Benjarong Ceramics: Perfect Thailand Gifts

Intricate looking tea sets, gorgeous coffee mugs, soup bowls, plates, cutlery and much more…If you find yourself ogling such colorful cutlery in Thailand, you are bound to be looking at the the beautiful Benjarong Ceramics. These handmade ceramics painted with artistic and serene looking designs were once reserved for royalty. Soon after, they became sought after gift items in the high strata of society. Even today, it is a luxury item and hence makes for precious gifts.



Benjarong, which literally means ‘five colors’ is a traditional Thai painted porcelain. It however originates in China where it dates back to the Ming dynasty of the 14th century. And it came to Thailand when a princess from China got married into the Siam kingdom and brought the Benjarong porcelain as dowry. Today, careful and skilful Thai artists practise this ancient art and created products using a myriad of colors and sometimes even gold. Each such product of theirs is considered unique and is a masterpiece.



While Benjarong shopping makes for great retail therapy, it is an even richer experience to actually see this ancient art unfold in front of your own eyes. On my recent trip to Thailand, I got to experience precisely that.



In a small village near Baan Amphawa, there lies a group of Thai artisans who have retained the ancient knowledge of Benjarong Porcelains and who survive on this special art to make their livelihood. They take special orders for royalty from across the globe, they create unique pieces for shops Benjarong shops across Thailand and finally, they keep some products in their village for visitors to buy. And the best part is that we as visitors to Thailand can meet them and see their agile, nimble and skilful hands at work.



In case you are interested in the process…They start with  a bone china (clean white porcelain) raw product. They begin with drawing circular guide lines on a turning wheel. Then, the master craftsman makes the initial pattern drawing. This is like the foundation to the Benjarong painting. Then, skilful women fill in the colors and make small intricate patterns inside. A variety of tools are used for measurements, drawing, coloring and more. In fact, the work is so good that if you keep staring at it for a long while, you will slowly drift into Benjarong dream land. Once the colors have been added, they add liquid gold to the designs. This Thai style was developed in the early 19th century. Finally, they fire the painted product in the kiln for a defined time period. This firing ensures that the colors last a lifetime.



I didn’t get to see the actual firing process, but I did get to see and touch the final work products. And boy, did they look sensational! The colors look brighter in the finished product than when the actual painting is done. They artisans informed me that the Benajorong porcelain is resistant to fading, scratching and any kind of degeneration for a very long time.



They might not be dishwasher or microwave friendly, but if used well, they can definitely add a lot of glamour to your coffee and dining tables. And what’s even better is that they make for unbelievably great gifts. May be, you should check them out as potential gifting options this holiday season. And you should definitey see this ancient art form unfold in front of your very eyes the next time you visit Thailand. This Benjarong village is just a 2 hour drive from Bangkok city!

Sampran Riverside: Offbeat Authentic Thai Experience near Bangkok

A place that is preferred by the locals is one of those places that I check out as a traveler. Some of these places end up offering me some of my best travel experiences. Now, let’s take Nakhon Pathom as an example. How many of us knew this place as an authentic tourist destination in Thailand? Frankly, I hadn’t even heard of this place and I have spent significant time traveling in Thailand on my many trips there. But, this place is a rage with the locals. They connect with the Authentic Thai experience here and absolutely love its food, aura and rich countryside experience.



At 2 hours away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok is this place called Sampran Riverside. Located by the Tha Chin river and on the periphery of Nakhon Pathom town, this place offers a true and traditional Thai experience to the traveler. What was once a rose garden is today a sprawling 70 acre 4 star riverside property that offers unique attributes such as organic farming, antique Thai houses and one that engages with the local community at a grass root level.



This allows the visitors to engage in the Thai traditions through traditional lip smacking cooking classes, Thai wellness, Thai village shows, farmers market and cultural exchanges while relishing their Thai countryside holiday experience. Whether you are a kid, a young couple or family with elderly people, you are bound to find an activity or even many activities that will capture your interest.



I was there recently and experienced their river cruises, their organic farming, their traditional art museum, Thai village shows, their spa and so much more. My favorite was the mind blowing riverside location surrounded by all greenery. The organic food and the overall experience was simply a bonus for me.



If you are looking for an authentic Thai village experience near Bangkok while you don’t want to miss out on new age comforts, Sampran Riverside, at 2 hours from Bangkok makes for a great choice.  Don’t go there if you are looking to party. But, do go there, if you want an authentic Thai holiday surrounded by lush greenery while you indulge in great food.

