Long walks in Hampi

With the help of my loving family, my best friend and I finally ticked Hampi off our travel list. And we practiced 'Dolce Far Niente' italian for the sweetness of doing nothing. Away from the hustle bustle and gadgetry, a couple days spend  on the boulders of the mighty Tungabhadra river was a dream come true.

Like most places in India, Hampi is not an easy place to reach. One can get here, provided you are up for a long journey. Hubli is the closest airport and from there it is a 4 - 6 hours journey to the boulders.We chose to to take an overnight train to Hubli and hired a cab to take us there which cost us around INR3000.
Hampi is a place of rich history and a glorious past of the Vijayanagra empire. The sightseeing places are across the river. A coracle ride to the other side is joyous. On learning that it was my first coracle ride, our coracle rider was kind enought to show us some tricks,also spinning the boat with child like enthusiasm. I hired a rickshaw for couple of hours to take from one place to another. Roads are well made and its a comfortable ride. The stone chariot one sees in every picture promoting Hampi is mesmerising to see in person. Intricate stone carvings on each and every direction. Some of the walls have ancient scriptures carved in stone. The stories of the queen dancing in her private chambers with more than a thousand diyas illuminating the entire palace adorned with marigold flowers forces you to go back in time and imagine the sights. Music was made by thumping the stone pillars, our guide was gracious to give us a short preview.The interior is cooler in temperature.  The folklore is plenty. The stories of kings, queens, the lavish bazaars, gems trading, music, art and culture echos how vibrant this city once was. Locals are helpful. My mobile network was poor, when another rickshaw driver saw me frantically trying to get in touch with our driver, he came up to me and just offered to use his phone.

We were staying at Hampi Boulders. The moment you step in there your fatigue just vanishes. Small cottages by the river, makes sure everywhere you look you are surrounded by serenity of nature. It took us a while to find this hotel, they have no signage to get here. All you do is enter through a large brown gate, when looked at you are trespassing a private property. No boards screaming out "hey, heres your home for the next couple of days". When I asked why, they say, they choose to keep this property low key. As you drive past those gates, what seemed barren entrance transforms itself to a jungle orchard with trees almost drooping with the weight of their blooming flowers. We stayed in Otters cottage overlooking the river. Waking up to the sound of flowing water is mesmerising. The sunrise is beautiful. I spent my morning sipping on my chai and listening chirping birds. The nature trail walks offered to all hotel guests is must try. Bamboo bridges take you  across boulders to view a magnificent sunrise/sunset. The hotel tariff included all meals, and bon fire dinner under the stars. They grow organic vegetables and fruits in the property and hence the food is delicious and homemade. They have a rock pool which keeps the water quite cool in the sun. The staff is very helpful.

Such wonderful 3 days spent here.  I will definitely want to go back spend a couple of chilled out days after the monsoons. More than the sights i loved the hotel experience.

Escape to the Ganges

Aap toh bahut alag tourist hain !" I was told when i asked to meet the Aghoris,  translates to "you are not the average tourist i meet every day ." Sounds like a compliment but it wasnt.  It was more of  stop being a pain in the ass ,tourist kinda response. "woh kahan dikhenge ? " [where can i see them ?] He looked at me as though i asked him to donate his kidney.  He asked me for reassurance . "kaun  ? Aghorri ? " Our conversation ended there , when two ladies of the group wanted help looking for a loo.


Yes, I was travelling in a group of 28, more like a tour leader. I usually dont travel with our travel groups but this one was special. All these people were a part of Travel Program in Turkey. So we were filming all across north India. Our last stop was Varanasi also known Benaras. It was my first visit to this vibrant city and I was very excited about it.  This was the only place i could see an aghori.

The word aghori in Sanskrit means non terrifying, ‘a’-‘ghori’ most of the Hindi speaking people would have heard the phrase ghor kaliyug, ghor paap, etc.. it is the same ghor, theoretically these people don’t attach themselves to anything mortal. They do things which a common man finds to be terrifying, so they overcome this terror by going through it, since they do it regularly it is a common thing for them. The Aghori are known to engage in post-mortem rituals. They often dwell in charnel grounds, have been witnessed smearing cremation ashes on their bodies, and have been known to use bones from human corpses for crafting skull bowls (which Shiva and other Hindu deities are often iconically depicted holding or using) and jewelry. Due to their practices that are contradictory to orthodox Hinduism, they are generally opposed. It is also said that many Aghori gurus command great reverence from rural populations as they are supposed to possess healing powers gained through their intensely eremitic rites and practices of renunciation and tápasya. They are also known to meditate and perform worship in haunted houses.  I first learnt about them when a friend mentioned about a national award winning movie and ever since have been fascinated by them.

Mahavir , our local guide told me that they come out of their " dens" post midnight. When my eyes sparkled to that information , my guide looked at me with concern. I knew Mahavir wasnt going to help.  So i asked him, "Chalo theek hai, old salvation house toh dikha do".  

The hostel, a short walk from the Ganges, is a final stop over for elderly Hindus hoping they will shortly end up on one of the hundreds of funeral pyres lit on the riverbank each day.  I see 12 bare, tatty rooms arranged around a courtyard in a 100-year-old red-brick building with green shutters. The atmosphere is far from sombre. While the rest of the world celebrates a new life when a child is born, similarly these guys celebrate death. Its like being on the waiting list to die. Believe it or not, the one stays alive for long is asked to vacate to make space for other ailing ones. This waiting list (to die) has a waiting list.

Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi and having their remains scattered in the Ganges allows their soul to escape a cycle of death and rebirth, attaining "moksha" or salvation.

Soul searching

For me Benaras is all about the faith , the sadhus, the smiles on peoples, the tear that rolls down while praying, the conviction of God which are exclusive to the city. It is weird , intriguing , fascinating and all at the same time. Its a place where Brahmins and Aghoris live in harmony. There is no rule book.

I enjoyed watching the sunrise while on a boat , the ganga aarti , and all the temple visits a lil less than searching for sadhus and old homes. I enjoyed walking through narrow gullys , drinking tea in clay pots , feeding cows on the way, the flower man weaving garlands, chatting with the cycle rickshaw guy, I can go on and on.  Every nook and corner by the river banks has a story. The vivid smell of jalebis , havans, puri bhaji, brewing masala chai, paan masala, weed ,  incense sticks , jasmine flower garlands, ash, sandalwood and even cowdung is all part of the character of this city.

Make a wish

Millions of people come to this city for worship. They are of different caste, creed  and regions. What I saw in peoples eyes is faith. Everything they do is for God Almighty. Some praying for success in business, some for a good spouse  some for an offspring and some for death. 

Its a city of wishes everyone must experience. 

P.S: On the last evening of my trip, as i was walking back to the river bank from a boat ride i spotted 4 aghori sadhus, sitting under a bridge in a dingy corner. I asked a teenage boy , woh aghori hai ? The horror on his face made me break into a smile..  

I rather..

Take  a dip in the crystal clear waters of Sameranger Lake, Austria

Camp under the Aurora Boralis

Hike to Trolltunga Mountains , Norway

Stay warm at Turquoise Ice Lake Baikal, Russia

Dance around the Lavender fields in Provence, France

Take walks at Vadhoo Beach , Maldives

Romance in Santorini Islands, Greece

Tick all those boxes

Now i know of a 60 + something American couple, living for about 2 years in Mumbai. She and her husband will be boarding a cruise ship from Bombay for 74 days.. Whoa !! Isnt that just amazing ? Let me tell you why its amazing.

•  Firstly, you come down with your husband who works very hard in a city that is beyond comprehension. Ways of living in Mumbai confuses us locals, one cannot imagine the turmoil that goes in the head of an expat. (i can sure blog about this)
• Its not about the money, dont get me wrong.. i know many people who do not think of a holiday beyond 3 weeks. Its not about the zest to travel. But think about how many of us can balance it all right ?
• Recently, a to-be-married couple called to discuss their honeymoon plans.. and told me.. (exact words) " trip for not more than 2 weeks.. Bore hojayega yaar" . Its your honeymoon we are talking about. Show us some LOVE people !!!
• Then there are couple who plan honeymoons with other couples.. WTF !
•   I am yet to recieve queries which read "Honeymoon Trip for family.  5 adults and 2 children..Cheap & Best Char Dham yatra for family  with excursion to Valley of flowers for me and my fiance only." . And that would be the day i would probably shut my shop !
• Thats that and then you take a trip with your loved one for 74 freaking days. It doesn't matter if its in a Suite room of a 19 floor luxurious ship or in a tent in the jungle.. But, the idea of a holiday with your wife of 42 years for 74 days is amazing..
• This isnt their first 70 days + holiday. She says that last time there were on a 71 day holiday and came back rather upset about not getting an extension since the trip further was sold out.
• Those who have the money , do not have the time... Those who have the time do have the right partner.. and those who have the partner and money , do not have the time. I suggest , Make a list. and tick them as you go along.

Before, she could start on how they first met, i asked her "would like to meet for coffee ?".  I have a coffee meeting with her coming Tuesday. Keep you posted.

Until then,  keep looking for your partner with whom you would love to travel for 74 days and ask for an extension later.. If you have found one already, hold on to them tight.

Love Bunny 

Haan, maine Gujarat ka Namak Khaya hai..

This is a story of Kutch and its people. One of the most striking features of this district in Western Gujarat is the Rann of Kutch, a salt desert that is wet and dry intermittently. On full moon nights when the silver rays of the moon fall on the white salt of the desert, making it look like a demure bride dressed in flowing wedding gown.

Sunset at the White Sands

The Rann is barren, but even in this stark barrenness, one can see a cascade of colors , costumes, rituals, its people, their way of life and undying spirit. Ever since its inception , I have been fascinated by the idea of visiting the Rann Utsav. The thought of sleeping in tents under the stars of a chilly winter night was a dream. This year I made it happen. The fest ends on 31st January. No way in hell was I going to get a small little tent for myself, since each of the 320 tents are booked well in advance. Thats when I begged Dad to make some calls.

And Voila, 6 hours prior to our flight, I was informed that its all done ! I was not in any tent, but in the "F cluster crème de la creme" which houses Narendra Modi and entourage while his official visit. The tents had double bed, heater, air conditioning, toiletries, tea coffee maker, carpets,  fresh linen, WIFI and toilet roll in a fancy wooden stand. And thats how my dream of staying in a basic tent just got pimped.. Luxury was not one of my expectation.. i went seeking for a rustic experience.

