Rangoli June 2016 - The Overseas women`s club of Bangalore

R ANGOLI
THE
OVERSEAS
WOMEN’S
CLUB
OF BANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
JUNE 2016
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
www.owcbangalore.org
12
FOCUS ON
CHARITY
TREP
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 1
2 | The Rangoli − June 2016
THE RANGOLI
(A publication of the
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore)
Contents
Editor: HANIFA HAJI
Commissioning Editor: MARY MCAULEY
Photo Editor: KATJA GANESH
Layout: PINK LEMONADE
Distribution Team: PETRA BEKKAR AND HEIDI HOJNICKI
OVERSEAS WOMEN’S CLUB
OF BANGALORE
(A division of the Overseas Women’s
Foundation, Bangalore)
12
President: SHERRY WALTER
Secretary: SUSAN BOUVIN
12 FOCUS ON CHARITY
Treasurer: PAMELA MILNE
Vice President, Charities: MONICA DEXTER
TREP
15 EVENTS
Vice President, Fundraising: SHELLEY CAHILL-O’BRIEN
Vice President, Events I: MICHELLE EGBETOLA
Vice President, Events II: JAYSHREE (JAY) SINGH
Vice President, Advertising: NELLY MCALLISTER
Vice President, Communications: LEILA SHAYEGI
Photography Competition
Celebration
Shooting Stars
Photo Competition Winners
Honorable Mentions
Vice President, Membership I: MEREDITH MEHRA
22 LIFESTYLE
Vice President, Membership II: ASHA PREM SHAH
18
Vice President, Publications:
OVERSEAS WOMEN’S
FOUNDATION, BANGALORE
Managing Trustee: SUSHEELA M THOMAS
Trustees: FRANCES RAO,
ANILA SUBRAHMANYAM and SUSANNE PERIS
ISSUE: JUNE 2016
04 Editor’s Note
08 President’s Note
10
What’s on this month
Being Green and Going Green
24 FITNESS
Running in Bangalore
Zumba
Healthy and Strong
Qigong
32 HEALTH
5 Steps to Great Manly Skin
34 COOKING
Coconut - The Tree of Life
Copyright Overseas Women’s Club of
Bangalore (www.owcbangalore.org). All rights
reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited
unless prior approval is granted.
Printed in Bengaluru, India, by
W.Q. Judge Press.
Cover Photo Credit: "Kambala - 1st Place Culture” by Robin Paxton
This magazine is meant for private
circulation only.
Please send your letters and suggestions to owceditor@yahoo.in
Special thanks and appreciation to our members for their contribution of articles and photographs.
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
Editor’s Note
The 2016 Annual OWC Photography Competition results are in and we are excited to
share the winning photos with you in this month’s Rangoli. The winners were honoured
at the Photography Awards Ceremony held at the Ritz Carlton and thanks to our
members, we raised over Rs 80,000 which will go to help and support our charities.
This month’s charity focus is TREP, a service project of Sai Shankar Loving Lights Trust,
where poor and needy students are given the opportunity to receive free education in
a residential program. It is heartwarming to read about the extensive process that is
undertaken to ensure that deserving children are given this wonderful opportunity.
Hanifa Haji
Editor and VP Publications
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore
We’re midway through 2016 and by now a lot of us have realized that those fitness
goals we had set on January 1st have either been forgotten or are causing us that
niggling sense of guilt. Being in Bangalore we have so many opportunities to experience
different fitness regimes and this issue will perhaps introduce you to some new
activities you can explore. Beginning with Kate Sims and her love of running to Anita
Rao who indulges her Bollywood moves in Zumba and Erika Fuller who realized that
a personal trainer is so very affordable in Bangalore, you’ll then learn about Henry
Linnsen and how he flowed into Qigong!
We continue our health and lifestyle focus in Marianne Trombley’s article on using
safe, green products to help our environment, and as we’ll learn in Dr. Mukta’s article,
great skin is not just for women … men, too, are becoming more concerned about their
appearance and are willing to do what it takes to get healthy skin. And finally, Anne
Gray has written about the ubiquitous coconut, called the Tree of Life for a very good
reason; this is one of the most hardworking trees in the world!
Thank you and goodbye…
This issue of The Rangoli is my last. I have had the privilege of working with some
wonderful women this past year and have learned a tremendous amount. A publication
like this is a cooperative effort and I would like to thank all of you for your positive
comments and suggestions. A big thank you also to all who contributed articles and
photos especially Mary McAuley, Poonam Illuri and Shakera Tarachand, and of course,
to the wonderful distribution team of Petra Bekker and Heidi Hojnicki …. you ladies are
the best!
The Rangoli is only as good as your contributions … please continue to support the next
editor and send in your articles and photos to owceditor@yahoo.in
owceditor@yahoo.in
publications@owcbangalore.org
4 | The Rangoli − June 2016
Wishing you all the best!
Hanifa
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 5
OWC MEMBER DISCOUNTS
A number of our local business friends offer generous discounts with a valid OWC Membership Card.
Some other establishments will also provide a discount but don’t advertise, so show your card and ask! Conditions apply.
Hotels, Restaurants and Bars
Bliss Chocolate Lounges – 15%
discount UB City, Forum Value
Mall, Mantri Mall, Forum Mall
Caperberry, Fava, UB City –
12.5% discount food and
non-alcoholic drinks and 7%
discount on alcoholic beverages
Casa Cottage, Richmond Road –
15% discount room rates
Fishermans Wharf – 10%
discount on food and non-alcoholic
drinks
Fortune Select Trinity – 15%
discount in food and beverage
outlets
Gateway Hotel – 15% discount
on food at Northern Gate
Grand Mercure, Bangalore –
15% discount on food and soft
beverages at 12th Main and By the
Blue
Novotel, Bengaluru Techpark –
10% discount at The Square
(signature restaurant of Novotel) on
brunch, buffet, à la carte and soft
beverages. Not valid on special
occasions and during events. Cannot
be clubbed with any other offer
The Oberoi – 15% discount on
food and soft drinks at Polo Club,
Szechuan Court, Rim Nam (does
not include Sunday brunch) and Le
Jardin (does not include Sunday
brunch)
Olive Beach – 15% discount
Park Plaza, Bengaluru – 15%
discount on food at Melange,
Shao, Zaffron, The Gadang Lounge
and The Pool Bar
Portland Steakhouse & Café –
food and alcohol at: Dublin,
Dakshin, Dum Pukht Jolly, Nabobs,
Royal Afghan, Raj Pavillion, The
Grill and 20% off on Sundowners
Fridays
JW Marriott – 15% discount on
food, Beverages and Spa
The Lalit – 15% discount at 24/7
Coffee Shop, Baluchi and OKO
Le Meridian – 20% discount on
food and beverages
Leela Palace – 10% discount
across all outlets.
Marriott – 15% discount on food
and beverages, not applicable to
WBC Retail
Mövenpick – 15% discount at My
Place and Mezzalune. 10%
discount at Obsidian Bar
Bodycraft Spa & Salon – 15% off on all services at any outlet. All
services are by appointment only
CLARINS Skin Spa: - complimentary treatment valued at Rs. 1700 on
booking of any Clarins Tri active face or body treatment on the first visit
Dr. Pawan (Vet), Indiranagar – 10% off all treatment
Hamilton Realtors – 10% discount on all real estate transactions
Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golf Links:
Mon – Fri: 15% off and Sat–Sun: 20% off (including alcoholic beverages).
