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The Pretty City Girl | Indian Travel & Lifestyle Blog














I have written so many posts about the usage of panty liners and why they should be your best friend, not just when you're travelling, but also on your regular days. In the pointer 'When Do I Use Them' below, I'll list down those times when panty liners should be worn.
 
I came across this brand Bella when I was shopping at Star Bazaar or at Dmart (I don't quite remember). I was surprised seeing that the pack had 60 panty liners and were priced at Rs. 175 only. I immediately put it in my cart. When the pack got over, I wanted to buy it again, but since the availability is an issue, I had to go for some other brand, which was a disastrous brand. As soon as those were over too, I tried searching for Bella ones online, and I got them at Nykaa at a discounted price. So, all you ladies looking for Mr. Pantyliners, read this review for further information.
 
PACKAGING
I loved the packaging. The liners come in a thin cardboard box, which is a cute lavender colour. In order to open it, you have to tear along the dotted lines. I liked this idea of tear-to-open and so taking out individual panty liner becomes an easy task. Just keep the box in your closet and wear one when needed. However, unfortunately, the individual liners are not secured with any other wrapping, so you cannot carry them on trips without plastic bags. Also, you cannot store the box in open since the dust could slip in.
 
APPLICATION
The application is super easy. Just take out a liner from the box, remove the adhesive sticker, and paste it on the lining of your panties. Since the liners don't come with an extra wrapper, the application is hassle free.

EFFECTIVENESS
I have not come across a panty liner this good. I wish this brand and this variant never goes out of market because this is one such product I need. There's no replacement for this brand's liners. They do have other variants as well, but I have not tried them yet.
The adhesiveness is super strong. No matter what you do, even if you go in the pool or a lake, the liner will stick to your panties. It amazingly absorbs odour and wetness and is simply the best companion for a woman. And as it is soft, it doesn't irritate your skin too.

WHEN DO I USE
I use it during monsoon because that's when I visit washroom the most. I also use it on the fifth day of my period and when I'm PMSing, because there's white discharge that can lead to odour. I also use it specially when I have to sit in an air-conditioned room/vehicle with others. Lastly, I use it while I'm travelling, especially when I'm accompanied by friends or strangers, because dehydration leads to foul smell too. (I'll write a special post on when to use panty liners, so stay tuned!)
 
PROS
- Stunning adhesiveness
- Mild, refreshing fragrance
- Absorbs efficiently
- Cottony soft
- Absorbs odour
- Inexpensive
- Value for money
- Lasts for 2+ months

CONS
- Not easy to carry them around
- Availability could be an issue

















CONCLUSION
Highly, highly recommended. I will buy this product again and again as it lasts for more than two months and is beyond perfect. I give it 5 stars!

EXTRA DETAILS
INCLUDES: 60 panty liners
VARIANT: Verbena
PRICE: Rs. 175
FROM: Nykaa.com

Which panty liners are your go to buddies?
xoxo
July 30, 2017 1 comments













Today I had to run some errands like altering my pants, buying milk and other groceries, and catching  up with my best bud. In the ongoing month of Shravan, Maharashtrian ladies invite a married Maharashtrian mother (savashna) for lunch. We make delicious Maharashtrian thali that comprise of waran bhaat (dal rice), batatyachi bhaaji (potato vegetable/sabzee), matkichi ussal (moth bean vegetable), bhajji, and my favourite puran polya! After lunch, the lady who has invited the mother home performs a ritual and then gives a small gift, some rice, and a garland to the mother.

So for the same, my mom has invited her friend tomorrow. I had to buy few things like garlands, milk, potatoes, etc. It gets quite confusing, and usually when my mom is giving instructions, I am in trance, and then forget what she's asked to get. So whenever I have to bring a list of things for my mom, I ensure I have written everything down.

This time, like always, I wrote it down on a sticky note, and then did the aforementioned trick. In order to have a to do list with you when on the go, you will need four items only:

THINGS YOU'LL NEED
- Transparent phone cover
- Sticky note/piece of paper
- Pen
- Cellphone

STEPS
1. Write down your tasks on a sheet of paper or a sticky note.
2. Keep it inside a transparent mobile phone cover.
3. Just turn your cellphone while on the go, and check through your list!

