Imagine Your Korea at Korea Festival, Gurgaon

If the sight of great art and the aroma of authentic delicacies get your heart hooked, Korea Festival is the place you have to be. Wondering what am I talking about? Just came back home after having a gala time at Korea Festival 2017 and couldn't wait to share how luxurious experience I had today.

Korea Festival 2017 is a two-day event being conducted by Korea Tourism Organisation at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon on 25th Nov and 26th Nov. The festival encompassed a wide range of art genres including music, dance, live performances and much more that beautifully showcased diverse culture of the nation.

Day 1 attributed to the grand opening ceremony at the Korean Showcase Zone followed by lighting of lamp. The worthy guests included Korean Tourism Organisation MD, HS Ad MD, Korean Delegates and Diplomats who graced the inaugural ceremony with their presence.

The entertainment saga of the day began with K-Pop Cover Dance performance by K-Pop fan club that not only enthralled the audience with the fantastic musical and visual elements but also acquainted us with uniquely traditional Korean music roots.

Aren't we all fans of breakdancing style of street dance!! Well! the B-Boy performance by Gambler Crew left everyone amazed with its sharp moves. I bet the sound of claps set the rhythm for the performers.

To captivate the charming damsels at the event, the popular Korean beauty brand Innisfree presented a beauty show to bust the beauty myths we had since forever and guided on how to take best care of our skin. 

I was thoroughly enjoying the show, when the next attraction for the day Samulnori was revealed.
Listening to Samulnori that's a perfect integration of the four percussion instruments (a buk, a janggu, a jing and a kkwaenggwari) played in a traditional rhythmic pattern was truly a divine experience that I will cherish forever. 

Oops, how can I forget the mouth-watering delicacies that the food stalls had to offer. I was really delighted to taste local Korean food I had seen only in TV programs ;) The flavourful, vegan preparations served at affordable prices took my dining experience to another level without putting a strain on my budget. Oh yeah! the Korean cuisine at Korea Festival has so much to offer on its menu for the non-vegetarian guests. 

As the day progressed, the fest rolled out yet another performance 'Nanta'. I swear before watching this performance, I never knew that kitchen utensils such as cutting boards, water canisters, knives, pots and pans could be utilized beyond cooking in kitchen :) I discovered that Nanta is one of the most popular non-verbal musical shows of Korea that is performed throughout on the beats Samulnori music in attempt to finish preparing a wedding banquet within a strict time limit. That was seriously the OMG moment of the day for me! 

The show concluded with an ending so dynamic that audiences must have felt that their stresses had been relieved. I must attest to the efforts of Glocal that is doing great job to foster and harmoniously strengthen cultural diversity as a common heritage to humanity. 

Fret not, if you missed today's show. The festival is still on for day 2 on 26th Nov. So make your Sunday a fun day at Korea Festival and experience the true Korean Culture of Calligraphy, Arts & Crafts, Mask Painting, VR Experience Zone, K-Beauty Session & Traditional Hanbok wearing Photo Opportunity as the highlights of day 2.

P.S. Pick up your passport upon registration and get it stamped from the Travel Zone to win exclusive Korean Souvenirs and also get a chance to participate in lucky draw to win free air tickets to Korea!

Venue: Ambience Mall, National Highway 8, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001.

Timing: 12pm to 8pm. (Entry Free)

Discover Gentle Care for Dry Hair

A gentle cleanser for your hair that can achieve benefits like moisturizing the hair and scalp while condioning it, that's simply the best pick. I'm a true Coconut Oil loyalist, because for hair it's an all-natural way to keep both hair and scalp healthy.
Since past few weeks, I've been using Oriflame's Love Nature Hair Care combo that was recently launched with Wheat & Coconut Oil as star ingredients. Looking at the key ingredients, there was no denying to test these right from the first intro.
The combo has got 4 products - shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and hot oil.

A good hair care regimen certainly begins with a nourishing hair oil. I trust goodness of coconut hair oil with all my heart. The Love Nature Coconut Oil penetrates to the hair roots when massaged in light strokes and nourishes hair from scalp to tip. It heals dry split ends and repairs damaged hair on prolonged usage. Coconut oil contains healthy fatty acids and vitamin E that help in hair growth. You may even add a few drops of some essential oils in it to make it even healthier. I also love to heat the oil a bit and enjoy warm oil massage over the weekends. It's an effective fatigue-reliever for me. In winters, this oil tends to freeze, so has to be melted to use.