Discount not valid for special promotions and cannot be clubbed with
any other offer
Himalayan Dowry Store, MG road – 30% discount on carpets and
10% discount on everything else
Jean-Claude Biguine Salon – Flat 20% discount in all JCB Salons in
Royal Orchid Suites, Whitefield
ITC Windsor – 20% discount on
B:Blunt Salon – 25% off on initial visit, 10% off thereafter
Ritz Carlton – 15% discount on
Hotel Royal Orchid – 15%
at Pink Poppadom, Lido and Liquid
Asian Woman’s Spa and Asian Unisex Spa, Koramangala – 20% off
on spa and salon services
Jiva Spa, Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield – 15% off
Habanero – 10% discount.
Discount is not applicable with
other discount or promotions
Hyatt Bangalore – 20% discount
Antel Exports, Hosur Road – 15% to 25% off at factory outlet
10% discount on food
food and soft beverages in all
restaurants for party size of 8 or
less. Discount not valid on special
occasions or festivals
discount on food at Geoffrey’s Bar
and Limelight Restaurant
Services & Shopping
– 25% discount on food
SBARRO – 10% discount
Bangalore. Valid til 31 March, 2017.
Monopoly Inc – 10% discount on service charges
Montage – 15% discount on all framing services in Phoenix Market City
and Jayanagar
Mövenpick – 10% discount at Sohum Spa
Oakwood: Oakleaf, Oakwood Residence Prestige, Whitefield –
(excluding combos and other
offers); 15% discount (for group of
10 people or more)
15% discount on total bill
Shangri-La Hotel – 15% discount
Angsana Spa, Oakwood Premier Prestige, UB City – 15% discount
on food, beverages and Spa
Shiro, UB City – 10% discount on
Soul City, Oakwood Premier Prestige, UB City – 15% discount on
total bill
on all spa treatments
Angsana Oasis Spa, Prestige Ozone, Whitefield – 15% discount on
regular menu
all spa treatments
Taj West End – 15% discount at
(excluding alcohol) Mynt
(lunch/dinner, not brunch), Masala
Klub (lunch/dinner), Blue Ginger
(lunch including Sunday), Blue Bar
(all drinks including alcohol)
Park Plaza, Bengaluru – 15% off on spa and salon treatments
Toscano, Whitefield – 10%
Scandal Unisex Salon, Marathalli – 20% off on services over Rs. 100
discount
Via Milano, Koramangala –
15% discount
Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield –
15% discount at Graze, Café
Mozaic and Memories of China
Vivanta by Taj, Yeswantpur –
15% discount on food at Palette,
Azure, and Paranda
6 | The Rangoli − June 2016
Rakhi’s Fashion – Discounts of 5% - 15%
Rejuva spa, Lalit Hotel – 25% off on all services
Ritz Carlton Spa – 15% off on all services
Swaasthya Wellness – 15% off
Svisti, Cunningham Road – 5% off
S2 Spa by Emma – 20% off on massages & spas
The Palms Spa – 15% off
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 7
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
President’s Note
Hello everyone,
I am writing this letter at 36,000 feet in the air flying home to see our children. It’s the
day after the OWC Annual General Meeting and I had the honor of standing up with
the most amazing women to lead your Club. I promise to do my best to work with the
Trustees, our Executive Committee, all of our volunteers and our hundreds of members.
This is going to be a fun, exciting, and meaningful year for us as individuals and as an
organization.
Sherry Walter
President
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore
We have already begun to be more inclusive as an organization by expanding our
weekly coffees to include sites that are family-friendly. We have held more family
and couple events such as the Book Sale & Family Day Out and Sundowners – we are
expanding to meet the diverse needs of our membership. And we have brought in
new leadership across many of our Committees as those who served previously have
passed the baton. These committee members represent a wide range of ages and
different stages in life. This gives the Executive committee a well-rounded group with
experiences from which we can create a great year. I am sure that you will see more
events geared towards children, families, couples and members as the year progresses.
The last four weeks have been incredibly busy and challenging for so many of
us. And when things get busy, small misunderstandings can grow into, well, big
misunderstandings with unintended consequences. Communication is the key to us
working well together and serving the needs of our membership; but just as in a family
or a marriage, it is often also the biggest challenge. So here is my commitment to you
and my request of you.
This year I will focus on the care of our membership by trying to be kind, compassionate
and understanding. I will make mistakes, but never intentionally. And in return, I would
ask that each of us remember that we are an organization of volunteers, where no one
has to do this work and everyone is trying their best and sometimes people may feel a
way that others did not intend to convey. It is part of being human; but so is empathy
and forgiveness.
OWC website:
www.owcbangalore.org
OWC Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/
overseaswomensclub
8 | The Rangoli − June 2016
Email is a wonderful and dangerous tool. Texting is a wonderful and dangerous tool.
And WhatsApp is a wonderful and dangerous tool. But none of these tools is human
and despite emoji smiley faces and well-intended exclamation marks, none of them
is really emotional, personal or always clear. I would like to challenge all of us to use
these tools to be more efficient and accessible, but not to attack each other or vent
our bottled-up feelings. We all probably need to pick up the phone and call each other
more than we do. You may think that calling out emails or WhatsApp in a President’s
message is a small issue for such an important page of the Rangoli, but I have seen
other expat clubs be less effective and less inclusive because of misunderstandings with
these tools. Please take care of each other, be kind to each other and yourselves, be
forgiving of others and yourselves, and let us be a place of nourishment.
Learn. Love. Share. Care.
Success,
Sherry
We’re on the road again ...
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Road Trips Aren’t Measured by Mile Markers, but by Moments ...
Wednesday 1st June
Ashraya’s model rural Neelbagh School
A voyage of discovery through Karnataka’s back- country to see rural
education at its best. The hills and granite beyond the city.
• A full day trip to this rural school around 100km north east of
Bangalore, near Madanapalle / Andhra Pradesh border (an easy
drive 2 hours from Whitefield)
• Tour of facility from 10:30 to 14:00 with lunch provided at the
school (Indian vegetarian)
• School caters for children aged 5 to 16,
• 100 residential and 280 day, with almost equal girl / boy split
• Reading with pupils (Kannada medium but English taught)
• Car pooling or transport depending on numbers
• Voluntary donation of Rs. 200 (suggested) to be donated to the
charity for use in the school
• Clothing / games / book / toy donations for the residential
pupils welcomed
Be inspired. See a side of Karnataka you may not already have seen.
Sign up soon by emailing activities@owcbangalore.org or at The Leela Palace Coffee Morning
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 9
The purpose of the Overseas Women’s Club as outlined
in the Constitution:
OVERSEAS
WOMEN’S
CLUB
OF BANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
1. To promote social welfare by aiding needy public charitable projects without
restriction to caste or creed with both funds and personal involvement.
2. To welcome foreign newcomers in Bangalore and help them establish
themselves in the community.
3. To promote sociability among the members and their families.
4. To help members and their families to gain a better understanding of India
through cultural and social activities and programs.
