It's Raining!!

It's July & the summer sun is shining brightly in Qatar! All I can think about now is that it is raining & pouring back home this very moment as I write my blog! Kerala Monsoon is magnificent & breathtakingly beautiful.
Monsoon always gives me a happy feeling, bringing back childhood memories & special moments that I will always cherish. Every year on the first day of school, the first drops of the monsoon arrive! When we were little our new school year shopping would include 'rain shoes', a waterproof school bag & a fancy umbrella!
I always thought it was a great way to start a school year with the sound of raindrops in the background during every new lesson learned. My sister & I always looked for an opportunity to jump in puddles & play in the rain, especially if we had grandparents around to plead our case to Amma! Having cousins around was a bonus for more time in the rain! They say, if the rains are very heavy, then there are lesser chances of falling sick! At least that was our favourite excuse!

By the time you are in high school you grow out of splashing water around & you enjoy the monsoon differently! My most fond memories were my basketball days in school. Our team used to boast saying that if it started raining, there is no team who can beat us in a basketball match! Honestly we were pretty good at winning a match in the rain :-)
I was away for college & in my hey days rains were all about sipping a cup of coffee & looking on. I had the greatest roommates in hostel & we never missed enjoying a single rain! A cup of coffee was almost a must have if two raindrops were falling from the sky!

 

I love the rain anywhere & everywhere but in Kerala, it is something else! I think it is the way the whole place looks after the onset of the monsoon. One monsoon we went to this lovely little coffee shop in Fort Kochin to have their home-made chocolate cake & ice-tea when it was pouring! Every mouthful of chocolate cake got better with the rain getting heavier! I will never forget the look on Amma's face that day, just feeling so cozy & content with her two little girls on either side!

My husband loves the rain more than I do!! It rains in Qatar for 2-3 days in a year & in this rare downpour if you see two very excited people with two very excited kids driving in the rain, then there is a very high chance that it might be us! We call ourselves 'rain people' who get most excited at the sight of a single raindrop! Whether back home or anywhere else in the world we have travelled to, the rains have been very special to us! A hot cup of coffee, some butter-cookies & people you love is the combination to enjoying every rain!


 
 

Top 5 Burgers of 2013!

Doha is a fast food paradise! Burger, Fries & Cola is everyone's favourite meal! After lots of good burgers one fine day I discovered the Hardees Angus Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger.....One bite & I knew this was going to be my all time favourite! It was perfect. The Hardees Angus Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger has inspired this post & I dedicate this article to the biggest foodie I know ~ My Dad!

#1 Hardees Angus Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger

The Hardees Angus Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger tops my list at #1. Angus beef, covered in Hardee's unique Mushroom sauce, melted Swiss Cheese and special Pepper May sauce, all inside a fresh Wheat bun! It is the perfect burger, hands down! Curly Fries complements this burger & makes it even more desirable!!


#2 Shack Stack Burger from Shake Shack

A perfect Cheeseburger & a crisp fried Portobello Mushroom filled with melted Muenster and Cheddar Cheese topped with Tomato, Lettuce & Shack Sauce!! Have this mouth watering burger with crinkle cut potato fries topped with Shack cheddar & American Cheese Sauce & a thick chocolate milk shake!


#3 Burger Kings Mushroom Steakhouse Burger

The Mushroom Steakhouse Burger is third on my list. Beef burger with Mushrooms, BBQ sauce, Swiss Cheese, Bacon & Crispy Fried Onions inside wheat bun! The secret ingredients that make this burger unique is the slice of bacon & crispy onions!!  Have the Mushroom Steak House Burger with Classic Fries & Cola!


#4 McDonald's Double Cheeseburger 

 A classic double cheeseburger with two slice of cheese & pickles!! For Qr 5 this is a real treat for cheeseburger fans!! The McDonald's Double Cheeseburger is the least messy & the most recommended for drive thru meals!


#5 The Whopper, Burger King

No list is complete without everyone's Favourite 'The Whopper'! A classic Beef Burger with Lettuce, Tomato, Onions, Ketchup & Mayo! You can choose from a Jr. Whopper to a Triple Whopper to satisfy your craving!! The Burger King Whopper was my mother's all time favourite burger!

