Travel Tales from India and Abroad

6 Things 2020 Taught Me!

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:59:02 GMT

It has been that kind of a year that we are going to remember for a very long time. 2020 has been no ordinary year, it is ‘shake the foundations, change the paradigms’ kind of a year that I hope the universe is in no hurry to repeat.

We all have been in it together, and as it nears the end, I am full of gratitude for the health of my near and dear ones. I also want to remember all the people who are personally dealing with adversity in so many ways.

For me 2020 has been strange but still kind. Here is how it went, I repeated ‘this too shall pass’ much more often than I would like!

Never Take Anything for Granted, Not Even Travel

I was blessed with travel opportunities throughout the decade. Sometimes I would travel so much that I would crib about the red eye flights, that I have to get up in the middle of the night, I am tired, my blogging trips are too hectic! And then came 2020. I went on a blogging trip to Sri Lanka in January. In February I attended a family wedding in Coimbatore. I have not ventured out anywhere since. It is a little bit like childhood again, I look up at a plane thundering through the sky and think- when will I catch a flight!

Washing Vessels and Cooking

I almost never washed vessels or cooked on a daily basis. I always had help but then came the hard lockdown in March. I washed bartan and cooked on a daily basis for months on end. And I could do it, more often than not cheerfully! I have never been a good cook but I don’t consider it rocket science anymore!

It Took a Pandemic for me to Start Working Out Again

I used to be pretty active till my Ph.D. I was regularly found on the basketball or badminton court! I still can play table tennis with vengeance. I was selected for the UP Sports Hostel when I was in 9th standard. But somewhere along the way, I forgot all about it.

Then came March 2020. All of us were locked inside our homes, with fear of the unknown topmost in our minds! Chhavi had not even turned 13 by then, it was still a few months away. She was playing tennis 6 days a week since she was nine and a half. We didn’t want her to stop being active. So, my nephew Sunil, Chhavi and I started working out at home. It was the best thing that could happen to us! It was not always peach and roses as we pushed each-other. In fact, it was a lot of sweat, blood a few tears too. But I won’t change it for anything ever.

Limiting the Screen Time

If you have a child of any age at your home, please monitor the screen time, particularly the after school hours. When I was growing up in a small town in the 1980s there were simply no screens in my life. TV came in when I was in 7th and 8th standard. There was only Doordarshan with its limited hours and even more limited programs.

I never really thought much about screen time till I randomly searched about its effect and realized that my daughter was exhibiting some of those symptoms. The quality of life has been better for everyone after we severely curtailed her screen time.

I Do Not Miss Going to the Shops at All

After I quit my job, I would sometimes go the malls or shops and enjoy the experience. But when the lockdown came, I adjusted to online shopping. You will have to drag me to a store or a mall now! I have not been to one shop since March 2020 and I don’t plan going anytime soon!

I Went Back to Academics as a Visiting faculty

I quit my full time job in 2015. I was a professor then and pretty proud of it! But in 2020 I went back to teaching, part time. I taught two courses at two different places, totally online. I have never met the students of both the batches in person. And I thoroughly enjoyed teaching again! If I can manage the logistics, I would love to teach one course every semester. Once again, it took a pandemic for me to go back to teaching.

But I would be lying if I say I didn’t miss travel! I miss travel, I miss planes, I miss my hectic itineraries but above all I want to go travel with my sister Alka again! I hope 2021 will be kinder to all of us.

Offbeat Tourist Places in Bhuj- Ramkund Stepwell

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:01:52 GMT

Ramkund is a well preserved stepwell or ‘baori’ in Bhuj, Gujarat that is a little off the beaten path. I have been to Bhuj a few times and in 2019 I was willing to move away from the well known places like Aina Mahal and the Kutch Museum.

I visited Gujarat in 2019 on an invitation from the Gujarat Tourism Board. Our media group had a guide who was willing to drop me by the Kutch Museum while the group visited the Aina Mahal. Ramkund is close by the Kutch Museum and thus started my adventure.

