

• There's a lot of hype over the Vietnamese Ice Tea and the various choices of Sandwiches. Try them out!
• Go when you have a lot of time on your hands. Wander around the art exhibition in various rooms and look at the quirky exhibits on the lawn. 

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter because I'd love to grab a coffee with you too!!

Till next time!

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Mum's Secret Neureo Recipe

I love spending the Christmas season at home in Goa for so many reasons. It's the time when friends and family abroad come home, the kids go carol-singing in the evenings, and everyone sets up their own Nativity scene (called cribs) with little statues. The sweet aroma in the air has me guessing what all the neigbours are cooking for lunch or what sweets have just come out of the oven next door.

I find small things like these reassuring. Food traditions, local festivities, the sights and smells that this time of year brings, remain untouched. 

Stable. 

A feeling that lacks in many other aspect of our 21st century lives.

I came home from Mumbai yesterday to find Mum cooking up a Neureo storm in the kitchen. No Christmas is complete without these stuffed, deep-fried dumplings of deliciousness. Made with flour and ghee with a variety of stuffing, these Empenada look-a-likes are swapped between families and friends on Christmas on decorative trays filled with a variety of Goan sweets.

NEUREO RECIPE

Mum's Neureos are like any other. They're crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth good, so it's no wonder she had to literally make a basket full of them. 

The most popular ones are stuffed with either freshly grated coconut or rava. 

OUTER SHELL:

1 1/2 kg flour

A few pinches of salt

200 gms of ghee

100 gms of cornflour

COCONUT STUFFING:

1 1/2 kg sugar

1 cup water

4 freshly grated coconuts

100 gms of cashew nuts

100 gms raisins

100 gms roasted sesame seeds

6 tbsp ghee

6 powdered cardamoms

oil for frying

Mix flour, salt and ghee with just enough water to knead into a soft dough. Keep aside.

Heat sugar and water to make a syrup. To this, add grated coconuts, ghee and nuts. When the mixture has thickened, add raisins and cardamom powder. Remove from the fire after the mixture has turned quite dry. Cool and keep aside.

Divide the dough into small balls and roll out into thin rounds. Put a spoonful of the coconut filling on each round, wet the edges and press down to create a half moon shape. Trim the edges with a cutter and deep fry in hot oil.

RAVA FILLING:

If you want variety, make the rava filled ones too!

1 1/2 kg rava

100 grams roasted sesame seeds

100 gms cashew nuts

100 gms raisins

4 dry grated coconuts

6 powdered cardamoms.

6 tbsp powdered sugar

In ghee, fry the rava till fluffy and done. Add dried grated coconuts and mix well. 

Then add cashew nuts, raisins, cardamom powder, sesame seeds and mix.

Lastly, add the powdered sugar and mix well. Keep to cool and mix every 5-10 minutes so that it doesn't harden. 

Place a spoonful of the mixture in the outer shell (recipe above) and deep fry.

If you haven't made Christmas sweets yet, make sure you try this out. Don't forget to share your pictures with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And while you're at it, subscribe to my blog too!

Much love! Cya next time

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My Take on “Cheesy” Tourist Attractions

I was at a Cafe the other day and happened to overhear a conversation at the table behind mine. One of the girls was planning a trip to London and the others were enthusiastically telling her where she should and shouldn’t go. 

“Stay clear of the London Eye,” one of them said. “It’s nothing but hype. There’s so many better things to see in London, so don’t waste your time over a giant glitzy Ferris wheel”

“And don’t get that typical photo of yourself in a red telephone booth that everyone does. That's so mainstream” said another. 

You’ve probably read and heard “warnings” like these on numerous travel review websites, And there's no shortage of articles telling you about touristy places you should avoid. But I’ll tell you what. This Philosophy? It’s nothing but BS.

Seriously.

I think a lot of you will agree. There’s a sudden trend that demands every travel experience to be “spiritually awakening” and “soulfully enriching.” The feeling that every moment of the journey must have a profound impact, or else it’s worthless. Popular listicle sites share the difference between a “traveller” and a “tourist,” making them appear to be two different breeds of people. There’s a great word for that. 

Travel Snobbery. 

Yes, it’s great to go off the beaten path and explore. It’s something I enjoy immensely. There’s no better way to experience the everyday side of a place. But that doesn’t make the popular attractions any less deserving of your attention. Travel snobbery demands that you abstain from being touristy and sadly, robs you of the chance to see some of the world’s most amazing places. 

