INSPIRING PEOPLE THAT BECOME IMPORTANT CHAPTERS OF OUR LIFE!

People we meet in our journey of life don many a role...while some go on to become our acquaintances,others become friends, few others are those whom we come across by chance, who make an impression and possibly never even meet again,then there are those from whom we draw our inspiration, one or two go on to become our role models and finally it boils down to one or at maximum two people in our lifetime who leave an indelible impression in our lives.This is how at best we remember people from our journal entry of experiences and rendezvous called life!

Invariably, our role models or our source of inspiration are those whom we reserve for our parents, elders in the family or even a world leader,social reformer/worker, etc. The ones in whose company we progressively grow with over the years are those whom we confer the title of 'friends' else it is at best left as a chance acquaintance with someone we met once and just left it there without taking it any further.For instance,while traveling in a long distance train particularly,during the course of the journey if you happen to have a conversation with the person seated in your next berth and you end up striking a good rapport with the person,at best you end up exchanging numbers or you just say your one last goodbye knowing that this meeting was meant to last as an acquaintance. 

OF FESTIVALS, FASHION AND 'FUSION': TIME TO PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD!

That time of the year has finally arrived when the hunt for a perfect traditional wear begins. Many a times we turn to our closets to dig out for that long forgotten traditional attire which we at some point of time may have purchased but were too embarrassed to wear among our social circles for fear of being tagged as a 'behenji' or at most found it plain boring, routine and a safe bet to wear at an Indian festivities or function. Alternately for many others it is that time of the year to replenish our stock of ethnic clothing as we go around shopping for the right fabric,design,color and fit be it at malls or online in order to get our act right and our look in sync with the festivities around us.

And so is the case with me...with jeans,tees,shirts,capris etc., Western wear dominates my fashion choices. I hardly have the patience to go shopping for an Anarkali kurta or salwar kameez and splurge on big labels when I know that I would hardly be wearing them at all. Thus formals for me is mainly gowns, long slit skirts, dresses, palazzo pants and shirts etc.

But this year on,fashion and style is all set to evolve as I get set to create an idea which is a perfect blend of minimalist and elegant, a symphony where Indian ethnic wear marries Western clothing. And I somehow get an inkling that at the end of it, you are sure to stand out as a style maverick as you put your best foot forward! But...are you ready?

I will now play your style guru as I add some sass and versatility to your ethnic outfits. This year, my festive mantra screams loud and clear - "Go Fusion"!

SHEER CARE DRY SKIN SOAP [PRODUCT REVIEW]

Sheer Care may not be a brand to reckon with at the moment for it is relatively unknown in Indian markets even as they soon complete one year since their foray into customized handmade soaps which cater to different skin types that boasts of natural ingredients and nourishing oils sans artificial colorants, perfumes, synthetic dyes or chemicals.

Since I have a dry and sensitive skin myself, thus keeping that in mind I decided to review Sheer Care's Dry Skin Soap to see for myself the difference and give my verdict on the product...so here it is!

Firstly,let's understand the basics of Sheer Care's Dry Skin Soap vis-a-vis the composition, price and weight of the product before I proceed with the review.

EXAMS OVER...A COLGATE MAGICAL STORY BEGINS! [VLOG]

This Vlog was created for the #ColgateMagicalStories - The Power Of Constructive Parenting campaign at Indiblogger in association with Colgate  [Total Duration: 83 seconds]

                 

It's exam time...but ever since my li'l cousin,Yuvika (I love to address her by her nickname!) saw the #ColgateMagicalStories advertisement on television,she has been nudging her mother to buy her the latest Colgate pack and been unfailingly asking me everyday to shoot her video and send in her entry for the campaign. 

So,we had a pact. Since she had not prepared for her exams yet, I told her that we would shoot the video as soon as her exams were over. But first she had to do was concentrate on her studies and prepare well for the exams to which she instantly agreed. 

