Before you start reading this, I should probably warn you that this is *not* a traveler’s guide. No, Sir. If you wish to read a traveler’s guide you should befriend our very dear Google. There isn’t much about Singapore that isn’t already floating about in the whole world wide web, so I don’t really want to venture into those waters. What I want to do here is simply put into words everything that I noticed and felt and remembered in the ten days that I spent in that place as a visitor.

I had heard a lot, of course. Read a lot too. But nothing had prepared me for the awe I felt the moment I landed in that beautiful airport. Any practical person would have fully utilized the duty free shops that sold goodies for a much, much cheaper rate than inside the country, but 8.30 in the morning after a sleepless overnight flight didn’t quite appeal to impulsive shopper in me. The duty free shops are specially known for perfumes, liquor and chocolates, and sometimes the price difference could be quite significant. There are regulations regarding the amount of liquor per passport holder, just so people don’t obviously go overboard. For the record, I did exploit the duty free shops. Before my flight from Singapore to Hanoi, that is. I took my own sweet time picking and choosing the right perfume and ended up having to rush to catch my flight. But that is a whole different story.

Now you see why I call this a visitor’s guide and not a traveler’s guide. Being one of those fortunate ones who have relatives living in Singapore (meaning you don’t have to shell out big money to stay in one of the hotels) I am unable to give you details about the “where to stay” in Singapore. So the brand new husband and I took a cab and straightaway went to my sister’s place. Which reminds me of this poster I saw in the airport itself, and the strong message in it that even my sleep deprived mind registered : “When in Singapore, call your cab-driver Uncle. It is considered good manners to do so”. Cab drivers, at least the ones I encountered, are friendly, and love to talk. One cab driver, I remember, actually told us the story of his life in our twenty-minute drive, and even made sure we got the moral of the story in the end. Cab rates out there are on the expensive side because Singapore believes in public transport, so it is more practical to get the hang of the buses and the LRTs and the MRTs while in Singapore, as early as you can.

Most LRT and MRT stations are situated near popular malls for convenience. I mean, seriously, convenience should be the alternate name for Singapore. I bet while structuring and planning the place, the only question them people had in mind was, “How can we make this more convenient for the people?” Even though there are slot machines where you can purchase one-trip tickets for the MRT, you can easily get an EZLink card made with a minimum charge of 12 SD, which will let you use any of the public transport facilities, including bus, LRTs and MRTs. In fact, for people visiting Singapore for just three-four days, there is an option to pay a fixed amount, and get unlimited access to all the transport services. Once you get the EzLink card made (they can be made in any MRT station), it is just about letting the machine scan your card at the station you travel from, and then once when you get off at your destination. The fare will be deducted without you having to calculate any of it. Now this might not sound very impressive but I was pretty impressed with how you don’t even have to take the card out of your wallet or purse for the machine to scan it. I had even seen a lady place her entire bag on the machine for her card to be scanned. Simple, eh? No more digging into the purse for the elusive card that always manages to escape your searching fingers. Don’t we all hate it when that happens? Oh, just in case you were wondering what LRTs and MRTs are, to put it very simply, LRT (Light Rapid Transit) is like a mini bus with transparent walls, which runs on a track built high above the streets, so you can have an aerial view everything while traveling in it, and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is exactly like our metro trains which run underground. There are different MRT lines with different stations on them, and everything that you need to know about them is available in the stations itself. Bragging is not in my nature, you see, or else I would have told you about how I could figure out which line to take or if I had to change my line any where, on the second day itself and by the third day I could easily figure out my route from anywhere to anywhere in Singapore. But then, maybe it is not me. Maybe it is just the way Singapore is.

Another reason why this is not a traveler’s guide. I didn’t actually do any of the “tourist” stuff.  If you don’t count gawking at the spectacular night sky and gaping open-mouthed at the high rise buildings and all the twinkling lights, that is. The husband being old to Singapore and me being the newly married, we skipped the Singapore Flyer, the Jurong Bird Park and its famous night safari, Sentosa Island and the Universal Studios, and instead ran to the Ministry of Manpower office to get my dependent visa done. What we did indulge in, was a lot of mall hopping, because I was perpetually on the lookout for sales, and there is always some sort of sale or the other going on in some mall or the other! My sister being more “Sinapore-wise”, does add in a pearl of wisdom. It doesn’t make sense to buy anything in its full price out there, because it is just a matter of time when that will be on sale, too. And I fully agree. In case you want to make the most of the time you are there, I suggest mall-hopping and just ambling around with your eyes wide open. You are bound to find something or the other just waiting to fulfill your craving to shop.

Eating out is I guess the most convenient thing to do. Singaporeans by habit have all square meals in food courts, and I have to agree it makes sense, since nowhere else will you get such a variety of options for such a reasonable rate. You have different cuisines to choose from, thanks to the cosmopolitan crowd, although if you are like me you will end up having the same thing everyday because it is so consistently good! There are, obviously, places you can go to splurge, but eating out in a food court is more a way of life than an option out there.

There’s a lot to do with your time in Singapore. And even though I am no way near done exploring all the options, I do know that Clarke Quay is one of those uber cool places you want to check out if you want to feel the pulse of Singapore nightlife. East Coast Park is an awesome way to spend a lazy Sunday, if all you want to do is lie down on the grass by the beach wrapped around a good book, and more so if you want to make amends for neglecting your exercise regimen over the week and go cycling or jogging out there (there are special tracks dedicated for cycling and skating). Little India and Farer Park with its famous Mustafa Shopping Center are the places you want to go just in case you miss India. And Arab Street with its narrow streets and Bollywood music blasting from speakers is the place you want to go if you find all the swanky and glitzy a little monotonous.  But how, you may ask, does the swanky and glitzy become monotonous? You know how it is when you see a perfectly groomed woman, with not a strand of  hair out of place, her hands and feet perfectly manicured, her perfume just right, and her make-up flawless? And you know how it is when she smiles and her smile reveals her even teeth but doesn’t quite reach her eyes? That’s exactly what Singapore felt like to me, and I’m being blatant here. This might be the Indian in me, but after a while it all started feeling a little too system-dependent. Or maybe I am just used to the “beautifully imperfect” and the adjustments we make to wrap our lives around the lack of discipline in India.

