GR Nov-Dec 2011 Issue by Gladrags Media Ltd.

LIFESTYLE & FASHION BIMONTHLY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011 `70

www.gladrags.in

Out Of Your

LEAGUE

Christmas Magic All the delights of christmas

How an average guy can win the hottest girl

Mrs. India Contest Enter the

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only contest for married women. Entry form inside

EDITOR’S PAGE www.gladrags.in

Christmas Glitter

t’s that time of the year when almost every creed and caste have been or are celebrating the dawning of a New Year. This year we at Gladrags have been celeMrs. Maureen N. Wadia brating Dussera, Diwali, Eid and now Christmas and New Year with our contestants competing in a reality series for the Micromax Gladrags Megamodel and Manhunt titles. Also take a look at our festive spread of India’s best-looking aspiring models. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers.

Mrs. Maureen N. Wadia Editor-In-Chief & President, Gladrags Beauty Pageants

www.gladrags.in

CONTENTS November-December 2011

38. J Lo is Back She rekindles her career 44. The Megamodel Manhunt Contestants Meet the finalists 56. Jewellery Trends The indian international week 62. Sex The Way He Wants Mens bed time stories 66. Out of Your League How average guys can score 70. Christmas Magic All the delights of christmas 90. Bad Medicine How to avoid bad Drs. 92. You Are More Than Six critical body parts 100.Super Heroes Choose your favourite 108.When East Meets West Luxurious Vietnam & Cambodia The Little Miss & Master India Entry Form: Page 15 The Mrs. India Contest Entry Form: Page 16

On the Cover and here: Krupa Shah Make-up and Hairstyling: Mahendra Gupta Photography: A Rajani

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Letters

gladrags@vsnl.com www.gladrags.in

Stunning Cover The resplendent orange gown on the July-August issue of Gladrags is stunning. Orange is my favourite colour but I have not been very comfortable with the idea of choosing orange for eveningwear. Your cover has given me the assurance that orange is the perfect new option. Thanks. Z. Cunha, Mumbai Recipes The recipes in the July-August issue really made my day, or shall I say, my evening! Some of my friends and I hosted an impromptu party for a friend on a flying visit to India. Being a working day and extremely short of time for any elaborate preparation, I took cue from Gladrags and dished up a large platter of macaroni and cheese and a huge bowl of chilli, as we are vegetarian. Everything was polished off with enjoyment, while we caught up with old times. What a memorable evening it turned out to be with the least of effort! R. Suman, Bengaluru Back is Back is Inspiring Thank you Gladrags, your article on backless gowns, which fashion forecasters predict as the next great trend, inspired my students to tone up flabby backs and ‘tyres’ and to include special exercises in their workouts, to prepare for the forthcoming festive season. Niti, ‘Niti’s Gym’, Chandigarh Gladrags Little Miss and Master India The pictures of the cute winners of the Little Miss and Master India in Gladrags July-August issue were delightful. I am sure these youngsters will be snapped up for modelling assignments. I request you to announce this event for the next year, well in advance to enable children from all over India to participate. M. Gorde, Daman, U.T.

Fashion Fantasy I am an avid follower of Gladrags though here in Jammu, there is no scope at all for wearing fashionable clothes. The fashion pages, as usual, are super, as are the models and the locations. The ‘Orange Fever’ and ‘Cutouts’ were a visual feast. The ‘Badly Dressed’ was amusing and went to prove that money can buy ‘fashion’ but not ‘style’! M. Katju, Jammu Gladrags Megamodel and Manhunt Contests Congratulations to you and to Supriya and Ahran, winners of the Megamodel and Manhunt contests who did us proud at the international level in Korea and Taiwan. Your discerning eye in spotting the winners is indeed unfailing. R. Choksi, Nepal The Mrs. India Contest I congratulate Gladrags for hosting the Mrs. India Contest. It has given a boost to our two very pretty daughters-in-law to maintain their looks and weight (both have young children) and take care of their appearance as they prepare to participate in the contest. R. Kushwaha, Jaipur Style Guide I have completed a degree course in Business Management and will soon be joining a corporation. Unfortunately, the course did not include grooming tips. I really liked the simple and practical tips on dressing, included in the Style Guide, for freshers like me. Thank you, Gladrags. G. Sinha, Kolkata Memories of Sri Lanka The lush greenery in your travel feature on Sri Lanka made me extremely nostalgic for Sri Lanka, where I spent my childhood, since my father was posted there. We too had a house on a hill and

travelled extensively. The travel tips in the feature are very informative. It is good to know that Sri Lanka is once more on the tourist map. I hope that this travelogue will encourage people to visit this wonderful country. J. Shah, Pune Man-o-Pause Congratulations to Gladrags for touching upon the controversial topic of the male menopause. Indian men are yet to accept the reality of this condition and Indian women who have been subjugated for centuries, continue to accept men’s unpredictable moods, violence and betrayal, as their fate. The behaviour of the ‘famous’ or rather notorious men is shameful and disgusting. This piece will enable your readers to see the real picture and seek or offer help, if required. Please continue to include such informative topics which most people are reluctant to discuss openly. Name withheld on request. Megapixels Your article on cameras was very informative and for me, timely. I was most confused about my options. Sales persons are not of much help, especially if you have a tight budget. I request you to cover hand-sets, hand-held tablets and new electronic gadgets. M. Sur, Jalgaon Women: What do they want? I have often marvelled about the thoughtprocesses of women. Congratulations to Gladrags for a tongue-in-cheek article about what women want. It made interesting and amusing reading. R. Wadhwa, Lucknow

Send your letters to : Gladrags, C/o. Bombay Dyeing & Mfg. Co., Administrative Office, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Mumbai 400025 or email us: gladrags@vsnl.com 6 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

16 GLADRAGS MAY - JUNE 2011

Can your

Son or Daughter win Little Miss & Master India?

Little Miss & Master India

India's first unisex pageant for children

ENTRY FORM

¨ MISS ¨ MASTER CHILD’S FIRST NAME

SURNAME

FATHER’S FULL NAME

FATHER’S CELL NO.

MOTHER’S FULL NAME

MOTHER’S CELL NO. MOTHER’S OCCUPATION

FATHER’S OCCUPATION ANY GUARDIAN AGE

BIRTH DATE: D

BIRTH CITY/COUNTRY

FAMILY HOME ADDRESS

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PARENT’S E-MAIL

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LIST ANY CONTRACTS YOU ARE UNDER WITH DETAILS OF DATES AND YEARS

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14 GLADRAGS MAY - JUNE 2011

Film Reviews RA.ONE

THE RUM DIARY

SRK barely manages to pull off the G.One bit as the South Indian nerd, Kareena Kapoor handles her role convincingly, the child actor Armaan Verma disappoints and Arjun Rampal is as usual, expressionless. The film fails to grip even die-hard fans of SRK. Vishal-Shekhar have delivered one single foot-tapping number Chammak Challo. The film is OK for a one-time watch.

Tired of the madness of New York in late Eisenhower-era America, Paul Kemp travels to pristine Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper. Adopting a rum-soaked lifestyle, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault, the attractive fiancée of an entrepreneur Sanderson. When Kemp is recruited by the entrepreneur to write favourably about his latest unsavoury scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice. A definite must-see.

TELL ME O KKHUDA

IN TIME

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Armaan Verma.

Cast: Esha Deol, Arjun Bajwa, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor. The story is about a popular writer whose life takes a new twist after she learns that she is the adopted child of a Rajasthan royal family. She sets out to find her biological parents, travelling to Turkey, Goa and Rajasthan, tackling several hurdles and women’s issues along the way. Does she succeed? Find out, while you enjoy the yesteryear star cast.

Cast: Justine Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy. In a retro-future, the aging gene has been switched off. At the age of 25, aging stops and everyone looks 25 forever and could be immortal. But to prevent overpopulation, each person is genetically engineered. Embedded in their arm is a bio-luminescent clock displaying how much time they have left. Once the clock reaches zero, they die. Worth a watch.

TOWER HEIST

DAMADAMM

After the workers at a luxury Central Park condominium discover the penthouse billionaire has stolen their retirement money, they plot the ultimate revenge: a heist to reclaim what he took from them. Parents need to know that this action comedy appears to present crime as being justified under the right circumstances and includes comedic violence and strong language. Thoroughly enjoyable.

The story about a young man torn between two women, deceit and complications is not new. Check out who wins. The screenplay is too simplistic. Himesh Reshammiya has performed better than in his earlier films despite his non-hero looks. Purbi Joshi delivers a convincing performance. Sonal Sehgal looks good. A moderately enjoyable film if you don’t expect too much out of it.

Cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Allan Alda, Mathew Broderick.

18 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Cast: Johnny Depp, Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard.

Cast: Himesh Reshammiya, Purbi Joshi, Sonal Sehgal.

Book Reviews

You Lost Him at Hello

Vinu, I am Getting Married

This book asserts that the winning formula to attract the right guy lies in the skills that one already has! The author, a successful saleswoman, with extensive experience in promoting products, finding the right approach, making a pitch and closing deals, recommends applying the same skills to the dating scene.

This book is a fun-filled roller-coaster ride through love and laughter, friendship and reality. It is about Vineet, an average boy who has no goal and hates taking decisions or control of his life; but one phone call changes all this and Vineet is obliged to confront his inner voices which are trying hard to influence him.

NIKE — The Vision Behind the Victory

Myra

This is a comprehensive analysis and the fascinating history of the company and the strategies that have helped Nike to outlast its competitors. It tells us about the humble beginnings: of two runners with a passion for improving the sport, willing to sell shoes out of their cars at track meets.

20 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Neelam Kumar’s fourth book is a compilation of four booklets in one, namely Myra, a thriller; The Unfolding, on self-help; Seasons of the Heart, a film script and Flying Solo, an autobiography. According to the author, life is a celebration of various emotions spaced between Love and Death.

How to Feel Great About Yourself

This book by Steve Wharton is a course in High Vibrational Thinking (HVT) which promises the reader to feel great and rediscover one’s self, regardless of the past. The book emphasizes on the simplicity of HVT which makes it so accessible that it is easily understood and can be followed.

Invisible Empresses of the Raj The term Viceroy/Governor General of India reflected the status of the representative of the monarch when India came directly under the rule of the British Crown in 1858. This biographical account of the Vicereines, the ‘Invisible Empresses’ from the first, Charlotte Canning to the ultimate Edwina Mountbatten.

Music Reviews

“Someone Like You” is the second single by English singer-songwriter Adele, from her second album, titled 21, which was released on 16 January 2011.  The song was inspired by a broken relationship of hers, and lyrically it speaks of Adele coming to terms with it. The song has received universal acclaim by music critics, following a well-received performance of the song at the 2011 BRIT Awards.

After hearing Rockstar, you actually fall short of words for A R Rahman’s splendid work. All songs in the album stand on their own and the album itself turns out to be a masterpiece. The music of Rockstar is an achievement not only for Rahman but also for Bollywood itself. One smart thing done here is that Mohit Chauhan is the voice of Ranbir Kapoor throughout the album.

In an effort to break new ground on their just released album, Own the Night, Lady Antebellum occasionally forget their strengths and weaknesses. Unique delivery, imaginative lyrics and contagious melodies have made the trio country superstars in just five years. A handful of songs on Own the Night rely too heavily on the pair’s vocal powers.

Radiosurgery is the seventh studio album by American pop punk band New Found Glory and was released on October 4, 2011 through independent label Epitaph Records. Radiosurgery was written as a concept album about the different stages an individual goes through after a separation, including feelings of regret, sadness, insanity and events such as one-night stands.

Although LMFAO have titled their anticipated sophomore album Sorry for Party Rocking, they pick up right where they left off with 2009’s Party Rock. The title-track explodes with R&B grooves mashed up against ’80s synths, dancefloor pounding beats. “Party Rock Anthem” makes good on its title with an insta-hit trimmed in flashes of electronics, buoyant beats, and lyrics that celebrate and encourage decadent behaviour.

Planet Pit is the sixth studio album by Pitbull, by J Records and RCA Records. Production was handled by a variety of pop and hip hop producers including David Guetta, RedOne, Dr. Luke, Jim Jonsin, and Soulshock. Musically, the album was created with the goal that every song could be a possible single. The album draws influences from Pitbull’s childhood years listening to merengue, freestyle, cha-cha-cha, Miami bass.

22 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Perfume Panorama A round-up of the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best perfumes...

Burberry Body Woman ` 7082

Burberry Woman Azzaro Duo Women ` 980

` 2900

Agua Mediterraneo ` 4126

Playboy ` 2795

Viva La Juicy ` 4912

Aqua Allegoria ` 4028

24 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

BXS for Her by Paco Robanne ` 2795

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Horoscope Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 20) It is a mixed phase at emotional and practical levels. You may come across people with whom you get attached emotionally, professionally or spiritually. Different opportunities will put you at crossroads, and you may not be able to decide where to go. Trust in the Divine and your instincts. Ultimately, belief is what counts. You may come across negative energies from within your close circle, which might disturb you.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)

Domestic life and health are now your main priority. Focus on them and take things slowly. Hidden negative energies from close circles are indicated, but your diplomacy and the blessings of elders will get you over this phase. A little bit of risk could yield you some prosperity. There is a good chance of you hitting a jackpot, provided, you keep a low profile, so that you don’t invite any unwanted energies which could slow down your progress.

Taurus (Apr 19-May 19)

Diplomacy is the key word currently as, a possibility of some emotional outburst, especially harsh language, may ruin things for you. Luck is in your favour. Too many things may happen at once. Using your communication skills to the best of your abilities, your presence of mind and being aware, could turn things in your favour. This is a significant time for you at personal and professional levels, and can change your life completely.

