Definitely PTE because it opens up doors to unlimited opportunities

I still remember the last day of school. I was attending the school farewell party. The juniors were hosting it and we the passing out batch were the guests . The song being played out in the background was "Papa Kehte hain bada naam karega" 

The lyrics go something like this

Papa kehte hain bada naam karega

Beta hamara aisa kaam karega

Magar yeh to koi na jaane

Ki meri manzil hai kahan

Papa kehte hain bada naam karega

Beta hamara aisa kaam karega

Magar yeh to koi na jaane

Ki meri manzil hai kahan

Which translates to

The song captures the hope that every person has about his life specially when he or she passes out of school or college. It also underlines the uncertainty that life has in store for us.

However I was quite sure about my future that I wanted to go abroad and study at a good reputed university.

This meant that I would have to apply to a number of Universities and then based on the ones that grant me an admission make a move.

I was a fairly good student and science was my chosen field of study. I wanted to do a B.Tech in computer science.

My only drawback was that English was not my strong point. So I discussed this problem of mine with one of my teachers.

She suggested that since I had set my goal to go and study abroad thus I should consider taking an English language certification. This would not only help me polish my English skills but also boost my confidence.

I researched my options and found PTE Academic to be the best English certification around.

Here are the benefits of PTE 

Here is why PTE Academic is the best choice a student, migrants as well those who are seeking immigration to a new country  can make.

• PTE Academic conducts the test via a computer so that you need not feel nervous or uncomfortable

• The scoring of the tests is impartial and accurate.

• Your PTE Academic become available in a maximum of 5 business days.

• All the Australian universities accept PTE Academic score.

• Even if you are applying to New Zealand, Ireland then PTE Academic scores are acreditted in these countries. Even for USA, Canada and UK , Singapore & Europe the number of institutions accepting  PTE Academic scores is increasing rapidly.

• Those who want to immigrate to Australia or New zealand the good news is that the PTE Academic sores are recognised here as well by the VISA and the migration departments.

• If the idea of a test intimidates you then have no fear PTE Academics has the facility to help you learn and prepare for taking the test. 

Thus when it came to my own personal decision I decided to take the PTE Academics course

as getting this certification would give me a head start in my career.
Best of all the test can be taken 360 days a year.

Next the question was how to prepare for the test. Here again the PTE Academic website came in handy one can check here PTE Preparation Course

Armed with this new knowledge I started the preparation for the test and found that there is extensive material that can be used for getting ready for the test.

PTE Academic provides both free and paid preparation material.

Next came the step of taking the actual test.

The Test is conducted at 200 centers around the world and one can take a center of ones choice.

You can book a test 24 hours in advance.

It is a test that that you take sitting in front of a computer at the test center.

The results come out within 5 business days. The results can be accessed from the results website.

PTE Academic lets you send your score to unlimited institutions without any additional fee. This helped me apply to a large number of universities and colleges withing my stipulated budget.

Once I had my English language scores with me it was only a matter of time that I got admission to a college of my choice. Now the question was getting a scholarship.

For this I had to appear in a live interview. Having taken the English Test had already made me confident and the English preparation had made me a fluent English speaker and I could easily articulate my thoughts.

Getting a scholarship can be tough so in the final round I told the interviewer that I am a go getter and before applying for this course I had poor command over the English language and now I was conversing with them in English. I shared my good scores in my PTE Academic English Test and the interviewer was impressed and I got the scholarship.

Thanks to PTE Academic I got my dreams fulfilled.

cuttingChai Vs cuttingpani

The word cuttingchai reminds me of good old college days when we friends used to share a single cup of tea by splitting it between 2 or 3 friends. The idea used to be to conserve money. The concept of #cuttingpani is similar and takes the thought one step forward. Here one is inspired to pour only that much water in a glass as one desires to drink.

Drinking water is precious and a scarce commodity. It takes a lot of effort to purify water and make it fit for drinking. It is a long process that involves a lot of processing which in turn needs money and time.

Considering the fact that drinking water is a scarce commodity we cannot shrug our responsibility towards preserving it and stopping its wastage.

Ever time we leave drinking water in a glass it invariably ends up in the drain. This is a wastage that can be avoided.

If I were to say that we need to pour only that much water that we need to drink into a glass it would be the right thing to do however by following it I am keeping the good practice limited to myself

I would very much like to spread the word around so this is what I do

When ever we have guests and visitors at our place

I keep a placard on the water table with the message water is precious do not waste it.

When I serve water I pour only quarter glass at a time I do not mind refilling it any number of times as long as the total amount of water in the glass is consumed. I make it a point to tell the visitors that I am doing this to conserve drinking water. I want the visitors to take this learning and experience with them and spread the word further.

