Cafe Brazil

Think Brazil and you think about the beautiful laid back sunny beaches, a great soccer  team and Brazilian coffee. All this and more is incorporated in the Cafe Brazil, a lovely cornerside cafe in Midtown, Houston with a plant covered patio seating. They serve breakfast, lunch & dinner and their menu is a mixture of American, Mexican and Brazilian dishes. The best thing is they have lots of healthy vegetarian options and their portion size is just right for one person.

I loved the ambiance too, warm wooden interiors and also a small area for live music. There were musicians practicing their songs on the day I went and the music floated outside to the patio too. The plants enclosing the patio offer a peek at the road while offering a cool shade to sit and enjoy the meal.  A walk in the quiet neighborhood is recommended too. There are a few old eclectic houses and tree houses which add to the charm of the neighborhood. 

Coming back to the food, I tried their veggie empanada plate and veggie tamale plate which consists of 2 freshly made empanadas and tamales each served with spicy sauces and a small salad with a delicious dressing. The tamale comes in a corn husk wrap and tastes a lot  like the Indian idly but is made of corn flour with cheese stuffing between the layers. The meal is light & fresh and the place allows you to have a nice long conversation with your friends.It is a must try to have a relaxed evening with a date or with friends.  I will be going back pretty soon to taste their desserts and coffees specially in the winter.

 

 

 

Incredible India

India – the land of a billion people thriving with energy, enthusiasm and on the verge of becoming a world power. Every year when I visit India, I get mesmerized by the rapid change and the amount of growth happening and the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the middle class here.

This year, I had the opportunity to travel to a lot of different places to meet my family & friends and had the time to reflect on how much India, particularly Hyderabad had changed since I left 4 years ago. I was not sure if the rapid development was good or bad for the city but seeing the bright, shiny, smiling faces of the people here, I assumed it was all good.

I landed on the Republic Day and the whole airport and the city was decorated with our Tri-colored flag. My heart was filled with pride as I returned to my motherland and sang the National Anthem at the airport. And seeing my parents eagerly waiting for me doubled my joy.

Growing up in a Defence colony was the best thing ever and I am proud of my upbringing where I had friends from all over India and we are still a close knit group of friends and families. The drive from the airport to my home is one of the most beautiful I have seen recently. A smooth, no traffic highway, colorful flowers adorning both sides of the road and rugged rocks surrounding the road gives a canyon like effect. We passed all the Defence establishments on the way and nostalgia filled my heart of the good old days spent here.

Once I reached home, I got busy gobbling up all the mommy made goodies which I had missed so much. 5 gulab jamuns and 3 masala dosas later, I started unpacking all the gifts I got for my parents. The light in their eyes was worth all the efforts.

The main reason I was in India was for my childhood best friend’s wedding. We have been friends since we were in day care center. We shared the same class, same bench, same apartment building and she is my only girl best friend with whom I share all secrets. So I was there to help her with the wedding preparation and watch her get married to her sweetheart. I shopped till I dropped for a couple of days and then we had the mehendi ceremony. Beautiful henna designs adorned our hands and we were giggling like small girls. I was embracing my girlie side this time with all the wedding shopping, the visits to the parlor and dressing up to look my best.

The wedding was special for other reasons too. Most of my school friends and teachers were in town and it was a big reunion for us after all these years. There are some things which never change, school friends are one of them. The moment we met, we cracked up laughing at silly things and catching up on the latest gossips and affairs of each other. We were the best batch, the naughtiest and the closest to our teachers and they were proud of us.

 

I stayed throughout the wedding late into the night and my eyes were moist by the time they took the pheras. All our childhood memories flashed before my eyes and now she was about to begin a new life. My blessings will always be with her.

The next day my fun trip started to then number one beach destination in India – Goa!! Luckily my younger brother stays there and it was a good reason to visit him with my mom. The moment I landed in Goa, I could feel the relaxed, laid back attitude of the people. The place is full of Russians and Europeans who miss the sun for most part of the year an Goa is a heaven for them. I visited my brothers college lined with beautiful palm trees and was amazed by the infrastructure available to the students.

