All posts filed under: Miscellaneous

6 Biggest Travel Mistakes To Avoid

Published by Dev

Travel writers always give travel tips that talk about what to do when you travel. They are all must-see and must-do lists out there on internet. Go there, eat this and try that. But what about things to avoid, what about those tiny inevitable mistakes that sometimes create a momentary disappointment, and sometimes, big time blunders. From avoiding money exchange at airports, to avoiding traveller’s cheques, there are so many insignificant decisions that lead to nothing but wasted time and money. But the good thing is, with a little planning ahead, it’s easy enough to avoid these common mistakes, and enjoy your vacation better. I’ve made all these mistakes, but it is by doing them wrong in the past, I’ve learned how to make them right today. Hence, from my experiences, I’m sharing some of the common travel mistakes you should avoid to become a savvier traveller: Never Eat Near A Major Tourist Site The food near any major tourist site (I’m not talking about local night-markets or weekend markets, but other places of interest for a …

Want To Become A Frugal Backpacker? Learn To Sleep And Shit Anywhere!

Published by Dev

It’s not the appearance or the idea of lugging a 70L backpack, but only your habits make you a real frugal backpacker! Frugal backpacking is more than slinging a backpack over your shoulder, wearing the same shirt for a week, and doing laundry in sinks. It’s a way of living, of compromising with the worst imaginable situations, and yet, not complaining about them. I remember during my early days of travelling, how a few habits or the little insecurities of my mind, made this lifestyle so difficult for me. Though I could easily travel in rickety buses and eat at someplace totally disgusting, I was still not a right fit. Every time I left home (or even before leaving) to have that grand adventure of my journey, I made sure that I find a roof at night and a shit-hole in the morning. And these habits always only curbed me from living my perpetual backpacking dream. It moreover curbed me from stepping out of fray and travelling of the beaten path. Because if you’re going …

4 Things I Hate About Travelling In India

Published by Dev

I know you must be thinking how I can hate anything about travelling, when I love it to a degree that I quit my well-paying job to travel and live out of a backpack. Well you’re right. I love travelling and I immediately plan my next trip, as soon as I return home. Travel is in my veins. But sometimes I just hate certain things about it, and being on the road for month at a time, simply amplifies the feeling. These are not the periodic disappointments like paying high prices during a peak tourist season, or missing a flight/bus, or lacking the comforts of home. Though they sure make travel life tougher, but I never considered them among something that would make me want to hate travelling. The things I hate about travelling, however, or the things that I’m going to talk about below are the ones that really irk me time and again. This is a list of stuff that no matter how often I see it, or no matter how prepared I am, …

6 Reasons To Visit Genting Highlands While You Are In Malaysia

Published by Dev

Malaysia always turn out to be one of those countries that never disappoint tourists. From Highlands that are a breath of clean, cool air; to mesmerizing islands; to new-age modern cities – it has something for everyone. But among all, if you’re looking for something that fits best to your few days family holiday, look no further than the Genting Highlands. For those who don’t already know, Genting is approximately an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and is nestled on a mountain peak! So expect really cooling weather. What else you can expect here is a crazy theme park, a strawberry fun farm, mesmerizing cable car rides, some memorable shopping experiences… well the list is long. But if I were to suggest the top experiences you should head to Genting Highlands for, as soon as you’re done with the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, they would be these: A ride In The Cable Car Though you can reach Genting Highland via your own car, the best way to get there, however, is in a cable …

Travel Confession: I Hate Flying

Published by Dev

I always think that this world would be a much better place if man hadn’t discovered flying yet. And I’m sure if there were no aeroplanes, science would have invested more resources in improving train travel, and we’d still be able to cross continents. Though we might not be able to travel from New Delhi to Boston in a few hours, as we can otherwise do in a supersonic jets of today, but we’d sure be somewhere closer. And then again, it would be a much better journey, passing through I don’t know how many countries and the infinite ocean, than just tripping in a boring aircraft, entrapped with a few hundred impatient co-passengers. Before you make generalizations let me get this straight, I am not scared of flying.  I am not afraid that the aeroplane I’m on will fly into a mountain because of pilot error, or that a Korean Navy ship will decide that the Boeing flying above their head is an enemy aircraft and knocks it off by mistake. No I don’t find …

