Saturday 23 November 2013

Crossing Pagla Nala, Pangong Tso Lake


This was the time of tiny cell phones and my fascination for video travel documentaries. What I though would be few simple shots of the river turned out to be a two day adventure.


We started off from Leh city to travel to Pangong Tso Lake, situated at a height of approximately 14000 feet, stretching from Ladakh in the northern most part of India all the way up to Tibet. Though roads leading from the city to the lake are well made, en-route you have to cross a temperamental rivulet called Pagla Nala which is a quite tricky one, what with rubble, ever changing paths and the volume of water descending from melting glaciers further north.

I dint know it then, but this has become one of my most memorable, unexpected, free spirited Ladakh memories. No luxury hotel can give me the view, the magic, the aw I felt and experienced the night we stayed over just inches away from the lake, with a gorgeous starry sky as my companion.


You just have to experience it to believe it.

That's the fun of travel really, when you see the video you'll notice that what was just a fun family video turned out to be a wondrous catalog of an adventure. I hope you experience the magic.  

Monday 18 November 2013

7 Traits of a Super Travel Blogger


Of course you are a travel-junkie.  But there are those of us who travel a lot but when asked about a trip they say, “It was nice.” Nice does not even come close to my encounter with a python in a jungle in Maharashtra! So here’s my take on 5 things that make a traveller a super travel blogger.

1. Actualise your Wishlists
A lot of us have wish lists. But have you set a schedule?  I will travel to Ecuador, France, Argentina, Australia, Cyprus, Switzerland and Canada in the year 2014 and I am working towards actualising my travels to these destinations.

2. Observe, be Curious
When you do travel – observe. On a trip to Pondicherry, I walked around markets full of export surplus garments. On further inquiry I discovered that Tirupur, India’s biggest garment manufacturing hub was just a stone’s throw away.  Tourists normally browse by without a thought, but a keen observer can make the connections. So when you travel on work the next time for a meeting in Tokyo for example, notice how there are no trash cans there, find out why.


3. Take Notes
Yes, the human brain is capable of remembering everything we come across each day of our lives. But for most of us mere mortals on occasions when we come across something fascinating, without being recorded it fades away from our memory. I make sure to take notes of interesting names, phrases and striking numbers while on my travels. I also save small souvenirs, may be a flower fallen down just as I pass in a garden in London or a ticket stub of the Louvre on a backpacking trip through France.  This habit keeps my memories strong and helps to add a unique flavour to my travel stories.

4. Though while applying the same to travel photography keep your camera aside for a moment. Sometimes you have to save the image of that gorgeous frozen turquoise water in Ladakh or that royal Jaisalmer sunset in your mind’s eye to feel the magic.


5.  Transcribe in Time
You made your notes diligently during your travels but they are now lying at the end of your pile of books and it’s already been a few weeks since you got back? This sometimes happens to the best of travel writers and bloggers.  Reasons for this range can be many; from having itchy feet to travel to your next destination instead of sitting at a desk and typing it all out, pure laziness or lack of time due to a busy schedule. I avoid this delay by jotting down my memories the moment I get some free time on my trip. As soon I get access to a computer I transcribe them. This way my travel story is ready even before I have arrived back home.


6.  Think Eclectic
It is nice to be part of a network of like minded friends and colleagues. But it is even better to meet people with varied interests, professions, interests and occupations. Imagine sitting in Mumbai at a spiritual convention and being connected to friends sending you updates about a photography exhibition in Delhi and a surf festival in Goa! You can expand your knowledge by just knowing a carpenter in Sweden and an organic farmer in Peru and you never know where the two can connect and lead you to a travel story.

7. Share
Don't be stingy. Share your ideas, thoughts, travel tips, experiences stories with everyone you come across. A fellow blogger needs tips on some coding issues, share your hacks. A friend's aunt needs a trip planned, understand what her requirements are and try your best in scheduling a gorgeous trip for her. Moreover you never know, you will come across something new yourself in the process.

