Hollywood Doll rehearsal

Met up with the guys at Nightfly Studios in Southend for a Hollywood Doll rehearsal. It went pretty well (muscially at least). As usual it was a blast playing through our tunes but unfortunately the singer, Chris, didn't seem to be able to nail the songs that we had asked him to learn. We even took some time to swap instruments which was a real scream! After the rehearsal Matt, Charlie and I had a discussion about Chris and unfortunately we came to the decision that we didn't think he was really ready for what we wanted to do and agreed that we let him go and look for a new singer so it's back to square one again!

The return of swine flu...............

Beautiful and Charming Idol of Millions Girls - Barbie

Beautiful and Charming Idol of Millions Girls - Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. Barbie's inventor based the doll's hourglass figure on Bild Lilli, a German doll that in turn was based on a foul-mouthed, promiscuous newspaper cartoon character. American businesswoman Ruth Handler (1916-2002) is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.

To possess of a Barbie doll maybe is a dream of most of girls in their childhood, whose changing brand clothing and handsome boyfriend has lead the women's grandiose style for many years, some people scoff at that this and said Barbie is a tool aid for women to go to the bad, while someone love Barbie much, and they believed that Barbie doll has given all ordinary women some dreams…

Barbie always been known throughout the world with her perfect size, broad smiles and "rich experience". As of 42 years, in spite of her physical appearance, races, colors, hairstyles, languages and even apparels have gone through various changes, but her healthy and upward image has always been the same, first, last, and all the time.

Ruth Handler, original mother of Barbie had said in her autobiography: "The original ideal I created Barbie is, through the birth of such a toy, all the girls are able to aware of that their dream to become a person of any kind they crave for could come true. Barbie doll represents women have rights to choose that same as men ... ... Barbie doll is not only a doll, she is more than a toy, she has become an important part of female consumers’ daily life, I am pleased about it".

Full Name: Barbie • Millicent • Roberts
Birthday: March 9, 1959
Star Tray: Sun Pisces + Moon Pisces + Mercury Aries + Venus Aries + Mars Gemini Height: 28cm; Measurements: 38, 28. 34

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Back to the gym

Sam and I made a welcome return to the gym tonight (after a bit of nagging from Toni, which is fine cos I asked her to).
Had a long session and it was good to get back into it. Sam and I have decided we will definitely get back to going 2 or 3 times a week.

Swine flu!

Shelton's neighbour is a GP who has spent all day at an emergency meeting about swine flu. Seems it is so serious that they spent all day telling jokes!

Doctor, doctor, I think I have swine flu as I have come out in rashers!

Doctor, doctor, I have caught swine flu from the petrol station. Don't worry its Mexican swine flu not Texico swine flue.

Doctor, doctor I've tried to call the NHS helpline about this swine flu but all I get is crackling!


Support my friends Vikki and Lord Zion and get this fabulous swine flu warning t-shirt from: smellyourmum.com

Gigs galore coming up

Really looking forward to the weekend as it's a total gigfest for Sam and I. Unfortunately Toni has Gemima so she will be unable to join us.

We kick off on Friday night with a trip to Leicester to see SPiT LiKE THiS and are travelling back with them on their bus so that is going to be great fun. Saturday is punk legends NOFX with proceedings topped off with King Lizard in Sunday!

Just as well Monday is a bank holiday so we can have some time to recover!

Wrestling and horror

Sam and I had a great chill out tonight catching up with some wrestling, including WWE Backlash. I suspect a lot of you think it's sad but it's a great way to relax and unwind without resorting to trash TV like soaps LMFAO.

Following the wrestling we then watched House Of 1000 Corpses, the film that was a precursor to The Devil's Rejects (which we watched the other week). I do like our little horror fests!

Last.FM listening post

Here's last week's top picks music lovers!

Top weekly tracks:


Top weekly artists:


Overall top tracks:


Overall top artists:

Home again.......

