Good day Sunshine

I have been doing some thinking about how and why traveling has now acquired this fad status. I should not be the one to question it considering I am one of those whose traveling instincts have gotten sharper only in the last few years. But it is a genuine love more than a fad for me. It has to do with my love for meeting new people, understanding their backgrounds, their culture, the foundation of a country/city and observe the path of evolution it goes down.

Back from Dubai, I am bubbling with stories about the city and its culture. Famously called the Land of Superlatives, Dubai is obscenely rich. The city is larger than life and so grand that you could stare at the beautiful twinkling skyline all day long (if you were not trotting in the gigantic malls that is). The first revelation came to me in the form of the fact that Dubai is definitely not 'cheap' for shopping. I am not sure of that definition more than the fact that converting the price to INR made me realize that there is little or no difference in the prices. The upside to shopping in Dubai, however, is the myriad of options available. From the cutest little stores with the trendiest finds to the standard chain of stores from across the world that are still to hit the Indian market, I raided it all. The best mall which covers all the stores from the smallest to the biggest designer name would have to be The Dubai Mall. So if you are on a short time bound trip, The Dubai Mall should cover all your shopping options. There is not much of 'street shopping' so to speak, so your buys would have to be limited to the malls. For souvenir shopping its best to hit the streets of course. 

After that little shopping themed post which I hope gave you a little insight here are the photographs from the day I felt like Good day sunshine. (Beatles)

Wearing:

Blouse with neon printed birds: Street find (Delhi)

Pleated maxi skirt in dirty lemon: ASOS

spiked sandals in white and gold: Shoe store (Melbourne)

Bubble necklace in silver and neons: Accessory store (Sydney)

Tan sling and gold bracelet with blue skulls: gifted

Till the next post,

XOXO

A feisty summer

It’s a feisty summer when you decide to not sit coddled up at home, waiting for the sun to set before you step out. I considered that option. But then I came to the conclusion, that by that logic, I would waste more than 70% of the season, which is almost half a year, doing nothing outside. Believe me, I did the math. So putting aside the tan worries, armed with a bottle of water and some sun screen, I have decided summers are going to be about fun in the sun. And of course I do not mean, dehydrate yourself or develop blisters by camping out in the sun. But on a personal note, the holiday that I thought twice about undertaking in the fear of a sun tan or travel in the sun, is going to happen. The travelling shall continue and so shall the escapades in the sun.

On that note, a key trend this season as the last one, is print on print and this post shall key you in on how to do it with ease. Simple rule: Let one print be dominant. The tee with the thin stripes paired with the bold alligator print is an example.

The shoes were sent across by the gorgeous model turned artist Priyanka G. of Zubiya. The most interesting bit about these shoes is that they are hand painted by her. And if comfortable shoes with adorable prints is what you seek, order your pairs now. She also does customized designs for whatever you seek to imprint on your shoes. Entrepreneurial women are definitely taking the Indian fashion scene by a storm. 

Wearing:

Striped tee: Portmans (Australia)

Alligator print pants with studs on the pockets: Zara

White ballet flats with swarovski peace motif: C/O Zubiya

Jute clutch in coral: Aldo

Statement necklace in orange and red: C/O Youshine

Pyramid ring: Some accessory store (Australia)

Till the next post,

XOXO

The Elle experience

It is definitely a feat for a brand when you walk into their store only to be surprised by the leap of faith that they have taken. The Elle Fashion wear bloggers meet definitely made me see the brand in a new light and I also had the opportunity of sharing my opinions with the designer behind the new line. Their latest collection, Mid-day in Paris is definitely a shade different (no pun intended) from what I have seen Elle do in the past. They have soaked in the summer, played with interesting sorbet colors and some interesting summer prints. The denim trend also appears big in the latest collection where they introduced denim dresses, waistcoats and other such, basically keeping it simple and chic. Definitely a way to kick start the season.
The meet saw us interacting with the Elle girls to learn more about the collection and also other bloggers. With a make up artist and hair stylist to assist you, the Elle fashion wear bloggers meet took the concept of playing dress up and made Elle cover girls of us all. Pretty cool, right?

I made the Elle cover!

In discussion with the designer. 

Till the next post,
XOXO

The Amritsar Act

Is it not the idea of a travelogue to write about what in your experience sets a certain place apart? Is it not about doing what Lonely Planet tells you and still managing to find that esoteric aspect to it?

Amritsar had been on the cards for me for a while now. The realization monstrously struck when my colleagues from the other countries visited Amritsar and I was left feeling a little abashed at not having explored this deeply historical city in India.

With the blistering sun overhead, the meteorological Gods definitely had something planned for this holiday, for you cannot take your car in the overtly crowded and bustling market streets of Amritsar which lead you to the Golden Temple. You say you have a VIP pass for the Wagah Border? Doesn’t change much. You still wait with thousands of Indians who have come all the way to witness the change of guards at the Indo-Pak border. Does the holiday tan or sweat and grime change the fact that Amritsar is a mystical experience? No. If anything, it grows manifold.

Amritsar is about the walk to the Golden Temple. The first sight of this absolutely magnificent piece of architecture. The manifestation of the faith of the Sikhs. And those like me who believe in a God, in isolation from the shapes and figures we give him/her. The gurbaani you hear live at the Golden Temple. Its rich unyielding reflection on the water body in between. The Wagah Border experience of yelling and cheering with a thousand other Indians tied to you by the thread of their nationality. The pride you feel when your guards walk to the gate. It is about watching your father get emotional at the Jallianwala Bagh and experiencing gooseflesh yourself when you see the thousands of bullet marks. It is about the ‘gallies’ and the bustling ‘dhabas’. The Amritsari naan and chole. It is about the markets selling all kinds of souvenirs and absolutely fabulous Punjabi jutis to tourists like me. Amritsar is about history and the warmth of the people.

In the Indian avataar for Day 1 of the Amritsar Act. A mustard kurti with neon pink embroidery and floral collar.

The Golden Temple in all its glory.

The mystical reflection.

The parade at the Wagah Border

A good idea to saunter through all the juti stores in the market next the The Golden Temple.

The epic graffiti van. 

The delectable Lahori naan and Amritsari chole

Things to do, places to visit:

Food: Sarhad, hands down. For Indo-Pak cuisine. To look for: The graffiti van for fun pictures, outside seating and the food, of course.

Shop: Katra Jaimal Market. Bargain for the jutis. The Pakistani kinds are gorgeous but make sure you haggle to bring down the prices. Lets just say Rs. 1000 (INR) is not the right price.

See: The Golden Temple, The Wagah Border, Jallianwala Bagh 

Till the next post,

XOXO