Do you want to explore and see as much of a new place as possible, but you don’t want to waste time and energy on transport? The simplest solution is car hire. Many may be too quick to say that this isn’t the cheapest option. However, by reading and following the pro tips for scoring budget-friendly car hire deals, you’ll be able to wander around entire regions fast and in absolute comfort. Tip 1: Early Bookings All articles related to cheap travel hacks maintain that the sooner you start making arrangements, the lower rates you’ll secure. Car hire is no exception. If you start looking for the ..read more

I discovered Kalaripayattu in Kumily in Kerala. The small spice trading town, surrounded by tea gardens, seemed like the perfect place to enjoy a cultural evening and accordingly, I booked a Kalaripayattu show for myself. The programme was held at Kadathanadan Kalari And Navarasa Kathakali Center and lasted about an hour. It was an hour of dazzling coordination of mind and body. Performer enthralled us with their exquisite movements, and dazzling play with sticks, swords, and fire. I was awestruck. Later that night, I returned to my hotel to learn about this amazing art form and discovered Kal ..read more

I discovered Benjarong on a rain-streaked day in Thailand. Work took me to the province of Samut Sakhon and it turned out to be “the” place to learn the art or shop for authentic Benjarong. Being a traditional handicrafts fan, I was on an authentic Benjarong hunt for quite a few years and it was by sheer luck, that I ended up at the right place. A traditional form of Thai porcelain, Benjarong derives its name from Bali and Sanskrit words Benja and Rong, which mean “Five Colors”. This unique style of multi-colored enamels on a white porcelain base originated from the Ming dynasty of China and i ..read more

According to the dictionary, a Rajbari is a mansion or a palace that was built as a residence for a Hindu rajah. These are found in India and Bangladesh. Recently, there has been a growing trend of Rajbari heritage stays. It entails a stay at one of the sumptuous and beautifully restored rajabaris that lie scattered in and around Kolkata, enjoying the idyllic countryside, and getting an idea of the lifestyle of erstwhile moneyed ´´zamindars´´ (landowners or minor rajahs). I love this concept because not only does it breathe a fresh lease of life into the crumbling grand mansions, but it a ..read more

Last year, Akash and I visited Jaipur. It is one of our yearly trips and the occasion was Noni’s birthday. We do this every single year and it is one of my highlights. While the occasion is undoubtedly special, the city too is one of my favourites. I like Pink City very much, find it extremely beautiful, and never fail to get mesmerized by the number of gorgeous details every corner of the city holds. It is very dear to me and I love the ochre buildings of its old town, the lakes, the hills with their breathtaking viewpoints, the dazzling palaces, its vibrant markets, the artisan’s workshops ..read more

Wartburg Castle or Schloss Wartburg as it is locally known is located in Eisenach, Germany. Apart from being famous as the place where Martin Luther, excommunicated and under the papal ban, translated the New Testament, it is also very captivating. Location-wise, it faces competition only from the fantastical Neuschwanstein Castle. Perched high on a craggy hill, this huge medieval castle dominates the surrounding Thuringian landscape and it is bang in the center of Germany. Wartburg Castle looms over the town of Eisenach Martin Luther, Goethe, and a saint Many famous historical names are ass ..read more

Aachen has existed for centuries. Known as Aix-la-Chapelle in French, Oochen in Luxembourgish, and Aken in Dutch, this mid-sized town has a very rich history. Located at the westernmost point of Germany near the Netherlands and Belgium border, Aachen is also a spa city. For centuries, the city´s hot thermal springs have soothed the aches and pains of the Celts and the Romans, until Charlemagne took over in 768 AD and made it his capital. He catapulted Aachen into the European center stage and its fame spread far and wide. It became so important that most German emperors chose to be crowned the ..read more

The lovely preserved city of Aachen happened as a day trip from Cologne. I had been there once before and had been drawn by its legacy as the crown jewel of Charlemagne’s empire. Moreover, it is a really pretty city and is an hour’s drive from Cologne, our hometown. This time, our focus was the magnificent Aachen Cathedral and to explore it to the fullest, we reached there early on one fine spring morning. That day the sun was bright on a bold blue sky and yellow canola fields glowed neon. Spring, despite being a temperamental season, was generously kind with sunny days this year, and Aachen h ..read more

I took a three-year gap before posting about my yearly highlights. The reason is that the last three years have been tough on a personal level and apart from losing my father, nothing life-changing happened. 2023 brought equal joy, hope, success, and pain. I learned to stop being in denial and despite the heartache, accept the vacuum left by my father´s death. My career in Germany finally started flourishing and I am a proud mistress of my home. At the same time, I dealt with the insanely twisted German bureaucratic system without screaming in frustration at their massive obsession with a lett ..read more

We visited Qutub Minar when a lovely, peachy, cloudy dawn was breaking over Delhi. The air was fresh and creamy white frangipanis glistened with dews. The previous evening we had arrived too late and apart from an unscrupulous guide who attempted to fleece us, there was nobody who could have sold us tickets or let us in. It was a bit of a pity because that night the moon was big and white and the beautiful Qutub Minar was resplendently lit up. However, the next morning we were the first persons to arrive and for nearly a quarter of an hour, the entire complex was left to us. We spotted squirre ..read more