When I go outside my house I carry a small bottle of home purified drinking water. This way I can avoid wastage of drinking water. Plus it also ensures that I am drinking only pure water.

 

I have started recycling the water. What ever drinking water is left I do not let it go to the drain I use it to quench the thirst of my pet. I always keep an earthen pot filled with drinking water for the birds. I use the leftover water to fill this pot.

Some of it is used to mop the floors.

The drinking water that we use to wash the fruits and vegetables is reused to water the plants

I encourage everyone and also advocate conservation of water at every possible step.

I would also encourage my readers to join the #CuttingPani Initiative by Livpure to save water

Let us all sign the pledge to save water by taking a pledge https://www.change.org/p/cuttingpaani

We Have Maa

We Indians have a different approach towards things and we invariably end up making a mark for ourselves due to our approach and thinking.

We had gone to visit the Elephanta caves for a day excursion. True to our Indianess we had packed a lot of food and Indian snacks. 

Once we landed there,we found there was quite a lot to see and enjoy. Soon after we reached there it became cloudy and a heavy rain started. By the time it was time for us to go back we found the sea had become choppy. 

By now most people had already left . Only our family was there along with a group of 3-4 foreigners who were to return in our boat. Due to the storm and the choppy waters the boat that was to come to collect us could not come to take us back. It meant that we were stranded for the night with no hotel or restaurant open to feed us.

The foreign tourist were in a state of panic as they had no food. Their tourist guide was trying to pacify them.

This is when my mother suggested that we should share our home food with them. I approached their tour guide and offered that the group should join us.

The guide told them about our offer. They looked perplexed and stood in a huddle talking animatedly and discussing what to do. Hunger won over reluctance and they agreed to join us.

We spread a dhurry and a sheet that we were carrying and placed the food over it. Soon we were eating and having a good time together with rounds of jokes and chit chat. We had found new friends and they had found a new host. The Indian tradition of carry food and extending our hospitality to total strangers had saved the day not only for us but also was a great eye opener for those foreign tourists who found this tradition to be very exemplary. When we parted ways they thanked us saying thank god you had food and you offered to share it with us. To this we responded it is not just food. We have our Ma (mother) who made it all possible. They nodded. We had met as strangers stranded on an island but parted as good friends. This is one aspect of us Indians that they would never forget. 

Indian hospitality is part of our culture. Where ever we go we take our values and hospitality with us. People have begun to take note of our unique traits and realising that  we are  #MoreIndianThanYouThink  bit.ly/2oQTj8q

Paradise in the Himalayas

 Every summer I rush to the mountains to escape the scorching heat of summer. The nearest hill resort being Mussorie it is one of my favorite. When deciding about the place to stay I studied the options available. I Pshort listed a few but my final selection was JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove It is one of the most popular hotels in Mussoorie. It is located in the mountains, and is a family-friendly hotel. It is within 10 km of Kempty Falls, Municipal Garden, and Gun Hill. Bhata Falls and Jharipani Falls are also within 20 km.This hotel in Mussoorie offers the best resort facilities in the Himalayas. With extensive banquet space, this luxury hotel in the mountains offers some of the most lavish venues for meetings, weddings, events and receptions. The hotel  can also be reached from Indira Gandhi International Airport and Dehradun Railway Station. Mussorie Lake is 12.8 km away from this hotel. Me and my friends planned a road trip to Mussoorie as its the closest hill station from Delhi. No doubt JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove proved to be the right choice. The hotel has 115 spacious rooms which are equipped with modern amenities like an in-room safe, mini-bar and a private bathroom with bathtub and shower facility. The guestrooms are spacious and beautifully furnished with modern amenities like air-conditioning, cable television, mini bar, tea/coffee maker, iron/ironing board, study table, electronic safe, balcony, hair dryer, 4 fixture bathrooms and essential bathroom amenities are available for the guests.. The hotel promises an elegant and luxurious stay offering warm hospitality to the guests. Located in Charleville, this hotel is a popular choice for travelers.
The hotel ensures that all the needs of the guests are fulfilled timely. When you think of hill resorts then you think that due to the rugged terrain only the basic amenities would be there.
I was surprised to find luxurious bedding, a flat-screen TV, a marble bathroom and a private balcony with my room. On reaching the hotel we were given refreshing aromatic tea. The fresh mountain breeze and the aroma of the tea made me feel energetic.  The hotel's signature spa, a vast selection of exquisite restaurants and a indoor pool were things I had not expected. It is the area's largest entertainment center, complete with gaming consoles, a billiards room and bowling alley. While staying at JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove guests can enjoy a thrilling ropeway ride to Gun Hill, the second highest peak of Mussoorie.
Its a favorite destination for hosting meetings and weddings. They have over 4,000 square feet of flexible, modern event space. Upscale rooms have Wi-Fi (fee), flat-screens, tea and coffee making equipment, and minibars, plus balconies and marble bathrooms. Suites also have living rooms. Room service is available 24/7.Some rooms also have a balcony which offers a great view.

