I have been contemplating about getting my books translated, I had asked around and people said that it is better to get a professional translator to translate my work as they will have the perfect grammar rather than just doing a literal or plain translation that google translate will do. I tried doing one for a short story I have been doing and fell in love if ease With which I could do the translations. You gust click on the translate icon and upload your document in word, pdf, excel, ppt format set the language you want to translate into, and just click translate. In less then two seconds the entire file is translated in one go rather than piece by piece. It can translate up to 109 languages and as of 2016 had 500 million users. In 2020 it has become very efficient and advanced in its translations.

Google neural machine translation was launched in 2016 and it can translate entire sentences with more accuracy plus translating languages in the past it has build expertise in using the right word and vocabulary.

I can safely say rather than paying a translator 50 paisa per word to translate your books, you should do it on your own with the service of the translator that way you can sell your books ion all the foreign languages that KDP and amazon.com support.

KDP allows you to upload ebooks in 43 translated languages and 5 regional Indian languages. Use the translator here effectively and sell in all the supported languages. That way your work will be internationally sold in all the languages and that will further extend your reach. It will save huge costs of translations and be done effectively with speed. Just make sure you have the covers in English and the translated regional language the same as the title on the cover. Even if people read a few pages you would have made money.

The main thing about being in a lockdown for the past three months is the lack of exercise one gets, as the world remains confined to their homes, buildings, and rooms, everyone is indoors, with very little room, to jog, run or do any kind of brisk walking. Our doors are a stick no as most people can’t even get down to their building ground floor. I do see an occasional walker on the road but they are far and few most are popped trying to get somewhere. Being in a lockdown can lead to a feeling of being trapped, with no room to stretch and exercise the body and its muscles, since there is very little movement in peoples day to day routine.

It is thus feasible to look at exercises that can be done in a closed and limited space even with limited mobility. Yoga and meditation are the first that come to mind as they can be done sitting down on the floor anywhere inside a room. That is the ruiner I choose doing ohm meditation to certain Kriya once in the morning and once late evening for ten min or so. If you enjoy weights you can pull dumbbells or do sautés and push-ups and pull-ups. Yogic asanas like the Surya namaskar and others can be done easily on the roof or on the terrace after opening the window and letting the sun in. No outdoor sports, so indoor sports will flourish. Health bikes can also be useful in losing weight and can be done on a stationary bike. For me my exercise in regular hot baths in the day and lots of meditation and Simba kris to keep immunity high along with lime juice and vegetarian diet, that should keep the virus away apart from the face masks and the gloves of course.

Look to nonvigorous nonheavy exercises that look to work the breathe and circulate the breath and its energy inside the lungs and other vital areas of the body that will increase circulation and facilitate digestion also. Do stretches and bends in your drawing room you can do pull-ups with the help of your sofa also. But try and let sunlight come into tiger room atlas for some time during the day and let the stale air of getting the house to circulate at the end of the day. Keep a natural body clock, with regular exercise and a good diet you should get some good sleep, remember we are all in it together.

OHM, Nath Bra-ham, Kundalini, and laughing mediations are the best and you can play some good hight vibration spiritual. Music also lets your inner energies float and let the imagination run wild. I am trying my best to channel these energies towards my writing and blogging and do something creatively crazy with my stories. So keep at it, folks!

The translator app can be downloaded through the google play app store. This can be used to translate text, voice and also you add pictures. The translator gives translations in 109 languages. It is a best-suited application for tourists who are travelers and enjoy traveling to different countries and exploring cultures. The translator can be a great help in getting you by a foreign land. All you have to do is speak your sentence through your mobile mike and it will get translated into the desired language, by pressing the speak button. You can make it be heard to a local man or woman who will understand your question and then speak the answer or write the answer down. That way you can get by a country smoothly without knowing the local language. The translator helps you do that with ease and the cost is Rs 810 fee per week. The first seven days are free and then you pay a weekly fee to run and use the app, both the speech and test feature.

