Credits – All images sourced from Shailee

For Shailee and Hemen Vimadalal, life is a collective of timeless moments, experiences and memories with your loved ones! So apart from acing their game at being hands-on parents to a six-year-old and managing a widely-famed business venture, the duo is adept in planning perfect family vacations that ditch the touristy perspective and lets them enjoy the destinations from the POV of a local. The trio recently packed their bags for Portugal to explore, understand and appreciate the cultural nuances of the cities they visited. From scouting the neighbourhood on foot to riding the electric scooters to taking a random tram to explore the unexplored—they did it all to tour Lisboa (Lisbon), Lagos and Porto. In a conversation with Travel Peacock Magazine, Shailee and Hemen tell us how to make the most and best when travelling to Portugal.

Q) Which cities did you visit during your recent vacation?
Lisboa (Lisbon), Lagos and Porto.

Q) Where were you staying when in these cities?
In Lisboa, we stayed at the Pousada de Lisboa and Praça do Comércio. While in Lagos and Porto, we stayed at the Cascade Wellness Resort and Torel Avantgarde, respectively.

Q) Why did you want to visit Portugal?
Portugal has a rich history, and we had also seen (and heard) great things about it. It was a nice kid-friendly destination that had something that all of us could enjoy– like history, art, scenic locales, etc. It has great weather and an easy trip from New York as there were direct flights.

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation?
I had spoken to some friends who had been before and did a lot of research via blogs, travel sites and magazines. I booked the flights and shared an outline with our travel agent, who took care of the remaining details.

Q) What are some of the must-packs for Portugal?
Comfortable shoes, sunglasses, swimsuit and easy-breezy dresses.

Q) Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
Packed lighter! (laughs)

Q) How did you reach your destination and then your hotel/resort?
We took a flight to Lisboa and then arranged a private car. We then self-drove from Lisboa to Lagos and from Lagos to Porto.

Q) What is the first thing you did when you enter your hotel room?
We checked out the scenic views from the room.

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
Lots of walking and exploring, for sure! Listing it down point-wise for each city.

In Lisboa:
– For our 6-year-old, we did a Hippo tour i.e. the amphibious vehicle that is a bus and boat in one!
– Walked around some of the major neighbourhoods, learning about the history and art.
– Took a tuk-tuk ride to explore some more places.
– Trams are a thing in Lisboa! While tram 28 is a favourite with the tourists, we just rode a random route and explored some of the quaint places.
– We took a ferry ride across the Tagus to Cacilhas and back—just so that we could hang out with the locals.
– However, the best thing in Lisboa though was riding the electric scooters; we rode them all over town (Our 6-year-old rode pillion with dad!)
– Took a day trip to Sintra. We hiked up to the castle and while we skipped Pena Palace, we explored Quinta da Regaleira, its wishing well and hidden caves. PS: Stop over at beautiful Cascais if you can!

In Lagos (Algarve region):
– On the way, we stopped for a wine-tasting and farm-to-table lunch at a traditional Portuguese Quinta. – We went to Morgado Do Quintao, where there was Al fresco dining with fresh food and an opportunity to get to know locals and travellers from other countries.
– Took a boat tour to the Benagil caves, where you will see loads of dolphins!
– Explored the beautiful Algarve beach–Praia do Camilo.
– Gazed at some of the most stunning landscapes from the hills and bluffs around the water. The caves are beautiful when on water but look even more majestic when viewed from above!
– We went to the old town Lagos every evening for dinner and some touristy shopping!

In Porto:
– Jardins do Palacio de Cristal—a beautiful park with stunning views of the Douro River and bridges. It’s great for people watching and seeing the swans, peacocks and koi fish.
– We took a walking tour and rode electric scooters again to explore the city.

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
Portugal is a culinary delight, especially for seafood and meat eaters. Food tours are a must-do in Lisboa. Being vegetarian though, we skipped that, but still enjoyed the food. There are several vegan restaurants, and it is not too difficult to find vegetarian food. Lisboa has one of the most famous TimeOut markets in the world (Mercado da Ribeira). The food was great but the desserts were to-die-for; Davvero Ice Cream and Nos E Mais Bolos specifically. Amongst the local foods, we tried some fresh pineapple juice at numerous street vendors (It was so refreshing!), pingado (macchiato coffee—the best!) pastel de nata (custard tarts that are best had with a drizzle of cinnamon powder) and pão-de-ló (sponge cake) and ginja (liquor with cherry and vodka).

Q) How did you document your trip?
We took a lot of pictures and notes.

Q) Your favourite memory from the holiday?
It would be exploring the cities on the electric scooters finding random local artists and Fado musicians.

Q) Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your vacation?
A couple of local artists viz. Rouslam Botiev and Vitor Costa and his wife Elsa. Botiev is a Mongolian artist in Lisboa’s Alfama district. He paints with red wine and chocolate. What a guy! He even painted our name caricatures for us at the moment! Whereas, Costa and his wife Elsa are local architects/artists in Porto. They run the Vimoc Project and have the most stunning urban representation in fine art in black and white with gold guild details.

Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from/during this vacation?
Wine countries/regions the world over are shifting to the North due to climate change. Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world!

Q) What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your stay?
Hiking up to Sintra castle because it was also cold and windy.

Q) What are the activities or must-see or must-do’s that you missed doing while you stayed there?
A couple of things that we really wanted to do but couldn’t like the wine tour in the Douro Valley in Porto and hiking and kayaking in the Algarve.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers to do when they visit Portugal?
Eight days is not quite enough! So, we’d suggest picking only two cities if you don’t have much time. The Portuguese are laid back and easygoing–and so to really absorb the culture, you need to spend some more time there.

Q) Must-have fashion accessories for travel?
A pair of sunglasses, a crossbody bag and a scarf.

Q) Three must-carry outfits for travel?
1. A light jacket and warm scarf
2. A versatile, no-fuss dress that can be dressed up with some simple accessories.
3. An athleisure for the ‘travel’ days.

Q) Skincare essentials to carry while travelling?
Sunscreen is a must! A tube of tinted moisturizer and dry shampoo.

The post SHAILEE & HEMEN VIMADALAL | TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS appeared first on TPM.

Credits – All images sourced from Sohiny

For Sohiny Das — co-founder of Grain Fashion Consultancy and a creative mind who dabbles in fashion styling, designing and writing — life is all about moments and experiences that are nothing but the best. Das is heavily inspired by the music and travel, which is why when she set out to explore Bangkok, Phi Phi Islands and Phuket with her best friend around her birthday, she ensured this was a trip worth remembering down memory lane.
She shares her favourite moments, her list of packing essentials and some advice on how to make the best of that girlfriends’ trip you’ve been planning for a while.

Q) Where were you staying during your recent vacation?
I did a three-destination trip in Thailand. The first stop was Bangkok, then Phi Phi Islands, and finally Phuket: three completely different sceneries and tempos.