But you know what my favorite bit about Singapore is? Everything is so freaking easy! I mean, for somebody who’s been brought up in India, where crossing a road in most cities means holding you life in your hands and sending desperate prayers up above so you reach the other side of the road in one piece, being able to cross the road at the touch of a button (yes, a button!) is unbelievable. Even while going down the escalator, people who are “chilling” are supposed to stand on the left side of the escalator to make way for the ones who want to rush past (this mostly happens if the escalator leads to an MRT station) so there’s no jostling and nudging around. There are a number of seats reserved for the elderly, women with kids and expecting mothers  and the injured, in every coach of the MRT trains. And for a change, people actually live by these guidelines.

In case you are bored even of Singapore, there are many places you can escape to for the weekend. Indonesia is just a few hours away, and there are islands like Bintan and Batam that you can travel to even by ferry. We did actually visit Bintan, so I can tell you that it was two hours by ferry and another forty-five minutes to the resort where we stayed for the weekend. But more on that in the next issue. So keep watching this space for more “visiting” stories (not traveling ones, I emphasize yet again) and if you have any queries regarding the technicalities of visiting Singapore, and are *not* looking for poems in rhyme about the beauty and grace of Singapore, do contact me. I will be happy to help.

25^th, 26^th, 27^th, 28^th ,29^th, 30^th, 31^st and the count down ends in a glorious new year’s day. Eight days of fun and revelry leading to the big bang new year’s welcome party or seven days of peace, quiet, blissuful relaxation with your loved one and welcoming the New Year in a quiet way?  Which one is your preference? Whatever be your choice, India has it all for you. Its geographical location ensures that you have the best of all holiday spots- Sea and sunshine, Fire and Ice, Or the Serenity of the Sand dunes. You have it all and if more than nature, its history or spirituality that attracts you then, we have the capital city Delhi  which turns a shade more beautiful during winters or the temple town of Madurai down South.  Today we have attempted to bring before you our Fried Eye’s choice of top three winter destination of India. We made the choices based on the factors of –scenic beauty, popularity, tourist friendly facilities, the economic feasibility as well as the accessibility of the spot. Of course while giving the Fried Eye verdict; we took care to choose one each from the different terrains. We hope the brief notes along with the pictures will help you in forming an opinion , which in turn will prove decisive when you plan for your holiday next.

Manali-

Even If Alps have been glorified as one of the most beautiful mountain ranges of the world; nothing can beat the Himalayas in sheer magnificence combined with its pristine beauty.  Manali sitting pretty in the foothills of the lower Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, reinforced itself as India’s most popular hill station after Srinagar had to relinquish its top position because of terrorism. Though there are other Hill stations dotting the entire lower Himalayas as in Shimla, Nainital, Sikkim, right upto Arunachal Pradesh which are also sought after by the tourists, Manali ranks high in our eyes because of the tourist friendly features and the superior infrastructure. For once, the state tourism department has done a lovely job of promoting tourism in its state by catering directly to the needs and comforts of the tourists. It will be unfair if we do not mention the role of the local people who go out of their way to make the visitors welcome and comfortable. This is one state that has utilized the potential of tourism to its fullest and with greatest results.

Coming back to Manali, its ancient history dates back to the times of Manu, where it is said that the sage Manu , had stepped from his ark to recreate human race after the great deluge.  It falls under the administration of Kullu valley and is situated by the banks of the river Beas in the lesser Himalayas with an altitude of around 6000ft on average. But lets leave the statistics and demographics and proceed directly to what is in store for the average tourist.

Picturesque Town-  Beauty cannot be measured hence we cannot quantify it but we can just say that you will find beauty of the highest degree in the scenic surroundings. Even the teeming tourist population cannot mar the appearance of the place . Everything appears to be picture perfect- the hotels, quaint cottages, the apple orchards, the river and its rocky, pebbly bank, the distant mountains, snow covered peak- everything!

Places to visit- Manali has a piece of everything from adventure tourism in Solang valley and Rohtang pass comprising of para gliding, skiing, tobogganing , mountain biking ad zorbing, river crossing, to the spiritual as in the Gurudwara in Manikaran, Hadimba temple and the monasteries. If spending a quiet time is your cup of tea, then you can laze in the sunshine with a book in hand by the river Beas or just gaze at clouds playing with the snow peaks. This is also one of the few places in India where you will find snow through out the year (Rohtang Pass in summers) and you have almost ninety percent chances of experiencing snowfall from the late autumn to the winters.

If palaces and royalty are what that excites you then you can always enjoy being treated like one in the Nagar Castle which has been converted into a heritage hotel with very much economical room rates.

Shopping- Evenings can be enjoyed with shopping for the blankets and woolens and strolling in the bright colorful markets.  The goods are slightly pricey but if you haggle well, then you may get a good bargain.

Food- As it is frequented by many foreign tourists, due to the charm and attraction of the Manali Leh highway drive, you will come across a variety of Indian and foreign cuisines as in Italian, French, Lebanese etc etc. Trout is famous in Manali and so is Maggi in the Rohtang pass and nothing can warm you up as like a cup of hot tea and a bowl of steaming hot maggi.

Accommodation- Accommodation is not a concern at all with hotels, suites, villas and cottages of all price ranges available and since tourism is the primary source of income, you will get hotels in competitive rates. There are HPTDC hotels and cottages at affordable price with great services. Sightseeing and conveyance can be arranged easily. In fact you can just land there unannounced and still have a stay without any hiccups. For the compulsively organized person, you can book, reserve and plan your whole travel package singlehandedly from your own home, to the minutest of detail. Everything is there in the internet to see and book, right from the Bus tickets from Delhi/Chandigarh/ Shimla or the Railway reservation to the nearest railhead Joginder Nagar or even Bhuntur , the airport in Kullu. The road leading to Manali from Delhi via Chandigarh is an absolute delight and where the fun starts from Bilaspur itself

Though Manali is an all weather destination, winter is best if you would like to experience snowfall and roll and frolic in the snow. Building a snowman and having a snowball fight doesn’t even cost you any money.

Hope the brief note along with the pictures could help you decide on it, but if you are still in a fix about the place you would like to spend this holidays, then here is our second in the list

Goa:-

A place with a life of its own- vibrant, energetic and colorful. Their beach, culture, architecture and the way of life has acquired quite a fan following all over the world resulting in it becoming an international tourist hub which sees high influx of both international and domestic visitors every year. Tourism has propelled Goa on an upward drive as far as quality of life and prosperity of the population is concerned and that which can be experienced by the infrastructure and amenities available.

