The Joys Of Roaming Around A Mall

The holiday season is here and so are the vacations. Whether it is school, college and even offices, albeit for a small time only. But vacations are here but the outside is so cold, thus roaming around in open markets is out, unless one is willing to be out of the house before 12 and then only can one take pleasure in the sunlight. But even that sunny day is difficult to come by. So, what does one do, where one can go out and experience the holiday cheer while at the same time not having to bundle oneself in numerous layers or freeze.

Well, thankfully, there is a very simple solution this problem and that is to just visit a mall, either near you or even one that you have been wanting to visit for some time. There are a lot of places to shop in Delhi, a mall being perhaps the most popular place these days. And in such a chilly weather, malls are just perfect since they are heated, indoors and yet have so many options to choose from.

One can just take their friends, gather a group of people and just go to a mall. Even if one does not really have any destination or any work in particular, even then, a mall would provide ample places for entertainment. There are bookstores, gaming arcades, shops, restaurant, cafes and more.

There are also multiple movie theatres in Saket, Noida, Gurgaon and other malls all over the city. So, one can even go and see a movie and then shop, eat and literally spend a whole day there without running out of things to do. Or one can just laze around in a café or the food court, having steaming food, desserts and just catching up with friends while doing people watching.

Why Select Citywalk Is The Best Mall in Delhi

I have recently moved to South Delhi and I must accept that this part of my city was practically unknown for me. I did not know about the places to hang out, to go grab a quick bite or to catch up for a movie. Also, I did not have many friends in and around the area I put up so there was no on really to show me around.

Once, my colleague and I decided to go for a couple of beers after a rough day at work. She took me to Select CityWalk, of which I had only heard of in the past. I have never been here before and I realized what I have been missing! The mall was in fact pretty close to my place but my ignorance never led me to it. Right next to the Svelte hotel in Saket, stands the mall which is a home to several brands and restaurants. Not only this, the mall had a beautiful outside seating arrangement which was mesmerising!

I suddenly got the address of all that I was missing. This mall boast of a multiplex and my colleague told me the movie experience here is grand! I made up mind then and there that this is where I am going to come to see the latest movies! Also I was spoilt for choices when I looked around for a place to eat! No wonder it is one of best malls in Delhi! You can have a bite of any cuisine from the restaurants in the premises of the mall.

I was a bit bedazzled to look at the all the international brands together and I was almost planning to drop by the next day- all by myself to explore my potential shopping destinations! Needless to say, I am grateful to that colleague of mine who introduced me to the mall, which is I feel the heart of Saket. Love to go back there!

Two Few Great AB Exercises

The term fitness has different meanings for different people. While gaining or losing weight as per the unique BMI may be the goal for some, building the right muscles at the right places may be someone else’s aim. If you fall in the latter category and wish to strengthen your abs, here are some great ab exercises that you can do at home or at your gym:

1.    Bicycle crunches

 

As the name suggests, bicycle exercises involve continuous pedalling of your legs. Lie flat on your back, and place both your hands at the back of your head, just to support it with your fingers. Fold your legs to bring both knees towards your chest. Now bring your right elbow as close to your left knee as possible while rotating towards the left and stretching the right left simultaneously. Now switch sides and continue doing in sets of 8, 16, 24, etc. (choose a set that is beyond your comfort zone). Watch a video tutorial to understand better or join a gym club in Saket, an area with great malls and superb gyms.

2.    Planks 

Lie face down with only your forearms and toes touching the ground. Make sure the head, hips, and heels are aligned. An easier way would be lying completely flat on the floor and pushing yourself up on your toes and forearms. Make sure your back is not arching as doing so would put pressure on your back. Contract your abdominals using the pelvis to prevent the hip from sticking out. Now hold that position for about 60 seconds (it could be less, depending on your capacity), release, and repeat. Ask your gym instructor at your fitness club in Saket for help. He would ensure that you push your limits and gain great abs soon.

These were just two ab exercises and you can learn many more great exercises for the ab from your gym instructor. So, if a perfect body is what you are aspiring for, joining a gym is a great option!

A Successful Vacation Always Involves A Good Movie

Why do people go on vacations? To relax, enjoy, and spend time with family/friends, right? And as long as that purpose is fulfilled, it shouldn’t matter what activities we do while outside of Delhi or India. At least that’s what I think! 

I have gone on many trips with my friends and we have almost always made it a point to watch a nice movie on theatre during our vacation. And every single time we do this, I have to face my parents’ incomprehensible logic- “what is the point of a vacation if you do the same things there that you do in Delhi?” Do you also agree? Well, as I said before, if the whole point of a vacation is to relax and enjoy, how we enjoy shouldn’t matter. I agree that we should definitely also explore the new city, do activities not available or common in Delhi, etc. But watching a movie on a vacation with friends has become our little ritual we love doing. Just recently, all of us friends went to Bangalore. Because we were too tired to do anything else, we settled on the plan of dinner and then movie. After lunch, and before our much-needed afternoon nap, we checked the nearest PVR cinemas timings for a super-hit movie we hadn’t watched yet, and quickly booked the tickets for the late-night show. The movie was amazing, but watching it with my closest friends late at night made it even more enjoyable. You too should definitely go out for a movie on a vacation, if you haven’t tried it yet.

