On the third session of Interviews with Exceptional Travellers, I am thrilled to be talking to Melvin Böcher. Melvin is the ebullient founder of http://traveldudes.org, a flourishing online community for travellers around the world. He is also well known in the Twitter world as the founding host of #TTOT, the most popular travel chat on Twitter. #TTOT or Travel Talk on Twitter happens every Tuesday at 9.30 am and 9.30 pm GMT (3 PM India time). Melvin tells us about his hectic lifestyle and the real story behind #TTOT.

1. Being a popular travel blogger, you are invited to many places and events. How many days in a month do you travel and how do you stop your partner from killing you?

The easiest way not to get killed is by taking my partner along. ;-)  I do this as much as possible, but as I often get invited to speak at conferences or trade fairs, I travel there alone. So I limit my travels to 7 - 11 days per month. But as I have a team of editors, it's them who represent Traveldudes.org regularly and promote a destination or business abroad. That works fab!

2. Everyone loves to travel but not all make it their job. What is your inspiration to do this day, in day out?

It's the passion for travel. I love to inspire people to travel the world and to get them out of their comfort zones. I'm no fan of package holidays and I want to show how easy and how much fun it is to travel independently.

3. We met on #TTOT, a popular travel chat that you founded and continue to run. Tell us a bit about how you started it and why it is such a popular hangout for travellers around the world. 

 I've been a regular co-host at another travel chat and I was a key co-host to make that chat a huge success. Then they started to sell the chat to sponsors for some good money, but they kept it quiet and all the money to themselves. Even after contacting them, I didn't get an answer to my questions. They started to sell the tweets in an e-book without telling the tweeters themselves. You can do mistakes, but it's how you react afterwards. I was very disappointed about their reactions and thought that I could do it better. That's what I did.  There were many others just as disappointed as I was and then we gave it a go together. #TTOT from the first session till now is the biggest travel chat on Twitter.

4. What is your favourite type of holiday?

I like to do adventurous stuff and to get a bit active. If it's outdoors, even better. By adventurous, I don't mean soft-adventure, like bungee jumping etc. Those are fun, too, but are they really adventurous? "Adventure" is a big name and it means something else to everybody. My trip through the Australian Outback with a 4x4 was the kind of adventure I love. These kinds of trips should be of course, self-drive.

5. Your advice for solo travellers?

Go for it! Think positive and stay spontaneous!

That's when you have the most fun and very special travel moments you will never forget again!

 Feast your eyes on photos from Melvin's eclectic travels courtesy his blogging trips.

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Question for readers - Would you give up your job and travel for a living?

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Cheers,

Sudha

I have been struggling to write a post for the blog since the last couple of days. Designing fabulous itineraries for clients, resolving website glitches and the ever hungry world of social media take up more than the hours available in a workday. This evening I forced my tired brain to work some more when I noticed some of the delicate leafy plants on the terrace wilting despite their morning drink of H20. My brain used the last of its energy to send signals to the body, "Water the plants NOW!" As the water hit the mud in the pots, a tantalising scent rose up like that of dry earth receiving the first rains of the season. Refreshed and inspired, I was happy to set aside that post and start a new one to share with you 6 simple pleasures of an Indian summer.

1. TRADITIONAL SUMMER COOLERS

Indians now have access to the best international cola brands but there's nothing like nimbu pani (lemon juice) to quench your thirst. Or tender coconut water, aam panna, neera, shikanji and that uber healthy drink, buttermilk called chaas, moru, sambharam in various parts of the country. These traditional Indian summer coolers have a dual purpose of quenching thirst and restoring lost nutrients due to excessive sweating. Unfortunately most restaurants do not serve many of these traditional coolers and stock only aerated drinks to accompany a meal. There are some commercial brands of these coolers but I am not sure how "typical" they taste. The good news is that they are easy enough to make at home. I found this website with four recipes for traditional Indian coolers. Or try cadging some from a kind friend who makes them.

2. MANGO MANIA

Summer in India is synonymous with eating mangoes.  The season starts with the first few mangoes appearing like blushing brides in the neighborhood fruit shop. They are prohibitively expensive but like the aforesaid brides, they have an irresistible glow and I am happy to succumb to their lure. By April, the markets are awash in mangoes. Prices have climbed down and I am spoilt for choice. Smelling and touching them in the market, cutting up a mound of them and sucking out the last bit of juice from the fleshy seeds is an integral part of the process. The smaller ones are just peeled and eaten without the usual middlemen of forks and plates. Though the Alphonso mango has cornered the title of "king of mangoes", I prefer the Baganapalli from Andhra Pradesh or the local Imam Pasand from Karnataka. The Langda from North India is delicious but not easily available in Bangalore. I have ambitious plans this summer of making mango sorbet and mango ice cream. But that's nothing to boast about compared to the traditional practice of making aam ka aachar (mango pickle) for a year that my mother-in-law and many traditional households in India follow.

3. LONG COOL SHOWERS

Nothing beats the feeling of cold water hitting the body after a day of working hard in the summer or cooking in the kitchen. I have to have one before turning in for the night else I can't sleep and my mind will flit all over the place. I am not keen on swimming but I know that a day by the pool is a great way to calm down cranky kids in the heat.

4. ICE CREAM IN A CONE

I know, I know! This is a universal pleasure and not limited to India. But how can I not mention it? I am not an ice-cream person; I am a chocolate person. Except in April-May when I crave ice cream every day. It tastes best when you eat it under a blazing sun desperately trying to finish it before it melts and leaks out from the cone. The combination of hot sun, cold ice cream and sticky fingers is a summer staple. My husband is a kulfi aficionado and claims that Bangalore kulfis are not a patch on the ones in Mumbai. That still doesn't stop him from wolfing it down when he gets the chance.

5. SLEEPING ON THE TERRACE

I've heard that this is a popular custom in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab in the scorching summers where temperatures cross 40 C and annual sunstroke deaths are routine. Last year we did that too for a couple of days when the heat was unbearable. And it works. You sleep through the night like a baby kept cool by the night breeze. I think this probably works only in dry climates that cool down after sunset. I haven't heard of this practice in humid climates like Kerala Tamil Nadu.

6. SMELL OF RAIN

I have saved the best for the last. When the monsoon starts in June, the smell of dry parched earth receiving the rain beats any designer perfume hollow. The elusive scent stirs up strange longings and long suppressed yearnings that are hard to explain in words. While the monsoon has been portrayed in many a Hindi movie stirring up romantic emotions in lovestruck hearts, the experience is incomplete without sensory assault of the smell of rain. I recently learnt from a friend that there are people clever enough to make attar that recreates the fragrance. Mitti ka attar is almost as good as the real thing. An interesting fact is that this most traditional of Indian scents is used as a base for the French perfume, Terre d' Hermès. I have ordered a tiny bottle of mitti ka attar from Lucknow through my friend, Renuka. I plan to use it to scent my linens. Won't it be heavenly to sleep on rain-scented sheets?

Those were my favourite things about the hot Indian summer. I’d like to leave you with this thought. If the Indian summer weren't hot and scorching, will we welcome and enjoy the rains with the same joy and passion that we do now?

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What are your favourite things to do in the summer? Do you have any nostalgic memories of Indian summers to share?

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Cheers

Sudha

I was recently featured in LocalGuiding, a US based website that promotes local experiences across the world. This was for an article on the top things to do in Bangalore for a tourist.  The interview is reproduced below. I hope this helps both residents and visitors discover Bangalore tourist attractions with a new perspective.

Who are you, where do you live and what unique experiences do you offer?

My name is Sudha Mathew and I run http://www.seekandhide.in a website that offers tailor-made holidays at unusual hotels in India. We combine our specialist knowledge with attention to detail and passion for travel to craft unforgettable holidays for our guests.

What does your city offer that you can't find in other places?

Bangalore has great weather through most of the year unlike most Indian cities. Known as the Silicon Valley of India, it is a laid-back yet cosmopolitan and vibrant city so it serves as a good entry to ease into the chaos of India.

What is the best season to travel to Bangalore?

October to February

What to do if it rains once in Bangalore?

You could visit an art gallery, see a Bollywood movie, have a great cup of coffee at a coffee shop, eat hot crispy pakodas with masala chai at a roadside eatery.  If you have a free weekend, you could be relaxing deep within a coffee estate with a freshly brewed cup in your hand within a few hours from Bangalore .

Where in Bangalore can you relax best?

Bangalore's moniker is Garden City because of the numerous neighborhood parks. The city's largest ones, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh are nice places to walk or read a book. It is also known as Pub city as it was the first Indian city with a pub culture. Try old favorites like Windsor Pub, Guzzlers, Tavern or the new microbreweries like Biere Club, Toit and Windmills.

Where to eat really well in Bangalore?

Eating is something that Bangaloreans love and you can eat well at any budget in my city.

Budget

Brahmins, MTR, Koshys, Mangalore Pearl, Shivaji Military Hotel and VV Road (Food street) if you are adventurous

Medium

Too many to list but my favorites are Kudla for seafood, Rajdhani for an elaborate vegetarian multi course spread, Toscano for Italian

Fancy

Caperberry for molecular gastronomy, Edo for authentic Japanese, Grasshopper for a romantic meal seven course meal in a garden

Use http://www.zomato.com/bangalore for detailed listings.

In which subject are you a local expert?

My area of expertise is discovering small, intimate and charming holiday accommodation that are not a part of the regular tourist circuit, which enrich both the visitor and host with every vacation. I personally visit and review each property before adding it on my site.

How did you become a travel expert?

I quit my banking job to start the travel business because I wanted to do what I was really passionate about - the cultural heritage and architecture of my country.

