Ithaa Restaurant, Indian Ocean
Ithaa (translation: pearl) is totally underwater and can comfortably seat 14 diners in a transparent acrylic bubble that allows you to have a 270° panoramic view of the ocean life all around you. Offshore from Rangalifinolhu island in the Maldives, this expensive and exclusive dining experience is located by a tunnel from the shoreline Conrad Maldives that leads you down five metres below sea level.

Dinner in the Sky, Brussels
Unlike most restaurants, Brussels’ Dinner in the Sky doesn’t so much welcome you into its comfortable confines but hoists you – dinner companions and wait staff and all – up to 150 feet into thin air. Using specifically designed cranes and tables with attached seating, they can accommodate up to 22 people at a time or just provide an intimate, but rather exposed, table for two.

New Lucky Restaurant, Ahmedabad
Customs considered to bring good luck in Ahmedabad include sharing your meals with the departed and although it sounds rather macabre, this restaurant that is literally built around a graveyard has enjoyed tremendous success over the years – so maybe they know what they’re talking about.

Sarina Singh

The Senior Author of Lonely Planet’s India

guidebooks reminds women of the joys of going solo.

Toying with the idea of travelling solo but still in two minds? Well, ladies, I have just three words for you: go for it!

Travelling Alone is a discovery of yourself

As a seasoned solo traveller, my most rewarding journeys have been those done on my own. Sure, there are challenges, but once you slide into the solo groove, travelling alone is an inimitable ride that also equips you with skills to navigate the journey of all journeys: life. Indeed, when travelling alone, you won’t be able to hide from the most complex and intriguing person you’re ever likely to meet: yourself.

I’ve travelled solo many times throughout India and Pakistan – both on holiday and while working as Senior Author on the Lonely Planet guides to these countries – and hope the following tips help make your journey through the subcontinent memorable for all the right reasons.

TIP 1: Read up! Guidebooks, the net and advice from fellow travellers will not only make you destination-savvy, they’re also likely to lead you to (otherwise potentially hidden) treasures. Scan news sites – both prior to and during your travels – to keep abreast of safety issues (and special events) that coincide with your trip.

TIP 2: Book your first night’s accommodation (and transfer) in advance, especially if you are likely to arrive after dark. Apart from the safety factor, doing so can save you money on otherwise non-negotiable hotel rack rates. Avoid ultra-budget accommodation unless you know it’s geared to solo female travellers – cheap lodgings in Pakistan, for instance, are almost exclusively filled with itinerant male workers. If you like sleeping with the window open, opt for a room on a higher floor; some deluxe hotels have ladies-only sections.

Read up!

TIP 3: ‘Burglar proof’ yourself! I meet so many travellers – novice and experienced – who have had their vacation marred by theft. Wear a concealed money-belt and leave expensive-looking jewellery back home. When I travel, the only piece of jewellery I wear is a (pseudo) engagement ring – to ward off unwanted male advances. (PS: In certain situations, casually announcing that I’m a holidaying policewoman has worked wonders in getting rid of unrelenting Romeo-types!)

TIP 4: Discover the delights of dining solo. Some women are mildly terrified by this, but it’s actually a terrific time to indulge in people-watching. Conversely, if you wish to avert conversations, useful accessories include sunglasses, iPods and books. Choose places with a casual vibe (like cafés) and consider having your main meal at lunchtime (often less ‘threatening’ for solo diners), while opting for room service at night (which also solves the problem of commuting alone after dark).

TIP 5: Factor in go-with-the-flow time. Lao Tzu knew what he was talking about when he said “A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving” – indeed, my most scintillating journeys have been those that weren’t set in stone and allowed me to jump off the tourist treadmill.

TIP 6: Finally, tune into your instinct – a solo female traveller’s closest companion – but don’t allow paranoia to asphyxiate your adventurous spirit – life is to be lived!

Sarina Singh (sarinasingh.com) is a widely-published journalist, author of 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks, and writer/director of an award-nominated documentary film. She will be Senior Author of the next edition of the Lonely Planet guide to India – her eighth stint on this best-selling title.

