HP Android Indiblogger Meet

Mumma, is that a tab or a laptop?? That's what my 4year old asked me looking at the HP Slatebook x2 on screen, in the HP Android Indimeet. 

Technology has influenced all age groups today, be it my 4year old who uses my tab to play her favourite Bollywood songs or my parents who use Android powered cellphones to group chat on Whtsapp Messenger...

This was my first tech meet with Indiblogger, sponsored by HP. I luckily got to register, as there were very limited seats. Till last moment I was not sure whether to attend the meet, as my little one was not doing well. Finally, made up my mind and with no option of leaving her anywhere, I took her along. Picked my cousin on the way, who had registered too for the meet and we headed to Ave 29, on Hughes Road. By the time we reached, the blogger introduction had already started. Followed by the 30 seconds of fame was the Tech talk, when we were introduced to the two products launched by HP on Android OS.

HP SlateBook x2:

Its a versatile 2-in-1 design where the flexibility and fun of tablet meets the productivity and power of a notebook. A screaming fast, Tegra-4 powered Android ranked #1 tablet operating system, with access to ever expanding world of music, apps, movies and more. 

HP Slate21 AiO:

Now with HP Slate21 AiO, everyone at home can enjoy their Android favorites on the big 21.5-inch Full HD touchscreen. Powered by Nvidia's Tegra 4 processor and IPS LCD with wide viewing angles, makes this as great gadget.

 



The Tech talk was followed by the High Tea and presentaions by few fellow bloggers. Presentations on the Windows vs. Android, present mobile handsets and technologies. And one on the design of blogs, a real useful one for all the bloggers. Few tweet contests and game of group hug, where we were asked to make group of 20. My active 4yr old won a wireless mouse, and turned to be THE tech kid of the day. The session ended with group photographs. We headed home with HP Android Indimeet mugs.

Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya

This Independence day turned out to be wonderful for us, my vita walk with Travel logs on Independence day eve, early morning flag hoisting in our housing society in tricolour dress code and visit to Mani Bhavan, Gandhi Sangrahalaya..

Mani Bhavan is one of the few important places hallowed by Mahatma Gandhi's close association. Mani Bhavan is a place where Gandhiji lived and conversed with his colleagues, moulded the nation in the images of his cherished ideals of Truth and Non-violence and inspired his followers and devotees who went forth from here in the world charged with a sense of service and sacrifice.

The place is recognised as a Research Institute in Gandhian Thought and Rural Development by the Mumbai University.

The ground floor consists of more than 50,000 books in Reference and Leading sections. It contains books by and on Gandhiji and Gandhian Thought and allied subjects.

 The first floor is an auditorium where films on Gandhiji are shown from time to time and recordings of his speeches are played on request.

The room on the second floor which used to be the living room and working place of Gandhiji has been preserved as far as possible in its original settings.

Adjoining to Gandhiji's room is a exhibition depicting Gandhiji's life through mini figures in tableaux, this is something which attracts most of the kids and adults too.

The terrace where Gandhiji used to sleep and hold prayers, a bronze plaque with a inscription marks place of the tent in which Gandhiji was arrested in January, 1932.

At the sales counter in the entrance hall are sold the Gandhi Postage Stamps, Photographs, Gandhian Literature, Statues, Medallions etc.

Working Hours
9:30 am to 6:00 pm on all days

My World Monday - Aug 26, 2013

My World Monday is the weekly photo meme to share your World. Come share your World with us, as seen through your camera.

To participate click "Add your link" and add your URL(URL of the post you want to submit), Name and E-mail id. The Link will be open from Monday 6AM(IST) to Friday 11:55PM(IST) . Do add our badge or a link to this page in your post. And try to visit posts by other participants too.

Last week we celebrated World Photgraphy Day. Below is my photograph for the week, of the stage all set for the celebration of the day with Google+ at Tote on the Turf, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai. View detailed post here.

Ambi Pur Mini Vent Clip Review....

My hubby is super crazy about his car, despite the car been washed everyday by our society person, he spends atleast an hour on weekends, to keep it at its perfect looks... The boot is full of cleaning equipments, sprays and polishes.
When I came across the Ambipur mini vent clips for review on Indiblogger, I couldn't stop myself from applying one for my hubby... The Lavender Comfort which i applied reached me with in 15 days.. I was very much impressed with the presentation of soothing lavender shaded sample in a pure white bag. And put to use, the immediate next day. The vent seemed to be too powerful, even at the minimum spray position, the car was filled with the comforting smell of Lavender.