.....and no sooner had we just got settled in and enjoying ourselves it was time to come home again. We popped back to The Shambles to grab a cup of tea (and do some last minute shopping) before heading back to SWF. Journey was quicker this time and we made it back in 7 hours 45 minutes (which included a 45 minute stop off). It rained a lot of the way but it was a pretty clear run.

Nice double rainbow en route:

Whitby Abbey

Toni and I got up early this morning, had breakfast, loaded up the car after checking out of the B&B and then headed back off to Whitby Abbey to do the tour properly. The walk was good and helped to shift out breakfast especially when we realised we had just scaled 199 steps again:


Whitby Abbey is totally beautiful and I am so glad that we made a conscious decision to go and see it properly rather than peering over the wall at it like we did on Thursday. Have to admit that I did get a bit snap happy while walking around it.









See all the pics here: 270409WhitbyAbbey#

Medical Tourism in India

What is Medical Tourism ?

Medical Tourism is the health care tour combined with leisure and recreation which focuses on treating a person physically, mentally and emotionally, keeping aloof from his/her daily schedule to the refreshing and rejuvenating environment in an exotic location. It is healthy holiday concept whereby people from all around the world visit India to receive top notch medical expertise and cosmetic care by highly skilled surgeons and doctors in the country.


India Health Tourism Destination :

India is no doubt the global medical tourism destination. Lot of tourists from the developed nations such as UK and USA come to India for rejuvenation offered by the Yoga and Ayurveda massage, however ; the top notch medical treatments and services at the much affordable prises is helping more and more India corporate hospitals to attract foreign tourists.

There are several factors that has lead to the sudden increase in popularity of the medical tourism in India. Outrageous cost of healthcare facilities in advance countries, ease and comfortability of the foreign tourists, approbatory currency exchange rates in the global economy, high standards and improving technology of health care, are responsible to this rapid development of medical tourism in the country.

Medical Tourists can select from the wide range of medical treatments and services to enhance their health and well being. Ranging from Cardiac, Dental, Transplant Surgery, Neurosurgery, Infertility, Female Urology, Surgical Oncology, Urological Cancer, Pediatric Urology, Opthalmology, Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation, Naturopathy, Spa Treatments, Endourology, Prostatic Surgery, Impotence, Laparoscopy Nephrectomy etc.

Benefits of Medical Tourism in India :
Internationally recognized medical services in the country
The best part is – No Waiting Lists
Cost of medical treatments in India is 60-80% low in comparison to the developed nations.
Best possible medical facilities available at the most affordable prises
Natural wealth of herbs combined with the exotic climate are most suited for the medical treatments in India
Highly skilled doctors, expert surgeons and supportive staff
Availability of easy accommodation option for the family members or relatives accompanying you near to the renowned hospitals
Availability of alternative system of medicines such as Ayurveda and Yoga in the country

Best Known Hospitals in India
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi
Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre
Max Super Speciality Hospital
Apollo Hospital, Chennai
Wockhardt Hospital and Kidney Institute, Kolkatta
Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences
Athreya Vitreo-retinal centre
Fortis Hospital
Metro Hospital & Heart Institute
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Batra Hospital
Holy Family Hospital
Safdarjang Hospital
St. Steven Hospital
Bangalore Medical College, K.R. Road
Columbia Asia Hospital - Hebbal
Manipal Hospital, Bangalore(MHB), Bangalore
A J Institute of Medical Science, Mangalore
Dr.Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College Hospital
Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum

Aparana Chauhan

Golden Triangle Tour to India

Enjoy the Golden Triangle Holiday Packages, golden triangle travel packages, golden triangle tour packages in India, India Golden Triangle Tour, North India Travel Tours, Taj Mahal Agra Tours, Jaipur Tour to India, Cultural Tour to India, Heritage Tour to India, Delhi Sightseeing Tours, Golden Triangle Trip to India

The India 'Golden Triangle Tour' comprises travel to three most famous cities of India – Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Delhi – the capital city of India, Agra – the ancient seat of Mughals in India and Jaipur – Capital of Rajasthan with traditions of gallantry and valor. All these three cities are well connected to each other by the excellent network of road, rail and air.