Q) Why did you want to visit this place?
It was my birthday and I wanted to have a getaway that was a perfect blend of activity and serenity. A girls’ trip with one of my besties seemed to be fitting for the occasion.

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation?
Before leaving, I switched off from all work group chats; I cannot emphasise on the importance of this. Since it was off-season with rain in the forecast, I knew that playing it by ear would be an important part of my overall plan. Whenever I plan a holiday, I always insert some ‘no agenda’ days in my itinerary; these give me the flexibility to rest or put in an impromptu activity, and I did just that.

Q) What are some of the must-packs for this place you travelled to?
Swimwear was the first thing to be packed along with comfortable footwear; I’m a walker, and I can never fully explore a place unless I do so on foot, and get a little lost in the process. There’s nothing that you won’t find in Thailand, so there was no point panic packing and overloading my luggage. Mosquito repellent is an important travel companion, especially in Phi Phi, along with a high SPF sunscreen.

Q) Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
Apart from taking a slightly longer vacation, I couldn’t have planned anything better. Between my friends and me, we created the perfect itinerary, chalking out a great route.

Q) How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
From Bangkok, we flew to Phuket and our resort organised a pickup from the airport to the marina, then transferred us to Phi Phi island via speedboat. We wanted to do things in comfort, so we pre-booked this service. It cost us a few extra bucks but it was completely worth it because we didn’t have to worry about anything.

Q) What is the first thing you did when you entered your hotel/resort room?
I always do either of the two, depending on where I am staying: dump bags and hit the pool/ beach depending on the weather, or set out to explore the neighbourhood if in a city. I’m a Bombay girl, so rainy days don’t dampen my enthusiasm in any way.

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
In Bangkok, I explored street markets and street food all over the city, independent and artistic speakeasy bars and restaurants, and also took a day to visit Wat Pho and the reclining Buddha. I love historic architecture, and I would not recommend visiting more than a couple of sites in a day, despite what tour guides say, because then you barely touch and go. I like immersing and that needs time.
In Phi Phi, apart from pool and beach time, we took a boat to the different islands, which are breathtaking. I also made my snorkelling debut. I got lucky that there were a couple of very clear days during our trip and I can’t wait to do it again.
In Phuket, I explored the whole town on foot, visited a couple of local museums and got some excellent massages to wrap up my trip.

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
Apart from the outstanding local Thai cuisine, I loved the Pan Asian food fusion. Korean-Thai or Cantonese-Malay are amazing flavour pots. The street food of ChinaTown in Bangkok and the Michelin rated hole-in-the-wall alley stalls are well worth following the Google map routes to, even when you doubt where they’re taking you.

Q) How did you document your trip?
My phone is full of photos and videos. My Instagram stories received a gazillion questions and requests for my itinerary. But the best moments are undocumented; in this age of recording everything for social media, we forget that it’s only when we switch off, that our senses turn on in full capacity. I wouldn’t trade my spiritual moments at Wat Pho or my snorkelling rush of viewing the sea-bed for the first time for anything. Memories are the best kind of documentation.

Q) Your favourite memory from the holiday?
Serendipitously, I discovered a copy of The Beach by Alex Garland in the library of my Phi Phi resort. I had watched the film decades back, but had never read the book. It’s beautiful to read about a place and actually be there at the same time, but more so because it happened by chance. And it got me back into reading after many years since the smartphone took over my life.

Q) Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your recent vacation?
It’s hard to pick just one person; travel enables me to meet people from different parts of the world and exchange perceptions of each other’s countries. It’s always refreshing to meet female travellers because I feel encouraged to brush off apprehensions and stigmas regarding solo travel or girls’ trips. Women are always helpful with useful and practical information.

Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
It was amazing to see trans persons being employed everywhere — at cafes, in malls, at hotels and restaurants, in offices — something that we don’t see very often in India outside of niche spaces.

Q) What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your recent vacation?
I tried snorkelling without a training session, and I wouldn’t advise it to novice swimmers like me. It is important to do a practice round before going for it, and I was expecting a lesson or two during my tour, but perhaps a few things got lost in translation. Nevertheless, my very short but sweet debut revealed an underwater world, which I would have never otherwise seen. In hindsight, it was a beautiful but slightly scary experience, which I will go better prepared for next time.

Q) What are the activities that you missed doing while you stayed there?
I never have FOMO. Everyone’s ‘must do’ list varies, and the point of a vacation is not to tick off a task list, but to go with the flow. While my trip was pretty packed with activity and idling, I think there’s a beauty to not seeing everything in a rush, but to leave a few things undone, so you can say ‘I’ll see you next time’ and plan a return.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers?
Please ask about portion sizes when ordering food, else you may end up with things, which look like appetisers in the menu, but are actually family-sized! Even ‘small’ is a generous amount, and due to my ignorance, I ended up wasting some incredibly tasty food even after I stuffed myself to the seams. Hand gestures regarding measurements are a more effective way than asking verbally owing to language gaps.

The post SOHINY DAS: CREATIVE DIRECTOR | STYLIST appeared first on TPM.

Credits – All images sourced from Siddharth

We don’t know a metrosexual man better than Siddharth Batra, who is not only a true fashion gamechanger but also someone who has raised the bar in being bold and experimental. Fashion vlogger, style sensation and internet’s darling, Batra has broken, twisted and reinvented the rules of fashion, only to set trends that are now being followed by many and how! But fashion is not the only arena where he is making waves. His sojourns to many different cities for work or play gets his audience making travel notes and bookmarking the destinations on their bucket list.

In the latest issue of the Travel Peacock Magazine, Batra talks about his romantic vacation to the city of lakes, Udaipur, where he brought in Valentine’s day. Here’s some excerpts.

Q) Which has been one of your most memorable trips this year?
It would be my visit to the beautiful city of Udaipur for Valentine’s Day. We stayed at the Taj Lake Palace.

Q) Why did you want to visit this place?
I’ve always been extremely intrigued by the opulence, yet the subtlety of culture, architecture and the vibe of the people of Rajasthan. The way the people of Rajasthan make everyone feel welcomed and at home is heartwarming. This was my second visit to Taj Lake Palace; my first visit was as a teenager years ago.

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation?
To be honest, I wasn’t very sure of how the weather was going to be as we were travelling during the transition from winter to summer. I was told the nights do get a little chilly, so I wanted to carry a mix of casual outfits for the day and some layering pieces for the evening. I, also, specifically wanted to wear a Chikankari long coat that I own, so I took that along. And made sure I wore it! (laughs)

Q) What are some of the must-dos for Udaipur?
A sense of curiosity about the culture of the city, an interest in trying the local cuisine and exploring some easy casual stuff during the day would prove to be rewarding. The city has the right mix of beautiful local visits and luxe, 5-star properties. One should definitely travel locally within the city, experience things authentically and stick to living the luxe life when in the lap of luxury at a 5-star. The right mix of both experiences is the best way to visit any city in Rajasthan.