Sarina Singh

The Senior Author of Lonely Planet’s India guidebooks reveals how she came – thanks to a dull night-shift and an impulsive decision – to be a travel writer.

If these don't make you fall in love with travel, nothing will

I was 19 years old and on my way to becoming a banker. Or, so I thought. I was in the third year of a four-year Business degree in my hometown of Melbourne and also working part-time as a front-desk receptionist at a fancy five-star hotel.

I remember the exact day, the exact moment that turned my post-graduation plans upside-down: it was a whisker after midnight on a bitterly cold Wednesday in August. I was at the hotel, working the night shift. After checking-in a group of German businessmen, my colleague, Sheridan, uttered four words that would ultimately re-calibrate my life compass: “Let’s go to Egypt!”

One of the best souvenirs

After repeatedly assuring my folks I’d call home every few days, they gave me the green light to set off on my first independent overseas trip.  Only now do I fully appreciate what a pivotal role they inadvertently played in turning me into an accidental travel writer. Indeed, despite being understandably jittery, my parents gave me the most precious gift imaginable: the freedom to blaze my own trail.

It was a warm November morning the day I left. Outside, the twisting jasmine vines were heaving with petite white flowers that made the garden smell like a French perfume store. After weeks of excited preparation, it was only when I strapped on my “will tough out the toughest trip” backpack that out of nowhere butterflies furiously began fluttering in my tummy. As I close my eyes now and rewind to that morning, I can almost smell the brewed coffee and buttered toast my father had prepared just moments before we left for the airport. In fact, ever since that day, aromas – from roasted chestnuts and gingerbread tea, to pinecone bonfires and spicy aftershave – trigger some of my most potent travel memories.

My very first recollection of Egypt was a hawks-eye view, from the plane. It was 2.30am and Cairo was twinkling beneath us, brighter than a million Christmas-tree fairy lights. Sheridan and I were still buzzing with what seemed like an eternal wellspring of pure adrenaline. After clearing customs and collecting our backpacks, we stepped outside to a moist wall of stifling heat. For the next few days we explored every nook and cranny of the Egyptian capital, before boarding a train south to Aswan – our jumping-off point for a sail-trek along the Nile River. Accompanied by 10 fellow backpackers, our home for the next 12 days was a ramshackle felucca (open-air single-masted sailboat) captained by the stony-faced but wonderfully warm-hearted Ahmad. On board, we shared meals – usually crunchy falafel and pillow-soft flatbread smothered with nutty dips – played chess, sun-baked, napped, and spent hours immersed in books. It was while lazing on deck, flipping through the pages of a novel set in India, that I first stumbled upon a phrase by the Mughal emperor Akbar: “The world is a bridge. Cross it, but build no house upon it.” At the time, I had no idea why these words resonated so powerfully. Indeed, they would echo through the corridors of my mind long after   I had left Egypt’s shores.

The Egypt trip, which kicked off a love for travel

Evenings on the river were chilly. Cocooned in sleeping bags, we’d swap travellers tales while being serenaded by the soporific soundtrack of the Nile’s splish-splashing. As the crimson hues of dusk melted into the blackness of night, we would scan the sky for shooting stars on which to make a wish. Each night, my wish was always the same: to be as free flowing as the ripples on the Nile, eternally adrift, guided by that which the eye could not see.

The place where Sarina was told to write to take her life on the right path

About a year later, after graduating from university, along came India. I had been offered a corporate traineeship at the Sheraton Hotel in Delhi. This time, the butterflies started dancing in my tummy when I picked up my airline ticket, which read: Melbourne-Singapore-Delhi (ONE WAY). This would not be my first visit to the subcontinent. As a child, I had travelled there on a whirlwind family vacation. Back then, I distinctly recall feeling a knot of raw emptiness when, upon inquiring, my father told me we no longer had any family left in India. I think that was the first time I really started toying with the notion of identity, belonging and metaphysical travel.