Tour Itinerary :
Total Days Covered : 6 Nights/7 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi – Jaipur – Agra – Delhi

Day 1 : Arrival at Delhi
In the evening of the 1st Day of the tour you will arrive at Delhi International Airport. As you arrive here in the morning you will have abundant of time to take the sightseeing tour of the historical city. The places that you explore will include approximately all the major highlights of the city such as the Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, India Gate, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Parliament Street and President House. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.

Day 2 : Delhi
On the second day of the tour we will spend time exploring the famous market areas of the city. Chandni Chowk, Janpath and Delhi Haat. Savor the famous Indian street food such as the witty golgappas, lip smacking chaat, allo ki tikki and baraf ko gola or the famous banta from the road side stall. In the evening you are free to indulge in your own sort of activies and return back to the hotel for the overnight stay.

Day 3 : Jaipur
Furthering our Golden Triangle Tour, we will drive to Jaipur on the 3rd day of the tour. This culturally and historically rich city will let you explore some of the finest architectural buildings such as the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, Jaigarh Fort, Amber Fort, Jal Mahal etc. Than you can explore Bapu Marketand Zohri market famous for the traditional Rajasthani art and craft. From here you can purchase plenty of jewelery, textile items and handicraft good. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaipur.

Day 4 : Jaipur – Agra
During the morning time you can either indulge in sightseeing tour of the city or spend time in the hotel itself. In the afternoon leave by coach for Agra. Check in at the hotel in Agra. Halt and than visit to Taj Mahal in evening. Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world is incredibly beautiful that will bewitch you with its beauty of extraordinary architecture and splendor. It is the most wondrous monument in India that draws heaps of tourists from all over the world. On the tour to Taj Mahal -take the exotic Tonga Ride, explore the garden area, indulge in photography and appreciate the amazing architecture of Taj Mahal. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Agra

Day 5 : Agra
We have fixed one full day for sightseeing tour to the historical city of Agra on the 5th day of the tour. Today we pay a visit to the popular Agra Fort, Moti Masjid, Nagina Masjid, Jahangir's Palace, Khas Mahal and Shish Mahal (Mirror Palace). Than there is include Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Am, Ladies' Bazaar, Amar Singh Gate and Musamman Burj.

Other prominent attractions in the city include Chini-Ka-Rauza, Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb, Jama Masjid, Akbar's mausoleum, Ram Bagh, Dayal Bagh and Soami Bagh etc

Day 6 : Agra – Delhi
In the morning after breakfast leave for Delhi. But before you leave Agra, enroute you will halt at Fatehpur Sikri, which was earlier inhabited the Mughal Emperor Akbar. In the evening you will reach Delhi. Check in at the hotel in Delhi. After that dinner and overnight stay in the hotel itself.

Day 7 : Departure Delhi
7th Day marks an end to your Golden Triangle Tour. As per your flight schedule, you will be transferred to the Delhi International airport in order to carry forth your journey to your onward destination.

Aparana Chauhan

Nostalgia @ Raw night club

Well, tonight was our final night at Whitby and so we popped along to Raw night club for the special WGW Nostalgia night. Just traditional goth music, no EBM, no metal, no cheese, just GOTH!



It was just like the Trad Goth floor at Slimelight and was great fun although we didn't stay all night as we were both knackered.

Food and rest

Following the excitement of our football match we headed back to the B&B to get warmer clothing and then went in search of food as we were starving. We returned to The Staircase Cafe (where we went yesterday) and had yummy jacket potatoes with bacon and brie..........delicious!