We went on a sight seeing trip to north Goa with its beautiful beaches, churches and forts. It was occupied by the Portugese for a long time, so it still has most Churches intact and the cuisine is influenced by them. The locals thrive on tourism and enjoy an international lifestyle. I loved the clean narrow roads lined with shady trees and lovely houses in bright colors. I wish I had a 2-wheeler to zoom around the city and explore but a cab ride was equally exciting. The balmy weather makes you feel relaxed and inertia starts acting on you once you settle down on the sands of a beach.

My journey continued to my native place to visit my Granny and relatives, the place where my parents grew up. It had been almost 5 years since I had not been there. The bus trip from Goa to my village is incredibly beautiful. Steep, winding roads through the thick tropical forests of the Western Ghats with glimpses of rivers flowing through the valleys. The ghat section is pretty remote with no signs of human life and no cellphone coverage untill you come to the top of the hills. I used to travel every summer to this beautiful place when I was a kid and I was eager to see my village.

We reached in the night and just slept off. The next morning was a crisp dewy February morning with flowers blooming everywhere and the smell of dosas waking me up from my cozy slumber. It was great to talk to my granny after so long and hear her stories. I got to know how she got married when she was 12 years old and used to live with my grand dad and his mom in a small shack. Now that shack is a huge ancestral mansion with three floors and acres of bountiful land. I also got to know how my parents got married by accident and had not dad visited my mom that fateful day, I would never have been born.

 

The primary business of in my village is the sale of beetul nuts which is used in paan. We have huge plantations of them which look similar to palm trees, along with lots of coconut and banana trees. I walked through the plantations with my uncle and saw how it was maintained. The fruits are plucked in December when ripe and then spread in the backyards and on roofs to dry for a couple of months. Then the dried fruits are cut to reveal the nut inside. The red ones are the pricey ones which are sold in the market while the white nuts are consumed at home after every meal.

When I was a kid, I was an introvert and never used to talk to my cousins. During my summer vacations, my favorite place was the cow shed in the backyard. I used to spend hours playing with the calves and feeding them hay. I was excited to meet a new member this time – a 20-day old calf with beautiful creamy fur and innocent eyes which I instantly befriended.

We get milk daily from the cows and buffaloes at home and also have a biogas plant in the backyard generated from the manure and is used for cooking. In a way, this village has been a lot advanced in terms of sustainability and using renewable energy. Now that I work in the energy business, I appreciatd the use of available resources for generating energy rather than depend on conventional sources. The frequent power cuts do not hamper life because they have worked their way around it. My aunt still uses the stone grinder for making chutneys everyday because mixers are unreliable. I had a few ideas to improve their lives using solar energy and automatic water pumps but it would need some time to study and design the system. I was feeling like Shahrukh Khan in the movie Swades who returns home and builds a hydro generator to power his village.

After a heartful chat with everyone and lots of traditional delicacies which my granny made for me. A pumpkin sweet which is made by wrapping the pumpkin and rava mixture in banana leaf pockets and steaming them over a wood fire. Its totally worth the fats accumulating in my body.

We returned back to Hyderabad and had just two days to pack up and enjoy mommy’s cooking. I feel sad to leave my parents alone. I pray to God to keep them safe, healthy and happy. Wish they came to the US, it would be so much fun to show them around. Till then, I will miss India!

 

 

Paradise on Earth – Lake Tahoe

The vision that hits you when you first catch a glimpse of Lake Tahoe is enough to declare it as paradise. Crystal blue water – serene and peaceful in the middle of snow-capped mountains and dense pine forests, that’s what it looks like from one of the many vista points on the way to the lake. We stopped at every vista point because we could not have enough of its mesmerizing beauty.