It wasn’t long before my Motherland started challenging me to view the world – and my place in it – with new eyes. She had a remarkable way of whisking me out of my comfort zone and nudging me into new philosophical territory… It was a sultry afternoon on an August day in Delhi. I dashed into a museum to escape a sudden monsoonal downpour and soon found myself tagging behind a bunch of tourists. Suddenly the group’s guide, a crinkle-faced Bengali man with thick silvery hair and a wispy beard, pointed directly at me: “You, with the strong Jupiter vibrations, you’re on the wrong path!” I froze in puzzled embarrassment as the other tourists spun around and speared me with inquisitive stares. The elderly guide urged me to start writing – only then would I be going in the ‘right’ direction. That evening, while jostling my way through a crowded bazaar in the old city, a willowy lady selling spice-cakes beckoned me over and insisted, with the same peculiar urgency as the museum guide, that I write about ‘all this’. It was too much serendipity to ignore.

In the years that followed, my wish – whimsically made on shooting stars in Egypt – became a reality. Providence turned my one-year management stint at a big-city hotel into five years of wandering across India – from Kullu to Kanyakumari, Surat to Shantiniketan – drifting from one assignment to another as an accidental travel writer…

I had arrived.

Our guest writer, Ashirwad Mhatre, takes you on a trip to Chail, Shimla.

A touch of history, abodes made from nature and the forest’s blanket. A concoction such as this leaves you dazed with a high that refuses to stop. Mixed by Mother Nature herself, this one is for the wanderlust.

Nestling in between the icy twirls of Shimla, lays a small town that goes by the name of Chail. Chail is known for its majestic palace and for having the highest cricket ground in India. We, here are talking about the former, a palace that’s converted into a hotel. For many, the sound of a palace hotel rings bells of luxury and it being expensive, but there is a twist in the tale. Within the palace grounds, stands a dwelling that is different to say the least and has its own romance. We’re talking about the ‘Log Huts’.

Made from logs, this wooden paradise is a honeymoon delight. A spacious room with cosy interiors makes the room an ideal snuggling spot and scripts a very romantic evening. These log huts are wrapped around the blanket of tress, overlooking a valley, giving you a visual spectacle that is truly breathtaking. Whilst you bask in this raw beauty of nature, for food you have to resort to the more polished way of dining, in the palace hall itself. You do have an option of calling food to your room, but then we advise you to dine in the royal way, and in winters it is all easy on the wallet. More than the food, it’s the experience that tastes sweet.

Morning rays glide through your windows and wake you up with their gentle caress. When you answer their plea to come out and explore the wonder of nature, you’re bedazzled to see snow acting like a carpet on the top shelf of the mountains. Sun along with snow in the December chills is a surprise only a lucky few get. The joy for a snow virgin, like me, was ineffable. The white crystals that showered from the heavens above leave you stunned and make you wonder about the magic of nature.

As you stroll around and bask in the nature’s delight, a trip inside the palace is highly recommended. The high-ceilings and long gangways resonate with royalty. While the grandeur of the place takes you back in time, the beautiful paintings around the palace sing melodious tunes of tradition and culture.

A 10 minute drive and you are in the Chail market. It is small with precisely 12 shops taking up the entire space. With a mix of breakfast/lunch/dinner joints, general stores and an occasional group innocently ruffling around, the market doesn’t have much to offer. But the quietude of small town is a pleasant change.

I was lucky enough to spot a hairy monkey sitting quietly atop a roof. And to be honest, he felt encroached. I just captured his reaction and left him at peace.

A 20 minute-drive from Chail, you move towards Shimla. As the green valley sucks your vision in its vortex, you’re mesmerized by the swirling roads, tall trees and an occasional resort balancing itself on the foothills of the valley. Amidst a bright sunny seeming weather, the chills you experience here are one of the best ironies you could wish for.

On your way towards Shimla, you take a detour that takes you deeper into the valley – 300mts to be precise, but from what it seems, it is no shorter than 3kms. This is the way to Park Woods Resort, Shoghi. Nuzzling amidst the forest sits this 20 acre resort, where a vehicle can only go so far. Once parked on the hillside, one has to trek down for 5 minutes before entering this paradise. This resort is as satisfying a place for the unwinding kind as well as for those with an adrenaline rush! It offers activities including mini-rock climbing and mini-treks within the huge resort itself.

