Staying Home

I turned 31 and something snapped. All of a sudden I started wanting to be home, all the time. Plans

or no plans, home became the preferred hang-out destination. Coffee, drinks, takeouts, cook outs, chilling, warming up, it was all best done at home. My closest friends also went through this similar transition somewhere between the ages of 29 and 32 and as of today we all clearly always want to be home. So much so that an ideal Friday is curling up with Netflix and a glass of Pinot Noir and an ideal Sunday afternoon comprises of multiple vodka tonics with jazz.

So what changed? Ofcourse the roads got busier, bars louder, restos became more expensive, queues and waiting lines longer, but more importantly our patience grew lesser and lesser. To the point that today going out seems to be a veritable ordeal replete with challenges of agreeing upon the right classy enough but not that steep place which will have happy hours but also the best cocktails in town and will elegantly serve not more than one cuisine but have something for everyone to order, will have the right amount of buzz but no screaming rich dudes of Delhi and absolutely no screaming kids (what kind of people bring kids to these places anyway?). Tall order. Finding the right place to hang out at on a Friday in Delhi requires advance planning of colossal proportions and for an organising maniac like me, extensive productive time spent on resto rankings and Zomato reviews. Usually with no success.

Enter staying in. Home, the environment where everything can be orchestrated to suit our tastes. We love staying home because it marries its comforting sense of familiarity with the surprise of creating new experiences, just how we want them. There's absolute control and limitless choice and the night can go on forever. There's complete abandon and perfect intimacy we can relax in being 200% ourselves, thankfully in flats. A residing state of perfection that today has found its reconstruction in vacationing trends around the world - homestays are the way we prefer travelling, no matter how far we go.

The easy charms of staying home.
Mexico City

We love homestaying for pretty much the same reasons. They are zero pretention and endless chill. No bell boys, no wake up alarms, no check out times. The voyeuristic, aspirational pleasure of staying in someone else's gorgeously perfect looking abode offered along with all the warmth, charms and conveniences of a home well run. Exactly how we would imagine our vacation homes to be. Homestays offer us the indulgence to live someone else's life, read their books, make coffee in their pots, swim in their pool and order their kitchen to suit our needs. An exhilarating feeling of being in control without really needing to be in charge. Something we can almost never do at our own homes.

A home away from home.

I don't remember the last time I booked a hotel while travelling by myself or with friends. It's almost always a homestay and there is so much joy in discovering the most unique ones. I normally choose a homestay to suit the mood of my vacation since there is no straightjacketing of experiences in homestays unlike at hotels. You can choose a bustling big pad in the centre of city and hitting the party scenes or a moody, introspective one outside city limits where you could write your book. You can choose to stay with an artist or a DJ or better still, a language teacher. Depending on the kind of vacation you want and the type of home and host you stay with, your holiday will be brimming with insider tips of just the things you want to do. I remember my host at a homestay in Sevilla last year casually introduced me to this quaint neighborhood bistro and even though I tried all the editors pick of restos all over Sevilla in my trip, I kept wanting to go back to the one he recommended. If you are sharing a home with stranger travellers, you are also most likely to meet other, like minded people who chose a similar experience and by that logic are similar in taste and will become and stay friends for the rest of your life. Finally, let's not underestimate the contentment of not having to pay unnecessarily for unnecessary frills, something that hotels pride in making their extra bucks on. Since I like to spend on my stays, homestays give me the opportunity of both spending and staying well minus the superficialities of overrated services. If you are the kind of person who almost never makes it to a hotel's breakfast and prefers communal dinners at home with the market's local ingredients, homestays are just the thing for you.

Chicken and chickpea tagine served with the local bread
Dar Finn, Fez

I have had the opportunity to discover some excellent homestays both in India and abroad and would love to share some of my absolute favourites with you in this post.  Do try to book them (a lot in advance) if you are travelling to any of these cities. Apart from the enviable list of advantages I've summed up above, they all come with my most important qualifier - having the best views.

1. Ourland Island Homestay, Alleppey, Kerala (India) - Tucked away takes a new meaning at Ourland Island. The journey to this hideaway resort involves a 2 hour car ride from Cochin airport, a 40 min sojourn through bright green paddy fields and finally a 30 min lake voyage in a rickety boat until you discover an island that gives solitude a new dimension.

The boat ride to Ourland Island

The cottages with independant sit outs and giant hammocks

The resort has 5 independant cottages and a tree house (where I close to stay) amidst a copse of bamboo trees which rests almost completely atop Kerala backwaters with an expansive view of just the sea and the houseboats and the sound of gushing water.

