Hey, planning a foreign trip from India? Figuring out currency can be a pain—we’ve been there! After some trial and error (hello, Vietnam oops!), we’ve got tricks to save you on cash swaps. Stick with us for a chatty rundown—think Dollars, cards, and apps—that’ll keep your wallet happy. Ready to travel smarter? Let’s dive into the money hacks! Hey, Currency for Foreign Trips Can Be Tricky—Let’s Fix That! So, you’re dreaming of that big foreign adventure, huh? One thing that always trips us up—pun intended—is figuring out the cash. Managing foreign currency used to be a total headache for us. We’d scramble, lose a bit here and there, and wonder why our wallets weren’t happy. But guess what? Over time, we picked up some tricks to save a few bucks Sure, the dream move is having a local pal swap cash at killer rates, but let’s be real—not all of us have that hookup. So, stick with me, and let’s chat about how to handle money like a pro when you’re jetting off from India. Trust me, you’ll want these tips in your pocket! Back in the day, we’d rush to grab the local currency before leaving—like, “Oh, Vietnam’s up next, let’s snag some Dong!” We’d hit up a dealer in India, trade our Rupees, and feel all set. Then, oops—turns out we lost cash doing it that way. Lesson learned: swapping Rupees straight to the destination’s money in India isn’t always the smart play. Every spot’s got its own rules, and some regions play nicer with certain currencies. So, we figured out a better game plan to keep your travel budget smiling—here’s how we roll now! Love for Currency!! Go Big with Dollars to Save Money Okay, let’s talk the king of currencies: the American Dollar. Seriously, it’s like the VIP pass of money—everyone knows it, everyone wants it. It’s got crazy demand and supply worldwide, and that’s your ticket to savings. Here’s the deal: in places like Southeast Asia—think Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Maldives—the Dollar gets you way better rates than Rupees. We’re talking thousands of bucks saved on your trip! But flip it to fancy spots like Europe, Australia, or the Middle East, and you’re better off grabbing their cash right here in India. Let me break it down with a quick example—say you’re off to South Korea, and your trip’s gonna run you INR 1,50,000. Stick with me on this cash scenario (forex cards work too, but rates are a smidge higher). If the Dollar’s at INR 86.94—or INR 88 with a good dealer—you’d snag about USD 1,705 from India. Now, if you swapped Rupees straight to Korean Won here, you’d get around WON 2,307,962 (at 1 INR = 0.065). Solid, right? But hold up—take those Dollars to Korea and swap them there, and boom, you’re looking at WON 2,504,497. That’s a sweet WON 236,405 extra—or about INR 15,500 back in your pocket! Even if these numbers are just a rough sketch, you’re still shaving off 5-6% of your trip cost. How’s that for a win? Oh, and here’s a bonus perk: some local vendors—small shops, cabbies—might take Dollars or Euros over their own cash. Just peek at their rate first. Like, in Georgia, our car rental guy was a legend—took Euros at the real market rate, no sneaky fees. Pure gold! But not every spot’s that honest—sometimes there’s a little “service” charge tacked on. Still, it’s worth asking. So, ready to give the Dollar trick a whirl? Let’s keep the savings rolling with the next tip! Shop Around for Exchanges Back Home Now, before you even pack your bags, let’s chat about currency swaps right here in India. Not every exchange guy works the same—we used to stick to just one or two dealers, thinking that was enough. Big oops! Turns out, that’s like picking the first snack at the store without checking the price. So, we started Googling around, hitting up a bunch of dealers near us. We’d ask for rates on two or three currencies—say, Dollars, Euros, whatever—to see who’s got the best deal. Pro move? Keep three solid options in your phone and haggle a bit every time. No harm in asking, right? You’d be surprised how a quick “Can you do better?” can knock a few bucks off. It’s all about options—don’t settle for the first guy! Forex Cards and Credit Cards—Pick Smart! Okay, next up—those handy cards. Forex cards, like the ones from HDFC, Axis, or Thomas Cook, sound awesome, right? Load ‘em up like prepaid debit cards and go. But here’s the catch: their exchange rates? Not so hot. They’re always pricier than what you’d get from a good independent dealer. If you’ve been leaning on these for trips, I’d say keep a backup plan handy. Now, credit cards? That’s a different game—it depends on the bank and card. HDFC Regalia’s a champ—super low markup fees, close to the real rate. But something like Axis Vistara Signature (RIP, discontinued) used to sting with high markups. So, if you’re a credit card fan, peek at the fine print—markup fees, GST, all that jazz—before you swipe abroad. Oh, and here’s a tip: call your bank and ask for the day’s rate—big wins hide there! Here’s my little secret, though: Niyo bank cards. Been using them for a while, and they’re gold—low markups, rates super close to the standard exchange, and it’s all app-based, quick as a snap. We’ve loved them everywhere—except New Zealand, where fuel pumps gave us a headache. One catch? You tie it to a fixed deposit, and that’s your limit. I’m cool with that—feels like a fair trade for the savings. Give it a try next time—you might ditch forex cards for good! Exchange Currency Abroad the Right Way Congrats, you’ve landed at your dream spot! You’re strolling out of the airport—or maybe a seaport—and bam, there’s an exchange counter winking at you. Keep walking, buddy—those rates are a rip-off! Airport exchanges are the worst—unless it’s a total emergency, don’t even think about it. Even then, swap just enough to get you to the city or your hotel—bare minimum. The real gold’s in the city, especially touristy markets. You’ll find five or more dealers there, all ready to trade. Here’s the trick: don’t jump at the first one. Four out of five times, the best rate’s hiding a shop or two down. Pull up Google Maps, scout a few nearby, and pick the winner. Found an awesome rate? Go big—swap all your cash at once. Splitting it over days might save a tiny bit—rates dip midweek, like Wednesday or Thursday—but it’s usually peanuts. You’re here to explore, not chase pennies, right? So, grab that deal and enjoy the trip with cash to spare. Ready for a couple more tricks up our sleeve? Let’s go! Lean on Apps—Less Cash, More Fun! Okay, here’s a cool one we’ve been loving lately—apps! Why carry wads of cash when you can tap your phone? Once your visa’s locked and your trip’s a go, book stuff like museums or amusement parks ahead of time. Most of these sites take Dollars or local cash, so you’ll need a card—ties right back to our credit card chat, see? We’re talking Niyo or HDFC Regalia vibes here. Oh, and taxis? With Uber and Ola clones popping up everywhere, dig up the local app—Grab in Southeast Asia, say—and add your card once you’ve got a SIM or eSIM. Boom, less cash to fuss over! Then there’s apps like Klook or Groupon—deal hunters’ dreams. Snag a day tour on the cheap, but not everything’s a steal, so poke around. We’ve scored big on tours, less so on random extras. Nothing beats your own homework—check two spots before you click “buy.” It’s like picking the best mango at the market—worth the extra peek! Try it out next trip—you’ll feel like a travel ninja with cash still in your pocket. ATMs—Handy, but Watch Out! ATMs—anytime money, sounds like a breeze, right? Pop in your card, grab some cash, done. Not so fast! Those machines sneak in fees—service charges that hide until your statement lands. Bummer, huh? But it’s not all bad news. There’s a sweet spot: lots of banks or travel companies team up with foreign ATMs for free withdrawals. The catch? It’s buried in the fine print on their sites. Like, Thomas Cook hooks up with AllPoint in Australia—find one of those, and you’re pulling cash with zero fees. Next time you’re itching for cash, hunt those fee-free ATMs down. Check your bank’s site or app before you go—takes a minute and saves you a chunk. It’s like finding a free snack in a pricey café—small win, big smile! Give it a shot, and you’ll dodge those sneaky charges like a pro. Alright, From Our Vietnam Flop to Your Big Win—Save That 5-6%! So, there you have it—our little bag of money tricks for your next foreign trip! Remember that Vietnam slip-up where we swapped too early? Now you’re way ahead of that game. Mix and match these tips—Dollars, cards, apps—and you’re pocketing 5-6% more for extra fun, like a bonus coffee or a cool trinket. Sure, a wild currency jump might sneak up (unless you’re a finance guru), but these moves dodge the pricey traps when you need it most. You’re all set to travel smarter—grab these hacks, hit the road, and drop us a line about your wins! Happy travels, buddy—Travel, Mi Amor style!

