Nokia Lumia 920

Ankit just bought a new phone, Nokia Lumia 920. His five year old iPhone was now almost dying so we figured we needed to get something new and fast. I already had the iPhone 5 so he didn't bother buying another one and decided to look at something different. We had been hearing about the Nokia phone for quite a while now and clearly it was winning in almost all aspects when compared to the iPhone 5 (I have to admit it, even though I love my iPhone). We went and got it on a Black Friday deal and the phone is lovely. I personally love the red one. It doesn't feel like a phone. It feels like a very savvy piece of technology when you use it.

That is the lock screen. It has a bigger screen than the iPhone 5 and higher pixel density. It also has a flash with dual LEDs and sensor shift stabilization. But honestly, I tested the iPhone 5 camera with this one and I think that the fight is very close. I still think iPhone 5 clicks better pictures but Ankit disagrees. iPhone 5 does happen to have an built-in HDR mode which Nokia Lumia 920 doesn't. It does, however, have 0.7 more megapixels than the iPhone 5 and also a better front camera. I think it was very close and maybe I'm biased, but I think my phone has a better camera (lol). 

The iPhone happens to have way more apps than Windows but Ankit looked though it and said that all the important apps that are needed are available for free. The phone also has an inbuilt Microsoft Office (which I think is brilliant). The amount of ringtones that this phone has to offer is so fantastic and really awesome tones (even Bollywood music). I wish iPhone also had more variety in terms of the tones. It would've been more fun. Movies are more fun to watch on this phone because the screen is so nice and big. It's definitely heavier and bigger than the iPhone. 

I'm realizing this post is slowly turning into a comparison between iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia 920. Let's get back to talking about just Nokia for now. The Nokia Lumia 920 has a radio, Near-Field-Communication (NFC) (allows wireless transactions like payments), super fast uploads, wireless charging, USB mass storage support and a very good battery back up. 

Overall, we loved this phone. Ankit fiddles with it all day long (as far as I know). He keeps telling me he has a better phone and I always deny it but must admit that he's right. If people think that there isn't a better smart phone out there than the iPhone, then they are sorely mistaken. iPhone needs to come up with something out of the norms to beat this baby. 

The new Nokia Lumia 920

Mera Jahan

I usually put on a hindi movie with good songs while I do my daily chores at home. I don't think I can live alone at home if it's too quiet. Movies usually make me feel at ease when I'm alone. I put on Taare Zameen Par today and this song caught my attention. These are words of a child; very meaningful.

Here are the lyrics and I've tried to translate to the best of my ability. 

Singers: Adnan Sami, Auriel Cordo, Ananya Wadkar

Lyrics:

A Little Sweet, A Little Sour

A Little Close, Not Too Far

All I Need, All I Need

All I Need Is To Be Free

Chhoo Loon Main (I can touch it)
Itna Kareeb (So close)

Chal Padun (Start walking)
Toh Kitna Door (It seems far)

Sapnon Ka Buna Sweater Sa Warm (Warm as a sweater knitted of dreams)

Safed Baadalon Ke Paar (Past the white clouds lies)

Mera Jahan (My world)

Let Me In Without A Shout

Let Me In I Have A Doubt

There Are More, Many More

Many Many Many More Like Me

Akela Nahin Main (I'm not alone)

Khuli Aankhon Se Neend Mein Chalta (Sleep walking with my eyes open)

Girta Zyada, Kam Sambhalta (Tripping more, protecting myself less)

Phir Bhi Na Koi Shaq, Na Shuba (Still without doubts or suspicion)

Nikalega Phir Se Sooraj Jo Dooba (The sun that set will rise again)

Hairat Ho Sabko Aisa (Amazing everyone, like that)

Ajooba Hai Mera Jahan (My world is miraculous)

Open Eyed How I Run

How I Run To The Other Side

Then I Glide Like A Bird

I Just Want To Be

Udne Ko Sau Pankh Diye Hai (100 feathers have been given to fly)

Chadhne Ko Khula Aasmaan (An open sky to climb)

Mudne Ko Hai Karwat Karwat (Sides to turn)

Aur Badhne Ko Mera Jahan (And my world to grow)

Bachpan Ke Din Chaar (Childhood won't remain long)

Na Aayenge Baar Baar (It will not come again)

Jee Le Jee Le Mere Yaar (Live it, live it, my friend)

Jeib Khaali To Udhaar (If pocket is empty, then borrow)

Jee Zindagi (Live life)

Here's a link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oYqanTWruE
Enjoy 
x

Ogden's Christmas Village

Ogden's Historic 25th Street holds the largest Christmas Village in Utah. It opens on the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year. I was super excited to go because there was going to be a Holiday Electric Lights Parade and lighting up of the Christmas Village. I love lights; I'm fascinated by them. 