Q) Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
I wish I had planned my outfits the day prior to packing and leaving home. I would have gotten ready on time more often! (laughs) We had to skip visiting the city palace one day, because of my Libra indecisiveness on my outfit. Managed to visit the next day though!

Q) How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
We flew down from Delhi to Udaipur, the hotel then took us by road to Lake Pichola, and then a ferry ride to the hotel by water.

Q) What is the first thing you did when you entered your room?
We had booked one of their famous suites, one that literally opens into the lake. The first thing we did was a bubble bath right by the lake, watching the ducks in the water. And then, lunch right after.

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
We did a mix of local and luxury experiences. We dined at some of the local restaurants, tried local cuisines, visited the local market, and bought a lot of things. But for Valentine’s night, we dined right in the centre of the Lake Palace with a multiple-course meal. It’s a beautiful dining experience the hotel offers for couples.

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
Honestly, I don’t remember the names. But a bunch of stuff at various restaurants!

Q) How did you document your trip?
I’m very active with vlogging on my YouTube channel, so I vlogged this vacation as well. I shot a reel or two for Instagram as well and, of course, took lots of photos. However, I ended up shooting a very impromptu video casually, while my girlfriend was taking a shower. I took her sari, which was hanging out of her suitcase and styled it with a blazer. In fact, I ended up wearing that outfit on that day. I posted the video a few days later and it went viral. But, more importantly, the confidence a sari injects into you. Uff!

Q) Your favourite memory from the holiday?
Definitely the warmth of the people of the city. I had a very beautiful, heartwarming conversation with an elderly owner of a very old shop that sells locally-made attars. I’ll always cherish it. And, of course, the Valentine’s dinner at the Lake Palace; both me and my girlfriend decided to dress up and dine. I gifted her a hot-red pair of Jimmy Choos that night. I think it was a peak Valentine’s Day experience: the colour red, tuxedos and gowns and a candle-lit romantic dinner.

Q) Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your recent vacation?
There was this elderly gentleman at the local attar shop. I also had a very interesting chat with a gentleman whose family has been designing fine jewellery for the royals of Rajasthan since decades. His tales and stories were so interesting.

Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
One of my biggest lessons has definitely been to experience things with authenticity. If you’re travelling locally, do it like the locals. If you’re looking for a luxury experience, do it like it’s supposed to be done. Experience things like they’re supposed to be experienced, there’s maximum pleasure and joy if you do that. That’s the right way to do it.

Q) What are the activities that you missed doing while you stayed there?
I wish we had time to visit more of the local places. I wanted to go deeper into the city and dive into never-tried-before experiences.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers?
As I said earlier, experience things like they’re supposed to in Udaipur or for that matter, any city in Rajasthan. That’s the ONLY right way to do it.

The post SIDDHARTH BATRA: FASHION BLOGGER appeared first on TPM.

Credits – All images sourced from Larissa

She is everything fun, fashionable and full of life! Mumbai-based lifestyle and travel blogger/vlogger, Larissa D’sa has 701k Instagram followers, who are addicted to her vibrant feed. Inspired by culture and powered by her passion, she has travelled more than ever countries). Skating in her flowy skirt or dancing under the bright sky, her keen eye for detail, energetic spirit and uniqueness is sure to rub off on you.

She sits down to talk to the Travel Peacock Magazine about her vacation to Vietnam and the things one should and shouldn’t do when there! Read on.

Q) Where were you staying during your recent vacation?
Whenever I take a trip abroad it’s mostly a work trip. So, let’s call it a trip instead of a vacation. We were staying at four different places in Vietnam.

1. Ho Chi Minh
2. Dalat
3. Ninh Binh
4. Hanoi

Since my trips are usually for shooting purposes I try to keep them very diverse.
At Ho Chi Minh, my videographer and I stayed in a cool hostel or a poshtel. We had a private room. At Dalat, we booked ourselves a homestay or resort. It wasn’t particularly a very happy stay.

On the other hand, at Ninh Binh, we chose a homestay called At Nin Bin with surrounding limestone mountains and an Airbnb at Hanoi.

Q) Why did you want to visit this place?
When it comes to South East Asia, people usually travel to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore but Vietnam has been on my list since 2016. In recent times, it’s gotten the push and become more famous in terms of tourism and the Vietnam tourism board is also pushing themselves a lot. So, I was curious and I had heard so much about the war, people, and the rich culture. The colours of Vietnam called out to me and made me curious, which is why I decided to visit.

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation?
I mostly plan out which places to go and create an itinerary. Researching the best places to visit is helpful for me as later these places give my content more character.

Q) What are some of the must-packs for this place?
Vietnam is hot around this time of the calendar, so carry clothes that are suited to tropical places. You must carry flowy and colourful cotton clothes.

Q) Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
My plan was very impromptu and we had fewer days to plan the trip. We had only nine days in which we had to visit four places. Vietnam appears to be small but is pretty big and travelling from one main city to another, from north to south like Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi can be a task like travelling from Rajasthan to the end of Maharashtra. We should have definitely planned it better in terms of stay, travel etc.

Q) How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
We reached the destination by direct flight. We took a taxi from the airport to the hostel, which is 30 minutes away.

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
I’m a travel blogger and vlogger so we tried to soak in the culture, history and the vibe of the main city as well as the countryside. Vietnam is the most diverse after India and there are so many things to do there, even 10 days is less, you need a minimum of a month.

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
A dish called Pho. Vietnamese coffee is one of the best I’ve ever had.

Q) How did you document your trip?
We got lost and we reached a dead end, which was the house of an old lady and she was explaining the route by dancing in a funny way and it was hilarious. We documented the trip by shooting ample videos and taking unlimited photos.

Q) Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your recent vacation?
The old woman I spoke about.

Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
The trip made me realise that I need to stay true to myself and what I love doing in terms of content. Essentially, I need to stay true to the work I do and not what people expect out of me. I was aiming towards making the trip about what people want to see but I realised it’s important to stay true to yourself and do what you are passionate about or else it becomes a boring job.

Q) What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your recent vacation?
We booked a bus ticket that reaches at 6 am in the morning and we reached pretty early by 3. So, we had to sit outside on the chair with a red eye and we were hunting for another place to stay before we checked in and the first few hours were really difficult. So this was the hard part about the trip.

Q) What are the activities that you missed doing while you stayed there?
We missed going to Ho Yan, which is a beautiful city full of lanterns at night. We regret missing that.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers?
Be very well-prepared. Apart from language barriers, food can be an issue for vegetarians. Commuting from one city to another is expensive as well. So, be careful about booking your stay and commute.

Q) Must-have fashion accessories and outfits for travel?
I always carry like a loose flowy cardigan. The more colourful the better so that when you document the travel it enhances the photo. Pair two cute things and throw on a cardigan and everything looks fashionable. Last but not least, a light long skirt, which makes you look fun and fancy at the same time adds a little flow for photos and videos.

Q) Skincare essentials to carry while travelling?
Sunscreens, lip tints, and moisturisers are important.