I came across A to Z benefits of lavender essential, on net. One which I was most impressed was its relaxing property and a remedy for nervous tension. What best can you expect, when your hour drive, from office to home relaxes your day's stress, and leaves you fresh to spend some fun time with family back home.

World Photography Day with Padmashree Raghu Rai and Google+

Date: 19 August, 2013
Venue: Tote on the Turf, Race Course, Gate 5& 6, Keshav Rao Khadye Marg, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
Website: https://plus.google.com/photos
Yesterday, I was invited for the celebration of World Photography Day by Google+. The event brought together professional photographers and photography enthusiasts to celebrate World Photography day. The session started off with Padmashree Award winner Raghu Rai, who shared his experiences and anecdotes on the developments in the photography world and the transitions over the years. How photography has moved away from the isolated dark rooms to highly interactive social platforms. And with advanced technology tools, how photographers today are pushing the boundaries of creativity, and giving birth to new forms of art.



Padmashree Raghu Rai

Mr. Sandeep Menon, Director of Marketing, Google India, introduced us to the new Google+ Photos which offers many easy-to-use, compreshensive photo editing tools, which are accessible for free via Google+. He demonstarted on the intelligent photo editing features which includes:

• Auto back up: Google+ Photos automatically backs up all the photos in the cloud as soon as we click them, and they accessible from any device.
• Auto Enhance: This feature makes subtle improvements to the photos that help the people and places in the photos look their best.
• Auto Highlight: Selection of highlights from a collection of photos uploaded, which eases to share the best of the shots. Helps in sorting through duplicates and blurry images.
• Auto Awesome: This combines set of similar pictures into short animations, create panoramas from landscape photos, and even make group poto where everyone looks great.

This was followed by Prashant Panjiar's session on Delhi Photo Festival, on how India Habitat Centre and Nazar Foundation have brought photography, the democratic art form, into the public space, thereby creating awareness of photographic arts. The Delhi Photo Festival is a noncommercial venture which aims at learning, sharing, showing new work, giving voice to new collectives, interaction between photo practitioners and enthusiasts as well as popularizing the art of photography..

The session ended with a panel discussion with leading Indian photographers, Sooni Taraporeval, Sumit Sen, Mulchand Dedhia and Ketki Sheth, who shared their experiences as photographers and how digitization has influenced their work. Sooni Taraporeval(a screewriter and photographer), Sumit Sen(who uses camera to showcase the world around him, particularly on in-flight photography), Mulchand Dedhia(who moderates an online photography community called 'Mumbai Weekend Shoot', which reaches out to over 14,000+ photographers across all online platforms and has organized over 240 free photo walks since 2008), Ketki Sheth(a contemporary Indian photographer who has worked with bxw film and chemistry for over 20yrs. won Sanskriti Award for Indian Photography in 1992 and Higashikawa Award in 2006 in Japan for best foreign photographer)..

Sooni Taraporevala, Sumit Sen,Mulchand Dedhia,Ketaki Sheth, Paroma Roy Chowdhury-Head, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at Google India

Got to meet travel/photography bloggers Deepak Amembal and Anuradha Shankar, and was introduced to Sudha Ganapathi and Unny. Thanks to Deepak Amembal for referring me for the event.

My World Monday - Aug 19, 2013

My World Monday is the weekly photo meme to share your World. Come share your World with us, as seen through your camera.

To participate click "Add your link" and add your URL(URL of the post you want to submit), Name and E-mail id. The Link will be open from Monday 6AM(IST) to Friday 11:55PM(IST) . Do add our badge or a link to this page in your post. And try to visit posts by other participants too.

Last week we celebrated 67th Independence day of our country. Below is my photograph for the week of Mumbai Town Hall, with Indian National Flag flying high on the building.

Town Hall, Mumbai

Journey of City of Seven Islands, from Portugal Invasion to Independent India

I have been following Travel Logs for quite some time now. Recently they had a contest "Explore Your City", which won me a vita walk. I opted "A Tryst With Destiny: Indepedence day special" midnight walk on Independence day eve. And guess the venue, Town Hall. The venue with the occassion thrilled me, not to miss the event. We gathered at 10PM, started off with introduction session toasted with a cup of hot tea. Then Kurush Dalal, of Travel Logs team took over with the History of the city..

