A Haunting Beautiful Date

As I researched and researched and scratched my brains to visit a place which was nearby yet far from the city chaos and traffic on the weekend. Well that's our thing, we like quaint places which are not crowded, throw in some nature and I am a happy bunny my friends.
I came across one that fit all the bills and ticked all the boxes right.
Now I have this thing for taking hubby on surprise dates, well I would like to believe that I am more of a romantic adventurous types in some aspects among both of us. To say the least I throw caution  to the wind and still have my carefree attitude whereas hubby how do I say is the more cautioned more grounded, practical, safe one, if that makes sense to you. He is the one who is the safety net i return to, the one who takes all the blows and hard hits and surprises whilst wondering what next is in store. I am thankful to God in so many ways and instances that he is, for God knows where we would be if it wasn't for his stickler ways once in a blue moon.
So I took him on a surprise date, after about an hours drive, we reached the Besant Nagar beach popularly known as the Elliots beach. From there on I started the Google map as there was a diversion. The path that we landed on or ended on was a bit dicey. Albeit, no proper roads, houses of local fisherman lined up in a row, no cars, very narrow path, kids playing without a worry, the ladies engrossed in their daily banter or just sitting outside their houses, boats parked after a day of some hard core work and no tell a tale sign of any visitors or other people.
It looked like a secluded and empty road leading to nothingness. A small fishing hamlet tucked away in the further most corner of the city.
With that view and us looking like an only car with another state number plate which believe me is not a welcome sign to any locals. We were the ones encroaching according to hubby and we shouldn't be there, either I had lost my way or like always I had thrown caution to the wind for too soon for an adventure to begin were the voices I heard in the car. That was not my voice however it sure did join the party for I started doubting myself was that really right and am I the irresponsible, irrevocably wild one in the car and was going to give up my chance to explore and be in nature. How my heart loves those two words unconditionally but sometimes you have to let it go for your own safety as well peace of mind, was this going to be one of those time when I gave in to settle for another cup of coffee in a pretty city cafe. I don't have anything against pretty little cafes I adore them but how can you compare them with a wild sunset waiting to be experienced and to bathe you in its golden light from head to toe all the way to your soul. When to my great relief a car was approaching in our direction from the other side and which didn't look like it belonged to a fisherman. I pointed it out excitedly to hubby without saying anything and trying to maintain my confidence and there he looked unconvinced still. Well, he is a tough nut to crack. What followed was a trail of vehicles, cars, couples, friends coming or in this case going from this place to the husband's dismay and my visible gay. A hesitant husband still not completely convinced started driving towards the destination.
As usual we were late due to the traffic, I wanted to take hubby for a sunset date here but thanks to his always questioning nature and arguing streak we wasted quite a lot of time on contemplating to take the road or no. But as soon as we took the road, it lead us to a series of surprises, of stone doors leading nowhere, of pretty stone benches located, bushes, sand beach on one side. All this was almost virgin land apart from the young and young at heart like me who still want to be in natural rugged places like this. As it was my turn to lecture him back for how untrustworthy he thinks I am and how he has problems trusting others, to how I do my research, to how safe I am and to all the destinations we explore, he was saved half way by the nature which just drew us right in and took us by surprise.
Standing out of nowhere the bridge located on the mouth of the river Adyar lying broken but in all its beauty with green ivy covering the river in a carpet adjacent to blues and browns of the Coromandel Coast and sand stretching as far as the eye can see. One could see the skyline of Adyar and behind it stood the wall of Theosophical garden, the thick trees peeping from inside. What a pretty place to be.
As soon as we started exploring and taking in the beauty, the quiet of the nature, the music of the sea, the expanse of the bridge and the orange sky watching. I just closed my eyes as I took all of it in, I heard a siren going off somewhere, banter and many things. The siren instead of going dim was getting louder by the minute and then at its full volume it stopped right where I was standing. The cops were there to take a look and empty the place out. I understand all that if only they could stop that crazy ear piercing noise, they did not and thus it was the end of our beach bridge time.