Pic credit - Noyon Jyoti Parasara

Goa is primarily divided for tourism purpose into South Goa, North Goa and Panajim, its capital city and it is to be noted that each of the three has a distinctly different feel from the others.  So you cannot just opt for a single zone to get a hang of the whole. North Goa has the most populous beaches like Calangute and Anjuna beaches famous for its flea market and hippies or the Baga beach and its night clubs, the quieter Candolim and Sinquerium or the rocky Vagator beach- the best thing about them being  its accessibility . It also has other sightseeing attractions like the Fort Aguada a seaside fort, Donna Paola , a seafront memorial  and some great night clubs. The countryside up in the North is a beautiful place to just drive away aimlessly finally stopping at one of the many beaches to enjoy watching the waves at play.

While North Goa is the common man’s play ground, South Goa is more elitist and is the Goa that is projected in the movies with white sands and deep blue sea. Most of the beaches over there in South Goa are private properties of Luxury resorts and hotels and hence less crowded and well maintained. The catch lies in getting admitted to the resorts which of course doesn’t remain a catch if you can shell out big money. If you love the quiet and peace of surroundings alone, then South Goa is more your place with just the company of a hammock and a book . Some of the famous beaches of South Goa are Colva, Bogamalo, Majorda , Palolem and Varca with Colva being the largest and popular beach in South Goa.

Central Goa or Panajim offers you some great architecture in Bom Jesus chapel , a world heritage site where the remains of St. Francis are still displayed. You can also visit some old heritage Portuguese houses which gives us a beautiful insight on their way of living and culture

Boat cruise in the Mandovi River is a prime attraction of Goa as is water sports in the beaches. Nightlife is exciting with the hip crowd at the pubs and clubs and if you can maintain your sanity and balance with the right mix of spirits, then Goa is indeed a fun place to be in. The people are friendly and helpful though facilities may not come cheap. Shopping is not a wise option unless and until you are shopping for souvenirs from the flea market. Feni is a worth buying for its uniqueness but it takes time to build a taste for it. The sea food there is amazing and food tastes great even if taken from those shack-stalls.

Getting around the place is easy with buses and ferry transporting you across Goa. You can hire two wheelers and cab for self driving easily without coughing out much money as deposit nor is the paperwork elaborate.

Accommodation comes in all ranges and also in budget packages. Not all hotels near the beach have a beach front, so inquire about that when you book for the hotel room. Goa tourism hotels in Colva and Calangute are sea facing and just in the beach, if you would like to enjoy the view of the sea and the sound of the waves at all times. Goa is accessible by all means of transport as is its information over the internet. Everything can be planned to the last of the details with a few clicks.

Christmas is a major festival in Goa and is just the right time to visit the place. Though the place will be crowded to the brim, but it further makes the place more gay and colorful. The weather will be just the right one to visit and the air totally festive and cheerful.

Now If the snow and the sea failed to impress you then I am sure, this place will be more your kind.

Jaisalmer- The city of the Sonar Kella or the Golden Fort.

Though Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Mount Abu are more frequented by tourists, it is Jaisalmer in the far west of Rajasthan which has more of the raw and stark beauty that deserts are famous for. The town Jaisalmer is situated a bit on the higher ground and the first thing that strikes you is that the buildings are all uniformly golden in color due to the sandstone. The Fort crowns the city and is a living fort which means that people still reside inside the fort. In fact a percentage of the Bhatti Rajput population has been living there since ages and the fort itself is a bee hive of day to day activit giving you the impression that you have stepped inside a time machine and travelled to those medieval times. The main royal residence is an example of opulence and grandeur and you can just shut your eyes and soak in the feeling of what it must have been during those days of Rajas and Maharajas. Well they still have their royalty in the present descendent Brijraj Singh who carries out a lot of the welfare work for the people over there.

The town also boasts of some fine example of architecture in the Havelis that the old Jain Merchant families had constructed as their residence. Examples of which are Nathmalji ki haveli, Patwan ki haveli. There are also the Jain temples with their intricate carvings to keep you captivated if you are interested in sculptures and architecture. The museum houses some treasures of the past and gives you a close glimpse of the Rajputs and their customs, traditions and way of life.

Though the town’s usp lies in  its historical connection and architecture, a few kms into the heart of the desert gives you a completely different scenario to both experience and enjoy. The Sam sand dunes and the khuri dunes are the famous and popular camping sites where you can enjoy  being in the Thar Desert and experience the feeling of being lost in the vastness.  The sand dunes are the main seat of activities as in camel rides, desert safari in camel drawn carts, the gypsies and their kalbelia dancers around the bonfire, a simple yet tasty meal of the desert prepared from sangri a vegetable indigenous to that area, a night in the mud cottages or the tents , comfortable and with all modern amenities- All these experiences are simply out of the world. There is endless space to just wander aimlessly. Sunsets and sunrise are magnificent and winter is the perfect time to be there. They also have the desert festival during January and February for which people from all over the world turn up in the town.

The Indo Pak border is not far away from Jaisalmer and the road through the dunes lead straight to the frontier.

Rajasthan is a bit costlier than the other states but the camping package in the dunes are economical.  The National highway services the state and the famous Palace of Wheels has a stop over there but POW is not the only train that runs to Jaisalmer . You can fly into Jodhpur and drive to Jaisalmer as an alternative. It’s better to have a guide in the main town for sightseeing or else you will be whirring about confused. Accommodation is not as remarkable as in Manali or Goa in terms of economic feasibility, but cheaper accommodation is available if you search well.

Shopping for clothes and curios is a good idea but do not forget to bargain while searching for good deals.

Dal bati chorma is the local delicacy while sangria ki sabzi is unique in taste.

Nights in the desert are cold, so you should be well prepared with warm clothing.

Rajasthan is again another state that takes their tourism seriously and hence is a traveler’s delight.

We hope that by now, one of our three top destinations has surely made you sit up and ponder a moment about spending some time there with your dear ones.  This winter and yearend, all we want is you to have some great moments and memories for a lifetime.

