Author: Dev

A Day Trip To The Pinnacles, Lancelin & Yanchep National Park, From Perth

Published by Dev

With The Triffids playing their popular Wide Open Road on the radio, setting a fine mood for a pleasant driving experience before we even left Perth and hit the Mitchell Freeway, one thing was assured, it was going to be a great day ahead. Though the weather could have been more favourable, during the peak winter season in Western Australia, in August, what better can you expect? The sun was still periodically peeking between the clouds giving the tiny droplets rain a crystal shine. A few quick and timely rainbows were moreover adding up to the charm. Though the weather could have been more favourable, during the peak winter season in Western Australia, in August, what better can you expect? The sun was still periodically peeking between the clouds giving the tiny droplets rain a crystal shine. A few quick and timely rainbows were moreover adding up to the charm. Clearly, if they say that a road trip is the best way to experience Australia, there’s a reason for it. In under 200 km of a driveway, outside the city of Perth, …

Farewells: My Biggest Travel Enemy

Published by Dev

As I left the dinner table, and entered my room – a normal daily routine I was consciously repeating since the past couple of weeks, I wondered why it was the toughest, to leave and wishing THE FAMILY, I was staying with in Italy for the last 2 weeks, a ‘pleasant sleep’ tonight. As I slammed my room’s door behind me, and started typing a set of careful words, I realized that I may be feeling an overwhelming set of emotions, under the influence of some wine, but no, there’s nothing unusual in today’s circumstances; I always feel the same. Bidding farewells and saying final goodbyes have always been the toughest part of my travels. They make my life so much difficult, and a lot more unsettling. I always thought that after traveling for some time, living more experiences, and bidding adieu to all the people I’ll meet on the road, I would somehow, almost naturally, master the art of saying farewells, without being driven by the moment. But this time as I departed, I realised that I’m pathetically failing in …

Ordeals Of A Solo Female Traveller

Published by Dev

Madhurima is a blogger by passion, traveller by choice and business analyst by profession. She carries multiple hats with elan with a generous amount of exploring every year which keeps her sanity in check. Her blog orangewayfarer is a wonderful account of her journeys and memories. And speaking about her ordeals as a solo female traveller, this is what she has to say… The ordeal of being a female is never ending in human civilisation, no matter where you belong to, or what your skin colour is. Add to that a female aspiring to be atraveller and that her heart and soul with exotic experiences and a blast for taste buds. Misogyny looms large at every corner in the society. But Sylvia plath had said, “I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am”. And I adore her beyond words. I decided to let go the stigma taught to me by elderlies, “Äkeli ladki, khuli tijori” (a lone girl is a treasure trove) and break the norms. Of course I live …

Europe: In Pictures

Published by Dev

Europe is a long, long way away. It takes tiresome hours to fly to. Getting there and staying is expensive than many people can afford to. The exchange rate between Euro and with whatever currency you’re holding to is also not very encouraging either. And if any discouragement was left, the super-cheap all-inclusive packages to Bali and Indonesia cost just as much as a return airfare to Europe. So why even bother with travelling to Europe at all? Well, let us count the ways in Europe in Pictures. Europe For Neoclassical Architecture The revival of Classical architecture during the 18th and early 19 century, defines Europe. Almost in every big city, and even in small towns, you can find an elegant piece of architecture characterised either by the grandeur of scale, or something just as charming. Take St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, for an example, which looks both reviving and ancient feel to the city, with its 100-meter high dome, it represents a neoclassical and period architecture, simply beautiful. Europe For Beautiful Drives Whether driving with a purpose or for a moment of joy, in Europe if you’re on the road, you’ll inevitably …

How To Do Southeast Asia In 1 Month

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If Southeast Asia is world’s top backpacking location then there’s a reason for it. It is perfect for millennials, who neither have money, nor time. The kind of people falling in my category. Here, the visas are cheaper, or not required at all, travelling through one country and another is possible by land, and flights cost as low as flying in your own country! And if you just happen to be someone who needs visas for Southeast Asia, please note that right now is even better to do so, because to increase the tourist inflow, Malaysia and Thailand have just cut slashed their visa costs, and they’re particularly focusing on the Indian market. [I’ve just grabbed my 15-day Malayasian Visa for less than INR 1,500. Read: Malaysia eNTRI visa] For Southeast Asia,  all you need is a bit of planning, a little bit of time and you can do (almost) the entire continent in a bargain. If I had one month, and wanted to cover as many countries as possible, in a budget, this is what …