Anant, our guide dropped at the beginning of the road to Ramkund. After walking a short distance I easily located the baori! When I visited there were just two couples sitting there. There was not another tourist to be seen!

The Ramkund at Bhuj

There are bigger and more ornate baoris in Gujarat, Rani Ki Vav near Patan readily comes to my mind which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, I love all kind of stepwells and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Ramkund in Bhuj.

The Beautiful Ramkund Stepwell

The Incredible India website gives the following description of the stepwell. Other than that not much is known about the origin of the stepwell.

I took my time walking around marveling at the symmetry and the thought behind the water conservation in the ancient times! I love taking pictures so after a while all my efforts went into that. I ended up putting my bright pink shawl (which I bought in Kutch) on the steps for effect.

My Pink Shawl at the Baori!

I marveled at how quiet it was the entire time I was there. The local couples were not too bothered by my presence and I was amused by their youth and need to meet away from the prying eyes! I remember requesting them to move out of picture frame once, I asked politely and they obliged.

Nothing monumental happened during my short stay at Ramkund Stepwell in 2019 but how sorely I miss those small joys of traveling in 2020!

If you are in Bhuj do check out this small stepwell that is right there in hub of city and yet somehow forgotten in time!

Postcards from Hanoi, Vietnam

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 20:34:28 GMT

I visited Vietnam in the October of 2019 on a blogging trip with IndiGo when they launched their inaugural flight from Kolkata to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This trip happened pre-covid. If I have learned one thing in 2020, it is not to take travel for granted. In today’s post I show you some sights from the capital city of Hanoi. The first image of the Hanoi skyline at sunset from the Lotte Observation Deck.

Tran Quoc Pagoda at Hanoi, Vietnam

I stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel and the Tran Quoc Pagoda was at walking distance. Built it the 6th century, it is popular with tourists and locals alike. The walk to the Pagoda is filled with vendors. Some of them have baby tortoise which visitors buy and release in the waters of the West Lake.

A Traditional House at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi

We spent a few hours at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The displays within the main building are impressive but I could only gather so much in my short visit. I did realized the importance of bamboo in daily life in Vietnam. A little away from the main building there are replicas of the tribal homes and you see one such home in the picture above. If you plan to visit the museum and explore it in any detail give it at least half a day!

Fridge Magnets in Hanoi, Vietnam

I love looking at fridge magnets and postcards in a foreign land because they give me excellent photography ideas. I have benefited by looking at the gorgeous captures by knowledgeable local people in so many countries.

Happy Smiles

The streets of Hanoi are colorful and almost always, the vendors smile when you point your camera and ask if you can take a picture! The magnets made me aware and I was lookout for pictures whenever we were in the streets of Hanoi.

A Flower Vendor with the Traditional Hat Non La in Hanoi

Traveling in a media group has its ups and downs. I spotted this pretty flower stall a little distance away from where my group was waiting for our vehicle. I told them I would run, click a picture and come back and that is exactly how I managed to capture this scene. The lady was friendly, after a while she just went about her business and I about mine! I only encountered one woman who told me not to take a picture of her flower stall and I respected her wish.

Mother Daughter at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi

You wait a lot for people when you travel in a group. I was waiting at the steps of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, our designated meeting point when I spotted this mother-daughter duo. I loved their color coordinated outfits and that they were dancing together oblivious to the world around them!

The Hanoi Night Market

I loved the bustle of the Hanoi Night Market in the Old Quarter, particularly the Beer Street! We sat down at the plastic stools to enjoy the local beer. It is also an amazing spot to do some people watching. I spotted mothers with their strollers, groups of teenage girls roaming around happily at night. After our beer session, the group broke up to go for shopping. I was not interested in shopping, so I hailed a motorcycle taxi to my hotel! I so love the freedom to be out at night without fear.

Lanterns at Hanoi

I clicked this image at a buffet restaurant in Hanoi. Being a vegetarian I was a bit hesitant about how I would fare at the place but they had a whole counter devoted to vegetarians. The restaurant had live music and a beautiful decoration with lanterns.