As hotel rooms can be experienced anywhere, this is a place where you absolutely must explore the other accommodation facilities. Set in-between the trees, rest comfortable Swiss tents and ethnic ‘Bamboo Cottages’. We strongly recommend the bamboo cottages, as the calm within the wooden walls is second to none.

A simple yellow-lit lamp that sits on the side table adds life to the cottage, a feat white lights cannot replicate. And the red, orange and yellow curtains that cover the windows light up within this yellow beam and bring out very vibrant, yet romantic soft emotions of the room. Every cottage comes with a patio, making way for a perfect sitting for a long evening conversation with hot coffee for company.

As the evening dawns on you, the forest calls out to you to experience its marvel. As the sun is settling in its bed, it lights up the sky and gives a view amidst mountains that resonates with supremacy, presenting a spectacle only God can create.

After basking in this visual wonder, you can move to the ‘Machaan’ which sits above the dining area for soup and snacks. A refreshing hot soup in the winter chills is the second best warmth to human touch you’d find here.

After a refreshing supper, we suggest you retire to a relaxed conversation on the benches or the hammocks kept for your comfort. The hammocks especially make way for a comfort unlike another. While dinner can be had at the dining area, hot food served at your room makes way for a cosy and romantic dinner amidst the yellow-lit lamp with some jazz music for company. Within the package offered, you could call for anything on the menu, and you won’t be charged extra (except snacks).

After a scrumptious dinner, an intimate warm bonfire awaits you. Get your partner close to you, look into each other’s eyes and dance to the beautiful voice of Sinatra. That’s what I did, just picture yourself in my place and let your imagination take over.

Yes you’re lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fear apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
It touches my foolish heart.

Lovely … Never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won’t you please arrange it?
‘Cause I love you … Just the way you look tonight.

Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,
Just the way you look to-night.

One of India’s best kept northern secrets invites you to experience tranquillity in its purest form. While the world is crowding at the popular hill stations, go visit these little gems of northern India.

Don’t just travel, travel well.

- Ashirwad Mhatre

A beautiful post written by our guest writer - Ankita Chawla

Early morning drive, a lazy sneaky sun and never-ending fields of Gold can bring even the drab task of documenting reproductive health care centers, to life. Dhabas by Dhabas, and by toll taxes every few hours, the workmanship of the folk living by the highway stretched a golden sight all the way to the hills. These were punctuated only by the Babas and their billboards around Kumbh-struck Haridwar.

The crew left Delhi a little later than expected. But at six, the traffic was still letting us breathe and so we reached Jolly Grant, in the outskirts of Dehradun, by early afternoon. All through the sleepy six hours I noticed how, as the highways got narrower and the villages got frequent, Eucalyptus trees gave way to fields of wheat – a sight more pleasant and definitely less towering.

The rest of the trip was one long stare out of the window at the serene fields that seemed to be beckoning while a Shahrukh Khan – Kajol soundtrack played itself out in my head. Overwhelming though, in a good way, is the best way to describe the sight.

From one shoot location to another, wheat remained the backdrop.

Eventually I started to think aloud, wondering how cool it is that we humans figured out that this certain grain is to be dried and crushed and sculpted into dough and flattened and roasted to make chapattis. A long route and a long-drawn procedure turning into a staple of a North Indian’s everyday diet. The director of the documentary happens to be a History major and made an observation as to how evolution of Agriculture has been one of the markers of how advanced a civilization is. Ironically it was interesting to note, that as the fields took on more tangible space the level of assumed development of the area receded. Strange are the ways of our civilization.

With the story ‘the weed that became my chapatti’ ringing in my head, I stared out again. We reached a community where streets were relatively empty and thus shooting in the sun was nice and easy. Bathing buffaloes, strolling cows and whiffs of early morning tea are not exotic experiences. However, the awesome bit – and really in terms of the Awe it inspired – was acres and acres of cultivated land in the backyards of the houses we entered. Immense gardens of gold and green and plastic bag Scarecrows; the first sight every morning, the clean breath everyday and the scared crows still not used to the still man on stilts. What an e-e-easy pace of life it seemed to be.