What do you enjoy most about your travel job?

I enjoy connecting people to local communities, sharing stories and seeing them discover a world outside five star resorts and hotels.

What do you do apart from showing people your country?

I read a lot, write a bit and try out new cuisines.

What does local travel mean to you?

It means meaningful and respectful interactions with the local community through hotels run by or in close effort with the local community, buying from local craftspeople at a fair price, being respectful about local customs and not leaving any litter behind.

What is a typical custom of your culture?

Atitithi Devo Bhava - The guest is like God. We usually try and feed you till you burst, so beware.

Is there a cliché about your city? And is it true?

 Bangalore is a laid-back city and that cliché is true. The earliest opening time for most shops is 10.30 am.

What do you recommend to travellers to put in their bag when they make a trip to your country?

A sense of humor, lots of patience and sunscreen.

Which place do you want to travel to the most?

Havana and Myanmar are two places that I am currently dreaming about.

Tell us your personal recipe for a perfect day in your city.

• Early morning walk to Ulsoor lake and Cubbon Park.
• Alternatively, take a guided walk around Victorian Bangalore or Traditional Bangalore and learn about the history of my city. Try Bangalore Walks.
• Typical South Indian breakfast at Vidyarthi Bhavan or Brahmins in South Bangalore
• Wander through Gandhi Bazaar and experience one of the city's oldest market areas. Buy trinkets at dirt-cheap rates if you like.
• Walk to Bull Temple, a 16th century Hindu temple and pay your respects to the majestic monolithic Nandi (holy bull) statue.
• Have an elaborate thali lunch at MTR, Lalbagh or if you prefer beer and biryani then try Samarkand on Infantry Road.
• You need a nap after that kind of lunch
• Chill out and do people-watching at a cafe.
• Shop for silks, antiques or souvenirs at MG Road or Commercial Street. Or browse through a vast collection of used books at Blossom Book House on Church Street.
• Catch a live performance over drinks and dinner at B-Flat or Chowdiah Hall or a play at Ranga Shankara. Use Indianstage.in for listings.

You can not leave Bangalore without  - having a plate of piping hot idli-vada and filter coffee or buying a Mysore silk sari.

This was originally published in LocalGuiding.

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What do you think of this article about Bangalore's attractions? Did I leave something out? Please feel free to add your recommendations in the comments below.

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Cheers

Sudha

Theyyam in Kannur: the backstory

Being from Kottayam with no family in North Kerala, I hadn't even heard of Theyyam till I saw an eye-catching photo of a man in vivid red face paint and a tall headdress. After some research, I learnt that this ancient form of ritual worship still flourished in the North Malabar region of Kerala. I was fascinated that such an exotic ritual existed in my own state. Ever since, I nurtured the hope of seeing Theyyam in an authentic milieu. A hectic travel schedule for seek&hide saw my Theyyam dream keep getting postponed. Finally, a couple of years after I saw that photo, I travelled to Kannur last month. The trip was planned in less than 24 hours from departure and is a story in itself.

What is Theyyam?

According to historians, elements of Theyyam (from the Sanskrit word for God "Deivam") date back to the Neolithic period and were co-opted into Hinduism later. There are over 400 deities in the Theyyam pantheon, a mix of ancestors, local heroes, animal spirits and Hindu Gods. To be a Theyyam is not just about the bright face paint and the elaborate costume. The person who performs Theyyam believes that the spirit of the God or Goddess that he is enacting comes into him and he actually becomes the deity. Therefore it is the deity who advises about problems and helps in keeping away disease or enemies. This is the core belief behind the Theyyam ritual. A unique aspect of Theyyam is that the performers are exclusively from castes at the bottom of Kerala’s complicated caste system. While performing Theyyam, members of “untouchable” communities are treated with reverence by higher castes.

The setting

On our way from the railway station to the beach house that we had booked, the auto-rickshaw driver mentioned that theyyam is best seen in the wee hours of the morning. Nivedh, the owner of the beach house said the same too. But I was far too tired to contemplate waking up at 4 am after a sleepless bus journey. So my husband and I decided to see theyyam in the daytime. We could see a crowd from half a kilometer ahead of Kottakali Kavu, the temple where theyyam was scheduled to happen that day. We managed to inch our way inside the temple compound. I was amazed by the large but orderly rows of people standing in the covered areas. The sun was blazing down and there was no sign of the Theyyams but everyone looked supremely patient except us. After about half an hour of waiting, the drummers came in playing the chenda, a traditional percussion instrument. All of a sudden the atmosphere changed. The beat was infectious and a group of boys spontaneously started dancing while chanting “Govinda, Govinda”.

Finally…Theyyam

After some more waiting, we finally saw one Theyyam enter. He was magnificent. His face was painted in orange with detailed patterns and small curved silver rods emerging from either side of his mouth. He wore an ornate headdress that started at his shoulders and rose about three feet from his head. There were two painted coconut shells on his chest placed like breasts. Later I realized that he must have symbolized a female spirit. Midway from the chest, he wore a fluffed out grass skirt on a wooden frame. He was very fierce looking and acted like it too. He danced wherever he felt, mock-charged at the crowd and occasionally blessed people with a pinch of turmeric from a container at his chest. There was another Theyyam sitting down. He had an intricate silver mask instead of face paint. People were whispering in his ear and asking for help with their problems. Take a look at the elaborate details in the outstanding photos of Theyyam taken by Theodore Kaye.

With different activities in all directions and the blazing heat, it takes time to adjust to the noise and get a clear sense of what’s happening around you. Apart from the spectacular theyyam perfomers, I found the drummers to be highly skilled and committed to their task. Clearly it takes a tremendous amount of stamina to play the chenda in the heat for hours at a stretch. They didn't stop except for brief water breaks and that too in turns so that the beat didn't stop. The colour, the beat, the devotion of the crowd all combined to make it such a heady experience that we decided to go back for the early morning one.

And Theyyam again!

I usually find it hard to wake up early but I was so excited that I woke up even before the alarm rang at 4.30 am. We reached Kottakali Kavu, the temple in Kannur faster at night because the town was empty. To my amazement there were as many people at the temple as there were that morning including small children. Didn't anyone ever go home during the ulsavam? The theyyam performance had started about thirty minutes before we reached. This meant that the person behind the mask had started his preparation at least 4-5 hours before.

The Theyyam that we saw in the early morning was literally on fire. His headdress was about 15 feet high. There were small lamp-like receptacles in a vertical row on both sides of the headdress. These were filled with oil and lit up. His body was covered with grass fronds. To his waist was attached a wooden frame with long sticks radiating outward like a circle. The ends of these sticks were covered with cloth soaked in oil and were lit up too. It was the most dramatic spectacle I have ever seen. The Theyyam performed multiple circumambulations of the temple surrounded by a small group of devotees who carried oil and water to alternatively reduce and increase the flames. Every time the theyyam passed by me, I felt an intense wave of heat. It does require an extraordinary ability to be a Theyyam.

After about an hour or so the Theyyam stood on a wooden stool facing the idol inside the temple and spoke to it in a deep guttural voice. Despite knowing Malayalam, I couldn’t understand a word of what he was saying. At the end, he jumped up and down on the stool and shook off the flaming cloths from the sticks. After the performance, he patiently listened to devotees’ problems and gave them advice.

Video of Theyyam in Kannur

I could give more detailed descriptions of the costumes and the performance but nothing can come close to seeing it in real life. However here is a Theyyam video that I took in Kannur.  I hope that helps you get a sense of the awe-inspiring ritual. Above all, I hope that you get a chance to watch Theyyam in North Kerala. There’s really nothing like it in the whole world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38ItQi6MZlU

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Have you seen any ritual worship like Theyyam on your travels? I’d love to hear about it.

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Cheers

Sudha

Last month I was feeling quite run down with health issues and an illicitly multiplying pile of work. On the spur of the moment, the husband and I decided to go for a weekend break. Our yardstick was a destination that was not too far away, could be reached easily and hadn’t been explored by us before. We narrowed it to Thottada in Kannur, mostly influenced by the fact that it was Theyyam season. Theyyam was something that I had been longing to experience for the last couple of years. Being such a last minute plan, we couldn't get train tickets. The single flight from Bangalore to Calicut was very inconvenient so we booked luxury bus tickets. I detest traveling long distance by bus, especially in India so you can imagine how desperate I was for a holiday to agree to it.

Despite the bus journey, the holiday was soul soothing and brain relaxing, the exact medicine I needed for my frazzled body and mind. The theyyam ritual was more magical than the visuals that I had carried for so long in my head. The soft sandy crescent shaped stretch encompassing Kizhunna and Ezhara beach knocked my socks off (metaphorically since it was too hot to wear much, leave alone socks). We stayed in a simple beach house about 10 metres from the sea. The beach was an almost virgin expanse with only a few mussel fishermen who paid us no attention. I spent most of the weekend sitting on the verandah staring at the sea. Sometimes for a change, I'd walk on the beach staring at the sea. I could go on with descriptions of my Kannur beach holiday but quoting from popular wisdom, “a picture says a thousand words.” I will leave the rest of the talking to my photo blog on Ezhara beach in Kannur.

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Which is your favourite beach and what makes it so awesome?

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In case you are wondering at Theyyam missing in this photo essay, stay tuned for the next blog which will be all about Theyyam.

Cheers

Sudha

In the second edition of Interviews with Exceptional Travelers, I am in conversation with the lively and lovely Lakshmi Sharath. Lakshmi is a well-known Indian travel blogger through her blog. She flits across the world but her heart remains in the little villages and temples of India. She tells us about her journey from media professional to travel blogger and what travel means to her.

