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The Pretty City Girl | Indian Travel & Lifestyle Blog




















I had a fun time cycling today, especially because it was almost after a decade. I used to cycle on my bike during school days. I can recall how my dearest brother had taught me to ride without the pair of supporting wheels. I clearly remember how I had fallen down while learning just below my building and how this incident had horrified me. I also remember how the little me had conquered the fear and later cycled her heart out with her friends. Ah! Back in those days...

Any memory from childhood has the ability to excite us and that's how happy I was after I finished cycling around 8 km in the outskirts of my city.

We tried these sporty bikes from Decathlon and oh boy, we enjoyed it! I am thankful for my partner-in-adventure Anurag for tagging me along. We look forward to more such rides, next time for a longer distance.




October 26, 2017 No comments
I had received this sample in my Reverie Feel Box. What I like about the Vanavidhi Green Tea Spa Scrub is the captivating fragrance. Vanavidhi is a brand of luxurious organic products. So now, let's dive deep into the review of their green tea spa scrub.













PACKAGING

The packaging of this sample bottle gives a rich look to the product. The cap is golden and the bottle is transparent; both of it are of plastic. The best thing about this bottle is the reusability; we can reuse the bottle once the product is over. This is a perfect travel sized bottle, so filling it with your daily essentials like face wash or lotion would make it an ideal travel buddy.
The brand name is embossed in gold, which additionally uplifts the product packaging.

APPLICATION

For the application, wet your face and your palms. Take a dollop and gently scrub on your face. Massage for five minutes and rinse off using cold water. 

FEEL

The scrub is light and so it makes for an ideal spa product. The fragrance is refreshing and gives a plush feel after application. The skin doesn't pull off and you can expect a mild exfoliation.













PROS

- High-grade fragrance
- Light exfoliation
- Travel-friendly (because it's a sample)
- Classy packaging
- Gives a spa-like experience

CONS

- Expensive
- Availability could be an issue

CONCLUSION

If you're looking for a mild scrub with a heavenly aroma, this should definitely be your pick.













EXTRA DETAILS

WEIGHT: 30ml
PRICE: Rs. 1599 for 150 g
FROM: Saintpure.com
October 23, 2017 No comments






























October 21, 2017 No comments
Check out my pictures from this year's Laxmi Poojan:

My mom trying to smile after recovering from a 103-degree temperature

 

 
 
 

October 20, 2017 No comments
Check out my Narak Chaturdashi pictures:















October 19, 2017 No comments
For Anurag's week off, we were hunting down exotic locations for a getaway. We had planned on camping overnight near the Devkund Waterfalls, but we learnt that the area was shut until 15th of this month. Though disappointed, our desire of drenching under the falls and floating in the natural pool made out of it was not yet crushed. We looked for one-day waterfall locations around Mumbai and coincided on this exquisite waterfall of Chinchoti.

Source: Treksandtrails.org

Anurag asked one of his friends who had been here before and via his feedback, we were impressed. Even the pictures looked lovely. The plan was made and off we went towards the falls on Anurag's Royal Enfield. 

After a one-hour ride, we reached the base. The distance between the base and the waterfall is around 8 km, which is fine if the road was smooth. However, when reaching, you would be disappointed looking at the rocky road. Imagine riding on an extremely rocky patch for 45 minutes at a stretch! The cars could manage, but since we were on a bullet, I was worried. Plus the mishap of the tyres puncturing would have left us amidst the jungle with no people around. 

We crossed a fair amount of the route, but after studying the maps, we were stunned to find the waterfall to be still 20 minutes away. We were then dubious of whether it was worth taking the risk. We stopped on our way and while we were discussing, we could hear water gushing nearby. Anurag checked and saw a beautiful waterfall hidden amidst the trees and bushes. We decided to scrap the main Chinchoti waterfall and instead descended down for this one.



Had there been more people with us, it would have been twice enjoyable. We were here just for the ride, the water, and I was expecting some breathtaking shots. However, unfortunately, Anurag dropped his week-old phone in the water, and though the phone is working well now, the rear camera was filled with fog then. 

My phone's camera is good for nothing, so the imagination of getting beautiful shots was blurred. We relaxed in the pool, splashed water onto each other, and tried our best to make our cameras work. After about half-hour, we were back on the rocky road.




Though we couldn't make it to the actual waterfall, we were contented with our day. When we were heading back and about to reach the barrier, we saw a lady with a stick. She probably controlled the people entering in and going out. She wasn't there when we entered.

She stopped our bike and rudely asked what we were doing in the water. She even falsely accused that she was calling us but we did not respond. We told her that we did not hear anyone's voice and that we were just exploring the place. On that, she said that we could enjoy elsewhere. It was extremely embarrassing for us and I don't think I'm coming here with a boy ever again. 



Not just this, a group of friends – three boys and one girl – approached while this was going on. She rudely asked the girl to take off her scarf so that she could see who she was. She even asked them where they were heading to. One of the boys even snapped back at her and then she calmed down by an inch. She also told us how there were wild animals in the jungle and that she would be responsible if anything happens. 