All salt

Can you imagine? In the middle of the salt desert, I had WIFI. Its a shame i didn't upload photo of the days. For which I ‘d blame the salt, you see, water retention made my fingers go all chubby.

I wrote the first half of this draft sitting on the swing facing the white sands. Its 14 degrees celsius. God’s creations are so beautiful. India is so beautiful. I am smitten. I got back from star gazing session. Today planet Jupiter is close to the Moon. I could see Jupiter and its four moons through the telescope.  Apart from the fact that where eight people were breathing down my neck to see what i see, it was magical. Classical music is playing at the back and fresh wood is being put in the bon fire.   I should be going to bed, since I have an early wake up tomorrow. But, I wished to stay up longer. The tents are lit up and the array of colors makes me feel euphoric.

The best part of the Rann Utsav is that it employs all locals from the region. The staff , cooks, housekeeping , chapati makers,  technicians, drivers, each one belongs to the region. And they have done a mighty good job at training the staff. They are polite, cordial and understanding. The tent city is so huge , it takes more than 2 months to build, and approximately 25 days to dismantle. Tents are brought from Rajasthan & Allahbad each year. Everything around the tent city is hand crafted, hand painted .. its as though you are in paisley la- la land. The sink in our tent was rusted iron vessel, the one the construction laborers use to carry cement. In the tent light, that sink looked rustic almost designer. Utsav boasts movie theater, craft village, bouncy castle for kids, camel safaris, man made pond, array of folk dance performances, international  dance performances, open air auditorium and medical center.

When tires gave up

I did go out of the tent city to visit small villages around. Most of the Kutch region inhabits Pakistani refugees / immigrants who crossed the border at the time of Indo – Pak partition. Even today they retain their culture , their rituals, customs & way of life. If you ever wondered, in the film Refugee, why did Abhishek Bachchan chose a stylist who had rather feminine instincts for bright colors and floral prints ? , I have found you some sense behind those brave decisions. The men of Dhorda , Lodhiya etc , small villages in Kutch wear bright kurtas with a contrasting embroidered scarf. And these scarfs have bold prints on them. You could see a two wheeler coming at a distance, and wonder.. ohh pretty girl in bright printed clothes riding a two wheeler, only when they come closer you see a burly man. Poor Abhishek , was just playing the part.  You see men riding their chakdas (modified two wheeler) in short, when a motorcycle is raped by a rickshaw. I wanted to ride of of the chakdas, that didn't happen. No chakda owner would trust me with their modified vehicle.

Village woman

I visited small villages that are famous for handicrafts, woven hand embroidered textiles, puppets. Ladies of these homes are dressed in colorful costumes all day welcoming tourists to buy their products.  I had lunch at a dainty dhaba,roadside place which had broken chairs, peeled off plaster.. the cook welcomed us with 100 volt smile. You know food is fresh when you see a little boy running in to the kitchen with the dough. We had bajra rotis, deal , potatoes and fresh ghee and jaggery. The food was delicious. 

However i failed to solve just one mystery. Who managed to get Amitabh Bachchan on board for Gujarat Tourism Ad campaign ? At present,  the whole of Gujarat is taking exclusive credit for this mighty idea. I am not even joking. Throughout our stay , we met Rann Utsav officials, ministry people, IAS officers, Govt officials , managers , staff etc.. and i kid you not, all of them on different occasions would say "Pssst , yeh Amitabh ko ad mein daalne ka kiska idea tha ????    *sparkle in the eyes* MERAAAAA... "   
{English Translation :   "whose idea do you think was to get Amitabh Bachchan (India's 60+ something superstar) on board ? Who do you think convinced him ? On whose insistence did Mr Bachchan budge"    ME ME ME.. }

After the 6th person saying the same thing.. just before the person would say "Pssstt".. I would jump of my seat and scream "I am sure it was your idea to get Mr Bachchan".. And thats how i managed to get first row seats for the cultural show blocked .. and chicken for dinner ;-) "

The shit got serious when , our over enthusiastic guide claimed that he took Amitabh Bachchan for recce !!! i was like "OF COURSE, it was you !!! "

People of Kutch are loving, caring and welcoming. They are transparent and kind- hearted. A devastating earthquake in 2001, of magnitude of 8.7 Richter scale had crippled the state beyond repair. The ruins still stand in some parts of Bhuj city. The spirit of these people has now brought the state to become on of the flourishing states to attract tourists’ from all over the world.

Ruins are beautiful

I'd reiterate ... Breathe in a bit of Gujarat !!!

