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Beijing
  • November 25, 2017
  • 8035
  • 12
  • 10

The Great Wall of China: An Iconic Travel Experience

Chicago
  • July 20, 2016
  • 9090
  • 14
  • 4

Review: Sony Alpha 6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera

San Francisco
  • November 4, 2016
  • 3052
  • 8
  • 17

Brave the Stairs Up Telegraph Hill For Stunning Views of the City!

Chicago
  • July 15, 2016
  • 7378
  • 7
  • 4

Tips for Getting Better Pictures From a Train

Newport

The 124-Year-Old Summer Cottage that Took Our Breath Away

  • July 31, 2017
  • 7551
  • 6
  • 9
Chicago

Tips for Getting Better Pictures From a Train

  • July 15, 2016
  • 7378
  • 7
  • 4
Dubai

Farzi Cafe: Bringing Indian Cuisine back “in-Vogue”

  • August 14, 2016
  • 3061
  • 6
  • 12
Chicago

Review: Sony Alpha 6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera

  • July 20, 2016
  • 9090
  • 14
  • 4
Reviews
Hajj & Umrah
Recipes
Travelling in train in india is safe during the pandemic
Hyderabad

Is Traveling In India Safe During the Pandemic?

It feels surreal. My first trip during Covid is the first time I leave the city since the lockdown was first announced almost one-and-a-half years…

  • February 8, 2022
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my covid-19 experience
#Life

My COVID-19 Experience: A Story of Recovery and Death

It all started with a mild sore throat and back pain. Masood and I have been careful ever since the pandemic was announced last year.…

  • June 4, 2021
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Reviews

10 Tips to Help You Travel During Corona Outbreak

The world wakes up to the news that the new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, is declared pandemic by WHO. So what does it mean to…

  • March 13, 2020
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  • 5
Adoni

The Jinn That Lived Near Maasaheba Masjid

He looked and couldn’t stop staring. It was the most unusual thing to witness. He might have dismissed it as a figment of his imagination,…

  • November 4, 2019
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  • 4
Adoni

Shahi Jamia Masjid

A woman clad in a colourful sari sits on the roadside. Spread in front her are carefully arranged bunches of freshly-harvested coriander, mint, and fenugreek…

  • October 28, 2019
  • 3075
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London

How to Spend the Day at Warwick Castle

I am assuming the reason for the conflicting reviews online for Warwick Castle is that it has been commercialized into some sort of a theme…

  • January 12, 2019
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London

The House Where Shakespeare was Born

During the warm summer months in Karachi many years ago, my cousins and I would spend the afternoon reading. To be honest, the responsibility of…

  • November 18, 2018
  • 3991
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London

On a Clear Day from the Top of the London Eye, You Can See Forever.

It is the fourth-largest Ferris wheel in the world at 443 feet high. On a bright, clear day from the top of the London Eye,…

  • August 5, 2018
  • 5513
  • 5
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London

Summer In London

It’s another sunny and hot afternoon. The windows are wide open, the fans are on most part of the day, and we are eating homemade…

  • July 23, 2018
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Bangalore

What to Expect When Visiting Bangalore’s Famous Lal Bagh

The Mughal-inspired botanical garden is located in the midst of a bustling city. Thousands of local and foreign tourists visit Lal Bagh each year. But is…

  • May 21, 2018
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Bangalore

Why You Should Visit the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, One of the Most Powerful Rulers of India

Tipu Sultan was the most feared Indian of his time in Britain. When he died there were jubilant celebrations in Britain, with authors, playwrights and painters creating…

  • April 21, 2018
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Bangalore

Recommended Halal Restaurants in Koramangala

Luxury apartments, posh bungalows, Instagram-worthy restaurants, and commercial structures line the wide, tree-lined boulevards of Koramangala. This is one of the largest neighborhoods in Bangalore. I…

  • April 17, 2018
  • 6044
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Surat

