Embarking on a four-day family adventure to the enchanting cities of Kota, Bundi, and Chittorgarh was a journey filled with culinary delights, historical marvels, and road trip fun. Our first stop was Kota, known for its majestic forts, vibrant culture & coaching institutes.
Day 1: As we drove into Kota, the aroma of local street food beckoned us. We savored piping hot kachoris and sweet jalebis at a bustling market. The highlight of the day was exploring the imposing Kota Fort, with its intricate architecture and panoramic views of the city.
Day 2: A scenic drive took us to Bundi, a hidden gem steeped in history. We indulged in traditional Rajasthani thali at a quaint eatery, savoring the flavors of the region. The afternoon was spent wandering through the narrow lanes of Bundi, marveling at its ancient havelis and ornate stepwells.
The Magestic Bundi Fort
Day 3: Our next destination was Chittorgarh, where we were captivated by the grandeur of Chittorgarh Fort. In the evening, we experienced the mesmerizing Sound and Light Show that brought the fort’s history to life in a spectacular display of lights and narration.
Vijay Stambh
Day 4: The final day was dedicated to exploring more of Chittorgarh before heading back home. We sampled local delicacies like dal bati churma and gatte ki sabzi at a traditional Rajasthani restaurant. The day culminated with a leisurely stroll through the colorful markets, where we picked up souvenirs to remember our unforgettable trip.
The trip to Kota, Bundi, and Chittorgarh not only offered us a glimpse into Rajasthan’s rich heritage but also brought our family closer together. From savoring delectable local cuisine to marveling at ancient forts and experiencing the captivating Sound and Light Show at Chittorgarh Fort, each moment was a treasure to cherish. As we bid adieu to these historic cities, we carried with us memories of laughter, exploration, and bonding that would last a lifetime.
Reach out to us for any queries about this trip and for planning and booking yours.
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It was time to pick a vacation destination for our family. This year we decided that we wanted to go somewhere warm. As much as we loved skiing, the thought of easing our cold feet out of ski boots and waiting for them to warm up lost its appeal.
After some looking, we settled on St. John. But where to stay? We ultimately decided to do a search for “St. John Villas” and found an almost bewildering list of places that we could rent. There were so many of them and they all had their own unique features and great views.
High or Low Season?
The first thing that we had to figure out was whether we were going to go during the high or low season. We live in New York, which gets cold at times, so we figured that we’d really appreciate the warm weather in February, which is when we went. It was worth the roughly $300 extra a night, in our opinion.
The Accommodations
This is where the villa that we chose really stood out. The name of it was Paraiso Azul and it was gorgeous. There were five bedrooms, which really pleased everyone, since it was us, our two teenage kids, and another family which had another teen. There were two rooms near the pool deck.
We were in love with the architecture, starting off with some really nice Moroccan iron gates. The rooms were spacious, the beds luxurious, and the kitchen was really nicely put together. Everything made us feel like we were in a home away from home – though at home we don’t have 24-hour service for things that we need.
Of course, there were modern amenities – like WiFi. Even on vacation, we love spending time on our electronics. There was something peaceful about resting on the reclining lounge chairs looking at our tablets and feeling the cool tropical breeze as we also had a view of the sea.
The Experience
The people there were so friendly. They made every effort to make sure that we had a great time. Also, we loved being able to see breathtaking sunrises and sunsets from our villa — along with some really gorgeous nighttime skies, since we didn’t have any light pollution.
As far as the temperatures went, it felt like summer every day. We felt sad packing on the last night of our stay, knowing that we’d be going back to the cold days of New York, counting down the days until summer.
It really was a great time and we highly recommend a visit to St. John.
Author Bio-
James Sullivan from St. John Ultimate Villas has been helping with travel tourism for the past 12 years. He now wants to share his knowledge and expertise with others.
Disclaimer: *Contents of this story is Authors personal views and presentation.
**Photos from the guest Author / Google
If you also want to get featured as a guest author on yatripandit.com, share your story with us on info@yatripandit.com
Please excuse me for writing the final part of this journey after a gap of more than a month. Was caught up in adjusting with the “new normal” way of life and remote working.
There were struggles to get the groceries and seamless internet connectivity initially but now it’s all sorted. Meanwhile, I drove down to Raipur from Pune. 1000 kms in 20 hours with a co-driver. It was good fun.
Reading part#4 directly might not be good idea so please click on the below links to read prequels
After spending 2 days in Assam, relishing local delicacies and meeting Rhinos it was time to hit the road again. Simanta was at hotel lobby with his innova, all neat and clean.
This time for a change, we started late. After lunch around 1:00 pm.
Day#7 –
Kaziranga national park to Cherrapunji
Travel time – 8.5 hours
Road Condition – Smooth and well consructed
Stay – Saimika Resort, Cherrapunji
Lunch served to us @Bonhabi was full of taste and spices. Exactly the way we wanted.
The drive was pretty smooth, and we enjoyed the journey through the small villages, finally reaching the mountains from the plains. We stopped at Jiva Pure Veg to refill our tummies and this place is one of a kind. Very hygienic and full of taste. We ordered momos, noodles and some biryani. Reached at Saimika, resort by 10 pm. It seemed to be a deserted place wherein there was a security guard who led us to our twin-cottages (joined from inside).
Entering the cottages, our excitement reached next level. We had a fireplace inside the cottage. I have stayed in many resorts across India, but this was the first time I had this pretty thing inside the room. We asked the security to lit it up for us. Glasses clanged again with malt on the rocks. It was good fun and very relaxing. Woke up fresh next morning and opened the door of our cottage to be mesmerized by the beauty of this resort which seemed deserted yesterday. Resort is built on a cliff in acres of land, all construction is done using rocks which gives an ancient Roman feel to this place. Looked inspired by Harry Porter movie to a fair extend.
