My article in Gulf Times : Finding dream furniture

Even with Qatar Census revealing that more than one million nine hundred thousand people reside in Qatar, it is hard to estimate the number of households in this small country on the Arabian Gulf. A home to many expatriates, Qatar has seen an influx of population in last few years. Even natives who travel all around the world finally come back to settle to the place they call their “home”.

But what makes a simple four-walled abode a place to live is its interior — the families living in unison despite their own individuality.

While a master bedroom represents the views and conviction of the nurturers, a kids’ room symbolises the playful tender years. Every member of a family has his or her own taste which is gracefully reflected in the furniture they pick for their rooms.

See the full article here :

http://www.gulf-times.com/culture/238/details/347938/finding-your-dream-furniture

ORIGINs - Custom disigned sofa Homes R US - 7PC BEDROOM SET MAHOGANY ORIGINS - one stop solution for furniture, fabric, cushionsHomes R US - ST.LUCIA DINING SET WENGE Homes R US - Modern and Elegant ORIGINS - Choose fine fabric Homes R US - CORNER SOFA LIME

Homes R US - Fashionable ROUND SOFA BED REDHomes R US - Arabian SOFA set

Homes R US - FUSHCA 3+2+1 SOFA SETat IKEA.

Month of March : “In Print”

Month of March

Week 1

Cover Page :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Cover Story :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Week 2

Cover Page :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Cover Story :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Week 3

Cover Page :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Cover Story :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Week 4

Cover Page :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Cover Story :

Sakshi Vashist, Gulf Times

Overwhelming joy of seeing my name IN PRINT.

Thank you MONTH OF MARCH.

The world on my plate : My article in newspaper

People today can travel anywhere around the globe traversing geographical boundaries. And with them, travel their culture and food. The number of foreigners working in Qatar has led to the eating habits of people here being influenced by food from all around the world. Various cuisines and outlets now open in the country have been adapted to serve nationals as well as expatriates from Asia, Europe and America.

Without a question, a dish or a restaurant is selected primarily based on its taste, cost and convenience to eat.

Read more here :

http://www.gulf-times.com/food/235/details/345782/-the-world-on-my-plateoldest member of bombay chowpatty teamA side-bar which appeared in actual newspaper but not in E-version:

FAMOUS CUISINES

Falafel – traditional Arab food – deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, beans, or both; usually topped with salads, pickled vegetables and hot sauce

Samosa – fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, ground lamb, ground beef or ground chicken

Kebab – wide variety of skewered meals cooked over or next to flames

Indian chaat – a mixture of potato pieces, crispy fried bread, gram or chickpeas and tangy-salty spices with sour home-made Indian chili, fresh green coriander leaves and yogurt. Popular variants include Aloo tikkis (garnished with onion, coriander, hot spices and a dash of curd), bhel puri, dahi puri, panipuri, dahi vada, papri chaat, and sev puri.

Sandwich – consists of two or more slices of bread with one or more fillings between them

Spring roll – large variety of filled, rolled appetizers. Kind of wrapper, fillings, and cooking technique used vary considerably from place to place

Croissant – butter-layered yeast-leavened dough rolled and folded several times in succession to give a flaky texture, similar to a puff pastry

Donut – deep-fried from a flour dough and shaped in rings or flattened spheres that sometimes contain fillings

Fresh juice – prepared by mechanically squeezing or macerating fruit or vegetable flesh without the application of heat or solvents

Milkshake – sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce

Steamed corn – kernels taken off a sweet corn cob or cut off and boiled or steamed

Risottos – rice cooked in broth to a creamy consistency. The broth may be meat-, fish-, or vegetable-based

Pizza – oven-baked, flat, round bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings

Pasta – made from an unleavened dough of flour mixed with water and formed into sheets or various shapes, then cooked and served in any number of dishes

Pies – baked dish made of a dough casing that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients

Pancakes – thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan

Scones – single-serving cake or quick bread made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent

Puddings – sweet milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, or a mousse, made of bread or rice

Muffins – semi-sweet cake or quick bread that is baked in portions appropriate for one person

Cakes – form of bread or bread-like food normally with a round shape

Schwarma – meats placed on a spit and may be grilled, eaten with bread, tomato, and cucumber with toppings like hummus and pickled vegetables

Barbecued chicken – chicken parts seasoned and coated in a barbecue sauce, then grilled or smoked

Slurpees – frozen flavored drink

Ras Malai – consists of sugary white, cream or yellow colored balls (or flattened balls) of fresh cheese soaked in clotted cream flavored with cardamom

Other Photographs which are not included in e-version of paper:

tandoor three peppers turkey-anadolu yummy snacks at Chilis a-family-at-bombay-chowpatty a happy customer bombay-chowpatty Caesar Chicken Salad - Just Burger - Tasy and Healthy Brunch at Bread and Bagels - beach tower - dafna Breakfast at The coffee bean & tea leaf bread-being-made-at-turkey-anadolu Bread and Bagel carrot cake at Bread and Bagels Chowking - al khor mall Famous small pastries at Turkey A. Egg Benedict at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf papa jones pizza Papa Jones ppl-at-turkey-anadolu food at chilis samosa - indian cuisine Shawarma with hommos at Turkey Anadolu Snacks on display - Java U special menu to cater kids spicy noodles stir fry with vegetables

Reaching out through blogs : My article in the leading newspaper of Middle-East

Since I started working as a part-time free-lance writer for Gulf Times, life seems to have taken an exciting new turn..