Top Signs That You Are A Backpacker At Heart

Published by Dev

Backpacking is more than just lugging a 70L rucksack on your back. It is a way of travelling, of feeling comforted even during the most uneasy conditions. And if you ever wondered whether or not you qualify as a savvy backpacker, now is the time to find out. If you do most of the things mentioned below, chances are you’re a true backpacker at heart: You always write down your parents address when asked for your permanent address. The occupation column on application forms leave you confused. You have friends pretty much in every corner of the world. You love the idea of slow travel and getting lost in a new city. You sniff-check your clothes to find out whether they’re wearable or not. You can wear the same shirt for a week, and jeans for two weeks. A pleasant outdoor weather is more important to you than anything else. You do your laundry in the sink. There’s always a pouch of detergent in your bag. And a tissue roll. If surprisingly you find a …

Is Studying Abroad As Good An Experience As Travelling?

Published by Dev

“So how many years have you travelled for so far?” “Almost two. I quit my job to travel, in February 2015, and that’s where I’ve been ever since.” “And you said you lived in United Kingdom for a couple of years while studying, right? That makes it four man. Not two.” I clearly remember how a small conversation with a fellow traveller made my day, during one of the evenings at Agonda, in South Goa. I suddenly felt proud, and moreover realised that I’d always underrated my travel stint. It really have been 4 years, accumulatively, that I’ve been exploring the world. Though of course I won’t consider myself a traveller for the time I lived in UK, but it wouldn’t be wrong, even if I did! When I’d initially moved to Scotland, to complete my master’s degree, there was nobody I knew. Sure my sister stayed in England, some 700 kilometres in the South, but technically speaking I was on my own, and in a land I was barely accustomed to. And since it was …

Want To See Local Art Forms In Kutch? Try Nirona Village

Published by Dev

Kutch has always been known for its wealth of culture and handicrafts. And when you’re here on a holiday, one thing that you really do not want to miss is exploring a few local art forms. Kutch produces some of the world’s most unusual textile products, as well as intricately crafted metal works. In the book, Kachchh: The Last Frontier, author Tejinder Singh sums it up pretty well: “The intricate embroidery stems from the Kutchi lifestyle… One can see the influences of the Cretan stitch of Greece, surface interlacing stitches from Armenia and the French tambouring techniques. It is a reflection of their lifestyle… of camels, peacocks, parrots, flowers, trees and women churning milk. Each pattern tells a story.” The best way to experience local art forms in Kutch, however, is by village hopping. As you pass through various artisan villages of the indigenous tribes that inhibit the district of Kutch, you find a striking contradiction. But one needs days to explore them all, or perhaps even a week. But those who have only one day …

Five Must See Places in Kerala

Published by Dev

Kerala has a lot of charisma with its stunning beaches on the Malabar Coast, green patches of coffee and tea plantations, and its intertwining backwater canals. As you embark on your journey across Kerala’s landscapes, you experience its unique culture, cuisine and people. Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and tropical charm, Kerala will give you that relaxed, laid-back vacation that you are looking forward to. Here are some of our five hand-picked must see destinations in Kerala: Anamudi: In Kerala’s Idukki district lies the Anamudi Hills which stands at 2,695 metres and is the highest peak in South India. The hillside is filled with several flowers, shrubs and wildlife that are unique to the region. The view at the top is breath-taking with large amounts of tropical forests that deck the landscape. Tigers, leopards, macaques and the langur are found in this region. Trivandrum: The State’s capital, largest port and city centre is home to a number of heritage sites, architectural marvels and several art galleries. An hour’s drive from Trivandrum will take you …