Royal Caribbean Cruise
Pic: www.cruisebrokers.co.za

Cruise holidays have always been considered as a luxurious way to go on holiday, and now, cruise operators are getting ever-more innovative in a bid to be the best. With their TV adverts and unbelievable range of onboard activities, Royal Caribbean – also known as RCI – certainly knows how to deliver a memorable cruise holiday.

In terms of destinations, they visit some of the world’s most beautiful places, ranging from the local delights of Spain, France and Italy to the far-flung paradise of the Caribbean and the iconic city of Sydney in Australia. In-between docking at port, you get the chance to enjoy the things that Royal Caribbean has really become famous for – its extensive onboard entertainment.

With Royal Caribbean, you get all the standard cruise luxuries like 24-hour dining and sumptuous cuisine, along with pools and West End style stage productions. On top of that, Royal Caribbean really pushes the boat out with innovative activities like a FlowRider surf park, rock climbing walls, vast shopping centres, ice rinks, golf simulators, even full-sized basketball courts.

Take Adventure of the Seas for instance, one of the packed ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.It’s got spa facilities and treatments including massages and acupunture, an adults-only Solarium, whirlpools and relaxation classes including yoga. Kids and adults alike will love the ultra-cool ice-skating shows, while grown-ups can try their luck in the Vegas-style Casino Royale.

There’s a full programme of kids’ activities and child-friendly facilities along with clubs and crèches, so RCI is fully geared up for all ages. As cruise holidays go, it’s certainly the jewel in the cruise holiday crown.

Scour a huge range of Royal Caribbean cruises, itineraries and onboard entertainment online at Cruise Thomas Cook, and take advantage of the latest special offers to really get your cruise holiday off to a spectacular start.

Corfu Pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marinomatthys/3300393351/sizes/z/

Corfu – The Emerald Isle

Holidays in the Greek Islands are among the best and most popular getaways in the summer holiday brochures. It’s no surprise really – with stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, popular resorts and sizzling summer sunshine, Greece has got all the right ingredients for a gorgeous getaway to remember forever.

Right at the top of the list of Greek destinations is Corfu – also known as the Emerald Isle – and as holidays go it’s one of the most diverse and fascinating islands within the Greek archipelago. In terms of landscape, Corfu is home to a stunning array of scenic delights ranging from rugged pine-clad mountains and winding rural trails, to secluded coves and sweeping bays, not to mention its ancient architecture and forgotten city ruins of centuries-old civilizations.

There’s an eclectic range of resorts to suit holidaymakers from all walks of life. Clubbers and party animals will get their kicks in non-stop Kavos, which is all strobe lights and big-name DJs that will keep you dancing right through ’til dawn. For those in the opposite end of the scale, lovely Acharavior tranquil Arilas, with its lush landscapes and knock-out coastal views, will certainly please those who fancy a holiday in Corfu that’s hushed and peaceful.

As for families, you’ve got the pick of the crop. Aghios Georgiosis ideal for quiet family breaks with a smattering of local activities, while Sidari and Govia offer slightly livelier affairs with bustling beaches and a general hubbub that promises plenty of things to see and do both in the day and at night.Families and culture vultures alike will love the historic sights, shops and tempting cafes in Corfu Town.

It’s fair to say that as holidays in Corfu go, there’s something for everyone from all walks of life. It’s just a matter of finding your favourite…

How to Make Business Trips a Pleasure, not a Hassle

Whether you’re accustomed to business travel or new to the experience, there are plenty of ways you can maintain the excitement in the whole concept rather than it turning into a chore. With many high flyer positions listing ‘business travel’ as one of the requirements, it’s not always a pleasant experience. Saying goodbye to your families for days, or weeks, on end can be heart-breaking, so ensuring that the trip is as pleasant as possible will help you keep in high spirits.

Spending nights alone in hotel rooms and enduring endless hour’s mid-flight can be arduous; if you take heed of the following advice though, your future business trips may not be so bad. If you’re flying from London, check out Travelodge’s hotels in Gatwick airport where your hassle-free trip can really begin.

If you find yourself packing and unpacking over and over again in a short space of time, keep some of the traveling essentials separate, ready to go when you are. Some toiletries, such as shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste and a toothbrush, would be perfect to keep in your suitcase rather than having to faff on the day before your flight. Keep these items stocked up so that you never find yourself with empty bottles.