Deccan Herald carries out my Maldives Article - A Whirlwind Romance

Merry Christmas to all you lovely people out there! May this festive season bring lots of joy and happiness to you and your family!

This is one of the gifts that Santa left me…An article of mine got published in Deccan Herald today. This article titled ‘A Whirlwind Romance’, which talks about my recent love affair with Maldives got published in today’s Metrolife supplement of Deccan Herald.



Did you get to see it already? If not, you can read it in the snapshot of the article cut out or an online version of the article on Deccan Herald website. In case neither works for you, you can look up this full size and high resolution PDF. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it encourages you to visit a dream holiday destination like ‘Maldives’ either as a romantic holiday or as a fun-filled adventure holiday with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas once more! Cheers!

Club Med Kani: All Inclusive Gem in the Maldives

Maldives! When we hear or think of this name, we visualize an island paradise with turquoise waters, silver sands, over water lagoon suites and swaying palms. And definitely lots of umbrella drinks. But, most of us Indians categorize Maldives as a dream holiday and keep it explicitly as a honeymoon destination. Well, the place certainly deserves a ‘dream destination’ status and it offers all the romantic ingredients for a honeymoon. May be, we do that because most of the hotels we know of in Maldives are uber luxury or premium places that cost a substantial amount. To be honest with you all, even I had that precise idea before I arrived in Maldives.



This was my first trip to Maldives. I was invited by Club Med, a French hospitality group that has premium and luxury properties all over the world. Club Med focuses on two kinds of holidays: beach and ski. In fact, all their properties are located either on islands/coasts or in snow laden mountains.



I don’t know how many of you have heard of the brand name ‘Club Med’ before! I certainly had not and when I checked with my friends in India, they didn’t seem to know of this brand too. The only people who seemed to know and rave about this brand were my friends from France. And Club Med is a brand that stands for all inclusive holidays. In fact, that is their strongest selling point. And if you know me and my style of travel, you will know that ‘All Inclusive Holidays’ and me are like poles apart. Hence, with confused expectations, I arrived at Maldives for the first time in my life. And oh boy! What I saw and experienced over the next 4 days blew every inch of my mind.



Blown Away by Club Med Kani
Right from the price point, location and to the overall experience, I cannot do anything but rave about this place. And I am not saying this because Club Med bore the costs of my trip, but because, they are a hidden gem and one that the Indian holidaymakers should wake up to!



Pristine and Heavenly Location
Let’s talk about the location. I stayed at an island called Club Med Kani. It is a small (very walkable) and narrow island surrounded by turquoise waters all around. To one side it has coral reefs and to the other side, it has a lagoon. The water is gorgeously warm and filled with rich marine life. I saw baby sharks, sea cucumbers and sting rays like 5 to 10 feet away from the beach. I was not on any scuba diving or snorkelling trip. In fact, I was just relaxing in the waters near by my beach villa. And this place is just 25 minutes away by speed boat from the Male airport, which means that in 3 hours, I found myself transported from the traffic and chaos of Bangalore to a paradise land in the Indian Ocean.



Club Med felt like Family
This is something that I normally associate with home stays and not with premium and luxury hospitality groups. I am referring to ‘Personal Connections’. Right from the time I arrived at the island, I felt like someone was always there to take care of me. Never once did I feel like I was lost or I didn’t know what to do. The Club Med team gave me island walkthroughs, they talked me through the features of the rooms, they helped me with directions, made me participate in all fun activities like pool parties, foam parties, beach volleyball, evening culture shows, after dinner parties, daily water sport activities and much more. The people of Club Med were totally clued in and I liked it a lot, especially their smiling faces and high energy personality. When I was bound home after 4 days of staying in Club Med, I not only missed the place, but also missed the people. Such was my personal connection with the people here. I had a blast with them.



The All Inclusive Concept
Now, this is an alien concept for me and one that I stay away from as it curbs my independent travel style. However, after experiencing it first hand at Club Med Kani, I feel that it is not bad. In fact, it is perfect for holidayers on a short vacation and who would like everything well laid out so that they can simply relax and enjoy their holiday. And, in an expensive destination such as Maldives, this all inclusive concept gives you a precise and accurate idea of your expenses. Once I returned from my Maldives trip, I actually did a comparison with other hotel groups and found out that the all inclusive package at Club Med Kani gave me a significant cost advantage.



