Old Silk Route Road Trip and East Sikkim Travel Diaries During Pujas

Why Silk Route?

If you are in Kolkata and planning for a trip to the mountains, Sikkim will always offer to be a great travel destination. Beautiful landscapes, warm inviting locals, mouthwatering cuisines, and ample scope for tourism and adventure, all this make it a great choice for all ages.

In the later part of 2019, we decided to visit East Sikkim and travel through the Old Silk Route, covering several locations of interests. Today, I will share our travel diary with you, and present to you all the locations we covered and where we stayed through our Old Silk Route Road Trip.

Throughout this blog, I have also shared detailed videos on each of the locations we covered in this trip (from our YouTube channel - RidingNHappy).

Locations Where We Stayed

We stayed at the following locations through our tour of 6 nights and 7 days:

1. Rongli Khola
2. Dzuluk (also referred to Zuluk or Dzoluk)
3. Lingtam
4. Mankhim
5. Ichchhe Gaon
6. Dello

Although Ichchhe Gaon and Dello are not really a part of the actual East Sikkim Silk Route, we included these two locations in our holiday plans as we had a couple of days to spare, and had heard good things about these places.

Here is a video of the entire trip for you:

Now let me share our tour plan with you.

Our Travel Plan

Day 0 - Oct 4 - Night Bus from Kolkata to Siliguri

On this day, after office hours, we grouped at Esplanade bus terminus in Kolkata. We took a night bus from Kolkata to Siliguri from Esplanade.

The only reason why we opted for this bus ride was that we did not get train tickets. I would not recommend taking a bus to Siliguri if you can avail one of the night trains, as the train journey is far more comfortable and convenient.

Here are some details of this bus ride (as of October 2019):

• Aitiana Travels
• Bus type: 2x2 AC Volvo pushback seats
• Fare: Rs 2,750 per person (with tax)
• Journey started: 9:30pm
• Reached Siliguri: 11:30am next morning (Oct 5) (2 hours late due to traffic)
• Verdict: not worth it unless train tickets are absolutely not available

Day 1 - Oct 5 - Night Stay at Rongli Khola

Once we reached Siliguri, we had our ride (Maruti Wagon R) waiting for us. We had pre-booked this car for the entire road trip, Siliguri to Siliguri, and it was a great decision. Not only did this make our entire trip smooth, but the car owner, Mr Amir, was very polite and accommodating throughout the trip.

From Siliguri, we started for Rongli Khola, our first destination in the East Sikkim Silk Route. On the way, we stopped for a quick snack of momos and thukpas, which ultimately turned out to be our lunch! There was heavy traffic almost till Rangpo, which made us miss our lunch at Rongli.

We reached Mangaldeep Resort at 4pm instead of 2pm as a result of this traffic. After freshening up, we enjoyed some hot evening snacks of tea and veg pakoras.

As it was almost dark, we did not venture to visit the Rongli river in the evening. Instead, we visited the Rongli market, and retired for the night after an early dinner of rotis and chicken.

Here is a video of our trip from Kolkata to Rongli Khola for you:

• Verdict: Mangaldeep Residency, at Rongli Khola, is a quiet place to stay, with the beautiful Rongli River flowing by the resort. Although the Rongli market stays busy with tourists, you can stay here for a day when starting on your way towards the Silk Route. The food is good, and the staff is very polite here. Rooms are spacious, but basic. We were happy with our short stay here.

Day 2 - Oct 6 - Night Stay at Dzuluk

The next morning, after some tea, we visited the Rongli River. It was barely a 5 minute walk from the resort, and undoubtedly an amazing experience. You can definitely go for a swim here.

After a delicious breakfast of luchi, tarkari and boiled eggs, we started for our next destination, Dzuluk. But before we could be on our way, we had to get passes for traveling on this route from Rongli Market. Amir ji helped us with this—we did not even have to get down from our car.

We started at around 11am from Rongli Khola. It was a great drive indeed. On the way, we got to see a number of places of interest, including:

• Phadamchen village (our passes were checked here)
• Nimachean Monastry
• Que Khola Falls

You can of course stop anywhere on this route for photo-sessions, as this entire route is very beautiful.

We reached a rainy Dzuluk at around 2pm. The sky was overcast, and drizzling continuously. It was very cold in Dzuluk. We had our stay booked at Dzuluk Residency.