Souvenirs at Hanoi

There was a time I would buy something, if I liked the colors etc. But as I traveled more, I am content with clicking pictures of souvenirs that are eye-catching.

I was already cutting down on travel in 2019 as my daughter’s tennis practice became more intense. But then universe had other plans, the world got grounded in 2020. I am patiently waiting for travel to become safe again. My promise to self is that I will enjoy my Travel 2 even more, whenever that happens. As of now, I am only taking trips down the memory lane!

Mridula is a Solo Traveler’s Guardian Angel!

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 11:20:20 GMT

Karina and I met near Mt. Lavinia Railway Station because we both took a wrong turn in search of the beach! There is a story behind how I ended up at Mt. Lavinia but I will tell it another day! This post is written by Karina, we met in January in Sri Lanka. Karnia you are the first person in the world with whom I spoke a few Spanish words amiga else I only talk to an app!

The Railway Lines at Mt. Lavinia

If I were to ever solo travel again, I can only pray that I meet another kind and compassionate traveler like Mridula! In January 2020 I bought a round trip plan ticket from California to Colombo, Sri Lanka as a birthday present to myself.

When I got to Sri Lanka, I checked into my Airbnb and realized how unprepared I was for travel. I didn’t have the right clothes, didn’t have the correct cellular phone service, and had no idea how to get money exchanged for food. I was completely lost, so I decided to walk down to the Fort Colombo train station and hoped the sea breeze and ocean views would clear my head.

Mt. Lavinia Railway Station

I saw a beautiful beach town at the Mount Lavinia train stop and decided perhaps someone there would know how to help a lost tourist. This is when I met Mridula – and my entire Sri Lanka trip was saved! I was immediately welcomed by her outgoing personality as she began to help me find good food in town, gave me fashion advice, and directed me to fix my phone.

The Good Food at Sugar Beach

I felt so lucky and relieved that my first solo trip was now changing for the better! First stop, she took me to Sugar Beach, a wonderful restaurant with the best seafood curry and rice that I’ve ever had. She next told me how to travel around by Tuk Tuks, and told me where to fix my phone because she recommended using Uber Tuk Tuks for fast and efficient travel by the beach and by the city.

The Beautiful Park Street in Colombo, where Cafe Frances is!

Next, she took me to downtown Colombo restaurant called Café Francais, which had delicious food, drinks, and atmosphere. Finally, for dessert we stopped at a nearby cake and coffee restaurant, which name I don’t remember, only that the iced café is just what I needed after a wonderful day of touring Colombo and Mount Lavinia beach town.

We said our farewells as she had a flight to catch in the morning and I went home with a full belly and a happy spirit! She was definitely my guardian angel as she gave me plenty of advice about fun and safety as a female solo traveler.

Mt. Lavinia Beach

One life changing recommendation that she made was that, if I wanted to see sea turtles in a coral reef, don’t go to Mirissa Beach… go to HIKADUWA. I left Colombo and found a hotel in Hikkaduwa, where I got to snorkel with lots of tropical fishes in the morning and to swim with dozens of sea turtles in the evening. I forgot to mention to all the great food and drink places but I seem to have forgotten the names!

It was a life changing experience and I can’t thank Mridula enough for nurturing my travelers’ spirit and keeping me moving in the right direction! Thank you so much Amiga, hope you are safe and well!

When my Sister Wore a Saree in Paris

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:14:49 GMT

Who would have thought travel would come to such a grinding halt in 2020! So these days I am taking trips down the memory lane! When my sister, Alka, offered to write her version of the day I wore saree in Paris, I was happy, and curious too! So here we go on a trip down the memory lane, when I wore a saree in Paris in 2018! You can read my version here!