1. I follow you on Twitter and it often seems to me Bangalore is more a place to catch your breath before moving on rather than your home. What motivates you to travel almost incessantly? And how do you keep the wonder of travel fresh on each trip?

Let me start with the first question. Bangalore is a city that has more interesting things near it than in the city itself. And they are easily accessible too. This lures me to go away as often as I can. And to the second question, travel for me is more than a destination or a festival or an event. Travel is more about me… the way I see things, what thread of history that I am following through places. When I went on a sabbatical and followed the Hoysala trail, I would chance upon an old temple in a desolate place and then imagine how lively the place would have been in its heyday. I love the process of discovery and imagining its glory days, even romanticizing the place. That Hoysala Trail trip was what actually kick started my wanderlust.

About not being jaded about travel, I guess the great thing about travel for me is the travel in itself. Even if I am visiting the same destination again, I will find new things about it to see and explore. I will look at it from a different perspective. That's how it remains a fresh experience each time. Take Coorg, which I have visited many times. Initially I did the coffee estate homestay experience and the well-known sights. After that, on another trip I explored the Haleri Dynasty through different parts of Coorg and stumbled upon Nalaknad, which most travelers don't visit.  On a third visit, I had a relaxed holiday in an area that is good for wildlife and bird sightings.

2. What did you do before your travel blogger avatar and why did you chuck it all up?

I was a media professional for 15 years and traveled a lot for work. But by the end I felt limited to a cubicle. From one holiday a year, I made it two then four a year. Soon even that seemed too less. I wanted to see the world without limitations of carefully rationed leave. So I quit. Once I was my own master, I decided to focus on my two favorite pastimes  - writing and travel. And that's how I became a travel blogger.

3. I know that some of our readers are considering a sabbatical or even a complete break from corporate life to travel? Do you have any advice for them on how to sustain it?

I could go on and on about this but I'll keep it brief. A life dedicated to travel is NOT an easy life. Don't quit your job because it sounds cool and glamorous because it is not. It is hard work. I have worked harder in this phase of my life than in my corporate job. Unless you are deeply passionate about travel, willing to live on a reduced and uncertain paycheck in return for the flexibility on a life on the move and have the maturity to handle the pressures of irregular work, don't do it. But if you are all of the above, then it is a great life. I personally have no regrets about what I left behind and the job offers I said no to.

A sabbatical from work to travel for a while is a different thing. That is something that I have done while I was working and I think that works for most people.

Since I am asked this question all the time, my 500th post was dedicated to this question. For a more detailed answer, you can check it out here.

4. You have traveled extensively and visited a lot of places that are on most ordinary people's bucket lists. Are there any places that you still dream of visiting?

That's an impossible question to answer! I feel I am nowhere close to seeing all the places I want to see. In India itself I haven't been to Orissa and most of Gujarat. There's still so much more to explore in my home state of Tamil Nadu. There's even more overseas. Machu Picchu and Scandinavia for starters. I'd like to explore more of South America and UK. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

5. And a silly question to end the interview, what's the first thing a person is likely to say on hearing that you are a well known travel blogger?

Invariably the person will say "Lucky you!" But make no mistake; I am not here by luck but by sheer hard work and will.

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I would love to hear suggestions on people in travel that you would like me to interview here. Don’t be shy, write in with your suggestions :-)

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Cheers

Sudha

As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I find myself reading more about the history of the world. I recently bought Sanjeev Sanyal's book Land of the Seven Rivers because the blurb promised an interesting mix of history and geography. I quite liked it because of his unique slant of using geography to explain history and the impressive research that has gone into the book. Land of the Seven Rivers had several interesting facts about India that I didn't know and that you may not either. This post is a compilation of some little known facts about India from the Land of Seven Rivers. Though I have done some cross-verification, I am basically relying on the research done by the author.

Disclaimer: I am not connected to Sanjeev Sanyal or the publishers in any way.

Did you know that

1. India is the only country where the lion and the tiger co-exist.

2. The oldest discernible geological formation in the world is located in India - the Aravalli Mountains.

3. The game of chess originated in India.  Ancient chess pieces found during excavations at Harappan sites look quite similar to the modern chess set.

4. Chandragupta Maurya's empire at its peak was bigger than that of Alexander the Great or the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi.

5. Kautilya's Arthashastra had rules against meddling in the affairs of your neighbour. The Arthashastra written in 4th century BC is a political treatise on how to run a state.

6. Hussaini Brahmins A group of Brahmins originally from Mohyal in Punjab observe Muharram, the mourning period of the Shias. Legend has it that they fought in the battle of Karbala (680 AD) on Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussain's side. They are now known as Hussaini Brahmins. Sunil Dutt, a well-known Indian actor of the Fifties was from this sub-group.

7. The Romani people of Europe, popularly known as gypsies, originated from India, probably Rajasthan. As a child, you may have read about gypsies as people who travelled with the circus in Enid Blyton’s books.

8. The ostrich was once a common bird in India. Beads and ornaments made from ostrich eggshells have been found in parts of Central and Western India. The remnants have been dated to more than 25000 years of age.

9. Genetically Indians have more in common with Eastern Europeans than rest of Asia.

10. There is an ancient legend that Cleopatra had planned to escape to India to escape death.  But she couldn't get away in time when Octavian, Emperor of Rome attacked Alexandria in 30 BC. The rest of her story is well known. She committed suicide by snakebite to avoid being captured or killed.

11. Gurgaon was a village that belonged to Dronacharya who was the martial arts teacher to Pandavas and Kauravas. The modern name is derived from Guru ka Gaon - village of the teacher.

12. A princess of Ayodhya was the mother of Korea's first royal dynasty. The princess's Korean name was Heo Hwang-ok and she was the first queen of Geumgwan Gaya Dynasty. Former president Kim Dae Jung is descended from this line.

I hope that was a fun read. Please add any cool facts about India that you know.

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Cheers

Sudha

Green Travel - why is it important?

When I talk to friends about green travel, this is what I usually hear. "I want to but it's too much effort" or "I want a relaxing luxury vacation, not some rustic eco friendly hotel" or "I want to but it works out to be more expensive". I beg to differ. Green travel is not difficult and there are plenty of ways that you could be an eco friendly traveller. Here are 10 super simple ways to get you started on your way to become a green traveller.

But why go green in the first place? With the greatly increased volume of travel to even the most remote places, we are in heightened danger of losing many of our natural wonders. Forget the next generation, we may not be able to see some of these in our lifetime. To mention just a few, the Great Barrier Reef and the Belize Reef are in danger of losing all their coral in a couple of decades, the Dead Sea has shrunk by a third, the Maldives islands are certainly going to sink leaving an entire nation homeless and many more disasters in the making. Nearer home, the magnificent Indian tiger is under threat of extinction and one of the biggest reasons is shrinking of natural habitat due to development around those areas. You can read more about these dangers here

Greening your travel is simply a matter of a little planning the next couple of times you travel and voila! then it becomes a habit. You could go on to incorporate eco-friendly measures in your everyday life too and save some money in the bargain.

1. Unplug before you go. Before you even start your vacation, there is a simple way to be environmentally conscious and save a few bucks. Pull out the plugs of all the electrical appliances that won't be in use while you are gone like the television, microwave oven, kettle. A small amount of power gets used even when appliances are turned off but plugged in.

2. Always carry a re-usable water bottle. You can fill it with water from home, a cafe, your hotel or hostel. The advantages are that it saves you money and you have a sturdy bottle for travel rather than a flimsy plastic one. In places like Europe, you can fill water safely from public water fountains and the kitchen tap.

3. Carry a lightweight collapsible shopping bag that won't take up much space in your backpack or purse. This way you can refuse the disposable shopping bags that come with souvenirs and other holiday shopping. Extra tip: trust your hunch and question any item that the store shows you secretly or any potion with “miraculous” powers. These may be on a list of items forbidden to be sold or made from endangered animals.

4. Invest in a good quality travel adaptor that can be used in different regions of the globe instead of buying one in every new country and junking it at the end of the trip. Not only does it save you the pain of searching for one when you desperately need it to charge your phone or camera but it also rescues you from the frustration of grappling with a cheap quality adaptor that won't work very well.

5. Do carry a bin bag on your road trip, hiking or camping holiday to bring back your litter and dispose it off at a garbage collection point. This is critical in the wilderness because even biodegradable food like fruits may be alien to that area and upset the fragile ecosystem of nature parks.

6. This is a no-brainer. Use public transport as much as you can to reduce pollution. The benefit is getting to know the city better than traveling alone in a car or by taxis.

7. Book your stay at eco friendly hotels. Unlike what many travelers think, they are not all rustic cottages or expensive hotels that flash green credentials to charge more. A little research on the Internet will fetch you a range of eco friendly accommodation to suit your budget. A great way to do this is to stay in homestays, farms or plantations. And don’t worry about the quality; some of them are akin to boutique hotels. Be sure to mention to your “green” hotel that you chose them over others because of the activities to minimize environmental impact. That will encourage them to continue with their efforts.

8. Don't ask for daily change of towels and bed linen. And be responsible about the amount of water you use especially in water scarce areas.

9. Local is the way to go. Stay local, buy local and eat local. Make an effort to eat locally grown food to reduce carbon footprints. Restaurant wait staff are happy to help with recommendations if you ask nicely. After all, what's a holiday if you are eating the same food that you eat at home? Buy regional handicrafts and support the local economy.

10. Avoid printing tickets if the e-ticket will suffice. If you have a smartphone, use Google Maps or a similar map application instead of buying and discarding papers maps after each trip.

