US under secretary to arrive Thursday

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman is set to arrive in Dhaka Thursday for a two-day official visit to discuss bilateral issues with top government and opposition leaders.

This will be her first visit to Bangladesh since her appointment as under secretary of state for Political Affairs on September 21, 2011.

Diplomatic sources said political issues, especially the current political crisis created with the scrapping of caretaker government system, and the next general election will come up prominently during Sherman’s meeting with government and opposition high ups.

However, foreign ministry officials termed it as a “routine” visit to Bangladesh as she is visiting as part of her three-nation tour aiming to strengthen bilateral relations.

In Dhaka, the under secretary is due to meet the prime minister, foreign minister and leader of the opposition as well as other government officials.

As part of her programme schedule, Wendy Sherman will first hold meeting with Prime Minister’s Security Adviser Major Gen (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique Thursday afternoon.

In the evening, she will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban, official sources said.

She will also visit the Grameen Borrower Group site outside of Dhaka Friday morning.

Sherman is due to meet with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Friday afternoon and from there she will then meet Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence, sources added.

Prior to leaving Dhaka, the US diplomat will meet with senior government leaders at a dinner on Friday. It is expected that a select group of civil society members will also meet her during her stay in Dhaka.

The undersecretary has no schedule for interaction with the media.

Her visit is being considered very crucial as this will be the highest level visit by any US government official in recent years.

Future Group plans deals to cut debt

Future Group, India’s largest retailer which owns Pantaloon Retail, is looking to sell stakes in brands and units to raise funds and help cut the group’s $1.6 billion debt, the Economic Times reported on Monday. ‘We are working on 18 deals and expect to consummate many of the transactions early next fiscal (year). We will be a zero-debt company by March 2013,’ Future Group chairman Kishore Biyani told the newspaper. The group plans to raise 25 billion to 30 billion rupees by selling a minority stake in Future Value Retail, which owns Big Bazaar hypermarkets and Food Bazaar supermarkets, to a strategic investor, the paper said. It plans to merge its electronics retail chain eZone with a services company based near New Delhi and bring in financial and strategic partners for HomeTown, its furniture retail chain, helping cut the debt of the parent company, Pantaloon, by around 6 billion to 7 billion rupees, the paper said. Biyani could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters. Pantaloon Retail has debt of 25 billion rupees. Separately, Future Logistics, a group firm, is looking to raise 8 billion to 10 billion rupees from private equity investors, the paper said. ‘Talks are on with three PE funds and we will be able to seal a deal within two months,’ Biyani told the paper. Another group firm Future Ventures, which has invested in three dozen brands, including BiBa, Indus League, Celio and Indigo Nation, is also likely to sell some holdings, the paper said.

Russia willing to back ultimatum-free UN statement on Syria

MOSCOW: Russia said Tuesday it could back either a UN Security Council statement or a resolution on peace envoy Kofi Annan's proposal on ending the Syria crisis as long as it contained no ultimatums. The announcement came as Western powers weighed a statement strong enough to condemn Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on the opposition, while not antagonising Russia, Syria's top ally. "We are ready to back the mission of UN and Arab League representative Kofi Annan and the proposals to the government and opposition to Syria," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters. "We are ready to support his proposals to the UN Security Council, and not only in the form of a statement but also a resolution," he said. But Lavrov also stressed that the proposals Annan made to Assad during their meetings in Damascus this month had still not been published and needed to be put up for an open debate at the Security Council. "First of all, these proposals must be published," Lavrov said after holding talks with his Lebanese counterpart Adnan Mansur. "Second of all, the Security Council should approve them not as an ultimatum but with consideration for the work that is ongoing, and approve them as the basis for Kofi Annan's continuing efforts to achieve agreement between all Syrians," he added. The UN Security Council was expected later Tuesday to discuss and possibly vote on a Western-drafted statement that diplomats said called for possible "further measures" if Assad failed to carry out Annan's proposals