The translator can also translate test up to 5000 characters at one go and help translate webpages and even complex ebooks. It can also be used to translate mp3 audio speech or diction, again in no time at all. But as the translator is the machine and an AI that is forever improving by making mistakes, it is still lacking the human touch. A human can translate much better as it knows where the right word fits and what the context of the sentence or paragraph is. This is where AI makes mistakes and you get absurd sentences that are out of context and mean something totally different then what is being said. It can be used for short text may era short paragraph or so but not for long text content, only if strapped for cash this can be an option because of the speed of execution.

Idiom app is something that I have been exploring as well it is meant to build your English speaking and writing skills and helps you make sense of words and different meanings. They also test you and score you on how much you have learned on the app, a fun way to improve your spoken and written English. It will make you improve on your boring text and watts’ app messages and refine your communication in a professional environment. Again here the first week is free and after registering one has to pay Rs 810 per week as a charge to use the app and take advantage of its features, you have three levels beginner, intermediate and advanced deeding on the skill you want to get at.

These along with Grammarly, google docs are important apps to use for your day to day working as well. For video, the duo app and the zoom app are best suited for meetings and live presentations along with Skype.

It seems I am destined to do what I am doing right now and the board wants me to wander like a nomad forever. I arrived in Mumbai three months back and I am now living in my fifth abode a plush service apartment in Juhu with a kitchen and a living room and a large double bed, it is old fashioned with teak wood furniture and sliding doors, the light is low and orange bulbs illuminate the sitting room and the bathrooms which have classical marble tiles and a modern shower. A place is as good and even better than the Novotel Juhu where I spent the last six days before I was kicked out as my travel broker had not paid them the full money. Nonetheless, I was shifted to a very comfortable service apartment, in Juhu. Having feasted on cheese toast and chicken sandwich’s, I feel invigorated having had a warm shower and become at ease with my body I did my regular Simba Kriya in the morning followed by the OM OM meditation.

They may hate is on full show and the sun bears out from my window, I am liking Juhu it is far relaxed, and with the beach, the entire place has a feel to it that is of warmth as if wanting you to stay. But that is not possible as I will be shifted to another hotel in a few days. The merry go round of Mumbai goes on, with the virus around everything still seems to be moving smoothly for me and my friends.

God just wants me to keep moving and wandering and that is exactly what I am doing now. First as a travel blogger and now as an author trying to make a web-series.  I am happy that I have managed to sell the rights of my book on my Dad’s murder it will be made into a full-fledged Web-series soon. Yes, sir, I killed My Dad the book I wrote from my perspective on my father’s brutal murder will be made into a web-series and that makes me happy, finally, all the writing and blogging for the past five years have not gone to waste.

After finishing writing Nineteen, I am still looking for my nest book to sink my teeth on, till then I am still wondering and still searching, my god he really just wants me to wander and that is exactly what I am doing.

I learned a great deal today about the yogic practice of Simba Kriya, it is a breathing exercise that will help build the immune system and give strength to the lungs, throat and the entire respiratory system. It will help fight the virus and is a very beneficial thing to bring in the morning routine every day.

The technique is simple you sit in a crossed leg position and then put your hands on either side and push your shoulders upwards, raising your forehead towards the sky, then stick your entire tongue out and breathe in and out vigorously, this will create pressure on the stomach and you will feel your lungs inflate and deflate. I vigorous sound of hhhuuuhh hhhuuhh hhhuuhhh will resonate from you, do the huffing and puffing for 21 times, and keep your tongue sticking out while you do it. This is similar to what a lion does in the jungle the posture is similar to that of the lion and so is the breathing exercise, it is the kind of breathing and belching a lion does in the jungle.

The second part is to pull your tongue in and roll it upwards and breathe by making the same huffing sound do it 21 times in and out vigorous breathing. Then close your eyes and sit in a relaxed posture breathing normally.

This simple breathing practice will build immunity against the virus and give power to the respiratory system.

I just moved to a new hotel in Novotel in Juhu, a much better place the ac in the room was a bit off with the sweltering summer heat the air conditioning was horrible. They had better COVID rules here, the waiters gave food in the room with an arms distance every one wore masks and gloves. The hotel was empty the pool was dry and all the lights were off, there was just bare minimum staff, with the virus hotels around the world have been hit hard and that was evident when I checked in. The lift system was a bit rusty as I was told that the servers were down in the hotel. I got a room on the second floor, Ashish my trusted companion was with me all the time.

