Indian monsoon season, that starts from June end and lasts till September end. Many people avoid traveling during monsoon thinking that it’s quite messy and unsafe. But, they are unaware of a fact that monsoon is the best season to travel and explore some of the exceptional monsoon destination in India. The greenery and nature is in their utmost best form.

Uttaranchal :

A beautiful state in the Himalayan Kingdom comes alive during monsoon season. The popular monsoon attraction here is the Valley of Flowers. The valley is in full swing and resembles a colorful carpet laid between the hills. The bright colors, green hills, foggy clouds, mystic aroma makes it a perfect place to visit in India during monsoon.

Kochi, Alleppey :

If you love heavy rains, then Alleppey is the best place to visit in India. Monsoon is the season when the backwaters are in full swing and it is the time for snake boats to rumble them. The mystic aroma of wet soil, drenched trees, foggy walkways and soggy surroundings will take your heart away.

Goa:

The splendid beauty of Goa in monsoon is worth a visit. The gigantic ocean on one side and the ghats on the other side become divine in terms of scenic beauty. One must visit Goa atleast once in Monsoon.

Munnar :

At a distance of about 600 kms from Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is the picturesque hill station named Munnar. The weather is at awesome best and is colder than what it is in winters. You can enjoy the mist fog in the month of June and July.

Lonavla :

Lonavala is a popular weekend getaway for Mumbaikars and Puneits. It is one of the popular hill stations in India. Located in the western ghats of Maharashtra, the tiny hill station is also a popular monsoon destination in India. Numerous temporary waterfalls beautifies the whole of Lonavala. These waterfalls become the favorite picnic spots for localites and visitors from nearby places.

Coorg :

Coorg is another beautiful hill station and a great monsoon getaway destination in India. Coorg is famous for coffee plantation, honey and orange plantations and mesmerizing views. The monsoons here stretch for a considerably longer period. Climate is cold in monsoon and the breathtaking sites of the valley, soft mist, lush green landscapes, rumbling sounds of rivers and waterfalls, cascading rivers tempts you to visit Coorg back and again during monsoons.

Shillong :

Shillong which receives heavy downpour during the monsoons is full of life. Though the rains here last longer than the other parts of India, but it is the time when Shillong is at is cleanest best. Cascading waterfalls, cheerful women, low lying clouds, soothing winds and lush green forests greet you. Cherrapunji, once the wettest place on Earth is some 37 km ahead of Shillong is also worth a visit.

Cherrapunji :

Cherrapunji situated in North East India in the Meghalaya State (separated from the state of Assam in 1972, Meghalaya means “Home of the clouds”) in the Khasi Hills, is unbelievably the wettest place on the planet earth which receives the maximum rainfall in the world, holding a record that it once rained continuously every single day for two years. It made a world record of 1,041 inches of rain in 1861. North eastern part of India is full of natural treasures with lush green canopies, valleys, mountains, rocky hills, rivers, diverse flora and fauna. The flora and fauna have colorful and rare orchids, ferns, moss plants and dense wood forests in small patches. Orchards of oranges and pineapple are the common sight of Cherrapunji. It is a 60 kilometer drive from the state’s capital Shillong, and is situated 1290 meters above sea level.

Leh Ladakh:

Nestled amidst the immense greenery of the alpine and guarded by 2 of the world’s highest mountains on either side, Leh and Ladakh boast of an abundance of Buddhist monasteries. The best time to visit Leh & Ladakh is between the months of May and September. The weather is warm during this time as these places do not experience rain like elsewhere in India. There are parts of India that hardly get any rain at all, including Ladakh in the Himalayas. But, it is still a good place to visit in India during monsoon.

Kerala:

If you want to enjoy monsoon in full, head toward Kerala. This is one place where you can experience everything a monsoon traveler asks for. Right from the ocean to waterfalls, to gushing river to cruising the backwaters. Kerala has all of this to offer you. The whole state is colored in lush green, which is a soothing site for everyone.

Source :
http://www.indiamarks.com/guide/10-Best-India-Monsoon-Travel-Destinations/35607/
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-wettest-place-on-Earth-Cherrapunji-India

Cheesy Bread Recipe

Ingredients

Mozzarella cheese 8 ozshredded shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 lb chopped green onion (to taste) 1/2 to 1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream (optional) 2 tbsp cloves garlic, minced 3-4 1 stick unsalted butter,softened to the point of being slightly melted loaves of French or Italian bread (I used Ciabatta), depending on the size of the loaves 1 to 2

Pani puri

For the Puri

Ingredients

Fine Sooji 1/2 cup Salt 1/4 tsp Baking Powder 1/8 tsp Warm Water 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour (Maida) 1 tbsp Oil 1 tsp Oil for deep frying