My permanent view from the tree house

There is nowhere else to go from here and once you are submerged in one of their giant hammocks perched halfway on water, there is also no place you'd rather be. Food comprises of local, pure, traditionally prepared Kerala delicacies with a hearty dose of coconut and frequent catches of the day.
There is a sense of unmatched tranquility at this resort and a vacation here is very likely to a lesson in self discovery.

Waking up to this.

Dar Finn, Fez (Morocco) - How often does one get to stay in an 800 year old riad nestled within Fez's intricate medina which has been under restoration for over 3 years? Morocco is a homestay lover's paradise. Amidst the labyrinth of its scurrying streets you are likely to chance upon age old riads which turn out to be secluded gems and house a different world inside. Built around a central pool or courtyard and open to sky, these architectural marvels offer the most authentic taste of moroccan living.  

The entrance door to my room that I wanted to bring back as hand baggage.

Dar Finn is one of those 'I'm feeling lucky' finds in magic city of Fez. Replete with lavishly decorated doors, intricately carved walls, zeliged tiles and fountains, Dar Finn is as luxurious as it is intimate. 

Moroccan beauty - zeliged walls and stained glass windows

Run by an old British couple who moved to Fez and made it their home, Dar Finn gives you a sense of cosy familiarity while bringing you bang in the centre to the mammoth maze that is Fez's old Medina, a UNESCO world heritage site.

A relaxing fountain is the perfect place for a round of evening mint tea, before being served traditional Moroccan dishes made with fresh food from the local souks.

The evening pool, next to the Honesty Bar

And while you are still marveling the beauitful four walls within which you stay, a rooftop lounge gives you unabashed access to one of the most beautiful sunsets of your life.

The view from top. 

3. Jilling Terraces, Nathuakhan (India) - When we arrived at our room in Jilling Terraces after what was a 1.5 hour hike up the mountains , the view was kind of like this and we were absolutely convinced we were home.

Modern, elegant rooms at Jilling Terraces

A 45 acre estate amidst 100 acres of lush forests, Jilling is that mythical mountain hideaway which springs out of clouds and becomes your modern home in a matter of minutes. Extremely tastefully done interiors with objets d'arts thrown around and attention to the minutest details in comfort and service, Jilling is once place you wished you didn't return from.

The vast forest estate, set in the clouds.

Unbound wilderness at your complete disposal, Jilling has these naturally instagrammable expanses where you can spend hours together reading, drinking, mulling and being one with nature.

A perfect mid-day, afternoon and evening.

Jilling Terraces is run to perfection by the generous caretaker of the property, Vimla ji, who will ensure your every whim and fancy is answered - tea, smokes, drinks and boys alike. Jilling allows every guest complete elbowroom to make it their own abode. We cooked with the cooks at its open kitchen and ate under the starlight sky huddled around fire.

Making woodfired pizzas in the open kitche

4. Casa Guadango, Positano (Italy) - As visually stunning a town Positano is, finding a homestay that does justice to its breathtakingly gorgeous views was a task, where to my utmost delight, I succeeded.

Perfect start (and end) to the day.

Casa Guadango is rife with all the allures of a typical southern Italian pensione. Ceramic tiles, all white rooms, brimming bougenvillas and a surreal view of Costiera Amalfitana.

10 minutes walk from Positano beach, this quaint little family run bed & breakfast is located in Fornillo, one of the quieter areas of Positano, and is a beautiful hike up cobbled streets from the main square.

Discovering Casa Guadango in Positano

A typical Italian breakfast (read giant jars of Nutella) is served on the property deck with scenic views of sun washed Positano city.

Breakfast is served with a hearty view

The rooms are abundantly resorty, pristine whites and pretty ceramic floors with cute touches like handpainted sceneries on the beds some great locally sourced coffee at your service with your own moka pot.

Whimsical rooms with private sit outs

While you spend the day absorbing the unbounded refined elegance of Positano or doing a day trip to Capri or Amalfi, its worth every buck to be back to your private sit out to enjoy a glass of Campanian red and to witness the dazzling colors of this city while the sun goes down on it.

Sunset splendor at Casa Guadango

No matter how far or close you decide to go in your next vacation, lean in favour of home-staying. It is an experience that will underscore your entire sojourn and when you find yourself wanting to stay in and discovering yourself more staying out and discovering the world, you'll know why there is no better place than home.