What tricks do you use to remember your tasks?
xoxo
July 27, 2017 No comments

I like to have assorted face masks in my vanity. I usually put on a mask and/or scrub when I have an important event or if there's a festival round the corner. Face masks play an important role in my pampering time. 

I got this Divyam Ayurvedic Skincare Glow Face Mask in my Pixie Dust Box, July edition. Divyam offers Ayurvedic skincare like face masks, foot soaks, face mists, etc. You can buy their products from Pixie Dust Box's website or send a message on their Instagram page. Read further for its review–

PACKAGING
This mask comes in a golden pack with a sticker on its front and back. The packaging is simplistic but it definitely gives you the feel of an Ayurvedic product. As soon as you see the pack, you figure out there's something natural and blissful inside.

APPLICATION
You have to take the product on your palm, put some water on it, make a paste, and then apply. This is how I had applied it. However, on the pack, under the instructions, they have asked to make a paste using either rose water or milk. I haven't tried this mask using the instructed ingredients, but would try soon. After application, leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse with water.

FEEL
Your skin glows and feels clean. The fragrance is enticing and will relax your nerves. This is a lovely mask to pamper your skin every now and then. The pack says use it thrice a week for good results. 


PROS
- Natural
- Powdery consistency
- Uplifts mood
- Cleans face thoroughly
- Healthy glow

CONS
- Availability could be an issue
- Could be expensive for some

CONCLUSION
Ayurvedic products have been the best in market, so if you're looking for a cleanser that's natural and  gives out a healthy glow, try this product out.

EXTRA DETAILS
WEIGHT: 50gm
PRICE: Rs. 225
FROM: Pixiedustbox.com

Which is your trusted Ayurvedic face mask?
xoxo
July 25, 2017 No comments
Sandalwood is one of the beauty revivers used since ancient times. It is the second most expensive wood and has the ability to retain its fragrance for many decades together. People have been using it for beauty and aromatherapeutic purposes and is indeed one of the major ingredients you find in beauty bars and incense sticks as well.


I have used many products with sandalwood as their main component, but I never knew I would ever try its oil. Thanks to Ryaal for sending me this 100% pure sandalwood oil. The oil is a blend of 86% pure grapeseed oil and 14% of pure sandalwood oil. Let's now dive into this aromatic beauty potion:

PACKAGING
The oil comes in a cardboard box to protect the bottle. You can keep the box if you want to take this oil with you. The bottle is of glass and the lid is plastic. They have provided with a separate dropper, which is leak proof. So even if you want to throw away the plastic lid, the dropper will act as a good lid itself. The bottle is wrapped with a sticker that has the brand's name and other details.

APPLICATION
You simply have to put in the dropper and use whenever you want. If you want more than just a drop of oil, then take out the dropper and pour! The application is super easy.

FRAGRANCE
It has a sweet, woody fragrance and something that would blissfully be used in incense sticks and massages. The sweet scent will also help release stress and calm your nerves.

BENEFITS
Sandalwood is best known for its beauty purposes. The magical product can be used for treating acne, pimples, spots, ageing, and tanning. One can mix some sandalwood oil with other beauty oils to make  scrubs, face packs, face washes, creams, and more.


PROS
- Easily available
- Multipurpose beauty oil
- Leak proof lid

CONS
- Glass bottle, thus can break
- Not fully concentrated, has some grapeseed oil as well

CONCLUSION
Sandalwood oil is a magical beauty oil and if it goes well with your skin type, you should assuredly buy this product.