It was my sister’s idea to take an annual holiday. Just the two of us, leaving our families behind for 10 days. It was also suggested by her to stay in one city for 9-10 days and explore at our own pace getting the local feel, living like locals and travelling like locals and eating the local vegetarian cuisine. When she planned Paris trip around one and half years ago, I was pretty excited. Paris held a special place in my heart due to French Revolution. Our History teacher Prof. L.B. Verma taught this chapter in such a way that those students who were from science stream used to come and stand at the back of the class, just to listen to him delivering his everyday lecture. I was looking forward to this trip.

My sister suggested one more thing, lets one day wear a saree while in Paris. Somehow I couldn’t keep my part of the bargain. But I packed a saree for her. She purchased it from Jaipur on one of her trips. When we reached Paris for the first week she avoided wearing it. But one day everything fell in place and she wore it. She was looking fabulous.

When we came out from our room and passing the reception area, the lady sitting at the desk complimented my sis. When we stepped outside the hotel and started walking on the pavement, a lady on wheelchair stopped and came near us saying, “You are looking very beautiful!” My sis thanked her and we started towards metro. Though people in Paris give you enough privacy don’t stare but that day, when we were waiting for our metro, I saw so many necks young and old alike, craning near window panes in passing trains to have a look at my sis.

First we stopped at Louvre to click her. There when we reached at the Louvre Pyramid, an entire Korean group of tourists stopped. Then one person came towards us and said, “Namaste from Korea!” We too laughed and said Namaste. But due to language barrier we couldn’t talk much. They left saying, “Shukriya!”

I was having a great time clicking her and having her state of the art camera in my hand. She was being very good in that icy cold winter and was not saying anything for a while about not wearing a coat while posing for me!!

Next we moved towards Eiffel Tower. Winter rain and grey sky were unable to curb our enthusiasm. She was looking so beautiful and graceful. Though she doesn’t wear saree much but here she was giving me poses with great ease and without complaining.

I was clicking her on Bir Hakiem Bridge, and here passed a group of players with its coach. I don’t know whether it was part of coaching or the coach was just curious, he ordered some exercises to the players on the bridge itself while himself sitting like a king the whole time. I stopped clicking my sister, fished out my phone and tried to make a video of the whole incident. I only captured a few seconds of it. Then he ordered his boys to move ahead!! We had a hearty laugh about it.

But now my sis wanted to go back to hotel as she was feeling cold. It was raining too so it was a logical thing to do. When we reached hotel, another receptionist spotted my sister. He started to dance a bit saying in Hindi, “Shadi! Shadi! Shadi!” We were helpless with laughter seeing him dancing and speaking Hindi. Earlier he wanted us to believe that his name was Raj!! Bollywood!

It was a fantastic idea to wear saree for one day in a foreign land. Our day was filled with joy, excitement and laughter. Hope to duplicate this in another country in future, God willing and corona virus permitting!!

Design Conversations at Pendi, Colombo

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:31:06 GMT

If someone would have said to me in January that Colombo would be my last international trip for a long time, I would have laughed! But here we all are, sitting at home more or less across the globe! Because Colombo is my last trip before the pandemic I hold it all the more close to my heart! I tried hard to write a normal post without all this; I just kept staring at a blank screen! Though let’s get back to the story of Pendi!

When my friend Riaan called me to invite for a design trip to Colombo, I hesitated for a moment. I told him, he knew me and I was not the designer type! He was still confident that we would have fun and that is what we did on the trip!

Pendi, Colombo

Pendi is a design store founded on the belief “that traditional Sri Lankan crafts and skills could be reinvented and reinterpreted to reflect the contemporary Sri Lankan lifestyle.” Founded by husband and wife Natalie Pendigrast & Dilanke Hettiaratchi, Natalie brings the design flair and inspiration and Dilanke the business head to the team! They closely work with a host of Sri Lankan designers and the feel of the store is like finding a treasure trove!

Creating with Ena Designs

I spent a lot of time at the store interacting with the designers and making to learn things with them. I quite admired Ena of Ena Designs. We were trying to use paint and tape to decorate a flower pot (pictured above) when I mentioned my reservation, I can’t do anything crafty. She asked me to relax and go with the flow! What she did was so simple and yet elegant and even I could do it!

