Sail to Seychelles!!

Published on April 20, 2020June 17, 2020 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Well, it’s tough time ahead of us with the whole world in chaos. I just couldn’t start this blog by plunging into the details of my recent travel, like I usually do. These tough times have made me realise and feel grateful for things that I have been taking granted since past 25 years of my life – The privilege of leading a normal life !!

A moment of silence, for all the lives that were lost and for all those who lost their loved ones in this pandemic!

Moving on to the details of my recent trip to Seychelles, inexplicable beauty would be an understatement to describe it.

As the turquoise blue water on the beach touched my feet while the sun just began to set and filled the sky with gorgeous shades of orange, my mind just calmed down. That moment of peacefulness that nature is capable of creating, is priceless. These small group of islands in Seychelles would be a perfect destination if you want to get away from the hustle and relax in a less crowded place!

Best Time to Visit : November to March

Temperature : It usually varies between 25-30˚C. At times, it might get rainy during the evenings and is sultry too. So, do carry monsoon wear!

We visited three islands in a week – Mahé, Praslin and La Digue!
Mahé is the main island while the rest of them are small islands around it.

Our One Week Travel Itinerary :
Day 1 – Land in Mahé and catch a ferry to La Digue from the Port
Day 2 – Explore the beaches in La Digue
Day 3 – Go to a hike in the morning and head to Praslin by catching the last ferry
Day 4 – Explore beaches or go for diving
Day 5 – Go around the island and explore the sunset points
Day 6 – Head to Mahé by taking the first ferry and drive along the west and south coast roads
Day 7 – Explore Eden island and Victoria Market ; Head to airport in the evening

La Digue

This little island has its own charm with people moving around in cycles since the only mode of transport in La Digue is a bicycle.
Welcome to the good old days with no noise or air pollution and some wonderful beaches to sit back and relax!

It takes around 1.5 hours by ferry to reach La Digue from Mahé.

Accommodation : There are airbnb and hotel options which range from budget-friendly to extremely luxurious. We have stayed at this airbnb which was right on the beach and close to the main market. It was at a good location but the service was below average with a lack of minimum necessities and absolutely, no cleanliness. So, don’t choose that!
Prefer to stay closer to La Passe (the main port area).

Duration of stay : 2 nights

Places To Visit :

Visit Anse Source D’Argent – It is a private beach which is located within L’Union Estate Farm. It is totally isolated and a perfect spot to relax and watch the sun set against that beautiful backdrop.
They charge around 110 SCR for each person(it’s a day pass – you can go out and come back again) and it is totally worth it as there are two beaches- Anse Source D’Argent, Anse Marron along with an artificial habitat created for humungous turtles!

0182785A-1333-48E9-8028-DC775507FE59 — Anse Source D’Argent

Cycle along the coast from La Passe towards Anse Banane via Anse Serene– This route along which you ride your bicycle is amazing! You get to ride along the coast with spectacular views of the island. It is a rough terrain of ~6 km (one way), with steep ups and downs. Plan in such a way that you return before sunset as the path is not so well lit in the night.

Head to Nid D’Aigles – This is a spot on the top of the hill which gives a magnificent view of the entire island and the surrounding islands too! One has to hike for around 2 hrs to reach there. The trail is too steep (be sure you are prepared for that). Starting point would be Belle Vue Restaurant which serves delicious cocktails and food. Sunset is the best time to reach there.
If you don’t want to hike, atleast visit the restaurant for the food and view.

Visit Grand Anse – Those who love sunrises, this is where you need to head to. Extremely clean, isolated and a perfect beach for surfing. The road leading to Grand Anse has a steep terrain, be prepared for it.

Things To Do :

Rent a bicycle – They charged around 150 SCR per cycle right outside ‘Emerald Villa’. However, if you rent it anywhere near La Passe, they would charge around 200 SCR. If you want to save some money, head to Emerald Villa.

Prefer Take-aways – Good restaurants are slightly expensive with each meal costing around 1000 SCR. So, better prefer take-aways which are budget-friendly. Mi Mum’s take-away is a good option

Go to Old Pier Cafe – It is inside L’Union Estate Farm and serves the best sea food and cocktails

Explore the souvenir shops near La Passe (Main Market)

72C72BBD-09A4-440B-B92F-D4B10C1E154F — Cocktails – Old Pier Cafe

Praslin

Praslin, which takes an hour by ferry from Mahé is much more beautiful and is comparatively a huge island than La Digue.

Accommodation : The airbnb options in Praslin are slightly expensive. One can either stay near Grand Anse or Cote D’Or Beach. I would say, prefer Cote D’Or Beach area over the other. We stayed near Grand Anse at this hotel. Hotel hospitality is great but it is too cramped.

Duration of stay : 3 nights

Café Des Arts along Cote D’Or Beach, Praslin

Places To Visit :

Visit Anse Georgette Beach for Sunset – Even though this beach is a public beach, the entry is through Constance Lemuria Resort. Unless you have a reservation with the resort for a visit to this beach, it is difficult to get in (Entry is free). Book in advance as the slots get filled if the demand is high!
This beach is renowned to sport one of best sunsets in the world!
If you are not able to make it to Anse Georgette, then visit Anse Lazio which is along the same coast line.

