Month: September 2017

The Clan Jetties Of Georgetown, Penang

Published by Dev

“The families living there are still not subjected to pay for house taxes because technically speaking, they are not living on land, but on the sea.” I remember the first bit of information I received about Clan Jetties of Georgetown, In Penang, very clearly — enough to build a sudden interest to go and explore the area. A bit more enquiry and I found out that dawn was, apparently, the best time to visit the jetties, as this is when locals can be found busy sorting their daily routine, and (a crowd of) tourist is still fast asleep in their hotel. A beautiful sunrise, leaving a tinge of orange and pink and yellow over the horizon of Straits of Malacca, moreover makes the entire scene a lot more melodramatic. The picturesque neighbourhood of Kim Jetty as seen from the public area at its other end Clan Jetties Of Georgetown Like fingers jut into the sea, Clan Jetties line the waterfront of Georgetown and build a community that existed for over a hundred years now, witnessing and …

My First Bungy Jumping Experience: A Few Seconds Of Insane Courage

Published by Dev

I don’t think I can do this. What if I collapsed amidst air — a nervous breakdown, a heart attack, or something worse. My mind was constantly pleading me to reconsider. Fear had almost overpowered me. All excitement had momentarily turned into an undeniable panic. Things became even uglier when someone else jumped before me and screamed their guts out. I was going to be next! Also Read: My First Skydiving Experience I remember my instructor constantly asking me to stop shaking my legs as he performed the safety checks and tied a harness above my ankles. His motivation counselling felt of no use either. “just don’t look down. Look up. Look up,” he repeated at least half a dozen times. “And how are you supposed to look up while you’re falling upside down,” I asked myself. But that was all I had. It felt like the best advice and sounded like an assurance. JUST DON’T LOOK DOWN! And then the moment came. With both legs bound together, I started walking like a helpless penguin. As I stood on the …

My First REAL Motorbiking Experience

Published by Dev

As I grabbed myself in the tiny corners of my flat in New Delhi, and started typing a set of careful words — an effort to pen down the itinerary we followed during our motorbiking expedition in Jammu — I realised what I’d left behind. There are some experiences that leave an imprint in our life, depart us with many uncountable memories, and this one week ride I ended up being a part of, with 60+ riders from across India, was definitely one among them. It is kind of comforting yet troubling at same time thinking about how until yesterday we were riding as a one big family while sharing our little lives together every minute. And today, almost everyone departed on their own, with some, a pair of wet-eyes and some, a heavy heart — very much like this pictures, with one frame saying two different stories altogether. I always thought that riders are hard-hearted, their instinct and mind work slightly differently than us — the-non-riders-bunch. I thought they are so particular about things and mean-spirited towards the entire business …

Looking For An Offbeat Motorbiking Trail In Himalayas? Try Jammu To Killar

Published by Dev

During the past few months, and particularly after writing a few blogposts about my motorbiking trip in Spiti Valley last year, if there was one question I was repeatedly being questioned, it was “how commercialized Spiti Valley is.” And innocently, I always only answered, “not at all”. I mean if you compare the Buddha Circuit in Spiti Valley, that, in reality, takes you to some of the most untapped and isolated corners of Indian Himalayas, with the much commercialized and beaten Leh-Laddakh, what else would you anyway say. Though in reality, Spiti Valley is still pretty untapped, and there are times when you are driving there for hours without spotting any trace of life — the fact is, with soaring popularity, Spiti Valley is getting crowded everyday. But not so in parts I ended up exploring with Jammu & Kashmir Tourism, recently. During my recent motorbiking tour with J&K tourism, with 60 plus riders from across the country, we explored places like no other. Our route-map took us to exactly what the expedition title promised, “exploration of …

How To See Penang In Three Days: An Ideal Travel Guide

Published by Dev

Penang Island is one of those rare places in the world that I would like to revisit, at least twice. There are beaches, laid-back towns, delicious street food, all with a beautiful mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese culture, and speaking of the tourist attractions in number, don’t even ask. I stayed in Georgetown, one of the many small towns in Penang and also a UNESCO heritage city, which, in itself, had over 80 street art murals, temples, a Clan Jetty area and everything else you can think of! One can stay in Penang for more than a month, and still not need to repeat the same spot they explored yesterday. But if you’ve only 3 days to uncover Penang, and want to make the most of your visit follow this Penang travel guide. I expect you to be an urban backpacker with a good taste of travel. But first thing first… Recommended Read: How To Travel From Kuala Lumpur To Penang Where To Stay If you only have about three days in Penang, I’ll suggest you make Georgetown your base. Though …