After freshening up, we had a very basic, but hot lunch. We saw the sky clearing up, and went out for a short walk around. There is a army camp nearby, so be careful when taking photographs.

In the evening, we had the usual snacks of veg pakoras and black tea. As it was quite cold, we had an early dinner or chicken and rotis, and went to bed after that.

Here is a video of our road trip to Dzuluk:

• Verdict: Although the location of this hotel/resort was simply amazing, offering breathtaking views of the mountains from the windows, we would not recommend staying at Dzuluk Residency because of the following reasons:
• Uncooperative staff
• Quality of food
• However, it may be that the resort has improved its way of operating by now.

Day 3 - Oct 7 - Night Stay at Lingtam

The next morning, after a breakfast of bread toast and tea, we started for the road trip planned for that day. That day, we were to see:

• Thambi View Point
• Lungthang View Point
• Kalipokhri Lake
• Old Baba Mandir
• Tukla Valley
• Nathang Valley (or Gnathang Valley)
• Kupup Lake (or Hati Lake)

This was an adventurous day for us, and probably the most exciting day of the entire road trip. After visiting each of these places, we retraced the Silk Route and returned to lower Lingtam, where we stayed for the night.

On the way back to Lingtam, we stopped again at Que Khola falls, and had food there. This again consisted of thukpas and momos, and was very delicious!

Here is a video of our road trip for this day:

• Verdict: We stayed at Lingtam Resort. We felt that this stay was not really required, as we could have travelled to Mankhim that very day. The resort did not really offer a great location, but the staff was very polite and helpful, and food was ok here.

Day 4 - Oct 8 - Night Stay at Mankhim

The next morning, after having breakfast, we started our road trip to Mankhim top, via Dalapchand Village and Aritar. On the way, we visited the following places of interest:

• Dalapchand Village
• Lampokhri Lake

We stopped briefly at the beautiful Dalapchand Village for some photos, after which we visited Lampokhri Lake in Aritar. We walked around the lake, and also went for boating in it.

After this, we drove to our resort at Mankhim top, the Heaven Valley Homestay. This was the most beautiful location we stayed at throughout the entire trip, and we just wished we could have stayed there for an extra day!

Our cottage was located almost on top of the entire mountain, offering us a breathtaking view of Mount Kanchendzonga, Paykong Airport, and much much more. We had food in the open, while enjoying this view all through the day, and in the evening as well.

We would highly recommend this place.

Lunch was delicious with vegetables and egg curry. While the evening snacks offered the usual veg pakoras and tea, the dinner consisted of an awesome chicken curry and rotis.

Here is a video of our road trip to Mankhim top, covering Heaven Valley Homestay:

• Verdict: Mankhim Top is one of those locations in the Silk Route that offer some breathtaking views. Our homestay was amazingly located. The staff here was extremely polite, and so was the owner. Food was delicious as well. Once again, Heaven Valley Homestay is highly recommended!

Day 5 - Oct 9 - Night Stay at Ichchhe Gaon

The next morning, after another delicious breakfast of alu parathas, we started for the remaining of the road trip. On that day, we left Sikkim behind and returned to West Bengal. We stayed the night at Ichchhe Gaon, an amazing hilltop village where the primary occupation of the residents is offering homestay facilities to tourists.

On the way to Ichchhe Gaon, we visited the following places:

• Amitabha Buddha Temple
• Aritar Gompha

We reached Ichchhe Gaon after a short but completely off-road drive. Both Amir ji and his Wagon R did fabulously on the extremely steep and broken roads to Ichchhe Goan. 

This village offered us a very hospitable homestay, right on the top of the hill. The view from our room made us feel as if we were sitting on an aeroplane and looking at Mount Kanchendzonga!

To reach Ichchhe Gaon, you may have to climb quite a bit up the hill through the village, depending on the location of your homestay. We had to walk a considerable distance uphill, as our homestay (Eden Homestay) was right on top of the hill. However, the view made us forget the labours of the climb 😊

Here is a video of our experience at Ichchhe Gaon:

• Verdict: Staying at Ichchhe Goan was a very different sort of experience for us, and we enjoyed the food, hospitality and amazingly breathtaking views wholeheartedly. We would highly recommend staying for a day at Eden Homestay for sure, provided you are comfortable with walking uphill for a considerable distance.