Head to Zimbabwe Point for Sunset – It is not popular among tourists but is well known to the locals. Hands down, it was the best sunset that I witnessed!

Visit Cote D’Or Beach – This beach has a lively atmosphere and is close to some of the best restaurants and eatery joints. The vibe at this beach is great to relax in the evenings.

Visit Grand Anse for Sunrise

Things To Note :

Go for Scuba Diving – Praslin is the best among the three islands to go for a scuba dive as the waves are not too harsh. We went to dive around St.Pierr’s Island with White Tip Divers . The experience was good for beginners, including the instructions!

Rent A Car – It is highly recommended that you rent a car which costs you around ~40 Euros per day. You can just ask your hotel manager to arrange for one and bargain accordingly. Most of them usually quote the same price.
In case you don’t have a car, each taxi ride would cost you around ~400 SCR. That would be expensive. It is also not advisable to rent a scooty or bike as the terrain doesn’t support it.

Café Des Arts and La Coulue restaurants are good places to have fish cooked in Creole style (Local delicacy) and delicious cocktails. Head to The Nest restaurant for a luxury experience (One needs to make a reservation before heading there – atleast 2 days prior)

Praslin is the only place in the world which produces Coco De Mer, the biggest nut in the world. There are plantations all along the road or you can head to Fond Ferdinand natural reserve park which has Coco De Mer nuts in display open for visitors to see or you can go to Vallee De Mai reserve.
Both of the reserves have good hiking trails too, but I would say, prefer Fond Ferdinand which has an entry fee of 125 SCR compared to Vallee De Mai which charges almost 700 SCR per person. Also, do note the timings of these places. They close early during Sundays.
In case you are not interested in hiking or walking through plantations but want to see the Nut, there is a shop near the ticket counter of Fond Ferdinand where you can see instead of taking a ticket and going inside.

img_6644-1 — Coco De Mer (The Biggest Nut)

Mahé

Mahé is the main island which has one of the best coast lines!

Accommodation : We decided to stay at a luxurious resort in Mahé as it has more such options than the other two islands. We stayed at Banyan Tree for a couple of days. Even though, it is located further south and pretty far from the main city, it had the best hospitality and views of Anse Intendance. You can look for airbnb’s or hotels which are budget friendly!

Duration of stay : 2 nights

Things to Do :

Visit Anse Intendance and Beau Vallon beach for sunset

Drive along west coast road during sunset – I promise you, it will be the best ride!
The La Misere view point on the way to west coast road from main market gives good panoramic view of all the sister islands

Explore Eden Island which is a man-made island close to Mahé. The port area next to the Eden Island mall is good for a dinner or lunch as it has a good view.

Even though many suggest to visit Victoria Market, I didn’t find it exciting enough! It’s a cramped market for fruits and vegetables.

Breakfast overlooking Anse Intendance Beach!!

Travel Tips :

Currency – Carry Euros or USD and later exchange for SCR, either at airport or at exchange places near Victoria Market. Don’t convert a lot of currency into SCR as most of the places accept Euros or USD. Prefer to convert currency at Mahé rather than any other smaller island.

Book your ferry rides – Make a prior online reservation to take a ferry from Mahé to La Digue or Praslin as it is not easy to get a reservation on spot(~60$ per person). It costs you around ~500 SCR by taxi from airport to port.
In case of return ferry rides from Praslin to La Digue or vice-versa, you can go to the port at-least 30 min before the schedule and book the seat on spot.
However, in case of ferry ride from any island to Mahé, book atleast a day prior. You can directly go to the port and book it, if the online bookings are closed

Prefer local sim card : “Cable & Wireless” – You can get one with ~6 GB internet for 7 days. It costs around 500 SCR and you can get one at the airport. You can recharge again at grocery stores, if you need to.

Car Rentals – In case you are renting a car in Mahé or Praslin, ensure that you ask them to keep the pick up and drop at the port itself. This saves the money that you need to pay for the taxi to reach hotel which is around 300-600 SCR depending on the distance.

In case of La Digue, there are buggies which can take you from port to hotel and vice-versa, they charge you around ~150-200 SCR for ~1-2 km. If you can’t cycle, then take the contact of any buggy driver and be in touch with him for your visits inside the island.

Food – It’s mostly Creole cuisine which is an amazing option for sea-food lovers. However, a good meal for two people would easily cost you around 1000 SCR at a decent restaurant. You can prefer take-aways in case you are looking for budget-friendly options.

Feel free to ping me on my Instagram or email me for any more travel tips or doubts 😀

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Photos by Satwik Kodangal Varala

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Previous post : Vegas To New York

Vegas To New York

Published on November 10, 2019November 11, 2019 by Lavanya Pulijala3 Comments

Where do I start from?
The Casinos or the SkyScrapers!!
The Gambling City or the City that Never Sleeps!!
Las Vegas or New York!!

Everything about both the cities is completely different with each one having it’s own charm.The never ending world of casinos where time has no value with that delusion of coming closer to deep pockets!
On the other hand, New York , a concrete jungle with people constantly hustling all along the day!