Bangladesh in Asia Cup final

Dhaka : Bangladesh bore away against Sri Lanka by 5 wicket in their Asia Cup match at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium on Tuesday. Despite losing two well set batsmen in Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh were gain a credible came off with flying colour in their so called Semifinal of the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Chasing 212 in 40 overs, the Tigers were 212-5 after (37 overs) with Nasir Hossain batting on 36 and vice-captain Mahmudullah 32 not out at the Sher-e-Bangla National; Stadium. Tamim(59) and Shakib (56)were leading the charge at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.Tamim scored his 22nd ODI fifty off 57 balls with nine boundaries. And Shakib scored his 24th ODI century off 46 balls which had 7 boundaries. The third wicket stand was worth 108 runs so far. Opener Nazimuddin (7) was trapped in front by Kulasekara in the fourth ball of the second over SL innings. Fast bowler Nazmul Hossain grabbed three early wickets as Bangladesh restricted Sri Lanka to 232 in a must-win Asia Cup match in Dhaka on Tuesday. Nazmul rocked Sri Lanka in his sharp six-over opening spell, removing skipper Mahela Jayawardene (five), Tillakaratne Dilshan (19) and Kumar Sangakkara (six) to send the tourists reeling at 32-3 in the day-night match. Chamara Kapugedera (62) and Lahiru Thirimanne (48) steadied the innings with an 88-run stand for the fourth wicket, but were not allowed to score freely by the Bangladeshi bowlers. Upul Tharanga was the other main scorer, scoring a 44-ball 48 with one six and five fours. Nazmul, playing his first match of the tournament, was superbly backed by left-arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak who bagged two wickets apiece. Paceman Mashrafe Mortaza was the other bowler to impress, conceding just 30 runs in his tight 9.5 overs. Thirimanne hit just three fours in his 73-ball knock before he was stumped off Razzak, the ball rolling on to the wickets after hitting wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim's pad. Kapugedera struck only four boundaries in a 92-ball knock for his eighth half-century in one-dayers before falling to a low catch in the covers by Shakib off Razzak. Pakistan have already made it to the final with nine points from three matches. India have eight points from three games, followed by Bangladesh (4/2) and Sri Lanka (0/2). The hosts need a win to qualify for the final as they have beaten India in the league match.

TechPhoto Waterproof Tablet

A waterproof tablet PC from Fujitsu is seen lowered into a fish tank at the world's biggest high-tech fair, the CeBIT, on March 6 in Hanover, central Germany. Photo: AFP

BASIS members join CeBIT

BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services) in collaboration with Export Promotion Bureau participated at the CeBIT 2012, the digital industry's biggest international event in the world, says a press release. CeBIT 2012 was held at Hannover, Germany from March 6 -10. Five Bangladeshi ICT companies participated as exhibitor of Bangladesh stand and two others as visitors. The exhibiting companies were Arfitech, Corporate IT Limited, IBCS-Primax software (Bangladesh) Ltd, Synchronous ICT and TechnoVista Ltd while the visiting companies were Albatross Technologies Limited and eMedia Bangladesh. In addition to these companies, seven other companies participated the ceBIT 2012 under CBI-ITC supported NTF-II project. They were Bangladesh Internet Press Ltd., IBACS Ltd, LeadSoft Bangladesh Ltd, UY Systems Ltd, Synesis IT Ltd, The Databiz Software Ltd, Windmill Infotech Bangladesh and Relisource Bangladesh.

