During my recent trip to Thailand, I returning to Bangkok a few time between other cities. I initially stayed there for 3 nights before my travelling to Pai (read this top Pai experiences if you’re going there too) leaving my thirst to see more of the Bangkok, unquenched. Inevitably, I returned and ended up staying there a few more days before my Thailand visa on arrival was about to expire. Its multicultural vibe, a combination of old and modern traditions, street food, peppy tuk

My Southeast Asian odyssey is almost about to finish now, and it’s been unreal. I am currently in Cambodia (as I’m writing this article) and so far the entire journey has been bloody generous – in terms of experiences, as well as the expenses. I always harp on about travelling being cheaper than people think and I stand by that. I am sure you can travel pretty much anywhere in the world in under USD 25 (or Indian Rupees 1500) a day, and when it comes to Southeast Asia, be rest assured,

“Pai is amazing and so peaceful”, “I am in love with its beauty”, “It is so different than any other town in Thailand”, “You should definitely visit it man” – I still remember how different people portrayed Pai and inspired me to spare a few days and visit this “secluded little town”, after Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand. Excited, and hopelessly driven by the whole gamut of descriptions, I booked the first minivan on a fine Sunday morning and left for Pai. The entire drive to Pai, as I

A day trip to Ayutthaya from Bangkok is one of the offbeat things to do during your Bangkok holiday. Its close proximity to Bangkok moreover makes the entire deal better. While some of the best Ayutthaya temples have a rich historical significance and offer a great chance to learn about one of the greatest civilizations on this planet, not many tourists visit the town compared to other top Thailand experiences. I happened to travel Ayutthaya while travelling from Bangkok to Pai (read th

I have mixed emotions about Pai in Thailand. At times, I felt a deep love with it, while at other times, I hated it. I think the fact that the town feels more modern than local, made me hate it. In short, I did not like Pai the way I expected. But that doesn’t mean that visiting this town is not worth it. There is plenty to see and do around. You can hike to the waterfalls, wander through farms and rice terraces, visit the nearby villages and bike to caves. And speaking of top things to

We all know that tourist highlights in Thailand are always more in number than one can imagine. There are water parks, wildlife centuries, laid-back towns, party islands, adventure sports, historic monuments, amazing food… you name it. During my nearly 1 month travel across the country, there was not a single day when I had to think about what to do tomorrow. From chilling and exploring Bangkok to visiting small Northen Thailand towns, my one month in the country went in the blink

I hate making a bucket list or writing down travel goals for me. The entire idea of penning down places and experiences, and pursuing them, one by one, never intrigued me. For me, the real charm of travelling is only leaving in now and not two years from now. Because two years from now, that place might still be there, but its originality might be lost. So yea, I hate making a bucket list or creating a set of travel goals for me. I think they’re crap. Also, as a full-time Indian travel b

For many travellers, Phnom Penh is nothing but an afterthought of the main attraction of the temples of Angkor. While there’s no denying that Angkor Wat temples are the highlight of the tourism in Cambodia, the lively riverside and the cosmopolitan Cambodian capital is no less charming either. My original idea was to stay there for only one night, but I ended up liking the town so much that I overstayed for almost a week. No matter what your taste is, there are many things to do in Phno

“So when are we leaving? What days have you applied for leave at your workplace?” I asked my friend Ankit, with whom I was planning a motorbiking expedition in the Himalayas. A long silence at his end was a clear understanding of the fact that the deal is cancelled. “No man, the thing is I might not be coming along, something really urgent has come up,” he confessed, in his usual tone. This happened yesterday, and since last 24 hours, I’m constantly consoling him to reconsider (rather t

Cambodia can be a cheap country to travel, if only you know how to keep the right approach and deal with locals the right way. During my travel, I met a few backpackers who were spending over 50 dollars a day, despite living much lavishly. They had no idea where they’re bleeding money. The problem was, they were Europeans, travelling in one of the poorest economies in Asia, they could afford getting ripped off, and locals had a chance. Travelling does not have to be expensive, particula

