Spoken Query

Empty shelves at Safeway in Baltimore. Empty shelves? Well, I am getting used to it now. But, I just don't understand why people are hoarding toilet paper rolls. Are they thinking that the coronavirus will enter through their anus? While that can be true, the virus can enter through any opening of your body, it still doesn't justify why everyone is particularly going crazy over this one item: toilet paper. Is it peer or fear pressure? No, its a REAR pressure! LOL! As clearly evidenced in this video, people are struggling to find toilet paper after demand exploded amid the coronavirus crisis.  The solution to this problem is very simple-  JUST ADOPT THE INDIAN TOILET ETIQUETTE .  Indian's have been washing their butts with water since the beginning of time. This method is very hygienic and environmentally friendly. As it is WHO recommends washing hands with water and soap. So, why not adopt the same technique for washing your butt? It is more effective t

As coronavirus continues to spread around the world, fake advice on how to avoid catching the disease is also spreading rapidly on social media.  To the producers of such lies, it is a humble request:  "JUST STOP IT,”  - avoid sharing information from untrustworthy or unverified sources. Your intention may be good, but know that misinformation during such a time could spread terror and can also result in people being left unprotected or more vulnerable to the virus. As social media influencers or bloggers, please remain as diligent about the accuracy of the information you share so that you can follow proper precautions to keep your loved ones safe. To the people who are getting influenced by such lies, it is important to understand that the claims of these viral messages have not been backed by trusted healthcare professionals. Therefore, please seek accurate information from verified sources such as CDC, UNICEF or WHO and not from your favorite content creators (not even m

Much before the city of Washington, D.C., was planned, the banks of the Potomac River were occupied by wealthy families. Over time, the numbers of these palatial estates dwindled as the capital city grew in the 19th century. However, some examples still remain on the Virginia side of the Potomac River with George Washington's estate being one such example. I had gone to Mount Vernon last year and loved it! It is a beautiful historic place to visit and is a perfect day trip if you are in the MD, VA or DC area. This year my parents are in town and I knew that I had to take them to Mount Vernon. I planned this trip way before they booked their flights to the US and made sure they arrived before President's Day so that we could take advantage of Mount Vernon's free admission day. We reached at 9:15 am and went straight to the Ford Orientation Center to collect the timed tickets for the Mansion Tour. We wanted to see the orientation film at the Ford Center, however,

Last week, I was in Egypt and I have never been so disappointed with any of my past travel experiences. As much as I loved witnessing one of the seven wonders of the world, the magnificent pyramids of Giza, I cannot stop thinking of how I got scammed despite following all anti-scam protocols.  This post is therefore dedicated to all the future budget travelers  to Egypt and includes different types of scamming and some tips to avoid getting scammed.  The Pyramids and Sphinx in Giza Scam 1: Unofficial tour guides and guards scam at the Giza and Saqqara Pyramid complexes in Cairo. Unofficial tour guides dressed up on traditional Arabic robes (see the below photo) will pretend as if they are the official authorities. They will ask to check your ticket, not return it and then proclaim themselves as your guide. They will demand an inflated fee and won’t return you the ticket until you pay them.   Some also offer simple, unsolicited help, like pointing to a direction o

Lately, Daniel Wellington watches have become a global sensation with almost every influencer showing off this piece of accessory on their wrists. During my recent India vacay, I saw their flagship store at a mall in Mumbai followed by celebrity endorsements and since then I have been suffering from the FOMO syndrome. In my mind, if a brand has reached my home country, it must be extremely popular. I desperately wanted a Daniel Wellington watch as my birthday present until I did some research on the Internet and came across some articles that completely convinced me to not buy this watch.  Bollywood celebs Parineeta Chopra (L), Aysuhmann Khurrana & Radhika Apte (C) and Kartik Aaryan & Nidhhi Agerwal (R) in Daniel Wellington brand campaigns in India Before starting, let me tell you that this article is not an endorsement but neither it is meant to criticize any brand or its followers. This article is rather a study on how Daniel Wellington build an empire out of