• Editor

    How to Get a Flat Stomach

    How to get a flat stomach

    A flat stomach can be an elusive thing; many of us try a variety of methods to get one, often giving up before seeing any real results. With sedentary jobs and demanding schedules, fitness gets relegated to the back burner. But lots of people have figured out convenient ways to fit a fitness regime into their daily routines. Here are some of their tips.

    Daily Cardio Exercises

    About half an hour of daily cardio, whether it’s jogging around the block, cycling, swimming or hitting the treadmill, improves circulation and aids in acquiring a flat stomach. But make sure you get two to three days of rest each week.

    Take up a Sport (or Dance)

    Playing a dynamic sport a few times a week or dancing, are also great ways to get fit, while having fun along the way.

    Strength Training

    This will help build muscle, and therefore increase your metabolism, helping you burn calories faster. Crunches, leg raises, and side bends, are effective in toning the area. A combination of strength training and a regular cardio routine is what is needed for either to be really effective.

    Please note: The opinions in this post are not expert endorsed. Please contact an expert for further advice.

     

  • Editor

    The Perfect Father's Day Gift

    Find the perfect Father's Day gift

    Some dads are easy to find gifts for, others not so much. With Father’s Day just around the corner, getting the most important man in our lives the perfect gift is on most of our minds. While thinking of what Father’s Day gift would make his day, we decided to put together this post.

    The way we thought about it, there isn’t really just one kind of dad… and therefore, there isn’t one single perfect Father’s Day gift, there are several different perfect gifts, based on the kind of dad you’re choosing a gift for.

    The Tech Dad

    Now this dad is probably the easiest to choose a gift for, but the hardest to shop for- since he probably buys the latest gadgets as soon as they hit stores. He sends texts from his cutting-edge mobile, keeps his laptop updated with the latest software, and watches his TV shows on the best HDTV there is- and he researched all of these thoroughly before buying them. If this reminds you of your dad, tablets, laptops, mobile phones and accessories, are the kind of gifts he’ll love receiving. Just make sure, he doesn’t order that gadget before you do!

    The Dad who Likes Sports

    This man really likes sports. He played a sport in college, watches every match and every tournament, roots for his favourite team with as much enthusiasm as he did ten years ago, and probably plays a sport on weekends. Whether he still likes a good game of tennis or cricket, or has moved on to playing golf with his friends on weekends, this kind of dad, will love getting sporting equipment on his special day. If you’re thinking of getting him a nice tennis racquet or new cricket bat, go ahead, he’ll be thrilled.

    The Super-Organized Dad

    This dad likes keeping everything from his daily schedule to his files in order. He was never a minute late picking you up from school or dance classes, and never forgets a birthday or an anniversary or a meeting- because they’re all carefully noted down in his handy planner (he might have switched to the digital kind, but he’ll be just just as organized as ever). Get him a nice new tablet (the digital planner in its most modern avatar), or that leather- bound diary you’ve seen him eyeing, he deserves it; after all, he’s never been a minute late, for anything, ever.

    The Fix-It Dad

    This kind of dad likes tinkering around with stuff. He likes buying furniture he can assemble himself, pulls apart new gadgets and puts them back together  just to understand how they work, and probably got you Lego Technic when you were a kid, and sat down and built stuff with you… and sometimes stayed awake building long after you’d fallen asleep. This dad, would like getting a toolkit that’ll make tinkering around more fun, or some furniture he can build himself… and in some cases, that long forgotten meccano kit!

    The Sophisticated Dad

    And last, but definitely not the least, the sophisticated dad. This man likes the best of everything- be it the car he drives, the shoes he wears, the cologne he uses, right down to his cuff-links… we’re willing to bet he wears cuff-links, at least on special occasions. Buy him a really nice watch, a new leather wallet, or a bottle of his favourite cologne, and you’ve made his day.

