Hot Hookahs

Last week we went on the small trip to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. We decided to hire a driver. We started our journey on the Friday night at around 11 pm. The four hour trip from Delhi to Jaipur was full of spirits. We really had great fun. Our very first step in the city of Jaipur surrounded us with the aura of royalness and luxury. We were totally exhausted when we reached there. We went straight to the hotel, which was booked in advance by the Shweta’s cousin. All that everybody wants was a break before we start with our sightseeing tour on the next day.

Foremost on our excursion trip was the magnificent City Palace -imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art. The interiors of the Palace has various royal halls decorated with miniature paintings, carpets, old weapons and robes of royal princess. The most amazing thing that we found in the City Palace were the two 1.6 m tall silver vessels, which were used for the Ganges River water taken to the England in 1902. They are made from coins and are listed in the Guiness Book of Records.

There were two — three shops inside the City Palace selling books, Kurtis, Kurtas, jewellery, bandhini, jutis, pottery and puppetry. After that we stopped for the lunch break in the local restaurant and discussed about the next destination that we will be going to visit next on our tour.

We all agreed to visit the magnificent Nahargarh fort. As the fort stands at the top of the picturesque hill it provides the breathtaking view of the whole city below it. When we reached there my senses were totally filled with the glory of old worlds charm. Nahargarh fort was built by the Maharaja Jai Sawai Singh of Jaipur. It is also referred to as the Tigers Fort.

We didn’t spend much time in the fort but love the spot where Amir Khan’s movie Rang De Basanti was shot. This was the place were we did lots of masti. After that we went back to the hotel. We all together took a tea break and decided to visit Choki Dhani during the night.

Me and my friend Shweta really had the great time in Choki Dhani. It is a virtual village having the incense of the typically Rajasthani culture. As we entered inside we were surrounded by the pretty picture of a typically Rajasthani lifestyle. Two young men wearing turbans were welcoming the visitors by saying ‘namanste and were putting red dot (tilak)on their forehead. There were various acts going on inside the complex — magicians show, electrical rides, animal rides, puppets show, merry –go –round, parrot fortune teller, boating, mehandi and photography in Rajasthani costumes. The whole area was set in a very rural kind of ambience. But what attract us the most was traditional Rajasthani dance. Shweta and I got up on the stage and did the turban dance with the small girls wearing the colourful dresses. After that we head straight towards the camel ride. We had to stand in the long queue to take the camel ride. The handler made the camel lie down by folding their legs under them and than we climb onto a saddle that was strapped to the hump. The camel drivers did the great job in entertaining us with the stories of the royal Maharajas. As we got off the camel we went on taste the bajre ki roti with the red garlic chutney. After that we all sat together on the woven charpoy and enjoyed the pipe smoking (hookah) with the tribal dance. We also had lovely time watching the puppet show. Varun tried hid hand in ringing the ceremonial gong. After our adventure in the carnival area we moved inside for the authentic Rajathani dinner. Meal was served on a small plate made of leaves. We had so much food on our plate (pattal), they serve over twenty Marwadi dishes which included daal baati, choorma, gatteki sabzi, bajre ki khidi, and lots of mouth watering dishes. But the dining was absolutely delicious. By the time when Bhupi was busy having the champi maalish, we all girls decided to have heena on our hands. It was already 10:45 and we all were so tired, we went straight to the hotel to catch up the sleep.

Next morning we all packed our bags to leave for Delhi. When we were coming back it was raining like anything, so we stopped for the hot tea and snacks break at Midway behror for half an hour. After two hours we reached Delhi.

Originally published here.

