BY SHIKHA
Howdy! If you’ve come here hunting for me, I am delighted. If you haven’t and just stumbled upon my blog looking for some insights on travel, I’d say ‘Thank You’ for stopping by! A full-time features writer and lifestyle journalist since past nine years, I’ve always had a knack for writing. You may have come … Read more THE STORY BEHIND SOUL-SEARCHING JOURNEYS
India Outbound Magazine, July-August, 2017 – Lucerne – Where Every Vista is A Postcard (Lucerne, Switzerland) India Outbound Magazine, July-August, 2017 – High on Honeymoon (Barossa Valley, South Australia) Times Life, July 2, 2017 – Say Cheese, Drink Hay (Swiss Food) Times Life, July 2, 2017 – Fitcation on the Beach (Santa Monica) Times Life, … Read more PORTFOLIO
Got some travel inspiration here? Like the way I travel? Overwhelmed with the all the travel-related information available on the web? Don’t want to go around a destination with a typical touristy itinerary, but finding it too tedious to plan a trip on your own? I am here to customise an itinerary for you, depending … Read more YOUR ITINERARY DESIGNER
Touring Europe by rail is romantic, inspiring, and if you’re travelling for the first time, a bit complicated. You get to the station and hop on the right train? No, it isn’t that easy. When it comes to European trains, you need to plan in advance and take a series of decisions before you step on the train, and this is likely to make you feel dizzy! So, before you dream of taking in the unmatched scenery from your cosy compartment, here’s what you must know Read more
A jungle safari (or many) is definitely on the top of your list when visiting one of the most beautiful national parks of India – Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh – and it should be so, unquestionably. But while chasing the call of the wild, you’re likely to miss out on the little delights the nearby villages dole out.
While the trend of ‘do it like a local’ isn’t going anywhere, I list down some meaningful experiences to make sure your trip to Kanha is etched in your memory for all the right reasons. And the best part? Your phone doesn’t work at most locations. That’s a sure sign you need to “switch off” from the chaotic city life!
Put up in a Gond-inspired hut
You’re never going to feel like a local if you’re staying in an apartment-style hotel, no matter how luxe the rooms and facilities may be. Instead, put up in a cottage inspired by traditional Gond (Adivasi people of central India) architecture, made using locally available materials such as mud plaster, stone, terracotta tiles and rough-hewn timber beams.
Cool, cultured and casual are the words that aptly describe South Australia’s capital city – Adelaide. When here, keep these at the top of your list
LET A BAMBOO TREECYCLE TAKE YOU AROUND
These eco-friendly bicycle tours (starting $5) are cheaper than catching a bus, train, or taxi
When in Adelaide, travel slow, literally. How about going around the city in an eco-friendly passenger bike built from bamboo? The treecycle is run by young, fit and charismatic home-grown caddies who know the city well and promise to show you around with all their passion, providing interesting insights now and then. All you got to do is download the Eco Caddy app and choose your favourite caddy to pick you up. With Adelaide being the 20-minute city – it’s called so as everything is pretty close and easy to get to – with a flat terrain, it’s perfect for bike rides. Plus, there’s so much buzz that if you move through it too quickly, you’re likely to miss out on the fun. When travelling in this treecycle, you can easily hop on and hop off wherever you like!
GET ON THAT ROOF
If you’re a cricket-loving Indian, you’re definitely in for one of the most exhilarating adventures at the picturesque test cricket ground – Adelaide Oval. Register for a 2-hour guided climb across the stadium’s unique roofline, put on your suit and safety harness and enjoy stunning views of Adelaide, stretching out to the Adelaide Hills on one side and the coast on the other. Or book an evening climb to see the city bathed in magical twilight glow. At the end of the tour, you not only return with an achievement certificate and a printed snap for memory, but also knowing a lot more about the city. Read more
… heed the call. Every summit in the bucolic country offers a unique slice of Swiss bliss
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity
― John Muir, Our National Parks
They say you have to climb up a large mountain to appreciate how small you are and Switzerland offers ample towering mountains for you to explore the world outside and the one within you. You cannot help but marvel at their breathtaking beauty. Whatever the season, you have the opportunity to appreciate unspoiled nature at its best – dainty wild flowers, dramatic rock faces, cascading waterfalls, snowy peaks, fresh and pure mountain air and a unique feeling of calm and tranquility…
Mt Säntis
Seeking a pleasurable high-altitude excursion? Head to the hamlet of Schwägalp that’s a favourite with the locals.
What you see are mammoth mountains enclosing you and free-roaming goats and cows dotting the lush green landscape while nibbling on fresh grass. Ride a cable car that departs every 30 mins up to the peak of Mt. Säntis. At 8,209 ft, it is the highest mountain in eastern Switzerland. The very shape of the summit— an arc of jutting rock that swings up to the jagged peak housing the station — is spectacular. In perfect weather conditions, you can get a 360 degree view of five other countries – Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France and Italy – all at the same time!
If you’re visiting the US capital for the first time, it can be tough to sort through the maze of its must-see sites. Go beyond-the-norm and do DC just like a local
Lincoln Memorial? Check. Smithsonian troves? Done. National Zoo? Clicked a selfie with the pandas. But there is a lot more to do in DC beyond visiting its astonishing museums and historical sites. Have you had a bite of the very bucolic Georgetown’s famed cupcakes or flicked through 500 years of news history at the Newseum? If you haven’t, here are a few unusual things to do when in Washington DC. This way you won’t wind up ensnared in queues for most of your trip.
GEORGETOWN
Washington’s oldest and wealthiest neighborhood, Georgetown, can be divided into four sections – the marketplace along M Street, the university, the historic residential neighborhood where miniature cottages stand side by side with rambling mansions, and the waterfront. Stroll or bike along the tree-lined paths that offer wonderful views of the Potomac river, indulge in some serious designer retail therapy, step into the town’s past with a visit to Tudor Place, a Federal-style mansion of the Custis-Peter family, or spend an evening enjoying sunset drinks aboard a cruise. You won’t regret a visit to Dumbarton Oaks. The lovely oasis boasts of galleries filled with Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and European art, as well as acres of meticulously tended historic gardens. You can easily spend a day in Georgetown as the vivid street scene invites you to linger.
In the hilly, pre-Alpine landscape set against the imposing backdrop of the Alpstein Massif by Lake Constance, St. Gallen is a place where the air is still pure, grass meticulously trimmed, green and lush and stress is a relatively unknown concept. In other words, it’s the perfect place to take time out of your hectic schedule and just be on your own timetable.
A STEP BACK IN TIME
When in St Gallen, you’re just an hour away from Zurich yet far away from city vibes. Spend a day walking at your leisure, admiring its one-of-a-kind architecture you get to see at every turn.
Whether it’s a latte you’re after or a double shot of espresso, there’s no shortage of independent cafes in Dubai to satisfy your every coffee urge. With the help of Kim Thompson, one half of home-grown roastery Raw Coffee Company, I bring you spots you can head to when you’re in need of a caffeine fix. Be part of our burgeoning cafe culture of Dubai!
1. Try everything on the menu at The Brass
Lavender latte at The Brass
Tucked away in City Walk is this shiny new gem, which boasts one of the most extensive coffee menus in the city. They’ve got all the classics – latte, cappuccino et al – with a plethora of original blends, including Lavender Honey Latte, rosewater-infused white coffee, a dairy-free Coconut Latte … Aficionados can take it a step further and nominate how they want their coffee delivered: via French press, siphon, cold drip or pour-over.
Address: City Walk, Al Safa Road
