October 2016 - Be On The Road | Live your Travel Dream!
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Monday, October 17, 2016

Pidurangala Rock: Sigriya Twist with Off Beat Adventure

If you are on the historical trail of North-Central Sri Lanka, I am pretty sure that you will have Sigriya, the multi-million year old rock, in your itinerary. Sigriya, with its gorgeous ancient city, the prehistoric frescoes and amazing water gardens demands that extra attention. After all, it is one of Sri Lanka’s top highlights and definitely one of its most visited historical sites.

A Sigriya sunset view as seen from the top of Pidirangala Rock, Srilanka

But, if you wish to experience Sigriya with a slight twist and have some off-beat adventure thrown in as a bonus, I would recommend that you climb Pidurangala Rock, a massive rock located a few kilometres north of Sigriya. Pidurangala offers an interesting mix of a rugged climb, a Buddhist temple, ruins of Buddha statues, stunning sunrises and sunsets and a view of Sigriya worth dying for.

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Sunday, October 16, 2016

Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa: Dead Sea Luxury Resort of Jordan

Are you planning a holiday to mother nature’s very own mud spa? Well, if you have decided to experience the Dead Sea, one of the world’s most celebrated natural wonders, I am pretty sure that you don’t mind to splurge and indulge in a bit of luxury. On my holiday to Jordan’s Dead Sea, I stayed at the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort and Spa and the below review is based on this recent experience of mine.



1) Like most luxury properties by the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort and Spa enjoys a private beach on the Dead Sea and this is definitely the highlight if you are visiting for a special Dead Sea experience. They offer towels, foot wear, lifeguard, the famous Dead Sea mud for your own spa treatment and much more that will make your Dead Sea experience that much more richer.

2) The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort and Spa may not be the best option for a romantic getaway, but is perfect for those with kids and those who are traveling with families and friends. It is home to many swimming pools, which is a blessing as you definitely need a place to cool off. The best part about these swimming pools is that each one caters specifically to a different audience (kid-friendly, by the bar for partying adults and a regular Olympic sized swimming pool for those who want that much more.

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Friday, October 14, 2016

The King who loved his Camera

People of Thailand, I am mourning with you! I have seen how much you love and respect your king and I can understand your loss. During my travels through Thailand, I have seen his rural projects, his dedication towards his people and the reason why Thailand has had such a different recent past when compared to the rest of the South East Asian nations. And that is precisely why I respect King Bhumibol a lot. It is a tragic loss indeed!

The King at the Bhumirak Dhamachart Project, Nakhon Nayok

I know that he wasn’t keeping well and I was there when the whole country cried and prayed for his recovery during his rare public appearance last year. I still cannot believe that he is no more with us. I guess it will take a while to sink in.

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Thursday, October 13, 2016

My Travel Storage Partner: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick

We are living in the era of selfies, Facebook live, real time sharing of photos and videos on instagram, snapchat, WhatsApp, twitter and facebook, YouTube videos and so much online and offline consumption of content. We seem to be creating, consuming and sharing content at a scary pace.  But, unfortunately our mobile devices (phones, tablets, phablets, etc.) haven’t quite kept up with this increasing need for extra space. Whether our device comes in 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB, we still end up deleting data from time to time. Additionally, there is that huge cost impact to procure mobile devices with extra storage space and there is the issue with responsiveness once the device is loaded with data. There are cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, etc. that come to the rescue, but they need good stable internet connectivity to be easily accessible. Plus, data access further bores a hole in your wallet. So, the question here is how do we address this growing need for storage without spending too much money, sacrificing responsiveness or depending on always staying connected to the cloud. With this food for thought, I scoured the web for solutions and that is when I came across the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick. From the time I started using this device, I have been hooked to it. This article is my personal review of using this wireless storage device on my travels and why I am in love with it.

SanDisk Connect - My Travel Storage Partner

As a frequent traveler, travel blogger and photographer, I definitely am one who guzzles data. I capture tonnes of memories of my travels through my DSLR and phone and these videos and photos consume storage at an alarming rate. Then, there is real time sharing ,working on the move and personal entertainment. In simple words, I have huge storage needs. These days, my travel storage partner is a 200 GB SanDisk connect wireless stick that looks like a USB stick, but it packs quite a punch. Here are some scenarios from my travels where I have found it to be extremely handy.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Travelling with children? Essential tips to make it as easy as possible

Travelling with children can be a challenge. Although it may not be easy, exploring the world with your children can be a fantastic experience. You can make wonderful memories as a family and take it as an opportunity to teach your children about other cultures and history. There is a rise of travelling families and world-schooling, parents educating their children on the road rather than keeping them in school. As long as you can prove that your children are being adequately educated, it’s a great option if you want to teach your children more about the world than they would learn in school.

