There's something magical about ruins.

History has seeped in through each crevice and each crumbling stone tells a hundred enchanting stories about the past. 

I've always been fascinated by the beauty of those broken buildings that emit as much grandeur in their crumbling state as they used to do back in their day. Exploring ruins, touching those history-steeped surfaces, knowing more about the people who inhabited those walls when they were standing tall fills me with a sense of awe that very few things can.

So, when I went to Jordan (few years back), I was ecstatic to experience some of the most magnificent ruins all over the country! The ruins in Jordan vary in architecture & culture - from the Roman amphitheatres of Jerash to the rock-cut ruins of Petra built by the Bedouins to the holy Christian ruins at Mt. Nebo; there's a wide variety of history-rich monuments to explore and get mesmerized by. And so I thought, that these magnificent ruins deserve a separate post for my fellow travel enthusiasts & ruin-lovers out there.

1. Roman Ruins at Jerash

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Jordan, the Greco-Roman ruins in Jerash are sprawled over a wide area that can be explored by foot over 3-4 hours. The imposing Hadrian's Arch or Triumphal Arch, built AD 129, will welcome you into the ruin complex if you enter from the southern end. The central attraction of the site is the forum which is oblong in shape, with the paved limestone plaza surrounded by 56 Ionic columns that make for great photo-ops. 

The main thoroughfare of the old city runs on one side. It is a colonnaded street that still flaunts the original paved stones over which chariots used to run back in the day. There's also a small museum which showcases the history of Jerash and has an impressive collection of old artefacts from the site.

Tickets: 8 JD or free entry if you have the Jordan Pass

Guides: You can get good guides at around 20-25 JD near the ticket counter

2. Ancient Ruins of Petra

When one says 'Jordan', the first thing that comes to mind is the famous rose-hued archaeological ruins of Petra. Built more than 2000 years ago by the Nabateans, the ruins at Petra are not only a World Heritage Site, but also included in the list of the New Wonders Of The World!

Tickets: If you are staying overnight in Petra - 50 JD for 1 day, 55 JD for 2 days, 60 JD for 3 days
              If you are a day visitor in Petra - 90 JD

Guides: 50-100 JD depending upon what monuments you want to cover

3. Ruins of Ajloun Castle

The crumbling facade of the castle & the broken towers lend an aura of rustic appeal to these 12th century ruins. The medieval Arab military architecture makes this castle an interesting tourist attraction. The ruins are well-preserved and perfectly safe for exploration even without guides or local help.

The fascinating remains of the biblical structures can be seen, preserved by the modern outer structure of the renovated buildings - you can ogle at intricate mosaic floors dating back to 1400 years, marvel at the beauty of gorgeous stained-glass windows and get impressed by the well-preserved excavated ruins strewn around the complex. 
Even if you are not someone who is interested in holy pilgrimages or historical sites, you can still enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the Dead Sea & the Desert of Judah from the top of the mountain. 

The most prominent feature of these ruins are the Roman pillars of the Temple of Hercules which still stand strong & victorious through hundreds & thousands of years of history. You can walk around and explore the ruins, and even check out some of the underground caves/hideouts if you are feeling adventurous.

The Citadel also houses a small but impressive Archeological Museum, behind which lies another attraction - the Umayyad Palace. The ruins of these 8th-century royal & residential buildings have been excavated by archaeologists since the 1920s. You can see the majestic domed audience hall and an ancient cistern that used to be the source of water supply for the area in days of yore.

Love,
Anupriya

So, this is the time we should be paying a little more attention to our skin and making sure we use chemical-free, natural skincare products that will help without damaging the skin. When I got to know about Deyga Organics, I was excited to try out a home-grown brand with handcrafted organic products made in India. Each product is made with enriching oils, natural ingredients and a whole lot of care to ensure that the user can celebrate her own natural, raw beauty.

Deyga Organics is a brand based in Tamil Nadu and they offer a wide range of skincare, haircare, oral care, baby care, bath & body products handcrafted from organic ingredients and the goodness of nature. I have been using the products sent to me for the past couple of weeks now and am finally sitting down to review them for you guys!

Deyga Basil Toner

A good toner is a must-have in every skincare kit and I've been loving using this refreshing Basil Toner from Deyga! It helps tighten pores, hydrate the skin and has been a great inclusion in my nightly skincare routine. It contains steam-distilled Basil that has detoxifying & antibacterial properties, which helps in taking care of acne-prone skin too. 

This soothing toner can be used every night after cleansing the skin - it can be sprayed directly for a refreshing feel or dabbed on with a cotton ball/pad for cleaning out pores. I have also used this toner in my face packs as a diluting agent. It's priced decently too and there are quite a few other varieties of toners on the Deyga website to choose from (I'm eyeing the Rose and the Tea Tree ones next)!

Deyga Vanilla Deodorant

I was extremely excited to try out this organic, handmade roll-on deodorant that came in a sustainable cardboard tube packaging. The Vanilla deodorant stick looked quite interesting as I had not yet tried anything like this before! The packaging is quite sturdy and the deodorant stick has to be pushed out from the back as per requirement. 