Leo (July 22-Aug 21)

You will be noticed during this phase and this is a good time to venture into what you are looking forward to. Take care of finances; they could get slippery at times. Look for some peace of mind. Opportunity will knock your door. Luck will favour you but you need to stay focused. Your pride will emerge, which is not healthy at this point. Be attentive to your closed ones. You should also know your expectations from the opposite sex.

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 20)

Trust your knowledge and experience in the venture you undertake. Beware of unwanted expenses and thefts. Hurdles will hamper you in taking decisions. Take advice from trusted sources. The professional front will be highlighted; all your energy will be occupied there. Keep a balance between your personal and professional life. Health, especially skin and blood-related issues will need attention. You may be carried away emotionally.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 19)

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19)

Luck will be uncertain, sometimes you may feel things are working and at times not, but the fact is luck is in your favour, patience is all you need. Also you will be in a dilemma about who to trust. Domestic and personal life will be blissful; be a good listener. Unexpected financial gains are expected. Mood swings are part of this phase. Invoke blessings from the elderly, especially women. Do the right ‘karmas’, everything else will follow.

Aries (Mar 20-Apr 18)

You may struggle to save your hardearned money during this phase. But there is also a possibility of gaining something unexpected. This is a good time for dealing with envious people. Domestic and personal life will be stressful as others are unable to understand you as a whole. Be more expressive and communicative. There may be small hurdles but do not give up, luck is on your side. Look at life from a different perspective.

Your calm exterior will attract positive energies. Avoid being aggressive, channelize this energy for productive works, sympathize with elderly people. An opportunity to learn something new is on the cards, which may be helpful in the long run. You may attract envy, jealousy during this phase but avoid going into depression. Domestic life and health issues will be in your favour. Try to put your maximum energy in your self-development.

Gemini (May 20-Jun 20)

Cancer (Jun 21-July 21)

Your commanding nature could annoy people at times. Your communication skills will be at their best during this period and could bring in some good financial luck. Temperament will be fickle; soft at one and hard at the next moment. Meditation is recommended. Influential people will be very helpful in whatever ways you desire. It’s a happening time on your professional front, but do not avoid the domestic side, including friends.

You may find it difficult to understand or control your mood swings. If feeling aggressive and emotional simultaneously, avoid discussions or arguments that could cost you dear. It could be a good time to share your knowledge and experience to benefit someone; a time for charity which will draw lots of positive energy. Start your day with thanking your ancestors for their contribution. Your demanding nature may lead to a long-term rift.

Virgo (Aug 22-Sep 21)

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)

Your days and nights will be different during this phase; days will be dull but once the sun sets you will feel hyperactive or you could even end up depressed. Do not worry, let these times pass. Unwanted expenditure cannot be ruled out. There are possibilities of connecting with the right people who will be of importance in future. Health needs attention. You could even experience different personalities in yourself, just be observant.

This is a positive period for professional ventures. Little calculated risks could yield something of importance for you. Your temperament could create hurdles in the path of progress. Taking one day at a time would be the right approach. Personal and domestic life could take a backseat and will need time and attention. It is one of those times when you need to keep your mind, body and spirit clear and separate and let your instinct take over.

For your horoscope email Santosh Chandran: tosh8888@gmail.com / call: 9867067825 26 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Magical Mixes

Versace Price on request

Tom Binns Price on request

Breguet Price on request

Chanel Price on request

ORO Price on request

Kenneth Jay Lane ` 10,749 Isabel Marant ` 15,710

Philippe Audibert ` 9,715 TBZ Price on request Tanishq Price on request

Bijoux Heart ` 17,365 Marc Jacobs ` 98,625

Manish Malhotra Tara Jewellers Price on request Gucci ` 48,340

Alex Monroe ` 18,605

Rinaldi ` 18,670 Angelic ` 799 Jimmy Choo ` 24,655

28 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Accessrize ` 1,690

Ethnic Flavours Yves Saint Laurent ` 45,385

ORRA Price on request

Lanvin ` 66,345

Gili Price on request

Chloe ` 51,759

DKNY ` 6,635 TBZ Price on request

Christian Louboutin ` 45,403

Guess ` 6,863

Accessorize ` 1,372

Accessorize ` 1,220

Neeta Lulla

Chanel Price on request

Chopard Price on request Lanvin ` 1,02,959

Versace Price on request

Yves Saint Laurent ` 94,127 Lanvin Price on request Valentino ` 94,951

30 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Miu Miu ` 35,869

DKNY ` 14,090

Evening Elegance Accessorize ` 1,906

Breguet Price on request

Versace Price on request

Aldo ` 32,413

Chanel Price on request ORRA Price on request

TBZ Price on request Aldo ` 1,02,959 Mallarino ` 76,836 Lulu Frost ` 13,856

Scintillating Jewellery Price on request

Shantanu-Nikhil Roberto Cavalli ` 1,995 Gucci ` 1,37,713

Valentino ` 7,20,764

Jimmy Choo ` 1,15,775

32 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Lanvin ` 82,367

Roberto Cavalli ` 44,947

Miu Miu ` 38,592

DKNY ` 9583

Giordano Price on request

Saree Sophistication Tara Jewellers Price on request

Roberto Cavalli ` 65,737 Playboy Price on request

Timex Price on request

Lanvin ` 149,215 Erickson Beamon ` 57,055

Yves Saint Laurent ` 40,535

Chanel Price on request

Philippe Audibert ` 43,068

DKNY ` 6629

Dolce & Gabbana ` 71,525

Anita Dongre

Accessorize ` 3,451

Valentino ` 2,46,557

ORRA Price on request

Cartier Price on request Roberto Cavalli ` 62,845

Popley Price on request Forever 21 ` 1,217

34 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Catwalk ` 1,495

TBZ Price on request

Trash or Treasure

Even the biggest celebrities can end up as fashion disasters. Here’s a round-up of a few of them which left us baffled.

Poonam Pandey The permanant exhibitionist.

Shama Sikander Colour co-ordinated dress and umbrella, Whats Next!

Neetu Chandra Harem Pajamas are’nt flattering.

Ekta Kapoor She did it again! HELP! Stylist required.

Joseph’s coat of many colours worn by Reena Dutta

Sarah Jane Dias Even the prettiest go haywire.

Sakshi Dhoni needs a stylist and fast.

Mahakshay Chakraborthy could get the snazzy topori prize.

Shefanjali Shekhar Where’s Tarzan, she’s Jane.

Kalki Koechlin in her Hansel and Gretel dress.

Yana Gupta Even the sexiest go AWOL sometimes.

Even a fashion diva has a Bad day.

Sona Mohapatra It would have been wiser to stay at home than step out like this.

Hrithik Roshan dressed for pizza delivery.

Nandini Singh Out in her house dress and grocery bag.

Prateik Babbar Johny Joker Mera Naam or maybe i can be a jockey.

Everyone knew what was behind the mother goose dress.

How American Idol helped Jennifer Lopez rekindle her pop and movie career Jennifer Lopez hadn’t recorded an album since 2007’s Brave, and her most recent starring film role, in last year’s hit romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan, was her first hit since 2005’s Monster-ln-Law. However, when she joined the judging panel on American Idol last September, her profile rocketed back up to the top. First was a cameo as a tough-talking self-help author on relationship sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and then there was a guest spot in teen musical drama Glee as a cafeteria worker. Meanwhile, her seventh studio album, Love? was released in April, a collaboration with producer RedOne that was two years in the making, and catapulted her back up the charts. Now that she’s got her groove back, expect to see a lot more in the coming months.

J-Lo is back

Style up

J-Lo way! Perfect Minidress Wearing a Gucci dress, and jewellery by Gray, she pays attention to all her angles.

Full on Sexy

In a glittery Emilio Pucci minidress, she goes all-out!

DID YOU KNOW?

After emerging from a four-year hiatus with her new album Love? and the film The Back-Up Plan, J-Lo will voice Shira in 2012’s Ice Age:Continental Drift. She’s back, folks. 40 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Major Mini

She shows off her legs with an ultrashort hemline but balances the look with a high neck, long sleeves and a subtle colour palette.

Sizzling

box office Movie ticket sales in America are up this year despite economic woes.

THOR

popular boy wizard, comic-book heroes and some foul-mouthed women led Hollywood towards a record-breaking summer despite the sour economy and high unemployment resulting in tightened consumer spending.

Attendance was up 2.8 per cent, compared to last year’s 13-year low, according to H ollywood figures. Premium charges for 3-D films and slightly higher average ticket prices helped raise revenue.

Underscoring the notion that movies are recession-proof, American ticket sales were 5 per cent higher than a year ago, thanks to the Harry Potter finale and other big-budget sequels plus raunchy adult comedies such as Bridesmaids.

The summer film season– usually represents the most lucrative time of the year for studios, providing as much as 40 per cent of annual boxoffice dollars.

Summer ticket sales in the American market through the summer stood at an estimated US$ 3.8 billion ($1 billion equals `100 crore).

Movie-going, which is one of the cheaper entertainment options for consumers, usually holds up in weak

economies, industry players say. Box-office success is tied more to the quality of the films than economic trends. “Good movies are recessionproof,” say industry players This year’s standout performers thus far include Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which broke records worldwide when released. It was among the three movies to sell more than US$1 billion globally. The others were the Transformers – Dark Of The Moon: Part 3 and Pirates Of The Caribbean : On Stranger Tides Part 4. Foul-mouthed women scored big with better-than-expected sales for Bridesmaids and Bad Teacher. Another adult comedy, The Hangover 2, also was a hit. Superheroes abounded on screens–to mixed results. Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor performed well while The Green Lantern fizzled. Four of the five highest-grossing summer 2011 films were offered in 3-D, as were several other summer flicks. But film-goers often decided to live with 2-D, sparking a debate in the industry over whether the appetite for 3-D movies had petered out. Avatar director James Cameron recently urged Hollywood to make sure 3-D movies provided a quality experience to justify the higher price. “This is a good moment for Hollywood to acknowledge that they have to try harder to maintain the idea that 3-D is a premium experience. We can’t take cheap routes,” he said. Sequels to Twilight, Mission: Impossible, Happy Feet and Alvin And The Chipmunks had tepid releases.o

BRIDESMAIDS

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 43

INDIA’S ONLY UNISEX

THURSDAY 9:30 pm 66628855 / 8877

PAGEANT REALITY TV SERIES

REPEATS : SUN 4 PM Wed 10 pm

www.gladrags.in

India's only unisex pageant,

Krupa Shah

23 years old: Surat

Neha Kapoor

24 years old: Dewas 44 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

now a reality series running on Channel V every Thursday at 9.30 pm with repeats on Sunday at 4 pm and Wednesday at 10 pm.

Anjusha Bhattacharya 20 years old: Mumbai

Bharti Jha

22 years old, Nagpur

Keren Ayemi

23 years old: Nagaland

Shweta Sharma

20 years old, Mumbai

Rupali Jambulkar

23 years old, Nagpur

Neha Verma

24 years old, Meerut

Stephanie Fernandes 24 years old: Mumbai

Smitika Acharya

21 years old: Rourkela GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 45

Pallavi Singh

21 years old, Rae Bareilly

Ashierah Sinha

24 years old, Mumbai

Tracy Watson Sherpa 20 years old, Kalimpong

Sakshi Chaudhary 19 years old, Delhi

46 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

The Gladrags Megamodel and Manhunt contestants are a kaleidoscope of young aspiring models from all over India, all eager to be in India's most prestigious Unisex PageantReality Series. India's first unisex pageant reality series has been running on Channel V from 6th Oct and will continue till the Finale on 22nd Dec 2011 which will be telecast as a special 1Â˝ hour programme with repeats on Sunday 25th Dec 2011 at 4 pm and Wednesday 28th Dec 2011 at 10 pm. The mix of beauties and hunks are all fiercely competitive and come from Canada, London, Spain and Australia. The Indian entries are from Nagaland, Kalimpong, Rae Bareilly, Meerut, Jaipur, Mohali, New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai. They are all competing against one another to win the Contest Where Stars are Born and Model Legends Are Made.

Priya Singh

20 years old, Ghaziabad

Navin Dhyaani

24 years old, Mumbai

Harsimran Singh Bedi 19 years old, Chandigarh

Arjun Behl

24 years old, Chandigarh

Prabhjot Sahota

19 years old, Canada

Maitraya Kotecha 22 years old, Pune

India's only unisex pageant, now a reality series running on Channel V every Thursday at 9.30 pm with repeats on Sunday at 4 pm and Wednesday at 10 pm. GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 47

Aamir Yaseen Bhat 23 years old, J & K

Sam Kapoor

24 years old, New Delhi

Kamal Mahboobani 27 years old, Spain

Meet the finalists of the Megamodel and Manhunt Pageant who finally got to compete against each other in the TV reality series. The guys and girls who have made the final cut for the Reality Series have had rigorous model training by Mrs. Wadia and her team at the Gladrags Career Academy, Mumbai. The other major sponsors of the show are TATA ARIA, Mufti, Go Air, Della Adventure Park, Radio City 91.1 fm, Bright Advertising, Global Advertising and Orienta cine advertising ltd.

Anuj Sethi

22 years old, New Delhi 48 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Suhas Rawal

23 years old, Srinagar

Shiva Dagar

24 years old, New Delhi

Dev Ranjan

24 years old, Bhubaneshwar

Lokesh Kori

24 years old, Bhopal

Pawan Ahuja

26 years old, Jaipur

Shivankit Sharma

26 years old, London

Rafi Malik

21 years old, Bhopal GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 49

THE WEALTHIEST

razilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and her American footballer husband Tom Brady have been named as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest celebrity couple. A website reports that the couple have jointly earned $75 million in 2010, according to the list compiled by a magazine. Beyonce and Jay Z stood second in the list with a total earning of $70 million. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie earned $49 million between them, David and Victoria Beckham netted $44 million, and Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart rounded up the top five with earnings of $36 million.