Town Hall, Mumbai

History: Bombay as known, was the city of seven islands, with Kolis(the marathi fishing community) settlers. The first European invasion on Bombay was in 1534 by Potuguese, it continued to be in the hands of Portuguese until 1661, till Charls II of England recieved possion of the Island as part of dowry of Catherina of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal. Charls leased the seven islands to East India Company in 1668. By end of 17th century, Bombay had developed into a local port. 

In 1735, the ship building industry was started. Meanwhile Maratha had become the paramount power in Deccan and came into conflict with Portuguese in 1737, in the battle of Bassein. The battle lead by Baji Rao Peshwa lasted for 2 years, pushing Portuguese out of Salsette.
The Modern city of Bombay took its shape in 19th century, with the start of reclamation process of the seven Island. During the later half of the century, the cotton trade in Bombay created a pool of wealth amongst British and Indians. Which channelled in the rebuilding of the core of the city. This was the time when VT, BMC, Town Hall, University were constructed. Another new development was the opening of the railway lines in India, and in 1853, the first rails were laid between Bombay and Thane.

The Gothic revival of the late 19th century gave way to Indo - Sarascenic style of architectue. And General post office, the Prince of Wales Museum, the Gate Way of India and the Institute of Science were built.


Kurush Dalal's mesmerizing session at Town Hall Entrance

In 1857, the first war of Independence, lead the East India Company to revert to crown and the British rule started then in 1857. In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed the Ganesh Chaturthi festival into a large organised public event to gather public and generate nationalistic fervour amongst people against the British Colonial rule. During the end of 19th century the booming textile manufacturing, attracted huge number of workers.

Meanwhile, in 1885 the Indian National Congress was formed, Even after the congress becoming national, Bombay retained important place in struggle for Independence from Britain. Swaraj was first enunciated from the city. Gandhi returned from South Africa through the port of Bombay and the merchants of Bombay financed the independence movement. Quit India movement in 1942 was issued in Bombay, and India gained independence at midnight, becoming a free country from August 15, 1947.




Horniman Circle Garden entrance

The session was so interesting that non of us were ready to leave. It was already 11:30 by then and we planned for a walk through the Horniman circle, where Nikita Khanna and Dhiresh Sharma, explained us with more on the architecture of the buildings. It was nearing midnight by then and a gang of bikers gathered at the Starbucks Coffee, started the countdown for the special day, followed by National Anthem. We all sang with them, and welcomed the special day on a special note. Definitely this was one of the best Independence day celebration, I ever had. Way back home, clicked the below pic of CST station.

CST station

Happy Independence Day

India celebrates its 67th Independence Day today. Had a wonderful Independence Day eve with Travel logs, learning the history of the commercial capital of the country. Detailed post coming up soon. Here is the pic of Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai, lit for Independence day.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 

My World Monday - Aug 12, 2013

My World Monday is the weekly photo meme to share your World. Come share your World with us, as seen through your camera.

To participate click "Add your link" and add your URL(URL of the post you want to submit), Name and E-mail id. The Link will be open from Monday 6AM(IST) to Friday 11:55PM(IST) . Do add our badge or a link to this page in your post. And try to visit posts by other participants too.

Here is my photograph for Eid special of Burj Al Arab, Dubai for this week.. More about this place here.. 

Nag Panchami

Arrival of Shravan Maas(month) in Hindu Calendar, brings with it the season of festivals. Today is Nag Panchami, the festival of cobra.

Celebrated on the fifth day of Shravan maas of Hindu calendar, Nag Panchami is an Indian festival where Hindus, worship live Naga(cobra) at nearby ant hill or images or clay models of cobra.

Snake is regarded to be sacred and has divine qualities. Snake has great significane in most of the Indian  religions. 

According to the scriptures, Lord Krishna conquered Naga Kaliya and put an end to the evil deed on this day. Tradition says that Kathmandu valley used to be a vast lake. When human beings started to drain the lake to make space for settlements, Nagas became enraged. To protect themselves against the wrath of Nagas, people gave them certain areas as pilgrimage destination, thus restoring harmony in nature.  According to other scriptures, a king used his tantric powers to force Nagas to return to the land and control the rains. The Nagas complied, but in recognition of their power to control the rains, the king established the Naga Panchami festival.

Clay models of cobra sold in market



Wish you all Happy Nag Panchami

Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak to one and all... Burj Al Arab building Dubai, lit for Eid....





 

Eid al Fitr, is the important religious festival celebrated by Muslims. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid al Fitr, which means breaking of the fast, marks the end of this holy month.

