First of all, let me tell you how the Hai Van Pass drive came on my radar during my travel in Vietnam. I love driving motorbikes. I hate the traffic and also cars, but I don’t mind them as long as I am perched on a motorbike. When I had to drop my initial thoughts of traveling entire Vietnam by renting or buying a bike, I opted for renting motorbikes in every place. I was…
‘I have had bad bus rides during my travels, but this is the worst bus ride I have ever had!’ frowned Jessica, the girl from Amsterdam next to me on the bus, headed from Mui Ne to Dalat on a rainy afternoon. I smiled listening to her exasperated rant about the drive, as our laggard driver rode the bus on a road that was similar to her mood. Even a seasoned traveler can be put off…
I had only seen the bright red murals, walls and series of dragons with many heads with intimidating large heads only in pictures, and its closely replicated forms in some Chinese restaurants that I had visited. But here I was, standing in front of one of the large dragons that flanked the stairs in Hue (pronounced Hu-way), Vietnam, and I was sure of only one thing – That these imperial characteristics looked beautiful in person,…
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a bustling city that can intimidate a first-time visitor with its crowd, chaos and the traffic. But within no time, the city attracts travelers with its beautiful attractions, food, and people. The city is huge, and there are a lot of things to explore. But these are the things that can be done for free in Manila. Check out the 6 free things to do in Manila, which are…
From time to time, I take a break from constant exploring and discovering new experiences even while travelling, as it lets me slow down, enhances my creative and productive sides, and just helps me unwind. So during this monsoon, I headed to Windchimes Retreat in the coffee town of Virajpet, and it was a weekend that went by in slow-motion. I had been to this part of the Western Ghats before, but it was a different…
While I have written enough about Goa – from the backpacker beaches to the offbeat places to the total guide to Goa itself, I felt that I have not done justice to southern Goa, which is often overlooked by the travelers for many reasons like the lack of time or not being aware of the things that can be done. So hop on with me in this post as I take you through the things…
While Kathmandu was a bag of mixed emotions, Nagarkot had been a fall-in-love-slowly experience in Nepal. So, I was contemplating how Pokhara would turn out, as we took the long bus journey from Kathmandu. Pokhara became an instant hit with me for many reasons and given a chance, I wouldn’t think twice to go back here! In this post, I am sharing the 15 amazing things to do in Pokhara, some of which I experienced…
Nagarkot is a laid-back village that lies just 32km from the capital city of Kathmandu, in Nepal. What makes it special? Its altitude and the proximity to the greatest mountains on the planet – the Himalayas. Located over 7200 meters, people of this quaint village wake up amidst the mountains to call the likes of Mount Everest as their neighbor! Being an avid mountain lover, this was enough to make me fall for this little…
It is worth risking sometimes while traveling. At least, some experiences make you think so (Luckily, there hasn’t been any major twist in my risks so far). On this note, my visit to Tall Trees resort was a part of my this year’s travels in the western ghats during the monsoon, a risk that paid off well, after a rainy encounter with Munnar last year. Monsoon might not be technically the best time to be…
The Western Ghats of India have been my nearest place to escape since my days of college. Growing up in Karnataka, I was blessed to stay close to the lush mountains that stretch from Kerala to the coast of Gujarat attaining different names in each state. I have experienced the best of Coorg for many years now, and I thought it’s time to share some of these if you haven’t tried already! Madikeri or the…
Asia is a beautiful continent to visit whatever time of year. It’s diverse, vibrant and full of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. From the friendly monkeys who bathe in the hot springs near Nagano, the full moon parties in Thailand, the daily Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong and kayaking in Ha Long Bay’s caves, there’s so much to see and do in Asia. Spring is a great time to visit Asia. Of course, there is huge geographical…
At first, when I glanced at Patan Durbar Square in Kathmandu, it felt oddly out of place. The entire square area appeared as if somebody had dropped in a small plaza at the centre of old town of Kathmandu. While the area outside looked chaotic and bustling with people constantly moving around, the square wore a pleasant old day charm. The contradicting vibes made Durbar square in Patan more alluring. After trekking to Ghorepani, it…
For a country the same size of Wales, Sri Lanka has plenty of attractions which can be best-covered overland. With a reasonably good network of roads, getting around Sri Lanka is quite simple and extremely affordable as well. There are plenty of buses and trains from the major cities, but to reach the interiors it is advisable to either drive or hire a car with a driver. This is not only inexpensive, it gives you…
Travel is not about the destinations alone. It is a journey on both the physical and mental levels. Being on the road sometimes challenges us physically, and the other times, travel takes us through a whole series of emotions, from happiness to anger to extreme remorse. During my travels in Nepal, I had such day that took me on an emotional ride. I got a chance to witness the open cremation at Pashupatinath temple in…
The way I ended up visiting Kurumba Village Resort in Conoor in Tamil Nadu, India almost unplanned by the end of this summer actually has a travel story. So let me tell you that first. The hill stations of South India are my nearest places to go hiding during every summer. While I was working full-time, I would escape during the weekends (long or short) being contended with what I got. But things changed since last…