For the Pani

Ingredients

Vegetable Quesadillas

Ingredients

Oil for sauteing vegetables Green (Spring) Onions Tomatoes diced Bell Pepper diced Green Chilies finely chopped Spinach chopped Mushrooms sliced Salt to taste Garlic Powder to taste Red Chili Flakes to taste Flour Tortillas Cheese (your choice -Cheddar/Monterrey Jack/Colby) shredded Oil for pan frying

Chicken/Paneer Tikka Masala

Ingredients

Boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs – 1 lb, cut to bite size pieces
OR
Paneer – 14oz block, cut into 1” cubes
Marinade:

Lemon Juice 1 tbsp Red Chili Powder to taste Salt to taste Yogurt 1/2 cup Ginger & Garlic Paste 4 tsp Tandoori Masala 2 tsp Green Chilies to taste, minced Coriander Powder 1 tsp Cumin Powder 1 tsp Oil 1 tbsp

Spicy Chicken Nuggets (Chicharrones de Pollo) Recipe

Ingredients

dark rum 1/4 cup lime juice 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup sugar 1 tbsp boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 1 1/2 pounds Vegetable oil (canola oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil or other high smoke point oil)   flour 1/2 cup teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon paprika (hot or sweet) 1/2 Lime wedges Hot sauce

Source:
http://showmethecurry.com/category/appetizers
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/appetizer/

Volkswagen Jetta 1.6 trendline

Volkswagen Jetta is very impressive whether its interiors or exteriors. The extremely good figure from every side with sporty silhouette gives the car its exhilarating looks. The chrome finished trim of side window, sporty radiator grille or colored keyed bumpers gives a finishing touch to the exteriors of the car. The icing on the cake is the logo of Volkswagen that exhibits the trust and faith showed by people towards the brand. The 16 inch Toronto alloy wheels make the look of Volkswagen Jetta more robust, aggressive and stylish.

Volkswagen Jetta is available in 2 engine types. The 1.6 L Petrol engine is packed with revolutionary 5 Speed Manual Transmission that delivers an outstanding performance and is very fuel efficient. This 1.6 L engine delivers an impressive Power of 102 PS at 5600 rpm and a Maximum Torque of 148 Nm at 3800 rpm. The 1.9 L Diesel engine comes in 2 variants, one with 5 Speed Manual Transmission and the other with 6 Speed Automatic DSG Gearbox. This highly powered engine of Volkswagen Jetta produces a maximum Power of 105 PS at 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1900 rpm.

Volkswagen Jetta has everything which one expects from a luxury premium segment car, whether it is its external body, interiors, comfort and convenience, safety of passengers, power and technology or looks for that matter.

Audi A5

The upcoming Audi A5 is available in three major variants in International market- Audi A5 Cabriolet, Audi A5 Sportback and none other than Audi A5 Coupé. As for now no official announcement is made as to which model will appear on Indian roads. All the versions of Audi A5 come loaded with a FSI® direct-injection technology petrol engine and TDI Diesel engine which assures great fuel efficiency. This engine technology assures high power and breathtaking torque. The Audi A5 is claimed to be the best in segment model in case of delivering high power and torque.

Audi A5 is the third coupe in the portfolio and has implemented many design factors of Nuvolari Quattro concept. The debut model of A5 appeared with a 3.2-litre FSI V6 engine churning out a peak power of 265 PS. The car like Audi A6 would any day take peoples heart when it will come to comfort and supreme class.

Automatic Start-Stop function for greater fuel and CO2 efficiency (only available on Micro metallic inlays the 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI manual engines) Recuperation for optimal energy utilization Misfielding inhibition for diesel engines. The beautiful Audi A5 Sport back is expected to come with 2.0 TFSI petrol engine mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine will be holding 4-cylinder and the displacement would be 1984cc. Such powerful engine will give a maximum power of 180PS and beating torque of 320NM at 1500-3900 rpm. Keeping the tradition of a sports car, will give a top speed of 145mph.

Source:
http://www.cardekho.com/carmodels/Volkswagen/Volkswagen_Jetta
http://www.cardekho.com/carmodels/Audi/Audi_A5

Microsoft 234-inch Touchscreen Television

The world of television and touchscreens continues to evolve by leaps and bounds, and fine example is the lately presented Microsoft among Germans. This is a vast touchscreen 234-inch called beneath the mini Microsoft Cinema. The emphasize of this display is its magnitude, which build it impossible for us to get her into most homes.

What can be done with the touch controls on this screen?, There is no dilemma that our fingers are going to be of small use. In fact, we shall require to drag the overall arms elements on the screen. When using Microsoft movies, as seen in published reports on the network, the results are mixed and are the most striking.