EXTRA DETAILS
WEIGHT: 15ml
VARIANT: Sandalwood
PRICE: Rs. 269
FROM: Amazon.in

How do you use sandalwood essential oil?
xoxo

July 22, 2017 No comments

I absolutely adored this brand for their mouthwatering, flavoured snacks. I got their sunflower seeds that are roasted with chilli and garlic flavours with my Pixie Dust Box this month, and I'm happy I came across it. True Elements offer dry snacks that have ingredients like quinoa, buckwheat, oats, muesli, chia, flax, and sunflower seeds, and they're all flavoured. Their tagline goes by 'Ancient Bites Modern Taste', which stands true. If you're feeling peckish and need snacks on the go, you should not miss this one:

PACKAGING
The packaging caught my eye as it is a blend of tropical and funky goodness. The brown bag represents the authenticity of the ingredients and the bright pops of yellow with the cheerful fonts represent the playful side of it. I rate 5/5 for their packaging and design. 

FLAVOUR
If you hesitantly eat only a couple of seeds, then you might not experience the flavour. However, if you eat a good fistful of it, you'll be in love with it. This one is chilli garlic and they have many more in stock. Since I'm a spicy food loving person, this one could easily be tagged as my soulmate.








PROS
- Funky packaging
- Travel friendly
- Healthy
- Tasty
- Easily available on their website

CONS
- A little expensive for the quantity

CONCLUSION
If you want some fun snacks for reasonable amount, try this brand. The snacks are preservative-free, healthy, and tasty as well!

EXTRA DETAILS
WEIGHT: 30g
FLAVOUR: Chilli Garlic
PRICE: Rs. 30
FROM: Pixiedustboxindia.com
WHERE YOU CAN BUY: True-elements.com/

xoxo
July 18, 2017 No comments
I wanted to try Argan oil since long. I love pampering myself every now and then, and about hair, I wanted something to smoothen and nourish them. Argan oil just does that and I'm glad the Ryaal team sent me this oil. The oil is 100% pure and has a dropper along.


PACKAGING
The oil comes in a cardboard box to protect the bottle. You can keep the box if you want to take this oil with you. The bottle is of glass and the lid is plastic. They have provided with a separate dropper, which is leak proof. So even if you want to throw away the plastic lid, the dropper will act as a good lid itself. The bottle is wrapped with a sticker that has the brand's name and other details.

APPLICATION
You simply have to put in the dropper and use whenever you want. If you want more than just a drop of oil, then take out the dropper and pour! The application is super easy.

FRAGRANCE
Fragrance? There's only a little fragrance. You might sniff something light, however, the fragrance is neither pungent nor fully mesmerising.

BENEFITS
Argan oil has many benefits. It acts as a great leave-in conditioner for hair. Also, it moisturises skin and can be soothing to apply as a body lotion. Before applying nail polish, one can treat their nails by massaging this oil on cuticles. It also brings shine to the hair. In all, it's a lovely product to pamper and treat yourself.


PROS
- 100% pure
- Easily available
- Multi-beneficial oil
- Leak proof lid

CONS
- Glass bottle, thus can break

CONCLUSION
Argan oil is a wondrous oil. If you're looking for a reliable brand, try Ryaal; it's 100% pure and that's what we need.

EXTRA DETAILS
WEIGHT: 30ml
VARIANT: Argan
PRICE: Rs. 299
FROM: Amazon.in

Which brand of Argan oil do you swear by?
xoxo
July 14, 2017 No comments
Remember long back I was struggling to find healthy snack bars for office? I had even written a post on the same. Finding healthy bars is such a task!


The Eat Anytime team sent me four different bars and they're all so good. What's better is that each bar has different main ingredient––one has cornflakes, the other has oats. The way they've blended in all the ingredients is worth noticing. And, if the flavour is, say Mango Ginger, you won't just find mango, ginger, and the main ingredient, but, some other fun bits like dry fruits or honey. 

I also loved the packaging. The covers look lively and attractive. Not just for the bars, but someone would buy them for the packaging as well. I'm someone who concentrates on packaging and design a lot, and I would say, Eat Anytime bars have done an incredible job there. Priced at Rs. 50 each, you can buy these healthy bars from online portals like Amazon, Snapdeal, Flipkart, HealthKart, Big Basket, and PayTM. You can check out all the variants on their website.

