Travel Guide To Paris and Barcelona

Published on December 2, 2018December 2, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala2 Comments

An Artist Has No Better Home Than Paris In Europe

This would be an enough hint to guess about my next destination after Belgium. It’s Paris!!

Well, I heard a lot of mixed reviews about Paris before heading there, some were of the opinion that it is too overhyped while some said that the city is truly a ‘city of love’ !!
I also met a few people who stayed at Paris for few months and they absolutely loved the city and they usually say that, the vibe couldn’t be matched with any other city in Europe!!

With the kind of expectations that I had about Paris, this city didn’t disappoint me with the kind of art it embodies but the Parisians really turned out to be averse to welcoming or helping tourists. This is something which I have not noticed in any other European city so far, except Paris. It is a tad bit disappointing in that aspect.

The last and final destination of this trip after Paris was Barcelona and this turned out to be my second visit to Barca!! So, I am not going to get into detailed travel tips about it. You can check out my old post about Barcelona!! (Well, I visited Barca again because we had a company off-site in Barca for 4 days !! )

Let’s dive in to the trip details now 😀

Paris

Duration of Visit : 2 nights and 2 days

Temperature : 8-10 C (Visited in Mid-October. Warm clothes are recommended as the place is windy)

Accommodation : We stayed at a cute little studio apartment (airbnb) in Paris. It was a good stay and the place is not more than 3-5km from all the major touristy spots.

The way we explored Paris was more touristy than the actual local experience. We eventually found that 2 days is not enough to explore this place. I am definitely going again to explore it properly. If you are planning to visit Paris, plan for at-least 4 days so that you can leisurely explore the place.

Main Places to Visit:

Eiffel Tower – Of course, one can’t miss this beauty. Though, initially I expected that Eiffel tower would be uninteresting, I absolutely loved it when I saw it!! The magnanimous structure standing out in the city is a true visual retreat. Entrance fee is almost half for anyone below 25 yrs. Don’t forget to mention it at counter, if it applies for you.

Arc de Triomphe – The view of Paris from the top of Arc de Triomphe is magnificent!! I personally loved the view from here rather than the view from the top of Eiffel tower!! It is free entry for anyone below 26 yrs.

Louvre Museum – This is one of the the top most recommended places of Paris but we ended up visiting on Tuesday which is an official holiday for Louvre. So, plan your schedule accordingly. We missed it this time!!

Notre-Dame De Paris – It is a beautiful architectural masterpiece which is bound to mesmerise you!! It is all about the glass painted interiors , stunning exteriors, and the French gothic architecture.

Montmartre or Sacré-Cœur – One of my friends recommended this place for the stunning view of the city. We visited this place in the night and it did have a good view of the city. I would recommend to visit this place in daylight as the surrounding areas are usually unsafe in terms of robbery.

IMG_0888-002 — **View from Arc De Triomphe**

IMG_1505 (1) copy-001 — **Eiffel Tower In The Night**

Things To Do :

Visit Eiffel tower in the daylight and also, once the sun sets!! Especially, don’t miss the flickering lights show of Eiffel Tower which happens every hour after the sun sets till 11 pm.

Walk along Champs-Élysées where you get to see all the high street brands. One should experience that atmosphere if you are into fashion. Also, Paris has a lot to offer in terms of street fashion!! So much to learn- I wish I could stay in the city just to learn about Fashion

Don’t forget to taste those yummy french crepes

Not to forget, the famous macarons and the french wine
(I personally didn’t like macarons though!! )

Travel Tips for Paris :

If you are below 25 years, you would be getting discount in entry fee at almost all historical locations

Paris is comparatively expensive than most other cities in Europe. So, plan accordingly

Shopoholics, ensure that you have at-least a day to explore the shopping streets. Do note that they close by 7-8 pm

Don’t stay far off the city as travelling is a bit expensive. We have tried “Chauffeur Prive” app in Paris which offered 5 euros discount on each of first six rides. You can try that!!