The post LARISSA D’SA: TRAVEL BLOGGER | ENTREPRENEURS appeared first on TPM.

Fifty, fit and fab — that’s how we’d like to sum up India’s first celebrity fitness trainer, author and columnist Deanne Panday. She is a perfect example of the adage: Age is just a number. At 50-something, she is casually seen doing some gravity-defining asanas and setting the fitness bar even higher. Such is her dedication towards fitness that even her vacations and sojourns revolve around wellness and workouts! So when Panday’s to-be sister-in-law whisked her and some of her girlfriends away for a trip to Turkey, it was a completely different experience for Panday. Let us learn from Panday herself how this one-of-a-kind trip to Istanbul, Bodrum and Cappadocia was for her!

Q) Where were you staying during your recent vacation to Cappadocia?
I was staying in the Museum Hotel in Cappadocia that belongs to the Relais & Châteaux group. They have about over 350 hotels and restaurants all over Europe. They have about three-four in India, I’ve visited about three out of four of them and have always enjoyed my stay there. They have a knack of taking up small boutique hotels that are very unique. The fact that the one where we stayed in Cappadocia is carved out of a cave makes it exquisite. Each of the 30 rooms is made out of a cave. There were a lot of art pieces dating back to the 1000s of years. It had a little museum and a lot of authentic, vintage displays with history tucked inside. Hundreds of years ago, small stone houses were dotted in this area, which were then taken over by the hotel group and converted into a boutique hotel with luxury caves. I was happy that I got to stay in the biggest suite at the hotel which had two floors, a huge heated pool inside, stairs walking up the room and, all in all, lovely architecture.

Q) Why did you want to visit this place?
It started out to be my to-be sister- (my younger brother’s wife-to-be) 50th birthday. We decided to go to Turkey — Istanbul, Cappadocia and Bodrum. We decided to stay in Cappadocia for about three days —only for the hot air balloon. The whole idea of taking a ride early in the morning in a hot air balloon followed by a sunrise breakfast is quite an experience. Before coming to this place, I researched and found the Museum Hotel to make this experience an even more memorable one — thanks to the views from the hotel, the amenities therein and much more. It was just the best!

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation? What are some of the must-packs for this place you travelled to?
I didn’t really prepare. We were a group of 14-15 girls and my soon-to-be sister-in-law had already decided on this birthday trip. I always had a bucket list and one of the things on it was this hot air balloon experience. I’d seen films that were shot there, friends who had visited there and it just made me also want to experience it at least once in my lifetime. Like I said, it turned out to be the most beautiful experience ever! Even the hotel and the rest of the city turned out to be phenomenal.
I carried a lot of flowy, maxi dresses. The weather is quite hot so I carried thin, linen, cotton clothes and cute flip-flops as you can’t wear heels because you have to walk around a lot, especially if you’re going for a trek in the valleys or to the market. I also carried a lot of jewellery as I like wearing chains, bracelets, and earrings.

Q) How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
I flew from Mumbai to Istanbul, where we stayed for two days. From Istanbul we flew to Cappadocia and then we booked a cab, rather a Mercedes bus (as we were a group) to reach our hotel.

Q) What is the first thing you did when you entered your hotel room?
We reached it when it was a little dark. My suite had this balcony that looked like it was straight out of a Romeo-Juliet saga. I spent the entire night staying up, looking at a plethora of stars as I did not want to miss the sight of the hot air balloons going up from my balcony at the crack of dawn. I’m absolutely okay missing sleep to experience these one-of-a-kind moments!

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
Cappadocia is known for its food! I am a fitness-oriented person who eats only healthy food and doesn’t drink and smoke. But I was with a bunch of fun girls who love to eat and shop! So for the first time, I really went to experience the restaurant culture, where in the span of two days we went to the best restaurants. We also got to experience the Sufi whirling, which is a religious and a spiritual dance that went on for 40 minutes in an old architectural site. They were in their meditative zone and it was so wholesome for us to watch them. The city is also known for its pottery and ceramics, so we went shopping to bring back some of those pieces with us. It was actually a very well-planned trip by my would-be sister-in-law .

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
Everywhere you go in Turkey, they give you a Mezze platter, which is common knowledge. Mediterranean cuisine has a lot of meat as well but I don’t eat red meat or even chicken, for that matter. Despite that I got to eat scrumptious salads and soups that were vegetarian, but I may have had a nibble of the meat dishes and those were delicious too. We had some delectable street food i.e. kebabs and kuboos in Bodrum. Oh, and we also had a chance to witness the famous ice cream guys performing their little tricks before handing over the ice cream to us! It was altogether a different experience for me because my travels have always been influenced by considerations of wellness, health and fitness. On the contrary, this was perhaps the first time that I was travelling with 15 sweet girls who love to eat, shop and party. So, I really enjoyed this as this was a new experience for me. It definitely changed something in my palate.

Q) Your favourite memory from the holiday?
The hot air balloon experience was my absolute favourite one! To wake up at 4am, to drive to the spot to see the balloon be inflated in your presence and the climb into it to set sailing is a surreal experience. The one-hour ride takes you around all the monuments one ought to see from atop and then you get to see the sunrise before heading back down. The experience ends with a champagne breakfast that’s served when you’re done with your ride.
Apart from this, I got introduced to phenomenal Turkish music that sounds close to that of the Bollywood tunes. We were enjoying, grooving and dancing to the music! We also got to visit the Grand Bazaar, which was huge and beautiful!

Q) What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your recent vacation?
My holidays have always been centred around wellness, yoga, workout, spa, relaxing, etc.. It was my first holiday where I ate a lot, went out and about to explore the place, shopped, leaving me with no time to rest. While it was quite a high, I thought I needed a holiday from that holiday because I got so tired (laughs) even though I had a lot of fun. I told my girls that no matter what, I’m doing a holiday with them because they are just so much fun!

Q) What are the activities that you missed doing while you stayed there?
The Blue Mosque! When we were in Bodrum, I was supposed to fly back to Istanbul for two days to see all that I had missed but our flight got cancelled and they never gave us any other flight, so I had to fly back to Dubai and then to Mumbai.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers?
I went in at the peak of the season so there were a lot of tourists and many of these places were crowded. So, you might want to go during a time when it’s a little less crowded.

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BRUISED PASSPORTS: TRAVEL BLOGGERS | ENTREPRENEURS

Credits – All images sourced from the bloggers

India’s digital sweethearts and travel superheroes, Bruised Passports aka Savi and Vid are forerunners of the blogging and digital entrepreneurship sphere in India. The duo has been credited for changing the way millions of people approach travel, all due to their enviable list of more than 100 countries that they have travelled together to. Authors of a best-selling book that consists of their travelogues, the travelling-couple have won several awards by esteemed publications for their work in the travel blogosphere. Their adventures and photographs have been featured on several TV channels and newspapers, including Discovery Channel, National Geographic, CNN, and BBC.

