This That and The Other!

Back to my old address

2010-07-31T01:56:00.001+09:00

Sad though , coz i am just begging to realise how blogger is so much better than wordpress , but perhaps like my first love , I keep returning to the address where it all began.
so am back now talking about travel , movies , people , life and everything else at Conversations!
find me here theaddress.wordpress.com and let me know how your tete-a-tete was?

One Step at a time!!

2010-06-17T13:57:00.000+09:00

My very first published travelogue ...
http://getahead.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jun/15/slide-show-1-travel-dalhousie-is-a-walkers-paradise.htm

Hope its the first one of many more to come...

A Day At Old Fort

2010-04-02T21:22:00.001+09:00

Works not always hazardous to life . Sometimes on a sunday , work takes you to places that you always knew , existed in the city , but never really consciously visited them. Some moments captured on one such day . The sun , The Fog , An old fort and a new found enthusiasm.. all caught on my camera !

The Walker's Paradise

2010-04-01T16:05:00.059+09:00

Long walks , breathtaking views, fresh air and lots of food. Well. there .. I ve said it. The makings of a perfect holiday. And if that comes in as a birthday gift - well then , what a way to turn an yr 'more travelled' than that!

The best thing about Dalhousie is - that no one would tell you 'ten things you must do here'. coz other than walk around and have a Coffee/Softie/Momo at the MG road there's not much to the city - that finds a top slot in a tourist itinerary. Sometimes , the biggest surprise a city holds is when you land there with no agenda what so ever. And then go ahead and live off 3 days of your life with out one.

The only time we were forced to make "Think quick , cos this would be a life changing decision" during our entire stay ( and am not counting the times when we ordered for food ) was when we landed at the Pathankot station early morning and were looking out for a cab for the 2+ hours journey into the hills-" One could head to Dharamsala too" . Thankfully , we chose 'long walks' to 'trip down spirituality'.

It takes around 2 hours of scenic sights , plush hills , lil kids waving at you - kind of road journey before you hit the army cantt area , traversing through which you land at the city. Our hotel - the oldest and right next to where the action is ( The bus stand) - was everything we had imagined and a little more.

Old woodwork , vintage looking paintings , quaint little corners lit with lamps. The reception is right out of an old english movie and so were the Foggy views of Himalayas that you could see from the aptly named place.No wonder its rated as high as it was on tripadvisor and well , no wonder D chose this one over all others for our stay.

What's amazing about this tiny little town is , how it just starts and ends in a couple of miles. One can walk around and explore the entire city . so by the end of the day we arrived , we had cracked all possible ways to reach the MG Road from Shankar Chowk and window shopped at the old and newly revived janpath-like Tibetan markets. The obvious next thing to do was explore the 'around'.

All it took was a hilly drive and one was in The switzerland.. alrite alrite of east... supposedly, called Khaijjiar. A picnic spot of sorts - with a lot of greenary and a lake in the middle . I wasnt too impressed , but then every one who heads to dalhousie , does check this place out if one considers the number of people who were flocking the place.

We headed to Chamba from there , another hilly journey peppered with breathtaking sights right out of some travel and living show and in some cases - the popular bollywood movies of our times . We were told 'Taal' The movie was shot here .. and as evidence we got to see the place where supposedly Ash , stayed as the village dame.Yay!

Chamba , other than a huge ground thats used for an annual city fair and some temples and a museum with some old royal left - behinds , is essentially a small town with people that you could perhaps count off on fingers. A couple of minutes on feet and you ve taken a look at most of the things the city has to offer , including a chaupati style 'chaat-lemonade' kind of stall market and a series of bakeries , sweetshops and dhabas , a nagging feeling of 'what's it like to live in a small town' that's so difficult to get rid off.

Three days of long walks , fresh air , loads of food and a loaded camera. Sigh!

One look at those pictures.. and am back being miserable again. Looks like i need another holiday!

Day Dreaming!

