The best holiday I’ve had in recent times was a five-day trip to Singapore, where I customised my itinerary as per my penchant for nature, offbeat travel and food. Somewhere between the primeval charms of Pulau Ubin island and the macabre depictions at Haw Par Villa, a unique theme park, I discovered the true nature of Singapore – happy, quirky and all-embracing.
Despite the negative rhetoric about safety, cleanliness and ease of getting around in India, the country attracts tourists by the hordes. Is it the chaos that enchants the foreigners or the colours? Is it the curious rural faces or the endless expanses of untouched green (dwindling but still there)? Whatever the reason, the travellers aren’t deterred by the disorderly potpourri that is India. Here are a few travel tips to make your sojourn through India easier and more magical.
The Resort Madh Marve is a wonderful family getaway that lets you take a break without leaving the confines of Mumbai city. With the beach right beyond your doorstep, a stay here is the perfect way to refresh your spirits.
With a Portuguese past until 1999 and the Pearl River Delta binding it to mainland China, where does the Special Administrative Region of Macau stand today? My first meal in Macau, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, was a nine-course Chinese lunch, complete with dimsums in bamboo baskets, pickled fungus and copious amounts of Jasmine green tea. Yet, all the guidebooks ever talk about is Macau’s enduring Portuguese heritage. And as the days passed, I realised that was not far from the truth either.
If you haven’t fallen in love with the city of the Mughals yet, this diary will make it happen. A brainchild of documentary filmmaker Arjun Pandey, the diary puts into words what Delhipedia’s Youtube channel tries to depict in pictures. There is also an app that one can download to see what’s right near you, from restaurants to street food, monuments and activities.
Home bakers have really come of age, what with positive reception and word-of-mouth publicity resulting in them luring a substantial number of foodies away from the larger establishments. And when the sweet craving strikes in the comfort of your home, the best thing you can do is pick up the phone and dial a homemade …
Bandra Kurla Complex and I – we seem to be destined for dreamy dinners that make the restlessness of Bombay fade away into the cool night breeze. At least, that’s what conspired on Friday evening in the subtly lit, sophisticated Café Infinito, located near ICICI Bank. The moment you enter, an attentive concierge ushers you in and you have the pick of ethereal outdoor tables or a seat in the swanky interiors, where you can watch the live band in action. A speaker outside ensures that the al fresco diners don’t miss out on the charms of the Bollywood favourites being belted out by Mihir Joshi and Vedant.
The Nutcracker is cosy with only five or six tables and noise levels can get a little high. This is not a place for intimate conversations. But it IS a place for stellar breakfasts. After admiring the wooden walls, interesting paintings and odd little knick knacks gracing unexpected corners (they included an upturned yellow stool, the painting of a brown chair and a ceramic bird on the mantelpiece), we opened the menu. I ordered Eggs Kejriwal and Belgian Hot Chocolate while my companion opted for The Anytime Wrap, Belgian Hot Chocolate and a side of potato wedges.
Gadda Da Vida is a beach side restaurant at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach. It is the perfect place to enjoy some great drinks and starters while watching the sunset.
I returned looking several pounds lighter after a hectic, week-long exploration of London, the English countryside and dreamy Paris. ‘Hectic’ is obviously the key word here but travel doesn’t have to make you pile on the kilos, really. Food and indulgence is a major part of getting to know a new place and there’s no …