More interviews, more tea, more sun, more driving and lots more wheat. This time round, strangely I did not want to run through the fields, but lie on the grass and float as the breeze swished and swashed them around. It was such a strong urge that the idea of me falling to the ground, crushing the grain beneath me did not occur at first. This seemingly insuppressible urge to glide made me realize how Bollywood-ness had given way to Mahabharat’s dying man (Bhishm) on a bed of arrows.

When my folks called from Delhi, all I could say was… “The fields are beautiful!” My father added to it “See how nature works, it’ll all be ripe in a week, then it’ll be time for harvest and then they’ll be making land ready to be sown again, with a different pretty crop this time”. If not golden, maybe yellow sugarcane.

At the end of the day’s shoot, we stopped to take in the sunset and while the camera man cursed, for us to not ruin the Nat sound; we clicked away at the gold, the green, the white clouds, the orange sun and the shadow of the Himalayas in the distance.

The work was done, the shoot schedule completed, we left for Delhi through the crop- colored highway roads. While we slept a lot, the wonderful shots of doctors, patients and kids dominated the subject for a while, and the golden wheat stood intact in the background. Ready to be ground for the chapatti’s you’d eat at one of the many Vaishno Dhabas.

- Ankita Chawla

“Desert” – The word conjures up an unmistakable image of an inhospitable place devoid of life, with sand dunes stretching out as far as the eyes can see. We could see that image of the “Desert” evaporate in front of our eyes when we visited The Rann of Kutch (Little & Greater) last year. It evolved into something exponentially resplendent, as we revisited the little Rann of Kutch repeatedly after that.

The best time to visit the Wild-ass Sanctuary is from november to February as the biodiversity is at its peak during this time, the terrain is motor-able and the heat is bearable.

We thought it would be interesting to notice the changes in density and variety of wildlife in march and to experience the desert during the summer months.

We left Ahmedabad at 4a.m. (getting up that early is the toughest part) taking the route through Sanand-Viramgam-Malvan and took a sharp right (almost U) turn from Malvan to Bajana, where we picked up our guide and got the permit to enter the Wild-ass Sanctuary.

We felt at ease on reaching there as the horrifying traffic of the highway had vanished, giving way to trails, bushes and open desert. It was almost 6:45 a.m. when we reached there, thanks to a closed railway crossing that had to be opened after the train that was expected to cross, trickeled to a halt, just a few yards from the crossing. we drove a few miles to reach an oasis that was a haven for wildlife, we spotted pelicans (not spotted but rosy pelicans), flamingos, spoonbills, grey herons, a few ducks and waders. By now the water had reduced to a fraction of its size when we visited in winter, and the density and variety of birds had decreased dramatically.

The sandy bumpy trail on which we were rocking gradually turned into a firm bone rattling one. As we took a turn we realized that we were in the middle of a mine field  of sand grouses that took off around us as we drove through.

Just off the trail we spotted a group of Nilgai being harassed by a small group of stray dogs. Judging from the health of the dogs we could conclude why their wild cousins – the foxes, wolves, hyenas and jackals call this place home, but they were nowhere to be seen as we rattled along, checking out areas of frequent sightings, at times creating a dust storm of our own behind the vehicle.

The Peregrine Falcon is another beautiful raptor that can be found here, and it made a guest appearance, flying past us just as we were talking about it. It had fattened up considerably, which reminded us to have our fill.

We had our lunch at the watch-tower and drove a few miles to stumble upon a small group of blackbucks, on stopping the vehicle we realized that we had paid the price for not driving carefully, no the traffic police was not following us but one of our tyres was punctured and changing it under the desert sun was an unforgettable experience.

We headed straight for Patdi a few miles that seemed like light years in the desert terrain. We took a more civilized tar road back to Bajana, where we rested out the afternoon under a tree, in company of a few locals who chatted away endlessly, while a variety of common birds visited the ‘Parab’ (a small water tank) nearby.

As the mercury dropped to a more tolerable level in the evening we ventured deep into the desert, hoping to get a glimpse of the extremely shy Desert fox. Trucks could be seen carrying salt from the salt mines while people worked endlessly on salt production. Watching all this we could not help but think how one greedy species could claim every bit of land on the planet as its property.