I don’t remember exactly how or why we decided to visit South Korea. Probably all those K-dramas Neha’s been obsessed with lately sparked her curiosity, and I just rolled with it. I had no idea what to expect from South Korea, but it turned out to be a bittersweet whirlwind. We made a ton of dumb mistakes on this trip—silly stuff, nothing catastrophic—but even so, it became one of the best places we’ve ever explored. Let’s walk through everything and anything about South Korea, from our fumbles to its magic. The mystique of this land has its own enigma and vibe, and we’ll cover the following when it comes to visiting South Korea: Your Ultimate South Korea Travel Guide Planning, Logistics, and Visa (from India) - This blog and the upcoming, Seoul – embodiment of tradition and modern society Train to Busan The Jeju Love Affair Seoul Light Festival in December South Korea and India gained independence on the same day, and there are plenty of common threads between the two nations. Sure, people love debating the stark differences in progress, but let’s not forget—both countries endured immense suffering, and the choices they made carved wildly different paths. South Korea had a head start with the USA as a catalyst right from the get-go, while India forged its own way, stumbling and rising on its own terms. Today, both societies wrestle with their unique challenges, shaped by history’s twists and turns. It’s a fascinating contrast, one that hit me as we planned this trip. Speaking of planning, let’s shake off the serious stuff and get to the fun part—figuring out when to visit South Korea! The season you pick can make or break your trip, as this country transforms with every shift in the weather. Like its East Asian cousin Japan, South Korea shines during cherry blossom season—think late March to April, when everything’s drenched in pink and buzzing with life. It’s peak season for a reason! Then there’s autumn, around October and November, with crisp air and fiery leaves that rival any postcard. Winter kicks in from December to mid-March—perfect if you love snowy vibes and cozy thrills. The tricky months? June to August. Sure, the heat’s tame compared to Indian summers (hovering around 31°C), but the rains can derail your plans and leave you dodging puddles instead of sights. Pick wisely, because South Korea’s magic deserves the right spotlight!   After living in Pune for a while and craving those North Indian winters, we picked December for our South Korea trip to get our chilly fix. If we had to sum it up, South Korea is hands-down an incredible country to visit—I mean, really, really incredible. I’m still kicking myself for not considering it sooner because it’s a love affair you can’t shake off. It’s peaceful, steeped in history, and somehow blends culture with modern vibes in a way that’s downright astonishing. Yes, the challenges you’ve heard about—like shrinking birth rates or the glaring rich-poor divide in cities like Seoul—are real, no question. But we were blown away by how people stick to traffic rules, honor queues, and show mutual respect for each other, making it all work seamlessly. We rolled into December, expecting biting cold (and trust me, it was very, very, very  cold) and a dull, gloomy vibe. Boy, were we wrong! The celebrations, especially the “Light Festival,” wiped out every ounce of that dreariness. It was our first time seeing anything like it—no other country we’ve visited even comes close. Picture this: a simple, plain spot transformed into a dazzling explosion of creativity and twinkling lights. For us, it was Seoul’s unexpected gift, a total game-changer. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty and help you plan your own South Korea adventure!   If you’re traveling for the first time to a country where English isn’t widely spoken, buckle up—there’s a treasure trove of details and tips that’ll make navigating this wonderland a breeze. South Korea might feel daunting at first, but with the right plan, it’s pure magic waiting to unfold. Why December in Seoul? Seoul, the buzzing capital, is usually your entry point into South Korea, and it’s a massive playground bursting with things to see and do. This city has it all—history and tradition spill out through ancient forts, stamp trails, and mouthwatering cuisines that’ll hook you instantly. Craving amusement? Lotte World, Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, and Little France are just the start. Into malls, shops, or modern art? You’ll be spoiled for choice with endless shopping paradises, quirky souvenirs, and those unmissable beauty products and treatments. It’s tough to decide what to skip because every corner screams adventure! We’ll dive deeper into city specifics in later blogs, but for now, nail down your days. You’ll need at least three days to rush through Seoul’s highlights—think whirlwind—and still feel the rush. Want to savor it with nearby gems like a local? Plan for four days minimum, though six days let you soak it all in at your pace. Busan’s New Year Magic Sky Capsule Busan From Seoul up north, you’ll head south or maybe east, passing through charming cities that ooze tradition and serenity—no hustle, just calm. We toyed with stopping at one but, with food options in mind and a peaceful Jeju on our radar, we skipped them. Instead, Busan became our next must-visit spot. It’s a gem, especially around New Year with its jaw-dropping drone show (It was a funny one). Smaller than Seoul, Busan has its own laid-back charm, and we planned a few days to explore at our leisure. It hit us late that BIFF—the famous film festival—calls Busan home, which only sweetened the deal. Naturally, we booked a train to Busan, our little nod to that iconic “Train to Busan” flick. Jeju’s Must-Know Lava Rocks Jeju Island Our third and final stop was Jeju, a tiny island that’s as stunning as it gets. Settlements hug the north and south, with a mountain smack in the center—like the whole island revolves around it. It’s South Korea’s best-kept secret, a honeymoon hotspot for locals, and we added it thanks to Neha’s K-drama obsession. Digging deeper, I fell for it too—oh, and there’s a Sex Museum, which sealed the deal. This trio—Seoul, Busan, Jeju—became our South Korea roadmap, sketched out at a high level, ready to roll. Alright, let’s shift gears to the second half of our South Korea itinerary! Visa work Getting a visa for South Korea from India means dealing with VFS—yep, them again. The process feels a lot like applying for a Schengen visa, so if you’ve done that, you’re halfway there. You’ll need to round up:  Visa form Itinerary Flight tickets Accommodation proof Bank statements (a salary account with decent funds—think INR 1,00,000—boosts your odds, though it’s not a must; if you’re low on cash but invest, toss in credit card statements or investment proof) ITRs Travel insurance If employed: NOC and salary slips If self-employed: company info and statements (double-check for extras Planning to drive in South Korea? An International Driving Permit (IDP) is non-negotiable—especially for Jeju, where public transport won’t cut it and taxis bleed your wallet dry.   The visa usually takes about 15 days to process through VFS, and you can pick it up or have it delivered. It’s valid for 90 days from issuance, giving you plenty of time to plan. Cost? Around INR 4,200 per person. One catch: at VFS New Delhi, they demanded cash payment—no cards accepted back then. That might’ve changed, but pack some cash or hit an ATM nearby just in case. Nail this step, and South Korea’s wonders are yours to chase! Language Our research screamed one thing loud and clear: language is a hurdle. English isn’t common—signboards, menus, food labels, you name it, they’re mostly in Korean, with English translations as rare as a unicorn. For us, skipping non-veg delicacies made it trickier—we didn’t want to accidentally munch on mystery meat! But here’s the kicker: South Korea’s got a tech fix for nearly everything, and that sparked some hope. From apps to gadgets, they’ve turned challenges into child’s play. Let’s dive into the tech essentials first, then circle back to other logistics that’ll smooth your ride.   Naver Maps Hack Coming from India, we’re practically married to Google Maps—warts and all. It’s our go-to for scoping out distances between cities, markets, and spots in South Korea during our initial research. But here’s the shocker: once you’re there, Google Maps flops—hard. You’ll be wandering in circles, nowhere near your destination. Enter Naver Maps, South Korea’s homegrown genius. Let me tell you, this app is a tech marvel—free, crazy accurate, and packed with details Google could only dream of touching. Take Myeongdong, Seoul’s buzzing market: Naver didn’t just guide us from our stay, it handed us gold:   Shortest route based on our departure time Approx trip cost Exact bus stop, boarding side of the road Directions to head in Metro routes—entry gate, exit gate, even how to find the gate inside the station! I was floored. For days, I kept bugging Neha—“How does it do that?”—until she got fed up and started digging for answers just to shut me up! Pro tip: grab a SIM at the airport and download Naver in Seoul—trust me, you’ll need it pronto.   But paradise has its quirks. Naver Maps is mostly in Korean, so reading it? Tough luck. I floundered—badly. Early on, I hopped on the wrong bus 5 out of 10 times, heading the opposite way while Neha fumed. We doubled our fares some days—public transport averages 90 rupees per trip (valid for four transfers on subway or bus within 30 minutes), so it stings! Then there’s searching: literal translations mess up restaurant or spot names, so finding the right combo of words was a puzzle. We cracked it, though—start with Google Maps to get a rough idea of the place and keywords, then plug that into Naver. Boom, 95% success rate. You’ll need both apps in your arsenal to conquer South Korea’s buses and metros like a pro. Next up, Papago—our translation lifesaver. Its killer feature? Point your camera at anything—food labels, signs, notices—hit translate, and you’re golden. Download it in Seoul too—it saved us from non-veg slip-ups the whole trip, a vegetarian’s dream! We barely used it to talk, though—locals managed with broken English or hand gestures, and shopkeepers flashed calculators to haggle. Simple, brilliant, and way more fun than fumbling with phrases.   