Gosh! It was uncomfortable and unsettling. After a conversation of ten minutes, we rushed towards home. So –

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING CHINCHOTI WATERFALLS


THE ROCKY ROAD

The road is extremely rough and lasts for around an hour from the base to the waterfalls. So, travelling on a moped is a big no, unless you want to take that risk. An ideal mode of transport would be a car preferably with tubeless tyres.

WEEKDAY VS WEEKEND

If you want no humans around, then a weekday would be absolute. But this solitary would come with its own drawbacks. The jungle around is believed to have wild animals. I'm not sure if people have spotted any, but if you're going as a couple or even as a single group, then beware and look around. 
Another con of weekdays is the unavailability of people in case of a puncture. On the contrary, weekends are full of people. So depending on what kind of experience you want, plan your getaway.



THE NAGGING LADY

This lady was a pain in the ass. She literally asked us what we were doing in the water. It was plainly immature of that person. Beware of this lady and try to be as polite as possible. You never know who she brings along and ruins your life.

EXOTIC LOCATION

Overall, Chinchoti Waterfalls is an exotic and a must-visit place for nature admirers. What makes it even better is that it's near Vasai, so you don't have to travel for more than an hour to reach here. The waterfall is dense and refreshing. I recommend going with a group, preferably on a weekend.
October 16, 2017 No comments
The moment we get a job, we start dreaming about our bucket list and even swear to strike off all the destinations. Some people imagine getting wasted on the beaches of Goa with friends, whereas some are determined to finally travel overseas. No matter the destinations, we are worried about the trip expense. 

Vacations are expected to be spiritually and physically relaxing and with friends around, we don't want to nag about how much we're spending. So, with a serpentine bucket list yet to conquer, how to manage expenses, and sticking to them still remains unanswered. Read further for a step-by-step guide to managing money when on the #wanderlust mode.













PACK A TRAVEL JOURNAL

About a week back, I had mentioned about carrying a journal when you travel. This post would be an extension of that idea. As I had shared in that post how you can use your travel journal to write down expenses, I would further share how you can do that, while strategising them.

SET A DAILY BUDGET

The key here is to set a daily budget. For instance, every destination has its own value. Some places are expensive whereas some are dirt cheap. Also, factors like the mode of transport, hotel ratings, etc. are determining factors. Keeping that in mind, set a daily budget. On my recent Goa Gokarna trip, I had fixed my daily budget as Rs. 1,000. This budget included the stay, food, and the travel costs per person. (Mind you; shopping does not fall under this category, therefore, shop at your own risk.)

THINK – CAN YOU GO BEYOND YOUR BUDGET?

It may so happen that you set a budget to squeeze your trip within lesser rupees, but secretly, you have that 'limit' that you can afford. For my trip which was 10 days long, my daily budget was Rs. 1,000, which made my total travel budget as Rs. 10,000 (10 days x Rs. 1,000). However, back in my mind, I knew that I would be fine to spend few extra thousands. 

Depending on your bank balance and the priorities in your life, set an extended budget along with a daily budget. Can you afford to spend more than the daily budget? (Note: The extended budget includes your shopping expenses.) If you can spend a little more, then take that into consideration as well.

WRITING DOWN EXPENSES

Now we come to the point when you're actually travelling. In your journal, apart from mentioning crucial bits like the places you visited, the restaurants you ate at, and the people you met, unmistakably, do write your daily expenses down. You can do this at the end of each day before you hit the bed. If your journal is a mini diary, then dedicate one page for one day. 

To make the task easier, follow this format:

           15/10
Hotel           450
Breakfast      80
Lunch          120
Travel          100
Dinner         200
                    950

REVIEWING THE DAILY BUDGET

When on the trip, as you go through each page, you'll get an idea of how well you're sticking to the daily budget. If the budget is Rs. 1,000 a day, then exceeding it each day by few thousands is alarming. However, if it's moving above by a few hundreds only, then you're still fairing well. In the former case, you need to save money in the coming days of your trip, sometimes, even spending below your daily budget. 

Once you're through with these steps, I'm sure you would travel within budget (or the 'extended' budget). Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy more and worry less about your bank statements. Bon voyage! 
October 15, 2017 No comments













Usually, when we travel, we try to cut down the baggage weight so that we can travel light. However, when we do that, we also lose the chance of dressing better when on a vacation.

I don't mean to say carry a lot of clothes and shoes. With this post, I intend to say that carry as many sunglasses as possible. Sunnies have the power of making or breaking an outfit. No matter how sharp the look is, an unsuitable pair will ruin the entire look.

The best way that remains is to carry as many sunglasses as you can. If Outfit A requires cat-eye sunnies, then pack those. If Outfit B requires white overlarge square ones, then put them in the luggage too. You don't need to purchase additional sunglasses, but try to pair the existing ones. If your classic Ray-Bans go well with two outfits, then you needn't worry at all.

On my recent Goa Gokarna trip, I had carried one pair of sunglasses for every look. My trip was 10 days long, but that doesn't mean I carried 10 pairs for every outfit! I had packed four pairs that went well with all the looks I was sporting.