IMG_0805-002 — **Bridges and Canals of Paris**

Barcelona

I am including only the new places that I visited and found interesting this time. Do check out my previous post for more detailed Barcelona travel tips.

Duration of Visit : 2 nights and 2 days

Temperature : 20-25 C (Visited towards the end of October. Might require a jacket during the night)

Accommodation : Le Meridian, La Rambla.
It is located right in La Ramblas, the famous street of Barcelona. All major locations are not more than 1 or 2 km from the hotel. However, this 5 start hotel didn’t provide service that matches up to the 5 star standards.

Newly Explored Places:

La Boqueria – It is the biggest market in Barcelona which has shops selling all different kinds of fruits, vegetables, sea food, chocolates and what not!! If you are a foodie or a grocery-shopping enthusiast like me, you should not miss this place. You will discover many new food items.

Streets of Gothic Quarters – The ancient vibe of gothic quarters in its narrow lanes and the small little squares is something one can’t miss. And, if you are looking for some vintage shopping, this is where you need to go. Carrer del Duc,Carrer de Retrizol, and Carrer de Bisbe are some streets which I loved.

Camp Nou – We watched a FCB Vs Inter Milan match at this Stadium. The vibe and energy in the stadium is commendable. A Life time experience!!
Even though, you are not a football enthusiast, I would recommend you to watch a match if possible or visit the stadium.

Montserrat Monastery in Barcelona – It is famous for a monastery located on the top of one of the hills of Montserrat mountain range. However, I found the journey and the view from the top much more beautiful. It is a 40 min train from Barcelona city. You could do a day trip. The mountain range looks incredible when you are going to the monastery.

Torres Vineyard – We went on a vineyard tour which was interesting to a certain extent in terms of understanding about the wine making process and also, the wine tasting session. Ping me on Instagram if you want to know more details about it.

IMG_1616 (1) copy-001 — **Different type of Mushrooms at La Boqueria**

IMG_1737 (1) copy-001 — **Torres Vineyard**

Shopping Tips in Barcelona :

Zara and Mango are cheaper than India as these companies have main manufacturing units in Spain and Portugal. Visit Zara store in Plaça de Catalunya for good collection.

Sephora near La Ramblas is a very huge store and has massive discounts on few items which are way too expensive in India. So, girls, visit it if you like makeup and skincare

Visit Hema or Flying Tiger for cute knick knacks and some good gifts at affordable price

You can visit Pulls and Bear for good t-shirts. They have good collection. I found urban outfitters way too expensive.

Do visit Bershka, their shoe collection is usually good and the casual clothes too.

HnM is much cheaper in India than Europe. So, don’t waste money over there unless you like something very much

The streets in Gothic quarters have some amazing vintage stores which sell unique stuff but they are way too expensive

You can get good post cards, souvenir boards and magnets on La Ramblas.

Also, pickpocketing is very common in Barcelona. Be extremely careful.

IMG_1708 (1) copy-001 — **Plaza De Colon, Barcelona**

IMG_1716 (1) copy-001 — **Common Sight of Dressed Up Artists at La Ramblas**

That’s it for this trip!!

Hope you enjoy my content and hope it would be useful if you happen to visit these places!!

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

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Photos by Naincy Suman

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Previous post : Travel Tales of Belgium

My Wardrobe Whereabouts

Published on May 26, 2018May 26, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala3 Comments

One constant question which I keep receiving from many of you on my Instagram and other channels is about the places where I source most of my outfits. And, finally in the process of creating content based on the ideas that most of you guys suggested on my Instagram, here we go starting with the most frequent request 🙂

There is no such single brand which I count on, for all kinds of outfits. There are specific brands which I look forward to for each dressing style. Giving you guys a brief overview of my shopping pattern, I am not someone who usually spends a bomb on each piece of clothing. I try to spend money to get high-quality basics since those are something which I use literally everyday. Definitely, not an impulsive shopaholic.