No sooner the last paper was over she came straight to me and said, "Didi, my exams are over, let us shoot the video today itself!" And I asked her, "Why? Don't you want to take a day's rest and play with your friends or watch television instead?". She instantly replied,"No Didi, Colgate Magical Stories first and the rest later!" 

So, here we are...

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF ANSH UNFOLDS... [VLOG]

This Vlog was created for the #ColgateMagicalStories - The Power Of Constructive Parenting campaign at Indiblogger in association with Colgate  [Total Duration: 88 seconds]

              

It's a Sunday morning. While everyone in the house is busy watching television,some have gone to the temple while others are yet to wake up from their deep slumber...but li'l Ansh is awake and up to something else!

Thus out of curiosity I pick up my handy cam and head to the drawing room to capture through my lens our Junior Picasso who is all relaxed and composed as he begins to draw from his imagination with his color pencils,crayons,scissors,glue stick etc. all scattered around and oblivious of everything that's happening around him.

Realizing his flair for drawing, his mommy decides to make his Sunday a magical one when she purchases a special "Magical Castle" Colgate pack! Ansh had seen the Colgate magical stories commercial on television. And the intelligent boy that he is...he knows what to do next! 

SMART KIDS DRESS SMARTLY! [BRAND REVIEW OF ZUCCHINI FOR JABONG]

At the mention of Zucchini,don't mistake this article for a recipe on the vegetable! While Zucchini is a vegetable no doubt but this article is a brand review of a children's clothing line that goes by the same name and is sold exclusively on Jabong- your home and fashion e-shopping portal.

I had an opportunity to do some brand shopping for children's apparel and share my experience on the same through a review...so, here it is!

Describing the brand in a nutshell: Zucchini is a brand for the smart, stylish and trendy kid! The children of today are little fashionistas in themselves and are at par with their adult counterparts when it comes to exploring their fashion needs and discovering their fashion sense.Zucchini on their part promises you a colorful palette and wide variety of children's clothing ranging from Tees, jeans,shirts, printed dresses, trousers, shorts etc. is what their smart collection boasts of!

SAVE MANKIND FROM THE APOCALYPSE OF DESTRUCTION!

According to the chapter of Genesis in The Bible, God said -“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

In Biblical times,when God saw bad things happening on earth,he commanded Noah, a humble God fearing man to build a gigantic ark and take his family along with a pair of every animal into the covenant to save it from the fury that He was set to unleash on his disobedient children. 

Back then,the animals and a few of God's chosen ones may have survived the apocalypse of mass destruction but man yet did not learn his lesson. 

Centuries later, we have progressively continued to destroy many of God's beautiful creatures and frittered away the precious resources like the floras,faunas,rain forest areas, jungle cover and water bodies and have gradually brought our planet on her knees.

JUNK IT AWAY...LIVE IT UP THE HEALTHY WAY!

Image Courtesy: erudiomag.com

The coming of summers simply means that the time to gorge on ice creams,ice candies, Kulfis, Colas and Golas has arrived. And when you are particularly outdoors exposed to the sultry heat all day long... who can resist these sweet temptations?! Somehow our summers are incomplete without these coolants even as we are/choose to be blissfully (un)aware of their  (un)sweetening reality!

We need quick fixes to satiate our culinary needs and taste buds or we tend to get restless. And with our hunger pangs met by restaurants and food joints/parlors that are flourishing by dime a dozen around the corner or for that matter even food websites/ apps etc that's available to us at the click of a button...it seems strange that we do not find the time to take a few steps into our kitchen instead and surprise ourselves by whipping up an interesting dish or relish what our loved ones have prepared for us! We have either become too lazy or too ignorant on our part to distinguish between nectar served at home and poison dished to us outside in the name of food!

MONSOON FASHION...TIME TO MAKE A 'SPLASH'!

Rains bring alive romance and our fashion sense is in many ways influenced by romance!

However,the greatest irony of all time is that rains and fashion share an inversely proportional relationship with one another!