Flashback 2012

1. Started the year with SURPRISES.. Little did i know the good times had began. 
2. Took credit for sand castles made by strangers on the beaches of Gokarna.. Mint Tea, Aloo Parathas and tranquility.. Stay at Babika resorts changed me forever..
3. Spent more time with my nephew, Daniyal. I had missed his first two years since I was away.This year i made up for every day spent away from him.
4. Got soaked in jungles of Coorg with a Coorgie hottie.
5. Welcomed my second nephew into this world. He is cute as a button.
6. Went koo koo in Rajasthan. 
7. fell in love with India, all over again.. 
8. Struggled through a film. I had to act for Sharu.. Being in front of the camera was HORRIFYING !
9. 'Fake Doctor in KSHEMA'  Spent time in a Medical University in Managalore.
10. My first ever Scuba Dive at Netrani.. An eventful trip with my Lallus..  Im planning my next dive.. I loved every bit of being under water.
11. Was a part of a mission to find yummy Paan in wee hours of the morning in Bombay.. A shady place so terrifying, once you enter the area , not many survive through. We did it !
12. Bid my goodbyes to "Living in London". When  was saying goodbye ever easy ? *painful*
13. Saw Dad being the best President till date in the history of Travel Agents Association of India 2011-2013.. Today, Love you Dad ! You inspire me..
14. Learnt the ropes of business. 2012 has given me immense professional stability. There is a long way to go.. And i am ready for it.
15. Practiced the art of doing nothing at Bintan Islands watching Sunsets to die for..
16. Realized that money is not everything.. Live for those moments that make you feel alive.
17. Waited for Grergory Roberts at Leopolds for far too many nights
18. Led a Turkish TV crew filming in North India. (I could have been jailed). I fought , begged & pleaded the police in all states of North India to allow us to film, almost got beaten up for filming in restricted areas of corpse burning pyre on the banks on Yamuna , lack of sleep , lack of time.. we went totally crazy.. 8 days of Adventure !
19. Watched Lucky Ali perform. And thats not the best part. He started his performance with my favorite song. What are the chances?
20. Lost Ayee. I am the lucky one to have had a chance to walk the streets of Murudeshwar, the town she was born..She will be loved and missed forever..
21. Witnessed Sharu baby , being elected as the first ever Rotaract President of her college.
22. Realized that its time to move on. Learning to let go.
23. Climbed (& conquered) the highest peak in Maharashtra.. Kalsubai under my feet.
24. Learnt how to ride a rickshaw.. (thank you Bhikram). This has to be by far the coolest vehicle i have driven this year.. 
25. Got a hug from Sir Richard Branson.  
    
    
    
    
    Wouldn't change a thing.. 

SIngaporean Surprise

I had been to Singapore many times before, but this trip has been so special. Singapore has changed so much since the last time i was here.  What am I doing at this very moment ? I am seated in the balcony of my 19th floor room at hotel Pan Pacific. My feet up in the air and what do I see ?

I could sit here all night. Look at this. Lucky Ali's songs set the perfect mood. A hot cup of green tea makes every tired muscle of mine sway along with the beat.. 

I am amazed at the city that has  done so well. Its so cosmopolitan that sometimes you got to remind yourself that you aint in New York !

The Government is doing such a swell job. The public transportation , safety, infrastructure is at par with any mega city in this world. People are so warm and friendly.  They make you feel welcomed. 

I learnt that the Government charges a hefty tax/ fee on people owning private vehicles. So say if a car is on  S$10000, there is a fee of say similar amount for a license plate which is to be renewed each year. 

So the person who really wants a car will have it. The fittest survive, the others use the public transport. 

Thats a cool thing,  pollution levels & traffic would be kept under control. 

English being declared the first language , I see little toddlers speaking fluent english.  We all aspire for a change, very few of us let it happen. 

If you are a seafood lover, then do not fly out Singapore without having a feast at Jumbo, its at the East Coast and let me tell that the food in that restaurant would make you wish you were a cow with four stomachs. Its just out of this world. We ordered a feast comprising of crispy squids, fish in banana leaf, king crab , chicken in soya , pan choi in garlic , sweet buns, crispy chicken, prawns in hong kong.. and our order was totally normal. There were tables and tables around full with plates full of food.. 

Today , Marina Bay Sands is considered to be a man-made marvel. Its beautiful. With abundant rooms and a drink at its bar is in bucket list of many people across the world. I wouldn't want to stay there though, its a fish market to check in, a struggle to get into the lift and a battle to place an order. I am at utmost peace just in an adjacent hotel with the view.

Sentosa has so much more to offer than i was here last time. They inaugurated Marine Park on 7th Dec. It was buzzing with people. It boats the largest aquarium tank and viewing deck in the world. No trip to this is complete without walking until your feet bled at the Universal Studios.  However, it is smaller as compared to the one in Orlando. I was done by 4pm. The only advantage would be that you get try everything in a day. Orlando's theme parks leaves you upset for not having enough time to goof arnd.

I am sure when i am back , there'll be lot more to explore. Singapore never fails to surprise you.. 

Travel at your own risk

Everything about Air India is wrong..

Staff :   I am not even talking about the hostesses, (that will be another point altogether) I can write a thesis on then. I am talking about the staff. A lady asks for a wheelchair to the aircraft. The wheelchair is arranged, but its being pushed by a man who seems older than the lady herself ! Now you can only imagine the guilt of her face. I think there was a point when the lady seated  must have thought of swapping places with the old man. "Ab teri baari".  And they are a rude bunch.  If business class passengers are treated like this, then , i presume economy ones travel in animal cages !

