2018-07-14 07:13
Sometime in February; when the winter sun was blazing down in Bangalore; I was yearning for the mountains. I toyed between a quick drive to the Nilgiris, a couple of hours away or make way t… Read More
Blog Directory > Travel Blogs > Life is a Vacation | Travel, Food, Songs of the Soul…everything that makes a perfect vacation travel Blog >
Life Is A Vacation | Travel, Food, Songs Of The Soul…everything That Makes A Perfect Vacation Blog
lifeisavacation.wordpress.com
Tags:
bagh
national memorial
europe cheapest
chopta chandrashila trek
itinerary
india
garden hotel
chandrashila trek
lobster
milk
Some say Life is Beautiful, Some Say Life is Difficult, Some Find it Painful, yet Some others find it Tiring.....BUT what if Life was to be a Vacation on Earth to enjoy its boundless beauty, eclectic tastes, experiencing beautiful emotions before we retire to our HOME and come back on yet another vacation in another…
2017-11-30 18:50
My absent minded self which often emerges during my travels have led to a few funny and more than a dozen tensed situations. These incidents have occurred at regular intervals in different c… Read More
2017-11-16 08:12
When I planned a trip to Poland, I had vaguely included visiting a Milk Bar as one of the To Do’s in Krakow if time permitted. The reason for my nonchalance perhaps stemmed from the be… Read More
2017-10-18 05:04
I was born in post Independent India and grew up in the 80’s of Kolkata. Storytelling afternoons with a dadu (grand uncle) who lived with us were nearly always about Indian Independenc… Read More
2017-09-29 18:26
Durga Puja has evolved over the decades from being an annual religious festival to one of art and culture. This year too, I traveled across Kolkata, pandal hopping from one corner to another… Read More
2017-09-20 04:04
The best and cheapest stay during my recent 24 day trip around a few countries in Europe turned out to be the smartest and the most comfortable. I was flying out of Warsaw pretty early in th… Read More
2017-09-19 16:37
I have always traveled in trains within Europe for the half a dozen trips across various countries. During a recent trip to Europe I was looking at alternate modes of travel specially since… Read More
2017-08-30 04:20
A friend mentioned about the Open Lobster Night on FB in Shangri La Bangalore and the very word “Lobster” ensured that I spent the afternoon day dreaming. Open Lobster Night is t… Read More
2017-08-23 12:11
Andaman Islands in Bay of Bengal off the Eastern Coast of mainland India is a sight to behold with gorgeous beaches, pristine waters and unending white sands dotted with mangroves. Towards t… Read More
2017-08-15 06:45
I have visited two very important places this year intimately connected to Indian Independence; the cellular jail in Port Blair and the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Needless to say both lef… Read More
2017-08-12 17:56
I first visited Rishikesh as a 6 year old and have vague memories of playing by a river throwing stones and crossing a narrow hanging bridge. I often browsed through those black and white ph… Read More
2017-08-06 06:29
The journey from Haridwar to Badrinath and Mana is one of the best mountain drives in India. This 320 kms stretch of winding mountain road which is NH58 traces the journey of Alaknanda… Read More
2017-08-04 19:14
After about a week of traveling in the Himalayas we reached Rishikesh. We had missed the Ganga Aarti in Haridwar on our way up and we wanted to witness the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh. In Rishi… Read More
2017-08-02 04:11
There is much more to Haridwar or Hardwar beyond the ancient holy religious city. It is one of the 7 holy cities for Hindus as mentioned in the ancient Puranic texts. I had a brief stop over… Read More
2017-07-13 11:11
I am one of the lucky ones to have made multiple trips to Kashmir in the last few years. With all the news of strife, terror and hostility; needless to say I have experienced the best of Kas… Read More
2017-07-12 18:28
Port Blair is the gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The first thing that strikes about Port Blair is the clean roads, dust bins located at frequent intervals on road sides and a ve… Read More
2017-06-19 04:24
Sometime ago I was privileged to attend a Traveler meet organized by Holiday IQ at JW Marriott in Bangalore. It was also a special invite to be a part of the NH48 food festival held in JW Ki… Read More
2017-06-17 03:55