For Kaudis :

Maida – 2 cups

Meetha Soda-  about 2 pinch

Water – as required

For Chicken & Vegetable Broth :

Chicken – about ½ kg and some giblets

Mix Vegetables – cut into medium size about 4 cups

(carrots, cauliflower, beans & peas)

Onion – 1 large quartered and separated

Tomato – 1 large cut in medium size

Ginger – 2 “ crushed

Soy Sauce – 1 Tbs ( can be adjusted as per taste and color)

Salt to Taste

For Spicy Tomato Chutney :

 Tomatoes – 2 large

Chillies – preferably red – as per the heat you can tolerate

( I use our local Dalle – round red chillies)

Garlic – 3-4 small pods

Salt – to taste

Garnish :

Chopped onions

Chopped Coriander leaf

Method :

1. 1.      In a pressure cooker ( I used a 3 ltr cooker) add a little oil, sauté the quartered onion for 2 minutes, add the crushed ginger and the chicken. Fry for 4-5 minutes and add little salt and water ( atleast half the cooker).Bring to whistle in high heat, lower heat cook it for another 2-3 whistles.
2. 2.      Sift the flour with mitha soda/bakin powder. Knead a tough dough using water and let it rest for sometime.
3. 3.      To make the “Kaudis” just take pea sized dough , using your index finger roll it in the palm of your other hand and then press hard in between. It kind of sticks to your palm, and then lightly roll it off your palm.
4. Note: When doing this make sure to keep dusting the kaudis with dry flour so that they do not stick to each other.                                                                                                                                                                                                
5. In a large pot add a little oil and sauté the vegetables for 3-4 minutes. Now add the chicken broth to it and bring to boil.
6. Once it starts boiling add the kaudis and soya sauce and simmer away for atleast 15 minutes or till the kaudis are cooked. If the soup is too thick add some broth or water but usually this soup has a thick consistency because of the maida.Adjust seasoning as per taste.
7. For the chutney. Boil the tomatoes. Once cooked remove the skin and let it cool. Put in a mixer along with chillies, garlic and salt and make a paste.
8. Now serve the Kaudis garnished with chopped onions, coriander and spicy chutney.

PS: You can add vinegar and soy sauce as per your liking

A trip for leisure is always special, more so, if it is a gift from somebody very dear (here in my case, it was from my dear Husband) and the joy knows no bounds if the occasion is as special as an Anniversary. As it was our second anniversary we thought of going out to a special place which not only is very beautiful but cold, as well as cozy and of course,was nearby..I googled the words ’10 most beautiful place in the world’ tentatively and there it appeared-’ Glacier National Park , Montana, (not far away from our place where we stayed , that is Ohio. Well at least that was what I assumed then) the images charging up the many neurons of my brain…..Bingo!  We got our place.

My next important task was to plan the whole trip as I am supposed to be the official trip planner..We could not afford a prolonged trip and just had four days but who cares about the days when we were looking for moments of happiness that would remain till eternity?  We planned to start on a Thursday, stay till Monday morning and then back to base.
Glacier national park is in Montana (state of US) bordering Canadian provinces of Alberta & British Colombia.  Montana actually houses two National Parks of prominence- The Glacier national park and Yellow Stone. Yellow Stone is beautiful too, but most of our friends and colleagues had already been there and we thought we would rather do something different and go someplace else , from where when we return , for a change face the question, “how is it?” rather than a “oh ! there? We have been there ages back, couple of times”

The place is seasonal as in it is open from July – Oct end. We stayed at St Mary’s Lodge located in the heart of the National Park itself. Booking our reservation was a piece of cake by going through this- http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/glacier_stmary.php

We searched for some information from the internet and after much deliberation decided to zero in on

1 The Sun road:  this was one of the most amazing highlights of GNP.
2. Trek to Grinnel glacier:
3. Iceberg Lake

Covering the huge area of the National park in just four days was not humanly possible hence we had to prioritize and after the rough plans, we were ready.

Our flight was booked for the evening, so that we could rush off  to the Dayton airport,just after Hubby dear came back from office . The nearest Airport to our destination was in Kalispell city. We reached there late (Ohio to Montana =  far) rented a car, and hit the road. It took us two hours to reach our lodge and when we reached there it was already one in the morning.

Day 1- Next morning we were up early, (well as early as I could,) had a sumptuous breakfast. They served one of the best eggs Benedict I ever had and after that set off to the national park . We went on a drive on the Going to the Sun road, supposedly one of the most beautiful drives you can take and it justified the fame. Pictures cannot do justice to that place, though we did take a lot of them. There were just insane numbers of scenic beauty spots on that road. There are parts of the road which would go through forest, some parts went through the Rocky Mountains and then there were parts where you had lake on one side and mountains on the other. Most of the scenic spots had areas marked where you could stop the car and just enjoy the view. Then there were few where they did not allow you to stop the car, no matter how much you wanted to. One such place was the Weeping Wall, It’s literally a wall of water seeping down from one side of the mountain on the road itself but we had to drive on. We went to Lake McDonald, Sunrift Gorge, the Loop at Logan Pass. We did stop in for few of the scenic hikes on this road (Avalanche Creek, Trail of Cedars). They were not much tough and were of 20-30 minute duration on an average. As it is I wanted to save energy for the next day.

Day 2 Saturday – We wanted to take up the challenge of Grinnel Glacier Hike that day. It rained heavily in the morning. We were disappointed at the setback but still decided to wait up for a miracle. It is an all day hike (around 6 hours average) and we wanted to be back before dark and for that we needed to start early. Around 10am it started to slow down a bit and we decided to take the risk. We were warned to get ourselves equipped with bear spray. Its grizzly bear country and we needed to be prepared, Hubby got himself trained on what to do and how to use the spray if grizzly showed up. We were told to make sure to hike in a group and keep shouting so that the bear knew that people were around. After a few misguided turns, we ultimately reached the starting point of the trail. It was drizzling and there were very few cars around (which meant very few people on the trail). We still decided to continue. Once on the trail, we met a mother and her two daughters coming back, we asked them how come they were back so fast? They said that they didn’t go all the way to the Glacier, but just went up to the Swift current Lake and back. To give a heads up, the trail we followed could go to Swift Current Lake, beyond which was Lake Josephine and further beyond that, was a fork from where you could either go down to Grinnel Lake or go up to Grinnel Glacier. We met another family who said that they started on Grinnel Glacier Trail, but as it had started to snow they had to come back and go to the Lake instead. We were facing a dilemma, if we went we would definitely find snow on the way, and hence had a chance of having a nice view of the glacier, but that would also mean we would have to face rough weather, strong winds etc. We decided to continue on an impulse. Soon we crossed Swift Current Lake and Lake Josephine (when I say soon, I mean almost 2 hours of hiking on rough terrain) after which we started our ascent to the Glacier. After a certain point, we could see all the 3 lakes below, one after the other which I admit must be one of the most beautiful views of the trail. We met few more groups coming back from the Glacier and all said the same, “You ‘re almost there but you still have walk a little while, there are mountain goats on the way so don’t disturb them,” Fortunately no grizzly was sighted, and once we reached the top, everything would be worth it, we thought. We still kept shouting the whole way to keep grizzly at bay.