The OWC of Bangalore supports the following charities:
1. Accept Society
2. Asha Foundation
3. Asha Niketan
4. Ashraya Children’s Home
5. Bangalore Education Trust
6. Bangalore Hospice Trust
7. Belaku Trust
8. Deena Seva Charitable Trust
9. Divine Light Trust for the Blind
10. Dominican Sisters of the
Presentation
11. Freedom Foundation
What’s On
This Month
Charity Road Trip to Ashraya, Neelbagh School
When: Wednesday June 1, 2016
Lunch Bunch – Phobidden Fruit
When: Thursday June 9, 2016
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
When: Friday June 17, 2016
Save the Date:
September 24, 2016 – OWC India Night
October 19, 2016 – Pink Elephant Sale
November 26, 2016 – Christmas Bazaar
10 | The Rangoli − June 2016
12. Helpline Charitable Trust­–Project
Vishwas
13. Jagruthi
14. Jeevodaya Childcare India
15. Navachetana
16. New Ark Mission
17. ProVision Asia
18. Sai Shankar Loving Lights Trust
19. Shelia Kothavala Inst. for Deaf
20. Shristi Special Academy
21. Spastic Society of Karnataka
22. Vision India
VP publications position
is open in OWC Executive
Committee
For more information Contact Sherry Walter.
(president@owcbangalore.org)
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 11
FOCUS ON CHARITY
TREP and Sai
Shankar Loving
Lights Trust
How did you spend
February 14th? With your
sweetheart? Well it was a
different kind of Valentine’s
Day for some here at TREP!!
I
It was our yearly admission day for
2016-2017 where students in 5th
standard (class) have a chance to
try their luck to be part of TREP, a
free education programme. Families
started descending on us by 6:15 am
although the flyer said we start at 9
am! To accommodate the ‘early birds’
we too started our registration early.
You may be wondering what TREP
is. It is an OWC sponsored charity,
the service project of Sai Shankar
Loving Lights Trust, helping poor and
needy students aged 11 to 16. TREP
which stands for Total Residential
Education Program, emphasizes
values, devotion and life skills as well
as academics. Originally started in
Coorg District in 1991 for poor tribal
boys, in Bengaluru it started in 2006
for both girls and boys (not many
tribals here!). Many TREP students are
orphaned or abandoned, or selected
from single families.
12 | The Rangoli − June 2016
To continue .... on that bright sunny
morning 388 students poured in to
try their luck at securing a seat in
TREP. After registering there was an
entrance exam in English, Math and
Science. If you had studied in Kannada
medium you could take the exam in
Kannada.
TREP alumni, volunteers, staff and
current TREP students, about 120
people in total, were kept extremely
busy that day. Registering, invigilating
and evaluating the exams in the
morning were the main tasks. In the
By
Seethamma Levine,
Co-founder
auditorium there were talks and
videos explaining the program to the
candidates and their families. Alumni,
present students and their parents all
shared their experiences.
It was a family affair as moms and
dads brought younger siblings along
and orphans brought their neighbors.
All were ravenously hungry by lunchtime and were given a delicious meal,
about 1,200 people in all. After lunch
the results were announced, good
news for those who had passed!
The next process was gathering
FOCUS ON CHARITY
the family financial and biodata to
try and determine how needy the
family was. Oral English exams were
then conducted for those students.
These consisted of the candidates
reading out loud and answering
comprehensive questions on what
they read. They were also engaged
in chatting with the volunteers to
determine their level of
spoken English.
The following weekend was spent in
interviewing each student and their
families to see if we thought this was
a good match for TREP. The ones who
were selected from this group were
now invited to spend 3 days at TREP
for a trial. Living with the present
TREP students and staff gives us a
pretty good idea of who will fit in best
for next year. Lots of activities and
disciplines fill their non-school hours.
Some of the candidates find out real
soon if they are homesick, while
others see they are independent
enough to live in a hostel even though
they are only 10 or 11 years old!
At the end of the long weekend, after
the candidates go home, all our TREP
students and staff sit together and
share thoughts and experiences about
each candidate. After eating, sleeping,
working, playing and praying together
for 3 days, we have some sense of
who should join our TREP family. We
discuss strengths and weaknesses as
best as we can and collectively make
our final choices.
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 13
FOCUS ON CHARITY
At this point, we are almost done.
The next step is for some of the
staff to go and visit each of the
candidate’s homes to verify the family
information given earlier. By seeing
their homes first-hand we can really
see the need. This part can be a little
tough as many families live in very
small quarters making us feel like
kings and queens the way we live! At
the home visit we finally announce
the good news to the ones accepted
and they are given a few books to
read during the summer vacation. The
kids and families are jubilant to know
they are selected and will soon join
the TREP family!
an opportunity for free balanced
education to poor and needy students
- a real Valentine of love.
Yes, ours is a unique way to
celebrate Valentine’s day - to give
We just wanted to share some news
from our side with our OWC family.
14 | The Rangoli − April
June 2016
You are always welcome to take a
Sunday drive and visit us, stay for
lunch and enjoy nature with our
students. Or if you would like to add
to the TREP program by volunteering
with us, we would really appreciate
your support of our students in
English, Math and Science tuition
after school or on weekends, as well
as regular or one-off craft, dance,
basketball and badminton programs.
Please call Sriram +91 99004 64814 or
Bobji +91 98455 10804 if you can help.
Monica Dexter (monica@the-dexters.
com) is our contact person from
the OWC. Sai Shankar Loving Lights
Trust, the TREP program, is located in
Bengaluru North past Yelahanka and
near the Angsana Spa and Resort.
EVENTS
The 2016 Annual OWC Photography Competition was a resounding success! A
huge thank you to Katja Ganesh, Rangoli Photo Editor, who took charge of the
competition and the Awards Ceremony held on April 30, 2016. Katja together
with OWC Vice-Presidents Michelle Egbetola, Jay Singh and Shelley O’Brien
worked tirelessly to make this a memorable event.
We would also like to thank our esteemed judges, Brendan Auld, Hema
Narayanan and Shreekumar KB, who had the difficult task of choosing our
winners from this year’s wonderful entries.
Brendan Auld has spent his working
life in the photography industry.
His main focus was commercial
and industrial and he was the chief
photographer for a worldwide Aerial
Survey company. Brendan worked for
Eastman Kodak heading up several
of their labs in the UK. He is now
retired and focusing his photographic
activities in the USA, Europe, Africa
and now India.
Hema Narayana, is a photo journalist
and writer in Bangalore.
She is a
Licensed Artist with Getty Images
and Shutter Stock and has published
her images and travel articles in
many leading Indian newspapers,
magazines, journals and blogs. Hema
also teaches photography of all
genres to all age groups.
Sreekumar is the Chief Operating
Officer at Honeycomb Creative
Support, a creative marketing &
design communications agency
in Bangalore, where he heads the
print division that does fine art
and archival printing for artists
and photographers.
He has been
an instrumental person in the
promotions of various photographers
from around the nation for various
exhibitions.
A special thank you to USL, a Diageo company, for setting up the
cocktail bar and to Steve Walter for the hilarious auctioning of the
winning photos. We raised over Rs 80,000 and could not have done
this without the support of our members. Thank you!
The
TheRangoli
Rangoli−June
−June2016
2016|| 15
EVENTS
Shooting
Stars
By
Jane Reddyhoff
The standard of photography submitted to the OWC photo
competition is always high, but this year there seemed to be
entries from Steve McCurry and Jan Allinder themselves. It’s
true that we currently live in one of the most breathtakingly
beautiful countries, rich with stunning landscapes, exotic
wildlife and a photogenic population, but you still need the
talent to be able to interpret what you see into a stimulating
and timeless photograph.