If you’re looking to travel with children for a short holiday, My Voucher Codes have prepared useful tips to consider when travelling with children.

Preparation

Handy Tips to travel with kids

If your children are old enough, involve them in the planning of the trip. By planning your holiday together as a family, it will help your children feel involved and get them excited for new adventures. If it’s your first family holiday with very young children, then look at staying closer to home and taking a car or take short haul flights to minimize disruption.

Before you travel, plan what you want to see, how to get there, and what there is to do, ensuring appropriate tickets are bought before you go, you have planned enough time and you have all the information you need. Also, if you have older children get them to help with research into what you can see and do whilst away.

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Dead Sea: Mother Nature’s Very Own Mud Spa

Oh wow! My skin feels as supple as a baby’s bottom. This was my first reaction after showering post a dead sea mud spa session. My excitement knew no bounds as this was the very first instance in my 34 year old life that I felt my rough, weather beaten skin to be silky smooth. And the credit for all this goes to mother nature’s very own mud spa, the Dead Sea, that exists naturally in Jordan, Palestine (West Bank) and Israel, the 3 countries that shares this landlocked water body.

Floating in the Dead Sea - one of the top things to do in Jordan as a tourist

Dead Sea is definitely a popular geographical highlight the world over. At 429 metres below sea level, it is the lowest point on planet Earth. At 304 metres deep, it is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. And it is approximately 10 times as salty as the ocean, making it one of the world’s saltiest water bodies. Among the travel fraternity, the internet and social media is full of pictures of holidaymakers reading a newspaper or a book while floating on the Dead Sea. It is the heavy density of this super saline water that allows human beings to float effortlessly.

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Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Shey Palace: Erstwhile Summer Capital of Ladakh

There is something special about Ladakh that keeps drawing people to it. Is it the snow clad mountains, the rarefied atmosphere, rich Buddhist culture, insanely beautiful nature or all of it? I have been to Ladakh a countless number of times. Some to different parts in different seasons and some to the same places for different occasions. Irrespective of the type of visit, I have always left a piece of my heart there and may be, that is why I have kept returning to this Himalayan kingdom.

Side profile of the Buddha statue inside the temple of Shey Palace, Ladakh, India

Sometimes, even the most visited place in Ladakh like the Shey Palace, can give you such a rich experience. Shey Palace is one of the tourist attractions that is located closest to Leh and one that is insanely popular on the tourist map. Normally, I find places with huge crowds and lots of tourists a huge turn off. But, for some weird reason, Shey monastery and palace, which I have visited many times in the past, made a strong connection during my summer visit this year.

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Monday, October 03, 2016

Mihintale: Anuradhapura’s Sunset Point and the Cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

The North Central corridor of Sri Lanka is full of cultural riches. From Kandy to Dambulla and from Anuradhapura to Sigriya, this region of Sri Lanka is full of ancient civilizations, temples, ruins and so much more. One such important place in this culturally rich part of the country that you should visit is Mihintale.

Even the lady monk can't resist to capture the gorgeous Mihinthale sunset shot

There are 2 things that make Mihinthale a special attraction. First, it is believed to be one of the earliest sites of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Second, the Maha Stupa here is possibly the best place in the Anuradhapura region to catch a vibrant sunset.

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Saturday, October 01, 2016

Air Arabia: My Preferred Low Cost Airline for Middle East and North Africa

I love the Middle East and the entire African continent. They might not be as mainstream a tourist destination for Indian travelers as Europe, USA and South East Asia, but nonetheless, I have had rich cultural experiences and seen some of the best landscapes on my many visits there. Be it the mighty pyramids of Egypt, the vast Atlas mountains and the Sahara of Morocco, the rich Persian connection in Iran, the Dead Sea of Jordan, the rolling red sand dunes of Wahiba Sands, Oman or the land of Mesopotamia in today’s Turkey, some of these places are nature’s best wonders and the cradle of many of our mighty civilizations and its ensuing religions.

I am based out of Bangalore, India and I made most of these trips to these exotic Middle Eastern and North African countries through Air Arabia, a leading low cost carrier headquartered in Sharjah, UAE. The first time I availed their service, I did so, because they were the cheapest airline on that route. The second time I flew them because they consistently offered me the best value for money in the Middle Eastern and North African corridor. The fact that they serve great veggie meals and provide ample leg room for tall travelers like me meant I flew them whenever I got the opportunity. The only flip side of flying with them is the simple facilities of the Sharjah airport when compared to the glitterati and modern amenities of the Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.

Air Arabia - low cost carrier for Middle East and North Africa

If you are a budget conscious traveler and wish to explore the Middle East and North Africa on your next holidays, you might be interested in learning more about my Air Arabia flying experiences. And if you plan it well, I am pretty sure that you will end up saving a lot of money while enriching your overall holiday experience. I certainly saved a lot of money even though I flew far and wide with them.

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