Good luck, you have started on a wonderful journey of sustainable travel. I hope you will be an eco warrior at the end of it!

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Did you find these green travel tips useful? Would you like to share any tips with the community?

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This is the unedited version of the article originally published in The Alternative on 30 January 2013.

Cheers

Sudha

It's a well-worn phrase, I know but it's true! India does have a spectacular wealth of natural beauty and cultural heritage. While the Miss India title has been permanently retained by the Taj Mahal and the Runner Up titles are usually shared by the Red Fort, Kerala's backwaters or Rajasthan's forts, there are a host of underrated destinations in India. Which is good news for travelers. If you are willing to put a little extra effort in reaching there, you will be rewarded with lesser tourists, few or no touts, cheaper prices and most valuable of all, the high of discovery sans drugs and a stillness that lets you really feel the place in your being.

There are so many great offbeat places to visit in India that one post will only scratch the surface. I'm choosing three of my favorites for this post - Part 1. I will be back with Part 2 in another post.

COORG

Coorg or Kodagu is a rarity in India, a hill station that is not ravaged by ugly modern construction. Except for Madikeri town, the rest of Coorg more or less remains as it was when the British called it the Scotland of India. Clean cool air, the color green everywhere and rolling hills are the lasting impressions that this beautiful district in Karnataka leaves on besotted visitors.  Another rarity is the roads, clean and litter free to a great extent. Coffee is the main crop in Coorg but the annual yield remains at the mercy of nature. To supplement their income, most plantation owners run homestays on the estates. That’s an experience I highly recommend. Staying in a homestay in Coorg gives you access to the unique Kodava culture and to the innards of a coffee plantation. Not to mention their superb hospitality.

Pros: Great weather, clean air, natural beauty, scrumptious food, hospitable people, escape from city stress and chaos.

Cons: Very few restaurants (but luckily food served at most homestays is superb), no public transport.

For whom: Nature lovers, families with kids who enjoy open spaces, city dwellers looking for a retreat, honeymoon couples.

To see/do: Irrpu Falls, Abbey Falls, Bylakuppe monastery, coffee estate visit, Dubare Elephant Camp, trek to Thadiyandemol, Tala Cauvery temple.

Nearest big city: Bangalore

PONDICHERRY

Perhaps it is the weather that keeps a lot of travelers away or perhaps it is the lack of an airport or convenient rail connection. Whatever the reason, Pondicherry largely remains the preserve of French travelers and Chennai residents looking for a quick weekend getaway. All of these reasons mean that Pondicherry or Puducherry, the new name, retains the air of a charming seaside town with a laid back air harking back to its Gallic origins.

Pros: Gorgeous heritage buildings, well maintained historical zone, excellent restaurants with French, Creole cuisine, fine quality handicrafts, antique furniture, pottery and home decor, Auroville, most places are within walking distance, beaches.

Cons: Weather is usually hot except Dec-Feb.

For whom: Francophiles, heritage and architecture enthusiasts, surfers, families with beach loving kids, foodies

To see/do: Heritage architecture from the French rule era, native heritage architecture in the Tamil Quarter. Take an INTACH guided walk if possible. Visit Auroville and meditate at Matri Mandir or do some shopping for your home at the quirky shops in the Visitor Center. There are many interesting cuisines to explore in Pondicherry.

Nearest big city: Chennai

KAZIRANGA

Imagine a 2-ton machine with impenetrable armor and a speed of 55 kms/hr coming at you. Now add a single horn on its head and hey, it’s not a machine! It is the rhinoceros unicornis or the great Indian one-horned rhino. This fearsome, unique and endangered animal is best seen at Kaziranga National Park in Assam.  But the rhino is not the only highlight of Kaziranga. It is also home to the rare wild buffalo, swamp deer and over 450 species of birds.

Pros: Home of the Indian one-horned rhino. Also a chance to see the Indian tiger, herds of elephants, wild buffalo, swamp deer. Excellent bird watching.

Cons: Involves more than one air connection from most cities and road travel.

For whom: Wildlife enthusiasts, nature seekers, families.

To see/do: Wildlife and more wildlife. Try the jeep safari and elephant safari. If you are interested in local culture, you could check with your guide if a visit to a Karbi or Mising village is possible. You could combine this trip with a visit to other destinations in the beautiful North East of India.

Nearest big city: Guwahati

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What’s on your list for 2013? Are there any underrated or unknown destinations that you would like to share?

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Cheers,

Sudha

For that all-important first blog of the year, I thought I would do a recap of 2012 and list my plans for 2013. I then changed my mind and decided to write about my dream destinations in the new year. Finally, I thought of something that will be far more useful to you - a massive dose of good luck. This photo of hundreds of evil-eye charms is sure to keep you safe on your travels this year.

This picture was taken on a sunny day two years ago in a street near Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. These pretty glass pendants called nazar boncuğu in Turkey are meant to ward off the evil eye cast by envious people. They are probably the most popular souvenirs in Turkey and are sold everywhere at low prices. You can find them in the form of bracelets, pendants, fridge magnets and wall art. People in Turkey put them on new cars, doors, new-born babies and even on farm animals to keep them safe.

As a matter of fact, the evil eye tradition or belief is common in many cultures in the Middle East, India, Africa, South America and parts of Europe. In India, a black kohl dot is put on a baby's cheek while putting up a demon mask, smashing a pumpkin, suspending a lemon with green chillies over the front door are ways to ward off the evil eye from vehicles and houses.

So put on that evil eye bracelet or at the very least, draw a black spot on your cheek before bragging to your friends about the fabulous journeys chalked out for this year.

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 Do you have an evil eye custom to share? I'd love to hear it.

Wishing everyone safe and magical travels through the coming year!

Sudha

Welcome to the first post in what's going to be a regular feature on this blog - Interviews with exceptional travellers.

Today, I am interviewing Suchi Govindarajan, a witty columnist, an accomplished tech writer, a talented amateur photographer and a very dear friend from my schooldays in Chennai. Suchi has travelled widely and does at least one camping holiday a year. The only reason why she hasn't covered more of the globe is because till recently she lived in Australia which as you know is about a month away from anywhere else you want to go. She moved to India a couple of years ago. What does she do then? Turns right around and heads back to Australia! In this interview, we chat about why she spent 12 days in the most remote area of Australia with no electricity, Internet or mobile connection and a hot shower and hot meal once in three days.

1. So what made you choose a camping holiday in the Kimberley? Tell us a little about the trip.

Well…in my 8 years of living in Australia, I've covered most of the popular camping spots in my home state of Victoria, Uluru and even Tasmania. Kimberley, the most remote area in Australia has always piqued my interest with its stunning visuals on travel shows. The unusual landscape and remoteness is what attracted me. And for a change, I had the opportunity since I didn't have to use my time off in India for the annual visit home. My husband is equally keen on camping holidays so it works out perfectly.

The route that we took is called the Gibb River Road, a 650 km stretch from Derby to Kununurra. We drove every alternate day, stayed in tents apart from a few days in between when we had stayed at the resorts (quite basic) on the route. We did a massive grocery shop before we left and carried lots of canned food. There are numerous gorges, rock pools and nature parks that you can get off the road for. The tough part is choosing a few and sticking to it.

2. I’d love to hear the top 5 highlights of your trip 

• Driving through Red earth and blue skies with not a cloud throughout the entire trip of 3000 kms.
• Experiencing the change in landscape once you get off the road. From desert-like road to riverbed crossing to rock pool with tropical plants, the difference is unexpectedly magical.
• Watching the spectacular 360-degree sunsets every day. There's nothing between you and the sky to dilute the experience.
• Spotting unusual birds and massive crocodiles in their natural habitat where you are the outsider, not them.
• The night sky in Kimberley is littered with stars and you can even see the Milky Way with your naked eye. It is hard to spot the usually recognizable Southern Cross constellation because of the sheer number of bright stars.
• The part I loved the most was getting back to basics. On this trip, all I did apart from the drive was eat, walk and sleep. This is the closest I've felt to nature, almost like an animal.

3. What is the hardest part of holidaying in such a remote area?

It's not exactly the hardest part; the most important part of the trip was planning to a very high degree of detail. Considering that 350 kms is the average distance between diesel stops, there's no mobile connectivity and the heat is at 40 degree, a mistake can be catastrophic. There are many things to pack that you do not need on other road trips. Physical maps, large amounts of food that will not spoil in the heat, DIY car maintenance kit, adequate drinking water and most importantly, mapping the route as per fuel stops. The heat is unbearable Between 11 am and 1 pm so you have to plan to be near a rock pool or in the air-conditioned car during that period.

4. What advice would you give someone planning a similar trip? Anything to do or to avoid that you realised only after getting there?

I recommend at least 15 days since there is so much to see in the Kimberley.  For most people it’s likely to be a once in a lifetime trip so make the most of it. I also wish that I had flown into Broome airport and out from Kununurra or vice versa since we spent two days driving back to Broome. Those two days would have allowed us to visit Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary, which is an exceptionally pretty area in Kimberley. This is an obvious tip but still…get the best four-wheel drive that you can and read up on everything you might need to carry with you. The road is unsealed (not tarred) and you will drive through shallow riverbeds a few times.

Keep a hawk’s eye on the fuel gauge at all times. Despite being super planned, we almost ran out once. And lastly, after experiencing the starlit nights under the Kimberley sky, I regret not carrying an astronomy book.

5. What was your favourite place in the Kimberley region?

The Bungle Bungle National Park or Purnululu National Park as it is officially called, with its almost alien landscape of orange and black striped beehive domes. It’s hard to describe this place verbally and much easier to understand why through my photos.