The parade was full of elaborate floats, beautiful themes, music and performers. Here are some pictures from the Parade:

The parade ended with Santa's arrival at the Christmas Village

After Santa's arrival, everyone headed towards the Amphitheater where the opening ceremony of the Christmas Village was held and the illumination of all the lights, followed by fireworks and live entertainment.

The Opening Ceremony

Fireworks

Live Entertainment

Christmas Village all lit up 

It is so beautiful! The entire place is covered with lights featuring more than one million lights and various static displays, aerial ornaments and fireworks. Small cottages have been installed at Ogden's Muncipal Garden, creating a miniature village modeled after Santa's village in the North Pole. Here, elves, snowmen and Santa are depicted in a perpetual state of getting ready for Christmas. Each cottage has its own theme.

There is one human-sized cottage near the garden's entrance on 25th street where children will get a chance to meet Santa, share their Christmas wish lists and click pictures. 

Hot chocolate was being sold everywhere and added to the sweet aroma of the dazzling winter wonderland. I can't wait to go back again.

Here are some examples of the cottages of Santa's helpers:

Photo by: Ogdencity.com

The entire place has a very festive and a happy vibe to it. If you haven't been there, yet, you must. It is estimated that 150,000 people visit the Christmas Village every year. Beginning Nov 26, Santa will greet children in his castle from Monday-Friday, 6-9:00 PM, and Saturdays, 5-9:00 PM through December 23. Live entertainment will be held in the Amphitheater every Tuesday-Friday from 6:30-7:30 PM.

Location: Municpal Gardens
Address: 2500 Grant Ave, Ogden, Utah
Times: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am

Enjoy!

x

Thanksgiving (11/22/12) and Black Friday (11/23/12)

Thanksgiving is a holiday which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. It's different in both countries because winter starts sooner in Canada. Thanksgiving is a tradition to celebrate the harvest of the year. Many other countries celebrate Thanksgiving at different times according to their harvest season.

Thanksgiving dinner is the main event of the day when families get together for a feast and give thanks for all that they are grateful for. Turkey plays a central role in the Thanksgiving celebration; the turkey is either baked or roasted. Mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, other fall vegetables and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. This year I had the privilege to celebrate it with an American family for the first time.

Thanksgiving Feast

My plate

Our friends had cooked a lovely Thanksgiving meal for us. There was turkey, salad with dressing, stuffing, another sort of a salad with fruits and orange cream, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade bread rolls and homemade pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin Pie

Right after Thanksgiving, comes Black Friday. Black Friday marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, many major retail stores open very early (usually 12:00 AM of Friday) and offer promotional sales to kick of the holiday season. Prices are majorly slashed and that is why Black Friday is considered to be the biggest sale and busiest shopping day of the year (somewhat like Boxing Day in the UK). This year however, many shops opened the sale much earlier (8:00 PM of Thursday) and named it "Gray Thursday." People were out and shopping at 8:00 PM on Thursday. Many protested that this was wrong because Thursday was meant only for Thanksgiving and not shopping. 

Well, I'm all ready to go shopping! :p

Black Friday rush at Walmart

Check out the crowd at Walmart at night. It seems as if people just ate their dinner and rushed to the stores. The workers at these stores probably didn't get any time at all to enjoy Thanksgiving. Black Friday is known to attract aggressive shoppers and there have been instances when shoppers have trampled on other shoppers in order to get the best deal. I've heard that someone died a few years ago because they got crushed under a stampede of people. We had our Thanksgiving dinner very early so we had enough time to come home, rest, get dressed and go out again. We weren't particularly looking to buy anything; I just wanted to see what it was like. Eventually, we did end up buying some DVDs and Blurays because they were just so cheap. 

My Black Friday Shopping :)

It was fun, though. Never thought I'd see so many avid shoppers at midnight. It was a good experience. I guess I'll be a smarter shopper next time around. I like the idea of Cyber Monday though (which was yesterday). Cyber Monday is an online sale which I think is a lot smarter because you don't have to stand in long queues to pay, you don't have to fight to get into the store to find the deals and feel bad if you didn't get it. I did my shopping online yesterday from Forever 21 because it was free shipping! I love free shipping :)

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. 

We are thankful for such wonderful family and friends.

God bless everyone.

x