Winter immunity stars...

With winter on in full swing, illnesses can’t be far behind. So it’s time to get healthy and fight off familiar evils like the common cold, cough, flu and sore throats. Choosing the right winter foods is a great way to build up immunity and ward off these infectious ailments. Make sure to stock your kitchen and pantry with the following ‘miracle’ foods:

Amla: This Indian gooseberry is sour at first and then leaves a sweet aftertaste. Have the juice of at least two amlas every morning. You can also grate the fruit and squeeze out the juice before consumption. Diluting amla juice with the juicy extracts of one carrot, one tomato, half an apple and half a pomegranate helps soothe a sore throat. Amla is the only fruit in which the vitamin C does not get rapidly oxidized, unlike every other natural source.Orange: Oranges are best known for their vitamin C content. Add them to your other fruit juices or drink pure orange juice. You can also include them in your refreshing salads daily.White sesame: The traditional Indian til chikkis can be your best buddies during winter. Til is used in preparations like laddoos, nutrition bars, etc. You can also sprinkle a spoonful on your salads and chapatis.Ginger Tea: This fleshy root with its pungent odour and scorching taste is filled with various minerals and vitamins that help combat many winter illnesses. Enjoy a cup of ginger, lemon and honey tea to keep you boosted.Gond (gum crystals): These sticky crystals don’t let the cold and cough stick to you. Include them in the form of traditional ‘Gundar Paak’ that is made at home.

Including these ‘immunity stars’ in your daily diet will definitely improve your resistance and keep winter maladies at bay.     

Romantic foods – we’ve all heard of. But have you heard of the romantic fruits? Let us tell you more about them so that you can have passion, as well as health this Valentine’s Day. Fire up your life with these sumptuous, juicy and luscious fruits! Lyche: Did you know that lychee is a symbol of sensuality, romance and love in China? Legend has it, that the Emperor of Tang Dynasty would woo his favourite concubine with this fragrant fruit!Lychee is also loaded with vitamins and minerals. This sweet smelling pulp is full of flavonoids, which help in fighting breast cancer. The Vitamin C in the fruit is beneficial for those suffering from cold, fever or even sore throat, apart from strengthening bones and smoothening the skin!So, this Valentine’s day go ahead and send a basket full of love… oops lychees to the love of your life!Strawberry: A perfect little heart, and edible at that! Now if that is not romantic, what is! Strawberries have been considered an aphrodisiac since the times of ancient Rome. The heart-shaped fruit was said to be the symbol of Venus – the goddess of love/ And the French are said to have fed strawberry soup to newlyweds in order to promote honeymoon romance! In addition, strawberries are a powerhouse of nutrition. It is an excellent source of Vitamin, which acts as an immunity booster, and the antioxidant properties help prevent cataract in the eye and the chemical ellagic acid helps suppress growth of cancer cells.Do you need to know more? Dip the edible heart in a delectably rich chocolate sauce or sweet cream and you have the simplest, yet perfect seduction tool!Pineapple: Did you know that pineapple has always been ‘prescribed’ as a ‘cure’ for impotence? Traditionally, it is used by homeopaths for treating patients suffering from impotence. In fact, you will find several online pineapple cocktail recipes for ‘improved libido’! We are not sure how these cocktails work, but from a nutritional standpoint, we can assure you that pineapple can be yet another aphrodisiac.Pineapples are a rich source of Vitamin C, an essential vitamin for the production of happy hormones. It is rich in antioxidants, which keep your skin glowing, young and radiant. The fruit is a powerhouse of manganese which is essential for sexual health, especially for men. (Now you know where it gets its reputation for fighting impotence!)So don’t forget to add the powerhouse-packed-pineapple to your ‘love’ basket!Figs: Yet another revered aphrodisiac with an intoxicating aroma! Figs have been considered a symbol of fertility for centuries by many cultures. The fruit is said to have been Cleopatra’s favourite food, and Greeks believed that it was a gift from Dionysus – the god of wine, ecstasy and wanton behaviour!Now, talking about the fruit’s nutritional benefits – figs have natural AHA properties that gives your skin a refreshed and bright look. It is also high in phytochemicals that help fight cancer and also protect your skin from UV rays. Figs are also known to enhance sexual powers. Another addition to your basket!Grapes: Wine – one of the finest symbols of romance – comes from grapes! Grapes have always been associated with love and fertility. In ancient Greece, newlyweds were given clusters, as they believed that grape’s seeds would bless the couple with lots of children.In addition to essential vitamins and minerals, grapes are rich in polyphenols such as flavonoids. Flavonoids protect you against health problems such as heart disease and cancer. Grapes are packed with phytochemicals, which in turn contain anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, essential for your skin health.Drinking grape juice everyday will give you a radiant, blemish-free, young looking skin! And, what can be more romantic than hand-feeding these juicy green/purple jewels to your partner!Pomegranate: It is thought to be one of the very first fruits ever cultivated and grown on the earth. The pomegranate is the symbol of fertility in some countries and an aphrodisiac in others. Did you know that Shakespeare used the symbolism of a pomegranate tree in Romeo and Juliet to represent true love, forbidden love, and sweet innocence between Romeo and Juliet?Often called 'Nature's Power Fruit' because of its usefulness, pomegranates protect your arteries, fight breast cancer, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, protect your teeth, help bring your sugar down, and even prevent cartilage deterioration. If that's not a healthy powerhouse, then what is?In some Hindu traditions, the pomegranate (Sanskrit: Beejpur, literally: replete with seeds) symbolizes prosperity and fertility, and is associated with Bhoomidevi (The Earth Goddess). Eating pomegranate, according to legend, gives you special powers and an irresistible allure. It is also a natural aphrodisiac, enhancing your sexual desire and libido. Add these fruits to your romance-basket now, and feed the rubies to your love!There might not be scientific evidence to support the aphrodisiac properties of these ‘romantic’ fruits, but fruits are good for health and this Valentine’s Day, express your feelings in a fresh, new way!