My trip to both Vegas and New York are short two day trips. This blog would definitely help you get an idea about the places to explore, if you are a first time visitor and if you have less time on hand.

Let’s just start with travel tips for each of these cities!

Las Vegas

Temperature : Around 40-43 C (In August)
Well, It’s a desert, what else can you expect!

Accommodation : We stayed at The Venetian Resort. We chose weekdays for Vegas as the otherwise expensive luxurious accomodation seemed affordable (especially, plan it during the weekdays just before a long weekend – you would end up getting great deals)

For those of you who aren’t aware about this casino world, Vegas has numerous hotels/resorts which have casinos and clubs of their own which are open for the visitors. It’s totally up to you about how many you would like to visit and explore. I will let you know the main ones in this blog

Things To Do:

Walk along The Strip – It’s the main street of Vegas where all the action happens. Sprawling with casinos, resorts, strip clubs, and a lot more, this street should be the first place you should visit to get the actual vibe of the place (preferably in the night). It looks spectacular in the night with all those brightly lit buildings.

Explore The Venetian and Caesers Palace – These are two exquisite resorts with Italian and Roman themed architecture respectively. Both of them are open for visitors to roam around, shop and gamble. Both of them host one of the biggest casinos, luxury brands outlet stores and some decent restaurants.

Watch the Bellagio Fountain Show – It is an incredible 15 min fountain show where the fountain movement is choreographed with light and music. It usually starts at 8 pm and goes on till midnight (Do check the timings as it might vary for weekdays and weekends)

Experience Night Clubs and Strip Clubs – The Night Club experience is particularly different in Vegas. Few popular ones are Omnia, Marquee and XS. The strip clubs in Vegas are famous too. You can try them if you are interested

Watch the Volcano Show at Mirage – This is one more fountain show which gives the illusion of a volcanic eruption with light and fire, along with choreographed movement of it with music. It is a 5 min show which happens daily at 7 pm/8pm/9 pm.

Explore Vegas Shows – Cirque du Soleil is one of the popular shows in Vegas. I couldn’t find a show during my visit. If you do get a chance, try that. There are many other shows that one could see. (Entry Charge is slightly expensive for this show – around 100$)

Try Daiquiri – It’s a cocktail where you can mix the flavours of your choice. There are many stores on the strip which offer these. Fat Tuesday’s daiquiri is one of the popular ones.

Travel Tips :

Good night clubs usually has an entry charge which is almost like 100$. You can avoid that by getting on to the guest list in advance for a specific night club (Google about guest list for a club — you will find lot of links to submit your name). Only disadvantage of guest list is that you need to be there by 8/9 pm which I feel is a decent tradeoff for 100$

Plan your vacation in Vegas during weekdays when the accomodation charges are almost 1/4th the price during weekends

Be there for the fountain shows at-least 15 min before the show timing so that you have some space to view it, before the crowd steps in.

New York

Temperature : Around 15-20 C (In September)
It was raining heavily too on one day (So, plan for some winter and monsoon wear if you plan to visit around the same time)

Accommodation : I stayed at my cousin’s place. Accomodation in NYC is expensive enough. If you are a budget traveller like me, try couch surfing or staying at New Jersey or Brooklyn (which have decent travel access to NYC).

Places to Visit:

Screen Shot 2019-11-10 at 6.15.33 PM.png — Times Square

Times Square – Of course, who misses to visit the Time Square if you are visiting NYC. The huge digital banners changing all the time, the artists and the crowd is what makes Time Square the place it is! It is definitely different and entertaining to spend your evenings around here.

Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo – I personally loved the view from Dumbo which is on the other side of Hudson river giving the entire view of NYC. I found Brooklyn Bridge to be a little overhyped but the view from there is decent 🙂

Empire State Building – Checking out the panoramic view of the city from the 84th floor of Empire State Building should be on your list. I visited the place in the morning but it would be much more beautiful if you can visit once the sun sets. It is open till 2 am in the morning. Entry fee is around 35$ to go to the deck

Financial District – World Trade Center, Wall Street : The area around WTC is where the twin towers of NYC were! If you are interested, there is a museum about the twin towers and the tragic event.

Apart from this, the streets around WTC have great wall art, and good food options. One can just walk around to explore the place

Fifth Avenue – It’s a street for luxury shopping. If you are into it, this is the best place as it has a wide range of designs

Central Park – Don’t miss this if you have time. (I couldn’t Saving it for the next time)
I happened to visit Bryant Park, which is a pretty little park that has decent cafes to hang around.

Also, Statue of Liberty was last on my list as it didn’t seem interesting to me except the ride on Hudson river till the island.

Travel Tips :

Internal transport in NY is one of the best in USA. I personally used the metro to travel, with each ride costing around 2.75$. There is bus transport available too.

I would say, NY is beautiful in the night. So, if possible, explore the city in the night rather than mornings

Try veg pizza at Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, cup cakes at Melissa Bakery (Being lactose intolerant has knocked me out of the option to try the pizza but do try, if you can). The cupcakes were decent enough, even though not so extraordinary

Go to a one of those famous NY broadway shows. The prices vary depending on the show. Do check the availability and plan in advance.

