Book review- The Reluctant Fundamentalist

 

I'd seen The Reluctant Fundamentalist in bookstores all over the country, but it was only when my best friend pointed out that Mohsin Hamid, the author of the book, was the author of Moth Smoke too, was I inclined to pick the book up at the Chicago airport yesterday. As I curled into bed last night, I decided to start on the book and thought I'd read for a while before going to sleep. A few hours later, I glanced at the clock- it was 5 AM and I just couldn't put the book down. I remember reading Moth Smoke years back on the recommendation of my best friend, and I remember the both of us really loving the book. The author definitely had a way with words, and his second book doesn't disappoint in that area either. The main character of the novel, Changez, narrates the book in the form of a monologue and talks of his life in America before and after 9/11. When he starts his narration, he talks of the time he had just graduated from Princeton and says, "Every fall, Princeton raised her skirt for the corporate American recruiters who came onto campus and-as you say in America- showed them some skin." His descriptions are almost poetic at times, and when he talks of his love affair with an American girl later in the book, it is touching, gentle and moving. 

As always, I'm going to try giving you a review of the book without actually giving away too much of it's content (a quick search on amazon.com will give you that if you want) but I will give you 2 bits of advice on reading this book. Number 1, if you are a voracious reader, set some time aside to try to read the entire book in one go. Don't be like me and try to read it right before going to bed, especially if you need to sleep and get to work the next day. At less than 200 pages, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a very quick read and you'll enjoy the pace and the narrative if you get through it at one go. Recommendation number 2- if you have a book club, get them to read this book along with you. If you were thinking of starting or being part of a book club, this book would be the perfect one to start with. The book focuses more on what is left unsaid, rather than the actual story, and it's the type of book you're going to want to call your friends once you're done reading it, and discuss it's end. Trust me on this. 

I loved Hamid's writing, but I'm not too sure how much I loved the main character of the novel. There is one specific moment where he fills most readers with shock and horror, and for the most part, I couldn't really relate to where he was coming from and what led him to go down that path. While in Chicago, I watched a comedy show at the Second City Theater called, "Spoiler Alert- Everybody Dies." The title of this book is sort of the same, as you know exactly where his destiny is headed, but you don't know how or why he gets there. For me, I was waiting for disaster to strike to send him spiraling out of control. That disaster never came. But were his emotions and actions justified? Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait till some friends read the book and can then discuss that aspect with them. Whether you love or hate the book, it's going to be one that you'll be glad you read. 

 

Oh. My. God. I hate Freida Pinto

Ok yes my usually positive self (on my blog anyway) seems to have gone into hiding and I was surprised by my own catty remarks on my Emmy fashion post yesterday. I try hard to be informative and celebratory rather than sounding like the million other blogs out there that chop people down to bits. Right now though, I just can't help myself. As much as I tried not to, I just had to post this. I don't like Frieda Pinto much (who am I kidding, I don't like her at all) and she is on the top of a list of celebrities that I cannot tolerate. Most of the people on that list though, like Miley Cyrus, are talented and good at what they do, and it's just something about them, that certain je ne sais quois quality, that I just don't like. However, I think Freida Pinto has no talent and while I've watched her on numerous magazine covers and TV commercials and gritted my teeth, I found this video online, stupidly clicked on it and it made me want to hurl. It lured me with a "screen test- Freida Pinto" icon on the New York Times website!


What is up with her fake accent?? Really?? British?? I can understand that she might have to don a fake American accent to get movie roles, but where on earth did this come from?!
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Book review- One Day by David Nicholls

If you read my post on the Emmy's you'd have realized I watch way too much TV. It's a good thing then, when summer rolls around and most of my favourite shows are taking a sabbatical and I catch up on my reading. Over the past few weeks I've been quite the book fiend, and whizzed through the Millennium trilogy, which started with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. If you read my review and picked up that book, you HAVE to complete the series and go through Book 2 and 3. The last one, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is more like a sequel to the second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and takes a while getting into, as you just assume it's boring and that you know everything that is going to happen. Not true. Trust me, they're all must reads.