Well I must have forgotten or skipped mentioning to hubby dear that this place is out of bounds after dark, it is one of the haunted places in Chennai. Well honestly I did tell him it is hauntingly beautiful. Oh, that's just us. All's well that ends well.
We didn't get the sunset completely but we got us together in this beautiful setting at the golden hour.
 Bickering, trusting exploring life, love and travel together now that is our story forever.
After all beautiful moments with beautiful people make beautiful memories for a beautiful life. 
and it was a beautiful date.

xoxo
Bhakti Khade Rangoonwala

Read all about the Broken Bridge here
Check out our trip in the video below

My First Scuba Dive Ever - Dying To Try Or Trying to Die

The love of adventure, for doing things never done keeps me visiting my deepest fears and strengths I never knew I possessed in the pits of my stomach. 

So right from Bungee Jumping from a decent height of 45 Mt's, going on India's longest flying fox 1250 ft., going on some deranged water activities in Konkan to some other stuff, your girl has braved it guys and believe me I was crazy scared before every one of them. 

I feel a year older should also mean a new thing accomplished or learnt, tried or in my case many a times torturing myself to the finish line. Why ? because Why not ? 

Life is short, there is so much to learn and experience, so little time and to top it all Dar ke aage Jeet hoti hai my friend - filmy enough.

So here I am in that same phase again. This year what will it be .. Que será, será
Whatever will be, will be .. the future's not ours to see.. So I just let it be.

We have been meaning to go scuba diving since a long time ( sky diving, bike riding to Ladakh and many other crazy things) , so on our Bali trip the first thing I arranged was for our very first dive. 

Hubby dear oblivious to the growing rumbling in my tummy and sweaty hands and feet literally (not just Bali heat you see) shared his excitement on every passing minute of how he was dying to try it and I was dying inside every minute as it got closer not to try it.

My fear of deep water was resurfacing and my head was just swinging side to side bobbing away in sheer nothingness while hubby thought I was responding to him. As we got in the pool for our training, that was the first time I flipped under the hand of the trainer as fear reared its ugly head as soon as I went under water. Hubby completed his training in one go as smoothly as a shark cutting through water and looked effortlessly handsome and calm if I may add.

On the other hand I struggled just like a fish without water (jal bin machli) exactly the same way if you can picturise only difference being I was in water (definitelynot a pretty sight). Finally somehow the trainer gave us a go ahead was it out of sheer boredom of me being in water with him doing my whole jal bin machli thing. Anyhow as we embarked on the boat which was taking us to the diving site with our fellow divers who were really young honeymooning couples hung up on love. I asked them was it their first time, did they know swimming, their answers satisfied me - they didn't know swimming and it was their first time - all just like me. However they appeared cool as a cucumber in this increasing Bali heat. I thought to myself how young and oblivious to the world in foolish love they were, here was I dying on the inside too proud to say anything to my hubby now that was for love too (so now I should I say not so young still ever so foolishly in love) I didn't want to hassle him. In my head I still thought wait till these people get in the sea then I will have some company to my fear, now fear my friends doesn't do too great alone, it seeks company of others fear to console itself to feed on.  

Today wasn't my lucky day. Nil company for my fear and me, no luck. 

What so happens, is often times when Fear is all alone which does happen in the darkest of times and then boom it multiplies, it flips on more in the loneliness, rears its ugly head even higher and before you know its a giant of the most gigantic magnitude - The Fear Monster. I was battling with this demon oblivious to the beautiful blue water and gorgeous sunny day and amazing instructors. Now as awesome as the trainers were the jerks chose me to go first. They tied crazy weight on me- hello this was never mentioned in the training, I could hardly balance myself or stand up straight in that bobbing boat and they tell me coolly to walk to the dive point of the boat. Now that my friends was the wobbliest walk in my entire life, no amount of tequila or Rum and coke ever devoured gave me that stance and people believe me when I say this that I have had my fair share, yet here I was doing my life's biggest no alcohol alcoholic dance with a fearful trance. Does that even make sense, oh well it never made any sense to me that time too.

I was gonna fall down any minute, as I sat on the edge waiting for my dive with all the equipment safely attached, they told me to let go off myself with my back to the water, at this point I was freaking out, I just couldn't let go, I held on more tightly till my knuckles turned white, my heart was racing, I could feel my pulse and with all that weight my sweaty hands were giving in and I was loosing my grip. It was like I was falling to my death and I did fall in the cold water, forgot to breathe, forgot to do everything I was supposed to, I was frantic the trainer tried his best to calm me down, knock some sense into me at that point I felt like knocking him off and I am sure he felt like drowning me (crazy stupid scared girl). 