This Post Isn’t a Tribute to the Rickshaw

If you look closely, you’ll see a self-portrait in the picture above. Masood and I were in Surat, Gujarat, and we took the auto-rickshaw because…

  • March 7, 2018
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Guangzhou

Halal Restaurants We’ve Tried in Guangzhou

Chinese food outside mainland China is usually modified to suit the palate of the people where it is served. In Pakistan and India, for example,…

  • December 7, 2017
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Beijing

The Great Wall of China: An Iconic Travel Experience

“They surely have the air-conditioning on high around here,” I told Masood as we stood outside the arrivals gate at Beijing airport waiting for a…

  • November 25, 2017
  • 8035
  • 12
  • 10
Dubai

Asateer Scarves: An Online Boutique for Premium Scarves

“Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.” –Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur and…

  • October 22, 2017
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Newport

The 124-Year-Old Summer Cottage that Took Our Breath Away

About 119 kilometres from downtown Boston stands a palatial summer cottage. When Masood and I were in US last spring, our colleague and good friend,…

  • July 31, 2017
  • 7551
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Guangzhou

Huaisheng Mosque: One of the Oldest Masjid in China

It’s been drizzling on and off since morning. The clouds are thick and the sky overcast, the spring breeze cool. The taxi takes us to Guangta…

  • July 3, 2017
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Guangzhou

A First Timer’s Guide to the Canton Fair

One of the world’s biggest import and export trade fair is held bi-annually in Guangzhou, China. It was my first time at the Canton Fair,…

  • June 4, 2017
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Hong Kong

A 9-Hour Stopover in Hong Kong

Flying Cathay Pacific means stopping in Hong Kong, and we picked one that gave a 9-hour stopover. Time constraint did not allow us the chance to…

  • May 13, 2017
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Dubai

Carnival by Tresind, Dubai

How often do you get welcomed in a restaurant by getting bubbles blown at you? Having had a good impression with Trèsind, I looked forward to…

  • April 15, 2017
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Kuala Lumpur

Jalan Bellamy: Where the Locals Make Excellent Ikan Bakar

“Go to Jalan Bellamy and don’t forget to try the ikan bakar!” the taxi driver cheerfully suggested. He seemed pretty excited about suggesting the place, therefore…

  • March 19, 2017
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Cebu

Cebu and Oslob: A Short Trip Filled With Memorable Moments

We’ve been planning to visit the Philippines for years, however, little did we know that it’s my father who will be the reason for us…

  • March 14, 2017
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Airbnb Apartment in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur

Why Staying in an Airbnb Apartment in Kuala Lumpur is a Good Idea

Tourists in Kuala Lumpur would find it best to stay in the city center where famous landmarks, malls, restaurants, and hotels are nearby. The traffic…

  • March 5, 2017
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#Life

On to a Lifetime Filled With Fond Memories of My Father

I wake up to the phone ringing at 3:20 am. The screen shows Abbu’s name. Just as I was about to swipe on the screen,…

  • February 28, 2017
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Dubai

Bollywood Park: The First Theme Park in the World Dedicated to All Things Bollywood

Several leisure and theme parks opened in Dubai late last year, one of which is Bollywood Park. It is the smallest property within Dubai Parks and Resorts, a…

  • February 11, 2017
  • 2562
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Ipoh

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

It was a choice between an upscale hotel in the middle of the city with a very famous infinity pool on the 57th level that one shares…

  • February 9, 2017
  • 9752
  • 6
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Langkawi

D’Grill Seafood Restaurant: Beachside Dining

The ambiance in Malaysia’s Langkawi island is laid-back, lazy, relaxed, humid, and friendly. Afternoons are mostly quiet, with people either napping, reading, or relaxing by…

  • January 2, 2017
  • 2138
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Langkawi

Aseana Resort & Spa

Langkawi—an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia’s west coast—is surrounded by turquoise sea, while the interior of the main island is a mixture…

  • December 29, 2016
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Langkawi

Tips from Our Langkawi Cable Car and Sky Bridge Experience

“I think we’re going the wrong way.” The midday sun shines brightly on a nice and warm day. There are a few scattered clouds but,…

  • December 27, 2016
  • 3889
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About

Tips, advice and inspirations to help you plan your next adventure.