Public Transportation South Korea, especially Seoul, boasts jaw-dropping public transportation—it was the first city in the world to roll out smart cards for it! You can snag one right at the airport, and they’re national, so the same card works in Busan or Jeju—no sweat. We hit a snag, though: one card had balance, got damaged (no clue how), and replacing it was a nightmare. Retailers wouldn’t budge, and despite the language barrier hassle, we lost that cash. Lesson learned! Now, Visa or Mastercard works too—your call, convenience or cash. Seoul’s metro and bus network is a dream—extensive, frequent, and the airport link? Seamless. Busan’s a different beast: airport-to-city connectivity exists, but expect line switches galore if you’re lugging bags from downtown. We schlepped 25 kg of luggage onto packed buses during peak hours—trust me, it’s a workout you don’t want. The bus network shines, though—covers nearly everywhere you’d want to go with solid frequency, so you’re never stranded. In Busan, watch for variety: hilly spots like Gamcheon Village use tiny green buses. They’re cute but cramped, so brace yourself to squeeze in with your gear. Then there’s Jeju—oh boy, don’t bank on public transport there. We did, and it nearly wrecked our serene island vibe. Coming from India, we figured we’d rent a car if needed or stick to buses. Biggest. Mistake. Ever. Buses run maybe single-digit times a day, and everything’s spread out—waiting around or syncing museum visits (most shut by 5 pm in winter) with schedules was torture. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you go—it’s a breeze online, no agent fees to stress over. We didn’t, and paid the price in wasted time and grumbles.   Rental cars in Jeju? Right at the airport, super easy. Cabs too—just don’t repeat our rookie move of “winging it” with buses. Learn from our stupidity, and you’ll thank me later!     Seoul Airport Connectivity Landing in Seoul? You’ve got a buffet of options to zip from the airport to the city—spoiler, it’s a breeze once you know the ropes! Note: Seoul’s airport is in Incheon, a solid trek from the city, much like Jewar Airport to Delhi or Gurugram. You can hop on buses, metro, luxury buses, or taxis to reach Seoul from Incheon Airport. Big heads-up: public transport shuts down at night. Late flight or early morning takeoff? Private taxis are your only bet—check Naver Maps for bus timings to dodge that trap. Step outside the arrivals hall, and the choices hit you fast. Incheon’s its own city, not Seoul—think of it as the scrappy up-and-comer next to the big shot. Metro’s your simplest play—clear signs in the arrival area guide you straight to it, no sweat. Then there’s luxury buses parked just outside; they’ve got routes galore, so pick wisely. You’ll get a pillar number for your bus—just don’t miss it! Pro tip: if you’re a couple or a group, those plush seats might cost as much as a cab, so crunch the numbers before you commit. Cabs? Easy-peasy via an app if you grabbed a SIM at the airport (you’ll need that local number—don’t skip it). No SIM? Metered taxis are there, but they’ll dent your wallet more, so save them for a pinch. Pick your ride and roll into Seoul like you own it!   Currency After countless trips across Asia, here’s a golden rule: never buy South Korean Won from your home country—India in our case. The exchange rates? A total rip-off. Grab USD instead before you leave, then swap it in Seoul for the best bang for your buck. Spots like Moneybox and Yellow Company dish out killer rates, but location’s key—Moneybox in Insadong isn’t the same as Namdaemun. We struck gold in Myeongdong—hands-down the best rates, especially on Mondays if you’re pinching pennies. USD’s the champ here, delivering every time, at least as of this year. Need some Won upfront? Carry just enough for your ride from the airport and a SIM card (or lean on a Niyo forex card and save the hassle). Overall Budget – Economic Yet Comfy Stay + Tons of Cute Shopping! Our 10-day South Korea fling? Totally doable without breaking the bank. Return flights from Delhi ran us INR 80k, and cozy stays for 10 days hit around INR 50k. Add local commutes, entry fees, and food—think INR 50-60k—and you’re looking at roughly INR 250k for a couple. Shopping? That’s your wild card. We had to chain ourselves to stop grabbing every adorable gadget and outfit—tech, clothes, everything’s just too cute  to resist!     From Seoul’s dazzling Light Festival to Busan’s chill vibes and Jeju’s stunning slip-ups, this trip was a rollercoaster of chaos, charm, and pure joy. Plan smart with our tips—visa, Naver, transport—and South Korea’s magic is yours for the taking. Trust me, you’ll fall hard for this place, just like we did! So, ready to dive deeper? Stick with us as we unpack Seoul, Busan, and Jeju one by one in upcoming blogs—each city’s got its own story, and we’re just getting started!

Travel: Just a word or a "step" to odyssey In the cozy moments spent with my grandfather, he regales me with captivating stories from his eventful life. These anecdotes often intertwine with our shared experiences of travel. One day, he presented me with an intriguing analogy, describing travel as akin to savouring a delicious meal. "As soon as you are done with meal, its taste is gone, same thing happens with travelling experiences". He then went on explaining, “Manni Bahadur (my nickname for him), just as you eat something delicious, you enjoy its taste while you are eating it when it is on your tongue. You savour it, live in the moment and as soon as that food is gulped down you do not feel anything about it and you are onto the next bite before you know it, and the previous bite is gone. Same with travel, till the time you are on the journey and when you are in the location you enjoy it but once you are back from the trip, you do not feel a thing. You are back to your routine and the travel is out of your system. Tell me then is it worth spending thousands on travel? When you cannot enjoy it for more than a few days?” When the first time he said this to me, I was speechless. I contemplated and could not come up with a response that could genuinely convince him of why we travel. So I left it as is. Sometime later, when we were preparing for our next trip, the aforementioned conversation repeated and he further added “why don’t you put this money to better use? Invest it, use it wisely!” I changed the topic and went on with some other topic. Sometime later I gave a thought to what he said and introspected. More than convincing him why travel is necessary, I had to find an answer for myself, why do I love to travel? Because I want to see a new place every now and then? It cannot be a one-line answer, travelling needs investment there ought to be a better “Return on Investment”. Why do I give up work a few days before travel in excitement and a few days after returning from the trip in sadness as the trip got over? This blog aims to explore the profound reasons why travel holds such importance in our lives and why it remains an eternal pursuit. Discovering the Spark: When I embarked on my professional journey, travel held little allure for me. Similarly, I was unsure of Neha's stance on travel. However, two transformative incidents reshaped our perspectives entirely. The first was an impromptu trip to Dharamshala with my college friends, where we abandoned elaborate planning and simply embarked on the journey. It was a raw and unadulterated experience that revealed the essence of travel to me—setting off without constraints or preconceived notions. The second turning point arrived when Neha became my life partner. Discovering her equal fervour for travel ignited a shared passion within us. We started small, exploring nearby resorts and heritage sites during weekends, which eventually grew into grander adventures both within and outside India. Gradually, we began strategising our trips, seeking optimal times to explore new destinations. These incidents cemented my belief that travel is an inherent part of our existence, surpassing mere superficial showcases on social media. Journey unveiled: Beyond the picturesque images and detailed itineraries, the true essence of travel lies in the moments hidden beneath the surface—the flavours we relish long after the trip concludes. From the exhilaration of leaving home to the anticipation building during security checks at airports, each step fuels our enthusiasm. As I gaze out of the airplane window, witnessing the curvature of the Earth, the tapestry of landscapes, and the bustling miniature cars below, I feel transported to another dimension. In that moment, I become an observer, seeking to understand the lives of others, the diversity of human experiences, and the common threads that bind us all. Though I may not engage in conversations with fellow travellers, I take solace in observing their existence, comparing their perspectives with my own. This act of perception is not intended to highlight differences or establish a hierarchy, but rather to feel the essence of our shared humanity. Despite the geographical distances that separate us, we all belong to the same category as humans, shaped by distinct values, beliefs, and experiences. At a fundamental level, we are interconnected. Breaking the Shackles of Familiarity: The saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt," rings true in the context of our hometowns. But why does this happen? I believe that within the confines of our homes, our focus revolves around securing a better future and surviving the present. In contrast, travel immerses us in the present moment, providing an escape from our everyday worries. Even amidst a sea of people, we find solitude and the freedom to shape our own experiences. Some seek companionship while others revel in the solitude of self-discovery. Each traveler finds their own path, driven by diverse motives. For Neha and me, the true essence of travel lies not solely in architectural marvels or stunning landscapes, but rather in finding a tranquil spot and blending into the surrounding environment. We find equal joy in serene landscapes as we do in vibrant discotheques. We feel a profound connection to everything that envelops us, whether it be a statue, a fellow traveler engrossed in photography, or the stories etched on historical plaques. From a vantage point, everyone, irrespective of their background, is engaged in the same human pursuit—living, reproducing, earning, and eventually departing from this world. We share a common earthly and cosmic existence. The Unquenchable Thirst: As we embark on our journey of exploration, we find ourselves playing a game of speculation—contemplating how life would unfold if we were born elsewhere or chose to settle in a different place. Yet, when we confront the question of where we wish to retire, we are overwhelmed by the vastness of the world still awaiting our discovery. The allure of unseen destinations keeps us perpetually enthralled, ensuring that our journey never truly concludes. My Response to my Grandfather Travel is not merely an escape from the mundane or an opportunity to create envy-inducing social media posts. It encompasses a profound quest for connection, understanding, and self-discovery. As my grandfather questioned the value of spending on travel, I found my own answer—an answer that transcends superficial explanations. Travel is an investment in the richness of human experience, an exploration of the vast tapestry of existence, and an eternal pursuit that continually shapes our perspectives. It is through travel that we bridge the gaps of familiarity and find unity in our shared humanity. So, let us embark on this never-ending journey, savouring the flavours of the world and celebrating the beauty that lies in exploration.