Hungry????? Well I just finished eating a fantastic Hardees Angus Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger!! :-)

Fuwairit Beach

Fuwairit, a beautiful sandy beach is the best secret spot we stumbled upon this year! Located on the northern shores of Qatar, Fuwairit is a perfect destination to spend a day. It is a straight drive on Al Shamal road to get to the Fuwairit intersection from Doha. The sign boards are clear & the drive to the beach will take you little less than an hour. There is a small village at Fuwairit with few old houses & a horse stable. The Horse stable was as exciting as the beach for my children! Once you reach the village you need to drive off-road to get to the beach.



The sight of the white sandy beach & turquoise blue water always makes my heart skip a beat & the first sight of Fuwairit did just that!! A weekday morning would be ideal if you want the beach all to yourself! Be sure to take a beach chair, lots of beach toys & pack a picnic basket to have a great day at the beach. A morning at the beach is a perfect way to relax & have a good time with your kids!



On the weekend, Fuwairit is the most happening beach in Qatar! You can expect a hip crowd, lots of beach BBQs, pretty kites in the air, family picnics & lots of excitement. It is the best time to visit the beach with family & friends. On the weekend you can hire ATVs & go on fun horse rides too at Fuwairit.

The sand of the northern beaches of Qatar is perfect for turtles to nest. Fuwairit beach is closed every year from April to July as the Hawksbill turtles nest here!! Every year baby Hawksbill turtles get ready for their first swim from the Fuwairit beach! Well, that's a great story to tell your children when you visit Fuwairit!

The best time to visit would be from Jan - Mar / Sept - Dec. In your beach bag take everything that you need to have a great time & when you leave don't leave anything behind!



 

Mathew's All Time Favourite Commercial

Thanks to my son Mathew this commercial has become an all time family favourite!
Now everyone at home says 'No buck buck.... bow bow' & enjoys a good laugh!!
Enjoy the video!! :-)

 

Must Have List for the Out & About Mum!

Being a mother is the most wonderful part of a woman's life! Having a Toddler & Infant makes motherhood more fun yet demanding in everyway! At this stage of motherhood, you can either love the excitement or loose you sanity! If you love shopping, breakfast outings with your girlfriends or simply doing your own thing you need to gear up now that you are a mum of two! If you honestly want to have a good time with your toddler & baby here is my list of must have essentials for the Out & About Mum!

BABY BAG!

A baby bag is a total must have for any mum with kids! You know better than anyone else what your baby is going to need when you are out, so there are no rules in what to pack in a baby bag. Taking a sneak peak into my baby bag, you will find :

• Basic things that you need for a Diaper change - Diapers, Changing Mat, Wipes, Diaper disposal bag.
• Food - Milk, Snacks, Water. (Always carry a fun snack to keep your baby in a good mood when he is hungry!)
• Clothes - At least one extra change of clothes is a must.
• Baby Blanket  & Cap if you have an infant.
• Toys, Books & anything else you need to keep you baby occupied.
• Nursing Cover
• Your Personal things - Wallet, Cell Phone etc. ( Yup store away all your beautiful handbags for now!)

Make sure you check your Baby bag before you leave your house to ensure that everything that you might need is there.  My top tip would be NEVER to leave your house without the baby bag!!

STROLLER

The stroller has been my best friend from the very first day I ventured out with my baby! There are different types of strollers available & you need to pick one which is perfect for you & your baby. I would recommend a stroller that can be used by both an infant & a toddler, that has very good wheels & a spacious basket to keep your baby bag, shopping bags etc. It is essential to know how to handle your stroller by yourself, from opening & folding a stroller to locking the wheels. The Graco stroller like the one above is one of my favourite strollers.

