< Back To Article
giftyourself.com
Text by Faye Remedios
Published: Volume 16, Issue 7, July, 2008
With wet, rainy days beating down on us, venturing outdoors to gratify your inner shopper may seem like a drag. Enter the internet. This marvel of technology offers a cornucopia of tempting pampering options waiting to be exercised at a click of the mouse. Choose from über luxe maharaja style holidays, sinful gourmet gateaux, exotic floral bouquets, exquisite designer ensembles and more. Log on and rediscover indulgence

Destination Paradise
Listed among the top 10 luxury trains in the world, palaceonwheels.com lets you book a seven-day exotic tour online. Covering New Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Agra, Udaipur among other destinations, the train takes you back to the days of the maharajas and their opulent lifestyles. Travel in coaches named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal era and stay in deluxe saloons equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

Bouquets of Enchantment
If roses seem passé and exotic floral arrangements seem more inviting, Ferns ‘N’ Petals offers stunning options on their website, fnp.in. Pick from a Love Tonic comprising maroon and green anthuriums tied on to dry sticks or a Pamper Hamper filled with pink carnations and peach anthuriums. Safari Sunset gets you a tropical mix of red anthodiums, orchids and peach lilies while Peppermint delights you with a soothing arrangement of mint carnations and peach anthuriums.

Fashion Forward
A website that promises ‘unprecedented access to the hottest looks of the season from international cutting edge labels via worldwide express delivery.’ Which means they take just three working days to deliver your stuff the second time you order. The first time might take a little longer while they ensure you have given proper credentials. The easy-to-navigate net-a-porter.com gives you a detailed list of every designer from Alberta Ferretti to Zac Posen in alphabetical order and is designed to look like a fashion magazine. They also have a straight-off-the-runway ensemble option to ensure you can snap up the hottest catwalk look.

Arty Pursuits
Founded in 2000, saffronart.com holds online art auctions along with detailed information on artists, interviews, exhibitions, events and more. It also has an online catalogue with artworks from both established and emerging artists. This site makes sifting through all the art works easy by classifying them into Artist of the Month, Collector’s Corner, Collection Of The Month And What’s New Today and gives you a history of the origins of Indian art, how to take care of paintings and recommends art books.

Leisure Trove
Curling up in your bed with a book or listening to your fave music is definitely one of the most popular ways to relax. But if a trudge to your local bookstore seems tedious, oxfordbookstore.com allows you to choose from a wide variety of books arranged according to neatly classified sections – bestsellers, reiki, literature, green books, photography, politics and many more. Their music selection — from Bob Dylan to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi — doesn’t disappoint either. In addition, the E-Shop has tons of other goodies like funky umbrellas, quaint mugs, photo frames, caps and jackets. Our pick? A selection of teas – Khobong, Pengaree, Budlabeta and Hapjan.

ARTICLE TOOLS
banner