6. I know I said five questions but I sneakily added a bonus question. Who is your favourite travel companion and if you had a choice of anyone else dead or alive who would it be?

I love traveling with my husband because our skills are complementary. He drives, I navigate. I plan, he executes. He is very calm about everything while I get stressed about certain things like delays or something not going as per plan.

I would choose Bill Bryson because he's funny and seems to have a knack for meeting the most interesting people when he travels.

Useful links about Kimberley region and planning your trip

http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/kimberley-blog.html

http://www.gibbriverroad.net/

http://www.australiasnorthwest.com/Destinations_of_the_North_West/The_Kimberley

If you would like to read more of Suchi’s writing, hop over to her blog at http://suchiswriting.com

Cheers

Sudha

I have a shameful confession to make. When I think of Goa, I don't think of the great beaches or the laid-back vibe or even about my lovely holiday villas. I think about (wait for it) FOOD! That's right. I think about butter garlic crab at Souza Lobo, prawn patties at Infanteria, anything at Bomras or La Plage and a dozen more lick-the-plate-clean dishes. And if my husband and I haven't had the chicken cafreal and rava-fried prawns at Florentines then we consider the trip to be a washout. Over the years I have made a list for easy reference. It isn't easy trying to decide where to eat when you have juicy prawns on the mind, you know.

Here’s a fun fact. Did you know that there are about 5000 restaurants between Candolim and Anjuna beach in season time? And new ones pop up all the time. So this list is split by area to make it easier to choose. I have also mentioned my favourite dishes and insider tips about the restaurants in Goa that I am partial to. A word to the wise, nothing’s predictable in Goa. So before you leave home, check if the restaurant is open and make a reservation if possible.

I usually share this list only with a few favored clients but this year in the spirit of Christmas generosity, I am putting it up for all of my readers. Get your fork and dig in, I say.

North Goa restaurants

Restaurants in Candolim

• Bomra's - Modern Burmese food by Chef Bawmra.  Try the snapper with lemongrass, slow cooked pork belly, tea leaf salad, Bomras special drink. Khao swe on Wednesdays only.
• Cafe Chocolatti - Good for light food, teatime goodies, short eats. Try the salads and French toast. Avoid the plum cake.
• Lloyds – Barbeque and home-style finger-licking Goan food reputedly made by Lloyds’ mama. A tiny place with 4 tables, literally by the road. Near Candolim church. (Don't confuse it with House of Lloyds which I didn't like)
• Stone House - Popular with British tourists. Try the fresh seafood. Lively place with live music sometimes.
• Bono's and Calamari are among the best shacks on Candolim beach.

Restaurants in Calangute

• Souza Lobo -Touristy place with a local Goan vibe right on Calangute beach. Great crab in butter garlic, masala crab, tandoori baby kingfish (Two people usually share it). Great for seafood in North Goa.
• Infanteria Pasteleria - Old Goan style bakery with lots of local delicacies. Try the prawn and beef patties. They do a fairly good English breakfast too.
• A Reverie - This is THE place to dress up and go celeb spotting. Posh and pricey place. Good food. Contemporary European and fusion food.
• After Seven - Limited menu but consistently good quality. Run by an ex Taj Hotels manager. Don't miss the fig ice cream and the cheese soufflé.
• Travel Bar - A good place for an easy dinner with friends in a convenient location. The food is modern European with a good selection of quick lunches like gourmet burgers, stuffed baguettes and salads.

Restaurants in Arpora

• Baba au Rhum - This is where the last hippies of Goa are hiding. Very boho place with bench style seating. The breakfast selection is one of the best in Goa with great freshly baked pain au chocolate, croissants and real French coffee. And good omlettes too. I would vote this as the best breakfast in North Goa.

Restaurants in Baga

• Lila Café - Large cafe overlooking Baga creek. Serves breakfast/brunch/lunch. Try the fresh baked breads and water buffalo ham. Good coffee.
• J&A's Little Italy – Their specialty is wood fired pizzas and pastas.
• Cavala - This is a North Goa institution with mostly Goan food. Very popular with locals and tourists so it’s packed to the gills on weekends in season. Likely to have live music on the weekend.
• Brittos - Similar to Souza Lobo in ambience but the food is not as good. Very crowded because of the Baga beach location. Try the crab or prawn curry and the sausage pulao as Goan food is their strong suit.

Restaurants in Saligao

• Florentines - Frequented mostly by locals and a few in the know tourists. Plastic chairs and tables. Take only diehard foodies here. Try the simply superb chicken cafreal, rava fried mussels & prawns. Rock bottom prices. Open all year.
• I-95 - This is a relaxed but still chic version of A Reverie with excellent beef carpaccio, grilled lobster and a good wine list. The menu draws inspiration from around the world but is not one of those awful multi cuisine restaurants.

Restaurants in Vagator

• Thalassa – popular Greek restaurant in Goa located on a small hill with a stunning sea view. Go early to catch the sunset. Popular with the Bombay crowd and celebs. Amitabh Bachchan visited in its first year. Run by a Greek lady so try the authentic souvlaki.

Restaurants in Panjim

• Mum’s Kitchen – Strange fact but it is hard to get authentic Goan food in Goa. Mum's Kitchen fills this need perfectly. Try the Crab xec-xec and Pomfret Recheado.
• Ernesto’s – The thing to have here is anything off the barbeque. The pork ribs are perfectly done. Located in the garden of an old house in Mala, Fontainhas, Ernesto’s is hard to find but worth the effort.
• Hotel Venite – Tiny old place with seating in wooden balconies on 31^st January Road. Go for Chicken Xacuti and fried fish.

Restaurants in Anjuna

• Shore Bar – An elevated bar on the beach with a great view. The food is good though not outstanding.  Good place for drinks.
• Basilico – Run by an Italian, it’s as authentic Italian food as you can get in Goa. Try the wood fired pizza.

Restaurants in Ashwem

• La Plage - Run by a French trio of friends. It is often called the most stylish beach shack in Goa. Everything is good here but I especially recommend the beef carpaccio and the desserts. Menus change regularly and feature innovative combinations. Combine this with a day out at lovely Ashwem beach.

South Goa restaurants

I usually stay in North Goa so my knowledge of South Goa restaurants is limited. Nevertheless, there are some real finds to be devoured in the short list below.

Restaurant in Patnem

• Home – By far the best vegetarian food in Goa. There's a half a post dedicated to this restaurant since it was the first time I ate at a vegetarian restaurant in Goa. Fabulous food with fresh local produce and great desserts. And by the way, Patnem beach is my favorite beach in Goa.

Restaurant in Raia

These two restaurants are yet to be visited but I have heard great reviews so I'm adding it to the list.

• Nostalgia – Started in his home by legendary Goan chef Fernando Da Costa (who is no more), this eatery specializes in authentic and in many cases forgotten Goan recipes. Go by the chef’s recommendations.

Restaurant in Quepem

• Palacio do Deao –A very special experience where you tour a heritage home and then sit down for a specially prepared meal with traditional Goan dishes not seen in restaurants. Advance booking necessary.

Don’t judge me but I might as well come clean on everything now. I count my Goan holidays by the number of meals to be had. So it’s not a week in Goa, its actually 14 meals in Goa. *blush*

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I’ve come clean but what about you? Do you have a food addiction story to confess? Or do you know a fabulous Goan eatery that should be on this list?

Cheers

Sudha

Try doing a Google search for the term “traveling with children”. You can easily spend a day going through the links. But when you are already harried managing a child or two at home, you need an effective shortcut. That’s how I initiated a discussion on how to make it easier to travel with children on our Facebook Page. Here is a compilation of the tips and learned wisdom that our wonderful community happily shared with us.

Keeping ear ache away

• When flying with babies, give them something to suck on when ascending or descending. Bottle, breast, even a little finger works... it keeps the pressure equalised in their ears and prevents them screaming in pain.
• I always bought a bag of snakes for mine, it was a special treat and they just chewed and sucked on them so didn't have any problems with their ears.  (It’s not what you think - “snakes” are an Australian word for lollipops.)
• Half an hour before take-off, put eardrops for infants and toddlers. Helps in keeping the ears numb. Please give them milk, juice or candy or ice cubes as it helps the ear pain.
• And always always be prepared for having cranky kids once you are on the ground...delayed earache (yes, that does exist) or sense of displacement. A little crocin/paracetamol and warm bath always helps.

Keeping boredom at bay

• Download videos on your laptop or phone. Do carry little coloring books, games and toys. Kids love to explore and will rarely sit in one place so when you book tickets planning your flying during their sleep times really helps.
• For my girls (3 and 7), I allow them to carry their own trolley bag filled with things that they have chosen to entertain themselves with. Sure-fire busy keepers are crayons, colouring books, small jigsaws, match the dots pages, word search (for my 7 yr old) and lots of goodies. My girls like to pretend they are having a picnic.
• Do not take heaps of little toys on the plane. They will just get chucked around and you will spend all your time trying to retrieve them from under seats. Take just one or two bigger toys. I found mine were far more entertained by the safety information card and banging on the plane windows. Also don't take toys you will be sad to lose. Sometimes things get lost/left behind in the chaos; you don't want that thing to be the toy dearest to your little one.
• I used to take toys and distractions and when that was not fun anymore I would sing and sing and sing.
• We have two little girls and we always try to travel with friends and other children. It works wonderful - the kids are busy and happy!

Getting little tummies full

• Children can be very fussy when it comes to change of food. Introduce them to Gerber food before travel to check for any reactions. It is easy to heat and carry. Carry the rice, dal and spices in very small quantities for making familiar foods. This works well if you are staying in a villa or service apartment or request to use the hotel's kitchen.
• Pre order kids food. Take water bottles to avoid spillage.

