The Paradise Island: Sri Lanka

In between freelance work, drafting the scope of work and plans for prospective projects and most importantly attending a marathon of weddings of all close friends/cousins in 2016, I did not end up updating my blog for a while. However better late than never, so here I am.

Also let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and healthy 2017, a year where you may discover and relish new experiences!

So when you want to plan and enjoy a holiday, but have a few preconditions what can be your best option that you can explore and not regret! My husband and I had to attend a wedding in the beautiful beach town of Kovalam in Kerala towards the end of August, 2016. We wanted to take a holiday after that, but one for not more than a week. 

So we actually did not have to travel too far, to a small country filled with pristine beaches, scenic towns, enthralling wild-life/conservation sanctuaries, rich heritage & culture, delectable local cuisine and the warmest locals. Yes I am talking about Sri Lanka, popularly known as the paradise island.

You can fly on Srilankan Airlines or Jet Airways as they seem to have the maximum frequency of flights to Colombo from several Indian cities. 

Sri Lanka: The Paradise Island

Galle

We landed in Colombo from Trivandrum, but drove straight to the gorgeous Dutch Colonial town of Galle and we stayed at this charming resort - the Jetwing Lighthouse, Luxury Hotel Galle  for 3 nights.

The Terrace at the hotel

It had the best sea view and you should not miss the sunset over the beach from the terrace while sipping on a cocktail and munching some crispy sea food. 

Lemon Prawns by the sea

Galle is an easy, two hour-long drive from Colombo. It’s well worth a visit, to see its 17th-century fort (and UNESCO World Heritage site), colourful bylanes and vintage cars, pretty shops and a series of eateries. Next door to the fort is an international cricket stadium with the sea by its side. 

The old Dutch Fort

Just about 40 minutes from Galle is Unawatuna, a hippy-chic, colourful and well maintained beach. Ideal for a day trip to enjoy the sunshine, a swim in the ocean, read an amazing book while drinking some beer with local fish! We spent 3 memorable days around Galle and had a great time!

The Unawatuna Beach

Bentota 

After Galle we spent one day at Bentota at the Vivanta by Taj. The property is beautiful and very well planned. We devoured a traditional Sri Lankan lunch which though a little spicy, was extremely delicious. On the way to Bentota we stopped by the Kosgoda turtle hatchery where we patted some oldies and also adored the babies on our palms.  We also learnt about Sri Lanka's pioneering sea turtle conservation project and how the village of Kosgoda in particular is a prime turtle nesting site. It was both informative and fun.

The view from The Taj Vivanta at Bentota

The Traditional Sri Lankan Thali

Kisses from baby turtles at Kosgoda

 Colombo

After visiting these beach towns, we finally reached Colombo. The city has two exquisite museums namely The National and Dutch period museum. You can indulge in all the local shopping from Odel - a high-profile department store that combines international and top local brands with both an ethnic and contemporary display.   It's always crowded with both visitors and the locals. We stayed at a hotel called - The Steuart by Citrus very close to the popular old dutch hospital area.

Last but not the least you just cannot miss a meal at the Ministry of Crab . It is a very reputed sea food joint amongst the local elite and foreigners. Thus an online advance booking is recommended. 

Famous cricketers, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara along with celebrity chef Dharshan Munidase decided to create Ministry of Crab as a celebration of Sri Lanka’s seafood, particularly of her wonderfully sweet and succulent crabs.

It was by far the best sea food I ever tasted till date! The Japanese rice coupled with a plate of chilly garlic crab and some butter soy prawns was absolutely lip-smacking.

Chilly Garlic Crab

This sums up our wonderful trip to Sri Lanka. I strongly recommend this as an option for a great holiday. Though we visited the above, Sri Lanka is also well known for its romantic landscapes, flanked by rising mountains, lush green forests, sprawling tea gardens and gushing waterfalls.  Travelling further north the landscape changes completely, North of Sri Lanka is a world apart from the rest of country. The colorful Hindu temples replace the white pagodas. So Sri Lanka has bits of so much weaved into one marvellous island. 

Till we meet again, don't take too long to tick this off your bucket list.

Love

Debarati

Doors to Delightful Dooars!