After going through them, I wanted a book that was just as absorbing, but was a quick read and went away from the action and drama of the Millennium Trilogy. On browsing the book store, I found the book One Day under their recommended summer reading. It looked like it was based on the relationship between two people, but wasn't just a boring romance novel with a predictable ending. Moreover, the book would start with the meeting between Emily and Dexter, one day after they graduate college in 1988, and would follow their lives over 20 years, giving the reader a snapshot of what went on on the same day, 15th July, over those years. I was curious about how the writer would handle that and would keep the book interesting, again without getting boring or predictable. The book also seemed to have great reviews from critics and fellow authors, including Nick Hornby who proclaimed it to be, "The perfect beach read for people who are normally repelled by the very idea of beach reads."
When I started on the book, it wasn't half as gripping as I'd have liked it to be, but that changed as the book went on. However, one thing that didn't change was the way I felt about the characters. I went from disliking Emily, to disliking Dexter, to disliking the both of them, and then towards the end, disliking the author for making them star-crossed lovers whose fate would either end in them being deliriously happy, which would eventually make the book predictable (there's that word again!) or tragically miserable, in which case Shakespeare's been there, done that. Was the book all horrible though? Not at all, which is why I kept reading.
I'm a sucker for chick-flicks and I love my share of chick-lit too, and there were moments in the book that are genuinely cute and make you want to know what's going to happen next, which is a great thing when you want the reader to stick around till the end of the story. There were also moments I found myself giggling, and the rare moments where, to my horror, I found myself holding the book in my hand with tears streaming down my face. At the end, I thought it was a light read and like Hornby had predicted, would be great as a beach or poolside read, if you don't want something too gripping. Also read it if you like romance novels but are in the mood for something a little different. However, I've honestly read better.

Emmy fashion '10- What they wore, and what I thought...

I was in Chicago yesterday when the Emmy's were on so missed seeing all the clothes live from the red carpet. However, for the past 2 hours I've been going through different websites catching up on all that I missed and watched E! and their one hour Emmy's special with Joan Rivers and Kelly Osbourne on. Some of their comments are spot on, some couldn't be further from the truth and all are absolutely hilarious.

Here are some of the looks from last night, with my comments on them-

I thought Eva Longoria Parker looked absolutely stunning on the red carpet in Robert Rodriguez. I liked the fact that she wore a subdued colour which was appropriate as neither she or her show had been nominated, but yet managed to look stylish and fashionable. I also love her ruby chandelier earrings from Loren Jewels and love that little pop of colour on her.

The fashion blogs and critics have gone ga-ga over Kim Kardashian's white Grecian gown from Marchesa. However, I'm really not a huge fan. There is something about the yellow gold stuff going on on top that makes the dress look very tacky to me, and the bangles on one hand just makes it even worse. I think if you're going to do white, do it the way Leighton Meester did it wearing Bottega Veneta to last years Emmy's- stylish and now. But really, I seem to be the only one who doesn't seem to like this one, so don't be surprised if you disagree with me.

Joan Rivers actually awarded Anna Paquin the unfortunate title for being the worst dressed of the night in this Alexander McQueen dress. It's quite scary then, that I quite like it! I love the top of the dress, and wish it had been a straight flow to the floor, as it could have done without that draped bottom. I think her hair and make-up is also perfect and looks gorgeous with the dress. However, it probably just isn't a good fit for the Emmy's- maybe for a night out at the Met Ball instead.
By the way, if you aren't watching her show, True Blood, get the DVD's NOW! But make sure your TV room is kid-free before you put it on- it'll make Sex & the city, look like the Cartoon Network.

Sofia Vergara in what seems to be her favourite designer, Carolina Herrera, dazzled and looked radiant and fresh. Joan Rivers said her dress looked like she dropped coffee down the front of it, but I think it's really beautiful.

I've clumped Lea Michele from Glee, Tina Fey from 30 Rock and Kathy Griffin all in the same category, as they all wore Oscar de la Renta, or as I'd like to call it, the most shockingly-bad designer of the evening category. Seriously! Oscar and Carolina Herrera are the best go-to designers for the red carpet, but somehow they both managed to shock me (and not in a good way) at the Emmy's. Lea Michele's dress was one of the most talked about from last evening, but I think it was just way too frou-frou for someone so young. Tina Fey looked stunning, but the dress did her no favours, and Kathy Griffin just looked blah. Joan Rivers said that Fey's dress looked like it had Arabic lettering drawn all over it, like it were a secret message to Bin Laden. Look back at it- it really does!

