Visiting Tokyo without knowing Japanese can seem scary. Luckily their hospitality coupled with most people speaking English makes getting around easier. There are so many things to do in Tokyo for adults and children. Many things on this list will be child-friendly since a six-year-old was my travel buddy. Tokyo is of course one of […]
Taipei has more than earned its reputation as one of the best food cities in the world. However, deciding what to eat in Taipei can be a process of elimination that’s too difficult for many travelers, especially if it’s your first time in the city, if you only have a few days or if you […]
We were having a chat about the number of UNESCO sites in Asia that we’ve visited. And it seems my percentage of World Heritage Sites is really really small. So I asked my friends who have visited more places than me, ‘Which are some of the most amazing must-visit World Heritage Sites in Asia?’ And […]
A Tasty Food Guide from Sticks & Spoons On our Travels to Bangkok we have eaten a lot of great food; from street food to Fine Dining. It’s a vibrant, progressive and interesting restaurant scene with so much to explore if you love to Travel for Food like we do! Here is our top picks […]
Going Nomad – Should or shouldn’t I? As an aspiring nomad, I’ve come across quite a few individuals who discredit this lifestyle, and also say that it’s difficult and amounts to no good. To counter this thinking, and to provide inspiration to myself and other aspiring nomads, I’ve started this Going Nomad : Inspiration Series, […]
It is sad but not a lot of people know that Bir actually has a lot of amazing food spots to try out different cuisines and dishes here. Bir Billing is primarily famous as Asia’s Best Paragliding Site and has many monasteries, treks, etc. for you to check out here. But amongst all this, no […]
Ever had this happen? Travelled on holiday to a new city and after a fun day sightseeing, dropped into that famous café or bar and got stumped looking at the bar drinks list. Yep, that’s happened to me. What should I drink? What drink is famous in this city? What’s on the list of top […]
Ramdaspur or Ambarsar are the erstwhile names of Amritsar, a city in Punjab that you must visit on a trip to India. Located about 217 km North West of the Chandigarh, the State Capital, Amritsar is very close to the Wagah Border that separates present-day India and Pakistan. Amritsar has a lot to offer the […]
Israel has the best food in the world. I may be slightly biased since I lived there for 5 years, but the fresh produce; incredible dips like hummus and tahini; and the Middle Eastern take on Mediterranean food is hard to beat. While there are countless must-see places in Israel, one of my favorite cities […]
What is Mardi Gras? Or what is Fat Tuesday? The Roman pagan festivals of times long past were integrated into Christian traditions by the Roman Catholic Church and are now part of the festival that is called Mardi Gras. When is Mardi Gras? Or When is Fat Tuesday? Well, depending on the culture celebrating it, […]
It’s summer somewhere in the world right now! We’re lucky we live on a blue dot that has summer in some place no matter the time of the year; and there are always some nice holiday destinations that are perfect for water sports. My friends and I have put together a list of the best […]
OFF THE BEATEN PATH ATTRACTIONS IN GOAUsgalimal Rock CarvingsGalgibaga beachSan Jacinto IslandKerim BeachMorjim BeachCabo De Rama FortPalolem BeachSt. Augustine’s Tower Ruins Rita’s Gourment Cooking Class Butterfly Conservatory GoaKakolem BeachButterfly Beach POPULAR BEACHES AND DESTINATIONS IN GOACalangute BeachCotigao Wildlife SanctuaryCumbarjua CanalMapusa MarketNetravali Bubbling LakeArvalem CavesBaga BeachImmaculate Conception Church, PanjimPonda Street Market WHERE IS GOA?WHEN IS THE […]
The East Indian Museum is in Manori. So we need to cross the Marve Creek by ferry to get to Manori Jetty. It’s 10 am and there’s a boatload of people already coming off it from the other side to get to work. And there’s another load of us waiting to go to Manori – to […]
Street Food and Local Restaurants in India that you must visit to try or eat at least once Indian food is most delicious food in the world! Okay, maybe not the sole winner among food around the world, but Indian dishes are definitely some of the most loved snacks and dinners in the world. Street […]
There’s so much to do in Vietnam. It’s such an incredible country and I simply love it. Here’s my list of 13 things to do when you visit. 1. Go to Ninh Binh When I was in Hanoi I decided to visit Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh is two hours away from Hanoi. There are a […]
What’s for dessert? I love dessert! Don’t you? So I’ve asked a few friends of mine to list the best desserts in their cultures. So here we have it – yummy desserts, Italian desserts, simple desserts, quick easy desserts, chocolate desserts, tasty desserts, light desserts, french desserts, fun desserts, summer desserts. Everything from great desserts to amazing desserts in different countries […]
Being brought up in India, we’ve grown up on lush sweet mango chutney every summer. Sometimes, although rarely, the traditional East Indian mango chutney lasts through the monsoon and into a bit of winter. It’s a version of the Gujarati murabba and chunda, but not exactly. Or the Russian and Eastern European varenye. What is […]