A little composure later I was fine just snorkeling there but whenever he tried to take me down below I would flip. I would do these crazy possessed woman gestures to go up and then after going up I would be like I want to get out. This happened a couple of times and then my trainer at the end of his wits was like what's your problem lady (I am so sure he wanted to toss a f#@$ing somewhere in the middle ). Yeah. 

The thing was he used to guide me down with light pressure on my head where as I used to get the feeling of he drowning me. To think of it he was just helping me and I was thinking he wants to cause me harm. Natural reflex isn't this the same thing in life, we can't trust easily. We don't trust someone who is helping us. Is that a societal thing today that is ingrained deeply in our mind - Not to let anyone in, be cautious of someone helping you, never to trust, too scared to ask or take help. huh. 

My trainer persisted, call it human tendency or his professionalism or just a good heart who wanted to genuinely help me experience something so beautiful to overcome my fear. 

He dragged me down again, this time I just gave into my fear, it was the same every time, me struggling, telling to go up, then they getting me down again and it just continued again and again. Eventually I got tired of the pattern, of the fear. Even before me the trainer did they stopped taking me up even if I signed I want to go up cause even they realized it were just mind games. So I had no choice I realized, so might as well look around, I gathered all my strength to calm down and started watching the sea life it was beautiful, so peaceful even though there was a storm raging inside me, the colourful fish, the ocean bed, the corals they had a calming effect. Beautiful ocean life as surreal as it gets.

I realized I was fine till I was left to myself I got hyper when they forced me to do anything or guide me. I saw those happy couples posing away, my hubby was somewhere scuba diving by himself since I had taken our trainer all to myself not letting him go. Well there were other trainers keeping an eye but generally he was happy to be on his own without some drama for a change. After some time we went upstairs and then my trainer spoke something in Balinese with the other guy and then he tells me we have to go down again as I have to take your photos. I love photos, you guys must be knowing that by now. I can take photos for hours. I am obsessed in the literal sense.

However I surprised myself when I replied to him - I don't want any photos just take me out and he goes like just some minutes madam - photo taking . And to my horror dragged me down again. My husband posed and lovingly looked at me and for the second time in my entire life (first time was our wedding reception, well that's another story- this would be the second time )I was like please get done with this will you in my mind. I couldn't speak right or else I would have screamt. I did enjoy it in bits when we were just swimming aimlessly looking at those creatures before we came out. After coming out in the sun I just wanted to kiss the boat floor and I literally did thanks to the weight attached to me. 

Sitting in the boat shell shocked smiling at my husband as the boat took us back to land.

After a cold shower to wash all that fear down, I actually realised what I had done and was laughing over all this over some chilled Bintangs and Nasi Goreng overlooking the sea whilst the breeze blew ever so gently as I narrated what hell broke loose over them to my hubby dear. 

First time after coming here I took the scene in, the blue water and the calming sea. Deep breathe. Well now from far especially when my ordeal was over the sea did look calming and enticing. In my defence not that I have to present one or owe one but still - I still went, scuba dived and I did enjoy well now I realise. It was amazing and the biggest thing was in spite of all this fear I did it. I am sure now that all this drama is out of the way my next dive wont be so what do you say troublesome (I am quite handful, but I do get there in the end, now that's the fun the journey and everything in between. I do wish every time to get over my phobia of the deep water. I am taking baby steps. Will reach their eventually. Who knows some day a padi certificate also may be.. life's too unpredictable and so am I now. 

Beach shorts                                  

top                                  

Dear Land, how I love you.

Check out my snorkeling video, let me know if you could spot how frozen scared I was.

