- what I would give for a Bollywood flash mob to erupt on a flight.  Happy Republic Day, India! -

- Bears, Beets, and Battlestar Galactica is a platform I can support -

- Grammar nerds, rejoice -

- Love them.  And love her even more after reading the story below -

One night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn’t too luxurious. When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the President’s secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and Michelle had a conversation with the owner.

Following this conversation President Obama asked Michelle, why was he so interested in talking to you. She mentioned that in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her. President Obama then said, “so if you had married him, you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant”, to which Michelle responded, “no, if I had married him, he would now be the President.”

- the view from my “room” -

The night started off like all the others this week.

“Checking in, Hitha Palepu,” I said, handing over my driver’s license and American Express to the front desk manager.
“Long day?” he asked.
“Yes – started in Ohio, and ended up here.  I’m excited to sleep.”
“I hear that.  Let me see what I have for you.”

As I wait, I replay the conversation with my taxi driver in my head…
“You should ask for an upgrade.  Can’t hurt” he said as we pulled into Caesar’s Palace.
“Should I?  Any chance I’ll actually get one?” I reply.
“Sure – it’s a Wednesday night, still a little slow.  Just go for it.”

I clear my throat.  ”Excuse me – is there any chance of an upgrade?  This is my third hotel this week, and I’d really like to have more space, a nicer room.” I ask, sheepishly.
With a cheeky smile, he replies “I’ll see what I can do.  Lucky for you, I can do an awful lot around here.”
“Great.”

A few moments pass as he taps away on his computer.  He punches out two key cards, writes the room number in the folder.  ”We’re booked to capacity,” he says.  ”But I got you a bigger room.  I think you’ll like it.”
“Excellent.  Where is this room?”

He traces the path to my tower through the casino on a map and hands over the keys.  ”Enjoy your stay!”

I walk through the casino, pass bars and restaurants (was sorely tempted to sit for some Australian Open and a dirty martini), and straight into an elevator.  Dragging my suitcase along the quintessential Vegas long hallway to my room, I finally reach the room.  Fumbling for my key card, I finally enter it in the slot and enter.

My living/dining room, that is.

My boy HOOKED IT UP.  The suite is a good 3x larger than my NYC apartment, and with amazing amenities – cozy furniture, a steam shower, jacuzzi, TVs all over the suite, and a closet that I want to move into.

I drop my bags and do what any sane, mature person would do – jump on the bed.

Wrapped in my Caesar’s Palace robe, teeth brushed and face washed, I’m curled up in this heavenly bed (remade from the jumping)  and slowly drifting off to sleep.

As rough as this week has been (a different hotel in a different city every night and clocking 4 hours in small commuter planes today), it’s amazing what wonderful service and a sweet suite can do to turn around your day.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a serious date with this bed.

Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes / Heritage Products Rosewater /
Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum / Chanel Precision Hydramax Active Moisture Gel Cream / Rosebud Salve

]]> http://www.hithaonthego.com/2012/01/25/in-flight-beauty-routine/feed/ 4 http://www.hithaonthego.com/2012/01/24/whats-in-my-bag-travel-tote-part-ii/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whats-in-my-bag-travel-tote-part-ii http://www.hithaonthego.com/2012/01/24/whats-in-my-bag-travel-tote-part-ii/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:06 +0000 hitha http://www.hithaonthego.com/?p=1345 Continue reading →]]>

As a follow up to this post, I wanted to share with you what I’m packing in my Lo & Sons bag for this week’s business trip.  Some are the usual suspects, and some are new additions.  Here’s what I’m toting to Chicago, Columbus, and Las Vegas:

Zara nude heels (love the shoe pocket in the bag!), pashmina
MacBook, iPad, iPhone, notebook & pen
My “everyday” jewels, RayBan Wayfarers
Wallet, Rosebud Salve, makeup bag
not shown – DSLR (it goes with me everywhere)

I’m wrapping up meetings in Chicago today and traveling to my old hometown of Dublin, Ohio tonight.  Tomorrow afternoon will be filled with meetings, but I’m extremely excited to meet up with my old roommate for breakfast!

- Coat via Kohl’s, dress via Etsy, J.Crew tights, Madewell boots, Prada bag, Kate Spade ring, Gap belt -

After spending a snowy Saturday at home, my hubs and I trekked uptown to the Guggenheim to catch the Cattelan exhibit.  In true Hitha fashion, I stuck with an ensemble in my beloved black with gold accents.  The cobalt peacoat was a recent purchase, and it instantly jazzes up my otherwise somber outfits.  After our afternoon out, I promptly changed into Adidas track pants and a tee when I got home for comfort food (BBQ Brisket from a nearby restaurant) and football.  It was a perfect, lazy weekend to kick off a busy week – am headed on yet another business trip (Chicago, Columbus, and Las Vegas).

