A-Desiflava Nov-Dec, 2019 Issue by A-Desiflava Magazine

HONG KONG’S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR SOUTH ASIANS

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Volume 8

Winter Wardrobe

Our stylist curates 3 affordable looks this season The Stylist

Cross-Culture Connections

Meet mixed-race couples who embrace and celebrate their differences Cover Story Fanny & Sri Kishore

Blowin’ Off Smoke Top 10 shisha places in town Feature

Netkids

7 sensible shows for the pre-teens Netizens

Issue 6

NOV-DEC 2019

Esther & Sandeep

Susanna & Ameen

Stella & Karunakaran

Take Me To The ’Stans Exploring Central Asia Globetrotter

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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CONTRIBUTORS Mrs. Poonam V Mehta

CONTRIBUTORS

Brinda Khandwala Managing Editor editor@aplomhk.com

An early-childhood educator and counsellor, Poonamji runs several schools. As President of Be The Change HK Organization, she is actively involved in helping Hong Kong’s ethnic communities. She is also a core member of Sage Foundation (Mumbai) and Trustee of Dreamz Home Orphanage (Mumbai). Leading with love, she inspires us to be better beings.

Seema Puri Bhatia Co-founder of PranaYum, food blogger (SpicyAbundance) Seemaji grew up as her mother’s ‘sous-chef’ and went on to design her own wholesome and healthy food philosophy. Her most sought-after recipes are now shared here for our readers to also embrace a healthy-eating lifestyle.

Hello Readers, Is it too soon to mention the turn of the decade? Since this is our last issue of the year, we are already looking forward to 2020! Its that time of the year when we talk about new year resolutions and lifestyle changes through an optimistic lens of a better world for ourselves. Personally, I am looking forward to making smarter choices. As I enlist these choices, I realize how simple they are to adopt. How simple it is to choose fitness over weightloss,

Abhimanyu Narayanmoorthy Man about town – Abhimanyu is a familiar face everywhere that Hong Kong desis get together. And yet the Risk Management Consultant with a French Bank makes time to establish his entertainment company Cutting Chai, explore unique destinations and pen down his travelogues for us.

Jeenali Desai The fashion stylist travels avidly to the fashion-savvy cities of the world from Mumbai, London, Dubai, Singapore… picking up trends along the way. She curates edgy and interesting looks with her characteristic feminine touch for work and play!

wholesomeness over indulgence, mental health over muscle, happiness over bank balance, intimate gatherings over social media posts, unfiltered fun over airbrushed photos, originality over trends, mindfulness over materialism, gratitude over greed and finally humanity over religion? As we work on each issue, we come across wonderful people who inspire us with their simple yet profound philosophies. The appreciation and encouragement we continue to receive, keeps us going. Looking forward to 2020 with great gusto and gratitude.

Keep inspiring, Brinda

This ‘marvelous missus’ concocts all her global influences into acts that have audiences rolling with laughter. Hong Kong’s only female Indian standup artist shares some of her PG humour that doesn’t make it to the mic for our readers.

Pearly Chhabra Well-known in the beauty circuits of the city, Pearly’s expert hands equipped with makeup brushes and palettes work the magic of a fairy godmother! But the artist truly believes that makeup is simply the sparkle on natural beauty. She shares tips and hacks on enhancing your god-gifted looks.

Azake Rahman Investing in the latest in camera technology, the very suave and skillful Azake captures magic through the lens in his unique style. Be it a candid conversation, the cities buzz or scenic views, he seizes memorable moments within our pages – making the stories come alive for our readers.

Sonal Advani

Maitreyi Karanth

adesiflava_hk

Dutiful, diligent and dignified, the youngest member on our team – our intern, shows maturity beyond her age. Her valuable contribution to the content helps us make the magazine more relatable and interesting for our younger readers.

CONTENTS

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PHILANTHROPRENEUR

Dr. Kuldeep Buttar Exclusive interview with Chairman of Buttar Associates

THE STYLIST

Winter Wardrobe

Our stylist curates 3 affordable looks this season

NETIZENS

Netkids 7 sensible shows for the pre-teens

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EDITORIAL: Gaurav Pardeshi (Chief Editor)

Brinda Khandwala (Managing Editor)

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CROSSCULTURE Connections

The best love stories are the ones that overcome conflicts for togetherness to triumph. A lot of Bollywood masala movies are based on the idea of a cross-culture relationship. Brinda Khandwala and Sonal Advani meet real-life couples who share their personal stories filled with the highs, lows and lots of love in their cross-culture relationship.

COVER STORY

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Esther & Sandeep While we are chatting, Esther brings us chai. The fragrance of freshly ground cardamom fills the room. “Hope you like cardamom tea. It is how he likes it,” she smiles. “Later I will show you my kitchen – its an Indian kitchen on one side and Chinese on the other.” The food, she says, is very different. “In Chinese, we eat the main ingredient. For example, if you’re making chicken, you can taste the flavour of the chicken. The sauces are on the side, just for bringing out main taste. But in Indian food, you’re tasting the spices. The maslas cover the taste of the main ingredient,” she points out.

obedient dogs as we entered and then by sweet, eight-yearold Anavi with a ‘namaste’.

eeting Sandeep Sharma takes us back to our soil. His characteristic Punjabi munda, big-hearted greeting made us feel the instant comfort of familiarity. We spent an unforgettable leisurely Sunday afternoon in his Park Island home with his lovely wife Esther, daughter Anavi and two dogs over chai and cake! Even before we could begin the interview with Esther and Sandeep, we were chatting away about food and family. We were greeted by the two lovely, large and rather

“We’ve taught her when someone does ‘namaste’, you do ‘namaste’; when they say ‘salaam alaykum’ you say ‘wa-alaykum-salaam’ and of they say ‘god bless you’, you say ‘god bless you too’,” says Sandeep. Their lovely home, filled with lot (and lots) of happy photographs, tells that family is the most important thing to them. “In that sense Indian and Chinese cultures are very similar – they’re both familyoriented, caring and warm. Families love getting together for birthdays and festivals,” he says.

Esther and Sandeep met ten years ago in a club where he was working. “I had gone with my friend. I saw him there and we started talking. My friend pointed out that he seems interested in you,” she recalls. “After that I kept going back with different friends just to see him.” There was instant chemistry, as Sandeep remembers it. “But I was married then. It was in 2010 that I got divorced and then we started dating and soon moved in together. So, you see, next year its going to be ten years of us suffering together!” he laughs. The initial struggle was more with the language. “Though from Hong Kong, my parents are traditional Chinese. They don’t speak any English. So, for them to communicate with Sandeep was an issue in the beginning,” says Esther.

“I started working out a way to get along with her family. First thing was to practice my Cantonese because I wanted to get to know them better.” Sandeep Sharma. “I started working out a way to get along with her family,” he explains. “First thing was to practice my Cantonese because I wanted to get to know them better.” Today Sandeep speaks fluent Cantonese which has helped him in more ways than he imagined. Similarly, Esther adapted to the Indian culture very well. She celebrates Diwali, has a wardrobe of traditional Indian wear and even wears a mangalsutra every single day since their marriage. “And I wear the wedding ring,” points out Sandeep. Their wedding photos have them dressed in Indian wedding wear – which was Esther’s idea. She wanted to do the traditional bridal look for it with the lehenga, jewelry, bindi and mehendi. “Even for the Chinese, the bride wears red. And when there’s a

COVER STORY

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death, we wear white too,” she explains. Sandeep’s traditional Punjabi mother didn’t protest to this union, but back then she did express that she would’ve liked to choose a Punjabi bride for him. “I asked her what she will do with her Punjabi bahu because I sure wasn’t going to bring her to Hong Kong with me. She said she will keep her in Punjab with her. So, I said – fine, for your happiness I will marry a Punjabi woman and you can keep her with you. And I will come back to Hong Kong and live with the woman I love!” Of course, that didn’t happen. And with time both the mothers are very accepting and happy with this relationship. They both enjoy the same respect in Sandeep and Esther’s home.

never seen a more organized space! Neatly labeled and stacked, the complete range of masalas were on the ‘Indian side’ of the kitchen. She also had a mortar and pestle for freshly grinding green cardamom for their tea. The ‘Chinese’ side had their sauces and rice. “I love when she makes roti for me,” says Sandeep. “But I still can’t make them perfectly round,” she admits. same community, respect is very important. Before we start living together, we are individuals who come from different homes, so the understanding and respect for each other is what makes the marriage work. It’s as simple as that,” says Esther.

“I make chai for his mother and he makes Chinese tea for my parents when they visit,” she says.

Their little disagreements keep the marriage spiced up. And when it comes to Anavi, there is a clear thought, that they want her to learn and respect every culture of the world.

“Before we start living together, we are individuals who come from different homes. So, the understanding and respect for each other is what makes the marriage work. It’s as simple as that.” Esther Sharma

“She can wear Indian clothes, or Chinese clothes or whatever she wants. For me, she can be international,” says Esther.

“Whether it’s a mixed culture marriage or even of the

The couple does make it look simple. But in a home where two different food habits, different beliefs and different styles of upbringing co-exist, conflict is inevitable. Esther leads me to her kitchen to explain that – and we have

Sandeep passionately talks about his parenting style and involvement in his daughter’s upbringing. “Anavi is like me – she picks up languages very fast. She already speaks a little of Hindi and Spanish. And of course, she is learning Cantonese, Mandarin and English. I am training her to learn more. When you’re living in a global city, it’s good to at least know how to meet and greet in different languages. We are raising her to survive in the future - not just in the family but in the world. The

world is her family. And she can fit in every circle.” The couple embodies the term ‘opposites attract’. While she is a calm, composed woman of few words, he is a largehearted, loud and talkative Punjabi! He believes its their differences that makes their marriage exciting and adventurous. “In our home, we believe in respecting everything but following our own path.”

COVER STORY

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Fanny & Sri Kishore

Bollywood DVDs and watch with her girlfriends. “The hero is too handsome and the heroine is so pretty in the Indian dresses… I didn’t care about the story, we were just happy to watch them.”