Day 6 - Oct 10 - Night Stay at Delo Hills

The next morning comprised of another short drive, from Ichchhe Gaon to Delo (or Deolo) Hills. On the way, we got to see the following tourist spots:

• Burmiok Shiv Dham
• Durga Mandir
• 17 Mile Ground
• Hanuman Mandir

After visiting all these areas of interest, we reached Kanchendzonga Homestay in Deolo Hills, which would be our place for stay for that day. The rooms were very comfortable and cosy, and the owners were probably the most polite and helpful people we met throughout the entire tour. The food here was delicious too.

After freshening up and having lunch, we booked the owner's car for siteseeing all around Dello Hills and Kalimpong. This was also an eventful day for us. The places we covered included:

• Delo Park
• Dr Graham's Home
• Morgan House
• Pine View Nursery
• Durpin Monastery
• Hanuman Temple
• Mangaldham Temple
• Kalimpong Market, and a few other places

We had to let Amir ji go that day, as he had to attend to something urgent. However, he made sure that our journey to Siliguri the next day was well-organised, so that we do not face any trouble.

Here is a video of our stay and site seeing in Delo and Kalimpong:

• Verdict: Delo and Kalimpong offer a lot of places of interest for tourists. It is undoubtedly a good place to spend a day or two. We would happily recommend Kanchendzonga Homestay to people who want to visit Delo. It may not offer a great view, but the owners will simply make you feel more comfortable than home.

Day 7 - Oct 11 - Night Bus to Kolkata from Siliguri

This was the day when our road trip came to an end. We started the day with morning walks through the Delo roads covered by tall pine trees. After packing up, we had an early lunch, and boarded a Maruti Ignis that belonged to the owner of the homestay. He dropped us at Siliguri in time, and we took the night bus to Kolkata.

Once again, unless train tickets are absolutely unavailable, it is always recommended to travel between Kolkata and Siliguri by train.

That brings us to the end of this road trip. Hope you liked it.

Do visit our YouTube channel (RidingNHappy) for travel videos and more, and give our videos a like or Subscribe to our channel if you enjoy it and want to stay connected for more.

Stay tuned for my next blog!

Thank You 😊

4 and 5 Days' Dooars Short Holiday Travel Plan and Guide - Gorumara, Jaldapara, Jayanti, and Buxa Tiger Reserve Tour Itinerary - 2021

Today, I present you with two short holiday plans for the West Bengal Dooars region, covering some of the most scenic and popular tourist destinations in Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jayanti River.

This blog will also cover some of the other nearby and popular tourist spots that you can visit. If you want to go for a more relaxed holiday, you can omit some of these areas of interest based on my inputs.

Select the most appropriate plan depending on the number of days you have available for your holiday. I have tried to cover the maximum number of locations and tourist spots in Dooars though these two plans. You can further customise them as per your personal preferences.

Also, I have provided hyperlinks wherever possible to offer you more information on some of the locations I have highlighted. You can click those links and view detailed YouTube videos on them  (narrated in Bengali language) to learn more.

So, here are the two tour plans to help you with your short Dooars holiday:

Plan A

Duration:  4 nights + 4 days

Locations: Chilapata (Jaldapara), Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jayanti River

Leaves required: 2 to 3 days if clubbed with the weekend.

Day 0 - Night train from Kolkata to New Alipur Duar Train Station after office hours (no leave required).

Day 1 - Transfer from New Alipur Duar Station to Chilapata (Jaldapara National Park) in the morning (reach homestay by lunchtime). After lunch, you can:

1. Enjoy walks beside the surrounding forest (along with a local guide).
2. Visit a scenic picnic spot by the Bania River in the afternoon (before dark).
3. Feel the jungle after dark from within the boundaries of your homestay.
4. Night-stay at Chilapata.

Day 2 - Transfer from Chilapata to Jayanti via Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. This day can include:

1. An early morning jungle safari within Chilapata forest (the homestay can arrange this for you in advance).
2. After safari and breakfast, checkout from homestay and drive to South Khayerbari Eco Park and Tiger Rescue Centre in Dhupguri area.
3. After visiting the Eco Park, drive to Coochbehar Rajbari, a popular tourist destination. You can omit this spot if you want a less hectic tour.
4. Next, move to Sikiyajhora in Buxa Forest. Here you can enjoy a great boat safari in what is known as the Amazon of Dooars.
5. From Sikiyajhora, drive to Jayanti River, via Rajabhatkhawa checkpost. Once you reach the homestay, enjoy a peaceful walk by the Jayanti River, and relax for the rest of the day.
6. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 3 - Activities in and around the Jayanti River. You would require a local guide at all times for these activities.