Places

nadiamasood

Visual storytelling from India and beyond.
Moved to Hyderabad in 2020.
#ExpatInIndia

Nadia Masood
Don’t leave Kashmir without experiencing a Shika Don’t leave Kashmir without experiencing a Shikara ride! It may look like a tiny, narrow wooden boat
But it can easily and quite comfortably fit 4 adults and the person rowing the boat.

Forget the crowded and polluted Dal Lake. Instead, head over to Manasbal.

Almost every tourist go to the famous Dal Lake. It gets crowded and the water is polluted. You can hardly enjoy the serenity of Kashmir’s scenic beauty.

Manasbal is 30km from Srinagar. The fresh water lake is the deepest in India at 43ft. And if you visit in August, there’s a large growth of lotus plants in bloom at the lake’s periphery.

#KashmirDiaries #ManasbalLake #Shikara
What’s your go-to photo editing app for Instagra What’s your go-to photo editing app for Instagram?

Mine is Snapseed. I use it for almost all my photos. I rarely post unedited photos (because I like my feed to look pretty). For this particular image (taken using my phone camera), I first edited the colours on Snapseed so they appear more saturated.

And then I used Pixaloop to make the clouds move. So cool, right? This app has been sitting in my phone since forever, and I now wonder why I’ve never used it!

I’d love to know what you use to edit your photos!
Mango-banana milkshake with saffron. Yet another d Mango-banana milkshake with saffron. Yet another delicious shake by @masoodxb.

I can totally get used to this!

What are you having for Iftar tonight?
Uttapam. I describe this as South India’s savour Uttapam. I describe this as South India’s savoury pancakes. Crispy edges and pillowy soft centre.

Uttapam batter is made of rice and lentils, that is fried and topped with chopped vegetables of your choice, such as onions, tomatoes, carrots, chiles, and corn.

Ever since I came to know about uttapam’s existence, which really hasn’t been that long, it has become my favourite breakfasts. It’s best served with coconut chutney and sambar.
It was at a Syrian restaurant in Dubai, sitting ou It was at a Syrian restaurant in Dubai, sitting outside one evening under a canopy of fairy lights, where I first fell in love with falafel.

Later I discover, within walking distance of this restaurant in Al Muraqqabat, a little shop called Sultan Dubai Falafel that serves, in my opinion, the best falafels in the city.

And given how great-tasting falafel was readily available in Dubai, I never attempted to make them at home. Until I moved to Hyderabad.

Good thing is that delicious falafel can be made at home so easily! You can bake or shallow-fry them, but they won’t taste as good as when deep-fried.

I also prefer to shape them in cute little balls so I know they’ll be cooked through. Each ball is a tablespoon of falafel mixture.

Falafel is best served immediately after frying, with a drizzle of tahini sauce. Also, I experimented and added some plain mayonnaise to the tahini sauce and it tasted so good.

............

This crispy falafel with tahini sauce is my entry for the food collaboration that I’m participating in. The theme is: Eid 2020 Appetisers.

Do check out the following talented food bloggers who are part of this fun collaboration!

Warda @cocina_secreta (host)
Iqra @apprentice.chef_93 
Noor @noorlicious.food
Eram @eramkitchenette
Saher @untoldstoriesofafoodie
@blendedflavoursinstyle
Is there a dessert that you didn’t care for as a Is there a dessert that you didn’t care for as a kid but end up liking as an adult?

That’s Zarda for me. As a child, I couldn’t understand why rice must be sweet. But now I appreciate and enjoy it.