Facebook's Timeline A catalogue of nothing

We have seen the past, and it doesn't work. Over the past few weeks, Facebook has been rolling out Timeline, its effort to remake its members' profile pages into scrapbooks that, like nearly everything published on the social web, is told in a reverse chronology. While redesigns always inspire grumbling, the discontent seems particularly strong this time 70 percent of users surveyed say they just don't like it, and Facebook's own blog page announcing Timeline is filled with complaints in the comments. At first glance, Timeline looks interesting a retrospective of an online life. But soon enough, there's plenty not to like. And the biggest problem isn't that Facebook scrapped the elegant sparseness of the old profile page for a cluttered interface, or that many users will yet again need to reset their privacy settings, or even that, once you switch to Timeline, you can never go back to the old page. No, the biggest problem with Timeline is that it feels like a mean prank Facebook is playing on its users. It confronts them with the unpleasant reality that the sum total of lives preserved by social media is not just mundane but inauthentic, devoid of what gives meaning to the very thing it's meant to catalog: life. The press billed Timeline as a kind of scrapbook. But it actually couldn't be further from one. A scrapbook preserves symbols of moments with deep emotional value. Facebook is an accidental diary of our procrastinations the games, political rants, lolcats and memes that distract us in the moment but lose meaning even after a few days. If a scrapbook holds the memories of our lives, Facebook preserves the background noise. Timeline makes this all too painfully clear. Facebook, however, has big plans for Timeline, which is why it's not letting anyone escape from Timeline's clutches. Timeline is the front-end user interface for Social Graph, Facebook's grand plan to create a social platform for the Web itself. Users will share and discover video, music and other content on any number of websites and mobile apps, and their Timelines will act as a central clearinghouse for all of it. Facebook knows the social web is fragmenting. And it wants to be the glue that holds it all together. So it's offering dozens of Timeline apps that will share with your friends (and automatically preserve in Timeline) even more trivial minutiae: what songs you heard, what food you ate, what news stories you clicked on, what products you bought or coveted, etc. This is great news for sites like Foodspotting, Pinterest, Payvment and even dinosaurs like MySpace and Yahoo. All have integrated a third-party app into Timeline and enjoyed a boost in traffic. It's also great news for Facebook advertisers, who can pay Facebook to prominently feature in news feeds any posts mentioning their brands or products. The genius of Timeline is that it lets Facebook monetize word of mouth. But it comes at the cost of turning our conversations into commercials. Rather than designing Timeline to better reflect the more meaningful moments of our lives, Facebook is making it a chronology of consumption. And that is why I suspect no one on their deathbed will use Timeline to remember the good times. The more social Facebook tries to be, the less intimate our interactions on it become. The moments we remember the most are the ones with the greatest intimacy in our families, our work and our friendships, or even in caring for strangers. There's no reason why social media can't allow for an online interaction that has the intimacy of, say, a dinner party with friends. But Facebook isn't moving toward that useful goal it's moving in the opposite direction, turning our lives into opportunities for product placement and our wishes and desires into ads. Timeline clearly isn't working for the majority of Facebook users, although in the end it may not matter. Many will grow inured to it in time, as they have with all of the other controversial changes the company has introduced over the years. The author writes for Reuters