NY2 — From 78th Floor of Empire State Building

I hardly had two days in New York.With rain ruining my plans for one complete day, there is lot that I could not explore. Saving the rest for the next time!

I hope you find it useful if you are planning to visit Vegas or New York 🙂

Feel free to ping me on my Instagram or email me for any more travel tips or doubts 😀

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Photos by Satwik Varala

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Previous post : A Californian Experience Through My Lens : 10 Must Visit Places In And Around San Francisco

Black Bell Bottoms : Shein |White Top : Shein|White Blazer, White Mules, Olive Jacket, Beige Skirt, Black Top, Box Bag : Zara |White Shoes : Nike

Travel Tales of Belgium

Published on November 18, 2018November 19, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

While most of my trips are usually restricted to exploring places rather than food, this Belgium trip was more about food than places. Who would not want to taste those extremely soft waffles topped with some heavenly whipped cream and strawberries, or who wouldn’t want to relish the widely renowned Belgian chocolates and fries, and not to forget the wide variety of Belgian beers that are available!!

By the way, this is in continuation to my previous blog on Amsterdam which was my first destination in the backpacking trip. From Netherlands, we headed to Bruges followed by Brussels in Belgium.

Let me just jump into the details now 🙂

WhatsApp Image 2018-11-18 at 5.36.11 PM-2 — **Bruges, Belgium**

Bruges

Also known as ‘Venice of North’, this little town on the countryside of Belgium is widely known for its medieval homes, cobble-stoned streets with horse carriages roaming around and small canals lined with colorful dutch houses and filled with in-numerous white swans. The moment you see those streets and houses, I can guarantee you that it will just take you back in time. It feels like a fairy tale!!

( A must-visit place if you are planning to visit any nearby major cities. If you are visiting Brussels, then it’s just a 2 hr travel to reach this place and most of the tourists visit this place for a day tour)

Duration of Visit : 2 nights and 2 days

Temperature : 10-15 C (Visited in Mid-October. Warm clothes recommended as the place is windy)

Accommodation : We stayed at an airbnb in Hertsberge, Bruges which is 14 km away from the Bruges city centre. We choose this place as it had the best reviews and undoubtedly, our host was extremely cordial and the airbnb was too good. The only drawback is the location which is quite far off from the city and the lack of good internal public transport in the city makes it difficult unless you have a personal vehicle.

Main Places to Visit:

Belfry – It is the clocktower in the main market square of Bruges where you can take the stairs to go to the top of the tower. It gives a panoramic view of the entire city, sunset is usually good. Charges per person are around 10 euros but if you are below 25, there is a discount.

Markt – The main market square of Bruges where you get to see the horse carriages and the colourful medieval buildings along with the city hall.

Walplein Square – This is my most favourite spot in Bruges. It truly takes you back to 1900’s. It is a quaint little square with horse carriages and a canal filled with swans all the time. One can just sit back and relax.

Minnewater park – The castle in the minnewater park which is just by the lake is a visual retreat to anyone.

Begijnhuisje (Ten Wijngaerde) is a preserved beguinage (UNESCO World Heritage Site). I personally didn’t find it interesting. If you want to visit this place, visit before 5 pm and it is near Walplein.
We visited Church of Old Lady as well but didn’t find anything very special about it. It was similar to many other churches.

IMG_0609-2 — **View from the top of Belfry**

IMG_20181018_165316-2 — **Belfry of Bruges**

IMG_0757-2 — **Castle of Minnewater Park**

Things To Do :

Canal Boat Tour – Though it was not as good as Amsterdam, Bruges canal tour is interesting in terms of the very tiny canals that it has, and the beautiful houses. Costs around 8-10 Euro per person and is not more than 30 min. We choose Canal Boat Tours , the experience with them was just average (Guide was speaking Dutch, so it was difficult to understand)

Walk on the streets near Walplein – Noordstraat and Mariastraat are some good streets. Best way to explore Bruges is by walking around and since it is a small town, it is not so tiring to cover it by walking.

Try waffles at Chez Albert .The plain waffle is just too delicious.

Try Belgian fries at Chez Vincent

Try strawberries dipped in chocolate

If you are into berries, this place has really good berries

Belgium is famous for Lace as well. However, I found it expensive than India.

The only travel tip that I would suggest for Bruges is that, walking in the city is the best way to explore it.

WhatsApp Image 2018-11-18 at 5.40.05 PM — **Belgian** **Fries** **With** **Tender** **Chicken**

IMG_20181019_184332_Bokeh — Strawberries dipped in Chocolate

Brussels

Brussels has a busy city vibe with people hustling around. I didn’t find it interesting as a place, as I am inclined towards nature-centric or less-crowded places. However, one has to visit this place atleast for the chocolates, waffles, beers and fries.

Duration of Visit : 2 nights and 2 days

Temperature : 10-15 C (Visited in Mid-October. Warm clothes recommended as the place is windy)

Accommodation : We stayed at an airbnb right next to Manneken pis, which is just a 2 min walk to the Grand Place of Brussels (Main City Centre). It was a comfortable stay and it was very close to all the main locations of the city.