1. Start your morning with a trek to Pukhri Lake (after breakfast).
2. After completing the trek, you can visit Chhota Mahakal cave. You can drive to it, or trek to it as well if time permits, depending on the water level in the river. Here, you can also swim at Chhota Mahakal, if the water level permits - this is a great experience!
3. You could also opt for the Bada Mahakal Trek, but it would be difficult to fit in a short travel plan. For that, you would require a separate tour plan of Jayanti and Buxa Tiger Reserve, also covering popular tourist spots such as Santhanbari, Buxa Fort, Lepchakha Trek, etc.
4. Once you complete the Chhota Mahakal trek, you can also visit the Chunia Watchtower to complete this day, and return to the homestay.
5. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 4 - Buxa Jungle Safari and return to New Alipur Dura. Night train to Kolkata.

1. Go for an early morning jungle safari in the Buxa Tiger Reserve. This can be arranged in advance from the homestay.
2. After the safari, you can also visit Bhutiya Basti before you head back to the homestay, or omit this if it seems very hectic.
3. Have your lunch, check out from the homestay and drive to Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre (museum) if time permits.
4. Next, drive to New Alipur Duar Station and board the night train to Kolkata. Reach Kolkata in the morning the next day

Plan B

Duration:  5 nights + 5 days

Locations: Lataguri (Gorumara), Chilapata (Jaldapara), Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jayanti River

Leaves required: 3 to 4 days if clubbed with the weekend.

Day 0 - Night train from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri Station after office hours (no leave required).

Day 1 - Transfer from New Jalpaiguri station to Lataguri (Gorumara National Park) in the morning (reach hotel by lunchtime). After lunch, you can:

1. Enjoy walks in the Lataguri market and book for the next morning Gorumara Tiger Safari.
2. Visit the beautiful Murti River and enjoy a great sunset.
3. Experience the sound of the jungle after dark. If you are lucky, you may see wild animals like wild boars, elephants, wild dogs and peacocks in the jungle as well from your hotel!
4. Night-stay at Lataguri.

Day 2 - Transfer from Lataguri in Gorumara National Park to Chilapata Forest in Jaldapara National Park, after a jungle safari within the Gorumara Forest.

1. Start your day with a very early morning tiger safari within the Gorumara National Park. Make sure you book tickets for this in advance from the counter, as otherwise you will not be able to purchase tickets for the morning safari in all probability.
2. After the Safari, return to the hotel, have your breakfast and checkout. Start your drive to Chilapata forest and reach there by lunchtime.
3. After lunch at Chilapata, enjoy walks beside the surrounding forest (along with a local guide).
4. Visit a scenic picnic spot by the Bania River in the afternoon (before dark).
5. Feel the jungle after dark from within the boundaries of your homestay.
6. Night-stay at Chilapata.

Day 3 - Transfer from Chilapata to Jayanti via Jaldapara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. This day can include:

1. An early morning jungle safari within Chilapata forest (the homestay can arrange this for you in advance).
2. After safari and breakfast, checkout from homestay and drive to South Khayerbari Eco Park and Tiger Rescue Centre in Dhupguri area.
3. After visiting the Eco Park, drive to Coochbehar Rajbari, a popular tourist destination. You can omit this spot if you want a less hectic tour.
4. Next, move to Sikiyajhora in Buxa Forest. Here you can enjoy a great boat safari in what is known as the Amazon of Dooars.
5. From Sikiyajhora, drive to Jayanti River, via Rajabhatkhawa checkpost. Once you reach the homestay, enjoy a peaceful walk by the Jayanti River, and relax for the rest of the day.
6. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 4 - Activities in and around the Jayanti River. You would require a local guide at all times for these activities.

1. Start your morning with a trek to Pukhri Lake (after breakfast).
2. After completing the trek, you can visit Chhota Mahakal cave. You can drive to it, or trek to it as well if time permits, depending on the water level in the river. Here, you can also swim at Chhota Mahakal, if the water level permits - this is a great experience!
3. You could also opt for the Bada Mahakal Trek, but it would be difficult to fit in a short travel plan. For that, you would require a separate tour plan of Jayanti and Buxa Tiger Reserve, also covering popular tourist spots such as Santhanbari, Buxa Fort, Lepchakha Trek, etc.
4. Once you complete the Chhota Mahakal trek, you can also visit the Chunia Watchtower to complete this day, and return to the homestay.
5. Night-stay at Jayanti.