We even went to a hair salon the next day to get our hair washed. Believe me, it was a big challenge for me go to a random salon in a different city as my favourite hair salon in Delhi is my one-stop salon for all my hair woes as well as experiments. However, because I was with my friends, I took a chance anyway and it surprisingly turned out good. So my conclusion is that it doesn’t matter what you do, you will always have fun when you are with the people you love!

Shopping Experience in Delhi

Whenever my cousins come at my place during vacations, we plan going for shopping in various markets of Delhi. For them, shopping in Delhi has always been a fun experience. With so many markets and a range of variety available, Delhi can never disappoint you if you are here on a shopping spree. You'll find traditional markets as well as branded showrooms where you can shop for any thing you want. Nowadays, shopping from glamorous shopping malls has become quite popular. Especially in the summer months, when there is scorching heat outside, people  generally prefer malls, rather than going to the traditional shops of the market.

We also decided to explore some of the popular malls of the city. We went to select city walk(located in south Delhi) to start our shopping in Delhi. Since it was our cousins wedding in the next month, we were looking for bridal dresses and jewellery. The mall has some exquisite designer jewellery showrooms, from where we purchased two rings and a neck piece. Besides this, the mall also has some of the popular clothing brands such as Aldo, Zara, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger, H and M, Promod and Nike. My cousin had to buy a pair of jeans, which he purchased from one of these showrooms. I purchased a beautiful zardosi saree in pink color for the wedding. Once we were done with the shopping we were looking for a restaurant to have some food.

To our surprise, here we could find some of the best restaurants of Delhi. There are a number of restaurants, serving range of cuisines from across the world. Whether you are looking for Italian, Chinese or authentic Indian food, you'll find a restaurant for each. We chose pizza hut where we enjoyed some delicious pizzas. All in all it was a fun shopping experience.

The Popularity Of Tea Cafes

When it comes to tea, there are only two sectors, who are crazy about it, the British and Indians. Even the ones who are coffee loves, will almost always turn to tea sometimes even choosing it over coffee. There is just something about having tea, that is so deep set in the peoples mentality, it could be the bonding experience, or just relaxing after a hard day. But tea manages to bring almost everyone over to its side, no matter which beverage the person would usually like. 

But for some time now, with the influx of all things western and globalization, and introduction of high end international beverage companies, tea had taken a backseat and was almost seen as well low class by many. That is all turning around now, as more and more people are recognizing how healthy and nice tea can be. One can be sure to find a tea café in Delhi or nearby which is specifically centered on tea and has got some amazing selections. And these cafes don’t just serve the typical tea or the masala one at best, but have got exotic and varied versions, from all over the world, served with different types of food items that would go along with them.

These tea cafes are becoming extremely popular, for tea connoisseurs and for anyone wanting to explore the various types of teas. And they really catching fire, with people coming and wanting to give them a try. And what's more, is that they are found between all price ranges, from the corner tea stalls near offices to the high end, luxury cafes where one can find tea from almost every corner of the world.

Even the best of the best restaurant in Delhi, are now offering tea in their menus, for selection of the drinks. Many Asian restaurants too offer their signature green or jasmine tea, which is usually drunk with those meals, instead of water.

Shopping Malls And Shopping Sections!

Shopping malls are one stop shops- especially the malls of Delhi, where you’d find everything from a grocery store to a gaming zone, from clubs to cafes, from gyms to spas and from food outlets to movie theatres!

My favorite things that malls in Delhi have are movie theatres and cafes! How good is the idea of hitting a movie theatre on a weekend to break the monotony of weekdays- and then discussing that film over a nice coffee, with some soothing music going on in the background!

Shopping malls, in fact are built in an interesting fashion where the placement of each section is carefully planned out. Here’s a list of some of the things that you must have come across during your visit to a typical shopping mall.

Why movie halls are generally placed on the top floor?

Movie theatres attract a lot of crowd on the weekend and it serves as the gateway to additional business. Thanks to the pvr cinema timings, a person has enough time to take a trip around the entire mall and come across alluring things. As a result, people just end up buying things that they hadn’t even planned to.

Why check-out counters have toys and magazines?

There is a significant length of queue on the check-out counters and people are doing absolutely nothing when they’re waiting for their turns. This wait makes them buy stuffs like magazines and newspapers which can keep them engaged for long.

Why food court is always attached to a cinema hall?

For the obvious reason that people feel amazingly hungry after coming out from a theatre, these food courts welcome people with open arms. A food court has a large variety of dishes and hence, it appeals everyone!

A shopping mall is a commercial business and there’s no reason why they wouldn’t plan out their shopping sections carefully!

Saket: My One-Stop Destination

That’s right! Saket has always been my one-stop destination. And one of the dominant reasons for this being so is that I have always lived in South Delhi, studied in a school in Saket, and even went to a college in Sheikh Sarai, which is near Saket. Most of my friends too reside in or near Saket. So whether my friends and I felt like hanging out after school/college on weekdays, or had a sudden urge to shop on the weekends, Saket was always the most convenient location for most of us.