Let’s quickly get into the whereabouts 😀

1. Basics

Basic jeans, solid black and white t-shirts, basic nude heels, black heels – these are fashion staples. And, when it comes to staples, it’s always suggestible to invest in good quality brands. I personally prefer Zara for all sorts of basics and for jeans, Levis is my go-to brand. Both brands are definitely worth the money you spend and the kind of attention that these brands pay to the fit is something I fall for.

2. Blouses or Tops

I prefer shopping online for most of my blouses, crop-tops etc. or Zara during Sale or Forever21. Shein and Forever21 are two of my current favourites to find something unique and interesting in terms of designs. The best part of both of these brands is that they offer products that are completely affordable. Shein, sometimes has few styles copied from Zara at a much lower price (of-course, don’t expect Zara quality at such low cost :P)

3. Jeans

I absolutely swear by Levis, Westside Nuon Brand and Zara. I would rank Levis on the top for fit and comfort followed by Westside. I would prefer Zara only for any unique design of jeans.

4. Skirts and Dresses

Forever21 and Zara are my go-to stores for skirts, skorts, dresses or trousers. They have such unique designs and flattering fit that I rarely divert from these brands.

5. Fusion Wear

When it comes to fusion wear, I rely completely on Westside: Bombay Paisley brand for most of my ethnic handloom dresses or formal solid coloured kurtis. They have a really good collection of fusion wear.

6. Dupattas

I had few of you ask me about the places where I source my dupattas from. Most of them are from handloom exhibitions or are something which I pick from local stores when I travel to different places as I consider them as souvenirs. Westside and FabIndia have a good collection of duppattas. FabIndia is however, a little expensive. If you happen to go to any place in India, search for government tourism stores which sell clothes and are specific to that place. That’s where you can find the gems. Visit Biswa Bangla if you happen to be in Kolkata.

7. Sarees

Most of the sarees I wear are something which I happen to pick from any handloom exhibition. Some of them are from Suta ( http://www.suta.in) which has an amazing handloom sarees collection. Personally, a great fan of Suta.

8. Men’s wear

Shirts and T-shirts from Levis or Jack and Jones. Blazers from Zara. At times, I pick sweatshirts from HnM Men’s section. Linen shirts from Marks and Spencer Men’s Collection.

I hope this resolves all your queries. Let me know through Instagram DM or Facebook if you want to know something more in detail 😀

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Photos – Sourced

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Previous post : An All-White Look

An All-White Look

Published on May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

“You need minimum color for maximum effect”

As it was rightly mentioned by some great fashion icon, minimum colour can create an incredible impact provided you understand how to add certain elements to the look which will help ace that thin line separating the boring single colour outfit and a striking single colour outfit.

Styling Tips:

When one is getting dressed in separates of exactly same solid colours, accessories play a major role.

For an all-white look : You can pair a white slogan tee/ plain tee with a white wide-leg trouser or a white short or a white skirt or a white pant suit
In case of an all-white look, add a pop of colour with one accessory if you want to give a casual vibe (say, a yellow clutch or green heels etc)- Remember that it should be only one accessory in focus and not all of them
If you want to go for an elegant / official look, stick to nudes for your footwear and makeup ; add some dainty jewellery
For beach all-white outfits, add some colorful tassel jewellery and tie-up footwear to create that bohemian vibe

This look that I have created is based on my recent favourite trend of pant suits. An all-white pant suit has been on fashion runways and also in many of the major fashion icons’ wardrobes. I am revealing one such look in this post while the rest of the possible looks will be going up on my Instagram next week. So, keep following me on Instagram to stay updated 😀

I have paired a white solid tee with white wide leg trousers and a white blazer. I chose to keep it less loud in terms of the colours of the accessories. So, picked nude heels and delicate jewellery to complete the look. If you opt for plunging necklines, layering of neckpieces would help to accentuate the look.