We reached the waterfall which formed from the Glacier melting and fed the lake below. We had to keep putting on more clothes as we went up (we started with jackets tied around our waist and by the time we reached the top, we had all our jackets, gloves and caps on but were still shivering). We encountered rain quite a number of times on our way and had to stop to take shelter. By the time we reached the top, we were quite exhausted. We had walked for about 3 and a half hours but the beauty of the place was something that we had never anticipated. Breathtaking was an understatement. The glacier was a shade of blue- water melting out of it formed a rich blue colored lake there, all surrounded by bluish-white glacier capped peaks around. The silence was blissful there. Thanks to the extreme cold, we could not stay there for more than 20 minutes. and had to beat a hasty retreat. The way back was much easier, We started coming down at a nice pace. On the way back we met a couple going up and then we were the advisers  ’almost there, mountain goats, no grizzly and excellent view’. By 5:30 pm we had reached the bottom. A tiring day no doubt, but worth it, I would say.

Day 3 We had planned for Iceberg Lake, but we were too tired from the hike previous day and since it was again raining, we thought of going off for a long drive towards the Canadian Rockies instead. Again it was a drive to remember which had many scenic locations on the way but most of all it was memorable because the drive turned out to be a bit adventurous. There were many hairpin curves and narrow turns. Hubby had a gala time driving, while I constantly hollered ‘lower the speed, lower the speed’. We drove till the Canadian border and as we had no Canadian visa, (we never planned to go that side) we turned back from the border. On the way back we took a different route back to Kalispell city instead of the lodge (well that was the plan from the beginning). Again it was an interesting drive filled with different sights and scenery. We reached the city in the night, stayed in a hotel there, and early morning we were on our way back.

Being a tourist place it was surprising that there were not many restaurants in and around and most of the time we would have food at our lobby restaurant itself, not that it was bad or something, but still… Being non-vegetarians it was pretty easy for us food wise and hubby went experimental by tasting Bison meat (Bison Meatball, Bison Burger etc etc) there, but I refrained. I could do without the Bison meat and I did what I wanted to…simply enjoy.

For FE readers, we have a list of the games that are  now out for you to play. Few of the games were the most awaited games of this year. Play it and experience the adrenalin rush within you.

         L.A. Noire

Out Now For Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

• · Rockstar Games
• · Game Type: Adventure
• · FE Rating: *****
• 

The game has an astonishing story line with a near perfect presentation of the late 1940’s life style. The graphics is amazing with an astounding performance. As you go through the game it will make you feel the story. It will be an exhilarating voyage till the end of the game. A must play and should have game.

         Jurassic Park: The Game

Out Now For Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

• · Telltale Games
• · Game Type: Adventure
• · FE Rating:***
• 

A good story line, however the game fails to deliver the grip to the players. Still the game does have some amazing moments. It has a sound game play and you can have it in the collection if you are totally crazy about the games.

        The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Out Now For Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

• · Bethesda Softworks
• · Game Type: Role-Playing
• · FE Rating: *****
• 

Being one of the most awaited game of the year, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is successful in delivering the ultimate gaming experience i.e what the users want from a game. This game has all that a games needs to glue the gamers to the seat. A fascinating story line  and has lots of gripping action . One cannot miss the DRAGON SKIRMISH, it’s intoxicating. A must play game and should have in one’s  collection.

        Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Out Now For Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

• · Activision & Infinity Ward
• · Game Type: Action
• · FE Rating:****
• 

Since year 2003, when the first  Call of Duty game was released, this game has been an excitement for those who love WAR action games. COD has come a long way from the authentic display of the WW II action firearm to display of Future WMD’s. A very extra ordinary fiction with the theme of  a World in war that can be dealt with the will of only one man. The game involves massive amount of shooting of a variety of high-tech Future Weapons. This will kick the adrenalin rush within you. A must play game and a ‘should have’ in the collection if you are into war action.

        Batman: Arkham City

Out Now For Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

• · Warner Bros Production
• · Game Type: Action – Adventure
• · FE Rating:****
• 

Yet again we have another game for the Bat Lovers. Yes Bat Man is back with kick ass action and a very nice story line. This is an action-adventure video game designed by Rocksteady Studios and is the sequel to the 2009 Bat Man video game “Batman: Arkham Asylum”. This time the Bat excitement comes with the Cat. A good game to play. A must play game for virtual adventure lovers.

For the FE Game Readers, we try to bring you the best that the market has to offer. So we welcome any feedback from all of you to know what more we can add to this section. Mail us and let us know.

For more query on the Game-play, Walkthrough or Tech assistance with the game you are playing, do write to us and we will get back to you with all your answers.

For the lazy me, concerts are rarely a scene. Though I love the energy of stage performances, music for me is best in the quietness of my room. That’s the reason I resisted when my friend Victor Mukherjee, a music fanatic, asked me to accompany him to the NH7 Weekender in Pune. I tried giving all sorts of reasons – from work to money. None worked out. As fate could have it, I got an off on the last day of the music fest. And I found myself making way to Pune with another friend Jigar, early on Sunday the 20^th of November, 2011.

Angarag Papon Mahanta at NH7

After some initial hiccups I reached Pune, a far quieter city than the boisterous Mumbai. I grudgingly made way to the location… Damn! The heat burnt my skin!

More than half an hour of queuing after shelling out Rs 750 for the day’s pass we were into the venue. It was a funny sight at first. People wearing strangest of clothes in name of haute couture, and of course weirdest of wigs! And there were also the ones who were figuring out ways of smuggling in their joints and hash, which were not allowed inside the heavily guarded place.

Victor, who attended the fest the day before too showed us around from stage to stage. We decided to stick to the Dewarists stage. It was where The East India Company was to perform – my only interest in the entire fest. Angaraag Mahanta, now known as Papon, who is the lead singer of the band happens to be a personal favourite.

As we walked in a Swedish band was already performing. But the fun started after that. Swarathma took the stage and belted out some cool numbers, including one from the new album Topiwale. Midway through the song lead singer Vashu Dixt walked off the song into the crowd, and interacted with people as he continued singing. The crowed was suddenly alive as the sun slowly gave way to dusk.

After Swarthma, it was time for Dhruv Ghanekar. With his band members he played out some awesome numbers. Dhruv happens to be the founding members of the famous Blue Frog in Mumbai. Mid-way through the performance though we decided to check out what’s happening at other stages. And given Victor’s love for Rock and Metal, I found myself following him into the Death metal den. Oh… whoever defined noise as music! As you see, I am prejudiced. Never found someone making weird vocal noise and deafening drum beats to be a part of music. Ages back Mohd. Rafi had very beautifully sung ‘teen kanaster peet peet kar, gala phar ke chillana… na gana hai na bajana hai’. And I still find myself singing the song when someone talks about Death Metal.

