8 Things You Did Not Know About Australia

                      

It’s always wise to research on the internet about the destination you visit for a vacation. It
establishes some information so that you get a clearer picture when you visit the place. If
you’re travelling to Australia, or you’re in Australia right now, and looking up for an article
about surprising things in the country, then have a look! Make sure you’ve an
Australian Sim card to have access to the internet if you’re already in Australia.

1.Melbourne was once the wealthiest city in the world

Yes, you heard it right. Melbourne was once the richest city in the world. When gold was
discovered in Victoria in 1850s, Melbourne was transformed from a small town to the richest
city. By 1880s, Melbourne was named “Marvelous Melbourne. Now, Melbourne is one of the
world’s most livable cities, famous for its abundant street art and coffee culture.

2. Australia is a country founded by delinquents

A British penal colony originally discovered Australia. In the 1700s, British colonizers arrived in
New South Wales along with delinquents who were meant to live in Australia as prisoners.
Australia day is celebrated on Jan 26, honors the arrival of these prisoners to port Jackson.

3. There are more kangaroo and sheep than people

Australia is a sparsely populated continent with approximately 24 million residents. The
astonishing thing about the country is that there are twice the amount of kangaroo, and thrice
the amount of sheep. To curb the population of kangaroo, eating kangaroo meat has become
commonplace and sheep are used for wool as well as their meat.

4. Australia has more than 10,000 beaches

If you’re a beach person then we’ve a good news. The country has beaches for every kind of
taste and traveler. You could visit a different Australian beach every day for 27 years
and still not see them all - that’s a lot of beaches!

5. Great Greeks

After Greece, the largest Greek population in the world resides in Melbourne, Victoria. The
city’s Greek Precinct is situated along Lonsdale Street. On the corner of William Street, you will
find Hellenic Museum as well as the Hellenic Foundation for Culture Centre.

6. Australia is Highly Diverse

Over 200 languages are spoken in Australia including 45 different indigenous languages. After
English, the most popular languages are Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Arabic, and
Mandarin.

7. Land of unique animals and animals

Over 80 per cent of the plants, mammals, frogs, reptiles, etc. found in Oz are unique to the
country and are not found anywhere else in the world. A few of the well-known species of
endemic animals include the dingo, platypus, koala kangaroo, echidna, wallaby, and wombat.

8. Australians are a tolerant lot

Studies have shown that Australia is among the most open minded countries in the world. It
was tested last year with a survey of marriage equality. Despite years of public debate, 62% of
Australians voted yes to legalizing same-sex marriage, a thumping victory for the country.

To sum it up , Australia , with its great beaches and diverse flora and fauna and delicious cuisine is a much sought after destination that should be on the bucket list of every traveler worth his /her salt.

ST. D'VENCE Winter Edition Body Lotion with Tea Tree Oil and Shea Butter for Dry Skin

I am sure most of you like me have dry skin when it comes to our hands and feet, thanks to staying in air conditioned environments for the better part of the day.
If yes, then this post is for you !

I use a moisturising lotion throughout the year and the one that works for my oily face does not work for my body.This brand was introduced to me by a friend and here is my honest review of ST. D'VENCE Winter Edition Body Lotion with Tea Tree Oil and Shea Butter for Dry Skin .

PRICE - Rs 399/- for 300 ml ( get it at a discount Here )

PRESENTATION 

I really like the translucent plastic body and the sturdy, rounded heavy bottomed pump spray bottle , it sits easy on my bathroom shelf and the pump works smoothly.

    

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WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THE ST. D'VENCE Winter Edition Body Lotion with Tea Tree Oil and Shea Butter for Dry Skin

1.No parabens, no mineral oils, no sulphates, peg & pg free, hypoallergenic so it is suitable to even sensitive skin
2.Pure Australian tea tree oil, French Shea butter, Italian olive oil, vitamin A, B & E are some key ingredients which work well for me though I feel the concentrations are very low.
3.It has a mild fresh and minty and green fragrance of Tea tree that lingers for about 10 minutes.
4.It is slightly runny and is absorbed quite fast and does not leave the skin sticky
5.St. D'Vence Winter Body lotion helps relieve dry and itching skin.I let my Mother-in- Law try this for her dry and itchy legs and she felt immediate soothing action - that makes me a good Daughter-in-Law, right 😉!!
6.It's formulated & designed by St. D'vencé in London keeping in mind the requirements of Indian skin.
7.Very affordable , one bottle lasts more than one month easily even after using once daily all over.