Padma Lakshmi from Top Chef, and Michele Agron from Glee both wore Carolina Herrera, or the second most disappointing designer of the evening. At least Herrera had Sofia Vergara to redeem her! Michele Agron looks like she's missing her Little Bo Peep hat along with her sheep, and Padma Lakshmi's God-awful gypsy necklace is so distracting, I can barely look past it to analyze the dress. Had she opted for some actual jewelry, I think the dress would have some serious potential, but with that, it looks like it cost a 100 bucks from H&M.

The usually stunning women from Mad Men looked like they tried way too hard to be "fashion forward" last night. Christina Hendricks looks like a purple "big bird" in her Zac Posen dress, and January Jones- I don't even know what she's trying to do in that blue Versace thing. Elisabth Moss (pictured middle) I thought looked tasteful and elegant in the beautiful Donna Karan dress that hugged her in all the right places.

Lauren Graham looks horrible in this Yigal Azrouel dress. Speaking of horrible, have you seen her new show Parenthood? Good. Don't.

Mindy Kaling, from The Office- What were you thinking??? And can you believe, she's still not the worst dressed of the night!

Susan Sarandon and Glenn Close had quite a few things in common last night. They both showed up with their daughters as their dates last night, they both looked ravishing in age-appropriate attire, and they both could give their offspring a run for their money! SO beautiful and SO elegant! Also, if you haven't watched Glenn Close's show Damages, you're missing one of the best shows ever made on television! (Yes, I watch a LOT of TV shows.. can you tell?)

And finally- the Best Dressed of the night according to me, has GOT to be Claire Danes.

Danes looked like a vision in Armani Prive! I LOVED what she wore to the Met Ball earlier this year, and I think she just looked incredibly beautiful in her gown at the Emmy's too. Her dress was encrusted with Swarovski crystals, and I believe she remarked that it was not very comfortable, as it was heavier than her! Well, it was well worth it, and I thought she brought out her best accessory out with the dress- her glowing complexion.

The Worst dressed of the night without a doubt was Rita Wilson-

I don't know what Prada was thinking when they made this dress, and worse yet, I don't know what Rita was thinking before she wore it. WHY would anyone do that to themselves?! And if you don't already think the dress is bad enough on it's own, just take a look at a close-up of the shoes-

Those crystal thingy's bounced around as she walked! Maybe she was instructed to wear them to hypnotize people into thinking they didn't absolutely HATE her dress? Prada should've given her instructions to wear it a bit higher up for that party trick.

Would love to hear what you guys thought. What are your best and worst dressed picks from the Emmy's?
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Call your friends straight from Gmail!

Google today introduced "Google Voice" through Gmail- a way for users to make phonecalls directly from their website while being signed into Google Chat. You can make calls to the US and Canada for free, and to other countries for fairly reasonable prices. Calls to the UAE will cost 19 cents.
I tried to use Gmail to call my best friend today within the US (I am currently in the country too) and was using the speaker and mic on my laptop to chat with her. She said it just sounded like I was on speakerphone, and otherwise the call quality was pretty good. I could hear her perfectly clearly on my end.
I'd love to know if it works from Dubai, considering Skype is blocked there. If someone does test it out and has success, please let me know in comments below. Also I'd be interested in knowing how the clarity is of the calls from one country to another, since I called locally. Do keep me posted!
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Olive Telecom launches OlivePad

So while American Tech has it's "Apple" fruit, India had to go ahead and be a little more exotic in the fruit naming department and instead picked "Olive." Olive Telecom has launched it's own OlivePad, another Android tablet that has already gone on sale in India. Here is the video from the TV show TechGuru that shows off the device, as well as compares it with an iPad-

For those who don't speak Hindi, the tablet comes with Android 2.1 with Marketplace installed, has a SIM card to allow making of phonecalls (although using a bluetooth headset might be more prudent with this one!), a micro SD slot to allow expandable memory, and get this- TWO cameras to allow for taking off pictures (3 megapixel at the back) and one front-facing for videoconferencing.

The hosts of the show go through the features and then dive into a comparison between the OlivePad and the iPad. While I agree with them that some of the features of the iPad do win over the other device, I believe price and availability is what will make the OlivePad very successful in India.
The number of times India comes out with a product that the rest of the world takes notice of are few and far between. However, I believe OlivePad is such a product, as it looks beautiful and spec-wise, in the tablet arena, is poised to take on the best of them. TechGuru should have given Olive Telecom a pat on their back for that achievement. Oh, and hired the girl with the unfortunate hair, a stylist.
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Finally a peek at the Jimmy Choo-Ugg collaboration!