We quickly made our way back to the Dewarists stage as Dhruv was finishing off his gig. Interestingly as I entered the arena I could smell the whiff of ganja. Where there is a will there is way. Without a doubt some smart chaps had managed to smuggle in their material into the campus. Of course most others had glasses filled with Bacardi – the official sponsors. I have never been able to fathom why getting inebriated is so necessary to enjoy a good evening. Nothing to complain though; each to his own!

Now was the time for The East India Company to take to stage. Though I have met Papon in person and shared an evening of two in his musical company, this was the first time I got to witness him on stage. And I realized why people love him. Charmer, that’s what he is. Easily the singer who bagged most number of female cheers that evening. That was not all. After belting out a number from their forthcoming album Papon sung a new song Dine Dine, which was earlier meant to be a part of Coke Studio. The assamese folk song caught everyone off guard. While some complained, most loved it. And then was his smartest move. Sensing the environment of dope and alcohol, Papon unleashed Banao Banao. He added small anecdotes in between keeping it lively. People sung un chorus. Couple of songs later he had to give up the stage to the most awaited performance of the weekend – Indian Ocean!

Indian Ocean was introduced as the country’s biggest band right now. And their first song justified the tag. As bass guitarist and vocalist Rahul Ram sung out the first line of their most famous track Bandeh the energy in the crowd suddenly grew in magnitude. Each of us screamed in unison at the top of our voices… an untrained chorus. The campus was alive. Indian Ocean performed for close to an hour and by the end we were all drained. The crowed had performed too!

The last bit was to be where all artists were to perform one number each. But by then we were fairly out of energy. As we walked out I heard Papon singing another version of Banao and the crowed singing along.

The comfort of the car was awesome. As we drove through the streets of Pune towards the highway, there was hardly much to be said. The experience was just sinking in. The lazy me had no option but to thank Victor. Yes it was worth all the trouble. Waking up at 4 am in the morning on my day off, heading to Dadar station, a four-hour bus journey to Pune, and the queue in heat… it was well worth it. NH7 weekender at least gave me a new band to listen to. Maybe next year too…

However, there was this one word of caution. Regardless of the fact that I agree kids should be opened up to all such experience, I wonder if parents should taken toddlers to such an event where dope is so much in the air! But then, that’s life… Kabhi  Khushi, Kabhi Gham!

The key to a travel friendly, smart packing lies in arranging your stuff in such a way which results in the optimum number of belongings packed in a minimum of space. The objective is to remain hands free through out and achieve easy mobility with minimum of stress.

-          The first task here is to choose the right bag or travel case , which again depends on where you will be travelling and how.  If you are planning to rough it out in the wilds with bikes or hitch hiking, then obviously it will be best to opt for a rucksack, but if you plan to travel comfortably, then one of those spacious trolley cases will do just fine. Again remember that taking a light weight bag is better than those heavier leather ones.

-          Try taking a bag with those secret or extendable compartment which opens up by unzipping , to accommodate the extra stuff that you will be picking up on your way while shopping for mementoes. As an alternative take one of those foldable lightweight synthetic bags which becomes compact and occupies no space at all , for later or emergency use. Instead of a laptop case try to take a fitted laptop cover which occupies lesser space than a case.

-          Since your aim remains to be hands free and travel easy, its better to go for those waist pouches, or cargo pants, backpacks with multiple pockets for carrying those knick knacks and your important papers.

-          Now that we have dealt with the travel case part, we can proceed on to what to pack and how to and that, brings us to the subject of clothes.

• Go for wrinkle free squeezable clothes that can be rolled into one small compact mass like Tees and lycra tops and leggings.
• Take two pairs of jeans- preferably blue and black . They can be mixed and matched with any tops and tees. You can also stuff cargo pants instead of a pair of jeans to add some variety.
• Avoid white colored clothes while traveling
• During summer time, it is better to pack capris and shorts. Besides being comfortable, they also take less space in your travel bag.
• Avoid formals. Take a set only if you must. For the females, it is advisable to pack elegant kurtis or those anarkali kurtas that can be teamed up with lycra fancy leggings to add glitter and a formal touch to your wardrobe.
• Winters are tricky as it becomes necessary to pack warm clothings. Thermal inner wear and a non- dirty-able wind cheater than a whole collection of heavy woolens are always better. Even here the principle of mix and match should be followed.
• Pack your clothes neatly folded as well crisply pressed and ironed so that they take up less space.
• If you are one of those who like to carry your own towel, then carry a cotton one with less fluff. It has an added advantage of drying fast other than being less space occupying.
• You can pack lingerie, under garments, socks etc in the small dead spaces in between the already folded clothes.

-For your toiletries, it would be best to carry them in small sachets or small bottles and pack them

together for convenience’s sake in a compact bag.

-Wear or take shoes that can go with all your outfits that you have packed for yourself.

- Unless and until you are going to appear for a fashion show, travelling light is recommended with a

check on the amount of cloths and footwear.

-          Though plastic bags have been banned at many places, it will be wise to pack a few along with your clothes for any kind of contingencies. They become handy to pack dirty clothes, your flip flops and wet clothes while you are in transit.

-          It isn’t necessary to pack each and every stuff of yours from your coffee mug to your body pillow. At the most you can carry a small compact traveling iron.You can find most of the things available outside and sometimes it is adventurous to just let go, sit back and enjoy.

Hope our tips today could be of some help to you. We are planning on bringing out a video on the same in the near future and a demo will certainly be more lucid.