Bollywood connection, shall we say! Sri Kishore Bandanakanti and Fanny Ng had a chance meeting only because she stumbled upon his Bollywood dance class at the same venue where she went for Yoga. The catchy beats got her interested in the dance, but little did she know that she will be finding the love of her life in her dance teacher! After three years of hanging out as ‘just good friends’, the duo realized their connection only when Sri went to Hyderabad for eight months to work on his first film. A dance teacher by profession and Telegu filmmaker by

passion and, Hyderabadbased Sri came to Hong Kong almost 12 years ago. Fanny has been brought up in Hong Kong. Needless to say, their sensibilities came from very different backgrounds. But Bollywood music played cupid in this relationship. “From 2008 to 2013, there was absolute craze about Bollywood music here. People would line up outside the studio even before it opened to register for class. Today, every other person with a YouTube video is a Bollywood dance teacher!” points out Sri.

“His class looked fun!” said Fanny. “But I had no concept of dance. I was like a robot. I’d join at the back of the class and hope that he won’t look at me. Over time I began to enjoy it more and more. There were even times when I had even skipped work to attend the class!” Fanny would often go to Chungking Mansion to buy

Often after dance class, Fanny and Sri together with other friends would hang out, have dinner and socialize. “But there was no intention of getting married or even dating,” he clarifies. “When I went to Hyderabad in 2011 we started chatting over the phone and then started dating.” Though neither of the two had any inhibitions about getting involved with someone from a

COVER STORY

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completely different culture, their respective mothers had some concerns. “Actually, my mom knew Fanny and really liked her. But that was when she met her during her visit to Hong Kong and hung out with her before we were dating,” he recalls. “Of course, when I told her that I was going to marry her, she had some concerns. She is a traditional countryside woman. It would be a concern even if a south Indian boy is marrying a north Indian girl. So, a Hong Kong girl was a bit much for her to accept.” Fanny faced a similar issue in her home. Though her father was kind of supportive, her mother protested their relationship. “You know we have lived in Hong Kong all our lives. Sometimes there are stories in the news about how ethnic men which are worrisome. And for my mother, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese… its all the same.” Sri adds, “Like for us Chinese, Japanese and Korean seem the same.”

“My mother was concerned about my future. But now she likes him so much! When we visit her for dinner, she will always ensure he is eating what he likes and is comfortable.” – Fanny Ng “Yes, so she was concerned about my future. But now she likes him so much! When we visit her for dinner, she will always ensure he is eating what he likes and is comfortable.” In that sense, Sri says, both the mothers are similar. Owing

to their traditional upbringing, their warmth and care towards the family and children is the same. “But they don’t speak a single language in common. They both say they can communicate but I don’t know how,” he laughs. “When my mother in law visited us after our son was born, she brought my mother a sari. They spent the afternoon learning how to drape it and laughing. My mother would serve her food and ask her to nap. It was like friends hanging out,” explains Fanny. The mothers seem to share a very ‘ek duje ke kiye’ vibe where language isn’t a barrier! “I wonder how!” says Sri. “Maybe because they don’t have the typical ‘in laws’ relationship where ego comes into play.”

“Our mothers don’t speak a single common language but they can communicate. I don’t know how.” – Sri Kishore Their bonny boy – Vishwa Virat B, all of four years, is a perfect blend of both cultures – in looks and personality.

He speaks fluent English and Cantonese and does puja in the morning with his father! “I also speak a few words of Telegu with him,” says Sri. Fanny looks more into his studies because she knows how the Hong Kong educational system functions. Most of their conflicts arise because of different approaches to parenting. Fanny admits that in Hong Kong there is a lot of pressure on children and parents when it comes to education, which may not be the case in Indian schools. Sri, on the other hand, wants his son to enjoy his childhood with the simple pleasure like getting his hands dirty in the sands or playing with insects. And when it comes for food, there is no room for conflict. “I’ve spent many years as a student living away from home, that now if I get simple rice and dal – I’m happy. I can eat it even if the salt is missing.” Fanny admits she doesn’t know Indian cooking well. “All I do is add some red chili powder to make it spicy!” But she has some favourites when she goes to Hyderabad. “Dahi wada and dosa.” She also got her mum in law to eat pizza!

The only thing she cannot understand about the Hyderabad home is how many ‘strangers’ keep coming over. Sri laughs, “You know how it is in Indian homes. People just drop by for a cup of tea or something. Once when we were visiting, in the morning my father called the milkman in to introduce him to Fanny saying – meet her, she is my daughter in law.” “And I ask Sri who is this, even he didn’t know!” she added. In absolute contrast, the Hong Kong culture is very alien for Sri. “Its very odd. Even a couple living together won’t have their breakfast together or know what the other is doing through the day. People are very disconnected. No one greets eachother in the elevators or drops by at each other’s homes.” The city’s pace doesn’t match with Sri’s. “In Hong Kong, life is very fast. People will wake up, get dressed and go out,” says Fanny. “If I have a meeting at 11 am, I need to wake up at 7 and take my time to get ready for it,” Sri explains. The couple’s longterm plan is to save money and retire in Hyderabad.

COVER STORY

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Susanna & Ameen

he most jovial couple we met through this journey, Susanna Ting and Ameen Thana, have been together for 27 years. The parents of two teen boys truly enjoyed reminiscing their dating period and wedding days as they gave us this interview. “This is fun,” said Ameen. “We haven’t thought of those days in a long time.” To start with, Ameen tells us, “In our case, it’s not just an Indian marrying Chinese. Its Indian Muslim marrying Chinese – it’s hard! My father was a real south Indian father – though he had come to Hong Kong for business in 1968, he wanted me to finish my studies in India. I lived for two years in his Brahmin friend’s house. Pure vegetarians!”

Ameen would visit Hong Kong in the holidays before he finally moved here at the age of 21. Since he was speaking four languages already – English, Hindi, Tamil and Chinese, he easily got a job in a global company. That’s where he met Susanna. She was the Chartered Secretary. “In fact, this is the exact time of the year we first went out together – 17th October 1992!” said Ameen. Truly impressive when men remember their first date, and almost three decades later! Susanna added, “That time it was just as friends. We went to Star Ferry.”

Love happened naturally. But telling the parents had its share of drama, as expected. “Yes, my family is very traditional. They asked me why I chose an Indian man and not Chinese. They said that the language, culture and upbringing is very different. Of course, they were right to feel like this. They advised me to reconsider.”

love her very much. Being her oldest son, I knew she hopes and dreams of arranging my marriage,” Ameen explains. “But what was amazing how she organized our wedding once she accepted. In those days, she was thoughtful enough to arrange for a translator during our wedding so that the bride’s side can be more comfortable.”

Ameen adds to this, “At the time, they were right to feel afraid of Indian people. Many Indians married for visa and would leave. So, it was natural for them to be concerned about their daughter.”

Ameen and Sussanne had a big wedding back in Tiruchirappalli, India. With about 1200 guests and a lot of formalities, the wedding was very well organized by his mother. “Susanne and her family stayed at a relative’s home. Back then we didn’t have mobile phones. We used to send messages to eachother via the translator!”

Susanne remembers, “After we met, Ameen used to bring a tape to Kowloon park and listen to it everyday to learn Cantonese.” The couple dated, and waited for almost ten years before they got married because they wanted both their families to approve of their union. “My father had passed away. I couldn’t upset my mother, I

Since it was a Muslim wedding, Susanne had to convert to Islam. “Growing up, I didn’t have a specific religion that I followed. I studied in a Christian school but I wasn’t strictly following any particular faith. So in that sense it was easy for

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in this western world, as compared to children in India,” observes Susanne. “Its just recently when they witness the protests going on in Hong Kong, that they are beginning to think for themselves how they feel about it.”

me to convers,” she explains. She appreciates that neither Ameen or the family ever forced her to practice the religion.

“If you want something you have to give up something. For my whole life I have to accept food without salt! You can expect to eat biryani everyday.” laughs Ameen. “My mom likes her. They are both happy. They respect and care for each other – what more can I ask for?” he says. “Life is like that – you want something then you have to give up something. Like for the whole life I have to accept food without salt! You can’t expect to eat biryani everyday.” (everyone laughs). She likes tandoori chicken and naan when they eat out. “But that’s North Indian food,” he says. “But now I like sambhar,” she argues. “I know how to prepare it. I also learned how to make chapati and masala chai. Now I make it and we have it together at the start of the day.” “Initially I used to eat whatever she cooked, so it was mostly Chinese. But I do miss Indian food. So whoever we hire as help in the house, I ask them to prepare desi khana once a week.” Ameen even likes his mother in law’s Fujianese dish that she specially prepares for him every time they visit. Jokes apart, Ameen believes no matter where in the world you are, you must accept your true self. “Indians are everywhere. But wherever you are, whatever nationality

you have acquired or what your passport says, you are Indian at heart. Holding chopsticks won’t make you Chinese. When I see my people, I speak with them in Tamil. I find it strange when Indian here come and speak in Chinese with me!” Their children mostly follow the mother’s culture, as most children do. “He travels a lot,” Susanne explains. “The children are mostly with me. They speak Chinese and English.” Ameen admits, “It’s my mistake that I didn’t speak enough Tamil with them when they were growing up. We don’t watch a lot of Indian cinema either. With Sussane I have become addicted to watching the Chinese shows. I feel this more when I take them back to visit India and my mother talks to them. If they knew Tamil, they would be able to talk more.” The duo works hard to continue to expose the children to both the cultures. They often take holidays in India. And share festivals and celebrations with Susanne’s family here. “They don’t like it that India doesn’t have good internet is many places,” he laughs. “Then I remind them that the CEO of Google is a South

Indian, and he did it without internet. So, they, with all their facilities, have to do even smarter!” Their sons have taken after the parents very fairly – one is on the mother while the other is more like the father. “My older son likes butter dosa but can’t handle much spice. The younger one can eat the spice,” she says. As a family, they have a whole big group of friends with mixed marriages. They get together often and take holidays too – all the couples and mixed children. “Its so lovely to see Indian kids fluently speaking Malay (Singaporean), Cantonese, Mandrin, Fujianese...” he says. “I feel parent’s advise children to marry someone that has more commonality with you, simply to avoid conflict,” Susanne says. “But the truth is, all couples have conflict.” A stark opposite of her, Ameen believes, “Its how you adapt to each other. Yes, she is patient, quiet and honest. More composed - so it works for us. You can’t have two tigers in one jungle! I think Indian men in general are short tempered. Maybe its because of all the spicy curry we eat!” “On the other hand, I think our kids are too cushioned

“Of course, there are problems everywhere. “You have to go through problems to get answers.”