There are a lots of trains and buses running from Bruges to Brussels and vice versa (Also, you can get a train ticket at half the price if you are below 26). The journey is ~2 hrs.

WhatsApp Image 2018-11-18 at 10.48.08 PM — **Streets of Brussels**

Main Places to Visit:

Grand Place – It is a square in the centre of the city which is surrounded by age-old buildings with spell-bound architecture. Do visit this place in the night once all the buildings are well-lit and the vibe couldn’t be missed in the night!!

Place Poelaert – It is a place suggested by my friend and which is not so popular but has an amazing view of the city. Visit during sunset for the best experience.

Sablon – This is a peaceful and less crowded locality in Brussels with good restaurants around. Walk to explore this place.

Mont De Arts – It is a good place away from the hustle and bustle of Grand place with a view of the highest tower of Grand Place buildings. The view is good and if you want to chill and relax for some time, it’s a good place

We also visited Royal Palace of Brussels which was a good masterpiece of architecture. However, we couldn’t cover the European Parliament area (Do visit if you have time) and Atomium ( We didn’t find it interesting)

Things To Do :

Visit Delirium Cafe which serves almost 2000 types of brewed beers (If you are into beer, this should be on your list)

Taste desserts at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Expect long queues and these desserts are slightly on the sweeter side. If you are into dark chocolates and don’t like too much sugar, it is not a place for you. But, it also serves amazing chocolate buns and croissants

Taste waffles at Waffle factory. Slightly expensive but I loved the whipped cream over there 😛 ( But I loved Bruges waffles more)

Taste fries at Fritland. They are really good and the sauce is something special which adds to the taste

Go to Rue Neuve for shopping. It almost has all the brands covered. Ensure you don’t plan it on Sunday as shops are usually closed on Sunday. Also, on weekdays, the stores get closed by 7 pm. Plan accordingly.

For more general Europe travel tips, visit my previous blog post.

I hope you find it useful if you are planning to visit Brussels or Bruges 🙂

Feel free to ping me on my Instagram or email me for any more travel tips or doubts 😀

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5 Things To Do In South Goa

Published on February 20, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Sun-soaked skin, salty hair, fresh air, breath-taking sunsets, isolated beaches, beach walks, tired bodies, energized souls, tan lines, delicious food, long drives, lush green trees, pretty little alleys, cozy cafes with slow jazz, unexplored paths, interesting people, old memories, deep conversations and refreshed minds.

This sums up my recent trip to South Goa 🙂

It was a 3-day short trip but we managed to explore 4 beaches 😀

Here I go with the details of my trip :

Accommodation

Patrice’s Villa – We booked this place in Airbnb and it is more like a homestay than a regular hotel. Since this trip was mostly like a get-together, we preferred an Airbnb. It is well maintained by a foreigner. The place is close to the beaches – almost like 500 m from Canacona beach and 2 km from Palolem beach. Everything was fine with the villa except the dim light in the house and frequent electricity fluctuation which was a major downside

5 Things To Do In South Goa

1. Visit Galgibag Beach

It is the best beach that I have been to in India, other than the Andaman beaches ( If you haven’t read my Andaman travel story- Here it is ). It’s almost around 10 km from Palolem further down south. It is a perfect place to just sit and let your thoughts flow 🙂

You can hardly find anyone on the beach and there are no beach shacks. It is not yet commercialized and hence, the clear water and unpolluted atmosphere. Would definitely be my go-to place the next time too 🙂

This beach is known for turtles but we couldn’t spot any 😐

Also, there are narrow alleys near the beach which are more than perfect for a peaceful walk 😀

2. A Long Drive To Talpona Beach

Talpona beach is a very small stretch of beach compared to Galgibag and it comes right on the way to Galgibag. The ride to this beach is refreshing with isolated lanes lined up with tall trees and bridges over narrow creeks.

3. Taste the Goan food

If you are a sea food lover, you have to try out Dropadi beach restaurant in Palolem . It also serves good cocktails 🙂

If you want to experience the Goan atmosphere and some good jazz, drop by Jaali Cafe near Patnem Beach or Siyaram’s on Palolem Beach.

4. Attend a Silent Disco Party

I am not quite sure if these parties are held in North Goa but Neptune’s Point on Palolem beach hosts a silent disco party every Saturday.

Wear that wireless headset and move your feet to the tune while the rest would be enjoying the silence 🙂 It would be a completely different experience.

5. Finally, Explore Shopping at Palolem

Unlike the usual shopping experience at Anjuna flea market or any of the North Goa beaches where you mostly find beach clothes, Palolem streets offer a wide variety of handmade knick-knacks for home decor. I stocked upon some cloth lamps, hand woven storage boxes, tassel key-chains and bamboo accessories. There are good dream catchers too 🙂

Don’t forget to bargain 😀

Canacona is also one beach that we have been to. It is more of a rocky beach with a beautiful view and less noise. You can even try Patnem which is close to Palolem. Agonda is also one more popular beaches in South Goa.