The fashion world has been waiting patiently to see to what the Jimmy Choo-Ugg collaboration would look like, with quite a few hilarious speculations. Finally, a few days back Nicky Hilton (less famous sister of the infamous Paris Hilton) tweeted a picture of the new boot. There have been a few mixed reviews towards the long awaited shoe, which looks to me like regular Uggs with a few star-shaped studs, some tassels, a new name ("Chuggs") and a fancy price-tag-

What do you think? Me thinks the "Chuggs" are kinda "Chuggly."

If you really want to do studs, Tamara Mellon should take a page out of Christian Louboutin's book and at least keep them trendy. I LOVE the studded high-tops and loafers that they came out with last season-

How gorgeous are these Loubs?

Back to collaborations, these Jimmy Choo-Hunter wellies are also SO cute in their croc print- I love the ones in yellow!

What do you think of the Chuggs??
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Gorgeous Hermes Reversible Tote

Looking for a chic alternative to the Godforsaken Louis Vuitton Neverfull that everyone and their mother's have been carrying around? Hermes has just the bag for you! They've just come out with this  gorgeous reversible tote in 3 different colour combinations, with the best one (in my opinion) being the classic orange and gold combo. The bags are a little tough to get a hold off as they're flying off the shelves, but are really chic and great to travel with. What's really great is that you can turn the bag inside out, and look like you're carrying a completely different bag too, which is also very convenient.

The detailing and contrast stitching along with the colours is what makes this bag so "Hermes".. not to mention, the 3300 USD price tag!
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Random pics from here and there...

If you've been following me on Twitter, you might have seen some of these pictures already. They are random shots I've taken over the past week on my new Blackberry Torch. The picture quality isn't great, but some are interesting and some are funny-

You know a brand (or more specifically, a bag) has gone downhill when you see it on a dirty cart along with all the other fakes in NYC. I was actually walking to Hermes, when I saw this and snapped up a picture. The salesman at the store said he'd seen fakes in many interesting spots (including apparently, a monastery in Florence!) but never one on a cart. The sad part? It was actually one of the best knock-offs I've seen- and I've seen quite a few! Actually I think the saddest part of the story was that I was carrying mine while snapping up this picture, and the guy offered me the one on the cart for 55 bucks... around 1% of the original!

Note to self- never try the zoom function on a blackberry unless you want unrecognizably blurry pictures. This is one I snapped up on my way home at like 2 or 3 at night- a cab driver had driven into a baby store. When my friend and I walked over the cop and asked her, "What happened? Was the cabbie drunk?" she responded with a straight face, "Nope.. he's just a New York cab driver" as in he doesn't quite need an excuse to drive like this!

 For a boy, these are just a pair of shoes. For a girl, these are the most lust-worthy, stunning pair of booties on the market today! Made by Givenchy, at sale in Barneys.

My friend pointed out this picture to me at his gym and I couldn't stop laughing. They had featured a "before" and "after" wall that I guess was meant to motivate people to go more often. This one, had the opposite desired effect though, as it looked like the girl in the picture dropped a little more than just her weight. Look at her t-shirts in the picture- she went "Harvard" to "Oklahoma"- that's quite a huge drop in brain cells too! Still cracks me up.

Why.. Oh WHY would anyone name their company that? And while I was snapping up the picture (and laughing on the sidewalk) the guy in the truck yelled, "we are a great company!" I believe you buddy. Just please change your name!

And if you are on Twitter and aren't following me yet, click here to change that :)
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Social Network- The best movie of the year!

This is the movie trailer for "Social Network".. or more commonly known as the Facebook movie. The trailer just looks so incredibly good! I wish I was in the US in October to watch it and I hope it doesn't take ages before it makes its way to Dubai. Didn't know if the trailer was playing there yet, but just in case it wasn't, thought I'd post it up. Enjoy!
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A young girl, a bunch of iPhones and Beyonce's "Irreplacable"!

Applegirl002 is at it again! Here is a video of her doing her own version of the song "Irreplaceable" using nothing but a bunch of iPhones. She first shows the apps that she uses to get herself going, and around the 1:30 mark, she gets into the song. Watch it- she's incredible!