My neighbors in Kolkata had this small folding table in their home which caught my fascination as a child. That shining piece of sturdy wood was their prized possession which was made in Cha… Read More
2017-06-16 04:43
Kangra Fort is perhaps the oldest Fort in India perched up on the hills between the gushing Manjhi and Ban Ganga Rivers. While the exact date of construction is not known it is assumed to be… Read More
2017-06-14 04:47
When I decided to turn my life into a vacation; I decided to incorporate a physical and diet routine which I lacked; thanks to my life out of a suitcase. While the physical routine was easil… Read More
2017-06-13 04:18
When I was planning a trip to Spiti, I was wondering whether to include Chandratal (Chandra Taal). I was quite convinced that I would trek there someday on my way to Kanamo Peak or to Hampta… Read More
2017-06-11 18:22
When I was planning my itinerary for a trip to Mcleodganj and Dharamshala; I came across some pictures of ruined rock cut temples in the nearby region being referred as the Ellora of the Eas… Read More
2017-06-10 05:00
After years of imagining and planning I was fortunate to be at the Golden Temple this year. It was the month of May and almost everyone warned me of the intense heat in Amritsar during this… Read More
2017-06-08 03:10
Every trek in the Himalayas is a pilgrimage for me. I can feel the divinity of my soul as I spend the nights under the clear night sky and the days walking through narrow moun… Read More
2017-06-07 03:35
The best way to explore a local culture is to indulge in an immersive experience with local food, visit the places where locals eat, digging into dishes that brings a smile on to their face… Read More
2017-06-05 03:53
Norbulingka Institute established in 1988 is a must visit place during a trip to Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. I had read about it online, seen a few pictures but could not find anyone who had… Read More
2017-06-03 18:40
When I planned a trip to Mcleodganj, I thought of a “Triund Hike” since I did not want to camp alone as a solo traveler. I was deliberating to go or not to go when I decided… Read More
2017-05-22 06:07
I could not resist this invitation from Priyanka specially since it was Pakhala Pasara the traditional summer meal for people from Orissa centred around Pakhala Bhat. During the hot humid su… Read More
2017-05-17 13:34
On a hot summer afternoon in Kolkata many years ago, a 9 year old me read a poem that transported me to a far away land in the hills, where the air was cool, flowers bloomed to the… Read More
2017-05-16 06:36
During my school days I remember reading about Cherrapunjee a small town in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya where it rained the most in the world. Sohra was known as Cherrapunjee for more than… Read More
2017-05-15 04:02
Meghalaya as the name suggests is the Abode of the Clouds in the eastern corner of India. One of the 7 sister states of the North East, Meghalaya is spread across undulating green Garo, Khas… Read More
2017-05-12 05:47
The Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya is an innovative way of using nature’s abundance for connectivity. The bridges are man made by weaving in the aerial roots of Rubber Trees around a… Read More
2017-05-11 02:58
During my week long trip to Meghalaya, I explored the cafes and food joints in Shillong and all the other places I visited in search of local flavors and a glimpse into their culinary s… Read More
2017-05-10 03:16
It is that time of the year which completely transforms my diet plan. Yeah; its the mango season and almost every meal during these 2 to 3 months between April and July will have mango… Read More
2017-05-09 03:56
When Hoot opened its doors very close home; I was wondering whether the laid back locality would have the appetite for an upscale microbrewery. On my first visit within 2 weeks of their… Read More
2017-05-08 02:32
Over the years Kolkata Durga Puja has evolved as an excellent display of installation art that I can never have enough of. Its not about religious fervor any longer but of homecoming, celebr… Read More
2017-04-26 17:29
After a morning trip around the Western Group of Temples and a brief afternoon siesta it was time to explore the other areas. The Southern Group of Temples in Khajuraho now comprise of 2 tem… Read More
2017-04-21 13:35
I first heard of Ross Island when Tsunami struck the Indian shores on a fateful morning in December, 2004. There were stories of Ross Island taking it all on its chest and protecting Port Bl… Read More
2017-04-19 08:58