In this all inclusive package, everything except airport pick up and drop, spa sessions, scuba diving, scenic plane rides, personal shopping and tips are covered. It includes your stay, all meals and at all kinds of times, a never ending supply of alcohol, water activities like sailing, kayaking, snorkelling and glass boat rides, access to the swimming pool and the pool and foam parties that it comes with, evening culture shows, after dinner parties with full on DJ action, all kinds of games like skittles, beach volleyball, table tennis and even access to the gym, in-house doctors and nurses and so much more.

In simple words, this transparent model helps you visualize your holiday action together with your bill in a very lucid manner.



Beach Villas and Over Water Lagoon Suites
Club Med has 2 properties in Maldives. One of them is Club Med Kani, their premium property and the other one is Club Med Finolu, their luxury property. Both these properties are located 5 minutes away by speed boat. While I stayed at a beach villa in Club Med Kani, I got to see all the accommodation options on both Kani and Finolu.



Both these properties offer accommodation in terms of beach villas and over water lagoon suites. While Club Med Kani is more of a party island with lots of action, Club Med Finolu offers more exclusivity, privacy and luxury. Kani is ideal for all kinds of travelers, especially families with kids. Finolu offers a perfect romantic holiday setting. Kani is definitely cheaper than Finolu and if you want to be around people, get drunk and dance at midnight parties, Kani is the place for you.

Value for Money
When it comes to a luxury destination like Maldives, it is always prudent to get a good idea of the budget. Coz, if you don’t plan it out well, you will be at the receiving end of a huge credit card bill when you reach home. Which is why I like the financial clarity and transparency offered by ClubMed while planning holiday packages at either Kani or Finolu islands. With such clarity, you precisely know what you will get for the price you pay.



I stayed for 3 nights and 4 days at Club Med Kani in Maldives. In the last week of November and the first week of December (when I went to Maldives), the price for such an all inclusive holiday package was USD 850 or about 66,000 Indian Rupees per person. Right now, as it is the Christmas and New Year season, I am sure the prices would be substantially higher and in all probability, they might be sold out as they are such an awesome property. I think the price will come back to the USD 850 per person range around the mid of February. And if you look at their website today, you will see a early bird summer offer for USD 509 per person for the same 3 nights and 4 days Maldivian holiday experience. This according to me is total value for money. Having experienced their facilities first hand and having seen the heavenly location, I know what I mean when I say that. And I hope you do too!



I want to return to Club Med Kani for my next Maldivian Holiday
I recommend Club Med Kani with many thumbs up. Whether you are going with your family, with your kids or on your honeymoon, this place offers the secret sauce of luxury, heavenly location, great family like service and total value for money. Which is why, I call them an all inclusive gem in the Maldives!

My Interview about Road Trips on Byond Travel

Are you a road tripper? Do you love road trips? Or are you one who is interested in road trips, but has never got about to giving it a try? Well, in any case, you might be interested in reading this interview by 6 road trippers, their preferred styles, handy tips based on personal experiences and what defines road trips for them. Titled ‘Life on the Road’, Byond Travel, a popular travel site, interviewed 6 road trippers from different facets of life  (solo male - me, 2 male friends – Tushar and Sanjay, solo female biker -  Chithra Priya and 2 female friends – Renuka and Rahat) and asked them 6 questions.



These 6 questions are:

1) Why do you choose to travel by road and not other modes?

2) What’s the most challenging road trip you’ve done?

3) What is the best thing you’ve discovered along the way on your road travels?

4) What tips do you have for peoplewho’ve never done a road trip?

5) How would you describe your ideal road trip partner?

6) What’s your favorite/essential song to listen to on the road?

If these questions sound interesting to you, read the answers given by these 6 road trippers in the full interview and plan your next road trip. Happy Road Tripping!

London Underground: Interesting Travelling Facts

In large cities, I love taking the public transport. In fact, that is my preferred mode of travel during my trips as it helps me get a good feel of the way the locals live their day-to-day life while I save on the stupidly expensive cab fare. From rush hour traffic to the weekends, public transport is always buzzing with all kinds of action for the holidaying traveler. Whether you are in Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, Singapore or Istanbul, taking the public transport is one of the top ways to explore the city. 



If you are the public transport type and if you are planning a trip to London or if you plan to re-locate there, you will be interested in this infographic created by The London Pass. It shares some cool facts about the oldest underground rail system on Earth.

Risky Market of Thailand: You’ve got to see it!