Bombay, the city of dreams, that’s where I live. My Bombay. Or should I say my Mumbai? Bombay from the Portuguese meaning ‘good bay’ or Mumbai from the Goddess ‘Mumba’. Of course we’ve had a lot of names over the centuries – Boon Bay, Bombain, Mombayn, Bombaym, Monbaym, Mombaym, Bombay, Mombaim, Bambaye, Bombeye, Bombaiim, and […]
What’s for dinner? A question as important as asking about breakfast. What’s for dinner tonight? Is there any dinner? What’s easy to cook for dinner tonight? What can we make for dinner? Supper? Wat eten we vanavond? Vad blir det till middag? You cooking up a feast there? Beth sydd i swper? Kin Khao? Kas Vakarienei? We couldn’t […]
What are the reasons you must visit Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise island in the Indian Ocean that is littered with romantic hideaways, palm tree lined beaches and glistening blue-green waters. Here are just 10 of the top reasons why you should visit this beautiful island as soon as you can. Food […]
What’s for breakfast in different cultures and countries across the world? What’s for breakfast mom? What’s for breakfast darling? What’s for breakfast nan? What’s for breakfast at the cafe? What’s for breakfast honey? I’m hungry. What’s for breakfast? Is there any breakfast? Ever wondered what to have for breakfast? Some of these may be healthy breakfast […]
Brown balls and white balls. Those are our punny names for gulab jamuns or rosgullas. But I’ve not heard any jokes about honey balls or snow balls yet. Is it because East Indian honey balls or snow balls are lesser known and only belong to a small part of society? Honey balls or snow balls are […]
On my recent visit to Jaipur, Rajasthan I was lucky enough to visit Nahargarh Fort, originally named Sudharshangarh Fort. (Nope, not Nahargarh Palace; that’s just the name of many local hotels. Nahargarh Fort itself contains a number of palaces that we saw.) The name Nahargarh Fort directly translates to ‘Abode of Tigers’. Situated on the […]
India, the land of dreams and legends, the land that has everything to offer – from scorching deserts to frozen mountains, from flowing rivers to blooming valleys – everything you want to see, you can find it in this beautiful land we call home. But if you’re like me – a city dweller – you want to […]
Ever wondered about the most amazing churches in the world? The ones that you have to visit at least once. Here’s a list of the most magnificent and amazing churches around the world from your favorite travel bloggers. 1. Memorial Church of Moses church on Mount Nebo, Jordan By Lindsay of CarpeDiemOurWay Mount Nebo is […]
Tigers! The majesty, the magnificence, the sheer presence of wild nature. One of the reasons people from across the world visit India. And the reason so many of us visit National Parks. The last time we saw tigers was at Ranthambore National Park in February. So this May we went to Pench National Park in […]
They say a love of nature and wildlife can make you do strange things. 😉 So there we were at Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India the middle of summer. Crazy temperatures at 45 degrees and dry heat! It was unbearably hot but thankfully there was a thunderstorm that cooled down the place a […]
Singapore is one of my favorite countries to visit. I have been there at least 8 times, and will be living there for three month next winter. My first time there in 2002, we did all of the touristy thing—Raffles, the Night Safari at the Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, the Botanic Garden, Orchard Street, Chinatown—and […]
You’ve already read the blog about how I found it difficult to get back into a Kayak because my boobs kept getting in the way. But that’s not the only problem I’ve had with having big boobs. My country wants me to go braless Take for instance the fact that bras my size are not manufactured […]
Aromas Café, Juhu, Bombay, India Think of ice cream and I think of Aromas Cafe in Juhu, Mumbai, India. I had been there for lunch with my friend Sushma. The wide glass windows gave the cafe a very spacious and positive feel. We could sit and relax for hours without being bothered to leave immediately […]
When you’re looking for places to visit in Kodaikanal, Bryant Park shows up in the top 10. Bryant Park is a nature park in Kodaikanal hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India that was set up in 1908 by H.D.Bryant. This famous park occupies over 20 acres in Palani Hills right opposite […]
So excited to be going on our first Tiger safari! We all were. We knew that chances were slim since many people after going on numerous Safaris fail to see tigers. This Indian National animal has proven to be quite elusive to see, and tourists spend hours on safaris just hoping for a glimpse of […]
Easter! Spring and redemption and everything anew. New life in Jesus and new life on earth. A celebration of hope! And sweets! Or eggs rather? Legend tells that quite like Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus, the Easter bunny called ‘Easter’ along with the spring bunny come with egg filled baskets to the homes of children. They […]
Why do people go to Palolem, Goa? There are a lot of beaches in Goa that are perfect for getting some sun. Goa is a beach destination, so unlike the rest of India. It’s famous for beaches like Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Majorda, Colva, Vagator and many more. But Palolem tops the list. Perfect for budget […]
