Grooving With HP And Bang & Olufsen...

What?
Launching a revolutionary collaboration of the likes of HP India and Bang & Olufsen Play.

When?
Wednesday, May 27.

Where?
Q'la, Mehrauli.

This is what the invite stated - Witness the alliance between the pioneers of technology and maestros of music.

And, it did not take me long to decide that I was in for a mid-week techno-musical extravaganza, especially when I had been personally invited by Mr. Ketan Patel, Director, Personal Systems, PPS, HP India. Also, Mr. Gaganmeet Singh, CEO, Bang and Olufsen India, was there to seal the venture of unveiling the new range of HP Pavilion Notebooks.

As always, being my punctual self, I reached the venue well in time. Though Indian Stretchable Time made me wait, the wait was well worth it as the audience were greeted by the musical prowess of the MIDIval Punditz - Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj.

There was a big and important announcement to be made however, that evening. 

This is what both the company bigwigs had to say, about the collaboration and the revolutionary product range. 

"By introducing new range of notebooks with Bang and Olufsen, HP is looking to blend high end technology seamlessly into the lifestyle of the new age consumer enabling the consumers enjoy rich and immersive audio experience,” said Ketan Patel, Director, Personal Systems, Printing and Personal Systems, HP India. “We are thrilled to work with Bang & Olufsen to create exceptional sound experiences for customers through HP Notebooks." 

"Bang & Olufsen and B&O PLAY have had an unprecedented legacy of delivering great music and audio experiences to its patrons via various forms of media. We are extremely thrilled to partner with a global IT brand like HP to deliver seamless audio experience through their latest notebooks. Having integrating Bang & Olufsen systems with luxury automotive brands such as Aston Martin, BMW, Audi & Mercedes AMG; this new collaboration is the hallmark and extension of Bang & Olufsen's philosophy of engaging with connoisseur's lifestyle at a new levels." said Gaganmeet Singh, MD, Bang & Olufsen India. 

Here is a mini-datasheet, for you to know what to expect out of both these beasts - the new Pavilion range which features the B&O Play brand, and the HP Omen, which features Bang & Olufsen. 

HP has always been a customer-centric and user-friendly brand. They've made no mistake in carrying forward their legacy. 

The new Pavilion notebooks feature the following: 

• refined Uni-body design with premium metal-like finish on the outside 
• superior gradient dual tone finish on the inside 
• full HD screen - 1920 X 1080 px, which provides an outstanding, detailed, and crisp picture quality 
• latest fifth generation Intel® Core™ processors 

On the other hand, HP Omen is the ultimate gamer's paradise! 

Aggressive, yet stylish, HP Omen delivers the power to dominate with a stunning design to give users the ultimate gaming experience.

15.6 inch in height and 19.9 mm in thickness, flaunting a weight of a decent 2.12 kg, and a premium aluminium body, the Omen is packed with the some extraordinaire features. 

HP has outfitted the Omen with:

• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 
• 4 GB Gaming Graphics 
• Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 
• 1920 x 1080 Full HD Display 
• customizable back-lit keyboard with six programmable function keys 

As a customer who owns an HP and a Lenovo in the house, I would  want bold, crisp and accurate audio. I would expect each of my devices to possess fantastic sound reproduction capabilities, whether I'm using headphones or built-in speakers. 

HP and Bang & Olufsen will custom tune each notebook for precise sound. The new range of notebooks have a dedicated audio island that isolates the sensitive audio circuits from other signals on the motherboard. 

The headphone jack limits the amount of metal parts to reduce ground noise to help further perfect the audio experience on the devices. 

Because I would want my device to have the ability to customize my audio experience according to whether I am at the movies, listening to my favorite music or attending to voice calls, HP devices include an audio control panel. 

This allows me to customize and enhance my audio experience based on preset configurations tuned by HP and Bang & Olufsen. I can choose from optimized presets or manually tune the sound to my liking. 

As far as the pricing is concerned, the entire product range has been priced very strategically, keeping in mind the requirements of the Indian client. 

• The HP Pavilion 15 Notebook with the B&O Play is available in the Indian markets currently with a starting price of INR 44,490/-.
• The HP Omen with Bang & Olufsen is available in the Indian markets currently at a price of INR 1, 59,990/-. 

I had a great time at the launch and am looking forward to such continued professionalism and dedication in marketing such demonic devices, with such customization for the Indian market. :) 

A #MaxFreshMove For Surprises...

It was a regular day.
An utterly boring one at that too.

Or so he had thought.
He had outgrown the monotonicity of his routine, so much so that he believed himself to be a mechanized specimen now.

It was the same get-up-at-six-in-the-morn, get ready, dash to office, back-to-bed-at-eleven-at-night, that had made him lose all interest.
He had failed to keep track of important events like anniversaries and birthdays in the recent past and today was no different.