The need for a laptop or netbook is inevitable on a business trip – keeping on top of emails, documents and suchlike during the evenings is essential, not to mention the accessibility to Facebook and Netflix to pass the time. Wi-Fi pretty much comes as standard nowadays, and is a perfect way to stay in touch with friends and family so that you don’t feel like you’re missing out. Install Skype or similar for emotional video chats.

Frequent flying often means losing track of a healthy diet and lacking exercise, but it doesn’t have to be the way. While your gym membership will have to stay at home, there’s no reason why you can’t make the most of your free time. If the hotel you’re staying in has a gym, make use of it when you can. If not, use the stairs rather than the lift and do some simple exercises in your room.

Food-wise, eating healthy food in a restaurant is just as convenient as stopping at a fast food joint – choose wisely so that you don’t return home feeling sluggish and unhealthy. When it comes to restaurants and bars in the same city, vary your visits so that you try new things and keep your trip interesting. While you may have found an ideal eatery, one round the corner could be even better – step outside your comfort zone and enjoy a varied stay.

Traveling a day or two before you’re needed, if possible, gives you the chance to relax and prepare yourself for what lies ahead. There’s nothing worse than flying out on the morning before a conference or meeting – if time allows, give yourself a little leeway to reduce stress.

Ensure that your itinerary includes enough time, pre-flight, to help keep you nice and relaxed. Check out Travelodge’s hotels in Gatwick airport for accommodation the night before you fly for the ultimate in stress-free business travel.

Tonga Sign
Pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aloha75/8378529590/

A visit to New Zealand is there on my bucketlist. So when I read about Tonga, I just had to add it to my bucketlist along side New Zealand. Or maybe I can club it with my trip to Hawaii? Well, we will see 

Ensconced in the South Pacific Ocean, Tonga or the Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago of 176 islands out of which 52 are inhabited and is perfect for pacific holiday experience. Lengthwise, the Kingdom stretches over a distance of about 800 kilometers in a north-south line located about a third of the distance from New Zealand to Hawaii.(source :wiki)

The British explorer, Captain James Cook landed in Tonga and decided to stay on for two months to explore the area. He received such a warm welcome from the locals, that he decided to name the islands – friendly islands; a name that still remains. He even gifted Tu’i Malila, a tortoise (from Madagascar) to the royal family of Tonga, which is the second longest-lived tortoise (age has been verified). That there was plot made by the locals to kill the captain, is a story which even Captain James Cook was oblivious to.

Tonga is an untouched by too much commercialism and over the top tourism, and proudly boasts of its pristine beaches, beautiful coral reefs, active volcanoes and stunningly pure rainforest. There are various activities for anyone to have a go at. For example, there is sailing, fishing, diving, bird watching (rare breeds like red breasted Koki, musk parrot, Megapode etc are found here), ….etc.

But, if you are traveling in between June and November, then lo and behold, you can actually swim with gigantic-larger-than-life whales! June is the time, when the humpback whales, swim from the icy and cold Antarctica, to the tropical-reef-protected waters of Tonga in order to give birth to their young ones. Snorkeling can be truly majestic under the clear waters as you watch the whales. By November, the whales migrate back to their old and familiar environment in Antarctica. So, if whale swimming is on your bucketlist, then you know when you need to head to Tonga!

There are regular flights to Nuku’alofa, by Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue and Air Pacific.  Chathams Pacific flies to smaller islands making the exploration of this beautiful archipelago possible.

Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore
Pic: worldarchitecturemap.org

India is one country that has history and cultural spots which are as old as human memory!! With the length and breadth of such gigantic scale India has numerous tourist spots spread across its geography. To see India in 7 days would be a challenge that will definitely test anybody’s scheduling skills. Let me try and show you a glimpse of how I would plan a few major cities. If you were to start the trip in the south, Bangalore is a good bet to start off from. With one of the best climate and weather on offer, this high tech city occupies a high spot as one of the most  eminent places in the list of tourist spots in India. With numerous luxury hotels spread around the city, stay is never a problem and not to forget the delicious food on offer in the restaurants of Bangalore. Vidhan Soudha, Cubbon Park, Visvesvaraya Museum, Wonderla Entertainment Park,…etc are some of the most visited tourist spots in Bangalore. From Bangalore the next easy city to visit is Hyderabad.