On our arrival at The Ritz-Carlton
Hotel, we were treated to drinks,
canapés and the chance to view the
best photographic entries. All the
images were laid out in the reception
area of the event and we were asked
to vote for our favourite images to be
printed in the OWC calendar.
Katja Ganesh, The Rangoli's Picture
Editor, did a sterling job presenting
the winning entries and awards. The
categories; Culture, Nature, Faces
and Places–all contained images so
sumptuous, they made me want to
pack a bag immediately and travel.
I used to work as a Picture Editor
in the UK and being at the awards
evening reminded me of the joy of
being able to look at an image and, as
Katja commented, “Be able to travel,
without leaving your seat”.
Tim Doup, Winner, Nature
16 | The Rangoli − June 2016
Not all the photos were shot in far
away places, there was a winning
image of beautiful frangipani flowers
- “Tree Petals Floating Downstream”
by Chris Holt. Chris revealed it was
actually shot in Palm meadows pool,
with his wife helping the flowers
float together in time for the shot.
So you don’t have to travel far to find
beautiful images.
The panel of judges consisted of
professional Photographers and
Editors, who gave their opinions
and advice on various aspects of
photography including why certain
images received merit and advice on
image resolution sizes for printing.
It is so disappointing when you take
a photo you love but cannot print it,
because you shot it on a really old
phone, or the camera you used was
set to a small photo setting. Knowing
the very basics can be really useful.
Hearing from the winners was
also interesting, each had a story
of how they found the subject of
their images and how they were
shot. A favourite of mine was “Jain
Priest, Shravanabelagola” by Maaike
Bottema. The striking orange robes of
the priest set against the grey statue
he was washing, was beautifully
mesmirising, so too was the innocent
face of a small boy in “ANU life”,
EVENTS
OWC Photography celebration at
The Ritz-Carlton
also by Maaike Bottema. One of
the esteemed judges Brendan Auld,
could not speak more highly of the
technical skill used to shoot “Spot
Billed Pelican, Ranganathittu Bird
Sanctuary” by Tim Doup.
two charities chosen for the current
OWC Charity Food Drive, Jagruthi
and Navachetana. I was totally
unprepared to take the mic, but as
a new Charity Committee member,
Steve invited me to stand and say
a few words about Jagruthi, one of
the charities I look after. It is easy to
forget that the money raised at OWC
events is vital, vital for the children at
the Jagruthi home care centres, who
rely on donations to be able to have a
balanced diet and attend school. Vital
for the patients at Navachetana who
are also in need of basic food supplies
and good medical facilities.
After a delicious buffet dinner, Steve
Walter, Sherry’s husband, continued
to compere the evening, successfully
auctioning framed photographs and
making us laugh continually with his
lightning fast wit. Seriously, the man is
hilarious.
The proceeds from selling the framed
photos, are going directly to the same
Steve Walter, Auctioneer
After a successful evening of
fundraising, the night would not have
been complete without an after event
drink at The Ritz-Carlton’s rooftop
bar. So the usual suspects continued
to enjoy the evening with cocktails
and dancing underneath the balmy
Bangalore sky.
All OWC events are organised with
two specific goals in mind, to get
members together to enjoy each
others company and to raise as much
money as possible for the 22 charities
that OWC support. OWC’s new
events team, Michelle Egbetola and
Jay Patel-Singh, did a great job with
this evening and they have lots more
events in the pipeline for members
to enjoy. There are so many talented,
interesting people within the OWC,
lets continue to share our knowledge
and experiences with each other by
attending future OWC events!
Maike Bottema, Winner, Faces
Robin Paxton, Winner, Culture
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 17
Jain Priest Shravanabelagola
by Maaike Bottema, 3rd place, Culture
FEATURE
Kambala
by Robin Paxton, 1st place, Culture
Painted Sawtooth
by Anne Gray, 3rd place, Nature
Father of the Nation
by Ami Patel, 2nd place, Culture
Tree Petals
Floating
Downstream
18 | The
Rangoli
− June 2016
by Chris Holt, 2nd place, Nature
Spot Billed Pelican Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
by Tim Doup, 1st place, Nature
FEATURE
ANU life
by Maaike Bottema, 1st place, Faces
Old Lady
by Isabelle Cepeda-Felix, 2nd place, Faces
Calm Waters
by Amanda de Froberville, 2nd place, Places
Women Queuing for The Golden Temple, Amritsar
by Chris Holt, 3rd place, Faces
Varanasi
by Irina Masna, 1st place, Places
Sunset at Fatehpur Sikri
by Ami Patel, 3rd place, Places
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 19
FEATURE
Taj in the City
by Ami Patel
He's Behind You!
by Robin Paxton
The Ganges
by Isabelle Cepeda-Felix
Temple traffic
by Amanda de Froberville
Vernal Hanging Parrot Chicks Nagarhole
by Tim Doup
Bengal Tiger
by Pauline Pettinella
20 | The Rangoli − June 2016
FEATURE
by SatvinderChahil
Sadhu
by Isabelle Cepeda-Felix
Beautiful flowers Kerala
by Jane Reddyhoff
Taj Sunrise
by Kori Fisher
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 21
LIFESTYLE
Being Green
and Going Green in India
By
Marianne Trombley
Moving to India – how exciting! That was one of your first
thoughts when you heard the news, wasn’t it? As we all
know, quick on the heels of that come the other different
and often conflicting thoughts that make you think you’re
going a little crazy at best, but certifiably manic-depressive
at other times.
their expiration date. I got it through
my thick skull that the people of India
are not hiding all the good cheese
and lunchmeat from me (I used to
moan about not being able to find it)
but that while I miss it, most Indian
people have never even tasted it
and unless they travel outside of
the country, never will! I visited my
housekeeper’s and my driver’s homes
and was hit square between the eyes
with the reality that they do not have
sinks, toilets, closets or drawers full
of sheets and towels, nor carpets or
precious objects on their shelves – so
how could I expect them to know how
to care for mine?
A
After all, you were pretty comfortable
where you were and knew where you
were going. The job, home, schools,
savings plans and traditions were
all in place and you had a handle on
them. “Retiring” at your young age,
and being compensated for living
a hardship that can include cooks,
ironers, gardeners, and even helpers
for your housekeeping gave you Rock
Star status – a legend in your own
time among your old friends back
home.
You are probably like me and my
friends, armed with an unusable
degree packed away in a storage
box and very little training in home
management, which is what we really
need! Still, we have that basic instinct
to not only “nest”, but to use our
energy to make our homes a refuge
and place of peace and serenity for
our spouses, children and visitors. I
have tried so many ways to do that:
Feng Sui, cooking classes, language
lessons and spending huge sums of
money on “excess baggage” when
bringing boxes and cans of foods in
my suitcase and on shipping charges
for online orders from our favorite
22 | The Rangoli − June 2016
stores back home. None of that was
the answer. I found my solution in a
few simple things: reaching out for
friendship, getting good household
help referred by people we know and
trust, and completely accepting, like
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, that
“We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!”
