My very first Blog Award *applause*

So this is very exciting! The gorgeous and envy-worthy foodie-traveller Sonika has awarded me with the Liebster Blog Award. Considering this is my first blog award, you can imagine me jumping up and down hysterically. I googled to find out what the award means and came across posts that Liebster in German means ‘favourite’, so I am guessing my tiny little effort on the world-wide-web to write is being liked. *whee*

I have always wanted one you know.. I always looked at fellow bloggers’ receiving tons and since I could not bully anyone into giving me one, this award is quite special (I swear I did not bully Sonika for this :D)

So, thank you so much Sonika for this lovely gesture..I be honoured! 🙂 And this is probably a month delayed, but the life has been like a moving train and I was just trying to catch up!

These are the rules of the Liebster Award:

• When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
• Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (make sure you tell them you nominated them!) and ask them 11 questions.
• You are not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated you!
• Make sure the blogs you choose have 200 or less followers.

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I ate raw potatoes as a child. *yikes* I know. But I do have picture proof. Somehow I loved the taste of it. Yes. You can disassociate with me right about now!
2. When I was younger, I dreamt of being a professional dancer and choreographer. I did continue my training in various dance forms (Kathak, Odissi, Jazz, HipHop, Latin, Belly Dancing…) and will continue to learn more forms, but taking it up professionally, not sure if I still would. 🙂
3. I make travel itineraries for a hobby. I love travelling so much that I have documents over documents of plans to destinations that I love. I keep a little notebook where I write my “Wish List” when I come across an exciting new destination to go to. It is a different subject when it comes to how many materialize.. *sigh*
4. I wear my innovative-thoughts hat in the shower. My best ideas for work or for the blog come in the shower. I believe the shower head has some powers!
5. Trains are my favourite mode of travel. I can sit endlessly by the window and stare at life passing by. As the train chugs along, I have a million thoughts about life, people and their emotions fleeting like a moving picture in my restless mind.
6. I make song mash-ups in my head when I am alone. I will start singing a song and then seamlessly move on to another one without a break. If there was a recording studio up there, I bet I could product platinum hits 😛
7. I can never apologize in person. I suck at it. So I write. If you receive a long letter profusely apologizing from me, that is the best I can do. Ask my mother. She has a truckload of such letters.
8. I hate chocolates and I hate sweets. I also hate chips and biscuits and fried nuts. Now you are probably wondering why am I not a supermodel. That is because I love cheese and bread. I can finish an entire 6-slice pizza on my own! *shows off muscles*
9. I am not the kind who has a lucky top, number, jeans, sweater etc. I used to see the quirky ones around me who wore the same jeans to all their special days because it was lucky. I tried real hard to find my “lucky” something. And then I dug out my subconscious  Apparently 3 is my lucky number (date of my marriage ;)) and Monday is my lucky day! 
10. I am not religious in its literal sense. I don’t pray regularly (can hear my mother go tch tch), I don’t make an effort to go to the temple or any such thing. I just treat the higher power as a best friend who knows what’s going on in my life and will show me the right way. No need to “ask” for anything, is my mantra of Religion. However, I do love churches! They fill me with peace and self-worth.
11. I dream of travelling solo. I believe I am one with the place when I travel alone because I don’t have to worry about anyone else and their needs. I enjoy exploring the city on my own as well. (can see the husband frowning! ;))

And now 11 questions asked my Sonika, for me to answer *braces*:

• Favorite Place. One word why.

Villefranche-sur-mer. A village 9 miles off Nice, south of France. As elaborated here . 🙂

• Favorite type of cuisine.

Italian. I could eat Pasta for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Another testimonial of how much I love it is here.

• Favorite Quote.

“Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free.” – Rumi
I follow this quote quite literally. Whatever be the mood, dancing in my bedroom, with the door closed on the face of the world.. it is just me and movement.

• Favorite piece of artwork.

My mother’s artwork. She is a talented artist and I love her work. She has these gorgeous pieces and I dream of acquiring one for myself soon. Here is a sample.

• Favorite piece of bad advice given to you.

For a week eat only cucumber and drink lemon juice, you will become amazingly thin.

• Favorite Movie.

This one kept me thinking for about 15 minutes. I really don’t have one favourite movie. Love anything that tickles my bones, makes me warm and gets me inspired!

• Favorite band. Yes, there is a correct answer. No, One Direction is unacceptable.

I love Adele for her mesmerizing voice. I love Oasis for their gorgeous rhythm. And my favourite would be The Doors, a recent discovery thanks to a gorgeous friend who brought me to this beautiful, addictive world of music.

• Favorite way to waste time.

Watching TV. It is a terror, I tell you. Considering how much crap is there on the telly these days, I just cannot get myself to shut it off!

• Favorite embarrassing guilty pleasure.

Browsing online shopping websites and registering with them. Oh! and did I say, I don’t buy anything? Yes. Try dealing with the daily spam emails after embarking on that guilty ride.

• A place you have travelled to and you now wish you lived.

South of France. My dream to-live destination.

• If you could choose your nationality what would it be. You can’t say the current nationality you are.

I would choose my current nationality. Yes, I know I am going against your order up there. But, I cannot dream of being anything else other than Indian. *yells Jai Hind*

11 Questions for the bloggers I nominate.. come on! brace yourselves!

1. If you could be something/someone for a day, what/who would you be?
2. Your favourite dish. Not cuisine.
3. What is your biggest phobia?
4. Which season are you?
5. What is your favourite TV Show Moment? That moment on TV that inspired you/blew you away/made you sob/made it memorable?
6. One embarrassing thing you did as a kid/teenager?
7. If you could choose a decade from the following to live in, which one would it be and why? – 20s, 40s, 60s, 2k?
8. Tell us your most unusual, unique travel story?
9. What is the worst gift you have ever received? (I once received a 3-pack deodorant set!!)
10. Finish this sentence – “If I could pack my bags and go, I would travel to……….”
11. What are the 5 things in your handbag right now?

And finally *drumroll*, my nominated blogs are:

1. Aishwarya Rao, the gorgeous lady behind – Coffee House
2. Meghna Garg, love her writing; free-flowing and dreamy – Etcetra, Etcetra
3. Shitika Anand, hard-hitting writing and words that transport you to the situation – Sweet Dreams In My World
4. Priya Pillai – my favourite girl; honest writing, lovely prose – Living in a Mirage
5. Iya Malhotra, gorgeous and true at heard – Iya’s blog

And that would be 5 women-powered awesomeness on your plate! *cheers* Cant wait to see the replies!