When its time for boarding ,we are escorted to a bus to get to the aircraft. Seated in that bus for more than 15 mins the bus wouldn't move. AirIndia officials are running about here and there with walkie talkies. A few mins later , a staff peeps into the bus, "Ms Mulla in here ?".  Damn right , Ms Mulla is here. I asked him "what is the matter ? ". He apologies for the delay. The staff at the boarding card scanning desk didn't scan my boarding card right. So in the systems Ms Mulla had gone missing. Hence they kept announcing my name so that i could board right. Can you imagine ? All one had to do is scan the damn boarding card right .. A co-passenger then pointed out, that while he was boarding he did hear a lot of " check again for Ms Mulla" going on around.  Thank the lord , they atleast check for their pax. 

Aircrafts :

Remember that shabby aircraft  where people usually would make out , children would pee in & tobacco chewers would love to spit in..that was displayed at Juhu gardens is not there anymore.  AirIndia uses it for Singapore sector. When you enter the aircraft, you are greeted by a whiff of pee.  Thai Airways greets you with Lemon grass fragrance, Jet with jasmine, Emirates with Lilies and  AirIndia is class apart..(ammonia organic). 

The interiors of the aircraft take you back into history. AirIndia ensures one a travel experience in the 80's. I am not kidding.  The fixtures, the systems, the television sets, the buttons everything is ancient and should only by displayed in museums. I sat in my seat star led of what i was seeing around me. Childhood memories came rushing back to me, then i was 4 now I'm 25.. and nothing has changed with this damn airlines. Out of the 24 Business seats, just 14 reclined, 4 of the  partially reclined. Unfortunately, I was seated in the other 6. 2 other passengers complained. The air hostess (granny) gave us the permission to choose our seats. The three of us went hunting for a good reclining seat. 

The granny has the nerve to ask me to compromise with a partially reclining seat. Grr. SO the leg rest comes up but the back stays erect. or the back reclines and the leg rest stays still. How could one decide ? Its a 5 hour night flight, sleep is dear to all of us. I grumbled and continued to look for a fully reclining seat. 

I repeat, these are the facilities for business class passengers. What the hell are we paying for ? 

Its a shame, India's national airlines is such a joke ! It is upsetting that Indians regard their national airline as the last option to travel, whereas other nationals always always choose their national airline first. AirIndia has the best sector connections out of India. The Government has put in loads of money and its all greasing the pockets of some laid back officials. Bureaucracy and red tapism has brought this airline to ruins. When will there be a change ?

I sat there in my partially reclining seat feeling ashamed of our national airline.

Reasons not to be a Travel Agent

Taken in best with a tub of popcorn..  !

1. While clients travel and unravel the mysteries of the universe, the travel agent (T.A) is forced to pop blood pressure pills to calm his nerves..
2. When a client holidays, T.A straight away loses the right to holiday.
3. The phone rings at 7.00 am on a sunday , "my flush won't work.. you are the agent.. do something "
4. A client takes a tour from you is equivalent to you are his slave until he gets back home.
5. When Gandhi said when someone slaps you once, offer them the other cheek with a humble smile.. he was talking about travel agents.
6. T.A's are those fools who take up the challenge of promising great service from rowdy drivers/suppliers and more often than not end up being slapped.
7. Natural Calamities are all the travel agents's fault.  I don't know who spread rumors that the travel agents have the control to the richter scale.
8. Client's enjoyment is Travel agents's suffering
9. The phone rings again at 7.13 am."what are you going to do about the malfunctioning flush?"
10. T.A's have to be weather experts, shopping experts, food & wine connoisseurs
11. Master the art of fake smiles.
12. 8 out of 10 clients are ********. And you have to make them feel like Sheikhs of Arabia.
13. The service expected is 1000 times more than the money paid. 
14. T.As have to arrange Prosecco in Rishikesh. *FML*
15. When Obama said, "YES WE CAN".. he was reiterating the motto of T.As

Branson Bug

What if i tell you that my first words to Sir Richard Branson were, "I LOVE YOU !!". Would you judge me ?  At at high profile private party , where India's travel industry's creme de la creme are present , sipping expensive champagne and delicately feasting on caviar, i was swept off my feet standing right in front of my role model, Sir Richard Branson. I looked around me, and it seems like everything is in SLO-MO.  The women giggling, men in tuxedos, the diamonds, the glitter.. looks like the dinner scene in the movie Titanic.

And, I behaved like a teenager meeting her rock-star idol. Just like how i suppose, 12 year olds react to Justin Bieber. Richard says, "Aww.. I wish i could hug you.. But i have the flu bug".

Guess how i responded to it. :-/

*starstruck*

"Flu bug.. thats fine.. its Branson  Flu Bug"   (Jesus Christ.. what was i thinking )    Well, who cares about catching a flu bug when you have branson bug in you .. ? 

He blushed and threw flying kisses at me.. 

That evening was memorable. I not only did meet the guy but also interacted with him and got a HUG from him..  I admire him so much.. Thank my stars to have been able to be in the same room as him.   

Love you Branson,
Your No.1 Fan 

Heading to the Jungle GODS..

I am all set to  head to the jungles of south... some things are planned... some are not.. This seems ideal.. 4 days away from work, emails, sales figures & taxes  - is going to pure NIRVANA..

I cannot wait to get there..  

Cok Guzel

“hey, is that the tallest tower in Istanbul ?” I asked sitting at the back of a car with three very special friends.  Got No response.