Day 5 - Buxa Jungle Safari and return to New Alipur Dura. Night train to Kolkata.

1. Go for an early morning jungle safari in the Buxa Tiger Reserve. This can be arranged in advance from the homestay.
2. After the safari, you can also visit Bhutiya Basti before you head back to the homestay, or omit this if it seems very hectic.
3. Have your lunch, check out from the homestay and drive to Rajabhatkhawa Nature Interpretation Centre (museum) if time permits.
4. Next, drive to New Alipur Duar Station and board the night train to Kolkata. Reach Kolkata in the morning the next day.

Please note: Whenever you are in the forest areas, you would probably require a local guide to accompany you. For this, do not forget to get in touch with the homestay management in advance to understand your options. Sometimes, your driver can also act as the guide.

Hope you found the above details useful?

If you found these plans interesting, and want more information on the hotels, homestays, jeep or car rentals, or any other information from me, do leave me a comment in the section shared below.

I will try to respond to your queries at the earliest!

You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel for travel videos based on my experiences.

Thank you! Happy holidays!

The New Sun Sign - The New Zodiac Chart of 2011 - Ophiuchus

Even if you thought this was a hoax, this news is true! The introduction of a new star sign - Ophiuchus - the Serpent Bearer.

This has created major changes in the horoscope, for almost everybody. Almost everyone now owns a different star sign, a new identity, except for a few lucky ones.

I was a Scorpio, but now I am a Virgo - unbelievable! As unacceptable it is for me, I guess it is going to be the same for most of the people I know - at least whoever is concerned or a little interested in Star Signs and Horoscope!

The New Zodiac Chart goes this way:

Capricorn:     Jan. 20-Feb. 16

Aquarius:      Feb. 16-March 11

Pisces:          March 11-April 18

Aries:            April 18-May 13

Taurus:         May 13-June 21

Gemini:        June 21-July 20

Cancer:        July 20-Aug. 10

Leo:             Aug. 10-Sept. 16

Virgo:           Sept. 16-Oct. 30

Libra:           Oct. 30-Nov. 23

Scorpio:       Nov. 23-29

Ophiuchus:  Nov. 29-Dec. 17

Sagittarius:  Dec. 17-Jan. 20

Experts have pointed out that this inclusion of a new zodiac sign is based on the changes in the earth's movement, so on and so forth. I am still planning to stick to my original star sign - Scorpio - and not shift over to Virgo.

Some people have even claimed that this might be the way to the end of the world - in 2012 - but thats a different story altogether!

Some please tell me that this news is totally bogus and a scam! Any views or updates on this new zodiac chart or the New Sun Sign Ophiuchus?

Evolution of Mobile Phones to Tablets - 2011 and Beyond

How far have we come with mobile phones and gadgets at our fingertips that help us communicate and stay connected 24x7, on the go?

Starting with the very first mobile phones that came into the market [let offered you very little more than wireless calls, text messaging options and a digital contact diary], to the new android tablets, we have seen science and technology flex its muscles, making our lives easier and more expensive!

Let us look at some popular mobile gadgets chronologically, and walk the path of the rise of mobile technology.

The Nokia 5110 [Released: Jan 01, 1998]

If you wanted a camera phone from Nokia back in 1998...

Nokia 3310 [Released: 2000 4th Quarter]

One of the most popular Nokia Phones till date! It offered text messages, calls, digital diary, calculator, clock, and just a little more.

The Nokia N70 Smartphone [2005]

The Nokia N70 has also been on of the most popular phones among the initial smartphones that began to come into the market in the 2005. This featured a camera, and even 3G facility! This was probably our entry to a brand new era of Mobile technology!

Sony Ericsson W-950 [Released: 2006]

A popular addition to the mobile smartphones from Sony Ericsson, this phone featured a great built in MP3 player (for which the Walkman series is very popular).

W950 had a built in HDD of 4GB, and a touchscreen, as well as a keypad. This phone was one of the very first touch-phones that turned heads - and was widely featured in the movie 2012.

The Nokia N8 [Released: 2010]

And here we step into yet another era of mobile phones - the Nokia N8- high profile, highly efficient, greatly clad with looks and technology. There is very little that this phone will not offer you (at least what you may want till date!).