There are 4 restaurants (international, Asian, Italian and grill), a tea lounge and a poolside bar. There's also a spa, a fitness room and an indoor pool, as well as a mini golf course. Yoga sessions, bike rentals and nature trails are also available. Its award-winning L'Occitane spa experience is most refreshing.

All the guests appreciate the friendly, professional staff They offer accommodation that is the ultimate in luxury.

A luxury vacation is assured here.The JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove is more than a luxury hotel.


   “I am blogging about my luxury stay experience for an activity at BlogAdda in association with MakeMyTrip“

Luxury in the Jungle

    I am an adventure lover. Recently I experienced The Oberoi Vanyavilas, which offers the finest of luxuries and warm hospitality. It is just 4 km from Sawai Madhopur Junction Railway Station, on the edge of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. This family-friendly Sawai Madhopur resort is within 5 km of Wild Dragon Adventure Park and Sawai Mansingh
Sanctuary. Malik Talao and Surwal Lake are also within 10 km.
The Oberoi Vanyavilas Ranthambhore is a jungle resort located at the border of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. It offers guests the opportunity to see Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild and enjoy the luxuries provided by the Oberoi experience. It offers an array of experience for wildlife lovers like me. The Oberoi Vanyavilas is the finest luxury
jungle resort in India.

The resort provides unique, luxury, tented accommodation, equipped with modern conveniences like air-conditioning, LCD television, high speed WiFi, a DVD player, IPod dock, electronic safe, direct dial telephone and personal bar.

Bathrooms feature standalone bathtubs and private garden views.

Catering to the needs of business guests, the resort offers an elegantly designed meeting room equipped with the latest facilities. Aiming for a true luxury jungle experience, then the OberoiVanyavilas resort is the place to be at.
This award-winning resort gave me a unique opportunity to experience the  natural views of the beautiful species of wildlife at their natural habitat.

It is nestled in the lap of nature, enveloped by the quaint hills. Spread
across twenty acres of lush, landscaped gardens, The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore is rich with indigenous plants and birds. Guests can stroll around our torch-lit pathways in the evening and delight in the melodious chorus of frogs singing in the lily ponds.

The Vanyavilas resort consists of the luxurious air-conditioned tents that are loaded with all the modern world-class facilities an individual can think of. The interior of my tent was amazingly decorated and had teak wood floor. My tent had the king sized four-poster bed, a private garden, roll top baths, 24-hour room service, separate shower, personal bar, satellite television, LCD TV, coffee/tea maker, electronic safe, wired and wireless broadband. There was also a private deck where I could enjoy sun bathing and outdoor dining.

With every aspect of luxury facilities available, a stay in this resort is largely suited for those people who would love to unravel the tiger sanctuary while relishing the top-notch service and amenities. The rooms are individual luxury permanent tents so you're assured privacy at all times. The bathtub in the middle of the changing area is fantastic.

The Oberoi Vanyavilas is home to over eighty birds and 100 plant species. Guests may take a morning or evening guided walk with the in-house horticulturalist to learn more about the biodiversity.

This resort features a full-service spa, a restaurant, and an outdoor pool. Valet parking is free. Additionally, a fitness center, a bar/lounge, and a steam room are also there. All 25 rooms’ boasts of deep soaking tubs and offer free WiFi and patios. 24-hour room service and wired Internet are standard, as are LCD TVs with satellite channels.

Set in Mughal archways, overlooking a vast lily pond, the spa offers Oberoi signature therapies, Ayurvedic massage and holistic beauty rituals. Each suite is furnished with two massage beds, a steam room, shower, standalone bathtub
and private terrace with views across the water.

The staff is very hospitable and goes out of their way to meet your needs.
It is a posh and upscale hotel. I was treated like royalty. Everything from the staff to food, rooms, and facilities were all world class. The amenities are absolutely fantastic. A stay at theVanyavilas resort will definitely provide every one with long-lasting cherished memories.

 “I am blogging about my luxury stay experience for an activity at BlogAdda in association with MakeMyTrip“

Life Is Precious Preserve It

The Story of a Suicide http://www.storyofasuicide.com/  is a novel which is very relate able and situations and narration are real and could be unfolding in our lives or around us. It is the story of four characters Hari, Charu, Sam and Mani and their lives. What makes the story very relate able is the use of language that we all use in everyday life and more so the portrayal of characters is such that makes them real and their pain, sufferings oppression and humiliations seem something that one can relate to.

