Oh chai, how I love you, let me count the ways~

Just finished a big cup of chai and the world is good again. No matter how crappy my day is, no matter how sleepy/tired/depressed I am, chai is like some kind of Prozac-in-a-cup which fills my mind with images of sunlight peeking through trees, and long bus rides on empty roads, with your favourite song playing in the background. And the world seems like I'm seeing it through Instagram *cough* rose-coloured glasses.

And just so you may know, I am NOT a hipster! I have been drinking chai since I was 7, because I hated milk as a kid, so my grandma introduced me to chai as a way of getting me to drink some milk. Got addicted to the stuff eventually. Can't imagine life without it now.

Have you ever tried chai, like REAL chai, not the stupid liquid-ey goo people call "chai latte" or whatever- I am talking about real Indian chai. If you have then, you obviously haven't looked back at chai lattes. And if you haven't, then what are you waiting for, grab a cup now! Taste the happiness! ~ (´ω` )

If you don't believe me, then here are some commonly known but cool facts about chai tea:

• It is rich in antioxidants which protect against cell-damaging free radicals.
• Ginger in tea is good for digestion and soothes the stomach.
• It has less caffeine than coffee and yet, restores happiness levels.
• The ginger in tea also has anti-inflammatory properties.

So HUZZAH FOR THE CHAI!

Don't know how to make it? It's simple. Though my method may sound retarded, it works! For one cup, all you need is:
3/4 cup water (in case the water evaporates a lot while boiling)
1/2 cup milk
1 tspn sugar
3/4 or 1 tspn of tea powder (depends on how strong you want it; I like mine strong with less sugar)

1. Boil the milk and water in a saucepan and add the sugar and tea. Keep stirring now and again till the milk starts turning brown.
2. When the milk boils, lower the heat and occassionally bring it to boil in between
3. Once the milk has started turning a deeper brown and it looks strong, switch off the stove and cover the tea.
4. After a minute, pour it out through a strainer! And ta-da, chai is ready! I like having my chai with digestive biscuits. :D

OPTIONAL: You can add a small piece of ginger (crushed) to the saucepan after adding the tea. Just make sure the milk doesn't curdle! Ginger tastes awesome because it gives the tea this extra warming effect which feels like heaven during the winters and during dreary rainy days! It soothes sore throats as well!

You may even add crushed cardamom ,though not one of my faves; or some chopped Holy Basil (Batman!), gives it a nice herbal taste~<3

Or just ask some nice Punjabi neighbour/friend to make you a cup! (Punjabi chai is the best!)

And then be like,

Screw you, societal perceptions!

So this is something that I keep getting worked up about now and again, and I am sure most of you do- societal perceptions and their ridiculousness. Our society is very unjust in what it perceives as acceptable and what is looked down upon. 

For example, an overweight man will usually be seen as "jovial". But on the other hand, see an overweight woman, and you'll hear comments like "whoa, she needs to lose weight!" or "she's really let herself go".

Men are given more leeway when it come to looks. While a woman who may be, for example, intelligent but chubby- is still not given as much favour as compared to the doe-eyed girl standing next to her. Women are expected to possess good personalities, wit, intellect AND gorgeous figures. Plus they are often expected to meet certain height requirements too! As if THEY decided what height they wanted to be right?

This SYSTEM in itself is totally UNACCEPTABLE!

And another thing- when an overweight girl mentions this, it's because "she's jealous". Because pretty girls wouldn't care about body image and societal perceptions right? Also, feminists are often perceived as man-hating, unattractive females or women with lesbian tendencies. That's like saying all men who pay attention to their looks are gay. 

And the most irritating thing is how rampant this sexism and stereotyping is in South Asia!(For example, chick wearing deep-neck shirt suddenly walks past; random person:" look at her shirt- showing off her boobs like no one's business!" *her integrity, dignity,etc is questioned after that*). Though that's not to say that it doesn't happen in other countries. 