In the Mood for Summer

I know it's hard to spend summers productively given the general disarray with the weather and the general dismay at the fact that you are not on vacation for 3 months straight. However, summer time is the best for overall life cleansing, starting your mind (which one resolution should I focus on amongst the 10 I planned on Jan 1 2016? ), moving over to your body (hello swimming pools and sunrise Yoga on the terrace!) and finally your soul (making travel plans is the most therapeutic exercise ever). Summer is an attitude to adopt, which in essence means keeping it light and letting go of all that is superfluous.

So here's a few ways to make this a summer to remember and I am back to writing again. :)




1. A Bob - A summer cut is simply the best way to start feeling the change of season right down to your nape. Fuss free, wash and sun dry kind of haircuts will add more rock chic to your summer look and more chill time to your summer days. Kristen Stewart & Jessica Chastain's recent Cannes short crops are great starting inspirations for a whole new summer hair look.

2. Detox Drinks - Summers are perhaps the best season to attempt a juice cleanse and OD on some good old water. However given the amazing replacements for water this season, I would advise you do away with water completely.

Cleansing Juices : Since I hate salads, my personal mantra is that anything that goes in a salad is better off being juiced up. Do invest in a good juicer this summer. There is a whole thesis out there on different kinds of juicing and which ones retain maximum nutrition but to keep things simple, cold pressed juicers lead to more nutritive juices by minimizing the heat generated while juicing and you can find some good options on good old Amazon here.

Start out with these delectablely fresh combinations that make the best of easily available seasonal fruits and translate from healthy concoctions to healthy cocktails in day to night.

• Pomegranate + Watermelon + Coconut Water + (optional) Vodka 
• Pineapple + Oranges + (optional) Vodka
• Green apples + Kale+ Spinach + Cucumber + Coconut Water + (optional) Vodka
• Apples+ Beets+ Pomegranate + (optional) Vodka

Infused water : Chill water with the heartiest of seasonal fruit goodies thrown in and you get a magic potion that's delicious, nutritive and makes you lose weight!
Mixed berries and basil is my standout favourite but you can refer to this link for various other creative options.

You can also replace water with chilled green tea or chilled coconut water to keep things interesting or both together and you will have your skin and weight thanking you till 95.

Basically don't drink just water ok? However, in case of sheer inability to drink anything non-alcoholic, refer to this post on champagne cocktails and let your heart sing.


3. Eating light, deliciously - I don't think I'll be able to make my peace with soups and salads in this lifetime. But summer pastas are great for keeping things fresh and light and upto 10 mins in the kitchen only. This link from Saveur is my veritable savior. So, is this  BonApetit link with Yotam Ottolenghi's choicest summer recipes. Less cooking, more freshing. Simple.

For a summery and actually edible salad, combine a fruit you love with a cheese you love - watermelon and feta, apple and cheddar, ricotta and beets, get the drift? Top up with fresh rocket and toasted walnuts. For a ready to use versatile dressing, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, wholegrain mustard, honey, a dash of lime juice, salt and pepper and refrigerate.

Summer is the season for hosting delicious farm to table and interesting tapas brunches, with generous servings of chilled Pinot Grigio. Wait did I hear that the new Perch in Vasant Vihar actually start a wine only brunch?

4. Beauty breaks - Your skin is quite likely to be the bipolar partner this season unfortunately with all the heat, sweat and abrupt temperature transitions so please be kind to it. For starters,

1) Drink a lot of 'non-water' to keep your skin literally chilled out

2) Cleanse daily with a mixture of cold pressed coconut water & rose water

3) Tone more frequently. The bestselling Keihl's calendula toner every worth the buck.

4) Forget moisturisers, stick to essence and serum only treatments in night and day. Essence is your Korean skincare gem - a light concentrated cream that revitalizes the skin by focusing on dull and uneven skin tones and fine lines. Combined with a targetted serum, your skin will sleep feeling gently treated and will wake up all bright and dewy. Innisfree's Green Tea range is great for both these products and you can buy Korean products in India now thanks to SokoGlam.

5) Once a week, slather up your face with cold things from the fridge - bananas, cucumbers, orange peel, lemon juice, yoghurt and honey and take a power nap.

6) Use Sunscreen :). Albeit a hardcore 50 SPF pharmacy one.

No one wants to look like an oily made up doll in summer so let the natural glow of your skin shine through with some highlighter and nude lipstick.