Risky Market! We normally do not associate the word ‘risky’ with a market, but this market is called ‘Risky’ because it is located on top of a fully functional railway track where trains ply regularly. Sounds dangerous right? Set up with makeshift stools, tents, umbrellas and sticks, this local market gets 3 minutes advance notice to clear the track for passing of a passenger train. 8 such passenger trains have been crossing this market for the last 30 years.



A simple local market and one that is popular with the locals for fresh produce at bargain prices, the risky market is perfect for those who love the sight and smell of local markets. Everything from fish, frogs, vegetables, spices, tofu, basic desserts, fresh knick knacks, seafood, mushrooms, fruits, flowers and even unusual items like snake-headed fish can be found here. There are even small restaurants where you can grab a soup, a satay stick or even a small meal. 



Perfect for shoppers, the risky market is also a super experience for the regular tourists to Thailand. It is not often that you see a 300 meter long fresh produce market disappearing in a matter of 3 minutes to allow a train to pass through and then setting itself back up in record time after the train has passed. 



This risky market is located on either side of the railway track at MaeKlong station in the Samutsongkram province of Thailand.  Situated at about an hour from Bangkok city, this market is also referred to as the MaeKlong railway market. If you wish for an actual risky experience with a train passing, do check with locals on the exact passing times of the trains. 



If shopping and soaking up the local culture is on your agenda, do carry cash and ensure that you don’t block the narrow path in between the shops. You do not want to get a local angry...Do you? And beware of pickpockets!

Maldives Visa for Indians

Maldives is synonymous with honeymoons all over the world. In fact, things are not any different in India, where this Indian Ocean paradise is a hot favorite with both families and couples. It’s close proximity to India also adds to its popularity quotient. Last week, I visited this tropical paradise. In addition to its natural beauty and close proximity, the free visa of arrival offered to us Indians is also a game-changer. If you hold an Indian Passport, such visa free countries are a blessing in disguise.



If you are planning a holiday to Maldives, all you need to show for your free visa on arrival is a return ticket within 90 days and confirmed hotel booking for that duration. In case, you don’t have any hotel booking, they ask you to show funds worth USD 100 per day of your stay in Maldives. This free visa on arrival is valid for 90 days from the day of arrival. It is limited to tourism only, which means that Employment is prohibited under this visa.

The stamping takes place at the airport. A valid passport with 2 blank pages, a return flight ticket and a confirmed booking for accommodation or funds to handle your stay are required to be eligible for this free passport. When I arrived at the Male airport, the only question that the immigration officer asked me was the duration of my stay and lo and behold he stamped my passport. It was as easy as that. And after that, I had the most blissful tropical beach holiday, which I will be talking in more detail in my upcoming posts. 



If you are planning a holiday to this tropical island paradise this winter, all you need to do is book your air tickets and hotel bookings and not worry about the visa. It couldn’t be better for us Indians to enjoy our island neighbours in the Indian Ocean.

Luxury Stay In Delhi That Promises World Class Amenities

Luxury hotels make a stay in Delhi, whether it is for business, vacation, or a wedding, memorable and comfortable. They do this by providing amenities that other hotels don’t offer with the best quality available for guests. Here are some of the amenities you can expect from luxury hotels in Delhi like The Imperial:

1. Room Amenities

An article on Gallup.com reveals that all hotel guests, whether luxury or budget travellers, put the room at the top of their list of priorities when choosing a hotel. Luxury hotels differ from brand name, budget, or business hotels where it is common for each room to use the same floor plan and have the same amenities.

Luxury hotels usually have each room specially decorated for a unique appearance and depending on price, will offer different amenities. The Luxury suite at The Imperial, which is listed as one of the best luxury rooms in Delhi, has a Jacuzzi and DVD player and a control panel for the climate, security, and lights. The Royal Suite, generally, has the additional amenities of a sauna, dressing room, dining room for up to eight guests, and a study with 80 books and antique furniture and artwork.

The hotel offers complimentary amenities in all rooms so that each guest still gets the luxury treatment. As well as a marble bathtub and flat screen TV in each room, there is mineral water, a fresh fruit platter, a shoe shine, dental kit, and a daily newspaper among others. Amenities such as a DVD player or high speed internet come as standard in some luxury rooms but in others they are available only on request or for an additional fee. Still much better than the standard tea and coffee offered by other hotels!

2. Dining

When guests venture outside of their rooms, there are many more amenities available for them. First is the all-important restaurant and bar. Even in a budget hotel this will be an important inclusion but in a luxury hotel, guests expect the dining to be at an equally high standard to the rooms and service.