Let's now jump into the quick reviews for all the four variants:


MANGO GINGER
Mango Ginger has more of a gingery taste than mango taste. I was expecting to taste some mango-goodness. Since I am not much of a ginger loving person, I would have preferred mango flavour over the ginger one. However, I know many people who love ginger, and for them, this taste could be fun to try.
Ingredients: Black dates, almonds, mango (dehydrated), oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, ginger powder, salt, vitamin E, preservatives, and mango flavour.


BUTTERSCOTCH
I'm a fan of butterscotch flavour so I was intrigued to trying this one out. Butterscotch bar would remind you of a typical nutrition bar. As soon as you take the first bite, you're sure to guess the first ingredient, which is cornflakes. I loved this one the most. It's perfect for me!
Ingredients: Oats, almond, jaggery, wheat flakes, corn flakes, butterscotch nut, honey, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, salt, preservatives, butterscotch flavour.


CHOCO PEANUT BUTTER
This one has the taste of peanut butter prominently; the chocolate flavour is only slightly noticeable. It appears like those typical heavyweight protein bars and I would say, the taste was good. If you love peanut butter, this one should be your grab.
Ingredients: Oats, pre-biotic fibre, rice crispy, dark chocolate and cream, almond, peanut butter paste, peanuts, honey, quinoa seeds, casein, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, palm kernel oil, salt, edible gum, preservative, vitamin E, roasted peanuts and butter flavour.


ORANGE
The orange variant has a similar taste like that of Rasna or Tang in orange flavour. I think this is the best one for kids or those who love oranges. I'm someone who loves oranges and sweet limes, so for me, this flavour works.
Ingredients: black dates, almond, oats, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, salt, preservatives, orange flavour.

The team had sent these bars without a box, but still the bars were intact. I am impressed seeing the consistency of the bars and how well they were made. Overall, I liked the packaging, the taste, the consistency, and the product as a whole. Three cheers for Eat Anytime team for manufacturing these healthy bars for us.

Which is your favourite brand of nutrition bars?
xoxo

July 13, 2017 No comments

I received this box a couple of days ago and what I like the most about it is the founder of Pixie Dust Box! Utkarsha Karale is only 19 years old and she's from Pune. Yes, she's from Pune. That kinda is one of the reasons why I like her! 

Jokes apart, I received this gorgeous box a day before yesterday, and it's not just a beauty box, but a beauty-food-jewellery box. This month's theme is Incredible India, which means, all the products here are made in India. From body lotion to face serum and from spicy snacks to beautiful hair accessory, this box has all the cuteness to cheer you up! Let's head on to see what's inside this versatile box (psst, also find Pixie Dust Box coupon code towards the end).

CONTENTS
  • Divyam Ayurvedic Skincare Glow Face Mask 50gm - Rs. 225
  • Divyam Ayurvedic Skincare Foot Soak 50gm - Rs. 220
  • True Elements Harippa Snacks Roasted Sunflower Seeds Chilli Garlic 30gm - Rs. 30
  • Fuschia Green Tea and Sesame Firm and Lift Serum 30ml - Rs. 1250
  • Valinta Deep Moisturising Lotion Kokum Butter 100ml - Rs. 50
  • Ambada Veni Phool - Rs. 180
  • Coupon Codes for Divyam (Flat 20% off) and Fuschia (Flat 15% off)

QUICK REVIEWS


DIVYAM AYURVEDIC GLOW FACE MASK
This mask is so good. I tried a little on my face and then also had applied it on my dad's face. Both of our faces were glowing. The product is all natural and the smell will remind you of your granny's secret skincare recipes.


DIVYAM AYURVEDIC FOOT SOAK
The product is pink, thanks to the Himalayan pink salt it has. I haven't tried it yet but since it's a foot soak, it has to be soothing. The fragrance is sweet and will completely relax your mind.


TRUE ELEMENTS ROASTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS
These are of chilli garlic flavour and overall they're tasty and healthy too. The pack's for Rs. 30, which I think is a satisfactory bet. A perfect snack to munch on while you're travelling or working at your desk. 


