It’s all about opulence!

Skah, the new spa at Koregoan Park lane no 5, combines wellness with indulgence, says Barnalee Handique
How many times have you wished you could return home from office full of energy, to spend time with your family but found yourself sapped of all energy? In fact, this is the case with most women everyday. For all those among you who wish for a more happy lifestyle, here is an option — Skah, the new spa.
“Skah is a native American word that means white and pure. It also signifies opulence. The idea behind setting up this place is to provide pure and endless opulence to my clients,” explains Riona Biyani, owner, Skah.
Tranquil atmosphere, soothing interiors, subtle fragnances — all of this would describe the new Spa. The various treatments on offer take you on a trip that will help kickback, stretch out and let all your worries slide away. Reveals Biyani, “The various massages and therapies will help you unblock your energy channels. The spa massages and therapies are based on ancient Ayurvedic and Thai knowledge. As we all know, massage is the most trusted and ancient beauty therapy that actually soothes the body and soul while enhancing skin tone, suppleness and radiance the way no facial or body treatment can do.”
The various therapies will also help remove excess calories accumulated in the body and improve blood circulation, remove toxins and maintain your weight, she adds.
So on offer are treatments like the hot stone massage, aroma therapies, swedish massages, facials and wraps. There are also special massages like the traditional Thai massage and the sports massage. The sports therapy involves massage where specially prepared combination oils are applied gently allowing relaxation, stress and a refreshing boost to your mood. Later special wraps like mango, green apple and chocolate are used. These wraps are specially brought in from Hungary, reveals Biyani.
“We get all the products from abroad. They are 100 per cent handmade and organic,” she adds.
The Spa also has specialty packages catering to individual needs. They perform a specific function that addresses the changing needs of the body. These special packages are developed considering individual body type and individual health.
Biyani also recommends an ideal routine diet, patterns of treatment, and exercises suitable for every season to her clients.
As for the therapists, they are well-trained and experts in their fields, she says.
Besides the therapies, the spa offers beauty treatments like hand and foot spas, organic facials and soaks. Check out their specialty baths in luxurious copper tubs. These baths can be combined with any of the above mentioned treatments or taken as individual therapy.
An inbuilt nail studio offers glamorous and funky nail art to clients. For instance there are extensions in acrylic, gel and permanent French nail art. The prices for the packages start from Rs 1800 onwards. It’s festival time, go, indulge!

Look what’s brewing!

Barnalee Handique recommends Coffee Jar to all those who believe in the tagline ‘a lot can happen over coffee’
  Coffee shops are dime a dozen in the city. The news of exploring another one didn’t send our pulse racing. That was our first mistake! Coffee Jar at Wanowrie is anything but run-of-the-mill. Situated between a slew of eateries and boutiques, the joint with its quaint cozy dining spaces and impressive sandwich platters and desserts draws in strolling passerbys. Since the food is not heavily priced, the joint is a big hit with youngsters, collegians and expats.
  As the name suggests, Coffee Jar means a place where you meet your friends over a cup of steaming hot coffee. Cini Baig, owner of the restaurant, explains, “The main idea behind setting up this place was that friends can meet, drink coffee and enjoy a good conversation.” And the place is living upto it’s mantra.
  “The informal ambience of this place is a favourite with my friends and me. It is a great place to meet up and chill in the evenings. I especially love the cheese filled sandwiches and cold coffee. It’s scrumptious,” says Harshal Patil. Aditya Marathe, a techie, continues, “My friends and I usually drop in here after our office gets over. We usually spend the whole evening chilling and leave late at night. I love the food, ambience and music here. The desserts are really delectable!”
  The menu is not extensive, yet offers enough variety to confuse. There are a plethora of coffees, sandwiches and desserts to choose from. We decided to drop in and sample some of the fare. We settled for a grilled vegetable cheese sandwich, a chocolate mousse and a cup of cappuccino. The sandwich was nicely done. There was no overdose of sauce, cheese or toppings. Also, the fare served here is mammoth in scale, which incidentally grabs our attention from the word go. Another thing we noticed is the way the tables are placed. They are so close to each other that one gets the feeling of hanging around with a huge number of friends.
 If you are in mood for a cozy chitchat over a cup of hot coffee far away from the jazzy jiving crowd, then Coffee Jar is just the right place for you!
 
