Resplendence

In this ever so hectic life, one seems to oblivious about the small pleasure which the life holds within itself. Pleasures that determine who we actually are. One really longs for fun and frolic. One longs to take a holiday and go on a family excursion in order to leave the stress laden life behind and spend some quality time with family.

I happened to plan one such trip with my family to the beautiful and diverse nation- Malaysia. Both my parents are doctors and are ever so busy in their daily routine. My sister is in college and has the never ending vicious circle of mid term- final term- study break- mid term- final term....it goes on and on. To top it all, I'm a Software Engineer and have a grueling 9 hour job. So, in a nutshell, time is at a premium for my family and to have a time that we could spend together has always been a luxury. Fortunately we were able to find a 6 day window where my sis has a college break and I had a cluster of holidays coming. My mom and Dad also pitched in to take a brief sabbatical from their respective jobs and here we go, it was planned. It did take some time, but we all knew that we really need this break to unwind and rejuvinate ourselves.After years of daily grind(our last family trip was back in 2011), recuperation was the need of the hour.

 So, we decided the sight seeing option, booked flight tickets and hotels and embarked on our journey to peninsular Malaysia. The first pit stop for us was Langkawi, followed by Genting and then KL. We boarded the Malaysian Airlines flight( with fingers crossed, given the past record of the carrier), but boy, it was a smooth journey to reach the mesmerizing tiny island of Langkawi, just off the coast of Thailand in northern Malaysia. We saw various beached there- pristine white sand with shards of shells and oysters, turquoise water and azure sky. It was like a postcard

A next two days of our lives involved either snorkeling, coral spotting, seafood or a combination of these three and our great Langkawi trip ended. It was for the first time that I did not want a trip to end so maturely just for the sheer excruciating fun that we all had. Our next stop- Genting!!

Genting is a highland in wastern Malaysia, just an hour drive from the capital- KL. It is known a a hotspot for tourists from China, India, Thailand and of course the local Malay and is like a mini Las Vegas.

Genting also happens to have the worlds's largest hotel- The First World, which has a mind numbing 5000 rooms!. The Genting trip mainly involved a rope way ride and travelling through the vast premises of the hotel and the adjoining amusement park. We also found a restaurant serving amazing Indian buffet. God was answering the prayers at the rate of knots.

The drive from Genting to KL was interspersed by rains to add to the fun. Kuala Lamour turned out to be more or less as expected- plush malls, a deluge of skyscrapers and of course the twin towers. It was very clean and had a great transport system. Our hotel had an amazing view of the Minaret. All in all ,the view, the shopping, and of course the Malay cuisine, all made the trip so memorable and enchanting that it would be difficult to describe in words. The taste of Nasi Lemak and Sambal curry still lingers and my eyes still yearn for that picuresque white sand beaches in Langkawi.

 Terima Kasih Malaysia

Such amazing stories and anecdotes from our daily life makes us introspect and reflect on how much joy can giving give to us. A little bowl of broth can quench the hunger of a destitute, similarly a helping hand can go a long way in giving person hope and an objective to live. Housing.com also aims to touch lives of millions by providing them hope and fueling their ambitions. It is keen on providing the best services to its client base and make the world live better and thus breathe better.

The mantra for Housing is not just to redefine the way real estate is dealt with but also to make people live better and evolve. So, feel the change and  Look up!

Start a new life

Treading an unknown territory is always a hard decision. The uncertainty, the dilemma and the fear of failure ultimately creeps into most minds and our psyche gets into a perplexed state restricting us to try out new things and proceed towards new, sometimes risky opportunities which may have given our lives new direction altogether. Hence, to try or experience something new is a hard thing. One needs to take a risk, get out of that sweet comfort zone and sometimes even be ready to stake everything.

I've found myself being engulfed by quite a few novel situations which made me apprehensive but were a great learning experience. One such experience was during my school days when I had to travel to Coimbatore for a student symposium, for a week. Having been with my family all throughout and not leaving them even for a solitary day, I was extremely apprehensive and had inhibitions about this trip. Although, I was accompanied by my teachers and other shortlisted students from my batch but still there were jitters. as the day to depart neared, my fear knew no bounds. So much so that, I almost dropped the idea of going. It was then that my mother (my support system) told me the importance of doing things on one's own and knowing how to do things independently. She made me realize that in order to accomplish something, you have to explore and only then can you chase your dreams.Her motivating words did act like a tonic and after a couple of rebuttals and reassurances, I succumbed to her.

On the day of the departure, she came all the way to the Railway station to see me off. There were other parents too, who had accompanied theur children. finally when I stepped onto the train and it began to canter, I saw my mother there and realized how it is to leave your parents, even if it's just for a week. That particular journey/trip, did make me feel as a mature person who was capable of being self dependent and not habitual of being spoon feeded. I thouroughly enjoyed the symposium and never really felt being left out, though I was on my own.

I was 12 then, I'm 24 now. When I reflect upon that day, all that wrings my years in the breath, a fresh reverberating breath that whispers to me, "Son, never fear starting a new journey".






Such amazing stories and anecdotes from our daily life makes us introspect and reflect on how much joy can giving give to us. A little bowl of broth can quench the hunger of a destitute, similarly a helping hand can go a long way in giving person hope and an objective to live. Housing.com also aims to touch lives of millions by providing them hope and fueling their ambitions. It is keen on providing the best services to its client base and make the world live better and thus breathe better.