Beyonce and Jay Z 1. Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady

$75 million

2. Beyonce and Jay Z

$70 million

3. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

$49 million

4. David and Victoria Beckham

$44 million

Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady

50 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

5. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

$36 million

CELEB COUPLES

David and Victoria Beckham

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 51

YOUNG GUNS Singers Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber and Katy Perry topped the list of Forbes’ best paid celebrities under 30. Gaga took the spot from Beyonce, who had earned $87m last year.

» Justin Beiber, 17 $ 53 m

» Lady Gaga, 25 $ 90 m

LeBron James, 26 $ 48 m

52 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Taylor Swift, 21 $ 45 m

» Katy Perry, 26 $ 44 m

» Roger Federer, 29 $ 47 m

Beyonce, 29 $ 35 m

» Cristiano Ronaldo, 26 $ 38 m

» Rafael Nadal, 25 $ 31 m

» Lionel

Messi, 23

$ 32 m

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 53

TWITTER TOPPERS,

or as long as we remember, stars always competed for the top slot in their fields, be it films, music, or even the corporate world. The so-called rivalries used to be based on who earned the most, how many times he/she appeared in public and so on. But in this technosavvy age, the starry battles have shifted to the Internet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most hits on YouTube videos, most likes on a Facebook page and now, most followers on Twitter. On last count, the most followed female star in the world was Lady Gaga, while in India, the most followed male star was Shah Rukh Khan. In the following Twitter chart, find the most followed celebrity figures, Indian and global, in their respective fields.

54 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Ashton Kutcher

Kim Kardashian

Followers:

8,193,743

11,003,128

Actor

Shah Rukh Khan

Priyanka Chopra

Followers:

1,342,851

1,600,337

INDIA AND ABROAD

Lady Gaga

Kaka

Barrack Obama

Followers:

15,324,805

6,732,352

10,434,628

Musician

Sportsperson

A.R. Rahman

Sachin Tendulkar

Followers:

606,971

Followers:

1,539,830

Politician

Sashi Tharoor Followers:

1,174,964 Data as off 1st November 2011 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 55

Jewellery Trends at the Indian International Jewellery Week

56 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Cue from Nature The delicate flowering Raatki-Rani was the inspiration behind Boucheron’s stunning neckpiece, made of diamonds, rubies and various gemstones, modelled by Sonam Kapoor, where each flower can ‘bloom and close’ by a subtle mechanism in the chain.

Polkis Dazzle Exquisite neckpieces in ‘polki’ and ‘jadau’, the high points of every traditional bridal collection occupied a special place. Particularly eyecatching were the dazzling polkis by Amrapali worn by Kangna Ranaut and polkis by Golecha.

Choker Charm Massive diamond-studded chokers, set the trend. Some extremely elaborate and detailed pieces from Manubhai Jewellers were showcased while Lara Dutta scorched the ramp as the showstopper for PC Jewels.

Popular-as-ever Pearls Pearls dominated the scene. On show in great abundance, were pearl earrings, neckpieces and bracelets. GIA portrayed pearl jewellery and Nargis Bagheri showcased an elaborate neckpiece and earrings for Eekani Jewels.

GIA India

Kashi Jewellers

Alpana Gujral

Mahima Chaudhary Sawansukha Jewellers

Hema Malini Scintillating Jewellery

Eesha Khoppikar Kashi Jewellers

Eternal Glitter

Malaika Arora Birdichand Ghanshyamdas

Kays Jewels Pvt. Ltd.

Manubhai Gems Pvt. Ltd.

Kajal Agarwal CVM Exports

Amrita Rao Agni Jewels Pvt. Ltd.

Kalki Koechlin Kays Jewels Pvt. Ltd.

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 57

The

Style Guide doing, just give him the old thumbs-up and say, “Mission accomplished!”

MR. CLEAN

THE REVENGE OF MOTHMAN

I’m prematurely balding, and I’m thinking of shaving my head. Is this advisable?

Absolutely! Athletes and actors have made the look culturally sexy to the point that many bald unattractive men are now getting the hotties (well at least on Sex and the City). Recently, I had lunch with a model-agency exec who looks after a tribe of youthful male models, some of whom chrome their domes, and he told me about a special razor designed specifically for that purpose called the HeadBlade. You put it on your hand like a ring. The bald models love its ease, and apparently it cuts many minutes from shaving time.

BROWN OR NAVY SUIT?

I’ve just been promoted as manager of a large Delhi NCR bank branch. But I’m not quite sure about appropriate attire. Is it okay if I wear a brown suit, or should I stick with dark blue and dark grey?

For a long time, brown suits were out as business wear, but they seem to have made a strong comeback, thanks to celebs. I wouldn’t wear brown for a day in court or for a formal business meeting, but it’s a good day-to-day relief from the routine of blue and grey.

WHAT’S RIGHT IS WHAT SARONG

What do you think of sarongs for men?

Sarongs are excellent for beach life. Easy on and easy off. Just wrap one around you, and your wetness, sandiness, and perhaps highlighted manliness are effectively covered for the ride home. A 58 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

sarong also makes a good impromptu beach blanket or picnic cloth. This casual style is for anyone but wearing a sarong away from its natural habitat is not a good idea.

SUIT YOURSELF

To me, a military flight suit is one of the coolest-looking articles of clothing. I’ve been waiting for it to come into style so I can wear one in public confidently. It hasn’t, so I’m in a dilemma: should I wear one anyway and get looked at like I’m crazy?

You don’t think they’re back? Recently a Hollywood star wore one in public, and he must have pulled it off—they made a doll of him wearing it that quickly sold out. That flight suit gave him a certain something; maybe it was those groin straps that enhanced his appeal. If that’s what raises your flag, I say go ahead and wear one to make a style statement. If anybody looks at you or asks what you’re

I have never actually seen one in my closet, but lately my clothes have been ravaged by moths. Where do they come from, and how can I get rid of them? I have tried cedar oil, which doesn’t seem to work, and I can’t stand the smell of mothballs.

You can’t take a casual approach with moths. It’s war. Them or us. Where do they come from? Everywhere. (Where do flies come from? Flyland?) The first step is to remove all clothes from the suspected hideout. Spray the closet, drawer or whatever completely with an appropriate insecticide. If any of your clothes need cleaning, send them off to the drycleaner. Any moths or larvae lurking in them will be eliminated. It’s also important to keep your clothes clean, because moths usually go for the spots where something tasty has been spilled.

JACKETED STYLE

I am an advocate in a large Mumbaibased law firm. I’ve recently noticed several of my colleagues wearing shirts without jackets or ties as part of their business-casual outfits. I asked a senior colleague in my firm about this, and he responded that this should never be done. I then asked several young lawyers I meet in the course of my work and many of them said it’s acceptable and gaining popularity. Who’s right? We’re siding with your senior colleague. It’s fine to work in your shirtsleeves, but when you are at client meetings your shirt cuffs should be peeking proudly from under a jacket and a tie is a must! Popularity is overrated. Style is not a democracy.o

If you have any queries on dressing or fashion trends please mail them to The Style Guide at gladrags@vsnl.com

Immature love says: “I love you because I need you.” Mature love says: “I need you because I love you.” ~ Erich Fromm lmost every marriage starts out as a huge celebration. Together with their family and friends, each couple is full of hopes and dreams for their future life together. But the road to a happy marriage is far from easy. And as today’s divorce statistics demonstrate all too well, many couples opt not to complete the journey. It would be easy to blame our rising rate of marital failure on things like not spending enough quality time together, allowing bitterness and resentment to build in our hearts and failing to keep communication lines open. There’s no end to books, articles and seminars that tell you how to improve these and many other aspects of your relationship. But while quality time, forgiveness and communication are vitally important to creating a happy marriage, if such things aren’t happening, it’s usually a sign of a much deeper problem. And until this problem is addressed, no amount of external behaviour modification will work. A relationship can lose its intensity over the years. Apart from interpersonal communication, money has also come to play an increasingly important part in keeping that intensity alive after cupid first strikes. You think that you are on top of the world, you start paying extra wages or making extravagant gestures, you feel great. But the day you settle to something that is distinctly less passionate life than you had thought of, you start getting tired and feeling the work pressure. Always remember that “Nothing worth having ever comes free”. Keeping your relationship a priority and working at it will mean a healthier and happier home. So do concentrate on some of the following tips in your daily life for a smooth love life: 1. Love Comes First: Physical love is good, but there has to be genuine spiritual love also in your heart. Your immediate neighbour is your own spouse. So let charity begin at home and set an example

by loving your spouse first and foremost. Follow the scripture: “Love thy neighbour as thyself”. Just the two of you: weekend breaks and holidays are a perfect way to indulge in a bit of your time, just remember to turn your mobile off. Try to express your heart notes and listen to your partner’s aspirations, jokes, worries or just the day’s event. Share your thoughts. Words may be absent but volumes can still be spoken. 2. Narrow the Gulf: Whether it is a love marriage, arranged marriage or forced marriage, differences are bound to arise. Both of you, possibly, come from different backgrounds, upbringings and environments. You must be ready to overlook the sharp differences, lapses or shortcomings. Share problems. Asking for help doesn’t mean that your relationship has failed. It just means that you are ready to make it better. Create some space: if you had your own interests before you met your partner, don’t give them up now. Don’t let go of your individuality and identity. Be upfront about what you like and if you are up to a bit of experimenting, say so. 3. Forgive & Forget: Remember, to forgive is divine, and keep doing it, even if you have to repeat this process for infinite times. Clear the environment. There’s nothing worse than bearing a grudge, it’s ugly and boring. If you find a good release for frustration, use it. Never go to sleep on an argument. 4. Begin the Day Cool: Early in the morning, both spouses should try to remain calm and cool. No discussions or arguments in the early morning hours. 5. Silence Can Save: When you leave home for work in the morning, be at your best behaviour. If one of you is provoked or complains, silence is the best answer. Conversely, you can say, “We will discuss it in the evening.” 6. Money is the Object: If you find that money is the root of all evils, work out a budget and stick to it. 7. Inquire & Appreciate: After you return home, inquire and take

interest in one another’s activity during the day: “How was your day?” You must show your genuine appreciation and sympathy. Top it with a pleasant smile. Make use of “Thank you”, “Well done”, “You have done a good job”, and “I am sorry”, as frequently as is necessary. Don’t forget to compliment. Be generous in your praise and compliments. 8. Listen & Sympathize: Do listen to your spouse attentively and sympathetically. Never ignore him/her. Even at your place of work, if you get a telephone call from your partner, be polite and courteous, in spite of your busy schedule. The unexpected: try to do something different, for example:sending a bunch of flowers. Negotiate differences so that you both end up getting a fair deal – after all a relationship is not a pointscoring exercise. 9. Don’t Compare: Do not enter into comparisons. No one is 100% perfect or 100% imperfect. We all have flaws and shortcomings. Always look at the good qualities of your spouse. 10. Keep Smiling: Be cheerful and smile away your problems. Give a smile as often as you can. Only a human person is endowed with this blessing. Animals do not have this rare faculty. Did you know you use only 20 muscles for a smile but 70 muscles for a frown? So, keep smiling! As you begin to do these things, you’ll notice that your focus automatically starts to shift away from you and your desires and over to your partner. As a result, communication problems begin to improve, anger and resentment fade away and you naturally want to spend more time together. Of course, you can’t expect such changes to happen overnight. Your relationship is also bound to face financial pressures, child rearing issues and other problems that are beyond your control. But if you spiritually commit to your relationship and make a conscious decision each day to your partner first, your marriage will be able to weather any storm. Not only that, you’ll also have plenty of fun together along the way!

There’s a Ferrari at the village mela,… and a Mercedes at

the mandir! Luxury does not live in palaces these days but in

spacious garages in tier-2 cities.Welcome to small towns with big aspirations, where super luxury cars speed past bullock-carts and tractors.

ne of the most visible signs of the economic growth of India is the overwhelming presence of luxury cars in tier-2 cities, often on dusty ‘kuchha’ roads, speeding past bullock-carts, and on their way to stateof-the-art factories, fabulous farm houses or widespread real estate developments! Tier-2 cities particularly have experienced a sea change. They have been exposed to international markets through entrepreneurship and exports and liaison with international clients. High-end professionals, businessmen and all those who travel abroad extensively and enjoy speed, power and luxury are the new automobile aristocracy. Those who love the good life and have the fondness for luxury, now wish to flaunt it, without reservations, fear or guilt! Luxury car dealerships, having recognized the potential of tier-2 cities are expanding their networks. Improved road conditions and infrastructure further support the influx of luxury cars. Just a few years back small-town residents had to be satisfied with locallymade cars and yes, a long waiting period. Today, the scenario is different! 60 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Ever since they have realized the potential, luxury car dealers, who have already made it big in metros are flocking to tier-2 cities and further into districts across the country, investing in huge showrooms worth several crores. A luxury car company spokesperson says, “India’s luxury car market has tripled over the last five years. The number of affluent customers who appreciate quality and luxury is also growing. With infrastructure improving and aspiration levels of the younger generation being what they are, we believe that sales of luxury cars will continue to increase across India especially in emerging cities.” Audi has presence in Kochi, Ludhiana,

Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Gurgaon, Pune, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, besides Mumbai and Delhi. Rolls Royce has seen a seven-fold increase in its sales and sold 70 cars in 2010 against 10 cars in 2009, mostly in tier-2 cities in the south of India, though it has dealerships only in Mumbai and Delhi. The Rolls Royce stable currently constitutes of Phantom, Phantom Coupe, Rolls Royce Phantom Drop-head Coupe and Ghost. BMW, another leader in luxury cars in India with 41 per cent market share, has a total of 17,794 cars on road. Mercedes Benz too is exploring smaller towns through showrooms and after-sales service centres. A senior manager at the company says, “We are looking to penetrate these markets by providing service opportunities and test drives. We are looking at expanding our dealership network in Goa, Kolhapur, Coimbatore, Jaipur and Bhubaneshwar.” Volkswagen (India) is all set to increase its dealer network from 15 to 40 by year-end, particularly in tier-2 towns. Porsche, however, isn’t targeting tier-2 towns as its pricing starts at Rs 70 lakh, much higher than the Rs 25 lakh for other premium cars.