So,the heavier the rains the less likely it is that you'd even be keen to flaunt your favorite apparel or that chic outfit from your wardrobe on an outdoor rendezvous! And remote are the chances of you venturing out of your house all dressed up even if a tempting monsoon sale of fashion goods underway in your city! (Psst..men must be thanking the monsoons for keeping their girlfriends/spouses away from shopping and saving them the heartache of a depleting bank balance! :-) ) 

And as for not planning on some outdoor activities particularly when it's raining...I don't blame you for that! It's more to do with the psychosis of 'rain-fear' that has gotten the better of us over the years!  

The coming of rains simply implies...

a. I can't go out. Period.

b. I can't wear my favorite outfit...what if a passing vehicle splashes muck on it?

c. What a pity...I can't wear those new pair of sandals I purchased! What if I put my feet in a pool of muddy water? 

d. Or what if my heels and sole begin to crack due to constant exposure to water?

e. Why should I take the pains to accessorize my overall look when no one is even gonna see?

f. What's the point of looking good in the first place when at the end of the day I am going to look all messed up? 

g. What's the fun going shopping with my girl-friends when rains are going to play spoil-sport to all the plans I have made for the day?

Phew...the list of 'can't', 'why' and 'what' never ceases to be! Rains may have just begun but the showers of excuses are many!

WHEN A HAPPY FEET DOES ALL THE TALKING! [REVIEW OF SCHOLL VELVET SMOOTH EXPRESS PEDI]

Some years ago when the epilator was introduced it became a must-have in every girl's handbag. It was her companion on the go. So whether she was traveling, at home or in her office and had to attend a social function or a board meeting at a short notice,she could epilate her legs in a matter of minutes and wear her favorite dress or skirt and look gorgeous!  

Today yet another gadget that shares the same versatility and is all set to become her ubiquitous companion when it find its way in her hand-bag is Scholl's Velvet Smooth Express Pedi - the electronic foot file that is now available in India which is here to simplify pedicure for us!

It is a known fact that our feet are the most neglected area of our body.It bears the brunt on all fronts - be it body weight,stress,pressure and friction owing which skin begins to stiffen over a period of time.Many a times,it is due to our constant exposure to water or during the monsoons that our heels begin to crack and skin begins to peel when rough edges are observed and they are distinctly felt especially as you run your hands over the heels and soles of your feet. If our feet were not vulnerable due to certain factors that are beyond our control,then we wouldn't have had salons flourishing around the corner offering us a vast choice of expensive pedicures to chooses from!

Thus, before I begin with this review on the product, let me ask you a few questions - 

A DAUGHTER'S ULTIMATE STYLE ICON & FASHION INSPIRATION - HER FATHER!

The bond that a father shares with his daughter in particular (or for that matter his children) is one of it's kind! As a daughter when I write this post,I describe this relationship at best between a priceless gem and it's beholder for it is polished, cared, protected and treasured by him all his life; he would rather put his own life at stake but never part with it until the righteous one deserving of it's value comes by.I am sure that by now you must have understood the analogy that I drew between the two.And most certainly that is indeed the tender relationship which a daughter shares with her father. It is simply endearing, emotional and priceless! 

Today as I go down the memory lane,I recall the times when I played fashion guru to my dad which was more of a fashion faux pas I can say because I can only beam with laughter at some of the silly antics I did as a child. 

I remember when I was just knee-high and dad would be getting ready to go to office,I would pick the tie for him. Since I loved colors and didn't have the knowledge that on what matched with which attire or rather they were worn that way,I would simply select the tie from his wardrobe that caught my fancy,it's a situation that would remind you of a kid picking colorful candies from a candy store! Then there were times when dad had to prompt me to get a particular color tie and I would happily do the honors. Today as I remember those moments from the past, they come alive in my mind and I can't help but smile over it because even though dad knew that the tie didn't gel well with his over all look, yet he wore it just for me! Perhaps,he may have even taken off the tie before entering his office or carried an extra in his brief case...but then at the end of the day,he let me have my way! 

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL...GET SET TO WOW THEM ALL!

