Author: bitesandplaces

Warm welcome to BitesandPlaces! My humble little blog has its own story to tell… my story… I’m gregarious being, vagabond at heart and have a monstrous appetite for food. I used to be a Human Resource professional until few years ago. To be among, with and for people was the reason I’d chosen this field. Being in HR, I could only accomplish the ‘people’ part. I still yearned to be in those places I saw on TV and travel magazines and craved to eat all kinds of food that lulls you into coma. I didn’t want to be just a spectator anymore. I wanted to be in those pictures. Luck smiled at me and I fell sick with an awful heart, lungs and liver disorder. Family said stay home. Rest. Rest? Were they crazy? I grabbed this opportunity and quit my job; to pursue my passion – people, places and food. Being on my own gave me lot of spare time for all the three. I’m not a professional cook, but I’m mighty passionate about cooking. Although Indian, BitesandPlaces does not restrict itself to just the dishes of my country, which are toothsome beyond doubt. I’ve also tried to put together a bunch of mouth-watering and eye-pleasing recipes scattered from all parts the world. A lot of them are a tribute to my mum’s kitchen, the ones I grew up with. Few of them are a result of my experimentation and few others, borrowed from my generous friends 🙂 I religiously follow Andrew Zimmern’s favorite quote – what looks good to your eyes, EAT IT!! After all food is something that follows no boundaries, isn’t it. Travel, I believe, is about exploring new places, meeting new people, building new relations, soaking in their culture, gorging on their cuisines, discovering their stories and of course, capturing all of these in my teeny-tiny camera. After having been there and done that, I was inspired to share my travelogues with you, encourage you to travel and in some way find a bit of your happiness through me. Thus BitesandPlaces was born! Life’s a journey and people, places and food are all a part of it. So, come along with me and eat your way through this journey called Life… I like staying connected. And it’ll be a frosting on my cake if you drop a line or two at natasha@bitesandplaces.com. Celebrate Life!!! Natasha Gracious

Singapore

Singapore – Malaysia – Singapore Cruise

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

Cruise is an experience in itself. Something enchanting, something mesmerizing, something unknown and with tonnes of anticipation. We’d never been on a cruise before. This made me anticipate a lot more, right from the time of deciding on a cruise, to booking right till the moment we embarked and even after that.

We landed in Singapore in the evening and headed straight to Singapore Harbourfront Cruise Centre. Its a 30 minutes drive from Changi airport. You need to be there at least 3 hours before the scheduled time considering the crowd and the lengthy clearance process. Ours was to disembark at 11.55 pm. The place was flooded with cruise enthusiasts. A lot more than we’d imagined.

Superstar Virgo – The ship of my dreams. I took this pic when we were transferred to a small ferry for our Melaka excursion.

After clearing all the embarkation steps and mandates, we were escorted to our cabin. We had booked the Oceanview Stateroom with Window on Deck 9. It was a comfortable room with 2 parallel beds and one pull-over bed, a dressing table and toilet/bath, enough to accommodate 3 people. A goody bag of Chinese Tea was kept on the table before we entered. I’m always thrilled about the goodies, no matter whats there in it.

There’s an assortment of activities to explore on a Cruise. It was 12 am when the ship disembarked. Two nights and a half day was all that we had to explore the ship. That’s because, we had opted for an excursion to Melaka, Malaysia the next day.

I will first take you around the ship with me. Will put in my Melaka Excursion later.

Tour de Virgo: This pic, though a bit blurry, will give you an idea of what every deck has to offer.

The Grand Piazza – A grand spot for a great photo op. There cannot be a single passenger on the ship whose lenses mustn’t have captured these 3 royal golden horses.

The Galaxy of Stars – It was amazing to see the gorgeous Chinese girls effortlessly croon our very own Bollywood numbers. Never knew Bollywood was such a hit in China and Singapore too. All was so very interactive.

The Lido – The famous shows here are the Jewel of Atlantis, the Magic show, the Comedy show, etc. Show timings are fixed. You need to rush to grab a prominent front seat.

The Celebrity Area –

The Video Arcade – the gaming section

The Mediterranean Terrace – You can see a live band performing by the pool.

The Taverna – the roof-top cafe

The Captain’s Den – men in white and at work

The Captain’s Gallery – stand behind this wheel and you are bound to get a feeling of controlling the ship… Just a feeling… a great spot for a memorable photo.

The Observatory –
The Deck – Wanna set your mind free, the desk is the place to be. You can sit here for hours, doing absolutely nothing. Just let go of yourself and let the wandering sea-breeze take you wherever she wants to…
Or just stand by the railings gazing at the sparkling blue sea, sometimes calm, sometimes naughty, while its unruly waves hit the ship and then disappear. It may sound funny, but I did try my luck at spotting the dolphins, although I didn’t succeed. May be there weren’t any.

The View Point – Extreme end of the ship, reminiscent of the super-famous Titanic pose.

The Megaslide – only for the brave hearts. That’s because, the transparent part of the slide which curls, is out of the ship. So you can find yourself sliding down straight out of the ship.

The Neptune Pool – for all age groups

The Child Care Centre –

The Library – Who has time to read when there’s so much to explore. We visited library only for a click 🙂

Mediterranean Buffet – There’s nothing like eating your first meal of the day, sitting besides a window that offers an unobstructed view of the sea.

Bella Vista Restaurant – specialises in Italian cuisine this one. There are also others like the Taj, Blue Lagoon, etc.

The Tea Corner – I knew nothing other than Barrista and Starbucks until I came to this place.

The Duty-free Shoppe – Over-priced stuff. Makes for a good memorabilia from the mighty Superstar Virgo.

Excursion to Melaka, Malaysia:

There’s a dedicated customer service desk at the Piazza which takes care of the excursion bookings and all the other customer related services. You need to book the excursion in advance, i.e., the night you embark the ship. There’s an array of shore excursions to choose from. We rounded off on the Half Day Historical Tour of Melaka which also included lunch at a local Nyonya restaurant.

We were asked to report at the Lido at 8.30 am sharp, which we did after hurrying up with the delicious breakfast spread.
We were given stickers bearing our group number which we had to stick in a way they could be visible to our tour guide. There’s also a procedure with the documents which needs to be followed before proceeding with the excursion.
From a big ship to a small one, we were transferred by a ferry to Melaka.

Our Tour Guide – Mr. William was our tour guide for the day. Being 72 years old (or young) and a grandfather of 6, didn’t stop him from guiding, managing and keeping intact a group of 22 youngsters or may I say, bundles of energy. He was incredibly vivacious, loaded with knowledge about the place, true sense of belonging and so very enthused to impart all of it to us. I’m mentioning so much about him as I was completely in awe of him. I was all ears for each and every word he said. Yeah, and he’s also a huge storehouse of jokes…jokes for every occasion. I did have a personal conversation with him over a bowl of Cendol (a local sweet delicacy, which I’ve described later), when he told us about his youth, his schooling and his grandchildren. Each time our group split for sight-seeing, that many times he would do a headcount…literally… count our heads 🙂 . Salute to Mr. William for being the person he is! Always smiling!T his pic is all that I have of him as a memory.

