sLOVEnia | The calm in chaos

Lake Bled | "Its all about finding the calm in chaos !!"

This one comes in the middle of one of the most chaotic times in modern days. These are unprecedented times where the world struggles to fight the novel Covid 19, Coronavirus, with chaos everywhere in health, finances, personal lives & much more. In the midst of the lockdown imposed around the world in various countries and such challenging times I believe at the end, its about finding the calm in this chaos. Only our calmness & patience can help us fight this disease and come out stronger. People find their calm through various things like music, movies, books, work etc etc. For me one way of getting calm is when I am travelling (quite a paradox in these times). So, amidst the travel restrictions around the world, today I want to write about one such place which makes you find the calm in chaos - Slovenia.

I visited Slovenia a couple of years back and fell in love with it instantly. The gorgeous weather, snow, yummy pizzas, good wine, skiing, everything that you can ask for.

How to arrive: Slovenia is well connected by air, rail & road. It is in the Southern part of Europe. You can arrive at the capital, Ljubljana or in the city of Maribor via flights available from all major airports in Europe. Alternately, you can travel by rail or road from Austria or Italy. Its just 4-8 hours drive depending on how far you are staying, the drive is beautiful amidst the mountains, lakes & snow.

Where to Stay: Well we stayed in the Avio Apartments, it is a Air BNB style guest house/hotel very close to the Airport and had a terrific time. Our host was super friendly, the cottage styled fully equipped rooms were in the middle of snow clad valleys and the location is very close to the airport. If you want to stay at the centre of Ljubljana you can try any of the hotels out there all are pretty good and reasonable. You can also chose to stay in Maribor also which is the second largest city in Slovenia.


Eating Places: The foodie experience in Slovenia was extremely satisfying. Due to its proximity to Italy, you can sense the great pizzas and Italian food every restaurant and cafe has to offer. If you are a fan of Indian food like my father, you should definitely try the Taj Mahal Restaurant at the centre of Ljubljana. It offers finger licking selection of assorted kababs & breads. A must try here were the tasty mango lassis, very popular amongst the locals as well it is a uniform blend of yoghurt, Water, spices and mangoes. Another excellent, place to eat was the La Pizzeria in Maribor. It serves the yummiest pizzas, pastas and salads. Keep some room for the                                                                  tiramisu dessert at the end.

One interesting experience I had here was that they gave scissors along with the pizzas to cut your own portions, it was a very satisfying lunch indeed. Slovenia is also known for its aromatic wines. In Maribor, we visited an interesting wine tasting experience, Vinag. Located right at the center, a very intimate and cosy place, it takes you through the wine experience of Slovenia for over 60 mins. Amidst the Internet world today, the most interesting quote we spotted on the walls were “We do not have WIFI, talk to each other”. You will definitely leave this place a little more educated about wine and cravings for a little more.                                                                                                           



Another place we had eaten in Ljubljana was at Cafe Belvedere in Lake Bled, it

gives you a gorgeous view of the lake bled while you sip into a rejuvenating cup of coffee along with the must try cream cakes and cheese cakes, its definitely a serene experience. Lastly, another influence in Slovenian food culture is German and we got to have the golden crispy fried chicken called Schnitzel. You can get it most cafes and restaurants usually served with lime and tartar sauce, every bite is blissful. You can explore many such dishes along side the centre of both Ljubljana and Maribor.

Things to do: The beauty of Slovenia is serene. The picturesque locations, snow clad alps and beautiful weather make this country right out of a painting. Lots of interesting things to do in Slovenia, the first and foremost is lake bled. Approximately, 30-40 mins from the airport, lake bled is the definition of calmness in chaos. It can easily be classified as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, it is so picture worthy that you can take a picture from any angle and you will still be left mesmerised ( coming from a below average photographer :) ). You can walk around the lake, visit the famous cathedral, relax at the cafes around the lake.

Another first time and a very interesting experience was going to the famous ski resort very close to the airport and our apartment- Kraevec Resort. The thrill of being 3000 Mtrs above sea level, in the alps, covered in white snow was an experience to cherish for a lifetime. We were accompanied by our apartment owner and in conversations we realised that Slovenians take their Skiing very seriously. Kids as early as 4 year olds start their skiing journey, they are active in competitive skiing across the globe as well. You have to reach the resort , buy tickets and go right to the top using a cable car. When you are in the cable car you can actually see the mountains below you and there comes a point where you cross the clouds and are literally on top of the clouds, words fall short in describing this experience. I do not know how to ski, so I was a tourist looking at people skiing from even greater heights, falling on the snow, getting back up to finish their laps. There is a restaurant at the top where we had a quick black coffee before we called it a day.

At the centre of Ljubljana, there are a lot of interesting things to do, you can walk around and explore the local culture. The dragon bridge is famous with mint green color dragons at the entrance of the bridge. The Ljubljana castle is another must visit place during your trip. The 900 years old majestic castle gives an insight on the cultures & history of Ljubljana. The outlook tower in the castle gives a breathtaking view of the Ljubljana city.

The people of Slovenia are extremely warm and friendly. It’s been one of my favourite experiences so far, I assure you will fall in love with sLOVEnia. I have shared some pictures from my trip below. After things across the globe get better, I hope you will chose this as one of your holiday destinations. Till then, take care, stay safe & stay strong.

Cheers !!
Anant

Our products at 3000 Mtrs :)

Cable Car Ambulance

Ljubljana Castle

Top 5 ideas to spice up your potpourri

Buy Potpourri & Home Fragrances

If you want to ramp up the insides of your home in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way, then bulk potpourri is a perfect solution for you. As potpourri is 100% natural, it not only makes the environment eco-friendly, but also freshens up our body & mind and enhances energy in ourselves after a day’s hard work.