Sometimes, travel is just about having a good time in a new place and I think an important part of that is taking in the famous sights. You can either take the attraction as a crowded, commercialized, overrated experience or as an enjoyable escape.

So what if your version of having a good time means wearing a floral shirt and clicking silly photos in front of crowded attractions? In fact, why would anyone go somewhere with a world famous site and lose the opportunity of seeing it just because other people want to see it too? 

I remember standing in line in Mont Tremblant, Canada, not once, but three times – to ride up to the top of the hill in a gondola and ride down in a go-kart. We could have just gone up by bus or cab to admire the scenic town from the top, but you can do that literally anywhere! The gondola + gokart... that’s special!

Sadly, we don’t have unlimited time to travel and most of us will only visit a new place once. So staying away from a historical or cultural monument, or even a silly tourist attraction, for the sake of being a “real traveller” seems misguided.

That aside, you can still enjoy a cheesy tourist attraction without being surrounded by a horde of people with some basic planning. Go early in the morning, buy tickets in advance so you skip the long lines or visit during off season (for cheap). If all else fails, thank your stars while standing your blistering feet, that while you’re in line to see a world famous attraction, there are people at work who are dreaming of being in your place. 

The next time you’re in a new city, take advantage of the fact that NOBODY KNOWS YOU and go to whatever embarrassing attraction you fancy. Let the man in the striped shirt, straw hat and tight pants sing to you in a boat in Venice, get a picture of yourself pushing the Leaning tower of Pisa, answer the hand-gestured call of a mime and jump on the damn Ferris wheel! 

When all is said and done, you’ll have some fabulous photographs. Just don’t upload it on Facebook and Instagram. 

Or do... who cares!

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4 Great Products for Curly Hair

I was born with a mop of hair on my head and grew up thinking I had the worst hair in the world. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of the single hairstyle I had all throughout school that made me look like part of the Jackson 5.

I tried cutting it short – didn’t work.

I tried straightening it – didn’t last.

And then I thought, “let’s just leave it the way it was meant to be - wild and freeeee.”

There are many breeds of curly haired girls – the ones with soft wavy curls and the ones with the killer permed-curls.
But that was never me. I was more of the “frizz and unruly strands” girl

Let me tell you a thing or two about our hair care regimen:

1. We don’t wash our hair a lot – Alternate days? Nope. Every other-other day? Nah. Twice... even once a week is more like it. And it always looks best on the third or fourth day. Don’t ask me why.
2. You won’t believe how much hair we lose – Just running our fingers through our hair will leave us with a fist full of it. It’s a miracle we still have some on our head.
3. We don’t own a hairbrush. Yes, you read that right.

The struggles are real.

Random people coming up to you and asking “Can I touch your hair” is normal. 

Losing hairpins in our hair happens every day (wherever they are, I hope they’re happy.) 

And we absolutely must carry a spare hair tie or clip for when the one we’re wearing snaps. That reminds me.... Combs’ breaking is normal too.

Does it end there? Oh no!

We often show up to places with wet hair – because who can wait six to eight hours for it to dry? Plus, we do the same thing to it every day, yet it never looks the same on two occasions.
Going to the beach or driving with the windows down = giant frizz ball.
I could rant for hours, but only a fellow curly would truly understand.

MY TOP PICKS

Anyways, after years of experimentation, I’ve narrowed it down to a few hair care products that *actually* do what they promise. Take a look:

HERBAL ESSENCES - TOTALLY TWISTED 

Not only does this smell like a treat - it works brilliantly! I don't know how they do it, but this shampoo can gently remove oil, gel or whatever products you have in your hair with one wash, while leaving the natural oils intact. It also de-tangles hair and keeps it frizz free.

The conditioner defines curls like a dream! I love that it reduces volume, keeps your hair squeaky clean and leaves curls springy and well defined.

Cost: depends where you buy it from. I pay Rs. 205 each but it can go up to Rs. 1200 + online.

SCHWARZKOPF "EXTRA CARE"

This tongue-twisting brand has a wonderful range of Shampoos and Conditioners - and I especially love the "Extra Care" range. I've tried the gold bottle (Ultimate Oil Elixir), the brown bottle (Marrakesh Oil and Coconut) and the blue one (Moisture Gloss). They all had pretty much the same result. They made my hair shinier than I've ever seen it before, well hydrated and really soft. It does wonders for greasy hair!

The Schwarzkopf "Repair Rescue" range sounded like something curly hair could use, but that made my hair fall like crazy. However, it may suit your hair type. It comes in a long white and red cylindrical bottle.