I’ve traveled quite a bit and seen some spectacular royal homes, but Falaknuma Palace definitely ranks high among my all-time favorites. The afternoon we spent there was nothing short of spectacular – wandering the grounds on our own, an excellent tour from the guide, and a delicious snack and cocktail. My only regret is that the hotel wasn’t open in time for my wedding. If you find yourself in Hyderabad, make sure to plan a day (if not a night’s stay) at the Palace.

- courtyard of the palace -

- Jasmine Sour, the signature cocktail at the restaurant -

- Murano glass chandeliers -

- the longest dining table in the world. When the glasses are perfectly lined, you can hear the person sitting at the other end of the room -

- the view of Hyderabad at night -

Fun fact about the palace and its previous owner – the items in the palace are 10% of what were originally in there.  The nizam of Hyderabad was a massive hoarder collector, and all the furnishings and art in the Palace came from all over the world (Murano and Bavarian glass, Swiss clocks, Persian hookahs, etc).  I can only imagine how incredible it must’ve been with the additional 90% of the collection.

Apologies for the radio silence the past couple of days – I’ve been readjusting to the (10.5 hour) time difference while keeping up with a never ending to-do list.  My saint of a husband helped me rearrange the furniture in our apartment the morning I arrived, and I’ve since been on a hunt for new pieces that compliment our new layout – and of course, some new things for myself.  Given that I’ve spent my discretionary income for the month (yes, I have an allowance – it ensures we have an actual savings account rather than more shoes), I can only lust after these items…until February, that is

Lucite nesting tables, to replace our chunky wooden table
A chic iPhone case that both charges and protects
An on-trend neon clutch
Moroccan tea glasses, for display or a drink
A fresh update on the classic pencil skirt
A thin console table for our bedroom odds and ends
A unique guitar grip that’s both functional and artistic

- waiting – and trying to catch the brash, OJ-demanding woman in her demanding glory behind me -

A glass shatters on the side table, its shards spilling on the stained carpet.  Behind me, a women barks out a grocery list into the phone.  Apparently she needs orange juice – she needs it, with her cough.  I’ll take some too, preferably with a heavy splash of vodka.

A TV broadcasts CNN on mute.  The only noise is the hum of the fan, the turning of newspaper pages, the clickty-clack of computer keys, the clanging of utensils over by the buffet, the random screams of children.  It’s like a jazz tune – every sound has a purpose, and it melds together into its own unique song.  Not being much of a jazz fan, I pop in my headphones and allow The Joy Formidable to fill my ears.

People are lost in their own worlds as they wait in their leather armchairs.  I glance at the boy sleeping across from me, and wonder what he’s dreaming of.  His father pecks away on his iPhone – I imagine he’s dealing with some sort of work crisis, given his furrowed brow and his head resting in his hand.  The woman next to me is dressed in flowered pants and a coral shirt; she chooses to snack during her wait, cutting fruit into bite-sized pieces and eating them, one by one.

The smells.  Ugh.  A mix of pungent body odor, mixed with the sweet odor of fruit and the tantalizing smell of grease from the buffet is somewhat torturous.  The smells make the wait the worst, as there’s nowhere to escape to.  The lounge may have its unpleasant odor, but the waiting area outside is even worse.

Wait.  It is the one word that sums up travel these days.  We wait in lines during the whole journey – to check in, go through immigration and security, to board and depart the flight.  We sit and wait to and from the airport, for the flight, and on the flight itself.

Wait.  Whoever said “It’s not the destination, but the journey that counts” obviously never traveled in 2012.  My journey is a haze of flight delays, traffic jams, security and boarding lines – it’s pathetic, really.  Until certain memories come flooding back…

…the incredible books I’ve read while traveling, which inspired me to write more – and start this blog.
…the random idea that is culminating into a potential business.
…reminiscing about a weekend where I met an incredible man – who would later become my husband.
…random glasses of champagne – the celebration being that it’s simply there.

Perhaps my journey isn’t as pathetic as I once imagined – but rather, forces me to slow down to get inspired and appreciate life.

And then this happens.  ”Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform you that the boarding of Continental Airlines flight 048 to Newark is delayed by 20 minutes.  Kindly remained seated – boarding will begin at 11:10 p.m”

Any champagne left in this joint?