Do you remember her doing Lady Gaga's Poker Face? This girl is just SO talented!
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Another teeny tiny makeover!

As you guys can see, I've changed around the colour scheme for my blog a teeny tiny bit again! What do you guys think? I LOVE the colours in this one! Since last time the logo had the Times Square, the background looked to me sort of like a dirty (albeit colourful) pavement. This time I've gone back to my signature pink, and the background reminds me of the sparkle of bright lights!

And if there's one thing New York City is about, it's about lots of people, and a lot of lights!

Hope you guys like it!

Apple iPhone4 FaceTime problems with Etisalat SOLVED!!!!

In one of my previous posts I'd written about how many people saw my FaceTime demo in my review of the iPhone 4, and wrote in asking how I had managed to turn it on. While it had just worked automatically the first time around, I was having a lot less luck with my replacement device. In the post, I'd basically voiced my frustration of not being able to answer the queries of all those who had written in, as I couldn't even figure out how to turn it on myself. "Had Etisalat blocked it?" I'd wondered.

I just saw that a comment was waiting to be moderated from a reader who had sent in a fix! Could it be? I ran over and checked it on my iPhone4 and... Hallelujah!!! It works!!!
Here is the comment:

Faraz has left a new comment on your post "The dark future of Telecom":

Hi Kiran...
Have worked out a way to make Face time work..Go to Settings and then Phone..Where it says Facetime..switch it on..If it says waiting for activation..Just restart the phone by holding down the home and the power button simultaneously.. When the phone restarts..Voila!!!!! Facetime works just fine :) 

Faraz, whoever you are, you really are a superstar and I'd like to thank you on behalf of myself and a whole bunch of frustrated iPhone users in the UAE!
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Blackberry Torch review- Unlocked and working on Etisalat

When the Blackberry Torch was launched a couple of days back on AT&T, I was lucky enough to be in the US and get my hands on one the day after the launch. I hope the madness around the BB service gets sorted out with RIM and people are still able to use their devices! That's what I was counting on anyway, when I paid a little bit extra to be able to get the unlocked device. The new form factor and the new OS looked amazing and I just had to be able to check them out for myself!

THE BAD:
Before I even get into the good aspects about the device (of which there are many), let me focus on the bad, because this might be a non-started for you if you were thinking about getting one right now. As of today, on an unlocked device from AT&T, there is no way to use the browser on the BB Torch. The browser on WiFi works PERFECTLY, but the browser off WiFi gives the error message, "Your device does not currently have any Browser Configuration Service Book Entries. Please contact your service provider to enable the Browser on your device." On calling my Service Provider (in this case, Etisalat) I called up a couple of times to talk to different people, all of whom tried sending me the service entries or tried changing up the options in the advanced menu, but, unfortunately, each time we couldn't succeed and my browser couldn't work. I went online to figure out what the problem was, but it seems till now all the people having unlocked phones seem to be having the same issue as their Service Providers haven't created the "service books" yet for the new OS, which is what is causing the problem in the first place. So out of WiFi coverage, my email works, my BB messenger works, even my Facebook and Twitter Apps work- just no browser! If you are reading this, and do know a solution, please post it in the review section, or email me and I'll post it up.

THE GOOD:
Ok, so you're probably wondering why someone would use a Blackberry without a browser right? Especially since post October 11th I might not even be able to use the device at all right? I should just take it back, right? Well... after using the device for a little bit, I was going to do just that, but somehow going from the Torch back to my Curve was like downgrading from a Porsche to a Honda. The screen that I'd gotten used to staring into for MONTHS, all of a sudden just seemed so small and so insignificant after using a big and bright screen. I also found myself trying to tap on the screen to open up icons, as the new Torch has a beautiful touchscreen functionality, which complements (or replaces if you want) the slide out full keyboard at the bottom.

The new Torch is a great device with the new Operating system which, just like every other website has said, is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Honestly, most of the reviews on the Torch on websites have been pretty lukewarm. Yes, they agree, its a good phone, but Blackberry is loosing its touch and nobody is going to want one anymore. You know what? I disagree with them completely. The Torch isn't one of those devices that competes with the iPhone4- but then again, why would the users want it to?? I believe that the guys who write for gadget blogs aren't your average Joe's who just use their phone to check email and make calls. Hell no! They want their phone to play movies, act as a wireless remote, act as a wireless mouse, edit pictures, and do everything under the sun with it. I don't believe that's how normal people use their phones. Most users, especially Corporate users, are happy with a phone that has a fabulous battery life, that sends their email to them the second it hits their inbox, is easy to use, does not hang continuously and is fast and reliable. Blackberry fits that description and aces in every one of those requirements, device after device, and the Torch is no different.