Porta de Santiago – is one of the four main gates of the A Famosa fortress, and is the best evidence of Portuguese occupation hundreds of years ago. It was built by the Portuguese in 1511 under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque.

St Paul’s Church – the Portuguese built this church in 1521 and called it “Our Lady of the Hill.” It acquired its present name from the Dutch, who built a new Lutheran church down the hill, while St. Paul’s became a funereal ground and a white-washed navigational marker for passing ships.

Stadthuys – a piece of artistry built circa 1650, with traces of Dutch masonry and carpentry. Find it in the walls, the doors and windows, the iron hinges and floral-engraved wooden ceiling.

The Trishaws – The three-tire cycle-rickshaws all decked up, look like a festival of colours and cuteness. You can have a joy ride of 15 minutes, if its included in your excursion.

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum – It was built in the honor of a Chinese Ming Dynasty admiral called Cheng Ho or Zheng He. Cheng Ho was a famous Chinese explorer, who went to the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia between 1405 and 1433. He is credited with the honor of discovering the Melaka Port for the Chinese. They have a high-octane 20 minutes slide presentation which takes you through his journey.

Jonker Bird House – This is the first and only walk through exhibit that comprises of heritage dating back to 300 years ago and the famous bird nest products.

See for yourself and understand the nestling area and the process involved in the edible bird nests which are loaded with nutrition. Its an industry in itself. This house is declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the pic, the light-brown cone-like things are the bird nests.

Jonker Street – was once renowned for its antique shops, however over the years it has turned to clothing and crafts outlets as well as restaurants.

Melaka Houses – love the celebration of colours here

Cendol – Cendol is a refreshing Malaysian dessert. Made of shaved ice, coconut milk, coconut sugar, kidney beans and cendol, which is made out of flour.

Friends for Life – My trip to Singapore did not end here. I took back home a lot more than the memorabilia I gathered from each place I visited. I made 4 new friends from different parts of the world – Lily, Doreen from Singapore with their aunt, and Julie from Australia. I could be with Julie only for those 2 days of cruise. But Lily and Doreen are still with me…thanks to social media. We are friends forever…

That’s Lily and Doreen

That’s me with them…

We met as strangers during our excursion. Who knew we would bond for life….

Singapore

Singapore City Tour

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

A mecca of shopping, sightseeing, food and fun, Singapore is the microcosm and the island country in Southeast Asia.
Singapore also known as the “Lion City”, is one of the world’s major commercial hubs, with the fourth-biggest financial centre and one of the five busiest ports. It has a rich social mix of Singaporean, Chinese, Malay, Indian and the European cultures.
Singapore’s Changi airport, rated as the world’s best, proves every worth of its sash. If you have enough of time at your hands, you can easily spend half a day just exploring the airport.

Enter Singapore and you are sure to get more than what you bargained for. We were received at the airport by Raj, a Tamil and a third generation Singaporean. Speaking to him we realised, not only does Singapore, but its citizens too have their own history to tell. He was friendly enough to explain some of the important rules and regulations of Singapore which run in the blood of every resident of this Lion City.

Day 1: We were transferred to our Hotel Aqueen Lavender in Little India. As the name suggests, Little India houses lot of Indians, which is why the tour operators press a lot on this one. With so many fellow Indians around, it makes you feel at home even in a foreign country.

We reached our hotel at 3.30 and had a nice little snooze. We were booked at 6pm for Night Safari, the world’s first ever night wildlife adventure. When they say 6, you gotta be there by 5.45. Singaporeans are very particular about the time. From 6 to 6.45 is the animals show. The Safari actually starts at 7. Due to heavy traffic in the evening, we missed the Animals Show, but luckily got the Safari.
The guided open tram-ride is fascinating and the close encounter with wild animals… spectacular. Lions, tigers, tuskers, wild boars, leopards, deer… all in their natural habitat and less than few metres away from you. Its breathtaking !
You are not allowed to use the flash of your cameras, which made it difficult to click.
There are walking trails like the Leopard Trail and the Wallaby Trail. We did the latter one.
There are lot of food counters to stuff yourselves after you are done with the wildlife rendezvous.
Later, we returned to our hotel, only step out again and explore the place. We dined at the nearby hawker street and took a stroll down to explore further.

Clark Quay: To explore the high-end night-life of Singapore, pay a visit to Clark Quay. Clarke Quay, Singapore’s choice dining and entertainment destination, is a colourful kaleidoscope of buildings housing antiques, restaurants, hip cafes, jazz clubs and more. At night, the entire zone is a sight to behold with all five blocks of restored warehouses lit up and beamed with an array of quirky alternative to mainstream clubs.

Day 2: was reserved for guided City Tour. We were booked on a seat-in-coach basis. Our guide was Mr. Jack who has claimed to have guided the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and also our respected PM, Mr. Modi. He is a Chinese settled in China Town area of Singapore. So you see, there is an array of cultures and people whom Singapore has sheltered with open arms.
Further down is the Haji Lane which houses Singapore’s Muslim community. It is also a haven for fashion fanatics, where local designers and entrepreneurs have set up their boutiques.

SIC experience is way different than a private cab one. Everything is timebound. This was the reason we had no stop-over at Haji Lane.
We were then whisked to Singapore’s major attraction – The Singapore Flyer. The 165-metre-high flyer is Singapore’s answer to the London Eye—with the title of being the world’s largest ‘Ferris wheel’ up until March 2014.
The 30-minute ride offers stunning views of the Colonial District, Marina Bay and the South China Sea extending all the way to parts of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia.

Marina Bay, situated in the heart of the city is the island’s largest and the most urbanised catchment. You have a lot of photo-ops here.

The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel is the star attraction.

The ArtScience Museum is one of the attractions at the Bayfront. The lotus shaped architectural marvel is also referred to as “The welcoming hand of Singapore”.

Merlion is the national mascot which is the head of a lion and the body of a fish. This is the marketing icon and the national personification of Singapore.

It was noon and we had to break for lunch. We were told to gather at a specified point at 2.30 pm to continue our sojourn to the very famous Sentosa Island.
Getting to Sentosa is a memorablia in itself. Its a 15 minutes cable-car ride which takes you to the top. Pay a visit to the Butterfly Park and the Insect Kingdom.
And then time for some adventure – The Luge Ride and the Sky Ride

The Luge Ride, something you might have never done before and will wanna do again and again.

The Sky Ride – I got stoked the moment I got into it…as if I was possessed by a child’s soul. And that over-excitement led me dropping one of my slippers down somewhere in the woods. But the staff were kind enough to search and get it for me. Such courteous behaviour is a rare find. The best part is when you get clicked in all your natural expressions by the unnoticeable cameras here and there.