Regardless of various statistics, one can easily perceive that the passion for cars is as vibrant, if not more in tier-2 cities as it is in metros! This year, in far-off Phagwara, which already boasts of over 30 luxury cars, a 30-year old businessman purchased a Porsche Carrera S, a sports car priced at a whopping Rs.1.27 crore. Totally captivated by its power he says the car is

simply for his ‘driving pleasure’ and uses it for ‘special occasions’ only. This young tycoon owns a fleet of luxury cars including a Mercedes S Class, and Audi Q7 among others. Meerut is another tier-2 city with a fair share of lovers of luxury cars. A 20-year

old Meerut businessman who is the proud owner of a two-seater BMW Z-4 thinks that a luxury car is a great way of showing off and making an impact and considers his car as a business clincher. It is not only the young and restless who are enthralled. A 45-year old sportsman and real estate dealer, again from Meerut, passionate about driving is the proud possessor of BMW-X5 and a Mercedes C 200 with his eye firmly trained on his next acquisition, the Porsche Cayenne, while 52-year old chairman of a sports goods manufacturing company, enjoys his Audi as any young person, half his age, would! Looking eastwards, Jamshedpur abounds with lovers of luxury cars such as Pajeros, Skoda Superbs and Endeavours and has recently welcomed a Jaguar XJ, acquired by a 38-year old hotelier.

In Raipur, a 51-year old trader-turnedreal estate businessman has no less than a Land Rover and a Mercedes in his stable of eight luxury cars. In Kanpur and near-by Lucknow with its Nawabi-culture, famous for vintage beauties, the Audis and BMWs are paving way for more luxury cars. A twenty-eight year-old gifted himself a BMW III Series last year, which he alone drives and now is looking forward to an SUV Audi Q7 as his next buy. Luxury cars are for here and now! People want to spend on themselves, enjoy the palpable fruits of their labour rather than stash away amounts for the future! Welcome to incredibly luxurious India.o GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 61

SEX THE WAY

HE REALLY WANTS IT

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve charmed his mates, persuaded his dog to like you and even met his parents, but do you know what he really wants in bed? Sex detectives Ritinder Sohoni and Naznin Kaur spent months asking 300 men the bedtime secrets, quite a few women are too shy to ask their own beaus.

62 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

skinny legs and of course whether their penis is big enough. So if you think he’s looking a bit nervous avert your gaze! He’ll thank you for it.

He’ll always choose you over his ‘fantasy’ woman Men fantasise. Fact. They watch porn, they like looking at other women, and some men even keep naked pictures of their exes. But it’s not because they’re madly in love with those other women — it’s because the naked female body is a huge turn-on for a man. What it’s vital for you to know is that any fantasy, or image, is a poor substitute for the physical presence of the woman they love. “My fantasising doesn’t mean my girlfriend doesn’t turn me on,” says 28-year-old Nilesh, a musician. “It’s something I use to occupy my mind until I can be with my girlfriend again.”

He loves performing oral sex

“T

ake a look at the ‘sex’ section in a bookshop and you’ll find most of the books are written by women for women,” says Ritinder. “There’s everything from advice on how to perform blow jobs to how to have a mind-blowing orgasm. But in these books there’s one voice missing – a man’s. “That’s why with the help of my wife, Naznin, I’ve spent the past year interviewing hundreds of men to discover their desires, fears and turn-ons. The results weren’t what you’d expect. Even I was shocked by how explicit they got. But what really surprised me was how willing men were to articulate their desires. So if you’re too shy to ask the man lying next to you what turns him on, don’t worry. We’ve done the hard work for you.”

Men can have multiple orgasms, too

Of the men we spoke to 40% say they’ve experienced multiple orgasms. These are the small genital contractions that can last between three and five seconds and, like women, men can experience several before actually having a full orgasm. Sohail, 29, a marketing executive says: “I’ve definitely had multiple orgasms. What do they feel like? Like tiny shivers of pleasure that run through my body. I

can have them up to about three or four times before coming. It’s amazing.”

When you’re having oral sex, enthusiasm is always better than technique

“The most amazing oral sex I’ve had? It was just a standard blow job but she loved doing it and it showed,” says one 31-year-old teacher. Put it this way, if a guy had to choose between a woman who had the technique of a porn star but looked totally bored, and a woman who wasn’t as proficient but was having fun doing it – he’d go for Ms Enthusiastic every time. Enjoying a man’s penis shows you’re enjoying him, and that’s possibly the biggest ego boost any woman can give a man.

Men worry about the way they look in bed

It’s not just women who feel more comfortable with the lights off. Almost three quarters of the men we spoke to admitted to having big body insecurities. Turns out they’re just as pressurised by unrealistic celebrity images as women and are convinced you expect them to have a perfect body. They worry about everything: their chests being too small, beer bellies,

Next time you’re worried about letting him go down there, remember this: 81% of men say they love giving you oral sex. Going down on a woman is something men genuinely enjoy doing. They love doing it at the beginning of a relationship because it feels just a little bit taboo, and they’re equally as keen on it as a relationship deepens, because it’s so intimate. In fact only 1% of the men we talked to said they didn’t enjoy cunnilingus at all.

40%

OF MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ORGASMS He loves your bottom – no matter what its size

Almost twice as many men that we spoke to said they preferred a woman’s bum over her breasts. And that didn’t mean a pert size 10 derriere either. They love all bottoms – large, small and wobbly,even those with cellulite. They love the way it curves, the way the eye is drawn to it up the legs, and the softness of it. Not one single man we talked to mentioned J.Lo, or Beyonce, or any other booty-blessed, A-list beauty. They just raved about bums, full stop. So whether it’s tight jeans, shorts, or a slinky dress, just make sure you emphasise yours.

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 63

He loves watching you masturbate

A massive 82% of men told us they’re guaranteed to get hot and bothered if you touch yourself in front of them. “Seeing and hearing her get aroused – I love it. And can’t usually wait to join in,” says 30-year-old TV producer, Rajiv. For men, it’s like having your own personal porn show. She looks amazing, she’s enjoying it, and there’s no pressure on you to do anything. Plus, men are keen to know what turns women on, and watching your partner masturbate lets you in on what works for her.

81%

OF MEN LOVE PERFORMING ORAL SEX ...but he might be shy about you watching him

While we may love watching you masturbate, it’s not quite the same the other way round. More than a third of the men we spoke to said it does nothing for them, while a fifth said it makes them feel too self-conscious. A lot of men we spoke to still find masturbation a taboo subject and said they feel much more comfortable being voyeur rather than exhibitionist. Remember, a lot of men’s sexuality is tied up with their ego so performing directly for another person is going to raise a lot of concerns. ‘Am I doing it right?’ ‘Does she find it a turn-on?’ If you want to watch a man touch himself, but he doesn’t seem too keen, you’ll have to show him that you are genuinely interested: maybe offer to join in after a couple of minutes.

He’d rather hear you moan than talk

Moaning is often an involuntary noise: something that comes out because you just can’t stop yourself. And, let’s face it, if it sounds like you’re enjoying yourself it makes us feel good because we know we’re performing. Sex for men is a lot about self-esteem – and if you let us know we’re doing it right, that in itself is a huge turn-on. Sunil, 26, a trader, says: “The noises she makes help me know I’m doing it right — and make me want her even more.”

64 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Moaning is best, but non-verbal instruction can be good too. In fact 98% of all men said that they want you to let them know if their technique needs tweaking – because they want to make you happy. What they hate though is being shouted at like they’re in PT: ‘To the right, now. Keep it up, two, three, four.’ If you’re being dictated to it’s distracting – plus you feel like you’re doing something wrong.

...but anything’s better than silence

There wasn’t a single man who said he liked having sex in silence – and many of them told us it actually made them feel like saying ‘forget it’. “My biggest turnoffs?” asks one 28-year-old. “Silence, and her just lying there.” It feels strange when you’re really getting into it and not getting one single sound in return. You start to wonder, ‘What’s going on in her head?’ and that prevents you from enjoying all the sensations you’re getting. Plus, when it’s really quiet, it feels like being in a library or at work, which isn’t the vibe you’re looking for in the middle of passion.

interviewed. And the reason behind this in both cases had a lot to do with the view. “I love watching her up there grinding away on me, positioning herself exactly how she likes it and getting herself off,” says Manish a 24-year-old solicitor. What a lot of these guys didn’t mention is that these positions are also a lot more comfortable for men. In the missionary position a man has to control his weight and stop himself squashing you. But with doggy style he’s able to shift his weight around more easily without disturbing the rhythm. And when you’re on top he’s relaxed and happy too!

Men like to snuggle up after sex...

Only 5% of men want to be left alone once they’ve climaxed. But a massive 56% of both single and men in relationships do want a post-coital cuddle. “I absolutely want to snuggle up after sex,” says Karan, a 24- year-old computer technician. Exactly the same as women, a lot of men like to linger in the sensuality of what has just happened. But remember, cuddling doesn’t mean talking. After sex, few men want to chat. We’re so physically spent we’re just incapable of it!

Men fake it too

Believe it or not, more than 50% of men have faked an orgasm — and this is how they did it: If a man is wearing a condom all he has to do is make his noises, withdraw and quickly pull the condom off and get rid of it. Most women will be none the wiser about what he’s done. And if a man has had a few too many to drink, or simply feels tired or stressed out, sometimes he’s just unable to come. Men fake it for exactly the same reasons that women do. They don’t want to feel as though they’ve let you down, or for you to feel that they don’t find you attractive.

50%

OF MEN HAVE FAKED AN ORGASM His all-time favourite position is...

Doggy style and you on top were both massive favourites with a lot of men we

56%

OF MEN WANT A CUDDLE AFTER SEX ...but consider it a massive compliment if they fall asleep

If they’ve just had an amazing orgasm with a woman, here’s how a man is going to be feeling immediately after sex: “I just want to pass out in my state of bliss,” admits Suhas, a 27-year-old designer. “We want to relax and cuddle but we’re light-headed and tired, so it’s not a bad sign if we feel sleepy.” If he ends up falling asleep on you, try not to be annoyed with him. It just means he’s had an amazing time. Picturised models are for representational purpose only

{10 Things You Don’t Know About Women }

Think lips, not larynx, and nice things might happen to you.

Put your wallet back in your pants and let us pick up the next round.

We order our salad dressing on the side because we are control freaks. We’d like to control you. Because we can’t, we control lettuce.

We are not all that enthusiastic about men who have extensive knowledge of female reproductive health. Men who tell us what exercises we can do to ease our menstrual cramps and who know the best course of treat-ment for recurring yeast infections freak us out.

We’re not just pretending to be annoyed when you keep changing the channel.

Unless a previous girlfriend has told you you’ve got great taste in jewellery, chances are, you don’t. Think about it this way: Do you ever see us wearing the weird bracelet you bought us? We haven’t returned it because we love you too much. And we really do.

We don’t actually care what you look like so long as your looks don’t constitute a social liability. If you can figure out how to make us laugh, we’ll find a way to ignore your steadily decreasing head-to-back-hair ratio.

We dislike it when you pound on the bathroom door and ask, “Hey, is everything okay in there?” You don’t want to know what’s going on in there.

We’re suspicious of your relationship with your sister. She’s roughly our age and has seen you naked.

Just let us cry unabashedly. Don’t be judgemental.

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Out of your League ... and in the Bag Think an average guy like you doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a chance with the hottest girl in the room? Think again. Meena Tiwari shows you how to land a bigger trophy than you deserve.

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hen a top model I know wed a shorter, older, fatter rich dude, I figured it must be the money. Or a generous, um, endowment. But a decade later the couple are still going strong. What possesses some of the world’s most beautiful women to break the interspecies barrier and give seemingly unworthy schmoes a chance? The trick is to show your value and potential early on—before your poverty or clock-shattering looks get in the way.To get the skinny on dating out of your league, we spoke with some perfect 10s.. .and the perfect fives who closed the deal. Get-the-goddess rule #1 Flaunt your regular-guy approachability. The biggest mistake average Joes make is assuming that hot women aren’t intimidated by hot guys. And even when they do hook up within their genetic class, they don’t always like what they find. “I’ve dated plenty of guys who have great bodies and are very good-looking,” says Jill, a 5’11” model from Mumbai. “But as I get to know them, they always end up driving me nuts. The eyebrows have to be perfect, they’re watching what they eat... I swear these guys look in the mirror more than I do.” So instead of wallowing in the >

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easy-excuse bath of self-doubt, take comfort in knowing that most of the time a date’s whiz-bang good looks just make her nervous. (See? You already have one thing in common with her.) Bonus: You’re not a flight risk. “One of the reasons I date less-attractive men is the trust issue. Good-looking guys are always being hit on, so I never feel secure in the relationship,” admits Nisha, 29, a former model in Bengaluru, “And I get the best guys out there, because I look at the real person.” Contemporary dancer Anita, 27, agrees: “lt’s absolutely about loyalty. Goodlooking guys have opportunities to run off. Average guys are forever.” Nothing establishes “trust me” cred like a sense of humour, so don’t be shy about reeling her in with oddball jokes. Nilesh, 35, an ordinary-looking Delhi-based lawyer with an extraordinary-looking wife says, “Humour was the number one trait that women valued in looking for a mate. When someone makes you laugh, you develop an affinity for them.” Nilesh’s wife, who claims she regularly nurses a side ache—the kind you get from living with a really witty guy—concurs. Get-the-goddess rule #2 Don’t take no for an answer—not at first, anyway. Now that you actually believe you have something to offer a hottie, your next obstacle is getting her past that first impression. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to seal the deal. Beautiful girls are so used to being hit on by gimps that dissing you is an instinct; if you haul ass at the first hint of rejection, you’re telling her she was right. Persistence, on the other hand, makes a girl feel like a princess. “You can’t quit the first time she blows you off or doesn’t acknowledge you,” says Firoz, 48, a Pune-based entrepreneur who landed a date with his bombshell fiancee after six long months of repeated wooing. “ln my case, Anita was dating another guy at the time, so I just started frequenting the club where she went,” he recalls. “Everyone was telling me to cut my losses because she was young, gorgeous, and clearly ‘above’ me. But I knew that once she learned who I was, she would forget all about my outside.” Firoz’s stick-to-itiveness paid off because, Anita says, “He listened to everything I had to say, and he was generous and kind to everyone around him. But I would never have said yes if he hadn’t stuck around and shown me who he really was.”