The way to the lake is a long winding road up the Rocky Mountains in North California. Even when it is chilly outside, the bright sunshine makes every curve of the road picture perfect. Mountains, valleys and tall redwood pine trees look like they have been placed by God in the most beautiful arrangement and when you look down the mountains; you can see the shimmering lake in all its glory. (Do choose a sunny day to visit the lake for its ever changing colors).

We first entered South Lake Tahoe and spent a long afternoon just watching the gentle waves splash on the pebbled shore. The water was icy cold and clear and there was a beach surrounding the entire lake. The only difference was that we could see pine trees instead of palm trees on the beach. Another thing I noticed was that most of the people had huge fluffy cuddly dogs and they were out on the beach playing or walking with them.

Next we went to a nearby village called The Village of the Squaw Valley which is a ski resort. The village itself was a cute place with cobblestone pathways, local restaurants, jewelry and ski gear shops and fireplaces at every street corner where the tourists could warm themselves up. I really wished I could ski there but the classes and the ski gear rentals were rather expensive.

A piece of advice – when in Rome, eat like a Roman i.e. try out the local cuisine since it is fresh and flavorful. We tried the best waffle in town from a tiny road side shop. The sweet waffle had fresh bananas, honey and a dollop of butter melting on top of it..yumm and the savory waffle was the most amazing thing ever. It had fresh feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes and basil and had a salty crunchy flavor. I totally got pampered sitting in the warm sunshine by the lake with these waffles.

We went back to the South Lake Tahoe village and reserved a motel with a private beach and watched the sunset, the golden and orange rays adding more beauty to the lake. In the night, we again went back to Squaw Valley village to sit by the fireplace. It had grown really cold by then and we huddled near the fire. We slept off early since we had a busy morning planned.

The next day, we again sat by the beach watching the sunrise with its beautiful pink and purple hues in the sky. We started off to North Lake Tahoe which is the more commercial side of the lake. It was full of ski rentals and cruise bookings. We had breakfast in a town named Heavenly Town which is an apt name. We were advised at the visitor center to visit the famous Emerald Bay and Swiss Castle.

The blue waters of Lake Tahoe magically turns emerald green and hence the name. This bay is famous for the cute summer castle on the shores of the bay which was built by a Swiss lady who fell in love with the beauty of this place. The road to the bay has some breathtaking viewpoints, so make sure you drive slow and stop at every turning for the stunning scenery.

On the way to the bay, you will encounter the Eagle Falls – a small waterfall falling into a rocky gorge. The water was frozen from outside but we could see and hear water flowing inside the icy surface. It was the first time I have seen anything like that. Nature’s mysteries and wonders kept unfolding in this entire trip.

When you arrive at the bay, you can see the castle from the road, sitting smug between pine trees on the sandy shores, almost two miles down. There is also a tiny island in the middle of the bay where there is a teahouse. It can be reached only by boat and the lady who owned the castle used to entertain her guests at the teahouse.

There was one small problem. The trek from the road to the castle is a mile long steep trek. Going down is the easy part, but climbing back up is extremely difficult and the oxygen levels at this altitude are low too. So be careful with that part. But the trek is totally worth it. The white sandy beaches, tranquil green water and the castle make up for a perfect summer vacation. It reminded me of the adventures of the Famous Five by Enid Blyton.

After the treacherous trek, we could only think of the hot meal and a warm bed. So we started for home sweet home, basking in the evening sun.

Chocolate Bar!

A chocolate lover’s heaven… Mmmmm…ahhhhh… The smooth, rich, dark, creamy chocolate gleaming from the counters can turn the most depressing of days into an exhilarating one. I fell in love with this place the moment I entered it and visit it almost every month for a soothing dose of the sinful delight. It is the first place I recommend people who are new in the city.

The dashing purple interior walls, the cozy booths with couches and peppy music make it a perfect place for friends to hang out over a cup of hot chocolate in winters or a late night ice-cream treat in summers.