Xenophobia often emerges as one of the root issues around the world. Somewhere, cross culture marriages, and mixed race children are helping with more tolerant and accepting attitude. “Of course, there are problems everywhere,” she says. “You have to go through problems to get answers.” “The key is respect. I joined a friend to church one day, that didn’t make me Catholic. It simply made her happy. And the next day when I wanted to pray, she drove for an hour to find a mosque for me,” says Ameen as he recalls visiting a friend abroad. “You have to respect all religions and beliefs.”

COVER STORY

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Stella & Karunakaran After a series of interviews, it was rather refreshing to know that Karunakaran didn’t have to face any disagreement from the family when he decided to marry Stella Yip. Born and brought up in China, Stella’s family moved to Hong Kong in 1991. She met Karuna in the year 2000. “For me, there were no inhibitions about our differences when we started dating. But it was later when the family got to know that I experienced some pressure from their end,” remembers Stella.

One common thing we discovered after meeting all the couples, that language is a much bigger criteria that one imagines when it comes to two families coming together. “I understand that they weren’t okay with this relationship before because they can’t communicate with him at all and our backgrounds were different,” she explains. “Because they can’t communicate, they don’t know whether he is a good person or not; whether I can depend on him or not. These were their concerns.”

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Brought up in Chennai, living in Sydney and then in Hong Kong – Karuna had the support of the family right from the beginning. After three years of knowing each other when they decided to get married in 2003, it was Stella’s grandmother who convinced her parents to accept this relationship.

“For both cultures, family is priority. There is respect for elders. In many ways we share the same values.” - Stella Stella points out the Stella points out the similarities between the Indian and Chinese cultures, where family is of key importance. “For both, family is priority. There is respect for elders. In many ways we share the same values. Religions may be different, but worship is important. My father is Buddhist. There are a lot of Buddhist philosophies that overlap with Hindu ones.” And then there are the differences – food, language

and upbringing. “Of course, the food is very different. Language was an issue for us initially as I was still learning English and wasn’t very fluent with it. But that is not an issue anymore,” she says. Like we commonly do in India, her family had even consulted a traditional astrologer in the village to check of the couple is a good match as per their birthdates to discover that they indeed were! But it wasn’t enough to convince them as their concerns about her future took over. “At that time only my grandmother was fully supportive and convinced them. She told my parents you cannot find good man for your daughter. And if you do, how can you assure anyone is truly good? So, if she has found someone that she feels comfortable with – you must accept him.” “Her family is very supportive,” he said. “After the grandmother convinced them, they all were supportive. They helped me buy the long list of Chinese food items and traditional gift articles that as per their village community tradition the groom had to deliver to the bride’s family during our wedding.”

“We love each other. They will say something in Cantonese and I can try picking it up.” – Karunakaran With no common language, one wonders how Karuna

communicates with his inlaws. “We love each other,” he puts is simply. “They will say something in Cantonese and I can try picking it up.” The wedding happened in both – Kerala style as well as Chinese style. “So, the Chinese tradition is that we go to her house and serve tea. For Kerala style, she came to my house. There was a lamp around which we had to walk. Then we give her a sari – that’s it. It’s a short ten-minute ceremony.” Later they had a big banquet wedding reception where they invited all the friends. Now with two teen boys – Yogesh and Vasudev, their home functions in a very mixed style with influences of both the cultures and more. Being Hong Kong children, they are very ‘international’ in their lifestyle. They speak Cantonese and English. “I haven’t taught them Malayali or Tamil yet,” says Karuna. The family has been to India several times. Stella’s favourite food there is the garlic naan and dosa. “Now we go regularly to India – Chennai, Kerala, Bangalore. But before it was a little difficult for me because the food is very spicy and

I cannot tell which food is from which province.” But there are some things that Stella would find strange. “Like here men and women are equal. But when I first went to Kerala, I saw something different – since there weren’t enough seats at the dinner table – the men eat first. And the women eat together afterwards.” Just as well, Karuna also experienced some new rituals after the kids were born. “Like she boils soup for ten hours!” he joked. “I also had to get rid of my dog when our first baby was born. It’s a Chinese thing, they don’t like to have a dog in the home when there is a new baby.” “My mother believes that. She has these traditional thoughts. I can’t push them away, so I end up pushing him,” laughs Stella. Karuna agrees a cross culture marriage is difficult. “Initially, but then we grew over the last 18 years. I feel the second the half of our marriage is better, stronger and deeper. But then again, it would be with any man and woman put together – they take time to find their balance.”

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Shisha is the new coffee... And the new ‘drink’! Its quickly replacing the casual café meets at sundown and accompanying the weekend drinks on the social circuit. In just a few years, the shisha culture has spread its sweet scent across Hong Kong’s lifestyle.

e’d love to start with a disclaimer but there is little research on its harmful effects to support the theory that ‘shisha is bad for you’. Until then, exhaling white clouds is happening every day, everywhere. The pipe suckers argue that it’s not as

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Blowin' Off Smoke toxic as smoking a cigarette and not as discreet as vaping. And both these are viewed as loner’s vices, as opposed to shisha which promotes camaraderie in the passing of the pipe. This Middle Eastern leisure-time activity has successfully also roped in teetotalers to indulge in nights out.

can be at a new one for every week of 2020. But here’s Brinda Khandwala’s top 10 picks so you can be at a new one at least once a month

With nippy nights like the ones we are having now, shisha under the open skies is one of the best ways to blow off steam (literally) on weekends. Hong Kong has enough shisha bars that you

Arguably our top pick. Specially when the weather gets this good. Designed to look like a Mediterranean marina, the outdoor seating enjoys the ocean breeze while the cozy indoor is perfect

1 Elia – Mody Road, TST

for a warm evening. Bustling all week long, you’re bound to bump into some familiar faces here. You could walk in on a Tuesday night and still be made to wait for a table! Service is friendly and prompt. The cocktails (and the mocktails) are simply great. The mixologists are happy to stir up something off the menu on request. If what you’re looking for is food, drink, shisha and music – this is the place. On a busy night, the place is open as late as 4 am so it makes a great afterparty place as well.

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Rooftop, Qi Nine Dragons – Prince Tower, TST

Boba Bear – Causeway Bay With a very elaborate shisha menu, Boba Bear also offers in-house mixes at request. They also do interesting shisha preparations with fruit base, wine base and even spirit base! With unique flavours like white peach, red gummy bear, spiced chai or mochaccino – there is something for every tastebud. The LA style café serves as the perfect ambience for the finest quality shisha, food and drink.

Our most favourite spot for a winter night out on Kowloon side. The view and weather on the 20th floor are simply like no other in the city. Summers are too warm for being here. Its closed for the monsoon and typhoon months. So, this is the season to make most of this space. But only shisha is prepared and served at the rooftop. The bar is one level down (restaurant area) from where you order and take your drinks up yourself. That’s a bit of a mood-killer because every now and then you take a flight of stairs down to refresh your drink. With a cover charge of HK$ 200, service included would be nice.

6 Bloop – LKF In the epicenter of Hong Kong's nightlife, perched on the 21st floor, Bloop is luxuriously sprawled over 3,000 sq. ft space with a breathtaking 360-degree view of Central and Sheung Wan. The interior of Bloop is dominated by a large shark aquarium. A separate VIP zone can be booked for intimate parties. The service is in tandem with the grand ambience. It’s a great place for the special shisha nights to blow off smoke with the view of the LKF buzz from atop.

3 Vibes – The Mira, TST This would be the most elegant open-air space to shisha. The plush courtyard décor with luxurious lounge seating and great shisha, up on the 5th floor of The Mira is the best spot to enjoy the heady flavours of the pipe. Perfectly prepared cocktails to pair with delectable bites and mood-lifting music is set up to spoil you. Blow off some steam with your smoke rings in this resort-like ambience in the heart of Kowloon.

4 Alto, Causeway Bay A rooftop terrace with a 180 degree view of Hong Kong through the misty shisha clouds is the best way to spend your winter evenings. This luxurious, semi-open space is all you need for a

fun night with the intimate group. Pick from an eclectic array of starters and salads and creative side dishes, completed with a wrap of decadent desserts. In keeping with the plush ambience, the service is just as lovely. Altogether the space, the food and drinks make for some of the best Insta stories!

7 Vault - LKF The Vault doors open to stunning, regal interiors across 2000 sq.ft. Serving the finest spirits and shisha, it’s a popular place to start your bar-hopping evening at LKF. The mood lighting, long

FEATURE corridor, private room – it’s a great venue for long nights of drawing the shisha. Indulge in some high-end spirits and mastered mixes at the bar.

8 Awtar – Knutsford Terrace Carefree and casual, the place is always abuzz with almost every table occupied every

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night. The shishas are smooth and the service is friendly. If you like the nippy weather, get a table outside for a night under the skies and weekend lights. And if you like it warm, the cozy interiors are perfect. It’s a great spot for a fuss-free outing of passing the pipe.

9 Ohana Tiki Bar, Wan Chai Keeping with the global trend of minimal waste, Ohana operates with the concept of nose-to-tail. Closing the cocktail loop, the drinks are interestingly served with fresh fruit – making them incredibly

instagrammable! The tropical interiors lend a warm feel to this weather. You can try your own shisha mix by combining upto four flavours! And if you want that drag to really kick, try the Jagerbomb shisha!