Galata Tower

I looked outside the window, as some Turkish pop created perfect atmosphere to the illuminated skyline. I could see the Bosphorus bridge, lights resembling floating candles, mosques lit up and dome buildings that could take your breath away.  My tummy resembled a dome too. My jacket button was hanging at its last strength. I couldn’t have eaten anymore. And where were we headed? A posh restaurant for a 7 course meal !  why don’t humans have four stomachs like cows ? I for sure would be making excellent use of it. 

The car comes to a screeching halt ! .. Damn, couldn’t the restaurant be two hours away.. its hard to breathe with tummy full of Istanbul street food I have gorged all day.

“Ahhh… the tower !!! why are we here.. ” I ask awestruck.

“Because you asked for it while in the car”…

“No, I didn’t… I just asked what is that beautifully illuminated tower called.. You guys are crazy  ”  I reach out to hug them

*beaming with surprise and happiness*

What happened when we climbed up the tower is an another story all together. *giggles*

But these are the kind of people I spent my two weeks with. They are darlings! There is so much love.. so much love that sometimes I feel I resemble a dome of love. That explains my excess 4 kilos on the weighing scale.

Have you ever loved a place even before visiting it ? Well, its not difficult. When you know the people, its easy to fall in love with the place they come from. I made great Turk friends while they visited India. Hence, even before stepping on their soil, i knew bits and pieces of their culture, nature and lifestyle. However, having spent 12 days in the country my expectations were exceeded by miles. 

Its 5.40 am. London is still asleep. (when i first typed this)

my search for tranquility ended here

I am wrapped up in my duvet marveling at the good times I have had. 12 hours ago, I was in another country. A country that takes pride in its numerous assets. For me, People are the Numero Uno.

Turkiye is special. I have had two memorable weeks in the land of blue mosque, grand bazaars, buzzing nightlife, Ottoman history and Ibiza’s equivalent Antalya. *hipshake*

Pumpkin family

I met a  Norwegian couple, who have lived in Australia, Germany before.. now settled in a beautiful hilltop house in the country side with a mesmerizing ocean view. They transform odd shaped water pumpkins into exquisite art work. This couple in their 60s decided to leave everything they had in Norway and settle in a remote hilltop just after visiting the place once. Now they spend their time creating splendid designs on pumpkins and painting/ scrubbing their bare walls of their new home.  This is how Turkey fascinates its guests.

What do I like the most ? FOOD. At breakfast, we think about lunch and at lunch we think about dinner.. at dinner we think about midnight snack. This is how much we  eat and think about what to eat. My friends in London will vouch for that. And my dome shaped tummy and jacket button to its last strength is a testimony of the delicious food I ate while I was there.

first course? you gotta be kiddin me

My meals would be two big portions of Mousaka. Yum YUM… My mouth waters as I type.  Also, their local street food, dunno its turkish name but its grilled fish in bread. The location is exotic. There are these Ottoman Boats with gold craving and flashy decor docked at the sea. And men in Ottoman costumes cook, grill rather , grill fresh fish and serve. Something so normal like street food is being transformed to extraoridinaire. 

One eats to live. I live to eat. Plus, I was fortunate enough to be taken to some of the most exotic places to eat by my friends. *big kiss to all of them*  Dinner would at times me accompanied with live music. When the singer singers a tragic/ heard break/ happy song, us indians are dancing , clapping and whistling to its melody. 

One night dinner was at a Turkish version of Japanese Teppanyaki grill. I can still smell the aromas of fresh meat being grilled and the pan going "iiiiizzzzz"

sizzle em drizzle

The cook , also the owner, cooked as though he performed for his guests. In a span of 2 mins, he grilled, he smoked, he drank, he plated food and much more. It looked as though he danced while cooking. That shows how much love he put into his dishes and the food is finger licking good. If you visit Turkey, you must visit ‘Ojak Bashay’ (wrong spelling, right pronunciation). The man put an extra does of his killer chill mix for the brown skinned me and that tingled my every taste bud and watered my eyes a lil bit.i loved it. Until this trip, i was never a fan of red meat. But believe me, in these two weeks I have compensated for all those years in the past that I stayed away from red meat.  How can one say no … No chance!  

*sigh*

- If you ever think that you have experienced true pampering in some top notch spa  and want to exceed it , I suggest two words - Turkish Hammam.

Centuries ago, the rulers pampered themselves by the way of spa treatments in real royal style. Turkey still retains it in all its glory for you and me. yayy!  One of the few things I did after getting home is googled “Turkish Hammam in London”, if I get a chance to visit TH once a month, I will be the worlds happiest human. Think about it, sauna, steam, steam menthol, Jacuzzi, exfoliate bath, oil massage, face pack, sauna again, foam bath. Cups and cups of Apple tea before and after every session. By the end of it all, I wanted to pack the hammam lady in my suitcase and bring her home. I was ready to pay excess.  And btw, the soap doesn’t smell like hammam soap in India. Or does it ? I was too intoxicated/ zonked by the pampering to notice. They spoil you. I envy the locals to have this facility. 
Visit to the Hammam was like entering Laa Laa Land... There must be a Hamman in heaven.
Oh God, i want Hammam access too.. :'(

I have probably seen 20% of Turkey. And I can write pages and pages about it. Let some of my amateur clicks do the talking…

" i i follow.. i follow u.. deep sea baby.. i follow you.. "