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You can get the girl, but not if you give up the first time she blows you off.

When you approach your golden girl, ask her questions and get her talking about herself—that kind of intimacy can easily lead to the other kind. Brad, 27, one of the ousted suitors on a TV reality series, realized that talking—rather than listening—might have been his downfall when a former beauty queen dumped him on Episode Three. “I was so focused on the fact that ‘I am not picking her, she’s picking me’ that, I forgot to get her talking,” explains the since-wisened bachelor. “There can’t be a connection if only one person is revealing things about himself.” Avoid the conversational habit of finding pegs to hang anecdotes on; if she says she likes to ski, don’t rhapsodize about your last trip, but instead turn the conversation to her: “Where do you like to ski?” “What’s the craziest run you ever skied?” (Skip “Wanna see my pole?”) We’re not suggesting you stalk her; just befriend her first so she never has to explain the physical attraction to her sceptical friends. Start by hanging out, inviting her to parties, going for a Sunday drive. Ask her opinion of other women you’re considering dating—a little jealousy never hurts. Hold off asking for a real date until you’re pretty sure she knows and likes you. And eventually, if she asks you why you don’t ask her out (two points!), don’t say, “! didn’t think you’d be interested.” (Exhibiting selfdoubt around one of these hot women who are used to being pursued by the cream of the crop means you lose those points!) Instead, gaze into her eyes and

say, “Good question. Let’s go!” Get-the-goddess rule #3 Ignore her looks as best you can. When you see her on the barstool... in the commuter train... at the free weights station... and “total babe!” flashes through your testosterone-jacked mind, whatever you do: Don’t.Tell. Her. No matter how natural it might feel to pepper your potential future arm candy with compliments, refrain from any comment directed toward her appearance, unless you want to hear the door slam.

Beautiful women are told they’re pretty every single day–so be creative Remember that she hears flattery all the time. As Mr. Average, your goal should be to differentiate yourself, not join the drool parade. “I always assume guys are asking me out because I’m pretty, and so I’m suspicious from the get-go,” explains Nishi. “It only gets worse if I tell them I’m a model—because every guy’s secret fantasy is to date a model, and they start to objectify you right away.” So act like you don’t notice her looks: no references to how much she must get hit on, no pointing out how she’s the spitting image of Bipasha (especially if she is Bipasha), no asking if you can “just look at her for a while”. To keep perspective on how to talk to her, approach these

hot women as if you’re looking to be a big-brother figure, not an instant lay.Talk travel, books, work, haberdashery... but whatever you do, seem unfazed by this magnificent creature’s magazine-pinup beauty. It’s the last thing she wants to hear. Firoz—the guy who snagged the contemporary dancer—claims there’s another way to find out if a gorgeous woman will be attracted to an ordinarylooking man (especially if you’re a little older). “l always ask her if she’s a daddy’s girl or a mama’s girl. If she’s a daddy’s girl, she’ll look at you and see her father... and that will tell you everything you need to know about your scorability.” A woman who’s comfortable being coddled is going to see that, not your looks.That’s good news for you. Even if you want to wander into Freudian territory, the message is the same: You can (hopefully) offer her the stability, security, and undying admiration of a trusting, loving family member. Nisha explains she was perfectly willing to overlook her boyfriend’s lack of looks because, “He was really well-travelled, intelligent, sophisticated...and a bit of a father, really.” Is that a bad thing? Nope. At the end of the day, the kind of gorgeous women you see in shampoo ads will never use you for your looks. But if you offer them enough testosterone-fuelled patience, support, and regular guy enthusiasm, they’ll still fall for you—hard.Thank God one of you isn’t shallow!

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Dress from Adarsh Gill Price on request

CHRISTMAS MAGIC All the delights of Christmas

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Dress from Bombay Electric Rs. 11,600

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Dress from Kazo Rs. 2,600

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Dress from Azeem Khan Price on request GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 73

Dress from Ananya Rs. 12,200

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Dress from Ananya Rs. 15,700

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Dress from Sattva Rs. 9,500

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Dress from Ananya Rs. 14,500a

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Dresses from Collezioni Moda Rs. 7,500 78 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

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Dress from Rehan Shah Rs. 25,000 80 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Dress from Rehan Shah Rs. 30,000 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 81

Glamour Glitter &

Look glamorously glitzy for all those special festive days Make-up & Hairstyling: Zubair Photography: Rajeev Rai

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Dress from Melange: ` 35,000 Opposite Page: Dress from Melange: `18,000 Bag from Audelade: `73,450

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Peacock blue lehenga choli set by Rocky S: ` 99,900

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Red & gold lehenga choli set by Rocky S: ` 83,400; Tanishq diamond earings: Price on request

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Dress from Lina Tipnis: ` 38,000 Bag from Audelade: ` 56,100 86 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Dress from Sattva: ` 6,200 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 87

Dress from Sattva: ` 9,100 Opposite Page: Dress from Lina Tipnis: ` 38,000

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MODELS: Arshina Trivedi Vaneeta Sabharwal Harshita Kale Beeneta Katwa

Shoppers Guide: Lina Tipnis 310 Udyog Mandir No.1, 7-C, Pitamber Lane, Mahim, Mumbai 400 016 Tel: 24473891 Melange 33 Altamount Road, Mumbai 400 026 Tel: 23534492 Rocky S Shop No.1, Hrishikesh Apts. Next to Red Box Cafe, Waterfield Road Bandra (W) Mumbai 400 050 Tel: 66716136 Sattva Flat No. 11-13, Khar Punam Co-op Hsg. Soc , Khar Mumbai 400 052 Tel: 26498400

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Bad Medicine

ust because we’ve dedicated our lives to healing the sick doesn’t make us saints. Although I became a doctor first and foremost to help people, I’m trying to earn a damn good living in the process. Lucky for me, most patients believe anything I tell them, and after a few unnecessary tests and a couple of pointless prescriptions, I’ve got the new modular kitchen paid off. Lucky for you, this doesn’t have to be the case. Because, while your doc is busy drooling over your wallet like a beggar at an all-you-can-eat buffet, I’m going to show you how to head him off at the quadruple bypass.

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Tired of your doctor telling you to bend over and cough up cash? Get ready to cut the nonsense with these tricks from an M.D. by Dr. V. Sinha

“Before I stick my finger where you don’t want it, make sure I’m board-certified.” Choose your poison I may not perform brain surgery on cloned Siamese twins, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fix your ass when it’s broken. In fact, about 85 per cent of all medical problems can be treated by a primary care physician. But before you let me stick my lubed finger someplace

you don’t want it—or, God forbid, someplace you do—make sure I’m board-certified and in good standing with the Indian Medical Association. If you’re still not satisfied, see if your state medical board has ever taken disciplinary action against me. Malpractice suits brought by patients can be bogus, but if other doctors thought I screwed up, it’s a red flag. Like porn stars and restaurant greeters, how old I am can play a factor in my line of work. There are good and bad doctors of all ages, but your best bet is to find a doctor who’s been out

of medical school for five years or so; he’ll have experience but won’t be so ancient that he hasn’t had state-ofthe-art training. Even if you book an appointment with a great doctor, you may end up being seen by Sunil the Internist. Fact is, you could wait months if you demand to see only me. But if you return to the same clinic or office again and again, they’ll start to recognize you and fit you in with whatever doc you prefer. Don’t get taken Schedule your appointment on a midweek morning to reduce the likelihood that you’ll languish in my waiting room. Meanwhile, I’ll check your insurance before I even check your temperature. If you have medical insurance, it’s in my best interest to hurriedly discuss your medical history, ask you some relevant questions, and perform minor procedures—I’m paid according to how much I do to you, not by how much time I spend

DOCTOR EVIL

Check out these real-life–and real sick– medical horror stories.

with you. In fact, if I’m practising in a managed-care environment, I’ll schedule one patient every seven minutes in the hope that everything will function like a

“You’re paying for my expertise, not for the assless paper gown.” MacDonald’s at lunchtime. That said, be pro-active if you want better care. The vast majority of my diagnosis comes from your answers to my questions. So tell me what your symptoms are—even if you feel it’s unmanly. I may only run tests (i.e., cost you more money and time) if I can’t figure something out by chatting with you. After I finish my interrogation, feel free to conduct one of your own; after all, you’re paying for my expertise, not for the fashionable assless paper gown. Need a prescription filled? I’ll be happy to give you one. If you’re paying out-ofpocket and money is an issue, request generic meds; they’ll get the job done but may have a few more side effects. If I’m doing blood or any other lab work on you, make sure I’m sending it to a lab your insurance covers, not just to a

lab with which I’m “friendly”. Otherwise, brace yourself for a mega bill. If I suggest a PSA (prostate-specific antigen screening, a sign of prostate cancer), an ECG (electrocardiogram), or a treadmill test you should probably ask about alternatives. All three are unnecessary for guys younger than 35 years with no family history of heart or prostate disease. And their skewed results often lead to more diagnostic tests, biopsies, and ultrasounds your insurance often won’t cover. If I still insist on doing them, demand that I tell you why. Remember: nothing compares to the peace of mind that comes with knowing your halitosis is not terminal. Make me sweat Now that I’ve figured out what’s wrong with you, ask if your insurance covers the treatment I recommend—then ask me for cheaper alternatives. I’ll often know of several options for your condition. Chances are I’m going to try and fix whatever’s wrong with you myself, even if I’m not the most qualified person to do it. That’s how it works. So ask me when I last performed the procedure and how often I’ve done it. I’m obligated to tell the truth in case something goes wrong. If I haven’t scoped a knee since people thought Bobby Darling was straight, tell me you’d prefer someone else. But keep in mind that unless you give me other instructions, I will always recommend a doctor who will give me a cut or a Path Lab that will give me a clean 40% on even a urine test. ¨

RASH DECISION

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER

TRUTH DECAY

ALL IN THE FAMILY

“I had just started sleeping with this girl and we were reckless about condom use, so I freaked out when my penis became red and irritated. After my doctor said it could be an STD, I went and blasted the girl. Then he calls me back and tells me he forgot I was on antibiotics—turns out I’d developed a yeast infection. I never saw the girl again, plus I had to wait out the itchy willy.”—Meghraj, 27

“Not long after moving to Mumbai, I went to a dentist recommended by a co-worker. I hadn’t gotten my teeth cleaned for years, but I still brushed the damn things. So I was more than a little surprised when I was told I had 10 cavities. I freaked out but had the sense to go to another dentist for a second opinion. His diagnosis? Zero cavities; the cheat was just trying to take my money.”—Jasbir, 30

“I didn’t have health insurance when I was told I needed my appendix out. Still, when I woke up in my hospital bed, I felt a sense of relief—until I found out that they were halfway through a vasectomy when they realized they were doing the wrong operation. The best part ? They charged me for both procedures! Of course, that was before I set off my lawyer on them.” —Durgesh, 32

“My family doctor is an old family friend who treats all the men in my family. Last year I had to get an HIV test when I found out my girlfriend was sleeping with another guy...OK, with two other guys. A week later my conservative father took my grandfather to get a check-up, and as they were leaving the doc said—Tell Rajen his AIDS test was negative—I was nearly written out of the will.”—Rajen, 26

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YOU ARE MORE THAN your heart and your prostate. A guide to appreciating and caring for the best of the rest of you.

The Body

By Aakash Kulkarni

Six Critical Body Parts

>>>>

MOST UNDERRATED INTERNAL ORGAN: LIVER VITAL STATS: Weight: In men, 1400 to 1700 gms; in women, about 280 gms less. Dimensions: About eight inches by six inches by three inches. Colour: Dark reddish-brown. Consistency: Soft-solid. NICKNAME: Super filter. VALUE:The largest of internal organs, it is more complex than the heart, which is essentially just a pump, and at least the heart’s equal in life-and-death functions. The liver’s primary purpose is to clean up toxic waste by filtering out harmful substances absorbed through the intestines and converting them to harmless ones. It also breaks down the food we eat into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and stores the body’s energy supply in the form of glycogen, converts it to glucose and releases it into the bloodstream whenever the body demands it. The liver also produces blood-clotting substances and about half of the body’s cholesterol, itself an underrated body substance that is instrumental in the brewing of hormones and the waterproofing of cells. CARE AND FEEDING: Get liver-function tests as part of every check-up, as elevations here are your best early warning of cirrhosis, cancer, hepatitis, or other liver problems.

