Top 10 most loved posts of 2016

2016 was one of the amazing years of my life. I accomplished better than ever and wrote more than 50 posts (over 60,000 words) in the entire year.

I thought it would be awesome to compile a list of my top 10 most loved posts of 2016. For one reason or another, the posts below are the ones that generated the most views, shares, comments, and emails.

Hope you enjoy and find something useful inside like I did while writing them.

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 51 – 2016

Tasty email updates are here.


“Saturday-Pentacle”

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 51 – 2016

Greetings my internet friends,

Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles for today’s “Saturday-Pentacle” e-mail newsletter. This is a free newsletter and goes out every Saturday only for my subscribed readers.

Enjoy! 


Post of the weekBenares! Day – 4

This is the day 4 from my Benares travelogue post. This one is special. Cause it’s all about the most special thing of Benares. Subha-e-Benares! (The morning of Benares) and the Sunrise. Some spectacular shots to treat your senses.

My most popular Instagram post recently — The snake boy! Even though this is neither the ‘most’ popular post nor from ‘past week’ but it’s relevant because of this week’s post of the week above, which is Benares! Day – 4 travelogue post.

Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — I love the works of James Clear, here is another gem from his fact-based writing – The Akrasia Effect: Why We Don’t Follow Through on What We Set Out to Do and What to Do About It.

What I’m reading/watching/listening to

A Quote I’m pondering on lately – 

“On a moment-to-moment basis, being in the middle of doing the work is usually less painful than being in the middle of procrastinating.”

-Eliezer Yudkowsky

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

– Himanshu


As we approach the end of this amazing year 2016 and the festivity begins, this is Christmas eve.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!


Would you like to get a very short pentacle (5 items) e-mail from me every Saturday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?

It might include books, music, articles, new hacks/tricks, photograph and last but not the least people.

These “Saturday-Pentacle” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.

Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Saturday.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

Quick endnote – as a few of you guys have told me that emails are not delivering in the Gmail primary inbox and going to promotions tab in your Gmail. I suggest below two pro tips to get my email in your Primary inbox from next time.

  • Add my From email address ([email protected]) to your Google Contacts list.
    Emails from your Google Contacts always go to their Primary inbox. So go ahead and add me to your contact list.
  • Move your emails to the Primary tab.
    You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of my emails from Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver my emails in your primary inbox. So please do that. You can also read more about these Gmail Help instructions.
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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 50 – 2016

Tasty email updates are here.


“Saturday-Pentacle”

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 50 – 2016

Greetings my internet friends,

Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles for today’s “Saturday-Pentacle” e-mail newsletter. This is a free newsletter and goes out every Saturday only for my subscribed readers.

Enjoy! 


Post of the weekHow this amazing medium helped me read more than 9 hours a week?

This is a post from last year which got some traction recently, as people in India have also started moving towards this awesome medium of content consumption. Hope you enjoy the post and it’s helpful to you in a great way.

My most popular Instagram post recently — 3 Monks! This is one of the most popular posts on my instagram. I took this shot in Sarnath (Uttar-Pradesh, India) in March 2016.

Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — Recently i’ve been really keen towards the shopify platform due to the value it creates for the e-commerce clients. This article inspired me a lot – The Story of Ugmonk: From Side Project to Lifestyle Product Empire.

Another awesome article i’m pondering over again – 5 Things to Do Before Bed That Will Jump Start Tomorrow.

What I’m Watching/listening to — From past few weeks i’m listen to this amazing Audio Book – We Learn Nothing: Essays by Tim Kreider. This book is like comedy wrapped in dark sarcasm. I love the narrative style of Tim. Go for this (UNABRIDGED) audio book if you want a great non-fiction listen. You may get some “Holy! Shit, i didn’t even think about it that way” type of life lessons in this book. Click the link of the book to get this audiobook, plus any one other audiobook out of the millions of audiobooks for free*.

A Quote I’m pondering on lately – 

“Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center. Big, undreamed-of things—the people on the edge see them first.”

-Kurt Vonnegut

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

– Himanshu


I’m in love with Hyperlapse (from Instagram). Here is one of the good hyperlapes i shot while on my way to Vasai Virar Marathon 2016. Enjoy


Would you like to get a very short pentacle (5 items) e-mail from me every Saturday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?

It might include books, music, articles, new hacks/tricks, photograph and last but not the least people.

These “Saturday-Pentacle” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.

Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Saturday.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

Quick endnote – as a few of you guys have told me that emails are not delivering in the Gmail primary inbox and going to promotions tab in your Gmail. I suggest below two pro tips to get my email in your Primary inbox from next time.