Honestly, there are good beaches if you could travel further down towards South from Palolem. We had limited time so we were able to explore only few beaches. If you do have time, explore the place as much as you can.

Always, explore the unexplored paths !!

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Weekend Getaway To Guhagar

Published on January 31, 2018February 16, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala2 Comments

If you are staying in Mumbai/Pune and would like to quickly escape to a less crowded beach and a good resort for a weekend, then this post would help you plan one 🙂

We wanted to just chill and relax at any place with a clean and isolated beach for two days and also, wanted to explore beaches other than Goa.

We started exploring the places along the Konkan Coast and finding resorts along the coast. We were not intent on travelling a long distance ( not more than 300 km from Mumbai).

Accommodation

Mango Village Resort

The resort had villas spread over a huge arena. It was secluded from the hustle and bustle of the city and it was exactly what we were yearning for – a quiet and relaxing place.

You should definitely try this resort if you are planning to explore this place.

Travel

If you are in Mumbai/ Pune, a long car drive would be the best way to reach this place.

Chiplun is one of the major cities near Guhagar- Trains heading towards Goa stop at Chiplun and there are also a lot of MSRTC buses which can get you to Chiplun from Pune/ Mumbai. There are local buses/ taxis which can take you from Chiplun to Guhagar.

We preferred travelling by car over train/ bus just so that we could enjoy the route as per our convenience.

Guhagar – Places To Visit

Guhagar beach is the main attraction and it is completely worth to visit this place to chill. A continuous stretch of tall trees guarding a beach is a perfect visual retreat.

It’s a pretty small village and hence, a walk through the peaceful little lanes would be enought to explore this place.

We limited ourselves to exploring the resort and beach as we wanted to have a lazy and relaxing weekend instead of hopping around a lot 😛

Hope this helps 😀

DM on my Instagram if you need detailed information.

Skort & Skirt : Zara | Tops : Shein | Mules : Koovs | Maxi & Tops & Shades : Shein | Hoops : Colaba Causeway

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A Letter To The Society

Published on January 6, 2018January 6, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala6 Comments

This is going to be a post which is very personal to me and which is described entirely based on my own perspective. Hope you like it 🙂

Dear Society,

Who decides your rules?

Who does your moral policing?

Is it those who support modernization or is it the bunch of people who are still stuck in the zone where they are not able to accept any change?

Is it those who consider wearing a crop-top a sin while wearing a saree is decent even though the extent of exposure is same!!!?

Is it those who rip us naked with their looks in case they found us wearing something below the knees?

(Omg!! You need to take care of your clothes such that those people don’t comment about you!!

Oh yeah!! Why not wear a Burkha that covers you all-over? Oh no!! If you have a bigger bust, then even that would not help !! Chuck-it, you just need to ignore or probably get used to those creepy looks!! )

Coming back to those people who design the moral policing for our beloved society,

Is it those who look down on an unmarried 30-yr old happy independent woman?

Is it those who start pestering parents to get a ladka for their beti as soon as she graduates?

Is it those who judge a woman’s character by the length of her dress?

Is it those who are completely fine with a guy wearing a boxer and walking on the street but who are, at the same time, not fine with a girl doing that?

Is it those who try to curb the enthusisasm of an ambitious woman?

Is it those who try to silence the voice of any outspoken woman who is trying to fight for her rights?

Is it those who judge a woman’s character if she smokes or drinks?

Is it those who make it difficult for anyone to take up any offbeat profession?

(You know, there are too many people offering you free advices!! They find interest in what you are up to than thinking about how to improve themselves!! )

Is it those who blindly assume that a girl has to compromise with her interests when she is getting married?

Is it those who feel that the guy is doing a favour to the girl while marrying by accepting huge amount of dowry?

I don’t understand the extent to which these people dictate society moral policing. Even though, there are a really brilliant set of people trying to change the perspective of this society, it is only these ill-minded people who have a larger voice in declaring what is morally right and what is absolutely wrong.

Can we change this for good?

Yours Lovingly,

A Woman who strives to stand out in the mad crowd!!

These might seem like an everyday thing and many of you might be ignoring it. But, for me, as a person who found passion in fashion blogging (an interest which is significantly different from what people do in the society my parents live in), it is really getting frustrating to think about my moves just because my parents think that my so-called well wishers open my blog / FB / Instagram and start cribbing behind my back about my clothes rather than directly questioning me.

So, to all such people who pretend to be my well-wishers rather than being one in reality, if you are reading this post, an advice may be – I guess you have a better life to deal with!! Invest time wisely, more for yourselves and probably less for others 🙂

And to all other lovely people, a sincere thanks for believing in my work. I promise to deliver much more inspiring content in fashion, travel and life 🙂

The support you guys keep showing me, could be in terms of the messages you send or the comments or likes, that’s what keep my passion and me going. Even though, I couldn’t thank you personally, I genuinely feel so grateful for your love.

If you are someone who support my thoughts or fashion or travel, do show your love by following me on Instagram if you are Instagram-friendly like me 😀 or on Facebook or may be on blog via email 🙂

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120 Hours In Delhi, Agra, Amritsar

Published on November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Architectural marvels speaking history, halls of fame, tombs that made a mark in the world, the local traditions, and last but not the least, the food – All of these in just 120 hrs.

