Life Unpacked

If you haven't already got your fill of writeups romanticising train journeys, congratulations, you've come to the right place. I have probably stated hundreds of times my love for train rides, but seldom have I ever penned it. How could I? Words never did justice. It is one thing to proclaim that you love railways and allow the other person through it to gauge the intensity condensed in that statement by your being during the journey, and it is an entire ballgame altogether demonstrating that emotion while sounding genuine and not overly pompous in written words. I'd be lying though if I said I never tried writing on the railways before. The truth is, I have attempted numerous times. But also dripping with the truth is the fact that each time, it ended up in complete failure. Tonight, I am giving it a go once more. Winter mornings, sleeper coach, and a piping hot cup of tea: Isn't that all one needs? Years ago, when my mum held my hand in one hand and a suit...

Culture is the colour that fills a land. And to soak in that colour is why people travel. At least, I do. Anyway, it is an accepted fact that the best way to experience a culture is through its food. Hence, it should come as no surprise that when I was in Amritsar last month, my belly forgot all its bounds. With only a couple of hours in my hands to savour a slice of Amritsar in that tightly packed itinerary squishing in all the must-sees within a day and a half, I was determined to make the most of it. Thankfully, the mission was accomplished, and with it, my love for Amritsar cemented. The Golden Temple, Amritsar Curious to retrace my steps for an unforgettable dessert crawl through the distinctly captivating bylanes of Amritsar? Read on... 1. Shri Krishna Misthan Bhandar The phirni of dreams... After a failed attempt at entering the Golden Temple on the first day of 2017, I spent a better part of the morning prancing around the Golden Temple complex. Thoug...

The old clock at CST station took no liberty of speeding past to 11.30 pm as I waited there, getting flanked in each direction by strangers, for the Amritsar Express. Contained in this sea of anonymity, forty were the ones I was going on a 10-day long trip of a lifetime to the mountains with, on a day's notice. 'Nervous' shall be the word people would use to define the state of being of a person in that very situation. But honestly, all my nervousness vanished and indifference took over as soon as I arrived at CST for the days ahead. Long-distance train journeys are a chore, generally, yet every time they end up being an adventure worth recalling. This one was no exception: from finally understanding the game of cards to almost missing the train at Itarsi, everything 90s happened during the rail yatra which concluded at Ambala Cantonment. Packing light was the biggest favour I did to myself on the trip, and that I realised as I glided past the 40 and into our bus with...

There exists a long list of things which I dread, one of which is having to go to an airport. Even though I love travelling and absolutely adore journeys, the prospect of reaching the airport on time to catch a flight is terrifying (Courtesy: Dozens of almost missed flights) and so is the thought of having to kill time at the airport (Courtesy: Children crying their lungs out). So when I was invited to have a look at the newly done GVK Lounge at CSIA and sample the decadent food offerings, I wasn't thrilled, to be honest. Now, in retrospective, I am glad I tried facing this fear of mine because all thanks to this one visit, I can surely assure you that at least Mumbai Airport has ceased to frighten me anymore. In fact, I am desperately wanting to call it my second home! Dripping with luxury at every nook and doused with a distinctively opulent Indian touch the GVK Lounge at CSIA is an absolute eye-candy. Each direction is a sight to behold. The lush interiors coupled with the...

After an overwhelming September, every inch of my existence demanded a getaway from the monotony prevalent in my days currently. Hence, when this weekend presented me with an opportunity to explore the art of eating for wellness, amidst a setting straight out of a storybook through the Life Enhancing Cooking Workshop at Hilton Shillim, I simply couldn't say no. The Scenic Drive See? I wasn't boasting about the wildflowers! Nestled in the Sahyadris, the 320 acres-wide Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa is a wellness space with a focus on environmental sustainability. Merely a 3 hours long drive away from the madness that is Mumbai, this place was all that my battered batteries needed. One can actually sense the serenity setting in en-route to the property itself as the car whizzes on narrow winding roads with the Pawana Lake in the backdrop. And as I happened to be visiting right after the finale of monsoon, I was greeted with greens of varying shades and w...

Sometimes, all you need is a reason to pack your bags. And when that reason happens to be the birthday party of one of your friends, you are already ready with a bag full of stuff for that extreme weekend within a blink. Now I won't bore you with the details of the party, rather, I'll simply jump to the part (I think?) you all are here for- The travelogue. The Journey Honestly, it was a very rushed trip whose details were etched out in the last minute. The night before embarking on the adventure, the group was abuzz with cancellations. It took our host exiting the group in rage for us to get our act together! True story. Anyway, due to crowd concerns, we decided to play safe and we reserved train tickets for travelling to Vapi. Post a dreadful lunch of Triple Fried Schezwan Rice, we were on our way to Nani Daman bus stop in the share-taxi. The drive was a pleasant one; something which I could truly appreciate once I saw the usual path through the concrete mayhem and...

People travel for myriad reasons- sometimes to soak in the culture, sometimes to unwind from their daily grind, sometimes to celebrate occasions, and sometimes just to see what's out there. The trip I undertook to Goa earlier this year is a testimony to the fact that if the reason to travel does not align amongst the travel companions, the sojourn could end up being a disaster. Every coin has two sides they say. Goa, on one side, for me, ended up being a synonym for perfectly lush green paddy fields, quaint Portuguese homesteads, idyllic beaches, and heart-melting hospitality. But, on the other, became a reminder of squabbles between my companions for every damn thing! Take my advice folks: always align the reason for travel before taking the plunge. Anyway, the reason I am writing this post is to document the bright side of the moon, which is- my journey to and the adventures in the charmer called Goa, back in January! Yes, I am that quick. Getting There ...

Nestled amidst the high rises in the posh locality of Malabar Hill, lies an oasis of calm and tranquil which instantly transports one to the holy ghats at Varanasi. Yes, I am talking about Banganga Tank. You see, vacation makes me do crazy things; I have been digging up the photo albums on my computer all day today. And that is when I came across the pictures I clicked when I went on a photo walk to Banganga Tank last summer. Time surely does fly by! Anyway, the point I am trying to make here is that there are several gems in Mumbai (I prefer Bombay, honestly). Every little pocket in this city has the power to induce the feel of some faraway land, no kidding. Banganga Tank happens to be one of those gems- perfect to spend an evening at.  Stepping down the steps leading to the tank is where the journey begins- the rustic and unshapely steps flanked by narrow lanes and tiny temples on both the side is enough to make you feel that you are no longer in the hustling and bu...

March was when college campuses across Mumbai were filled with nervous teenagers trying to cram in a last minute revision before their semester-end examinations. Well, I braved that March; mostly by clinging on to the hopes of a blissful summer vacation. It has been almost one and a half month of the holidays now, and I have officially declared myself 'bored'. Mostly due to the facts that the weather is too darn dreadful to even warrant a foot outside the house, and that all I prayed for in March were mangoes and long journeys, both of which haven't materialized until now! All I do to while away my days is scroll through a bottomless pit, that is, Instagram. It was on one such scrolling-away session that I paid attention to the abundance of 'skywatch' pictures I've put up, and the thought of collecting them in one post occurred to me (Oh, vacations, what do you do to me!). Thus, without further ado, 'skywatch'... Skywatch #1 Skywa...