All indications are that Microsoft shall start to revolve the screen around the world, particularly Europe, Taking benefit of particular events. The company needs to describe the great potential of technology and at the same time draw the concentration of consumers. Though presently not called when the next possibility to see it, is nearly confirmed to be present at CES 2012.

New Wireless Speaker with Attractive Design

Here is a latest audio gadgets recently designer reveals the wireless speaker with attractive design. The designer has tried to slice a picture of the constitution of sound waves through his design. Bluetooth technology has made the world go wireless so which is fairly a relief. It comes with very handy design seems more beautiful and trendy.

Prior we have seen a lot of audio gadgets now that jean baudrillard seeks to bring the attraction of unseen elements into life with wireless speaker. It is built in advance technology that offers you a superb sound.

One can simply pair the speaker with gadgets that come with a Bluetooth tool like phones, laptops and mp3 players. It has been formed in a truly unusual and trendy manner so which makes them all the more attractive.

Ecopad device

Here, recently yonggu do, jun-se kim and eun-ha seo designer has created its new eco gadgets named the “ecopad device” that qualities nano piezo-electricity movie beneath the depict to produces electricity and recharge itself.

Generally, nowadays users press their touchscreen display above ten thousand times a day, but now this one ecopad device is awesome since it is converted into electricity to power the revolutionary device.

Now, with ecopad charging your eco gadget would be no more a hassle. Just turn on the pad and let your fingers do the rest to juice up your device anyplace.

Source:
http://www.gadgets-world.org/2011/03/29/microsoft-has-a-234-inch-touchscreen-television/#more-1424
http://www.gadgets-world.org/2011/06/08/new-wireless-speaker-with-attractive-design/
http://www.gadgets-world.org/2011/05/31/ecopad-device/

Bike care in Monsoon

keeping your bike tuned in rains is one of the preferred ways through which you can have less maintenance issues with the bike. Heavy rains can spoil the engine within seconds. Tires should be in good condition which can grip the bike on wet surface. Always keep the bike protected with appropriate size rain cover. You also need to ride the bike with extreme care and precaution when it’s raining heavily. Headlight and brake lights must be working so that you are visible to others. Servicing plays an important role in keeping the bike safe and ready for any type of climatic change.

Tires and engine parts

Change the tires of the bike if they are worn out. If the tires are out of grip you need to change them to avoid slipping. Keeping the right pressure in the bike will increase the life of tire. Right pressure also avoids slipping and skidding chances on wet surfaces. Avoid speeding on concrete roads, any road which shines at night should be avoided as chances of slipping are more. Synthetic oil can be used to increase the life of engine and other parts related to piston chamber. High rpm might arise when you are stuck in water. In such condition use of synthetic oil will protect the engine and will reduce the wear and tear. Tire retreading can be done to get the grip back. If the tire is worn out completely then there is no point in retreading. Tire treads are important for griping the bike on wet surface.

Protective clothing a must

The rider must wear protective clothing during rains. Use of 3m Scothchlite protective wear can be ideal for wet conditions. Such protective wear glows in the dark; it also reflects light and ensures you are visible to others. Use of 3m stickers on the bike can be perfect. It will increase your visibility to others. Protective wear needs to have back and shoulder pads that can handle an accident.

Parking methods

Never park your bike near a tree. In heavy rains there are chances where the tree might fall over the bike. You can park your bike under protective area which is away from trees and street poles. Make sure you are not keeping the bike exposed in rains.

Use of lights in rains

Motor cycle lights should be working in all conditions. High and low dipper must be used according to road conditions. For highway use high beam is perfect, use of high beam can be done while overtaking only. For city riding use of low beam is perfect and according to traffic rules. Brake light must be working properly. High and low filament should be in top condition. Whenever you are planning to change lanes correct indicators must be given. At times during heavy rains it is essential to show electronic indicators instead of hand signal.

These are some of the bike tips which can be used during monsoons. Always keep your bike clean and check the brake liners before riding out. If the brake liners are damaged you need to replace them immediately.