Owing to some of the excellent shopping malls, Saket clearly is one of the most popular places to shop in Delhi, not just for me, but for other Delhiites as well. In fact, the malls are not only popular amongst Delhiites; when people from other cities visit Delhi, many make it a point to visit the malls in Saket. Sounds unbelievable? When my aunt from Jaipur visits Delhi with her children, she always visits the Saket malls as she simply loves the selection of brands the malls house.

Apart from the top brands, my favourite mall in Saket recently remodelled its food court that not only brings together some amazing outlets together, but is also super cool. The whole setting is aesthetically designed and structured and I absolutely love dining there. Many events like exhibitions, book launches, etc. are also launched in the outdoor area, making the place all the more exciting. In addition to this, there are some superb clubs in Saket Mall, making it ideal for once-in-a-while parties that I like to attend.

And there is a reason why Saket is my one-stop destination. Apart from fulfilling my shopping and dining needs, it fulfils my entertainment needs as well. From great bookstores to cinemas with multiple screens- it has it all. There is really nothing that I need and am unable to find in Saket. With so many memories, this place will always stay close to my heart, no matter what!

Trip Down The Memory Lane

It is a pleasure to come back to the city where you were born. For me it is Delhi. I was born here and spent a few years of my magical childhood here in the capital before we moved to Bangalore. I have been there ever since. It was my job that brought me back to Delhi after years. Strangely enough I didn’t feel alienated in the city given the sharp contrast in the culture of Bangalore and Delhi.

I put up in South Delhi very close to where I used to live during my childhood days. One fine day I went to explore down the memory lane and tried to identify the places with a few pictures that I had with me. Clearly, the house where we used to live had given its way to a four storied building and nothing was left of it. Somewhere I felt a bit bruised. Nevertheless, I went to a complex where I often used to visit with my parents and was surprised to see the place still existed only changed to a whole new level. It had one of the most popular movie theatres in Saket and numerous other food joints and cafes! I tried to find my childhood but I failed again. Change proved to be inevitable once again!

Almost tired, I gave up the idea to find those days which now only existed faintly in my memory and in a few photographs. I visited a few places to shop in Delhi and amazingly, I located a toy store which I distinctly remember to visit when we used to stay here! It was a euphoric moment for me as I entered and I remembered the ‘uncle’, now sufficiently old not to remember me. I smiled at him, bought a small token of memory form that place and left. It was my happiest day in Delhi. Some emotions do not have any explanations!

The Trend Of The Cafes

Whenever someone imagines a café the first image to come to mind is that of a quaint little establishment in Paris, against the backdrop of generation’s old buildings, and soft music playing from a wayward musician. The whole setting just begs to relax and lose themselves in the aroma of coffee, some pastries and forget about anything else.

And that is one reason why cafes in general are so popular across the world. They are much more relaxed compared to the formal vibe from proper dining places, be it for lunch or dinner. Even economically, there is much growth in the business of cafes as opposed to other establishments.

Delhi is a hub of many things, culture, heritage, arts, a glorious mix of modern and history. And one can find multiple activities to do here, from the cinema lovers or the crafts enthusiasts, or the health nuts; there are gyms clubs in Saket, Malviya Nagar and other places too and malls and other recreational activities one can take advantage of.

One thing that Delhi has a lot of is cafes, and they are rising in popularity, especially amongst the younger crowd. Cafes are excellent places, where people can go to spend a few hours, relax and have some light snacks at affordable prices.

Cafes are essentially great places for people who do not really want to consume a heavy meal, yet would like to have something filling, without shelling out a lot of money. Cafes in Delhi cover a wide span of themes, from hippy to calm, to cheerful. And they are exquisitely decorated too; nothing very expensive, but more in terms of creativity and many also display any type of arts created by the patrons there.

The first choice these days for people is going to a café, since they are more compact, and are nowadays offering very unique choices in terms of food and beverages too.

A Shopping Mall Is A One-Stop Shop!

The idea of Shopping sets us in the right mood! I don't know a person who is unaffected by the charm of shopping! Checking things out, getting engaged in the trial rooms and finally coming to the right piece- every part of the process brings joy!

There are multiple places to shop in Delhi. We have street shopping sites and individual showrooms. And we also have giant Shopping Malls into the popular sub cities of Delhi. To me, the Best Places to shop in Delhi are the ones which are complete packages. A typical Shopping mall is more like a one-stop shop where you can shop, eat, drink and indulge in an activity. Here's a list of things that you'd often find in a shopping mall of Delhi.

•    A food court: A food court has become a feature of a shopping mall, and why wouldn't it! We have to have a good place to eat after we are tired of running around the shops! A food court contains multiple kinds of outlets  offering a range of dishes, drinks and desserts!

•    Game zone: This is where you can leave your toddlers when you're busy buying clothes! The Best Kids play zone in New Delhi consists of everything from video games and paint balls to outdoor activities like Bungee- Jumping and toddlers' pools!

•    Coffee Shops: Having a nice chat with your friends and discussing about what you've shopped can happen over a good cup of coffee, and that is exactly why shopping malls contain coffee shops somewhere in them.