FUSCHIA FIRM AND LIFT SERUM
I didn't quite like the fragrance. The product makes your skin smooth. I tried it on my face once and loved its feel.


VALINTA DEEP MOISTURISING LOTION
The bottle is only for Rs. 50, which is such an amazing deal. The packaging resembles Vaseline body lotion's packaging. The product does a great job in moisturising the body and the fragrance's enticing too.


AMBADA VENI PHOOL
I would have never purchased an ambada veni phool, so I'm glad I got this in the July box. It is golden with pink and white crystals. Additionally, it has few pearls too. This makes it good to wear on any pink or red saree and the next time I'm wearing a paithani, I'm sure to wear this on my bun!

I will review each product received in this box separately in few days. You can buy this box from their website and while checking out, use the code “RUTU10” to get 10% off on your July box! Go support the pretty entrepreneur and buy a Pixie Dust Box for yourself.

xoxo

July 12, 2017 No comments

I am about to finish The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and can't wait to jump on to next. I am thinking of trying one by an Indian author. Just like we have food cravings, I have these crazy which-book-to-read-next cravings and I'm sure if you are a #booknerd too, you might be having similar cravings.

I was scanning Amazon yesterday and came across a book that's on pre-order basis for now. It would be available on July 15. I found the name compelling––Scent of an Undiscovered Writer. It's by a young author named Abhishek Mohta. He goes by the pen name Callre and I found the pen name quite interesting.

The book is about a person who's facing lot of adversities in life and then as time passes, discovers the meaning of life. I love reading this type of books because I am in a phase where I need such kind of motivation. Another one I'd read and loved was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; it had a similar discovery.

You can pre-order the book if you can't wait. It would be available on the 15th and I'm gonna immediately place an order. This is the author's debut English novel; he has already written one in Spanish before. I wish I could read (and understand Spanish) so that I could have gotten a taste of his writings before this one launched. 

I'm really looking forward to reading his book. Until it launches, I would have finished reading The Kite Runner, so the timing is perfect. For now it is available on pre-order basis for Rs. 196 on Amazon and would shortly be available in bookstores as well. Depending on when I finish reading the current book, I'll order the Scent of an Undiscovered Writer.

Do read this book and let me know if you loved it.

Which book are you currently reading? And which one is next on the list?
xoxo

July 11, 2017 No comments

Read the Part 1 of Kalavantin Durg Trek here. 

When you reach the base village Prabal Machi, the road splits into two routes––one is towards Kalavantin Durg and the other towards Prabalgad. You can ask the locals for the direction according to where you want to go. 

We started walking, and jumping when needed, and from this village to the Top of the Durg, we did not click even a single picture. The phone was packed in, the wind cheater was tied on the waist, and the backpack was tightened up. I had even kept my glasses in the bag because they were troubling my concentration. 

We followed the white (and sometimes red) arrow marks while coming across many void huts that are actually food stalls on weekends. But since it was a weekday, there was nobody in them; they looked abandoned and played a charitable role of providing shelter for us. 

The path was not a walk in the garden; it had big rocks, thick stems, moss, and mud along. Anurag has trekked here twice before, so he knew how exactly the things get. Seeing me all tired in the first part of the trek, he was wondering if I could make it to the Top; this hurt my ego. Anurag hardly knew about my trekking abilities. I hate it when guys assume me to be like those girls who are skeptical of doing such adventurous things. This hit my ego so hard, I started walking faster.

SOURCE: Treksandtrails.org

The most dangerous part of the trek is the Rocky Mountainous part. There's nothing below you, and you hold on to some edges of the rock and climb. Some parts of the rock were even slippery due to the moss.

Anurag used to climb a little, turn back and look at me; I used to climb and reach to him; then he used to climb further. This is how we reached to the Mossy Steps. 

On our way, Anurag was telling me about a death of a young girl who died while taking a selfie. She slipped at these steps. After reaching that spot, I was thinking about that girl. Thankfully, I'm not a selfie addict. I might fail to capture some precious moments, but I'm someone who enjoys the moment by living it rather than clicking pictures.