With this, we now broaden our outlook, and consider not only phones, but other gadgets that let us stay connected to almost everything we want, wherever we may be, whenever we want them to!

Introduction of Netbooks [2008 - 2009]

Android Phones [2009 - 2010]

Smart Tablet PCs [2009]

Future ...

Where we go from here is very hard to predict, especially when we consider the trend over the past decade. But wherever we head, technology will leave us behind and move even further ahead - leaving us trailing behind!

Happy journey 2011 - future!

James Bond wants it shaken - but not stirred!

British Secret Agent James Bond wants his Medium Dry Vodka Martini shaken - but not stirred. So how do you go for it if you are a martini drinker?

The recipe is quite simple really!

• 3 measures of Gordon's
• 1 of vodka
• half a measure of Kina Lillet*
• shake it very well until it's ice-cold
• add a large thin slice of lemon-peel.

Got it?

Kina Lillet is a brand of Vermouth. The gin should have a medium amount of Vodka, which is why he calls it medium dry vodka martini.

Interested? But let me tell you – this is very different from your classical dry martini. However, it seems to go quite good for me - I would prefer Smirnoff to go with my medium dry vodka martini!

Is Nokia Out of the Mobile Market?

You may have heard quite a bit about Nokia falling behind in the Mobile Technology competition lately. With Samsung and a few other companies bringing in touch phones at unbelievably cheap prices - without affecting the quality - Nokia has seen tough days.

The Samsung Corby Series - for example - presents a wide range of phones - touch phones with various features. Whether you are after a querty keypad, a 3G phone, a full touch model or one with a full touch screen and a sliding querty keypad, Samsung has it for you.

However, if you look a bit closer, Nokia is not far behind either - if not ahead! Check out the phones like 5230, 5233 and 5800. I had a chance to go through all these models as well as the Samsung ones.

Now definitely, views may vary from person to person, but I think I found:

1. These Nokia Phones are far better where looks are concerned
2. You get what you want - the cheaper 5233 - full touch, or the 5800 with 3G and GPS
3. Simply by comparing the prices and the features with the Hot Corby phones, you will see the Nokia phones definitely outdo the corresponding Samsung counterparts - be it service, quality, features, or simply the price

Finally, what I think is very important to be noted is with a Nokia phone, you get to enjoy the OVI store which offers you a good number of free goodies, applications and other stuff that definitely helps you get more and more out of your Nokia. This is missing in case of a Samsung.

Being an ex-Samsung fan [I have used 3 different Samsung models - an i8910 Omnia HD, a flip Phone [SCWH531] and a normal bar phone], I think that if you are looking for a feature rich mid range phone [which the Corby range roughly fits in], Nokia may be worth a look at.

This is probably why I have shifted to the 5233 [full touch but doesn't come with 3G]. Other options are 5230 [full touch 3G] and definitely 5800 [a bit more on the cost].

What do you think?

Nokia

Samsung

The Most Seductive Cars Around!

It all depends on your taste - raw power and a masculine touch or elegance and perfection. Choose between the two latest cars that will turn heads any day, anywhere around the world:

Presenting The 2010 Mustang GT:

and the Newly Released Audi A7:

Now what would you have gone for?

Transitions: Summer - Winter

Winter, winter, I want thee ... 

Please O, summer, fly away, please flee 

Take your warmth, O I prithee 

And let the cool cool wind soothe me!

A Touch of Spiritualism

Why try to be happier when you are already happy?


There are times when we want more and more in our lives. What eventually happens is we start to forget the things that we already have! This is where we start overlooking how much value each item has in our lives, and make ourselves miserable by trying out for more!
The other day I was on the bus, traveling to my office. As usual, I was listening to my favorite numbers from Coldplay on my MP3 when a thought passed me by.

Why do I stick to the same old songs almost everyday? Why don't I get some new songs on my MP3 and forget about Coldplay?

And this is where the debate started in my mind! 