Everything that happens on travel need not necessarily be good or enjoyable. You must be prepared for adversities when traveling and one such tragedy stuck when we were island hopping. Ideally, our next stop Folegandros, was expectedly a four-hour journey by ferry however the ferry operators decided to take an elongated eight to nine hours route and when we were supposed to spend the afternoon sipping hot coffee, I was fighting with my seasickness and it was late in the evening when we reached Folegandros. Thankfully, in time to catch public transport bus in nick of time. When life gives you lemons, you keep seasickness at bay for the whole day and try to have a peaceful dinner and a good night's sleep. The next day was a day planned with beaches, with time spent on most peaceful islands with next to nothing crowd. It is highly recommended that apart from Mykonos / Santorini do pick at least one island (actually any other island apart from these two) to have a quiet, peaceful time with your companions and more importantly with yourself. Folegandros' unique proposition was the location of its beaches on the other side of the hills that required trekking. We spend our afternoon hopping from one beach to another, trekking all the way and enjoying a good read and quick swim occasionally. The evening was well spent while watching the sunset from the Church of Panagia, Folegandros located at a height that requires a short trek and it gets a little chilly. It was a positive gamble as it set a perfect tone for the evening left a smiling note for the trip. All the Greek islands have closely knit native residences, markets, and restaurants, and Folegandros being a comparatively small island, the overall living spread was less making it easier to explore along and inside the circumference. We had plans for Scuba diving however, the weather betrayed us and we had to drop out at the behest of our instructor. At times you will come across places that will connect with you as soon as you step, for us Folegandros was one of them. A perfect picture of lanes marked with white houses, blue and green doors, and pink bougainvillea decorating the scene is still fresh in our memories reminding us of Folegandros. Read about the previous day from: Commonalities of Mykonos Read about the next day from: Closure Planning your greek itinerary: Greece: Mesmerizing land ean Sun Making logistics arrangements for Greece: Budgeting for Greece Trip

Greece pulls you so fast inside that it is very hard to convince yourself that yes trip is coming to an end and its time to go back to the whiteboard and prepare for the next adventure The next day it was a goodbye day to Folegandros vibe and proceed to Santorini however our ferry was delayed by a few hours and we ended up spending clicking pictures at Folegandros port. Our last pitstop was Santorini. Santorini is an amazing island and it has a lot to offer from pristine black-sand beaches to one of the best sunset views however they all come at a price of having crowd everywhere. I was not wrong when we landed in Santorini. The bus station was nothing short of the Indian Capital bus stop. We struggled for half an hour to locate our bus to the main town. After skipping almost three buses we got seats in one (there were people on board and they had to stand throughout the journey) As we were in Santorini to catch a flight the next day, there was not much that we could do. We decided to explore the main market and then move to Oia (touted as the best place to watch the sunset in Santorini) and no doubt it had one of the best seats in the whole Aegean group of islands for sunsets. We started our Santorini tour at noon and visited luxurious hotel chains area along with the main market, exploring Greek delicacies ( mostly it was Greek salad :P) and questioning why Santorini is so popular. If you can spend a little lavishly, I believe Santorini makes a good fit for the bucket list. Around mid-noon, we were in Oia to find a perfect spot for the sunset and that is when our struggle begin. Greek lanes are so narrow leading to sunset point, it was a horrible experience to move through a huge crowd and we will not exaggerate when we say it was only a level below stampede. As soon as you are on the other side of Oia, the one facing the sea, you learn the whole reason. Oia’s sun-facing view is a painted canvas with an atypical honeycomb specifically painted white and blue. It truly transpires you into a different domain where everything is peculiarly attractive. In addition to all this, once your concentration breaks, you will see you are not alone and you are one in thousands experiencing the same thing. After struggling efforts and time to find a secluded spot, you will forget about the existence of others, and then it will be just you, sunset and on your back crisscross maze of white buildings, and tint of blue explicitly visible. Even when the sun has almost paved the way for the moon, it was one of the most difficult things to pick up our ass and move back. We went through the same drill again of moving between huge herds and thinking when will this get over. Last night in Greek Island was like a dream coming to an end and you don’t feel a penny’s worth to wake up and accept the reality. We had an early morning flight back to the mainland and then a return flight to home though it sounds painful however it led to the discovery of the best fresh croissants that we had in a long time and thanks to one of the best bakeries on Santorini island and special thanks to the owner to provide it as early as four in the morning. Before we boarded our flight, we welcomed the Aegean sun and paid our respects before moving on to the flight. I was personally not inclined to visit Greece and I cannot be this much wrong ever in my travel experience and life. Greece now holds a special position for me and I am sure my heart’s content is yet next to empty and craving for more Greek adventure. But this time it will be Mainland, Mykonos, and one more secluded island only. No Santorini for next time. Till next time!! Sayonara!! Read about the previous day from: Detoxifying Folegandros Planning your greek itinerary: Greece: Mesmerizing land ean Sun Making logistics arrangements for Greece: Budgeting for Greece Trip

Food is a gray area and a matter of personal choice for everyone. My struggle is being vegetarian and picky when it comes to food. Our failsafe plan always is to carry Ready to Eat food packets from India. Today MTR, Haldiram’s packed food list is huge and there is no end to it. Even bread like Naan, Rotis, and Paranthas are easily available. In terms of bread, you can leverage tortillas as well, they taste similar and work well in an emergency. Apart from carrying food, croissants and coffee make a brilliant munching combination which is very easily available in European nations. Our find of the trip was Greek Salad, we are so hooked up on Greek Salad that even today it has become part of the weekly breakfast routine. Greek Salad with potato fries on the side appeared frequently on our lunch menu throughout our trip. Some of the restaurants that we explored and found publish worthy are: Athens and Corinth: Efcharis, Athina: Vibes and food are undoubtedly “exquisite” when it comes to restaurants in Europe. Efcharis’ pizza and pasta, are something to crave for. There are many chains in the vicinity and we are sure you will find something that hits your palate at the right chords. Thiseio Bakery: When it comes to fresh croissants, cookies and it was a delight to have some hot and fresh croissants late in the evening with a cup of coffee Café Gardenia, Loutraki-Agioi: This place gives similar vibes as of a countryside diner as shown in Hollywood movies. We went ahead with the easiest option that is Greek salad and it was one of the best Greek Salads we had and the team was super friendly and supportive. Mykonos: There is no end to food options in Mykonos. Evening in Mykonos, unquestionably, must be near the west coast with windmills of Mykonos. Every second outlet is a restaurant and bar. Our preference was an open-air meal so we opted for Niko’s tavern, food was of our liking, remember picky and veg. To satisfy your sweet buds, there are multiple gelatos, crepes outlets in the vicinity. Do try Trio Bambini for ultimate gelato or crepe. Nightlife: I am not inclined towards night parties, and found no connection whatsoever. Accidentally, we found there is a nightlife Paradise beach which is a never miss in Mykonos, so we thought before wrapping up the day why not try it out. That one moment in which we decided to give it a shot was one of the best travel decisions. There are multiple restaurants & bars in the vicinity, but spontaneously we went to Tropicana Beach Bar (actually, we went ahead with the least crowded :P). That one moment when you don’t want to dance, yet your feet move on their own. Music is not just going to the brain, it is moving in veins just like oxygen. Our only reason to visit Mykonos is just because of this experience. More than the food you will enjoy the ambiance, freshness, and breezy environment. You will surely struggle to choose for your tummy fulfillment. Folegandros: After night high @Mykonos, Folegandros was a pleasant surprise. Starry night, soothing lights, low humming music, food that is smooth on the palate. You can make a trade for such dinner before a blink of an eye. As you enter the main market, there is an ensemble of restaurants, and sitting arrangements look like a commonplace for all. But that‘s not the case, there is a demarcation that is invisible to the naked eye of a common man. We tried The Coupon (Greek name conversion) this time and we were not disappointed. By that time our taste buds had fully adapted to Greek food, and the icing on the top was the staff and their courteousness, they recommended some of the best dishes in veg they were offering (of course Greek salad was one of them) Another restaurant worth a meal is Restaurant Melissa, again in the same ensemble. Santorini: As we stayed a little far from the main center our food options are a little off-route from the main places. Crepaki Santorini: The food fragrance and the sitting arrangement pulled us right from the road. The host prepared a lovely meal for us keeping our food preferences in mind. Our food journey here was completed with an amazing waffle in the end. Nick the Grill: First time we tried outside our comfort zone and what better than Nick the Grill. Pita wraps, sticks, burgers you name it. The food was so great that we went for another round. Erotokritos, German Bakery: This is the truest form of bakery that we have tried in a foreign land. The amazing thing was it was open as early as 4 AM. We cannot express in words how amazing the croissants were. We felt so content and ate till our heart's desire. In the end, it is worth mentioning that food options at Athens International Airport are good as well. In case, you are in a hurry and need a quick bite, do try without a second thought. So much food discussion leads to cravings. Till the time you go through all other blogs on Greece, I’ll grab some munchies. Adios!! Planning your greek itinerary: Greece: Mesmerizing land ean Sun Making logistics arrangements for Greece: Budgeting for Greece Trip

