There are many ways to explore a city. Use public transport, try special hop-on/hop-off tourist buses, hire a bicycle and explore, or take a guided walking tour. But if you’re short on time (just like I was and hence I chose a Segway tour in Rome) and still want to have a similar experience as a walking tour, then what can be your best shot? In one word: Segway! Recently while travelling in Italy, I found myself attracted to the idea of doing a segway tour in Rome. While keeping it fun

When it comes to top travel destinations in India like Goa, writing a travel guide or travel tips become literally challenging. I mean there is so much to see and do in Goa that compiling it all in a list is a tough task. And then, there are all those striking dissimilarities between different parts of the city to add to the struggle. So yea, writing a few travel tips for Goa, and claiming them to work everywhere is impossible. Useful Goa Travel Tips But attempting the impossible, here

As I left New Delhi, and with that, the imposing concrete buildings behind me, I could already smell the fresh air. The beautiful countryside of Uttar Pradesh was enough to keep me entertained. Periodic glimpses of green pastures and lush foliage had begun. It had been less than 4 hours since I left home and a part of me already wanted to go astray, ride aimlessly spotting wildlife. This was certainly one of the most picturesque drives I’ve ever experienced near New Delhi, making it on

In first glance, as I travelled from Delhi to Almora, the town appeared as one of those bustling towns in the mountains that are becoming the next concrete jungle. There were hotels and shopping complexes on the narrow ridge. Neighbourhoods were buried under plastic waste. Local people were too busy to tell anyone any directions. It was nothing like my village experience in Kumao Uttarakhand I had stayed at after my stay in Almora a day later on my Delhi to Munsiyari ride. See this vide

Not very high in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, I happened to hike through dreamy villages, deodar forest, and secret rhododendron trails, where locals would wake up at 4 am to chop wood across daunting terrain. They would climb up and down a steep mountain face while I carefully place one foot in front of the other. My 2-day stay in this sleepy village called Naikana, which, in fact, was located only 20 minutes away from a well-trodden road, remains the most beautiful journey I’v

Visiting Sabah, in Malaysia? Read how I liked Sabah, the Malaysian Borneo, during my first visit! As I gestured to politely ask for her permission to click a picture, she hesitated. But I knew, the hesitance wasn’t out of reluctance but pure shyness. There was nothing unwelcoming about it. I moved a few inches closer, and before I even realized it, my camera was peeking right into her face. She blushed harder. The laugh lines around her eyes dug deeper into her face. Suddenly, the came

“Who does camping in a new country anyway? Don’t you think jungles look the same everywhere?” I remember how my friends initially reacted as I told them about my upcoming trip to Malaysia. And I understand their disapproval. For most people visiting a new country, streets and cities remain the biggest fascination. I mean if you are visiting Japan for an instance, would you rather go for hiking, or carefully spend your time taking selfies at the famous Shibuya Station intersection in Tok

While it’s known as a helluva town, for whatever reason New York has never been the most popular destination for backpackers. Perhaps it’s down to the hefty costs involved, or maybe another thing putting people off is the sheer magnitude of the city and the idea of being alone in such a vast urban landscape, which can be daunting for some. This is a shame because when it comes to things to see & do in New York the Big Apple packs one mighty punch. True, it’s nice spending some of th

Since I have bought a motorbike in April 2019, I have been planning road-trips across the Himalayas. Where these road-trips surely fall under the category of a ‘road-trip’ the fact that I travel very slow is what differentiates them other similar road-trips or the road trip itineraries you find online. These itineraries will take you across a place in a much detailed and orderly manner. I also make sure that I convey only real feelings and not promote a trip even if I don’t like i

Before visiting Luang Prabang, I expected it will be very under-developed. I thought the majority of people there must be relying on agriculture and fishing in the Mekong River. But I was wrong! Of course, the place looked quiet and simple, but it didn’t look underprivileged in any sense. The roads were clean, people were content, and the cars… well, they were quite a few in number. Everything about Luang Prabang was pleasant and likeable. If I have to describe the town in three words,