A dear friend of mine, says "this sea is awful.. its not clean.. you must visit us in the summers"... My face turned pale, with raised eyebrows.. , thinking of beaches in India. Aye aye aye juhu beach.. *cringe*..  I rather not say anything.  Hey but nothing beats aroma of our PAV BHAJI.. ;-)

Another interesting similarity is that both countries make some ridiculous movies. while we have Rajnikant's stunts and some disturbing villains, i learnt that there is plenty to laugh about in their films too. An old man, who drugs women to take "advantage" in clubs saying "come to me darling.. i am your uncle.. i will protect you"  The girl drinks Coca cola. Next scene, the girl is under covers on her "uncle's" bed. I was shown his photo on google and he poses in most of his photos with a glass in hand. Cheeky Oldie.i am so bad with names. I tried googling his picture. But i get weird suggestions when i type " turkish actor to drugs women to rape".. Jeez , what was i thinking ! 


Instance 2:   Man enters. Woman seated on the chair. Man takes his jacket and throws it on the floor. Next scene- the woman is pregnant !  
Now you'll agree we have maybe not jacket throwing baby production but similar. In Indian cinema chin to chin kiss and ta- da  the girl is pregnant... ! Its Instant.. 
Now, India hasn't reached to this alarming rate of population explosion by chin kissing... have we ! 




Discovering Turkey was fascinating, an experience like no other. I have a long list of places i want to visit in Turkey. One can camp in the most exotic locations, watch the sunrise (for you) sunset (for me) and live in style. Capadoccia, Izmir, Pamukkale, Konya so much to see. I have seen nothing yet.. This seems like just the beginning.  Hopefully, i get a chance soon to fall in love again and again. I am sure, it wouldn't fail to mesmerize me. 

Until we meet again.. Xx

Aaj toh bahut crazy hogaya.. !

"All full , madam", said the burly man behind the low lit counter in a heavy southindian accent.


"what ? not even one room.. all beach shack owners asked us to check Ganesh Cafe. We had high hopes. Please. Single room will also do." I said noticing vibrant pictures of Hindu Gods on the wall and below them tables full of dreadlocks tanned foreigners singing, laughing, drinking and smoking.


"No room, today Saturday.. AAAL FULL(a). Try some other place"


"Please, one room.. where will three girls sleep ?", I said. Referring to 'Damsel in distress' situation works most of the time in India. Indian men like all other men love a good ego boost of helping a woman when she is needy (In most parts of Bihar, she will be molested). However, this holds true for a few people now, and that number is too rapidly diminishing but always worth a try.  He says no and walks away.This time its a firm NO. Why I kept pushing is because, shack owners hold vacant rooms for foreigners as they can charge them more money. I understand that. Everyone works to make more and more money.  They cannot charge us 300% more, we are locals we will verbally bash them.  Hence we are roomlesss mainly because we are brown. Talk abt Racism !
Three girls walk out of Ganesh Cafe disappointed.The feeling wasn't new to us. Some of the shack owners nodded their heads seeing us at a distance. We didn't even have to communicate. Now I'm starting to get a little worried. I search my rucksack for a sip of water. A five hour train journey + 40 mins in a mini van crammed with people double its capacity + a rickshaw ride up the hill + walk on the beach with bags in search of a room in atleast 8 shacks has taken its toll.  Beaches of Gokarna, Karnataka, unfortunately had no place for us to rest for the night.


Seven years back my chaddi buddy shifted to another state to pursue a career in Medicine, I had plans to visit her ever since. A plan waiting on my to do list for years never really materialised until last week.  A part of me thinks of the 2012 end to the world and is slowly but surely scratching of items of my long bucket list. Either way, I am going to benefit from it, my pockets.. not so much.
This winter when I visited Bombay, I had decided, I am visiting her (Bappi Da) in Mangalore. Hence a three night trip was planned. I got to Mangalore after a 6 hour wait at the airport. My 9 am flight got cancelled (they hate me) and the next one was at 1 pm, which got delayed by an hour..LUCKY ME.. One of those days when you buy a novel and finish it too.

Wannabe Doctor

I spent first 24 hours in her city, exploring a Doctor's life, watching her drive like a maniac *proud*, learnt hospital intern gossip, giggled at dental mentals, drank Nandini Lassi and other local delights, witnessed a man being stitched in the Casualty Ward after a RTA (Road traffic Accident) as blood oozed out of his wounds, pleaded a cinema manager to let us watch a south indian film that had started an hour ago (permission denied),battled lizards, and walked in Hospital premises confidently pretending to be a Doctor. Also learnt that she is the gang leader of her Hostel and everybody pays respect to her while passing her room each time. Gang-leader, purely due to her kindness, willingness to help, and her impeccable comic timing. Little do the girls know that, BAppi books train tickets, as its her favourite pastime. If there is one thing, besides Sorority life she LOVES, it has to be the drama and tension of being wait listed on Indian Rail website. Indian Rails are not like any other. One has to be on it, to believe it.  

sail away..

Thereafter, Bappi Da had planned a trip to Gokarna, 380 Kms away from Managlore, train tickets were booked.. return wasn't.. and no accommodation. Being a regular at impulsive trips, my dear friend assured me that we will find a place to stay without any effort. WRONG !!