Is there really anything about the Torch that suggest that there's been a completely new Operating System in it? Not really. The functionality is easy to use, and they have finally done away with the SurePress screen where you have to punch the screen and hold it down to type (have a look at the Storm 1 and 2 to understand the disaster I'm talking about). The touch screen is really helpful as it allows you to zip around and phone if you need to, or pinch to zoom, or flick through picture albums, just like you would.. dare I say it... an iPhone. The keyboard is excellent, and existing Blackberry users with have no problems typing at their usual speeds upon getting the device in their hand. The camera is an improved 5 megapixel camera, and is pretty OK for a mobile phone. Its no Sony Ericsson though, I'll tell you that much. The phone is fast and responsive, and I've had no issues with it at all. Besides the obvious browser problem of course, which isn't really the fault of anyone at all- except maybe mine for being too impatient. Otherwise, I love the device, and think anyone with a current Blackberry would definitely think of upgrading to this. Now if only the Browser issue and the ban could go away....
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Review on the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in LA

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is one of the most famous hotels in LA as it is conveniently located right off the famous Rodeo Drive, which is where all the famous boutiques are. It was also formerly known as the Regent Beverly Wilshire, a name that all the fans of the movie "Pretty Woman" are sure to remember. Remember Julia Roberts narrating the name of the hotel to her friend over the phone saying, "Reg. Bev. Will"? Yup, same hotel. I'd stayed at this hotel a couple of years back with my family and had absolutely LOVED it. Since it has been taken over since then by the Four Seasons, I thought the rooms would be beyond spectacular and couldn't wait to stay there again. The last time I was in LA (which is when the Sony conference took place) I'd stayed at a smaller hotel for the conference (can't remember the name!) and then moved into the funky Philippe Starck designed Mondrian when I stayed on for a girlie trip with my best friend. This time, when I had the option to pick this hotel between a few offered to me for my friend's wedding, I jumped at the opportunity and was so excited to see what the place looked like. As you can see from the picture of the lobby taken from their website, and the one I've taken below, the lobby is still as stunning as before-

 The rooms however... Aah, the rooms. I remember loving the room I was in all those years back, although mind you, it was over a decade ago and we were staying in larger suites. I did think that maybe I was disappointed because the hotel had just aged, but really, I think the condition of the rooms  were really sad for a hotel under the Four Seasons banner. Here are a few pictures to show you what I'm talking about (pardon the mess please.. that was all me!)

 

The room just looked so outdated and so old, and everything just seemed so.. sorry to repeat it.. but OLD! The switches on the wall were old and plasticy, the furniture looked worn out and worse, the room just wasn't doing too great a job at cooling at night. I called in a technician and he just seemed unable to do anything, and seemed to suggest they had that received quite a few complaints about the same problem. Since I'm such a techie with my gadgets, I just had to take a picture of the room phone to show you-

This looks more Motel, and less Five Star Hotel! 

Overall, I'd definitely give this hotel a miss as it is one of the most expensive ones in the city, but really has nothing to show for it except the name. I did however see some pictures of the suites on their website, and they do actually look really nice still. So unless you're staying in one of those or want the convenience of being a few steps away from Rodeo, you can do much better than the Beverly Wilshire. Having said that about the rooms, the staff and food were definitely up to the Four Seasons standards so can't complain on that front at all. I think it's time the hotel just needs to take tips from the rest of LA, and go in for a face lift!

My trip to LA!

This was the sign I saw upon landing at the airport in LA... and they weren't joking. Absolutely EVERYTHING in LA is made up! It really is the land of plastic. I was in LA around a little over a week back for a friend's wedding taking place over the weekend. My friend went to the same boarding school as me (albeit much before I was there) and it's weird how my school is one of those institutions where it doesn't quite matter when you went- just the fact that you did, is enough to bond you. Anyhow, was lots of fun meeting with other alumni from the school.