The Dolphin Lagoon – adorable pink dolphins performing their antics alongside the black seals. We were booked in the VIP lounge. Its time-slotted so better rush before time.
The Underwater World- You have an up, close and personal rendezvous with the aquatic world. Its an underwater glass tunnel with automatic walk-through which offers a super-close view of the sharks, sting rays and many others swimming right above your head and all around.
UnderwaterWorld2
Songs of the Sea – One day visit to Sentosa comes to a closure with the spectacular Songs of the Sea show located at Siloso Beach on the Sentosa Island.
This show is one stupendous feast to your eyes with the mindblowing pyrotecnic displays, water jets that shoot up to 40 meteflrs, laser show, flame bursts, a live 7-person cast, and an open-air viewing gallery. Be sure to choose the seats at the centre to have a direct and undisturbed view. This show is ought to leave you spell-bound.

Day 3: We chose to be on our own with a quest of exploring the city. As per me, the best way to explore a new place is grab a map, be on your own, get lost, speak to the locals, ask for directions, hop on the metro, bus or just keep walking. This is exactly what we did and made our way to Jurong Bird Park.

Jurong Bird Park – Its is one of the most renowned bird sanctuaries with the largest free-flying aviaries.
Take a guided hop-on hop-off tram tour or just walk it out and take your own sweet time to explore the place. There’s multitude of birds you can ever imagine – flamingoes, pelicans, eagles, kites, scarlets, swans, macaws, penguins, spoonbills… the list is never-ending.
JurongBirdPark4 Can anything be more beautiful…
They also have various shows lined up like the Kings of Skies show, the High Fliers Show, etc. These are very informative and interactive.
You have to have one full day at your hand to explore the entire park and be one with nature.

Day 4: We were on our own to explore.
Gardens by the Bay – Enter a world of perpetual spring, where unique plants bloom in an ever changing display of flowers.

Flower Dome: Step into the Flower Dome and you’ll be standing in awe of nature.
It replicates a mild, dry climate and features plants found in the Mediterranean and other semi-arid tropical regions (e.g. parts of Australia, South America, South Africa).

The Supertree Grove: Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens’ landscape with heights that range between 25 metres and 50 metres. There is an elevated walkway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of the Gardens.

There’s also the Cloud Forest which replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 3,300 ft and 9,800 ft above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Middle- and South America. We could not make it here as it was closed for the day.

Shopping in Singapore:
China Town: Chinatown is Singapore’s largest historic district, nestled close to the bustling business hub. The best time to visit Chinatown is during Chinese New Year, when the Chinatown Food Market is abuzz with activity, from lion dances to Chinese opera performances. Here you will find everything from fine silk and jade jewellery to traditional handicrafts.

Kampong Glam: To explore Kampong Glam, hop on the MRT and alight at Bugis MRT Station. A stone’s throw away from Bugis MRT Station, you’ll find shopping haunts such as Bugis Junction, the bustling Bugis Street Market, and of course Kampong Glam. Its also line with restaurants, caterers, art galleries, and craft and curios shops.

Little India: As its name suggests, Little India is Singapore’s foremost Indian enclave. Look out for stalls selling Ayurvedic massage oils, gold, incense and fabrics in a variety of textures.
No trip to Little India is complete without an all-night shopping spree at the 24-hour emporium, Mustafa Centre, located at the corner of Serangoon and Syed Alwi Roads. Despite its modest exterior, Mustafa Center is a treasure trove of household knick-knacks, decorative items, foodstuff, Indian spices, apparel and textiles, electronic items and more–at some of the lowest fixed prices in Singapore. Legend has it that Mr. Mustafa, a hawker from Hyderabad, started off with just one stall in Singapore which is now an empire in itself.

Dining In Singapore: Old airport road hawker centre, Singapore food trail near Singapore flyer, Maxwell Food Centre in China Town, Newton Food Centre near Orchard Road are some of the places to enjoy Singapore’s best street food. Do not dare miss these places when you are in town.

Cuisines: Singapore is a hot pot of cuisines, incorporating a rich heritage of food dishes consisting of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian influences. Here are some of the must-try delicacies you cannot afford to miss. Walk down any of the hawker centres and see for yourself. Its pocket-friendly and delicious.

Chilli Crabs: The sight of it is enough to get you drooling. The crabs are cooked in a sweet, spicy tomatoish chilli sauce or with black pepper sauce.

Laksa: Its a traditional Singapore Curry which uses vermicelli, coconut milk, tau pok (beancurd puffs), fish slices and shrimp.
Carrot Cake: No, this isn’t a dessert and is far from being one. The Fried Carrot cake is made with eggs, preserved radish (chai poh) and white radish flour cake, which resembles a ‘white carrot’ and how the name comes about.

Chicken Rice: This is one of Singapore’s most well-known and celebrated dish. No coffee shop in Singapore is complete without a chicken rice stall.

Satay: Satay is a dish of skewered, Turmeric marinated meat that is grilled on an open fire. Typical meats include chicken, beef, mutton and even pork. A spicy peanut dip is also provided for the Satay and sides as well.

Hokkien Prawn Mee: Its a combination of egg noodles and rice noodles in a rich prawn stock with cubes of fried chicken, prawns, fish cake and squid.

Culture, food, shopping, sight-seeing… 3 days were just not enough to soak in the whole of Singapore. Looking forward to a longer stay to experience all that we missed.

India

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

It was 5 at dawn when my phone alarm squeaked underneath my pillow. I hadn’t quiet slept the night. Nandadevi Express was racing at an alarming speed. The wobbly, bumpy ride had got my tummy rumbling with fear. I was more than waiting to officially wake up.

We dragged our behemoth luggage from every place we’d shoved them into. It was 5.30 and freezing when we stepped on the Dehradun platform.

Hailing a cab is a cakewalk in Dehradun. Right outside the railway station is a taxi stand, a ticket window, cabs queued up and topping it all, benevolent locals. The rates are fixed, so no haggling or fear of being over-charged. All you need to do is pay at the counter, load your luggage and set off.

The sun was yet to peep and Dehradun was still asleep under the freezing blanket of mist, except for few shops and tiny stalls puffing out smoke of the boiling tea. Couple of hours later it would be a busy day just like anywhere else.

A little more than an hour of the picturesque cab-ride later we arrived in Mussoorie. I knew a wonderful holiday in the misty, sleepy, dreamy hills awaited us.
We somehow dared to peel ourselves out of the cab to check-in our hotel. By now the sun had shrugged off his sleep, wiped his eyes clear and was already there basking in the resort’s garden.

I’d booked a room with views….of the Himalayas… Luckily, the air was clear and I could see the pristine snow-capped mountain range peering at me from my window. My tired body had given up and the warm bed lay there beckoning me. What if I ran out of luck and this magnificent view disappeared the next day or the day after? I wasted no time to reach for my camera and spent the next couple of hours capturing this panoramic view in my lens.