10 A Tavola, Lantau Island The Tung Chung desi’s favourite spot – A Tavola is the hot spot for shisha in the open! Casual ambience

and the restaurant’s characteristically friendly staff makes it a comfortspace for shisha lovers. With great food and a huge bar; an indoor and outdoor space; live music, there is something for everyone’s idea of weekend out. If you have to entertain a friend dropping into the city for a couple of hours, look no further. The proximity of A Tavola from the international airport makes it an ideal place to catch up with friends who come for brief visits.

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Almaty

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As they break into their 30s, Abhimanyu Narayanmoorthy and his buddies plan a journey on the ‘roads less travelled’ – the five ‘stans. Also known as Central Asia, the ‘stans, surrounded by India, Russia and China, are the five nomadic Soviet Union countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

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hoosing a destination for travel can always be a challenge especially when one has only two to three weeks of time. My university friends and I wanted to take a journey away from popular destinations or even destinations that are getting popular now (like Phu Quoc). After pondering for a while, we finally chose to travel the five ‘stans. Vast open plains, scenic mountains and a region immersed in history make this region an interesting choice for the serious traveller. Truth be told, safety and ease of obtaining the visa were two main considerations to finalize the countries for travel. Kazakhstan provides ‘visa on arrival’ if one’s stay is upto three days. Air Astana needs to be informed in advance. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan issues e-visa even for Indian passport holders.

Kazakhstan - Gates of Central Asia First stop of the tour was Almaty in Kazakhstan. Almaty city is located near two gorgeous national parks Altyn-Emel National Park and Ile-Alatau National park. Time constraints let us explore only the Big Almaty lake situated at a height of 2511m in the Ile-Alatau range 20 km to the south of the center of Almaty. Crystal clear water and scenic mountains make this place a must visit place if you ever visit Kazakhstan. As this is the only source of drinking water to the city of Almaty, swimming in the lake is prohibited. Entry fees to the lake is around 400 KZT which translates to 1 USD. Another interesting spot to visit is the Kok-Tobe which gives an aerial view of the city. This spot has

Almaty lake

good outdoor entertainment as well as restaurant options.

“Look no further if you want to dig into the most succulent meat dishes...”

Exploring the nomadic life in Kyrgyzstan Next stop of our trip was the capital city of Kyrgyzstan; Bishkek which is a vibrant stopover

Osh Bazar - Kyrgyz

Bishkek Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek

Lunch With Guide Bishkek

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for travellers along the Silk Route. We began the day by exploring the colourful Osh Bazar which had a huge spread of spices, dry fruits and farm-fresh vegetables. Another must visit in this city or for that matter any city of the Soviet Union is the Tsum (also known as GUM). A relic of the Communist ideology the Tsum was the central marketplace in major cities of the Soviet Union. It served not only as the central marketplace but also distribution center for all the produce. The main government center as well as the Ala-Too square should be visited in the evening for its spectacular display of lights.

Altyn Arashan

Altyn Arashan range is absolutely gorgeous and filled with streams and rivulets that will brighten anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. The pine trees along the path add to the natural beauty of this range and provide ample shade just in case anyone wants to catch forty winks during the trek!

believed to be the capital city in the 8th-12th century period.

Touring around Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan Any road trip in Kyrgyzstan cannot be undertaken

Next stop on the way was the trek to the Barksoon Valley. Jeti Oguz Gourgue

Altyn Arashan

Burana Tower

The Road Trip Commences The official road trip began as we left Bishkek the next morning and our first stop was Tokmok. It is situated in the center of the Chuy valley and a prized possession of medieval conquerors. Landmark of this region is the Burana Tower, a minaret built in the 11th Century bearing resemblance to the Qutub Minar. The area is surrounded by grave markers and was

without going around the Lake Issyk Kul; an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountain range. It is the 7th largest lake in the world with a catchment area of around 16000 sq kms. Highlight of the day was to have lunch near the shore at Choplon Ata, one of the stopovers along the lake and take a dip in the cool water later. The day concluded as we stopped at Karakol, 4th largest city of Kyrgyz Republic and a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw

distance from the western border of China. Must visit attractions of this area are the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity church as well as the Dungan Mosque. Karakol is situated close to the Altyn-Arashan range a picturesque forest landscape. Hiking and climbing enthusiasts can summit the peak in around 2-3 days. This

Barksooon Valley

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This spot competes with the Altyn-Arashan range with respect to a scenic landscape. Yuri Gagarin the Russian astronaut chose this location as a preferred vacation spot making it popular. There is bust of him that can be found at the location. There is an absolute gorgeous waterfall

that can be accessed after a half hour trek. Another must visit spot is the Jeti Oguz gorge which bears a striking resemblance of the Grand Canyon. One of the highlights of this trip especially in Kyrgyzstan was staying at guest houses

and in yurts (made of skin and felt, found all over this region). The host families were truly hospitable, taking all efforts to make our stay as comfortable as possible.

border of Kyrgyzstan in one of the most arduous road trips ever. The 600km road trip from Bishkek to Arslanbob took around 13 hours and we passed by a maximum altitude of around 3000m.

“The ride from Bishkek to Arslanbob takes you along the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border... Do not miss this surreal experience.”

Along with the majestic Lake Toktogul the entire route was spread with majestic views of valleys. Finally, we reached our abode for the night in Arslanbob, a border town between Kyrgyz and Uzbekistan. This town is also home to the largest walnut forest in the world and produces around 1500 tonnes per year. It is recommended to spend around 2-3 days in case you would like to be totally rejuvenated and showered with hospitality and warmth. A special feature of this region is the Community

Arslanbob - World’s Largest Walnut forest Yurt

After a night halt at Bishkek we proceeded to the western

Abhinamyu enroute Arslanbob

GLOBETROTTER Based Tourism spread across all over. Local families convert their homes into guest houses and their hospitality and warmth is undoubtedly unmatched!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open land, clear skies and no pollution is a boon for star gazers. We were lucky to have observed 5 planetary alignment during this journey.â&#x20AC;?

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east of Uzbekistan. There is a huge commemorative statue of Emperor Babur on the way to Tashkent namely - Babur Park. Bibi Khanyam

Uzbekistan

After a night halt at Tashkent we proceeded to the first destination in Uzbekistan, Samarkand. The city is noted for being an Islamic center for scholarly study. In the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanyam Mosque, rebuilt during the Soviet era, remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. Samarkand's Registan square was the ancient centre of the city and is bound by three monumental religious buildings. The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold embroidery, silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting on wood. Modern Samarkand is divided into two parts: the old city, and the new city developed during the days of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. The old city includes historical monuments, shops and old private houses, while the new city includes administrative buildings along with cultural centres and educational institutions. We were fortunate to get a glimpse of a fantastic light and sound show at the Registan

The last stop, albeit a short stop was Bukhara. Bukhara is rich in historical sites, with about 140 architectural monuments. People have inhabited the region around Bukhara for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time. Located on the Silk Road the city has long served as a center of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion. UNESCO has listed the historic center of Bukhara, which contains numerous mosques and madrasas as a World Heritage

Uzbekistan- Steeped in History The concluding leg of this trip was Uzbekistan, another country deeply rooted in Islamic history. It also holds a lot of historical significance pertaining to India as Tashkent, the capital city was place of demise of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. Uzbekistan is also significant as Babur, the Mughal Emperor hails from the Andijan Valley located at the

Square that was specially arranged for a few dignitaries. The show lasted for almost two hours and gave a great timeline of the evolution of the Timurid empire. If anyone does get a chance to watch it, it must not be missed.

Bibi- Khanym Mosque

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Site. It is a city filled with mausoleums and mosques. Notable among them are Kayan Minaret, Kalan Mosque, Mir-i-Arab Madrassah Char Minar amongst a few. All the mausoleums and structures here have a distinctive mosaic

perceptions and preconceived notions that only block us from experiencing new delights and joys in life. I am fortunate to have had this experience and cannot wait to go back to this region once again.

Bukhara

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rates. Use sites such as Indy-Guide for relatively cheaper and extremely efficient guides. • Vegetarians will need to survive on noodle-like preparations and veggies. • Do account for additional rest days while travelling, if not taking flights, as the distances are huge. • Currency of Kazakhstan is Tenge (1USD is 400KZT). Currency of Kyrgyzstan is Kyrgyz Som (1USD is 70KGS). Currency of Uzbekistan is Uzbekistani Som (1USD is 9800USZ) • The hospitality of the people, especially in the non-urban areas is fantastic. Please do explore the Community Based Tourism (CBT) for your stay.

style that can be found all over this region. We headed back to Tashkent after a ten-hour long ride from Bukhara to fly back. This trip taught us a lot about

• USD is the preferred currency of exchange. Easily available exchange options in the city. Bukhara

& Humility

PHILANTHROPRENEUR

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Humanity Founder and Chairman of Buttar Associates, Dr. Kuldeep Buttar is as well-known in the corporate world as he is within the Indian community for his humanitarian work. The visionary businessman extends his aid in several causes, be it helping schools in India, donating bird feeders or sponsoring socio-cultural events in Hong Kong. Brinda Khandwala discovers that the philanthropreneur is the true embodiment of humility and humanity.

hat are the values you grew up with that continue having an impact in your life even today? The values I learned from my parents have endured the test of time. One of the first ones I learned was the emphasis on commitment. Both my parents taught me the value in seeing through a task even when things got tough. That definitely helped me later in when life began to take a dip for the worse. I learned to be gritty in the face of adversity – always putting one step in front of the other, never giving in. I thank my parents for instilling this type of fervent energy in me. It proved to be effective not because they used words to convince me. On the contrary, it was their actions that nailed home the lesson in me.

etween academic achievements and world experiences, which do you feel contribute more to success? There is space for both of these. There are situations in life where one of them would suit you more. If I had to lean towards one, I would choose world experiences. Life has a knack for teaching you lessons when you least expect them. There was a time in our history, before classes and colleges and schools, where all we had was life to teach us all we needed to know. It was all trial and error. In a way, life is the ultimate teacher. But if you combine the two – life experiences and education – that’s when real progress begins.

