Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimpu - Punakha - Paro - Tiger’s Nest

Imagine an untouched beauty. She wouldn't know how to respond to a touch - at best her response will be ambivalent. Bhutan is like that - a country that vehemently protects its proud & rich tradition although it heavily depends on tourism and a bunch of countries for funds and technology. We entered the royal country of Bhutan through Jaigaon on a rainy day. Next morning was spent in the immigration office to receive permit before we were told the road to Thimphu is blocked due to landslides.

View of Thimphu from Buddha Point

Sigri

Trip: Delhi - Nainital - Sigri - Delhi

• Go for the village walk in the evening. A golden sunset and glimpse of village life in the hills will be worth the exertion. You can even restock at the village shop.
• A trek to the highest point is the best way to spend the afternoon. Both the view and the effort to reach the high point is invigorating.
• Remember there is no cell signal in here. Visit Nainital in the evening. It is hardly an hour away and the buzzing marketplace is a good balancing act against the seclusion of Sigri.

Imagine a cozy resort nestled in an islotaed heaven deep in the Himalayas, inhabited with simple hillfolks, few hutments and no cell signal. What can you do, disconnected from the city? How about if you are with a bunch of close friends, enough booze and an entire resort staff at your command, not to forget a stunning view of the ice-capped Himalayas and pleasant weather. You would definitely want to go there.

Golden Sunset, Sigri

Mandrem Beach, Goa

Trip: Delhi - Goa - Delhi

• A scooty ride to Mandrem is half the fun. The long and shallow beach is perfect for kids so if you are with them, its a perfect getaway and they will love it. 
• Visit Baba Au Rhum on the way. It is authentic french restaurant and has some pastry delicacies famous around Goa.

Mandrem was nothing like a beach I had seen before. Calm and composed, shallow and yet deep, it was inviting to both kids and adults alike. The seclusion, distance from main Goa and the sheer size of Mandrem made us fall in love with it. The shacks were as usual very useful and helpful, at a price. Old songs of 90s were playing. The warm December breeze under the afternoon sunshine made the booze even more effective. We were entranced.

Shacks, Mandrem

Aguada Fort, Goa

Lighthouses fascinate me. They have too much to offer. As if the sea on one side and land on another was not enough, these guardians in the darkness offer unmatched view of the landscape from a high point that by design has to be visible from afar. The spiraling staircases take you to an alien looking gigantic torch that rotates. Very few lighthouses are open for tourists - the three most facinating ones I have climbed are the one in Mahabalipuram, Kovalam and Diu Fort. Unfortunately the one in Aguada Fort is not open and many a photogenic views have been bereaved from innocent tourists.

Lighthouse, Aguada Fort 

Ozran Beach (Little Vagator), Goa

Ozran Beach is also known as Little Vagator due to its proximity to the larger Vagator Beach. In all perspectives, it's an independent beach, in fact more than any other, thanks to the large hills that bracket this small pocket. Lately constructions have begun in this secluded paradise which means in next one year it will be as crowded and commercialized as any other beach in Goa.

Little Vagator

Baga Beach, Goa

Goa me sab chalta hai (everything is acceptable in Goa). We heard those words at 2AM near Tito's when a group of girls were moving out in scooty. That summerizes the existence of Goa as the most preferred vacation spot in India. Goa has something for everyone - like life you just need to find those few things and settle in.

Water Sports, Baga Beach

Macau

Macau is a party place. Gambling, consorts and shopping would be the top three activities that one would go to Macau for. Then there is leisure and tourism but those are lower in the list. An hour on speed boat from Hong Kong, Macau is invariably paired with the big brother HK for people coming from far and depending upon the activity, one spends time in each of these SARs. We were in HK for 3.5 days before we decided to take a Cotai Jet to Macau on a sunny afternoon.

Ruins of St. Paul’s

Disneyland, Hong Kong

What draws us to Disneyland is the exhuberance and excitement that’s created by both children and their parents while they enjoy and entertain. Hong Kong Disneyland is no different and yet different from other Disneyland’s as they go. There are unique rides and few new ones like the one we saw in the Iron Man Experience. It has been added after the acquisition of Marvel Universe by Disney.

Disneyland, Hong Kong

Cheung Chau, Hong Kong

Cheung Chau is a vacation within Hong Kong. The small island with polite residents and sandy beaches has an air of relaxation of Goa level. Only one hour from the busy Victoria Harbour, the island is an independent ecosystem and well commercialized. Ferries at regular interval from Pier 5 take you Cheung Chau - there are fast and slow ferries and option for first and second class.

Tung Wan Beach, Cheung Chau

Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Victoria Peak is a treasure. As it happens with all the treaures, everyone wants to have a part of it. Hence there is queue and crowd thats unmatched even in a city as populous and cosmopolitan as Hong Kong. Still tourists thrive to watch the bustling city as a singularity from a high viewpoint. Victoria Peak however offers more than than, hence the treasure.

From Peak Tower Escalators

Hong Kong

Trip: Hong Kong & Macau

Hong Kong - the city of malls - has everything one seeks for. The so called financial capital of the world attracts all and sundry that money can attract. Hong Kong is not cheap. Yet the city of concrete is not all skyscrapers. To begin with, there is Victoria Peak at top of which you truly understand the geography of this city. Then there are islands far and wide, all part of Hong Kong SAR, yet so pristine that you will think twice if they are actually part of the bustling centre.

A view from Victoria Peak

Moscow

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Try to learn Russian in bits, its not very different from English. Keep a map of metro lines with you as it is a lifeline in Moscow.
• Most of the attractions are concentrated around Red Square. Kremlin's armoury show is most sought after and you should reach early to buy tickets there.
• Dont forget to try the river cruise and the Russian way of drinking vodka - that is quick shots in succession.

Moscow was convenient and exhausting at the same time. The capital of Russia is grand in every possible way and yet broken into clusters that stand by themselves. Moscow is a city of cities just like any major capital in the world. It has couple of jewels, just like any major town, that fall in many a traveller's bucket list. It has a river flowing right across it. Add to that the football fever that was peaking when we reached with the host city inaugurating the FIFA world cup in a week time. We were at the right place before time.

Arbat Street

Saint Petersberg

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Take a hotel as close to Winter Palace as possible. Not only most of the attractions are around this but also the buzz on the street with various kind of artists performing is truly engrossing.
• Book the ticket for Hermitage in advance online. It is bit costlier but will save you lots of time as the entry queue for online tickets is separate.
• Cathedrals are closed on different dates of week so plan ahead if you want to cover a particular one. River cruises are a great way to cover some of them.

Russia is as foreign as I have been to a country. There is almost nothing written in English and almost nobody speaks English. You depend on google to do most of your navigational work and Uber to take you around. We reached Saint Petersberg on a windy midday and immediately felt the handicap of not knowing Russian.

View from Hotel Terrace