Did I mention Oniel anywhere? Well, he had cosied himself under layers of soft warm quilt, with couple of heaters at his service and was fast asleep 🙂

A hearty breakfast of butter-laden Aloo Parathas, fresh cut fruits and a cup of piping hot Mussoorie special coffee later, it was time to plan the day.
So we did and set out at 11.30 to explore Mussoorie – “The Queen Of Hills” as she is fondly known. A five minutes drive from the hotel brings you to the Mussoorie taxi stand. Here they have packages with fixed rates and also the customized ones. You can pick and choose your destinations and you’ll be charged accordingly.

Day 1:
Jwala Devi Temple: This beautiful temple is a place of worship of Goddess Durga. It can be accessed by trekking up 2 kilometers. Surrounded by the verdant Oak and Deodar trees, it’s a blessing to the devotees and nature lovers alike.
Owing to my heart disorder, I couldn’t make it to the top. But did manage to snap few wonderful glimpses of it from the rear end of a teeny little tea-shop.

Kempty Falls: 45 minutes drive from the Mall Road, this waterfall can be reached by a ropeway cable car. Legend has it that the stream of water flows throughout the year from the place where it originates and dives into the pond below at a massive height of 40 feet.

Area around the falls is strewn with stalls selling everything from stylish hats, clothes, kitschy jewelry, decorative items to swim wear that ensure you are fully covered 🙂 . Fragrance of steaming hot Pakodas and Maggie follows you everywhere.
A little birdie whispered that Maggie is a staple all around Mussoorie, right till the highest point you may scale (Well, back home, it’s my saviour too, whenever my cook bunks 😛 ). It makes a wonderful companion with tea or coffee and wards off the evil biting cold. It really works 🙂

Nothing seems to deter these enthusiastic swimmers from taking a dip even in that freezing waters.

Shedup Choepelling Monastry: Sitting in the lap of verdant mystical hills and facing the Happy Valley is this quaint, serene yet splendid looking Tibetian monastry. A chilling breeze blows across your face while you walk towards the temple. Prayer flags flutter in the blue-grey skies, fragrance of the incense fills the air, while the monks in their deep red robes amble around chanting prayers.

It’s mandatory you remove your footwear outside before entering the temple. However, bitingly cold the floor may be, nothing can stop you when the divinity beckons.

Company Garden: Verdant surroundings, blooming flowers, mini lake with an artificial waterfall, paddled boating, shikara ride, a well-maintained food court all build a perfect set for a pickniky atmosphere.
It was here that I got my first experience of hails. Absolutely loved the clattering of the icy little droplets against the roof.
Steaming hot coffee against a perfect mountainy backdrop!

Day 2:
Lal Tibba: Seated at around 8000 metres above the sea level, Lal Tibba is the highest point in Mussoorie. During sunrise and sunset, the sky paints itself in an assortment of deep red hues, a picture that’s worth million dollars and which is why the name.
A Japanese telescope has been mounted on a 20 metres tower to offer views of the pristine Badrinath, Kedarnath and other Himalayan ranges.

Mr. Rawat helped us locate the old colonial houses and architectural schools of the British era. He’s a guy in his late forties with a heart and glow of the twenties, who loves flaunting the bunch of pictures he’s clicked with the glitterati from Bollywood to Cricket. He’s more than happy about clicking us too. He proudly pointed the telescope to his laid-back two storey house that sits right in the middle of the oaks and deodar laden hills. Gosh! I so envy him.
The man walks the entire mountain 2 hours to reach his work place and 2 hours back home – a secret to his health and youthful look. He sells these homemade pickles made of pahadi or mountain chilies, lemons, etc. – Rs. 250 onwards for 500 gms. Don’t miss buying the purest honey you can ever find.
Give him a shout at +91 9761065524 and he’ll even have them couriered at your doorstep.

Dhanaulti: Around 30 kilometres from Mussoorie, it’s a one hour thirty minutes drive from Lal Tibba to Dhanaulti. Situated amidst the Pine, Deodar and Rhododenron forests, Dhanaulti is a lot quieter and less commercialized than its more famous neighbor. Little children in their school uniforms sell bunches of bright red rhododendron flowers which are known for their medicinal properties. Bottled juices are also sold in plenty.

Eco Park is the main attraction of this place. The Forest Department has employed around 60 local youth in various capacities in order to provide them a means of livelihood.
There’s also a facility to plant a sapling in the memory of your beloved known as The Memory Sapling Plantation.

Gun Hill: Taxis drop you to a point where the Mall Road begins. Take a cycle-rickshaw to a point where you hop on to a rope-way cable car and glide up to the Gun Hill.
Reach up there and you’ll find a sprinkle of activities like balloon-shooting, archery and few others for the kids. Try your luck at those magic games, click pictures with your beloved in the traditional pahadi wear or just grab the best seat at one of the precariously located tea stalls. They are a vantage point offering panoramic views of the valleys, twinkling little houses and glimpses of entire Dehradun.
Prod the stall owner and you’ll learn how in those pre-independence and pro-British days, a canon used to be fired from this point at 6 every evening, so the locals adjusted their watches accordingly.

Camels Back End: Ever experienced what they call ‘a walk in the woods’? This is that. Hold your hands and take a long long walk on this long winding corniche that clings on to the mountain on one side and a deep Doon valley on the other. There’s a rock that looks exactly like the camel’s hunch which is why the name.
Towering pine and deodar trees, mist settling in the valley, delirious monkeys, bunch of noisy dogs and beautiful chirping birds is the only company you have. Lift your head up and you’ll spot gorgeous colonial bungalows which are still occupied by the British people. The Brits have left us quiet a history, must say!
Cycle-rickshaws and horse rides are available for those who cant do long walks. They charge Rs. 600 both ways.
A most stunning backdrop for making those romantic moments utterly unforgettable…

Where To Stay:
Staying options are proliferating by the day. Resorts, heritage bungalows, eco hotels…you’ll find all kinds of them and suiting all budgets.
We stayed at Tullahmore Estate, a century old colonial bungalow which is now renovated but still retains its past grandeur.

We absolutely loved the rooms offering stunning views of the Himalayas. Full marks to the food and service. The hotel offers free pickup and drops to the Mall Road and taxi stand. Speak to Mr. Rakesh Rawat for the booking and be assured to get the room you are promised.
Read here for my reviews on Tullahmore Estate.
(http://www.tullahmoresuites.com; +91-7830154154; +91-135-2631265)

Where To Eat:
Mall Road is laced with stalls and eateries rustling up dishes from Pakoras to European and authentic Tibetian food. All you need to have is a manimalistic appetite and pockets ringing with dimes.
Lovely Omlette Centre: Have an omlette here and you’ll forget all of those you’d had earlier. It’s a one-man-show being run in an incredibly tiny shop. A highly recommended one, we scoured the whole of Mall Road for this ‘world-famous’ eatery, cooled our heels for 45 minutes and believe me you, it was all worth it. They are super yummy! I tried to stick my neck out and see the recipe, but 😦 . Their cheese and chocolate omlette are must-haves.