After food we went back to the B&B to have some rest before heading out clubbing. Toni checked her Facebook and a friend had suggested that the pains that she was experiencing could be TMJ syndrome (or Thermonuclear Jaw Syndrome as I called it as trying to pronounce Temporomandibular Joint Disorder seemed like too much hard work). Having looked at the symptoms she is going to explore this further with her doctor as it does seem to match what she was feeling rather than being merely tooth or back related as she first suspected.

We then watched a bit of TV before getting our heads down for a few hours prior to going out for the last time.

Real Gothic 1 Athletico Gazette 2

Following her rest Toni and I set off for Whitby Town FC to watch Real Gothic take on Athletico Gazette. Someone once said that there is nothing like a good football match. In the immortal style of Waldorf & Statler, "and that was nothing like a good football match".

Actually it wasn't a bad game (what with me being an expert and all LMFAO), it was totally hilarious and as I hate football it was nice to see a game and come away feeling that I had enjoyed myself. Expectations were low with Athletico Gazette currently holding a 9 - 2 win record against Real Gothic and so it was much to our delight when it was still 0 - 0 after 30 minutes.

To put all this in perspective, Athletico Gazette are a team fielded by the local rag, The Whitby Gazette, and Real Gothic are a team of goths (usually the ones who are still sober enough to pull on a kit and be available to play. We were allowed to drink in the stands (which I am reliably informed is very unusual) but the local council have apparently passed the edict that although drinking is not allowed in the stands at a football match, this game bears no resemblance to a proper football match so it is allowed.

The in game commentary was fantastic and most amusing with both teams being heckled by the announcer. We were actively encouraged to heckle Athletico Gazette.

Fans in the stands:



Things were looking up for Real Gothic as they went 1 - 0 up through a penalty kick:


GOAL!:


The first half ended 1 - 0 to Real Gothic but unfortunately fortune decided to turn against them in the second with Athletico Gazette coming out with a slightly better team to turn things around and win 1 - 2 (BOOOO!)

Man of the match was Real Gothic goalkeeper Streaky:


REAL GOTHIC:


See all the pics here: 260409WhitbyRealGothicVAthleticoGazette#

Bad night.........

...........not so good :o(

When we got back to the hotel room I found that my phone had completely frozen and Toni had a message from Sam asking me to call him urgently. I started panicking as my phone just wouldn't recover despite many reboots. Called Sam from Toni's phone but he was asleep so called Sophie as Sam was with her. It turned out that Sophie and Shane had split up (for good it looked like) and everybody had got a bit upset and emotional about the whole thing. Thankfully every was OK by the time I had called.

To make matters worse Toni was up most of the night in severe pain (we think due to her back problems) and ibuprofen wasn't touching it and she was out of co-dydramol. It was really frustrating as there was nothing that I could do but watch as she was doubled up in pain. Not fun! She did settle down eventually and get some sleep before we got to have breakfast. After that we came back to the room and I sorted out photos and blogging so that she could have a sleep.

Turned out my phone was completely knackered too so I had to do a hard reset on it so it is now without any of my data or contact information until I can get home and sync it with the PC again. It is working now though so I am at least contactable. Put in a quick call to Sophie and Sam and they are both fine now so I can get back to enjoy the rest of WGW.

Camel Safari Rajasthan India

When it comes to exploring the true colors of India, one thing that truly deserves a special mention is the Camel safari in India. Taking a camel safari is a unique deja vu which assures you having a amazing getaway quite different from the other holidays. The very idea of taking a camel ride through the rippling sand dunes and camping under the stars followed by the bonfire can mesmerize you for a moment. Clambering onto the camel and riding through the yellow world of sands will give you the fair idea as why camels are called the ships of the deserts. Besides taking the camel ride you will also get the opportunity to explore the fascinating Thar Desert, spread to the total area of 2,50,000 km.

Camel safari holds an exotic fascination for any traveler to India. Most camel safaris mainly covers the area around Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur, popularly known as the desert circuit tour. All these cities are well connected by air, train and road. The duration of the camel safari tour generally rests from one to two weeks. There is no specific route that you will have to follow, but the big cities are usually not covered. Usually the camel safaris are conducted during the winter season, from mid October to February end.