I've never been too big a fan of LA as (don't kill me for saying this!) the vibe for me is just too similar to Dubai. You can't really walk on the streets too much over there and have to drive everywhere, the people just seem to be a lot more pretentious and it's all about seeing and being seen. New York for me is a lot more laid back and I love the buzz and electricity in the air- LA for me has always lacked that. My most memorable moment in LA though was when I was there a few years back for a Sony Global Partners Conference, and all of Rodeo Drive had been blocked off for our final dinner. They had a red carpet laid out with all the stars of Sony Movies walking it- right from Tom Hanks and Angela Lansbury to Toby McGuire and Drew Barrymore. It ended with me being front row and center watching Chaka Khan at a private concert for just us! I must admit, that was a very fun evening.

This time around my most memorable moment was watching my friend ride through Rodeo on an Elephant to come meet his bride for the wedding ceremony. He really was quite the tourist attraction that day! Here is a picture of him taken from my balcony-

And here is another picture I took of the famous Rodeo sign, and another one of my favourite boutique on the street-

I visited the Chanel store there and asked to see a jacket in my size. Turns out, the largest size they had bought in that particular item was a 38... which translates to a size 10 UK maybe? And that was the LARGEST!! Yup, LA is really not my favourite place!
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Brazilian Blowout for frizzy, curly, unmanageable hair!

Nobody really ever believes what my hair looks like when it's not professionally styled. I'm lucky as I live in Dubai and it's easy (and relatively cheap) to run to a salon and get a quick wash and blow dry every couple of days. When I was back in college and lived on a tight budget to not be able to afford that luxury, it would take me up to 2 hours to try to get my hair manageable, and even then the effect wouldn't last very long. Think curly, frizzy, tangled mess! A few years back I did the Japanese straightening which I thought was God sent.. till my hair started growing out at the roots and looked even worse! Imagine frizzy roots at the top with limp, lifeless hair at the bottom- not a good look! After having the procedure done a couple of times, I realized it was doing more harm than good, and had severely damaged my hair over the years.
Recently I started seeing the Brazilian Keratin treatment offered all over Dubai, and was told by various people to try it. I'd read about how bad it was for the health (it contains Formaldehyde and could cause poisoning) and I decided I'd do proper research on it and if at all, do it in NY. When I came here, I read about the treatment Brazilian Blowout and read about how it differed from the Keratin treatment- it contained no Formaldehyde and so was more natural to use, and didn't require a 3 day wait period between washes. I did some research and decided to go to the Rita Hazan salon to give it a try.

Rita Hazan is probably one of the most famous colourists in the US today, as she is widely known for colouring celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez. While I personally LOVE my hair stylist and colourist at Frederic Fekkai, I like the more natural, barely-coloured look. If you like to go a lot lighter, or like having a lot more streaks and colour in your hair (basically if you like the JLo look) then Rita is the one for you!

                                       (Here is a pic of her posing with Jessica Simpson)
Anyhow, I had read great reviews of them doing the Brazilian Blowout in her salon, so I set up and appointment and went. The procedure was so much simpler than my Japanese treatment, and took less than 2 hours from start to finish. There were no icky smelling chemicals, and no damaging of hair. They just washed it, put in the treatment, and blow dried it straight, and then ran a flat iron through it. That's it! I waited 2 days before washing it, and the results have just blown me away. If you have frizzy hair and always wanted it smooth, I'll just say this- THE BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS! It has left in the body in my hair, so it doesn't look limp and horrible, and after washing it and just leaving it to air dry, I had these lovely waves in my hair like girls do after a day at the beach. Girls with naturally gorgeous hair that is, who probably work quite hard to get their hair to look like that.. all of a sudden, my hair air dried that way!! And it's absolutely silky smooth and soooo shiny! The best part is that it washes out and lasts about 3 months. While you may wonder that it's quite expensive for a treatment that lasts such a short time, trust me- you don't want one that lasts till your hair grows out! Here is a before and after pic I found on their website, and while I think you would still need a hair dryer to get the hair that straight (it doesn't make the hair this straight naturally) they aren't exaggerating on how shiny and soft it looks. My best friend kept thinking my hair was still damp, when it was in fact completely dry.

 I can't stress how happy I am with the procedure. I can't wait for my hair to grow long again so I can run my hands through it! I don't know where they do the Brazilian Blowout in Dubai, but if you happen to be coming to NYC, the Rita Hazan Salon was really good. If you live in the US, click here to find a salon closest to you that offers it.
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"Aisha" changes the way Bollywood will view fashion!