The duo gets into a candid conversation about travel and more with the Travel Peacock Magazine.

Q) How did you two meet?
Vid: Both of us met in high-school in New Delhi — cheesy as it sounds, we met for the first time in our school bus. Back then, I had no idea I was stepping on the biggest roller-coaster of my life when I met Savi. We’re similar in ways I can’t imagine and together, I’m convinced we can conquer the world. We were the best of friends and continue to be — perhaps that is the reason we understand each other so well and work well together as a team, both in life and at work. 20 years later, she is still the highlight of my life.

Q) When did you plan to start travelling together extensively as a couple?
Vid: When Savi and I were dating, I was working in Singapore and Savi happened to visit me. We decided to take a short trip together to Malaysia. As they say, the rest was history. We fell in love with the idea of seeing the world and made a pact that we would travel to a new place every month. We’ve stuck to that pact ever since! From saving our pocket money and later, our salaries to travel to making travel a full-time profession, it’s been a roller-coaster ride

Q) For how long have the two of you been travelling?
We’ve been travelling together for almost 15 years and I can safely say it has brought us closer in so many different ways. I truly think the cliché “Couples that travel together stay together” is somewhat true because travelling to new places, out of one’s comfort zone, can often be a sensory overload of sorts. The good things — trying new foods, meeting new people etc also come with the bad ones — falling sick in a strange place, getting lost etc. But sharing these new experiences with someone familiar heightens the pleasure involved in the act of exploring the world in our case. And it has definitely brought us closer.

Q) Why do you travel?
This is such a deep question — but if we had to sum it up, we would say Travel is like meditation for us. It has taught us to live outside our comfort zones and educated us in the way nothing else ever could have. It has also made us realise human emotions are the same the world over. The simple act of travelling and meeting new people has made us question so many stereotypes and biases that are rampant in society. It truly is a thrill like no other.

Q) What does your Instagram blog ‘Bruised Passports’ mean? What is it all about?
The name comes from the fact that our passports are all battered and bruised because of all the visas and stamps on them. We started blogging almost 10 years ago when the word ‘influencer’ did not even exist. Both of us had full-time jobs at the time. We consciously worked towards our plan by saving money for collecting experiences and future travels. Finally, in 2015, we decided to leave our full-time jobs and follow our dreams of exploring the world together and establishing a location-independent lifestyle.

But our decision to start blogging was not just about travel or entrepreneurship. It was to establish a platform where we could encourage others to design their dream life and prioritise LOVE in relationships. Starting anything from scratch is never easy but add to that the fact that it’s something that is not considered “normal”, you end up facing a lot of questions from everyone around you. We distinctly remember my manager telling me that we were being foolish by leaving our well-paying jobs to travel the world and establish Bruised Passports as an online venture. That we’d regret it. And he was not the only one. It was difficult for society to fathom that someone would leave financial stability to travel the world. But the two of us were sure and knew we had to give it a shot.

And we’re glad we did what we believed in or we would have lost out on such amazing experiences, a thriving business venture, and the most loving and supportive online community of Bruised Passports readers. This story is chronicled in the book. It’s all about choosing your priorities! We love our work to bits and it makes us smile everyday.

Q) How many cities have you travelled to till now?
101 countries and countless cities together. We are adding to that list every single day.

Q) How do you select a place to travel?
Savi: Pre-pandemic, it was determined by places we were curious to visit and ones that offered a variety of experiences we could explore and photograph. Post-pandemic, a lot of our travel decisions are made keeping current restrictions in mind. For instance, right now the aim is to visit places, which are accessible and offer hygienic accommodation and dining opportunities. Due to this, we have re-visited many places we’ve previously written about but we’ve loved uncovering new facets of these familiar places such as Ladakh, The Maldives, and Dubai.

Between the two of us, I veer towards exploring big cities (New York, Paris, London, you name it!), while Vid loves the quiet countryside and the mountains (Ladakh, Iceland, Faroe Islands). Together, we truly enjoy exploring every single type of place from glaciers and volcanoes to beaches and mountains. However, long road-trips in scenic countries like New Zealand and Spain are our personal favourite.

Q) How do you prepare for every trip of yours?
This can vary from person to person but we usually read on safety and vaccination restrictions. Then we get down to reading about the destination and packing appropriate clothes and accessories. Our top five essentials include a camera, earphones, snacks, our favourite books, and sunscreen.

Q) What challenges do you face as a couple who are extensively travelling?
To be honest, travelling a lot might seem to be fun and indeed it is truly exciting, but it is not for everyone! It can truly take a toll on one’s body, skin, hair and emotions too. There are days when one tends to miss home comforts, comfort food, or just being close to family and friends. If you aren’t used to getting out of your comfort zone, it might not be for you.

Q) How do the two of you tackle any differences arising while selecting a place or planning your travel itinerary?
I love this question. We usually reconcile differences by giving each other a little bit of space — the magic formula! First, we cross off things that both of us are keen on covering. Then we take a couple of days to go our own ways and enjoy the things that tickle our fancy. This way there are no nasty arguments and both of us end up doing what we wanted in the first place!

Q) What is the one surprising fact you discovered about each other during your initial travels?
Savi: We discovered that our travel styles mostly compliment each other’s but they sometimes collide as well. Both of us love exploring new places together — we enjoy looking for scenic spots, trying new foods, and chatting with locals to find out little gems tourists might not visit.
Having said that, we also have varied interests, so we always explore new places on our own as well. Often, Vid spends hours photographing night skies and visiting coffee shops, while I visit museums, vintage boutiques, and art galleries in new places.

Q) One golden rule everyone should follow when travelling with their partner?
To give each other space. It shouldn’t be taboo to spend some time on each trip indulging one’s own hobbies — be it art, shopping, or wine. For example, Vid loves his share of specialty cafes while I love my museums, so every time we visit a vibrant city we make sure to keep aside a day or two to go our own ways and do just that!

Q) After being constantly on the go, how did you come to terms with being at a standstill during the lockdown?
Home has come to mean something so different from its dictionary meaning that we have dedicated one whole chapter in our book titled ‘Finding Home’ to its new meaning. Home is not so much about spaces but familiarity — familiar people, tastes, and even familiar landscapes. In that sense, home is a geographically fluid concept for us now.

So, staying indoors was a mixed bag. Since we love slow, we are used to spending entire months living slowly in places like Bali or Guatemala. Staying indoors and spending so much time with each other was not a challenge. However, after the first few months had passed, the uncertainty of it all led to confusion, anxiety, and even panic. After a few listless weeks, we decided to focus on the glass half full and use that time to execute projects we had put on the back burner such as penning our book and working on an app. So, looking back at the time, it was a satisfying year or two.

Staying indoors served as a long pause for both of us. Despite the fact that the travel industry was deeply affected and our work suffered terribly too, we never had second thoughts about choosing this as our career — so in a strange way — it reminded us about just how much we love travelling, meeting new people, trying new foods, and adventures.