The mantra for Housing is not just to redefine the way real estate is dealt with but also to make people live better and evolve. So, feel the change and  Look up!

Never be feared to try anything new. You never know, starting something new, taking that elusive step...might just change your life, apparently forever. Carpe diem!


On this positive note, I sign off.

Pit stop for gluttons- Singapore

Whenever one mentions Singapore in a conversation, the first and foremost thing that gets added is its immense economic strength, ease of doing business, a high standard of living and of course, great hospitality. But, if there's a genre where people highly underestimate this tiny peninsular Asian nation is food. The Singaporeans have got highly receptive taste buds and are not ready to compromise on what they eat. They salvage great pride in mentioning it as the gastronomic spot of Asia.

Surrounded by Malaysia and in close vicinity to Thailand, Singapore's cuisine has often been overshadowed by Thai and Malay food; far more popular around the world due to the large diaspora of the two. But, the fact of the matter is that Singapore contains all the distinctive elements of Malay (and some of Thai) cooking embellished by its own idiosyncratic flavors. Hence, if you haven't tasted authentic Singapore cuisine yet, you're missing out on something big and finger licking.

Being an avid traveler and having spent weeks in South east Asia, I can definitely say that certain dishes are characteristic of this region. One of the most versatile dishes that I tasted during my travels was Nasi Lemak. This is a fragrant dish which is rice cooked in coconut mil generally served with a thai curry or ayam (chicken), sambal paste or rendang (meat dish). The spicy accompaniment is what makes all the difference and amkes Nasi Lemak a rather satisfying meal.

Nasi Lemak started out as a dish for a poor served to daily wage farmers and labourers but over time it has become a rather signature dish of Malay cuisine and due to the confluence of Malay and Singapore culture, it is a decadent dish in the cosmopolitan Singapore. The dish has become so ubiquitous now that there are Michelin star chefs preparing the different version of Nasi Lemak right from UK to China. The classical version though is native to Malay cuisine which includes nuts and egg.

Image source: Wiki

Nasi Lemak traditionally, a breakfast dish is now synonymous with south Asian flavors and is spoken in the same breath with Thai curries.Traditionally wrapped in a  pandan leafs and served with meat, some restaurants are now continuing this age old tradition of using a leaf (gnerally banana) to serve this dish in order to retain the flavor. As a glutton, the key is what the rice is served with. I personally enjoy it with chicken or sambal but people in Singapore prefer it with ikan kuning fish ,egg or otah (grilled fish cake)

The prefernces for the sides is directly proportional to the number of taste buds and the idea of a perfect Lemak is different for different people. Such is the versatility of this dish that has attained cult status now is the Malaysian peninsula. If you haven't tried it yet, get, set and wok right now!! and if you happen to be a lazy food mad freak like me, just hop to Dunlop St or Redhill or any famous hawker stall and see for yourself. Feel your taste buds and satiate them.

For more delicious recipes and to find more about the hospitality/ cuisines/ etc. of the far east, check discover.stayfareast.com. This site offers the best of the east!



The Meme that I created to define the quintessential Singaporean cuisine:

A thing of beauty

The most divine emotions known to man are happiness and hope. Perhaps the most intangible thing that can ever be, inexplicable, with no conformed boundaries or explanations. Every soul that graces this world has his/her own idea of it- for some it's money, for some it's love, for some it's the love for money, and so on.

There are several incidents and moments we come across that give us the feeling of hope and instills in us the true definition of mankind. When ordinary people around us achieve things that matters so much to them, that's happiness and hope. One such incident that enthralled me and lingers on my mind even today.

My housemaid was illiterate and hadn't been to school ever in her life. She was a single mother of two and was determined to provide her sons with quality education. Right from my junior classes, she used to ask me to give my old books to her so that her sons' could use them. I used to give her my books as there was a hope that I could contribute to a needy person. The feeling of hope and optimism made me help her as I could see how tenacious she was.

Her tenacity and will finally bore fruit as her elder son was able to clear his Class X board exams in flying colors. Nor did he get first division, but also stood first in his class. The most memorable moment was when my maid came to our house with her son and showed us his report card. The feelings cannot be put into words. That is one day which will always be etched in my memory. It was not blase or banal. It was something massive and pious. I felt that I'd contributed in a nobel cause. Well, today when I reflect upon it, I feel that it was the least I could have done and a smile quivers on my lips.

The famous John Keats proverb that immortalized him in English literature quips, " A thing of beauty is a joy forever". Indeed this incident was a thing of beauty. It gave hope to someone and smile to someone. There were no petty expectations or pretentions. It was sanctimonious.


Such amazing stories and anecdotes from our daily life makes us introspect and reflect on how much joy can giving give to us. A little bowl of broth can quench the hunger of a destitute, similarly a helping hand can go a long way in giving person hope and an objective to live. Housing.com also aims to touch lives of millions by providing them hope and fueling their ambitions. It is keen on providing the best services to its client base and make the world live better and thus breathe better.

The mantra for Housing is not just to redefine the way real estate is dealt with but also to make people live better and evolve. So, feel the change and  Look up!