It has nearly been a year since we both moved into our cozy studio apartment in Munich. And by now, it’s fair to say that we have “almost” learnt about each other’s food habits, me-time rituals, cuisine preferences, and even spice proportions in our daily meals. One evening we were visiting a famous local market in the heart of the city. While we were initially overjoyed by all the fresh, precisely arranged farm produce on display, our moods turned grey when we spotted octopus tentacles amongst pickled olives and truffles. It still bemuses us how a creature from the depths of the oceans ca ..read more

A 10-day tryst with the mighty Himalayas, surrounded by the snow-capped mountains and relishing meals on top of alpine meadows… it just sounded like an irresistible escape from the scorching summers of our respective hometowns: Mumbai and Bangalore. So when Shiva and I, came across Trek the Himalaya’s Roopkund expedition, we did not think twice. We knew we had to make this trip a reality – because, as they say, the mountains were really calling us, to step out of our city lives! Roopkund, also known as the Mystery Lake or the Skeleton Lake, is a high-altitude glacial lake situated at 5,020 ..read more

As vegan travellers, one thing that gets us really excited is discovering the innovative plant-based cafes in different cities and towns. In Germany, where there are about 2.6 million vegans, it’s impressive to see almost every supermarket offering alternatives like vegan cheese, milk, and chocolates. And this trend is only on the rise! Yet, it comes as a surprise to so many Münchners (Munich locals) that their city has many cool and unique vegan restaurants and cafes. The fact that we can find delicious vegan options within a few kilometers of walking distance, is simply very exciting. An ..read more

After a contemplative and amusing holiday in the Catalonian capital, Barcelona, it was time for us to head to the slightly more expensive side of Spain – the Balearic island of Mallorca. Located in the Mediterranean Sea just off the eastern coast of Barcelona, Mallorca is a favourite holiday destination for Germans. Having spent a couple of months in Munich, we had gathered some intriguing comments from local Germans about Mallorca. “The ideal climate for living a blissful life,” “Most beautiful beaches in the world,” “Such a vast airport with direct connectivity from many German cities ..read more

How I wish I could try the traditional dishes that are prepared locally in every country I visit albeit being vegan, I thought. It didn’t take long for this little wish of mine to find light of day! In the summer of 2022, I was visiting a dear friend of mine in Vienna, Austria for a couple of days. Apart from all the architecture and touristic sites, I also wanted to experience the Viennese cuisine. Viennese cooking plays a very big role in Viennese culture just like the locals indulging in the eternal couple of coffee & kuchen (cake in german) at coffee houses. When you ask about typic ..read more

Spain happened to be a trip of utter ill fortune for the two of us. At several moments, we regretted even to have started this trip in the very first place. From missing the onward flight, being fooled by a notorious bus driver, encountering creepy hostels to being homeless for several nights in the middle of Barcelona. Everything had gone wrong… Until we set foot in the medieval town of Montuïri. Montuïri’s remote location – perfect for a tranquil escape Montuïri (mountain-town in Latin), a town no larger than a single kilometer, is located in the central region of the Spanish island ‘Mal ..read more

I am sitting outside the St. Bartholomä church, facing the vast and glistening lake of Königssee. The fleeting mist rising from the turquoise blue waters caress my face as though wiping out all the tiredness that set in from hiking across Mt. Watzmann – the imposing eastern wall of Lake Königssee, splitting German and Austrian territories. As I glance at my own reflection in the crystal-clear water, I notice the gigantic mountain having a peek of its own. ‘Hey! let’s go, it’s time to catch the last boat’, shouted Shiva from a distance. I awakened from my momentary trance to the incessant ra ..read more

I am sitting outside the St. Bartholomä church, facing the vast and glistening lake of Königssee. The fleeting mist rising from the turquoise blue waters caress my face as though wiping out all the tiredness that set in from hiking across Mt. Watzmann – the imposing eastern wall of Lake Königssee, splitting German and Austrian territories. As I glance at my own reflection in the crystal-clear water, I notice the gigantic mountain having a peek of its own. ‘Hey! let’s go, it’s time to catch the last boat’, shouted Shiva from a distance. I awakened from my momentary trance to the incessant ra ..read more

It was the mid of March and it had been nearly six months since we both moved to Munich. We had been desperately waiting for the sun to “spring” up but were only baffled to see snow and rain forecasts week in and week out. But the misery was about to end, for a weekend trip to Florence was just around the corner. Ah, Italy! The only time the two of us had traveled to Italy earlier was to Venice in 2016 for the Venice Architecture Biennale; and guess what, as work-colleagues! It was in fact our first trip abroad and one that had tied us together forever. Seven years on and we return to Italy ..read more

It was the mid of March and it had been nearly six months since we both moved to Munich. We had been desperately waiting for the sun to “spring” up but were only baffled to see snow and rain forecasts week in and week out. But the misery was about to end, for a weekend trip to Florence was just around the corner. Ah, Italy! The only time the two of us had traveled to Italy earlier was to Venice in 2016 for the Venice Architecture Biennale; and guess what, as work-colleagues! It was in fact our first trip abroad and one that had tied us together forever. Seven years on and we return to Italy ..read more