Q) Which trip has been the most memorable for you and why?
Savi: Out of the many memorable trips we have taken, the one that truly stands out was the month we spent in Peru. It was our first trip upon quitting our day jobs and transitioning to being full-time travellers and entrepreneurs. This was scary and led us to question our decision a lot. But being in Peru and realising we now had the luxury of time to explore new places insteading of cramming everything into a short trip based on an annual leave changed something in both of us. Something just clicked. It was the trip where we realised we wanted to travel full-time with each other and make our entrepreneurial dreams a reality. This has gone on to define our personal relationship in the years that followed, a life-changing trip indeed!

Vid: There are many experiences around the world that we have loved so far but my favourite will have to be driving around Iceland in winters. I remember we were heading back to our cottage in the middle of nowhere after a day of exploring. We were tired and looking forward to a hot cuppa when suddenly out of nowhere the pitch black sky was lit with green and purple lights dancing across the sky. We couldn’t resist parking our car on the side of the road and just sitting there, hand in hand, marvelling at the beautiful sky, the tiredness slipping away from our bodies. In that moment, nothing else mattered — it was just us and the gorgeous night sky of Snaefellsnes peninsula.

Q) What’s the strangest food you’ve tried on any of your trips?
Fried tarantulas in Cambodia, on a dare from a friend!

Q) What tips would you give to aspiring travellers?
Too many to count. But the most important one is to travel with an open mind and not try to cram too much into a short holiday. Very often, one tends to treat trips as a checklist and I think this always ends in a disaster! Instead, we recommend consciously crafting an itinerary keeping personal likes (and dislikes) in mind. That way you can do things you truly enjoy together and spend time absorbing a new culture, making new friends, and learning things about the world we live in!

Q) Which are the top three places on your bucket list for travelling as of now?
We’d love to explore more of South America and Africa this year!

Q) What are the two places you would recommend to travellers?
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. It’s hard to reach but Lake Atitlan is truly special. It’s beautiful and the highlight for us was practising our broken Spanish at the local markets, bargaining for the creamiest avocados, and exploring villages untouched by time!

Faroe Islands is not on everyone’s travel radar but it truly should be. The archipelago, nestled between Norway, Iceland, and Scotland, ensures unspoilt panoramas and dramatic fjords without a soul in sight. Driving through glacial valleys and scenic cliff-top villages with less than a dozen houses is an experience like no other.

The post BRUISED PASSPORTS: TRAVEL BLOGGERS | ENTREPRENEURS appeared first on TPM.

Credits – All images sourced from Anshuka Parwani

Her love for Yoga, Pilates and all-things-fitness knows no bounds and it’s quite evident from her ’gram! It is no wonder that celebrities who aspire to be and look their fittest make a beeline to be trained by Anshuka Parwani. From Kareena Kapoor Khan to Alia Bhatt and Ananya Panday to Rakul Preet Singh and many more known names from the showbiz are regularly seen on their Yoga mats with Anshuka Parwani. One might think that this modern-day fitness instructor’s rigorous regime doesn’t allow her to let her hair down. But she proves us wrong by giving us a glimpse of her recent vacation that she took to the Bahamas.

We took notes from Parwani as she told us how to plan that perfect vacay to the island of Bahamas.

Q) Where were you staying in the Bahamas?

I stayed at three different places — The Bahamas, The Atlantis and a very private villa on a secluded island.

Q) Why did you want to visit this place?
I have always wanted to visit The Bahamas because I love water and the ocean. I had always heard beautiful things about the ocean, the culture, the people, the food — just everything!

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation?
I prepared for my vacation the way I do for any other beach destination. I was aware that public transport there is not too accessible and given that we were a bunch of friends travelling together, we made sure we booked cars, our inter-island flights, and our boats/yachts.

Q) What are some of the must-packs for the Bahamas?
Sunscreen, lots of bathing suits, hats, cover-ups, summer dresses! It does get a little chilly so a light shawl would be good to carry too. Sometimes, it rains, so light rain gear will do you good. Definitely a good camera and especially a GoPro so you can capture your memories especially when you’re in the ocean.

Q) Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
Absolutely not! Because I love the beach and travelling, I plan everything well in advance.

Q) How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
I flew to the Nassau International airport and then it was a car ride to my first hotel. All other islands I went to were either via flights or car rides.

Q) What is the first thing you did when you entered your hotel/resort room?
After checking out the bathroom, my next priority was the view! I had breath-taking views in every place I stayed at — they were right on the beach. I remember throwing my bag on the bed and jumping right into the ocean.

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
I did a couple of things during my stay. I went jet skiing and sailing, swam with the famous swimming pigs at Exuma Island, met mini iguanas, and went snorkelling in the James Bond Grotto. We hung out at sand bars, which was a lot of fun! We went to the local yacht club to eat and met a lot of locals there. I also gave nurse sharks some belly rubs — they were supremely cute! We drove around Nassau island, stopped over at the local haunts, sipped daiquiris and took in all that nature and beauty!

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
Nobu has my heart! Apart from that, the local famous Jerk Chicken was absolutely amazing!
There is one street where there are so many restaurants and all of them have their own version of Jerk Chicken. My favourite one is Sonia’s Jerk Chicken and she is known to have the best one on the island.

Q) How did you document your trip?
First, all the memories are safely stored in my heart and mind. Adding to that, of course, my iPhone, and my GoPro.

Q) Your favourite memory from the holiday?
I was very excited and happy to swim with the pigs — that was a highlight! Apart from that, I went on a Jet-Ski tour, which lasted a few hours. We went to different places, swam for a bit, and were in the open, vast, crystal clear ocean, which was so calming and liberating.

Q) Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your recent vacation?
I was at one of the casinos. I met a lady who told me she has been coming to The Bahamas every year to that same casino because it was really lucky for her. It was very interesting to hear her stories and her way of life. She had some local recommendations for us too!

Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
Travel has so much to teach each one of us. That’s a huge reason why I love to travel. The unseen and unexpected carries its own charm. This time around, I learnt to just let go and be, and to go with the flow. I am a woman with a plan always and sometimes to not have a plan is okay too (only on vacation though!)

Q) What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your recent vacation?
Swimming and diving brings me peace and calm. But, when we were snorkelling into the grotto, that was challenging for me because of my asthma. It also had a very narrow opening into it so that was a little intimidating in the beginning. But, I didn’t let that hold me back and I am glad I still did it.

Q) What are the activities that you missed doing while you stayed there?
The Exuma Islands — even if you go for just a day. There are daily tours that operate so you can pack in a few attractions and activities there like swimming with the pigs, snorkelling in the grotto etc. The Bahamas are made up of a lot of islands so you should definitely try and explore the commercial and private ones if you can. They both have lots to offer.
Discover the local restaurants and bars — don’t just eat at your hotel. Saunter into a random bar and discover how the locals live.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers when they visit The Bahamas?
Just make sure you have all your bookings in place. Weather there can be unpredictable but if you plan properly and accordingly then you should be good to go. Do the grunt work of researching and planning before you go, so that when you’re there it’s all about having fun and relaxing. The Bahamas give you a mix of everything — Michelin-star restaurants, local eateries and shacks, adventure water sports, sunbeds on the beach to relax so you can make whatever you want of it.