Home gardening STS and Mannan Mashhur Zarif

My grandfather was a 'plant lover'. From the cactus on the table at his office, to the age-old trees that line the road in front of Sir Salimullah Hall- his abode as a student of DU- his passion for plants was wide and varied. Everyday after returning from the office, he would put on his gardening gear- lungi and a tee shirt, armed with his gardening gadgets and head to his garden. It was his respite; even in his dying days he never gave up visiting the green sanctuary that he had himself built with his own hands. But times have changed. The city is a stifling place. Where there previously used to be lawns and gardens, are now concrete apartment buildings. A large proportion of us city dwellers don't have the luxury of a sprawling garden, but that should be no impediment to having plants inside our homes. Other than their environmental benefits, plants also beautify a place and lend character to an otherwise droll setting. Gardening in tropical and humid climates such as ours is an ordeal but once you get the hang of it you will see it more as an adventure and less as a chore. Not all plants are suited for indoor cultivation, but you can easily grow outdoor plants such as Hibiscus, Miscanthus cabaret, New Zealand flax, Cardinal lobelia, Canary reed-grass (ground-cover), Kalanchoe (annual plant), Agave (for sandy well-drained soil) in a patch of land overlooking the patio, if you have one. However, many tropical plants require some extra care as they perish quite easily if they do not find the favourable conditions in your garden. The trick is to follow some simple, basic rules. The obvious thing to be careful about is the quality of soil. Tropical plants need well-soaked soil, so make sure that the soil in your garden or flowering pot is capable of retaining moisture for a long time after watering. Another consideration is the choice of fertilizers. For instance, tropical flower plants should not be supplied with too much of nitrogenous fertilizers; it hampers their normal growth. It increases the growth of the leaves, but decreases the blooming of the flowers. Also, apart from nitrogen rich chemicals, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potash are also recommended for tropical plants. You may use these in minimal quantity, so that they do not hamper the growth of the plants. As mentioned earlier, not many of us have an outdoor space in which to indulge our gardening aspirations. As a seasoned gardener says, “Plants in the outdoors get a lot of rainfall in our climate, except in the winter. But when plants are indoors, it is very important to keep them hydrated by watering the pots at least once a day. Also important is to remember that plants should be kept close to a light source, preferably by a window, because as we all know green plants cannot survive without sunlight.” The prevailing temperature is a major factor in determining whether your plants will thrive or wilt. Generally, it is useful to keep your plants outside in the summer, and inside during the winter. Although it is recommended that the plants have some sort of heating during the winter, as frost is undesirable for their normal growth, it is not relevant for plants in Bangladesh because of our mild winters. However, if you live in the northern parts and it gets quite chilly, use a heating source at your own discretion; by then you should have developed quite a green thumb. It is best not to take too much upon yourself. If you have no prior experience or knowledge of gardening, it is important that you consult and take the advice of someone who has done it before. Information on how much fertilizer to use and what to grow can only be supplied by an experienced gardener who has a firm grasp of local conditions. With so much information at our fingertips, it is quite easy to go online and hunt around for tips, but that must be complemented by sound practical knowledge. We automatically think that gardening is for someone else to do and that it's too much of a hassle. You may be surprised however, at how easily you grow into the role of gardener once you start doing it. Although it may seem unlikely now, you may even begin to share a bond with the plants that you have nurtured from little saplings; it's only natural. Tips on Home Gardening If horticulture is your passion, or you are merely in pursuit to add greenery both in and outside your home, there are certain thumb rules that you must follow. Home gardening, though far from a strenuous task, requires consistent maintenance and nurturing. You must take care of your plants but always remember that 'too much' care often causes more harm than good. “How much to water?” is an age-old question raised by home gardeners. Too much water floods the plants and cripples them from absorbing the minerals and nutrients from the soil. Whereas insufficient watering dehydrates plants, making the branches limp and lifeless. The species of your plants plays a role in determining the right amount of water that it requires. A thorough research should be conducted before implementing the necessities. If you feel too lazy to read books and magazines to learn about plant care, at least ask the vendor of the nursery you buy your plants to inform you about plant care. It is pivotal that the appropriate amounts are showered. One deep watering is much better than watering lightly several times a day. If the weather pertains to hot and humid conditions, a little more than usual water should be sprinkled. Uninvited moss, grass and mould of various genres take residence in the nearby alleys or on the flower plants in your outside garden. Instead of bending over to tug at the roots of these or scrubbing them off, sprinkle sufficient amount of regular table salt directly on the areas. Salt chokes the life out of these. Plants and stagnant water bodies are homes to dengue and malaria causing mosquitoes. Remove any water deposits in your gardens as a preliminary precaution to preventing the spread of any disease. Insecticides and pesticides should be sprayed on a regular basis. Pruning limbs and branches is necessary for a healthy growth and a less disease-prone garden. Air out plants stored within confinements at least once a week to filter out any germs, which might have been dwelling in them. Consider planting insect repelling plants such as but not limited to- Ants: mint, tansy, pennyroyal; Aphids: mints, garlic, chives, coriander, anise; Mice: onion; Squash Bug: radish, marigolds tansy and nasturtium. These plants have their own chemically designed defence systems and when placed among flowers and vegetables they keep unwanted pests at bay. By Sanjana Rahman