Her death didn't scare me, but I was thinking about her all the time. The wind was strong and if lost concentration, it could take us with it. It was drizzling and windy and the steps cast an impression of climbing up the stairway to heaven. I neither have vertigo nor any fear of height; so for me, this was not life-threatening; however, my shoes were not of the best of grips, so I used my hands and sometimes my knees to ensure I reached a point safely.

SOURCE: Aroundinpune.wordpress.com

The steps were slippery, and there was not enough space for one person to walk too. One side there were mossy rocks, and the other side, a deep valley. One slip of toe or a miss of concentration, and you're down; gone forever. 

While making rocks my faithful companion and sticking to them all along, I climbed up the steps. Alas! I had crossed the deathly part of the trek, and just a little was left. The way from the Rocky Mountainous part to the Mossy Steps needed concentration and cautiousness; if you slipped, you could fall in the valley and die. However, the Utmost Part of the trek required good hands and some flexibility to climb up. If you're in cargos or other cotton pants, then it's gonna give you a hard time. 

Anurag climbed up first and gave me directions for climbing. While we were climbing, we could hear people chattering at the Top. We somehow reached it and I discovered those people were the overly enthusiastic group we'd met at Prabal Machi.


The feeling of conquering this point was incredible. I was on top of the world; finally had climbed that deathly climb to reach here. I immediately remembered one of my favourite quotes:

"The best view comes after the hardest climb."

I was ecstatic. We had reached the Top around 2:30 pm and we had decided to start descending at 3:00 pm. We clicked pictures and sat on the edge silently, just looking around, marvelling the beauty of nature, and reminiscing the climb. While the first group left, few more people were seen. It was another group; a group of boys and girls of my age. The girls were trying hard to reach the Top and the boys were acting as their sticks, helping them climb.


We saw one group leave and one group climb. Shortly, we started descending. It got around 3:30 pm when we started. We could see the mighty Prabalgad from the Top. Going down is assumed to be scarier than climbing up, but for me, going down is all about putting faith in your hands, legs, and your bum!


We plunged down the Utmost Part, then the Mossy Steps, then the Rocky Mountainous part, and then the place that relieved us. The easier part towards Prabal Machi had begun. Our pace had increased and we had left our bodies loose; if we could survive the top part, this path was as easy as the pie. On my way down, I still had the thoughts of the girl, the climb, the heavenly view, and the potency of nature.  These thoughts didn't leave my head until next morning. It got even more intense when I lied down on bed; I had a sudden epiphany; I had tears too. It was something about the trek that had touched my soul.

We reached Prabal Machi, and saw the hotel lady. She was sitting on a rock with her baby. We chatted with her for some time and then started our trail back to Thakurwadi village. It was 4:50 pm when we were somewhere between Prabal Machi and Thakurwadi. We reached Thakurwadi, had wada pav, and left for home. Anurag dropped me below my building and then went ahead towards his house...

What an incredible trek it was! With mighty mountains and the noble nature, it's truly a must visit place!

EXTRA INFORMATION
Location: Shedung Naka, Panvel
First Village (FV): Thakurwadi
Second Village (SV): Prabal Machi
Time required from First Village to Second Village: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes (depends on the speed)
Time required from Second Village to the Top: Approx. 1 hour
Difficulty level: Intermediate to Expert
Best season: Winter
Season for the gutsy: Monsoon
Clothing: Full pants for FV to SV path (because of mosquitoes); swimming clothes for the waterfall; and stretchable pants for SV to the Top. 
Food: Available at Prabal Machi (SV)
Tents: Available on call at Prabal Machi
Contact details for food, tent: Balu: +918422047131
Who can trek here: Not a safe place for kids at all. People with good amount of endurance and an experience of trekking would be best people for this trek.
Things to do around: Enjoy in waterfall, camp, trek to neighbouring Prabalgad, and click pictures.
Best day to trek: Any weekday (no food stalls, but no crowd either)

xoxo

July 09, 2017 No comments

For this trek, it was just me and my best bud Anurag. The trek was such a memorable one, that it was obligatory to write a post on it.