Things to see and do :

Tour to Forts and Palaces :

The camel Safari Tour along with giving you the opportunity to enjoy the desert safari will also let you explore the historical and architectural significance of Rajasthan. Your caravan will pass through the timeless monuments to give you the feel of the royal era of Rajas and Maharajas. Most of these prestigious monuments have been converted in to the luxurious hotels and are world heritage sites.

Village Visit :

While taking the camel ride, we recommend you to stop at the some of the remote villages and discover the true colors of India. Camping in close vicinity to the villages and participating in all the colorful events along with the villagers is an experience that you would cherish for the rest of your life. Some of the admirable sites in the village includes oldies sitting around the community well, children playing in the sand and women working hard in the paddy fields.

Cultural shows :

Some of the enjoyable activities you have while taking the camel safari tour are enjoying Campfire in night, savoring many of popular cuisine and enjoying cultural programs. Enchanting with the indigenous people inhabited in the Rajasthani villages is a great joy in itself. Enjoy the traditional dinner along with the local people and learn more about their lifestyle.

Aparana Chauhan

Jaipur Central Museum

copyright@aparanachauhan

WGW - day 2: the bands

Once we had tightened our corsets and the Monster and vodka had kicked in, we headed off once again to the Spa Pavilion for some musical entertainment. We started off by popping upstairs to have a professional photo taken and printed as we have never had anything like that done before. I will scan the picture properly when we get back but in the meantime here's a version from my camera:


Deciding to play it safe (following the Monster vodka) we stuck with vodka and diet coke rather than risking moving on to our usual rum/JD and diet coke. I haven't drunk vodka for a long time but I have to admit it is very nice.


RAZOR BLADE KISSES
First up tonight were Razor Blade Kisses, a band that I really love although Toni wasn't quite as enthusiastic as I was due to our last experience of them at Gotham 9. It started off a bit ropey with Layla struggling to find her vocals properly but this soon settled down and they performed a good set. One thing though, Layla does have a tendency to waffle between numbers and sometimes she should just quit the banter and let the music speak for itself. Toni commented that she was being a "bit blonde" which was made even funnier when the other singer, Azzy, then accused Layla of being blonde tonight LMFAO. Razor Blade kisses are like watching a couple of psycho dollys playing and it's all great fun and the music is superb, especially Teddy (which I maintain should have been called Toys In The Attic).




See all the pics here: 250409RazorBladeKissesWGWSpaPavilion#


HOUSE OF USHER
Old school guitar based goth, you gotta love it! Formed back in the 90s, these guys were really good sounding like a cross between The Cult and The Sisters with lots of other moody goth elements thrown in for good measure. Although time might have taken it's toll on some of the band members visually they still deliver a good strong gothic set.




See all the pics here: 250409HouseOfUsherWGWSpaPavilion#

After House Of Usher we went for a stroll around the Spa and went to the Razor Blade Kisses stall so that I could get their CD. As the band were hanging around I decided to get it autographed. Some of the band members had disappeared so Layla kindly offered to go backstage and get the rest of them to sign the CD. She was gone for ages and Toni and I joked that maybe she had "gone blonde" again, got distracted and forgotten about us. Some time later, guitarist Jacqui appeared, with drummer Steve, carrying my CD (Layla was nowhere to be seen). Jacqui was superb, she apologised profusely and then proceeded to ensure that I got the rest of the bands signatures. It was really nice seeing a band member looking out for one of their fans and being so hospitable. Big thumbs up to Razor Blade Kisses and especially Jacqui.


DIARY OF DREAMS
What we saw of Diary Of Dreams was pretty good. They were more electronic than I had expected to see at WGW and would certainly be classed as dark wave but they did have a goth feel to their music. It's a shame the Monster had worn off as I would have liked to have seen all their set but we were both tired and so the band and photos were sacrificed in favour of some much needed sleep.

