Categories
Digressions

Men’s Grooming: The search for wet shaving brushes in Manila

There’s a huge disparity in men’s grooming products in the Philippines — this became apparent when I was looking for a shaving brush and shaving soap for use at home. Say what you want, but hipster barber culture has had that effect on me. My facial hair grows rather fast and although I am far from ready to upgrading to a straight-edge shaver for a nice wet shave, I do appreciate good shaving lather on my face. No matter what I do, the ubiquitous shaving cream you find from Gillette still leaves me unsatisfied.

After much research on the types of brushes that are locally available, I was able to buy a PRORASO boar hair shaving brush from The Barberian Barber Shop in Westgate, Alabang. I chose this because many online review sites recommend brushes made by Omega because of its quality + affordability and in this case, it seems like Omega acts like an OEM for Proraso brushes. I also checked online, and you can get the same brand from Slickville, a local online store for men’s grooming. Lazada also carries a number, but these brushes are from Parker — not hating on these — they’re actually pretty good, but I really wanted something from Omega. Between pricing, Slickville is by far the cheapest, at P780.00 for the brush plus you can also pick up shaving cream and patchwork for your skin. The Barberian however does sell Proraso shaving soap, which is what you need to form a thick lather before you shave.

For other brands, Slickville Barbers at the second floor of Uptown Mall sells a lot of pomade, shaving soap and grooming kits. You can find boar, badger and even synthetic bristle shaving brushes (if you are vegan or allergic to animal hair).

Many people have asked me why I’ve decided to hipster-ize my grooming regimen and to be honest my answer would be “because it feels good.” I think the art of shaving shouldn’t be treated with shortcuts because hurrying it can literally cut you. Building lather takes time — about 30 seconds to a minute of dry rubbing your brush. I think it is also enamoring to experience how your brush grows with you. Boar brushes are the cheapest of the lot — but once you break them in, they’re really soft.

Categories
Mostly Everything

5 Untouched Beaches In Digha That Make It A Beach Lover’s Paradise

Digha is a beach town in West Bengal on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. It is a tiny hamlet that is away from the roving tourists that mob most other beaches in the country. When you come here, you will be greeted by the sun, sand, and gently swaying palms. Most of the beaches are unspoilt with calm waters and gentle waves. This hidden paradise is a travelers dream as it combines the stillness and calmness of a getaway that comes with its own unique marine landscape. You can book hotels in Digha that are on the beachfront and greet the mornings with a calm sip of coffee, an excellent book, and the gentle sound of waves complemented by the warm rays of sunlight, that glisten off the waterfront and golden grains of sand.

The peaceful nature of this tiny untouched part of India will make you forget your tensions, making it the perfect place for some relaxation and rejuvenation. Here are a few of its most loved beaches.

  1. Shankarpur Beach: This beach is 14 kilometers from the main town of Digha. It was discovered fairly recently, leaving it still shrouded in relative tranquility, while giving you plenty of options when it comes to hotels and resorts. A tree-lined lined beach with calm waters, makes this beach a must-visit.

  1. Udaipur Beach: This untouched beach is just three kilometers away from Digha. Tall casuarina trees dot the line of the beach. The few fishermen’s shacks on the coast run food stalls serving up the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat. There are buses running from Digha regularly to Udaipur beach. The seclusion and pristine waters are great reasons to visit this beach.

  1. Frazergunj Beach: This beach goes on forever, 7 kilometers to be exact. The beach has white sands and can be accessed directly from Kolkata. The beach is known for its population of a wide variety of bird species so don’t be surprised to see birdwatchers lurking amongst the trees. You can also sail to the island of Jambudeep from this beach.

  1. Junpat Beach: This beach is 40 kilometers from the main town and also has great choices in terms of resorts of the area. The beach though is the main attraction. It is accessible only when the tide shifts and exposes the beach. You would not want to let this get by without a visit. Junpat also is a center for breeding ducks.

  1. Talasari Beach: One of the most pristine beaches in this area, you are sure to find peace and quiet here. As the palms sway in the mild ocean breeze, you must take a walk on the beach. You will see fishermen out in the distance, and if you happen to be there at sunset, you can watch the fishermen bring in the catch of the day.