Kalsang Friends Corner: Run by a bunch of hip, funky haired youngsters from the North-East, this eyeball-grabbing eatery boasts of authentic Tibetian food. Chinese-Tibetian ambience, soothing music, hearty food, quick service and friendly fellas call for a wonderful dinner after a tiring day.

Chick Chocolate: Cafe with a European touch – the interiors and the customers alike. Chick Chocolate does have chocolates, and lots of them. Homemade ones too. Apart from chocolates, it also serves juices, coffees, pizzas and other cafe items. It’s a place the Europeans love and frequent. We loved loved loved the Banofee Pie and came back here for just that. Do parcel their chocolates back home.

Where To Shop:
The Mall Road which ends at Library Bazaar is a shopper’s haven.
It’s crowded and buzzing. Which market isn’t? I absolutely loved the place; mainly because no irritating vehicles and secondly because lots and lots of stuff you can’t take your eyes and hands off.
You’ll find various items that are very typical of Mussoorie – like the wood-carved decoratives, Oakwood walking sticks, brass items and handicrafts. Nirankari Cottage Industries, located at the Library end is famous for these.
Victorian clocks come in unthinkable shapes and sizes, elegant Ladakhi shawls, souvenirs and loads of other geegaws to grab.

There are road-side stalls that sell beautiful, stylish sweaters and thermal wear at a negotiable price. There are also high-end shops that sell the designer and more sophisticated ones and at a higher cost. I bought one and am waiting to take it out of my closet for my next trip. I just love flaunting fashion 🙂

Two days got over too soon. I was barely content to move out of Mussoorie. It’s a totally different world out there. The one where hails come sliding down, where glimpses of the English past still linger amidst the hills, where memories are built planting saplings and where you happily realize just how perfect an escape to the Queen Of Hills can be.

India

Velankanni, Tamil Nadu

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

Last time I’d been to Velankanni was in 2006 to celebrate Christmas along with the family. After that we’d been planning since last two years or may be even more to visit again . I had made a vow which I had to fulfill. For some reasons, the trip kept getting delayed. Finally it was in October that the divinity came calling. Long weekend in the first week was the best bait.

Velankanni, situated in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, is home to one of India’s biggest Catholic pilgrimage centres. It is the Basilica devoted to Our Lady Of Good Health… to me, she’s simply Mumma Mary.

We checked-in in the wee hours. Couple of hours rest, freshening up and a South Indian breakfast later, it was time for church. It was 11 am and sun was already at its beaming best. Gosh! it was blistering hot! Armed with umbrellas and scarves, we hailed a pre-booked auto and headed to the church.

The sun was killing and the crowds were maddening. There was queuing, jostling and shoving in every place. In such conditions, there was no way we could hold up our umbrellas. It was a long weekend and people from nearby states like Andhra Pradesh and Kerala had also flocked in. There was no way we could have survived the burning heat. So after getting kebab-ed and sandwiched we decided to give up and returned to our resort.

Plan B was to visit in the evening and so we did.
The impeccably beautiful Basilica is built in Gothic style of architecture. It contains three Chapels, Our Lady’s Tank, Church Museum, Priest’s Residence, Offering Centre, Stations of the Cross, Stations of the Rosary and Shrine Mega Mahal. The Church is pristine white, except for the roof that is striking red in colour. You can feel an explosion of rapture, faith, hope and divinity everywhere!

We attended the 6.30 pm mass in Tamil, a language completely out of my world. I didn’t understand a word of what the priest was saying. But the hymns were divine. I’ve attended the Malyalam masses before, whenever I missed the English ones. And I’ve always loved their exotic hymns. Although Tamil and Malyalam are the languages beyond understanding, the sound and the rythm of their hymns touches the heart .
Cameras are banned inside the church. So couldn’t manage to click.

Hotels and lodges are generally packed, specially on weekends and public holidays. Room availability is sub-zero. With no options left, people put up in the church premises with their families and belongings. Anything for God, literally!

Offering are made for wishes to be blessed. Offering are also made after the prayers are answered. The locks, hankies and orange colour threads were tied to a sacred spot outside the church and also to some trees in the vicinity.

The Way Of Cross: Its amazing how faith makes us do the unthinkable. Even if its hurting our own selves….it doesn’t matter as far as the Lord hears our prayers, cries. Here, people walk on their knees in the sand, chanting prayers, some alone, some in groups. Some of the men even had their kids on their shoulders while they waddled through the blistering sand, exhorting the Lord. Its a kilometer to the church. Oniel, my husband, did half the distance. His knees were totally bruised and took a week to heal. Wonder what must be happening of those people who do the entire stretch!

Our Lady’s Tank:

The Adoration Church : Was built as a memorial of a historic event. Its this place where the Blessed Mother Mary is believed to have appeared to a lame boy.

There are various shops that sell stuff from photo frames, threads that are said to be blessed by the priests, lockets, candles, idols, CDs of hymns, etc.

After taking a tour of the church surroundings, we headed to the market. Extremely crowded and abuzz with people from in and around Velankanni, the market is famous for each and every element it has to offer. Lets get started….

Local belles selling fresh fried fish on the road. Look at that! Doesn’t that look inviting! 🙂

Countless salons where people (ladies included) shave off their hair as an offering to the Lord.
Also there are pint-sized photo studios where you can click a picture alongside an idol of Mother Mary and get an instant print-out of it. I took one as a souvenir.

Shops selling spices, sweets, South Indian style earthen ware, handis, toys, clothes. The shopkeepers have their Pandora’s box of stories to tell about the Tsunami that hit Velankanni the most in December 2004 and how they managed to survive and hit back.
This way goes straight to the beach. Take a glimpse at the sea of people!

Tired shopping? Gorge on the traditional deep-fried wonders – Raw Banana Fritters or Daal Vada with the spicy chutney. Or gulp down some fresh, cold fruit juices and lassi.

Move ahead to the stalls that are screaming for your attention. Crabs and fresh fish drenched in colourful spices on display. Isn’t that glorious!!! All I could hear was, “come, eat me!” 🙂

Fainting was the last thing we could have on the menu. So we decided to eat.

Baskar Hotel at the end of the street offers an unobstructed view of the sea. The place is quiet extensive with a humble seating of plastic tables and chairs.