Packing Guru

• I make sure I have a small medicine pouch with fever & stomach ache medicine, saline nasal spray, bandaid. Also good to have moisturiser, powder, diaper pants, hand sanitiser, potty sanitizing spray, wipes, and a disposable garbage bag... And of course a change of clothes just in case!
• A change of clothes for kids and yourself. I have a friend that got puked on by his infant...infant had clean clothes but he had to deal with 12 hour flight in pukey clothes!
• Best thing we got our boys is the ride-on suitcase. The airports were a breeze, we didn't have to carry them and at the most we could pull them very easily at a pinch. Three changes of clothes are average for a baby. Baby carrier is handy for pee breaks with sleeping baby.
• Hand luggage should be minimum and almost exclusively kids’ stuff. Foolishly, I was carrying my iPod and book. I managed to read a little but it was more painful to keep juggling it.
• For parents with twins, like my 6 month-old babies, always carry two separate bags and split feeds, formula, clothes, spare clothes, diapers, toys, even meds. Especially since different airlines have different rules for carrying two infants. In some the adults may be seated on either side of the aisle, in some a row apart.
• Dressing babies in bodysuits and using caps to cover their ears, keeps them warm and makes them sleep better.
• A compact, collapsible stroller helps too especially if you have kids below 3. You can use it right up to the airplane door; the staff will fold it for you and hand it back to you when you deplane. Also comes in handy at resorts and on reasonably decent roads.
• You need to know the rules that each airline has and block your seats in advance, so that one is as close to each other as possible. Avoid booking your flight tickets for peak timings if possible.

Switch on the charm with co-passengers, airline staff       

• Make friends - Hand chocolates around to all your neighbours. Introduce yourself and the kids.
• Smile and be friendly to the people next to you. The gentleman next to me helped hold the bottle, adjust the seatbelt and generally entertained my baby.
• As far as possible, choose an airline that is known to go the extra mile to make it easy while traveling with children.
• And never be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. I have traveled alone both within the country and abroad with a baby and always found helping hands whether it be an air hostess (to mix or heat milk) or a co passenger to hold or keep an eye on the baby when you need loo breaks or airline reps at the airport to take you through security, immigration (helpful when u are juggling passports, forms, pens etc). Always ask for help when needed!

To keep you sane

• Conserve your energy, coz you may need to walk them up and down the flight when they get restless. Eat when you can, at the slightest chance. More often than not, babies do sleep on flights, so use that time to get some shuteye, or go to the loo.
• Let the older ones watch as many films to keep your sanity.

Confucius says...

• Most importantly I know that traveling with kids will definitely throw up surprises and things will usually not go according to plan...but as long as I am expecting the unexpected, it always is great fun!
• Oh... and also... Laughter! For kids, it’s a big adventure to travel and with laughter and fun, traveling together can make great memories!
• My favourite tip - Keep chilled beer ready (for yourself, not babies)

Useful links

• Use seatguru.com to choose better seats for international flights
• A super comprehensive list of 50 travel dos and don’ts - http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/jan/20/8
• If you're traveling with a special child,

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1893554_1893556_1893538,00.html

• Best airlines for kiddy travel http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5345.html
• Nanny in the Cloud http://beforeitsnews.com/press-releases/2012/10/jetsetting-parents-rejoice-nanny-in-the-clouds-and-usingmiles-inc-join-forces-to-take-the-stress-out-of-traveling-with-kids-2532670.html

Tips contributed by Pooja Kumar, Dianna Blake, Ally Robinson, Reena Alex, Nandini D’Souza, Czarina Lobo, Lindi Wreford, Mandira Kumar, Chetna Ramachandra, Indrani Bhuyan, Pravin Mathew and Anjali Heredia. Thank you for being the wonderful and generous people that you are.

Safe and happy travels!

Sudha

Florence

Like an empress who doesn't need to show off to impress, Florence rests lightly on her title of the birthplace of the Renaissance movement. After Rome's "I'm so cool and you know it" swagger and surfeit of historical sights with anaconda like queues, Florence was balm for my tired body and soul. Though it is a city, it feels more like a town with small distances, students whizzing on cycles and friendlier people or at least it felt like that to me.

I caught the full blast of Florentine friendliness at restaurants. Two of my most memorable meals during my sojourn in Italy were in Florence and on the same day too. The food in Florence is obviously memorable since I am writing about these restaurants in Florence after three years and I can remember it all too well.

Lunch at Trattoria Da Mario near Mercato Centrale

Though I would usually grab a slice of pizza or a sandwich for lunch to eat on the go, I decided on Da Mario for a sit down lunch as a treat. Their reputation for great food at cheap prices was the primary attraction. When I reached at lunchtime, there were about 15 people waiting outside and some more who had put down their names and gone to walk around the Mercato Centrale, Florence's largest food market. I was too worried about my place in the line to do that so I stayed put. When I got in after an hour, I realized that you just took the next available seat and ate with whoever was sitting at your table. And the “chairs” are actually just benches and stools. My table had affable American tourists but there were plenty of locals too. The atmosphere of communal dining definitely contributed to my enjoyment of the food.

This trattoria in Florence is a fifty-year old family-run establishment. The tiny menu changes every day, and is displayed on a handwritten blackboard. The waitress was in a hurry with the swelling crowd outside but was sweet enough to explain the menu briefly. I had a hearty Tuscan vegetable soup called ribollita followed by a perfectly done vitello arrosto (roast veal) and potato fries with a carafe of red wine. I heard from regulars that the bistecca alla Fiorentina, pasta with ragu sauce and the roast rabbit are also worth the wait. They serve seafood on Fridays.

I definitely recommend trying Da Mario’s for lunch when you are in Florence. Things to remember: they are open only for lunch and closed on Sundays. Go early and carry cash!

Dinner at Ristoranti Il Latini, Via Dei Palchetti, close to the Duomo

I found many restaurants in Italy frustratingly difficult to locate because they are in small streets with tiny signs. Il Latini was easier to find for one big reason. It had more than the usual number of people waiting for a table. When I reached the restaurant without a reservation, they said there was about 20 minutes wait. A little cold and very hungry, I was too tired after sightseeing to go anywhere else. After 10 minutes, it looked like another 20 minutes of waiting. Suddenly, the owner from his high chair behind the cash counter at the entrance opened two bottles of wine, poured it into glasses, cut up some cheese and offered it on trays to the waiting crowd. After I downed a glass rather quickly, I went to return it but the owner insisted I have another and some more cheese.

Slowly people started smiling and talking to strangers waiting alongside. What a wonderful way to make use of an opportunity and create happy guests! The rest of the wait didn’t seem so hard. Dinner was as good as the hospitality and the wine was flowing plentifully with a large bottle of Chianti at the communal style tables. With massive cured meats tempting from the ceiling, I longed to sample the bistecca alla Fiorentina, the city’s legendary beefsteak. But the Humphrey Bogart lookalike waiter took a long look at me and persuaded me not to order it. As consolation, he brought an excellent meat platter for starters followed by pasta Bolognese and ending with Vin Santo, a dessert wine with almond biscotti to dip in it. I found the waiters very knowledgeable about the menu so just go by their recommendations. I don’t know if Il Latini has the best food in Florence but it definitely wins the title of the cheeriest restaurant in Florence.

If you have time for only one dinner in Florence, trust me and have dinner at Il Latini. Useful info: call ahead to make a reservation and go with an empty stomach.

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Do you have any stories  to share about Italian food? I'd love to hear them and so would the other readers. Go on, you know you want to tell about us the best gelateria in Italy :)

Buon Appetito!

Sudha

Kochi, also referred to as Cochin, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city in Kerala today. If you look behind its modern trappings, you can uncover the layers added over 2000 years by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and English traders, hungry for Kerala's spices. This fragrant complex history means that there's a lot of things to do in Cochin. So to make it easier, I have shortlisted the top things to do in Kochi as simple  lists.  It is convenient to print it out and carry around as a quick reference.

Watch

Top 5 Sights to see in Kochi 

• 16th century Paradesi Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry
• St Francis Church, Fort Kochi where Vasco da Gama was originally buried
• Dutch Palace at Mattancherry
• Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi
• Hill Palace, Tripunithira – originally the Kochi Raja’s residence, now the largest archaeological museum in Kerala.

Feel

Top 4 Experiences in Kochi 

• Travel back in time walking through the streets of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
• Watch a traditional Kerala dance performance, Kathakali.
• Get an ayurvedic massage to soothe away urban stress.
• Eat an authentic vegetarian meal on a leaf, the Kerala sadya or try out some of the finger-licking good seafood and meat dishes.

Shop

Top 3 Souvenirs to buy in Kochi

• Exquisitely woven white and gold Kerala kasavu saris
• Pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and other spices
• Kathakali masks for wall art decor.

Stay

Best Hotels in Cochin

seek&hide has a handpicked selection of special hotels in Kochi that will enhance your holiday through their charm, hospitality and architectural heritage. Decide between a royal villa, 100-year-old colonial bungalows and secret garden homes. http://seekandhide.in/category/cochin-hotels/ 

Most popular itineraries in Kerala

If you only have -

1 day -   Spend a day and night on a houseboat cruise in Alleppey backwaters

2 days – Relax in the backwaters at Kumarakom

3 days –Visit the prettiest hill station in Kerala, Munnar and bring back some fragrant tea.

4 days - Visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady and the rolling tea estates of Munnar.