Digha is home to some of the best and most spectacular beaches in the country. If you love the sand and the waves and do not like to be encumbered by tourists and pollution, this beach town is, hands down, the best option. So, be it for your honeymoon, or a trip with your best buds, make your way to West Bengal and book hotels in Digha for the perfect destination to create unforgettable memories.

Categories
Press

It’s Never Too Late to Pick Up One of These Four Home-Based Creative Hobbies

Ever feel like you missed the boat on your chance to be an artist?

You’re not alone. After all, responsibilities tend to get in the way of our creative aspirations over time. Between our careers, families and day-to-day stresses related to keeping up with it all, it’s not uncommon to feel creatively discouraged and wonder what could have been.

However, it’s arguably easier than ever to pick up a creative hobby from the comfort of your home. This is especially true given the number of free tools and online communities out there to support aspiring artists.

Whether you’re looking for personal fulfillment or a more productive use of your time, a creative hobby can most certainly do the trick. Easing yourself into such a happy is probably less of a hassle than you might think, too. Consider the following four avenues that allow you to harness your creativity from home.

Composing and Musicianship

It’s never too late to give up on your musical aspirations. For pop stars, rock stars and everyone in between, composing music on your own time is an absolute breeze nowadays with so many digital tools and guides for beginners.

For example, you can download a digital audio workstation (DAW) such as Reaper for absolutely free, allowing you to record, edit and publish your own audio files in a matter of minutes. With the help of samples and loops from sites like Cymatics.fm, you have the early makings of an awesome hope studio that sounds professional and leaves you plenty of room for experimentation.

Despite popular belief, you need little more than a laptop to get starting with composing these days.

Digital Art

Given the rise of touch screens, learning to draw digitally makes the process of becoming an artist much less daunting for newbies. Whether through a Wacom tablet or your personal iPad, just about anyone can learn to draw with the help of endless YouTube tutorials and projected geared toward beginners.

The best parts about learning to draw digitally, though? Room for creativity and error. Versus traditional painting, undoing your mistakes is just a click away; furthermore, you can play around with just about any color palette or art style you want without being restricted by traditional materials.

Video Editing

With the explosion of YouTube and video content as a whole, there are seemingly endless opportunities for those looking to get started with film editing. Anything from cooking tutorials to home improvement projects and beyond are totally fair game. If there’s something you already do in your spare time that you can teach the masses, you’re already game to become a vlogger yourself.

You don’t need pricey equipment to get started with video editing, either. Smartphone cameras are the bread and butter of most of the vlogosphere; meanwhile, finding the right video editing software doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, either.

Writing

If you’ve been sleeping on an idea for a brilliant novel or story, there’s no better time than now to get started. After all, many great artists didn’t come up with their best pieces of fiction until they were a bit older, anyhow.

Participating in National Novel Writing Month and other sorts of creative competitions can be the perfect catalyst for getting started with your story. When you set deadlines for yourself and free-write, you’d be surprised at just how much you can get on paper.

Don’t let your creative aspirations totally pass you by. Instead, examine which creative avenue makes the most sense for your skill set and situation to start making your artistic dreams a reality.

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Categories
Mostly Everything

Tips for a Successful Virtual Doctor’s Appointment

So, you have decided to take the plunge and have a consultation via the internet. While this is a great tool to use, it can also be a bit intimidating, especially for those who have tried something like this before. Now, it is important to maximize your time with your healthcare professional. This will lead to a more accurate diagnosis and will also help you to understand how to take care of yourself better. To make sure that your consultation is a success, here are some of the tips that you can rely on:

Choose a Physician Close to You

Sure, thanks to the internet, you can speak to a medical expert that is thousands of miles away. However, it is often better to choose someone who is a little closer to home. Fortunately, this is something that you can do since there are numerous services that let you contact someone close to you. For instance, you should be able to find Ontario family doctors in Toronto, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Kingston, Kitchener, Markham and other locations.

Make it a point to find a healthcare professional that is nearby to you, regardless of where you live. If you live in British Columbia, you can locate BC family physicians serving Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Richmond, Port Coquitlam, Langley and other cities in British Columbia. So, don’t be afraid to do a little bit of digging and look around.

Gather Information Beforehand

It is a good idea to do a little bit of prep work before the consultation is underway. In particular, you should consider making a note of all of the symptoms that you are currently or were previously exhibiting. Write down exactly how you felt and what happened afterwards. This way, you will not forget to mention anything important during your appointment. You may also want to take photographs of cuts, boils, or rash so that you can send it separately to your medical expert. This will allow them to see it more clearly.