We ordered for Fried Prawns, Fried Mackerel, Fried Surmai, Flaked Parathas and Chicken Gravy. Yeah, you heard it right…fried, fried, fried… Whats wrong in cheating with the calories when there’s such glamorous food on the platter! Prawns were succulent, fish was fresh and the spice mix was awesome. Mind-blowing, super-delicious, super-yummy…all super super super…including the service!!! And that picture, is my plate 🙂

All stuffed, exhausted and happy, we headed back home. It was a perfect end to a perfect day! 🙂

To me, visit to every place is a journey, not a destination. And this journey continues with Sujata, a friend I made here. We stayed at the same resort. And how we became friends, that’s an interesting story! Chances of meeting again are rare…but you never know…We do keep in touch on Whatsapp 🙂

I went to Velankanni, hands empty and heart full of prayers. But came back with a bag full of spices, sweets, souvenirs… and a friend… 🙂

Getting there: Nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, 165 kilometres away and Chennai International Airport, 300 kilometres away. We took a flight from Mumbai to Chennai.

Alternatively, you can take a train from CST, Mumbai to Chennai. It takes anywhere between 23 to 25 hours.

From Chennai, its a distance of 325 Kms, i.e. around 6 hrs 30 mins drive on NH45. We liked the bus service of Rathimeena Travels. You can log on to www.rathimeena.co.in for bus timings and online booking.
Another option is you can pre-book a cab.

Staying There: There are all kinds of hotels to suit all kinds of pockets. Hotel Picnic and Hotel Seagate are at a stone’s throw distance from the church and offer good rooms and rates too. Others are VPN Residency, MGM Velankanni, Clinton Park Inn, etc. We ran out of options so booked ourselves at GS Resorts which is a bit farther.
Booking a hotel closer to the church is a good option…cuts down on travel time and cost too. Commuting is very expensive here.

Getting Around: Your hotel can help in booking an auto or a cab. Its better to pre-book and decide the cost rather than heckling with the drivers later. Language is a major barrier here so communicating with the drivers is like verbal-wrestling with all that sign-language and stuff.

Eating Out: Clinton Park Inn has a good restaurant of its own where even outsiders are allowed. Market area and the sea-side are loaded with small restaurants and eateries.

Shopping: Velankanni market is the best place to shop for sovenirs, spices, sweets and earthen utensils. The Beet-Root Halwa is a must-try.

All About Loos: Bus doesn’t halt between Chennai to Velankanni. So make sure you use the loo at the airport or railway station before starting your journey.

Few Tips: Try to plan your trip on weekdays to avoid crowds. Also plan in colder months to avoid the blistering heat.

India

South Goa

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

Aroma of burnt firewood wafting through quaint villages, houses that are a gift of the Portuguese, bike rides through the long, meandering alley-ways, slower than slow laid-back life and food that’ll make you thank your Gods….Well, I can gab on and on.
South Goa is mesmerizing, although little bit conservative when compared with its Northern brother.

We reached our resort at 3.15 pm. Tiredness had totally consumed us. Freshening up and an hour of quick nap later we scooted out to reach before time for the Benaulim sunset.

Getting into into the skin of a true photog, I pulled out my DSLR, balanced myself on the rear seat of the bike and grabbed a quick click of the setting sun glaring through the palms. And boy! was it stunning!

From Benaulim we vroomed to Colva. Its only 15 minutes ride away. Pristine white sands blanketed the beach. The sky looked like an enormous canvas while the dissipating sun painted it pink and orange and all sorts of those dusky, twilighty colors before finally returning home. I ain’t that good with visual merchandising, so letting the picture speak…

Within those few hours we’d done quiet a lot. A yummy dinner of Shark Amotik, Fried Fish and Rice at Martin’s Corner and we headed back home.

Day 2:
Day twos and threes are mostly the busiest days of our trips. There’s so much to do and see, factoring the limited time we have. If you really wanna get under the skin of the place, there’s nothing better than talking to the locals and becoming one of them. Many of whom eventually get added to your WhatsApp list 🙂

Mr. Marcus, a quirky Goan fella, was our driver for the day.
He drove us to the Dudhsagar Waterfalls. Number of stories were shared and number of cats were let out of the bag during that one hour drive. Some jaw-dropping revelations included smuggling of deer meat for Rs. 5000 a kilo, sold to some bigwigs. Are the Forest Officials listening?

Marcus dropped us at a particular spot. Further, we hired two bikers (Rs. 500 each) who rode us to the waterfalls. Jeeps were the other option, but we being the intrepid sorts, opted for the bikes. The ride is epic and seriously not for the fainthearted.

I’d piggybacked Deepak, the sole bread-earner of his family. His brother was a miner, who is now jobless since mining is banned in Goa. Talking to Deepak somehow diverted my mind off the scary, bumpy road…atleast for a while. Oniel had scarier tale to tell. His bike had dysfunctional brakes. His rider revealed this to us after we returned back safely from the falls.

Our efforts seemed rewarded after the first glimpse of the falls. We clambered and sat on one of those huge rounded rocks, resting our feet in the cold waters and glaring at the majestic milky white waters that came splashing down. The Madgaon Express cutting through the falls, brought back Oniel’s childhood memories and there was nostalgia all around.

From waterfalls to spices… Marcus drove at an incredible speed to reach the Tropical Spice Plantation (www.tropicalspiceplantation.com) in time for lunch. I’d been to one of these in Kerala and also during one of my earlier trips to Goa. I’m always game to visit these precious little kitchen beauties in their natural habitat. But this time I was too famished to pay any attention to what the spice guide was speaking. All I could see was the exquisite Goan lunch that sat there in earthen pots in the open air restaurant.

This is how Goa’s beloved drink, Feni is brewed…

Elephant rides, bird watching in paddle or row boat are some of the other activities that can be done here.

It was 3, so we bid adieu to the spices and drove to the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, better known as the Bondla Zoo. Deer, Sambhar, Tiger, Lions, Leopards, Fox, Snakes are few of its wild inhabitants. The sanctuary also boasts of Deer Safari, Botanical Garden, Nature Education Centre and Nature Trails. There are also tourist cottages run by the Forest Department.

After a hearty tour of the wild, in the wild, we returned home. The muscles were in revolution already. So we rewarded them with a spa so relaxing that we were almost lulled into stupor.
That was a perfect end to a perfect day!

Day 3:
All great journeys ought to begin with a hearty breakfast. That’s exactly what we did before herding our nerds to Old Goa… All by ourselves on the bike.

Riding parallel to the river, lush green grasses swaying by, while the cool breeze rustles through every strand of your hair… its a mesmerizing experience altogether. You just have to sit back, close your eyes and soak it all in… while the rider concentrates on the road 🙂

Old Goa! Whispers of the past grandeur linger in this place… in those beautiful ancient houses which the Portuguese left behind for us. Many of them are in a dilapidated state and leave you teary-eyed. Those are the heritage that need a healing touch. Else, we’ll never realize when they fade into oblivion.

Se Cathedral: one of the oldest and most celebrated religious buildings in Goa with a typical Portuguese architecture.

Basilica Of Bom Jesus: the UNESCO World Heritage site which also has the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The body is on exposition once in a decade and millions of pilgrims from all over the world throng to get a glimpse of this great disciple of Christ.

