Relaxation - Enjoy seabreeze

'Abras', the traditional boats that ply the Dubai Creek

Enjoy sea breeze! Go to the beach and let the breeze unwind yourselves.

'Dhow', a sailing vessel, gliding through the waters!

An exhibit at the Dubai creek during the Dubai shopping festival 2011 - 12. Interesting attractions like these from many countries will be showcased like this during the festival time.

Entrance to Burdubai souq from the creek. Replicas, shawls, spices...you name it, it is all available here.

The famous Dubai dhow cruise. All illuminated dhows will be cruising here at night most of the days. Music, delicious food, dance, onboard magic shows etc. it is all fun! A must enjoy activity while in Dubai!!

Dubai creek at night during the DSF.

Enjoy these videos too :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYDfpv7lGjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp_koY8-o1k

A cool place to unwind after a hectic day of work, a peaceful spot to chill out, a hang out to sit quietly reading a book...wow...! We need such things in life to live well. Natural methods to chill out bring everlasting wellness. Identify such cool spots and visit often. Allow some time for Nature to calm us.

• Recreational activities like music, dance and good food are good stress busters. The most important point to remember is to enjoy the present moment, thoroughly.

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Relax - Peringalkuthu reservoir, amazing natural beauty of Kerala!

Thank you guys for the beautiful comments about the posts of Athirappilly and Vazhachal waterfalls.

This post is about the Peringalkuthu dam reservoir along the Chalakkudy river, a short distance from the Peringalkuthu dam and hydroelectric project. This dam is situated deep in the forest; it is not open for visitors.

You will reach this reservoir spot within half an hour drive from the forest check post at the Vazhachal waterfalls on the way to Sholayar and Valparai. This road is right through the middle of the forest.

We spent a lot of time here clicking pictures. Beautiful :)

What a beautiful spot!

• Feeling stressed out? Just browse through such pictures of natural beauty to cool your mind, body, and the soul.  

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Hypnotic sights - Athirappilly waterfalls, beauty of Kerala

Athirappilly is an exotic destination in Kerala!

Awesome waterfalls, full of greenery all around, wonderful trekking, some wildlife...it is amazing!

Athirappilly is in the district of Thrissur (Trichur), near Chalakkudy about an hour's drive from the Kochi International Airport in South India.

Chalakkudy river originates from Anamudi in the western ghats, a mountain range in the western border of South India. This river runs through the Vazhachal forest division and at Athirappilly it runs through massive rocks resulting in spectacular waterfalls.

After plunging down from a height of nearly eighty feet it runs a turbulent course for some more distance before acquiring a smooth flow until Thumburmuzhi dam. An interesting fact is that we can view this falls from two locations, upper part from where it falls through a massive row of rocks and lower down - the spot where it plunges. We have to trek through the forest to reach this spot. This spot gives us the opportunity to view it from the front at a close range, a perfect chance to get a close-up view!

Trekking from the entrance to the falls was really fun. Plenty of monkeys all over the place😊 This is the only place where the unique, rare species of birds like Great Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, and the Indian Grey Hornbill are found. Great Hornbill is the official State bird of Kerala. Such an ecologically important spot!

We visited here during the summer time. This place attracts a lot of tourists during monsoon when the waterfalls spread the whole of the rock bed instead of the three plumes we see in summer.

Be prepared for trekking right from the entrance to waterfalls. It is a little bit tiresome, but you will surely enjoy it😊

It was an unforgettable weekend!

Check these videos of waterfalls that I have uploaded in my Channel on YouTube :)
Please add some comments there too and 'like' :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1dHR9unE04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KOeLckloDg

It is scientifically proved that the sights and sounds of waterfalls stimulate our brain to produce good chemicals that better our mood. Listening to self-hypnosis tapes of waterfalls and the like operate on such theories. Spend some time near the falls to enable the brain to assimilate the visual and auditory stimuli and allow the effect to kick in. This is important when you listen to such tapes too; it takes some time to get the desired effect.