•    A grocery mart: The lady of the house would understand the pleasure of finding a mart inside a shopping mall! How delightful it is to pamper yourself with the clothes and accessories, and then getting what your home needs- right there!

Indeed, shopping malls are blessings!

Why South Delhi Is The Best Place To Live In Delhi

I am a resident of South Delhi since 4 years. The other day my cousin told me she is moving to Delhi. On asking me where to look for a place to live, I asked her to spot a place in South Delhi blindly. I am biased towards this part of the city, not without a reason. I have grown to like South Delhi because it has its own charm and convenience. Commuting to my workplace is comfortable for me since I work I Gurgaon and the metro is the best and the most feasible option one can get. I don’t take out my car to slog in the traffic as metro is any day better in its connectivity to my office.

Strange as it may sound, but I am a die hard fan of the places to shop in Delhi, especially in and around the area I live in. Sarojini, Janpath and Lajpath are the places you can hop in if you want some quick buy, easy on pocket. While malls like Select Citywalk and Promenade inVasant Kunj gives you all the designer and classy options. The sheer joy of having so many options where I can go and buy things I want is one big reason why I love South Delhi.

I am a foodie and availability of food matters to me! I judge a place if it does not have food options around it. Thank god, I don’t have any complaints regarding this. Once again, I have so many options from where I can choose what to eat! I love street food as much as I love eating some international cuisine- you name it and it’s there in South Delhi be it in malls, or individual restaurants. My fitness regime also does not suffer as I have a gym close to my place, and not only this, there are several others in the entire area and some of the best salons in Delhi are only a few blocks away and I have all the reasons to stick to South Delhi! I would suggest any person moving to Delhi, settle in this part of the city as they would too, find this extremely comfortable and convenient!

Cuisines Taking Delhi By Storm

Delhi is a hub for all things new and innovative. Delhi is rising with its theatre groups, new and funky restaurants, and many other youth oriented activities.

One can fine some of the best restaurant in Delhi, officially becoming a nirvana for many foodies. Every month a new eatery opens and that’s not all, many international chains are also opening their branch here in Delhi considering the high demand of high end food.

What with rise in malls and cinemas in Saket, green park and GK and other areas of Delhi, a lot of eateries are opening up with new and funky ideas of presenting their vision. Each is trying to one up the other in terms of food, ambience and some even go on to bringing in different cuisines.

Here are a few such fast becoming popular cuisines that people just cannot get enough of:

1. Mexican:
Owing to its similarity in the Indian cuisine with its spices and different colours, a lot of Delhiites gravitate towards the Mexican cuisine. The more American and European dishes are more bland and Indians like their food to be a little spicy and filled with taste.

2. Tibetan:
There is high demand for authentic Tibetan food, and many eateries are more than happy enough to provide it. In the past few years many eateries have opened up which offer true and authentic Tibetan food to its customers at all ranges from cheap to ultra expensive.

3. Rajasthani:
People are slowly gravitating towards this all time favorite cuisine owing to its abundance of taste and spice. The people are slowly waking up to realise the amazing quality of authentic Rajasthani food. The Laal Maas is one of the most popular dishes from the Rajasthani menu.

The Best Anniversary Gift For My Brother!

It was my elder brother’s 10th marriage anniversary. We’ve always surprised each other on occasions like birthdays, and anniversaries. Since this is their 10th I decided to go a bit out of ordinary. I am settled in Delhi for about five years now. My brother too, once lived here while he was pursuing his graduation and this is where he met his wife. I have heard him recollect so many events about their love story which blossomed in this city. Sadly, he barely comes to Delhi now as he is settled with his wife and kid in our home town, Bangalore.

I invited my brother and sister-in law to Delhi and after a lot of coaxing and convincing; they took out time out their busy schedule and they agreed to pay a visit. Their arrival was on the night before their anniversary. My husband and I went to receive them at the airport and after the initial greetings; we led them to a car which was not ours. We kept their son with us though, who happily came with his beloved aunt! I booked for a suite in a luxury hotel for them and arranged for a dinner in one of the best restaurants in Delhi the following night.

The hotel I booked for them was in close proximity to the area where their college is. No wonder they were elated to walk down the memory lane after so many years. I sent them to a movie in one of the cinemas in Saket where they used to go while they were dating. They were short of words out of joy and I was glad when they said this was their best anniversary gift ever! The last day of their stay we all had a grand dinner together and their happiness was evident.

Sure, all these arrangements were a bit heavy on pocket, but I realized that cherished memories are the best part of someone’s life and one should never lose an opportunity to celebrate it, re-visit it.

SALE- CATCHING ATTENTION SINCE FOREVER

If you ask delhiites about the best place to spend a day out, they instantly publicize Saket! I think Saket has everything to make a day fun- multiple shopping malls, a fair number of peaceful forts, various public parks and a large number of restaurants and food joints.

While the restaurants of Saket are known for their variety and ambience, the cinemas in saket are among the halls providing the best of the screens. The Sundays are literally packed with the audience and the halls are generally seen displaying “houseful” boards and notices.

While Saket remains the favorite of a number of Delhiites, including me, there are several other places to shop in delhi, which are not typically shopping malls but lure the people with their display of variety of items and their ever going “SALE”. Some of these shopping places won’t even wait for the change in season to provide “off-season” sales. Let’s look at some of the interesting ideas of “sale” that these shops utilize constantly.