The bottom line is, in order to avoid overpacking, we often lose out on essentials. We pack only one pair of sunglasses and wear those with all the outfits. So the next time you're travelling, make sure to pack as many pairs as your outfits demand. Because in the end, who doesn't love to be stylish on a vacation? (And, sunglasses hardly take up any weight.)
October 14, 2017 No comments
Source: MouthShut.com
















I stayed at Gokarna's Kudle Beach for a night, and although I did not enjoy the stay, there are a few points that are remarkable when you visit Gokarna. I was to stay here for three nights but had to cut it short due to the unpleasant experience. Nevertheless, if you're planning a trip here and want to know Gokarna in a nutshell, then keep on reading. 

I would like you to take note that since I toured it in September, which is an offseason, and also stayed at the Kudle Beach solely, my opinions would vary than the experiences you would encounter. So, keep this in mind and hope you get a gist of Gokarna.

THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT GOKARNA

Gokarna is away from the hustle and bustle and the worldly tussle of the city life. For those living close by, this town is an exemplar of a weekend getaway finding. So zip your sacks with cottony dresses and your throbbing shades and drive in the car to reach here. The excellent time to visit would be the offseason if you wish to seek tranquillity of mind. However, if you want to enjoy the company of hippies and the like, then visiting in the winter seasons is suggested. 

The beaches are principally desolate so sitting along the edge and watching the sun go down would be soothing for your tired soul. The beaches are fairly clean which renders it even better to trot out on Instagram. You would find beach shacks with appetizing food across the sand. I vouch for the Green Garden Restaurant for its international cuisine and scrumptious flavours. I recommend their shakshuka dish, which comes with two pieces of pita bread. 

Another boon is the opportunity to explore. Since Gokarna is not a developed tourist spot yet with no directional boards, you get to enjoy discovering the nearby places. I could not explore around, which I vehemently regret. Just like Goa, even here you can hire mopeds to roam about. There could be plenty of things to uncover if you have the thirst to do so. Unlike other famed tourist destinations, people don't know a lot about Gokarna, which makes the task of exploring much exciting and the chances of the #wanderlust mode being unleashed are higher when you're here.

THE BAD THINGS ABOUT GOKARNA

For some reason, I experienced major unpleasant things here. The Kudle Beach was covered with cows and an army of dogs scattered around. After the dog-bite incident of my college's Industrial Visit to Udaipur back in 2014, I have to admit that I get uncomfortable with dogs around. So having the company of cows and dogs was a bitter reality for me. 

Along with the animals, a bunch of young lads were playing cricket on the sand, which again was disturbing. I had dreamt of a clean, solitary time at the beach, but the nuisances sure did kill the dream.

Apart from the aforementioned, the habitat in itself is slightly shabby, so if you're expecting a plush stay here, then I'm sorry to burst the bubble. The town of Gokarna, especially the Kudle Beach, is a little scruffy, and unless you don't mind the dirt and the discomfort, then it's an ideal place for a short trip. Even the shacks are unhygienic, but again, if you're okay with that, you would be okay with Gokarna.

All in all, for a short trip with friends, Gokarna is a fab place! However, it isn't much fancy if you're with family or visiting as a romantic retreat. (There are some luxurious resorts in Gokarna, so you can check those out for a lavish stay.)
October 12, 2017 No comments













I'm confident that the regular travellers must be aware, but for the first-timers, especially those that are preparing for a budget tour with cheap stay choices, this knowledge is undeniably why you would thank me later.

When planning a trip with cheap hotels that appear less like hotels and more like a dubious shelter, you have to compromise on the well-beingness and instead settle for nasty rooms. These rooms have bedsheets that look a thousand year old and the blankets which are gross enough to be a shelter for a million bedbugs. How to then overcome this problem? The solution is: pack two bedsheets along. 

Spread one of the bedsheets on the bed and use the other as your blanket. If it's winter, draw the hotel's blanket on top of your bedsheet so that you stay warm and additionally, also stay away from the minuscule city of tiny bugs. 

On my recent Goa Gokarna trip, I had to live in two such stays. I was thankful for my roomie as she had two bedsheets with her. If there was no bedsheet, I wonder how I would have let my body touch the dirt. The packed bedsheets, with their fresh aroma – the cherished aroma of the house – is the reason why I had one of the best slumbers in Goa.

So on your next budget trip, packing two bedsheets should be the priority. 
October 11, 2017 No comments



















I'd worn this outfit in Goa. We were to go to Aguada Fort but instead went to the Light House, which is a minute away from the fort. It was a sunny day and as it was our last day in Goa, we enjoyed the most. For outfit details, browse through the end of this post.

 
 
 



















Top | Goa; Shorts | Goa; Bracelets | Accessory Funk; Shades | Koovs; Flats | Bandra; Lipstick | Miss Claire 
October 09, 2017 No comments
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I'm Rutuja, a travel & lifestyle writer and youtuber. I make videos and love to explore the unexplored. Welcome to my blog! Read more about me.

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      • Cycling After a Decade
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