Until I dive into our next adventure. 

xoxo

Bhakti 

🌸🧜‍♀️🏝

P.S We booked our scuba diving experience through Klook online. 
We went to the Bintang Beach Club for the same. Amazing experience and professional trainers. 
You can also directly book through them.
This is in no way a sponsored post, we have paid for everything, just sharing our experience. 
Tip - For snorkeling experience buy your snorkel set and take it for travels, falls out to be much cheaper and hygienic. You can snorkel anywhere in shallow sea too near your resort for free.


hippie explosion swimwear 

My First Night In Dhikala

I love wild life and Nature, so after visiting couple of national parks Jim Corbett was always the topmost on my list. India's oldest and most prestigious national park which was established in 1936 A.D. the first National park where Project Tiger was launched. This park derives its name from Jim Corbett the famous hunter who later turned nature conservationist.  Situated in the serene Nainital district of Uttaranchal, this jungle is like a holy grail for the wild life lovers all over the world. When we talk about Corbett then its Dhikala zone, is the ultimate cherry on the cake. The heart of the jungle or in the wild life lingo Core area for animal activity. The lifeline of this forest river Ramganga flows through this largest zone making it one of the most spectacular and magnificent area of the forest, rich with exotic flora, fauna and wild life. By now you must have got the gist of how mesmerised I am with this place and how very excited for a special wild vacation with the family (pun very much intended). So staying in Dhikala is a big thing because its one of the only core areas in the country which allows to stay right inside the jungle amidst all activities. It is definitely a special stay and with limited number of cottages you really need to book in advance and get lucky to be here. We certainly were. Dhikala forest lodge is run and administered by the forest department of Corbett National Park. One finds here a lot of forest officials, professionals, wild life enthusiasts, photographers, researchers with all their gear and its quite fascinating to watch them at work. The lodge is about 1 hour inside the forest gate and the drive is a safari in itself starting your crazy wild life adventure without any delay. The guest house is 100 years old built by the British. Though the property is basic in nature from some olden era with huge rooms having massive French windows and the highest of ceilings; its the entire experience which leaves one spell bound. Living amidst the jungle with dense foliage and animal cries and calls it definitely can't get more exciting and magical than this.

As I said the options and rooms are limited due to the high demand so we had no choice but to share the bed between three. Husband, brother and me. So after we explored the beautiful but spooky scary property what with the dense canopy of trees, monkeys lurking everywhere and more of jungle and animal noises for company than humans. The truly beautiful machan overlooking the valley - jungle below with its water body where you could see animals playing by it or just lapping up some water, bathing or gazing intently ( i wondered were they human watching us in return ). The never ending electric fence recently fixed to keep the elephants and animals out of the property which we were told again wasn't 100% effective (so much for some reassurance).The sky was eerie and we had some folk tales and jungle stories narrated with full enthusiasm during our hot simple veg meal in the restaurant. All excited for our safari early morning we decided to call it a day having travelled far and being really tired. So everyone bid farewell for the night and crashed to their rooms. To our dismay we three realized that the fan in our room with the highest of ceiling worked only on 1 speed ( the lowest ). The air was hardly circulated till the bed where we three lay cramped, squashed on the bed (in the peak summer season). After tossing and turning hubby decided to take things in his hands and opened the windows (mind you these were the big, massive big French windows ) it instantly became pleasant as gentle breeze filtered in through the mosquito nets. It was a little later after that when I was woken up by something else filtering in. The night had begun in the jungle it was vibrating and echoing with animal calls and activity. Elephant trumpets, Barking Deer, Tiger Roars, in live form as if they were there outside the room and they were actually there in the valley below may be some where around too. Now all those amazing stories at dinner - of tiger kills at the property, sightings, all of them started reverberating in my head. The property being right amidst the jungle so much so that non veg wasn't served due to animal presence and danger.  I started imagining a tiger outside the window or worst an angry elephant,  now the charm of the charming French window was diminished down to zero as I lay awake I cursed the ever so high, wide and open windows. Imagining what a flimsy mosquito net would do between me and a tiger or a leopard. After having laid awake for what seemed like eons scared as hell I looked at the two blissfully unaware sleeping forms by my side and not wanting to awaken them for the fear of being deemed as a coward throughout life; I gathered every ounce of courage and walked to the window, stood there for a couple of hell longest of minutes expecting some animal to leap in air at me or some eerie ghost to catch up with.  Scared out of my wits with my own thoughts I ran to the bed only to scamper back to the window to half shut it, as if that barrier was enough for those predators. Well that was only so much I could do and as I lay tossing and barely turning into the limited space I had and thinking about someone pouncing in through the window. Even the sound of the house lizard was magnified in the eerie space as if played on loop on a speaker and finally after some time I was lulled to sleep by the jungle sounds, beautiful yet scary. An hour or so into my well earned jungle sleep, the alarm rang in the wee hours of the morning. As I dragged my tired body to get ready for my first safari in Dhikala which I had waited  for a very very long time. In all excitement as I sat in the cold metal jeep sleep deprived, eyes tired, puffy and paining waiting for my safari adventure; only to have a blink and miss sighting of the first tiger of my life. Yes but that's another story now..