Today was better I changed my room and got one with a power full ac system. I was impressed with the hygiene and COVID standards maintained by the hotel, who are a helpful lot. I was served dinner and breakfast in the room as the banquet and in dinning is shut, with a dry swimming pool all that I could see from my bedroom window was the sea all blue and white. The evening had made it look emerald and there were lights on the beach at night. Enough of peace and quiet to shoot a song maybe on a dongle and Go Pro.

It is a quiet place with a great shower and a better view in the evenings, own the peak of summer I feel great to be in a cool room, just with my thoughts. I got dinner in plastic plates which I had to put outside the door after I finish and no one netted the room except for the cleaners. An upscale set up from my previous stay at OYO rooms.

Ashish came in today as we ideated on my book and the subsequent web-series. He feels we should get a good actress for the role of someone who has done work in the south and a bit voluptuous.

My Grandmother called concerned that I should take the first flight to Dehra Doon when the airways open up, the government has given permission to the airports to start operation, but things are very fluid with their rapid rise of the virus in Mumbai, we are peaking now in terms of cases. There is no way I will be jumping on a plane not that soon anyways.

But my new abode is good and now comforting the staff seemed to have understood my moods a bit and I can rest here for two moths writing, talking stories and sharing smiles and love with one and all. I also slept with Rashmi Verma has been my pet project and I have gotten attached to it, the key is to have others buy into the idea. As Ashish pointed out my stars are shining during COVID 19 after selling my book “ Yes sir I killed my Dad .” And inking a digital deal, the wheels seem to be moving towards Rashmi Verma. I seem to be working even better in the post virus situation as things seem to be happening in autopilot.

Our first goal is to shoot a title song in and around the hotel and on the beach with the actress we finalize. Who will that be will remain a mystery as of now? Dreams and more dreams allure me.

Now that I wanted to get transferred to the Novotel hotel, I was told that I would have to give a declaration to the hotel that I am virus-free, an undertaking form would have to be signed or I could give them my COVID -19 Test result along with a Virus-free certificate. I got into action and googled the nearest test center and hospital in Andheri East. The Hospital was Holy Spirit Hospital, so I went there on further enquires I was asked to go in and goto the testing camp behind near the garden. I went straight and stopped infant of a white stall manned by heath attendants dressed in all white. They said that the center is open 10:00 am to 5;00 pm, are with a fee of Rs 4500 I could be tested, and the results would be given to me in 48 hrs. Simple I thought to myself and decided to go there in the afternoon the next day, which I did only to be told the procedure had changed now I had to go online get a form, goto a local doctor, and get it signed after that only would I be tested. I tried to explain I had the money to take it and test me why bother with a form and going to a doctor first. The guidelines had to be followed and I got a bit frustrated with the procedure along with that the attendants were very unhelpful. It was not that they were very busy they only had three or four people to attend to and they had the computer and all the other equipment.

I came back with disappointed with the from in my hand and further did some research on the net, in Mumbai you have labs like SRL Diagnostics, metropolis.com these have been approved by the ICMR and have an online system of downloading forms which have to be first attested by the local doctor for symptoms, if approved you need to upload the form back on the site and order a test, which can be purchased through a cart system and payment made online. There is a system of home collection for your COVID Tests. Best is to look for local hospitals and Clinics in your area and find out if they have a COVID testing booth. The cost of the test is Rs 4500. The helpline numbers for the city and other metros centers are given on the websites.

The name of the test is RT PCR Test, there is an MCGM protocol to be followed, one needs to register first with name and other details on these sites and a user id and password are emailed to you with the OTP once you register you download the doctors form remember no form no test.

I just got an email in my mailbox from the Kindle team they have chosen my book “ Yes Sir I killed my dad .” And want to enroll it in their Prime Reading program. It is for the Prime members of amazon.com and get priority service, they have access to 1000 titles that are served to them. They are the more engaged readers of amazon.com and are a tiny subset of the entire KDP Direct universe that has over 1 lakh titles.

All you have to do is enter the ASIN number of the chosen book and the promotional code. The book will go live for 90 days and will be served to amazon prime reading customers. In return I would get a flat royalty fee of Rs 2000 paid into my account this will be over and above the royalty of sales from the KDP program where I get paid for pages read also.