Never hesitate to open the door to every breath of fresh air, new beginnings and most importantly to embrace the uncertainty of the unknown. I did that in February this year. At times you need to escape the real to live the reel or rather discover bits of the real you, struck down by daily reel life!

After a lot of coordination, bit of planning and follow ups for the first time the entire family agreed upon taking a small holiday to a gorgeous hill station situated in the North of Bengal - Dooars.

We flew to Bagdogra - a small airport connecting the north of the State and hill stations around it to rest of India. Another drive for two hours - before the doors opened to Dooars - a delightful, scenic and peaceful hill station filled with large and lush tea gardens, some wild elephants and delicious momos.

The name Dooars is derived from “doors” as the region is the gateway to the whole of North-east India and Bhutan.

Apart from being green and gorgeous Dooars can truly act as that catalyst to help you relax and breathe in its rejuvenating air. It was a sojourn through rolling hill slopes, absolutely splendid, vast and lush tea gardens, meandering mountain streams and a bevy of beautiful Sal forests.

The picturesque Teesta River flowing away in front of your naked eye flanked by the daunting and undulating hilly terrain wanting to kiss the endless sky is simply breath-taking. One can even capture, a blue outline of the great Himalayan ranges in the horizon. A drive through the Dooars plains, the gateway to Bhutan and the whole of North east India, was truly a wonderful experience for the entire family.

The Teesta - what a view

Wanderlust - Tea Gardens

Love this one - Radhika my sister in law

Feeling free & green 

Dooars is also well-known for its rich biodiversity and forests, the most notable of which are Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, and Buxa Tiger Reserve - home to the rare one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephants, the mighty bison, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, hog deer, reptiles, huge wild tuskers, wild boars, and the rarest variety of and birds, including peacocks.

While we were driving back to our resort one afternoon we spotted a wild elephant from a distance. It was quite interesting to witness the carefree attitude of the lovely huge animal, strolling away across the local rail lines. The officer in charge had to inform the controlling station to slow down any approaching train. This is apparently very common in Dooars and one of the important tasks of the rail officer on duty.

Other places of attraction in and around the region include Jayanti, a beautiful spot encircled by the Jayanti River and the hills around. Bhutanghat famous for its scenic beauty, is close to the river Raidak that borders Bhutan.

Bhutan Border

While driving around and stopping by sights and sounds of Mother Nature do not miss enjoying some local Druk beer and delectable momos.

Enjoying an amazing view and that's The Druk Beer

Momolicious

The Stay: http://www.sinclairshotels.com/dooars

We stayed at this pretty resort called Sinclairs Retreat Dooars located at Chalsa Hilltop spread over 20 acres of verdant green. We took walks admiring the open spaces and nature. Waking up to the view of colourful flower beds was wonderful. We hired a few cycles and went cycling one evening within the resort.

One of the many flower beds

Cycling Fun

One evening while we were going for dinner, the resort was hosting a musical evening by the lawns. The local Santhal dancers were performing by the bonfire. It was fascinating to see them rhythmically sing dance and make merry!

Folk dance by the bonfire

So I would surely recommend everyone to try and visit this place especially if you are planning a short trip anywhere near Calcutta or the North - East.

Family....

Love
Debarati

Weekend Getaways

This is the last post of the year, that I have put together. Though we get very excited to plan that one long and one short holiday usually within our calendar year, the spontaneous weekend trips are also as much fun. Budgets are lesser, you need no leaves granted from the boss and yet you come back all rejuvenated with happy memories.

5 weekend getaways I loved going to, from Mumbai. (not in any order of preference).

The link to the stay option directs you to where I stayed and I truly liked all of the mentioned resorts/properties. 

1.) Sula Vineyards

Nashik is a popular destination for wine connoisseurs and amateurs alike. It houses the famous Sula vineyards. The lush green vineyards, the guided tour and some relaxing time while sipping on wine and nibbling on some cheese makes it a worthwhile weekend. 

How to get there:  Nashik is 180 km from Mumbai, reachable by car, bus or train and 210 km from Pune, reachable by car or by bus.