During our growing years, there was a treasure-chest of knowledge that our mothers were waiting to pass on to us which would be useful and beneficial to us as adults some day. And she was right for this treasure chest was no ordinary one for it was filled with precious solutions and remedies on health, wellness and fitness which we could tackle on our own in the event of an emergency.So whether it was breakouts on skin, toothaches, tummy trouble, hair fall etc - she waved her wand and magically found solutions to them all within the four corners of our home. At times, she would go to the bazaar and return home with a herb in her hand that she would prepare a concoction of and make us drink (and gulp down our throat!) which would take us a step closer towards healing. As I write this article,I am sure many of you would recall some of these instances from your life and attest this fact for you too share a common thread with this story. 

And my mother for one in these matters was no different either! It was over the years and to this day that I learn from her example when it comes to keeping medicines at bay and as much as possible to rely on Mother Nature for a permanent and lasting cure to daily problems. And the added advantage was that relying on home remedies or for that matter Ayurveda was a better way to deal with the problem at hand because they were freely available, inexpensive (i.e. not heavy on the pocket) and had no side-effects.

Image Source: gossipwell.com

As a child I would frequently gorge on street food without a care in the world and played outdoor games so confidently as though the sun was my friend.And the end result was sub burn, tanning, boils, skin rashes etc. However,mommy dearest never complained. While she managed to curb my intake of street food altogether but she never stopped me from playing outside or indulging in any new sport. But at home,she would take over. I recall the times when she would bathe me in a paste comprising of Besan (Bengal gram flour) with a pinch of turmeric and milk on my face,neck and body and keep it for a good twenty minutes and then wash it off with cold water.And when I observed her doing this as a mandatory ritual on weekends,I would question her and then lovingly she would say,"My baby will have soft,supple and beautiful skin." and on saying so,my face would light up with with joy. 

WOW KOREA! (PART-XIV)

Image Source: http://rhinopress.org/

I can't believe that fourteen weeks have gone by so quickly as the curtains come down for Phase-I of the Wow Korea Supporter 2015. 

In the fourteenth and concluding post of this series, I shall share with you yet another amazing aspect of South Korea when I discovered that they were not just brilliant innovators of the digital age but even the everyday people are not far behind when it comes to harnessing the tools and techniques of the internet era. In fact they live,eat and breathe in the air of technology. They could also be called the movers and shakers of the IT (Information Technology) age!

Ranked as the world's "leading digital city" and a "tech capital of the world,here are some fascinating figure on how tech savvy this nation is! South Korea has a wired culture with a whopping 82.7% high internet penetration where 78.5% of the entire population uses smartphone (as of 2013) and between the age group of 18-24, the smartphone outreach is a record high of 97.7%!!

Thus I am not surprised at what I am about to share with you!

WOW KOREA! (PART-XIII)

During the last twelve weeks,my articles on the Wow Korea series may have given you an insight on all the possible places you could explore in South Korea during your next visit there - from museums, heritage sites, beaches, universities, themed bus tours, shopping destinations,amusement parks etc. to the local cuisines and the calendar of events taking place all through the year wherein you could participate and end up having a gala time provided you have a meticulous travel itinerary in place.

In the thirteenth post of the Wow Korea series,I shall acquaint you with some lesser known facts about Korea which I bet you didn't know! In fact,it came as a pleasant surprise to me when I learned about them! I believe that it is through these precious little nuggets of information that we gradually come to learn about a nation's belief-system and discover the pulse of this vibrant nation.

Image Source: beyondhallyu.com

The Blood connection: The next time when you are in Korea and upon your interaction with the locals, if you find them taking a shine to you and begin inquiring about your blood group...do not press the panic button! Do not even for a moment think that they are pulling you out to the nearest blood donation camp or asking you to participate in a medical research or some such study etc. 