I won’t describe myself as a budget or a luxury traveler. I think, at this moment, I am somewhere in the middle – focusing more on the experiences than anything else. So, when folks at Singapore Airlines upgraded me to business class, during my recent Delhi to Singapore flight, I was like “umm… okay!” I don’t really care whether it’s an economy or a business class flights. As long as the person sitting next to me doesn’t literally own the sharing arm-rest and burp right on my face

A group of nearly 2 dozen monks hurried towards me as I caught hold of this unfamiliar religious act of Tak Bat in Luang Prabang for the first time. They were all barefoot, looking and walking straight in one line. The first few in the queue, as I guessed, were in their late teens, followed by some as young as 7 or 8 years old. This is how every morning in Luang Prabang is rewarded – with the colorful sight of hundreds of saffron-robed Buddhist monks and novices walking in a peaceful pr

Beyond the frequented, my 2019 has taken me to two offbeat Southeast Asian destinations: the island of Borneo that I happened to visit during a media-trip to Sabah, in Malaysia, and the landlocked, the unfrequented Luang Prabang. To be honest, I never imagined myself visiting Laos. And the biggest reason for it was the lack of information available online. Laos, moreover, never felt very intriguing to know about. Before my visit to Luang Prabang, I had no idea that Laos, in fact, has fo

In March 2019 Singapore’s Jewel Changi airport won the best airport in the world title for the seventh year in a row. That was before Changi Airport had ‘The Jewel’ — its architectural marvel. Now, after its opening, I wonder how many other airports in the world is going to get that title, at least, in the foreseeable future. Every country is good with something, they all have their unique strong point. Some are good in arts, some with technology, while others, in preserving

Described by many as the land of Gods, Uttarakhand is the abode of the towering Himalayas, mesmerizing lakes and holy rivers. Due to its close proximity to New Delhi, it lures a significant number of Indian tourists every year and offers them a perfect reviving holiday. It is moreover here where the holy Ganges finds its origin before making its way to the other Indian states. The four holy pilgrimage sites for Hindus – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath – are also located her

Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh has evolved as one of the wealthiest and busiest cities of the Middle East in the past few decades. Though the city has always been conventional and known for unique architecture, today it offers many fun things to do for people in varying age-groups. For many years, most people who visited Riyadh have been business travelers as it offered little or no entertainment options. Most people thought about Riyadh as a boring city with hardly anything for en

Off late, I’ve seen myself covering weekend getaways on my blog quite a lot, places that can be reached in or around 6 hours from New Delhi. And this is because I’ve recently bought a motorbike. I am planning more and more road-trips. The only problem is, however, every time I leave home for the next big adventure, I end up staying at a place not too far from New Delhi, on Day 1. My inexperienced rider ‘self’ doesn’t allow me to ride for more than 6 hours, or, say, 300 km in a day. Wher

During my recent 1-month monsoon ride across Himachal Pradesh, I happened to visit the two towns back to back. It was my second visit to both places. Where I loved Shimla for being quiet for a change, I adored Chail for an even more peaceful experience. During the months of monsoon, both felt (almost) equally enjoyable. But, for a different reason! Contents hide 1 My

For a long time, I kept myself away from traveling to Shimla, and this was for one reason – Shimla is a popular tourist destination and remains crowded most of the time of the year. Hill-stations and mountains, for me, are a synonym to peaceful. And if I know that I am going to find a big crowd to where I am going, I stay away from it. But then, a part of me also always want to visit popular places and see what actually made them so popular in tourist charts in the first place. Why is i

For me, understanding local culture and getting a feel of the local life is just as much important as visiting new places and meeting new people. If I didn’t have local interaction on a journey, the journey feels incomplete. This is perhaps the reason why I prefer homestays over hotels. And this is perhaps why I visited village Cheog, near Shimla during my recent 1-month motorcycle trip across Himachal Pradesh. If I talk about my previous motorcycle trip from Delhi to Munsiyari, that to