At long last, after having lived here
more than one year, I have whittled
down the number of times I go
shopping in search of the unavailable
and only getting confused looks from
the shop workers. I bought a small
pitcher and learned that, if I only
open one of those silly little bags of
milk at a time, they last days longer
than what is printed on the side as
In short, I learned the hard way.
When I do go out, I am still frustrated
by what I do not understand. I see
commuters at the bus-stop across
from the new hospital in Whitefield
and fear about what they may be
breathing from the toxic and foamy
pool that is behind that bus-stop. And
LIFESTYLE
who isn’t guilty of photographing
the cows walking through downtown
Bangalore or the plucked chickens
hanging on Whitefield Road that
are being singed by sparks from
the welding shop next-door? Shops
charge extra for “carry bags”, yet I
wonder if my own household staff
recognizes that the movement
behind that is recycling and lessening
waste? I may not be able to stop the
men from urinating wherever and
whenever morning, noon and night,
but I can save money and help India
– albeit just a little – by cutting down
on the amount of waste that my own
home is contributing.
I’ve done the internet searches,
read and re-read “Helpful Hints from
Heloise” and more than a dozen
blogs with names like “Frugal Mom”
and “Clean Queen”, and I’ve tested
these recipes over the last six
months in my own home.
Yes, at first I had difficulty
finding the ingredients,
but I now know – and
so do you if you’re
reading this – that
what we call Rubbing
Alcohol is referred to
as Surgical Spirits here
in India, the pharmacies
in the larger malls are a good source
for both spirits, and the essential
oils are available nearly everywhere.
Both my driver and housekeeper
have proclaimed the window cleaner
and furniture polish as “Very Good,
Madame!”; what I refer to as “Scat”
is effective in keeping my kittens from
climbing up the curtains – at least for
a day or two, but it is so economical
and air-freshening that re-spraying
is a good thing! The Daily Shower
Cleaner? Well, we shower daily and
back home we would
use a store-bought
product to
keep the shower door clean and the
soap scum down (besides, I was the
housecleaner!). Here our showers
are glass on three sides and my Daily
Shower Cleaner is very effective in
keeping it clear for the two weeks
between window cleanings. My
husband is sensitive to the smell
of the Hydrogen Peroxide, so he
showers first and leaves it to me to do
the spraying.
Use up the products that you
currently have on the shelf, of
course. Then save the
empty spray bottle
and fill it with one
of these:
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 23
FITNESS
Running
in Bengaluru
By
Kate Sims
I had been in India just a short time and I remember I was
still in the "shell shocked" phase when I heard a friend of a
friend raving about the Kaveri Trail Run. It took me a year
and a half to get running again in India; finding friends,
cream cheese, dish washer detergent and Lurpack butter
seemed to take up running time. But after a summer spent
running in the Fells in the Lake District I thought the time
had come to brave running the streets of Whitefield.
I
Here is an important piece of advice
for you aspiring runners out there:
when choosing running partners for
your "village" runs, it is important
to be able to outpace said partner.
Unfortunately, I choose badly – a
great running partner, good company
but still faster than me ... street dog
fodder.
I entered the 21km Kaveri Half
Marathon with loads of support from
my fantastic husband. My training
was mainly on the roads in our estate
since I did not feel safe running alone
out on the roads and the street
dogs did nothing to inspire me with
confidence (although they were no
doubt helpful with speed training).
To alleviate the boredom of running
up and down the streets, I listened to
podcasts during the longer runs while
during interval training, my screaming
legs and wheezing chest helped to
24 | The Rangoli − June 2016
keep the mind focused!!!
The Kaveri Trail Run is held on the
banks of the Kaveri river near Mysore.
We booked a holiday to Coorg for a
few days before the race and then
drove to Mysore, which was on the
route back, for an overnight stop.
The race organisers were fantastic
and since I first thought I would not
be able to collect my race kit on the
appointed day, being in Coorg at the
time, they made provisions for me to
pick it up on the day of the run. As it
happened, said running partner kindly
picked it up for me in Bangalore.
We stayed at the quirky Green Hotel
in Mysore, coincidentally the same
hotel that the pre-race pasta party
was held at. It was an early evening
of banter and pasta since I had to be
awake at some unearthly hour the
next morning.
On race morning I found myself
stumbling around in the dark trying
to locate my gear and pin my number
on my running shirt without attaching
excess bits of stomach to it. All this
while not disturbing the peaceful
snoring, I mean slumber, of one
aforementioned fantastic husband
and two angelic (they were asleep)
children.
I have to say, being my first 21
km race in India, I was somewhat
sceptical of the start time and well,
general organisation on race day. My
scepticism was unfounded. It was a
really well organised, friendly and
fun race. There were enough toilets
(a very important aspect of prerace readiness) and, since in India it
seems that fewer women run than
in other places I have run, there was
no queue for the ladies porta loos
… quite revolutionary!!! The race
FITNESS
started on time, the km markers
were easy to spot, the supporters
shouted words of encouragement
and runners smiled and waved. While
running (in between gasping for air)
you can glimpse a different aspect
of life in India: men digging silt out
of the river and loading into wagons
that stand, with their oxen engines,
submerged in water, farmers tooting
to pass you on their motorbikes and
even the occasional tractor!! It is an
out and back route … the last km
before the turn around point was
a little frustrating since it turned
into single track. In places you were
forced to go the pace of those ahead
(or those behind were forced to go
mine!). At the finish line, I was met
by my wonderful support crew and
given a great medal! It is not a race if
you are looking for a personal best;
it is however a wonderful, friendly,
fun trail race with lovely views, and
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 25
FITNESS
a great escape from the craziness of
the city. I am already looking forward
to next year's race. Upon my return
to Bangalore, and still on a post race
high, I signed up to do the Bengaluru
Half Marathon.
I was feeling somewhat ill with nerves
when we convened in Palm Meadows
at the usual pre-dawn race departure
time. I have to admit I was regretting
my decision to run but what a race!!!
The organisation was outstanding,
a truly world-class race. There were
literally thousands of runners, but
everything, as far I could see,
went smoothly.
The half marathon started promptly,
it was a well-marked route with
water and food throughout and
medical stations on hand, along with
26 | The Rangoli − June 2016
marshals ready to spray one’s tired
limbs with an anti-cramping agent or
pass you a banana or shout words of
encouragement. There were a couple
of teams of tireless drummers who
added to the carnival atmosphere.
And what a really special way to see
the city. Hardly any cars on our route
through town … truly marvellous. It
is still a race in a very busy city centre
so a couple of road crossings are
required: a good excuse to catch your
breath or test your interval training
with a sprint between the cars.
I would recommend this race to
everyone. There were all sorts of
people running from contestants
attired in lycra to those in a salwaar
kameez. Both young and old, fit and
not quite so fit. The race has 5km,
10km, 21km and 42km categories – a
distance for everyone but I would
highly recommend the half marathon:
the start and end is through Cubbon
Park with a little trot to Ulsoor
Lake and back in between. A truly
wonderful way to see the city. And
at the end everyone gets a fantastic
medal and a full Indian breakfast!!!
How cool is that?
I have now decided one of the very
best ways to enjoy the scenery,
culture and hospitality that Bengaluru
has to offer is by taking part in a
running race. You can aim for an
ultra distance (as some of the more
crazy Swedes have done … super
impressive) to the more conventional
42, 21, 10 or 5kms. The organisation
and friendliness of the races has
impressed me so much, and I have
loved exploring on foot.