BABY CARRIER

If the stroller is my best friend, then the baby carrier has become my new best friend!! The baby carrier is the best thing I picked up after my second baby arrived. A baby carrier helps you to keep your infant close to you so he can feel your warmth & heartbeat and at the same time giving you total freedom to move around to do your thing!
I would recommend the BABYBJÖRN carrier in a heart beat! This carrier can be used from birth as it supports your baby's head, hips & back. Once your infant is older & can hold up his head, the head support can be folded down so that your baby can be carried facing forward.
If you have a toddler & infant, a baby carrier helps you take care of both when you are out on your own! In a carrier your infant feels secure so he is happy & you can be sure that you have full freedom of movement to attend to your toddler's needs!

CAR SEAT

A baby car seat is essential for your baby's safety while travelling in a car. In many countries a car seat is a must for travelling with your child. The car seat for an infant is usually rear facing while a car seat for a toddler is forward facing.
The safety of your child comes first so a car seat is a total must. If you are out with your baby alone, the car seat is the most essential gear that you need especially if you are driving! Pick a car seat that your toddler feels comfortable in so that he enjoys his car ride too!

NURSING COVER

A nursing cover is one of my favourite baby accessory! A nursing cover helps you feed your baby when you are out & it makes things easier for you if there is no 'mother & baby' rooms around. The are many different styles of nursing cover & you should pick one that you find easy to use. I personally like this style of nursing cover as you can see your baby & he can see you too while nursing! You can make a style statement too by picking up a beautiful nursing cover for yourself!!

Now that you have all the gear you need, take the big step & venture out with your babies! Trust your mother instincts & have a great time! :-)

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif is one of the most enchanting attractions of the beautiful city Doha. Almost over a 100 years old, this souq was once a place where traders came to sell wool, cattle, rugs & traditional goods. Souq Waqif literally means ' the standing market' & today it is one of the most attractive area in the city with fabulous galleries, quaint restaurants specializing in Middle Eastern Cuisine, souvenir stores, attractive shops selling traditional jewellery, perfumes, oils, clothes, spices & what not!

Walking distance from the Doha Corniche, Souq Waqif has a perfect location & is very popular with the locals as well as tourists. The Souq looks stunning during the day & it is a very common sight to see people taking photographs of the camels, traditional Arabic architecture, tastefully decorated streets & pretty restaurants! At night the atmosphere at Souq Waqif will have you mesmerized with crowded streets & beautiful lights that give you a real magical experience.

A Breakfast morning at one of the many fancy restaurants is one of my favourite things to do. Make your trip to the souq early so that you can admire the camels before it gets too hot & find a nice cozy spot for a sumptuous breakfast of your choice. If you are lucky you can see the the Royal Guards of Qatar on horse backs riding through the streets while you enjoy your breakfast!
Once you finish breakfast take a stroll & explore the many interesting shops selling beautiful textiles, household things, oils & perfumes, shoes, bags, rugs, pearls, lamps & more! There is also an animal market in the souq where you can buy yourself a pet rabbit, kitten, puppy, parrot, turtle or fish!

For a totally different experience of Souq Waqif, a visit at night is guaranteed to make your trip magical! All the restaurants are decorated with lights & you can see every other person sitting around with Shishas. If it is the smell of spices that fill the air during the day, then it is the smell of flavoured Shishas that fill the night air at Souq Waqif. The winter months are exceptionally beautiful at the Souq with beautiful fire lamps all around the streets!

Souq Waqif is a popular hot spot for various activities & workshops. It also houses some interesting galleries. Music, Performances, Artists making Bangles on the street & decorated mules rides through the souq are common sights at Souq Waqif. For all its beauty & charm a visit to Souq Waqif has topped my must do list in Doha!

A pretty watercolour picture of Souq Waqif

iSTANBUL!

Full of energy & life, iSTANBUL has this charm that makes you fall in love with the city in no time!
With a rich history, friendly people, great food, addictive music & amazing nightlife Istanbul has everything to make your visit a trip of a lifetime!
Istanbul, 'The City of Time' is the only city in the world that connects two continents. The magnificent Bosphorus Bridge connects Europe & Asia giving Istanbul a beautiful blend of culture & lifestyle. For a true experience of this beautiful city here is my personal Istanbul Must See & Do List!!