Teen twist Maheen Khan, Fashion designer, Mayasir

Teen fashion is highly influenced by their idols. This is of course not a new notion as in the past young boys and girls have always looked out for role models. Teen actors, entertainers, and singers do and will continue to play a vital role. Although now it has become a global phenomenon where the young stars create a colossal following. Their every fashion expression is imitated. Hair, accessory, clothing, the whole look and attitude are given full attention by their fans. The teen market has become enormous. This is due to the new-fangled fame of the great number of adolescent stars in recent years. The entertainment industry is putting a lot of attention in not only creating these idols but also in marketing them commercially as individuals across the globe. They are stand-alone brands now to be taken very seriously. I shall try to decipher the teen trends. It has come to my attention that there are a number of categories and fashion divides that set their fashion doctrines. The following are a few styles, such as easy casual, sports, rock star, and a school prep look. The major teen stars are a rage so lets look at what some of them are wearing. Miley Cyrus (singer and actor) She is Hannah Montana on her television sitcom. She may be one of the biggest teen stars of our times. She loves sweet dresses that are soft on the edges, frills, and laces and most definitely short in length. Her long locks of hair in natural waves make her seem very feminine yet confident. Her dresses or skirts are always tied with numerous or a singlewide belt giving her an hourglass contour. She is loud in her choice of colours-violet, fuchsia, gold and other metallic. On formal sightings she is always caught in strapped country pieces. Her accessories include bangles or beads and she loves her cowgirl boots. JB or Jonas Brothers (singer/actor) These are the three brothers, Joe, Nick, and Kevin. They are a sensation. Witty and smart, they are also on a television sitcom JONAS. On or off screen their sense of style is just right on. They look equally preppy with their ties, jumper and sports leather jacket or in a chic cravat on short waistcoat and rolled up shirt or T-shirt. Most comfortable in their denim that may be skinny or classic, they like to mix and match different looks on each other rather than looking identical. This way they make individual statements. Even on personal excavations we will find them wearing a crew neck, a button down or v-neck shirt with jeans. Plaid and checked shirts look really cool with their leather bomber jackets. They don't go for the over the top rock star ensembles, but rather simpler combos. Their fans appreciate their signature claims to fashion. Selena Gomez (singer/actor) She is the popular actor of the television show “Wizards of Waverly Place” and also acted in a couple of Disney movies, the latest being “Princess Protection Program”. She is again a very successful, versatile actor who is able to execute her talents effortlessly. Selena off screen shows a prowess for superb styling that seems to come to her naturally. Her comfortable fashion sense is to die for. She loves her denim and tees, always layered with a jacket or a shirt. Simple classic prints in stripes or checks making her style classic, which is also appropriate for her age. With little or no make-up and very little accessories she still manages to sizzle. She is deeply rooted and self-assured. Daniel Radcliff (actor) He is the actor of Harry Potter fame. A teen sensation, he has popularised the very British prep style in teen fashion. The Hogwarts School of fashion has made an entire generation appreciate a simple conservative look that works best for early adolescence. Timelessly conservative yet never boring pieces put together simply well. Crew neck tees layered with zipped jackets, stripped polo or shirts, tie and jumpers. Argyle scarves and knitted scull caps are also an edgy addition. His round-rimmed glasses are a perfect finish to his ensemble. His achievement on screen has brought him gargantuan fame the world over. Trends that sizzle or fizzle It is important to look at trends as they appear. Casual is probably the key word. Girls rule, boy's drool: The colour this season is predominantly bright with teal, raspberry, red, turquoise, pink, and reef coral as major hues. These girls are either ultra girly or big on sports gear. It is a clean, healthy style. Floral elements are big with country garden wild flowers as prints and focal applications of Rose, Poppy and Daisy. Peasant blouses, cute frilled tops, open front shirts in solids or stripes, sundresses with spaghetti or halter finish over simple tanks. The overall look is easy. Denim super stretchy and skinny topped with tees. Drawstring trousers paired with sweat jackets are really cool for girls. These are no nonsense uncomplicated trouble free ensembles. Accessories that are a rule: Sunglasses: Yellow, lemon green, white or black, not the oversized convex kind but rather average sized squared or oval styles. Again it is not a huge fashion statement but indicates necessary utility that may serve a purpose. Bags: Fabric bags in cotton or canvas. Prints or woven, quilted or plain, small or medium slings zipped with utility pockets. Totes large are an all time favourite. Wristlet or patent clutches are also good for an evening out. Belts: Narrow or wide for waists or hips have returned as an important accessory. Footwear: Flip-flop sandals. Solid or printed in fun pattern are great, plaid, checks, polkas or floral are very popular. Espadrilles high, ankle strapped flats or high top sneakers are good for any occasion. Tropical jewellery: Pile them on for a perfect carefree vibe. Teens are looking for a sharp mix and match. They are into trendy pieces of jewellery that can be combined with multiple other pieces of accessory. Funky beaded or wooden elements are evident on bangles, cuffs, bracelets and necklaces. The neckpieces are long stringed and hang on the waistline and long pendants are also cool. Beaded anklets and wristbands are just on that can be paired with dangly beaded earrings. Boys will be boys: Teen boys are also going for a plain effortless fashion sense. Cargo or denim trousers that fit well and comfortably but may be narrow or form fitted but not oversized. Button down shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts, crew neck tees. All cotton looks and not the shrinking body stretching lycra kind that is punk rock, which is so yesterday. Scarves, jumpers, bomber, sports jackets or hooded jackets are very happening right now instead of the chain slinging metal studded heavy rock look that is way out. It is a look that generates and inspires a healthy lifestyle where the priority is good health and fitness. My last word: Teens in Bangladesh need to apply the essence of such dressing that is suitable for their age. It should be fitting for the occasions and social circumstances. Please don't try to imitate adults or idols that do not illustrate a positive role. Choose your fashion icons well and intelligently. Model: Zubaida, Eura, Rahatt, Adnan, Arress, Nishat, Raisa, Sajid Special thanks to KFC for allowing us to do the photoshoot.