A couple of hours back, I watched the movie "Aisha" with my best friend and her husband in NYC. After very long have I watched a cute chick-flick that made me smile from the beginning to the end- and this includes the stuff that's recently come out of Hollywood! And my friend's hubby loved it as well, so men who are reading this, don't be scared to give it a watch. It's a blatant rip-off of "Clueless" which in itself was based on Jane Austen's book, "Emma"- with Aisha being more Clueless, less Austen. Yet, even though most people might have seen it's Hollywood counterpart and know what's coming next, it's fun to watch nonetheless.
This post is not being written to be a movie review though. What I really wanted to talk about, were the clothes. I remember watching Karan Johar's "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" while in college, and being amazed with the clothes used in the movie. Whether the outfits were good or not were debatable, it was their expansive budget with Kajol dressed in Polo track pants that had taken me by surprise. After that, there have been a few movies where the clothes have been much publicized- especially when Manish Malhotra is the head designer on board, but I can't remember a single one which made me sit up and take notice- until now.
I believe the movie "Aisha" is going to change the way Bollywood approaches fashion. If you didn't already have Sonam Kapoor giving her fellow starlets a run for their money with her impeccable taste off-set, you know have her in a Bollywood movie doing the impossible- showing off clothes that their more fashion conscious audience would want to wear- no make that aspire to wear! Sonam shows off her Lady Dior and Chanel handbags, while dressed impeccably stylishly in a mix of designer and high street. Her own sense of style and personality means she can carry the quirky looks off perfectly and with poise rather than looking like a monkey playing dress up. I mean, as much as I love Kareena Kapoor as an actress, her idea of "dressing up" is wearing something in pink or red and covered in sequins! Ironically, you have Aisha's ingenue in the movie going on about some sparkly number worn by Kareena in a movie- thankfully nothing that the character Aisha, or the real world Sonam, would dream of wearing. I absolutely LOVED the dress Sonam is wearing for the movie poster of "Aisha"and was so happy to find out it came from none other than our Dubai based designer, the gorgeous Ayesha Depala, who unsurprisingly has moved into designing for Bollywood with this movie.
Aisha is light hearted movie with ab fab clothes- what's not to love? It's a definite must see!
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Book review- "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

A lot of people read for a lot of different reasons. Some read to keep their mind sharp, while others, to calm their mind's incessant chattering. Some people like to read fiction to keep themselves up to date, or satiate their curiosity, while others like to absorb themselves in fiction. I love reading the type of books that grab you into their worlds and just won't let go! Also, since I love to write, I appreciate good writing just as much as I appreciate a gripping story. As much as I loved the Twilight series, I thought Stephanie Meyer's writing was Mickey Mouse prose in comparison to J K Rowling's style in the Harry Potter series. Same with Shantaram- interesting story... but man did the Editors do a bad job!

I was at the airport 3 days back when I saw a sign below the stack of the newly launched book, "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" and read the most interesting caption that read somewhat along these lines- "If you'd read either book 1 or book 2 in this trilogy, you wouldn't be standing here reading this. You'd have grabbed the book of the shelf, and immediately found yourself a quiet spot to immerse yourself into the 3rd and final installment of this trilogy." Wow! Talk about marketing! I wouldn't have quite been as convinced if two excited girls didn't run over to the stack and done a mini song and dance at finding the books there. "Is it that good?" I asked them, and they gushed, confirmed it indeed was and pointed me in the direction of Book 1- "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

The beginning starts of quite slowly and confusing, and you don't really get into the book till you're around one-fourth in. The writing however, stands out from the first page itself, and by page 20, I was flipping the front and back to find out what background the author had before writing the book. Turns out, sadly enough, the author died in 2004 without ever having a chance to enjoy the fruits of his labour. Anyhow, once you get into the main crux of the story, it really is the type of book you can't put down. It's sort of a murder mystery, but an extremely well written, intelligent one, and the type that makes you gasp a couple of times. The title sounds like it's kinda got a bit of SciFi in it, or sounds almost like a superhero type of action novel. Be rest assured, these two descriptions are far from the reality of the book. I was up till 5 AM this morning trying to finish it off, and when I woke up with the book in my hand, I spent most of today doing the same. When I finally read the last page, I immediately ran out of the house to buy Book 2 and 3. If you're looking for a great summer read that you won't be able to put down, THIS IS IT!!