    Let us know if you like our ideas, or have new ones, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Editor

    Amazon.in listings now available on Junglee.com

    On June 5, 2013, the Amazon.in marketplace launched in India with millions of product listings across the Books, and Movies & TV categories. We are pleased to announce that Junglee.com users can now find Amazon.in listings on Junglee and compare these alongside listings from hundreds of other seller websites across India.   Sites listed on Junglee include prominent names such as Snapdeal.com, Jabong.com, Flipkart, eBay, Homeshop18, Yebhi.com, Bestylish.com, Indiatimeshopping.com, Infibeam, Croma, Shoppers’ Stop as well as hundreds of other sites.  

    Junglee.com is India’s #1, most visited comparison shopping service (per Comscore). Customers come to Junglee.com to find the best offers across hundreds of websites in one convenient place. Junglee.com currently lists over 20 million products across 23 categories from 900+ seller websites; additionally, Junglee.com provides customers easy access to millions of customer reviews, and thousands of nearby store listings.  Customers can find virtually anything from books, to mobile phones, home furniture to jewellery, organic teas to fresh flowers, camping gear to mountain bikes through Junglee.com.  Our team remains relentlessly focused on adding more selection, more buying options and helping customers make smart buying decisions.  

    We are excited about adding Amazon.in marketplace to Junglee.com; our customers now have one more trusted site to consider before they decide where to buy. 

    Since both Junglee.com and Amazon.in are owned by Amazon, it’s important that our customers understand the difference between the two services.  Junglee aims to be an unbiased map of products and services which helps customers answer three vital questions ‘what should I buy’, ‘where should I buy’ and ‘how much should I pay’; Amazon.in endeavors to be a trusted destination on that map where customers can shop with confidence.  The two sites serve complementary purposes and have unique roles to play in improving the experience of shoppers in India.  We realize that it’s Day One and are motivated by the opportunities ahead of us.

  • Editor

    And the Mountains Echoed- the latest book by Khaled Hosseini

    And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

    I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.

    Like both of Khaled Hosseini’s previous novels, this one too, is a tale of infinite hope. The story begins in an Afghan village in 1952, where a father is telling his children, Abdullah and Pari, the story of a man whose son is taken away by a div (a monster); the same father then goes to Kabul, and sells his four year old daughter, Pari, to a wealthy, childless couple.

    Yet again, Hosseini brings to life a montage of characters with heart breaking stories. The novel traces the lives of the two separated children, from Kabul, to Paris and San Francisco. And along the way, narrates a myriad other tales resting firmly on the bedrock of human emotion, fragility, and resilience of spirit- widely acknowledged as Hosseini’s forte. Each of the novel’s characters burst forth from the book in rich, compelling detail- something that can only be born of a genuine understanding of each of them on the author’s part. Only the character of Markos- the Greek doctor, who moves to Afghanistan to treat wounded children, is a little lacking in depth.

    The novel’s essence is a typically Hosseini-esque traversal of human mindscapes, past and present; and despite adopting a much more complex narrative in this, his third novel, Hosseini delivers a book his fans will love, yet again.

    See all novels by the Khaled Hosseini

    Compare prices across websites for And the Mountains Echoed

  • Editor

    Keep it Cool- Essential Summer Appliances

    Essential kitchen & home appliances for summer

    It’s sweltering hot, the thought of stepping out makes you grimace and you’d give anything to time travel to December. Summer’s definitely here, but, thanks to technology beating the heat has gotten a lot easier. Here’s a list of kitchen and home appliances that can help you keep it cool.

    Refrigerators: There’s nothing like something nice and cold on a hot summer afternoon. From ice-cream to juice to chilled water, there’s only one place in your house that holds all that icy goodness- the fridge. And if you ever run out of any of the above, make sure you have a stash of ice-cubes to turn to.

    Air Conditioners: Stepping into a cool home after spending hours in the heat can feel like a blessing. But, if you don’t want to invest in one or don’t really feel the need for such heavy-duty cooling, table fans or ceiling fans can help moderate the heat for you. If you’re using the former, placing a bowl of ice before it works wonders in pulling the temperature down a notch or two.

