The Second trimester- ideal time to plan a getaway! Our experience of a beautiful holiday at The Machan, Lonavala

Hubby and I both enjoy driving which explains our love for long drives and we also enjoy spending time outdoors. In fact before we embarked on this eventful journey of becoming parents, we would head out to to Lonavala, Nashik, Igatpuri & other such weekend destinations around Mumbai whenever we got the time.

Our little adventures have taken a back seat nowadays with the little one taking priority. I wasn’t allowed to travel during the first trimester. I was in fact asked to take it easy, so we were stuck in the city. By the end of the first trimester both of us were aching to head out of Mumbai. And with the monsoons approaching, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
We stumbled upon this beautiful property called The Machan in Lonavala. I looked up the website and the place looked like a lovely little retreat right in the lap of nature. The property is a little ahead of Lonavala (on your way to Amby Valley) & consists of 14 tree houses. Since we were talking about staying in tree houses in the middle of the forest I was a little concerned about how suitable this place would be given my condition. I had two main concerns
- One, given the place is in the middle of nowhere I was concerned about the bumpy ride
- Two, since the property consists of tree houses, I wasn’t sure of how convenient & accessible would the rooms be given my condition

I called their reservation desk and was happy to get in touch with a rather helpful and knowledgeable lady who was only too happy to address my concerns. She explained that the off-roading section was barely a small stretch and would definitely not be too bumpy a ride. It was accessible by most kinds of vehicles and didn’t require cars with off-roading capabilities so we need not worry about it causing any stress to me or the baby.

The lady also explained that they had different types of Machans or tree houses to cater to the needs of different guests and families.
- The Heritage Machan was for larger groups consisting of 6-7 people. The canopy machans are more private and accessible by a spiral staircase. The Forest Machans could be suitable for both couples and families and is accessible by a wooden bridge. They also have cabins in case you do not prefer Machans and the most recent addition to their property are the nested machans.
Given our love for outdoor and our keenness to stay in a Machan she suggested we book the forest machan which was also easily accessible through a wooden bridge thus addressing my concern on accesibility :)

We set off for our little holiday after half day of work on Friday. We were only too happy to beat the traffic (since most people were still busy toiling at work) and after a 2.5 hour drive we reached Lonavala. As I mentioned earlier this place is a little ahead of the traditional Lonavala hang outs like Tiger point & the area has little or no coverage hence they encourage you to carry a map or the set of instructions that are emailed to you with your reservation confirmation rather than depending on Google maps or any other GPS device. As promised the off-roading or the rickety road was a mere 1 km stretch, not too bumpy and Hubby’s Mahindra XUV 500 actually made the ride pretty comfortable.

This property is built on an untouched green patch of land in Lonavala so you are completely cut off from the crowds and the commercial madness. Little or no cellphone coverage only adds to the overall experience and takes you farther away from the city than you really are.

We were warmly welcomed by the property manager and offered a welcome drink while they finished the initial formalities after which were guided to our Forest Machan. I went expecting a pretty basic accommodation but was pleasantly surprised with what we got. The Machans were anything but basic; the rooms are nice and big with wooden flooring and French windows on three sides that offer panoramic views of the green hills. The huge bathroom has an open shower with a lovely hill view and a Jacuzzi where you can sit back and forget all your worries. The room also has a small refrigerator which is stocked well with beer, water, soft drinks and a cooler to keep you cool & comfortable in case it gets very hot during the day (sorry no air conditioners here). What’s more they even offer room service at a nominal extra fee. What more can you ask for in the middle of a forest (ok not exactly a forest but a patch of a forest). Each room offers utmost privacy with no one peeping into your room.

Lovely sit out area in the Forest Machan that offers stunning views of the lush green forest

Not much to do around here except maybe bird watching, star gazing (ruled out during the monsoons), play a few board games or reading. My favorite activity was watching the show the fire flies or jugnus put up for us each evening, we would just sit back in the balcony and watched the magic unfold. We also enjoyed the guided nature walk around the property which is organized every evening at 5.30 PM. You also have the option of exploring the place on your own as they provide a map in each of the rooms.