While scouting the place, we stumbled upon this hidden treasure, a Church that even the locals dint know existed, but has featured in many of the Bollywood movies. Mr. Rohit Shetty, we got u! 🙂

Our Lady Of Immaculate Conception Church: this pristine looking church in Panjim has been in existence since 15th century.

Mangeshi Temple: Eponymous with the revered musical family of Mangeshkars, this beautiful temple is a must visit.

Beach Activities:
Of the various beaches in South Goa, Benaulim, Colva and Palolem are most active of the lot. By active, I mean the beach activities, nightlife and food.

There are numerous water-sports that you can try your hands on like parasailing, jet ski and speed boat rides. Or just take a leisure walk on the golden sands by the sea. We did parasailing in Colva and it was mindblowing.

At Palolem beach you can try your luck at spotting a dolphin or two. Whereas, the lesser known Galjibag beach is a breeding ground for Olive Ridley Turtles.

Where To Stay:
There’s a whole lot of options to explore and suiting all pockets.
We stayed at Raj Resorts located just a kilometer away from Bogmalo beach (http://www.rajresorts-goa.com/).
Check out the “Hotel Reviews” section to read more about our experience.

Soul Vacation, a boutique resort is few minutes away from Colva beach. Great rooms, food and hospitality (www.soulvacation.in)

Where To Eat:
The list is endless.
Beach Shacks: strewn around beckon you to take a bite or two. The sea-food you just cannot resist. There’s cut-throat competition which only benefits us tourists. The food is lip-smacking in any shack you go.
We visited Sam’s Goan Beach Shack (Majorda Beach). Its pushed farther from its original place. You can dial Sam and he’ll guide you to it. Speaking to him we understood that it was the competition-turned-jealousy-turned-ugly legal matters that made him shift. We loved their Fried Red Snapper and the service.
Calamari Beach Shack (Dando Beach) and Sasha Restaurant (Varka Beach) are great dining options too.

Restaurants: 1. Martin’s Corner (Betalbatim) – a famous and snazzy joint peppered with bit of glamour. Mind your dress code here.
2. Sheela Bar And Restaurant (Vasco) – They don’t have a menu. Chicken Rosemary, their specialty dish, is a tribute to the owner’s mommy who invented this recipe in her home kitchen. Her name is Maria Rose!

3. Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia (Madgaon) – famous for its Sorpotel, Sannas and Stuffed Crabs.
4. The Upper House (Panjim) – their Fish Thali is a must-have. I’m slobbering just remembering it

5. Fisherman’s Wharf (Cavelossim) – try their fried King Fish and Crabs. Finger-licking good!
6. O’ Coqueiro (Bardez) – Charles Shobraj, the infamous gangster was arrested while dining here one evening. They even have a figurine of him sitting in the balcony.

Where To Shop:
Shop for clothes, shoes, bags, souvenirs, etc. at one of the many roadside stalls strewn around whichever beach you visit. All you gotta have is Negotiation de Excellence and a whole lot of cash. Seriously! You’ll shop till you drop….

Market: Madgaon Market is a shopper’s haven.
Spices: Did you know it was the Portuguese who introduced Goa and even India to chillies? The aroma is enough for the spices to land in your shopping bags. Buy the Reshado Masala, Shakuti (Xacuti) Masala, Ambotik Paste and Vindaloo Paste so you don’t miss these flavors back home.

Jaggery: The dark brown colored jaggery is made from the coconut palm juice. Its healthy and an excellent substitute for sugar. Oniel substitutes this for chocolates 🙂

Sausages: How can you forget the dark, red, bursting-with-flavors Goan or Churiso Sausages! They are hung in huge clusters and are very much homemade. Try the elusive Sausage Pulao or devour them fried with chilled beer.

Pickles: Don’t you dare forget to buy the famous spicy, tangy seafood pickles. Molho (pickeled prawns), Para (dried mackerel), Bombil pickle (dried Bombay Duck) and the Tendli pickle(Ivy Gourd). I love the Para and the Tendli ones.

Dried Fish: Go for the sun-dried Bombay Duck (Bombil), Mackerel (Bangda), Prawns, etc… but only if you can bear the smell. They can be cooked in many many ways and taste delicious.

Feni: The liquor exclusively produced in Goa is made either of Coconut or Cashews. Yep. It ain’t sold elsewhere apart from Goa.

To be in Goa, you really need to have a voracious and a monstrous appetite. An appetite for places, people and food. You can’t have Goa in just one bite. You need to come here again and again and again and yet there’ll always be something new to be discovered.

For me, there’s no other place in this world which makes me feel so much at home…

India

Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

Soaring peaks, breathtaking valleys, lush flora, cool, crisp mountain air, simple and friendly people and the spicy and delicious food! This is Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra’s most popular hill station.
Mahabaleshwar in Sanskrit means ‘God of great power’. This place is indeed rewarding with a mix of old-world charm, natural beauty and modernity.
To me, its more like a weekend getaway… to bask in the lap of nature in monsoons, to relish the juicy strawberries and enjoy the biting cold in winters and a grand escapade from the city heat in summers.

Mahabaleshwar is located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra at an elevation of 4,440 ft above the sea level. It is at a distance of about 120 km southwest of Pune and 285 km from Mumbai. Though the distance can easily be covered by car, we always prefer travelling by bus which is a good 7-8 hours journey. This is our way of saving energy to have a chilled-out, relaxed holiday rather than exhausting it driving from one place to the other.
The town itself is quaint and charming but bit overcrowded. Some of the establishments are really old and trace their origin to the 19th century.

Stay: In Mahabaleshwar, you can get hotels suiting all pockets, i.e., from budget hotels to 3 Stars ones. You can get a hotel from where you can enjoy the lake’s view or even in the midst of the Mahabaleshwar’s famous market.

The market is loaded with small shops selling shoes, Kashmiri wear and the famous Pashmina shawls, bags, clothes, handicrafts, artifacts and locally manufactured jams, jellies and fudges. It is mainly famous for shoes and you also get a good bargain. People go crazy buying shoes. Literally!!
Tired after shopping and hungry too? Do not worry as the market has something for every appetite. There are these juice and icecream parlours which serve fresh strawberry juices (or frozen depending on the season) and creams with a dollop of whipped cream on it and a variety of other flavours too.
I always avoid the creamy dollop. This seems to be a clever move as they add an extra spoon of strawberry pieces in my glass while making 🙂
There are Chinese and Indian restaurants if you wish to have a complete meal. There are also carts that serve corn frankies and crispy, out-of-the-pan corn patties with green chutney and tomato sauce. These are the ones which keep calling you for more. And they did keep calling me again and again. I kept eating them as if there was no tomorrow. The cold and rainy weather and smoking hot crispy patties – the combination is incredible!