PHILANTHROPRENEUR

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“

Being humble allows you to realize the qualities you lack and begin the climb upward towards excellence.

“

hat work ethics do you feel are essential for every businessman? Humility is key. There is beauty in accepting your flaws and weaknesses. That is the only way we can learn and be more than what we are. Being humble allows you to realize the qualities you lack and begin the climb upward towards excellence. Every person you meet has something to teach you. But you cannot let that knowledge enter unless you humbly open yourself to it.

hich person or philosophy has influenced you the most? It will always be my parents. They set a standard that my siblings and I could look up to and it has continued to

be a shining beacon of light throughout my life. We did not have much growing up, but they always made it feel like we were enough. Once when I was a teenager, one of my friends got cool new shoes as a gift from his parents. I was so jealous. Why couldn’t I have a pair too? I begged my father to buy me them for me. Instead of lashing out at my childish demands, my father decided to go a different route. He handed me his monthly salary and told me to run the household expenses for that month. If, at the end of the month I had enough left over, I could have the shoes. I barely made it a week through before giving up. I realized what an impossible task it was to raise three kids in that environment. It made me respect the work my parents did. That was the last time I begged them to indulge my unreasonable demands.

ow do you maintain a worklife balance? What leisure time activity you enjoy most? I try my best to separate the two. I do not bring my work home, and I try not to let my personal life seep into the workplace. When there are clear boundaries, it becomes easier to balance out both sides. Of course, that does

not always work, but I manage somehow. I enjoy playing hockey and listening to music a lot. I love old school Punjabi folk music – this is a love of mine that traces back to my adolescence.

hy is it important for businessmen or corporates to engage in social causes? It is important because the corporate landscape makes the world tick these days. Just because businesses are supposed to be profitable does not mean they have to be ‘cutthroat’ at all times. Business has the potential to bring out great changes

to peoples’ lives. They can transform whole communities and uplift the downtrodden from extreme poverty. Of course, there has been no shortage of powerful executives looting and exploiting those in desperate situations. It is down to small business owners and grass roots managers to spark change from the ground up instead of waiting for it to descend from above.

ell us what got you involved in so many activities for social uplifting.

I wanted to give back, simple as that. I am fortunate enough to have achieved a lot in my life so I want to make sure I plant some seeds around me that will grow and prosper. I want to pass on a better world than the one I inherited, and it has to start with me. If one of my deeds ignites a chain of reaction that sets off something greater than me, I would have done my job.

PHILANTHROPRENEUR

“

Do something, anything that alleviates someone else’s pain even a little bit and forget about defining what makes it good.

“

hat makes a good humanitarian?

Honestly, it is not up to me to define that. People get caught up in definitions too much. As long as you think of the bigger picture in some sense, both in your work and beyond, it is a good humanitarian deed. There is no shortage of problems and issues around the world. Do something, anything that alleviates someone else’s pain even a little bit and forget about defining what makes it good.

ith reference to the current crisis in Hong Kong, what lies in the future of the Indian expat community here? I have high hopes for the Indian community, as well as the local Hong Kong people. We Indians have a knack for making the best of anything, wherever we are. We can forge a home away from home even in the direst of situations. The important thing is that we cannot afford to lose hope. The Latin phrase “ordo ab chao” or “order out of chaos”

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is relevant here. We have the opportunity to make sense of the dissonance we see around us. I do not know what lies ahead, but I know that we as a community have survived and prospered when the odds were against us, and that is what will guide us through this crisis.

hat is your advice to the next generation of businessmen? Learn to love the challenge of it all. If you can look at the problems you face in life and business as puzzles and obstacles to get to the next level, you are already ahead of the game. Learn to keep a cool head. There may be things beyond your control, but what you can control is your reaction and headspace through it all. Panicking is not going to help anything. Learn to lead. You have a semblance of an idea brewing in your head. How do you take that idea, present it to your team, and get them fired up enough to execute it? It all depends on how you speak and carry yourself in front of them. It will not come easy. Study the great leaders of history – read about them or listen to their speeches online. You have a wealth of resources at your disposal – make use of them. Above all, learn to love what you do. That will be the only thing that carries you through the dark times. Develop your passion, and it will in turn build you in ways you can hardly imagine.

Ten Commandments to a successful life 1. Develop a passion 2. Never stop learning 3. B e honest with yourself and those around you 4. Make time for family 5. Make time for yourself 6. Cultivate your spirituality 7. Do not take yourself too seriously 8. Actualize all of your potential 9. Take care of your physical health 10. Leave a better world behind

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Classical Connection Aruna Bharti Swamy

ance and music have been an integral part of my very being since childhood. I remember my father used to play records of old Hindi film songs at home which probably inculcated a love of music in me at a very early age. With music, I also became fascinated with various dance forms, particularly Indian Classical dance formsKathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Manipuri, Kathakali and more. However, learning dance in a small town in Haryana, a state in North India was not particularly encouraged for daughters. I started exploring many Indian dances in school like Punjabi Gidda, Bhangra, Dandiya, Haryanvi and Rajasthani folk dances. I also won several danceperformance awards all through high school. Later while studying Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, I was able to take my love of dance to the next level. I became an active member of Dance and Dramatics Club. I started choreographing inter hostel and inter college dance competitions specializing in a fusion of Contemporary, Bollywood and North Indian dance forms. I won several dance awards at national college events. By the time I started my corporate career in strategy consulting in New Delhi, I had realized that my first love was always going to be

dance. Many of us understand dancing as some sort of physical workout and probably a fun way to stay fit. Dancing, at the very core, is actually a very pure form of selfexpression and meditation. Classical dance forms, given their long history, are even richer in content and quality. However, the treasures hidden in Indian classical dance forms are not fully explored or employed. I decided to go deeper into Indian classical dance and receive a formal training. I started learning Kathak within the Lucknow Gharana under Smt. Namita Khanna, Masters in Kathak from the renowned Bhatkande Sangeet Vidyapeeth in Lucknow. I trained in Kathak in Delhi for over 3 years. After marriage and having moved to Hong Kong with my family in 2014, I decided to give my dancing career a second chance after a break of over 7 years. With God’s grace, I was able to find likeminded people in Hong Kong and soon I found my perfect Guru in Hong Kong with whom I could devote some serious energy and time to take my dream forward. I formally started training under Neeshaji in November 2013 and has been studying Kathak full time for over 6 years now at the Sri Shakti Academy in Hong Kong. I also had the good fortune

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of training directly under Padma Shri awardee Guru Sunayana Hazarilalji (the doyen of Banaras Gharana of Kathak) for multiple months over these 6 years. This has enabled me to receive Kathak education directly from the best teachers in the Janakiprasad style of Kathak, a style that is differentiated by its focus on precision, grace and unique postures. I gave my first Kathak performance as part of Sri Shakti Academy on Dec 8, 2014 at the Harbin Ice Festival in Hong Kong. Since then I have given over 15+ performances in Hong Kong, Taiwan and India. My latest performance in Hong Kong was as recent as September 2019 where I performed my Rang Pravesh - a solo Kathak recital presenting different flavors of Kathak including vandana, Nritt, Kavitt, thumri, Tarana etc.

RangPravesh signifies a sort of “graduation” for an Indian classical dancer who after years of serious study and intense training, presents a maiden solo and full-length performance on a public stage. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to spread the know-how of these ancient Indian dance forms, especially to our future generations so that they don’t just have fun while watching or performing dance, rather they could use the knowledge to meditate and get their souls recharged to embrace the fast-paced world around them. I strive to contribute towards this goal of spreading the joy of Indian classical dancing through performances and holding regular kathak classes.

Phone: 90790184 Email: aruna.bharti@gmail.com Facebook: Aruna.B.Swamy

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The

Yogic Life Mansee Chandola

t’s true that we don’t value that which is easily available. I was born in Rishikesh, the land of Yoga, inhabited by countless saints and sages. Growing up, it was natural to see people doing yoga in my surroundings. I’ve seen foreigners coming to learn and enhance their yogic practices as a child. It was well-woven into the threads of the Rishikesh lifestyle that back then it never occurred to me that Yoga can be a career choice. Little did I know that it would become a lifelong pursuit and passion! I was deeply interested in Indian mythology, God, religion, spirituality… and loved listening to the enriching stories filled with colourful characters and thoughtprovoking messages. It made me a keen and curious learner of life. I went on to graduating in Science and then pursuing a Law degree. Meanwhile, I became interested in fitness and started practicing pranayama and yogic techniques following tele yogis during college. Life was full of possibilities, and I was unstoppable. The sudden demise of my father shook me up completely. I started seriously looking

for ways to relax myself and reduce my anxiety. After many experiments, in 2004, I attended a ‘Health and Happiness’ workshop organised by the Art of Living Foundation. In a couple days, with nothing more than a few breathing techniques and yogic methods, this experience transformed me inside out. My anxiety evaporated. It was nothing like I had ever experienced. My lifelong love for yoga began. Realising that this could help more people who are in a troubled state of mind, I volunteered to assist my guru in organizing workshops. At a personal level, I started going deeper into Yogic living, inculcating the ‘8 limbs of yoga’ into my daily life to enhance by my knowledge of yogic history and philosophies. I also started reading lot of literature and books on it. I was greatly influenced by the teachings of HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji as his knowledge points were very pragmatic and logical. As I moved deeper, I started observing tremendous change in my whole personality, feeling more resilient, calm and centered. My circumstances hadn’t

changed, but my body and mind were stronger and more capable to manage whatever came my way. I was feeling happier, stronger and more in control. In yogic terms, I had found my bedrock. Life moved on. I married and was blessed with gorgeous twin girls. The girls blessed my life in ways I never could have known. Life was beautiful, happy and fulfilled; and one thing remained unchanged - my love for yoga and my connection to Art of Living. After moving to Hongkong in 2016, one day during my practice I felt an inner calling for becoming a Yoga Teacher. With support from my family I moved to Bangalore for a rigorous residential yoga teacher’s training at the Art of Living ashram. I devoted myself to 350 hours of intense training and learning for over 35 days, delving deep into yogic philosophies, Patanjali yoga sutras and asanas.