All luxury hotels have at least one restaurant and bar. The Imperial has three of each plus a patisserie and an afternoon tea room, each one representing a different period of India’s history. For instance, The Spice Route is decorated with antiques from across South East Asia while The Nostalgia Room gives the impression of returning to the mid-20^th century with live jazz music and images of Elvis Presley on the walls. It is these small but detailed touches that give Delhi’s hotels the air of luxury.

3. Additional Amenities

Finally, there are the additional amenities which make a difference for guests who need them. You can expect most luxury hotels to have a full service spa and salon, a gym (sometimes including personal trainers), an airport shuttle, and facilities for business conferences, all of which are treated with the same standards of luxury and professionalism as the rest of the hotel. Of course, every hotel will have at least one pool, hopefully surrounded by palm trees with a bar included. Some hotels will have a separate pool for children to play so that adults can relax in peace.

But the hallmark of a luxury hotel is providing amenities that don’t come as standard to set themselves apart from other hotels. They may not be essential but they are a nice addition for guests who need them. The Imperial, for example, has not only a fitness centre but a yoga studio and the expansive gardens make a perfect place for meditation. Guests don’t even need to travel far for shopping as luxury hotels also comprise boutiques and bookshops.

Even the hotel itself could be considered an amenity just by how unique it is. A study by hotel consultants HVS reveal that experiences rather than amenities are becoming more important for tourists and a visit to such hotels is an experience in itself. Everywhere you look in the hotel, from the guest rooms to the public areas, there are antiques, paintings, and other special touches which make you just want to wander around for hours like you would do in an art gallery. One visitor on the review website TripAdvisor said that it was ‘Like travelling back in time’ and other reviews on the website, and across the internet, seem to agree. A trip to the hotel, even just for afternoon tea, becomes part of the visit to Delhi in itself as it forms a part of the city’s history.

Luxury travel means not only the standard amenities such as a mini bar or pool but a hotel which makes every moment of a guest’s stay unique with everything provided for them. It means care and attention to detail, going above and beyond to provide for guests and hotels.

Exploring the Himalayas with Nautica Travel Gear

Last winter, I had successfully tried Nautica’s fashionable travel clothing for my one month backpacking trip across Turkey and earlier this summer, I tried their summer collection during my holiday across Europe and USA. While the Turkey trip was more backpacking style, the Europe and USA trip was comfortable with slightly more luxury. In both instances, I was very happy with the performance of this young lifestyle fashion brand. I felt both comfortable and fashionable in them.



Photo Title: Trekking along the Baspa river from Chitkul to Sangla

This autumn/fall when I went to the Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur regions of Himachal Pradesh, I decided to test my Nautica gear in a slightly tougher and more demanding environment. This trip was more rugged with lots of trekking, hiking and had consistent exposure to sub zero temperatures.



Photo Title: Backpacking to Chitkul, the last village on the Hindustan-Tibet Highway
In addition to my existing summer clothing from Nautica’s spring-summer collection, I picked up a collared pullover and a rugged waterproof watch. So basically, I had a pair of sweat pants, polo shirts, collared pullover and a watch from Nautica. While this was my preferred choice, you can easily take your pick at  Men’s Fashion Clothing online where you will find not only this collection, but a whole bunch of international and domestic brands selling the latest range of fashionable menswear, winter wear and accessories.       
     


Photo Title: Soaking in the morning sun at Chitkul
I also carried my usual winter gear that included a pair of hiking boots, a waterproof fleece jacket, raw silk scarves, a woollen hat, active inner wear and a pair of sunglasses. These are from assorted brands. The idea behind my clothing choice was to combat the warm weather during the day, cold winds and sub zero temperatures post sundown, lots of sweating while trekking, lots of walking with a backpack and no access to washing or laundry facilities.



Photo Title: Enjoying Dhankar, my favorite village in the Spiti Valley
Like always, my clothing style was to marry utility with fashion. And boy was I happy or not with my clothing choice! My backpack was light, which my shoulders really appreciated. My Nautica polo shirts did not stink in spite of me wearing them without wash for 3 weeks. The Nautica pullover was just perfect for a moderately nippy day and would breathe even during my strenuous hikes. And the ruggedly stylish Nautica watch helped me keep track of my time even in areas where I could not charge my phone for days together.