-

It was four o’clock and the sun had left its abode in the sky. The color of the sky met with that of the river. Both were of a mystifying grey color. The river at the banks was quiet and the grey sky looked calm giving no signs of the future jeopardy. Overhead a bird soared through the clouds calling out to its mates. On the banks our guide was pumping air into the raft. We huddled closer to him as he gave us instructions and precautions. I tried hard to focus on his words but my mind was occupied with the surrounding beauty of the silent river and the eagerness of rafting. Not once did I think that these words would save my life later. We jumped onto the rafts with much enthusiasm. Our guides made sure that our life jackets were tight and helmets on their place. We were handed paddles which were longer than I was. I imagined how much strength I would need to move it through the water. With a few strokes our raft left the banks and the sky turned darker. We hollered ‘Jai Ganga Maya Ki’ and cheered our paddles. We drifted through the river and even hopped out of the raft into the cold river for a while. Our guide informed us that we were nearing the rapids and here we would need to paddle harder. I was excited for the new adventure. I admired the flowing water and dipped my fingers into the icy water. Huge waves were forming in front of us looking like lifeless ghosts. Our raft rocked with the waves and a gigantic wave hit our raft. In seconds it overturned. All seven of us were dumped into the chilling water. Before I could take a breath I was pulled downwards by the strong current. The waves kept pushing me into the river. I gulped down much water. My life jacket kept bringing me back to the surface against the current. Water sprayed all over me and I felt as if I had no chance of making it out alive. I ran my hands around the raft and clung on to the rope tied at its sides. It was my only hope. I lunged upwards trying to push the water down with my legs. My head bobbed to the surface and the waves became less violent. I saw that everyone had clutched the rope. The words of the guide instructing us to hold the rope whenever we fall out of it came back as a faint voice in my mind. Fear gripped me as I saw panic in my dad’s eyes. I looked around for my mom and sister. They were there and terror was visible across their faces. We had to turn the raft to make it upright. I swallowed some more water. The water I had admired before now looked like a threatening force. We toppled the raft and once again I was sucked into the water under the raft. My life jacket pulled me upwards but I only hit the raft’s floor. I closed my eyes and I tried to get myself out. My lungs longed for oxygen. Finally after a few kicks I was able to get out and I grasped the rope. One by one the guide pulled us into the raft. My heart pounded as I took huge breaths and tried to take in as much oxygen as I could. I felt a surge of pain throughout my whole body. My sides ached and my legs were numb. Water ran down my face and my wet t-shirt clung to my body. I breathed in and out frantically. My hair had come out of the rubber band and was hanging loose, sticking to my face. I was safe. We all were. I couldn’t have felt more relieved in my life than at that time. We had lost two paddles and a helmet adding to the guide’s distress. He got off at the banks to search the missing paddles. Our raft was tied to the rocks and the deadly waves were behind us. Larger waves were now forming and it seemed as if the ghosts were trying to reach out to us, calling us back. I looked up seeing that the sky was as calm as ever and still showed no signs of the past crisis. I shivered in the cool evening breeze. I had never imagined that I would take a dip in the holy Ganges this way. I thanked God that we were safe. We went down the rapids more cautiously now and finally our journey came to an end. This incident which had taken place in mere minutes felt like a lifetime. The three other men were strangers to us but somehow those few minutes connected us to each other. Each of us had been seized by the same emotions while drowning. We drove back to our camps and had a steaming cup of hot tea. We sat by the bonfire and shared our experiences each telling his story. I felt glad. The moon shone brightly in the cloudless sky telling us that the day was over and a new tomorrow will come.

Fried Eye says- Life is a journey and religion and spirituality are very much part of the journey for many. Roger Vins shares with you his take on spirituality and explores the untapped and uncharted waters of human mind. 

Human beings are God!!
What???  Shocked by the heading??  Be strong, folks! There are even more shocking facts ahead! Yes! Human beings are indeed said to be God for centuries and millenniums. The Bible, The Quran, The Vedas, The Bhaghavad Gita etc. all says the same that “Human is Divine”, but we on the contrary have taken ourselves as the role of the created one, unknown of the fact that we indeed ourselves are the creators. All religion right from their origin have been emphasizing on this very
point (Human and God are one). All the powers performed by God can also be performed by us; For instance, to walk on water, to heal a person with just a touch, transform objects etc. Look at enlightened people of history like Jesus Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, Moses, Pythagoras, Leonardo Da Vinci etc., they all were Gods.
You may say that all the texts mentioned above don’t proclaim human to be God and the people I speak about didn’t claim themselves as God. That’s why you need to know a secret and I am going to tell you what the secret is. Before that, there is something you need to know .There was a time when even the greatest of minds like Aristotle, Plato, Socrates etc. believed that the earth is flat simply because of the reason that, if it would have been round all the water would just fall off.  Imagine, you literally approaching them at that time and making them realize that the earth is round and that there is a magnet like force that keeps us from falling off. Just imagine their reaction!! In the same manner, you’ll also have the same reaction now when I say that you and I are indeed God! But later when time passed, everyone understood that the earth is actually round.  In the same way, you will now understand what I want to convey to you folks.
Now back to the secret, if you actually analyze all the holy books, you will slowly realise that all of them have two levels of information;  One for the person who seeks literal meaning, and  another inner layer for the matured minds. In other words, the text is cryptic, that’s the secret! Even Dan Brown in his book The Lost Symbol says the same thing.  Further down I will give you information which will help you realize that you are ‘God’.
To start off, I am sure you all know that a normal human being uses only 5% of his brain power. Have you ever wondered, if your usage of the brain goes to 100%, what will happen?  With just 5% of brain usage, we have invented and discovered so many things. Therefore, if we start using all of the brain power, just imagine what all things we would have invented and discovered?

Now the question is, how do you get all parts of your brain working? Do I have the answer? Yes! I do, but before that one thing is very important. I want you to just believe in what I say. To Follow it or not is your own wish, but belief is necessary. Ok then, the secret to make the 100% use of your brain is by way of two things-
1) Symbols
2) Meditation
First, Let’s talk about symbols. There are a lot of symbols in the world useful for specific purposes. Each of them has a specific meaning and a specific power. So what’s the relationship between God and these symbols?  95% of our dormant brain that I spoke about can be communicated only through these symbols. These symbols can talk to the brain, awaken them and enlighten the mind.

Some examples to start off with are:
1) Telepathy is the sleeping ability of every human. To awaken it, the

symbol to be used is this. You must have heard the popular word “ABRACADABRA” used by magician when they perform tricks. It is actually an Aramaic word which means ‘I create as I speak’, and to add to it, Aramaic is that language which Jesus Christ himself spoke. Now the exact opposite of it is “AVADAKEDAVRA”. Yes, the most famous spell used by Lord Voldamort in the best seller ‘Harry Potter’ which means ‘I destroy/ kill as I speak’!
2) Memory is another ability people lack in. Do you know that you have
the power to read a book once and tell which line is in which
Paragraph, in which page of that book? To get the best of your memory, the symbol is an ‘Owl’.

3) To increase your power of thinking, reasoning, knowing etc. the symbol is arrow.

4) The two symbols of male and female ♂  and ♀ also have their own
meaning. The male symbol gives confidence, strength and self-reliance
while the female symbol gives love, affection and beauty. This is the
reason why the former symbols were replaced by these to represent male
and the female.