It was not a regular day, after all.
It was their tenth anniversary after all.

It was only when his colleagues handed him cards and bouquets, that he realized his folly.
It was already ten in the morn by the clock.

He decided to take half-day leave and rush back home.
It was by one in the noon, that he was able to reach home, to face her wrath and disappointment.

No amount of persuasion, excuses, or even apologies could set things right.
After all, he had made the mistake of forgetting a milestone.
Of not paying attention to the hints she had been giving before he left home.
Of not taking note of his favorite dessert, which had been packed by her, as a part of his tiffin that day.

He decided that he would propose a surprise in exchange for this surprise from her.
Later, that evening, he called her from an unknown number, feigned a serious injury in a road accident and made her rush.

As much as it worried her, she reached the accident spot as informed by the caller.
Instead of how gruesome she had expected the scene to be, she was greeted by some onlookers singing along as a chorus, with her husband on the road!

He had made a resolution to surprise her like that!
She was completely taken aback as what her eyes were witnessing was completely unexpected.

Apologizing to your lady-love, complete with background artists, on the road, with passers-by looking on?
Like they show in the movies?

Well, you must be kidding.
She thought to herself.

This was not a dream, however.
And, it was not as if they were part of a movie's cast,

It was not all, though.
The evening ended on a high note, with some glitz and glam, being added to the occasion.

It was when he proposed to her, an open-air dinner date, in their favorite restaurant, did her face beam.
And, a subtle hint - we have some special company.

She had not realized that this special company would be none other than that of celebrities, Anushka Manchanda and Allu Arjun, who would make them lose all their apprehensions and acquaint them to the dance floor, that would be their stage for the evening.

Their confidence exuded energy, which lent the required #MaxFreshMove to their special day!

After all, who could refuse a courteous attempt by such vivacious personalities?
They danced to their favorite tunes and to their hearts' content! :)

 ~~~ 

I am blogging for #MaxFreshMove activity at BlogAdda.com. Are you?

A Gypsy's Rendezvous With The Land Of Pharaohs...

~~~

This post has been declared as a WEEKLY WINNER by India's leading journalist, Mr. Vir Sanghvi and Blogmint, in association with #BloggerDreamTeam. :)

Congratulations @stiryoursouls !! You are one of the #BloggerDreamTeam WEEK 5 WINNER. Await an exciting prize. DM postal address details.

— Blogmint (@theblogmint) July 6, 2015

It was like a midsummer's dream. It was like a sparkle in the sand.
Certainly not an illusion. Most definitely, a mirage-like exception.

It was the summer of adventure. An exploration dating back to circa 2010. An excursion, which took us to another continent altogether.

Surprised? We were too. For, it was our first venture to a land across the seas and to a settlement on the banks of River Nile.

For the uninitiated, we planned to visit the land of the Pyramids, the Pharaoh, the Sphinx and the Phoenix, which had risen from the ashes.

That one week in April had been set aside just for that. A week of wanderlust to the picturesque Egypt - the capital city and the largest city, Cairo, the second largest city, Alexandria and the third largest city, Giza.

What made us plan a trip to Egypt was an international assignment that had been offered to the better half. Nevertheless, he prompted me to tag along too. :)

We decided to put up in Cairo, and our first day-trip was to Alexandria.

It was a three-hour journey, one way - spanning approximately 220 kilometers. Alexandria is located on the coast of the shimmering blue Mediterranean Sea and is thus aptly referred to, as the Pearl of the Mediterranean.

The credit for its foundation goes to the Roman emperor, Alexander The Great, and thus the coining of its name also.

We were greeted by the first glimpse of the coveted Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was once known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

In the distance, we spotted this magnificent beauty, draped in yellow, surrounded by hues of grey and blue. 

Standing solitary, yet standing tall, 

Braving it all, come what may. 

With the gorgeous skyline of Alexandria to one side,
And the hustle-bustle of euphoric tourists to the other.

With white yachts occupying its vicinity,
The sporty Welcome to the Mantazan Water Sports Complex calls out.

Spot the myriad hues of azure, 

Topaz, turquoise, refreshing blue. 

Awed by the tilted rocks saying, 

Say Hi to our cousins at Marine Drive! :) 

Spot some people fishing, 

Reeling in their glorious catch. 

Relaxing under the cool shade, 

From one of the umbrella canopies.  

Then, was the time to bid adieu to this erstwhile Wonder of the World, for on the way back, we were to be greeted by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, an architectural gem, created by Alexander's successor, Ptolemy, which is famous for having been burned down during Caesar's conquest of Alexandria. 

On the other side of the road, we had this white marble statue waiting for us. 

And, a close-up shot told me of all the brunt it had borne, over millennia. For, it is not as white as it seems to the eye, from a distance. 