Photo Title: Ecstatic at Komic, the highest village in India at more than 4,500 meters
My other clothes and accessories all solved their purpose and I had a great time trotting the Shimla to Manali loop via Kinnaur, Spiti Valley and Lahaul regions of Himachal Pradesh. Whether I was climbing over rocks or crossing streams from Chitkul to Sangla, playing cricket at 10,000 feet, hiking to high altitude lakes like Dhankar and Chandra Taal, trotting to the highest polling station, highest village or the highest post office in India, I had a blast while staying warm, fresh, comfortable and fashionable.



Photo Title: Checking the time in Spiti Valley
This 3 week holiday in the Himalayas was an absolute treat to the eyes with spectacular panoramas almost everywhere (I am sure you will agree with me on that when you look at the photographs in this post). Tourist numbers were on the lower side as it was low season. Apples were in season and the Golden and Royal apples that I tasted during this trip were possibly some of the freshest and most juicy ones that I had ever tasted in my life. The mountain people as always are very cheerful and friendly. And like all mountain treks, I got high on pure mountain air.



Photo Title: Trotting the scenic route to Dhankar Monastery and village My favorite camping site for this trip was Chandra Taal Lake. My favorite village was Dhankar. My favorite monastery was Shashur Gompa at Keylong. My favorite trek was the Baspa river trek from Chitkul to Sangla. The best apples that I tasted were from Tabo. My best accommodation was the homestay at Dhankar.  My favorite tea moment was with the monk at Komic Monastery, Komic village – the highest village in India. My favorite dish was Phemar, the traditional Tsampa cake at Tabo.



Photo Title: Posing at a view point near Dhemul, another high village in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh

Be it taking selfies at almost every pit stop or at view points, lighting butter lamps at every monastery that I stepped into, digging into local delicacies at every stop or having a laugh with the locals, this trip was about me and connecting with the places even if it meant roughing it out in tough conditions. And I got to do that and more to my heart’s content.



Photo Title: The Baspa river trek is insanely beautiful and a must-do on your next holiday to Kinnaur

Have you explored these stunning high villages of Himachal Pradesh? If not, you should ensure that you plan a holiday there soon. Summer is the best time with better roads. Autumn is great for fall colors, falling tourist numbers and for the famous apples of Himachal. And winter is best if you want the mountains to yourself.



Photo Title: Offering my prayers at Nako, a picturesque village situated at 12,000 feet

At the end of the trip, I said to myself, “Nautica is not only a upmarket lifestyle brand, it is also a rugged brand that comes in handy even in tough conditions”. All in all, I had an absolutely gorgeous Himalayan holiday! The Himalayas always lives to its mighty status!!

Voted as Best Indian Travel Blog of 2015

This recognition may not have come from a reputed brand or organization, but nonetheless, it always gives you happiness when someone votes you as India’s Best Travel Blog. Naukri se Pareshan in their top 5 Indian Blogs of 2015 has voted me as the best Indian travel blog of 2015. I share the dias with 4 other brilliant travelers and travel bloggers like Shivya Nath, Siddharth Joshi, Anuradha Goyal and Mariellan Ward. You should definitely check their blogs out.



Thank you for all your support and I hope more accolades keep coming. Cheers!

Loi Krathong Festival, Thailand: Upcoming Trip

All my bags are packed and I am ready to go…

I am just a few hours away from catching the flight to Thailand, one of my favorite countries. I absolutely dig their food, their culture and of course the magical nature of this amazing South East Asian nation. This time around, I have been invited by the Thailand tourism board to come and experience one of their famous festivals called Loi Krathong, their festival of lights.



Do not confuse this festival of lights with our Deepavali festival. Instead, it is similar to Karthik Poornima, a festival that is celebrated with lamps all over the country and especially more so in the South. In Tamil Nadu, where I originate from, the Karthikai month (lunar month after Deepavali) is celebrated with lamps and lots of light all through the festival. Similarly, Loi Krathong is celebrated with lights. In certain parts of Thailand, they celebrate it with the floating lanterns (which you might have experienced at Chiang Mai during New Year’s Eve). While this is more popular in the northern part of Thailand and these floating lanterns are called Khom Loi, the festival is celebrated in a slightly different way in the South, where I am headed. In northern Thailand, this festival is called Yi Peng and in the South, it is referred to as Loi Krathong. ‘Loi Krathong’, loosely translates into ‘to float a basket’.