5) Now a very important thing: Health

Do you wanna be healthy for a lifetime? No diseases can ever touch you. The symbol for this is very simple actually. The symbol is called a Caduceus. This symbol gives good health and it is the reason that this symbol is given to doctors.

There are many other symbols like this that you can find all over the world.
Now you must be wondering, what to do with these symbols? These symbols are used in meditation! That’s where meditation steps in to make you enlightened. The kundalini Shakti serpent has to travel up from the bottom chakra piercing all the chakras to the top-most chakra i.e. the sahasara chakras. When you have all these symbols ready in your mind as an image and meditate on it, it will give you its powers to make the dormant brain work.
You must have heard about “The Alchemist”- by Paulo Coelho. Now coming closer to Alchemy, philosopher stone and Elixir of life. If you have read Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone, you would know that the philosopher’s stone is a substance that produces the Elixir of life, and with the help of this Elixir of life, you can live on and on, which means you can be immortal. Let me tell you, this
Elixir of life really does exist.
So, is the Philosopher’s stone a substance?  No, everyone already has one! Yes, the Philosopher’s stone is the penal gland present inside your brain.  Scientists have taken a scan of the yogis’ who were in
full meditation at a very high level of consciousness. What they found is that, the Pineal gland secretes a wax like substance which nourishes the body giving them energy, health and everlasting life. Yes, this wax like substance is the Elixir of life!
Yes people! Humans are indeed immortal. We are not mortal beings incapable of doing wonders, but we are the immortal God capable of ‘creating’ wonders! So next time, don’t think yourself as a weak being and pray to God to have mercy on you, but think yourself as God and meditate on it.  Whatever you think will only happen in this world. It’s not that you ask God and he gives it to you,but you are God! Whatever you think is to be done, will be done, as your own thoughts have power in it. You must have heard about the law of attraction in the book ‘The Secrets’. Yes, it’s what you think that does happen!
So friends, think well for you and for others and the earth will be a heaven for us Gods to live in.

Fasten your seat belts, lock your eyes and get ready to fly to a place where the chilies have taken there residence. Starting the day with a cup of hot coffee and a warm greetings from all the radio stations on air saying “good moooooorning Hyderabad!!”, we now are gonna know about the Hyderabadi  flavor right from the ‘irani chai’ to the ‘dum biryani’, from the ‘charminar’ to the ‘hi-tech’ building; Streets filled with school going kids with extra loaded school bags, corporate slaves rushing to office; When the whole city starts its day our very own ITians get back home to sleep.

pic credit- Peeyush. rights reserved by the photographer

Slightly shifting our attention to the ‘Char’, the heart of Hyderabad- this iconic structure of Hyderabad carries four minarets supported by four grand arches and the icing on the cake being, it included among the most recognized structures in India. To the North West lies the Laad bazaar and to the west lies the Makkha masjid which is a listed  heritage building of the old city of Hyderabad. Laad bazaar is a narrow street filled with burkha-clad women ,bangle shops , heavy embroidery ghagras , and sarees. This elegant lane is always crowded with people busy selling there stuff and people buying them. Bargaining is a passion to the people in Laad bazaar, even the sophisticated of all people would not hesitate to bargain half the quoted price. That’s the flavor of this place. To be mentioned with extra attention- the “irani chaai” near the Char is the best chaai  people would ever taste in there life time.

“MASHA ALLAH” to the quintessential dum biryani from the royal kitchen of the Nizams- the masala consisting of cloves, cinnamon, elaichi, shah jeera and pepper corns giving it a unique flavor. The sprinkling of saffron milk while garnishing gives the whitish yellow combination which is a peculiar Nizami touch. The Hyderabadi biriyani is a typical Hyderabadi delicacy that every Indian must try.

Irani chai has an age old history, people from Iran came to Hyderabad and brought the recipe for tea and hence it is named as “irani chai”.Meeting over a cup of irani chai is part and parcel of the daily routine of almost every Hyderabadi. No tea vending machine can manage to give such a unique taste. In the irani chai, only the Assam tea leaves are generally used. The best way the localities tend to have the irani chai is to pour the chai in a saucer and sip it from the edges- yummmmm! Once you sip some good irani chai, the next time you visit Hyderabad you might give a  miss to the visit to the Charminar, but would never fail to have the irani chai.

After the IT revolution in Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi as important IT hubs, the government of Andhra Pradesh realized the need for attractive infrastructure to attract investments of IT companies. Larsen & Turbo info city is the first software technology park layout in hi-tech city which remarkably attracted many software companies like the Dell, Microsoft, Motorola, HSBC, GE, etc. Cyber Towers is the first sector of the hi-tech city and include many software solutions and call centers in this four quadrant, ten story building. The second phase is the Cyber Gateway; It has been designed mainly for the ITES and BPO services. Dell, General electronics, Microsoft were the first companies to start here followed by Oracle, Virtusa, Delloite, Mahindra system and many other. In short the hi-tech city is the heart of IT park and software solutions in Hyderabad.

CHALLO AAO HYDERABADI BATTAN KAREN!! Now speaking about the Hyderabad’s peculiar Hindi-Urdu accent, it is spoken lazily at its best. It is considered as one of the many Deccani Urdu dialects. To start of with “ Maa ki kir kiri” is the best phrase in hyderabadi used to express irritation, frustration and emotions. To quote another we have   “yaaro,unne dhakkan logaan hai, unno kya maalum ki hyderabadi Hindi aisaich bolte” [meaning-pals, what should I say about those jerks, we speak Hindi like this only in Hyderabad].  Terms like chiplak(lizard), bolta(says), boltun(I say), pottey(dudes), bhot bolra re inay(he’s bluffing too much), baigun ku bolo( I don’t care) are most commonly used hyderabadi phrases. Many people would have tried learning this language, unsuccessfully though. “tension nai  leneka boss akhir bhai logaan, try karne me kya zaarra, waise bhi aapan dhakkan logaan hai”

Kya kya kaamaa karte logaan!!- If you are confused from the above, well that is not your fault. This is well appreciated by those who have or are living in Hyderabad. Hope this was enlightening enough. Starting from the char to the hi-tech city, from the famous lac bangles to the purest of pure pearls, from the irani chai to the hyderabadi dum biryani, Hyderabad have always been in its best. Listing a few best spots for the above mentioned we have the Paradise corner and Bhawarchi for the special biryani, the Irani café and the Charminar galli for the Irani chai, the Charminar junction for the best bangles and Jagdozi work for sarees, the Jagadamba center for pearls.