Here goes the look-book 😀

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If you do try any of my styling tips, do send in your pictures through email or Instagram!! I would love to see them 🙂

Blazer : Forever21| Top, Wide Leg Trouser, Heels : Zara| Jewellery : Thrift Market |Wrist Watch : DKNY

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Photos by Arun Premkumar

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Previous post : Print On Print

Modern Indian Woman- #Look103

Published on May 20, 2017July 21, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Hey folks, I am back with another new post as a part of the Modern Indian Woman series.I can say that this look is more skewed towards ethnicity rather than Indo-western fusion.

#Look103

To everyone who wants to start trying Indian ethnic wear, I strongly recommend owning certain wardrobe staples- a plain black kurti and a plain white kurti , solid black and solid white colored leggings, and a beautiful dupatta. With these staples, you can easily flaunt two gorgeous ethnic looks.

For this post, I choose a black kurti along with black leggings and added a pop of color with a beautiful handmade dupatta. If you have been following my blog, then you must have noticed this dupatta in my Kolkata shopping experience post.Beautifully crafted by local tribals, this dupatta depicts kantha work on a thappa (combination of different pieces of clothes).I accentuated the look with afghani earrings, a hand-bag prepared by Rann of Kutch artisans and kolhapuris.

Here goes the look 🙂

Details:

Kurti : Myntra|Leggings : Lyra | Kolhapuris : Street buy | Bag : Krafted with Happiness | Dupatta : Biswa Bangla

Photos by Sampath Kumar

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Modern Indian Woman- #Look 102

Published on May 13, 2017May 13, 2017 by Lavanya PulijalaLeave a comment

In continuation to my Modern Indian Woman series for this month, it’s time to talk about the second look. This look is going to be about how you could use your modern tops or crop-tops over ethnic bottoms to give an Indo-western/fusion look.

#Look102

This look helps in bringing out the boldness of a Indian Woman along with the creative aspect. Maroon shade of the crochet top, being one of the main Indian ethnic colors accentuated the look.The tassel earrings and thread jewellery are this season must-haves and I could completely count on these to complete the look with a bohemian vibe.I have used one of the coral chains which I purchased in Andaman as a bracelet.

Without further delay, let me just show you the final look 🙂

Details:

Crochet top and harem pant : West side | Silver Jewellery and Earrings : Colaba Causeway | Juttis : Bandra | Red coral chain : Andaman street shopping

Photos by Rahul Kongala

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Winter Wardrobe=Summer Closet

Published on April 22, 2017May 31, 2017 by Lavanya PulijalaLeave a comment

Are you thinking of abandoning those winter clothes and restocking your wardrobe with a new set of summer clothes???

Just hold on, you don’t have to do that.All those winter outfits could be put to good use even during summer without looking awkward.You can use those leather jackets just to tie around your waist or make it stand on one of your shoulders to make your jeans-tshirt combo look different and interesting.How can you use your winter boots?!! Well, use those boots when you wear those pretty denim shorts and a cool graphic tee.

I have tried to create one such winter-summer look for this post.This lookbook is going to show you how you can use those winter boots, leather jacket, and dress to suit the current season.I will definitely post more looks on this front on my Instagram in the coming days ( You can follow me on Instagram here ).

Here you go!! Hope you like the lookbook 🙂

Outfit Details:

Dress : Dorothy Perkins| Boots : Zara | Leather Jacket : Black Rivet | Choker : Colaba Causeway

Photos by Suresh Nerella

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Splash those Colors

Published on March 18, 2017May 31, 2017 by Lavanya PulijalaLeave a comment

It’s time to kick those bulky winter outfits out of the wardrobe and fill it with some colorful spring/summer collection.Breezy and floral outfits have already bombarded my wardrobe now.

This look book is about my first look of this season featuring a bohemian vibe through a breezy off shoulder A-line dress and few colorful handmade Indian accessories. In line with my signature trend of using accessories to define any look, this look is no different. A beautiful handwoven clutch, handcrafted mirror earrings, a bunch of funky bracelets and colorful thread work juttis complete my look.

Let me skip that usual styling jargon for this post as this is a look book and I leave it to you to interpret it.Here goes the look.