Lantern in Ritz Carlton is undoubtedly one of the best places for Chinese Cuisine in Bangalore. At a time when most Chinese restaurants are re-evolving themselves into Pan Asian; Lantern hol… Read More
2017-04-17 03:36
The coastline of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has one of the best coral reefs and marine life in India. While planning my itinerary, I was looking forward to atleast one adventure activit… Read More
2017-04-14 04:03
While planning my itinerary for Andaman I was in two minds whether to include Jolly Buoy Island and after a bit of deliberation I decided in the affirmative. I am counting my blessings for t… Read More
2017-04-13 02:34
Andaman is a natural paradise and the beauty of its forests, mangroves and caves often becomes secondary to the white sand beaches. I decided on a day trip to Baratang from Port Blair for th… Read More
2017-04-12 03:45
After breakfast in Havelock we set out for Neil Island located within the same Ritchies Archipelago. The journey to Neil Island from Havelock Island was approximately one hour by Makruzz Fer… Read More
2017-04-11 18:06
Havelock Island is a co-existence of a group of villages by the sea and sprouting eco -resorts catering to global tourists. Named after Sir Henry Havelock of East India Co, this island sprea… Read More
2017-03-31 06:37
We had 2 days in Khajuraho and sneaked in a visit to Panna National Park close by in the hope of seeing a Tiger. We managed to form a group of 4 in Zostel and booked the vehicle for the&hell&hell…Read More
2017-03-30 09:47
After a good six days of Shillong and the Khasi regions, it was an off beat day and so I decided to go in search of the memories of the Jaintia Kings in Nartiang. The drive through the windi… Read More
2017-03-29 18:27
In between the undulating green hills, gurgling waterfalls, flowing streams and hanging bridges is a sacred forest in Mawphlang, Meghalaya. Located about 25 kms away from Shillong, this… Read More
2017-03-28 18:27
After a busy 6 days in Meghalaya, I was looking forward to spend a quiet day away from the tourist humdrum. I hired a vehicle for Nartiang where the monolithic rocks and an ancient temp… Read More
2017-03-28 06:57
Until about a decade ago, hardly anyone knew about Mawlynnong, the cleanest village of India as well as Asia. Tucked away in the East Khasi Hills about 80 kms from Shillong, this tiny v… Read More
2017-03-27 18:07
During a trip to Meghalaya, it is really worthwhile to spend an extra day and travel 80 kms from Shillong right up to its final frontier in Dawki bordering Tamabil, Bangladesh. Dawki is a sm… Read More
2017-03-27 04:04
During my recent trip to Meghalaya, I had planned a day trip to Dawki the last frontier for India with Bangladesh. The chaffeur suggested that we go ahead to the Dawki-Tamabil border post as… Read More
2017-03-07 11:57
My first tryst with Italy was nearly 16 years ago when I had back packed through Europe with my meagre savings from a job straight after college. With very little exposure to the whole… Read More
2017-01-04 06:28
After a walk around India Gate and Parliament House, I decided to head towards Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk area in the hope of sampling street food. After a quick tour of Jama Masjid, I desce… Read More
2017-01-03 14:29
After a long day in Fatehpur Sikri and a sumptuous late lunch in The Pinch of Spice we headed towards Itmad Ud Daula located on the right bank of river Yamuna. The straight faced chauffeur m… Read More
2017-01-03 06:43
We stopped by at Sikandra in the outskirts of Agra very early in the morning on our way to Mathura. I had planned it as a brief visit but the early morning calm, the dancing peacocks, chirpi… Read More
2016-09-28 02:34
Spiti Valley was on my list for a long time but when the trip finally materialized; it was sudden and impromptu. While figuring out the itinerary; I included a hike to the World’s High… Read More
2016-09-26 03:51
Did you ever flip through a series of pictures and feel an unexplained connection, an instant urge to just pack your bags and get there.Sometime during mid- August, I was browsing throu… Read More
2016-09-22 05:25
Beyond the legendary and regular Tiffin restaurants doling out idlis, vadas and dosas there is a thriving “Donne Biryani” culture in Bangalore. Served in large leafy cups c… Read More
2016-09-01 03:58
What is just another old dosa joint for many, nostalgia for old Bangaloreans was a taste of heritage for me when I visited Vidyarthi Bhavan recently. When I stepped in through the door that… Read More
2016-08-30 10:19