The cracks and crevices, the worn-off paint and plaster - were all gestural to the fact that Alexandria's heritage had witnessed a lot many gory events too. 

We decided to return to Cairo for the day, with the memoir of Alexandria in our grasp, to cherish for posterity. 

While the better half was at his assignment, I decided to explore Cairo and one of its biggest shopping malls - CityStars. 

The view from outside the hotel room itself was as humble as it could be. A stark reminder of the co-existence of common folk lifestyle and its luxurious twin. 

I spotted this donkey whiling away its time, tied to its cart, perhaps waiting for someone to free it soon. 

The next day, I was to witness the biggest mall I have ever been to, in my life. 

CityStars, Cairo. 

It is HUGE. :) 

I found these kiddish mannequins outside a clothing store to be very cute. 

The boy, in orange, on the right. Doesn't he seem to strike a pose? :) 

Here's what I bought myself, as some memorabilia from Cairo. 

A beetle rendered in silver, shaped as a pendant, and a silver bracelet with aesthetic green and blue flowers. 

And, once I came back to our hotel, we decided to visit one of the fine dining restaurants in the premises. 

Apart from the authentic delicacies such as Kosheri, made of rice, macaroni and lentils, which is also the national dish of the country, Ful Mudammas, made of beans and cumin, and Falafel along with Pita bread, we were also greeted by such exquisite carvings, beautifying one of the walls of the venue. 

A pleasant surprise, this, when Queen Cleopatra and King Tutankhamun came to invite us for our next day trip! 

Surprised? 

Have a look. 

Not in person. But, these desktop idols at the reception did seem welcoming. :) 

It would not take you long to figure that the next day-trip was to Giza, though. 

Giza, its Pyramids, and the Sphinx are famous as the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Hence, a visit to Giza was not to be missed, at any cost. 

Unlike Alexandria, which lies at a great distance from the capital city, Giza is situated at an approximate distance of twenty kilometers, which equates to a half-hour long one-way journey. 

Welcoming us, was the first glimpse of this ancient heritage, from afar. 

With The Cheops to the left, 

And The Chephren to the right. 

Shimmering in the bright sun, 

Glorifying the ancient land. 

Solidarity in solitude, 

Brick by brick. 

Standing the test of time,

The only one to remain largely intact. 

The Pyramid of Cheops is also known to the locals as the Pyramid of Khufu. They say that it is the oldest and the largest of all the Pyramids in the complex. It was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu. It is also said that it remained the tallest man-made structure for over 3,000 years! 

The Pyramid of Chephren is known as the Pyramid of Khafre, locally. Though it is smaller than the Cheops, the bedrock at its base is higher than that of the Cheops, and thus the Pyramid of Khafre appears taller! 

We even took a brief horse ride, like the one which is visible in the backdrop. :) 

We had the option of even entering the Pyramid of Khufu, by testing the waters with a mock setup, beforehand. How interesting and thrilling it would be! We however, decided to let go of it, due to the paucity of time, as the tour of the entire Pyramid was stated to be two-and-a-half hours long. 

This adventure was priced at a good 100 Egyptian Dollars, back then. 

Waiting for us, with its head held high, was another archeological marvel, though. 

Like a Phoenix which had risen from the ashes, 

The Sphinx stands testimony to this grandeur. 

Half man, half feline, 

Like an unexplored chapter from the scrolls of mythology. 

An androsphinx in Egyptian ideology, 

With the body of a lion, but the head of a man. 

Guarding the Necropolis, 

Watching over the treasures of Giza. 

As we decided to bid adieu to this astonishing wonder, we were yet again presented with a sight to remember. On our way back, we spotted the Pyramid of Menkaure. It is the third largest, after the Pyramids of Khufu and Khafre. 

With that, we bid farewell to the sun, the sands and the heritage of Giza. The Nile provides this city and the country of Egypt its serenity. The flow of the calm water is reflected in the simple lifestyle of its civilians. :) 

Egypt is a dream destination, as a country, for all the people looking for their ultimate wanderlust experience. I personally feel that it is one of the less-explored tourist destinations. 

For us, it has been an unforgettable experience as travelers, Egypt has provided us with one of our most elaborate travel stories, to narrate to our nears and dears. :) 

---

This post has been written for #BloggerDreamTeam, a campaign which aims to bring to the masses, the best of both worlds - Travel and Blogging, with the grandeur of the Food and Travel Carnival in the cyberspace.

The campaign also attempts to showcase the prowess of the best bloggers in the nation by presenting their posts to ace food and travel influencer in India - Mr. Vir Sanghvi - who will make his choice regarding the 'Vir Endorsed Blogging Eleven',  to form his #BloggerDreamTeam. 