  • Add my From email address ([email protected]) to your Google Contacts list.
    Emails from a your Google Contacts always go to their Primary inbox. So go ahead and add me in your contact list.
  • Move your emails to the Primary tab.
    You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of my emails from Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver my emails in your primary inbox. So please do that. You can also read more about these Gmail Help instructions.

(Disclaimer) * – This is an amazon affiliate link, if you use it and take a trial you’ll get 2 audiobooks for free and post that you can cancel it. Please take advantage of it, it will also help me out in getting some referral incentives.

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 49 – 2016

Tasty email updates are here.


“Saturday-Pentacle”

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 49 – 2016

Greetings my internet friends,

Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles for today’s “Saturday-Pentacle” e-mail newsletter. This is a free newsletter and goes out every Saturday only for my subscribed readers.

Enjoy! 


Post of the weekUnboxing | MI Fitness Band – Version- 1 – As teased in the earlier posts, finally i did the unboxing and out of the box review of MI Fitness Band. Click the link and enjoy the review.

Please let me know your feedback. Any gadgets you would like to be reviewed? Please reply to this email and let me know.

My most popular Instagram post recentlyMoon hovering above my hand!

Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — Who doesn’t loves road trips? Yes, we all secretly or openly do. So here is a NewYork Times article you must read – before you take a road trip, do this.

Another article which i really enjoyed was about relationships, it’s deep, it can shake your conscious a little hard. But you have got to read this – The biggest mistakes people make when choosing a life partner.

I know 2 articles are enough but can’t resist myself from sharing this one. It’s hilarious.  You’ll definitely laugh.

What I’m Watching/listening toAmsterdam travelogue, by FunForLouis. It’s so cinematic, that you feel it’s a hollywood movie scene. But it’s not. Kudos to Louis.

A Quote I’m pondering on lately – You gotta go through all the possible failures, so when the success comes, it tastes delicious. So here is a quote from Albert Einstein.

“Failure is success in progress”

-Albert Einstein

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

– Himanshu


Here is a picture i took in Madh island from this past weekend. It was beautiful. (And the reason of this saturday post coming on a tuesday.)


Would you like to get a very short pentacle (5 items) e-mail from me every Saturday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?

It might include books, music, articles, new hacks/tricks, photograph and last but not the least people.

These “Saturday-Pentacle” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.

Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Saturday.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

 

Quick end note – as a few of you guys have told me that emails are not delivering in the Gmail primary inbox and going to promotions tab in your Gmail. I suggest below two pro tips to get my email in your Primary inbox from next time.

  • Add my From email address ([email protected]) to your Google Contacts list.
    Emails from a your Google Contacts always go to their Primary inbox. So go ahead and add me in your contact list.
  • Move your emails to the Primary tab.
    You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of my emails from Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver my emails in your primary inbox. So please do that. You can also read more about these Gmail Help instructions.
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Unboxing | MI Fitness Band – Version- 1

As you might already know, I’m a fitness enthusiast and a runner. So I like to track my fitness levels and activities like walking, running and sleep.

In this post I’m doing the unboxing and out of the box review of this MI Fitness band – Version – 1.

This particular MI Fitness band is a great starting point for anyone getting into fitness monitoring.

This band costed me Indian rupees – 999/-. I bought it from a MI.com online store. You can buy it online from Amazon.in. Just go here.

Detailed review to follow up later.

So here it is.

Unboxing | MI Fitness Band – Version- 1

This video covers unboxing, closer look at the band and brief over view of the product from design and esthetic point of view.

Please enjoy.


Let me know, which other fitness bands or products you would like to get reviewed. Please mention in the comments section below.

P.S.: This is not a paid endorsement of any kind. This is just a genuine review of the MI fitness band (version – 1). I bought it few months back from MI.com. However the link above is an amazon affiliate link which helps me keep this blog running.

Please subscribe to my Blog for more product reviews, unboxing videos and lifestyle design strategies.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 48 – 2016

Tasty email updates are here.

Quick note – as a few of you guys have told me that emails are not delivering in the Gmail primary inbox and going to promotions tab in your Gmail. I suggest below two pro tips to get my email in your Primary inbox from next time.

  • Add my From email address ([email protected]) to your Google Contacts list.
    Emails from a your Google Contacts always go to their Primary inbox. So go ahead and add me in your contact list.
  • Move your emails to the Primary tab.
    You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of my emails from Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver my emails in your primary inbox. So please do that. You can also read more about these Gmail Help instructions.

Ok. That’s it with the instructions part. Let’s get on with the tasty updates.