    Juicers: What’s your poison- A nice chilled watermelon cooler or a glass of sweet lemonade with ice? Whether it’s smoothies you’re craving or fresh juice with loads of ice, this kitchen staple will stand you in good stead.

    Ice Cream Makers: You can buy it at a store and keep some in your fridge at all times, but making your own ice-cream can be a lot fun; especially if you like experimenting with interesting recipes. And in summer, nothing will make your loved ones as happy as some yummy ice-cream will!

    Food Processors: Now this might not be the most obvious, but, picture yourself slaving away in a hot kitchen for hours. And, more so in summer than in any other weather, we all want to get our cooking done quickly. Enter food processors; chopping, grating, slicing and blending- this appliance saves you tons of kitchen-time.

    Grills and Barbecues: An improvement on the above suggestion, getting a grill or a barbecue, moves cooking outdoors; and also makes it a lot of fun. Invite a few friends over, have yourself a barbecue, and forget your summer woes!

    For other cool ways to beat the heat, check out Summer Essentials on Junglee.

  • Rajjeet Kadian

    Junglee announces Businesses Nearby

    Find nearby stores on Junglee.com

    Customers can now use Junglee not only to compare offers across websites, but also to locate nearby stores carrying the brands they’re interested in. With its latest feature- Businesses Nearby, Junglee gives customers a one-stop view of their online as well as offline buying options.

    Researching local options while deciding where to buy a product can be a time consuming process. Very often, it becomes necessary to physically trudge through multiple stores to gather information about sellers and products, making it very difficult for shoppers to compare offers across all the stores in a city or a neighborhood.

    With Businesses Nearby, Junglee endeavors to create a trusted and comprehensive listing for conveniently researching products and the available local buying options for those products.  This includes information such as the phone number and address of the retailer. These details are verified by Junglee, to ensure that customers can trust the information provided. Customers can not only discover major national and regional retailers such as Reliance Digital, Pai International, Univercell, Vijay Sales, Next, and Ezone, but also several smaller shops across a wide variety of brands. This information is present on product pages on Junglee, alongside listings from online retailers, to give customers a clear view of their buying options- both online as well as offline. Customers will need to call stores to inquire about prices and availability.

    Our vision for Junglee.com is to create a reliable starting point which helps customers decide what to buy and where to buy from. We started in 2012, aggregating offers from online retailers with the aim of providing customers comprehensive information on their buying options.  With Businesses Nearby, we have extended the principle to local retailers.

    Currently this feature is launched for mobile phones and television stores in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi. We’ll be adding information on more products and cities soon, watch this space for updates.

    Go to Junglee.com

  • Editor

    The Robert Langdon Series

    The Robert Langdon Series by Dan Brown. Buy Inferno by Dan Brown Online

    The fourth book in Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series- Inferno is set to release on the 14th of May this year, and we, along with millions of his fans worldwide are waiting with bated breath for the book. In this book, set in Italy, Robert Langdon, the Harvard professor of symbology we’ve followed through the previous three books, navigates through an insidious web of mystery, woven around one of the greatest and most enigmatic masterpieces in the history of literature- Dante’s Inferno. Piecing together puzzles centred on the dark poem, Langdon rushes to find answers, before it’s too late.

    Previous books in the series:

    Angels and Demons (2000):

    In the first book of the series, we saw Langdon discover the resurgence of the Illuminati, an ancient secret organization whose sole aim is to destroy the Catholic Church and all that they perceive it to stand for. Langdon, assisted by Vittoria Vetra, an Italian scientist, follows a trail of symbols, and attempts to retrace the ‘Path of Illumination’, to finally reach a secret forgotten Illuminati lair that holds the key to the survival of the Vatican.

    The Da Vinci Code (2003):

    In this second book, Langdon, is called in the middle of the night to investigate the mysterious murder of the curator of the Louvre. What he doesn’t know is that he is a suspect in the very murder he has been asked to help investigate. With the help of cryptologist Sophie Neveu, he follows a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci; he unveils an explosive secret concealed for hundreds of years.