Immersed in Bliss

A bath drawn just right and the mood set perfectly can be an enriching experience. The rigours of life leave even the strongest and the most stoic minds exhausted and in need of a sensuous retreat. Not all of us have the time or the resources to make visits to spas as a regular habit. If it's relaxation and rejuvenation on your mind, a well-drawn bath with accessories suiting your needs will do it every time. The Past, The Present and The Future The benefits are not limited to stress relief. There is a reason why the immersion of the body in water has been such an enduring practice over the annals of time. We all know of the Roman and the Greek bathhouses that existed solely for the purpose of bathing. It was then seen as a communal activity, where citizens could conduct business and socialize. Baths were seen as the key to maintaining good health. Fast forward to the 21st century and recent studies have echoed those beliefs. One study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that diabetics who spent just half an hour in a hot tub could reduce their blood sugar levels by around 13 per cent - as the heat dilated their blood vessels, the blood-flow improved and the body made better with the use of its insulin, the hormone that converts blood sugar into energy. Another study in Japan claims that 10 minutes in a warm bath improved cardiovascular health in elderly men and women, helping them to cope better in exercise tests and reducing pain. Starting out “The temperature of the water is very important,” opined a housewife for whom taking baths during the precious bits of free time available to her is an invaluable source of rejuvenation. “It should not be so hot that it takes an exercise of will just to get in. Remember, this is for stress relief, so you shouldn't be stressed out about getting in. The temperature should ideally be warm, just how much is up to the individual. You can also draw the curtains in order to trap the heat for the maximum possible time.” Accessorize Relaxation is a state of mind and bathing is a process. The right accessories can get you into that frame of mind. A comfortable, pampering bath robe and soft towels will do the trick. And that's not all. To create a mood of meditative serenity, add scented candles to the mix. The essentials Now that the peripherals are out of the way, it is time for the main ingredients. Whenever there is talk of baths, bath salts can't be too far behind. Universally accepted as beneficial to the skin, high quality natural bath salts can take years off your appearance by helping your body defend against climate, genetics and other elements that speed up the aging process. They cleanse the skin and soften the rougher parts of our bodies, like the knees, elbows and heels. Hold a spoonful under running water as you are drawing the bath, allowing the salts to release their fragrance and oils as they mix with the bath water. Almas Superstore carries a range of bath salts including strawberry, blueberry and orange, all containing vitamins C and E. Bath oils do a world of good to dry or damaged skin. Oil is the perfect skin therapy to use in a bath because the warmth of the water helps the oil absorb into your skin. The right oil will enable you to leave the bath with your previously dry skin feeling healthy and nourished. Bath soaps are another vital part of a refreshing soak in the tub. Natural soaps like those of The Body Shop, also found at Almas are usually handmade, created with pure and natural ingredients. They leave the skin feeling soft and supple. It must be noted that these should be acquired from reputable companies, as the wrong type could cause the skin to dry out. Last but not the least, nothing says “pamper” like a foam bath. For many, foam or bubble baths add the finishing touch to the experience of being transported away to another, more peaceful world. There are a lot of foaming creams around, each having different ingredients (Vaseline's version enriched with Chamomile is highly recommended by the lady behind the counter at Almas) to suit your needs. Atmosphere You can't create a mood without music. To get into the relaxed frame of mind, it is best to stick to soothing instrumental music, such as the western classics or our own Sitar aficionados. You can also take a novel or magazine that you have been wanting to read but just not had the time, to the bath with you. The most important thing to remember is that those 20 30 minutes are for you and you only. In the end, whether you emerge relaxed or not is up to you. You have to embrace this bit of relief from stress just as the warm water and all its ingredients embrace you when you settle in. You know best what tone to set to help you unwind. Choose the right ingredients and the right setting, and meet them halfway.