Cost - Varies between Rs. 275 to Rs. 550/- each depending on the type.

      

        


L'OREAL PROFESSIONAL WILD STYLERS - SCRUFF ME

My hero! I started using this around 6 months ago and can't imagine my life without it. Just two or three pumps of it works wonders in creating that perfect out of bed, disheveled look. All you need to do is apply it onto damp hair, scrunch it up with your fingers and leave it to dry naturally

The best part is that you can work it in your hair on one day and just use wet fingers to touch it up on the days to follow.

Using too much will make your hair crunchy, though.

Cost - Rs. 700/-

L'OREAL PROFESSIONAL HAIR SPA

I don't know about you, but I find all these fancy salon services a complete rip-off. Hair is just as bad a day later.

L'oreal Hair Spa is my substitute to oiling hair as it has the same benefits, minus the greasiness. It hydrates well and nourishes deeply.

Work it through damp hair and tie your hair up with a soft cloth. Rinse after 15-20 minutes. Using it once every 15 days or so does the trick.

Cost - Rs. 570/- for 490 gms.

TGG Tips for girls with curls:

• Never, ever buy the hair products you see on TV. Go for the professional stuff.
• Only comb while conditioning your hair in the shower – however rare that may be.
• If you find a hairdresser who understands your hair, stick with him/her. Follow them out of the country if you need to.
• Don't dry with a towel - use a T-shirt.

So now that you’ve got some insight, and secrets, into the life of a curly, it’s time to wash my hair. Excuse me while I gather up my weapons and prepare for battle. You should meet me three days from now... my hair will be perfection.

Got any great hair products or tips I need to try out? Let me know!

Cya next time!

3.     

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Hotel Review - Copthorne Orchid Hotel

The Copthorne Orchid Hotel in Penang, Malaysia is around a 40 minute drive from the Penang International airport. I chose to stay here because it was a short way from a conference I had to attend – and I got it pretty cheap. The Standard Room cost around Rs. 29000/- for 6 nights – which was decent since I shared the room with a friend and paid half. 

I didn’t get to go around and explore the area or the hotel a lot as we were out most of the day and only came back to sleep. The hotel looks pretty impressive from the front – with a wide driveway and flags atop the entrance. 

RECEPTION 

While the lobby looks well furnished at first glance – thanks to the shiny floors and sparkling counters, a closer look will reveal old and faded furniture. I checked-in in the morning and the staff at the reception were very welcoming. 

ROOMS 

The hotel itself has around 320 rooms that get more luxurious as you go up – and most of them have sea facing windows. Mine did too, although not an unobstructed one. There are a little balconies outside the standard room with basic furniture – from where I briefly watched a tennis match on the rooftop court atop a smaller building. 

The rooms have free wi-fi, a mini bar, a coffee maker and hairdryer. There were two cushioned chairs, a little table and a dresser – but again, they all looked really old and matched well with the faded carpet. 

The bathrooms were clean with basic toiletries – not what you would expect at a 4 star. The least they could have done was to put a shower mat outside the tub. 

The only thing great about the room was the bed. It was so comfortable you literally sunk in and drifted off to dreamland in an instant. That could have just been the tiredness after the long day, but the bed was sweet! 

FOOD 

While there was no opportunity to order room service, I did have the complimentary buffet breakfast everyday. It had a huge spread of Asian food, which was average at best. There was plain bread that you need to toast yourself – butter, jam and an assortment of fruits. 

The scrambled eggs and sausages did not look very appetizing and neither did the baked beans. There were a lot of people down for breakfast every day, so the entire place was messy – the spoons had fallen in the dishes, spillages everywhere... a clean freak’s nightmare. 

One can sit around in the a/c dining area or out by the pool, which, by the way, was spotlessly clean. 

THE BEACH 

An elevator near the pool takes you down to the garden area from where you go down a few steps to the beach. It’s a small beach called Tanjung Bungah, but very picturesque. There are signboards that warn people to beware of jellyfish so the idea of a short swim was dismissed. 

AMENITIES 

The Copthorne Orchid has a gym with three exercise equipment and a large mirror to create the feeling a lot more machines. They also have a gift shop, which you definitely must skip because it’s so full of junk. 

THE VERDICT 

All in all, it’s a very average hotel and it would make sense staying here if you have work in the neighborhood. Although the entire place needs a thorough refurbish, at least you can be assured of cleanliness. The public bus stops outside, there are plenty of restaurants in walking distance as well as convenience stores and chemists. 

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