Reasons For Schengen Tourist Visa Rejection

Published by Dev

A Schengen tourist visa is one of the toughest visas to obtain. Its process is strict and complicated, and the result, totally unexpected. You might have provided everything to your best knowledge but you can never predict what the country embassy you’re applying for your visa with, has in store for you. Some people say that countries like the Czech Republic or Hungary are the safest options and guarantee high approval chances, but as far as I understand, such a factor is less likely to play in anybody’s favour. So if you’re applying for a Schengen tourist visa, be careful, and avoid the following mistakes to improve your chances. These are the top reasons for a Schengen tourist visa application rejection: False Travel Documents One of the recent rejection cases I came across, of a friend, who provided a photoshopped flight itinerary, made me understood that false travel documents are not going to get you a visa. So don’t even try. If you do not have a required document mention it in your cover letter. For …

Australian Tourist Visa Process

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After dealing with a long list of documents, a tiring visa application and high-rejection chances, three months ago, while applying for a Schengen visa for Europe, when it came to planning a tourist visa for Australia, things felt pretty easier and uncomplicated. And that was not just me. A few other people, I spoke with, to get an idea about their experience, moreover said that Australia has always been humble. Though of course, if you compare a Thai or a Malaysian tourist visa process, Australia still demands better planning and a little more paperwork, if you compare it with a Schengen, a Japanese, and a few other visas considered as tough, getting your hands on an Australian tourist visa, and doing it all by yourself, is pretty easier. Yet if you’ve your doubts and aren’t sure what are your chances, read my Tips For Australian Tourist Visa. To get a better idea of the process, however, read ahead: What Documents You May Need Australian embassy, on its website, has mentioned that it discourages any prepaid …

Australian Tourist Visa: Practical Tips

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If there’s one thing that annoys me as traveller, thanks to my weak Indian passport, is applying for visa. You want to travel to Europe, and you’ve all the money and time it wanted, you still need to go through a lot of hassle and paperwork. Though of course, some countries are more reluctant, and some, fairly welcoming, the unapologetic fact that you still need to waste your time and money — no matter how small — is always a disappointment. And my disappointment turned into a dismay, very recently, when it took more than one month for the Australian embassy to offer me a tourist visa. Though the folks in the embassy were quite humble and allowed me multiple entries for a period of one year, the price I had to pay for it was a little startling. Australian Tourist VISA Was Expensive With most Southeast Asian countries charging around 2 or 4 thousand Rupees, Canada charging about 6.5 thousand, and 26 Schengen countries in Europe around only 6 thousand, Australia, God knows why has …

5 Beautiful And Very Distinct Places In India Everyone Must Visit

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Ever thought of taking that much-deserved break and losing yourself in a place virtually free from all sorts of communication? If yes, then this is a perfect place to start from. The places mentioned below aren’t your standard honeymoon destination, these are those places which can take your breath away and leave you shell-shocked at the beauty that India has to offer. Pangong Lake, Ladakh Restricting Ladakh tourism to just Pangong lake would be an extreme injustice, but if you ask me to pin point the most beautiful place in the region, then Pangong would definitely top my list. Pangong Lake doesn’t have a heavy traffic or inflow of tourists, so if you want to scream at the top your voices unabashedly, come here. The sight of the lake can instantly instil a sense of peacefulness in your mind. The lake located at a height of about 4350m is around 124km long and is also home to various migrating birds. Ladakh is definitely a travellers paradise and is also heaven to a large number of …

Travel Tips For Slovenia

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What people think about a place, and what it actually is, can be two different realities. And so was the case with me before I travelled to Slovenia. While I was planning the route-map for my first backpacking trip across Europe, I considered Slovenia as something totally different than what it actually turned out to be. I expected it as a part of ‘wild west’ or Eastern Europe. Moreover to my guilt, my heart was always more drawn to the neighbouring countries of Italy, Austria and Hungary. But since there was no way to travel from Hungary to Italy, via land, without bypassing through Slovenia (because I didn’t want to cross through Croatia with a Schengen Visa), I decided to stay in Ljubljana for a few days. [Read: My First Impression of Ljubljana] So if you are visiting Slovenia for the first time, then read ahead. These four significant misconceptions are the most useful travel tips for Slovenia. Don’t Mix Slovenia And Slovakia Slovenian people are very friendly and well-versed. For almost always you will find them smiling, but if there’s one …