The very specious and comfortable Forest Machans (two at the bottom and one at top). We stayed in the one at the top

The meals here are pretty basic & almost like home cooked khaana with options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The dining area is also quite interesting, it a little canopy of sorts with provision for serving a buffet & a little fireplace (apparently it gets cold in the months of December & January). The seating is mostly outdoors with a provision for a couple of tables in the canopy although I would highly recommend a lovely candle lit dinner under the stars. You have to inform the staff about whether you would be joining them for lunch or dinner and these meals are chargeable (only breakfast is included in the room charges).

I must mention here that unlike neighboring properties this place does not employ graduates from hotel management institutes; they choose to employ the locals. So the staff may not know their merlot from the Shiraz but they serve with all their heart. They go out of their way to make your feel comfortable and the property gets full marks for its hospitality.
We didn’t quite realize where the weekend disappeared and we enjoyed every moment of our little break. I would strongly recommend couples who are expecting to take such short breaks in and around your home town. It’s important to spend some quality time together before the baby comes. Some suggestions before you head out for such a trip.
- Check whether the property is accessible and comfortable for pregnant women and also check with your doctor if you are fit to undertake the journey
- Stop and stretch those legs during the journey and do your bladder the favor by taking a pee break (I know you just have to go so often these days)
- Carry basic medication
- Wear comfortable and loose clothing

- Wear comfortable and appropriate footwear (I picked sports shoes for this trip because this required a bit of walking in the middle of greens)

- Carry some snacks and foods for those hunger pangs

- Don’t get too adventurous with food and stick to the basics (you don’t want to fall sick during a holiday). Inform the staff about your condition and give specific instructions about your food like having your meat or eggs well done.

Here’s hoping that you can plan a similar break soon. Do write in to share your experiences.

Big 30 Birthday Celebrations :)

I have been away from the blog for a while now, too much happening at work and on the personal front. Both Hubby and I celebrated our respective 30th birthdays over the last few days. We have made a rule for ourselves that we don’t go to work on birthdays and our anniversary and we did the same this year. Both of us obviously make the effort to make the other one’s day special but this time hubby beat me hands down by planning a spectacular day for me.
I was quite excited about turning BIG 30 this year and we had made plans to head to the new Hilton property a little ahead of Lonavala. Unfortunately those plans went for a toss when my doctor announced that I should not be travelling for at least another couple of weeks. So there went my plans for a big grand birthday & then it was Hubby to the rescue. He planned something which I recommend everyone does at least once.

He booked a stay at the Taj Palace Hotel in Colaba.

Now one would think that what is so special about staying at a hotel in Mumbai?
Well, this place just transports you back in time. Be prepared to be charmed right from the minute you step foot into the property. You are warmly welcomed by the staff with a garland and requested to wait in the palace lounge while they do the necessary paper work and get your room keys ready for you.
The hotel pampers and spoils you silly. At the palace lounge you are welcomed with a refreshing drink and a cold towel to beat the heat.
It didn’t take them long to get the room keys ready and as soon as we were done with our welcome drink someone promptly escorted us to our room.
Now you may have seen the gateway of India many times but the pleasure of seeing the gateway of India and the Arabian Sea from the window of your hotel room at Taj Palace is something else. My hubby had informed the hotel that we were celebrating my birthday so the staff was kind enough to decorate the room with balloons, flowers, a cute little swan arrangement (made using towels) and a happy birthday cushion. This was just one of the many surprises in store for me, when we stepped out for lunch at the sea lounge (You shall hear about this later in my post) the staff left a yummy mango cake for me in the room. Wow! I was really floored by how the Taj staff went out of their way to make the day special for me.
When talking about the Taj I must talk about Sea lounge which often gets overshadowed by the other iconic restaurants like Souk & Golden dragon. This is a beautiful lounge with a stunning view of the ocean and Mumbai, to me it was like finding a hidden gem. The lovely blue décor and beautiful piano playing in background and the attentive staff who aren’t too overbearing (as can be the case with some properties) makes the whole experience truly wonderful. They serve high tea from 3 PM to 6.30 PM (you may want to check on this again) which is highly recommended. You also have the option of going in for the al- carte menu if you don’t wish to take the buffet but I would highly recommend the buffet. They serve some lovely local delicacies like pav bhaji, parsi meat burger in the buffet and a brilliant selection of desserts which you can’t afford to miss. And of course you could wash this down with a hot cup of masala chai or coffee.
Taj also conducts a tour of the property for its resident’s at 5.00 PM every day. This is another lovely experience which I would highly recommend as it takes you back in time with the story of how Taj came into existence and how it was built , the prominent guests that have stayed at the Taj and a host of other interesting stories. For instance did you know that Taj Palace Hotel has one of the largest collections of paintings in the country & the reason for this being that in the early days they would allow artists to host exhibitions and the artists would pay them in kind by gifting them a painting instead of cash. Its experiences like these that set the Taj Palace hotel apart from any other hotel in the country. In the evening, we dined at the golden dragon restaurant which needs no introduction as it is one of the most well-known Chinese restaurants in Mumbai.
Next day we enjoyed a swim in the pool followed by a filling breakfast at Sea lounge (I fell in love with this place). All I can say is a stay at the Taj Palace hotel is something that I would highly recommend, the property is an experience in itself and leaves you feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