xoxo

Bhakti

Continued here 

Thank you 2017

Its the last leg of 2017, almost at the end. Everybody is excited of ushering the new year of 2018 and the excitement that it holds and here I am in the middle somehow yet nor completely said my Good byes to 2017 and neither started the excitement of welcoming 2018.
I am just here today saying a heartfelt thank you to the year that was. I learned a lot if I look back now and still never felt that it was such a big learning curve. It was a year of highest highs and lowest lows taught a lot as it goes..
I realised that I did get my dreams I pinned for, it is strange now when I look back and watch. My Dream board actually took shape. Its magical no ?
I learnt to let go of things I could'nt change no matter how dear they were. I learnt to accept myself and others. I have flaws and I learnt to embrace them. Success and Failure are two sides of a coin which are always there with you. I learnt to value this precious coin.
They were so many special moments and little things, truly value of small things I learnt as I now bring the new year in.
Small Getaways and trips, moments spend with loved ones and family, ups and downs in relationships, supoortive friends, work highs and just magical moments - so much to relive.
So here I am giving my thanks to everyone and everything that made 2017 the way it was. To all the lessons learnt. Thank You !
Now truly to a new year full of promises, wonderment, new adventures and excitement, to achievements and love, to creating a new magic.
Btw I am celebrating my New Year eve at home with loved ones with yummy food and lots of love away from the madness and all.
So a last cheers to house parties and their beauty... how are you celebrating ?
Before we part a last outfit of the year 2017.

Btw, Did I ever tell you I love Cartoon prints. 

Outfit Details 

Jeggings - People 

Tshirt - Goa flea market 

Footwear -  Foot in 

Watch - Tommy 

Have an awesome NYE 

xoxo

Bhakti 

Why I Like Only A Closed Few Around

I am not shy neither am I introvert in fact I mingle with people in no time. When I go out to a new place or party I gel around pretty easy and then i just leave it to that. A nice time spent in that moment. Its not that I don't like people, its just that I don't want unnecessary drama in my life. I believe in the great philosophy that even if you have few closed people you can count on your fingers you are lucky and blessed. After all according to another great one you are sum of characteristics of closed people in your life. So I chose wisely rather I connect with people not that easily.

I believe in every one comes in your life for a reason and for a time so enjoy that and learn from them. Let them go without holding grudges or stretching things till they get bad. Sometimes you grow up or you just become a different person and status quo of the relationship changes - then instead of holding on, learn to live with good memories. After all decluttering is required in every aspect of your life. Don't get me wrong I don't judge, I just live life and its a short one, I want to be happy and so why complicate it with people who don't add to the beauty of it. Keep it simple na .. hence a closed few of my circle keep me sane . 

Shirt - Limeroad

Jeggings - Zara

Neckpiece - Jabong

Bracelet - Vero Moda 

Footwear - Inc 5 

Bag - Rocky S 

Photo credits - Jerlyn 

xoxo

Bhakti

Holi and other unholy things ...

This was the Holi week and people still are celebrating in different forms, today being Rang panchami in Maharashtra ( playing with colours) 

Now I love all festivals and celebrated holi with gusto ( check the pic below) however I have not attached the unholy image of me going completely wild banging drums (Thali - plate to be precise) and yelling my lungs out 🙈.

Don't worry you won't be seeing that picture in the near future ( rather never future) Though my hubby was cheeky enough to put the entire video on my snapchat as well as his. Don't you ask - he is one big monster 🤗

I am not sure whether i like to play with colours or no. I am unable to decide that Cause no matter how much I enjoy playing with colours the after effects of having to scrub them out from your hair and skin is a torture. I am too lazy you see. This year i didnt play just FYI however before like just 15 days I was playing in Gulal thanks to the elections. Now does that count ( may be that's why I was more lazy to play holi this time around.