    The Lost Symbol (2009):

    The most fast-paced book in the series so far, this book saw Langdon summoned to the U.S Capitol building. In a bid to save his mentor, Peter Solomon, he accepts an invitation encoded in five mysterious symbols discovered in the building, plunging into a world of Masonic mysteries and concealed truths under the watchful gaze of a deadly enemy.

    Each of these books artfully wove together symbology, history, and art, and drew us into stories that were at once shocking and compelling. The next book, with Dante’s Inferno at the heart of the tale, promises to be even more thrilling than its predecessors. What can we say… we can’t wait to get our hands on it.

    Click here to pre-order a copy of Inferno by Dan Brown from online sellers on Junglee.

     

  • Editor

    The Perfect Mother's Day Gift

    Find Mother's Day Gift Ideas on Junglee

    ‘There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.’

    Mother’s day is just around the corner, and here at Junglee we want to make sure you pick just the right gift for the most important woman in your life.

    The Super Chef mom:

    Is your mom always trying out a new recipe? Does she love cooking and feeding people? Gift her something that will help her show off those culinary skills to everyone else! Here are some options that you could consider:

    How about a cookbook? 

    Maybe some kitchen appliances could do the trick?

    The Trendsetter Mom:

    If your mom knows the latest styles and trends in the market and has a flair for fashion then here are some gifting ideas that will make you the favourite child for the rest of the year. It might be a little risky, but it can be really rewarding too!

    Why don’t you get her some jewelry and add some sparkle?

     Or a saree, that you know she’ll look absolutely gorgeous in.

    The Working Mom:

    We know this kind of mom and she means business. She doesn’t indulge in clothes or jewelry very often and cooking isn’t really her hobby. However you know she takes her work very seriously, so you could get her something she could use.

    A stylish watch could be perfect with her professional look.

    Or maybe, a handbag which can hold everything from her office supplies to her make up.

    Just perfect, don’t you think?

    The Tech Mom:

    If your mom loves her gadgets then your life has just been made easier! Get her the latest Samsung S4 or the iPad that she’s been eyeing for a while now. You’ve noticed that she’s been putting up photos on Instagram lately; maybe buying her a new camera would encourage her to take up photography more seriously. Here are some ideas that could help you pick something up for the mom who loves her tech toys.

     Gifts for the tech mom.

    For every mom:

    Here are some timeless gifts that every mom would cherish. Order her a fresh bunch of her favorite flowers (Even if they are lilies or tulips and are difficult to get!); for she will appreciate the gesture immensely. You could make a memory album or a collage that she could hang up on the wall.  

    And give it to her in a nice photo frame...

    All in all, it is the thought that really counts. Go that extra mile to make her day special and tell her how much she means to you in her life. She’s cooked, cleaned, taken care of you when you’re ill, given you a hug when you’re down, seen you through your best and worst days and shaped you to be the person you are today.  Tell her how grateful you are by spending the day with her, for no gift comes as close as the gift of time. Happy shopping to all of you, and hope all of you have a fantastic mother’s day!

    (Author: Radhika Narayan)

     
  • Editor

    Summer Trend: Lace

    Summer'13 trends- lace

    After a short break, lace is back at the forefront, in some surprisingly refreshing new trends. Forget all you learnt about lace being staid and boring. Lace, this summer, is fun, young, still feminine, and can definitely be edgy if that’s the way you want it!

    Here are a few cool ways to wear this beautifully feminine fabric.

    The Classic lace dress is one way to go. But this nifty little once wardrobe-staple has a few tricks up its sleeve this season. While you’re unlikely to go wrong in a basic black, white or cream lace dress, don’t miss out on the bolder colours that have made their foray onto ramps and into wardrobes. It’s also a great way to keep it young, while wearing lace. If you aren’t quite ready to slip into a red lace dress just yet, you can still try a contemporary cut- peplum for instance (yes, we know, old cut-new take, but we can’t deny the new edge this flattering style has taken on).