“Saturday-Pentacle”

Pentacle


Saturday-Pentacle – Week 48 – 2016

Greetings my internet friends,

Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles for today’s “Saturday-Pentacle” e-mail newsletter. This is a free newsletter and goes out every Saturday only for my subscribed readers.

P.S.: Something exciting coming up. Read past the cool 5 things to know more.

Enjoy! 


Post of the week – WHY YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT VOICES WHICH DON’T MATTER! – This is the second episode of my podcast series – ‘Experiments of Lifestyle Architecture Lab’ podcast. I had a blast making it. I hope you enjoy it too. Just go to the end of the post and play the audio.

Please let me know your feedback. Tip – If you have an iPhone you can subscribe to my Podcast on Podcast app.

My most popular Instagram post recentlyThe Bombay Art Society

Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — I love Meteors! These Are the Best Photos of the 2016 Perseids Meteor Shower

What I’m Watching/listening toVlogs of Sara Dietschy, i love her work. Check it out here. Enjoy!

A Quote I’m pondering on lately – How i adore greek philosophy! It’s the basis of my life structure. Another gem.

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.

– Socrates.

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

– Himanshu


Would you like to get a very short pentacle (5 items) e-mail from me every Saturday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?

It might include books, music, articles, new hacks/tricks, photograph and last but not the least people.

These “Saturday-Pentacle” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.

Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Saturday.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

Continue Reading

Saturday-Pentacle – Week 47 – 2016

Tasty email updates are here.

Quick note – as a few of you guys have told me that emails are not delivering in the Gmail primary inbox and going to promotions tab in your Gmail. I suggest below two pro tips to get my email in your Primary inbox from next time.

  • Add my From email address ([email protected]) to your Google Contacts list.
    Emails from a your Google Contacts always go to their Primary inbox. So go ahead and add me in your contact list.
  • Move your emails to the Primary tab.
    You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of my emails from Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver my emails in your primary inbox. So please do that. You can also read more about these Gmail Help instructions.

Ok. That’s it with the instructions part. Let’s get on with the tasty updates.


“Saturday-Pentacle”

Pentacle


Saturday-Pentacle – Week 47 – 2016

Greetings my internet friends,

Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles for today’s “Saturday-Pentacle” e-mail newsletter. This is a free newsletter and goes out every Saturday only for my subscribed readers.

P.S.: Something exciting coming up. Read past the cool 5 things to know more.

Enjoy! 


Post of the week – Benares! Day – 3 – This is the day 3 from my Benares travelogue post. If you loved the earlier Benares post, you’ll love this one. 2 scary things in this one. Pssss – First involves eating flesh and drinking blood. Click the link to get thrilled.

My most popular Instagram post recently — Orange sky and the bridge in the distance

Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — This post really got me hooked, who doesn’t want to get more done in less time? Enjoy!  – How I Decreased My Weekly Office Hours From 40-plus to Less Than 8.

What I’m listening to — 30 Days of Genius on CreativeLive with Chase Jarvis. Get all the episodes here.

A Quote I’m pondering on lately – (Short but powerful, original post here)

Repetition breeds skill.

– Chase Jarvis.

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

– Himanshu


Original Mi Band - worth it or not?
Original Mi Band – worth it or not?

Comin’ up a review of a gadget from my arsenal – Original Mi Band. Including a sad ending. Keep tuned in if you are a fitness lover or aspire to be fit.


Would you like to get a very short pentacle (5 items) e-mail from me every Saturday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?

It might include books, music, articles, new hacks/tricks, photograph and last but not the least people.

These “Saturday-Pentacle” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.

Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Saturday.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


 

No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

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Benares! Day – 3

This post is the progression of my earlier travelogue posts (Day 1Day 1 ContinuedDay 2 and Day 2 Continued) on Benares trip earlier this year, Hope you enjoy it.

Benares – Day 3

In the day 2 post where i mentioned i met a few photographers and travelers while i was having my late lunch at the Cafe Zoe near Assi Ghat. We discussed a lot on traveling, photography and life in general, among other things. Life in their countries and life here in india. It was then that i started loving my travels more, cause they made me meet people from across the world who thought like i did.

We met in the evening again on the same day. While bidding goodbyes for the night they invited me to their place for breakfast the next morning. I was so psyched to meet them again. The best part! we didn’t exchange our numbers, they just gave me their address and told me to be their in the morning.

The next morning, i was up at 7 o’clock. Got my shower and ready to go in the next half hour. Then, I started for their hotel where few of them had been living from the past few days.

