Food & Drinks

Halong Bay Bliss: A Magical Cruise through Northern Vietnam’s Limestone Wonders

The couple of days on the cruise ship in Halong Bay in Northern Vietnam were truly magical with constant sight of hundreds of limestone islands jutting out from the sea. During the days we kayaked in the open sea, while in the evenings we indulged in jacuzzi baths and massages and later enjoyed sundowners on the upper deck with twinkling lights from the other ships forming a romantic backdrop.
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Raghupur Fort Trek (at 12000 feet) From Jalori Pass, Enthralling 360 Deg Views, Seraj Valley, Himachal.

Thrilled to have fulfilled a promise made 22 years ago of trekking up to the ruins of Raghupur Fort, perched at 12000 feet, starting from Jalori Pass in Seraj Valley, Himachal Pradesh. We enjoyed the 3 kms uphill trek lost in the wilderness and revelling in the unparalleled panoramic beauty of nature!
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Mangalajodi – from a poaching village to a conservation site

While on the last leg of our road trip in Odisha, an impulse took us to the Bird Sanctuary at the Mangalajodi Wetlands, on the northern edge of Chilika Lake. In a span of 2.5 hours we spotted 30 species in multiple numbers of these beautiful winged creatures as we glided across on our flat bottomed wooden boat.
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Hike To Ethereal Barasari Meadow – Ringed By Deodars, Mountains Rising High In Tirthan Valley Near Sharchi

Our impromptu hike to Barsari Meadow ahead of Sharchi Village (Himachal Pradesh) via the ancient Jamala Village which seemed in a time warp. Half an hour out of Jamala, the winding path soon led us to Barasari Meadow. We found it ethereal – the sprawling meadow, ringed by deodars and mountains rising high. We experienced an exhilarating calm here.
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Panoramic Day Hike in Tirthan Valley to Chhoie Waterfall, Hidden in the Forest up in the Hills

Our trek to Chhoie Waterfall took us an hour climbing up. We strolled down the couple of kms along the Tirthan River, from our resort in Gushaini to Nagini – from where the hike starts. After an hour’s climb we were rewarded with our first sight of the waterfall hidden in the forest up in the hills. Gratifying!
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Exciting Day Trek To Hippo Waterfall & Great Himalayan National Park Gate In Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Rediscovering Tirthan Valley after 17 years. Our exciting and adventurous day trek to the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) Gate and Hippo Waterfall in Himachal Pradesh. The trek took us a total of 7 hours, with an extended stop at the Hippo Point, about 3 hours one way. The journey was wonderful but the destination was magical.
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Don’t Miss This Day Hike | Ganjau Thatch Trek | Shangarh Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Our most delightful experience in Shangarh (Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh) was the day trek to Ganjau Thatch– an alpine meadow which took us one and a half hours to climb, slightly less time to return. We hike at an easy pace, imbibing the beauty of creation at each step and turn and taking time for crafting memories with pictures and videos.
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Goreme, Cappadocia – The Fairyland

Fairy chimneys – that’s what Cappadocia in Turkey is famed for. No not man-made, no not those in children’s fables, no not a few in a garden for a birthday party! Spread all over the 100 sq kms of Goreme National Park and beyond, formed naturally from the volcanic ash of eruptions, shaped over the years by wind and water erosion.
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Exploring (on foot) Offbeat Istanbul Along The Golden Horn & Cruising Down The Bosphorus!

On our last day in Istanbul (Turkey) we took a walking tour exploring the Chora Church, Greek neighbourhood Fener and old Jewish quarter Balat on the southern shore of the Golden Horn. We ended the day with the popular Bosphorous tour at sunset, nay ending the day looking up to the imposing Galata Tower.
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Capturing various moods of birds in suburban shimla

During our staycation in the hills at a nature retreat surrounded by a mixed forest around Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, the verdant and sylvan surroundings were home to many different species of birds. And here, I was blessed to sight these beautiful creatures time and again in their various moods; about 35 different species of birds out of which 25 I managed to capture through my lens, a mere 300 mm. Here I share some of my birding encounters and experiences with pictures.
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For the Epicures and Oenophiles

Indelible Affair at a Coffee Plantation in Coorg!

April 6, 2020 3 comments

It is truly romantic for a nature lover to be staying at a coffee plantation. Anyday! Certainly if it is like the Old Kent Estate in Coorg (Karnataka, India). A ruminative evening walk transforms into an indelible affair for us. Col W.R.Wright an officer in British India and also a poet and writer, created this plantation in 1864.

Franschhoek – Historic Tales & Vineyard Trails

March 1, 2018 Leave a comment

Franschhoek in South Africa’s Western Cape Province surrounded by the vineyards, lying in the shadow of dark enigmatic mountains has a storybook setting with a stunning landscape. It is considered to be the food and wine capital of South Africa. The highlight of our stay indisputably was the The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour.

Baris – An Experiment With Authentic Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine

February 17, 2018 One comment

Baris is a fine dining Turkish restaurant tucked away in the Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash 2 neighborhood market in New Delhi (India). The cuisine is largely Turkish and Eastern Mediterranean without European influences snooping in.