The texture of the product is slightly sticky, but blends smoothly when applied on the skin. Made using shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, beeswax, kaolin clay & vanilla essential oil - this natural deodorant is absolutely free of harmful chemicals, unlike the commercial deodorants we tend to use. The organic ingredients help absorb sweat, instead of blocking it, and the rich creamy aroma of vanilla uplifts your mood & spreads cheer wherever you go!

The fragrance stays for around 2-3 hours and the application is easy & smooth. It's really amazing to have a chemical-free deodorant stick that can help fight body odour without harming the skin. But, personally, I felt the vanilla aroma was a bit too sweet for my taste. I'm definitely thinking of trying their Jasmine variant though!

Deyga Beetroot Lip Balm

One can never have too many lip balms, and the Deyga Beetroot Lip Balm is a welcome addition to my beauty kit. The cute tin packaging was love at first sight, as was the pretty red tint of the balm! The texture of the product is light, smooth and the smell is fresh & subtle. 

Made with beetroot extracts & natural minerals, this lip balm helps heal dry & chapped lips, keeps lips soft & supple and even lends a nice rosy tint when applied. All in all, a nourishing lip care product at a pocket-friendly price. No wonder it's one of their bestselling products!

Overall, I'm quite happy with the Deyga Organics products I've used till now and totally looking forward to trying out new things from their wide range of personal care products. 

The products I've used till now have suited to my skin type, but whenever you are buying any new skincare product, do check the skin type recommendation once in order to make sure it'll suit you and don't forget to do a patch test before using it fully. 

I would definitely recommend you to check out the Deyga Organics website and you'll be spoilt for choice with the appealing range of natural skincare, haircare & bodycare products available! Given our current economic scenario, we should aim at supporting more local, ethical, homegrown brands (instead of international corporations & commercial biggies) and this is my way of bringing new Made In India brands to you!

Do let me know if you try Deyga Organics and don't forget to me (@styleprism) on Instagram when you do!

Stay healthy, stay safe.

Love,
Anupriya

With video formats being the happening kids on the content block right now, creators & influencers are forever on the lookout for new platforms. With the ban on one of the most popular short video platforms recently, video content creators have been desperate for a space to share their skills.

Enter HiPi – the new and exciting short video creating platform from ZEE5! A part of the versatile ZEE5 app, HiPi is another step for this entertainment biggie towards becoming a Super App. With TV, movies, web shows, LIVE channels and even a casual gaming platform available on the ZEE5 app already, HiPi adds another feather to the already popular hat.

Content is King

It can’t get more hip and happening than HiPi! With an easy interface to create and upload short video content, ZEE5 looks at its existing 80 million active users as both creators and consumers. The platform is built on a strong programme that aims at generating revenue shares for the creators and influencers. The content is said to be moderated before it reaches the consumers, in order to maintain quality. From exciting videos to trending challenges, it all #HappensOnHiPi. This content-driven platform not only focuses on getting high quality video content to a wide range of audience, but also making sure that the creators get rewards for their efforts. So be prepared for exciting challenges, collaborations and other interactive features to be added to the platform over time.

Top 10 Must-Try Filters for Creators

One of the coolest features on HiPi is the hundreds of filters you can choose from, to give a seamless AR twist to your videos. From flawless beauty filters to cool time-lapse filters, there’s a wide variety to choose from and use as suitable for your piece of content.

• The Fire Explosions Filter: This is THE filter to go for if you want to amaze and impress your viewers with an explosion-of-all-good-things effect accompanied by the perfect music in the background.

• The Black and White Filter: This is one of those filters through which you can create the biggest impact using the least amount of effort. You can turn yourself to good ol’ black and white while everything else does not get to take part in the monochromatic fun.

• Sparkling Beauty Filter: This filter will help you ace that no-makeup makeup look by making that pretty face of yours look all dewy, topped off with that goddess glow from within.

• The Funny Faces Filter: Everybody loves a good laugh, right? And what better way than getting your face tweaked into funny shapes and sizes, and sharing it with friends? It’s sure to keep boredom at bay.

• Time Lapse Filter: This is one of the best filters that the Tech God has blessed us with and you can use it to capture some amazing shots of nature, and compile it all together to give you an amazing, breathtakingly beautiful result. Also, it’s basically wonders in seconds.

• Beauty Filter: If you have not started using this filter yet, you definitely need to give it a shot. Well, a girl can always dream about that perfect jawline and wispy eyelashes. Now you can achieve it too, thanks to this filter.

• Light Filter: Think back to all the times, you were not able to capture that perfect shot because of bad lighting. Well, not anymore. This filter is all about providing the right amount of light at the right time, right place. Now, you have no more excuses for missing a real shot.

• Fast Forward: Just as the name suggests, you can create your own videos and give them a complete makeover by using this filter to fast forward your way to glory and success.

• Light and Snow: This effect, combined with the correct light and beauty features, can make your videos look quite professional and influencer-like. Dreamy snowy scenes in a snap.