We had some quick sandwiches at the restaurant and left the resort to reach the entry-point of trek to famous “living Root Bridges.”
Day#8
living Root Bridges
Travel time – Full day trek
Trek level – Moderate to difficult
Stay – Saimika Resort, Cherrapunji
At the entry point of the trek, you will meet local boys renting Bamboos and claiming to be guides.
My suggestion – Take Bamboos and not the guide. Because our guide named, Risk DID NOT guide us at all. He just kept walking ahead of us creating un-necessary pressure on us to trek down faster. Guide could be useful for getting some pictures clicked for sure.
Single root bridge
Started off the hike and reached the,” single decker root bridge” after 1500 steps down hill.
It was tiring but we had some juice left in us so after some rest we moved ahead to the prime attraction of today’s hike – the double decker living root bridge. Another 2000 steps down hill, crossing a river, a few villages, lots of sweating and knee breaking efforts we reached the architectural brilliance, man-made, double decker living root bridge.
There is a stream flowing underneath it and thousands of fishes are waiting to welcome you from a small pond of fresh, crystal clear water.
Fishes waiting to give you a natural pedicure
We spend time relaxing by the pond side and eating the packed food that we carried from Saimika. Pranthas that were packed had lost the taste completely and I suggest to better order Maggie from small shops around the root bridge.
Some wiki gyan for you – A living root bridge is a type of simple suspension bridge formed of living plant roots by tree shaping. They are common in the southern part of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. They are handmade from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees (Ficus elastica[1][2]) by the Khasi and Jaintia[3] peoples of the mountainous terrain along the southern part of the Shillong Plateau. Most of the bridges grow on steep slopes of subtropical moist broadleaf forest between 50m and 1150m above sea level.[4] As long as the tree from which it is formed remains healthy, the roots in the bridge can naturally grow thick and strengthen. New roots can grow throughout the tree’s life and must be pruned or manipulated to strengthen the bridge. Without active care, many bridges have decayed or grown wild, becoming unusable. *
*Source – Wikipedia
We had to trek upstairs again. Although none of us wanted to but we did as we had to.
Knees, thighs and back hurted bad but we kept walking and motivating each other.
I will write another post on does and don’t while you take this tiring trek of Living Root Bridges. Finally reached the car parking after 7~8 hours to meet ever smiling Simanta.
Had maggie and tea and ditched all plans to see some waterfalls to reach Saimika resort so that we can enjoy this beautiful stay a little more.
Evening was set with a lovely bon fire outside our cottages where we enjoyed endless chats under the sky full of stars, zillions of them twinkling all night long.
Next morning was a lazy one, got up late and enjoyed our pre-ordered breakfast at the gothic Sai-mika. After quick check-out Simanta took us for some sightseeing around Cherrapunji and Dawki river. The water has no colour and odour is true in the transparent river which flows from India to Bangladesh and merges in Bay of Bengal via Sundarbans. Boating is a must here and if you are enthusiastic like us the do take a dip in the freeazing crystal clear water. Left Cherrapunji by 4 pm for our next destination which was just a night halt for us.
Day#9
Cherrapunji to Umsning, Meghalaya
Travel time – 4 hours
Road condition – Very good and scenic
Stay – The Sanctuary Song Resort, Umsning, Meghalaya
All is well when it ends well. Reaching this serene resort, we thought to ourselves, what a showstopper trip end planned by the curator. Nested in nature’s lap within a forest, small stream flowing besides the resort and NO MOBILE NETWORK available. What else does a metro lad need!!
Final Night Celebration
Some local strawberry wine was bought from the reception, bon fire was lit and the night went on and on till 1 am. Crashed in our cosy beds and woke up with chirps of birds, Trisha was the 1st one to wake up and got outside to greet the birds singing in a foggy cold morning.
Day#10 was finally here when we had to board our flight back to Mumbai from Guwahati airport, which is around 3.5 hours smooth drive from the heavenly stay on earth called The Sanctuary Song Resort. I leave you with some pictures here as we end this epic journey of a lifetime with a promise to come back again soon.
Reach out to us for any queries about this trip and for planning and booking yours.
#travel-click-eat-repeat
Send your love to us in comments section and by sharing this blog as much as possible.
Meet the star – Simanta – The ever smiling Mawa Man
The year 2020 played a spoilsport. It was indeed an unusual year where travel ceased to a halt. But now that the world is slowly coming back to normal, globetrotters are longing to travel beyond their countries to exciting destinations. Dubai is one of the global cities that has opened its borders during the pandemic and welcomed discerning travelers. The Emirate’s optimism is strong-willed, ready to face challenges, and looks forward to 2021 with buoyance. For those looking for a 2021 getaway to Dubai, here are the top attractions and activities to include in your Dubai holiday
At Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina Walk
Dubai Marina is that one place in Dubai that aptly captures the urbane flair and extravagance of Dubai. Flaunted blatantly, the opulence is enticing to witness. Saunter through Dubai Marina’s serene promenades to experience the luxe life of yacht-lined harbourfront, soaring skyscrapers that dazzle at night, and a range of cafes, fine-dining restaurants and shopping arcades.
Dubai Marina
Sunset Dinner Cruise on Dubai Marina
The scenic vistas of a brook meandering through high-raised skyscrapers can only be imagined in Dubai. Visit this man-made creek at night which looks absolutely magnificent with shimmering waters reflecting a kaleidoscope of hues from surrounding illuminated structures. Take a gentle cruise down the Dubai Marina in the evening to enjoy a gorgeous sundowner experience along with scrumptious dinner on board.