The beautifully decorated room (dont miss the Happy Birthday cushion) ;)



Stunning views and the old world charm of the hotel takes you back in time

Home remedies to combat nausea & uneasiness in the first trimester

A cousin of mine who recently delivered a healthy 3.5 kg baby boy had a rough first trimester. She struggled with nausea & food aversions. The only food that gave her some comfort was sweets be it cookies, cakes, ice creams, chocolates. What is surprising is the fact that she never had a sweet tooth before pregnancy, she was always someone who ate in moderation and steered clear of too many sweets.

I have been lucky to sail through my first trimester. In fact till recently I never had any trouble with nausea, it’s only now (at 11 weeks) that I get a queasy or uneasy feeling at times. But nothing that makes me want to avoid food or skip eating all together or make me want to eat only one type of food (sweets in the case of my cousin)

In fact when I do feel uneasy, I usually have some Anardana or meetha aam papad, both bought from the Chandan stall at Infinity 2. They have a small little stall on the lower ground floor and stock some amazing Churans, sukha paan and other stuff.

One thing that I have struggled with is a slowed digestion process causing bloating, burping and flatulence (embarrassing). Mom confirmed that digestion process does slow down during pregnancy, making one feel uneasy, bloated, causing flatulence and acidity. Hence a heavy greasy meal is a complete no no for me. I prefer to eat small meals that are lighter on the stomach and easy to digest.

I relied on some home remedies to help me tide over the above issues:

-Ajwain and kale namak ka pani- a pinch of black salt and ajwain (carom seeds) mixed in 1/4th cup cold water. It provides instant relief against indigestion & uneasiness
-I sit in Vajrasana (posture used in hatha form of yoga) for some time (4 to 5 minutes) as it speeds up the digestion process. This requires one to sit back on folded legs, place buttocks on calves and heels and both big toes to touch. The hands should be placed on the thigh and back straight. You may want to check with your doctor before you try this in case you are new to Yoga.

Source: https://mobileyogaworkout.wordpress.com/

-Another yummy remedy that helps me tide over the uneasy feeling and beat the heat is Paani Puri ka paani. I know one has to be careful with Paani puri preparations at shops because you can never be too sure of the water they are using for the paani puri & you definitely don’t want to fall sick. So I choose to make my own version at home:

o 1 spoon of MDH paani puri masala

o 1 spoon of Mapro Aam panna concentrate (the sweetness of the aam panna concentrate counters the spice of the paani puri masala, giving the finished product a nice tang)

o A pinch of black salt

o A pinch of aamchur powder

Add the above to a glass of chilled water & mix well. I usually top it off with some ice. It’s my life saver on the lousiest of days :)

-I also have a glass of chilled Namkeen lassi with lunch everyday as it has a nice cooling effect

-To combat late night or early morning acidity, I try and sleep with a thicker pillow under my head it helps prevent the acid reflux). Even then if I wake up with acidity, I sip some chilled milk, which usually does the trick for me

-If everything else fails and I still have acidity, I have a teaspoon of Digene (I keep the bottle in the fridge, the cool liquid seems to work faster on me)

They say the second and third trimester is comparatively easier when it comes to issues like nausea and uneasiness. So here’s hoping for a smooth ride all along





How to combat skin breakout and stretch marks during pregnancy?

This is something I had always heard people say to women who were pregnant, “You are glowing”. Far from glowing, here I am struggling with skin problems. I have always had clear skin, never really had to struggle with acne or other such skin problems even during my teens (can’t take much credit for it though, only have my genes to thank for it). So this sudden breakout of acne and skin issues had me really upset.