•    50% off: I can’t think of a lady whose head doesn’t get turned by a “50% off” board! Most of the shops use this technique, no matter what season it is, to increase their sales of clothes and garments.


•    Buy 1 Get 1: This is another type of trick to trap the women out there into buy two things at a time, because they just won’t let go of this special opportunity of getting two things at the price of one. What a luck!


•    Buy 2 get 1: Technically, this is a better strategy than buy 1 get 2 for gaining profit. If you know math, the percentage gain in this case is higher than the former case, and surprisingly this tricks has the ability to generate a sudden requirement of three things!


Basically, the huge “SALE” board does the magic, even if the actual calculation says you spent just as much you do without a sale!

STREET SHOPPING

Who doesn’t like shopping? I mean doesn’t the idea of spending money on clothes and accessories sounds exciting? Delhi has a number of malls to offer a wide range of clothing, footwear and makeup for girls. While counting the most popular malls of Delhi, Select Citywalk is on top, showcasing multiple brands and variants. Although roaming around in Shopping malls and trying a dozen things out before deciding what to buy is interesting, street shopping has its own perks. Not only does it save a lot of money, it makes shopping really interesting as you get to bargain with the sellers and the two-way convincing process is quite funny.

If you’re a college goer and you literally plan the expenditure of your pocket money, there are a number of places to shop in delhi wherein you can get clothes and bags at really reasonable prices. Here, let’s take a look.

•    Janpath: Situated near the Connaught Place metro station, Janpath has a number of small local stalls. You can find latest fashion goods all decorated pompously in attractive colors that just cannot be missed.

•    Dilli Haat: It is more like a traditional market with small roof cottages and gives the feel of a village. The market showcases handicrafts, traditional kurtis for women, traditional earrings and wooden showpieces.

•    Chandni Chowk: Situated from hundreds of years, this place has narrow valleys containing a number of small congested shops. Although the shops are small, they contain millions of things. Ladies often come to this place for wedding shopping of lehengas and suits.

•    Sarojini Nagar: This I believe is the cheapest place possible as it sells really cheap designer materials- clothes and accessories.

•    Lajpat Nagar: This market, although quite hectic, gives an interesting glimpse of Indian culture.  It is abuzz with middle class Indian shoppers for its famous Indian kurti tops and Salwar Kameez.

And don’t worry, you don’t mandatorily have to be a college goer to go shopping at these interesting markets. They welcome all with open arms.

COFFEE IS HEROIC

I don’t trust people who don’t like coffee. Like really! Who doesn’t love coffee? Cafes in delhi and other metropolitan cities serve coffee combining it with different flavors and making it even more attractive. Morning coffees or night coffees, they all are welcome. And why wouldn’t they be, when they provide health benefits in addition to deliciousness. Here’s a list of health benefits of coffee that make it a perfect beverage.

• Coffee burns fat: - Caffeine is one of the very few natural substances that burn fat. Now since the main ingredient of coffee is caffeine, coffee is quite effective in burning extra fat and amplifying the metabolism rate. Studies have shown that coffee can boost the metabolism rate by 3-11%. So if you’re the one thinks all day long about the fat you have gained, go grab a cup of coffee and let it be your handy gym!

• Coffee lowers risk of type 2 diabetes: -We often hear about people suffering from type 2 diabetes and number of deaths caused due to diabetes is increasing rapidly. Several observational studies have shown that the coffee drinkers have a lower risk of type2 diabetes as compared to the non-coffee drinkers. Great! That means I will not die out of diabetes.

• Coffee fights depressions and make you happier: - Heartbreaks or bad exam results, there are a lot of day to day happenings that give us pain to an extent that makes us feel like there’s no way out to live a happy life. To combat with such mental sufferings and depressions, a cup of coffee works in wondrous ways. Coffee makes you happy. For me, the best restaurant in delhi is one which serves complimentary coffee with every meal we order. Wouldn’t it be great way of spreading happiness?

With so many health benefits, coffee is the perfect hero which blends healthiness with tastiness.

A Child’s Birthday Celebration

Birthdays are one of the most special occasions for a child. Children have utmost craze for birthdays and though subdued, it persists in their older years as well. This day brings on a sheer delight that is displayed on their faces. Birthdays have this magical charm that has affected children of all ages and parents also try to make it memorable for them. I got the opportunity to relive my childhood memories as I got the chance to observe an eight year old child’s birthday party in Saket, at one of the best malls there

Further, children were rushing in and out of the kids play zone in New Delhi mall, as if the place was their playground. I was waiting for a friend and was more than happy to spend my time observing the zeal and celebration around. The birthday girl needed no introduction as she was happily clad in the prettiest dress around along with a little tiara. But it wasn’t these accessories that distinguished her from the rest; rather it was the sheer delight that painted ‘The Birthday Girl’ all over her face. She was the celebrity around, for that day; and the place’s ambience contributed to her princess like stature. The elegant interiors that are usually aptly ornamented with seasons decorative were decorated with red all over it as it was February. This gave me the impression as if the entire place is decorated especially for her; and I suppose she believed the same.