Wonderla Amusement Park
(Pic: buzzintown.com)

Book your tickets early:

For your travel in India, it is advisable to book all the tickets early along with the hotels in which you are going to stay to avoid the last minute hurdles. An easy way to reach Hyderabad from Bangalore is by bus. You can get the Bangalore Hyderabad bus tickets easily online. In Hyderabad, the spots to see are Charminar, Hussain Sagar Lake, Salarjung Museum, Malls in Banjara Hills and not to forget the Ramoji Rao Film City.

Charminar Pic: www.charminar.org.in

After a hectic Hyderabad, you cab take another night journey to reach Mumbai, the Financial capital & action city of India, by road, or better still fly in to the Mumbai airport.

Plans in Mumbai :

Gateway of India
Pic: www.mumbailocal.net

Being the business capital of India, this city boasts of very high population. Apart from business links, this is also the city of Bollywood. The famous India Gate is also located here and the Colaba area in South Mumbai has excellent buildings with good heritage background. The Mumbai stock exchange on the Dalal Street,is another place, which you must visit when you are in Mumbai. With dozens of Malls & Clubs, Mumbai also boasts of a very brisk night life. Party around for 2 days and you will still yearn for more.

Osho Ashram Pic: www.tcabs.in

The next city which,I will recommend to you to visit, from Mumbai will be Pune. Tourists can easily reach Pune from Mumbai with the Pune Mumbai bus service. Pune is often called the as the cultural capital of the Maharashtra city. Pune has numerous temples to worship as well as temples of education, with over 300 colleges and 150 schools. This city also has hotels, that caters to all classes of masses. This city houses the National War Museum, which has a rich collection war items and incidentally, this museum also has a pillar, that is 25 feet in height erected in the memory of the soldiers who had fought in the wars for India.

Apart from these places, Pune has some world-class bakeries & eateries for any visitor to spend his time.From Pune to go back to Mumbai after your trip, you can reserve your tickets with the Mumbai Pune bus services and get the best deal once again.

Beaches at Goa Pic: Anurag Yadava http://www.flickr.com/photos/84786753@N00/

Goa, an easy travel option for seekers of peace, entertainment and action

Goa is one of the dream holiday destinations in India. Goa with its peaceful and scenic nature attracts thousands of global tourists every year. Beautiful clean beaches with crystal clear water form the main landscape of Goa. Eating, singing and dancing is the way of life for Goans! The laidback and footloose attitude of the locals is infectious and one can get into a celebration mood, as soon as one sets foot on the Goan land.

Beaches in Goa

With coconut trees by the thousands lined up across the state, becoming its natural scenery, the beaches become all the more strikingly beautiful. Listed here are the 8 main beaches in both north and south Goa, with abundant activities and merriment on offer.

• Morjim Beach
• Anjuna Beach
• Baga Beach
• Candolim Beach
• Colva Beach
• Calangute Beach
• Palolem Beach
• Varca Beach

Each of these beaches has its own charm and its share of people vouching for their choice. From silent discotheques to water sports, from isolated peaceful stretches of sand to packed beaches on most days, in Goa, there is always something for everyone.

Cultural fiesta in Goa

Apart from the entertainment, Goa also boasts of a proud heritage dating back to thousands of years. This city consists of numerous churches, which have been recognized as heritage spots, by the UNESCO. The churches present here have been built with the Indo-European structural concepts. Many of these churches have been constructed during the Portuguese reign of almost 450 years in this state. Some of the globally well renowned churches in Goa are -

• Church of St. Francis of Assisi
• Basilica Of Bom Jesus
• St. Augustine Church
• Chapel Of St. Catherine
• Se Cathedral Church

Natural beauty & wildlife in Goa

Goa is also known for its wild life sanctuaries. The two main sanctuaries are Bhagwan Mahvir Sanctuary (of which Mollem National Park is a part) and Cotigao Sanctuary. The Dudhsagar Falls, inside the Bhagwan Mahvir sanctuary, cascades from a great height. The Mud hut at the Shanti Nature Resort in Mollem National Park, is a must experience for all. Check out Goair for their best offers to reach Goa.

