COOL RESPITE FROM THIS HOT SEASON
The sun is quite unforgiving at this time of the year, and outdoors can be rather harsh. But you can still escape the summer heat on weekends by finding fun things to do at home...
1. Watch 💻
To say the internet is packed with video content is mere platitude. Everyone knows of YouTube and Vimeo, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. These are websites that will help you find new movies to watch, a site full of superb documentaries (all free), and even one that lets you watch old favourites Hindi TV serials from the 1980s... (I know better about Hindi shows as I'm an Indian!)
WHAT MOVIE SHOULD I WATCH TONIGHT?
So you've just binge watched all episodes of Breaking Bad and House of Cards, and you're now stuck with wondering 'what next?'. Well, WMSIWT makes things a bit easier for you. Simple type in the URL, sit back and watch trailers suggested by a crew of movie lovers. Don't like a particular preview? Click on the screen, and you're taken to the next random flick. You can also browse by genre. Heck, from having no movies to watch, you'll soon have an entire list of films you'd want to see-and all from spending just 20 minutes on the site.
www.whatmovieshouldiwatchtonight.com
DOCUMENTARY TUBE
If your favourite TV channels are National Geographic and Discovery, you're in for a treat. Documentary Tube is a repository of hundreds of free-to-watch, full-length videos; each accompanied by a cover picture, and a brief blurb that describes it's content. The site is divided into several categories, such as activism, comedy, business, nature, science, history, sport, travel, economics, crime, sexuality, conspiracy, etc.
Also each week, the website features the top 100 documentaries being viewed. And what's more, the portal even invites filmmakers to send videos they have shot, which the site's curators will review or approve (or not). DT is updated frequently, with at least one new documentary to watch every day.
www.documentarytube.com
SPUUL (It's for Indian TV shows and movies, so it's almost useless for people who don't know Hindi!)
If you have a good web connection, you can actually watch full-length movies on Spuul. The service offers both paid as well as free content. New titles are added on a weekly basis, and you can also stream some of the most popular shows of Star Plus, Colors and MTV. Besides these, their TV library includes classics such as Fauji, Malgudi Days, Nukkad and Mahabharat. Users can browse Spuul's database by actor, by language, and you can even choose to watch movies with only English subtitles. Besides, you can also login account details with the Spuul app available for Android and iOS mobile devices.
www.spuul.com
2. Read 📚
There's nothing like a good story to keep you engrossed. And regardless of the genre you like - whether crime, espionage, historical, sci-fi or chick lit - you can find just the books you're looking for on the internet. Simply download the Kindle, Kobo and Wattpad app on your smartphone or tablet and you're ready to go.
Kindle: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows/Mac
Kobo: Android, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Windows/Mac
Wattpad: Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Kindle Fire
Imagine, you have just finished reading your first 'Jeeves and Wooster' novel by PG Wodehouse at 9pm. With e-books, you could download the next Wodehouse book within minutes, and begin reading it by 9.05pm.
And if you're looking for a more paper-like experience, you could also consider investing in e-book readers from Kindle and Kobo, with prices starting as low as ₹6,000 (about $1,000). Now that's an entire library at your finger tips. Literally (pun intended).
GOOD READS
If you're looking for book recommendations, sign up for a free account at GoodReads. When you join, the site asks you to select the genres you like. It then presents you with the titles from those categories, where you have to rate the ones you've read, and mark those you'd like to. GR uses this data to suggest titles for you to consider. This site is arguably the world's largest resource for reading recommendations and every book listed here comes with a rating out of five, based on reader feedback to help make your decision easier.
You can also invite your friends from Gmail, Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo! to see what they are reading, and to share your lists with them.
www.goodreads.com
(App available for Android, iOS, Kindle Fire OS)
3. Eat 🍴
During summer, appetites usually go for a toss. Besides, who wants to spend time slaving over a hot stove anyway? Instead, you could use this season to eat and drink healthy. Of course, the internet is full of recipe websites that will help you do just that. Here are two personal favourites...
300 SANDWICHES
The owner of this website started it to chronicle her experiments in the kitchen as she worked her way through 300 sandwiches. It all began in 2012, when her boyfriend 'E' told her she was 300 preparations away from a wedding ring. She took up the challenge - and already, she has mustered up over 250 different mouth-watering ideas. Here you will find wholesome, healthy sandwiches spanning categories such as breakfast, dinner, lunch, picnics and even dessert, and all perfect for a summer repast.
300sandwiches.com
JUICE RECIPES
It's important to stay hydrated, and there are few things better than a tall glass of fresh juice. JR is home to a bunch of concoctions that help you get into the juicing lifestyle. You will find recipes that are tailored for weight loss, and even those with a specific health benefit (for Alzheimer prevention, against acne, to help against anxiety, kidney cleansing, and even cure a hangover); the list is exhaustive. And the site has a 'juice builder' that allows you to create your own custom mix. As you add ingredients, JR starts calculating exactly what nutrients are in it. And if you want to make this season 'healthier', you can even take the "30-Day Challenge" where you're supplied with one recipe everyday for a whole month.
juicerecipes.com