Bosphorus Bridge - The beautiful Bosphorus Bridge is something everyone must see in Istanbul. It looks beautiful in daylight & totally spectacular at night! The area around Bosphorus is one of the most popular areas in the city!

Prince Island - While in Istanbul, take a day cruise to the very stylish Prince Island. Make sure you take the  Horse Carriage Tour of the Island, admire the luxurious villas, eat seafood at one of the beautiful sea side open restaurants & take some memorable photographs!

Topkapi Palace - The Topkapi Palace is an important stop to admire the Ottoman reign in Turkey. The whole palace compound is beautifully maintained & there are some quaint restaurants that have the best view of the Bosphrous & Marmara Sea! I am sure it is for this fabulous view that the Ottoman Sultans chose Topkapi as their residence for over 400 years!

Istiklal Street - Istiklal street is the most 'happening' place in Istanbul. The whole street is crowded & busy with shops, eating joints & little groups of students & artists playing music, singing & having fun! In the evening the whole street lights up making Istiklal look like it is all set for a Christmas or New year Party! There is a tram that goes up & down but no vehicles are allowed on the street. Kinda reminds you of Bangalore's Commercial Street & Brigade Road on a busy holiday!

St Antonie's Catholic Chruch - The beautiful brick colour St. Antonie's Church is the largest Catholic Church in Istanbul. It is located in the busy Istiklal street. The Church is a Minor Basilica & is run by Italian Priests. There is Holy Mass every morning & evening.

Bosphrous Cruise - A unique way to tour Istanbul's Bosphrous is to take a half day cruise down the Marmara Sea & Black Sea! You get a taste of both the European Side of Istanbul with Forts & Palaces (The Four Seasons Property on the Bosphrous is simply beautiful) & the Asian Side with fabulous villas & homes. It was truly one of the best sightseeing tours I have been on!

Ortaköy - Ortaköy is another very happening area in Istanbul with a magnificient view of the Bosphrous. Popular for 24 hr Parties & Night Clubs, it is one place you can hang out every other day! There are excellent Seafood restaurants, coffee shops & small joints that sell Turkish snacks.

Sultanahmet Area -  Apart from being the center of popular landmarks of Istanbul like the Hagia Sophia, Byzantine Hippodrome, Museums & Palaces, this Area is filled with quaint streets full of Turkish restaurants & pretty shops that sell Turkish souvenirs. All the restaurants are full at night & you get the most authentic Turkish Food here. The Cozy Pub & Restaurant at Sultanahmet has great food & a story to tell!

Grand Bazaar - The Grand Bazaar is a shoppers paradise & one of the best places to pick up Turkish Carpets, Turkish Lamps & beautiful Iznik Ceramics! If you love souvenirs like me, a trip to Grand Bazaar can drive you crazy! Make sure you bargain & get all your ceramics packed well before you leave!

Turkuazoo - Turkuazoo at the Forum Istanbul Mall (One of the best malls in Istanbul) is the first giant aquarium with a 80 m long underwater tunnel! There are over 10, 000 sea creatures & the Turkuazoo Diving Center gives you an opportunity for Diving with Sharks!!

Turkish Delight - Turkish Delight or Lokum is a Turkish sweet absolutely delicious! Fruit, Hazelnut, Pistachio, Rose & Lemon are the most popular flavours of Turkish Delight. Every nook & corner of Istanbul has shops selling Turkish Delight. I highly recommend the local Turkish Delight from the streets of Istanbul!

Travel Information:-

Airport - Atatürk Havalimanı Airport, Istanbul

Airline - Turkish Airlines

Visa - Required depending on your home country.

Currency - Turkish Lira / Euro / US Dollars

Local Transport - The Tram connects the City well. Taxis here run on meter charge. To travel to the Islands take a ferry or boat from Ortaköy.

Language - Turkish / Arabic / English / French

Best Time to Visit - April - May / Sept - Oct

Souvenirs - Turkish Carpets, Turkish Lamps, Turkish Delight, Iznik Ceramics