If you have more than 4 days, I would suggest that you get a customized travel plan to see the popular attractions in Kerala.

If you want more information about things to do in Cochin or Kochi as it is called now, here’s a detailed travel guide for Cochin http://seekandhide.in/destination-guide-kerala-kochi/

Please feel free to write to me at reservations@seekandhide.in for any assistance with planning your itinerary to explore the wonderful state of Kerala and its neighboring states.

Cheers

Sudha

This is a comprehensive and user-friendly note on the annual celebration of the Indian Diaspora called Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). This note is useful for potential delegates, exhibitors and media persons looking for information on PBD 2013.

What is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and why is it celebrated?

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the continuing contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa, an event that changed the course of India’s history forever. The PBD event has been held every year since 2003.

PBD conventions are a platform for the overseas Indian community to engage with India as well as network among other NRIs across the world. During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth.

PBD 2013 Venue and Dates

Jan 7- 9, 2013 at Le Meridien Convention Centre at Kochi in Kerala

PBD 2013 Schedule

Jan 7 Pre-PBD seminars on four topics followed by interaction with the diaspora youth and cultural events.

Jan 8 Inauguration of PBD 2013 followed by 3 plenary sessions and a cultural programme and dinner by Govt of Kerala

Jan 9 Focus on investment opportunities with parallel state sessions and then the closing ceremony with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. This will be followed by a musical show and dinner.

For more details of the programme and seminar topics of PBD 2013 see http://www.pbd-india.com/programme.shtml

PBD 2013 Registration Details 

There are 3 package options for delegates. Media persons should contact the PBD office for separate packages.

Conference package – entitled to 3 day Conference including Lunches, Dinners and Entertainment Evenings.

Non-Conference Package - entitled to attend Dinners and Entertainment Evenings on all 3 days only.

Student Package – entitled to 3 day Conference including Lunches, Dinners and Entertainment Evenings.

For more details see http://www.pbd-india.com/delegate_registration.shtml

Travel & Accommodation for PBD Delegates           

Request for accommodation and all travel related services might be sent to Kuoni Destination Management at pbd2013@in.kuoni.com. The special negotiated hotel tariff and online booking facilities for travel & accommodation can be availed by registered delegates only.

PBD 2013 Useful Links 

http://www.pbd-india.com/index.shtml

For sponsorship opportunities http://www.pbd-india.com/sponsorship.shtml

For more information and special requests, here are the PBD office contact details

http://www.pbd-india.com/contactus.shtml

I hope this information on the 11^th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was useful to you.

Warm regards

Sudha

Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights is a time for new beginnings, joy and celebration. We wish you a year of renewed health, vigour and prosperity.

A big thank you for the support in our journey till here.

from Team seek&hide

p.s Did you know that apart from India, it is also an official holiday in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.

Scene 1 - After 20 hours of travel and what feels like an endless ride from Nevşehir airport to the hotel in Göreme, I am murderously questioning my sanity and incurable wanderlust.  My husband is sitting as far away as he can from me in the minicab.

Scene 2 – It is five minutes since we reached the hotel. The corners of my mouth are moving upwards towards a smile.

The reason behind this volte-face lies in a glowing amber glass curved seductively like a belly dancer’s waist.

Looking like a load of unwashed laundry, we walked into the hotel with long faces expecting to start with paperwork. The owner’s nephew was at the front desk. He waved our passports away, sat us at a table and served us tea in tiny transparent glasses. As the warmth spread from my fingertips all the way to my belly, it sunk in that I was finally in one of my dream destinations, Turkey. And poof…just like that my holiday started. This hospitality and kindness of the Turkish people was something that we experienced throughout the trip. And most of the time it started with a simple question, “will you have some tea?”

Tea is even served on the long distance buses, as it is unthinkable to travel so far without a sustaining glass of tea. With such a strong tradition, I was surprised to hear that coffee was preferred till World War 1 when Turkey lost its coffee growing areas. Their legendary leader Kemal Ataturk then urged people to start drinking tea, mostly grown around the Black Sea area.  There’s a similarity between India and Turkey when it comes to tea. Both countries call it chai though it is spelt as çay in Turkish. But unlike India where the quality of tea varies wildly from shop to shop, I can honestly say that I didn’t have even one badly made glass of tea in my 10 days across the country.

Like everyone who visits the capital city, Istanbul I too paid my homage to the Grand Bazaar. Reminiscent of our Indian markets but far more imposing and cleaner, the bazaar dates back to 1461 and has played host to soldiers, slaves and traders of most nationalities. Some of the most expensive carpets in Turkey are sold in the Aladdin’s cave like shops here.  A Turkish carpet was the only must-buy item on my shopping list so I went into a nice looking shop. After ten minutes of browsing, the shopkeeper invited us to sit down comfortably and have a cup of tea while discussing carpets. And after the first glass there came a second and then a third. I was so charmed that I almost bought a very pricey carpet. Luckily my sensible husband dragged me away.

Only if the shopkeeper thinks you are serious about buying and not just eyeballing his merchandise will he extend an offer of tea and a seat. Be sure to use your India-honed bargaining skills, as the Istanbul merchants are more than a match for our own. If you want to move a notch up in their eyes, decline the predictable offer of apple tea and ask for authentic Turkish tea. Apple tea is an herbal tea and is almost exclusively had by tourists. It is nowhere as nice as the real çay.

Though the tea is full flavoured, it is no hardship to drink it every few hours.  A common sight in Turkey is groups of elderly men fuelling their chat sessions with glasses of amber liquid. If you are at someone’s home and if you really want to stop the flow of tea, put a teaspoon over your glass.

Turkish tea is served without milk and with two sugar cubes on the side. It is brewed using two stacked kettles. Tea leaves are placed in the upper one and water in the lower. Once the water in the lower kettle boils, some of it is poured into the one above and left to steep. The residual water is used to dilute the tea as per individual preferences. Served in transparent tulip-shaped glasses without handles, it has to be held by the rim to avoid burning your fingertips.

In Turkey, when someone offers you tea, don’t refuse it even if you are not a tea drinker. It is more than just an offer of a refreshing cuppa. The person is inviting you to engage with him. Who knows where it may lead – friendship, business, official help… the possibilities over a cup of tea are limitless in Turkey.

Images Courtesy: Kevin, Pirano, Quinn and Joana Hard.

This article first appeared on Chai with Lakshmi, an online talk show channel here .

Want more? Read another of my articles on Turkey here.

I read an article about Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh yesterday that got me nostalgic about my holiday there in 2008. Of course, that was enough to abandon my work and spend half an hour flipping through the photos from that trip on my Mac. And when I came across this shot of four Tibetan ladies waiting patiently, a street scene came alive instantly  in my mind's eye.

It was the last day of our stay at the beautifully furnished Chonor House at McLeodganj. We woke up late and were walking towards the main market for some last minute shopping when we saw a large but orderly crowd of Tibetans in traditional robes lining both sides of the road. On asking around, we learnt that they were waiting to welcome home the Dalai Lama, their revered leader-in-exile after an overseas visit. I have always loved his serene aura and childlike smile in the newspaper photos so I decided then and there that I was going to wait too. Many people had a white sash in their hands but I couldn't make out where to get one. An old man noticed my longing glances and offered me his extra sash. We kept standing with everyone else without any idea of how long it would take. Thirty minutes later his car drove through the crowd slowly. People bent their heads in reverence holding the white sash across both hands while His Holiness the Dalai Lama smiled and blessed everyone with raised palms. Just as I was getting my fill of that tranquil visage, the old man next to me gave me a not-so gentle nudge. That reminded me to bow my head too and when I looked up the car had moved on. Leaving me to ponder on how His Holiness keeps an untroubled face when the problems around him rival Mount Everest.

I do hope that I get to see him again some day and get enough time to look at his luminous face and to feel the peace emanating from him. I leave you with a quote from the inimitable Dalai Lama. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible” 

Stay blessed

Sudha

Hello,

I am writing to apologize about old posts and property descriptions coming to you as new blog posts. This was an involuntary and unintentional mistake and we're terribly sorry about sending out irrelevant mails to your inbox.

The reason behind this is that we are redoing some parts of the website to give users a better experience. During this work, sometimes these posts get triggered.

Why don't I quickly tell you what the new additions are? In the Blog section, we are adding Categories so that users can easily search for old posts of their interest and also we have added Quick Links to the last 5 recent posts. We have added a Currency Converter on all property pages to make it easy for people across the world to easily check the rates in their home currency.

All of us at seek&hide thank you for your understanding and support. We'd love to hear from you so if there's anything you would like to ask or share please email us at reservations@seekandhide.in

Warmest regards

Sudha

So you've decided to come to India. Your bucket list with exotic sights to check off is ready, you’ve practiced the celebrity pose on the infamous Taj Mahal bench and of course, you’ve budgeted for silk and spices shopping. Sounds like a dream come true but there's one thing that may not be that dreamy - a visa.

Though India wants and needs more tourists, it insists on a tourist visa for practically every country on this planet and we know from experience that it can get confusing for people not used to Indian red tape and convoluted processes.

So here's a quick guide on how to apply for a tourist visa to India, also known as a visit visa to India.

1. Reserve at least 4 weeks as buffer time to get the visa so that you're not stressed close to the travel date. This is especially true if you’re either a current citizen or a naturalized citizen of another country but originally from a country like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China that have sensitive relations with India. It also pertains if you are applying from a country where you are a resident and not a citizen. An example is a US citizen living in Singapore.

2. This may be a no-brainer but please ensure that your documents are exactly in line with the requirements. So if they ask for a photo with a white background, do not think that you can get away with a light blue background. You will only end up wasting your precious appointment date.