In fact, according to South Korean culture, blood doesn't merely deliver oxygen to the rest of your body but it plays a big deal in determining your personality,temperament and compatibility!Yes, you read that right!! And based on this,people in South Korea are stereotyped and classified on their blood-type. Though this belief may have originated from Japan, but it has taken a strong-hold in the South Korean culture.In fact,such is the influence of blood,that it even has a say in matrimony especially when it comes to determining on who could be your potential match too!

WOW KOREA! (PART-XII)

If you had a day in Korea,how would you spend it?Well,I can't talk about others,but I would have loved to take a quick tour of the local museum where I could enrich myself with the country's history,culture and traditions,then I would dash to the most popular local restaurant and gorged on some scrumptious cuisines and being a child at heart,I would love to spend the rest of the day at an amusement park where I'd enjoy the many thrills,fun n frolic and rides of my life. 

In Part XII of the Wow Korea series, I shall introduce you in brief to Seoul's own Disneyland through three such themed amusement parks where you can have the time of your life doused in excitement,joy and mirth!If not you,then the little member of your family accompanying you on this trip could have the most memorable time of his/her life!

Lotte World                             Image Source: www.detravelocity.com 

1. Lotte World: This indoor theme park which is mostly frequented by tourists is located near the Lotte Hotel and Lotte Departmental Store.The Lotte World which looks like a complete resort is divided into two parts -'Adventure',an indoor park whereas 'Magic Island' is an outdoor park. It is the outdoor park which has most of the thrilling roller-coaster rides that even houses Lotte World's Castle,a wonderful place for photo-ops!The indoor Adventure has a host of attractions as well where the World Carnival Parade is the best of them. This parade takes place everyday between 14:00 to 14:30 and 19:30 to 20:00. The best part about Lotte World is that it is open late and 365 days of the year, thus making it a hep n happening destination for tourists who love to indulge in some fun night-time activities.And what's more is that the prices at night are cheaper than the normal day-time tickets!

CONQUERING THE PINNACLES OF GLORY: WE, THE WOMEN!

From kitchen to the board-room,from mountain to the moon - women have conquered all spaces! Leading the way and asserting her choices she marches on ward with great resolute, firm and determination in a male-dominated world to carve out her own identity, undeterred and unfettered to reach the pinnacles of glory. 

But her path towards progress and success has not been one joy ride so far.And that's primarily because of the dichotomy that exists in the Indian society where on one hand women as deities have been worshipped while on the other hand the treatment meted out to them is worst than animals. And with her role stereotyped in the society, her progress has been marred by perceptions for she is bound and chained in the shackles of religion,rituals and age-old traditions. 

But despite the unabated obstacles,there are quite a few inspiring stories that shine like beacons of hope and serve as a guiding light to a bright future that's ahead of us!

WOW KOREA! (PART-XI)

Films always make for a topic of fascinating discussion.After all, films are not just about stories unfolding on celluloid or watched for sheer entertainment but it is also our reference point towards understanding cultures,rituals,traditions and exploring newer lands and faraway countries as it takes us into a state of phantasmagoria during those 120 minutes of a roller coaster ride where an intense drama awaits to take charge of your senses filled with heart-wrenching emotions and tears,songs and dance sequences filmed in picturesque locations of foreign shores and intermittent doses of rib-tickling comedy to give some relief to the narrative and a nail-biting climax with some stylishly choreographed action sequences that are sewn together to make it one wholesome package. Thus in the eleventh post of the Wow Korea series I shall discuss "Seoul loves Bollywood" when I share with you some Hindi films that have enjoyed great popularity in South Korea! However,before that I shall give you a brief introduction of the flourishing film industry in Seoul.

This may come as a news to you when I say that South Korea is an Asian media powerhouse where PSY is just a drop in the ocean. South Korea not only consumes more domestic entertainment than foreign films but Japan,China and larger part of South East Asia also rely largely on the South Korean entertainment industry!