                                           

WHAT IS NOT SO GREAT ABOUT ST. D'VENCE Winter Edition Body Lotion with Tea Tree Oil and Shea Butter for Dry Skin

1. Even though it says it is formulated for dry skin , my skin feels dry within  2 hours of application in warm weather ( I use it at bedtime and sleep in A.C.) Though used during the day in normal temperature ( 25 degrees Celsius ) I felt it worked well.

2. It claims to retain skin glow, delay ageing but I did not find any change in the skin of my arms in terms of skin glow or smoothness etc. or any effect on tanning (though it does not claim any protection from darkening).

FINAL VERDICT 

I rate it a 3.8/5

With my husband loving the fragrance (yes that can be a deal breaker sometimes) an affordable price tag and quality ingredients - I definitely like the product and might buy it again.

I do not find it deeply moisturising ( mind you I do not even have dry skin and it is summer season while I am trying this out), still I won't mind reapplying it or maybe I will try the ST. D'VENCE Autumn Edition Body Lotion with Argan Oil and Avocado Butter for Very Dry Skin next, so stay tuned to this space !

Fragrance Review - Creed Millesime Imperial - A Unisex Perfume

Today I shall be reviewing a perfume from another famous perfume house -The Creed Millesime Imperial for Men from the House of Creed.
The House of Creed was a British Foundation and is now based in Paris.They started out as a Tailoring business that catered to the topmost echelons of British society and later on branched into the fragrance business.The House of Creed creates its perfumes in-house by the Father-Son duo of two perfumers.The current generation consists of Oliver Creed and his son Erwin Creed.

Oliver Creed has been the nose behind some famous fragrances like  Green Irish Tweed, Millesime Imperial, Silver Mountain Water and Aventus among others.

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Creed Millesime Imperial for Men

This fragrance was launched in 1995, Olivier Creed being the nose behind this launch.

Price - Rs 41483/- for 120 ml ( I know that is whopping ! ).
I was lucky to get the samples from them.

Presentation  - The  fragrance comes in a solid cuboid royal white and gold flacon and looks quite majestic and Imperial.

Seen in the pic is a sample atomiser,
the actual bottle is a white and gold flacon

Description 

The fragrance has been described as a Warm and romantic, unisex one

Notes - The main accords are Marine , Salty Citrus, Aromatic ,Fruity

Top Notes - Fruit ,Sea Salt

Middle Notes - Lemon , Bergamot , Mandarin Orange and Iris 

Base Notes  - Musk, Woody and Marine 

The Creed Millesime Imperial is a Fresh,
Citrus ,Warm and Unisex Fragrance

What  I liked about Creed Millesime Imperial

1. It is Unisex so both the ladies and gents can indulge in it- more value for money.
2. Its Fresh Fruity and Marine notes make it ideal for Summers .
3. The Iris,Citrus, Marine and Musk notes shone in this and I loved them though it has sea salt,fruity      and woody notes too but they were not so prominent.
4. It has moderate longevity and lasted through the night on my skin in cold weather.
5. The Sillage is moderate, so it does not waft much , which works for me.

What  I disliked about Creed Millesime Imperial 

1.I wish it had something more Imperial about it - Imperial to me means something that immediately creates an impact , but this is not an impactful fragrance , it is gentle and pleasant ,neither overpowers not dominates but definitely registers its presence .
2.Very Expensive - It is not an affordable perfume maybe that's why the Imperial tag !

FINAL VERDICT 

I rate it a 3.5/5 , The perfume is pleasant and I specially love the marine and musky notes but it does not have a strong individuality and presence that would make me remember it.It feels generic and is very expensive too.

Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream Ex Review

As new research tells us that our skin needs moisture and hydration even if it is oily.Dehydrated skin is more prone to damage.When the skin gets dehydrated or distressed , it produces more sebum/oil and that can lead to clogged pores, skin irritation and acne.

So I have been on the lookout for products that provide moisture to my oily skin without making it greasy or causing break outs.

I seem to have found one in this highly acclaimed product - The Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream Extract .

About The Brand

Innisfree is a Korean Skin care brand , famous for using natural products in their skin care range.Their Super Volcanic Pore Clay mask and Green tea seed serum are world wide best sellers.

Price : Rs 1300/- for 50 ml .It comes in a lightweight but sturdy green plastic jar with a plastic twist around lid which is pretty air tight .

How to Use 

Use clean hands to take out a small amount of cream and apply on face and neck and massage gently in circular motions.In case you wish to layer it , better to use it after using the serum to seal in the moisture.

PROS of  Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream

1. Spreads easily and thinly 

2. No shine or greasiness ,even after 2 hours of application

3. Little product is enough to give good moisturization

4.Cruelty free 

5.Contains Green Tea extracts that help in toning and moisturising both 

6. Did not give me any acne or irritation
7. Suitable for oily skin and combination skin 

Cons of  of  Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream

1.Expensive 

2.It is not a drugstore brand , so you can get it only at the Innisfree outlets or online

3.It is just a moisturising cream, no added vitamins or sunscreen etc , not a multitasking product

FINAL VERDICT 

I have been using it for about a month now and it provides non sticky hydration to my oily skin, the effect lasts for 4-6 hours easily.I do not see any other major changes in my skin but my skin feels calmer and less irritated (I always get breakouts around this time of the year but this year so far so good ).

I rate it a 4/5 .

A good hydrating product for oily and combination skins ,though I do wish it could multitask as I hate layering on more products.

Restaurant Review - Plum by Bent Chair

Location - The Walk, Worldmark 2, Aerocity, New Delhi

This is hyped as the most instagrammable place in town,and I dare say it is true to some extent.
This fine dining place has a lush and vibrantly colourful feel to it like having arrived in  the Garden of Eden .

India's first true Retail Restaurant - Plum by Bent Chair

Plum by Bent Chair has a unique concept of being India's first true retail restaurant which means that everything on display is for sale from the plates and cutlery to the ornate chairs and chandeliers .You can experience them first hand as you dine and later if you want , you can shop the article that catches your eye.
As they say here - Eat,Indulge,Buy !

If you love the plush chair you are sitting on,
you could place an order and get it for your home

                                                   
The seating is luxurious !

Service is great.The servers are very helpful and have a fine knowledge of the dishes and ingredients and help you make good choices.

Food is one of the best , mostly South East Asian food is served with the exception of pizza and desserts.

Here is what we had :
                                 
                                                  

1.Elder flower and Blueberries Spritzer which is a gin based cocktail , it was fresh ,balanced and colourful just like the interiors.It was delicious as well as beautifully presented.
Full marks for that!

                                                  
                                                  

2. Cream cheese and truffle dumplings, the dumplings had cream cheese pate with truffle scented corn and celery . I could not taste much of truffle and celery but the pate was flawless.
                                               
3. Edamame and cream cheese pate - truffle infused potato flakes skin - crunchy carrot and corn , this was very creamy The creamy dim-sums ,left me wanting for something fresh and spicy and so I went for the small plates.

                                                   
4. Spiced Turnip cakes - The turnip cake had Cantonese spices, pepper, scallions and golden garlic that gave them a great flavour.

                                                  
5.Tofu Spicy Basil - This dish had crisp tofu with fried basil in a hot bird eye chili sauce. Quite Yumm !

                                                    
6. Nutella sushi , Sushi rice with a nutella filling and topping.It was nice but not my cup of tea, with the sticky creamy sweetness , I am all for desserts that have multiple dimensions to them in texture and taste .

                                                           

To sum it - Do visit once for the great food and unforgettable ambience and specially if you are looking for renovating your home or office with some quality and eye catchy pieces.Valet parking and separate smoking area are other pluses.