The name Zarda comes from Persian word 'zard' meaning 'yellow'. It is greatly influenced by the cuisine prepared in the royal kitchens of the Mughals.

From the North Indian cities & small towns to Deccan Hyderabad, and the neighboring Pakistan, Zarda is a popular dessert served during festivals & occasions such as marriage & birth ceremonies.

Swipe left for the recipe and tips to make this traditional dessert.
Tag someone who loves shawarma! This is our homem Tag someone who loves shawarma!

This is our homemade chicken shawarma that I’m truly proud of and so excited to share with you!

Swipe left for the recipe.

EDIT: It’s ‘wheat’ not ‘whear’, and jalapeño ‘pickles’ not ‘pepper’. Thanks!

Thank you to @masoodxb for being our shawarma wrap & grill expert. Having had countless shawarmas in the UAE, even at 2am(!) I’m so glad we can recreate something close to the original right in our home.

Guys, toasting or grilling the wrapped shawarma before serving makes such a difference, so don’t skip this last step.
If you could have any breakfast tomorrow, what wou If you could have any breakfast tomorrow, what would you eat?

This is salmon and egg Benedict with capers, raspberries, slices of oranges, chives - everything coming together to make such a delicious breakfast.

I had this in San Francisco, at a restaurant that I woke up super early for (since it gets crowded real quick). I miss this every time I see this picture.

What is your dream breakfast?
Do you love hummus? I feel like it’s one of the Do you love hummus? I feel like it’s one of the best dips in the world!

I am yet to find good hummus here in Hyderabad - the kind one finds in middle eastern restaurants.

Good thing hummus is super easy to make at home!

Please swipe left for the recipe, including how to make your own tahini paste with only 2 ingredients, and also for tips to help you make your own creamy hummus at home.

Don’t forget to bookmark or share this post ❤️
Did you know that there are only 2 countries that Did you know that there are only 2 countries that do not sell Coke?

Cuba and North Korea.

I found this abandoned roadside restaurant along the highway the other day.

While so many didn’t pay attention to it, I was drawn to its vintage-y charm.

Also, I’m showing you the unedited version of the photo as well. It’s sort of a reminder that almost all content on social media platforms go through some sort of editing.

#instagramvsreallife
#beforeandafter
Easy to make, 3-ingredient pineapple preserve. In Easy to make, 3-ingredient pineapple preserve.

In a pot add 4 cups of fresh pineapple chunks, 1 cup of sugar and 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice.

Bring to a boil, and let simmer for 45-50 mins or until the liquid has evaporated. Stir occasionally.

Remove from heat and allow to cool a bit. I then used an immersion blender to crush the pineapple. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

And there you have it: deliciously sweet tropical sunshine in a bottle!
What’s your secret to making your favourite panc What’s your secret to making your favourite pancakes?

Did you know that the oldest pancake recipe comes from an English cookery book, 1954 edition? It’s quite richer than the recipe we use these days. They suggest adding 3 tbsp of ale, ‘copious’ amounts of sugar, cinnamon, and ginger.

Swipe left to see some of the steps I take to make fluffy, soft pancakes that the family loves.

Also, did you know mascarpone cheese on the side goes so well with pancakes?

I’d love to learn more from you!
This beautifully packaged chocolate was first intr This beautifully packaged chocolate was first introduced 90 years ago by Terry’s, a British chocolate and confectionary maker.

A family friend recently visited us and brought this from London. I must admit that I’ve never heard of Terry’s chocolate before.

A quick Google search will show you so many delightful recipes using this chocolate.

Yes, @terryschocolateorange is good, however I’m more impressed by the branding and packaging.

How cute are those chocolate orange slices!

Love their tagline too:

“Deliciously Unsquare Since 1932”

What’s your favourite chocolate brand/flavour?
Have you tried Tepache De Piña? I’m a new Tepa Have you tried Tepache De Piña?