Take these figures-In 2012 itself, domestic films alone earned 44 million USD while foreign films brought in 35 million USD. Though the graph of domestic films has seen it's own fair share of highs and lows,but it was in the 1990's that the film industry of South Korea finally came into it's own. For instance the film,Shiri which released in 1999 was so popular that it generated more funding and a renewed sense of interest among the Korean film industry on producing films domestically. And together with the policy regulations which mandated that at least 40% of films exhibited must be domestically produced,it went on to pip foreign films in terms of box office revenues and ticket sales during the last ten years. 

WOW KOREA! (PART-X)

With a literacy rate of a whopping 97.9 percent South Korea has the second best education system in the world after Finland (Source: Pearson Report with data from the Economist Intelligence Unit). Did you know that South Korea also has also one of the best K-12 education systems in the world? And according to a UNESCO report in 2010-At 103 percent,South Korea has the highest tertiary gross enrollment ratio of any country in the world! 65 percent of Koreans between the age group of 25-34 have attained tertiary education (Source: *OECD, 2010) and over 97 percent in the same age bracket have at least finished their upper secondary education. Thus in both measures Korea ranks number one among OECD countries!

[* OECD stands for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and comprises of 20 countries from across the globe.]

Thus in the tenth post of Wow Korea series,I shall introduce my readers to South Korea as a destination for learning when I list out top five universities ranked globally at topuniversities.com (2014-15). The educational system of South Korea could make make a good research report for both developing and developed countries to observe the teaching models patterns implemented by educational institutions,the kind of resources and infrastructure invested towards giving an impetus to education and technology deployed for both teaching and learning when it comes to achieving this brilliant feat in the field of education.

THE 'MOTHER' OF ALL EXPERTS...OUR MOMMIES OF COURSE!

Words alone cannot describe that immaculate and formidable bond a mother shares with her child. Right from the moment when she feels those gentle tugs in her womb to the time we are born. Right from that one defining moment of her life when she hears her babe speak those incoherent babbles that she understands as mother and smiles with joy at our gurgles of laughter to the time we take those first flight of steps into the world...our life literally twirls around her finger.And on our every little achievement,our mother's rejoice as she rewards us with surprises and bestows her unconditional love,kisses and affection even as her dreams,hopes and aspirations take a backseat and her life now comes to be centered around us.

During our formative years,she dons the hat of a teacher when she takes our studies,helps us do our homework and shares many anecdotes from her life that lay the foundation to our future.In our years as a teenager,she graduates to becoming our best friend,someone in whom we begin to confide into on the pangs of adolescence (especially with all the changes that our body undergoes and those zits that pop up on our faces which send us into hiding! But she teaches us face them and look into the mirror as she gives us magical remedies to fight them too).And as we grow older when we reflect back on the years gone by and become parents ourselves,we come to admire her for her versatility and realize that she had one arduous task in her lifetime for besides being a mother she was also our best friend, guide,guardian,teacher,tutor,expert etc. - all rolled into one! And then we take on that mantle from her as we endeavor to replicate her teachings in our children.

WOW KOREA! (PART-IX)

Shopping is one such unwritten 'tour' which is mandated on everyone's travel itinerary.It is one outing that we always squeeze out time for no matter how packed our schedule might be because it is something that we simply just can't afford to skip. After all everyone loves to bring home a thing or two from one's visit abroad be it as a keepsake of one's travel advent in a foreign land to give us wonderful memories to live by while some others might love to pick some local fashion like clothing or costume/ chunky jewelry whereas gadget geeks would opt for electronics and some others may pick up knick-knacks from here and here so as to flaunt among friends and alike about their trip overseas. 

Insadong Antique Shop Alley

And Korea is one such destination where you have niche markets for different goods like electronics, jewelry, antiques, furniture, fashion etc. There's no dearth of them! In the ninth post of the Wow Korea series,I shall acquaint you with some popular shopping destinations of Korea for antiques,fashion,jewelry and electronics where you can get the best bargains and deals that one could have possibly hoped for!

Antiques:Though antiques are harder to come by in Korea compared to most other countries primarily because Korea was ravaged by war.Despite the setback,this strong country has bounced back and achieved spectacular growth in decades even though it was literally obliterated by the war. So, if you as a visitor are willing to spend a handsome amount of money, then you can lay your hands on some fine and exquisite antiques from the Korean markets.