Wait patiently and allow Nature to relax you. Remove the mental barrier that we are keeping, drop the guard off, and allow the Universal energy to engulf us.

• Nature...lush greenery, the lullaby of the flowing river, sound of music of the forest, waterfalls, nothing else will recharge the tired mind, body, and soul in a natural and better way!

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Negotiation, an art

This book gave me valuable insights into the many facets of the art of negotiation. I added this very informative book to my library some years ago during one of my travels. Being a small book I could finish it within a few hours. Very interesting read!

Herb Cohen is an expert in negotiation. His biography mentions many high profile clients who have availed his expertise in their negotiations.

Rules are the product of negotiations but then they can also be subjected to negotiation. It does not mean that you cannot put forward an application even after the deadline. I have many experiences in life where the so-called deadlines have been broken by the same authority who made those deadlines initially. There is no harm in negotiating to get what you want! Cohen is right :)

It is easy to say 'no' through email and telephone but it is difficult to say 'no' face-to-face. So take advantage of this if you are a hard negotiator.

Escalate the matter with somebody higher up and you can see dramatic changes happening. The problem is we do not try. We are psyched into following rulebooks. We are habitually reluctant to negotiate.

Be persistent! We may have to run from pillar to post but that finally will get us the reward even if it was tiny! Do not just sit idle doing nothing thinking that the rules and decisions are final. Nothing in life is static, there is fluidity everywhere, today's wrong is tomorrow's right. In our place there is a saying, ' The baby who cries more gets the milk first'! 

Cohen who knows very well the intricacies and complexities of the corporate world seems to be knowing a thing or two how things work in organizations and this book is a valuable read for ordinary people like us who is under the impression that everything is black and white in the present day world, having no experience with the so-called grey areas.

If I see a board or sign and if I am in a situation where I think negotiation will work I surely will try. Mixed results but there were many positive outcomes 😊 Thanks for the book😊
Thanks, Cohen!

Some of his famous quotes :

"You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.” 

“No' is a reaction, not a position. The people who react negatively to your proposal simply need time to evaluate it and adjust their thinking. With the passage of sufficient time and repeated efforts on your part, almost every 'no' can be transformed into a 'maybe' and eventually a 'yes'.”

http://www.herbcohenonline.com

• Always be persistent if you believe that what you are trying to achieve is right. Listen to your gut feelings, act accordingly, boost yourself! Rules and regulations are made by human beings like you and like you, they also have feelings and in that case, negotiations are possible. Nothing called dead ends exist anywhere!

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Superfoods for better health- Chillis...a hot and healthy superfood! Live well...

Why chillis are considered as a superfood?

• Weight loss 

Chillis help in reducing body weight. It is gaining acceptance and popularity as a weight loss food. They boost metabolism and help in burning fat.

• Heart health, cholesterol lowering and blood thinning actions

This superfood improves circulation. It is thought to reduce cholesterol levels and acts as a blood thinner. Being a blood thinner it may have a role in the prevention of stroke. Chillis prevent blood clot formation also. It improves heart health being a circulation booster and cholesterol reducing agent.

• Reduce blood sugar 

There are many studies claiming chillis ability to lower blood sugar. So few chillis a day if good for reducing blood sugar is a good thing. It may help people on medications to reduce the dosage.

Also, it has been found that the insulin surge that happens normally after a meal rich in sweets and carbs gets reduced markedly with chili consumption. This has relevance in controlling obesity and weight loss too.

• Reduces inflammation 

So it is useful in arthritis and related disorders. It also has pain-relieving actions.

• Irritable bowel syndrome

This, as the name suggests, is an irritating disease. Chillis are supposed to be effective here.

• Neuropathy and pain

Since it has the ability to control pain it is effective in these conditions too.