What is Right?
1. Sticking to something that makes you happy and keep ignoring things that can make you happier? 
(You get to stay contented and happy - but you may miss out on a lot of other things in life - some of which may obviously make you sad!)
or
2. Looking out for new things in your life and trying out everything you think is worth a try? 
(This may get you out of your comfort zone often, but you would get to live life fuller and learn much more about life!)
-----------------
Well, it all started with Coldplay - but apart from that, I think I would rather stick to the second option, provided I don't forget about the things that make me happy today.
I believe you need to experience as much as you can from life, filter out the negatives, and stick to the positives - valuing each and every single thing you have, be it a thought, an experience, a friend, or a load that you may not want to bear!
That is probably the right way to live your life the right way - which is what you were designed for!
Any other views? I would love to hear about your ideas!

Try Having a Feast At Home!

Chill at home this weekend!

There are so many ways to enjoy a lovely weekend with your family at home, and yet people would think about spending loads of money and visiting expensive restaurants every time they would want to have fun!
I don't say that I am an exception either, but I tried something different this weekend, and it worked beautifully - for everybody!
It started with a poll - naturally most of us wanted to stay home because of the summer heat. So we voted for a movie - Avatar, lots of drinks to chill, and ice creams!
After having a light lunch, everyone gathered in the TV room, switched on the AC to full - and that was when it all started. I never thought that grown ups can be this fun - especially when you consider them fighting over Coke and ice creams.
It was indeed a great way to sit down with each other and be a complete family! It is definitely worth trying! 
What are you doing this weekend?

The Right Food Habits!

Are you aware of the right food habits that can offer you a fit and healthy body and a fresh mind?Health experts and dietitians have claimed that breakfast is the most important meal in our daily life. And yet we often start our day with very little or no food, indulging more in coffee or tea.

At the same time, most of us end our day with a heavy dinner taken late into the night, just before one they go to sleep!This again is not a very good idea, and can hamper your digestive system greatly and affect nutrition - not to forget the chances of adding to body fat content.

Here are 10 tips to learn about the right food habits and stay healthy and fresh all the time:

1. Start your day with lots of water or fluids and a heavy and nutritious breakfast
2. Try to stick to a moderate lunch
3. Go for a moderate dinner in the evening. Don't leave it for the last hour before you go to sleep
4. If you get hungry before you retire to bed, drink a glass of milk, have some biscuits, or something that is light and easy to digest
5. Don't stick to heavy meals that you would consume around 3 to 4 times a day
6. Instead eat smaller portions for a greater number of times throughout the day
7. 6 smaller portions are far better than 3 heavy meals
8. Make sure you provide your body with enough water and fluids all through the day
9. Finally, sleep at least after 20 minutes you have had your last snack at night
10. Try to sleep for at least 7 hours!

That's it! Add a bit of light exercises like aerobics to the above mentioned routine of the right food habits - and stay fit and healthy - happily ever after!

The Right Gift

Whatever the reason may be, if you are looking for the right gift ideas when thinking of getting a gift for a loved one, there are some things that are worth considering.

1. the gift is supposed to make the person happy
2. the price of the gift doesn't add to its value
3. the more you think about it before getting it for the person, the more valuable it becomes

So instead of buying something expensive, why not try out something more original? Try to think of something that will make the other person really happy - something that you can create yourself!

This can be a video, a painting, a handmade necklace, or something similar that the other person would simply adore. For example, think of a photo album that you create which holds the best moments in the person's life. Or you can also think about the favorite music album that they have been trying to get hold of.

Think about something new and something that can make a difference, something that shows you care - and you will see how happy a simple gift can make the person you love smile from the bottom of their heart!

Blogging: Improve your Thought Process

Most of us find it hard to arrange our thoughts at times, which hampers us in a number of ways. It affects our abilities to:

• Think positively
• Be more productive at work
• Communicate clearly with others
• Control our emotions
• Be logical at times of decision making
• Do good at an interview or a meeting, etc

How often have you found it hard to concentrate on something that you are thinking about? Do you find it difficult to make others understand what you want to tell them? And do you often get lost in your thoughts when thinking about any particular situation that needs your careful attention?

Writing to Improve your Thought Process

Blogging can be a great way to overcome your problems with productive thinking. Not only does blogging help improve your writing skills, it can be a diary for you to share your thoughts with. And there are a number of advantages to be seen when you decide to start writing.

• It helps you to learn how to think clearly and put your thoughts into words
• It lets you be more imaginative and creative
• Since you are writing down your thoughts, you will get to understand where your written content seems to be out of place, and you will get a chance to rectify it
• This in turn tells you where you need to improve yourself with regards to your thought process
• This ultimately leads to better arrangement of your thoughts, better concentration, and higher levels of confidence!