Outfit Details:

Dress – Amazon

Earrings – Krafted with happiness

Clutch – Silk Lane

Ring – Dadar Handloom store

Do give me your feedback on the post and also do suggest any look you want me to style.

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Photos by Swetha Movva– Do follow her if you have an eye for good photography 🙂

F.I.E.R.C.E

Published on March 8, 2017May 31, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala2 Comments

“I am not the size of my jeans, I am the size of my smile.

I am not a number on a weighing machine, I am the strength that I carry.

I am not the complexion I am born with, I am the blush on my cheek.

I am not the patches on my skin, I am the scars I have endured.

I am not the length of dress, I am the beauty that blazes within.

I am not a type you want me to fit in, I am beyond your comprehension.

I am courage, I am fire, I am a burning desire.

I am not who you want me to be, I am who I am ” -RK

As inspiring as these words seem to be, it’s important to be who you are, to define yourself, to come out of the cocoons and face the world the way you like and not the way others want you to be 🙂

Happy Women’s Day to all gorgeous women out there 😀

Capturing the boldness of a modern woman along with the simplicity and style of a traditional attire is challenging. I have been trying to put forth looks depicting a blend of wilderness and rustic essence using our age-old handloom fabrics. Since the handlooms are so much in trend among the Indian designers, I have worked on using that fabric in this look.

The graciously arranged pleats of a saree , the rustic feel of the handloom, the high heeled black boots, the white leather jacket along with a tinge of bold red define the essence of my current look. The black can’t make me fade away, the red ensured my look is on point and my boots break the notion of a stereotypical saree look.Leather jacket went hand in hand with the boots.Attention to intricacies while choosing the accessories is the most vital part.

I have been trying to define my style as something that breaks the stereotype of any outfit and hence, the boots and the jacket. I have chosen a solid black plain saree and accessorized using a clutch from Rann of Kutch,an antique neck piece.I didn’t want to go heavy with the earrings since my neck piece is dominant enough and stuck to my choice of red lipstick for the bold look.

Details:

Saree : Mangalagiri

Blouse : Ikkat

Clutch : Borrowed from my mom

Boots : Zara

Waist Belt : Forever 21

Neck piece, earrings: Colaba Causeway

Ring : Goa flea market

Photos by Suresh Neralla

Special Thanks to Sampath Kumar for all the support 🙂

Oh you beauty!!Andaman!!

Published on January 28, 2017May 25, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Landing on a place isolated from the regular hustle-bustle and seeing oneself surrounded by tall lush green trees and serene beaches rather than the monotonous skyscrapers and noisy vehicles would definitely be a holiday which helps one unleash.All one could witness in the near vicinity would be the tranquility that the scarcely populated white sand beaches would offer where one could relish the sight of several shades of blue extending infinitely.

What keeps Andaman apart from other places is that it doesn’t have many historical places/view points to visit but every part of the island is captivating and one needs to enjoy the nature, be it, the astounding marine life and the corals or the islands themselves.Andaman is a group of almost 342 islands out of which many are under the supervision of the Forest and Marine Reserve Department to ensure that the coral reefs are protected.These islands are mostly not open for tourists.However,I managed to go to one such island about which I will be describing in the next article.

Let me keep precise about the details of my trip such that it captures the entire essence while being informative as well.Since I have lots to share about the entire trip,I will take you through my experience in two different articles.

Duration: 6 days and 5 nights

Nearest Airport : Veer Savarkar International Airport,Port Blair

Day 1- Day 2 – Day 3

Port Blair

Places to visit:

Andaman Cellular Jail – The historical prison is infamous for the cruelty shown towards the prisoners in 19th and 20th century.Do notice the architecture of the prison and how different wings are positioned.

Corbyn’s Cove Beach – Sports a splendid view of the ocean .It’s slightly secluded from the city and not many people visit, due to which you can enjoy the beach even more.