FITNESS
z umba!
By
Anita Rao
Z
Zumba (a Latin-inspired
workout regime) is sweeping
the country and fast
becoming one of the more
popular ways of exercising
and getting active. It was
created by Columbian
dancer and choreographer
Alberto ‘Beto’ Perez. The
choreography incorporates
different forms of dance like
Salsa, Hip-Hop, Meringue,
Cha-cha-cha, Samba, Mambo
and lately, Bhangra (a form
of local Punjabi dance). The
steps are kept simple so that
participants don’t get too
involved in getting it right
and lose out on the fun.
My tryst with it started quite
accidently while I was working out
at my regular gym. At the time I was
living in Copenhagen, Denmark with
my family. Since the fitness-dance
trend seemed to be reaching an all
time high, I decided to try it, even
though I’m no dancer. So I put on
my sneakers and headed to a Zumba
class. All my doubts disappeared as
soon as the infectious music started.
Students of all ages, shapes and sizes
attended the class which was held in a
suburb of Copenhagen. And boy! Am
I hooked since then! It’s been over
6 years now and I still enjoy it very
much. I’ve been going 4 to 5 times a
week all along and feel restless on the
days that I do miss it. It’s usually an
hour long class and I am drenched in
sweat at the end of it. The fact that an
hour of Zumba can make you feel like
you’re dancing at a party is a big part
of this workout’s appeal. It’s also a
fun yet effective way of incorporating
cardio into your routine.
When I moved back to India after
about 10 years of being out of the
country, I wasn’t too sure if I would
find any Zumba classes or places to
workout. I remember growing up
in Bangalore and rarely seeing any
gyms. Now, all that has changed with
countless studios and gyms catering
to all kinds of fitness enthusiasts.
Luckily, I found one right down my
street and the instructors are
amazing too!
In India, fitness is fast becoming a
serious business. Only a decade ago,
it would have been hard to imagine
all this but it’s not surprising to find
middle aged women swinging their
hips alongside teenage girls and boys
and doing their best to keep up with
the Latino beats.
Combining dance and intense cardio,
it is the perfect workout for someone
with high energy and a short attention
span. Zumba is the kind of fitness
exercise that I like to do as it is
different, effective and above all,
enjoyable.
It is also natural that Zumba would
thrive in India. Even the most
rhythmically challenged of us has
grown up with Bollywood music. We
have all danced at a wedding and it
isn’t too many hops skips and jumps
from there to a Zumba class.
So, it seems the New Indian has
woken up to the idea that exercise
is essential to good health and that
it can be a lot of fun too, thanks to
Zumba.
Like we say- Ditch the workout: Join
the Zumba Party!
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 27
FITNESS
Healthy
and
Strong
in Bangalore
By
Erika Arnold
For better or worse, I have
a penchant for to-do lists,
with a special affinity for the
unrealistic variety. When
my husband Christopher
accepted his 2 ½ year
assignment in Bangalore
(our first expat gig), I trailed
my spouse and my high
expectations trailed me.
E
Even before our plane landed on
Indian soil, my personal mandate
was polished and brimming: travel
anywhere more accessible from
India than our home in the US; learn
Kannada, Indian cooking and yoga;
take up meditation; become a student
of Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam; stay
at an ashram to unleash a long string
of personal triumphs and nuanced
ah-hahs a la Eat, Pray, Love; research
NGOs and volunteer time and money
in accordance … and more. If I could
also get my recipes and photographs
28 | The Rangoli − June 2016
in order, I thought that would also
be dandy — I could do that from the
other side of the planet, I reasoned,
and after all, I'd have so much time on
my hands.
Fast forward fifteen months — my
halfway mark in India — and already
a host of memories fill my mind
and heart. My husband, stepson
and I have traveled to a number of
fascinating places, trips inherently
valuable and made even more so in
sharing new experiences as a family.
I've made friendships with expats and
locals who feed me and help me to
see Indian culture through a variety
of lenses. On Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays my hubby and I chant
and laugh and try new ways of
moving with the yogi who comes to
teach us basic Iyengar yoga — I enjoy
how it feels in my body but mostly
I relish trying something new with
Christopher. There are still the elusive
photograph and recipe projects.
On the language front, beyond an
occasional namaskar, sadly I'm only
speaking English. Other ideas hang
in the ether — some I will get to and
many I won't. My lifelong lesson of
simplifying, letting go and loosening
up continues in the garden city.
But one choice I made fifteen months
ago has served as an unexpected
anchor during my time here. For all
the things I will have done in India,
this one is a game changer.
I joined a gym.
You joined a gym, you ask? What's
the big deal about joining a gym? You
could do that anywhere!
True, it is a rather pedestrian notion.
Join a gym doesn't have the same
ring as master Ayurvedic science or
hike the Himalayas. It's not the first
time I've joined a gym and it won't
be the last. While joining a gym
provides a social outlet, a sense of
accomplishment and a balance to
some of life's indulgences, that's all
true regardless of location. While
FITNESS
of the house. Some of you will
laugh at this one, but for my
fellow introverts out there—or
for others who sometimes find
the stimulation of Bangalore a
wee bit overwhelming—you will
understand when I say it helps to
have something to show up for.
Each day I wave to the pharmacist
at the end of our street, count
how many cows I pass, nod at
the cobbler as I make the bend
near his shop. Sometimes on the
way home I talk with a neighbor
or stop at the corner store. In
all of this, I feel a tiny part of my
community.
going to the gym helps me regulate
my energy and mood, boost my body
image and lends a special thrill those
days I achieve something new and
prideful, I could accomplish all those
things in New York or Shanghai or
Sidney. So what's so special about
joining a gym in Bangalore?
Plenty.
Why I love going to the gym in
Bangalore:
• Going to the gym provides a sense
of structure to my mornings and
thus to my days. In India, I don't
go to a job, I don't drive anyone
to school, I don't even clean
my own house or cook my own
dinner. Going to the gym helps
me maintain a sense of rhythm
and routine: when my day starts
in a healthy, purposeful way, I can
usually count on the rest of the
day following suit.
• Going to the gym gets me out
• Going to the gym introduces me
to local Bangaloreans whose
perspectives vary from those
of my expat friends. In addition
to the camaraderie that comes
from huffing and puffing our
way through workouts together,
casual conversation with my gym
mates has taught me something
about Indian family life, food,
holidays, religious customs, even
restaurants to try and vacation
destinations to consider.
fitness goals, likely at a fraction
of what it would cost you back
home?
• While I have been a more or
less regular exerciser for several
years, I have oftentimes wanted
to spend more time at the gym,
to make greater progress on
my fitness goals, to see more
visible results. At the same time
I've found it difficult to commit
the additional time and energy,
unwilling to sacrifice something
else on my to-do list. When I
moved to India, I said to myself
“If I don't do it now (with all the
resources available to me here)
I'm never going to do it.” In that
sense, it is a wholeheartedly
unique opportunity, and the
reason I propel myself to keep
up my routine. For all the things
I will have done in India, this is
the thing I do for myself. This is
changing myself in motion.
• Gym memberships and personal
training in particular are of
tremendous financial value here.
While I opt for a mix of group
classes and working with a trainer
at my gym, I know others who
work with a trainer 1:1 at home.