And as much as I would like to say that I do not practise stereotyping, I am sorry to say that I do. Though its not in the same way as most people, I do find myself judging people and creating impressions about them in my mind. Like I'll think that dude on the bus with shifty eyes is a creep. It's inevitable. But I never like to voice them out. Not unless they are proved right anyways.

Ultimate point- don't judge people on the basis of their looks alone. Thin women aren't always bitches and fat guys aren't always nice.

And to all you people not happy with your looks- give yourself a hug, your physical and mental being needs it. It' s the only body you've got and it works hard 24/7 just to keep you living. And to all the crap that people may say, your reaction should be:

EXACTLY LIKE THIS

-Rant over-

Forgive me Gym, for I have sinned!

As the New Year begins, I realise that I have been neglecting my gym membership for over a month now. Boo.

Do you know that feeling when you eat something so filled with fatty goodness, you think you can actually feel the richness clogging your arteries? Well that's the story of my life for more than two weeks now. Every time I eat anything on the holiday food list, I have this 10 second guilt trip before and after I eat. And then I'm just like- to quote Homer Simpson-"Mmmmm. Triple bypass..*drool*"

I contemplate, reflect, and agonise over the fact that my hard earned weight loss is going to waste (and the weight loss was only 5 pounds, so I think I must have more than made up for it). And after all that, I eat the damned thing anyway.

Anyhoo, I am all for eating what you want. I frankly can't imagine a world without bacon. Or chocolate. Or caffeine.

So do I want to lose weight because of the pretty people out there? No, of course not. I think I got over that phase of my life when I was 14. Now, I just worry about my heart- literally. I can feel my lungs crying out "Y U NO RUN?! WE BE LOSING STAMINA HERE!!"

So this year, in a very anime fashion, I RESOLVE TO EXERCISE from tomorrow!!

And is it strange that more than any GIRL out there, 2PM makes me want to lose weight?! (I would've said TOP from Big Bang but the amount he lost in that much time just sounds scary!)

Seriously, look at them! Hotness+ Fitness+Talent= Epic WIN~♥ 

On another note, I found this old, but interesting article from The Economist about how gymming is similar to being part of a religion (for example, feelings of guilt on skipping it, disciplining yourself to be regular like a ritual of sorts, etc). Go read the article and let me know what you guys think!

moar eyecandies plz!~ @w@

*goes to ogle some more at 2PM*

*stops nosebleed*

Byee~ (^_^)/

First post- make-up and the mind of a 13 year old boy

Hello world! *prances*

This is my first post, and I am not very good at starting conversations  In fact, most of my discussions with friends and family begin with "on a random note..".

I don't regard myself as a very good people person, and I am perhaps one of those people to most likely retire to the mountains and maintain a Japanese garden.

I am a geek in many ways- I love art, I have an interest in Sociology and Economics and I have an unhealthy obsession with manga and k pop.

Also, I can be quite lazy. (Though I won't say I do nothing. I exist. And that's a state of being. So there.)

But besides all that, I am currently learning more about the world of make-up, thanks to my sister, Nisha. I never really liked make-up, but after my sister convinced me about it being a woman's warpaint, I developed an inclination towards it. Though I still can't for the life of me understand why I need foundation; and eye-shadow is an amazing pretty powder which I will never use.I still love BB Cream though. And kajal.

My fashion taste and brain is often like that of a 13 year old boy.I looove laughing at stupid things, for instance, you mention "Mt.Titless" I will be sniggering in a second flat. Also, I hate dressing up unless I feel like it. So it's not funny the amount of times my family lectures me about my faded t-shirts or oversized shorts. My sister especially has taken it upon herself to transform my wardrobe into some alternate universe- filled with kitty-pattern dresses and funky shirts. But hey, I ain't complaining. If it fits and I can still breathe normally- I'll wear it.

Though I have started appreciating clothes more, I think a complete, permanent makeover is still too far away.

My brain has now run out of topics to write about, so I shall stop now.

On a random note, here's a kpop macro to show how excited I am.