5. Clothes that breathe - Think whites, light cottons and weekend vibes. As you tone up this summer, fluid silhouettes will complement your tanned skin and sunny demeanour and will help you move around more freely. Some really exciting contemporary Indian brands are doing the world rounds right now and are dangerously experimenting with summer proportions. You can start putting together your summer wardrobe starting with these 5 dresses in shades of summer that play with lightweight fabric and craft handwork. Hey also, no pants!

1. Pleated polka shirt dress in chanderi (finely textured handwoven cotton) from Nicobar

2. Sheer off-white jamdani (handloom woven cotton) dress from Good Earth

3. Indigo handblock printed dress in cotton from FabIndia.

4. Striped handwoven linen dress with crochet trimming from Eka

5. Cotton lightwool dress in mustard from Runaway Bicycle

6. In your bag - I would recommend the terrific charms of only staying in all summer and doing a weekend full of eat drink sleep repeats with your squad. However in the scenario that you must go out, stuff in these quick summer savers in your bag.

    - An Avene thermal spring water for between-meeting fresh ups
    - A pure flower body mist in Jasmine
    - A hydrating tinted lip balm from Benefit
    - A tall jar with chilled green tea+coconut water or any detox water option
   -   Musk melon and papaya salad
   -  A neutral linen scarf with colorful tassles to wrap under when the sun gets too generous
    - A bar of All Things Summer, handmade chocolate from All Things Chocolate in summer's ultimate flavor - mango
    - Your favourite pair of oversized sunnies in icy metallic lens of summer colors 
    - A playlist with indie+summer+happy songs on 8 tracks 
    - A lightweight summer romance novel, or any travelogue

                               

7. And finally on your travel plan - Because you must travel to have all these feels REALLY COME ALIVE,  consider these beach islands for the unforgettable summer of 2016 :

Palawan : Hidden lagoons, limestone cliffs, underground rivers and subterranean biodiversity, Palawan islands in Phillipines are as much a feast to the eyes as an exhilaration for that beach body.

Lakshadweep : The secluded Agatti Island is on every travel editor's must do summer list. Enjoy silence and minimum human contact amidst its golden sands, lush coconut trees and emarald waters, and watch life unfold at a different pace.

Tulum : With undoubtedly the most pristine beaches in the Mexican Carribean, Tulum is the most laidback of Mexican beach destinations. Discover it's spectacular ruins and thriving nightlife, Tulum will teach you how to beach and party like the Mayans, with several shrimp taco interludes.

Wishing you a summer of high tides and good vibes!

Le Foulard

I'm one of those people who often loves to put a look together around a scarf. As fashionable a garment it is, it is also my go to functional accessory for Fall. I could be totally underdressed for the cold (I can somehow never accurately predict how cold its gonna be out and then I'm usually found scouting around for friends' jackets) but as long as i have a scarf around my neck, my physiology and life are very much in order.

Found this versatile scarf with silver hardware that doubles up as a neckpiece
at this little boutique in Positano, South of Italy

Scarves have this magical quality of completing a look and becoming its focal point. They have an inherent experimental vibe and help us create the edge even on an otherwise dreary, old or conservative attire. Just look at how versatile they are - thrown over a dress, layered beneath an overcoat or casually knotted around a handbag, they always look good! They are ridiculously individual - you can create new statements with different types, colors, materials and knots of scarves you wear or simply a distinctive look with a single statement scarf tied the same way everyday. They let us go as designer as we possibly want to while spending just a fraction on owning one. But most importantly, they are simply the most gorgeous way of wearing a favourite piece of art on print. The scarves-gallery has some excellently curated artist scarves.

Like a good relationship, a good scarf both protects us and glorifies us apart from ahem, hiding our love marks. Too bad then that girls often don't pay as much attention to their scarves as they do to the former. This post will help you re-create that scarf-like balance between covering and revealing. ;)

Though scarves find their origin in Rome as sweat cloth, it is safe to say that today they are a stylistic import from France. Petty much most of us have somewhat of a scarves collection, they are often built organically and we land up having too many or too few but not the right ones. To get started on this creative pursuit of having the right scarf wardbobe at the onset of winter, I'll give you the following essentials - 5 styles of scarves to buy and key materials to invest in, 5 chic ways to wear a scarf and 5 of my favourite pieces from the Fall-Winter runways you can grab grab grab!


Understanding Styles of Scarves

Though most scarves more or less look like a rectangular piece of cloth,they come in specific shapes and can create widely different looks . Here are a few beginners you should consider for your collection.