After the article for working women in Qatar, I have now written about bloggers in Qatar. In this country, blogging is still not considered as a “cool” or beneficial way of social interaction and with my article I try to clear those myths and misconceptions.

Read it here –

http://www.gulf-times.com/technology/233/details/344940/reaching-out-through-blogs

Although Gulf Times did not include photos of all the amazing bloggers I got in touch with, I will attach their photos here as a token of thanks for their contribution.

Alex Klim Andre Snoxall Colleen Morgan Constance Citalan (2) Constance Citalan Dan Adams Gustav Hooriya Hussain Irena Nailya Bentley SteffAJERachelRaquel Citalan Photo by Alex Klim 1 Photo by Alex Klim 2 Photo by Alex Klim photo by Andre Snoxall 1 photo by Andre Snoxall 2 photo by Colleen Morgan 1 photo by Colleen Morgan 2 photo by Colleen Morgan photo by Constance Citalan photo by Dan Adams photo by Irena photo by Nailya Bentley Photo by Rachel - Lamps The Souq

# all photos belong to the rightful owners

Women at Work – My article in Newspaper

As a free lancer, I published an article for Gulf Times the leading newspaper for Middle-East.

Please click on the link and view it :

http://www.gulf-times.com/culture/238/details/344654/women-at-work

2013-03-08 21.34.552013-03-08 21.35.252013-03-08 21.35.38

# Feedback appreciated
#Happy.Women’s.Day

#Best.Friday.Ever

Murakami Ego’s Exhibition

Visited the Murakami-Ego in March 2012, which is an exhibition by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

It was the first solo exhibition for the artist in the Middle East, showcasing over 60 works created since 1997, alongside new ones designed especially for the exhibition.

The 6-metre high self-portrait shows the artist as a giant meditating Buddha greeting his visitors at the entrance of the exhibition space.

  

With a PhD degree in Nihonga painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Takashi Murakami has developed a signature style where the most modern techniques combine with the skill and precision of traditional Japanese art.

  

Exhibition in Middle East

Exhibition in France

memoirs from the past

Museums are the places where one can LEARN.

Recently I learnt about idiosyncrasies of the fairer sex, since as early as 8th century!

JEWELLERY!

      

If this habit started that long ago, nobody is to blame the jewel fanatic women of 21st century 😉

Plus, now with so many artificial alternatives, accessories can be designed to mimic that of any possible era, and its AFFORDABLE! 😀

 

Although these jewellery now form an extensive part of our history and an indispensable part of our museums, they precisely depict the fancy lifestyle of the Princesses! It would be ridiculous if we didn’t follow the footsteps of our past 😉

Thanks to Museum Of Islamic Art, Ad Dawhah, Qatar for teaching me this lesson 😉

Why the boundaries? *voice of my James Sully Avatar*

Lazing on the beach sands and watching Qatar Grand Prix, this caption came in my head which provoked many thoughts about “boundaries”, which in turn made me feel like Jake Sully (played by  Sam Worthington) of AVATAR.

This is how :

Step 1

Watching the Grand Prix. Observing the route of the motor boats. Notices the so-called-temporary-boundary formed for the contestants.

Step 2

The phrase “boundaries in water” pops up in head and is stuck. I start thinking!

Step 3

I wonder why humans make boundaries in water. Land is divided, isn’t it enough already? Is partition of sky next?

Step 4

The horrible incidents of the middle-east lately (in Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq and Afghanistan) creep into my head. I start to think, why people fight, why do wars happen, why can’t we stop them.

Step 5

I reach the conclusion. Humans are so greedy, I hate them! *feels like James Sully of today’s real world*

Step 6

Loud applause. Reality kicks in 😀

Somebody has won the race! I finish munching on my potato chips! 

  # THE END to my James Sully Avatar 😉

Reach out..

 

While I was in Qatar :

An Arabic woman, clad in black, appears to reach out to the sky.

In an Arab nation like Qatar, women up-heaved to grow in plethora of dimensions, and yet are strongly rooted to their culture, which they cherish tremendously.

This picture is an epitome of growth of a woman in Qatar while a unison of sand, sea and sky watches her.

 

See Google Map  for location