Things To Do In Selangor: An Ideal Travel Guide

Published by Dev

Looking for a peaceful holiday & away from the crowds of Kuala Lumpur? Consider Selangor! After staying in downtown Kuala Lumpur for a few nights, and comparing it with my time in the neighbouring state of Selangor, I realized that Kuala Lumpur was, after all, never meant for me. And if given a chance to revisit Peninsular Malaysia, I’d like to uncover a bit more or Selangor, or perhaps the southwestern coast and the comparatively offbeat northeast. But for those who happen to be in Malaysia for just a few days and are bound to stay close to the Kuala Lumpur Airport, the state of Selangor, with its many offbeat locations, provides a great escape. Away from the urban centres, while still not very far, Selangor offers convenient travel options and a far refreshing scene of rural villages. Its serene coastline towards the west moreover promises a pleasant and a relaxing holiday. Fondly known as the “Gateway of Malaysia” Selangor offers many adventure experiences like rock climbing, paragliding, river rafting, and bungy jumping, among others. …

Zen Retreats In Selangor, Near Kuala Lumpur

Published by Dev

Kuala Lumpur can be a great city for a first timer, but if you’ve been there before, or are going to be staying in the town for a few days, be well informed that the town may appear as one chaotic mess. It is one of those cities in the world that never sleeps. Its energy hits you in the face and the madness grows on you over time. Everywhere you turn in Kuala Lumpur there is blocked traffic, crowded sidewalks, annoying taxi-drivers and smoggy air. But the good thing is, Kuala Lumpur is not short of quick and accessible getaways or, of Zen Retreats! Drive an hour or two away from Kuala Lumpur in any direction and you’re either going to end up in a thick rainforest or somewhere closer to the musical sound of the ocean — a kind of setting perfect for a quiet holiday. During my recent 5-day blog-trip with Selangor Tourism and Malindo Air, I happened to explore a peaceful forest reserve in the north of Kuala Lumpur, and an idyllic beach resort in …

Tips On Travelling Through Western Australia If You Aren’t Driving

Published by Dev

Western Australia remains one of my favourite regions in Australia when it comes to travelling. It has moving sand-dunes, white sand beaches, some 100,000-year-old sandstone formations, massive gorges, mountain ranges, vineyards, historical towns, indigenous communities and what not! The only problem is, however, transportation is a big problem in the region unless you are driving. If you’re going to and from the main cities, like Perth or Albany or Broome, you still find a bus connection or a train, but if you’re going off the beaten path, consider yourself screwed because there will be no public transportation. And if you still manage to find a bus or a train, the cost of transportation will be so heavily overrated that you are anyway going to regret it. On the east coast of Australia (regions like Queensland and New South Wales) buses and trains are still affordable, but on the west coast, the case is rather the contrary. Here buses are surprisingly expensive, due to limited competition. At times, you will feel that it’s cheaper to fly out in the …

What To See And Do In Bunbury

Published by Dev

There are some towns that you instantly build a liking for, and Bunbury, for me, turned out to be one among them. As I left Perth and travelled south to Bunbury, on a chilly Monday morning in August, the time of the year when tourism in Southwest of Australia is at its all-time low, I found a city like no other. It was quiet yet not dead, urban yet bucolic. Western Australia’s third largest city Bunbury, has something for everyone — from beaches to wildlife to wineries. But one thing that makes it wonderful to a next level is its peaceful locales! You’ll arrive for only a few days, but you’ll want to stay forever, as was the case with me. When I initially arrived in Bunbury, I’d planned to stay for only 2 nights, rather I ended up staying four. It was wet and cold when I visited Bunbury, and had I arrived a couple of weeks later, I’d have explored a completely different side of the city. As soon as the winter goes weak, after the month of August, Bunbury, just like most of Western Australia, turns …

night sky australia

Finding My Love For Astrophotography And Stargazing In Australia

Published by Dev

As I grabbed myself in the middle of a pitch-dark forest with nothing but a cosmic diffusion of blackness spread all around and looked above, the sky glittered at a distance. It felt like a fairy tale with a million stars twinkling in my eyes. I couldn’t recall when did I last saw something as beautiful and surreal. They say that the Southern Hemisphere holds all the good stuff, with most of the largest and brightest galaxies visible directly through a naked-eye. I couldn’t agree more. Here the central parts of the Milky Way are always directly over your head, stretching from one end of the horizon to the other, like an open, brilliant bruise. As the night grew darker, and any sort of artificial light disappeared, the many diffused nebulas and a hazy Milky Way took over the reality, giving an unbelievably strong bright light, casting dramatic shadows of anything and everything that stood tall on the ground. At about 3-hour drive, in the east of Perth, The Space Place Observatory (the place I …