Walking on the beach barefoot, sweaty, tired, in search of a room at night time would not be regarded as without any effort.  I looked ahead, only two more beach shacks to go.  If not those, we had two options
a) hire a rickshaw and go 3 kms into the city to find a place
b) hold on to our bags and sleep on the beach


Option A was out of the question, we didn't travel all this way to stay in a place where we couldn't hear the waves hit the shore! Then Option B it is !

 Palace de Gokarn

We walked in to the next place, it didn't even have a board.There was power cut and the place was dimly lit with candles one on each table. A young girl walked out, serving food to her guests. We asked for a room, At first she said no. then went in to ask her parents. The three were running helter-skelter to complete orders. Each member of the family spoke to us for not less then 3 seconds, they would run back to the kitchen and wander around like headless chickens.. The Tandoor Grill had pieces of marinated chicken.. and i was getting hungry.  They hadn't said a flat NO to our faces, well maybe because we couldn't see their faces in the dark and 3 seconds and swooosh the person is gone. If not this one, there one just one place remaining. I sent the other two to check for any vacant rooms in the other shack remaining. I stood there like a rock, not wanting to budge as i had seen a glint of hope. The father stood at the grill outside the shack. I started pleading him to give us a place to stay. There was a point when i was down on my knees with my hands joined on eye level to the tandoor grill. Black bits of the grilled meat flew everywhere around me. This was a serious moment hence we couldn't capture it on our cameras. However, we have a mental picture engraved in our minds.  He said that the place is full. We could sleep on the floor in the restaurant area  with four others who had decided to stay there (yay). All that he would provide us is a straw mat to sleep on. A lot of other shack owners had offered us a mat to sleep on the floor, however this one felt safer as it was family run.  We agreed. After a little of coaxing, the young girl (the most co-operative) told us to wait. And a few minutes later escorted us to a room. We had struck gold. Prison cells in most countries would be better decorated ! It had a cement concrete bed and a 2 inch think mattress covered in a faded old bed sheet, rusted fan and no power supply. But it felt like, it was a Palace. It cost us Rs 300 for the night, i.e about GBP 3.00 for the three of us ! WOWZA..  Rooms like these make great stories. We chucked our stuff in the room and ran to the beach. Most of the night was spent eating and lying under the stars *priceless*. A group of foreigners lit a bonfire and one of them played the guitar as we stared at the stars..

Kudle Beach

Gokarna is regarded as poor man's Goa.. I must say, the rich are missing out on something spectacular. This place boasts virgin beaches, picturesque locales and beach shacks/huts that are more like home stays managed by one or two people. The facilities are basic. By saying that I'm being modest.  However the place is breath taking. Especially if you have friends that make you love life more, then you would never want to be back.  

Mint Tea Magic

The shore has a cafe after every few yards. Each one is decorated with Indian handicrafts. These cafes serve more of continental food than Indian treats. Most of the places in Goa may not have many of these treats. The food is great in most places. A 20 min trek takes you to Kudle beach. There is no other way to get to the beach ! How lovely..

OM Beach

We had initially planned to take the 4pm train back to Mangalore the next day. Travelling ticket less was one of my greatest motivations to leave this place.  Also i had a flight to board the next morning back to Bombay. I convinced Bappi's friend to allow us to extend Gokarn departure time to later than 4pm. I was wanting to see the sunset. She agreed. We sat in our resident cafe , sipping on mint tea watch the sun leave us.


Our journey back to Mangalore was an experience in itself. I could write a new blog entry on it. However i have written enough... So i would cut the description short. We got to Kumta station at 11pm to board a train arriving at 12.15am. 

Midnight Dance

An hour at Kumta railway station was spooky. 
We decied to head to the waiting room.As we walk in there is no place, we walk in, some of them wake and offer us some seats.. Trying to me as quiet as we can, we think about our options as we have none left. The train is running late and we got no tickets. We call our 2 am friends to book our seats on the internet. When i look around in the room, now almost everybody is awake, seems like our "being quiet" wasn't quiet enough..  While in that thought, i see a lizard scrawling on the ceiling right above my head and i SCREAM..... and run out the room. Now everyone is awake.. I did not enter the waiting room, my friends got my bags and we walked to the platform.
There were not many people and the ones around were all sound asleep. People would occasionally wake up to attend to nature's call (not a pretty site). It was dark and quiet. We were exhausted to the bone, however this didn't stop us from being a pain in the ass to others present. We clicked a gazzilion pics with flash on.. and giggled when people woke up due to our banter. (thats right... we r going to rot in hell), when that was done, we didn't miss out on james bond impersonation, ram-leela and some yoga postures..ALL FOR THE CAMERA..   An hour later, we learn our train has been delayed by 2 hours.. Grr. BAd karma i guess. So we waited until 2.15 am to finally squeeze ourselves in to the train. There was no seat for us. Were we going to accept that and stand for 5 hours ? NO way.. We three hopped on to the wooden luggage rack above the seats. The rack under my bum was broken, Out of the four planks, it had just two. So if i lose my balance i would be landing into the annoying lady's lap. The family in our train booth were so annoying. I would slap them all. I spent my journey giggling at them and lost of eyes rolling. and spent our journey making more and more memorable moments..


This trip couldn't have got any better... I swear by every inch i gained on my waist due to excessive intake of aloo parathas..