Wednesday 24 September 2014

[Food]: The Magnum Pleasure Store, Karachi

A pleasure store - don't you just love the sound of that? One where you can indulge in all your fantasies without fear or guilt. But hold that thought, I'm talking of halal pleasures - namely rich, decadent, make-your-own Magnum bars! Affordable, legit, delicious pleasure!



The Magnum Pleasure Store in Karachi is only the 14th such store in the world where we can make our own Magnum bars from scratch - well almost from scratch. You start with choosing your Pleasure Maker ie one of the cuties behind the Magnum Pleasure bar to craft your Magnum. I do have a clear favorite Pleasure Maker and I will returning, only to him *sigh*  - anyways, on to the halal pleasures. You get to choose three toppings from a wide variety such as chilli flakes, blue poppy seeds, dried cranberries, chocolate chips, white chocolate, hazelnuts, pop corn and many more. You can be as experimental, colorful and creative as you want. Then you get to choose your Magnum bar - vanilla or chocolate and what you would like to coat it in - namely milk or dark chocolate. My first bar was a vanilla Magnum coated in milk chocolate and covered in chilli flakes, blue poppy seeds and hazelnuts. Don't feat the chilli flakes - they actually work really well with the sweet milk chocolate and gentle vanilla. It's a grown up Magnum bar!



Each bar is priced at Rs 250. A regular Magnum bar costs Rs 80. Is it a fair deal? I think so. It is more than 'just a Magnum' - the Magnum store lets you get creative with your food or rather it lets you play with your food. Personally for me, getting creative with food is always fun. I am a huge fan of cook-your-own-food places - hot pots, grill your own meat -  and the Magnum Pleasure Store lets me make my own ice-cream.

Although the store and the brand itself seems to be aimed at a hip, yuppie crowd - I can actually see myself talking my nephews and nieces (between the ages to 2 and 10) there quite often. The colors and the creative process involved is sure to be enjoyed by the kids and the parents can chill out on the comfy sofas around the store. However, the store does need more kid friendly seating.

Should you go to the Magnum Pleasure Store? Yes. Will I be going back? Most definitely - with the kids, my sisters and girl friends. What else would I like to see there? More experimental toppings, limited edition Magnum bar flavors, chocolate drinks, more seating and perhaps even a photo booth. Team Magnum... please consider...

Oh and here's my second bar... hazelnuts, dried cranberries and white chocolate chips on a chocolate bar covered in milk chocolate.



Warning: You will have to skip a meal for this Magnum indulgence.

Wednesday 3 September 2014

[Tech]: The Stylish Lenovo S860 Smartphone

Nope, I did not get a new Lenovo laptop. But what I did get to review this weekend is the stylish new Lenovo smartphone - S860. I'm missing holding it already but *sigh* all good things must come to an end.

Lenovo launched a series of smartphones for all budgets last week in Karachi - the A series starting off with under Rs 10,000 and the S series that went up to Rs 36,500. But the company did not disclose the price of  the creme de la creme of the phones at the launch - theVibe Z2 Pro.

So here's how my weekend with the S860 went:

The Basics: 

5.3 inch screen, HD
Quadcore processor and 2GB RAM
Talk time of 43 hours on a 2G connection. (43 HOURS!!)
8 megapixel rear camera, 1.6 megapixel front camera
Dual Sim
Rs 36,500





Love It!

I love the big screen. Everything is clear and in my face. The phone is quick too and navigation is simple - and by simple I mean even my Dad could use it. It has interesting feature that let's you answer a call by simply raising your phone to your ear. The 'pocket' feature is also useful - the phone rings louder when in your pocket (or purse). And if your bag is as big and black as mine then this makes it much easier to find your phone. The ginormous battery lets you charge other devices from your phone. Is it a phone? Is it a power bank? It's the Lenovo S860!
The phone is also equipped with a series of Lenovo-only apps which let's you share and back up information across other Lenovo devices without needing an internet connection.


Not Too Sure...

For such a great looking and stylish phone, I would have preferred a better camera. Perhaps the phone is not for the average 'selfie' crowd - it's more for the professional who works on their phone and on the go with the extensive travelling kinda lifestyle or the hardcore gamer. ( I did appreciate the pre-loaded Green Farm 3 game). The phone is also a bit heavy.
It also has a non removable battery which makes me nervous.



The Verdict

Besides the fact that I cannot afford this phone, I really do think it is for a different kind of lifestyle. It is for those who are always on the go and use their phone A LOT and by a lot I don't mean 'always on Twitter'. It is for those who use their phone for work and entertainment (movies, games etc). Would I buy it? I don't think. I need another 5 years into my career before I will need such a long lasting and sturdy phone.