- view of Hyderabad from Faluknama Palace at dusk -

Hyderabad is much more than a place to visit, for me – it’s my second home.  I’ve been coming here since I was a baby, and love everything about this city – the food (oooh, the food), the shopping (pretty incredible), and of course my family.  Here’s a 24-hour glimpse in a particularly full day in Hyderabad from last week:

5:30 a.m - I may be the only person, but I love jet lag.  It instantly makes me a morning person.  I throw on my workout clothes and head to the gym.  The metric-system treadmills make me feel infinitely better about my morning run, and there’s nothing like watching the sun rise over the city while you run intervals.

7:30 a.m - Breakfast!  It’s a feast – a masala omelet, an idly served with sambar, and fresh fruit.  I take full advantage of the Marriott’s breakfast buffet, as my morning meal at home is not nearly as exciting.

8:00 a.m-1:00 p.m - Work meetings.  I’ll spare you the details.  It was long, technical, and required multiple cups of chai.

1:00 p.m - Ahhhh, lunch.  Chicken curry and rice, fresh lime soda, and more fruit.  Again – the meals awaiting me at the apartment are far more simple (and vegetarian), so I take advantage of this food while I can.

2:00 p.m - Sightseeing!  We went to Faluknama Palace yesterday (stunning, more details later), and are heading to the Salar Jung museum.  Though I haven’t been in 20 years, I visited my favorite pieces in Jung’s personal collection – he veiled Rebecca statue, Mephistocoles and Margietta.  I like to think of Salar Jung as the original hoarder, but I suppose when you’re wealthy “hoarder” becomes “collector.”

5:00 p.m - My co-workers are the adventurous sort – so we decide to stop by Charminar, Hyderabad’s most famous monument nestled in the middle of Old City.  We jump off our tour bus in the middle of a street market to take pictures as the bus loops around to come pick us up.  We jump back on minutes later, and head back to the hotel.

6:30 p.m - My favorite indulgence in India has to be getting an oil head massage and a blow-out.  It’s beyond relaxing, soothing, and leaves my hair glossy and shining.  And it’s only $15 US at the Marriott.  Score!

7:30 p.m – Team dinner, this time at Altitude in the Marriott.  We have the private room and the wine everyone purchased in duty free (Indian wines are something less than desirable).  We drink, eat (I indulge in the local specialty dum biryani) and chat.  I have a lengthy conversation about wine and concerts with our chief medical officer, chat about family and business ideas with my cousin, and force everyone to try the dessert – kubani kameeta (photographed above).

11:30 p.m - Time to head home to the apartment.  I have a 3:00 a.m wake-up for the big day – the inauguration of the new building in our Indian facility.

Other sights, tastes, and experiences in Hyderabad that are not to be missed:

Dum biryani should only be eaten at one place – Paradise in Secunderabad.  Go there – all the drivers know where it is.

For the best jewelry shopping in Hyderabad, visit Kundan Jewelers.  Tell Satish that Hitha sent you, and try the Irani chai when they ask what you’d like to drink.

While I highly recommend the Marriott as a place to stay (I got married there!), Ista Hotel is stunning.  A bit out of the way, but it’s serene and completely lovely.

For a truly incredible dining experience, head to Faluknama Palace (recently renovated by the Taj Hotel group).  Absolutely stunning and with excellent food, it boasts the best views in Hyderabad.  Head early for a free tour of the palace and to watch the sunset – you will not regret it.  And try the Jasmine Sour while you’re there – it is fantastic.

Each year starts with the best of intentions – I carefully list out all the things I want to accomplish in the new year, display it on my desk for easy reference, and it inevitably gets buried by papers and belongings a week later.

I couldn’t tell you what last year’s resolutions were (the piece of paper lost somewhere in my parents’ house).  I can tell you, however, that I accomplished a lot of things I committed to do in 2011, one at a time.

So that’s my new thing.  Make a single commitment, follow through, and move on to a new one.  Commitment #1 – stop whining.

As of late, I’ve devolved to my 6-year old self who whined about everything - except instead of complaining about not getting new crayons or having to eat my vegetables, I’m bemoaning how tired I am, how late I worked, and other nonsensical items.

Case in point – my father asked why a document I sent him wasn’t updated.  I responded with  ”But I diiiiiiiiid update it….and staaaayed up sooooo laaaate finishing the deeeeeeeeeeeeeeck,” (more bitching and moaning).

Dad walked out of the room, with a disgusted look on his face.  I promptly e-mailed him the correct document and PPT file.  And made my first commitment of the year (as I never wanted to see that face again).

Making a commitment is easy; keeping it, however, is much more difficult.  My call to action – list what I’m grateful for.  It’s a trick I learned from my trainer, who forces me to rattle off things I’m grateful for on especially whiny days – and it works.

Here are some of the many things I am grateful for:

Do you make resolutions?  How do you stick to them?  Have you ever accomplished a resolution?  I’d love to hear your stories on resolutions, commitments, and forgotten goals