3. Bank certificate - Your financial health and the documented monetary ability to sustain yourself in India for the whole period that you intend to stay is critical to getting the visa approved. Check with the visa processing agency what the guidelines are and ensure that you have that amount or more in your account when you apply for the bank certificate.

4. Go through all your documents prior to your visa interview and stick to the truth. Give clear, complete and to the point answers. Keep an extra copy of the important original documents you have submitted for safety.

5. Have a clear idea of your travel plan and dates. The validity of the visa is effective from the date of issue. Tourist visas may be valid for 6 months to 1 year with single or multiple entries.

6. Like most other countries, India too has appointed an agency in every country for visa processing. It’s easy to find the specific agency for your country via Google. The agency website is usually far more explanatory and simpler to understand than the government site.

https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com - Travisa for visa to India from US.

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ - VFS Global for visa to India from UK.

http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ is the official Indian Govt. website for visa applications.

7. Do not make jokes especially about Osama or Pakistani relatives while answering the Consular Officer. No visa official has a sense of humor. It is surgically removed on the first day of the job, trust me.

8. If you need to enquire in person, check the opening dates and times before you land up at the Indian Embassy or the Visa processing center. Indian Embassies and Consulates and hence the visa centers do not work on Indian national holidays (there are many of these) or on the public holidays in their host country.  The agency website pertaining to your country will give you the dates, like this useful link.  https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/consular-holidays

9. What does Indian Mission or jurisdiction on the visa form mean? It means there is an appropriate city/ county/ town to submit your visa application and the answer to that is dependent on your residence address.

10. “I am feeling lucky today”. Under the “visa on arrival in India” scheme of the Government, tourist visas are issued on arrival to nationals of Finland, Luxembourg, Philippines, Japan, Myanmar, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and New Zealand. But even if you are one of the lucky ones, remember to carry all relevant documents.

This note covers only the basic Do’s and Don'ts while applying for a tourist visa to India. Please do ensure that you go through the application form and document checklist in minute detail. Once you have applied... then go back to dreaming about the Taj Mahal.

Wishing you carefree holiday dreams!

Cheers

Sudha

Why  – Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh is perfect for a quick day trip from Bangalore. The road trip to Lepakshi takes about 2.5 hours from central Bangalore, the roads are good and it is not difficult to locate. The best thing about this getaway from Bangalore is that if you leave somewhat early in the morning, you can be back in time for your afternoon snooze. The Veerbhadra temple is a 16^th century stone structure and has intricately carved interiors with special emphasis on dance and music. It is largely intact and quite clean. Despite this, it remains peaceful with not many visitors even on weekends and holidays.

How – Take the NH 7 route towards BIAL Airport road. The route is Hebbal-Yelahanka-Devanahalli-Chikkaballapur-Bagepalli-Lepakshi. After the tollbooth at Bagepalli, keep looking till you pass Raxa academy on your left. The next left turn will take you to Lepakshi, which is signposted. You will pass Nandi Hills on this route.

What– Less than a kilometer before the temple, you will see a massive Nandi carved out of a single stone and still in very good condition. Stop for a few minutes, take your photos and drive on to the temple.

The only parking is in the street and I suggest you leave your footwear in the car. Entry into the temple with footwear is prohibited. It’s only a couple of minutes walk to the temple on a fairly clean concrete road. The temple is surprisingly clean and litter free. There’s no entry fee. We took about an hour and half to see the place at a relaxed pace. It would have definitely helped to have a guide to understand the finer nuances that escaped our untrained eyes. We saw a guide later in the temple but he seemed to know only Kannada. Nevertheless it was still a good experience because the Veerbhadra temple is charming with its sculptures of dancers and musicians. The architecture has a great resemblance to Hampi because they are both of the Vijayanagar era.

See – The Natya Mandapam with its dancing Shiva, musicians with different instruments, intricately detailed stone pillars throughout the temple, a many-headed Nagalingam, a large footprint in stone known as Sita’s footprint, two red marks which are supposed to be the marks when the builder of the temple blinded himself and a Ganesha carved out of a large boulder.

Eat - There’s not even a tea stall or ice-cream vendor near the temple. The village didn't seem to have any options either but then we didn't look too closely either. The nearest eateries, Kamat Upachar and Nandini Deluxe are at Chikkaballapur about 65 kilometers away, and offer standard South Indian food . We ate at Nandini and the food was average. Another option is to carry a picnic lunch and have it under a tree in the fields, which are about 5 kilometers away from the village.

TRIP STATS

Kilometers -
250 kilometers round trip

Time spent in driving -
5 hours incl food stops

Quality of roads
- Pretty good throughout

Travel tip - Go with low expectations, good snacks and great company. Combine it with Puttaparthi or Nandi Hills for a day long getaway from Bangalore

Cheers

Sudha

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular Indian festivals in the western and southern region of India. Here's a visual insight into how a Ganesh pooja is performed at a home.

“Ganpati Bappa Morya”

This cry is familiar to anyone who has lived for even a short while in the western part of India. This chant is associated only with the popular Hindu deity Ganesh and most often heard during the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Lord Ganesh or Ganpati is also known as Vinayaka in South India and the festival is popular in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as Vinayaka Chaturthi. But in Maharashtra it is as much a community festival as a family one.

What is Ganesh Chaturthi?

The legend behind this festival is that the goddess Parvati blew life into an idol of a child that she made from sandalwood paste and set him as a guard while she took a bath. While she was bathing, her consort Shiva came back from his travels. But since the child couldn’t recognise him he did not allow Lord Shiva entry. Shiva, known as the Destroyer in the Hindu trinity, cut off the child’s head in his wrath at being stopped in his own house. Parvati was heartbroken and angry at the death of her child. Shiva found the head of an elephant to replace the head he had cut off and breathed life back into the child and accepted him as a son. And that day continues to be celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi till today.

Ganesh is known as the god who removes obstacles. That’s why many Hindus worship him before starting any new venture like a business or building a house.

The date for Ganesh Chaturthi 2012 is 19 September. The festival lasts for 11 days and the idol is immersed in a water body on the last day. Bringing the idol to the house and taking it for immersion on the last day, Ananth Chaturdashi is accompanied by celebration and fervor. The beloved deity is immersed with devotees asking him to come back next year.

 Ganesh idol

The central element of the entire festival is the idol of the elephant-headed deity. Every year, families think of innovative decorations to outdo the neighbours and the local communities try to get a bigger idol than the previous year. Traditionally the idols were made of clay but over the years as demand for more colourful and larger idols grew, the industry turned to Plaster of Paris. Not only are these Ganesh statues not dissolvable thus blocking water bodies, the colourful paints have harmful lead and mercury elements that are fatal for fish and other creatures in the marine ecosystem. In the last few years due to the efforts of passionate eco-activists, eco friendly Ganeshas are available. If you are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi this year, spare a thought for Mother Earth and buy an eco friendly Ganesh. At the end of the post, look for information on where to buy them.

Like a rich festival meal, let me close with a sweet ending.  The recipe for Ganapati’s favourite sweet, the modak is from an impeccable source, Sanjeev Kapoor, the celebrity Indian chef. You can find it at http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/ukdiche-modak-mithai-book.aspx

Immersion of the idol on the last day of the festival

Ganesh Chaturthi Resource guide

An easy way to explain the origin of Ganesh Chaturthi to your children - http://anustoriesforchildren.blogspot.in/2011/09/birth-of-ganesha.html#more

Step by step instructions to a basic Ganesh Chaturthi Puja

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2007/09/how-to-perform-ganesh-chaturthi-puja-at.html

Celebrations outside India – some links

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in London http://www.mmlondon.co.uk/

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Fremont - http://www.fremonttemple.org/upcoming-events.php

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Sunnyvale, California- http://www.yaadayaada.com/event/sunnyvale-temples-ganesh-chaturthi-celebrations

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Oman - http://hindupad.com/ganesh-chaturthi/ganesh-chaturthi-in-muscat-shiva-temple-oman/

 Where to buy an eco friendly Ganesh idol

Mumbai - http://www.memumbai.com/eco-friendly-paper-mache-ganesh-idols

http://www.askme.com/mumbai/ganesh-idol-eco-friendly/listings

Bangalore - http://hindupad.com/ganesh-chaturthi/eco-friendly-clay-ganesh-idols-in-bangalore-shops-to-buy-clay-ganesha-idols-in-bangalore-for-ganesh-chaturthi/

http://www.ahundredhands.com/

Pune - http://e-coexist.com/products/ganesh-chaturthi/ganesh-chaturthi-2012/ecofriendly-ganesh-chaturthi

Hyderabad - http://www.hyderabadgoesgreen.com/EcofriendlyGaneshaHyderabad

Where to get modaks

Order modak online in Pune - http://mealnut.com/ukadiche-modak-51.html

Or eat it at Hotel Shreyas at Deccan Gymkhana.

Bangalore – We don’t know for sure but you could get modaks in Bangalore either at Peshwa, JP Nagar or Rajvardhan Foods, Jayanagar.

Wishing you all a joyous Ganesh Chaturthi celebration and lots of modaks in your tummy!

As they say in Maharashtra, “Ganpati Bappa Moriya Pudhchya Varsha Lavkar yaa”

Sudha

Inspired by this blog post by Sophie of Gabbingaway, I decided to do one too on my selection of windows (the real kind folks, not the virtual ones). They are from all my travels around India and the world. I have split them into historical monuments and heritage homes. After searching through all my albums for window shots, I felt like I had gone on a quick world trip. So here goes...

Windows in historical monuments

Windows in heritage homes