Those Bean Bags are Fab!

Then there were the bean bags from ApiHappi, I have tried a few of them in my life but never found anything as comfortable as them! Throughout the evening we were standing and talking and laughing a lot. But when I needed rest, the bean bags were my go to place!

Botanic Hues, working Sustainably

Then the lovely ladies from the Botanic Hues showed me how to use flowers, leaves, turmeric and such natural sources to die a cloth! And the best bit, I got to carry the fabric that I painted with flowers!

Throughout that evening, I interacted with designers with a lot of food and drinks in between. I am not an extrovert but while I am writing this, I feel rueful about that human connect, meeting people that we completely took for granted!

Anyway, this too shall pass, and one day I will go back to traveling again! I would quote from Pendi’s Instagram post-

“All of our neighbours have lit oil lamps and lanterns in solidarity this year. We can’t go out. We can’t look at the lights and displays together or spend vesak the way we usually would. With people.
Watching the lamps being lit, I felt a little emotional. We’ve all had two difficult years in a row and, there’s hardly anyone who wouldn’t be anxious or worried about the uncertainty of our future.
But looking at the colourful lanterns and oil lamps lit by our neighbours gives me hope. Hope in our solidarity and resilience. Hope that things will get better. Hope that we will all come out of this a little kinder, more patient and empathetic towards each other.”

It was after reading that Instagram post, I found the courage to write about my travel experiences again, it took me sometime but then here I am, staying strong!

Here is a short video of my experience of my time at Pendi!

Human by Nature- Vignettes from Beautiful Kerala

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:23:50 GMT

I am lucky, I have traveled to the beautiful state of Kerala many times. Nature shares its bounty in abundance and the effect is amplified by the beautiful people of Kerala. I have been lucky to see a bit of this world and today I share five unforgettable vignettes from my trips to Kerala!

Beautiful People

I was walking by the picturesque fishing nets at Fort Kochi when a fisherman asked me if I was an Indian living abroad! When I told him I was from Gurgaon, he smiled and asked, would I like to try some of his fresh catch from the sea? I told him I was a vegetarian, he gave me a big thumbs up and smile, I walked on through the beautiful sunset, holding this fleeting interaction close to my heart! From taxi drives to hotel staff to a common person working in a field, I have been greeted by countless smiles!

Lush Nature

The hues of green you witness in Kerala are amazing, be it the forest or the rice fields! Glancing over acres of lush rice fields is soothing for the city frayed nerves. But it takes on another dimension during the monsoons, then you are in for a special feast. Everything has a fresh look. Rains come as if they will never end, yet to vanish leaving behind sunshine! I went bird watching through paddy fields on one of my trips. Even though I don’t speak the same language, I was greeted warmly everywhere I went!

Delicious Food

Kerala has a lot to offer when it comes to vegetarian and non vegetarian food. I would any day take a simple meal of sambar, rice, green vegetables with papad and pickle! When I say I do not eat fish I have seen people giving me puzzled looks, because they feel I am missing out on a lot of specialities but I will take the delicious vegetarian stuff everyday be it in a five star hotel or a homestay!

Healing Ayurveda

I remember checking in a boutique hotel in Fort Kochi where they offered me a complimentary foot massage, that was my first tryst with Ayurveda. Two smiling women gave me 15 minutes of bliss! Since then I have experienced many Ayurvedic treatments, from the special steam chamber to staying in an Ayurvedic resort. Some of my best soup recipes come from Ayurvedic style of cooking!

Wholesome Adventures

Kerela has been the backdrop of some of my awesome adventures. I have spotted wild elephants crossing the road on a village drive around Wayanad. I have hiked through the mist to reach the heart shaped Chembra Lake. But the absolute best has been my kayaking experience through the famous backwaters at Alappuzha with Binu. It was the first time I saw the inside of a Kayak. I was nervous. But the ever smiling Binu put me at ease and off we went Kayaking through the backwaters of Kerala. When you sit in a Kayak you are almost at the level of the water, everything is so close by! I had a good time alternating between rowing and taking pictures for two hours! We stopped for tender coconut water and to have breakfast at a local shop!