Picking resorts and evaluating how much it will burden your pocket Welcome to Part II of knowing Maldives better. If this is your first read on Maldives, kindly read about Part I from this link – The Maldives Affair: Part I Going by statistics, Maldives is mostly visited due to private islands which disconnects you from the rest of the world physically for the duration of the stay. As soon as you enter Maldives’ airspace you will see a collection of beautiful islands all over. From the sky, all the islands are almost similar, a little green patch covering the whole island and properties connecting to the island as a caterpillar trying to enter its nest. Every property offers almost the same luxuries on a platter and it’s just a matter of how architecturally and creatively they have been assorted. In our research before visiting the Maldives, we were informed that marine life is better in north atolls as compared to south atolls, so we chose North, and still, we were a little disappointed. Maybe our expectations were high or the corals at our resort were not that aesthetical as compared to others. If you google Maldives you will get umpteen results. When every small island is a resort and Maldives is a group of more than 100 small islands, you have a choice problem. Not only that every resort will have 4 stars at least. From various perspectives like beaches, spas, and restaurants, all resorts give very similar vibes, this is excluding the likes of Taj or Hard Rock high-end resorts, if you have the budget for supreme luxury then you have already made up your mind. Then how do you choose which resort has your calling? It is easy, if you are doing your research, try getting a better deal whether from CRED, Agoda, Booking.com, or any other travel website. If you are taking a package deal from an agent, ask at least for three to four options. All the resorts have two basic property offerings with luxurious add-ons: Beachside properties- located on the island grounds and a big opening right on the beach. Water villas- giving the vibe of floating houses supported by a wooden structure built on the ocean floor. When you stand in front of these, they don’t look like huge property, but as you open the door, it’s like down the rabbit hole. Luxury water villas- premium category of water villas with private pool/water slides/ bigger carpet area. Water villa properties look exquisite and are comparatively expensive. If you are booking through an agent, they will give you an option to have your stay split into both. Water villas from photographs look exquisite, appealing and give that wow feeling. To be honest, we found beach properties more comfortable and enjoyable. As water villas tend to sway and may make feel you are in some ship in the sea. Also, the water level is max waist high and not enough for diving from the villa floor ;P Resorts additionally have cuisine-based restaurants, spas, water sports to offer. Prices for these services may vary a lot and should be critically considered before choosing a resort. Cost Breakup Now, with that thing covered, let’s look at the spending spree for Maldives. There are two major cost heads: Flights and Resort (Includes meals) and Miscellaneous – Transfers (Sea boat / Plane depending on the booking) and Water sport activities. If you are booking through an agent or resort directly, the transfer cost is covered, else you will have to bear an additional one (Check it out before booking). Pre covid, travelers used to do island hopping however in Post Covid era, Island hopping had been discontinued by Government. If you book at least one to two months in advance, it will cost you around 40,000 INR for a one-way flight for two from India/Delhi NCR. A 5 day stay with a mix of both beach and water villa will be around 130,000 INR in stay for two and generally, this includes meals, basic water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and pedal boat. For other water sports, you will have to shell a few more bucks and this depends on the resort. Some resorts charge exorbitantly for scuba and other activities like whale watching/ turtle watching separately. Check these costs on the resort’s website before finalizing. Another factor in the pricing is the meal plan. You can go full board (all meals inclusive) or all-inclusive plan which includes meal and drinks both or happy hour drinks access. Above pricing includes full board i.e. only meals. Depending on your choice of property your majority expenditure will be decided. In case if you go for a full stay at a beach villa it will come around INR 100,000 and a full water villa stay around INR 150,000 with around 20% standard deviation for 4N/5D Some good options Some of the good resorts that you can pick from are – Centara Ras Resorts, Kuramathi, Sun Siyam villu reef, Adaaran club, Kihaa, Ohuveli resorts among many others. Ensure to check the food menu and water sport activities beforehand. You can also drop a mail for the same and the resort representative will share the details with you. We finalized Centara Ras Fushi and we returned elated with our choice. Its hospitality had been outstanding and worth every penny. Right from the time we reached Centara Ras, the housekeeping staff was standing for our welcome, and even when we left, the whole staff was there to escort us, and it was not just for us, it was a time routine. We were visiting after the first Covid wave in November 2020 and all resorts were struggling with a shortage of staff. We saw the property manager picking plates as they were running short on staff during all meals. Among all this, there was one more coincidence we met one of my collegiate and friend who was visiting at the same time. One thing that went in our favor was the temperature. Given its geographical location, we expected to etch sun rays however we got rains during peak afternoon cooling the weather and leaving us with cool sunsets. In the whole experience what left us dissatisfied was the scuba diving cost, it was exorbitant. The experience was good but not valuable for money. We have seen people question if you are going to spend time in a resort why not pick a luxurious resort in Goa or any place near to the beach in India? And that is a valid point if your objective is to have a good time with the company, roam around, then yes, no point going to the Maldives. The only thing the Maldives is adding on top of the company is the disconnection from the rest of the world in the best summer place to be. If this is important for you then you have the answer if the Maldives is for you or not. Hope this was a good read and clarified your doubts related to Maldives. In case you have any queries reach us on social media, and will be happy to assist. Till next time – Adios!!

Time to look into the purse, bank balance, and credit card whether you will be visiting this year or next? Have a look, Greece dream may get fulfilled this year :) Greece is considered as one luxurious honeymoon destination in India and people prefer to spend lavishly given the occasion. In our case, it was the Greek experience that mattered. We tried our best to find a normal routine logistical arrangement. If I look at the overall break up, I believe the following sections will help you plan better: Transport (Reaching Greece and within Greece) Stay (Hotel, Airbnb) Transport: Plan Book Travel Repeat The most important factor for transportation is your travel dates, Greece hits its peak season during summers (Mar – June) and if you want a less crowded yet enjoyable time, prefer late August – Early September. Start with Skyscanner and you will find suitable flights and prices for your travel from your country to Greece Internal flights are best booked through Skyscanner, our preference was to consider air travel over ferries but that is again a personal choice. For island hopping in the second and third leg, we leveraged letsferry.com for our bookings. There are multiple sites and we found comparative pricing and suitable timing from the site. We booked a month in advance and the following was the cost breakup: New Delhi – Athens (Air): This was our round trip and we paid INR 77,828 ~ EUR 1,000 Athens – Mykonos (Air): Volotea flight thoughtfully booked for late-night travel INR 14,200 ~ EUR 182 Mykonos – Folegandros (Sea): Seajets ferry and we shelled INR 7650 ~ EUR 98 Folegandros – Santorini (Sea): Again, Seajets ferry and cost same as above INR 7650~ EUR 98 Santorini – Athens (Air): As for the final stint we went ahead with the flight and paid INR 17500~ EUR 224 One challenge with sea travel is, ferry routes are dynamic and keep on changing till the time you board. So even if your reservation clearly states it is going to take xx hours for your journey, it can be less than that time or more than the stipulated time by a factor of 4 or 5. We were informed Mykonos to Folegandros is a 4-hour journey however it took us 8 hours as the route was modified (for a seasick person like me, it was one horrible journey but I persevered somehow) Overall, we spent INR 125000 or EUR 1602 for two in major transportation Logistically, the most important thing today as you land on foreign soil is communication so as soon as you are in Greece and moving out of Airport, get yourself a local sim card. Vodafone services are very good, and we were happy with the connectivity we got. We paid around EUR 20 and got ourselves a data pack with some local call options. The data pack was enough to survive our trip without using social sites extensively. For your intra-island or Athens transportation need, some of the renting companies like Avis or local operators accept Indian driving licenses as is. However, if you want to be doubly sure, you can get International Driver Permit from your RTO. So, we got ourselves a comfy Fiat Panda on EUR 50 approx. with insurance and paid EUR 15 approx. on fuel for a single day. Rental charges are similar when you are hiring a car on an island. Another option is you can go for public transportation which is frequent, economical, and comfortable (40-seater Volvo buses) and the catch is, they operate on a fixed route and are time-bound. We did not find any challenge on public transport on islands as the frequency was good and the schedule is available on charts at common places throughout. Volvo charges a max of 10 EUR and on an average 5 EUR per person. Stay: What happens in Greece, stays in Greece Hands down our first and last priority were to book through Airbnb, and we found some great and some good options throughout. Of course, Mykonos, Santorini hotels would have been a jewel in stay but that was not our priority after we checked how exorbitantly they charge. It was a payoff we were willing to ignore. Athens: We preferred to stay near the historic landmarks in Athens which had good public transportation connectivity and circled down to Thissio / Thiseio as it was at a walkable distance from Acropolis and metro both. We found this lovely apartment which was very cozy and had a great neighborhood. We paid INR 6300 ~ EUR 80 for a two-night stay Mykonos: It was a hard find and little compromise booking as everything we looked for was very pricey and after much deliberation, we decided to stay a little far from all the action and in compensation we got access to private beach (YaaaY!!). Comparatively, it was the most expensive stay on the Greece trip. We locked onto this property, it was secluded and required public transport hopping or you can leverage a car on rent for travel. We paid INR 13100 ~ EUR 168 for a two-night stay. Folegandros: The beauty of this secluded small island is you don’t have to spend time on secondary research. We decided to stay near the main hub of the town which is well connected throughout the island. Our Airbnb host at this place was very cordial and ensured we had a good stay. We had to shell out INR 8100 ~ EUR 103 for a two-night stay. Santorini: In terms of compromise, we settled for very little here, though the property was extraordinary however it was very far off from the main events/attractions, we were walking 2 Kms one way to reach the bus stand and 2 bus stops away from the main market. As we were staying only for a night, we were very picky in terms of what to see and what to skip. This place charged us INR 5000 ~ 64 EUR for a night. It was a boutique hotel, but it was good. So overall we spent INR 32,500 or EUR 415 on accommodation. Overall, 80% of the spend was INR 161,000 or EUR 2080 for our six days itinerary. Ball is in your court whether Greece will see you there or not. By the way, to read more about Greece, you can go through this links from the site: Greece : Mesmerizing land of Aegean Sun Dine and Wine in Greece