Isn’t it great to invigorate your senses with a burst of fresh perfumed air as soon as you step into your room? Obviously, everyone will agree with it. There are a number of DIY recipes available on the internet. You can use the remedies to experience this awesome feeling. One can spice up their potpourri by putting some more ingredients into it. The below article is about the process and ingredients that can make potpourri more effective. If you are interested to make a different type of potpourri or you want to know more about it, all you need to do is to scroll down and read the whole article.

Exotic Spices

1. Essential oils:
One of the best ways to rejuvenate your home environment is to use essential oils. It is amazing to take the fragrance of a tantalizing mixture of clove, lavender, peppermint and chamomile after a gruelling day at the office. As soon as you open the door, a heady and flavourful essence fills up your senses and makes you feel refresh. The fragrance is enough to revitalise you from a depressed and weighed down mood. If you are planning to have a spa at home, essential oil is just perfect, as it provides your home with the aura of spa.

2. Dried fruits and nuts:
Some other ingredients that can make your potpourri awesome are dried fruits and nuts. You can put some berries and nuts in the combo. Some orange peels can be dropped into the bowl, or you can drop a handful of acorns, almonds or junipers into the mix, which can spice your potpourri up.

3. Scented water:
It can be quite surprising for you to know that potpourri can be spiced up with scented water, while we all know that potpourri is made of bone dry things. And it is also known that the slightest of moisture can be the reason of infected potpourri. But the truth is, one can make alternative potpourri that includes nuts, pine cones, wood pieces and other paraphernalia that are soaked in scented water. In order to get the water, all one should do is to heat oils and simmer herbs extracts in low temperature.

Ata Slices

4. Cranberry delight:
Any kind of citrus fruits, cranberry and rosemary can be put together in a pan in low heat to get the aroma that may cause your olfactory organs to go into tizzy.

5. Spices and flowers: 
Dried spices and flowers are mixed together in required portion that are used as an effective remedy for deep and sound sleep. One can get dried flowers in any florist store, nursery, orchards or garden.

You can buy the latest collections of home fragrances, potpourri, essential oils, diffuser oils and more at www.interconimpex.com or email them at sales@interconimpex.com. 

How to use Dried Flowers to create lively work of art !!

Flowers ignite our creativity like no other object in this world. From poets to common men, flowers are praised by everyone. Fresh flowers have been used for decoration since ancient times as they up lift the mood at any time. But flowers bloom for a limited time; hobbyists and artists prefer to dry out the flowers so that they can be used for a longer period of time.

So how are flowers dried?

There are many ways to dry the flowers so they are well preserved. Mostly people put flowers inside a heavy book and leave it undisturbed for few days. This is known as the ‘press’ method. If you choose to dry the flowers using the press method, then you should make sure that you line the page with parchment or wax paper. This protects the pages of the book from getting destroyed from the moisture that come off the flowers. Flowers can also be left in the vase till they dry.

Potpourri Mixes

Another method is to hang them upside down in a well-ventilated place away from sunlight. Flowers can be dried in microwave or using silica gel. No matter which method you choose, you have to wait for the results except for microwave method. But microwave method is fussy as you have to use cat litter to cover the flowers. Ordering dried flowers in bulk quantity is an easy way to get dried flowers for professional or other creative requirements. Companies that supply dried flowers use the right method to preserve the flowers. They use machine drying and various processes on the fresh flowers and botanicals to give them a dried and everlasting finish.

Uses of dried flowers

Dried flowers have many uses. Dried flowers are used in cooking. They add distinctive flavour to teas. Preserved beauty of nature, dried flowers are used to make potpourris that can be used as decoration or as natural air fresheners. Dried flower sachets are full of fragrance, and placing them in drawers and closets act as insect repellent. They are used as natural dyes.

Dried flower can have many creative uses. From decorating a room for celebration to create beautiful creative works of art, dried flowers add beauty to whatever they touch. In the creation of candles, papers, scrapbook and many more, hobbyists prefer to use dried flowers to create unique pieces.

3 ways to use striking beauty of dried flowers to personalize items:

If you want to gift something special to your loved one or create beautiful items for personal use, all you need is a bunch of dried flowers. 

Potpourri Gift Packs

Magical jewelry: Beautiful pendant and bracelets can be made using dried flowers. Dried flowers can be woven into headbands, crowns and bracelets. They look beautiful and go well with a dress to achieve a feminine or bohemian look. It can be a good idea for your theme outdoor party or brunch. They are easy to make. One idea could be to use small hollow glass globes or tiny DIY jars and bottles to make pendants and charms. Just fill these tiny transparent containers with beautiful dried flowers and plant parts. Adding some glitter can add a fairy touch to your charm or pendant. Seal it and it could be used as a pendant or bracelet charm. They look magical.

Nail art: Dried flowers can be used to create attractive nail art which not only enhances your beauty but which is also unique. You will get many compliments for your nail art. There are many ways to use dried flowers to decorate your nail. One simple way could be to use white nail paint as base. Now arrange the dried flowers in desired pattern with tweezers. Seal it with clear coat and let it dry. Once it is dry you can flaunt it in front of your friends. Make sure you use good quality dried flowers or else you won’t get the good effect.

Cards, letters and scrapbook: Dried flowers are used to make decorative handmade paper. Beautiful handmade paper with dried flowers petals appearing unevenly on its surface, are best medium to express your feelings. Dried flowers are used to decorate scrapbook. Scrapbook decorated with dried flowers both looks and smells beautiful. If you want to add a unique touch to your scrapbook use the magic of dried flowers. One of the most personalized gifts is cards. If you are making a card for your loved ones then decorate them with dried flowers.

For bulk queries on dried flowers you can order at sales@interconimpex.com or visit the website www.interconimpex.com