Venna Lake is one of the major tourist attractions in Mahabaleshwar. It is surrounded by trees on all sides. There are a whole lot of activities going on. You can go boating, horse riding or just laze away by the lake, relishing the yummy bhel, roasted sweet corn, gorging on the crunchy, red, fresh out-of-the-field carrots or just sipping the steaming hot coffee.

Mahabaleshwar has its own history. Shivaji, the great Maratha warrior king, had one of his base here. He constructed Fort Pratapgarh in 1656 which still stands tall. Tourists flock to take a glimpse of this mighty historical marvel.

Besides the town itself, what adds to the beauty of Mahabaleshwar are its rugged mountain ranges and various points. Locals say there are more than 20 points in Mahabaleshwar.
Table-top Point boasts of various Bollywood movies shot there. And it does look like “table-top”. There’s also horse riding and cart riding. Even the kids here have tamed their horses so well. The energy and interest with which they narrate the stories of the movies shot here is phenomenal. And the speed that they ride their carts and the control they have over their horses, is incredible!

Needle Hole Point / Elephant Point is a natural rock formation with a hole in between. Thus the name. Also, the point if seen from a particular angle, looks like an elephant’s head.

Wilson Point is named after Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Bombay from 1923–26. Wilson Point is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar. It is the only place from where both sunrise and sunset can be seen.
The path to the point is really rough. We had to go horse-riding to avoid spraining our legs and moreover, to reach in time for the sunset. The pic below says it all, doesn’t it!!
Apart from these, there are also Monkey point and Arthur Seat point which are famous among the many other that adorn Mahabaleshwar.

We’ve visited Mahabaleshwar in all the 3 seasons. In winters, it is that coy beauty with beaming rosy cheeks… this is a metaphor for the red juicy strawberries that add to the beauty of this hill-station. The sightseeing packages also offer farm visits.

Mapro Foods in Panchgani, seems to dominate the local economy, with every street and corner having a Mapro sales counter. The tour operators also include a Mapro visit in their package. They have a whole array of products like jams, jellies, dessert toppings, crushes, fudges, etc. It has become more like a picnic spot with a lot of snack counters dishing out a variety of sandwiches, pizzas, milk shakes and more to serve your appetite.

Giving a cut-throat competition to Mapro is Mala’s which also runs a parallel market with its products. A visit to Mala’s, and you also get a peek at its jams being manufactured right in front of your eyes… although from a small window.

It’s monsoons and Mahabaleshwar seems to be calling already. It has so much to offer! During every visit, in the battle of my tummy and eyes, my tummy always wins. I always get so stuck treating my palette, that I miss out on the other points and places that I’m still yet to see.
This visit, I’ve promised to do justice to my eyes. Hope I live upto it!

India

Kerala

December 1, 2018by bitesandplacesLeave a Comment

Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country is arguably one of the best tourist destinations in India today. It is the land of exotic backwaters, beautiful hill stations, palm fringed beaches and rich flora and fauna, not forgetting the traditional houseboats and divine cuisine. No wonder, vacationers from all parts of the world flock to this South Indian beauty all through the year.
I dint want a hush-hush trip. I wanted to be there and soak Kerala within me. So we decided to dedicate one whole week of our ever busy year to our beloved abode.
We took a flight from Mumbai to Kochi airport and headed to Munnar by car. It took us 5 hours to reach Munnar. But when we set our foot in there, all the tire was worth it. Munnar is serene, cool and peaceful. We stayed at the Edassery Eastend Hotel. The hotel has all the necessary amenities and an array of rooms to select from.

Munnar: The next day was dedicated to sightseeing, where we were whisked to the famous tea-plantations and tea factory. We couldn’t stop ourselves from buying a whole lot of variety of teas and the home grown coffee. The Echo point is worth visiting and so is the Matupetty Dam.
Thekkady: Its a 5 hours drive from Munnar. Thekkady is famous for its spice plantations, ayurvedic massages and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. We experienced all of it. We made a nice boat trip in Periyar. It is a man-mad lake. The backwaters of Mullaperiyar Dam built in 19th century, form this lake which is enveloped by lush green forests. In this hour-long boat trip, tourists with all their might, try to sight the animalin their wild. We were in luck as a group of elephants had come quench their thirst.

Wayanad: After 2 nights in Thekkady, we proceeded to Wayanad which has a repertoire of being a rain-forest, studded with lush green flora and equally beautiful fauna.

We checked into the Green Gates hotel which is just a few minutes away from the main market area. The staff here are very friendly and ever ready to help. That night it rained heavily… literally!!Pookode is a natural fresh water lake nestling amid evergreen forests and mountain slopes. Boating facilities, children’s park, handicrafts and spices emporium and fresh water aquarium are some of the tourist attractions here.

Vythiri Resort! This was our next halt in Wayanad. We had heard a Bridge ll good things about this resort which compelled us to spend one whole day only to explore the resort. ‘Seeing is believing ‘stands true here. They have their own Malabar Squirrel and the sound of insects, birds and the flowing river soothes all your senses. An exquisite eco-friendly jungle getaway in the heart of Wayanad, its in perfect harmony with nature. They have a mindblowing spread of lunch and dinner buffet… it seems like cuisine from every corner of Kerala is brought under one roof. One day was truely not enough to explore Vythiri.

Allepy: Allepy was the last leg of our trip. It is undoubtedly “the Venice of India”. A trip to Kerala is incomplete without a houseboat stay. It is the most relaxing experience for any age, size or type of people. The boats are extremely eco friendly, merging smoothly into the panorama. We had us booked on a one bedroom houseboat which was comfortably furnished with an open lounge, one bath attached bedroom and a kitchenette. It was manned by an oarsman and a cook.
The not-to-be-missed spectacle in Alleppey is, of course, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is now a major event held on the second Saturday of every August and features the gigantic snake-boats of Kerala, the chundans.

Food:
Kerala is every food-lover’s paradise. Kerala cuisine offers a multitude of dishes, ranging from the traditional idli-sambar to seafood delicacies.
With its coconut tree loaded coastline, the cuisine of Kerala is characterized by the use of coconut, either chopped or grated and used as garnishing, coconut milk or paste is used to thicken gravies and coconut oil is used for cooking. Breakfast includes the mandatory likes of idli, chutney, sambhar, dosa, puttu and appams.
The main course includes the local rice served along with sambar and ghee, kichadi, aviyal, a couple of vegetables, a sourish rasam, pappadam, pickle, raita.
A divine but humble dessert, called payasam completes the meal. Unniappam, vatalappam and palambari (fried bananas in flour) are some of the other famous sweets here.

There is so much more to Kerala… its people, places, culture and cuisine. One trip is just not enough to explore this God’s Own Country!!!

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Author: bitesandplaces

Singapore – Malaysia – Singapore Cruise

Excursion to Melaka, Malaysia:

Singapore City Tour

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Velankanni, Tamil Nadu

South Goa

Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra

Kerala

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