2010-04-01T15:05:00.005+09:00

If it wasnt for day dreaming , some of us would just never leave the dark little corners of our dingy offices.
on that bright not , on this dull thursday morning , after spending a large portion of my last 2 working days at work brwosing travel tips to the historic athens , or the mystic turkey.. am back to the one place where i can day dream and re-live those dream like real moments that i ve spent at some of the prettiest places on earth.

The last 2 yrs , and well a lot of yrs before that - but lets just stick to the last 2 yrs coz they are more 'special' in a lot of ways- have taken me to the most scenic sights , the most awesome food , the most memorable trips to more than 10 of my must - visit- - before - you -die places on this planet. Paris , Rome , Venice , Florence , Pisa , Nice , Monaco - Monte carlo & Dubai on the foreign shores and Udaipur , Nainital , Shimla & Dalhousie , closer home.

This page started off with very clear intentions , notes to myself that turn colourful memories into everlasting with words that could be re-read. But , somehow the laziness got the better of me. or perhaps an uninspired state of mind. whatever , it was . its a thing of the past. atleast for now. :)

and its time i get back to work.

So much to see , so little time!

2009-06-28T20:00:00.014+09:00

Day 2 : Exploring Paris

Our very first morning kicked off quite early after a typical french breakfast ( Fruit preserves , chocolate croissant .. am i still dreaming !!) . Our personal tour guide , a petite french lady with an accent to kill for appeared right on dot for our pick up in a Travera like vehicle , with another couple from Miami , began a day of beauty-over-dose!

As we toured across the city , looking through our car window and taking quick breaks for some pics listening to stories behind the breathtaking monuments , the french architecture and history. Isabella our tour guide took us through the old city routes and the new ones to really show how the architecture of the city has been a mirror of the times the city had lived through! Old buildings clearly depicted the class system followed in the earlier times - where in the top most floor used to be of the king with more elaborate windows and arcs , while the lower floors clearly had demarcation of the "the hands and legs - i.e. the people who provided services" . And as one moved to the newer city across the Seine river , multi storeyed - glass windowed sky scrappers depicting a very Urban and modern face of one of the leading economies of the world.

True to what's always said about the city , its been home to people and trends from various parts of the world - it did come across as a fusion of old and new . Where else would you find an age old museum , the Louvre, showcasing years and years of historic references with history meeting contemporary right at its entrance ( different gates as a tribute to architectural nuances of different times - the grand gate at one end and the pyramid like glass structure at the other?)

in a couple of hours , we had already seen - superficially though , but we did see them , more than what we could possibly handle. Their was The opera and Notredam , the Eiffel tower and the Hotel Ritz , The Louvre from a distance and the prison where the likes of Mary Antoinette were kept during the french revolution. The city really had a lot to offer and very slowly it was sinking in that we don't really have all the time in the world - or did we? By the time it was the lunch hour and our lunch was pre-booked at the Seine river cruise as a buffet , over looking the Eiffel tower on a cold December after noon , we were making plans of which places to see during our exploration of the city the next day.

Wow! Now that's what we call food for thought !

Picture Perfect (?)

2009-06-27T19:48:00.006+09:00

The gorgeous work of art in white marble – the taj , is something many poets and writers of our times have written vividly about.

And it wasnt as if it was the first time I was visiting this place , to be completely awed by its pristine charm . Just that honestly , I ve never really understood why its rated as one of the most beautiful monuments of our times. I seriously and yes , I am saying that out loud , so sue me if you may- find the whole idea over rated.

I think any place or moment becomes special – only of the way you feel when you are in it , and if you can share it with some one special then more so.We thought of going a little romantic in the most unconventional sense in our snap- slightly off focus , very unprepared !

Is romance all about holding hands and acting mushy? Well we don’t think so , I think being together , can be highly romantic too.

So here we are at our romantic best @ the Taj on a foggy morning in January . Picture Perfect.. isnt it?