Anurag has off on weekdays and he's a travel enthusiast. He loves to trek, ride his Bullet, and just get lost looking at the valleys. He asked me if I could join him for a trek to Kalavantin Durg. As rest of his friends are working and have time off only on weekends, I was the only person available. Though it was just the two of us, I immediately agreed on going, because I love to trek and he's not a bad company to have!

As per the plan, on July 3, at around 6:30 am, Anurag picked me up on his friend's Pulsar 220, below my building. His friend had taken his Bullet in exchange for his bike, for just a couple of days.

We started our journey towards Panvel. And on our way, we had to fill some petrol. However, when we were at the gas station, Anurag suddenly remembered that he had forgotten the bike's petrol tank key! Without the key, filling petrol was impossible, and without the petrol, the bike wouldn't move ahead. Apparently, Pulsar 220 has three keys––the main key, the petrol key, and the petrol tank key. We were already one hour away from our houses, and there was no going back as the petrol was not sufficient!

We tried looking for key-makers in that area and called several guys up, but since it was too early, none of them responded. Few did, but they weren't free to reach to us. What next? We went in the nearest city to search for key-makers and tried calling them. Finally, bless our lucky star, Anurag spotted a collegiate on a blue Pulsar 220. His first instinct was to wave at the guy and ask him to stop by. It all happened in a jiffy and we asked the guy to give his keys. We tried one key and it didn't match. Anurag was returning the keys, but the guy suggested to try the third one. We did, and the petrol tank did open! We were ecstatic!

I literally wished all the happiness for that boy. With the petrol tank open, we went to the gas station. We filled the tank, and off we went ahead. We wasted half-hour because of this and I did scold Anurag for forgetting the key!


Our guts were empty since morning so we had to have breakfast. We decided on misal pav, because, there's nothing like it. We entered Panvel, and then by taking a left at Shedung Naka, reached a village named Thakurwadi. After reaching the village, we thought of having breakfast. We bought two Red Bulls and two water bottles. Anurag had carried some chocolates and biscuits for instant energy. We asked the food stall owner if he had misal pav, and he said he just had wada pav at his stall. When it comes to food cravings, nobody can beat Anurag. If he wants to eat misal pav, he would not eat anything else. So he refused to eat wada pav and we decided we would find another stall.


We went further. The countryside was picturesque; greenery around, no soul on the road, fresh morning air, simply picturesque. We were hunting down for food stalls where we could savour steamy, spicy misal. Both of us love misal and we usually have it on road trips or such away-from-the-city sort of trips. We watched out every other cottage on the way, but couldn't find a single food stall. We finally reached the base of the trek, and yes, our stomachs were still empty.

We parked the bike near an empty shade. We saw there was a car parked too and we were happy to see it. The passengers had gone for the trek, but we were hoping we meet them on the mountains. As it was a weekday, finding people around was a rare sight.

First part: the trail

The weather was cloudy, but no chances of rain. We still wore our rain-gear, just in case it showered. We had one 5 Star each, drank some water, and started walking. The part from the base to the base village is a trail and not a trek; anyone can finish that. But, the part after the base village is what one must be too sure of doing.


We started going up the trail and found places with scenic views down below. We halted there, clicked pictures, and resumed further. I don't have lot of stamina, so we halted few times more than we should have. The breaks lasted only for 2 minutes or lesser, so it wasn't huge of a deal. Anurag, on the contrary, did have lot of strength to continue walking.

What I like about these treks/trails is that there are white/red arrow marks throughout the route. So in case there is a diversion, you have to look around and search for the mark. You don't need a guide for this trek at all.


We clicked really gorgeous pictures along and also enjoyed the gushing waterfall. Though the waterfall was shallow, meaning, it was not from a great height, the water was as clean as a whistle. We were inside for barely five minutes, but the cool temperature of water revived our spirits. We shared one Red Bull and saved the second one for later. The cold water along with the cold energy drink was a powerhouse for us.