I have broadened my expertise as a Yoga teacher by taking more training certifications, first with Gecko Yoga, to become a certified teacher for Kid’s Yoga and recently as Pre n Post Natal Yoga teacher from the Art of Living Foundation. Establishing oneself as a traditional yoga teacher is not easy in a city like Hong Kong. There is an increasing trend of seeing yoga as a fitness fad. The true meaning and power of Yoga is fading away in the noise. Health and sculpted looks are of course a byproduct of Yoga, but the true power lies in taking your mind to that state of self-awareness where not only your body but your whole personality blossoms.

The beautiful thing about learning is that there is no end to it. I have since become a certified nutritionist as I realised how nutrition the right food - plays an equally important role in strengthening body and mind.

Phone: +852 61119732 Email: yogawithmansee@gmail.com Website: yogawithmansee.com

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Organically

Yours

Roma Kalwani Roma Kalwani

‘W

hen nothing goes right, go left!’, that’s my motto in life. Never give up and you will find success. Born in Hong Kong, brought up in Seoul, South Korea My twin Reshma, younger brother Ameet and I studied in Seoul International School. After that, we proceeded to India where we studied in Panchgani in a boarding school. I have the most amazing parents and siblings! It’s my

parents who blessed me with everything and continue blessing me with the best by just being with me! Growing up, I’ve travelled around the whole world and continue doing so. This global exposure and desi values allow me to see so much, grasp it and make it my own unique experience. It’s given me a positive, go-getter attitude. I met my husband Neil Thadani in Hong Kong. We are blessed with two gorgeous

kids – daughter Larannya (a name given to Lakshmi in Sanskrit) and son Prayaan (supreme intelligence). I feel doubly fortunate with the family that I was born into and the one I married into. Neil is a brilliant businessman. His foresighted vision and sense of personal growth makes me look at life in more diversified ways – whether it’s for work or at home. We started our trading company over 10 years ago with offices in Hong Kong, India, USA and UK. I am grateful that our work gives us the opportunities to see different parts of the world and meet interesting people along the way. It is all these experiences with so many different people that we realized – not only should we work towards self-growth but also participate in actions that make others grow with us. There are many people and their families who are associated with our work. Our efforts are towards making them progress with us as one force. Neil and I both believe that giving money isn’t as important as giving livelihood. We wanted to make a difference in society in a different manner where people can benefit financially and socially by associating with us. We designed a business model for a new venture which provides livelihood for those who need it and seek it. And as our business grows, they can grow with us. Organiac was established in 2018 in our Mumbai office, which took time and efforts,

as a lot of researches were conducted, the right people had to enter and a lot of government formalities like certifications had to be completed. After which we started our store in Bandra, Mumbai. With excellent feedback and reviews, we entered Hong Kong delivering from our office, and finally in August 2019, our Hong Kong store opened its doors to the public. We are true ‘organiacs’ – people who are maniacs for organically and naturally farmgrown foods. For Neil, quality food is of utmost important. He believes that our body is our temple and only the best should be served to it. It was this philosophy of his that drove us to open an organic, natural and healthy food store. I took the lead on this project and discovering a whole new world of healthy eating. Personally, I love junk – I’ll choose chips over dal on any day. But now I have learned to indulge consciously. Visitors are surprised to see the variety of ‘healthy junk’ available at the store. Of course, the store has a lot more – from freshly ground flours, masalas, grains, seeds, dry fruits, snacks, sweets to pickles and more. We want to promote a conscious way of living because of which we also keep a lot of lifestyle products which are organically or naturally made. It gives me great joy to interact with clients at the store. Often their suggestions and requests help us expand our range.

Phone: 54761777/ 97562631 Instagram: OrganiacOfficial

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Mindful Mission Sonia Samtani

s the owner of a wellness centre hosting numerous practitioners, running workshops and having a waiting-list of clients for private sessions, it may look like I have a full-on career, however it doesn’t seem like ‘work’ to me. The way I see it is that my work, my mission and my purpose of life are the same. I have come with a clear message that a healthy mind is the source of all well-being. My work is more like a way of living; it’s something that I practice from the moment I wake up, knowing that I too am on the journey that I am facilitating for others. The most fulfilling times of my day are when I am faceto-face with clients. During these times I am so mindfully present and connected that it feels like I am in meditation for 7 hours a day. A conscious connection with another person is incredibly healing. I am grateful to be in a line of work that is so aligned with my principles of living, although if anyone told me when I was 18 that I was going to be a hypnotherapist and an advocate for mental wellness I would have been shocked! I never planned this career, it organically came to me as I was navigating through life after university.

As a child, I was extremely self-critical and overconcerned about what people thought. I knew there was something I could do to make myself less fearful and self-conscious, I just didn’t know what! At 16 I started by reading books on personal development and practicing mindful eating to lose weight, and my level of self-worth slowly began to shift.

I was hand-picked to work for Tony Robbins’ team to travel across the globe for coaching people to overcome mental obstacles and live more consciously. Just as my journey with Robbins was coming to an end, I got introduced to the world of hypnotherapy where my awareness went even deeper. Rather than developing strong coping mechanisms, it took me to the root of my limiting beliefs and had me transform my issues from the core so the triggers itself disappeared. I was invited to go to India and learn to become a therapist, and then a trainer for therapists, and I have never stopped growing since then. I am blessed to have incredible encouragement from my family along the way; my father generously

provided me with the space to launch my first centre and my husband has been my pillar of support. I now have a centre in Hong Kong called ‘All About You’ where I host workshops on personal development and training courses to become therapists. I have personally coached over 20,000 people till date. Several of my students are now spreading mental-wellbeing awareness through their own healing practices. The miracles I have seen in my own journey of self-development has been my true inspiration for my work, and it is a privilege to see the transformation that this work has facilitated for others.

At the age of 21, I signed up for a course where I thought I would be learning public speaking, but instead it was about making peace with the past, living authentically, and creating an empowered life - it gave me much more than learning how to speak! I felt a great sense of relief from the rules and judgments that I had put on myself and began to see a new way of living where I didn’t have to crave for approval. Thus, I was avidly practicing living in the present, positive affirmations and meditation. I then came across a seminar by the world-famous success coach Tony Robbins, which felt like a giant party for my soul. In an environment with thousands of people, it’s okay to be me and see life as an experience rather than an account of failures and successes.

Phone: +852 2992 0828 Email: info@allaboutyoucentre.com Website: www.allaboutyoucentre.com Facebook: AllAboutYouHK Instagram: allaboutyouwellnesscentre

FASHION

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Winter Wardrobe

M&S Tweed Jacket

Ted Baker Leather Work Tote

H&M Silk shirt Bring out the jackets, dust off the boots and pick up some scarves because ‘winter is coming’! Our enviably chic stylist, Jeenali Desai assembles three affordable looks for the season so you can ace the OOTD whether you’re at the office, at the nightclubs or at a weekend brunch

Merimekko Termi leather skirt

Workin’ It

weed is back on the fashion menu, looking particularly natty in jacket form. It’s a trend we know the highstreet does well. A good jacket is a long-term wardrobe investment because its so versatile. Here we’ve teamed it with a structured faux-leather skirt, giving a touch of luxury to the look. Nothing looks chicer than a classic laptop-sized work tote. Complete it with a pair of square-toed shoes – season’s trend.

Accessorize Supersoft Blanket Scarf

Tommy Hilfiger Rose Gold bracelet

Accessorize Hair Clip TopShop Square toed shoes

FASHION

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Saturday Night Live! As the weekend comes alive, the big question is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where are we partying?! Put a twist on the LBD with some sparkle and shine, add a stylish dresslength coat so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready for the nippy rooftops or the cozy den bars. A pair of sexy slim heels will length to your stems. Pick a crossbody that fits all your essentials for the night.

Topshop Earrings

Coach Crossbody

Zara Sequinned Mini Dress

Zara Frock Coat Staccato Crystal Pumps

FASHION

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The Brunch Bunch When in doubt, wear floral! It brightens up the day… It’s also smart to shop mindfully for items that you can re-wear. That’s why we love a classic crossbody – its stylish, it carries your essentials and the best part – it lets you be handsfree! For shoes, an ankle-high shaft is ideal for the autumn-winter vibe. Pick blush or nude so its more versatile. Hoops are all-time favourites for daytime looks. And the trend now is to go big!