    Adding androgynous pieces of clothing to your ensemble is another way to wear this trend. This one’s great for work. Picture a pair of palazzo pants and a chic lace top, throw in a lace box clutch, and you have a winner. You could also try wearing a blazer with a lacy blouse underneath it, or a lace skirt with a structured vest and a basic white or cream top. Think of this look as tossing an additional dash of femininity into the basic androgynous look.

    Using lace accents, trim and applique is another direction you could take with this trend. Lace-trim looks just as great on skinny jeans, as it does on an otherwise plain dress or blouse. A hint of lace can go a long way towards instantly glamming up an outfit. You can play it safe and carry a lace clutch or throw on a lace scarf, or you can be a little more adventurous and try lace applique nail-art, sheer lace leggings or lace trim on footwear- lace pumps and ballerinas? To die for!

     

  • Editor

    Superhero Origins

    Comic Book Superheroes

    What’s better than reading about a comic book superhero? Watching a fantastic celluloid rendition of a superhero comic book! What’s even better is discovering that the superhero who just wowed you has an even meatier backstory. In honour of Iron Man 3 (which we think is a fantastic movie, by the way), here are some really cool superhero backstories.

    Iron Man: Few people know that Tony Stark, son of Howard Anthony Stark and Maria Stark, graduated from MIT with two master’s degrees, at 19; and inherited Stark industries at 21, when his parents died in a car accident. Or that the first Iron Man suit he built, was built to keep his heart beating. Here’s how that story goes.

    Stark, while testing weapons in Vietnam, is injured in an explosion and captured by the enemy; who then order him to invent weapons for them. Meanwhile, a piece of Shrapnel that entered his body during the explosion is making its way towards his heart. That is when, with the help of his cellmate, Professor Yinsen, he builds a battle-suit- with a magnetic field to keep the shrapnel from reaching his heart. Stark dons the suit, defeats his captors, and escapes… and Iron Man is born.

    Batman: After watching his parents get killed in Gotham city’s Crime Alley, on their way back from a movie, heir to millions- Bruce Wayne, vows to avenge them. At 14, he embarks on a journey around the world to learn everything he needs, to avenge his parents- criminal psychology, criminology, forensic science and every form of fighting, from the people who can teach him best. On his return to Gotham, however, a defeated Bruce is rejected by the people he tries to protect. He then dons the bat-suit, and as Batman, succeeds in paralyzing his enemies… with fear.

    Thor: Thor is one of several powerful beings from the magical realm of Asgard; who, from ancient times, have been worshipped as Gods. But when an arrogant Thor nearly starts a war with the Frost Giants- mortal enemies of the Asgardians, he is banished to Earth by his father Odin. He reaches Earth as a crippled medical student, Donald Blake, with no memory of ever having been an Asgardian. After spending ten years on earth, Blake, now a brilliant surgeon goes to Norway, where Kronans (alien beings) plan to invade Earth. Here, he flees to a cave and discovers a cane. On tapping the cane against the wall of the cave, Blake transforms into Thor, and the cane to Mjonir- a powerful, enchanted hammer that Odin gifted his son on his eighth birthday. Blake returns to New York, and as Thor, fights crime, and the evil machinations of his jealous brother Loki.

    Superman: Superman is not an Earthling. Born Kal-El on the alien planet of Krypton, he is rocketed to Earth by his parents Jor-El and Lara, when they learn of the impending destruction of their home planet. During the last moments of his planet, Jor-El places young Kal-El in the spacecraft and launches it. Moments after the infant leaves the planet, Krypton explodes, transforming the planetary debris into a radioactive substance called kryptonite- the one thing that is lethal to Superman. The spacecraft lands in Kansas, where he is found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent. As he grows up, Clark and his adoptive parents discover his super powers. Guided by his loving adoptive parents, Clark learns to use his powers for the good of humanity, and becomes Superman.

    If these backstories are anything to go by, maybe Peter Parker (who, incidentally, developed super-powers when he was bitten by a genetically modified spider) knew something when he said what he did…

    Who am I? You sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale, if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world, somebody lied.

    What do you think?