Love Nature Wheat & Coconut Shampoo is primarily meant for Dry Hair. My hair turn drier during colder days, so thought to switch from my previous shampoo. It's a thick formula in off-white colour with a tint of brown. I apply the shampoo generously to wet hair, massage into a lather through the ends, then rinse the hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. The shampoo effectively removes buildup without stripping hair. The easiest way to enjoy the benefits of coconut oil for hair growth is by using a coconut oil shampoo that contains hair growth promoting oil.

After shampooing, I always follow with conditioner. And it's great to have a conditioner formulated on the same ingredients that when used in conjunction with other products will offer best results.  Love Nature Wheat & Coconut Conditioner is a smooth yet thick product and is slightly lighter than the shampoo in colour. It's as easy as applying on rinsed hair after shampoo and then again washing your hair after 2-3 minutes. It helps hair to retain moisture and makes an excellent deep conditioner. 

The packaging of both the shampoo and conditioner is same with a difference of labeling on the bottles. I somehow loved the shape of bottles which is different from usual.
Last product in this combo that I tried was a tiny little tube of Love Nature Hot Oil. I soaked the tube in hot water and twisted the mechanism on the top to open and take out the oil. The oil is something like a gel that has been melted to thinner consistency. On application, I didn't get the feeling of an having an oil on my scalp that I want an oil should have. It's less greasy than a normal oil, so better should be used as a styling product. 

I love the authentic coconut fragrance that all the products in this combo have. Find more about Love Nature Hair Care range with Wheat & Coconut Oil at Oriflame website.

Cloudnine Maternity Hospital Arrives at Chandigarh

Chandigarh, the hub of North India, boasts of state-of-the-art medical facilities available in various public and private hospitals. The real challenge had been to offer best maternity services to expectant moms in the city to make the most important stage of their life memorable.

In order to match up to the diverse medical requirements of the would-be moms, Cloudnine Hospitals, India’s leading chain of maternity, women and child care hospital marked the opening of their newest hospital in Chandigarh on 21st November.

The inauguration ceremony had none other than the most graceful supermom and bollywood celebrity Mrs. Shilpa Shetty Kundra as the chief guest at the Cloudnine facility to grace the occasion.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony by the celebrity herself marked the official opening of a newly-constructed facility.
The event flow continued further to address the attendees by Cloudnine authorities to introduce the services that the hospital will provide.

Dr. Pawan Kumar, Regional Director of the North, Cloudnine Hospitals took the opportunity to acknowledge an expression of gratitude for Mrs. Shilpa Shetty in his welcome note and invited the worthy chief guest to unveil 'It's Our Baby' Programme.

It’s Our Baby, a first of its kind exceptional, baby-ready programme for expectant parents was unveiled to offer a joyous and seamless experience to both the parents right from pregnancy to delivery. The program is a fine medley of educative prenatal workshops, fitness sessions and celebrations to welcome one’s bundle of joy. It offers a unique opportunity to be aware, better prepared and confident to manage pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care.

Stressing upon the importance of choosing the right healthcare partner for delivery, Mrs. Shilpa Shetty Kundra said, “Childbirth is a life changing phenomena for a woman. It is important to choose a comfortable, trustworthy environment that can offer her a happy and stress-free atmosphere not just during the final month but also during the entire term of pregnancy”.

She further added that every woman deserves the right kind of attention from the doctors during her time of need. She thanked Cloudnine on behalf of all the women to present Chandigarh one of the best affordable maternity, fertility, gynaecology, neonatology, newborn intensive care, high -risk pregnancy care and paediatric services across the country, when it comes to birthing.

In continuation to the conversation, Dr Kishore Kumar, Founder and Chairman, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, present at the launch event said, “Pregnancy brings about multiple changes making parents doubtful of various elements like lifestyle changes, correct diet, impact of their actions on the baby etc. In today’s time and age, the parents need a trusted partner that could navigate them through this significant stage in their lives. Cloudnine Hospitals brings that very essence of care to Chandigarh.”