 

We didn't need CWG

Now that the Commonwealth Games are over, the entire country can heave a collective sigh of relief. Thanks to the hue and cry just prior to the games over the delays in the preparations, the entire government machinery was put to work and the games were barely rescued. The question is: did the games justify the humiliation, heartaches and the expenses the country had suffered? When India won the bid in 2003, it was argued that the games would cost merely Rs1,899 crore. In return, we will get a chance to project the new India to the world. Delhi will don a new look, will get world class infrastructure that will survive for years. Many of us still had doubts, but the arguments did sound reasonable to most.
But questions remain. Did the CWG improve the Indian image? The CWG are not world class in most disciplines. They are usually ignored by the world. The world now sees us as a rival to China. We are seen as an emerging super power and a society of smart, tech-savvy, young people. But did the CWG strengthen that impression? It did not. Forget the glitches, they were no match for the Beijing Games. The games could not project the emerging new India. On the contrary, the games reinforced our negative stereotypes. It brought into focus dirty games village, corrupt contractors and their shoddy work, delivery dates not kept, deadlines not met, filthy facilities, and money syphoned off. Their only saving grace was that they went off without an untoward incident.
Nobody can deny that Delhi benefited by the CWG. The infrastructure has improved: repaved roads, many flyovers and metro route extension to many areas. New stadiums and facilities have been built and the existing sports structure revamped. Sportspersons will certainly benefit by them. But is that enough? Does this justify the expenses? The CWG estimation kept rising from the initial Rs1,899 crore to the final back-breaking mountain of Rs70,000 crore. A lot could have been done with an investment of such order. We could have overhauled health care systems in our cities or built thousands of schools. We could have done a lot to bring some system to our chaotic traffic. We could have recruited more policeman and given all of them better facilities. We could have build roads, irrigated more land and saved the life of many farmers. The CWG were held spending your and my money. Given a choice, we would have opted for better policing and a better future for our children.

The blend of the old and the new

Tanishq offers eye-catching trendy and light jewellery this festive season. Barnalee Handique gives you a quick look
You may find a variety of trendy jewellery in exclusive jewellery stores, but contemporary and sleek diamond jewellery set in gold and white gold that not only looks good but is easy on your pocket is hard to find. Tanishq is one brand that caters to the small but growing segment of clientele wanting to sport trendy and light diamond jewellery. The newly-launched festival collection seems to be a success story if the demand for its jewellery is any indication.
The delicate jewellery designs in diamond and precious stones are light and uncomplicated in appearance. Piyush Seth, area business manager, Tanishq, says, “We have come up with more then 4,000 designs for this festive season, keeping in mind the interest of the clientele. The jewellery collection has designs which are a blend of the traditional and the modern.”
Tanishq designs are distinct from the usual gold jewellery stocked in standard jewellery showrooms. What helps it score over its competitors is its simple and refreshing designs, and, most importantly, its affordability factor.
To give you an idea of what’s in store, here’s a peek: A magical blend of two beautiful elements — diamonds and fresh waterpearls — forms an exquisite range of earring-pendant sets. Bracelets with mesh-like band either studded with stone motifs in the centre or just held by simple designer clasps are unique. Different cuts of diamonds are adopted in different pieces to give a different look. The asymmetric look is visible in earrings too. Also on offer are a collection of pendants, earrings and finger rings with fancy cuts in white gold.
Explains Seth, “What looks good, sells fast. People are looking beyond the traditional designs these days. We felt that jewellery should be brought out of the locker. We want youngsters and college-going girls to accessorise with our trendy and light jewellery. (They otherwise mostly sport junk jewellery.) We also wanted to make the jewellery affordable, so that one could pick up pieces regularly. For every occasion, we come out with various colletions. For instance, during Valentine’s Day we had launched special heart-shaped pendants in gold and diamond priced at Rs 999.”
Keeping in mind the festive season, the brand has launched the Queen of Diamond 2010, an intiative taken to make shopping a memorable experience.
Elaborating on the new venture, Seth reveals, “This Diwali, we have organised a contest for our patrons. The entry to this contest is easily made available on the purchase of jewellery worth Rs 15,000 or more. The customer has to fill in a special form and deposit it in the drop box. These forms will be collected and send across to Bengaluru. And every week, a winner is announced storewise.”
The winners will also be judged region-wise. Later, all the entries will be collected from across the country and the winner will be chosen by a lucky draw. The final prize is a gold and diamond necklace, studded with precious stones worth Rs 50 lakh. There are assured gifts on purchase of Rs 10,000 and above. The contest kicked off nationally on October 7 across all Tanishq stores in the country.