The post ANSHUKA PARWANI: CELEBRITY YOGA & HOLISTIC WELLNESS EXPERT appeared first on TPM.

Celebrity stylist Amandeep Kaur needs no introduction, because the one that actor Vicky Kaushal gave on Karan Johar’s popular chat show was enough to talk about the styling prowess of Kaur! Kaushal is not the only one Kaur works her styling magic on. Some more to the list are Sunny Kaushal, Radhika Madan, Taapsee Pannu and the like. Apart from fashion, what gets her heart racing is travelling. An avid traveller, Kaur, tries to strike off not just places but also experiences from her bucket list. One such place from her list was Los Angeles where she wanted to feel a step closer to her Hollywood dream. Find out how she planned her trip and what all did she knock off from her LA bucket list.

Q) Where were you staying during your recent vacation to Los Angeles?
LA in West Hollywood! Right by the Hollywood sign, so it felt closer to the dream!

Q) Why did you want to visit this place?
Well, when you work in Bollywood, it’s mostly everyone’s dream to visit LA and see what Hollywood looks and feels like. And it really did feel like an Americanised version of Mumbai to me.

Q) How did you prepare for your vacation?
I barely had time to prepare as it was a quick plan. I booked the tickets a week in advance and just left with my best friend to have a vacation of a lifetime!

Q) What are some of the must-packs for this place?
It gets windy and slightly chilly at night, so definitely carry light layers that you can skip if the temperature rises but add when it drops. LA is a fashion haven and you would surely like to dress like a movie star to make heads turn.

Q) Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
I wish I had packed slightly more warmer layers as it got a bit chillier than I had anticipated.

Q) How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
I took a flight and cab.

Q) What is the first thing you did when you entered your hotel/resort room?
It was afternoon and just when we managed to stop by our hotel, I stared at the Hollywood sign, took videos, enjoyed the beautiful blue skies and the great weather for a bit before settling into the room.

Q) What did you do during your stay there?
I had made a list of must-visit places and restaurants. I walked a lot even though they say no one walks around in LA but I just loved exploring all of the Hollywood area on foot. I did some touristy things like going to the Universal Studio Tour, Hollywood’s Walk of Fame Street, Beverly Hills shopping district, etc. but I also really enjoyed just walking around, exploring restaurants, bars and clubs, and lots of cool burlesque shows and dance bars that come alive on weekends. I also went to the Beverly Hills’ farmers market which was amazing. I ended up buying fresh produce like wild mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, garlic pods, parsley, basil leaves, heirloom cherry tomatoes, etc. to make some home-made pasta for my friend. On my way back, I walked by the lavish bungalows of Beverly Hills and admired the magnanimity and beauty of the houses there.
I also got to explore a little bit of the Downtown area, which I wouldn’t recommend going if you don’t have a local with you. It can get unsafe in some areas. But I did go to Korea town and ChinaTown and ate lots of delicious Asian food.

Q) What local cuisine did you try?
I don’t think America has any local cuisine that we don’t already have a lot of in India. But I really enjoyed the perfect American breakfast viz., a stack of pancakes, bacon, maple syrup and burgers. Also, I loved exploring some great Mexican and Asian food there.

Q) How did you document your trip?
I took lots of pictures and videos.

Q) Your favourite memory from the holiday?
My favourite memory has to be taking adventurous rides at the Universal Studio and feeling like a child again. I also went onto the Harry Potter immersive experience ride where you literally feel like you are flying through Hogwarts on your magical broom. It was an exhilarating day!

Q) Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your recent vacation?
I met a bunch of Hollywood VFX technicians at a rooftop bar and they were such interesting people who shared their stories about their shoots, while we shared ours. And, I also taught them some Bhangra steps, which they thoroughly enjoyed learning!

Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
Even though I always liked the idea of travelling solo, I used to be scared and awkward about it. But I realised I’m not bad at solo travelling as long as I get to have an experience of meeting a friend there or making new friends on the way. It felt free and liberating to be able to do whatever my heart felt like without having to worry about if my plans and dreams matched that of the other person’s. I divided this trip into four parts, two parts with different friends, one part with my sister and one part was solo. It has given me courage to plan more solo trips in future.

Q) What was the most challenging thing?
I travelled without a credit card in my name. I had cash, a debit card and a credit card that wasn’t on my name. I realised hotels there are unforgiving. They will not allow you to enter without having a credit card on your name. It was quite challenging since I had never thought that to be a prerequisite.

Q) What are the activities that you missed doing while you stayed there?
I missed the hike around the Hollywood hills. I kept planning but then time ran out and I had to leave. But that’s something that will keep me excited for the next time.

Q) What would your advice be to other travellers to do when they visit LA?
Just try and stay either around the West Hollywood area or towards Santa Monica/Venice beach, because otherwise you would have to take very many expensive cab rides to the places you want to visit. Also, local transports suck in LA. So, either get your international licence and drive (although, it’s tricky because it’s right-side driving) or Uber it everywhere.

Q) Must-have fashion accessories for travel?
Sunglasses. I carried lots of bright pop acetate ones that kept me feeling like I was on vacation!

Q) Three must-carry outfits for travel?
A fun printed shirt, a pair of shorts, joggers/denims for the in-between travels, some sexy evening clothes, (LA takes glamour seriously) and lots of cute bralettes/crop tops, dresses to vary in style but the kinds that keep you happy and holiday-like.

Q) Skincare essentials to carry while travelling?
High SPF sunscreen (with sky so clear, sun rays hit sharp and hard), gentle face wash to wash off the grime at the end of the day and prevent acne/skin problems, and a good moisturiser to hydrate your skin well.

The post AMANDEEP KAUR: CELEBRITY STYLIST | COSTUME DESIGNER appeared first on TPM.

Credits – All images sourced from the actor

Former model and Miss India, actress Namrata Shirodkar Ghattamaneni is all about garnering enriching experiences be it during her ruling days as a model, her crowning moment at the beauty pageant, her stint with the impactful films she did and even now as she is the reckoning force of husband, Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and her family. Namrata recently whisked her family off for a vacation in Paris, where she ensured that like always, they had an experience of a lifetime. Here’s how!

[Q] Where were you staying during your recent vacation to Paris?
I was staying at the George V. and Le Bristol.

[Q] Why did you want to come to Paris?
We wanted to take a holiday with the kids!

[Q] What are some of the must-packs for Paris?
I pack a week in advance. So, I’m quite prepared. Some of the must-haves for Paris – a jacket, a pair of boots and some really cool clothes!

[Q] Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
I wish I’d given a few more kisses to my dogs.