If possible, try to gather up some medical records that you may have had from previous doctors as well. This will provide your current healthcare professional with some important insight into your general health and condition.

Pay Attention and Make Clarifications

It is easy to zone out when someone isn’t right in front of you. However, it is imperative that you pay attention to what your doctor is telling you. This is the only way that you will be able to understand what is actually going on and thus treat yourself accordingly. Now, sometimes, you may be plagued with a poor internet connection. If you feel like the conversation has gotten stuck or skipped, make sure to say something. Always have your physician repeat what you felt you have missed. This will make sure that you receive any important diagnosis or information that you require.

These are some of the things that you need to keep in mind when attending a virtual consultation. This way, you will be able to make the most out of it and will be on your way to feeling better in no time at all.

Categories
Mostly Everything

5 Bollywood Movies Shot in Shimla

Despite the growing trend of couples heading to foreign countries, Shimla remains the hottest destination for honeymoon couples. Same is the case with Bollywood movies! Despite huge budgets and trending foreign destinations, the picturesque Shimla attracts Bollywood cameras and has been doing this for ages.

A 1960 movie that gave Bollywood the veteran actress ‘Sadhna’ was not only shot in Shimla but also named after Shimla. The movie was called ‘Love in Shimla’. Despite many other shooting locations developed in India and abroad Shimla has not lost its charm for the film-makers due to its natural beauty.

It feels great when you visit a place with which you are already familiar with. So, get acquainted with the movies and scenes shot in Shimla before planning your trip and booking flight tickets from Delhi to Shimla on Yatra. Here is a list of 5 Bollywood Movies shot in Shimla.

Bang Bang!

The 2014 Bollywood movie starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif was shot in the picturesque Shimla. Katrina Kaif, the lead actress, has played a Shimla girl, Harleen Sahni, in the movie. The scenes of the movie were shot at different locations in Shimla namely Ritz, Kufri, Mall Road and Lakker Bazar. The shooting at Shimla was done for straight six weeks. Due to some reasons, a song and few action scenes were shot in Film city, Mumbai, by recreating Shimla.

3 Idiots

The revolution-creating Bollywood movie 3 Idiots have many scenes shot at Shimla. Various scenes of the movie were shot in town hall and Ritz at Shimla. The famous Woodville Palace of Shimla was shown as the house of Ranchhod Das Shammaldas Chanchad. The wedding scene of Kareena Kapoor from where she elopes with R.Madhwan and Sharman Joshi too was shot in the locales of Shimla. The mesmerising hill-station of Shimla has been captured in various frames for the movie. ‘Behti hawa sa that wo’ song was shot with Christ Church of Shimla in the frame.

Jab We Met

The enchanting Bollywood movie starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor had many scenes shot at Shimla and its neighbour Manali. The main locations of shooting of the movie included the beautiful Rohtang pass, Shimla-Kalka toy train and Shimla Mall Road. The romantic song ‘aaoge jab tum o saajna’ shows the serene beauty of Shimla on the silver screen. It was shot at the Mall Road. The summer hill area along with the mountain railways too has made the film beautiful with their significant presence.

Gadar Ek Prem Katha

The 2001 movie based on a love story suffering due to the partition of the nation, too has captured the mesmerising beauty of Shimla for the audience of Bollywood movies. The convent school shown in the movie is a convent school-based in Shimla. You might have guessed it was the famous Bishop Cotton’s School of Shimla. Few other locations too were used for the shooting of the film.

Main Tera Hero

It is interesting to note that David Dhawan, the director of the movie, shot many scenes in Shimla for the movie because he believes Shimla is a lucky location for him. Varun Dhawan starred the movie along with Nargis Fakhri and Ileana D’Cruz. The director captured St.Lawrence School, Shimla in the movie.

Is the movie lover inside you jumping with excitement to visit the beautiful locations of B-town movies’ shoot? Are you craving a visit to Woodville Palace, Town Hall, Mall Road, Shimla-Kalka toy train, Rohtang Pass and other similar locations? Then what are you waiting for?

Plan an affordable trip on Yatra and go for online booking of tickets from Delhi to Shimla or look for cheap flights from your location to Shimla. You can use Yatra for planning your affordable journeys.