A lot of people, before I personally travelled to Cambodia, told me that Cambodia is meant for budget travellers. They would ostentatiously boast stories of how they travelled Phnom Penh in under USD 30 a day. “But USD 30 a day is not cheap,” I would say to myself. Sure it’s not expensive, but when back home you’re dealing with a currency which is 70 against a dollar (1 USD ≈ 70 Indian Rupees) and you’re a full-time blogger with no source of income yet it’s inevitable for you to m

Cambodia is wild and raw. But there’s something about it that draws you in. Even though it is widely recovering from a long ripping past, its people are always found sharing smiles. The cost of travelling in Cambodia is low and budget backpackers can survive a day in under USD 10. The country’s tourism – across its three major tourist towns, namely Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville – revolves around a rich history, delicious food, beautiful coastline, and a rocking nightlife. So b

Visiting the ruins of Angkor Wat is in every traveller’s bucket list. This was the centre of the great Khmer empire that once ruled most of Southeast Asia. Though the civilization got extinct later, its identity, for its rich history and culture always stayed in news. The temples of Angkor are among those highlighted tourist attractions in Cambodia, that compel many tourists to visit Cambodia in the first place. I spent five days in Siem Reap, out of which three days were totally dedica

After spending a few days in Siem Reap and exploring famous Angkor Wat temples, when I decided to travel Phnom Penh, it was for only one night, before further moving towards the coast. I had only about a fortnight left in Cambodia, and the islands were my priority. But as I arrived in the city one night became two, two became four, and four became almost a week. Every day, I woke up and thought to myself that I’ll get on a bus tomorrow, but didn’t. The city had cast its magic on m

Often, when people talk about my highlighted budget-travel trips, they mention about my Spiti Valley road trip. “You did a road trip in Spiti Valley, for 9 days, in under 5000 rupees? Where the hell did you sleep? In the open? Under the stars?” And I reply… yes, that’s where I slept. Though inside a tent, but under the stars. I save most of my money on traveling because of two reasons: I eat anything, and I sleep anywhere. Though don’t take it literally, what I am trying to convey

It was 1 in the afternoon, as I grabbed myself somewhere in the middle of Darma valley, under the rocky cliffs near the town of Nangling. The terrain looked quite walkable but the comfort of a motorcar was far more appealing, despite sitting on the roof. The peaks of Panchachuli glacier were still, at least, 24 hours away from me. But I could already feel their presence. The sun was unusually bright. This was definitely higher up. At about 13,000 feet above sea level, my ride in Darma V

When it comes to finding some travel inspiration, having a few good quotes, memorized, always help. They allow us to see the world clearly. I remember when I quit my corporate career a few years ago and left home for my first ever solo journey, these trip quotes helped me big time. Famous travel quotes remind us that the emotions we often feel during our journeys have been felt by many others, including the great travellers of all times. For me, reading travelling or mountain quotes, a

A few months ago, while backpacking through Southern India, I met a group of college students who were on a holiday. They found it intriguing that I have quit my job to travel. During our 10-minute conversation, one of the 3 girls in the group asked if I ever found solo travelling risky. A few assuring points, from my side, and the girl whispered, sounding unconvinced, “Yeah, but women travel in a different world than men do”. I think I couldn’t understand her at that time. I think I can

Last week, a reader asked me on Facebook if the local languages can make his solo travelling in North of India tough. He belonged from Kerala. In his words “Is language a barrier to travelling? I was planning to travel to the north of India next month but I don’t know Hindi. Can it be a problem? PS: I am travelling solo!” “PS I am travelling solo” — his message ended with the most important part! A solo traveller is always scared of travelling to places that speak a different lang

If tomorrow I made a list of ‘countries with super easy visa policies’ Cambodia, thanks to Cambodia Visa on Arrival, will get first place in it. Schengen visa will get the last position. I remember how I landed at Siem Reap international airport at 2 pm and by 2:15 I was done with all formalities. And it’s that easy to get it. Thailand Visa on Arrival, for its long queues, hade me discouraged, but god bless Cambodia and its people who made it up to me. Cambodia Visa on