Having spent my early years in the Eastern part of India in a family of tea lovers, “Chaa” (Tea in Bengali) was one of the first words I uttered, closely preceded by “… Read More
2016-08-26 18:30
While in Kuala Lumpur, a half day visit to the 400 million years old Batu Caves is a must. It is a lime stone formation that was used by the indigenous people. Batu Caves owes its name to th… Read More
2016-08-25 08:33
In between the glitzy high rises, grid tied roads and criss-crossing flyovers of Kuala Lumpur there is a different world in the leafy lanes of Kampong Bharu (Kampung Baru) oozing old wo… Read More
2016-08-25 08:33
In between the glitzy high rises, grid tied roads and criss-crossing flyovers of Kuala Lumpur there is a different world in the leafy lanes of Kampong Bharu oozing old world charm. Kamp… Read More
2016-08-24 11:32
When I first read about Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh a couple of years ago, I was simply fascinated. Maybe it had something to do with me voraciously reading about spirituality and Sat-Chit-A… Read More
2016-08-13 04:39
I have always been in awe of the Chola Empire. I credit this admiration to my high school history teacher who weaved stories around art and architecture of years gone by and she ensured all… Read More
2016-08-12 17:15
Bhuj is the gateway to Great Rann of Kutch. Most people head directly to Rann of Kutch with a short lunch stop over in Bhuj. We came in from Dholavira, 5000 year old Indus Valley Civilizatio… Read More
2016-08-11 19:15
Prag Mahal was built in the 19th century in Bhuj. The construction of this Italian Gothic style palace was commissioned in 1865 by Rao Pragmalji II the ruler of Jadeja Kutch clan at that tim… Read More
2016-08-11 08:38
During our road trip in Gujarat we drove until Land’s End the western tip of India that merges into Arabian Sea. We visited Koteshwar, Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat Fort and Mata No Madh tr… Read More
2016-08-07 17:19
These days there is a lot of buzz around re-use and recycle to manage our waste and Save the Planet. Nearly 60 years ago in 1957 a young goverment employee Nek Chand had started this endeavo… Read More
2016-07-27 08:07
I have grown in Kolkata but hardly experienced much beyond the city. Recently, I made a quick trip to Kalna after drawing inspiration from a favourite poem penned by Rabindra Nath Tagore. Af… Read More
2016-07-26 18:16
When I see food on the table, something interesting and appealing, the last thing that comes to my mind is calories. I occasionally suffer from guilt pangs as an after thought which lea… Read More
2016-07-21 10:23
How many times has it happened with you that you set out from home to run an errand and entered a cafe or a store instead ? It happens with me once in a while and more often than not le… Read More
2016-07-12 08:35
I had about 12 hours in Chandigarh nearly half of what I had initially planned. As the car rolled into Chandigarh it gathered speed; celebrating freedom from the slow sluggish traffic on Shi… Read More
2016-07-11 11:55
Nestled in the Doon Valley between the Ganga and the Yamuna lies Dehradun. A couple of centuries ago (17th) the eldest son of the 7th Sikh Guru camped (Dehra) in the Doon valley which led to… Read More
2016-07-08 10:03
Ramadan also known as Ramzan is the holy month of Muslims. It is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar when the holy book Quran was revealed to the prophet. After fasting during the day… Read More
2016-07-06 04:06
My tryst with Haleem began not too long ago. A colleague introduced me to this slow cooked absolute delicacy from Pista House during a work trip to Hyderabad. The soft gooey melt in the… Read More
2016-07-04 17:26
I was scouting for a short trip out of Bangalore when Lepakshi caught my attention. I always associated it with the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts emporium but never realized it was a 2.5 h… Read More
2016-07-03 04:28
Rupin Pass is an amazing journey through the lower Himalayan ranges tracing the source of the River Rupin. It begins with a gentle walk through forests and villages and thereafter gets excit… Read More
2016-06-25 06:05
While walking through the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas, I would often stop by to smell the flowers, enjoy their uninhibited dance in the rain, loving their many colors dotting the landsca… Read More
2016-06-24 04:03
Before you jump to conclusions; that’s the title of the book that I recently read. Of all the countries in the world that I have grouped in different buckets to prioritize my trip… Read More