1. The infinity or the loop - A contemporary style with a closed loop and no ends. The reason why I more than 10 different ways but personally I think they work best is when worn in a single long loop thrown around the neck on a short dress or pants. Casual but very cool. Work best in cotton.



2. The square or the carre - This shorter, elegant scarf size was immortalised by Hermes via their historic silk carres - over 2000 icons of stunning printed square scarves from the house that have adorned everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Audrey Hepburn. The square shape snuggles around your nape, head or handbag and makes you instantly chic. Work like a storm in silk.






3. The slim scarf - Trending in my wardrobe, the skinny scarf is a bit of a phenomena at the moment and was seen on shows from Burberry to Saint Laurent. It is basically the the scarf version of a tie and thus highly androgyneous. No one wears their skinnies to keep  warm but if you are looking for effortless glamour, throw one over a low cut cocktail dress or wear it with a silky button down. It's totes 70s and equally 2016 and most glam in chiffon or velvet.

4. The wrap - My favourite oversized thing. Less a scarf and more a stole or even a blanket. They often come in chunky, patterned, colorful knits and look very Scottish highland. They require zero styling, you just throw them on and they'll keep your entire body warm and even snuggle you in completely when you need! They are their luxest best in fine cashmere.






5. The oblong - The everyday, basic rectangular scarf is a closet staple and obviously the most versatile of the options. They come in various fabric options and in my opinion in a loose wrap style which allows their beautiful geo-prints and tartans to show best. When it comes to the oblong scarf, hold no reservations in pattern and color play and contrast the rest of your look.

A lavishly printed maroon wool oblong scarf by Megha Khandelwal I recently indulged in,
tied here in French knot style

Styling your Foulard

Even though i am the biggest fan of a simple throw as it is both elegant and sexy at the same time when carried well, there are ways you can wear scarves not just as accessories but to make them an integral part of your look and thus doing them full justice. Fashion bloggers and instagram celebrities are rocking these inventive styles and have really re-instated scarves as a fashionable must-do.

The French twist knot : An elegant knot that looks beautiful on printed silk squares or oblongs. All you need to fold the scarf, place it in the centre of your neck, loop the ends to the front and tie 1-2 loose knots to one side. They look dead stylish with casual white tees.
Celeb spotting - Leandra Medine (Man Repeller)

The Shoulder/neck duster : Dusters are an easy transport to the 1950s. Take a triangle or a square scarf (folded into half) and place it at the back of your neck with the loose ends to the front. Try a knot on one end and slip the other end through the knot and adjust to the centre.
Celeb spotting -  Olivia Palermo

The Loose Wrap : Oversized scarves can add texture, color, warmth and class to cocktail and boho dresses when thrown loosely to the front and cinched with a statement belt at the waist. I love this look!
Celeb spotting - Olivia Palermo (again)

The Turtleneck : this style covers up the length of your neck and doubles up as a choker neckpiece. To create this simply keep looping your square/oblong scarf front and back till the ends are small enough to make a tight knot that you can hide under the scarf. To do this look full justice, wear your hair up in a knot or better still, chop them off.
Celeb spotting - Daris Strokus on Pucci SS'15 Runway

The Double Loop : Though a single front loop is how we all lazy bums love to tie our scarves, with just one more loop we can create a look 20 times more stylish. This look works great on large oblong or wrap scarves worn with pants or an otherwise monochrome look. How to create : Simply add one more loop or knot to your single loop scarf.
Celeb spotting - Blake Lively

Buy Fall Winter's Trendiest Luxury Scarves

And finally, my personal recommendations of some indulgent pieces from the Fall runways that have taken scarves to the next level of style, art and creativity. 

Dior Choker - Raf Simon's collision of the choker and the neck scarf trend will go into fashion history, just like his tribal earrings. 

Burberry Belted - Christopher Bailey's marino wool belted wraps in jungle prints is on runways as well as high streets.

Saint Laurent Skinny - Hedi Slimane's 70's aesthetic in a tie scarf is bang on trend.

Zac Posen Fur Mini - Zac Posen has introduced the youthful way to wear fur this Fall, folded closely around your neck in matching colors.

A customised Hermes Foulard - Because no list on scarves is complete without the classic Hermes silk scarf in it. You can also customise one at $15 per letter for a date, place, event or special occasion at Hermes flagships. Pair it with every goddamned thing.

You can always splurge on these key pieces. But you can also find versions of all of them at our saviour Zara and you can also easily replicate all these looks with handy closet items. See that is the beauty of scarves - adaptable, economical, cool and completely you.

Sunny scarvy day in Paris.
Oct'15