Coming to the menu, there are cakes, ice-creams, coffee, chocolate covered fruits and chocolate everything. They have souvenirs, bouquets, pizzas and even kitchen and doctor play set made of chocolate. It is a fantasy land for me.

I personally like the moist cakes – Tres Leches and Black Russian. The Tres Leches is dipped in creamy milk and melts in the mouth while the Black Russian has a firm dark chocolate cake as an outer shell and filled with delicious chocolate mousse…heavenly!! A piece of cake can easily satisfy two people and I always go with my close friend who knows exactly when I crave for chocolates.

I have also tried the ice-creams and my favs are Totally nuts and French Silk. Totally nuts is a creamy chocolate ice-cream loaded with a variety of nuts. It is heavy and filling while the French Silk is a light smooth chocolate ice-cream.
I have spent all my happy time celebrating special my little achievements at the Chocolate Bar. The staff is really friendly and humors the customers no matter what time of the day it is.

And Oh, I totally forgot about the chocolate making machine which you can view through a window. You can see all the process involved in making these yummy desserts.

Thinking of a perfect date? This is the place to be. Chocolate Bar offers weekly Salsa dance classes. There is an instructor and you can learn to dance while enjoying chocolate dipped fresh strawberries with your partner. Oooo.. how romantic!

Now that you have read this, I am sure you must be craving for a piece of chocolate.

The Hot & Sweet Chef – Bhushan

A girl can never feel more pampered and special than the time when a guy cooks and serves her food at his home or packs her lunch. There is a healing power and warmth in homemade food which takes away all your day’s stress in an instant.

You must be thinking that a guy’s cooking is usually about throwing in anything available in the fridge into the cooking pot and adding some salt and pepper. Well, you are in for a surprise!! Bhushan is an exceptionally good cook and good food is one of the main factors that our friendship thrives.

My favorite dish? Alu Baigan with peanut gravy (yummm), Bhel Puri (most awesome), Maggi, Black beans, Dal, Spicy pancake, Palak Tofu curry, Apple milkshake…. actually all of them. He even treats me to colorful corn puffs with milk as an evening snack which I would never eat at home. I get to eat a healthy balanced diet whenever I eat with him.

The funny thing about him is that he makes sure no one is looking at him while cooking because he has a set of secret ingredients (anything which catches his eye during cooking specially peanut butter). He can whip up a wholesome meal in a jiffy. He is an emotional cook, he cooks the best when he is happy and wants to feed everyone in the home. He even decorates the food and prepares the table on special occasions.

He can sense my moods too. I remember one time I was angry with him and did not talk to him for a day. He cooked a rich dal made of nine types of lentils and a big bowl of palak rice which was so delicious that it melted my heart instantly. (He did make an innocent puppy face). C’mon, I can never be angry with my best friend for more than a few hours.

As the seasons change, so does his cooking. Summer months are for refreshingly cold apple milk shakes, aam ras and fresh cut watermelons. Lots of fruits and lightly cooked vegetables make up the meals. I do have my dose of chocolate ice cream for dessert. This summer, he made one of the most delicious Bhel puri I ever had. It reminded me of the bhel puri I used to have back home.

During winter holidays, he cuddles up in bed the whole day and comes out only to eat. He needs lots of comfort food then and makes up his own inventions. Spicy aloo patties, warm lentil soups with ghee and tasty crunchy munchies sprinkled over it.  He also knows that I crave for chocolates and other fatty foods during the cold months, so he feeds me with laddoos made of crushed roti, jaggery, dry fruits and lots of ghee. I am already feeling cozy.

And last but not the least, how can I forget my surprise lunch box? Whenever it is his cooking turn, I get to take it for lunch the following day. I love the little treats he packs along with the food – a fruit or a piece of halwa or a chocolate cookie. Yummy!!

On his birthday, I would like to dedicate this blog to him and say,

“Thanks a million for all the good food times. I am already looking forward to the next meal.” 😛

Happy Birthday!!