• Anti-cancerous

Some studies found that Chillies reduce stomach cancer risk. Capsaicin, the active compound in chillis retards the growth of cancer cells. It is also claimed to limit the spread of prostatic cancer.

• Relaxation improves mental alertness

It improves alertness and may be useful in depression. Natural endorphins are released that better our mood. Well, it literally burns so how can anyone feel blue then, lol!

    

Surprising that hot chillis also have become superfoods!

I thought of writing this post when I watched a chilli trail on traveler channel a week ago. They tasted different types of chillis and hot sauces across America at various outlets. I laughed seeing them doing the typical dance moves people do when they feel the burning hot sensation, a familiar scenario all over the world :) after consuming hot chillis!

But I was surprised when I stumbled upon the wonderful medicinal value of this hot stuff when I browsed the web! The chilli has to be eaten raw to obtain it's full health benefits. And it is no easy task! Be slow and steady :) and be careful too! 

Always consult your doctor before doing such things like following a health tip. Only your doctor can decide what is good for you.

Dairy products help in reducing the burn. Have a cup of yogurt or milk ready if you are going to give it a try! They are better than cold water.

I have seen in the middle east chilli kept in vinegar with a little salt; it tastes yummy along with Shawarma, a popular Arabic snack. In India too some people like chilli in vinegar. Shawarma is rolled pita bread stuffed with chicken or beef with lettuce, potato chips, and garlic paste. The chicken soaked in exotic masala is stacked layer by layer on a metal rod in Shawarma maker, slow cooked to perfection by flame and cut into small pieces to be stuffed into bread.   

Food gives us pleasure. No philosophy will get into our heads if we are hungry. Good foods better our moods. Healthy foodstuffs bring positive health. Safeguard health.

Always remember, health is priceless. 

• Nature has provided us with many unique gifts. Some may look ugly, taste bitter but they are treasure houses of well being. Our duty is to identify those, study about them and let others also know about the good things about it.

Note: Please read the DISCLAIMER attached to this blog.

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Watch your health - Indian goose berry (Amla), an extremely nutritious divine fruit

Indian gooseberry (Amla, Amlaki, Nellikka, Phyllanthus Emblica) is a miracle health food that is gaining attention globally. 

This fruit has been postulated as having :

• anti-cancerous
• cholesterol lowering
• blood sugar lowering
• anti aging
• anti-inflammatory ( so may be effective in Rheumatoid arthritis )
• hair nourishing 
• liver function normalizing

properties. Besides, it may retard or delay the progress of Osteoporosis. 

These pale green, spherical fruits having smooth surfaces are about 2 cm in diameter and tastes sour/bitter. Inside there is a hard seed about a centimeter diameter. The tree grows about 15 meters tall and has small leaves.   

The fruits are available almost everywhere in India. The common uses of this fruit in households in India is to crush it to prepare 'Amla juice' or to 'make pickles'. In some parts of India curry like dishes are prepared with it. I have seen in the middle east and in some parts of India, Amla being kept in honey to be enjoyed later because it is bitter to consume fresh! Amla is in great demand in manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines, the traditional system of medicine here. 'Chyavanaprasham' is a popular health tonic in Indian homes.

It has high concentrations of Vitamin C. The antioxidant action is said to be due to the presence of Ellagitannins, which also has anti-cancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic activities, as well as the ability to regulate blood glucose, in addition to other substances that also has antioxidant properties.

There are many legends prevailing about the divine nature of this fruit. One says it has fallen to Earth from the spillage of Amruth, the nectar of immortality, during the 'Kheera Sagara madhana' or 'churning of the milk ocean' described in the Holy Mahabharatha, Indian epic when a fight occurred between the 'devas' and 'asuras'.