Zero Gravity Beach Club
You can spend an entire day at Zero Gravity Beach Club. A leisure retreat that comprises a beachfront, pools, club and restaurant, and a concert venue, Zero Gravity Beach Club is one of the most happening hotspots in Dubai Marina. It is famous for its nightlife and parties where you can dance all night and groove to the beats of famous DJs from around the world.
At Palm Jumeirah Dubai
Aquaventure waterpark and Lost Chambers Aquarium
Step away from the city life and venture out to experience the ultimate adventure and leisure moments at Aquaventure Waterpark. Located at Atlantis the Palm, get ready for a day where you slide, tumble and plunge exhilarating water slides and rides. Your day at Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark will only get bolder and adventurous. Boasted as the best waterpark in the Middle East, Aquaventure deserves the praise for keeping its guests excited and invigorated throughout their time spent here. Located next to Aquaventure Waterpark is an aquatic experience you have never experienced ever. The Lost Chambers Aquarium takes you up, close and personal to the enigmatic realm of the underwater world filled with awesome varieties of marine creatures of the ocean.
The Palm Fountain
The brand-new attraction that took everyone’s breath away with its spectacular performance, The Palm Fountain is now the world’s biggest dancing fountain. Breaking its own record held by Dubai Fountains, Dubai unveiled the next big thing of the emirate – the flamboyant Palm Fountain in October 2020. Located at the boulevard of The Pointe at Palm Dubai, enjoy an enchanting evening viewing the spectacle of Palm Fountain sashaying to music and colorful jets of water shooting up into the starry sky. This is one magnificent show that lingers on in the mind long after you have experienced it.
There are many ways to view Dubai’s awe-inspiring skyline but Dubai Frame is an extraordinary spot to witness the city’s splendor. Dubai Frame in actuality frames the beauty of New Dubai and old-world charms of Old Dubai. It beautifully captures the past, present and also gives an insight into the future of Dubai. Standing at 150 meters, Dubai Frame is the world’s largest Frame that appeals to visitors with its architectural wonder. It is one of the unmissable spots to visit in Dubai.
At Old Dubai
Al Seef
The old meets new at Al Seef Dubai. This fascinating stretch located on the shores of Dubai Creek offers a blend of Arabic heritage and culture with western contemporary comforts. Lined along the shoreline, you can enjoy fabulous vistas of Old Dubai architecture and vibes while enjoying international dining, café culture and retail therapy. The Arabian heritage stands out in Al Seef and lets its visitors explore souks, Emirati traditions and old-world charms of Dubai’s bygone era.
Al Bastakiya Quarters
Step back into the past when Dubai was mellower and a simple village in the desert. Amid the towering skyscrapers, Al Bastakiya stands out as a starkly contrasting change of scenery. Preserving the ancient traditional roots of Emirati culture, Al Bastakiya Quarters gives you an insight into the life before modernity took over in Dubai. The monotone structures with wind towers and quaint narrow alleys exude memoirs of Dubai’s precious olden days and heritage.
Dubai Souks
Steer away from the glamourous malls of Dubai and wander through colorful alleys of Dubai Souks. Shop for glittering gold jewelry, aromatic spices and perfumes and hand-crafted textiles at reasonable prices. If you are good at haggling, then you are in for a treat for some bargain retail therapy.
At Downtown Dubai
Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain
The tallest tower in the world – Burj Khalifa is one of the most popular landmarks to visit in Dubai. Right next to it Dubai Fountains adds an extra grandeur to the whole scenario. Together, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain dominate the scene at Dubai Downtown and at night the whole arena lights up into an illuminated spectacle. Don’t forget to take a trip to the top of Burj Khalifa to witness a scintillating view of the Dubai city skyline and the dancing fountains below.
Dubai Mall
One of the most popular activities to do in Dubai is shopping! However, no other mall comes close to comparison against the extravagance of Dubai Mall. Sprawling over 500000 square meters and brimming with over 1000 retail outlets, Dubai Mall is a shopper’s paradise. Once you enter this magnificent mall, apart from shopping you can enjoy a host of recreational activities such as VR Park, KidZania, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo to name a few.
About the author:
Monica Singh is a freelance travel writer by profession. She is particularly fond of traveling and loves to jot down her experiences and cultural diversities of different countries.
Yes, its been more than 6 months since the world is fighting against a virus called Corona Virus. Some say it’s a man-made virus for the quest of becoming world power while some say it’s a natural virus found in bats. Well; whatever is the origin of this virus, it for sure is lethal. Claimed 2 million human lives till today when we are fortunately alive to write this piece. Date – 4th Nov 2020.
Virus out-break has changed the way humans have been living on earth for years together.
While our prayers remain with the lost lives and patients, two doctors and an engineer have come together to compile a counter perspective about this Pandemic.
Mother earth is rejuvenating – Nature for sure, has got some time out of the increasing human activities which was hampering its original self.
Reduced air travel has decreased carbon footprint
Many countries had to impose lockdown to control spread of virus this also led to reduced air and sound pollution caused by the vehicles
Consumption of fossil fuels reduced to great extend
Wild animals were seen on roads and human residential areas in many places across the world. Seemed as if animals wanted to promote co-existence with humans
Urban birds were heard chirping after ages may be..