• Beauty Effect: You can mix and match the various beauty features to make yourself turn from drab to fab in seconds. And coupled with other effects like light or sparkling, you will feel as if touched by a fairy godmother.

It’s September!

When the lockdowns started in March, we were hoping that things will be back to normal by June-July. But the situation worsened each month, and even after the economy opened up, things are anything but back to normal.

I don’t know about you all, but I’m very apprehensive of the situation all around and I’m still staying home as much as possible. Thankfully, I’m not losing my mind from boredom as I’m keeping myself entertained with interesting movies and shows on ZEE5. The latest Hindi web series that I enjoyed binge-watching on this streaming platform is #Bebaakee – and it was so impressive that I thought of sharing a quick review of the show with you guys. I know all of you stuck at home are dying for some good show recommendations and this review might help you choose the next one!\

Image source: ZEE5.com

An Opulent Family Drama

In the history of Hindi OTT shows, there has not been a more regal indoor set than the family home of the protagonists of this series. Director Muzammil Desai has taken inspiration from grand movie sets to create a stunning mansion for the two media Moguls and best friends who stay together as one family. Their sons – Sufiyaan and Imitiaz - share a strong brotherly bond, which is eventually threatened by the force of love. The lavish opulence of their wealth, the high-society lifestyle and the typical rich-people ambience are conveyed effortlessly in the series. In the midst of innumerable crime thrillers and popular sit-coms flooding the streaming platforms, it is refreshing to watch a family drama that plays on the classic theme of a love triangle.

Unforgettable Characters

Well-written characters are the backbone of any show, and Bebaakee definitely impresses in that department. Sufiyan Alazi (played by Kushal Tandon) is the brooding young entrepreneur, expertly handling the empire of his father. Imtiaz (played by Karan Jotwani) is a playful, charming dude who reigns over the same empire alongside Sufiyan. Kainaat Sahni (played by web series debutante Shiv Jyoti Rajput) is a happy-go-lucky, passionate journalist who ends up being the love interest of both the men in the story. The senior generation is also played effortlessly well by the likes of Mohit Chauhan, Sameer Malhotra, Suchitra Pillai and Ananya Bellos, among others. The characters portray the high-class lifestyle with ease, keeping the whole mood of the drama toned down enough to give it the necessary classy webs series feel, instead of a trashy TV soap vibe.

A Passionate Plot

Sufiyan and Kainaat – the protagonists – couldn’t be more unlike each other. Kainaat is a bubbly, easy-going middle-class girl with a passion for journalism; while Sufiyan is a filthy-rich, intense businessman who comes from a prestigious & renowned family. But the law of love that dictates the attraction between opposites, holds true yet again as this unlikely couple gets drawn towards each other. The journey of their love story is far from easy though. They encounter numerous twists, turns, obstacles and clashes before they can even realise their own feelings for each other. Add to this, Imitiaz’s attraction to Kainaat, and we’ve got an intense love triangle that defies the bonds of friendship, brotherhood and loyalty. When Sufiyan and Imtiaz get ready to go to any lengths to secure a place in Kainaat’s heart, it not only threatens to destroy their brotherly bond, but also affects the family dynamics, the relationships and even the entire media business owned by the two families. The moody music – specially the soulful song Intehaan – holds the narrative together, while the gorgeous locales of Simla and Manali present the perfect backdrop for this drama to unfold against.

 

This gripping tale of family, love and friendship spans over 8 thrilling episodes that form Season 1 of this ZEE5 original web series. It’s one of the first prominent Muslim social dramas to be seen on any Indian OTT platform. The aesthetic cinematography, crisp direction, passionate dialogue delivery and well fleshed-out characters put this family and romantic drama in a league of its own. There are some intense dialogues that leave a mark on your heart, my favorite one being – “Hawa ke jhokon se bebaak mohabbat nahi bujhti, yeh #DilKiHichki hain jo ruhh ke saath fanaa hoti hain!” This is surely one of the must-watch shows among all the gems you can find in the #ZEE5Club. By now you must be dying to know who among Sufiyan and Imtiaz actually gets the girl? Well, tune in to ZEE5 and binge-watch Bebaakee today!

Stay home, Stay safe!

Love,
Anupriya 

• The Gold particles help in prevention of premature ageing, lessens wrinkles, fine lines and increases skin elasticity. Gold also aids in illuminating the skin and making it glow.
• Vitamin C is a very popular skincare ingredient, as it provides sun protection, removes wrinkles, smoothens the skin. The antioxidants present in Vitamin C helps fight free radicals and prevent damage from harsh sun rays.
• The Hyaluronic Acid has strong anti-ageing properties. It keeps skin hydrated and fights against any kind of skin infection.
• Vitamin E works on unwanted marks and scars. It reduces spots and softens the skin.
• Vitamin B5 helps in moisturization, nourishment and soothing the skin. It also helps regenerate skin cells.
• Collagen boosters amps up the glow and lustre of the skin. It helps make the skin youthful and healthy.