Saturday 30 August 2014

[Celebrity]: Afia Nathaniel and Adnan Shah Tipu on the City Lounge with Sundus


Dukhtar is an upcoming Pakistan film about a ten year old girl, and her mother, set in the mountains of Pakistan. The film is a road trip thriller, focuses on the their lives after they run away from home, learning that girl has to marry a local tribal elder! The manhunt that ensues can cost the girl and her mother their lives. 

A few days ago  Afia and actor Adnan Shah Tipu joined me on the City Lounge to talk about Dukhtar. If you missed out, click here to listen!


[Travel]: 5 Travel Tips To Live/Leave By


1. Plan Ahead: Probably the most cliched of all travel tips - this can help you save some serious cash. Air tickets are cheaper when you buy in advance. Many hotels also have early bird offers if you book at least 2 weeks in advance. Also, if you are a credit card user, make your bookings on booking.com or agoda.com - they offer fantastic rates and in most cases, cancellation charges do not apply. Of course, some hotels are ahead of the game and offer guaranteed best rates if you book through their website. For example, I got a better rate by directly booking on the Soaltee Crown Plaza, Kathmandu website. However, for Club Himalaya, Nagarkot, I got a better rate on booking.com. These are both in comparison to their published rates. Be sure to cross check rates and read the fine print on cancellation charges.
Planning ahead also has the added advantage of pissing your boss off considerably less than you would if you gave him/her a short notice. It lets you work ahead and makes sure you don't have another ton of work waiting for you when you get back.

2. Invest in Internet: And a smartphone of course. Get an internet-enabled SIM at your destination. There are some fantastic travel apps that let you explore your surroundings. They offer suggestions, tips and reviews from other travelers. Some of them include TripAdvisor, Wikitude and of course, the Lonely Planet guide apps. Make sure you have a weather app and a currency exchange app too. I use WeatherTrax and XE. Some cities have dedicated apps dedicated to themselves, such as YourSingapore. Check if your destination has such an app and download right away. These are usually free. If you are not a fan of taking the train in a new city, then get a taxi application. Guidebooks are for tourists looking to get scammed.

3.Eat Healthy: I'm not even kidding right now, especially if you're on a shoestring budget. If you are travelling to eat, then forget about it.  If you are staying in a hotel, make the most of the breakfast buffet. Load up on complex carbs that will keep you full for longer. If you are in a country where tap water is drinkable, fill up your water bottle before you head out. Stock your back pack with apples or buy local produce on the move to munch on and skip a proper lunch. Under any circumstances, DO NOT come back to your hotel on an empty stomach. Eat dinner outside where you have cheaper options. Room service and hotel restaurants are expensive and usually rubbish. If you get peckish at night, stock up on fruits.

4. Pack sensibly: You don't need new clothes for every day of your holiday. It is unlikely that will become disgustingly dirty. Air out your T-shirt and wear it again after a day. If you're a clean freak then soak it in soapy water in the sink for 20 minutes, rinse and hang to dry. A good pair of pants (weather specific)  be your best friend. Check with the hotel if they have hair dryers (most do) and pack accordingly.
If you intend to shop till you drop, pack an extra bag in your luggage. Whenever I shop at airport duty free outlets, I make sure I have enough space in my backpack or have another carry on bag to place my loot in. Carrying heavy plastic bags can be painful and you stand the chance of losing things from them as well.

5. Research: Research and more research. Whether it's your first time in a city or your fifth, there's always something new to see, eat, explore, attend and buy. Is there a concert happening during your time there? Any festivals? Sale season perhaps? Special sightseeing packages? Check official tourism department websites, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, personal blogs, friends who have visited. I have gone as far as printing discount coupons  for my destination. This may sound tedious but it will help you save money, lower your chances of being scammed, create a holiday experience that fulfills your expectations. Also, keeping your mind on the holiday also prevents you from wasting money now.

Hope this helps on your next trip. I may sound like a stingy grandma, but hey, I get around. Until then, keep your eye on the prize....

Welcome to the Lounge! The City Lounge!

Hello and welcome to my brand new home on the interwebs!

After a few failed attempts to be a legit blogger, I have decided to make things simpler for myself (and the readers). I will be combining my earlier food, travel, lifestyle, music,opinion and banter blog pieces/podcasts right here in the City Lounge. Also, looking forward to sourcing celeb interviews and giveaways for you guys!

I will be slowly populating the blog with some of my better posts from earlier blog. But first, lemme take a selfie.