Work-life Balance – Corporate houses including IT and Non-IT promoted “work from home” or “remote working” option – This option would not have been possible about a decade back because of slow internet speeds but in 2020 it was not the same as before
No pain of travelling long distance to reach office and back home. Reduced pollution and time saving
Increased productivity because of less distractions and un-necessary breaks
Increased family time – Remote working has provided increased time spend with family
Hometown could also be your “permanent address” – The small towners which was living away from their families to pursue their career in a metropolitan, got a chance to go back and work remotely from their pretty hometowns. All they need is an internet connection, home office set-up & zeal to perform well.
Migration back to small towns help the metros to get some breathing space, made parents happy to see their children live with them and families started look like the one show in “dekh bhai dekh” TV serial again.
This could also be the 1st step towards Mr. Modi’s dream of de-centralization of economy.
Reduction in expenses – I am sure all of you must have felt a decline in expenses during this pandemic era.
No un-necessary travel
No BIG FAT INDIAN Weddings
No going to malls and ends up buying stuff which would remain in your closet for years to come
No pocket burning dinners every weekend
Money saved is money earned, many like me have started investing money wisely for a balanced future
Health is Wealth – All of us have learnt this in school but a handful of us practice. Work schedules and commitments could be blamed easily.
Yoga se hoga – Many of us started to learn yoga via online classes
I learn it from Dr. Richa, who could be reached on +91-9769792022 via whatsapp or call.
Old is gold – Ancient Indian medicine, Ayurveda re-entered our lives with a bang. Started with Kadha, chavanprasha, amla, giloy, steam and so on.
Revisit hobbies – The ones which were mentioned in our CVs and never practiced because of frantic work schedules got inducted in our lives again. Reading, painting, crafts, writing to name a few.
Working together could be fun – All members including males participated in cooking and other households like washing cloths and doing utensils.
Hygiene – Washing hands using soap for 20 secs or taking a bath right after you enter home from outside. Such practices took important places in our daily lives.
While we continue to fight against the spread of Covid-19 across the globe. We hope to have shown you some positives in the ocean full of negatives by our “Counter Perspective” on the pandemic.
Moving ahead we must continue with the good practices learnt during pandemic & we are sure the world will become a pretty place to thrive again.
I and my partner got married in February 2020. Between mountains and beaches, we agreed upon beaches as our honeymoon destination. After considering all options while surfing on the internet, we both agreed on Andaman and Nicobar Group.
On checking the pictures of that place, we were mesmerized and surprised that India has an island group that beats the beauty of most of the renowned foreign countries. We found Havelock as the most beautiful island in this group. The pristine turquoise water of Radhanagar Beach lined with lush green forest and premium water sport activities on Elephant Beach with jungle treks and exquisite coral life offers a refreshing experience in the natural habitat.
Even if one is not interested in water sports, he or she can enjoy the luxurious resorts along the beachside and have a serene experience of the sea waters. Havelock has now been named as “Swaraj Dweep” Island.
Best Time To Visit
November-March
Places visited
We started our journey by taking a flight to Port Blair. From the Veer Savarkar International Airport, we headed to Phoenix Bay Jetty to reach Havelock Island through Makruzz Ferry. I was very excited to use the ferry as I have never been to one. The ferry is pretty close to the airport and can be reached through any commercial vehicle. We completed the check-in formalities. After that, we walked towards the ferry. Luggage was loaded separately and we ensured to tag our names to avoid confusion while traveling.
The journey through the ferry was full of excitement. The best part was window seats where one can enjoy the motion of the waves. The interiors are designed more like a flight except for water instead of clouds outside the window:D. It is fully airconditioned, has televisions to watch recorded programs, a café to supply snacks, pastries, and beverages. One could easily wander in the Ferry without having to worry about any kind of turbulence.
After about one and a half hours, we reached Havelock Jetty. We checked into Hotel Seashells which had its private beach.
Day 1: Radhanagar Beach
We started our Day 1 by visiting Radhanagar Beach which is the Seventh Best Beaches in the world and its beauty is such that you might wonder how can there be any beach better than this. Radhanagar Beach has both beauty of the beach and lush green forest.
One can swim, enjoy the rushing waves, walk with the loved ones, and enjoy the sunset and take shed in the lush greenery. We had also booked a photographer from VsnapU to get our best moments captured in the best beach of South-Asia.
The funny part of this beach is the care-taker of the restroom. One can easily use the restroom and changing room and also avail locker facilities. One has to pay a nominal price of Rs.10/20 to use the restroom and the caretaker keeps yelling “Joota Chappal Dho ke Jaiye” which means clean your footwear with water before using the restroom. I am sure you will laugh when you pay a visit next time when you meet that man who keeps cleaning after every visitor.
In case you get hungry, fruits and snacks are available outside the beach though things are pretty expensive, we preferred to help them in their small business and me encourage you to do the same.
I would love to share the best moments spent there through the perfect shots taken by VsnapU at the
At around 06: 00 P.M. we went back to Hotel Seashells.
Day 2: Elephant Beach
We went through a speed boat. One has to remember its boat name and would be called by not its name but boat name while returning. The Beach has a mobile network issue so take care when the boatman calls you as the Beach closes by 03:30 P.M. I remember our boat name was “Sri”.
Elephant Beach is renowned for its premium watersports activities. I thoroughly enjoyed scuba diving and snorkeling at Elephant Beach with my partner. All activities are done under the supervision of professional trainers and you don’t need to worry even if you don’t know swimming.
Scuba is the best way to witness the vibrant marine life of Havelock Island. The captivating views of beautiful and colorful fish, swimming around the stunning corals will surely make you gather moments to add to the album of life. If you are not a fan of going underwater then you can go for a glass-bottom boat ride, Jet Ski or Banana Boat rides.
Snorkeling is a complementary activity with the boat tickets to Elephant Beach. Deep-sea snorkeling is however chargeable. Price varies for all activities and has to be paid in cash instantly. Do not register for too many activities as you won’t have enough time to stay on the Beach.