Home to the Glorious Sunset – Florida (Part I)

Its true – when you want to live a dream, the whole universe conspires to make it come true. My childhood was simple and enriching. Go to school, come home, do my homework, play in the park and watch cartoons every evening. I fell in love with the Disney movie videotapes which my dad used to bring from Delhi during business trips. Every night during dinner, I had to be told a story about Donald Duck to make me eat.

Yes, it was my dream to visit Disneyland someday and meet my favorite characters and dreams do come true. After much persuasion of friends, only one agreed – my best buddy Bhushan. I was ready to go on this trip under any circumstances, be it by car (20 hrs drive, imagine), train or flight. I was already jumping around when we got the flight tickets and started packing right away. Luckily, I was done  with the ‘beachy –look’ shopping two weeks ago.

The D-Day of the flight arrived. I could not sleep at night; I packed and re-packed atleast ten times just to distract myself from the excitement. We put our bags in the car in the morning and went to our respective offices. By lunchtime I was hyper and finally ran out of the office at 3pm to catch the shuttle to the airport. Bhushan said that my smile was growing bigger and bigger by the minute. The two hour flight ended before we even settled in.

Our first destination Miami was glittering beneath us. As we landed, I was already in awe of the city. The airport had a touristy interior which showcased Miami’s specialties. Our friend Shirish promptly arrived to pick us up and take us to his home. I was a bit apprehensive about staying at an apartment with six guys but Shirish made sure I was comfortable. I owe this one to him. We then planned the next three days, checked weather and arranged accommodations.

Day1: Miami

Miami -the wonderful beach city where the rich and famous came for vacations. It was colorful and fashionable unlike any other city I had seen before. The entire downtown consisted of various headquarters of banks and other financial institutions. No wonder it is a rich state. We visited the Bayfront Mall from where you can see the backwaters, hundreds of docked boats and a draw bridge. The mall was filled with colorful clothes, tinkling jewelry made of conch, showpieces of dolphins and marine animals and wonderfully smelling food courts.

There are a lot of boat rides available which show the entire waterfront of Miami. Some of them are cruises which last for an hour to two and the guide explains about every place. We tried the Thriller ride. It’s a super fast jet boat (lasts for around 20 minutes) which took us around the ocean front, the nearby Star Island with celebrity homes and the South Beach. The tour guide was hilarious and commented on every celebrity and their peculiar habits (and their divorces). We were amazed by the huge bungalows and other facilities that celebrities enjoyed. It was an awesome, funny boat ride.

After the boat ride, we roamed around a bit watching the calm backwaters. We had lunch at an Indian restaurant and we hungrily gobbled up the samosa chat and the whole thali. We then came home and packed for our next destination – Orlando, the magic city. It is a three hour drive from Miami with scenic woods and grasslands on the way.

Our first stop at Orlando was the Universal Studio’s City Walk. It was bright and twinkling at night with all the colorful neon lights. I noticed that the parking lots were designated with cartoon names – Scooby Doo, E.T., Superman etc. We saw a crazy hat shop and a Hard Rock café shaped like the Roman Colosseum. Then there was a platform where you could dance as hard as you could and you could be selected for a dance reality show. There was store with all kinds of Universal Studio movie soveniers. Harry Potter was heavily advertised. There were lots of restaurants in weird shapes (airplane, boat etc.) and pubs with people pouring in from all directions. It was crowded but exciting. In the distance, we could see the fireworks of Disneyland going off from their night parade. Wish I could stay and soak everything but we were already late. We still had an hour’s drive to Daytona to stay at a friend’s place for the night.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill

This place instantly transports you to the land of the Royal Middle East. The moment you enter the main door, the place greets you with carved wooden doors, a burst of orchids and daisies and the famous Middle Eastern architecture of stone archways and intricate patterns painted on them. I recently learnt an interesting fact about the patterns. Islam forbids the use of animal or human figures in art, so the people turned their attention to other natural objects like flowers and leaves and a lot of kaleidoscopic patterns to adorn their heritage. Continuing with the theme, the tables are marble topped and painted with tulips.