It’s definitely not a relaxed trip as we had a time constraint. Our focus remained only on the must-visit places in Delhi, Amritsar and Agra. So, if you are looking for something similar, then this might be helpful 🙂

Brief Itinerary

It was a 9 day trip including Jaipur. As mentioned in my previous blog, we stayed for almost 4 days in Jaipur and the rest was in Delhi, Agra and Amritsar.

Delhi > Agra > Jaipur > Delhi > Amritsar > Delhi

You could also plan a different route, given the same 5 day constraint. This majorly includes Delhi > Dehradun-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Jim Corbett > Delhi

We stuck to Amritsar as we had Wagah border on our priority list 🙂

Places to visit in 120 Hrs

Amritsar

It’s a place welcomed by the Sikhs, Gurudwars, and good food. One day would be enough to explore the main places in Amritsar.

Travel

One night travel from Delhi ( ~700 km)

Places to visit

Wagah Border

Adrenaline rush that you tend to have after you watch the popular evening parade at this India-Pakistan border is commendable. If you are in Amritsar, this can’t be missed. It’s just around 30 min drive from the city and totally worth the visit.

Also, make sure you reach there at-least by 3 pm if you want to witness the 5 pm parade so that you won’t be lost in the crowd.

India-Pakistan Border

Evening ParadeIndia and Pakistan Gates at the Wagah-Attari Border

As the dusk sets in, flags flaunt their beauty

Golden Temple

A Gurudwar that stands amidst a huge pool of water is a architectural masterpiece and a pristine pilgrimage. If you can manage to visit this place in the night (open till 10 pm), you get to see the place flaunting all its glory in the form of lights.

Golden Temple Entrance

A Closer View of the Golden Temple

Golden Temple

Jallianwala bagh

Though I couldn’t manage to visit this place as my train reached Amritsar almost 6 hrs late (Indian Railways – Never Trust them ) , you need to visit this place to see the terrifying remains (bullet marks on the wall) of the 1919 massacre.

Agra

Hosting one of the seven wonders of the world, this place attracts many tourists. This was 1 day trip but it turned out to be too hectic. If you are not ready to such a vigorous day, plan your stay in Agra.

Travel

It’s a 5 hr drive from Delhi and there are few places you can visit on your way to Agra. We headed to Jaipur after visiting Agra. Ensure that you start super early from Delhi if you want to cover these in a day.

Places to Visit

Vrindavan

Known as the place where Lord Krishna spend his childhood, this place has a unique vibe attracting not only Indian devotees but also foreigners across the world. This would be right on your way to Agra from Delhi.

Visit the renowned Banke Bihari temple and also, if you are a foodie, do check out the food stalls in the temple street which sell delicious milk sweets.

This place looks best during Holi (mid-March) . If you are planning to stay in Agra and interested in exploring temples, then do visit Nandagaon and Govardhan.

Mathura

Known to be the birth place of Krishna, this is another holy temple which you could visit on your way. Don’t forget to taste Rabdi and Lassi in Mathura 🙂

Agra

Renowned for the impeccable beauty – Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal

North Gate of Taj Mahal

Fatehpur Sikri

This is around 36 km from Agra and flaunts the most magnificent sand-stone structures with a blend of Mughal and Hindu architecture.

Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and the Royal palace are the places to cover here.

Fatehpur Sikri

Ornate Doorways

Buland Darwaza ( with my parents 🙂

Buland Darwaza

Delhi

This has to be atleast a trip for 3 days as there are way too many historical places to visit in Delhi. Considering the Delhi traffic, you might want to relax a bit and consider adding one more day and make it a 4 day trip.

Red fort

Frankly, this is something which you can just view it from outside instead of venturing in as I couldn’t find much to explore after I entered inside.

Red fort ( Outside View )

Red fort ( Inside Gate View )

Jama Masjid

This is right opposite Red fort and both of these could be visited in the same day.

Jama Masjid

Paranthe wali gali

If you want to satisfy your hunger with some delicious mouth-watering paranthas, then this street which is close to Red fort needs to be visited

Qutub Minar

I initially had a feeling that this place is not so great in terms of architecture as per the pictures that I saw. However, all my assumptions are busted when I saw the intricate details of the red-stone inscriptions on the monument. Definitely, a must visit.

Qutub Minar – A Blend of Mughal and Hindu ArchitectureQutub Minar – A Blend of Mughal and Hindu Architecture

Humayun’s Tomb

Another Mughal architecture marvel

Humayun’s Tomb

India Gate

The view of the road connecting India gate and Rastrapathi Bhavan is something which I loved.

India Gate

Rashtrapati Bhavan

If you want to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan , you can book your tickets online and this is the link which includes all the details about it 🙂

Akshardham Temple

It is more like an experience rather than a temple. The detailed stone carvings of the current era, the laser show and the puppet shows (used to describe the history of Lord Swaminarayan) leave you amazed.