Here, people take floating devices and decorate it with plantain leaves, flowers, incense sticks and a small lamp. A small piece of hair from the body is kept in this decorated floating device and is let to float in the river. These small floating beacons of light are believed to wipe away all negative energies or sins. This event happens on the night of full moon, which coincides with India’s Karthik Poornima and is believed to be an offering to the river spirits. And like all festivals of Thailand, Loi Krathong too comes with its glamour and fanfare. There are lots of traditions to see, colourful clothes, tasty food and in overall lots of happiness.



I celebrated this festival with the people of Bangkok three years back and absolutely loved the delicious food, the fun and frolic and the opportunity to understand and experience the Thai culture at depth. 3 years later, I am again super excited to be a part of this festival. This time to Sampran Riverside, Nakhon Pathom, Amphawa and Bangkok. As always, I can’t wait to treat myself to some delicious festival Thai food, while soaking in this rich festival.

If you wish to know more about this festival, follow my updates on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels where I will be sharing live updates. More on the blog once I return to Bangalore from Thailand, which should be in a week’s time.

An Exciting New Way For You To Travel Big On A Small Budget

When I was growing up, my family hardly ever went on vacation. We took national trips once every couple of years. But before I left home, I’d never been abroad.

As soon as I started making my own money, I decided that that would change. I went away as often as I could, touring fantastic destinations I had always wanted to visit. And then, as my responsibilities grew, I began to understand why organizing trips was so hard for my parents.

Nonetheless, I have continued to travel, mostly by finding deals on cheap hotel rooms and using budget airlines. It sometimes gets uncomfortable, but I can never ignore the travel bug.

While looking for discounts for my last trip, I found a website called Roomer, whose clever concept is very exciting.

Taking advantage of the industry


Roomer bases its service on a simple premise. Hotel cancellations are inevitable, and they're bad for everyone. They happen so often, that they impact the entire travel industry. As many as 220,000 hotel rooms are cancelled every day - and that’s in the US alone!

This is why most hotels have frustrating “no refund” policies. But even though they don’t give refunds, they still lose out.

A large proportion of a hotel’s revenue comes from the money that patrons spend when they're already there. Food, drinks, entertainment, and service, are all factored into their gross income. When the patrons don’t come, that revenue is lost.

Roomer takes advantage of this fact, to make remarkable deals a reality.

A hotel-marketplace for cancelled rooms


When searching for hotel room deals, I came across Roomer’s hotel-marketplace. They had some crazy discounts there, on rooms of a very high quality. There were price cuts on reservations from 50% to 85%. Some of the highest cuts were on 5 star hotel rooms.

It works on the above premise. Since hotel bookings are non-refundable, people who have to cancel might as well try and offload their bookings, even if they have to take a huge cut. Roomer provides the platform to sell these bookings to bargain-hunters.

They post these reservations on their website, allowing potential buyers to search or browse for their ideal hotel room.

Avoid the logistics nightmare


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Chandra Taal Lake: A Magical Family Camping Destination in the Himalayas

Outdoor camping and holidaying with your family in the Himalayas doesn’t seem to make a connection with most of us Indians. Whenever I indulged in outdoor camping across India and talked about my experiences with friends and family, they would always think of it as an activity for young singles. However, I always begged to differ as I believe that there is no better family bonding experience than in the raw confines of mother nature. You get to relish nature, it is a great learning curve for your kids, you get quality family time without any new age gadget distractions like mobile phone, television, computers, tablets and the likes, you get intoxicated by the pure air and you simply have a fun filled family holiday.



Those of us who have traveled or lived abroad, know that outdoor camping is one of the most popular activities for families. Till the recent past, outdoor camping would interest young people or die hard adventure enthusiasts. These days, there is a new wave of families who seem to have found that interest in outdoor adventure. Well, if you are a part of one such family, you would definitely be interested in camping with your family at the high altitude snow fed Himalayan lake called the Chandra Taal. And it doesn’t matter whether you are a newbie when it comes to outdoor camping or if you have practised it down to a habit. I think you will simply love the magical experience of camping here.



This crescent shaped lake whose name literally translates into ‘Lake of the moon’ is located at an altitude of 4,300 meters (14,100 feet) in the high Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district. Surrounded by glaciers and mighty Himalayan mountains of the Chandra Bhaga range, this turquoise lake is the starting point of the Chandra river, an important river of Lahaul and Spiti and one that joins the Chenab and the Indus later in Jammu and Kashmir.