Shacks have been set up to provide refreshments, fruits, and coconut water.
Transportation
1. Reach Port Blair by air
Havelock Island doesn’t have an airport of its own. One can reach Port Blair by air from various cities. Most of the flights are scheduled for the morning. Port Blair Aiport is also called Veer Savarkar International Airport.
2. Take a Ferry from Port Blair to Havelock Island.
From Airport take an auto/hired car to Phoenix Bay Jetty which is pretty close to the airport. From the Jetty, one has to take a ferry. There are both Government and Private Ferry. The latter one is expensive. Seaplane is also available with seating arrangements for eight guests and offers exciting aerial views of Island landscapes but is a bit expensive. The Government Ferrys are pretty good. All bookings have to be made in advance. Schedule of the two Government Ferrys are given below:
Schedule for Green OceanBoardingArrivalDuration 6:00 AM8:00 AM2 hours6:30 AM9:00 AM2 hours 30min12:15 PM2:15 PM2 hours12:30 AM2:45 AM2 hours 15min
Starting Price RefreshmentsSeaviewEconomy- Rs. 1044/-Not servedNot available in Economy ClassLuxury- Rs. 1103/-Not served Available Royale-Rs. 1692/-Not served Available
Schedule for Makruzz
Boarding
Arrival
Duration
7:15 AM
8:45 AM
1 hour 30 min
8:00 AM
9:30 AM
1 hour 30 min
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
1 hour 30 min
Starting Price
Refreshments
Seaview
Economy- Rs. 1457/-
Purchase from Mak Café
Available
Luxury- Rs. 2008/-
Refreshments served.
Available
Royale-Rs. 3218/-
Refreshments served.
Available
We made our bookings for Makruzz and reached the Jetty through a hired car. The experience from Ferry is a fantastic one with clean and air-conditioned cabins, cafe, window-side Seaview, arrangement for luggage. Don’t forget to properly tag your luggage as the same are boarded separately.
3. Havelock Island to Elephant Beach/ Radhanagar Beach and other beaches like Kalapathar Beach, Vijaynagar Beach and Govind Nagar Beach
Check into the hotel and use any commercial vehicle like speed boat/auto/ hired two-wheeler or four-wheeler/trekking hill to reach the beaches. The best experience is definitely through a speed boat.
Pro-tips
Traveler’s Tips
Mobile connectivity is an issue on this island, so make all bookings in advance.
Keep the tickets handy. Wifi available in hotels also do not work sometimes.
Carry cash as you may not be able to use your debit/credit cards.
As one will be indulged in water activities, do not forget to carry medicines. No medical shops are available on this island.
Carry a water bottle wherever you go. Though coconut water is available after every short distance to keep you hydrated.
Visit the beach as per the timings so make sure you plan in advance. Elephant beach closes around 03: 00 P.M. while Radhanagar Beach remains open till 06:00 P.M.
Carry a bath towel, an extra pair of clothes, a swimming costume, a pair of flip-flops, sunscreen lotion, a hat, sanitizer, and shades. There are changing rooms and washrooms available on the beaches. Comfortable footwear is an added advantage.
People here are very friendly and welcoming. They try the best to keep the beaches pollution-free and the same is expected by us.
Author Bio – Ridhi loves trying out new foods, seeing iconic landmarks, meeting lots of people, and of course, has a huge sense of adventure. Traveling is one of the best ways to fulfill her need for adventure because so many activities can be considered “adventurous.” Trying out new foods, skydiving, water sports, cultural clothing and salsa dancing in the street can all be considered adventurous parts of her travels. The most fascinating place for her are the beaches. The crystal clear water, roaring waves and lush green forest by the beach is the place where she finds herself at serene.
In 1852, the French inventors Mayer and Delforge presented an interesting novelty to the public: a cylindrical vessel with a press designed for brewing coffee. But the adaptation was not successful: due to the imperfection of the press, too much coffee grounds slipped into the cup.
It wasn’t until 1928 that Italian designers Atilio Calimani and Giulio Moneta patented an improved French press. In the new model, not just a metal plate was attached to the piston, but a filter mesh, which made it possible to carefully separate the liquid from the thick. In the following decades, the design of the fixture was improved by attaching a safe handle and a stable base to protect the tabletop from heat.
The real popularity came to the manual coffee maker in 1958, when its design was finalized by Faliero Bondanini, and two European companies were engaged in production at once: the French – Martin S.A. (Chambord brand) and English – Household Articles (La Cafetiere brand). The original owner of Household Articles, L.J. de Ville-Castel, was one of the investors in Martin S.A., but in the 90s of the XX century, the French company was bought out by the Danish holding Bodum.
How Italians choose the French Press
flask material: glass, stainless steel, ceramics. Heat-resistant glass flasks are most often found, but they are fragile, and cheap models are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, it is good if the kit includes a spare glass container. The vessels made of stainless steel and ceramics are stronger, but the color of the drink is not visible when brewing. It is believed that the most delicious coffee is obtained in French presses with ceramic flasks;
1. Double-walled flasks retain heat better, which is very important for correct coffee extraction;
2. The stainless steel filter is designed for medium and coarse coffee. Fine powder can be brewed with a nylon filter;
3. The handle of the french press must not heat up. Polymer coated handles are preferred. Sometimes on sale there are teapots with bamboo handles;
4. The base of the French press must be stable.
How coffee is made at the French Press in Italy
A classic French press is a cylindrical container made of heat-resistant glass (less often – made of stainless steel or ceramics) with a lid, where a piston (plunger) with a filter is inserted. It would seem that everything is simple. Ground coffee needs to be poured into a vessel, closed, lower the press – and an invigorating drink is ready. But the taste of coffee brewed in a French press depends on many little things: the type of beans, the method of roasting, grinding, water quality, brewing time.