Also, though this is a picturesque place, this is a no photography place 😦

Tips

Most of these monuments have one holiday during the week. Plan accordingly or else you end up wasting your time
You will be surrounded by many tourist guides saying that they will show you around and explain the history. Not all of them are genuine and not all places require one.So choose one if required
If you are travelling in Delhi, travelling by Metro would be the best choice considering the crazy traffic and pollution

You can plan your stay in Delhi for all the 5 days so that it would be easy for you to travel to Amritsar / Agra.

Hope you enjoyed reading it 🙂

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Photos by Durga Pulijala (Mom 😀 )

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Previous post : 10 Things To Do In And Around Jaipur

10 Things To Do In And Around Jaipur

Published on October 28, 2017December 22, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Camels decked up in beautiful colors, streets beaming with homes resembling the palace architecture, women clad in colorful sarees with a ghungat (a veil worn to cover the face), men flaunting their multi-color turbans and of course, the scorching heat – If you have experienced all of these, you are definitely in Rajasthan.

We didn’t have enough time to explore Rajasthan completely. So, we thought we would be doing two different trips. One is the short one- includes Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar and the other includes Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaiselmer. The first one is done in this trip and I would be planning my second one sometime next year.

Since many of you requested for this trip details on my Instagram, here I go with all the details and the things to do 😀

Accommodation

I was exploring Booking.com and found this cute little homestay, Magpie Villa which was right in the center of Jaipur .We stayed in Jaipur for 3 days. There are also good number of luxurious options available in Jaipur.

Budget options : Magpie Villa , Umaid Bhawan

Luxurious : Rambagh Palace

10 Things To Do In And Around Jaipur

1. Visit Amer Palace and City Palace, Jaipur

City palace is the current residence of the royal family which is in Jaipur whereas Amer Palace is the age-old residence of the royal family when Amer used to be the capital of the state.

These two palaces are a must-visit to see the architecture and mind blowing facilities that the royal family had, back in 16th century.

Amer fort

City Palace

2. Don’t forget the elephant ride in Amer fort, Jaipur

There are two ways get to the top of the Amer fort – elephant ride and vehicles. Elephant safari is something which you need to try here.

Amer fort

3. Visit Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur

This fort which is situated on the top of a hill will give you an entire view of the city. This fort has a completely different architecture compared to the other forts in Jaipur. While most of the forts have intricate stone carvings, this portrays detailed paintings as well.

Nahargarh fort

4. Shopping in the streets near Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Silver and Gem Jewellery is something which I loved about this market.

Hawa Mahal (It’s just a wall – No palace, as the name says it)

5. Taste Pyaas Kachori and Raj Kachori in Jaipur

These are really popular in Jaipur. You can snap a quick break in LMB near Hawa Mahal to taste these. If you are person with sweet tooth, then you would be enjoying the food even more 🙂

Raj Kachori

6. Camel Ride and Rajasthani women dressing in Pushkar

Pushkar is my favorite part of the trip. You can actually witness a bit of the actual desert atmosphere in Pushkar. Since we went just before the Pushkar Camel Mela was about to start, we could see the preparations in full swing.

Also, you can try dressing up like a local for which they usually charge 100-200 bucks per person. Camel riders usually takes you to this place if you ask him 🙂

Pushkar ( That’s me 😀 )

7. Visit the Brahma temple and Pushkar Lake in Pushkar

This is the only temple which is built for Brahma in the world. More than the temple, I liked the Pushkar lake which is just close to the temple.

8. Shopping in Pushkar Streets

This is one more thing which I loved the most in Pushkar. Home decor and camel leather bags are the best here. I stocked up quite a lot of stuff here. Personally, I found Pushkar shopping much better and cheaper than Jaipur.

Local Women In Pushkar Market

Crockery in Pushkar Market

9. Take the rope-way to reach the Savitri Temple, Pushkar

More than the temple, rope-way gives a view of entire Pushkar.

10. Visit the Ajmer Darga

Ajmer was on my list mostly because of the Darga, which is extremely popular. Be prepared to witness some insane crowd 😛

PS : This Darga didn’t really appeal to me as I found it as a place where you find few locals looting money from the devotees in the name of the god (especially if you are an outsider).I personally experienced it.This is not only the case in this Darga but also, many of the temples that I have visited in recent times.

Other than that, Darga was good 🙂 If you are a foodie, then the streets outside Darga need to be explored 😀

Entrance to the Darga

Tips

Carry a scarf / hat to protect yourself from the sun. Otherwise, you are going to see 50 shades of tan 😛
Bargain a lot if you are shopping in Jaipur. Since many foreigners visit these stores, they hike up the prices (Ask for 40% of the price)
For camel ride in Pushkar, you can find one place where all the camels are present just near Savitri temple. However, those are a bit expensive. Bargain or you can find a cheaper option if could spot any camel on the road which is not in any group
Shorts are not allowed in most of these temples and Dargas. So, dress accordingly
Opt for tourist guides only for City palace and Amer fort. Other places don’t require one

That’s it for this blog, DM me on Instagram or email me on lavanyapulijala7@gmail.com for anymore details.

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Photos by Durga Pulijala (Mom 😀 )

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