WOW KOREA! (PART-VIII)

Collage of activities from Gyeongju Temple

Many a times the hustle-bustle of a city life saps away all our energies and when fatigue sets in, it leaves us wanting for an outlet where we could rejuvenate our mind and revitalize our senses. At times all we need is a spiritual awakening where we could meditate to heal our troubled minds with stress levels hitting the roof top and depression getting the better of us.

And here's where the topic of this blog post begins...

In Part VIII of the Wow Korea Series, I shall introduce to all my readers the the concept of "Temple Stay Programs" in Korea which you can explore for your health, wellness and fitness as you heal in the peace and tranquility of Korea. While some of you may like to be a part of it as a way of discovering the Korean way of life through Korean Buddhism culture while others may like to experience this program as a once-in-lifetime opportunity on their visit to Korea and further chronicle this event in their diaries, blogs or journals.

In a simplified Q&A format,I shall take you through the Temple Stay Program so that you as a visitor are all clued up during your next visit to Korea.

WOW KOREA! (PART-VII)

Mid-summers can be fun in Korea especially if you are a beach-bum! :) A country that is surrounded by oceans on three sides leaves no room for complaining as a tourist can indulge in a lot of exciting beach activities! From lazing on the sands,sun bathing, swimming, sea-surfing, beach games, water sports to beach festivals - there are many ways you as a tourist can enjoy the sultry months of July and August in Korea where temperatures peak up to 30 degrees Celsius and above.

And today in this post I shall take you on an e-tour of the beaches in this picturesque country the world knows as Korea! 

Before I begin,let's first understand in brief the geography of the region vis-a-vis the coastline before I discuss the different beaches you can visit in Korea. Korea is surrounded by the East Sea, West Sea and South Sea.

1.East Sea: With the sunrise over the horizon of the ocean,the East Sea has a simple coastline of clear waters,large beaches and white sands.This is just the right place for you to enjoy a good leisure time activity and indulge in some good photography,you could click some award winning photographs as you get a spectacular view of the break of dawn at the East Sea.In fact,most beaches in this area even hold a Haemaji (sunrise greeting) festival every year on New Year's Day where the sight of the sun emerging over the ocean skyline is one to behold! 

WOW KOREA! (PART-VI)

Museums are safe havens of a nations rich cultural heritage.They are bearers and custodians of our glorious past.They preserve our identity throughout generations as we continue to evolve.They tell us who we are and where we belong and that knowledge in itself is wealth.Thus those  memorabilia,artifacts,relics and mementos are priceless tokens of our past, present and the future.

Thus,aside from sight-seeing in Korea,museums are another place to get a peek into the history of this fascinating country.And today I shall take you on an e-journey of five such museums that are ranked among the top ten where you could explore different facets of their culture,tradition,history and legacy as you trace this country right from their roots. 

1. National Folk Museum of Korea: With a collection of over 98,000 artifacts and stretched in three main exhibition halls, this museum that is located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace is the only national museum dedicated to the history of traditional life in Korea.

The first exhibition hall of the museum includes the "History of Korean People" which houses artifacts of the everyday life of Korean people dating back right from the prehistoric times to 1910.

The second exhibition hall of the museum includes the "Korean Way Of Life" depicts on what the life of a Korean villager was in the ancient times.

The third exhibition hall of the museum titled,"Life Cycle Of The Koreans" showcases the Confucianism roots and ideology ingrained in Korean culture and the impact it has had throughout generations and to this day which is evident in their customs and traditions. Besides,the museum also has an open gallery featuring replicas of stone piles for worship, posts where villagers prayed to spirits,grinding mills,rice storage shelter,pits for kimchi pots etc.

ASUS ZENFONE 2...SMARTNESS QUOTIENT REDEFINED!

Are you planning on buying a smartphone? 

Are you under a budget? 
Are you looking for a smartphone under 10K? 