The party was being hosted in the kids play zone in New Delhi mall, which are well equipped with games and play stations to occupy a child’s attention. The children were all so delighted and the little hostess was happily entertaining everyone, while her mother was arranging the pile of gifts. I was reminded of myself as I saw the girl was stealing a peek at those every once in a while, she was probably wondering about their contents. I actually enjoyed that wait while watching that birthday party in Saket. The happy clamor around took me to a different world altogether. It recalled the sweet memories from my childhood; and while observing those children I realized that as adults we have complicated our lives so much that in the act of being mature we do not allow ourselves the simple pleasures of life.      

To Delhi, With Love

It feels great to be back to the city where you spent your college life. After all it stands as a witness to all those madness and crazy days! Who doesn’t like to reminisce those honey colored days? Well I am fortunate enough to be back in Delhi shortly after my marriage and me and my husband plan to settle here for a while. After a stay in our hometown (we belong to the same hometown) for about a couple of years, fate brought us back to place we first met that too within a month of our marriage! Needless to say we both love this city and we chose to stay in Saket which would not only be close to our workplaces but because it’s a familiar place to both of us.

We were classmates and our common hang out place was PVR Saket complex. We have uncountable memories here! The walks, the movies the gossip sessions and the crazy photo sessions! Ah we revisit those days each and every time we pay a visit to PVR Saket.

The interesting fact is, we are still regular visitor to a café in Delhi which is close and we love it as much as we loved it back then, in fact this is the place where my husband once confessed his feelings for me. This café remains a special for both of us! What’s funny the manager still recognizes us!

Apart from all these, we have reunited with a lot of friends here who we missed badly during our exile from Delhi. Although life has taken a different turn and would do so eventually, these are the things which help us connect to our innocent carefree days which no other memory can beat. It is like first love, no one really forget it!

The Birthday Present Dilemma

As more and more varied products hit the market and consumerism is ever on the rise, when your near and dear ones’ birthdays are around the corner –you’re more often than not thrown into a mind-warping dilemma. What to get them? There seems to be no straightforward answer. Back in the day, all you had to do was go to a toy store or an apparel store and pick something, and walk out in just a few minutes. But now, the gifting scenario looks starkly different!

Now, people seem to expect all kinds of presents. A simple DVD just isn’t going to cut it anymore! Besides, with the overabundance of Places to shop in delhi, you’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice.

From quirky to elegant, practical to pretty… There seem to be a billion things out there that you could gift someone –yet at the same time, it seems as though there’s nothing, from the sheer excess of choices!

But I’ve figured out the easiest way to go about getting gifts for people –hit a mall! Bless shopping malls, encrusted with the world’s best brands and products, they never fail to come to our rescue in times of need! You no longer need to go to twelve different Places to shop in delhi –malls are the true one-stop destination for all your needs. Whatever kind of present you’re looking at, you can easily find it all at a mall.

That’s the best thing about a mall. Whether it’s food or clothes or shoes or even tickets to the Best cinemas in saket, you could find absolutely anything that could act as a present at a shopping mall.

So the next time you have a birthday coming round the corner –you know what to do, don’t you? Just drop by at your closest shopping mall, and you’ll have it all covered and covered and you won’t even break a sweat!

Burst Your Stress With Shopping

A girl can never get tired of shopping. Those who dislike shopping or only shop when required, can never understand people like me. Of course, there are occasions like weddings or parties, when shopping becomes necessary. But I don’t wait for all my clothes to get worn-out before I step out of my house to shop. For me, shopping in Delhi is a stressbuster.

On my most recent visit to my favourite mall, I was pleasantly surprised on seeing the revamped look of the food court. I was so impressed with the ambiance which was simply perfect for having quality conversation with friends and family over coffee, lunch, or dinner. After having lunch at the food court, my friends and I headed towards the movie hall. We had already bought the tickets for the movie we had been eagerly waiting to watch. We munched on the nachos while we watched with wonder the incredible action sequences. Since it was a lazy Saturday evening and we had no time restrictions, we decided to shop at our favourite store. There is a reason why it is our absolute favourite. It is store which has apparel, accessories, and footwear all under one roof. Be it sportswear, party dresses, or casual clothes- you would find it all. While I bought some trendy pairs of footwear, my best friend and her twin sister bought accessories to add to their already-huge collection.

Famished after hours spent on shopping, we left the mall and visited a popular café and bar in Delhi which we had been dying to visit for so long. But the best part was yet to come. The next day being Sunday, I decided to sleep over at my friend’s place. The best part about my relationship with my best friend is that I can talk to her about anything and we never ever run out of topics. After hours of endless chatter, we decided to sleep at around 6 in the morning. The next morning, oh wait, the next afternoon I returned home with my colourful shopping bags containing my precious clothes. I was all set to flaunt my trendy clothes!

My Love For Shoes

Gone are the days when people gave no thought to the choice of their footwear. The importance of wearing the right kind of shoes cannot be overemphasized. It is practically impossible to go on with our lives with a single pair of footwear in this day and age. Can you imagine wearing the same pair at home, to work, to the market, or to any other event/party/marriage? I am sure you just shook your head.