Source:
http://www.articlezones.com/automotive/bike-care-in-india-during-monsoons.html

Benefits of Green Tea

Over the last few decades green tea has undergone many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long health benefits. Some evidence suggests that regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and contracting certain types of cancer. Green tea is supposed to be helpful in various health disorders also

Rheumatoid arthritis High cholesterol levels Cardiovascular disease Infection Impaired immune function.   Some of the benefits of green tea is below:   It not just inhibits the growth of cancer cells but also helps in killing those dangerous cells without harming any healthy cell. The greenish-yellow tea has a green, slightly astringent flavor close to the taste of the fresh leaf. Green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol. Moreover, it inhibits the abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Green tea represses angiotensin II which leads to high blood pressure & reduces the possibilities of heart attacks. Green tea can even help in preventing tooth decay. As the bacteria destroying abilities of green tea helps in preventing food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque. Green tea drinkers have lower risk for a wide range of diseases, from simple bacterial or viral infections to chronic disease including cardiovascular disease, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis. Green tea helps a lot in lowering down the sugar level in a body so its very god for a person who is suffering from diabetes. It will help them in controlling their sugar level without any extra effort. All those who want to be slim, smart & gorgeous will enjoy the green tea because it is natural & don't have any side effect. Green tea acts as an antibacterial and antiviral agent. It also helps in getting relief from influenza and diarrhea. It relieves stress, improves bone structure and delays the onset of osteoporosis. As all other tea it helps in getting relief from depression & headache which is a usual problem of a common man in this busy world. Source: http://www.indianfoodforever.com/food-guide/green-tea-health-benefits.html     All about monsoon vegetables and fruits An Indian monsoon vegetable includes those vegetables that are traditionally available between the months of mid June and mid September. Though, scientific progress has made it possible to grow these vegetables all year through, they are at their nutritional best during the monsoon season. They also suit are constitution during those months. Monsoon foods are more on the sweeter and citric side packed with a lot of nutrients that provide the necessary comfort. Some of the season vegetables found in monsoons include Brinjal, bottle gourd and ridge gourd.   Brinjal   Brinjal effectively treats enlarged spleen caused due to malaria, a disease which becomes widespread during monsoon.   It has a beneficial impact on people suffering from hypertension, diabetes and cancer.   Bottle gourd   The cooked vegetable is cooling, diuretic, sedative and anti bilious. It gives a feeling of relaxation after eating it. However, bottle gourd should not be eaten in a raw state as it may prove harmful for stomach and intestines.   It is good for people suffering from blood pressure.   Ridge gourd   Ridge gourd is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, high in dietary fiber, vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc, thiamin, iron, magnesium and manganese.   The nutritional value of gourd makes it suitable for maintaining optimum health, weight lose.   It has excellent cooling properties.   Monsoon foods are sweeter and more citric than normal and packed with a lot of essential nutrients that provide comfort and relief. Some of the best monsoon fruits are the cherries, litchi, Peach.   Cherry   The cherries you would choose should be plump with pleasing green stem and glossy skins. Do not buy cherries that are dull, spongy or damaged. Cherries that are small and hard do not have flavor and are not juicy enough. If the cherries are a little yellow you can still opt for them. After purchasing them it is best to keep them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. Cherries are perishable so finish them off soon.   litchi   You should buy litchis that are in bundles with stems and leaves and not the ones that are sold loose. The darker the color the better it will taste. Do not buy the ones with faded skins. Litchis free of marks and blemishes are better to taste and are not damaged. Eat them soon after purchase as they taste the best when fresh. They can be stored till up to a week in the refrigerator.   Peach   when you buy the peaches; ensure the flesh is firm but yields to gentle pressure. The ones which are rich yellow in color are best to taste. Sniff the peach before you buy them, a good peach should have a distinct peachy aroma.

Source:
http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php?title=Indian_monsoon_vegetables
http://www.2articles.com/story/best-fruits-and-vegetables-monsoon

Bharat Petroleum In The Fortune 2011 Global 500 List

BPCL has secured 272^nd position during 2010-11 in the prestigious list of Fortune Global 500 climbing by 35 ranks as compared to 307^th position last year. Consolidated revenues increased to US$ 34 billion from US$ 27 billion during 2010-11 resulting in year-on-year growth of 28.2 %.

Apart from BPCL, only seven other Indian companies have made it to the list of top 500 companies compiled by Fortune magazine. Among the Indian companies, BPCL jumped to 3rd position as against 4^th last year. The comparison with other Indian companies is as under:

BPCL recognized as 'Business Superbrand' yet again!

Bharat Petroleum Corporation has once again been voted as the 'Business Superbrand' in recognition of its goodwill, customer loyalty, longevity and market dominance. This recognition comes close on the heels of the status of Power Brand granted to Bharat Petroleum.

Superbrands India is an organization which promotes the discipline of brand management and pays tribute to exceptional brands in India. The organization operates globally and similar ratings of brands are done worldwide.

The 'Superbrands' are selected through a two-tier process involving consumer feedback and then scores being awarded by the Superbrands Council. The Council comprises of leaders from corporate houses and the advertising fraternity. It may be recalled that Bharat Petroleum as well as Bharatgas were recognized with the Superbrand status in earlier editions of 'Business Superbrands'.

The second item on the Fortune 500 ratings remain the same.