2016-06-07 03:15
Bangalore has become a hub of Pan Indian and World cuisine over the last few years. Every now and then, I hop into some place to experience a new taste that gives me a glimpse into culinary… Read More
2016-06-07 03:15
Bangalore has become a hub of Indian and World cuisine over the last few years. Every now and then, I hop into some place to experience a new taste that gives me a glimpse into culinary styl… Read More
2016-06-06 04:47
If there is one country on this planet that leaves me gasping at every bend it has to be Norway. During my 10 day trip to this country a few years ago, I could not experience the Midnight Su… Read More
2016-06-04 05:11
It is hard to find someone who is not bowled over by the beauty of Kashmir and I am no exception. Having trekked through the Kashmir valley, spending days under the starry skies, eating loca… Read More
2016-05-31 17:40
I was walking down a busy street in Koramangala, Bangalore when I spotted “Fat Sindhi” in the first floor of a building. It was lunch time and I was craving for something quick… Read More
2016-05-28 16:52
I love walking in new places, in the lanes and bylanes since I believe that it is the best way to explore a place. Here are some pictures from Kuala Lumpur Central Market and Petaling Area… Read More
2016-05-28 16:52
I love walking in new places, in the lanes and bylanes since I believe that it is the best way to explore a place. Here are some pictures from Kuala Lumpur Central Market and Petaling Area… Read More
2016-05-27 12:11
From the breakfast pit stop On the Highway to Kongunadu, we drove deeper into Kongu land passing by Salem of Steel fame and Erode the textile heartland. A few shops and educational institute… Read More
2016-05-27 04:18
I must sheepishly admit that for a long time, I was ignorant about the culinary delights from the southern state of Tamil Nadu beyond the stand Idly-Dosa-Sambhar fare. I did have the opportu… Read More
2016-05-25 10:56
Namma Calcutta literally means My Calcutta in Kannada, the local language spoken in Bengaluru!! Its been more than a decade since Calcutta shed off its colonial hangover in the name and tran… Read More
2016-05-25 06:36
It is not everyday that you get an invite to try a specially curated breakfast and that too revolving around my favourite Jackfruit !! While most people find this tropical gem messy and smel… Read More
2016-05-06 12:53
Somewhere in in my teens I discovered that Ice Cream was indeed my soul food, something I would relish silently and connect with myself. During a recent trip to Malaysia, as I walked down th… Read More
2016-05-06 07:08
During my recent trip to Malaysia it was all about “Makaan” eating and one thing that intrigued me was “Cendol” that appeared in almost every menu whether street side… Read More
2016-04-23 13:35
Thailand is a favourite destination for Indians looking for a quick holiday by the sea, which comes along with some mouthwatering cuisine, colorful retail therapy which does not dent the poc… Read More
2016-04-22 10:01
A few years ago, I would always plonk in front of the television watching cookery shows and scribbling a few notes to recreate that magic. Later I would read recipes, look at you tube v… Read More
2016-04-09 04:41
Biryani has been a favourite with me for as long as I can remember. It was always a feast food during my early childhood. I would pass by those aromatic biryani stalls in central Calcutta an… Read More
2016-04-05 17:56
It was a warm spring evening in Bangalore and we the Food Bloggers of Bangalore (FBAB) were hosted at Punjabi by Nature off Koramangala to devour some of their signature dishes with the… Read More
2016-04-05 17:56
It was a warm spring evening in Bangalore and we the Food Bloggers of Bangalore (FBAB) were hosted at Punjabi by Nature off Koramangala to devour some of their signature dishes with the… Read More
2016-04-03 15:05
This afternoon a group of us from Food Bloggers Association of Bangalore(FBAB) dropped by at Hunger Meals to sample their home delivery menu on offer. They are currently offering Andhra… Read More
2016-04-02 06:10
What is that one food that everyone irrespective of age just loves!! any time any where, that soul food which is universally appealing. Let the picture do the answering!! We h… Read More
Share the post
Life is a Vacation | Travel, Food, Songs of the Soul…everything that makes a perfect vacation
×
Subscribe to Life Is A Vacation | Travel, Food, Songs Of The Soul…everything That Makes A Perfect Vacation
Get updates delivered right to your inbox!