WGW - day 2

Once again we started the day with a lovely full English breakfast and then we slowly got ourselves ready before heading off into town to do things.



We started walking to The Shambles (a goth friendly pub) where we decided to have lunch and then camp out for the WGW Forum meet up. After a bit of changing (due to most of the things we wanted being sold out) we opted for nachos and a chicken & bacon salad with some curly fries on the side.

Lots of groups of people started congregating and looking around The Shambles so it looked like the WGW Forum meet was on but nothing seemed to happen. Loki arrived so I headed off to the bar to find out what the deal was but it turned out that the person who was supposed to be organising the meet wasn't even there LOL. As a result it all turned into a bit of a low key unofficial meet up but I did at least get to meet, Mr and Mrs Nobodie, Loki, Dave-il-man, korpse, Gothic Doll and starwarrior.

Following the forum meet we went for a stroll and decided to indulge in a bit of tourist fun so we went and visited the The Dracula Experience. It was silly, fun, a bit like a fun fair haunted house walk through but it was entertaining and well worth the £2.50 entrance fee. Here's a sneaky pic that I took:


After our Dracula fun we popped back to the B&B for a quick rest before going out for something to eat and getting ready for the bands at the Spa Pavilion. While we were looking for somewhere new (and cheap) to eat we stumbled across this wonderful shop:


We found a little cafe tucked away up a flight of stairs that did really nice food. Toni opted for monkfish and I had a fillet steak.



After a lovely meal we were flagging a bit so I suggested we go and get some Relentless (a Red Bull style energy drink to perk us up a bit). There were lots on offer but having browsed the shelves there was only one drink that would have been appropriate and so we bought that (and a bottle of vodka).

Monster Monster:

Ayurveda in India

The ancient therapeutic art of Ayurveda continues to dominate as a biennial stream of the elixir of the life, which according to the experts is the father of all alternative systems of medicines. The 'Science of Life' is a boon for the people who are caught in the hectic lifestyle.

Discovered in the ancient time by the sages in India, Ayurveda is derived from the holy vedas which is based on the theory of balance between the mind, body and soul. It focuses on the treatment of the root cause of the particular illness and not the disease itself. According to the Ayurveda individual is made up of five elements such as the ether, air, fire, water and earth. And the secret of Ayurveda lies in the need to balance all these five elements.

Ayurveda Massages : Famous Ayurveda Therapies

Panchakarma : Pancha Karma is most important of all Ayurvedic massages. It is a five fold purification system which gets to the root of the problem and balances the mind, body and soul. It is designed in order to increase the efficiency of food, medicines and toxins in the body. It is very helpful in the purification of blood, nasal cleaning and keeping the metabolism strong. Apart from that it has proved useful in chronic allergic disorders, chronic indigestion, acne, bronchial asthma, and kapha disorders etc.

Pizhilchil Massage : Pizhilchil massage involves puring aromatic oil all over the body excluding the head and neck. This treatment is especially beneficial for the person suffering from rheumatism and arthritis. It is generally recommended for th diseases that are caused by nullification Vata humour- Pakshaghata (Hemiplegia), muscle spasms and paralysis – and other regenerative diseases that effect the muscles.

Sirodhara Massage : Sirodhara is done puring the medicated herbal oil over the forehead, to revitalize the mind, especially the 'third eye'. It enhances the blood circulation in the brain, keep you active by improving mental clarity and synchronizes brain nerves. It helps in curing the mental tensions such as fear, anger or anxiety.

Abhayanga Massage : Abhayanga is a synchronous massage that uses natural herbal oils as two masseurs revitalize the body. With the regular practice of the Abhayanga Massage your body get rid of the excessive toxins. It revitalizes your body and you feel less tiredness. This therapy improves the skin texture as well as the vision.