I’m a new Tepache De Piña fan. This is a vibrant and tart fermented drink with the flavour of pineapple, and infused with spices (I can taste cinnamon and star anise).

Tepache is native to pre-hispanic Mexico and was traditionally made with corn. It was not until the arrival of the Europeans that pineapple appears to be incorporated into the drink.

Tepache de Piña by @bazzinga_brew is a slightly fermented drink made from fresh pineapple peel, spices and brown sugar. It has such a refreshing taste!

This particular brand is vegan, halal, 100% natural and gluten free.

I’d like to know if you’ve tried this drink!
How do you incorporate pomegranate into your cooki How do you incorporate pomegranate into your cooking?

As a little girl, I’d been fascinated with pomegranates. I imagined them as leather-bound gifts with a bow on top. If I was lucky, I’d open my gift to reveal bright red rubies.

Pomegranate has inspired legends, tales and poems throughout history. In Ancient Egypt, kings were buried with pomegranates so that they could take them into the afterlife. Hades tricked Zeus’ daughter with a pomegranate.

Now talking about food, pomegranate seeds are generally sprinkled on dishes and desserts or made into syrup, molasses or pomegranate vinegar. Pomegranate is commonly used in dishes and sauces in Iran, its biggest producer.

In India, its second-biggest producer, pomegranate seeds are dried and crushed to create a spice called anardana, which is used to add tartness to various dishes.

The pomegranate is also used extensively in many Middle Eastern cuisines. Pomegranate juice is reduced and this is used to add a sweet-tart flavor to many dishes.

I’m planning to make some pomegranate molasses (for the first time!). What’s your favorite dish that uses pomegranate as an ingredient? Let me know in the comment section!
The thing with something so beautiful is that even The thing with something so beautiful is that even though you’re standing right in front of it, it still feels like a dream.
This dessert is easy to make and pretty enough to This dessert is easy to make and pretty enough to make a good impression!

Fresh mango chunk topped with fluffy whipped cream, then wrapped with a thin, moist and elastic crepe, this pillow-shaped Hong Kong style mango crepe is a must-try.

For a better presentation, use a single piece of mango for each crepe. When you cut the crepe through, a nice neat look will appear on each side.

These are originally called Mango Pancakes, by the way. You can experiment with other fruits, like bananas and strawberries.

Have you tried this before? Don’t forget to save this post if you haven’t yet!
You no longer need to buy jams because it’s so e You no longer need to buy jams because it’s so easy to make them at home!

The mango season has come to an end, and I want to make something that would last a couple of months - mango jam.

You only really need 3 ingredients! It’s super easy to make but tastes so much better than store-bought ones.

It’s like having sunshine and happy memories sealed in a jar.

Swipe left for the recipe and some tips to help you make the perfect mango jam.
Sunshine yellow and sweet golden plums fresh off t Sunshine yellow and sweet golden plums fresh off the tree!

It’s my first time to try these yellow plums. I don’t think I’ve seen them in Hyderabad, or perhaps I just never noticed? 

I find the yellow plum sweeter than the red-purple ones.

What do you make with plums?
Ragi cookies made with @wildberryorganics organic Ragi cookies made with @wildberryorganics organic cookie mix.

I ordered the cookie mix a few days ago, and have gotten around to baking them today.

The cookie mix comes in a glass jar, and the packaging is plastic-free. There’s a little pamphlet inside with easy-to-follow instructions.

All I needed was a bowl, 2 measuring spoons, a baking tray, and a cooling rack. How convenient is that!

The cookie mix is made up of ragi (or finger millet), cocoa, coconut, almond, and sugar. To make it vegan, chia seeds is used as a substitute for egg.

They taste really good, like chocolate cookies with a hint of coconut and almonds. I don’t think I can taste the ragi. They have a light crunch and are perfectly chewy.

This is, undoubtedly, the easiest cookies I’ve ever baked! Even if it’s your first time baking, you can’t go wrong with this.
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