MOST EFFECTIVE LIFE-SAVING SUBSTANCE PER MICROGRAM: P53 GENE VITAL STATS: Impossibly small. Located on human chromosome 17. NICKNAME: Tumour cop. VALUE: This remarkable speck of DNA serves as a cellular enforcer that identifies other genes that have wandered off the reservation to create a tumour and kills them on the spot (or, more properly, VERYTHING has its celebrity class these days, even our vital organs. The induces them to commit apoptosis, “cell heart, the brain, the (female) breast, and, improbably, the prostate are the cur- suicide”). As long as your P53 is operatrent stars, that command the biggest hospital budgets, the sexiest chatter on ing properly, you are as immune from cable news and at dinner parties. We forget that the human body, and its good tumour-producing cancer as you can be. health, depends as much or more on many other organs, appendages, and bodily fluids But if something goes haywire with it, that somehow just don’t have star quality. You are more than your heart and your pros- you’re about as vulnerable as you can be, tate. Here are six that rarely make the front page but still make all the difference. since about 60% of tumours have been

(Honourable Mention) THE LARGEST ORGAN: EPIDERMIS. The skin, accounting for 16 per

cent of the body’s weight, though in many places no thicker than plastic wrap, is the only organ observable in total without any technological assistance. Oddly, also the organ most likely to be overlooked. Extremely versatile, a mediator of virtually every transaction between the body and its environment, from defending against pathogens to the perception of pain or pleasure.

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(Honourable Mention) HARDEST WORKING ORGAN: PITUITARY GLAND.

Produces or controls most of the hormones critical to growth, metabolism, sex and reproduction, blood pressure, muscle strength, and sugar, salt, and water levels. A happy pituitary is the secret to homeostasis, or harmony among all substances and functions of the body.

The Body

associated with a compromised P53. Some of the most successful gene-therapy experiments have involved injecting healthy P53 genes into, say, lung tumours, generally effecting a dramatic dissipation of the malignancy that no chemo or radiation therapy could. CARE AND FEEDING: Quit smoking. It has been proved that the chemical benzoapyrene diol epoxide in cigarette smoke disrupts the DNA of the P53 gene, rendering it ineffective in policing mutinous cells. MOST ABUSED ORGAN: LARYNX VITAL STATS: Consists of nine interlinked cartilages. In males, the circumference is 5.35 inches; in females, 4.4 inches. Consistency: Gristly. NICKNAME: Voice box. VALUE:It’s awful to be blind or deaf, to be sure. But consider that without the larynx, that compact bundle of gristle, sitting atop the trachea (windpipe), not only would you not be able to talk or sing or cry, you wouldn’t be able to swallow. The former functions are, in fact, among evolution’s true miracles. Ostensibly, the voice is produced simply by the forcing of air up the trachea through the partly closed vocal cords of the larynx. But the voice is much more complex than a plucked guitar string; the vocal cords are rather more like folds, as they contain three distinct tissues that vibrate, or undulate, in succession to produce a monotonic hum that is the basis of your voice. The throat, sinuses, mouth, teeth, and tongue help to mould this buzz into speech. The swallowing function, however, is actually the larynx’s principal charge: to make certain that only air goes down the windpipe and food and drink go down the oesophagus. CARE AND FEEDING: Cut down on unnecessary clearing of the throat—an action that is particularly hard on the larynx. SECOND-MOST-ABUSED ORGAN: HALLUX VITAL STATS: Strongest of the phalanges and metatarsals, kidney-shaped and about two inches long in men. NICKNAME: Big toe. VALUE: These are the only two of the

twenty digits that rate their own medical name because they serve the other 99.9 per cent of the body as a means of balance, ambulation, and, for some, sexual stimulation that is far out of proportion to their insignificant size. The hallux is also the only digit whose length might dictate what sort of athlete you are. Most of us have big toes that are shorter than our second toes. But those few who have a hallux that is longer seem to be better equipped for skiing, sprinting, and other speed-dependent sports. It is also the most common target for gout; the most common site for that most common of foot problems, the ingrown toenail; and often the first appendage to go when the gangrene caused by diabetes begins affecting the extremities. The big toe’s worth is proved by what happens when you stub it. You can limp after damaging any other toe, but if you hurt the hallux, you’re on the couch. CARE AND FEEDING: Just be nice to it. Unfortunately, the wearing of any shoes aggravates the big toe, but sometimes a lift – a built-up heal or device in a shoe – will help reposition it so that it’s not under undue pressure. MOST POWERFUL SUBSTANCE PER MICROGRAM: DOPAMINE VITAL STATS: A catecholamine (a type of hormone and neurotransmitter) produced in the basal ganglia of the brain. Related to adrenaline. NICKNAME: Dopa (a variation of the name of the pharmaceutical form of the substance, L-dopa, which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease). VALUE: All neurotransmitters tend to be underrated, since they are invisible, silent fluids that ooze about the brain carrying mysterious instructions for action. But those instructions are often responsible for how we move and think and feel, and no neurotransmitter is more vital to all three than dopamine. Consider that too much or too little dopa can lead to three of the most debilitating diseases in all of pathology: a shortage leads to the chronic disco-ordination of Parkinson’s disease; an overabundance leads to the chronic psychosis of schizophrenia; and at all levels its susceptibility to manipula-

tion by substances ranging from cocaine to booze, or processes ranging from gambling to sex, makes it one of the neurochemical linchpins of addiction. This is because dopamine seems to be central to feelings of reward, satisfaction, and pleasure. Thus, when it’s in balance, it’s a player in the most important intellectual and emotional processes, from learning to sexual gratification to professional ambition to enjoying the company of family and friends. CARE AND FEEDING: Deep, diaphragmatic (yoga) breathing on a regular basis can have a calming influence on your basal ganglia, which, in turn, will help keep your dopamine balanced. STRONGEST BODY PART: PELVIS VITAL STATS: A basin of bone that rests between the lower end of the spine and the lower extremities. The diameter of its “inlet” is about four inches in men, about an inch larger in women. Consistency: Stronger than cranial or thoracic cavities. NICKNAME: Universal joint. VALUE: The pelvis connects most everything of any importance in the body—the upper half of the skeleton, musculature, digestive tract, and circulatory and nervous systems to the lower half. It is a remarkable piece of engineering—just four bones, fused together at the sacrum—that supports the upper body and keeps it in balance so that it can be moved about efficiently by the lower body, for which it also serves as a chassis by providing the sockets for the balls of the hip joints. You can’t stand, sit, lie down, walk, run, dance, or have sex without a healthy pelvis. Break it and you’re laid up indefinitely and probably permanently crippled. Abuse it even a little with some old-fashioned sit-ups and you may suffer from that plague of male middle age: lower-back pain. CARE AND FEEDING: One of the simplest ways to keep your pelvis happy—and lowerback pain to a minimum—is an exercise known as the pelvic tilt. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Lower your back as close to the floor as you can, and then raise your hips off the floor slightly by contracting the stomach muscles. Hold that position for a count of ten; repeat twenty times daily. GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 93

A MASSIVE PAIN IN THE… HEAD If you’re one of the millions of women who live with migraines, we don’t need to tell you — it hurts. But we can help you make it stop.

he flashing lights hit first. Then black and white zig-zags scatter across your vision. You feel disoriented and blink hard – what’s happening to your sight? Pins and needles creep up your hands and arms. Within minutes they’re completely

Medical trials suggest that Botox may be an answer for chronic headaches. If Botox is injected into the forehead, it blocks nerve pain. numb. And then it happens: a crescendo of throbbing, pounding pain on one side of your head followed by a lurching nausea. You can’t speak. You can’t even move. And the worse news? This is just the beginning of hours of pain – in some cases, days. This is a migraine; the most common neurological condition in the world. Much more than a headache, migraines are debilitating episodes of agony. In fact, some sufferers are completely disabled by an attack. Two-thirds of those affected are women, with most having their first attack during adolescence, often around the time of their first period. But what causes a migraine? Experts believe they begin with the release of the so-called happy hormone serotonin into the bloodstream. Normally, high levels of serotonin make us feel good, and low levels of it are associated with depression. But when a migraine is about to occur, fluctuating levels of serotonin affect the neurotransmitters and blood vessels in the brain, which become inflamed, causing that terrible headache.

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No one knows exactly why it happens, although many sufferers cite ‘triggers’ such as emotional or physical stress, bright lights or certain foods. However, a headache specialist, believes that we all have headache ‘thresholds’ – a series of physical factors beyond which migraines become more likely. So while one trigger, such as exhaustion, might not cause an attack, a combination of triggers (eg exhaustion + dehydration + anxiety) will cause the sufferer to cross their headache threshold, leaving them vulnerable to an attack. One of the best ways to deal with migraines is to raise that threshold. This can be done with a combination of

taking the right preventative medicine and making some lifestyle changes. LIFESTYLE CHANGES Keep a diary of your migraines so you can identify patterns/ triggers. Bear in mind the following advice, too: Four-hour feasts Don’t go without food for longer than four hours during the day, 12 hours at night. Have either a meal or a healthy snack to keep your blood sugar levels steady. Go low GI Complex carbs – like a bowl of muesli – that release energy slowly keep glucose levels balanced, and help your body avoid the peaks and troughs that may bring on a headache. Beat the glare Avoid bright, flashing or flickering lights (eg fluorescent ones). Wear sunglasses and a hat in bright sunlight. Drink up Another good reason to drink two litres of water a day. Dehydration is a cause of headaches and migraines, which is why some sufferers also see alcohol as a ‘trigger’. Relax Taking up a relaxing hobby like yoga or meditation won’t cure migraines, but it will help to control your stress, which can sometimes trigger attacks. Try to do this at least three times a week.o

HEAD PAINS? IF IT’S NOT A MIGRAINE, IT COULD BE... TYPE Tension headache Symptoms Every month, 50% of us will suffer a straightforward headache. They affect both sides of the head and feel like a band of pressure Treatment Standard painkillers TYPE Cluster headaches Symptoms Often confused with migraines as they are so painful. The headaches come in ‘clusters’, waking the sufferer at the same time every night, and last between 30 minutes and three hours Treatment Your doctor will help TYPE Chronic daily headaches Symptoms Regular headaches with neck/shoulder stiffness are caused by overuse of painkillers Treatment Stop taking painkillers for

three weeks. Doctors may also prescribe drugs to increase serotonin levels in the brain TYPE Ice-pick headaches Symptoms A sharp jolt of pain. Because it only lasts for a few seconds, treatment is preventative Treatment This pain responds to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Consult your doctor. TYPE Sinister headaches Symptoms The abrupt onset of a severe headache accompanied by vomiting can be symptoms of a serious problem like meningitis Treatment If this is the first headache of its type, or there are new symptoms, you should seek doctor’s advice.

Uppers » A recent study found the stimulating effect of a regular cappuccino could help

prevent gallstones.

» A study of 8,000 men found those drinking five 175ml cups a day were three times less likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease. » Research suggests the aroma of coffee contains antioxidants comparable to vitamins E and C, crucial in fighting cancer, heart disease and other problems. » Researchers have also demonstrated that caffeine enhances short-term endurance performance when taken one hour before activity. Another study found that downing a cheeky espresso before exercise can increase endurance by up to 25%. Caffeine mobilizes fatty acids, providing fuel for muscles.

UPPERS AND DOWNERS Cappuccino, frappuccino, skinny latte or tall Colombian with hazelnut dust… coffee does more than just dull that hangover

So how much is safe?

According to Juliet Gray, consultant nutritionist and author of the report ‘Caffeine, Coffee and Health’, 300 to 400mg of caffeine per day is a safe level, which translates to four or five cups of filter coffee. But with instant – which accounts for a large part of coffee consumption – containing roughly half the caffeine of the filter stuff, you could get away with up to ten. lf the boss isn’t watching too closely.

Grounds for debate Is decaf really the healthy choice?

Decaf now corners a quarter of the £20 billion annual global market, but next time you plump for that ‘healthy’ option, bear in mind:

» It’s not totally clean: to be classified as decaffeinated only 97% of the kick has to be removed. »Even without the caffeine, two other stimulants remain – theophylline and theobromine. »The most common decaffeinating process treats beans with solvents, including methyl chloride (also known as paint stripper) and ethyl chloride (aka drycleaning fluid). This is being phased out, but is common in cheap decaf. Look for the “naturally decaffeinated” tag, indicating a chemical-free, steam method. Future decaf

If chemical double mocha or limp latte is too much to bear, don’t despair. Scientists at the University of Hawaii have developed genetically modified decaf beans. They promise to taste indistinguishable from the real McCoy.

The best time to brew

Downers » Coffee’s high caffeine content – up to three times more than tea, with 90 mg in a

150ml cup – makes it a diuretic. Research in the US shows it’s ten times less effective than water for replenishing fluids.

» Research has found coffee raises serum cholesterol contributing to clogged arteries and increasing heart attack risk. Another study however, suggests that when it’s properly filtered, rather than made in a cafetiére, this risk is almost eliminated. » Yet another study found that three cups a day can double your risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

If you’re after nutrients, skip the afterdinner cup. Drunk within an hour of a meal, coffee reduces absorption of iron and immune-boosting zinc. And if you’re tired, avoid evening brews. Caffeine suppresses the sleep-inducing effects of the brain chemicals adenosine and melatonin, and with a four-hour half-life (i.e. it takes four hours for levels in your blood to halve), it’s up to eight hours before the effects of a cup wear off.o GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 97

Expecting

good news? C

Healthy Pregnancy Habits

ongratulations! You’re pregnant. The next few months are those that need to be cherished and enjoyed. A little extra attention on general well-being will ensure a smooth pregnancy. Your diet being the most important, followed by exercise and hygiene which are the other areas that need special attention. From the first week to the fortieth, it’s important to take care of yourself in order to take care of your baby. Even though you have to take some precautions and be ever-aware of what you do — and don’t do — as it may affect your baby, many women say they’ve never felt healthier than when they carried their children. Diet A healthy and balanced diet which includes protein, vitamins and minerals is a must. Your calorie needs will depend on your weight before pregnancy and the stage of your pregnancy. Doctors divide pregnancy into three blocks of time called trimesters. In the first trimester, you usually do not need extra calories. In the second and third trimesters, most women should eat about 300 extra calories each day. Vegetarians and vegans need to be careful to include enough protein, vitamin B12, and iron during pregnancy. Here we answer some common queries. Q: What foods can I eat while I am pregnant? A: Eat a variety of foods from each of these food groups every day. Each item listed below counts as one serving. Breads and starches: Half cup of cooked brown rice or one slice of 100 per cent wholewheat bread or one small dinner roll or three-fourths cup of wholegrain dry cereal or half cup of cooked rice or pasta. Fruits: Eat a variety of fruits each day, each serving of approximately 150 grams, such as one banana or apple or peach or orange. Choose fresh or dried fruit instead of fruit juice as often as possible.