As the story moves forward there are lighter moments of unwinding and joy but the pressure does mount up as the story progresses. All the four characters are living their lives but watch closely and to me their lives appear to be experiencing love, deceit, exploitation and suffering.

In short their lives not just give them opportunities to excel but at the same time there are unprecedented pressures that push them towards the edge.

There is this chapter all about burning where the following lines appear

“I really like how Mani is able to express his past and sufferings with absolutely no fear. I will never be able to share my past with anyone. “

I think there line depict the gist of the story that as long as we are able to share our anguishes and pain with someone we are able to survive. This sharing gives us the strength to overcome all the hardships of life.

My tip to one and all are as follows

Look at the story and its resemblance to life.

Look at life it is just like a game of snake and ladder.

We start this game when are are born and begin to grow. The game of life goes on till our last breath.

The snakes in the game are bullying, falsehood, exploitation, deceit and everything that hurts us and pulls us down

The game of snake and ladder is incomplete without the ladders and in our life the ladders are our support system it is love and caring of our beloved one's. The ability to share our hardships with people we trust and who stand by us and understand us at all times. So find people you can share your feelings with and pour your heart out. That is my mantra to survive life.

A memorable trip to Jaipur

At a distance of little less than 300 km Jaipur happens to be the perfect destination for a quick holiday. Since my gang of friends are stationed in Delhi so Jaipur is the perfect weekend getaway. When I shared this travel idea with my friends they really got excited.

So the planning for trip Jaipur began. Since three of my friends are from Delhi itself we decided to do a road trip.I was to fly down from Ahmedabad to join my friends for this wonderful trip.For me Delhi has its own charm so it would be a double treat for me. I searched various  Domestic Airlines   that I could take and found the 22.40 Indigo Airlines  flight to be suitable. Even though there are a number of direct flights between Ahmedabad and Jaipur  and even my friends could have taken a flight to Jaipur and the group could have met up there. However we chose to go by car as we wanted this to be a memorable road trip.

I checked the weather of Jaipur for the next few days and found it would be mostly sunny and warm. So when it came to making our packing list we made sure to include

      Sun Shades

      Sun Block Cream

      Caps

      Umbrellas

Since it was going to be a road trip I got my car serviced about a week before our actual date of travel. I ensured that a thorough check of the car involved checking and topping up of the battery water. Coolant and the car air conditioning. I also double checked that the tool kit was present and it included the jack and the spanner.

Meanwhile  we started looking for a hotel and after much deliberation decided to book one that was in the heart of the city and had quite a few tourist attraction in close vicinity of the hotel.

For us the road travel  took a little over 5 hours. The Delhi Jaipur road is very smooth and well laid out.

It has 3 tolls between Delhi and Jaipur. Along the way there are plenty of places to stop and take refreshments. All these stopovers make the road trips that much more fun. 

Just a day prior to our departure I got the fuel tank filled and the air checked in the tyres  including the stepney .

We had started about 6 in the morning and reached Jaipur around 11.30 AM.

We straight away went to our hotel and checked in. After settling in we rested a while and then headed for lunch. By the time we finished lunch it was 2.45 PM. We took some rest and by 4 PM we headed towards the nearest market.

For the first day we wanted to cover the Johri Bazar so we strolled  in the area after parking our car and in the evening we headed towards LMB or Lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar for a hearty meal.

By the time we headed back to our hotel the days driving and all the excitement of traveling in an all boys group had begun to take its toll and we were already feeling sleepy so we straight away went to bed.

Day 2

We had a breakfast and headed towards the airport as Rajesh our friend from Mumbai was to join us. We brought him back to the hotel and after his check in we headed towards the Hawa Mahal. We were quite intrigued by the variety of handicrafts ,puppets and colorful bags that were on sale at the local shops.

Our next stop was Jantar Mantar that is very close to the Hawa Mahal.

By this time it was mid day and all this roaming about made us quite hungry so we decided to have lunch at a local restaurant and had our fill of Dal Bati Churma a local Rajasthani Dish.

Post lunch we went to Amber fort. It is a big fort and it took us a couple of hours to explore it. At around 7 PM we attended the light and sound show at the Amber fort.

On our return we stopped at the Jal Mahal and enjoyed the view of the well lit structure in all its glory.

Day 3

It was time to do some shopping so we headed towards Bapu Bazaar. This is a old style market with all sorts of shops lining both sides of the road. One can buy all sorts of things here from clothes, handicrafts, eatables and traditional Rajasthani foot wear .

It is a place where you would find both the locals as well as the foreign tourists shopping side by side.There are plenty of choices to suit every kind of shopper.

With bags full of shopping we headed to the local restaurant and had some more local Rajasthani food .

In the evening we went to one of the numerous malls and we had our dinner at the food court there.

Next day we checked out of our hotel room and started our journey back to Delhi.