Enjoy the Ra-psody!

The furniture and accessories collection at Ra The Lifestyle store, is avant-garde and shows craftsmanship at its best, says Barnalee Handique


Are you planning to revamp your home with some unique and exclusive furniture available in the market? Well then, look no further. Ra Lifestyle store has a range of such furniture items, accessories and other doodads for your home!
The store has been named after the Greek god Ra, who symbolises creativity and prosperity. Ra the Lifestyle Store, which opened its doors to Puneites in March, offers furniture with a modern twist. The store stocks bedroom furniture, garden furniture, clocks, ceramics, glassware, mirrors, wrought iron and terracota accessories, lamps, linen in various permutations and combinations. We liked the lamps made of old milk cans, the chandelier made from the headgear warriors used in olden times, the computer table converted from an old sewing machine table, the lazyboy made out of an elephant haudah (ambari), quirky terracoota animals, sandhooks, sideboards and wooden racks. All the furniture pieces distinctly reflect the flavour of India.
The store is an intiative of Mihir Shah and Promod Gandhi. Reveals Shekhar Shah, Mihir’s father and one-of-the partners of Ra, “My son Mihir and Pramod were remodelling their homes at the same time. While hunting for furniture and other accessories, they sauntered into Sunri Lifestyle in Bangalore. They were impressed by the collection at the store and thought of setting up their own store. And that’s how the idea of Ra lifestyle popped up.”
Ra Lifestyle was finally set up in conjunction with Sunri Lifestyle, Bangalore.
The store is going great lengths to make shopping a memorable experience for visitors. The sprawling 7000 sq ft store is split into two levels. The furniture and decorative pieces are displayed in such a way that one can imagine how it will look in their home. The designs, be it in the bedroom furniture, garden furniture or accessories, are not run-of-the-mill.
All the furniture pieces are handcrafted and made of hardwood. Some of the pieces are textured with intricate work, making them exceptionally stunning. The pieces recreated by the artisans are exquisite and are precious collectibles. The store doesn’t sell antiques.
Shah says, “The USP of our collection is innovation. We have got a team of designers in Bangalore who comes out with exclusive designs. These designs are then sent to the workshops which are scattered all over the country. We sign a contract with the artisans that the products are not replicated.”
The clients are assured exclusivity with no repetition. The products go through a stringent quality check before they hit the market. The prices of these products start from Rs 300 and may go upto Rs 1 lakh.
Once you select the furnture, the store ensures that it reaches your residence within a couple of days. So, you not only save on delivery expenses but also do not have to worry about piling expensive furniture in your car boot.

Incredible India!