Fatehpur Sikri : A Masterpiece in Red Sansdtone

2009-06-27T19:30:00.008+09:00

Day 2 :Drive to Fatehpur Sikri

Built by Emperor Akbar this masterpiece in red sandstone called Fatehpur Sikri is a few hours away from agra . Believers from across the world come down here to pay tribute to the mazaar of chishti , whose blessings made Akbar a father.There is a short cut from Agra that bye - passes the main high way to delhi , and takes one to fatehpur sikri- a well preserved town in itself of a mazzar and some palaces.

Once a full fledged city , it is believed that it was abandoned some years post it was built , due to shortage of water and supplies. Now a World Heritage site this compact township is up on a hill connected only through local transport - one has to park one's own vehicle downhill at a particular point. The Panch Mahal and the Buland Darwaza that enclose with in them the famous mazaar of saint chishti show case Mughal architecture brilliantly.The ever enthusiastic guide showed us the exact location from where anarkali escaped , instead of being buried alive in a wall - as the legend goes. phew!

Jodha bai palace : we had to visit this mahal , essentially because of the hype that the epic of a movie jodha akbar created.we did find some facts that really were nt how they appeared in the movie though , but then - who is contesting history or its depiction anyway

As we started off on our way back home wading through the impossible highway traffic that was building up , I thought to myself - Simply because Taj Mahal symbolises eternal love between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz , its gained the popularity that it enjoys. And to think of it , Akbar went on to create a town in respect of the saint who blessed him with a heir , is hardly ever quoted as an example of "expression of love". Hmmm.

Road Trip !

2009-06-27T15:07:00.000+09:00

Sometime around jan end , we ended up using an extended weekend well - by planning a Road trip to Agra . There was Jaipur as an option too ... but then there are more weekends around the corner too. I ve been to Agra countless times , but then if one needs to work on a list that reads as "Must visit places with Mr Husband" , then one needs to work quite selflessly and diligently at that , right? So here we come , Agra!

Agra , and i dont suppose this comes as news to any one , is better known as the city of Taj. Though amongst other things , this beautiful city can safely boast of its handmade footwear, yummilicious petha (a traditional indian sweet) and a heritage that dates back to the times of mughals !

Though Agra is well connected with delhi through trains , air route and road - a road trip is i feel the best way to explore india.Starting off really early in the morning from delhi , We drove down trying to find our way through the dense foggy morning , some 204 kms to Agra.

We stopped by to visit the old twin-city of Mathura -vrindavan , 47 kms before one hits Agra , famous as the birth place and home ground for Lord Krishna. Banke bihari , ISKON . janambhumi – and sweet lassi and kachori/puri bhaji is something one cant afford to miss at these old rustic cities!

Another place to visit relevant from religious point of view is the govardhan parvat. Its believed that if your take a certain number of rounds (bare-feet!) of the pious temple on the holy hill , you are bound to get what you wish for. Well , we weren’t upto the attempt , however sold on we were to the idea though , so we gave it a miss and headed to Agra instead.

Could nt help remembering the good old times when we were posted here , when i used to drop down during college breaks as a student . The people , the colour , the old world charm - quite endearing.

Taj Khema @ Agra

2009-06-27T12:20:00.000+09:00

Since agra gets its fair share of tourists , there is no dearth of places to stay . We stayed at Taj Khema essentially because its practically a walking distance from the taj. Also, the rooms are created like “tents” hence the name khema( urdu for tent). Open , spacious and comfortable for January stay .

There is an official Taj View point – enjoy the splendor of Taj over a cup of coffee and some warm breakfast on a foggy morning being the highly attractive package here that’s the added attraction of this place. hmmm.. sounds good and surely a must try for all those who would want to experience that , we hopped across and had local street food with garam masala chai instead ;-)

Thumb's up for : very pretty location

Day 1 @ Paris , Walking down the paradise city

2009-06-26T22:08:00.000+09:00

Champs Elysees ... The Theme for a Dream

Our very first day, infact evening at Paris began with a walk down at the glittering Champs Elysées. After a swift visit to Arc de Triumph that was around the corner of our hotel street we set out walking as the cold december breeze and the dazzling sights of the picture perfect paris street, blew us away!