There, that's my two pence on the traits of a super travel blogger. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this.

Saturday 16 November 2013

5 Ways to Become a Travel Blogger


Did you read my posts and go, “Hey, I 'd like to be a travel blogger too!” Now that thought dear reader is your sign. I cannot begin to describe what happy pleasures, memories, responses I have relived through my blog. All it takes is a blank book or screen and a pen or a keyboard in my hands. Here are 5 things I think will help you kick-start your own blog.

1. Start, what are you waiting for!
Be it a photo blog or a written account of your travels across the globe, start. You may think you’ve not travelled enough, or photographed enough during your trips. Think again. Bring out those old albums and hard drives and browse through your memories gone by. You will get realise how awesome you were and how much more you can do.

2. Plan, make a to do list
Yes, you must be a list maker! Be it with college friends on a road trip, that annoying family holiday or on your frequent work trips, make a list of all the destinations you have travelled to. You will be surprised with the ideas you come up with. Catalogue them and jot down your route, memories, especial encounters and tips that other travellers can use.

3. Reach Out
No everyone is a tech geek. If you are fairly active on the digital medium, you can set up a blog through blogger, it is the simplest blogging platform I have come across. The tech savvy guys might already be familiar with the magic of wordpress and plugins. For photo blogging tumblr is one of the best platforms.  Try your hands at understanding the platform you choose, spend some time understanding your readers - do they prefer reading stories, interviews, a short ‘5 things to do’ list? Design your travel content accordingly.

4. Share
Create your content and share it with your social network.  Spread the word about your new blog on to various offline and online platforms so that your friends, family and professional network can give you feedback, share it with their friends and get you more visibility.

5. Be consistent
Once a reader has discovered you and liked your travel blog, they want to hear from you at regular intervals. So schedule the matter you have planned in such a way that it keeps your readers engaged without spamming their inbox.

That’s a crisp Phase 1 brief to an awesome journey through travel blogging. Do share with me what you’d like to add to these tips.

Saturday 9 November 2013

Sunny Secrets: Rediscovering India's Coastal Destinations


 DNA of Escape
There is the guide book tourist checklist and then there is the trail of discovery off the radar. Diipti Jhangiani takes you through both routes rediscovering destinations along coastal India. 

Pondicherry
With its blue surfs, little cafes and French architecture, Pondi as it is fondly known is a city located along the eastern coast of India.
Tourist Checklist  
Walk along the Promenade and stop at Le Cafe for light munchies and a beautiful view of the surfs. Take the heritage walk, visit Aurobindo Ashram on the route. Top up on energy at Rendezvous restaurant to sample mouth watering local sea food. After having your fill, workout those calories with good old retail therapy at the souvenir stores at Mission Street.   
Off the Radar
Auroville, a township for alternative living, lies a few kilometres away from the city. Book a meditation session at Matri Mandir, a dome shaped meditation room at Auroville for a surreal experience.
For the adventure junkie, grab onto a surf board from Kallialay Surf School at Serenity Beach and master riding those waves.

Goa
Goa’s over hyped beaches have an identity of their own, but this state located along the western coast of India has a lot more to offer.
Tourist Checklist
Explore the by lanes of the capital city Panjim walking along Portuguese churches and homes. Build up an appetite by trekking up Fort Aguada and then head to Mango Tree for a late breakfast. Follow this up with trinket shopping at Anjuna and then cool off gazing at the night sky, grooving to music at Curlies.       
Off the Radar
Set off on a road trip starting with Tiracol Fort Heritage hotel for a breathtaking view of Querim beach at the northern most tip of Goa. Drive down to a spice plantation sampling vanilla pods and sumptuous lunch, followed by a dip in Dudhsagar falls, Goa’s largest waterfall toward the west. Follow the trail south heading towards Palolim beach for a picture postcard end to your Goan holiday.