It was a Welcome Heritage hotel on the far north side of the Main ghat. As i walked towards this hotel, i had to go through two really scary and shocking spots, which i didn’t know were there on my way. First was the living area of the Aghori Babas.

Oh boy! That place scared the living shit out of me. But as i digested all that was going around while crossing that spot, i made peace with it. These Aghori monks are said to be an mysterious ancient tribe who feast on human flesh as part of their rituals, as well as drinking from human skulls, chewing the heads off live animals and meditating on top of cadavers in search of spiritual enlightenment.

Here a picture of an Aghori Baba taken by an Italian photographer Cristiano Ostinelli who spent time with the tribe to discover more about their way of life. Here’s the complete article.

Aghori Baba | Photo credits – Italian photographer Cristiano Ostinelli

I wasn’t even back to my wits yet, then came the scariest moment of my Benares Trip. It was a heavy feeling of weird kind of energy when i passed by the “Manikarnika Ghat”*. I’m getting goosebumps even right now, as i’m writing this. I couldn’t even take my camera out, when i was crossing this place.

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Saturday-Pentacle – Week 46 – 2016

Tasty email updates are here.

Just a quick note, as a few of you guys have told me that emails are not delivering in the Gmail primary inbox and going to promotions tab in your Gmail. I suggest below two pro tips to get my email in your Primary inbox from next time.

  • Add my From email address ([email protected]) to your Google Contacts list.
    Emails from a your Google Contacts always go to their Primary inbox. So go ahead and add me in your contact list.
  • Move your emails to the Primary tab.
    You can teach Gmail where to deliver your messages. When you move one of my emails from Promotions tab to the Primary tab, Gmail asks whether it should always deliver my emails in your primary inbox. So please do that. You can also read more about these Gmail Help instructions.

Ok. That’s it with the instructions part. Let’s get on with the tasty updates.


“Saturday-Pentacle”

Pentacle


Greetings my internet friends,

Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles for today’s “Saturday-Pentacle” e-mail newsletter. This is a free newsletter and goes out every Saturday only for my subscribed readers.

P.S.: A bonus picture (in the end) of myself doing something funny.

Enjoy! 


Post of the week – Benares! Day – 2 Continued… – This is the continuation of day 2 of my Benares travelogue post. If you loved the earlier Benares post, you’ll love this one. This one is intense in some parts. Go ahead and check it out.

My most popular Instagram post recently

Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — This is a must read post for everyone, in the world of spies / CyberSpies – How to encrypt your entire life in less than an hour.

What I’m listening to — This playlist is one of my favorites – Your Favorite Coffeehouse. I listen to it when i want to just let loose and let the mind go free. Hit that link up in your browser and enjoy. You can thank me later.

An important piece from my recent reads —

A very interesting explanation of the difference between saying “I don’t” compared to “I can’t”…

“I don’t” is experienced as a choice, so it feels empowering. It’s an affirmation of your determination and willpower. “I can’t” isn’t a choice. It’s a restriction, it’s being imposed upon you. So thinking “I can’t” undermines your sense of power and personal agency.
In other words, the phrase “I don’t” is a psychologically empowering way to say no, while the phrase “I can’t” is a psychologically draining way to say no..

– Heidi Grant Halvorson (Director of the Motivation Science Center at Columbia University) Read this article for details

Until Next Saturday!

Thanks for reading.

– Himanshu


Here is a fun picture of me doing a push up on the National Park Tracks. Don’t worry it wasn’t done on the Active Track.


Would you like to get a very short pentacle (5 items) e-mail from me every Saturday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?

It might include books, music, articles, new hacks/tricks, photograph and last but not the least people.

These “Saturday-Pentacle” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.

Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Saturday.

Just submit your email address in the below form or right here –  and you’re set.


No spam, ever. Only great stuff.

Continue Reading

Benares! Day – 2 Continued…

This post is the progression of my earlier travelogue posts (Day 1Day 1 Continued and Day 2) on Benares trip, Hope you enjoy it.

Benares – Day 2 Continued…

Once i crossed the Flower boat, i started heading towards north again. Then as i was just crossing an area where a pundit was doing a ceremony, just after a family arrived back to the Ghats from a boat which had gone to immerse ashes of their deceased beloved in holy Ganges. It looked like a rural south Indian family, I tried to capture a few portraits of them.

I was expecting intense emotion of grief, but most of them were having happy faces except for the wife of the deceased. I tried to talk to them and found out the deceased was in pain and suffering due to a long hold malady. So the whole family was having a relief that at least now their beloved will not have to suffer through that pain which he was experiencing from a long time. Here are a few portraits:

I call these photographs collectively – “The Faces”.

The Couple!

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