Sunday 29 April 2012

Pune: always young at heart

[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]


Do you know that the air of Pune is young?
When you pass by the myriad of sounds in the city, which lazy hums in the air your age visibly reduces. Maybe it’s the very high population of the young and aspiring, the lazy one to four siesta in the afternoon or the extremely friendly people that you bump into quite regularly. It’s difficult to point it out. But hey, who doesn’t want to relive the happiest days of their life. 


Sinhagad Fort
That’s what Pune is: A very happy city. Take a drive on the outskirts of the city to Sinhagad fort or the Mulshi dam and you realise that it is surrounded by the same beauty and happiness. Enter the city and that sense of beauty still lingers. Flanked by hills on every side, Pune makes it so easy for its people to breathe in its air. It’s pleasant, always so pleasant.


Osho Ashram
If you are a foodie this city will make you feel like the king. From the roadside daabeli wallas with that confounding mixture on the bread to the gourmet meals served in the five star restaurants, all of it is a sight, smell and taste to behold. Take a stroll down Koregaon Park and buy some Osho chappals, and then take a walk in them.  Reach the local Burger King and eat a burger, which becomes a task to finish sometimes.With the sensation of such liberties you may grasp a bit of the reason why Pune has refused to age. 

Dagdusheth Ganpati
Hop into one of the many Iranian restaurants with their rusting tables and incomparable caramel custard and reminisce with the owner about old days. Bow your head in front of the Dagdusheth Ganpati idol and then try to wall through the screen of crowd on Lakshmi Road trying to hunt for the obscure “Puneri” things you want to collect as a memento. Then stop on the roadside to have one of the best “sev puri”s and “gola”s in the world.
Mumbai Pune Expressway

And when you are leaving the city by the express highway there is one thing that is guaranteed. You will look back, more than once. 









[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]

[Image Courtesy: Google]

Monday 23 April 2012

Chennai: The land of Dosas, Pongal and Superkings?


[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]

The land of the Dosas, Murugan, Pongal and very recently the Superkings Chennai covers the diversity between modern and traditional seamlessly. The modern looking city is one of the fastest developing cities in the world, yet it holds on to its past very strongly. The past traditions is ingrained in the very essence of Chennai.
Dosa


There are a lot of preconceived notions about the city and they are not very youth friendly I must say. Yet Chennai today hosts one the most intelligent educated bunch of people. They have the right opinions about the right amount of things. And they have insights. As people are the personality of any city we could safely call Chennai insightful.
Marina Beach
I am not going to list the to dos here. You can get it anywhere on the net. I just want you to know what I felt in Chennai. I did not have a lot of expectations and was glad I was surprised. We have become such creatures of the night that we forget to explore and imbibe a city in the daytime. Well Chennai is a daytime city. From a healthy fight with the auto drivers to the sweltering heat to the bumping into people, all of it is a part of the city. But so is sitting on the beach looking at the sunset and a long drive on  ECR buying as many tender coconuts as possible.
A Collage of the city

What struck me the most is its quiet pride. It is a city which does not boast, not will it tolerate any wrong. Chennai is proud of its culture, tradition heritage, faith and modernization. The twenty first century has not intruded upon it. In fact it has emerged into the millennium rejoicing.

Go to the Crocodile bank and Dakshin Chitra. Eat some dosas in Saravana Bhavan. Listen to a concert in the Madras Music Academy, be as young as you want to in Zara and eat a fancy meal in Fusion 9. Bow your head in the Kapileshwar temple.  While you are at it, visit the Chepauk Stadium and be dazzled in the yellow brighter than sunlight. On your visits you will realize what I did. Chennai is proud of itself.






[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]


Monday 16 April 2012

10 items of Travel: Travel light, Travel smart


[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]

It is an age old battle to figure out the essentials of travelling. They seem to change every time a new destination is chosen.  Of course, it is important to blend in with the local flavor of the place you are about to explore. But, I believe there are 10 things that you need to throw in first into your luggage. Because these are the constant necessities

1.     Compass
Compass
Nobody really wants to get lost now do they?  A compass in need can be priceless indeed. When trying to navigate a map or sliding down a muddy side road a compass is the one object which will give you a sense of belonging.

2.     Money-belt

It is the safety belt that you do not take off.  The thin line amongst your clothes is the one insurance you cannot do without. Put the extra cash , a copy of your passport and keep it zipped tight. You may never know if there is a pickpocket lurking somewhere. 