Kate Spade NY Crossbody

Max & Co. Eyewear

Mango Hoop Earrings

Accessorize Knotted Hairband

Tory Burch Ankle Boots

Next Printed Maxi

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HUMOUR

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Cocktails, Cards & Consequences I like to visit Macau every now and then to relax and unwind. Of course, my idea of relaxing and unwinding is to gamble.

hankfully Macau has a casino or two! But when you’re gambling for fun (I’d love to make a career of it but one risqué profession is good enough for now), you need to be very disciplined with your budget. And that I am. I strictly stick to my rule of betting only what’s in my pockets – which includes the ATM card so a couple of visits in midplay is okay. It helps boost my morale because the ATM is one machine that definitely pays out. As luck would have it, I lost my ATM card recently. And the husband won’t let me ask the bank for a new one. No clue why! So I had to give him an ultimatum, “If you don’t let me gamble, I won’t let you watch the Pakistani news channel.” Why should he have all the fun! Anyway, the casino’s biggest weapon in removing your budgetary constraints,

however, is the good oldfashioned trick of plying you with free alcohol. Or at least that used to be the way, but nowadays they give only soft drink and tea for free. The last thing you want to be is buzzed on sugar and caffeine in a casino! But I guess they worked out that people were drinking more in alcohol than they were spending on the counters. The story of my last visit to Macau before they did away with the free alcohol may explain their rationale. The husband and I decided to play blackjack and found a table with the lowest minimum bet to make our money last longer. It was a nice bunch of people having some free white wine and we decided to join them in that. At first, we were all making sensible bets and would celebrate each other’s good fortune with a smile and a ‘well done’ nod. We might even

have a little bit of a cheer when the bank bust and we were all winners. It was very civilized and we got to know each other for an hour or two over several glasses of wine. As the alcohol kicked the smiles and ‘well done’ were replaced by loud cheers, the bank busting resulted in robust high-fives all round. I was only aware things were getting out of control when we began laughing at our defeats and treating our fellow players’ wins with great excitement. At the end of the night, not only did I celebrate their big win (and our bankruptcy), I also invited them home for victory dinner! We decided it was time to stop. Well, our empty wallets decided that on our behalf. So we were saying out goodbyes to the fellow players. I had become particularly friendly with another couple and so asked for their number. Gathering all my grace and

focus, I wrote it down on the bar napkin with meticulous concentration. I was proud I can hold my wine so well. We waved our goodbyes and walked away. I handed the napkin to my husband and asked him to keep it safe. I remember saying, “Oh my god, that was so much fun. Let’s keep in touch with those people.” Next morning the husband took a napkin out of his pocket and asked what it was. “The couple’s telephone number,” I said. He held it up in front of my hungover face. I had written, with absolute ‘meticulous concentration’, each number atop of the previous one! There was no way to decipher the number from that inked blob on the bar napkin. We laughed so hard that tears were flowing down my cheeks. And of course, we never saw them again.

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PHOTO FEATURE

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LOVE Through The Lens “T

he very first time I picked up the camera was back in high school. I borrowed it from my father for a hiking weekend with the family. At that time, I knew nothing about photography except that it brought me a lot of joy to capture rare visuals that I would like to take back with me. Later I learned photography in the Hong Kong Institute of vocational Education (IVE) under the subject of Film Arts. The studies covered more than just photography, so it taught me a lot. I learned how to create an image from my imagination and how the industry works. As a part of our study, we watched some masterpieces of cinema – each one teaches you a unique way of looking at the world, self-discovery and new aesthetics. This added to my growth as a photographer. Photography for me, is my way of connecting to the world. As a photographer you get to know your muse on a personal level, not through internet or from the eyes of others. As a young photographer fresh out of school, I realized that I loved shooting people, their emotions and their interpersonal connections. Each person, each relation and each event are different. Just like that, every love story is new. It excites me to capture these special moments; and as a wedding photographer I get to witness so many.

In fact, I’d love to shoot an Indian wedding. Their deep traditions with large families and several friends expressing their love and blessings is truly magical. I’m easily infected by the atmosphere of vibrant colours and electrifying energies. It gives me immense joy to capture these precious, meaningful moments that leave a lasting impact. My favourite moment to capture is when the eyes of the bride and groom first meet as she walks down the aisle. It’s a pure moment of deep passion which they will remember forever. For every photographer, its important to discover the reason that drives them. What is it that they’re bringing out from their

photos? It may not always come immediately to you but keep clicking and there will be a moment which will connect with you or consume you – that’s your true calling.” Jeff Lee

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PHOTO FEATURE

Phone: 64891606 • Email: jeffleepicture@gmail.com Website: www.jeffleepicture.wix.com/jeffleepicture Facebook: Jeff Lee Picture • Instagram: jeffleepicture

RECIPE

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Add spice to the season! If you are anything like Seema Puri Bhatia, looking for homemade wholesomeness with the discerning taste of fine-dining, you’ll love her mocktail and curry recipes. Keeping with the nippy weather and spirit of Thanksgiving, the gingery mocktail and butternut pumpkin ‘n’ cranberry curry lends a comforting combo of sweet and spicy. Ingredients • 4 tablespoons fresh pomegranate pearls • 2 fresh, small bunches of mint leaves • 1 whole green chili • 2 lemons cut into 4’s • Some lemon wedges • A few slivers of ginger • 1 litre pomegranate juice

Method

• 500 ml of ginger ale

Take care to do this 24 hours in advance - equally place the pomegranate seeds and one mint leaf into compartments of an ice cube tray, top up with water and freeze. Reserve some of the mint for serving. Tear up the remaining into a large jug with the green chili, lemons that are cut into quarters and the ginger slivers. Using the end of a rolling pin, smash up the chili, mint, lemon and ginger well to fully release their flavours into the jug. Add the pomegranate juice and ginger ale. Toss the ice cubes into each glass, then strain over into each glass this gingered, chili pomegranate mix. Garnish with the lemon wedges and whole mint leaves to serve.

Spiced Up Gingery Pomegranate Mocktail

RECIPE

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Coconut & Cranberry Butternut Pumpkin Curry Ingredients • 500 grams butternut pumpkin cut into medium sized chunks • 1 teaspoon ghee • 2 green chilies, finely chopped • 6 shallots, finely chopped • 1/2 stick of Ceylon cinnamon • 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder • 1.5 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper powder • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder • ¼ cup water • 1 cup coconut milk • Sea Salt to taste • 1/4 cup dried cranberries • A squeeze of a 1/2 lime For the curry paste: • 8 cloves Garlic • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

Method

• Enough water • Freshly chopped coriander for garnish Keep your pumpkin skinned, cleaned, chopped and ready. Using a blender or pestle & mortar make a thick paste of the garlic and mustard seeds; and keep ready. Heat a heavy bottomed saucepan, and add 1 teaspoon of ghee the pumpkin cubes, finely chopped green chilies, finely chopped shallots, cinnamon, fenugreek, turmeric powder, freshly cracked black pepper, red chili powder and 1/4 cup of water. Season this all up with sea salt and simmer on a low flame until the pumpkin is 3/4 cooked, stir in small intervals. Now, add the spiced garlic mustard paste and simmer further until the pumpkin is soft. Pour in the coconut milk and sprinkle over the dried cranberries. Bring this to a rolling boil. Squeeze over 1/2 a lime, sprinkle over the freshly chopped coriander leaves and serve. This curry goes perfectly well cumin rice, onion pilau or just a simple bowl of steamed rice.

BEAUTY

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simple skincare routine is all you need to look flawless and make up ready. Always remember for great make up to show, it needs to have an amazing canvas which is your skin. When buying skincare, make sure it’s rich in power boosters such as Hyaluronic acid, Collagen, Retinol (Vitamin A),Mandelic acid, Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and /or vitamin E.

Cleansing I really like micellar-water wipes to cleanse and moisturize, handy when you’re on your way home and would prefer using that time to take make up off your face. Just a word of caution though, for people prone to breakouts, it may aggravate blocking pores since some ingredients form a film on the skin if left unwashed.

Is your skin party-ready? You’ve survived the festivities this year. The eating, the dancing, the late nights and the dressing up but what about skincare? We are just a few weeks away from Christmas and New Year - the time to catch up with friends and family . It’s natural that we all want to look our best for these get togethers. Beauty expert Pearly Chhabra shares a few pointers to include in your daily regime that’ll end your year ‘beautifully’!

BEAUTY

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plain old extra virgin coconut oil. Alternatively used a cold eye pack or chilled spoon to relieve tiredness.

Hydrating The old adage, 'Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day has given way to drinking at least three litres of water or four!’ Why , you may ask? It not just helps flush toxins and keeps you hydrated but gives you soft and supple skin. It’s also worth mentioning, if you’re planning on drinking, don’t forget to have a glass of water for each drink you take. Before you have your morning coffee or tea, try drinking some warm water with lemon. It helps to eliminate toxins from the body after a good night’s rest.

Now that you have your skin in order, let’s master the basics of party makeup: Everyone wants a smoky eye and why not! It complements most eye shapes and my favourites are brown, plum, copper and gold for South Asian skin tones. Liner is overrated, instead add some life into your eyes with a thick coat of mascara. Bold lipstick shades like a classic red or a berry would stand out perfectly against soft eyes. If you’re looking for drama, pair them with a soft smoky eye.

Sun protection My mother always maintained that one must take care of skin in their 20s to prepare for 30s and so on. More than skincare the only constant in my life has been a sunscreen. Did you know that there are two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB? UVA’s have the ability to seep through the dermis - which cushions our bodies from strain and stress while UVB’s burn the topmost or most superficial layers of our skin. Choose what suits you – gel, lotion, spray, cream... Apply it 20 minutes before you wear makeup and step out especially during the day. Steer clear of formulations that make you look ashy or white. The best way to use sunscreen is to add it to your routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. While on the topic of protectants, try on a sassy hat if you’re out in the sun . Not only will it protect your hair and skin but also add an element of chic to your look. A trendy pair of sunglasses also

helps protect the tender skin around the eyes.

Moisturizing Whether you’re a GoT fan or not, ‘Winter is coming’! A liberal layer of lip balm or good ol’ Vaseline will go a long way. If you ask me ‘ ghee ’ works best to combat flakiness. After your shower, gently rub a mix of sugar and coconut oil on the skin, including the face and lips, to naturally exfoliate and reveal the softer skin.

Eye-care All those nights of partying are bound to leave your eyes looking tired. To make sure they look bright and fresh, indulge in a little eye massage to get rid of puffy eyes… you could either use aloe vera gel, an eye cream or

Don’t ignore your brows for they frame your face. Choose either a brow pencil or a pomade to fill in sparse spots. Use brow gel to keep it in place. Concealer is your friend more than foundation. It instantly spot corrects and refreshes a tired looking face.

NETIZENS

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Netkids & Chill A

s exciting as Christmas sounds, parents know it means two weeks of holidays! Sugar-pumped kids around the house all day can be quite a handful. While the little ones, below 7 years, can watch mindless, endless cartoons, the older pre-teen ones resort to YouTube videos. But YouTube can often go beyond the boundaries of parental controls. Netflix has some truly interesting and sensible shows that not only the 7 to 13 years would absolutely enjoy, but can also get us adults hooked. Mix it up and make a weekly schedule with these 7 must-watch shows.