Anthropological Museum – I didn’t get time to visit it but heard that it’s worth a visit

Things to Do:

Light and Sound Show in Cellular Jail – You need to grab tickets for it and there are different slots of 1 hr each starting from 6 pm .

Taste naariyal paani of Andaman – Andaman is a home to many coconut trees and the coconut water is far better than Kerala as well and it could supplement your meal 😛

Sagarika Store – If you are looking to shop for Andaman souvenirs , visit only the Govt authorized Sagarika store present in the cellular jail which is reasonable in terms of price.You might end up paying more at any other place in Port Blair.

Jail Structure

Outfit details:

Since it was a tour to the prison , I tried to bring in the bold look with boots and matched it with a velvet outfit.I haven’t gone too heavy with accessories ,instead , carried a sling bucket bag along with a unisex sport watch.

Top and Skirt : Forever 21

Boots : Zara

Sling bag : Colaba Causeway

Havelock Island

Next day, we started for Havelock on a cruise.It’s a two and half hour ride from Port Blair.Do ensure that you take tickets for royal or luxury class in cruise which has a view of ocean and in case of other classes, you don’t get to see the view-it’s more like a closed room.

Places to visit:

Elephant Beach – It’s a 15 min steamer ride from Havelock island and is known for water activities.I found it better than Radhanagar beach ,though, it’s not as famous.It’s open only from 8am-1 pm in the morning.So, plan accordingly.

Radhanagar Beach – Apparently, top 7th best beach in world.Most of the beaches in Andaman are calm and are not too deep for at-least 1 km in the water.However,Radhanagar allows one to experience high tide but it is not too deep and pretty safe.

Things to Do:

Snorkeling in Elephant Beach : They charge around 500-800 bucks depending upon how much you want to explore.I really loved it and hence, paid 800 bucks to see the colorful marine life.Don’t miss this. I will share a video on that pretty soon.Keep following me on Instagram to know about it.

Scuba Diving in Havelock : Costs not more than 3000 bucks per person.One needs to experience it to see the coral life.

Taste sea food ( I would suggest Anju Coco restaurant where you get really tasty sea food and if you are looking for cheaper food, check out squid restaurant)

Rent a bicycle/scooty : Usually, they don’t charge more than 500 bucks per day.Havelock is a small island and is perfectly safe at all times , even during the night.Explore as much as you can.

Stay in a resort with private beach

Finger Coral

Corbyn’s Cove Beach

Cruise

Private Beach

Radhanagar Beach

Elephant beach

Scuba Diving

Outfit Details:

Cruise- I went quirky with kitschy layering and vibrant colored outfit. Accessorized my watch with some charm and tassel bracelets , sling bag.

Top – HnM

Trouser – Only

Accessories – Colaba Causeway

Havelock Beaches – Stayed comfortable with shorts and an off-shoulder top along with a beads chain which I styled as a choker.

Top – 20Dresses

Shorts – People

Chain – Colaba Causeway

Let me know your feedback and contact/follow me on Instagram for more information about the trip.

Photos by Rahul Kongala and Durga Pulijala

Comfort Dressing

Published on December 19, 2016August 19, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala3 Comments

At times, many of us agree that comfort or rather lazy dressing is a more preferred option over LBD’s, bodycons, peplums,tube dresses or whatever.We would just want to slip into something very easy to carry and also something which doesn’t actually reflect our sluggish mode at the same time 😉

I believe each of us might have had this moment.I have come up with this really quick and trendy comfort dressing which could be a go-to option for work or slothful weekends.

This look is more on lines of neutral hues.I picked a loose fitting long striped shirt and paired it with ankle length leggings just to bring in the current rage of leggings ,one of the top fall fashion trends being slayed by Kendall in her own way.I kept it simple and comfy with denim-colored shoes , a sling bag and accessories to accentuate the look.

While you opt for this kind of look, ensure you don’t go fancy on accessories or heels.It’s better to keep the hairstyle simple by just doing a messy up-do, pony or even loose-hair.

“Keep it Minimal” works with this look.