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Glamping under the stars

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, you the wizards pitch tents as they settle in to watch the sporting spectacle that is the Quidditch World Cup. But much like everything in the wizarding world, these are no ordinary tents — from the outside, they look ordinary enough, but the interiors resemble (depending on the owner’s taste) anything from a homely apartment to a three-storeyed palace. Sounds fantastical? Well, not really. Not since the muggle world has gotten hooked on to a certain travel phenomenon called “glamping”.

The idea of camping might have been always been associated with a rustic, simpler existence sans modern conveniences, a way to connect with the great outdoors relying purely on your survival skills and “toughing it out”. But glamping — glamorous camping if you will —has provided an alternative that has proven very popular among travellers.

From tents that might cost up to $1,000 a night, and include everything from a king-sized bed to a spectacular view of nature at its untamed best as well as the chance to tuck into a five-course meal, to luxury trailers and portable “pods” — all of this is available to the glamper who’s willing to shell out the moolah.

Add to this that the best locations in India —including Gulmarg, Rajasthan, many wildlife sanctuaries, the foothills of the Aravallis, Goa and Kerala — are offering irresistible options for glamping, and you can see why so many have succumbed to the trend’s lure happily.

“One of the reasons why glamping has become so popular in India is that people now have money to spend,” says Rishad Saam Mehta, travel writer and photographer, who authored the book Hot Tea Across India. “Glamping lets you enjoy the romance of camping and the ease of luxury and India is matching the global popularity of glamping 100 per cent. ”

And several properties across India are going all out to cater to the growing need. Angus Young, who owns the popular glamping resort, The Mandala, in Goa, created ‘Yantra tents’ for the discerning glamper. Set next to a river, amid a lush coconut grove, these tents have hand-carved wooden beds and a communal bathroom area with five-star fittings. In peak season, the tents are available for Rs 3,500 a night, in the off-season, for Rs 2,500.

“Our guests are mostly nature lovers — this is not for the squeamish as there’s a chance a frog may get into your room!”

Of course, that’s one way in which glamping is the same as camping — one is not removed from nature. That principle is epitomised in Taj Safaris’ Banjaar Tola property, in the heart of the Kanha National Park. The air-conditioned tents are made of pressed bamboo wall panels, natural bamboo floors and house locally-crafted Bastar artwork. Depending on the plan chosen (safari game drives, house wines, laundry services etc. are on offer) the experience costs between Rs 8,000 to RS 20,500, says Raka Chakrawarti of the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces group.

Newer glamping properties are also finding plenty of takers. Sarah Fatemi and Munbir Chawla, founders of The Wild City, have introduced camping options at the Magnetic Fields music festival in Rajastan. “Hot showers, bonfires and a beautiful sky full of stars”, are what Sarah and Munbir promise.

For travellers like 26-year-old banking professional, Seema Moorthy, the range of glamping options available has meant that she and gal pals can enjoy the notion of roughing it out but in complete safety. Seema recently glamped at the Della Adventures property in the hill station of Lonavla, Maharashtra, and says the Rs 12,000 per night experience was just right. “As much as I like the idea of being in the great outdoors, I want to feel safe. Glamping gives you that outdoorsy feeling but you also feel secure. Our tent looked quite regular on the outside, but had a creaking wooden floor and resembled a five-star hotel room — just a really cosy one.”

Staunch campers, however, think glamping is antithetical to the idea of camping. Abhijeet Mhatre, founder of Mumbai-based Letscampout, is among those who think that glamping cannot match the camping experience”.

“People don’t want to get out of their comfort zone,” he rues. “I think in glamping — especially when the experience allows you to stay connected with gadgets — the essence of camping is lost. Camping is as much about bonfires and bonding with fellow campers as it is about roughing it out.” He also adds that the camping experience needn’t be devoid of certain necessities. Lets campout guests have access to chemical toilets and prices range from Rs 1,199 to Rs 2,500.

But there are those who defend glamping. Rishad Saam Mehta, who has camped and glamped, says both kinds of experiences have their allure. “It’s not a competition. You’re going to relax, so why does it matter how you choose to do so?” he asks.

Angus Young agrees. “People have this romantic idea about camping — that it should be about eating out of a can of beans and waking up with aches and pains,” he says. “But glamping is about camping — without getting your hands dirty. It’s about bringing two very unlikely worlds together.”

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