Choosing coffee for a French press
The coffee made from a blend of Arabica and Robusta, prepared in a French press, is too bitter. But even bitterness lovers are not recommended to use blends that contain more than 10% robusta. The best coffee for French press which you can find at MyFriendsCoffee is made up 100% Arabica, and experienced baristas prefer single varieties, although mixtures are also acceptable. Delicious coffee is made from medium roasted beans: Vienna, Full City. If you like sourness, then you can use coffee and a lighter roast.
Burr coffee grinders grind beans much more evenly than knife grinders. If you have a choice, then it is better to grind coffee for brewing in a French press on a grinder.
In stores, ready-made ground coffee is sold, but the drink from the beans, ground immediately before preparation, turns out to be more aromatic. At home, ground coffee is stored in hermetically sealed vessels for no longer than 2 weeks
Selecting water for coffee
Tap water, even boiled water, is not suitable for brewing coffee in a French press. In extreme cases, such water can be purified using an aquafilter or ozonizer. But bottled water with a mineralization index of 150 mg / l (or at least in the range of 70-200 mg / l) is much more preferable.
Step-by-step recipe for preparing iconic coffee in the French press
1. Before brewing coffee in a French press, rinse the flask of the French press with hot water at a temperature of about + 70 ° C (it can be slightly lower or higher, but in no case with boiling water).
2. Put in a flask 7-9 g of ground coffee per 100 ml of water. In one teaspoon without a slide, about 3 g of crushed beans is placed, with a slide – up to 5 g. If you need to prepare a full container of the drink, it is easier to focus on the handle of the French press: pour coffee powder exactly to the level where its lower part is attached …
3. Pour some room temperature water into a flask (just to moisten the ground coffee) and stir.
4. After 15–20 seconds, add hot water with a temperature of +85 to +9 to the flask 2 ° C. The water level should not be higher than the top edge of the handle. Under no circumstances should you brew coffee with boiling water! If the vessel is glass, then before pouring hot water, put a metal spoon in it: even heat-resistant glass does not always withstand temperature drops
5. Stir coffee and cover. Do not lower the piston. The filter should be 1 cm above the water level.
6. The brewing time is 4-7 minutes. After 4–5 minutes, a moderately strong, aromatic coffee with a noticeable acidity is obtained. If you want to get a stronger drink, it is allowed to extend the brewing for a few minutes. But starting from the 4th minute of brewing, the bitterness of coffee increases significantly, the concentration of not only caffeine, but also harmful substances increases in it.
7. Slowly lower the plunger and immediately pour the brewed coffee into the cups, it cannot be left in the flask. Add sugar to taste.
8. After making coffee, the French press should be washed as soon as possible: no matter whether in the dishwasher or under the tap. If there is no time to wash the dishes, then you need to at least leave the flask open: let the coffee grounds dry better than the vessel and filter acquire a musty smell, which is difficult to get rid of !!
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With more than 16,500km of pristine coastline, 18,813km of waterways and 4,800 lakes, it is safe to say that there is a lot to be discovered in New Zealand by kayaking in the country! From the quiet, inland waterways that border the Waikato and Bay of Islands, to the spectacular scenery found in the south islands, New Zealand offers many opportunities for kayaking and is well known for its excellent, crystal clear water quality.
The largest river in New Zealand, the Otago, flows through the central North Island. The Te Puna River flows through South Island, from Christchurch in the South Island and the Bay of Islands to Rotorua in the North Island. Both these rivers are very popular and provide numerous opportunities for kayaking.
Kayaking in New Zealand has gained popularity over the years with many new and experienced kayakers looking to explore the country in a unique way. There are many other river systems in the country, as well as the ever popular Marlborough Sounds and the many lakes in between. The lakes in between, however, are much harder to access, but the water can still be extremely clear, and can be accessed via a series of bridges and small tributaries. All of this makes kayaking in New Zealand one of the best ways to explore the country on a budget.
Infaltable Kayaks
Kayaking in New Zealand is naturally more popular away from the cities, however if you do live in the city centres an ideal solution is to buy an inflatable kayak, so you can easily pack it up into a car or on the bus and blow it up wherever you decide to go. For many kayakers, the countryside of New Zealand is too much of an expensive commitment and is just not worth it! Kayaking in New Zealand offers a unique experience with many opportunities to enjoy the sights and sounds of rural life, as well as being a great way to get a real feel for the country.
South or North Island?
Many people choose to kayak in the South Island for an adventure with an even more off-the-beaten-track feeling, because it provides excellent opportunities for river kayaking, as well as – rafting and fishing. Other activities including bungee jumping, snorkelling, paragliding and mountain biking. While kayaking in New Zealand isn’t the only way to enjoy the adventure, it certainly is an option that is highly recommended. Kayakers often spend their days exploring the rivers and waterways, where they can see many species of fish and bird life, and maybe even find themselves meeting up with some of the local Maori!
In the north islands, kayaking also offers many opportunities for adventure. The Hauraki region is known for kayaking activities, as it provides a great example of nature in its natural state. The Hauraki Gulf is home to a series of underwater caves that allow you to dive into the underwater world, where you can see many sea creatures. Many people go whale watching on this area, which can be an amazing experience.