Raising Dion

Brainchild Sahana Srinivasan and her team explore the sciences behind everyday phenomena in a superfun way! This one is sure to get the grey matter increasing.

The story of a seven-year-old discovering he has inherited super powers is an engaging one to say the least. Parents, be prepared to get addicted to the show!

The A List

The word documentary may sound boring but the show is anything but that. There is a whole unseen world out there that opens up in this exciting show about the natural beauty and life on Earth.

Creeped Out

Our Planet

A new horror story in each episode. Each one is interesting. And the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;creep factorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is just the right amount to not give nightmares to the young watchers.

A classic mix of camp and horror makes this an interesting watch right from the beginning. It is brilliant how the horror is handled just right keeping the age group in mind.

NETIZENS

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One of the best â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;naughty turned niceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories on Netflix. How a foster child changes her rebellious ways because of the love and care she gets from the host family. Watch it together with the kids.

The Unlisted

Based in Australia, identical twins Dru and Kal with a team of rebel kids learn of the secret plot of an undercover agency tracking and controlling kids. With a little tadka of an Indian home, this series is very engaging.

No Good Nick

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WHILE AGO

he biggest, most-awaited Navratri Night saw a wonderful turnout despite the transport concerns last month. Honorable guests Mrs. Poonam Mehta and Mr. Gary Ahuja opened the evening. Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan, Consul General of India (Hong Kong) arrived with her whole family; and joined the garba! Not only the men and women but even the little kids came in their festive finery. Live orchestra Gayatri Rockers from Rajkot accompanied singers Amit Chauhan and the Dubey Sisters - Sonali and Deepali to rock the evening with their traditional songs. Photos credit: Azake Rahman

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WHILE AGO

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Gen-Next performers of

DMET-MERI D

MET-MERI, the oldest Marine Engineering college in Kolkata, has over 120 alumni working in prominent positions in the Hong Kong Shipping Industry.

Kiara, Pihu, Tarushi, Sakshi & Ishita - last dance of the day

Singing sisters - Aharna & Tapasa

Emcees Ayush and Simran

SAMANVAY 2019, their first ever Cultural Performance afternoon, exclusively for the kids, was held on Saturday, 28th September at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre. The audience consisting of members Kaushiki & and their families thoroughly enjoyed the Niharika exciting line up of songs and dances by children from age 5 to 15 years. President of the Association Mr. Umesh Razdaan and Honorary Secretary Mr. Sharad Gupta thanked everyone for making the event a huge success.

Flossing brothers - Reyansh & Rudransh

Ira, Ayushmaan, Aradhya & Ira

Smira & Navika

Jasmin, Abhishri & Ikshita

Audience enjoying the programme

Youngest performers -Samriddhi, Shanaya, Tamisha, Naisha & Vanshika

All Performers with the President of the Association

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DMET-MERI Alumni Association Hong Kong Annual Dinner T

he 2019 Annual Dinner of DMET-MERI Alumni Association HK, held at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Wan Chai, was attended by nearly 200 guests. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bollywood Disco had large number of members and their spouses turn up as their favourite stars. The evening kicked off with souvenir presentation to the various sponsors from all over the world, who made the event possible. Guest artist for the evening, Mr. Manish Tyagi, also known as the Knotty Commander, flew in from India especially for this event. His jokes and keen observation of Indian Life had the whole crowd doubling over with laughter. In keeping with the theme, eight member wives set the dance floor alight to a medley of disco songs. The hotel laid out scrumptious Indian spread specially selected for this event while DJ Deep kept everyone grooving to choicest Bollywood songs, late into the night.

WHILE AGO

BRAND TALK

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Maharaja of Air Travel The

India’s national carrier, Air India, needs no introduction. With new non-stop operations of Air India Worldwide and several Hong Kong - Delhi / Mumbai flights, it’s become a popular choice for air travel

ounded by JRD Tata in the 1930s, Air India continues to remain the ‘maharaja’ of air travel with the long legacy of quality and hospitality. As a National Carrier, Air India connects every corner of India and abroad with over 80 destinations across the length and breadth of India; and 46 abroad, spread across

US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Far and South-east Asia and the Gulf. Known for affordable luxury and great service, the airline has been serving the Indian and global travelers for memorable journeys over decades. The airline has kept pace with trends and technology; changing consumer needs and preferences and has constantly evolved in sync with changing times. Its 169 strong fleet, a mix of B787 Dreamliners, B777s, A320 family, apart from the and ATR aircraft, is one of the youngest in the world.

BRAND TALK

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The airline operates B777 non-stops to Chicago, New York, Newark, Washington, San Francisco and Toronto. Air India’s Delhi to San Francisco flight is among one of the world’s longest non-stop flights. The B787 Dreamliner has been a game changer for Air India. With 27 of these fuelefficient aircraft in its fleet, Air India has been offering its passengers a comfortable and enjoyable experience with its non-stop connections from India to several destinations like Tel-Aviv, London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Madrid, Copenhagen, Stockholm,

Seoul, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai and more. Besides, the Dreamliners have been popular for its domestic operations in Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Amritsar. Air India’s subsidiaryAir India Express, with its B737 fleet, offers domestic and international connectivity and is on the expansion mode of late- while Alliance Air with its new ATR72 aircraft is also spreading its wings extensively on the regional sectors with its mission of “Connecting India.” The Star Alliance partnership in 2014, the first for an Indian

carrier, has put Air India into the big league with 26 other top airlines. For passengers, it is time to enjoy a host of benefits, such as seamless transfers, more combined frequent flyer loyalty points, code sharing, leading to a wider choice of flights and access to facilities at more than 1000 lounges worldwide. The alliance network currently offers over 18800 daily flights to 1317 airports in 193 countries. Air India Worldwide has recently included new nonstop routes from Amritsar to London, Delhi to Doha,

Delhi to Seoul and Mumbai to Nairobi. In addition, Hong Kong is enjoying daily morning flights to Mumbai and Delhi. From Delhi, they have good connections to Europe and to other cities in India like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Patna, Bangalore, Amritsar and Pune. The airline offers a wide range of entertainment with our large number of channels and variety of programs. Passengers also enjoy a choice of vegetarian or nonvegetarian meals and special meals as per the request.

IN THE MOOD

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Parties on our favourite

t a b r Pa Yes, you guessed it right – Kailash Parbat on Prat Ave is becoming one of the hot-spots in the heart of TST for private parties this season

hat makes a great party – the people of course! But what they take back from the party is how much they enjoyed the food; the warm hospitality and how well the ambience synced with the mood of their celebration.

When it comes to food, no one does desi-fusion like Kailash Parbat. The freshness, the taste and the Insta-worthy presentation – they are acing it all. And just in time for the party season, they are now also serving alcohol! But that’s not all. As the weather gets nippy, Kailash Parbat introduces sizzlers on their menu. Corporate groups are already enjoying the ‘sizzlers & beers’ lunches routine, and coming back for more!

Keeping the authentic flavours of Indian chaats and giving it a global twist, the very elaborate menu has something for everyone. But even before you see the stunning display of the dishes, you will be awed by the kitsch and colourful décor of the space. All the unique elements of the Indian kitchen – like the belan, chai ki kitli and dabbawalla style tiffin boxes are painted in a vibrant desi palette and hung up as artefacts and décor.

With a large separate area, often reserved for private parties, the restaurant allows you to have an intimate gathering whilst enjoying the whole ambience of the space. If you’re booking the whole space, they have a capacity of 100 guests. The convenience of the MTR closeby, ample available parking and the buzz of TST, makes this location an easy favourite. The ever-committed staff of Kailash Parbat extends its hospitality in every sense – even by customizing the menu as per the event and budget to make your special day more special. This party season celebrate with the complete Kailash Parbat experience. For bookings call: 3428 5545

AUNTY MVP

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espect in relationships builds feelings of trust, safety and wellbeing. Although people are raised with many diverse values, one common value is ‘respect’. When we respect others, it affirms their right to respect and their worthiness of respect. The initial downside of current society is the disrespect among relationships between children or adolescents and adults, especially the elderly. Respect has not been properly instilled in a considerable amount of today’s youth and it is consequently shaping today’s society in detrimental ways.

Disrespect, A New-Age epidemic As we end the year, Mrs. Poonam Mehta shares an important message of ‘respect’, and why it’s a virtue to hand down generations

‘Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love’ ~ Author unknown

All parents raise their children to the best of their ability and incorporate traditional values. The same values that they were raised with. One can understand, that as time changes, not all traditions can be upheld in the same manner but the foundation of these values must remain strong. In the past, disrespecting someone was deeply feared because there would be severe consequences. But modern times lack that discipline. There are no parental instructions or house rules that strictly maintain that ill-behaviour will not be tolerated. Teenagers rebel by putting themselves in harmful situations, doing drugs, and running away as a result of the dismissive behaviour towards adults. Let’s go back to our old teachings, “Treat people

the way you want to be treated. Talk to people the way you want to be talked to. Respect is earned, not given.” ~ Hussein Nishah

Love without respect is meaningless. While love is certainly important, respect is even more so. In fact, without respect from your family there can be no real love. When we say I love you to anyone it should be combined with respect. Respect should be woven with, value for time, being helpful, listening attentively, being patient, being humble and willing to change by setting well defined goals for the betterment of our future, that will result into a beautiful tapestry in our hearts. Respect is one of the most prized components of our character. Treasure it as a precious gem. It is a lifelong investment no trading at any cost. I wish to conclude with a beautiful quote,

“Our parents deserve our honour and respect for giving us life itself. Beyond this, they almost always made countless sacrifices as they cared for and nurtured us through our infancy and childhood, provided us with the necessities of life, and nursed us through physical illnesses and the emotional stresses of growing up.” ~ Ezra Taft Benson Food for thought: Respect your parents in return your children will respect you, it indicates characteristic of your personality.

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