Another must do, is the Spice plantations trip around Ponda.  The spice farms in Goa are open to visitors through the year and various guided tours are conducted through the farm that often ends with a spicy meal! Once you have decided to go to Goa, you can also choose the SpiceJet which will give you the most comfortable ride.

Party & Carnival in Goa

While Goa boasts of world class night life options, with its rock bands and music culture, it also has a delectable local cuisine on offer. The Goan Carnival is a world famous must attend for any visitor and don’t forget to shake your leg to the tunes of King Momo. In the evenings, just walk along the beach scanning the array of shacks, cafes and bars to choose your spot of the day to chill out, sometimes even through the night!!

Useful link

The Ultimate 50 Things To Do in Goa

Composed Volcano makes it to Top 100 Blogs to follow in 2013 (at #68)

Top 100 Blogs to follow in 2013

Saying cheers with Black Dog

It has been a while since I wrote a review. Am not a whiskey drinker but then one day I found a bottle of Black Dog Centenary being delivered by the Black Dog and Ginger Claps team, at my home.

Normally, I need no reason to party and here I already had one! So a Black Dog get-together it was, at my place and for this I called over my whiskey / scotch connoisseur friends.

Over multiple sessions of card playing, jokes and guffaws; the bottle was opened and served. As the drink was poured out I noticed its tawny, translucent albeit bright color with a sweet floral smell.  I learnt that there are four variants of Black Dog Scotch named as – The Black Dog centenary, The Black Dog 12 YO, The Black Dog 18 YO and the Black Dog 21 YO.

“It is meant to be had neat, so no soda or cola pleassse!” pointed out a friend while the rest decided to have it with soda. Clinking of the ice cubes, aroma of the whiskey and a shout of ‘cheers’ – party had begun

An extremely smooth drink, Black Dog is a well balanced drink, with the right amount of acidity is what the drinker told me. In the middle of all conversations, one friend remarked,” Black Dog 18 is a must have.  Aged for 18 years in Oak Cask it’s a blended scotch and the right choice for luxury pampering”

I was also enlightened with the trivia – “All Scotch is whiskey but all whiskey is not Scotch. They need to be made in Scotland to qualify to be a Scotch!” My interest was piqued and I decided to dig into the internet for more trivia. Here are few interesting ones…..

• There are two ways it can be spelt – Whisky and Whiskey.  The difference is – Irish spelled their version whiskey while the Scots used whisky
• There is a dispute between the Irish and the Scots, as to who were the first to make whisky
• Whisky can be called Whisky only when it matured for a minimum of 3 years in oak casks
• In many Latin-American countries, whisky (wee-skee) is used as a photographer’s cue to smile
• The wood expands and contracts with the change in temperature giving a dark color to the whiskey during the time its aged
• A closed bottle of whisky can be kept for more than 100 years and it will still be good to drink. After opening, a half-full bottle of whisky should remain good for five years.
• The “age” of a whisky is the time between distillation and bottling
• The four categories of Scotch are single malt, vatted malt, blended, and single grain
• The maturing process of Whiskey takes place in oak casks for 3 – 15 years. Reason why one must drink it with ice neat else the whole maturing process becomes useless
• The body or lightness of whiskey is primarily determined by the size of the grain from which it is made; the larger the grain, the lighter the whiskey. For example, whiskey made from rye, with its small grain size, is bigger or fuller-bodied than is whiskey made from corn, with its large grain size.

I have always used rum for my cakes; didn’t have an idea that Whiskey can be used too! So for my Whiskey cooking project I dug out few recipes

Chocolate Whiskey Balls Recipe

Whiskey Cookies

Chocolate Whiskey Tart

A word of caution for my friends – don’t call to enquire about the above experiments; I shall call if the experiment is successful and there is enough left for all of you to gorge upon

Here’s saying cheers to many more such good times!

Boats on The Nile Pic: http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/kowEURzGz0M-EnmfMsewECc-hd/Countries_of_the_World/Africa/Egypt/Boats_on_the_Nile.jpg

There are few places in the world more mysterious, steeped in both history and legend, than Egypt. Tales of the pharaohs and cursed grave robbers have captured the world’s imagination and many visit this country to satisfy their curiosity. There are of course a variety of surprising modes of transport here, so make your trip more exciting by trying a few!