Are you kidding? How many of
us could do that in our home
country? We're all familiar with
affordable indulgences such as
five star lunches or trips to the
spa. Why not also indulge in
personal support to reach your
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 29
By
Henry Linnsen
Qigong!
FITNESS
"Thanks to Qigong I haven´t
had a cold or illness since
2007", says Henry Linnsén,
instructor and regular
practitioner from Sweden.
I
I became an instructor 9 years ago
when a colleague, who was an
instructor, invited me to try Qigong
(pronounced chee kung). She also
pushed me to sign up for the Qigong
instructor training a month later. I
haven´t regretted it at all!
The type of Qigong that I teach is a
medical system of Qigong developed
by Grandmaster Dr. Ming Pang in
the 1970s and 1980s and the actual
program is called "Lift up qi" and
takes about 15 minutes for a beginner
to perform.
What is Qigong?
"Isn´t Qigong like Tai-Chi and Martial
arts?". That is a frequent question I
get asked about Qigong. To make it
a short answer, I have read and been
told that Tai Chi is a martial art and
Qigong is purely for healing. Another
thing is that they have different
movements in their respective
program. I was also told that Tai Chi
is "hidden karate" since the martial
art karate was forbidden a couple of
thousands of years ago and therefore
the fast movements had to be hidden
in slow movements.
Qigong as a word can be described
as Qi = life energy/prana and "gong"
= cultivate, grow. Putting the words
together and interpreting it gives the
meaning, "Cultivation of your life
energy/prana". One other frequent
question I get is, "How often do I need
to practice?”. I usually respond with,
“How fast did you learn to ride a bike?
How much effort did you put into your
learning? Did you have to unlearn
things to learn how to ride the bike?
Did you have to let go of your fears?”.
These questions hopefully indicate
that one has to make some other
30 | The Rangoli − June 2016
efforts in order to get physical, mental
and spiritual benefits.
Who can practice Qigong?
"Isn´t Qigong just for old men and
women who cannot preform yoga or
FITNESS
go to fitness classes?". My experience
is that the practice suits anyone at
any age and with any disability. You
can stand, sit or even lay down in
order to practice. A Qigong student
can certainly sweat from the Qigong
practice but that is not the aim. The
student should feel energized, calm,
grounded, less pain and/or light in
his or her body and mind after a
class. Another benefit that you can
experience is a "silent mind" for a
longer period. Even after one or two
classes it is possible for a student to
practice at home on a regular basis
since there are home-made Qigong
training videos accessible on YouTube.
What are the benefits from practicing
Qigong?
The program "Lift up qi" is designed
to reduce your stress and stress
symptoms. When you stress the
sympathetic nervous system activates
and your body reacts and is ready
for "fight or escape". Adverse known
affects from long term stress are:
• the heart starts to beat faster,
• the immune system function
decreases,
• the production of red blood
platelets decreases,
• the digestion system slows down
significantly,
• the adrenals start to produce
adrenalin and cortisol, well known
to harm the body.
Practicing Qigong activates the
parasympathetic nervous system and
healing can start to take place. Some
of the benefits you might experience
are:
• breathing calms down and
becomes deeper,
• prana/life energy enhances in
your body,
• prevention and mitigation of
diseases,
• the immune functions enhance,
• a feeling of overall well being
comes in to your mind and body,
• the joints loosen up and pain can
reduce or disappear.
These are just a few examples on how
Qigong can help.
"Lift up qi" helps you to exchange
qi/prana with the universe and
bring more qi/prana into your
body. The gentle, slow movements
and visualizations bring about a
meditative state that help open
energy blockages in the body, helping
the body/mind heal from disease.
Why I love Qigong
The practice has helped me stay
energized, more aware of the present,
feel less stressed, free from pain and
stiffness and also enhanced/improved
my yoga practice. I also haven´t been
sick or had a cold since 2007. I can
use some of the techniques I learnt
in order to remain patient and that is
very useful for me here in Bangalore.
Qigong has made me more aware of
myself and my behaviour and I can
look upon myself from the "outside”
and more often than before, stop
myself from getting into a fight with
my partner. During the years I have
found that I didn´t have to opt out of
junk food since it happened naturally.
What also happened is that I almost
stopped watching TV, opted out some
of the people in my circle of friends,
and started to listen more to my
heart and use it as a guide in difficult
"life questions". I have seen and
heard of Qigong students who have
healed from injuries, severe migraine,
untreatable knee injuries, depression
and even low self esteem. The best
part is that Qigong has shown me
that healing can take place instantly! I
don´t need to wait years and years for
a miracle. Seen it, experienced it!
The
TheRangoli
Rangoli−June
−June2016
2016|| 31
HEALTH
5 steps to
Great Manly
Skin
By
Dr Mukta Sachdev, MD
Consultant Dermatologist
There are many skin myths and facts and we are introducing
a series of skin and hair care articles addressing common
complaints for the Rangoli. I thought we would kick off
the series with male skin care as this is something not
commonly addressed and tends to get overlooked .
G
Great skin care for men doesn’t
have to be wrought with expensive
lotions and potions. And thankfully,
taking care of your skin no longer
carries the embarrassing stigma of
metrosexuality. It’s just normal —
even if your skin isn’t.
So for the gentleman who is just used
to getting up in the morning, washing
your face with a bar of soap in the
shower and running out the door, it's
time to step up your skin care game.
The basic fact is that men’s skin is
different: it tends to be thicker, oilier
and if there is acne or pimples, it
tends to be more severe, and of
course the shaving factor needs to be
considered.
It is a foregone conclusion that men
like less complicated regimens so
“keeping it simple” is the new men’s
skin care mantra.
32 | The Rangoli − June 2016
5 Steps to Great Manly Skin!
1. Wash your face with a good
cleanser. This is a no-brainer.
Men are often guilty of taking very
hot showers and using harsh soaps
or face scrubs as they feel their skin
is oily. This tends to make your skin
dry and it will make your skin appear
wrinkled and and much older. It is
important to choose a gentle cleanser
that will cleanse the skin from the dirt
and oil that can accumulate without
drying out the skin.
There are several men’s face
washes available which will cleanse
without drying and if you are not
comfortable with a face wash, then
a moisturizing bar of soap will do the
needful. Many of these now contain
colloidal oatmeal that hydrates while
cleansing. There are some fabulous
advanced foam cleansers which men
love to use and there’s also a great
new charcoal face cleanser to combat
the excessive pollution in the air.
2. Choose a good razor.
A quality razor can be a lifetime
item, so choose your weapon wisely.
Choose a razor that fits your skin
sensitivity and beard coarseness.
Many razors now have lubricating
strips that can protect the skin after
shaving and it is important to watch
for the extra blades as they can
sometimes pull the hairs below the
skin a little too deep.
A moisturizing shaving gel is key to
providing a barrier of protection
while shaving, so slather that on.
Shave in the shower or immediately
afterwards, as the facial hairs are
much softer from the warm water and
steam.
3. Use an after-shave balm.
After-shave hydrates and soothes
the skin. Your after-shave should be
alcohol free as alcohol dries your
skin; use a soothing after-shave balm
to reduce any burning sensation or
roughness.
4. Don't skip the facial moisturizer.
Moisturizing daily will keep you skin
HEALTH
soft and smooth. Fragrance-free
products are easily available and
because they have no smell, are
preferred by men and also well suited
for sensitive skin.