Are you also looking for a phone that has the choicest features and the best value that your money can buy today?

Well, then your search ends right here...

Here's introducing the all new Asus ZenFone 2 with vivid 5.5 inch Full HD (1080x1920) IPS display,403ppi pixel density and a remarkable 72% screen-to-body ratio which was launched in January this year. 

Specification-wise,this phone beats out the others because it is a perfect blend of cutting-edge features, sound hardware and attractive pricing.

And here are five reasons that I'm about to share which would go on to transform your whole smartphone experience with the ASUS ZenFone 2...so here we go!

WOW KOREA! (PART-V)

Traveling to foreign shores can be a challenge as well as an adventure...but navigating your way within a city on arrival so as to discover its personality vis-a-vis the historical and cultural heritage sites like museums,palaces,architecture to the favorite hot-spots,local joints,popular cuisines, shopping arcades and booming night life can be one tough job indeed! It can often be frustrating for a wandering tourist to mandatorily carry a ubiquitous hand-guide (without which he/she would seemingly find themselves lost) or to keep asking locals on how to get from A to B. 

In Part-V of the Wow Korea! series,I shall do all the research for you when I share the different ways you can travel within Seoul by shuttle and the many interesting places you would unravel during your visit.

Themed Itinerary Trolley Bus Tours: This themed trolley bus service allows the tourist to opt for a guided shuttle tour as they decide for themselves on which aspect of Seoul they wish to see and explore. There are five such themed itinerary buses that take you on one roller-coaster ride as it introduces you to an all new facet of Korea.

In these bus tours,the visitor/tourist is presented with a pamphlet detailing the tour and destination together with the option of a multi-lingual audio tour guide that's available on each seat for different languages such as -English,Korean,Japanese and Chinese.French is available for those who opt for the Traditional Market tour. An LCD monitor is installed on the back of each seat which allows the tourist to learn more about the attractions before they arrive en route to the stop/destination.In addition,a foreign language interpreter in English,Chinese and Japanese is also present on the bus to answer any questions a tourist may have or would want to know about a particular destination.

The five different themed itinerary trolley bus tours are - 

a. Traditional Culture Tour

b. Downtown·Royal Palaces Course

c. Seoul Panorama Course

d. Nighttime Courses

e. Gangnam City Tour Course

WOW KOREA! (PART-IV)

In the last three posts of the Wow Korea! series,I shared with you some interesting facts and trivia about Korea which I bet you didn't know and later I went on to write about Korea's finest cultural heritage sites approved by UNESCO that for a tourist could prove to be useful for sight-seeing purposes or add to our knowledge about Korea's civilization and culture. And just last week I lapped it up with the colorful festivals of Korea! (Click here to read - Part-I, Part-II, Part-III)

Now if you read this quote below...you would get a cue about the topic of this week's post!

“Food is not rational,Food is culture, habit, craving and identity.” ~ Jonathan Safran Foer

If food is your best friend,then as a traveler you will always be in the company of good food wherever you go! The unique spices,flavor and aroma of each country blends with the senses and draws you towards them...as though saying,"Come on you gotta try me once or this journey of yours would be incomplete"! And if you are a true foodie...then there's nothing you can do to resist but give into many of these delicious delights!

As a Wow Korea Supporter of 2015,in this week's e-tour of Korea I am on a journey to discover the cravings for the soul...good,food and just food! And since I am e-stationed in Korea,I dig up some of the finest cuisines,desserts and street foods that Korea has to offer!

Though I may not have had a chance to try out some of these exotic dishes...but the images looked irresistibly tempting and preparations seemed so elaborate and exquisite,that my mouth started watering! Imagine...I am here typing it for you while some of you who are in Korea at the moment or plan to visit sometime soon could actually enjoy some of these delectable cuisines if only you happen to be reading my post at this moment! :)

(Oh and by the way this list is customized and personalized catering to my taste buds since I do not take red meat or pork.Thus I shall mainly be focusing on chicken and sea food based cuisines that Korea has to offer!)