Insights of Cloudnine Group of Hospitals:

• Cloudnine Group of Hospitals was set up in 2007 by the renowned neonatologist Dr.Kishore Kumar as India’s premier destination for comprehensive maternal, gynaecological, fertility, neonatal and paediatric care. 
• The organisation’s vision is to effectively bridge the gap between Indian and international standards through a combination of clinical excellence, comprehensive care and an atmosphere of celebration, to ensure world-class standards in woman and child healthcare. With over 50,000 births across 19 facilities in 6 cities and a 500+ bed strength supported by 3000+ strong workforce, Cloudnine is India’s leading chain of maternity hospitals.
• Cloudnine, a trusted single speciality hospital present across the country offers gold standards of care to their guests in the form of clinical excellence, personalised care and an atmosphere of celebration & well-being, all under one roof. The easy access to a versatile medical team including paediatricians, lactation specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and nursing consultants with each expert demystifies and educates new parents on every need of a newborn such as feeding, sleeping techniques, baby massage, bath practices, breastfeeding, nutrition for the baby and new mother and the role of the entire family at home. 
• Celebrations are an integral theme in Cloudnine’s portfolio, with delightful moments dusted across specialty services. Every expectant couple is invited to a glorious baby shower, a coveted event thrown in their honour, to celebrate their journey so far. 
• Cloudnine’s birthing packages are experiences unto themselves, complete with a personal suite, a candlelight dinner and no restrictions on visiting hours. The hospital chain has also become a favored maternity destination among celebrities.
• Cloudnine has prestigious accolades including the Times Achievers Award 2017 for the Best Single Specialty Hospital in Delhi NCR, 2014 Australian Service Excellence award by Customer Service Institute of Australia, 8th Frost & Sullivan India Healthcare Excellence award for Mother & Child Care Service Provider, and Economic Times Best Healthcare Brands award for “Specialised Hospital for Woman and Child”.

A few glimpses of Cloudnine Chandigarh:

Cloudnine’s foray into Chandigarh marks a new beginning for the chain in the upper north region and is sure to scale up maternal healthcare in the region :)
Location: Site No. 48, Industrial Area, Phase-II, Chandigarh, 160002,

Effective Healthcare Remedies for Infants

Although unavoidable, your baby falling sick never fails to make a mommy super anxious. My heart would drop to my stomach every time my child suffered from common childhood illnesses and I would stress and want the ailment to get cured without discomforting my little one with medication.

In the initial phase of motherhood, I consulted and trusted only the paediatrician so as to offer instant relief to my ailing baby; but gradually I started relying on natural remedies suggested by elders in my family that really worked wonders.

Today I'm sharing a quick remedy index for your baby's recurring ills that are not only completely safe, but also go a long way in developing your baby's immune system.

Diaper Rash: Your baby might urinate and defecate a number of times a day, but whenever you change his nappy, you need to gently pat the area clean and dry. A little carelessness in cleaning the baby's bottom may lead to irritating rashes.

Cure:
Direct application of coconut oil is the easiest way to treat diaper rash. You may further enhance the efficacy by adding 3-4 drops of tea tree oil in coconut oil that would kill yeast causing bacteria and treat painful yeast diaper rash.

Teething Pain: Before a tooth actually breaks through the gums, the baby feels irritable pain and discomfort due to soreness.

Cure:
The cheapest remedy to deal with fussiness of teething is to freeze a clean washcloth dipped in plain water or breast milk for half an hour and then give it to your baby to bite and suck. The numbing effect coming from cold textured cloth calms the pain.
A homemade teether made out of an ice cube, chilled vegetables and fruits (like carrots, cucumber and avocado) have been most mommies' preferred choice over wooden/plastic teethers and topical medication over the years. As the babies chew on these hard things, the counter-pressure helps reduce the pain.

Stomach Ache: Usually stomach pain is caused by food intolerance, infection, intestinal blockage or some sort of food/milk allergy, etc. The trick is to touch and find out whether the baby's abdomen is more stiff and swollen than usual.