The flames look so pretty na... the rangoli (white design) was made by me. Not overly pretty but not half as bad. 😉

Coming back to holi we did have a pretty little one at my parents place with all traditions and loads of fun. I love traditions, I think they are beautiful, they have deep meaning behind them which most of the times is scientific and relevant (sometimes to more or less the olden times ).

Holi is to lighten up the darkness from within and around you, to burn the evil within us and around us. 

Holi means you get to enjoy Mom's Puran Poli (sweet bread) drenched in ghee with spicy amti  (gravy), milk, crispy Bhajia  ( fritters) and crackers along with varan  (dal) bhat (rice) not to forget the ghee again.. 💟💟💟 it's complete love for me and I love it all steaming hot  (spoilt brat mom's love 🤣😂😉) 

It's the weekend and see what I have whipped up ---- lazy me ---- but yummy too. 

Quick fix for that yummy comforting tummy fill ... Fried some Venky's burger patties ... crisped the burger bun with garlic butter ... dollop of eggless mayo a lovely hint ( much more than a hint 😋 ) of Nandos very very hot sauce.. onions....loads of lettuce.. some sun dried tomatoes .. diced olives and my burger was ready ... I tried some extra spicy chicken fingers and some more olives and sun dried tomatoes on the side with a tall glass of banana milk shake . .. needless to say it was too much for me .. but nevertheless it was extremely yummy... devoured it in front of the idiot box ... comforting lazy days ...... 🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔

And finally Summer is here and I just wanna keep drinking fluids which is a real good thing because body gets really dehydrated and you need to consume loads of fluids to stay cool, hydrated and keep the sugar level in balance. 

I love iced teas and this summer I got this new pack of Mango, passion fruit and pineapple ice tea from Nestea which is really good. I love everything mango so I had to have this. 

You can definitely check it out if you like. 

I liked and I am planning to try some more mango and berry flavours in the market. Do suggest me some if you know some good ones. 

That's my summer.... just drink drink drink and then binge eat... read... roam and chillax ... some times I feel I am a Lazy Panda 🐼🐼🐼 

On that thought, I leave you all ... to go drink some cold coffee another favourite. 

That was all for today. 

See you soon.

Until then. 

Stay Happy.

Happy Summers!

xoxo

Bhakti 

Coffee, Tea & Me ...

Winter is here with applomb. Pune is known for its awesome climate and its pretty right now in the city with temperatures dropping.

The chill in the morning with warm sunlight is my favorite thing.

I Love sunning in the winter.

Another favorite of mine in winters is Coffee and Tea.

Let me tell you I hadn't tasted tea in my entire life till couple of years back.

I still Am not a tea drinker But I just cant resist a nice cup of cutting chai from the neighbourhood kiosks.

Especially living in Pune which is a paradise for Amrut tulya. These are tea stalls which specialise in making tea some dating back to the 1940's. 

The name Amrut Tulya literally means - Like honeydew or elixir of Life 😯. Their tea is really something to rave about after all it needs to keep up to its name. Amazing slow brew of masalas, tea powder, milk, water, Sugar. Must try when you in Pune. 

The city is also dotted with age old Irani cafes and the Irani chai is well known. 

I Am a little inclined towards the Amrut tulya for my tea But I do have my favorites for Irani chai as well. 

A girl needs to have options now, does'nt she 😜

In short I definitely Love sipping on my thelewala chai. I have never ever have had tea at home. ( my answer If Anyone asks me for tea is - I don't drink tea.. now that's just weird me) I Am sure I have covered this on the blog before.. 

There are so many tea stalls dotting the city take your pick. Do try the ones in the old city By the name of amrut tulya.

Sunning and sipping in the Cold winter mornings ..

Cups of Chai as you watch the workd pass By... this one is an Irani cuppa at Good Luck

Now If you will ask me Am I a tea / coffee person. Pat comes the reply coffee. Yes I Am a complete coffee person. To be precise Cold coffee and there is something about having Cold coffee on nippy winter nights ... its bliss. 