From nature, to food and culture, Kerala offers a lot to the discerning traveler. Go explore when the opportunity arises, because curiosity is about being Human by Nature!

PS. This post has been sponsored by Kerala Tourism for their Human by Nature campaign. The views expressed are my own.

Movenpick Colombo- Luxury in the Heart of the City

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 18:05:07 GMT

The first trips of an year are always special! This year I landed at Colombo at the beginning of January! I have always been a fan of Accor Hotels, though this was my first stay at Movenpick. I was invited on this trip as a travel blogger.

The sun was setting when I reached my beautiful junior suite with large glass windows on two sides! I loved both the bathtub in the room and the sea view outside.

However, I quickly changed and went to the Vistas Bar at the Rooftop. It has panoramic views of the city. We had a lovely meetup with the top designers of the city!

After a good night’s sleep, I was greeted by a sumptuous traditional Sri Lankan breakfast at the special chef’s table. My hot favorites are egg and string hoppers in that order with spicy sambal! I ate egg hoppers every day of my stay at Movenpick!

I tried to digest some of that breakfast by doing 10 laps in this gorgeous rooftop pool but we goofed up a lot more than doing any serious workout!

A lot of my blogging trips go at breakneck speed but not this one. I had time to enjoy the views, the bath tub and my gorgeous room! If you have been to Sri Lanka chances are you have heard of Spa Ceylon. The toiletries in the bathroom of the Hotel are Spa Ceylon.

I had the pleasure of having one of my lunches at Robata, the teppanyaki restaurant at the hotel. I was the only vegetarian in the group but they took good care of me. I loved my vegetarian sushi.

The hotel has a posh lounge and bar for the executive rooms. We went on a tour and I was impressed with the Dutch style interiors.

We had a high tea hosted by the premium brand Basilur at the hotel. I am much more of a chai person but it was educational to go through the session and get a glimpse of the high teas of the world!

The tea was accompanied by a wide of variety of snacks which were more of my thing! I attacked all the things sweet with a vengeance!

After staying in so many hotels, I known what excites me. I like rooms on high floors and with a view, be it city, ocean or nature in any form! My room at the Movenpick Colombo gave me sea on one side and the city on the other with a bathtub right in the room! For a few days, I would happily take all this luxury with gratitude!

PS. I was invited on this trip as a travel blogger!

Rann Utsav, Gujarat in Ten Beautiful Images

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 22:19:44 GMT

Rann Utsav is held annually at Kutch, Gujarat. A temporary but magnificent tent city comes up in close proximity to the beautiful white desert at Dhordo. I have been lucky to stay at the tent city twice. This year the festival ends by March 12. I was invited to visit the festival by the Gujarat Tourism Board in December 2019.

The Colorful Shopping Complex, Tent City, Dhordo

If you love walking like me, tent city in itself is huge with the reception and the shopping complex at the hub of it. Kutch is rich in handicrafts and the shopping complex is a microcosm of it!

The Colorful Tent City

Every corner of the tent city has something that will make you pause. If you are a social media fan, there are so many Instagram worthy nooks and corners. I loved the blue chhakda parked near the clock tower!

Dancers at the White Rann of Kutch

Music, dances, cultural performances are the heart and soul of the Rann Utsav. There are cultural performances every night at the tent city as well as at the White Rann!

A Sumptuous Gujarati Thali

What is a trip without some good food? Try local food along the route while you explore Kutch! Don’t forget to drink the buttermilk.

Copper Bells of Nirona

After enjoying the tent city set out to explore the craft villages of Kutch. You could go to the nearby Hodka Village but if you have time I would highly recommend Nirona and Ajrakhpur. In Nirona plan for a longer stay as you will love the Rogan Art, Copper Bells and the Lacquer Work. It was my second visit to Nirona and I am glad to say people remembered me and I course loved meeting them again! If you are into fashion you can go to the birthplace of the Ajrakh print and see the process. You can buy handicrafts directly from the artisans.