So to me, it was a promotion of sorts and a way to get more eyeballs and reach for my book to the real serious book buyers and lovers.

So if you are an amazon prime member and have an annual subscription you will surely notice and shouldn’t miss reading my book “ Yes Sir I Killed my Dad .” A son’s Grief.

Check out my book on the amazon prime service and happy reading.

The current pandemic has completely changed the way we interact with each other and the world as a whole. This lockdown and social distancing cultures have pushed us all inside our homes. We have started living more and more through and by our tablet’s, laptop’s phones, the same TV, and other such interconnected internet devices.

It’s been over three months of the Pandemic and Lockdowns since I have been stuck in a hotel room in Mumbai, I would have gone insane if it was not for the company of these books that I enjoyed and listening to. My favorite books and audiobooks to pass time and get rid of those blues are as follow’s, the best ten so far.

1 The Subtle art of Not Giving a Fuck: This book from Mark Manson is a bible for how to live life opposite to the prevailing culture, basically living life counter-intuitively, by just not giving a fuck. The book tells us not to give a fuck about a lot of things that are of no importance but we have to do just to stay with the crowd. Instead, the author says choose your fucks carefully and live life being your true authentic self.

2 Why everything is Fucked: This is a sequel to the Subtle art of not giving a fuck and continues further on the primary theme. No doubt very engaging even talking about how to create your own alternative religion or a cult. Manson has again given a hit and adds to that he is also a celebrity blogger. Someone I wish to emulate as I like his style and no holds barred writing from the gut. He can be cruel especially when he tears down the self-help and motivation culture that prevails currently where everyone wants to be good and consume even more.

3 Lisa: This was an audiobook I sent time listening to, it is the autobiography of Lisa Ray in her own words. She talks about her modeling and acting days in Bollywood and the horrific accident of her mother. Her relationship with her father and the many hits and misses of her life. I adored her as a teenager and she has written moving prose.

4 Wikileaks: The other audiobook that I loved listening to was about the life of Julie-an Lasagne the news reporter and journalist who bought the US government to its keens when he leaked important military information and video’s that showed the US helicopters shooting at a mob and killing Reuters journalist without mercy. The man and how he founded Wikileaks and evaded the US government by taking refuge in the Ecuador embassy, the audiobook is thrilling and reads like a spy novel. Loved every bit of it and was moved enough to further research on the man and what he is fighting for.

6 David and Goliath: This is another brilliant book by the famed author Malcolm Gladwell, whose book Tipping point was a best seller and much enjoyed by me. In this book, the author takes us carefully through the biblical story of David fighting the gains Goliath and how the Gains was blinded by his own strength and size and how David foxed him by using a totally different weapon a sling to defeat and kill him. He used this analogy of how big large companies lose focus and are defeated by Tehri smaller more nimble competitors who totally disrupt them through innovation and stealth. A must listen to the book.

7 Ravan: This is the story of the great Villain and a brave King Ravan written by Amish and part of his series after Sita. The book is Ravan’s perspective and shows his inner points and his great powers as well. I interesting books and brilliant and imaginative narration.

8 Ikigai: This lovely little book written by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralle talks about the Japanese philosophy of living life called IKIGAI. It looks into a particular island in Japan where there is the largest concentration of people living over the age of 100. It explores the ways of living a peaceful and long life and what are the important daily routines of these people who live so long in Japan. In all a fascinating and very informative read, I finished the book and was hooked to the audio.

9 OSHO: His sermons are mesmerizing and his audiobooks have a hypnotic trance on me very soothing during the tense lockdown phase.

10 Gita: This book authored by Dev Dutt Patnaik looks into the epic’s and especially the verses of the Gita, it is an interpretation of the sermon given by Lord Krishna to Arjun before the war began.Using models and quotes the author try to make us see what the meaning of Dharma is actually, a must-read for Epic enthusiasts.

Nineteen:  The book that I would want to give very special love to would be my own book Nineteen that is based on the background of Mumbai during the Pandemic. It traces the journey of two partners of a Bio-Technology company trying to find a vaccine for the Corona Virus. I just finished writing it on the 10 th May my Birthday. Must read for all of you when its; out on Kindle next week by yours truly Anuj Tikku.