UPDATE: As of September 2018, the Lodge at Amer is no longer under the flagship of Lebua. “Lebua ae Lebua. Lebua ae Lebua.” I won’t tell you which family member was singing that song as we drove up the dusty path to the Lebua Lodge at Amer. I’ll just tell you that this family member […]
Igloo? In India? Really? Normal questions that my friend Tejashree gets when talking about her trips to Manali in Himachal Pradesh. But yes, igloo stays are now economical and I’m so glad I got this off my bucket list. I want to one day stay in igloos in Abisko like my friend Michelle did, or the […]
On our way to the Igloo Camp near Hamta Pass, Manali, which is a well known destination for skiing in Himachal Pradesh, India, we stopped for a bit somewhere near Curve 24 to look at the Backwoods Mountain Camp in Hamta Village that we plan on staying in once it opens again in April. The […]
I’ve dreamt of staying in a glass igloo in Kakslauttanen one day; and waking up to see the Northern Lights from the warm interiors of the igloo. I’ve also dreamt of being seated around a fire outside an igloo and traipsing through inches of snow in Iceland or Sweden to see the Aurora and capture its […]
Two East Indian aunties meet on the street. “Hello Lucy, how are you men?” “I’m good men, how are you and the babas?” “We’re all good men. Where you went?” “To the pav-wala on the corner to bring pav men. His pav better than Bertrand’s pav men. So nice and soft-soft. My dokra Aggie likes […]
The life of a nomad, a dream for many that goes unrealized. You can live the life of a nomad no matter what you do. All you need is the grit and the mettle that Gemma had when she decided to go be a nurse in an unusual location? Want to hear her story? Read […]
Since we’ve been young, a trip to Bandra for shopping meant we got to eat some tantalizing snack at Elco Pani Puri Centre and Restaurant on Hill Road in Bandra. Hill Road has always been a street shoppers paradise. I remember coming here since I was 4 or 5, with mum and my siblings. And […]
Doing what you want and love isn’t something that should wait till later. Sometimes you just have to break free from the shackles or a routine existence and jump into that different life. And who knows? You just might find what you were meant to do. Today, Melissa from High Heels and a Backpack shares […]
As India celebrates its 70th Independence Day and the reaffirming of our freedom, we celebrate our right to be all we can be and our right to choose our own destiny. We celebrate youngsters like Jeremy who have chosen to walk the path less travelled, to find their own destiny, and to give hope to […]
Zuka in Pondicherry If you’re ever in Pondicherry, two places that you absolutely have to visit are Zuka and Café Olé. Located almost side by side, they are havens for choco-crazed folk like me. Zuka is a store with a wide range of chocolate goodies to offer, from cakes to pastries to little miniatures. Although for […]
Travel exposes you to the strangest things – apart from discovering wonderful cultural diversity, behavioral differences, and contrary thought processes – one is also exposed to a range of novel and sometimes surprising situations. Take for example when I was in Cardiff a few years ago, and after ordering a Whiskey and Soda in a […]
Majestic Masada While on our way to discover the secrets of the Dead Sea region and the healing properties of the Dead Sea, we stopped for a few hours at Masada. The 2000 year old fortification once housed King Herod’s palace, with its 3 rock terraces, overlooking the Dead Sea. We took the cable car up […]
As I was saying earlier, as part of my trip to Israel we spent a few days in different locations. The diversity and beauty of the country is truly amazing. Our next stop on the tour was the Dead Sea area. So we left Tel Aviv early in the morning and headed towards the Dead […]
Jersualem and the Tower of David In the last blog, I spoke about my day in Eilat. The next stop of our conference was Jerusalem. Once at the airport we were ushered to our respective coaches for the drive into the city. While in the coaches, we were told of the history of Jerusalem by […]
So the gang of cousins decided we needed a mid week retreat at The Retreat Hotel in Madh Island. Mid week since one cousin works on weekends, and there’s less of a crowd holidaying. Anyway we got there on the 8th of March at around 11 am, and were greeted with welcome drinks of either […]
‘Where else?’ That’s right, ‘WHERE ELSE’ is an Israel Tourism Conference organized each year by Ortra that helps travel agents from around the world learn about everything Israel has to offer. I had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing journey, and it was well worth it!! As part of the group that […]
A much deserved break in the Indian rains at Chandoli National Park “There’s a long weekend coming up. Let’s do a short trip together”, says my friend and boss. Happy me starts dreaming of exotic locations that I cannot afford. Of course smart boss-friend is also on a budget like me and decides that an […]
“Not going to Bangkok or Pattaya? Not even Krabi or Koh Samui? Are you Serious? But that’s where all our Indian brethren always go!” Our friends had a bit of a puzzled expression on their face when we announced we were off to Chiang Mai. My response was a slight grimace, followed by a long […]