So why don't you try blogging for a change? It is free, and there is much you can get through it! Try it for a month and see whether or not you feel the change with positive thinking and better arrangement of your thoughts. 

However, don't stress yourself with it - this piece of advice was is meant to improve your thought process, not stress you further, and it is purely based on personal experience!

Feeling the Music!

You would come across very few people who would say that they do not enjoy listening to music. However, people do have varied tastes with regards to the music that they may prefer listening to.

What I want to convey here is, if you have been listening to music, it is good enough. But to get the best out of anything you listen to, try feeling it! 

Did I sound a bit nerdy there?!

Well, that is the very idea used in music therapy. It can refresh your mind, improve your  concentration power, help you sleep better, and do a lot of other things that can prove beneficial for your health. 

This is what you can try out:

• Get a few songs or music pieces on your mp3 player or music system to listen to
• Make sure you will not face any disturbance
• Now before you start listening to the music, make sure there are no bright lights switched on (its all right if you can't manage this part)
• Try to recollect what you like the most in the music that you are about to hear - is it the lyrics? - is the the beat? - is it something else?
• Now concentrate on that very factor and switch on the music and feel every bit of what you like in it

You will definitely get energized and probably addicted to music even more. At least it works for me!

Need More Laughter? Scary Movie 4 Is Here!

For all the comedy and fun loving people: Scary Movie 4 is here! 


Yet another movie in this series, this 4th part is scheduled to be released on the 14th of April (according to dependable sources!) If you have been looking for some laughter for a change, and have enjoyed watching the previous parts, here is another must watch for you!


Check out the trailer of this comedy movie:

The Right Way to Get Over a Hangover!

If you think that you might have had just a little bit more than you should have had, don't let the alcohol get you a hangover the next day. Here are some simple things that you can do to get over your hangover:

1. Drink heaps of water before going to bed
2. Take a shower before you sleep if possible
3. Drink a bit of alcohol (just a little bit) when you wake up in the morning *
4. Coffee
5. Chinese green tea

I haven't tried the third step, but I have heard it works from quite a number of people. The rest of the steps have worked for me, quite effectively. 


Any more to add to the list?

Solar Power Needs More Promotion

Recently we celebrated Earth Hour - with 1 hour of power cut all around the world. The fact that we had to go through such a demonstration points clearly at how serious the scarcity of electricity can be in some countries in the future.

And yet we don't use the available resources optimally so that we don't have to rely on conventional sources of electrical energy.

Solar energy may sound to techie and complicated, but in the true sense of it, it is not so. Solar panels and solar power generators are quite simple, and once installed, they can go on and on for a long time, with very little annual maintenance costs. And the results is - free power and electricity for you!

Even though the initial installation requires a bit of investment, the long term results can be very beneficial for us. 

• We would not have to rely on the power company! 
• Monthly bills will go down
• This system is Eco Friendly and everlasting
• You can even sell solar power that you generate using batteries and cells
• Fight pollution effectively!

Isn't this simply amazing? We can at least gather more information on solar power and the other non-conventional sources of energy, and educate others if not start using them immediately ourselves! That might be the first step towards the bigger plan!

Sound Sleep is Important!

Sound Sleep is Important!

Yesterday I found out that simply trying to sleep for 10 hours is not always the idea. In fact, if you can manage a 6 hour sleep every day through which you sleep soundly, without any disturbances whatsoever, you are more likely to wake up fresh and rejuvenated the following day.

So here are some ways to get a good sleep that I figured out. Try them and see if they help you!

1. Have a faint light on while you sleep if you must. The best option is to have all the lights off.
2. Try reading before you go to sleep. This helps me fall asleep faster, even on days when it feels like it will be impossible to get some sleep
3. Put your computer or music player on timer and play some faint and soothing music while trying to sleep. After a while the system will shut down,and by then you should be in your dream world!
4. Exercises can help - especially in the morning, or before dinner in the evening!
5. Drink plenty of water - healthy fluids
6. Meditate for a short while - even 15 minutes a day. It does wonders
7. Switch your TV off well before you go to bed
8. Don't play too many action games on your computer before going to sleep
9. Don't stress your mind to fall asleep. This will worsen it. Think about the following day or anything else that feels good
10. Make sure you are comfortable in your bed

These points work pretty well, at least they do most of the time for me. If you have some more to add to this list, you are most welcome :)