Links: http://www.sulawines.com/ 

Stay: http://sulawines.com/Stay/ 

2) Lonavala/Khandala

A very convenient hilly weekend outing. Extremely green and surronded by enchancting valleys. It is just a 2/2.5 hour drive from Bombay and the most beautiful during monsoons. Lonavala is also famous for its chikki and delicious fudge!

How to get there: Very easily reachable by car or bus and several trains also connect Mumbai to Lonavala.

Stay: Check out this lovely property in Khandala - ideal for a staycation or a day trip. -  http://www.dukesretreat.com/  

3) Murud

This place should surely be on any itinerary of the Konkan Coast. The relaxed pace of life, fresh seafood, the majestic offshore Janjira fort and the blue and serene beach. 

One can also take a boat ride till the fort before the sun sets.

How to get there: Hire a cab or rent a car to drive down to Murud, which takes about 4 hours. Travelling to Murud is little difficult for first time visitors but to start early in the morning is the best time to drive. One gets clear roads and can reach the destination faster.

Stay: http://www.goldenswan.com/beachresort/html/  

4) Igatpuri

Nestled beautifully on the Western Ghats, Igatpuri is a popular spot for seeking tranquility and natural beauty. Again it is prettiest during the monsoons.  Ideal for an overnight get away to inhale some fresh air before getting back to base.

How to get there: 120 kms from Mumbai, it is a 2 hour drive away. It is also well connected by buses to the city (Mumbai).

Stay: http://www.manasresort.in/ 

5) Lavasa

A winding drive past Lonavala leads you to Lavasa, a pretty and planned township, situated between the Western Ghats near Pune.  Lavasa has a variety of restaurants that offer open air dining on a beautiful lakeside promenade. Boating, cycling and skating are some of the activities you can enjoy during your weekend stay. 

How to get there: It takes a little more than three hours of driving, to reach Lavasa through the beautiful Pune-Mumbai express road. The distance between Lavasa and Mumbai is almost 195 km. Roads are very meandering and buses or cars is the best way to reach Lavasa

Stay:http://www.fortunehotels.in/resort/Lavasa-Fortune_Select_Dasve/Reaching_Us.aspx  

So I hope you will consider the above options while you plan your time out from the hustle -bustle of the city life. Good news is that, even 2016 has been kind to us with quite a few long weekends like its forerunner - 2015!

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2016 from the bottom of my heart.

Love

Debarati

Travel Dairies....2015

Travel creates memories..that is the best part of a holiday/work trip for me. It enriches and exposes you to new environments, history, heritage and sceneries.

My husband and I went for a holiday to the United Kingdom and hopped on to two beautiful European cities after that - Amsterdam and Paris, in August earlier this year. The most fascinating part about this trip was the different cultures we could experience.

The magnificent and imperial colleges in The United Kingdom, the vibrancy and colourful culture of Amsterdam and last but not the least the romance you feel in the air when you touch down in Paris. Not to forget the delectable cuisine and the lip-smacking Parisian desserts. 

Here are 3 of my favourite pictures from each of our stop overs.  

The magnificent Radcliffe College in Oxford on a bright sunny English morning

A Postcard from - The Canal Cruise at Amsterdam 

Paris - The Eiffel Tower and us

Without any doubt it was a splendid and enriching experience. We returned, all refreshed. Work got very hectic for both of us and the month of November was extremely hectic for me especially. An integral part of this busy month was a work trip to Dhaka. I had to organize and travel with an Indian media delegation for the launch of a renowned hotel brand - Le Meridien.

While this involved a lot of deliverables from my end but all encompassing it was indeed memorable.  A South Asian neighbouring country - Bangladesh. So similar in terms of impeccable hospitality and warmth yet so different with regard to its history, heritage and local cuisine.

Here are some snapshots of the visit.

The Indian media delegation at an official dinner

The park with statues of all eminent writers who fought to keep Bangla as the official language 

Some fish love: Grilled Salmon Steak in butter and balsamic sauce

A handmade colourful cycle rickhshawa - Dhaka is the cycle rickshaw capital of the world

The eminent Dhaka University -  referred to as 'The Oxford of The East'

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed putting it together. When you pen down your thoughts - it is actually like reliving the moments again.