The perfect combination of an upmarket finesse and a cultured charm , one can Relish on the street food , wine & dine at the plush restaurants , gawk at the glossy showroom windows plush with designer labels or enjoy the beauty of the christmas setting in as cold breeze hits your face .. as you walk down from Arc de triumph at one end to napoleon square at the other.

One of the most amazing things we saw was the way this car was crawling up the walls at the audi showroom on the brand-ed street (literally) and these bunch of school kids from some far eastern country freaking out totally. was so was yours truly - how do you think i managed the pic other wise? :D

We had trouble making up our mind where to have our first ever dinner in paris - the land of french cousine and after going through a lot of menus we settled for this place right next to pizza pino. Hmm.. Pasta never tasted so good ever! And Mr Husband , couldnt help, but say Cheese!

We returned to our hotel , as fatigue finally was beginning to set in and One of the most happening evenings of my life - the day 1 at paris , ended with the hopes of discovering the beautiful city through a guided tour the very next morning.

Paris : What more does one want - but a room with a view

2009-06-26T21:25:00.000+09:00

Our memorable trip to paris started off with the check in at the Royal Elysses . ummm well actually started off when we landed at the airport and went on to build up when it actually sunk in when along the way on our cab ride we crossed the pretty as a picture locales of the city. but then lets not get carried away with that. Hmm.. so here's how day 1 @ Paris looked and felt like!

Royal Elysses : This is where our Royal stay happened @ Paris

Over looking the very high end street - Victor Hugo , this hotel promises a royal stay that fits the pocket well.Cozy and plush , over looking the glossy windows of some very well known labels in the fashion scene , it runs parallel to Champ Elyss - the heart line of the city that runs from Arc De Triumph circle at one end to the Napoleon Square at the other.

As one walks done Champ Elyss , gaping at the brand names leaping out on the street thats glittering with the christmas lights and dressings on to the napoleon square to see the Eiffel tower at a distance , one cant help but thank one's star for the perfect place to stay at Paris.other than Ritz ofcourse :Dwhat's truly impressive about this place and almost every place one visits in Europe , the way the reception staff makes you feel welcome and guides you on the places to see and how to find your way around them in the city!this hotel serves some quick fix breakfast , but in terms of places to eat there are many pizzerias on the champ elyss street that runs parallel. It also has the victor hugo subway terminal that 's well connected with the metro line , at a walking distance. Plus , what more- the Lido show happens just aroundn the block here!

Thumb's Up to the place for : Super friendly and very cordial staff , some very very yummilicious muffins and bakes on the menu @ the breakfast , very well connected with the must - see places in the city , awesome location and Great Views!

Doing what I am best at!

2009-06-25T21:51:00.000+09:00

Have been wanting to write a book , ever since i think i can remember wanting something..anything.. real bad. And I have been wanting to see the whole world... ever since i think i ve been seeing the world around me. And after many failed attempts at really jotting down what i feel and see and want and think , and the countless discussions inside my mind about places to see and opinions unexpressed - am back. at it. writing. coz thats what i think i am best at. well.. umm.. that;s what makes me happy !

One of the many things that have essentially made how life looks now , different from how it was some 7 odd months back was - ahh marriage ?

Very recently i was putting together this collage of photos and thinking of fancy one liners that go with the happy faces and pretty pictures in front of me . and i thought why havent i written about it ?

umm .. and as i was struggling through the complex pages of creating a virtual traveller - i thought , goodness why am i not writing about this!

so here it is. simple , clean. exactly how it was and a little more.

The journey of a thousand miles started with a trip around the world and this is how it all began.