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Vegetables: Eat dark green and orange vegetables several times a week such as half cup of cooked or raw vegetables or half cup of vegetable or tomato juice or one cup raw or leafy vegetables (such as a tossed salad) per serving. Include dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and mustard greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, onion, green peas and beans. Dairy foods: Choose fat-free or low-fat dairy foods. Each item listed counts as one serving. Forty-five grams of low-fat cheese or one cup low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt. Meat and other protein sources: Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake, broil or grill meat instead of frying it. Eat a variety of protein foods. Q: What should I avoid eating and drinking during pregnancy? A: Alcohol: It can increase your risk of having a miscarriage. Your baby may also have health problems such as being born too small and having learning problems. Caffeine: Limit your intake of caffeine. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola, sports drinks and chocolate.

600 micrograms (mcg). Include it in your diet by eating citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, liver, and dried beans. Iron: You need about 30 mg of this mineral to help the baby’s blood and your blood to carry oxygen. Good sources of iron are meat, liver, poultry and fish, beans, vegetables (spinach, peas, broccoli), and fortified cereals and breads. Calcium and vitamin D: Your need for calcium and vitamin D does not increase during pregnancy. However, women who do not eat milk products may need a calcium and vitamin D supplement. Exercise Experts recommend at least 2 ½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week if you’re not already highly active. Be as active as possible, walk as often as you can, avoid jerks and bounces. Q: What exercise is safe for me during pregnancy? A: This depends on what interests you and what your doctor advises. Many women enjoy dancing, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, Pilates or walking. Swimming is especially good, as it gives you welcome floatability. Try a combination of cardio (aerobic), strength, and flexibility exercises. Walking is good as it’s easy to vary the pace and add distance. Your body produces a hormone known as relaxin, to prepare the pubic area and the cervix for the birth. This loosens the ligaments in your body, making you less stable and more prone to injury. It’s easy to overstretch or strain yourself, especially the joints in your pelvis, lower back, and knees so just don’t overdo the exercise routine.

Q: How much water do I need to drink each day? A:You need about eight to ten glasses of water each day. This amount includes water, other liquids, and water from foods. Water protects and cushions your baby, and controls body temperature.

Hygiene It is most important to maintain a high level of personal hygiene during pregnancy. You need to take care of your hygiene as usual, but during this time you have special needs.

Q: What vitamin and mineral supplements do I need to take? A: Most women can get the extra nutrients they need from food if they eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. However, some women do need vitamin and mineral supplements. Talk to your doctor before taking any kind of drug, including herbal (natural) supplements. Folic acid: During pregnancy, your daily need for folic acid increases to about

Q: How do I maintain personal hygiene particularly during pregnancy? A: Due to hormonal fluctuation there is a possibility of a strong odour in the vaginal region. Wash yourself carefully and gently several times in a day to make sure you are clean. You may even experience hot flashes due to changing hormones. Have more than one shower a day to keep yourself feeling fresh and use a good deodorant. Stick to cotton undergarments.¨

Discover yourself New experiences, new people and a whole load of fun? Where do we sign up! Learn a new skill, meet new people and help your community with v. If you’re stuck in a rut and looking for an injection of glamour, there’s a surprising new way to get what you want: give. Forget the old stereotypes about volunteering: far from scrubbing pans and digging ditches, today’s volunteers are embracing their passion for the likes of sports, music and visual arts. So, you get the feel-good factor of helping a charity and the chance to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. It looks great on your CV and could even kick-start a fabulous new career. There are thousands of opportunities, but where to start? Don’t worry! GLADRAGS has teamed up with v, the volunteering charity for 16-25 year olds, to help you track down the one that’s perfect for you. So, go on, what’s your v? 1 The word that BEST describes you is... A: Compassionate B: Imaginative C: Outgoing D: Assertive 2 At school, your friends said you were most likely to... A: Be a teacher B: Be an artist

C: Become a pop star D: Work for a charity 3 You love... A: Helping others B: Using your imagination C: Going out with your friends D: Solving problems 4 Your biggest strength is... A: Composure B: Creativeness C: Confidence D: Determination MOSTLY As: Your are caring You love helping others and seeing the fruits of your labour. Working with children would be very rewarding for you – anything from supervising kids on an activity holiday or helping at arts and crafts events to becoming a teaching assistant would be perfect. MOSTLY Bs: Your are creative You love to use your imagination and are always daydreaming up new ideas. Anything arty would be good for you how about creating costumes, props and puppets for parties and festivals? Or helping at art and photographic galleries

and even running your own photography and film projects? Anywhere where your creative juices can flow.... MOSTLY Cs: Your are sociable You enjoy going out with your friends, listening to music and generally putting yourself out there! The best work for you would be organising or stewarding at music events and festivals. For more behind-the-scenes work, try your hand at sound recording and editing for community radio, teaching guitar or even DJing. MOSTLY Ds: Your are eco-friendly You have strong opinions and aren’t afraid to voice them. You’re determined to make a difference and do as much as you can to support the causes you’re passionate about. Definitely do some conservation work and campaigning, or why not become an environmental researcher? You could also join a community garden club or start creating graffiti and mural projects.

whatsyourv? GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 99

Accelerated Healing WOLVERINE X-Men

THE ULTIMATE

SUPERHERO POWER

Of all the powers of all the superheroes in all the world, the ability of Wolverine to recover from almost any injury or disease has been voted the most impressive in an online poll.

Telepathic Powers PROFESSOR X X-Men

Power of Flight SUPERMAN Superman

Super-strength HULK The Hulk

100 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

Weather Control STORM X-Men

Invisibility SUE STORM Fantastic Four

Web-slinging SPIDERMAN The Spiderman

Flame-on THE HUMAN TORCH Fantastic Four

Supersenses DAREDEVIL Daredevil

10 |

Super-speed DASH The Incredibles

Wine & Cheese You like to play host from time to time and have people over for a party. But the time and effort to organize the party is daunting! This is where the wine and cheese party comes in. People love a wine and cheese party! Here, there is ample opportunity to wow your guests without much work on your part.

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ike Sugar and Spice, Wine and Cheese have gone hand in hand since ages. With todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever increasing options for both wines and cheese the pairing decisions can be staggering. So, to take a lot of the guess work out of pairing, here is a handy guide to give you a starting point for pairing your favourite wines with soonto-be favoured cheese. Keep in mind that these are just recommendations, not law â&#x20AC;&#x201C; experiment with your own pairings and enjoy! All you need to do is put some thought into the following:

Pairing wine and cheese

There is an apparent consensus on what wines pair well with what cheeses. The accord is not universal, however. To help channel you on your quest to the proper wine and cheese combinations, here is a general guide:

Here are four major types of cheeses to choose from for your party, with some examples of each and the wines that complement each type.

Soft cheese:

Blue Castello, Boursin, Brie, Bucheron, Buffalo mozzarella, Camembert, Feta, Goat cheese, Gorgonzola, Limburger, Mascarpone, Muenster, Neufchatel, Pave Affinois, Teleme.

The wines for soft cheeses: Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Cabernet, Champagne, Chenin Blanc, Chianti, Gewurztraminer, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal, White Zinfandel.

Hard cheese:

Blue, Derby, Edam, Emmentaler, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Parmigiano, Pecorino Romano, Reggiano, Swiss, Wensleydale, Zamarano.

The wines for hard cheeses: Barbaresco, Beaujolais, Cabernet, Chianti Riserva, C么tes du Rh么ne, Dark Beer, Madeira, Pinot Noir, Sangria, Sauvignon Blanc, Sherry, Tawny Port.

Semi-soft cheese:

Baby Swiss, Bel Paese, Colby, Fontina, Havarti, Kasseri, Madrigal Baby Swiss, Morbier, Port Salut.

The wines for semi-soft cheeses: Barbaresco, Barolo, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Bourgueil, Chardonnay, Champagne, Chinon, Fleurie, Gattinara, Riesling, Rioja.

Semi-hard cheese:

Cheddar, Chesire, Cotija, Danish Blue, Double Gloucester, Gouda, Graddost, Panela, Provolone, Roquefort, Sonoma Jack, Stilton.

The wines for semi-hard cheeses: Barolo, Cabernet, Champagne, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Chianti Riserva, Riesling, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, Tawny Port.

The menu

Now that you have ample wine and cheese choices, along with compatibility recommendations, the onus is on you to set a theme for the party. For example, make Italy your theme, and feature wines and cheeses from that country. Other obvious regional choices are France, Spain or New World like South Africa and Australia; your party can even take on a non-geographic theme. The sky is the limit here.

Wine and cheese presentation

Presentation is quite important when it comes to a wine and cheese party. The selections are sparse; just cheese and wine, so the attention is drawn toward the aesthetic. But from a functional standpoint, you have to pay attention on the presentation of the cheese. Here are some tips:

Less is more:

Focus on no more than five cheeses. In fact, three may be just enough. Estimate about 4.5 ounces or 125 grams of cheese per person.

The stinky cheese factor:

You may love a cheese with funk, but your guests may have a more timid palate. Tone it down, or up, based on who is set to appear. As a rule though, some variation in funk, taste, appearance and texture is best. Contrast is good and sparks conversation.

The cheese board:

Paper plates are not ideal for serving cheese. Invest in a platter made of wood or marble that is large enough to separate the cheeses. Make sure the colour of the board is pleasant to the eye and can act as a contrast to your selections; these touches make a difference.

Cheese rind:

Leave it on! And eat it too. But please do remove the wrapper. Your wine and cheese party is almost ready for the guests to show up...

Knives:

Have one cheese knife per selection. Never mingle your cheese. You can use a butter knife for soft cheese and a sharp knife or slicer for firm cheese.

Temperature:

This is very, very important. Cheese belongs in the fridge of course, but never serve it cold. Let it stand until it is at room temperature. The difference in taste is immense.

Place the cheese sporadically:

Make stations in the room or in your home where people can gather to sample the cheese and wine. This way, your guests can mingle and walk about, rather than stand in one spot. This is the proper atmosphere to create for a wine and cheese. The flow of conversation is just as crucial as the cheddar and Chardonnay.

Get the party started

With that, you now have all you need to get your wine and cheese party under way. Invite your guests, pop in some good music and have a blast. Just make sure you have enough of that wine to keep the party going. Enjoy! o

Christmas Fare Cooking lip-smacking delicacies during the festive season is a family joy

Traditional Roast Turkey Serves 10-12

Ingredients: 1 dressed turkey, about 6.3 kg 175 gm butter, softened 225 gm rashers of streaky bacon 1 pinch black pepper 250 gm baby potatoes Broccoli or carrots The stuffing 900 gm sausage meat or finely minced pork 2 tsp dried sage 1 large onion, grated or very finely chopped 4 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs 1 egg, beaten (optional) The gravy 2 tbsp plain flour 900 ml turkey giblet stock

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Directions: 1. Boil the turkey giblet in 1 litre of water and 2 tsp of salt for 15 to 20 minutes to yield 900 ml of stock. Do not add salt. Keep warm. 2. Boil, peel and lightly fry potatoes. 3. Combine breadcrumbs with onion and sage in a large mixing bowl, stir in a little boiling water and mix thoroughly. Work the stuffing and egg, if using, into this mixture and season with salt and pepper. 4. Preheat the oven to gas mark 7, 425˚F (220˚C). Loosen the skin of the turkey with your hands and pack the stuffing upto the neck and, push it up between the flesh and the skin cavities towards the breast. Stuff it in gently. Then tuck the neck flap under the bird’s back and

secure with a skewer. 5. Spread two large sheets of foil across your baking tray. Lay the turkey on its back in the centre, and then rub it generously all over with the butter. Next, season the bird with salt and pepper, and lay strips of bacon across the turkey. 6. Wrap the turkey in the foil. 7. Place the roasting tray on a low shelf in the oven and cook at the initial high temperature for 40 minutes. After that, lower the heat to gas mark 3, 325˚F (170˚C) and cook for a further 3 hours for a 12 lb bird (around 5.5 kg), or 3.5 hours for a 14 lb bird (around 6.3 kg). 8. After this tear the foil away and remove the bacon slices to allow the skin to brown and crisp. Baste frequently, so the whole operation will take about 40-45 minutes. 9. Remove from the roasting tray. Tip the turkey to let the excess juice run out. Leave the turkey in a warm place for 3060 minutes to ‘relax’ before carving. 10. Meanwhile, to make the gravy, tip all the fat and juices out of the foil and the tray into a frying pan. Spoon off all the fat, then work the flour into the remaining juices over a low heat. Using a balloon whisk, whisk in the turkey giblet stock bit by bit, until you have a smooth gravy. 11. Arrange the potatoes and vegetables around the turkey and serve warm.