Transcending from Rajasthan to Gujarat can be an eye-opener experience. We had heard so much about fluid roads of Gujarat, however, our experience was a complete 180 degrees opposite. We never expected so bumpy roads while entering Gujarat from Jaisalmer towards Bhuj. Though highways were “Work in progress” around Bhuj but coming from Rajasthan, our expectations were at an all-time high and so was the disappointment level. Sitting on many crown jewels, Gujarat has numerous reasons for tourists to pour and celebrate its man-made as well as natural marvels. This is where you feel the struggle of what to cover and what to skip. Given our constraints, we had Diu as the last stop so the whole itinerary was planned such. Quick Links: Food Options Stay Options Spend Breakup And the trip continues: Day Wise Itinerary Day 5: Land of Kutch – “Kuch din to bitao Gujarat me” astonishingly simple yet powerful advertising by Gujarat tourism keeps on playing in your mind as soon as you move towards Kutch. Kutch festival extends from Dec till Feb every year and at every turn, one will see promotional hoardings/entrances while crossing swamps on way to Kutch. It is suggested to plan in a way to reach Kutch around 1:00 PM and still be able to enjoy all things and if you reach earlier than that, you will be tired by sunset (weather is too hot and humid) even at the end of December. Kutch's visit can be segregated into four segments. and most of the time we kept on roaming in between Segment II and Segment IV throughout. Segment I – Tent City, Dhordo The first man-made structure that you will come across will be Tent City, Dhordo a magnificent temporary yet luxurious structure in Kutch where people stay back to enjoy white sand lands. They are highly expensive and confined only for the people with prebooking or booking for a stay. You can maximum go till the entrance and car parking. Segment II – National Trade Fair and Food Bazaar Please do not confuse Tent city with the Kutch festival as only after crossing the tent city, the beauty of Kutch and its festival begins. You will have to enter the restricted area as this is very near to the border so permissions are required (it can be applied online to avoid waiting in the queue through this link). Just after the barrier, there is a setup similar on lines of “International Trade Fair” with multiple outlets below one roof, and adjacent to it is the food corner. Food options are average to good (nothing will be amazing but good enough to fill tummy). Gujarat govt. is heavily promoting local tourism and it dedicates one section to growing tourist locations like Statue of Unity, Narmada river camping among others. The shopping arena is good and economical. You can shop from clothes to house decor, handmade to machine-made, stitched to unstitched everything is available in the fair. You can even try your bargaining prowess as well. Segment III – Fun Activities and Cultural events The next section after the trade fair is some more campsites and adventurous activities like ATVs, jeep-led paragliding. A temp stage has also been constructed for cultural activities which start around sunset time, Segment IV – White sand beauty This is where the road ends and on the horizon is nothing but white salt and nothing else. Govt has built a four-story podium for people to enjoy the picturesque beauty from atop. One can walk on the sand swamps but has to be very cautious as at places swamps tend to cave in and you may land deep into the marsh. Hence not at all places can venture one into the salt marsh. It's better to observe people and decide where one can venture into the white lands. In Segment IV there are multiple activities like horse riding, camel riding, and buddy ride one can try. Do try snacks and shakes here, it's amazing. Around Segment III, there is space to venture with cars (on the west side, and makes a perfect spot for sunset) however think twice before venturing deep onto salt land as many cars/travelers get stuck in marshland. We observed more than 10 cars being plowed or pushed to just get out of the swamp muds. Around sunset, the beauty level magnifies to 100x and as soon as darkness takes over, electrical decorations all along the road leading to marshes are astonishing and will force you to take the camera out. Kutch tents from appearance were nothing like Jaisalmer tents and extremely expensive, so we decided to stay back in Bhuj. Therefore, when we were done and dusted, we went back to Bhuj. However, it is totally up to you, where to hold your ground, if you are interested in sunrises, you would like to stay back in tents nearby. Day 6: It's Relaxing, It's Beach: This was more of a relaxing day as we tried to avoid heavy-duty traveling and get some rest by enjoying the sunny side of the beach. There are multiple options to explore, around Kutch there is a lake and Bhuj fort (going under some serious renovation in Dec 2020) that can be explored. Considering our options, we opted for a beach i.e. Mandawi beach with unrealistic sunset in the Gulf of Kutch. It is at max 2 hours drive from Bhuj and the roads are good but not great. Mandawi beach is not like a typical Goa beach however it offers some good snacks and water sport activities. They are very general but quite appealing to the local audience. If this is your first time on beachside sports, do try out Thar/Jeep motorized parasailing. It is fun and gives immense pleasure when sailing right next to the ocean, sun, and windmills (though non-operational). Beach is not very clean and tourists do not take responsibility for keeping a public beach clean which at times is disgusting however as you move along with the beach, after covering some distance crowd will be left behind and bringing in the beauty Around mid-evening, we were back to Bhuj and spent the rest of the day with good food and great company. Day 7: Roads of Gir and Diu Glance: After a refresher day, we were all set to leave for our final stop, Diu. We again left early in the morning with a light breakfast. We planned to reach Diu by lunchtime however we got excited when we learned that we might cross Gir in between and decided to go for a jungle safari. Google maps took us to roads which were interior of Gir forest, we got lost and spent hours traversing jungle roads at 10kmph. Thankfully, we were put on track by a group of local lads on our route to Diu. After spending more than 3 hours in Gir with few sightings of deers and bad roads, we were back on road to Diu. It was around 4 PM when we reached Diu, roads were pathetic from Bhuj to Diu (or maybe Google maps took us for a hellish ride). Inside Diu, everything was different as if the city was charged up and decorated better than a Royal fort. All these preparations were done for the Indian President visiting the UT during the Christmas days. Diu was given a shape lift overnight and it looked like a gem as the sunset approached. We had our supper and quickly freshened up and went on to Nagoa beach that was nearby. The Beachline has a walking path slightly similar to Mumbai’s Marine Drive that looks so amazing in the evening and people were having a family get-together to have picnics around the path with sealine singing melodies in the backdrop. To our astonishment, we reached the end of Nagao beach where we found a beeline of snack centers and a lot of recently inaugurated seaside food eateries, and the whole street decorated with Christmas lights. We were teleported to whole another world in Diu, even though we were tired to our core, we spent more than three hours just roaming on the streets and enjoying delicious snacks. Diu has that European touch and you get similar vibes as soon as you step into Diu. Day 8: Exploits of Diu: We started our day with a visit to Naida caves to explore it in tranquillity. These caves hold historic importance as they provided natural cover and shield to the Indian army to overcome the Portuguese army in annexing Diu. These caves are photogenic and provide amazing background to have some amazing clicks. Though cave restoration is always a work in progress be wary of roaming in places marked for no entry. Also, as there is a minimal charge so maintenance is on the lower side, and dark corners will be full of mosquitoes so carry a mosquito repellent with you. Our next stop was INS Khukri Memorial that was very recently renovated for mass gatherings and public events. To our luck, President inaugurated that place a night ago. The transformation was surreal in comparison to the photos that Google had before the new upgrade. INS Khukri’s scaled model is amazing and covered by hard glass making it visible yet untouchable for the audience. On all sides of the glass, you can read about Indian heroes that were part of the INS Khukri crew. Though the sun was shining in its full glory, every moment spent there exploring the rocks around the memorial was worth it. With the temperature rising, our next stop was to relax on the beachside. Of some great beaches, we finalized on Goghla beach as it was clean, less rocky, and less crowded. Recently it was given a shape lift and it now has the cleanest changing and shower area that we had ever seen in India. We spent a good few hours enjoying ourselves on a sunny beach before we left to call it off. Our next stop was Radhika beach, however on reaching that beach we found it was a waste of time, the beach was really dirty and had a heavy stink of fish. So we went towards Nagao beach while enjoying sunset en route. There is a sunset