My eyes were still admiring the ambience when suddenly something else caught my attention. The Food!! A rich array of bountiful food prepared right in front of your eyes and served hot off the stove. Fadi’s is a delight for vegetarians with lots of salads and cooked vegetables to choose from. The cuisine is close to Indian food but has an exotic taste of herbs and I could see the liberal use of nuts and seeds.

I always take the vegetarian sampler plate which includes generous portions of all the dishes and can be shared between two people. I started off with the colorful salads. My favorite is the Couscous salad with raisins or dried cranberries. The other salads are the Greek and Fattoush served with dips like Hummus (one of the best I ever had), Tahini and Cucumber Dill Yogurt. Then you also have pita breads like spinach pie and Zatar pita. Not to forget everybody’s favorite Falafel, those deep fried chickpeas patties… yumm delightful!

Moving on to the hot section, you get to pick your vegetables like the Egyptian Okra (cooked okra in a tangy sauce), Coriander Potatoes (I kept eating it after every other bite), Cilantro Zucchini and Pomegranate Eggplant along with flavored rice and pita breads. Basically, all the cooked dishes resemble Indian dishes but they are very lightly flavored using herbs instead of spices.

I still have to try the dessert section consisting of various fruit juices topped with dry fruits. The meal is hearty and wholesome and you feel the goodness of nature in you. It leaves you feeling satisfied and not weighed down like other foods do. Now I know the secret behind the beautiful glow of all those Turkish, Iranian and Lebanese people.

Souper Salad

A Vegetarian’s heaven, a place crowded with people in gym clothes to show that they eat healthy and people who desperately had to lose a minimum of 50 pounds off their body.  I am proud to be a vegetarian and will be writing about veggie foods.

Contrary to my earlier blog about being petite, I still have the appetite of a baby dinosaur! So, I started off at one end of the 40 foot long salad bar buffet. In the beginning I could see only some green leaves and was not enthusiastic. But as I went ahead, I could find everything possible to add to the salad.

Hummus, pasta, freshly cut fruits, peas, croutons, variety of cheese, roasted nuts and a huge selection of dressing. I liked the Thousand Island and Chipotle. My plate was heaped with all the goodness of salads and it was just the first serving. I ended up having four servings of different entrees and desserts. Yummm…

There was a whole selection of breads – garlic, whole wheat, herbs, pita and even pizzas. The delicious garlic bread dipped in olive oil was a classic. The veg pizza was a dry one with bell peppers and tomatoes and it looked well baked. For Texans, a touch of Tex-Mex food is necessary to satisfy their hearty appetite, so they had warm nacho cheese dip with chips and a self-make taco section with beans and sauces.   I even had veggie lasagna which was passable. I like the creamy spinach lasagna more.

It’s impossible to have a salad without the comfort of soups. This place offers a variety of soups right from the tomato basil soup to lentil soup and gumbo soup. I was already having the feeling that I would burst and I still had the desserts section to go.

Dessert consisted of sponge cake, melt-in-the-mouth fresh strawberry jelly, whipped cream and fruits. There is also a Softie ice-cream machine in a corner and you can top it with caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, walnut shavings, confetti and other assortments. Burp!

Okay, time to go home now. Sleeppy… oh wait, did I tell you the price?? It’s an unbelievable $6!! One more advice – go with a group of friends; you need breaks between helpings and talking really helps in enjoying the meal for a good 2 hours. Yeah, I did eat for two hours.

Petite, XS, Size 0

Yes, it is frustrating to achieve the magic size O but what if you are genetically programmed to be one?

Yes, it is frustrating!!

The trips to the junior section in malls, combing through the aisles of silly colors until you find something mature and wearable are nightmares.