I thought it would settle down on its own but the acne seemed persistent and refused to go away. Spoke to Mom about it & she suggested that the skin problem could be on account of the medication I was put on during the first trimester (was advised Progestron after I experienced pain in the first month, to avoid miscarriage). She advised that I start using Saslic Face wash and Erytop cream on the affected areas on the face. I have seen a marked improvement in my skin in the last one week. The acne may not have completely disappeared but we are making progress slowly and steadily and I can see my face clearing out again. So once again Mommy to the rescue!!! :)

I also noticed that I had begun to get stretch marks on my back. No prizes for guessing what I did next, I called up Mommy :)
Well, my mom is someone who is pretty straightforward. She is definitely NOT one of those who would sugar coat things before telling you. So without really bothering about all the fuss I was creating about stretch marks, she gave me a very simple reply. There is not much you can do about stretch marks, whether you get them or not really depends on your genes (yes, the same genes that gave me the clear skin). My mom claims she never got any stretch marks from her two pregnancies so it was obviously my Daddy’s side of genes doing their work. She suggested remedies that could help slightly lighten those stretch marks (not magically disappear as I had hoped).
- Cream called Luciara, which has to be applied to wet skin each morning after a bath
- Break open a Evion capsule (Vitamin E capsules available at chemist) and mix this with some olive oil and apply this on the stretch marks. Better to do this at night before you sleep so that the application can stay on for longer
- Apart from the above, cocoa butter creams used regularly could also help lighten the stretch marks
Haven’t started the stretch mark treatment yet, just got these inputs this morning. Shall keep you posted on how well it works for me.

All your clothese are supposed to fit in the first trimester, then why am I struggling with my wardrobe?

They say women who are pregnant for the first time usually don’t begin to show before 12 to 16 weeks. In case it’s your second pregnancy, you may start showing a bit early on since your abdominal muscles are already somewhat weak.

One would assume that when you begin to show is when you really need those maternity clothes and some of your existing wardrobe becomes redundant for the time being. My body doesn’t seem to be following the rule book. I am 9 weeks pregnant and although I don’t really show according to family and friends I feel all bloated and round, and this is not some feeling that exists in my head. The first casualty of my pregnancy was my skinny jeans and for someone who is used to living in jeans that just felt like a huge handicap.

My jeans felt too snug around my belly making me feel uncomfortable. Hence I had to say bye to three of my favorite pairs at least for the next few months. So here I am in an awkward phase when my existing wardrobe choices have been narrowed down by my body which seems to have a rule book of its own and it’s just too soon to be shopping for maternity wear.

Leggings and tunics are my new knight in shining armour- leggings sit comfortably over my little bloated belly and tunics make me feel less round. I pair them with nice and colorful flat sandals, juttis or loafers to complete the look.

I absolutely love shoes and am of the opinion that a good shoe could make or break an outfit. Although I have had to say bye to those “Hot” stilettoes & high heels but I am not too bothered because unlike clothes all my shoes still FIT (unlike clothes). So I derive this strange sense of comfort from my shoe wardrobe (I know that sounds a little crazy :)).

My primary concern these days is comfort not that I am willing to sacrifice “looking good” for comfort. So I prefer to wear smart Indian wear to office over western casuals. Indian wear keeps me more comfortable through a busy day than western formals for the same reason that my trousers feel quite snug because of all that bloating. I recently went shopping in Delhi to Kilol & cotton world in GK and picked up some beautiful summery pieces that help me both look good and be comfortable.

Due to my wardrobe constrains I was too scared to step on to the weighing scale. I was sure I would have piled on kilos since my last doctor’s appointment. This morning I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped on to that weighing scale - I haven’t gained weight at all (In normal circumstances I would have been quite happy about it, not too sure if its good news at this stage) I realized it was simply all that bloating that had restricted my wardrobe choices.

I guess the wardrobe battle shall only get tougher as the weeks progress. Hopefully the mind shall also get more creative to combat the wardrobe struggles :)

One can never have too many shoes! My recent shoe haul to compliment those pretty tunics and Indian wear. Although the black one looks least appealing I call them my "walking on cloud shoes" thats because they are insanely comfortable.