A Pleasant Makeover With #NioxinNowInIndia...

~~~

What?
The Magic Of Nioxin India, with #NioxinNowInIndia, thanks to BlogAdda.

When?
Saturday, May 30.

Where?
Wella Professional Salon, Saket.

"Most of us consider our hair to be our best feature. That is why a bad hair can ruin our day just as easily as well-behaved hair makes us feel on top of the world. We spend a lot of time and energy (even money) on our tresses and admit it, every fallen hair strand that you see breaks your heart just a little.

P&G Salon Professional have introduced the revolutionary Nioxin technology in India, formulated specially to combat thinning hair. Nioxin and BlogAdda invite you to experience this revolutionary formula with the #NioxinNowInIndia activity."

These two introductory paragraphs here were enough to convince me to register for the event to learn more about, and experience a new beauty product first-hand.

So, there I found myself clicking on 'Register' in the blink of an eye.

Little did I know that exactly a month later, I would be invited for a pleasant makeover by Nioxin India.

In the evening hours of the day on May 28, a call from Ankita set the ball rolling! :)

A swift discussion over the phone and a reassuring confirmation later, I found myself at the entrance of Wella Salon in Saket, on the 30th.

Ankita was there, representing BlogAdda, and Amy, Wella.

It was a pleasant surprise to know that I was the first one to reach the venue. A brief look-through at the arrangements at the venue brought a smile on my face. Life-sized letters spelling out 'NIOXIN' seemed unique.

The cleanser and revitalizer bottles are covering up the second 'I' though! 

Once I took my seat, I noticed this. 

Some faces were known, some names heard of. Otherwise, it's always good to get to know new bloggers! :)

Though the event was slated to begin by 12 noon, Indian Stretchable Time made it begin at quarter to 1. Nevertheless, I utilized that time to tweet the snaps I'd captured, of the salon, and the setup intended for Nioxin's product range. Do browse through my Twitter handle for that purpose.

We were greeted by a सुस्वागतम and an introduction to Nioxin in हिन्दी by Amy and our stylist for the afternoon, Nikhil from Affinity, then took over to guide us through Nioxin's Skin Care Treatment for Hair, as they believed that our hair are an extension to our scalp.

Nikhil introduced us to what Nioxin believes to be the Three Signs of Hair Thinning - Derma, Density, and Diameter.

Since Nioxin is a bespoke product and not the one that you could casually demand over-the-counter, there were certain demarcations for the kit which would best suit your hair, revealed to us through the personalized consultation with experts.

It is a three-part system, which cleanses, revitalizes and treats the scalp.

As it turns out, they considered the application of Henna on the hair as a chemical treatment. And so, I was provided with Kit Number 5, for Normal to Thin-Looking Hair, Medium to Coarse Texture and Chemically Treated Hair.

Have a look at their scale and go figure the kit which would best suit you.

And, these are the technologies being professed in each of the kits. 

~~~ 

After the informative presentation, Nikhil threw the house open to questions. 

Amy pointed out that better than the talk and hear, would be the see and feel. 

They readied the salon stations for each of us to have a consultation with the experts and according to our respective Kit Numbers, try out the Nioxin Remedy. 

Meanwhile, we were served refreshments and took to chit-chatting with Ankita and the other bloggers! :) 

Must I tell you beforehand, that there is a Dermabrasion experience, which is exclusively in-salon. 

I had my consultation with Gaurav. 

See... 

That's my one-use Dermabrasion applicator, inside the box. On the side, you can see the device which was used to show me the surface of my scalp. 

The dermabrasion cream had to be applied on the scalp itself, massaged for 2-3 minutes and left for ten minutes, tracked through a timer. 

That is the applicator in Gaurav's hand. 

After that, I was led to the head wash station, where the cleanser and revitalizer were applied and rinsed. 

The scalp treatment was sprayed afterward and my hair were blow dried. 

~~~ 

And, ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you... 

Before: 

After: 

Do I look different? :) 

With that and two farewell snaps, we wrapped up my #NioxinNowInIndia experience. 

See... 

That is my candid snap with Ankita! :D 

And, that is a bunch of hair-happy bloggers, raising a toast to Nioxin India, with Amy standing next to me, pretending to take a sip of the Nioxin cocktail! :) 

Some of us had left after their session due to some prior commitments and thus this photograph does not capture all the bloggers who had been invited. 

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and loved my makeover! :D 

But, with #NioxinNowInIndia, curtains have not been drawn yet. 

#NioxinNowInIndia will make a reappearance on the blog, some day in the week beginning 14 June when I give you a first-hand review of my Nioxin Kit, which I'm having a great experience trying out! 

Make sure to watch out for that post too... :) 

~~~ 

You can try and experience #NioxinNowInIndia at your nearest salon. This activity is in association with BlogAdda.com.