Ayurveda Destinations :

Kerala Ayurveda : Kerala's cool climate and the natural wealth of herbs is most suited for its therapeutic and recuperative packages. For the truly health conscious person, herbal treatments are the best way to pamper the body. The first Ayurveda center in Kerala, Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort in Palakkad, set the trend for promoting the natural based therapies in the scientific manner. The resort offers an advanced twist of a tradition passed down three generations of experts engaged in research and development of Ayurveda. Another famous resort in Kerala is the Ayurvedic Beach Resort which also conducts Yoga and Meditation classes on the regular basis.

Ayurveda Food :

Garlic, Ginger, Bitter, Gourd and Drumsticks
Bajra rotis, Moong Daal and green vegetables
Raw juices made from carrots, celery, beet root, Alfa, cucumber and parsley
Lemon Juice with salt
Including Fruits such as grapes, oranges, papaya and apples as well as vegetables such as Zucchini, squash, pumpkin etc

Ayurveda Treatments : Ayurveda is sought after for treatments of diseases like arthritis, paralysis, obesity, spondylosis, sinusitis, premature aging, headache and general health.

Ayurveda Resorts : (Ayurvedic centers in Kerala)

Kairali Ayurvedic Resort -Pallakkad
Kerala Ayurvedic Health Care
The Travancore Heritage Sea Side Resort – Ayurveda Center
Aquaserene – Ayurveda Resort
Uday Samudra in Kerala
Somatheeram Ayurvedic Beach Resort
Marari Beach Resort and Ayurveda Center
Kalari Kovilakom in Kerala
Coconut Lagoon in Kerala

Aparana Chauhan

Haji Ali in Mumbai

The Muslim Tomb of Haji Ali is located on an small islet off the coast of worli in Mumbai. It is the dominant landmark of the Mumbai city. Devotees irrespective of their religion, caste and creed throng to Dargah to seek blessings of the Lord. This 400 years old shrine also has the historical significance which is reflected through its meaningful architecture and peaceful settings. It is popular belief that whosoever comes here never goes back empty handed. A number of devotees come here for thanksgiving. It is among the most frequently pilgrimage sites in India.

History of Haji Ali:
There are many legends related to the construction of Haji Ali. According to one legend - dargah -Haji Ali was built in 1431 by the prosperous Muslim businessman named Haji Ali was renounced the material world before making a visit to the pilgrimage Mecca. It is a popular belief that Haji Ali died on his way to Mecca and the casket carrying his body floated back to the sea coast of Mumbai, where his devotees built dargah.

Attractions of Haji Ali Mosque :
The edifice is the excellent form of Indo- Islamic architecture standing on the island. It is the most important tourists spot for the tourists coming on the pilgrimage tour to India. Located beautifully amidst the sea, Haji Ali is a striking white washed structure that occupies the total area of 4,500 meters with the single minrate that is 85 feet tall. The mosque is connected to the mainland with a 500 yards narrow causeway jutting into the Arabian Sea. The mosque can only be reached during the low tide as the narrow concrete pathway leading to the shrine is submerged into the water during the high tide and monsoon season.

The white washed mosque has a marble courtyard housing the central shrine. The tomb within the mosque is covered by the richly brocade red and green chaddar along with the exquisite silver flame adding grandeur to the structure. As you step inside the you will come across the semi circular tomb where the body sufi saint – Haji Ali lie in peace. The top of the tomb is covered with the zari cloth like in all dargahs. The devotees offer prayers by touching their forehead and lips to the cloth. You are required to remove the shoes before entering the shrine. Ladies are not allowed to touch the main shrine as they have have a separate room for their prayers.

The marble pillars inside the main hall are embellished with multi colored mirrors in blue, green, and yellow. The ninety nine names of Allah are also written on these pillars. The courtyard of the mosque is surrounded by refreshment stalls. Haji Ali is the ideal spot for catching the cool sea breeze away from the chaos of city life. The best time to visit Dargah is on Fridays or Thursday evenings.

Aparana Chauhan