P.S: This trip fell in between the long Diwali weekend break. I had a flight out on an early Saturday morning with a working Friday in between.

However Puru (the husband - Pururaj) and I decided to make most of Wedneday and Thursday. We drove down to this beach called Murud Janjira. It is about a 4.5 hour drive from Bombay. Comparitively untouched, not so commercial and very blue and serene.

We loved our overnight road trip. Wish we could have extended the stay. India is truly incredible. Yes and this was just one miniscule part of our vast country. Hope we the people and Goverment can help in protecting mother nature in our very own mother land.

Glimpses of Murud

Sunset by the Murud Janjira Fort

Me enjoying the blue water and sunny sky

Murud Beach - Blue and Lovely

Love.
Debarati/Mou

Feedback/Comments - Most welcome :)

Flamboyant Jaipur

January, 22nd - 25th, 2015!!! Yes the peak of winter and I had to be in Jaipur on work. I was slightly apprehensive about it (I am Bengali and I feel cold)  but was quite excited too, to visit this pinkly royal city after almost 18 years.

I am going to keep this short and sweet as it was a work trip and this will be a photo blog update! However it was a splendid exprience ranging from royal dinners at the ethinic forts to the local city tour and delectable local cuisine.

Enjoy the pictures :)

Dada....

If I say that we miss you..would it be enough?
Your smile full of innocence and those beautiful eyes hiding your tremendous pain,
An understatement it would be if I say its tough.
Recalling those slender fingers rhythmically playing the tabla
I wonder sometimes is there anything left to gain.
Yet I console myself: You are happy and in peace,
But can you see a piece of this..
Your absence hounds me
However I know this is reality from which I cannot flee...
Now I know and I really know now
That you left us for good,
All I can cherish is the lovely memories of our childhood.
A fragrant flower gone to dust, though the aroma still prevails
I love you lots Brother..keep smiling like you did..
Talented,humble,affectionate and always so candid

City of Joy..

Well its been precisely four and a half years since I left my hometown the city of joy- Kolkata; I like calling it Calcutta so the rest of this post will not mention Kolkata again !! Though I do not regret my decision and the scope in terms of the media field still remains negligible in the city, I have to admit that I do miss it now and then.

Why do I miss Calcutta and what makes it so special to me ?

1.4- Lake Terrace, Calcutta 29- My home where I spent 18 years of my life and I do not know how time flew by. Mom's home cooked food especially her mutton curry. Sitting with Dad in the living room watching cricket matches together and discussing the latest in every field -politics,sports and much more. Enjoying the sound of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma on the santoor and the tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussian obviously on the tabla involved in an enthralling jugal bandi with my brother who happens to be a die hard fan of Zakir Hussian and also plays the tabla since he was six!
Finally cuddling my Labrador - Fido before hitting the bed every night.

2. Evening walks with my any of my close friends whoever is free at that time to this place called Vivekananda Park where you get to eat the most amazing puchkas and aloodum!

3. Modern High School for Girls! Little did I know then that one day I would look back and consider the days spent in school as the best days of my life.The lovely playground, the basketball and table tennis matches, the annual sports day, guide camps,pranks on the teachers and I could go on and on...

4. Park Street - The paradise for food lovers. A stretch of fairly reasonable restaurants which serve the most awesome food. The fish and chips at One Step Up, Fish Meuniere at Mocambo or the Chello Kebab at Peter Cat- One word to describe all is Delicious!

5. TANGRA/CHINA TOWN - I vouch for this! The best Chinese food ever.

6. Shisha! Though I am not a great party goer but I cannot deny that I have had a lot fun and strange moments at this night club.

7. New Market- Chamba Lamba- I have to visit this silver shop every time I touch base in Calcutta.

8. My friends back there with whom I can pick from wherever I left without any hesitation. Love you all.

9. The Howrah Bridge: I know that may sound a little weird but I have a strange fascination for this old yet towering and powerful structure.

10. Finally the people - Yes call them LAZY I agree, sometimes cranky and snappy I would agree with that too but very good at heart. I do not and probably never will feel the warmth I receive from the people in Calcutta in any part of the world.

You will and always bear a very special place in my heart no matter whether I am living in the city or outside it!