Celebration: They join the Eid prayer performed in mosques or open areas, greet relatives and friends with Eid gifts, known as Eidi on the special occasion. Also distribute charity to the needy on this day.  

Linked to Travel Photo Mondays, Our World Tuesday,  ABC Wednesday( E as in Eid).

My World Monday - Aug 5, 2013

My World Monday is the weekly photo meme to share your World. Come share your World with us, as seen through your camera.

To participate click "Add your link" and add your URL(URL of the post you want to submit), Name and E-mail id. The Link will be open from Monday 6AM(IST) to Friday 11:55PM(IST) . Do add our badge or a link to this page in your post. And try to visit posts by other participants too.

Here is my photograph for the week of Jain Temple in Bhilad. Dedicated to Simandhara Swami, this Shwethambar Jain Mandir was built in 1989. More about this place here.

Rediscovering the Portugal Dynasty at Daman - Part 4

Part 3: Rediscovering Portugal Dynasty At Daman-Part 3

Jampore Beach: After covering the Fort area in Moti Daman we headed to Jampore Beach. This is almost 6kms from main city. Driving through narrow roads leads you to the Beach. We were surprised by the number of vehicles parked here, while we hardly got to see any person out near the Fort area. Green Palms and casurina fronds makes a beautiful sight.. Food stalls are put up on the shore, a narrow opening between the stalls leads you to the beach... You can enjoy pony ride, camel ride and even paragliding here.

Devka Beach: 3km drive from Nani Daman leads you to Devka Beach. Just like Jampore Beach this too has hotels and souvenir stalls. Main attraction here is the popular amusement park, which has various gaming instruments and musical fountain. We couldn't spend much time here and headed back to Nani Daman. 

Had lunch at Gurukrupa, one of the best restaurants if you are looking out for veggie food. Then drove through the Jetty area. This drive covers you the view of Fort and Light House at Moti Daman and a visit to Nani Daman Fort. 

This Fort in Nani Daman in popularly known as St. Jemore Fort. The Fort enterance as a Gigantic statue of St. Jemore, flanked by two colossal human sculpture on either sides.

St. Jemore was one of the most eminent and deeply revered priest of the Catholic Church of Daman. Inside the Fort is the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea.

The other attraction in the Fort is the Jain Temple that bears 18th century murals depicting the life of Mahavir Swami, the 24th Theerthankara of Jainism on its interior walls.

Rediscovering the Portugal Dynasty at Daman - Part 3

Continued from Rediscovering the Portugal Dynasty at Daman - Part 2

This part is about the churches in Daman. Daman, has many churches and chapels dating back to 1500's, with Portugal influence..

Bom Jesus Church is one of the oldest churches here in Daman. Founded in 1500s and reconsturcted in 1603, this church sees a steady stream of visitors.



 It is dedicated to the infant Jesus, with statues of six saints and an impressive architectural facade.

The scrolls and floral patterns add to its beauty, as do the richly decorated wood panelling, ornately carved balcony and the gilded Baroque altar. This was the former Se Cathedral of the Aechdiocese of Daman.

Church of Our Lady of Remedios: This church dedicated to Lady of Remedios was built by Rui De Mello De Sampaiyo, governer and captain of the city in 1607AD. Main alter is carved and gilded with 17th century engravings. Moti Daman was made a separate parish in 1673.

Just adjacent to the chappel is this staue of Lord Jesus in the garden.

Chapel of Our Lady of Rosario: The chapel was closed and we were told by one of the officials there that this comes under the Archaeological Survey of India and is opened once in a while. History of this church too dates back to 17th century and the interior is magnificantly carved with stories of christian saints which are depicted on the lateral walls. The ceiling is decorated with multicoloured rose petals cherubic golden angles. The alter of the chapel is supposed to be example amongst all Portuguese churchs in India..

The Chapel of Our Lady of Rosary: Against the fort wall is the chapel of Our Lady of Rosary dating and gilded wooden panels illustrate stories from the lives of the blessed saints. The ceiling features charming carved golden cherubs. The staute of Mary of Rosary was placed in the altar in the thanksgiving by the Porgutuese Commander for rescue from a Maratha attack by Shivaji. 

Church of Our Lady of Sea: Located in Fort of Nani Daman, Church of Our Lady of Sea is counted amongst the most revered holy places in Daman. 

Part 4: Rediscovering Portugal Dynasty At Daman Part 4