[Q] How did you reach your destination and then to your hotel/resort?
We flew to Paris via Dubai and then took a car to our hotel.

[Q] What was the first thing you did when you entered your hotel/resort room?
I unpacked and ordered a coffee!

[Q] What did you do during your stay there?
We spent some quality time with my family and friends, ate some delicious food, shopped around a bit, visited some museums and went sightseeing!

[Q] What local cuisine did you try?
Some Michelin star French food!

[Q] How did you document your trip?
My daughter is the key to our trips. We made some lovely videos of our time in Paris.

[Q] Your favourite memory from the holiday?
Our train trip to Bordeaux and the lovely château we stayed in will stay in my mind forever.
 

 
[Q] Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your stay in Paris?
A cat in Le Bristol called Socrates! Just unforgettable.

[Q] What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
Travel and places open my mind and allow me to feel free and absorb the clean, crisp air. The vibe of Paris is simply unmatchable. On this trip, I specifically learnt about Napoleon as we visited the museum where Napoleon now rests in peace.

[Q] What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your recent vacation?
Nothing challenging per se.

[Q] What are the activities or must-see or must-do’s that you missed doing while you stayed there?
We missed the Louvre as it was closed the day we wanted to go, but we’ve planned to strike that off the next time we go there. And a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower is a must even though it’s absolutely touristy! The view is breathtaking.

[Q] What would your advice be to other travellers to do when they visit this place?
I’d say spend at least a good whole week in Paris and make sure you draw up a to-do list before you leave. Also, make your bookings with tour guides as they make you see Paris from the eyes of the Frenchmen.

[Q] Do you call yourself a traveller or a tourist?
Traveller.

[Q] What kind of packer are you – light or heavy-duty?
Light.

[Q] What are your travel essentials?
A jacket, a pair of boots, a sanitiser lately, and a book.

[Q] How many gadgets do you carry while travelling?
Not many, as my phone is enough. My son carries a ton of them, though!

[Q] What are your travelling pet peeves?
Paperwork at airports!

[Q] What has been the most useful travel item you’ve bought?
A multi-purpose charger.

[Q] What’s the most reliable source of travel advice?
Trip advisors.

[Q] What’s the most important thing that you’ve ever lost on any of your vacations?
My scarf and my books.

[Q] Do you prefer to walk, take public transport, or take private transport during a vacation?
I prefer to walk and see the city in its true light.

[Q] What’s the best souvenir you’ve bought?
A book describing the city.

[Q] Would you rather see a lot of places or get to know one well?
I’d rather see a lot of places than be at one.

[Q] What is your dream travelling experience?
My trip to Gstaad, Switzerland.

[Q] What, according to you, is the one most cliche thing to do when on a vacation?
Become a tourist and see the city.

[Q] Must-have fashion accessories for travel?
Scarf.

[Q] Three must-carry outfits for travel?
A formal outfit, a comfortable pair of jeans and sneakers.

[Q] Makeup essentials to carry while travelling?
I’m not much of a makeup person, so it’s just my lipstick and eyebrow pencil for me.

The post NAMRATA SHIRODKAR GHATTAMANENI – ACTOR appeared first on TPM.

Credits – All images sourced from the influencer

Model, fashion influencer and a Yogini, Santoshi Shetty is all about doling out useful, practical advice, hacks, tricks and tips – be it acing the metallic winged liner look or getting a yoga pose right. In this issue of the Travel Peacock Magazine, Shetty forays into giving some great travel advice that is worthy of your time and travel to Puducherry.

[Q] Where were you staying during your recent vacation?
I was in Auroville with my partner for a couple of days where we stayed in this cute Airbnb, a farmhouse which opened to a beautiful garden outside with a huge banyan tree at one end. We’d wake up to different sorts of birds singing and would meditate outside with them. First, we stayed at this beautiful boutique heritage hotel called Grand Hotel D’ Europe located in White town. The second Airbnb was a traditional Tamilian house that had beautiful artefacts and paintings all over the villa. The third Airbnb was on a beach, as we also wanted to explore the beaches of Puducherry.

[Q] Why did you want to come to Puducherry?
My partner, Anti, was in Auroville learning Kalaripayattu. It was his first time there, but I remember going to Puducherry during my college study trips as an architecture student. I was in love with Auroville and Puducherry but didn’t get the chance to explore a lot. So, I decided to join him towards the end of his workshop/training and explore a bit of Puducherry and Auroville with him.

[Q] What are some of the must-packs for Puducherry?
Walking shoes to explore the neighbourhood and promenade on foot, bikini/beach essentials since a lot of properties including villas have a pool and a good appetite as there are a lot of good food places, cool cafes around the corner and amazing South Indian food joints too.

[Q] Is there anything you wish you’d done before you left home?
Maybe carry some vegan munchies since there aren’t many vegan-friendly places that deliver, so it’s good to carry some snacks from home.
 

 
[Q] What did you do during your stay there?
I did a lot of yoga, explored nature and architecture, made beautiful friends, walked around exploring cafes, always looking for sunrise and sunset points and, of course, worked/created content along the way.

[Q] What local cuisine did you try?
The banana leaf meal, and a lot of South Indian delicacies like rice dosas, etc. Puducherry and Auroville are both also quite big on their bakery stuff, so that too. We got really lucky to get some vegan almond croissants at the Auroville Bakery!

[Q] Your favourite memory from the holiday?
It has to be the sunset at Auroville near a lake filled with lotus next to a temple with their evening prayers played out loud on a speaker. It was blissful, and I could feel the energy of the place and mother nature. I’m grateful to have experienced that! It tells you that you’re at the right place.

[Q] Who is the most interesting person you’ve met during your recent vacation?
One of Anti’s friends, Santosh, invited us to his cute apartment in Auroville. He had lots of fun life experiences to share, and we had a great time exchanging stories, learning from each other, and appreciating Mother Nature. We even went to this secret banana leaf place and enjoyed some prasadam.

[Q] What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from your latest travel?
Never leave any place without mosquito repellent. (laughs) Apart from this, Puducherry and Auroville tell you to slow down and stay grounded.

[Q] What was the most challenging thing you’ve done during your recent vacation?
Talking to the Uber guy due to the language barrier! But he did give us a ride, ultimately!

[Q] What are the activities or must-see or must-do’s that you missed doing while you stayed there?
Probably, surfing and exploring other beaches. Anti loves surfing, but since we had limited time in each place, we didn’t want to exert ourselves by doing a lot. It was all about just being in one place and enjoying that. Both of us are open to repeating the places we love; so there’s always a next time!

[Q] What would your advice be to other travellers to do when they visit this place?
Do look out for boutique hotels or Airbnbs instead of going for commercial properties, as it will allow you to experience the aesthetic of the place like a local. Rent a bike if you’re at the beach or Auroville, as it is very convenient to get to places and do more. You could look for a place right in the middle of White Town and walk it out to nearby cafes and the promenade.

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