This spectacularly beautiful location makes for a great getaway due to its proximity to Manali and leads to the gorgeous Spiti valley. Adventure loving people can trek to this lake from Kunzum pass (a high altitude pass in Lahaul and Spiti area) while beginners can drive till about 1 kilometer from the lake via Batal. This flexibility allows all kinds of families to visit this snow fed Himalayan lake. While the lake and its surroundings are insanely beautiful, the real charm of this Himalayan getaway is its camp ground as it allows you to stay longer in this divine land. The camps are located about 2 kilometers from the lake and are totally surrounded by the Himalayas. With double layered wind proof winter tents, these camps offer the perfect solace in the cold nights, its Western toilets offer you the much needed home/hotel luxury and its camp fire, cosy dinners and group activities offer you that great holiday. What else do we need for an awesome outdoor camping Himalayan experience?



There are 2 ways in which you can reach the lake from the camp. The easier one is to drive to the top of the lake from where you can walk 1 km to the lakeside. The tougher, but more beautiful option is to do a slightly uphill 75 minute hike to the lake. This hike takes you across a small lake, amidst tall mountains and offers you breath-taking views of glaciers enroute.



During the days, you can either explore the many small hikes and the beautiful views that it offers or indulge in some games with your family/friends. Evenings are nippier and hence sitting round a warm campfire and sharing stories is a great past time. And then there is the charm of sleeping in a tent surrounded by the mighty Himalayas. Due to its high altitude, nights are generally cold and sometimes in spite of your blanket and sleeping bag, you might feel cold. This is perfectly normal as most of us Indians are tropical creatures by nature  and not used to such low temperatures. But, that doesn’t mean, you can’t sleep warm. And that is where new age innovations like Warmee come in handy. I believe that air activated Warmee is the ultimate body warming solution and one that I always pack on my cold weather treks and camping expeditions. All you have to do is tear open a pack, shake it, put it next to you in your blanket or sleeping bag and drift to a warm sleep. In case you are visiting Chandra Taal during the colder months, you can also use the same Warmee body warmer inside your jacket or sweater. All in all, a perfect camping companion for young and old alike.



Here, amidst the Chandra-Bhaga range, you and your family can indulge in some off-roading, outdoor camping, Himalayan trekking/hiking, campfire dancing and so much more. In case you wish for more, you can explore Kunzum pass that is located close by or head to Kaza that is located deep in the Spiti valley and soak in its rich Buddhist culture. In fact, if you and your family are strong cyclists, I would recommend carrying bicycles with you and doing some dirt mountain biking in this gorgeous terrain. For people with a stronger will to explore and those with more time, I would recommend doing the Manali to Shimla loop via Kunzum pass, Losar, Kaza, Ki, Langza, Komic, Dhemul, Lhalung, Dhankar, Pin Valley, Tabo, Nako, Recong Peo, Sangla, Chitkul and Sarahan. This heavenly loop will take you through some of the highest villages of the world, some of the remotest parts of India, the land of India’s best Apples, the last village on the Hindustan-Tibet trail and the heavenly Kinnaur Kailash, the winter abode of Lord Shiva.



If this place tempts you, you might be interested in reading these titbits of information about getting to this place and more.

Nearest Domestic Airport: Kullu

Nearest International Airport: Chandigarh

Closest cities: Manali, Kaza and Keylong



Closest Train Station: Don’t even bother. This is mountainous country and the rail network is pretty far away from this location

Easiest Route: Manali –> Rohtang Pass –> Gramphoo –> Batal –> Chandra Taal Lake (Keep at least 7 to 9 hours to cover this 160 km stretch from Manali to Chandra Taal Lake as the mountain roads are in poor condition, have many streams passing over it during the summer months and is prone to slow traffic.) Manali to Batal is a designated highway, which has boulders on it. But, from 18 km track from Batal to the camp is a proper dirt track.

Recommended Commute Options: Self driven car (if you are a good driver), a car/jeep on hire from Manali or the Himachal Pradesh state buses if you are on a low budget and have the comfort of time.



Recommended Place to Stay: Tenzin Camp. These guys are locals. The sons manage the Tenzin camp, while the parents manage the dhaba at Batal. I stayed with them and liked their company and the place so much that I would not recommend any place else. If I remember right, they charged 800 rupees per person for food (all meals), tea, western toilets, camp fires and confortable boarding with beds and blankets in tents.

Best Season to Visit: April to October



Important Things to Carry: Warm wear, Warmee, Hiking shoes, Sunglasses, First Aid Kit

Is it possible to visit on a long weekend?: Yes



What other places can I visit during an Extended Holiday?: Spiti Valley, Kinnaur, Keylong and Tandi, Leh, Zanskar Valley