My sister and I have an entire cabinet dedicated to the storage of our shoes, sandals, slippers, and all kinds of footwear. We recently visited one of the well-known shopping malls in India. The purpose of our visit was to shop for apparel-office and casual both (since we both are working). But we just could not stop ourselves from entering the inviting shoe stores. Men can never understand the love for shoes we women have. And to be very honest, even though we have so many pairs of footwear, we still don’t have enough. I forgot to mention before that half of them are old, worn out, or uncomfortable. My sister and I have almost the same shoe size, so we do have many common pairs. But there is something very wrong in the way she naturally walks (she knows that). All of her footwear become bootless within a few days.  And there is so much variety of shoes in Delhi. When we go to a mall or a market, we simply can’t avoid staring at all the lovely pairs. And we can’t just stare; we have to buy too, right?

Now that I have started talking about shoes, I would tell you about a funny incident that happened in my life. My mother, my sister, and I had gone to a local market near our house.  Our mother wanted to buy vegetables and we had just accompanied her. While she was bargaining, my sister and I suddenly spotted a newly opened shoe shop. We promised ourselves that we would just ‘peek through’ and come back. But old habits die hard. We went in and scanned all shelves, and came out with 2 bags full of shoes. I would never forget the expression on my mother’s face when she saw us with the bags. That day that amazing shoe store became our favourite shop. It has always been of great help in emergency situations (for instance, cousin’s wedding tonight and we forgot to buy matching footwear).

By now you must have comprehended the depth of our love for shoes. If not, you must see us shopping once!

The Father-Daughter Movie Buffs

While downloading the latest movies has become the trend with my generation, I still like to catch a new movie the old-fashioned way. And so I impatiently await each Friday when some new movie or the other hits the cinemas.

Battling the urge to go on ‘torrent’ and download the latest movies, or simply streaming it online –as easy as it all really is- I don’t quite enjoy a movie on my laptop’s tiny screen. No, I want the big, shiny silver screen experience. I’d go to Select Citywalk and watch check out a movie at PVR than on my laptop anyday! In my world, that’s how a movie ought to be watched.

Perhaps this love for movies and movie theatres alike has stemmed from my father. Ever since I can remember, movies have always been a ‘father-daughter’ thing for me. From Antz to Titanic, Babe in the Big City, Lion King… the days of my childhood are filled with memories of my father and I catching the first show of every good movie that hit the cinemas.

If you had to go to pvr and you planned to go to cafe in delhi all you had to do was ask us, we knew it all! Back then, and even now, kids my age would want to go with their friends for movies… But not me! Being the daddy’s girl that I was, I couldn’t even begin to fathom watching a good movie in the theatre without my father! So I’d end up watching all the Harry Potter movies twice –first with my father, and then my friends.

Even now, when my friends want to go to Select Citywalk to catch a movie, I always check first with my father. If he hasn’t watched it, then sorry guys, in a few days! I may not be a little girl anymore, but I have a gut feeling this ritual is going to go on for evermore –maybe even my kids will love to go to the movies with their grandfather!

The Agony Of Finding The Perfect Birthday Outfit

Year after year, when the time comes for a big birthday bash, I’m in the midst of a nervous breakdown. Why, you ask? It’s pretty straightforward, but just the thought of it brings me to tears: What to wear?!

Generally, I’m not one to think twice about what to wear. My daily routine is this: I just jump out of bed and into the shower; then I reach into my closet and pull out whatever my hand gets a good hold of first (form the intertwined mess of all my worldly possessions), and just go with it! Simple, isn’t it?

But the moment my birthday comes round the corner, gone are the days of careless (or carefree, rather) dressing, and I can’t make head of tail of my messy wardrobe. Now what’s the easiest way to tackle this looming problem of what to wear? - Select Citywalk.

It’s the answer to all my shopping woes, and has come to be my go-to shopping place in delhi. I’m sure every girl and boy would relate to that. With what seems like a million different brands with the best clothes all clustered together in one giant shopping mall, all it takes is a couple of hours, hopping from shop to shop, and you’ll undoubtedly find at least 830 things you wish you owned.

Whether it’s chic or classy, Rastafarian or casual, funky or sexy, cool or elegant… The plethora of best brands and stores at Select Citywalk has it all. So instead of jumping out of bed and into a messy cupboard, what I do is jump out of bed, into the car, and drive off to the mall. Despite the fact that I’ll be completely exhausted from trying on a billion different outfits, I’ll have massive smile plastered across my face; because I’d definitely find the perfect dress, shoes and accessories, from the perfect shopping place in delhi. But the contentment is somewhat short-lived… For then there’s the matter of actually planning the party. But who cares, I’ve got my outfit sorted out, I’m golden!

Nostalgias Of A Young Shopper

These days, Select Citywalk has become something akin to a second home for me –and many others, I’m sure. If I feel a need to shop (or window shop) emerge, I end up there; if I’ve meeting up with friends for coffee or a meal, Citywalk it is; or if it’s too hot in the summer time or too cold during winters to hang out outside, Citywalk is always the safest bet.