Some are of the opinion that these divine fruits were given by Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity to Sri Adi Sankaracharya, a great scholar, and sage when he prayed to alleviate the poverty of a poor brahmin woman. This fruit is a must when we prepare Vishukkani, during the time of Vishu, a festival during the new year according to the traditional calendar about which I have blogged before. http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2014/04/vishu-popular-festival-in-kerala.html

Amla is thus considered a God-given universal remedy in India and I have not heard any instances where it cannot be consumed. However, always consult your doctor before following any type of health tip. Only your doctor can decide what is good for you.

The first picture shows Amla and it's juice. With the advent of mixie/mixer/smoothie maker, it is easy to crush and smoothen it into juice. If you have the patience to remove the hard seed, well and good :) or just go on with whole fruits washed well and strain the juice once it is done. The residue may be used as 'chammanthy', mixed with a little chilly powder and salt, it is a good side dish with dosa or iddali. You may add a pinch of salt/sugar/honey to mask the bitter/sour taste of Amla juice. I prefer it plain :) All of the above are my culinary experiments, user discretion advised :)

The next picture shows Nellikka (Amla) pickle. It is called 'Nellikka', in the Malayalam language, our mother tongue. Fruits are washed thoroughly, lightly steamed and seeds removed. Some prefer to preserve the spherical shape and would like to remove the seed while enjoying the 'achar' (pickles) during meals. Different oils are used for sauteing like the gingelly or sesame. Spices like asafoetida, fenugreek, turmeric, ginger etc. are used along with chilly powder, salt and there are many recipes prevalent in India for this delicacy. It can also be done plain without oil / little salt but the shelf life will be short and you must compromise upon the taste factor but it is a definitely healthier option particularly for people with high cholesterol. Be careful if you have high blood pressure because pickles, in general, have a high concentration of common salt. 'Achar' is a common accompaniment eating rice or rice porridge in Kerala. 

• Health is wealth! Food is medicine! God has blessed mankind with many good things but the most important He has given is health. It is our primary responsibility to safeguard this healthy state of complete physical, mental and social well being!

Note: Please read the DISCLAIMER attached to this blog.

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Innovations - the largest Varpu in the world, Crafters, Jew Town, Kochi

Varpu is a large cauldron made of cast bronze traditionally used in Kerala for preparing sweet dishes like 'Payasam' (Kheer in Hindi). This large cooking vessel will be put into use during feasts, festivals and special occasions when food has to be prepared for a large number of people in Kerala. A smaller version of this vessel is called Uruli, and it is golden colored. Nowadays you will see such vessels filled with water and beautiful flowers floating, in many resorts and hotels and households. But 'varpu' is still being used by large catering business firms that involve cooking for a very large number of people.

I remember seeing such huge cauldrons at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. While visiting the historic Jew town area of Mattancherry in Kochi, I happened to visit this awesome antique shop called 'Crafters', where the world's largest varpu is being exhibited.

Stunning! It is huge!

They have entered into the Limca book of records; their's being the largest varpu ever made in the world. This measures twelve feet in diameter and weighs 3184 kg! It has taken about 30 skilled craftsmen and 160 artisans to work tirelessly for 13 months at Mannar in Kerala, to bring this dream of the owners of this beautiful shop to possess the largest varpu in the world, into reality!

What an amazing achievement!

The artworks on this vessel are beautiful. You can see beautiful floral patterns cast below the handles. All along the perimeter beautiful lacework is also seen!

HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have paid a Royal visit here recently; the photos are on the wall as well as on their website.

This is a very famous antique shop at Jew Town having unique and priceless items. They sell some spices too; we bought a packet of tea mixed with Cardamom. Awesome tea! More about it in the next post😊

http://www.crafters.in

Nothing is impossible; things are possible! Fearing obstacles, not taking the baby steps is the number one mistake we always make. This doesn't mean that we must go against reality or do some foolish act. Just pointing out the negative aspects only forgetting to look at the larger picture is the mistake. 

• Ideas are precious. Determination, hard work, and sharply focused mind are essential to convert such creative ideas into beautiful reality.

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