Blowfish by Siddharth Tripathi

A dark and comic novel about young engineering/MBA graduates navigating a new India and redefining romance, success and everything that matters.

This new book on my bedside table is - Blowfish by Siddharth Tripathi which has released today!

Mukund and Chaddha spend their days comfortably ensconced in their cushy jobs, wallowing in regrets that make for good conversation. Mukund, in a fit of bravado. resigns to pursue his “calling”; the only hitch is that he doesn’t know what it is yet! Chaddha is fired and seeks solace in shooting pigeons at point-blank range. Mukund’s life spirals out of control when Colonel Harpal Singh, the housing society secretary, finds in him a reflection of his estranged son. Harpal places Mukund under “house arrest”, puts him on trial in a kangaroo court and coerces him to fight a ludicrous duel. Constantly under threat, and running out of time and money, Mukund is about to go back to being a man with bad dandruff, a small car and even smaller dreams, when he meets Suman, a girl who, like him, is trying to figure out what life is all about. Blowfish is a fast, funny and irreverent take on the overhyped pursuit of passion in a country where flashy cars and posh bungalows remain the only lasting symbols of success and happiness. 

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Siddharth Tripathi was born in Allahabad and went to school in Banaras. He is a B.E from NIT Trichy and an MBA from MDI, Gurgaon. Siddharth lives in Gurgaon with his wife and five-year-old son. The Virgins, published in 2013, is his first novel.

The book is priced at INR 399 and is a quick read. I shall be tweeting about it once I complete reading it :)

Will you pick it?

Until then, 

Keep travelling with a book in your bag!

@WanderlustGirl_

Tea Tree for Oily Skin - Oriflame Love Nature - Cleansing Gel

Hey friends, how is the Sunday coming along? I have realised this lately that when you are freelancing, whether it is a Monday or Friday or weekend, you don't really have a clue but what one must keep a check on is their skin. Especially with this changing clueless weather everywhere and the bad pollution and dirt, our skin (especially that of face) requires utmost importance.

I am sure you all have a face cleansing regime (if not, consider it!). What am going to share with you today is a product that I have used for the past 1 month and was waiting to be written about - the Oriflame Love Nature Cleansing Gel - for purifying oily skin in Tea Tree which is a known ingredient for clearing acne prone skin and blemishes on the skin.

I have a combination skin and my cheeks are filled with acne on and off, many times of the year. I recently got this cleansing gel for two reasons: One, for the Tea Tree component. Two, I believe in Oriflame, have been using its products for about 3 years now.

What does the product claims?
Love Nature Cleansing Gel Tea Tree effectively cleanses oily skin with the power of Tea Tree essential oil. Removes impurities, make-up and excess sebum, helping to prevent blemishes without over-drying.

How to use?

1. Take a small amount of the gel on your palm.
2. Apply thoroughly on your face, neck and behind the ear lobe.
3. Massage and leave for a few seconds.
4. Rinse with water.

The consistency of the gel is mild runny, it creates good lather and has a hint of mint green color to it. It has a very light smell which is quite refreshing.

Did it make the cut? - Yes!

• It is travel friendly - love the sturdy packaging. (the cap fits tightly which means, no leaking!)
• Doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or dehydrated
• A small quantity is enough to create lather
• Worth the money

What did not work out>? - It contains Paraben.

Will I buy it again? Yes, once I finish it (it is a 150 ml bottle). I would want to try the other cleansing gel of the same - Love Nature range by Oriflame too.

Buy it here: Love Nature Cleansing Gel Tea Tree

Priced at INR 379 for a 150 ml bottle

Let me know what you think of it. Will you buy it or no?

Leave your views in the comments section below.

Keep Traveling,

@WanderlustGirl_

Travel for yourself!

Don't visit a place so you could check-in and let others know. Don't visit a place so you could click a new picture and upload. Don't visit a place because other people are so why cannot you. Don't visit a place for being called a wanderer. Don't visit a place so you could put it up on social media. 

Visit a place, so you could feel better than you felt a day before. 

From a full time job to being a Freelancer!

It is close to midnight and am writing about one of my recent trips that you will read about on The Brown Scooter soon. I have just come back from a long 8 day South India trip on Saturday.  I got a chance to visit Jaisalmer as well last month. What a pretty city!

August has been quite wonderful - right from Jaisalmer to Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry and Coimbatore; cannot thank the life enough.

I had not planned this ages ago though. It just happened one after the other, for some reason or the other. Suddenly after I quit my last full time job and wrote about it. Been quite eventful after the whole notice period phase. Friends have pinged and asked about my whereabouts; some really fascinated with my current life, some genuinely sending across full time job offers. Well to be clear, I am on a break, a break from full time work, have taken up a couple of freelance projects, consulting a wonderful company called SheThePeople.TV and helping my friend build The Digital Brunch, a digital marketing course for everyone!

How has the journey been the past 1 month? Well, there's one thing getting up on a Monday and not go to work. And another to continue to have such Mondays and get used to it. How can one be ready for being a Freelancer or a consultant and not have a full time job?

Here's how. (Basically what I did)

1. Find avenues to keep yourself busy
It can be a hobby or a house chore you want to help your family with on a daily basis - find something which keeps you busy so that you are not lazying around or think of not having a job. Use your skills and earn some money by applying for freelance projects from across the world. (works wonder if you are into writing, social media, digital marketing, teaching, marketing, designing, etc.)

I will be doing a separate blog on how to freelance.

2. Meet your friends
Call the ones you haven't met in a long time and meet them! There's nothing better than catching up on old friends and their stories and discuss what they have been upto all this time.

3. Take a trip!
Actually, this should have been No.1 on my list. And it should say trip(s). I did this and believe me, it helps tremendously. A trip helps you think better, you learn about new cities and culture, you take a step away from the mundane life; what's more to ask?

4. Gain a new skill set
I have recently joined Zumba (because I wanted to lose fat) and the feeling is amazing. You can learn a dance form or try new recipes at home and don the chef hat. Knitting, Calligraphy, Sports, Writing; there's so much to do! Visit - www.thedigitalbrunch.com in case you want to learn Digital Marketing over weekends in Mumbai!

5. Study further
Be it IGNOU or Coursera, there are plenty of courses and subjects to choose from. Pick one and you won't be disappointed!

6. Last but the most important, spend time with your family
From your parents waiting for you to come home even when it was past midnight to your siblings waiting for the weekend to come by, spend time with your family for nothing can beat that!

Stay tuned to know about how one can apply for freelance opportunities and earn while on-a-break in my next blog!

Until then,
Keep travelling,
@WanderlustGirl_