After around two hours of walking, we reached the mid point of the trek––the base village, namely Prabal Machi. If you're a group of highly endurant people, you should reach here in an hour; and if you're a group of people with extremely low stamina, then you would require more than two hours. I suggest you to quickly finish up the first part, because the second part requires lot of patience and concentration.

This base village is where people usually camp whenever they come to Kalavantin Durg or Prabalgad for trekking and an overnight stay. As soon as you reach the village, you spot an abode there. Initially, you would think it's someone's house, but in real, it's a hotel. This hotel provides the campers with tents, food, blankets, and mattresses. In case you want to avail all that, just contact Balu on +918422047131; I suggest you to call him few days prior so that the tents are available. Also, if at all you want food, call him before starting the trail so that they start preparing food and until you reach, it's ready for you.

Waiting for food

We were hungry as we couldn't find a misal pav stall. We reached the hotel and saw a lady lying on a mat with a baby. As soon as she heard our footsteps, she got up and I did the talking. I spoke in Marathi and asked her about what food we could get. She said the food was not ready and the only thing we could immediately get was pohe or Maggi. I refused pohe and we settled on Maggi. However, the lady went in the kitchen and in two minutes came out to tell us there was no Maggi left. We then agreed on egg bhurji and polis. The lady said it would take around 45 minutes to make the entire lunch. We looked at the watch and agreed; it looked like we didn't have much of a choice.


We'd estimated that we would be resuming our trek by 1:00 pm, but we did so around 1:15 pm. We also spotted another pair of a girl and a boy, who appeared anything but a couple; they were going towards Prabalgad. We also spotted an overly enthusiastic group that included people from different age groups; I was figuring out the relations between them. And, we spotted yet another group of good-looking young boys, and I'm assuming the car that was parked at the base belonged to them.

We had ordered 7 polis, 4-plate bhurji, and two water bottles, and our bill totalled up to Rs. 210 only. After having eaten so much, our hunger was certainly satiated. We got ready for the further journey, something only the gutsy could do...

-------------

For Part 2 of the Travelogue, click here.
July 08, 2017 No comments

This was such a long overdue post. Since monsoon is here, you might have plans of going camping, I'm sure. For that, I'm sharing a list of things I'd carried for my monsoon camping trip as well as some more essentials. Don't just carry the below mentioned items, but make a list of your own and then use this list as a guide.


BBQ stick
Playing cards
Uno
Ketchup
Seasoning
Small pack of tissues (readily available)
Scissors
Garbage bags (for waste + for wet/used clothes + for wet shoes)
Acidity medicine (Eno)
Mouth wash
Hair serum
Food sealing clips
Lip balm
Hair comb
Socks
Glasses
Sunglasses
Toiletries (face wash + moisturiser + intimate feminine powder)


Big stack of tissue papers
Water spray
Panty liners
Cotton
Hair rubber bands
Lipsticks
Concealer
Compact powder
Body spray
Wet wipes
Electral powder (if you have loose motions and need instant energy)
Paper soap
Coconut water (for travelling)
Pills (fever, cold, loose motions, acidity)
Cold remedy (Otrivin)
Knife
Toothbrush
Pain relief balm
Cold balm
Eucalyptus oil (for shooing mosquitoes and bugs)


Magazine (Instead of newspapers)
Torch
Rope
Mobile charger
Sewing kit
Tulsi tea sachets

OTHER ESSENTIALS

Wind-cheater
Monsoon-proof tents
Plastic bags
Rag clothes (minimum 3)
Matchboxes
Logs
Blankets
Sweater
Extra clothes
First aid kit (bandaid, Dettol, etc.)
Camera
Dry snacks
Flip flops
Haversack (Instead of a side bag)
Towels (2 thin towels)
Oil (for fire)
Extra memory cards + batteries + cellphone
Paper dishes + serving spoon
Water


What would you add to the list?
xoxo

July 03, 2017 No comments
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