My favorite joint to have Cold coffee is this small place Durga cafe in Kothrud. Don't get me wrong the place is just small in looks it will and has given any coffee shop or cafe run for its money. It has a huge fan following - will be an understatement. 

Just look at the glass with the creamy frothy perfectly strong and sweet coffee topped with sweet generous amount of cocoa. I have gone to heaven ... Bliss is this. Must try.

That doesn't mean I don't Love a good hot cuppa of coffee. I Am a complete Nescafe girl. I Love filter coffees too. Give me a nice strong one and I Am a happy bunny. 

Durga does some really good hot coffee as well. 

Nice hot cuppas - coffee for me and tea for Hubby after a tired day.

Nothing Like a good old cappucino with Doughnuts ( especially M.O.D double trouble 😛👍❤🍩 )

Flilter coffee Dates 😍

So that was Coffee, Tea & Me in a nutshell for you. ☕

So just summing up my favorites for you. 

Amrut tulya in the old city.

Roopali 

Irani chai - Vohuman, Good Luck, Irani cafe, Southin, Yezdan. 

Coffee - Cold - Durga (kothrud), Mar-zo-rin, 

Hot coffee - Durga (kothrud) 

Until we meet again with some more New ramblings and stories. 

xoxo

Bhakti

Do let me know what you want me to write about.

Weekend with us - Reading Comics, Dinner Date at Copper Chimney and more...

Let me take you with us through one of our weekend, come have fun with us. Some home made food, Reading comics, Christmas fervour, dinner date, ootd and more...
Check it out now at the vlog channel.

Hope you liked it.

Let me know what you feel.
Until next time.
Stay cheerful!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas !

xoxo
Bhakti

Heavy rains , Empty wells and Monster fish

Last to last weekend was a working one however the good part about the whole thing was we were travelling through the countryside and the rain kissed paddy fields and mountains.

It was raining heavily and there was hardly any visibility however it was raining in patches.

So we decided to do a pit stop and this is where the fun starts I love halts whilst travelling and love to take in the surroundings and all the beauty.

Its the journey that matters, isn't it?

Btw hubby dear hates to halt and never agrees for the same (quite unenthusiastic ;p he is that way ) he just wants to reach the destination. quite opposite we are and quite attracted to each other hence. hahah

This was scary - there were just empty dry wells and dry rivers scattered all across- 90 %.

This is on our way to Shirdi. The locals said they are getting water by tankers and there was hardly any rain recorded. The scenario is same in the entire state (Maharashtra). its really worrisome.

Increasing urbanisation - population- declining trees and mountains - global warming - drought - natural calamities.

We need to get our act straight, do something and the time is now. 

(this was 3 weeks back, I hope things have changed now with good rainfall that we have been receiving.)

maal gaadi - Goods train.

looks so scenic in the background.

I wish I had a better picture but this is the best I could do with rain from a fast moving car.

sucker fish

I hate don't like these creatures, they are so not appealing actually somewhat ugly and these being humongous monsters increased the quotient of dislike more however look at the pictures. The  rain worked its magic on them too and aren't they looking calming and welcoming amidst the water drops, quite pretty actually.

blooms blossoming everywhere and making my heart sing ..

Please welcome my little brother (not so little but a handsome young man if I may say so) on the blog today.

My partner in everything since childhood, having each others back (nothing like the innocent childhood) always, continues even now.

Btw it was courtesy my brother that we halted we bullied my hubby together to stop ,, heheh,

3 musketeers the fourth one is missing in action - my little sister who is actually a twin of my brother. Yes they both are twins and nothing alike but chalk and cheese. Missing happens a lot.

one with the hubby, forcing him to take a picture. He hates being behind as well as in front of the camera (yes the story of my life :()

Chai on the highway in Rains - Magic for tired travellers.

our stay

Sai Shubham

The room were very clean and spacious. Nice place to stay in Shirdi.

Check them out here at Oyo.

Nothing beats comforting monsoon food - Pakoras to be specific and here we have a feast of them - potato, paneer, cheese, onion.. I am drooling.

This is how we work ,,, haha

Hope you enjoyed some snippets.

Until we meet gain.

Stay Happy and Cheerful!

Lots of Love

xoxo

Bhakti