People must be sick even of seeing the CWG mess now. Little slices of our unending lust and inefficiency keep coming every morning. And even cracking jokes about is becoming progressively difficult. Corruption in the games preparation continues to be exposed. Its sheer scale makes our head swim. But then, we have no alternative but to laugh it all away.
The accommodation for athletes has been built swiftly. We build faster than China. And need fewer bags of cement. The games village is thrown open. But only to discover certain deposits already in the toilet area. Foreigners had to blow their noses in their handkerchiefs and kick up a lot fuss over filthy and unlivable conditions. But why are we homeys so shocked and embarrassed? Hasn't organising committee secretary Lalit Bhanot told us that everyone's hygiene standards are different. We have ours. Bhanot has predicted more than 75 medals for us. Of course. If more and more athletes drop out because of just-another-day events like dengue, terror attacks, delays, leaky venues, falling ceilings, we will win the games.
The games village has refrigerators. Not plastic jugs with smudgy glasses on a plastic tray, like in government guest houses. CWG participants should learn to live with gaps in the windows, loose electrical fittings, and iron railings wide enough for animals to slip in.
Hospitality comes naturally to Indians, especially when we are dealing with foreigners. But in Delhi they should do what Delhiwallas do. Eat whatever comes before you. And digest it. Good athletes must be able to digest everything.
If on a sightseeing tour, an athlete gets shot, our home minister will surely rush to pay a visit in the hospital. This, it may be noted, is a special gesture, not the normal behaviour of ministers. When the pedestrian bridge collapsed injuring labourers, it was dismissed as a minor incident. And top officials exclaimed, “Thank god, no foreigners.”
Here are some travel guidelines for the guests so that they can understand Indians better. "Paan" stains are the only lasting impression most of us leave behind. We never accept responsibility for our mistakes. We have spent the last few months distancing ourselves from the CWG. It's a national shame. We roll down the windows of our BMWs to fling out garbage, but enjoy your stay. Don't ever try not to make fun of us. We have no sense of humour. India is incredible, but Delhi can be fun only without Dilliwallahs.

of the ever elusive man in my life

I meandered my car through the traffic snarls. I was already running late.I checked my watch, and drummed my fingers impatiently on the wheel. God, I wondered, I can't be late, I am meeting him after a long time. It is after much cajoling that he had agreed to give me an appointment. If you are thinking that I am going on a date to meet that special person in my life. Yes, I am. I was on my way to meet my tailor.
I had to get some blouses stitched for my cousins wedding next month.The ones which men drool over. And I needed the right guy to do it for me. But, I have I have discovered another area where I am a complete failure.It is so darn difficult to find a good tailor,who listens to you and delivers on time. No doubt, there are good tailors, bad tailors and temperamental ones too. But to my utter frustration -I dont have one. Come to think of it, I have several on MG road at my service. The one on Clover Centre does the picco for my sarees. While Prakash on the other side of the road specialises on sari blouses. The black noodle strapped black katori blouse he stitched last summer would make any Bollywood actress weep with envy. There is Rafiq tailor who stitches dresses out of raw silk, that resembles a Zara's and H& M -if you squint.
To get your dresses stitched as you desire is like a dream come true. But nevertheless it is always fraught with dissapointments. The best tailors are temperamental artisians.I met guys who refused orders rather then meet the deadline. So you coax and cajole, dance and flatter, flutter your eyelashes and say - “ It is and you me love, just the two of us all the way....” and you are going to stitch that dress for me in 24 hours flat or less.
Is it to me only they do that or to everyone else? I think I approach the tailors in a wrong way.I approach them like I would approach a boyfriend, full of expectations that he is going to be the one. So I am lost in my happy thoughts and dreams- that I have finally arrived.But my beloved tailor, hardly takes his eyes from his stitching and utters “ festival rush madam.”And there I am stranded like a jilted lover, waiting for his message, his call, or in this case, the delivery of my red sequinned blouse which he promised to deliver two days earlier.
Sometimes I feel like throwing it all in and going to the nearest mall, buy a ready made outfit and walk out in 10 mins. None of this cajoling, pleading and half baked promises.The problem is that, once you get accustomed to customade dresses you never feel like opting for the ready made ones. Or rather you'll know exactly what ready made clothes lack.
What I have gathered in this quest, is that from this moment on, the most important man in an Indian Women's life is not her boyfriend who brings gifts for her, or her sizzling lover, not her sugar daddy who showers her with solitaires, not her husband who has been putting up with her idiosyncracies for the last 20 years.The most important person in a woman’s life is the local tailor who will stitch her dreams out of brocade, silk and cotton.