Adventure Rafting
Kayaking in New Zealand also offers many opportunities for river rafting. The Wairakei River runs through the south island from Christchurch to the Marlborough Sounds, offering a great opportunity for adventure rafting. If you don’t have time to get in the river, then you can take the ferry to the Whakarewarewa, where there are plenty of great shops to buy food, supplies and equipment. No matter what your adventure, kayaking in New Zealand is something everyone should try at least once in their lifetime! With the beautiful scenery that are so abundant here, and the variety of water activities, whether you choose to walk on the beaches, ride the water or go kayaking, you will get a great experience that is sure to make you happy! Whether you are just looking for some fresh air, or just want to spend some time in nature, there is no better place to spend your day than on the water!
Disclaimer: *Contents of this story is Authors personal views and presentation.
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Culturally rooted and yet deeply modern, Dubai is the perfect holiday spot for families, honeymooners and even a group of friends. Be it a short stopover between flights or a proper long vacation, this guide would help you to have a memorable Dubai holiday.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Dubai is between the months of November and March, when the climate is the most pleasant. However, as this is the peak holiday season, expect the city swarming with tourists from all over the world. If you want to save yourself from the crowd and also save some money, plan your trip during the summer seasons between April to October. However, the temperature can be quite high during this time.
Where to Stay
When it comes to accommodation, Dubai has everything from budget to luxury hotels. If you are planning to stay in Dubai for a long time, AirBnB is also a good option.
How to Travel
Taxis are the quickest way to travel in Dubai. However, if you have time in your hands and want to save money, the Dubai metro is a reliable and efficient way to travel within the city. Local buses are great to travel to most of the popular locations.
What to Eat and Where to Eat
When it comes to food, you are spoilt for choice in Dubai. Right from the local Emirati cuisine to Indian, Japanese and European, there is rarely a cuisine on earth that you would not find in the city. Although you have several options, do try the local Mediterranean cuisine at least once during your tour. As for where to eat, there are endless choices here too. Depending on your budget, you can eat anywhere from small restaurants and food courts to quaint cafes and high-end restaurants in the city.
What to See and Do
Dubai thrives on tourism, and the city strives to make it interesting for the tourists by adding unique and thrilling places and activities to it, almost every year. Some of the things that you should not miss in Dubai are as follows.
Burj Khalifa: Apart from being the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa has broken several world records and is worth the visit. Containing 162 floors in total, the Burj Khalifa is home to high-end restaurants, a 5-star hotel, luxury apartment complex, corporate offices and two observation decks. You can book your tickets online to avoid standing in queues.
Desert Safari: For the most authentic Arabic experience, going on the Dubai desert safari is necessary. The desert safari is a mix of thrilling adventure, good food and fantastic entertainment. You can choose amongst evening, morning and overnight desert safaris.
Dubai Museum: There is so much more to Dubai than its shiny glamour, and to know more about it, you must visit the Dubai Museum. Located inside the Al Fahidi Fort, the Dubai Museum takes you back in time when the city was a simple fishing village.
Dubai Mall: One of the largest malls in the world, the Dubai Mall is the epitome of shopping, entertainment and great food. Apart from the 1200 retail stores, Dubai Mall Aquarium, KidZania Dubai, Dubai Ice Rink, the food court, etc. are some of the other popular attractions of the mall. Do check out the Dubai Fountain Show that happens every day from 6 PM to 11 PM (every 30 minutes), right outside the Dubai Mall.
Dubai Miracle Garden: Spread around 72,000 square meters, the Dubai Miracle Garden is the largest flower garden in the world. You would find more than 109 million flowers here arranged in beautiful and unique designs.
Dubai Frame: The largest frame in the world, the Dubai Frame is strategically placed so that you can see the old Dubai from one side and the new and modern Dubai from the other. You can get your Dubai Frame tickets online to avoid standing in line.
Few other places that should be on your itinerary include Kite Beach, Dubai Creek, Dubai Marina, Bastakiya Quarter, Jumeirah Mosque, etc.
Conclusion
Dubai is one of the finest Arab city, where the old blends beautifully with the new, making it ideal place for a holiday.
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Arriving in Assam – land of tea, tradition & one horned Rhino!
After the lovely dinner and cosy night stay at luxurious Gonpalok home stay at Dirang it was the time to bid goodbyes to Mountains and hit the plains.
As always, we left early morning and Simanta was waiting for us with the engine on of innova. He seemed happier, may be because we were going to be in his state of Assam.
Our personalised travel consultant took special efforts to accommodate our modified plan of going to Assam. Waving hands and exchanging smiles with the sweet caretaker, we left for the state of Assam. Assam is famous for Tea, rice, history and wildlife.
Hold on, if you have landed to this page directly, please click Part#1 and Part#2 to read the prequels. Do come back here.
Day#5 –
Dirang to Kaziranga national park
Travel time – 9 hours
Road Condition – Worst (mostly under construction) that I have ever seen
Stay – Bonhabi Resort, Kaziranga
It was not the best days of the journey. Yes, we left early but the route that Simanta took was the worst road that I have ever seen in my lifetime. About 100 Kms was totally under construction and full of bumps. It seemed we are driving on a bullock cart both by speed and jerks. Dust clouds prevailed almost on the full stretch of 100kms of that road.
We were stopped on the mid-way of those 100kms because some blasting was going on for road construction. Here we were in the middle of nowhere, waiting on a check post. There were a few more vehicles waiting behind us. We tried to kill time by clicking some infact many pictures, taking a walk around the area.
Middle of Nowhere
We could find a small café which served Maggie and eggs. Yes, throughout our journey Maggie, mawa, sleeping like pigs and leaving early morning have been constants. Finally, after slowest 5 hours of my life, the post officer let us move past the barrier. Simanta, loaded his Mawa and we were back to life. Before crossing Arunachal’s border and entering Assam, we stopped to buy some more liquor stock to be brought back with us to Maharashtra.