Gingerbread Cookies Makes approximately 20 cookies according to shape and thickness. If you like soft gingerbread, add an egg. If you want the classic crunchy gingerbread skip the egg. Ingredients: 150 gm butter 100 ml golden or dark syrup 200 gm sugar 100 ml cream 1 egg (can be skipped if you want crunchy ones) ½ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground pepper 1 ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp cardamom 1 tsp baking soda 450 gm all-purpose flour Directions: 1. Mix butter, sugar and syrup in a heavy saucepan. Heat till the butter melts, stir well. Set aside and let cool. 2. Transfer the syrup mix into a mixing bowl then fold in the cream, egg and spices. 3. Start mixing in the flour bit by bit till it becomes a smooth silky dough. Cover and let it refrigerate overnight. 4. Roll out the dough about 3 mm thick. Cut out desired shapes. 5. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes until golden brown. Cool down on rack. 6. Use icing sugar or coloured sugar to decorate or serve them plain. Gingerbread Cookies

Christmas Pudding

Christmas Pudding Serves 6

Ingredients: 300 gm each raisins and currants 120 gm plain flour (maida) 1 tsp each salt and pepper 1 tsp grated nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon and cloves 240 gm margarine shredded 120 gm fresh breadcrumbs 120 gm sugar (preferably jaggery) 60 gm glace cherries 60 gm almonds blanched 30 gm mixed peel chopped

half rind of orange finely grated half rind of lemon finely grated Juice of 1 orange 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla essence 6 level tbsp black treacle 1 tbsp brandy Directions: 1. Sift the flour, salt and spices into a large mixing bowl. 2. Stir in the margarine, breadcrumbs and sugar or jaggery. 3. Chop and mix together the currants, raisins, cherries, almonds, mixed peel and orange and lemon rinds and stir into the dry ingredients. 4. Beat the orange juice with the eggs and vanilla essence and pour into the bowl. 5. Add the treacle and brandy and mix until thoroughly blended. 6. Turn the mixture into a greased pudding basin. 7. Cover the basin securely with grease paper and tie securely. 8. Place in a pressure cooker and pressure-cook for 60 minutes. 9. Remove cover and cool and replace with fresh grease proof paper. 10. Store in a cool, dry, dark place. 11. To serve, steam the pudding again and turn out onto a warm dish. 12. Pour a little warm brandy round the dish and light before bringing to table. ¨

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 105

Holy Nanded… India has a number of relatively unexplored locations which are now easily accessible, thanks to budget airlines and budget hotels. So, if you wish to zip off to such a location, for a pilgrimage, take in a little history and culture, just chill out, sample the local cuisine or check out business opportunities, then Nanded is just the place for you.

anded, located on the north bank of the river Godavari is a typical mid-sized city, the second largest in the region of Marathwada in Maharashtra. It is now more easily accessible than ever before, being connected by GoAir flights. Due in part to its location and history; it was a part of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of emperor Ashoka the Great (272 to 231 BCE), it is more diverse than its peers. It became part of the Hyderabad State in 1725 when the Nizam permanently opted for the

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Shri Sachkand Gurdwara, Nanded Deccan and continued to be part of the Nizam’s dominions until 1948. When the states were redrawn on linguistic lines after Independence it became a part of Bombay State. Later, upon the creation of Maharashtra in 1960, the district formed part of the state of Maharashtra.

Ranjit Singh’s endowment saw the construction of a beautiful gurdwara, known as Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib featuring an imposing golden dome with intricate carvings and beautiful artwork. It is visited by thousands of devotees.

MOST FAMOUS GURDWARA Nanded is also one of the most important holy places for Sikhs. In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh the tenth spiritual leader of the Sikhs came here, and proclaimed himself the last living Guru. Maharaja

GETTING THERE Nanded is connected by air services to Mumbai, Delhi and Nagpur. There are four flights a week connecting Nanded to Mumbai, Delhi and Nagpur by GoAir. Nanded has the distinction of having

Marathwada region’s first airport. It has been renovated in 2008 and named as ‘Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Airport’. Nanded is approximately an hour’s flight from Mumbai or 651 km. east by road on National Highway No. 222. It is about a six-hour drive from Aurangabad. This is an option for those who visit the World Heritage Sites of Ellora and Ajanta caves as well as Daulatabad Fort and Bibi-ka-Maqbara. It is also a 6-hour drive from Hyderabad and an 11-hour drive from Pune. The airport has been upgraded at a huge cost and the facilities available include a huge terminal building to handle 300 passengers and a runway to handle big aircraft like Boeing 737s and Airbus 320s. It also now has three parking bays for large aircraft, six check-in counters, plush passenger terminals, fuelling stations and all other passenger and flight operation facilities, including night operations. The nearest international airport is at Hyderabad (284 km away). Nanded has received massive investment in infrastructure development. Roads are being upgraded. A new railway platform has been constructed upgrading the existing Nanded railway station. FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT There are upscale business hotels, shopping malls with world-class ambience and multiplexes. Nanded is the place of origin of some famous cuisines, the most famous being a rice preparation called ‘Tahari’. Biryani cooked in Hyderabadi style is an equally famous food item. EDUCATION CENTRE The city is one of the more renowned educational centres for higher education in Maharashtra. The Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University was established in 1994 and caters to the southern part of Marathwada region. Nanded city with several institutions offering education in areas such as Fine Art, Ayurvedic Medicine Systems, Engineering, Polytechnic, Medical, Pharmacy, Homeopathy, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Arts, Commerce, Law, Management and Computer Studies, sees an influx of students from various places in Maharashtra as well as neighbouring states. BUSINESS POTENTIAL Nanded has tremendous potential for business ventures. Despite being home to a number of institutes of higher

learning, very little industrial activity goes on in the city. Only a few small and medium scale industries are located here, serving local needs such as foundries, rice mills, construction and farm machinery manufacturing. As a result of this disparity Nanded’s chief export is its human capital. Every year hundreds of technology and professional graduates leave Nanded to seek better opportunities in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Hyderabad and some even venture abroad. The district of Nanded also has more importance in the agricultural sector due to the large production of bananas and the Banana Research Centre located here. So far Nanded seems to have lacked entrepreneurial visionaries who would have utilized the educated labour pool and turned it into a centre of industrial and commercial activity. Nanded city’s industrial development area has a number of solvent plants exporting to some foreign organizations. These solvent plants play a vital role in the economy of Nanded. However, a number of large business houses, leading manufacturers and entrepreneurs have initiated business ventures in the last decade. Due to this, ancillary sectors such as insurance, banking and mainly construction are flourishing and many residential townships are coming up all around the city. CULTURE Nanded has a multilingual, cosmopolitan culture with some of the major communities of India residing there. Recognized Marathi newspapers such as Sakal, Loksatta, Lokmat, Kesari, Udyacha Marathwada and Maharashtra Times have local editions covering the city. Nanded has FM Radio services as well – AIR FM (101. MHz), a Central Governmentowned radio station and a private radio channel Radio City (91.10).o

Khandar Fort

Vishnupuri Dam

Kaleshwar Temple

Sahastra Kund Waterfall

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 107

When East Meets Best

Vietnam and Cambodia used to be the favourite haunt of backpackers but Poonam Shetty finds a luxury revolution transforming these countries into increasingly desirable, deluxe destinations.

108 GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011

ifteen years ago, Vietnam’s emerald chequerboard of lush paddy fields, meandering bays and city rivers crammed with floating markets used to be best suited to backpackers. These days, however, it is the luxury traveller who is being wooed with new boutique hotels, experiences and tours— the journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay, for example, can now be completed by helicopter, offering a bird’s-eye view of some 3,000 islands threaded with karst cliffs. Along with Cambodia, Vietnam has now been earmarked as one of the top travel destinations for the luxury traveller. The twin Asian countries have always been as hospitable as their other neighbours, Thailand and Malaysia, but in recent years they have galvanised their goal of becoming developed countries with a key focus on tourism. Vietnam’s recent announcement that it is investing in Cambodia’s domestic companies to the tune of around $6 billion suggests that money will be put towards the improvement of roads, helping to make it more accessible for tourists. Vietnam’s own foray into the luxury market has been gathering pace in the past few years. Once associated with designer knock-offs, night markets and haggling, Vietnam’s economic reforms have created a nouveau-riche class that can afford the polished Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana boutiques in Ho Chi Minh City. One of the key catalysts for Vietnam and Cambodia joining the other Asian giants in luxury tourism is the strident improvement to their infrastructure. Roads are much better now in the provinces of both countries, overland travel is more comfortable. Domestic flights within and between Vietnam and Cambodia are also safe and more reliable than ever. There has been vast improvements in the transport and hotel infrastructure, and enterprising locals have introduced many ways for tourists to see local destinations. Now there are luxury junk cruises around the incredible karst scenery of Halong Bay, tribal home stays and trekking in the North and Central Highlands, cycling holidays along the Mekong Delta and cookery schools in Hanoi and Hoi An. Combine these with beautiful landscapes, beaches, popular cuisine and a tropical climate, and it’s a winning formula. While some fantastic new properties have opened, the existing ones don’t get complacent either.>

GLADRAGS NOV-DEC 2011 109

Fabulous luxury accommodation combined with a more intimate, authentic experience are what set Vietnam and Cambodia apart. In Vietnam they offer personalisedservice, privacy and tranquillity, while Cambodia not only has stunning scenery in the form of Angkor Wat and the Thorn temples, but also now gives you the plush surroundings in which to admire them.

Luxury Hotels

Fabulous luxury accommodation combined with a more intimate, authentic experience are what set Vietnam and Cambodia apart. High-end French villas and ancient Cambodian houses or former antique lodges are now luxury hotels. One such is Knai Bang Chatt (www.knaibangchatt. com) in the Cambodian town of Kep, built by proteges of the architect Vann Mollyvann (a pupil of Le Corbusier). A restored villa with sweeping views of the Gulf of Thailand, it exudes 1960s French colonial chic. The spectacular coastline can be explored in the villa’s speedboat. Most hotels offer the perfect balance of thoughtful touches and plush surrounds. At La Residence d’Angkor (www. residencedangkor. com), a haven of wide, airy rooms and a freshwater pool in Siem Reap, you’ll find battery-operated bikes and a tasty picnic basket for the trip to Angkor Wat. High-end travellers always seek unique and authentic design, excellent cuisine and a good dash of style. There’s also an emphasis on ethical travel, especially in Cambodia, which still bears the scars of the Khmer Rouge regime. Hotel De La Paix (www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com) features a clever blend of Art Deco and traditional Khmer architecture, large airy rooms, locally inspired menus, and takes an avid interest in community projects. One of the most popular choices in Siem Reap is the ultra-luxurious Amansara (www.amanresorts.com), where you can be driven around in Prince Sihan-

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ouk’s vintage black Mercedes. Its newest rival is The Sothea (www.thesothea.com), a plush boutique hotel. Dubbed “contemporary Khmer”, it offers acupuncture, a yoga centre and even a butler service. High-profile hotels and restaurants have realized that for tourists it’s not about the bling. They want the quality of the experience and the feeling of space. Vietnam’s hotels seem to have preempted this shift in expectation. The award-winning Nam Hai (www.thenamhai.com), on the fringe of the South China Sea, captures this trend wonderfully with clean lines, enormous rooms and a superb spa. It is located in the port of Hoi An—a World Heritage Site with ornate pagodas and sugar-hued beaches. Food is itself an experience in Viet-

nam and Cambodia, but new tours for luxury travellers go beyond the cooking pot. Notable is the high-end boat cruiser Jayavarman (www.jayavarmancruise. com). Connecting Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, the 190ft vessel has decor inspired by French colonial design and Indochina flourishes, with private balconies for the cabins and a distinct boutique feel. With only 26 rooms there’s a certain amount of privacy and intimacy. Kampong Cham’s ornate pagodas press against the skyline while saffronrobed monks pick their way through the grounds, boats draped in nets bob alongside tiny fishing villages and the promise of Angkor Wat awaits as you arrive at Siem Reap.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, the magnificent 12th-century temple in Cambodia set in a breathtaking sprawl of five acres, is, of course, the country’s biggest attraction. These days you can approach it by boat, fly over it in a hot air balloon or arrange for private tours to bypass the crowds. The rest of the kingdom, however, has plenty to offer the discerning traveller. Some locals recommend visiting the lesser-known Beng Mealea and the ornate Banteay Srei temples, while luxury travel agencies offer earthy experiences such as culling through the lush countryside in an ox cart to hunt for hidden temples, or taking a helicopter to secret spots. Approaching the jungle from the air is unforgettable. After you arrive deep within the folds of greenery, your guide will set up a luxury tent while a private chef cooks local delicacies. In the morning, sunrise brings the most spectacular views of the temple ruins, cloaked in thick curtains of rainforest. After a hard slog, a great way of finishing the trip is with a spell in a luxury safari-style camp where each tent features its own Jacuzzi.

Ho Chi Minh City

In between seeing the sights, there’s al-

ways time for retail therapy. Shopaholics can discover Ho Chi Minh City’s sartorial offerings–from home-grown Vietnamese designers to international names—on the pretty French-colonial street Dong Khoi. Alternatively, Artisans of Leisure run private shopping tours in Hanoi that can sniff out the finest linen in Hanoi as well as sought-after art pieces. The beauty of Vietnam and Cambodia is that they continue to evolve without

Both Vietnam and Cambodia continue to evolve without diluting their cultural heritage diluting their cultural heritage. They achieve that delicate balance between modernity and the past, calm space and clamorous activity, elegance and authenticity. Over the next 5 to 10 years, they look set to add even more offerings for the luxury traveller.

Look Back

Glorious Glimpses of Gladrags Discoveries

Name : Dino Morea Discovered : At the Manhunt Contest 1995

DOB: 9th

December, 1975

Hometown: Bengaluru, Karnataka

ino Morea with his dimpled smile is a familiar sight on the social scene. Six feet tall, Bengaluru-born Dino inherited his striking looks from his Italian father and Anglo-Indian mother. Dino won the Gladrags Manhunt Contest in 1995 after which his career as a model and actor gained momentum. He gained recognition as a successful model and got an entry into films. With over 25 films under his belt and four currently underway, Dino has carved for himself a niche in Bollywood. Now a successful entrepreneur with a very popular eatery â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Crepe Stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Mumbai Dino has been romantically linked with a number of top Bollywood actresses and continues to be a familiar face at various mega events in the company of Bollywood hotties. We wish him further luck.

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