point just along the roadside, giving a perfect over the hill view of the Arabian Sea. Sunset experience from here is enthralling and surprisingly beautiful. Day 9: And the descend began: It was time now to return to the nest, and we began early in the morning as we missed an important monument in Diu – The Diu fort. We went again with Google maps which mentioned that the fort opens early in the morning around 6:00 AM however on reaching the fort we found it was not open for business. It was very disappointing as we were looking forward to spending some time in the fort. We altered our plan and decided to watch the sunrise from the outskirts of the fort. Diu fort has rugged hills overlooking the sea and the terrain is graded. It is different from all other locations we have been to. Throughout the trip we only spent time looking at the sun setting after a day’s travel, now we were able to start our day with the sun rising as we start our journey back. We planned to reach Mt Abu/Udaipur by end of the day so most of the day we were traveling via pathetic state roads. Till Ahmedabad, we were just praying for the road nightmare to end. You will not find any good options for food from Diu till Ahmedabad, so we suggest you pack along something before starting the journey. The only food options available were limited to Gujarati fried snacks. It was only in Ahmedabad where we could find decent food and a place to sit. Post heavy lunch we were back on road and reached Abu road just a little over sunset where we stayed the night. Day 10: Fort roads and glimpse of home We again left early and reached Chittorgarh fort mid-morning. Astonishingly, all the forts we visited on this trip are unique, different, and amazing at the same time. Just like Jaisalmer fort, it’s a living fort. You can apply online or pay at the entry, and again like any other Rajasthan Fort, you will be swarmed by guides or pretend guides. Selecting a guide is a personal choice. All the noteworthy places inside the fort, like King’s palace, Queen’s palace among others are approachable by vehicle, and google maps are near perfect. Chittorgarh fort proudly promotes their royalty. Queen Padmavati belonged to this heritage. Fort has lineage and heritage that is visible from every stone in the fort. Inside the fort's museum ancestry has been beautifully explained. It is worth going through the details to learn how Rajasthan got what it has. At the bottom (near the entry and exit) of the fort, you will find restaurants offering authentic local delicacies and they are all worth a try. After brunch, we resumed our journey back home. We took a night halt in Jaipur and resumed our journey to a place called "home" the next day. Food Options: Gujarati snacks like Dhokla and Thepla are some of their gifts to the world and we do enjoy them (sorry but our inclination is more towards Rajasthani delicacies) so we went with basic food and easy accessibility: Bhuj: Our stay had amazing food offering so did not explore much outside except for Domino’s Pizza Kutch: In Kutch, food options are limited and as mentioned in Segment II you will get multi snack multi cuisine food at this place. Diu: Diu is a small UT and there are some very good restaurants. Our first option was O’coqueiro where we had lunch, food was amazing as well as the ambiance, but a little pricey. Food shacks at the end of the Nagao beach were also good, try the drinks and snacks. We also tried the food at Hotel Sea View Bar and Restaurant and it was not worth it. Neither the ambiance nor food. Ahmedabad: There is no end to food options in a metro city, you can try as per the food liking, we ended up at Crush Coffee and Burger king en route Chittorgarh: When in Rajasthan, Dal Bhaati Choorma is a must. We did not spend time searching for a good restaurant however luckily we got a good option at the fort exit. You will find people distributing restaurant pamphlets in the fort and they will accompany you till the time you have made a decision. We opted for Rajasthan Restaurant and we were happy with the our choice both on flavour and pocket. Stay Options: Bhuj: Bhuj has good hotels due to its industrial complex, we were in the mood of little luxury so we went ahead with Regenta Resort. It is an amazing resort, though our rooms were not that good due to their small size. Other than that we had no complaint with the resort. Food is next level, location is good, it have hilltop swimming pool overlooking Bhuj and then the best thing: It has "10 Hole" Mini golf course which we enjoyed thoroughly. We also spent another night at Tulsi Residency and it was also strategically located for our itinerary, rooms are good and the food is also good. Diu: We chose to go ahead with Rainbow Resort, its façade perfectly hides the package, and as soon as you are inside it gets incredible at all levels. There is a swimming pool in the center with a huge glass-top aquarium around the pool. Abu Road: During our return journey we took a halt. We opted for Hotel The Hind and found it cost effective stay with good food. Jaipur: We opted for Airbnb in Jaipur and got an amazing 2BHK apartment with all amenities and excellent upkeep. The hosts were amazing and cordial (unfortunately it’s no more listed on Airbnb) Spend Breakup: Our journey spend totaled up to INR 80k for this trip for three Fuel spend: We spend around INR 15.5k on fuel and INR2.5k on tolls during this journey Stay spend: One of the major cost head and we spent around INR45k where we mostly had two rooms and out of this INR 20k were spent in Bhuj (Regenta Resort) where we had three rooms. Misc spend: Misc in this case included food, beach sport activities and souvenirs After 10 days, 5 cities, 3250 KMs, multiple places, and countless memories wrapped one of our longest road trips across west India. Transitioning back to routine life gets difficult when you conclude such an amazing trip. Till next time!! Stay Safe and Travel, Mi Amor!!

Irresistible hidden beauty spreading warmth through sunshine Another jewel that must be covered when in Kashmir is the land of golden mountain aka Sonamarg. Its name is derived from the first sunlight that turns the mountain golden hence the whole valley is called Sonamarg. Sonamarg is around two to two and a half-hour drive from Srinagar depending on what time you leave. As again we request you to leave around 7:30 – 8:00 in the morning to enjoy locations with a thinner crowd (something we learned is a good thing during Covid-19) There is a saying that it's not the destination but the journey, which is better, however, in this case, Sonamarg proves this statement wrong. Sonamarg valley is now attracting more and more crowds as the last scenes of “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” were shot here (some of the scenes were shot in Pahalgam as well). Reaching Sonamarg Sonamarg, situated in the northeast of Srinagar also acts as a gateway to paradise lands of Ladakh. Sonamarg has multiple hotels located on the bank of the Sind river and very few public food eateries. When you reach Sonamarg it will not feel like a destination as it’s a moving road and you are sitting on one corner and thinking is this it? Have we reached? But then if you observe closely you see ponies, snow bikes, and then everything starts making sense. Struggles here are the same as in Gulmarg. (attach a photo here) Things to cover Few tourist points have been identified and marked for everyone’s convenience. Locals call them base 1 is “Suicide point and “Sonamarg base” then at the second level is “Thajivas glacier” then little ahead is water stream and we heard about the cave as well but our guide said that was closed ( not sure whether it was true or not). When you are in these locations you get ample time to spend with snow-laden land, mesmerizing mountains and fun activities like skiing, sled rides, here sled slopes are bigger than Gulmarg, so do have fun sled rides as seen in western movies, cartoons, it makes more sense here. (attach a photo here) You can reach these points either by trekking or ponies. Pony rise will cost you around 1000-1500 INR (heavy bargain required) Keep things in mind: One very important fact is, at the tourist locations on the top, there is no public convenience available, so it is better to have tummy and bladder check done at the parking spot. Unlike Gulmarg, all the hotels, restaurants get closed if there has been snowfall or prediction of heavy snowfall in the next few days, so booking your stay in Sonamarg can be risky. It is better to book your accommodation for Sonamarg (if you are planning to stay) only when you are in Kashmir. We found Country Inn by Radisson only hotel open in Sonamarg valley for the time we were there and it was also closing operations as heavy snowfall was predicted the day after. Sonamarg is also starting point for many Kashmir treks like Kashmir great lakes, Vishansar trek among others. Good luck to you all trekking lovers, hope you find an amazing adventure on your visits. That’s all folks for Sonamarg. Time to move to next destination. You can read about the rest of the locations from the following links: Gulmarg: Land from Frozen Pahalgam: Adventurous soul of Kashmir Hidden gems of Kashmir Srinagar : Roti, Kapda aur aap Kashmir: Planning your trip Piousness of Kashmir

One place that is synonymous with Kashmir Valley - Gulmarg Gulmarg is one of the top skiing destinations in India and hosts many international competitions. It is a must-see for everyone visiting Kashmir. There are some divine places on earth and when you visit these places, you are left speechless. You spend a few minutes wondering “Is this real?” and then the chill in the air will bring you back to your senses. Gulmarg is nature’s way of making you believe in heaven. A place where you can sit back and watch a landscape unfold in front of your eyes. There are high chances when you are here in January, you will experience snowfall and you observe snowflakes making their way into your hands and you observe closely those flakes slowly melting into one another. This soft snow and light crunch below your feet as you move is music to ears. You walk, run, and fall and you forget about time. Reaching Gulmarg: Gulmarg is approx. two, two, and a half-hour drive from Srinagar. If you have booked a cab from Srinagar, there is a hidden catch, a taxi from Srinagar will take you to Tanamarg first. Depending on the weather, if it is snowing, you will have to change taxi and get a new taxi which will take you from Tanamarg to Gulmarg. You can either opt for a private taxi, for which taxi driver will start from INR 2000 and it can be brought down by hard negotiations (and do negotiate) or you can collaborate with other couples/tourists. As time passes, crowd size will grow, and you will experience peak crowd around 1-2 PM. So, if you start early in the day around 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM you will find a thin crowd on the top. Also, at Tanamarg, some shops will provide you an extra layer of a jacket, and gumboots at around 200-350 INR (if you are paying INR 300 or above, negotiate). You will need an additional clothing layer only if there