Cure:
Boil 1/2 cup of rice in 2 cups of water for about 15 minutes. Strain out the rice and flavour the water with sugar. Give warm rice water to the baby after frequent intervals.
A flavourful alternate is to boil a handful of large raisins (munakka) cut into halves in water and give spoonfuls of this warm concoction to the baby every now and then.

If the baby rejects consuming anything and cries inconsolably, make a sticky paste out of half a spoon of asafoetida (hing) mixed with water. Apply this paste on your baby’s tummy in a circular motion around the navel area to counter flatulence.

Ear Ache: I remember feeling totally puzzled whenever my baby would cry due to aching ears. I would helplessly check every body part to find what was wrong, to no avail. If your baby grabs or tugs at his ears, this could be a sign that he's in pain. Also observe if there is any fluid drainage from his ears.

Cure:
If you don't suspect a ruptured eardrum, pour 2-3 drops of slightly warm garlic oil or mustard oil or onion juice in the affected ear.
Parents who disapprove of putting anything inside the ears may opt for making Onion Earmuffs. Simply slice an onion in half, microwave it until it’s soft and then wrap the onion in a cloth to hold it up to your baby’s ear.

Mosquito Bites: While mosquito bites seem common, it can be a major cause for worry if it causes swollen bumps on your baby's skin along with high fever. Parents should avoid taking babies to mosquito-infested areas. But if you have to, then do not leave the house without applying mosquito repellents to avoid any complications that may arise later like mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, encephalitis, malaria and chikungunya to name a few. Apply a baby-safe mosquito repellent like Goodknight Fabric Roll-On on your baby's pram or clothes before stepping out to keep mosquitoes away for long hours. Made of citronella and eucalyptus oil, this personal repellent is 100% natural. It does not leave any stains on application and is certified as dermatologically safe by paediatricians. Simply apply 4 dots to keep those mosquitoes away from your baby for up to 8 hours.

Cure:
If pesky mosquitos manage to sting the baby despite practising prevention tricks, the quickest cure at hand is to rub a dry soap bar on the bite immediately. You may find several alternatives in your kitchen like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey or salt water that can be dabbed directly over the bitten area to curb inflammation instantly.

Cold & Cough: Babies who are less than a year old are more prone to cough and cold due to bacterial infection. They are vulnerable and easily infected on coming in contact with someone who is already sick.

Cure:
Boil few cloves of garlic into mustard oil. Let the oil cool and apply it externally on your baby’s neck, chest, back, under the feet and palms. The warmth of mustard oil and anti-bacterial properties of garlic help destroy bacteria that cause cold.
Another potent remedy for cold is to dry roast carom seeds (ajwain) on a flat pan and put it in a cotton cloth, making it a pouch. Place the pouch near the baby’s nose so that he may inhale the smell to soothe his nose and throat.
Placing a cool-mist humidifier in the baby's room is a popular instrument these days. It adds moisture to the air providing relief from dry, stuffy nasal passages.

Fever: A low degree fever should not scare you as long as your child is active and playful, as fever is our body’s way of controlling the temperature and its immune response. The fluctuation in the temperature may happen in the process and is natural to every baby. Fever may also occur as a reaction to vaccination or infections in throat, ear etc.

Cure:
Boil a handful of basil leaves in 2 cups of water until the solution is reduced to half. Add a little sugar and give it to your little one a few times a day.
In case of high fever, keep slices of onion under the feet of your baby and wrap the feet in the socks. Replace sliced onions every 4-6 hours until the fever is gone.
If you want to avoid stinky onions, take some slices of potato and soak them in vinegar for 10 minutes. Then place the potato slices on the baby's forehead and cover it with a washcloth on top.

These treasured natural remedies may shop results in varied time depending on the seriousness of the sickness of the baby, but are time-tested and have no side-effects. They are a brilliant alternatives for parents who are hesitant to use over-the-counter medication and feel more comfortable to nip the symptoms in the bud instead of resorting to medicines.
Let me know which remedy worked best to treat your little ones’ illness.

Caution: If any of the health-issues persists for longer than expected, do consult your medical adviser well in time.

Image Source: www.wikihow.com