Yes, I have fallen madly in love and it’s showing. I can’t keep it a secret any longer. My new boyfriend DD has an uncanny ability to make my heart race and yet give me a sense of balance and peace. DD put me in touch with levels of my being I didn’t even know existed, made me do things I’d never done before AND didn’t even mind if I responded with a few occasional grunts and moans. With every (twisted) position I reached a new level of pure ecstasy….I mean strength. DD enveloped me with such fluid movement…and the sweating we generated…don’t even get me started! The rush of heat against my body would have me swooning the minute I walked into the room…too much information about my new love? My new love is Vinyasa yoga at Down Dog. It’s hot. It’s intense. It will change your life (or at least your perspective on life). This ancient type of yoga is done in a room heated to about 100?F (about 37?C). The practice is a “dynamic combination of strength, sweat and spirituality.” Spirituality is putting it lightly! Sometimes my body does things that make me think I’m floating above it looking down on myself! I know what some of you are thinking…but I guarantee that I’m not talking about sitting cross legged and alternating OMs with bites of a falafel/sprout sandwich with incense burning in the background. And, no, I’m not smoking “herbal” tobacco out of a hookah while reading a Nora Roberts novel either. It may sound cliché but, if you can get through one of these DD classes, you can get through anything. Whatever crisis or chaos, dread or demon, ailment or angst you’re facing, 90 minutes in a well heated room aerobically contorting your body will indeed shift your perspective. With this kind of an energy shift, things that once seemed impossible to achieve may indeed become possible. At $18 a class, it’s like full on Feng Shui for your mind, body, soul and bank account! I realize that many people are worried about excessive sweating clogging their pores and potentially causing or worsening breakouts. Using a natural anti-bacterial cleanser such as “So Universally Clean You Can Eat Off My Face” by Cosminology both before and after yoga (or any sweat inducing exercise) will help minimize this. Actually, acne and other inflammatory skin conditions can improve significantly with yoga practice (for a more detailed, physiologic explanation of this phenomenon please e-mail me at iammodern.com). It goes without saying that increased hydration is mandatory with this type of yoga practice and very likely contributes to your skin’s improved appearance. A final note to the single women (and men) out there who are looking for a way to “weed out” their suitors: invite them to a class. You can tell a lot about a person if they can Down Dog it with you!

2009 Cosminology www.cosminology.com All Rights Reserved

Originally published here.

Yes, I have fallen madly in love and it’s showing. I can’t keep it a secret any longer. My new boyfriend DD has an uncanny ability to make my heart race and yet give me a sense of balance and peace. DD put me in touch with levels of my being I didn’t even know existed, made me do things I’d never done before AND didn’t even mind if I responded with a few occasional grunts and moans. With every (twisted) position I reached a new level of pure ecstasy….I mean strength. DD enveloped me with such fluid movement…and the sweating we generated…don’t even get me started! The rush of heat against my body would have me swooning the minute I walked into the room…too much information about my new love? My new love is Vinyasa yoga at Down Dog. It’s hot. It’s intense. It will change your life (or at least your perspective on life). This ancient type of yoga is done in a room heated to about 100?F (about 37?C). The practice is a “dynamic combination of strength, sweat and spirituality.” Spirituality is putting it lightly! Sometimes my body does things that make me think I’m floating above it looking down on myself! I know what some of you are thinking…but I guarantee that I’m not talking about sitting cross legged and alternating OMs with bites of a falafel/sprout sandwich with incense burning in the background. And, no, I’m not smoking “herbal” tobacco out of a hookah while reading a Nora Roberts novel either. It may sound cliché but, if you can get through one of these DD classes, you can get through anything. Whatever crisis or chaos, dread or demon, ailment or angst you’re facing, 90 minutes in a well heated room aerobically contorting your body will indeed shift your perspective. With this kind of an energy shift, things that once seemed impossible to achieve may indeed become possible. At $18 a class, it’s like full on Feng Shui for your mind, body, soul and bank account! I realize that many people are worried about excessive sweating clogging their pores and potentially causing or worsening breakouts. Using a natural anti-bacterial cleanser such as “So Universally Clean You Can Eat Off My Face” by Cosminology both before and after yoga (or any sweat inducing exercise) will help minimize this. Actually, acne and other inflammatory skin conditions can improve significantly with yoga practice (for a more detailed, physiologic explanation of this phenomenon please e-mail me at iammodern.com). It goes without saying that increased hydration is mandatory with this type of yoga practice and very likely contributes to your skin’s improved appearance. A final note to the single women (and men) out there who are looking for a way to “weed out” their suitors: invite them to a class. You can tell a lot about a person if they can Down Dog it with you!

2009 Cosminology www.cosminology.com All Rights Reserved

Originally published here.