is too much snow in Gulmarg. Else you can just take boots, however, boots are recommended if your shoes are not waterproof as there are high chances that you will get snow inside your shoes and you will have a lot of traveling to do. Challenges and having comfortable time in Gulmarg: The story of Gulmarg is like sugar for ants. However, there are a few things you must know. Firstly, cab drivers will ask you to hire a guide that will help you have a good time in Gulmarg. Guide, at very basic, will fulfill the following responsibilities: 1. Get a gondola ticket for you by getting in line (Only getting ticket service, ticket prices will be borne by you) 2. Click pictures and videos for you 3. Tell you what sport and ride you can do 4. Stick with you on your entire stay in Gulmarg (if you are there for a day and returning by evening) For this service, Guide will charge INR500-600. Guide services are not that essential however every other person will convince you that you should get one. In the end, it is your opinion to get a Guide or not. Journey to Gulmarg A taxi from Srinagar / Tanamarg will take you to a parking spot (let's call it Phase 0). As soon as you are outside the cab, you will be hoarded by sled owners, local photographers, street hawkers among others. You are proudly welcomed to land “Paradisio”. As you start walking towards the valley, you will find Gulmarg hotel chains on your left and a huge golf course on your right. As you walk for another 1-1.5 km you will reach the Gondola bookings counter. Gondola opens around 10:30 – 11:00 AM and its charge is around INR 750 it will take you to Phase I and Phase II. Phase II is not that frequently open, however, if you find it open then surely visit Phase II (charges are around INR 1000) as there is a thinner crowd and a better time for why you are visiting Kashmir. Also, if you get clear skies, you can see neighbors’ bunkers with help of binoculars. From the parking lot to the Gondola ticketing center, you can travel by foot, sled or ATV. For sled, price ranges from 1000-3000 INR and ATV will cost around 2500-4500 INR (we recommend you to bargain heavily at every point) On reaching Phase I, again local people will bombard you with different snow activities. Following are the activities which you will find at least: Skiing (Hardly 100-150m skiing on flat land, with support for 10-15 min). Charges are around INR 800-INR 1000. Our rating: 6.5/10, and try out skiing at a location away from the crowd for a better experience, you may find your calling) Sled ride: Same as Phase 0 and charges are around INR 400- INR 650.Our rating: 2/10, there is better sled experience in Sonamarg. If you are unable to walk then only go for this option Snow bike ride: This will be a good experience as they allow you to drive as well, and you may not experience it in any other location in India. Charges are around INR 800 – INR 1600. Our rating: 8/10, one of the must-have experience All three activities are within a 1-1.5km range, depending on the snow levels. One thing you must know for all three activities is the tactics of the service offeror. They are very seasoned and will ask for very steep prices. For example, in Snow bike ride there is one shorter and one longer route and they will show a standard rate chart of around INR 1000 and INR 2000. Do not ever agree to their first price as they are more than what you should pay. So negotiate and re-negotiate well As far as Phase II goes, we were unlucky as Gondolas were non-operational for Phase II. However, we heard Phase II has a nice restaurant and an amazing ski destination. Apart from these activities, you can enjoy Maggi and other limited menu items at countable outlets with sitting arrangements. And yes, there is a restroom available. Apart from these things, find an undisturbed corner, relax and enjoy a beautiful view of your heart’s desire. If you have hired a guide he will keep pushing you to end the tour and head back, however it's your time and you should enjoy it. If you reached around 11:00 AM then we believe you will be able to head back around 2:30 – 3:00 PM. On reaching Tanamarg, you can cover one more destination that is Drang waterfall also known as Frozen waterfall which is in another direction from Gulmarg and takes about 15-20 min to reach. Drang waterfall is an amazing site (attach a photo here). During winters, it gives vibes of being in a distant land. And you just want to sit and watch the water turn into icicles and still manage to stay in liquid form at another place. You can do a little hike or you can just sit back, relax and have a photography session. All the images that we have captured are from the first or second snowfall at the location. Just imagine how it will look like when Kashmir valley has experienced more snowfalls. Surreal!! As you head back to Tanamarg, you can have a meal there or in Srinagar. If you are looking for food options in Srinagar, read more about it from our Srinagar blog and you will not be disappointed. Read about what else to do when in Kashmir: Pahalgam: Adventurous soul of Kashmir Sonamarg: Land of Golden Mountain Hidden gems of Kashmir Srinagar : Roti, Kapda aur aap Kashmir: Planning your trip Piousness of Kashmir Have a great read. Travel, Mi Amor.

If you have heard about the famous “Amarnath Shrine” then you might have heard about Pahalgam, as it is the base for Amarnath shrine visitors. All the way: When you start your journey from Srinagar, before you reach Pahalgam you will find many hidden gems en route. Starting with the Saffron land of Kashmir. You will cover the infamous Pampore district which is the Saffron capital of India, in the Summer months you can see Saffron flowers in the laid out fields clearly but winters are for sowing and preparing for harvest. Just after crossing Pampore, you will cover Avantipore, which hosts temple ruins dated 9th century – “The Avanthiswami Temple”. These temples are easily accessible by road and they are magnificent even today. From the temple ruins, you can easily imagine how grandeur these temples would have been in their time. The entrance of the temple is the majority of the structure standing as of today and these temple structures are completely different from what we have seen anywhere else in India. Generally, these temples are not visited that frequently so you can cover them very easily in less than 45 mins. After you have crossed Awantipore, another destination with a similar vibe is Anantnag Martand Sun temple, and you can reach it by taking a very small detour (approx. 5-6 km). Martand temples date back to the 8th century. In case you are short on time, prefer Martand Sun temple over Avantipore. The Lidder Valley is also en route to Pahalgam and it runs parallel to the highway to Pahalgam. For those interested, one can take a short break and spend some time on the curves of the river. Pahalgam : Chapter I Your vantage point in Pahalgam is the local taxi stand. Hotels, local viewpoints, restaurants are all located near to it. As you start your journey to a tete-a-tete with nature in Pahalgam, you will see there are about 8-10 places that you can visit, if you want to cover them on foot it is a mixture of trekking and lots of walking on a treacherous path, so if you are a trekking junkie this is nothing short of small heaven for you and it will take an almost full day to explore all the places. Yes, you will be elbowed and forced by horse/pony owners to go for a ride rather than walking and it will take a lot of willpower to say no to them all. They can be very persuasive and sticky. Now if you choose for a horse/pony ride, then again it will take 5-6 hours to cover all the places, and though you can pick and choose your locations, at the least, covering important ones is going to take 3-4 hours. One place that you should not miss in Pahalgam is Baisaran valley, locally known as “Mini Switzerland” it’s like as shown in the photograph below with endless valley with pine trees as boundary and shadows of faraway mountains. Advisory: If you choose for pony/horse, you will experience the same thing as all other places, prices quoted by them, irrespective of viewpoints (valleys), will be exorbitant and you will sarcastically laugh for sure. So go by the rule of 50%, where at the very least you should ask for a 50% reduction in the price. If you bring prices lower than 50% that means you have good negotiation skills. Now pony ride in Pahalgam is one adventure sport with little risk involved, so trust your guide and follow their instructions for a safe and happy trip. Pahalgam tourist spots are very beautiful when they are snow-laden. In absence of snow these locations come out generic and not worthy, so we will suggest in case there has been no snowfall at the time of you reaching there, do not take the pain of covering all the spots. Pick one or two and that will be enough to experience Pahalgam. You will not find any public convenience in any of the tourist spots here so again be sure that you have done the bladder check before embarking on the journey ( some restaurants or public conveniences can be found at the start of the journey) Eating joints are very limited here, you can try Punjab restaurant which offers quick service and average food. Or you can try Maggi/Tea from the small temp outlets at tourist spots on your tour. Pahalgam: Chapter II From Pahalgam taxi stand, You can further visit Aru valley, Betaab valley, and Chandanwari ( another base camp for Amarnath yatra). If you are traveling via a private vehicle then you are permitted to take your vehicle however if you are on a commercial vehicle then you will have to hire a new commercial vehicle from Pahalgam Taxi Stand. A Commercial vehicle with the least price here is Maruti Omni and then it goes till tempo traveler depending on your group size. Prices are standard for these hired vehicles, it is recommended to hire from taxi stand only. Chandanwari and Betaab valley are on the same route whereas Aru valley is on a different route. Due to time constraints, and failure in our planning we had to drop Aru valley and we went ahead with Betaab and Chandanwari. Chandanwari came across as one of the exquisite locations of our trip as we encountered snow and very low temperatures, though we did not reach the main entrance of Chandanwari as the road was slippery with snow so we took a short walk till there and had some good time enjoying the valley and snow. On our return, we observed Betaab valley from a height and as there was snow fall in the Betaab valley it looked like an exotic garden our tuning with Betaab did not set on the same frequency so we dropped it as well ( it was around 6 PM and the sun was setting so did not make sense for us to visit Betaab late in the night). Though we were not able to visit Aru valley, we recommend that you visit this valley. In our research, we found Aru valley as a must-see place owing to its beautiful landscape and picture-perfect environment. Read more about Kashmir Gulmarg: Land from Frozen Sonamarg: Land of Golden Mountain Hidden gems of Kashmir The Srinagar Jewel Srinagar : Roti, Kapda aur aap Kashmir: Planning your trip Piousness of Kashmir