Coupled with a baby face, sweet voice and a tom-boyish attitude; you end up being the cute kid of the neighborhood. You are always present but hardly noticeable. Your opinions don’t count.

People always want to give you a piece of advice, provide support and tell about their lives. Boys always want you to be their best friends, their biggest confidante while they stare at the hot girl with curves.  You need to get used to these heartbreaks & move on, or you will be a wreck by the time you finish your teens.

Your adolescent looks ensure that people, especially job interviewers, never take you seriously. People doubt your capability and shy away from giving you tough tasks. All the sappy romantic movies with the clumsy, imperfect girl, have a happy ending, I am waiting for mine.

But hold on, wait a sec… they say every cloud has a silver lining. The best part of being a cutie pie is that you will always be the most loved, trusted and protected one in your group and everyone will miss you when you go away to give your light to another person.

Baby you are a Firework…

Things to do in Glorious Summer…

Summer is here!! Yippiieee!! The heat and humidity ensures that you stay indoors for the entire day and venture out in the evenings. Lazy laid back days can hamper your thinking process & creativity and by the end of summer you will be one dumb bloke.

So kick-start your systems and have an active, productive summer.

1. Join a Class –
Not the boring academic classes which is the only thing which pops up in a graduate student’s mind. I’m talking about dance, music, aerobics, photography or even software classes (Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc.)
Look out for free classes, there are plenty offered online.

2. Become Healthy –
Get a nice trendy dress for yourself and begin working out at the gym for the sake of looking great in that dress. This will provide a nice motivation specially for girls. The guys can hang out with their buddies and play a sport – tennis, football, cricket, swimming (please ask the girls to join too!!).
After sweating it out, make sure that you also eat healthy. Eat a colorful dinner – a portion of rice or roti, a generous helping of daal, sambar, curry or lentils, an egg or omelet, a bowl full of fresh fruits & veggies (grapes, strawberries, apples, oranges, baby carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce etc) topped with yogurt (add sum sugar for a delightful fruit dessert).

3. Be Creative –
Go Stylish with your clothes, wear bright cool colors and mix & match them, try on new accessories!! Get a brand new hairstyle and let friends figure out who you are! (LOL)
Coming to food, try out exotic dishes – Indian, Italian, Mexican, Lebanese, Chinese . Better still, try cooking them at home and involve your roommates. Its time to bond!

4. Attend park shows and theaters –
People may dismiss these shows as family events but trust me, they are for everyone who wants to have a good time. Most of the shows reach a high tempo in the end and they involve the audience. What good way to cheer and shout your lungs out.

5. Make new Friends –
Go to networking events. Making your presence felt with people of similar background helps in nurturing life-long friendships and will help you in career advices, advancements and industry trends in your field.

6. Go Adventurous –
Camping or Hiking in the picturesque northern states will give you a respite from the heat and give you some quality time to explore Nature and enjoy with your buddies.

7. Plan your weekends –
Tired of working the whole week and wasting your weekend thinking what you can do?? Devote a small time before going to sleep during weekdays to plan for the weekend. This will also ensure you have nice dreams and keep you energetic for the next morning too.

8. Do Community Service –
Helping others brings in a sense of joy & satisfaction. Get some blessings by helping people. Search for children homes, old age homes or even cuddle up with the Abandoned pets.

9. Discover the City –
There are many nooks & corners in the city which you can visit. Try catching a bus which you have never boarded before and explore the places where it goes.

10. Develop your personality –
Okay this is a tough one!! To get out of the geeky, boring personality and becoming a charming, attractive person is not a overnight journey. It takes determination, efforts and a constant urge to sculpt yourself into a better person. Find a person you always wanted to be and try to integrate your personality with some of theirs. This blend will bring out a new flavor in you. Goodluck with that journey!

Hope you have an action-packed summer. If nothing works for you, don’t worry, have a yummy cup of chocolate ice-cream topped with nuts and caramel sauce and Chill Out!!