There are many moisturizing products
in gel form and now in spray form so
they are not greasy or sticky and are
much more acceptable to men. Don’t
forget to use the moisturizer at night
before you go to sleep.
a separate bottle of sunscreen handy.
There are now plenty of gel based and
spray sunscreen products which are
not greasy and sticky and men tend
to prefer these products and will use
them regularly.
5. Never leave home without
applying sunscreen.
If you can find a moisturizer that
contains SPF30 or higher, then you're
way ahead. But it doesn't hurt to keep
Men who don't use sunscreen
increase their risk of getting sun
damage, which may result in redness,
irritation, extra blood vessels and
skin pigmentation. On a more holistic
note … eat a balanced diet, restrict
caffeine, alcohol and smoking, drink
plenty of water, get regular exercise
and minimize stress. All these work
together to maintain great skin.
In this competitive work arena, having
good skin can be an extra bonus and
men can also stay looking youthful
with healthy skin.
Healthy skin is happy skin!!
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 33
COOKING
Coconut
The Tree of Life
By
Anne Gray
The Geeky Bit
The coconut tree, cocus nucifera, is a member of the family
Arecaceae, found in tropical regions. The term coconut
can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit,
which botanically-speaking is not a nut but a drupe: a fruit
with a hard covering enclosing the seed (peaches and olives
being other examples).
L
Life Cycle of a Coconut
A coconut palm carries both male
and female flowers, which mature
at different times to avoid selfpollination, as well as flower and fruit
at various stages of maturity.
A coconut matures on the palm
for 12 months, although it can be
harvested at any point between 6
and 12 months. You have seen them
in abundance on hand carts as the
green, tender coconut – primarily
for the sweet, hydrating water and
oyster-like gelatinous meat contained
within. A single palm can produce
anywhere between 30 and 100+
coconuts in a single year, depending
on soil quality.
The brown coconuts are older
coconuts and are more mature
containing a more solid and hard
textured meat. In fact, the fruits
mature as they grow on the palm
tree, with the quantity of water
contained within the seed decreasing
as the quantity of firm meat
increases.
Seeds are carried by ocean or by
gravity - simply dropping from
the parent tree, protected by the
watertight outer husk. The embryo
starts to develop and grow once the
seed comes into contact with fresh
water, absorbing the nutrient-rich
flesh and water contained within
the seed.
Germination requires a tropical
climate with high humidity. Once
germinated, the roots and shoot will
emerge from the one functional pore,
the other two ‘’eyes’’ being blind,
and will then work their way through
the husk to find a suitable growing
medium and develop as a sapling and
further as a palm tree.
Uses of Coconut
The coconut is known as ‘’The Tree
of Life’’, because of the endless list
of products and by-products derived
from its various parts. From roots to
leaves, with uses both culinary and
non-culinary, virtually every part of
the coconut and coconut palm can be
used:
Coconut water contains sugar, dietary
fibre, proteins, antioxidants, vitamins,
and minerals, making it an excellent
substitute for "straight water’’.
Coconut water is an excellent source
34 | The Rangoli − June 2016
COOKING
of potassium and electrolytes, making
it an ideal and refreshing choice after
a workout. The water contained in
young, green coconuts is considered
better than the lesser amounts
contained in more mature fruits.
Coconut milk is the liquid that comes
from the grated meat of a coconut.
Thick milk can be prepared by directly
squeezing grated coconut meat
through muslin cloth. The squeezed
coconut meat is then soaked in warm
water and squeezed a second or third
time for thin coconut milk. Thick milk
is mainly used to make desserts as
well as rich and dry sauces. Thin milk
is used for soups and general cooking.
The gelatinous meat of young
coconuts is used in many dishes,
including desserts, salads, raw icecream and smoothies. Young coconut
meat is usually served raw, though it
is sometimes used as an ingredient
in some Thai curries. The hard,
white meat of mature coconuts is
usually eaten as is or grated to make
shredded coconut to use in items
such as macaroons.
Coconut oil has provided the primary
source of fat in the diets of millions
of people for generations. Once
thought to be higher in saturated fat
than lard and butter, recent research
has found that the fats in coconut oil
may actually help decrease harmful
cholesterol levels. Long used in
traditional medicine to treat a wide
variety of conditions, it is claimed that
coconut oil is effective against many
viruses and bacteria.
• In addition to its culinary uses,
coconut oil is also used as a
base for many cosmetics, soaps,
and skin lotions. The array of
coconut oil based products in
supermarkets and chemists is
mind-boggling.
Coconut husk fibres (called coir) have
long been woven into mats, ropes,
brooms etc. Today they are also used
in insulation and packaging.
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 35
COOKING
• Husks are burned and used as
charcoal.
• Horticulturalists frequently
recommend using coconut husks
as a growing medium because,
unlike traditional sphagnum moss,
they are generally free of bacteria
and fungal spores.
5 Fascinating facts about
the coconut
Did You Know?!
Fact 1: The term “coconut” is derived from the 16th-century Portuguese and
Spanish word coco meaning "head" or "skull", from the three indentations on
The leaves of the coconut palm make
excellent roof thatching.
the coconut shell that resemble facial features.
The palm trunk is used by many
cultures as a primary building
material.
cultivation is quicker – typically 25 trees per day can be harvested by a person
Some cultures make a sweet drink
from the sap of the coconut flower.
Fact 3: Because it is generally biologically sterile, during World War II and the
Fact 2: Monkeys can be trained to harvest coconuts, although human hand
climbing to the top of the tree. Cultivation can also be from fallen seeds or by
pole from the ground.
Vietnam War doctors used coconut water as a substitute for IV solutions
Fact 4: Each year some 61 million tons of coconuts are produced and
distributed throughout the world.
Fact 5: India, mainly the coastal region of Kerala State centred around
Alleppey, produces 60% of the total world supply of white coir fibre. Sri Lanka
produces 36% of the total world brown fibre output. Together India and Sri
Lanka produce 90% of the 250,000 metric tons of coir produced every year.
The Tree of Life really does reveal an amazing versatility.
36 | The Rangoli − June 2016
COOKING
Leela Palace
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10am– 12noon
CoffeeLiaison:SherryWalter,president@owcbangalore.org
Central:RitzCarlton
3 Wednesdayofeachmonth
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CoffeeLiaisons:SusannePeris,susanne_b_p@yahoo.dk
orSusanDavid,davidsusan.43@gmail.com
rd
North:Movenpick Hotel
3rd Tuesdayofeachmonth
10:30am– 1pm
ChildFriendly
CoffeeLiaisons:Amardeep Bhatia,jiyabhatia@gmail.comor
MeredithMehra,meredith_mehra@mail.com
East:MarriottWhitefield
1st Tuesdayofeachmonth
10am– 12noon
CoffeeLiaison:AlisonDumbell,dumbell@btopenworld.com
South:CourtyardbyMarriott
2nd Wednesdayofeachmonth
OuterRingRoad, Marathahalli Sarjapur Road,Bellandur,Bengaluru
10:30AMto12:00PM
ChildFriendly
CoffeeLiaison: Lindie Bosman, clavatsia@hotmail.com
The Rangoli −June 2016 | 37
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The Rangoli −June 2016 | 39
40 | The Rangoli − June 2016