But with all the gigantic, sprawling shopping malls that have cropped up all over the city, I sometimes feel nostalgic about shopping centres that used to be the go-to places when I was just a kid. Does anyone even remember Ansal Plaza anymore? Well, I do. From time to time I find myself missing those days. When it was just the one place we would go to.

Going to Ansal Plaza would become an entire day’s event, it wasn’t just every day that we’d go there (as has become the case with the shopping malls of today, we just end up there for no rhyme or reason much too frequently), so when we did it was something like a special outing. It used to be one of the Best Places to shop in delhi, so first on my family’s agenda was to shop. A couple of hours of shopping cashed in, I would run off to ‘Funky Orbit’, the Best Kids play zone in New Delhi, oh it was an absolute haven for children back then! I still hold that Funky Orbit is the Best Kids play zone in New Delhi there ever was –nothing comes close to the memories I have of it. Next, would be time for some food –McDonald’s being every kid’s idea of fine dining at that time. It used to be among the Best Places to shop in delhi; it was small yet wholesome for our needs back then. Things have now changed –perhaps for the better- but I still retain an element of nostalgia from what seems like eons ago.

Saket –A Social Hub

Everyone living in South Delhi will understand me when I say that Select Citywalk has become a social hub for us all. Often enough, I’m sure you find yourself planning an outing with your friends, and unable to reach a conclusion as to where to meet, someone always quips in with, “Oh, let’s just meet at Citywalk.” 

Such urban clichés are cliché for a reason, are they not? It’s centrally located in South Delhi, you can drive down, take a rickshaw or even get there by metro. Sprawled across a large area, Saket offers all kinds of entertainment. You could go to the Best pvr in saket to catch a movie, eat a positively delectable meal at one of the many restaurants, and shop till you drop, or even just walk about and still have a good time.

You will find the Best pvr in saket, so you and your friends can lounge in the more than comfy seats, sip on some coke and munch on some scrumptious popcorn while enjoying a Hollywood or Bollywood flick. And if you’ve still got time to spare after your movie, then there’s a variety of restaurants with all kinds of cuisines that will definitely curb your food cravings. So Delhi's Best restaurant could be one of many at Citywalk. That’s the beauty of this social hub, it’s not just a mall to shop (or window shop) at –it’s got just about everything. Any of the fantastic eateries at Saket could be given the title of Delhi's Best restaurant –the culinary expertise is just that great!

So if you want to plan an outing with your friends or family, catch a movie, or eat out, all you have to do is decide to meet at Citywalk and you’re in for an assured day of fun!

Happy Shopping!!

It’s no stone carved rule that being a vegetarian you do not get to savour as many delicacies as that for non-vegetarian enthusiasts. Beyond beef, chicken and pork, there are many dishes that avid vegetarians can get to enjoy. Likewise the non-vegetarian stuff, one does not needs to emptying pockets too and still relish fantastic food.

All that you’ll be needed to do is do a simple online search and scout for best restaurant in Delhi and I bet you’ll be amazed to check out the many options to choose from.  Back then, there were hardly a few options available for us but these days, be it an average starred restaurant or a multi rated bar or a restaurant, these entities get them enlisted in the review portals such as zomato and trip advisor  wherein a customer can simply choose an eatery depending on his/her preferrences. Say for instance: if you want to have some Continental or may be Thai, these portals make everything so very easily accessible that within a matter of few minutes, you get the food right at your doorstep.

Many times, after hopping from one place to the other in search of Best Places to shop in Delhi, we end up feeling tired and obviously, cooking becomes the very last thing on preference list. Instead of making shopping a tiring affair for you, do one thing simply go to a showroom and enjoying privileges of happy shopping and savouring delicacies of your choice. This is the best part about the shopping malls, instead of making an individual hop from one place to the other, brands of repute are nested under one roof only.

Here you go… check out malls to bag off crazy deals and savour mouth-watering food!!

One Weekend in South Delhi

I like catching entertainment shows and I love to shop! Going shopping while also being able to catch a live gig at a cafe later would be my idea of a perfect weekend break. Now there may be many definitions for entertainment, but for me, it’s all about music! Weekend entertainment places in South Delhi may be far too many to list down, but whenever I’m faced with the ordeal of going for hunting down Delhi’s best shoes available for sale in the market or catching a lively gig at a bar, I know exactly where to go to get the best of both worlds.

Select Citywalk is one huge and elegant mall. Its interiors are pretty refreshing and it completely lifts your mood once you enter through its welcoming doors. It features shops where you can find some of Delhi’s best shoes, Aldo, Footkraft and Crocs being my personal favourites. I would give Select full points for its excellent footwear stores as it has made my thirst for shoes so much easier to quench with its exceptional shoe shops.

It’s also undoubtedly the best entertainment place in Saket. The Hard Rock Café situated within the premises of the mall comes as a delightful affair for music junkies like me. I’ve got a lot of musician friends who go around playing in the cafes of South Delhi while I feel Select is a spot that can accommodate my love for shopping, as well as my musical inclination. Hard Rock Cafe would definitely feature in my list of the best entertainment places in Saket. It’s some good music they play out there. Their burgers are awesome too, if you don’t already know that. They have an original taste and are extremely crispy and juicy!

A weekend full of shopping and good music! That’s some break, right?