Mandvi Beach, Kutch, Gujarat

It doesn’t take long to go from the beauty of the white desert to the beach town of Mandvi. Other than the beautiful beach, do visit the Vijay Vilas Palace and stop by one of the huge boats (dhows) being constructed!

Ramkund Stepwell, Bhuj

This brings me to my last stop Bhuj. Bhuj is the major hub in Kutch with an airport and a railway station. I have explored the usual places like Aaina Mahal, Prag Mahal etc many times. I was on a lookout for new things and I loved visiting the Ramkund Stepwell because I am partial to them. As of now it is a sleepy little place with hardly anyone around.

Chhatedi, the Royal Cenotaphs of Bhuj

The other unusual spot I discovered are the Chhatedis or the royal cenotaphs. It is a perfect place to go around sunset. It is close to the Swaminarayan Temple, so both the spots could be combined.

Rann Utsav, Gujarat

I love going back to Gujarat for very simple reasons, the blogging trips are well organized and the road travel is good. And then the state never ceases to amaze me with something new!

PS. I was invited on this trip by the Gujarat Tourism Board!

Postcards from Ho Chi Minh City

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 22:32:27 GMT

Blogging has truly taken a back seat for me even though I did travel a fare bit in 2019! I am not even sure how much I can travel in 2020! January started on a bright note as I visited Sri Lanka but I end up saying no to a lot of trips these days. My daughter’s tennis practice gets impacted and I am getting more and more reluctant to let that happen. So, maybe 2020 would be a year when I travel a little less, but maybe I will write more.

I visited Vietnam in October 2019 when IndiGo launched a direct flight between Kolkata and Ho Chi Minh City. Here are some of the beautiful memories from that trip!

Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

Independence Palace is also known as the Reunification Palace which is now a museum. It was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

The Beautiful Corridors of the Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

The palace fell to the North Vietnam Army at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. It marked the end of the Vietnam War.

Cu Chi Tunnels, near Ho Chi Minh City

Talking of the war, I got an opportunity to visit the Cu Chi near the Ho Chi Minh City. It is an incredible system of tunnels dug by the locals to fight and protect during the Vietnam War.

Colorful Food at the Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh is an old market in Ho Chi Minh City. The market has a lot to offer, from fresh food to souvenirs, electronics, handicrafts etc but I would say try out the food stalls. It is here that I had the local condensed milk coffee for the first time!

Saigon Central Post Office

A visit to Ho Chi Minh City is incomplete without a trip to the Saigon Central Post Office! The building was constructed when Vietnam was under the control of the French in the 19th century. Across the street is the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, but I went there it was under renovation. I was a little disappointed as I have seen the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and I curious about its namesake in Ho Chi Minh city. But my curiosity has to wait till I get another chance!

Watching the Bamboo Circus at the Saigon Opera House

It was a first for me, going to an opera and it was absolutely mesmerizing. Bamboo Circus is an act by the local artists who combine music, dance and bamboo to present a show that will leave you spellbound! I highly recommend it.

In the above video you can catch a glimpse of what I actually saw in person, and I feel grateful that I got the opportunity.

A Dinner Cruise on the Saigon River

We went on the dinner cruise on our very first night in the country. I was still recovering from the lack of sleep due to the flight the previous night. But the cruise is fun, my boat had live music, a magician and lots to eat and drink!

Vegetarian Food in Vietnam

As i was part of a media group all my meals were organized and I always found vegetarian food on my table. But I ventured on my own a few times in search of egg coffee and I found that even small local cafes would have something for the vegetarian.

My hotel in Ho Chi Minh City was Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 and I stayed at the 53rd floor! It was a beautiful place to come back to every night after a wonderful day of exploration!

PS. I was invited by IndiGo on this trip!