Money Bag


3.     Map
This is your only source of direction in unknown territory.  Even with the trendy apps guiding you to perfection, let’s face it, this is India. Broken roads, no network and local help goes with the territory. Be smart. Carry a detailed map. The one with even the cart roads drawn on them.


4.     Reusable Water bottle
The highest amount of illness occurs because of water. Sometimes for the quality of it and sometimes for the lack of it. It is the safest to fill your bottle at every water purifier you come across and keep it constantly at hand. Water is invaluable. No wasting it.

5.     Backup documents
Lets be smart here. Always photocopy your important documents and keep them in different pouches. If one gets lost, God forbid, you have another. Also keep a copy of the same with people at home. You don’t want to be stranded without a proof of your identity.

6.  I pod
The joy of travelling lies in experiencing the journey with all your senses. While some sounds are a delight, some are plain noise. Cut out the ramble of the old bus, the cattle herd, the screeching conductor and the crying baby beside you with a dose of what suits you best. Your own music.
Swiss Knife

7.     Medication and Prescription
Carry your own potions. You know yourself the best.  For people with severe health issues, the right count of medications for the number of days is a must. Regular medicines for common cold, fever, etc should always be carried as a back up. In case of specific drugs, carry prescriptions.

8.     Swiss Army Knife

This small, light, multipurpose weapon will save you. Be it to open a bottle, cut a sealed pack or hack at ropes if you are tied up, a swiss army knife can be your 911 call. On your next trip count the number of times you use it. You will never leave it behind again.

9.     Flashlight with extra Batteries

It is always beneficial to carry light, No one can argue with that. A small flashlight can help you in case of the numerous power cuts all over the country. It can help in every dark corner you encounter. But do not forget the extra batteries.

  
Travel shoes and socks



10.Suitable   shoes


Gravel, pebbles, granite, marble or mud. Your shoes should combat it all. These are your best friends. When you have to go that extra mile or take the important leap, they should be there to make it easier for you.







Well, I hope this helps you in your travel, be it spontaneous or otherwise, do plan your items of travel, so that you enjoy it to the fullest with the littlest of glitches. Happy travelling. 

[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]



Tuesday 10 April 2012

Kolkata and her many nooks & corners


 Kolkata is all about nooks and corners. The narrow ‘gali', which suddenly takes a sharp turn and you arrive at an eatery with the most delectable 'Jalebis'.  The dead-end lane, where you gaze up to find a heritage building 200 years old. The hunt for the best sweets in those maze of by-lanes and mind you not only for 'Roshogollas'. That’s where you find the joy of Kolkata.
Sweets from Sen Mahashoy


Different myriads of Kolkata
Of course there is the grand Victoria Memorial, the vast and red Writers building, the fortified Fort William and the celestial Birla Planetarium; they are all worth their due visits. But if you want to experience the soul of the city, it lies in the sudden twists and unexpected bends in the road. There is nothing like a cup of tea from Maharaja, walking on the broken railroads in Princep Ghat, the street food near Vivekananda Park and the sweets of Sen Mahashoy.

Sunset at Princep Ghat

You have to be caught up in a 'Bangal' and 'Ghoti' verbal fight during East Bengal and Mohun Bagan football match to appreciate the spirit of the people here. Another out of this period experience is, the ancient tram. A very busy Kolkata will pass you by while you ramble along believing yourself to be in a time warp.

Old trams of Kolkata
Even though there are 13 festivals for 12 months in Bengal, the best time to visit Kolkata is during Durga Puja. The thousands of 'pandals', white sarees with red borders, aarti at 4 in the morning, streets littered with goodies and the millions of tiny lights, light up the city like nothing else. With the onset of Autumn and with the time for grand celebrations, Kolkata is truly a city to behold.



Maa Durga
If you want to venture outskirts, you always have Shantiniketan. The abode of peace, it lives up to its name. The place where Rabindranath Tagore penned many of his literary works and started his school Shantiniketan is a major tourist attraction. The best time to visit is during spring when 'Bashanta Utsav', the festival of joy and colours, is underway.And don’t leave without a roll of the infamous 'Kantha' threadwork , 'Dhakai'  and 'Tant' sarees and the beautiful terracotta horses, displaying the craftsmanship of Bengal.

Kolkata will never be an obvious tourist destination. But there are very few cities with such a soul. When you visit Kolkata come with a heart to look for 'Joy' in the nooks and corners of this beautiful city.



Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.


[Images Courtesy: Google]