Travellers frequently choose to begin their stay in Luxor, which is conveniently located for visiting sites such as the Valley of the Kings – the burial site of Tutankahmun! After reaching the west bank of the Nile by ferry or bus, why not hire a bike to reach this historical gem? Some of the tombs here are open to the public and although the cycle ride takes you uphill, it’s certainly worth it.

Take regular breaks from the heat to admire architectural masterpieces such as the Colossi of Memnon, two giant statues depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which have stood overlooking the landscapes for thousands of years. Cycling ensures that you can stop whenever you feel like it, rather than being restricted by a minibus journey.

Add a touch of adventure to your Nile experience, by travelling on a boat down the Nile River to see amazing temple sights around Luxor. History will pass right before your eyes in an area that Egyptians have inhabited for thousands of years.

It is not difficult to access Giza from Luxor but tourists are often advised to fly since trains can be unreliable and they are certainly not luxurious. From Giza, history enthusiasts can bargain for a camel before traversing the desert movie-star style to see the Great Pyramids. Even if you go with an organised tour, bartering is often required and it can be an interesting process – remember that you are in a position of strength and don’t be afraid to knock money off the price. Marvel at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Also in this area of Egypt, The Great Sphinx sits majestically looking over the desert. This giant statue has the face of a woman and the body of a lion. Thought to be built around 2,500 BC by the Pharaoh Khafra, no one is entirely certain of its original purpose. One of Egypt’s biggest mysteries, The Great Sphinx of Giza is a must-see for all travellers looking to experience Egyptian history.

From hieroglyphics to mummies and the fascinating range of gods inspired by the desert surroundings, Egypt is rich with culture and history everywhere you look. Much of it has been amazingly well-preserved so visitors can enjoy it to this day. Plan enough time to see it all, choose your mode of transport and get caught up in Egyptian mysteries.

The Maggi Story Pic: Priya Q

Steamed bun or Theemok; vegetable spinach cheese momos were the highlights of our lunch at the Tibetian Wak Kitchen in the market area; which is a very humble place with basic interiors.

We stopped for lunch at Khalsar on our way to Nubra Valley; a lunch which is better forgotten about than written. We accept that one can’t ask for non-veg food anywhere out of Leh, but the vegetarian dishes can taste nice too!! This was not the case at Khalsar.

Soupy Maggie Noodles Pic: Priya Q

Sipping and sucking Maggie soupy noodles at the Highest point café at Khardungla pass was a definitely a highlight and a must do for everyone! Bonus for us was the sudden and short snow-cum-hail storm!

At the Dugu-ling restaurant at Tangtse

We absolutely loved the food and the experience of the traditional sit down lunch in an absolutely lovely and colorful ambiance at Dugu-ling restaurant at Tangtse on our way to Pangong Tso.  The pictures of the owner with Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Madhavan are the proof that the film crew of the movie 3 idiots also took a pit stop here.

Steak at Pumpernickel German Bakery Restaurant Pic: Nandita Ravindran

Pumpernickel German Bakery Restaurant in the Leh market area is a good place to go to if you are in a mood for some continental stuff; which is the option we took up for one of the dinners.

The group farewell dinner was organized at the Tibetian Kitchen which was good food and value for money experience. With red lanterns and dim lighting the ambiance wasn’t too great but nonetheless it was comfortable and is recommended for its budget also.

The landscape of Ladakh is dotted with Apricot and Apple trees besides the monasteries! So, eating juicy and yummy apricots and apples straight from trees is an experience, one should try for.The shops in the market sell dried apricots, apricot jams,… etc that can be a good take home item.

Salted Butter Tea at a Nomad’s Tent

On our way to Pangong Tso, we stopped at a nomad’s tent. The big grinning ladies in their traditional attire (whom I remembered having seen on a travel show) welcomed us with open arms and treated us to salted tea, Yak cheese and Yak butter with no expectations. However, we did give them some money as a token of gratitude.

Yak butter for you! Pic: Priya Q

Yak Cheese making in process! Pic: Priya Q

Chhang,is a barley based alcoholic beverage which we couldn’t lay our hands on. You need to order with a local, well in advance and also is supposed to be consumed fresh.

While traveling in Ladakh, the non-veg eater must take it their stride that besides Leh getting non-veg meal anywhere else, is a rarity. In fact, in the 7 days in Ladakh, we were predominantly veggies! (absolutely no choice at all once you leave the Leh town)