The roads in Assam were smooth and scenic, I am sure driving would have been a pleasure on them. All off a sudden I noticed, Simanta opened his door and peeped outside the door bending downwards for a second and was back again on the wheel. We understood, he did that to spit the mawa stuff. We realised he was in his own state and his confidence was touching sky.
Usually, we visit 1 national park every year because being in the jungle brings you closest to mother earth. The birds, wilderness and flora are the real kings and we humans are just a small part of this majestic nature.I will share the link to National part stories at the end of this post. Do read ‘em all. This time we got a chance to meet 1 horn Rhino and its friends in one of the most famous national parks of India – Kaziranga National Park.
While entering the buffer area of Kaziranga, we were lucky to see hundreds of 1 horn rhinos grazing and swaying carefree on the grasslands on both sides on the road.
Image Courtesy : Outlook India
We finally reached our resort, Bonhabi around 5pm and we were tired for sure because of pointless waiting and bumpy road. The car was full of dust and dirt, from the inside and outside.
We went to our rooms; took shower and relaxed for an hour before we meet again to clink glasses, bawaa! it was mine and Trisha’s anniversary day. Cheers to two amazing and enthralling years of married life, we had no complaints by far. We reached the dining area to find probably the best food that we had during the journey. Full credit to our talented trip curator who ensured that we were served authentic assamese vegetarian food along with a cake specially ordered for our anniversary. She also tried to arrange local rice brew but maybe it was not our day. If you have tasted, let us know how it tastes in comment section. Seeing all the food we were damn excited, and it seemed that we were never tired of today’s journey. There was a wide variety of delicacies and we could not decide from what to start and where to end. Trying to list a few below: –
1) Local white or red rice (depending on season and region)
2) Bhoot Jhukoliya (Ghost Chillis – the hottest chilli in the world) – handle with extreme care
3) Aloo and Baingan Pitika (Steamed and salted Potato and Eggplant)
4) Dhekiya or Lye saag depending on season
5) Aloo, Aloo Potol, Cabbage, Beetroot or any other vegetable in season Bhaaji (Assorted Vegetables)
6) Yellow or Black Masoor Dal (Thick Lentil Soup)
7) Khoreo (Highly pungent and delicious ground mustard served with onion, garlic and other spices)
8) Pudina, Coconut, Sesame Chutney (Mint, Coconut or Sesame paste prepared with herbs and spices)
9) Salad made from young bamboo shoots
10) Paste made from raw mangoes or ground jackfruit seeds, etc
It was indeed a beautiful evening full of chats, variety of food and lots of love.
Next morning, we again woke up early to see our pre-booked jungle safari waiting at the resort parking area. Open Maruti gypsy it was! Hopped in to start the jungle safari with a hope to sight rhinos, tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, birds and many more.
Day#6 –
Kaziranga national park
Safari time – 6 hours
Road Condition – as in jungle
Stay – Bonhabi Resort, Kaziranga
Wikipedia: Situated on the banks of mighty Bhramaputra river, Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. The sanctuary, which hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage Site. The park is home to large breeding populations of tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Kaziranga is recognized as an important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species. When compared with other protected areas in India, Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation.
We left our resort at 8 am in the safari which was pre-booked by our trip curator. Agaratoli range was about 1-hour drive from our resort but we enjoyed the drive while we crossed tea plantations on both sides of the road and felt the wind pass through our hairs.
Over the last few years of travelling, I have realised the neither sea nor the mountains, but Jungle is my real calling. I love being in nature surrounded by greenery, blooms, birds, butterflies and animals other than humans. Oxygen loaded air unlike polluted one in cities. Blue skies, cool breeze rustling leaves and ant-hills of varied sizes.
We sighted no tigers, few elephants, some wild buffaloes, many birds, numerous dears and hell lot of ONE HORNED RHINOS. River Bramhaputra crosses the national park and the span of the river is massive. People in this region are used to floods every year.
It was a 6 hours safari for 4 of us which costed about INR. 3500/-.
Our driver was our guide as well, and this was probably a mistake. I suggest hiring a trained forest guide who understands to calls (voices made by animals) precisely.
Back to Bonhabi resort by late afternoon we decided to take some rest and enjoyed the stay.
Next morning, we were greeted by ever smiling Simanta again with a clean car, he got some time to relax and get the car cleaned yesterday. He took us to Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park which was in close vicinity to our resort. This park houses about 500+ variety of orchids from all-over north-east India and you are briefed by learned guides about the variety, identification and importance of orchids.
Additionally this place also has a Bamboo garden, cactus garden, photo gallery and handloom display and weaving centre. One can witness the dying art of weaving the cloths by hand and also buy some shawls, stoles or gamchas to carry back home.
Next up was a stage which showcases Assamese folk dances like bamboo dance and other forms and every evening they depict special show of 1 hour. Try to catch that and let us know how was it, in comment section below. We had a good time cheering and applauding local folk artists but its sad that only 4 of us were doing so in an audience of about 25 people. All an artist need is applause and cheers, and we must do it.
The entry fee is only 120 Rs per person and this place has a lot to offer.
Reached our resort and packed our luggage for our last leg of trip where in we were about to experience the rains, dense forests, transparent rivers and living root bridges.
Also, as a bonus you will get to see Mr. Simanta. So, stay tuned for the last part of this journey of life time.
While leaving kaziranga chai lovers like us purchased kilos of Tea for ourselves, friends and family.
Here are the links which will take you to our earlier travelogues about jungle trips. Enjoy reading and do share if you like them.
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