As the sun started to sink towards the horizon we came across a lonely stallion grazing, unfazed by the storm of dust that passed over it. As the dust disappeared we could see that something had appeared behind the Gudkhar (wild ass in local language) a close look through the viewfinder revealed that it was the desert fox. Driving between the two we could get close to the fox that was quite wary. It was a breathtaking sight to witness this beautiful creature from close quarters as the last rays of sun kissed its fur giving it a surreal appearance.

We returned back with unforgettable memories. A crane (not the bird) and heaps of salt reminded us once again of how we exploit nature but forget that we depend on it as well.

If we continue to inflict damage to these last pockets (not just this sanctuary) of natural splendor, the holes that we create in these pockets could unknowingly allow the little natural wealth that is left to trickle down until one day when we realize that there is none of it left for us.

Then the Earth would seem like a ‘DESERT’
(the one that we started the article with)

- Manjeet & Yograj Jadeja

I know it’s rude to do so, but it’s difficult you know, when you’re standing in front of absolute beauty. The kind of beauty that just can’t be stuffed into a camera lens! And that is when you realize that the 7 ½ languages that you know, do not have a single word that can describe the emotion you feel.

So, I just stand there, mouth open and take it all in, one breath at a time. You can just imagine what it was like when this happened to me under water.

As a child, I was terrified to get into the water as I was sure I would sink. But my love for travel came along and the more I journeyed with my family, the more I realized that I was missing out on all the fun, sitting on dry ground. Hence, I got my mom to enroll me into the nearby swim class, where I put my fear behind me and learned to swim. This paid off many a times in the future.

Like when I visited Townsville, Queensland. We boarded the vessel that was scheduled to take us to the Northern Barrier Reef from Lizard Island back down to Cairns. I stood on the deck that beautiful October afternoon and I couldn’t help but feel intoxicated by the beauty that surrounded me. The shades of blue and green on the top did not hide the beauty that lay on the sea bed below. The clear water was so inviting and I didn’t think my patience was going to hold onto me any longer.

Once under water, I couldn’t believe I had waited this long to visit these gorgeous creatures. It would be a near-impossible task to list all the animals of the Great Barrier Reef; such is the immense diversity of species. The whole reef system supports over 1500 different species of fish, over 4000 different species of mollusk and shellfish, such as clams, crabs and lobster, more than 350 species of hard and soft coral! I can tell you about my favorites among the hundreds of different living organisms I saw.

The Christmas tree worms – small and brightly colored animals that reside on the coral itself. They fan the water to sift out microscopic organisms.

Then there was the oh-so-shy Pygmy Seahorse that was difficult to it tell apart from the coral! It is tiny, no larger than about 2.4 cm.

And finally, the Potato Cod fish! Such big, bold creatures! It is a large robust fish with a rounded tail. It is grey brown with large dark brown spots and blotches over the body. We saw quite a large group of these bland fishes that stood out of place beside the bright ribbon reefs.

Only physical fatigue allowed me to get back on the vessel. But the colors and the way the fishes swam around, oblivious to my presence, just made me love Mother Nature so much more!

Don’t believe me? Ask the winners of the “Pick of the Week”. If you’re new to this site and this is the first time you have chosen to visit me on this blog, let me explain!

As you know, you’re allowed to share your love for travel on the site by posting pictures or your blog (or both). I think it is amazing because you get to inspire others to discover through your eyes and emotions.

So they tell me, pick out the ones you love the best. And I tell you, that is the toughest thing I have had to do in a long time (apart from returning home after visiting a new place). The first winners on the site were Zishaan Hayath and Amardeep Singh.

Zishaan writes a fabulous travelogue. My pick was his “Goan Country Ride”. He starts with getting me excited reading all the things he came across while riding a hired scooter up north from Panjim, reaching the Maharashtra border and then turning around and riding back south. Of course, after reaching the Karnataka border he starts north-ward again! What a read it was, and the photographs just added to the fun I was having reading his quirky observations.

Amardeep Singh posted this image you see alongside. It depicts silence, beauty in stillness and nature in its successful attempt at taking our breath away!

The next person I picked on the blog was Manjari Verma and this was her post that I first read and liked for the way she looked at travel. Her bio on the blog did say a lot to me with “A curious cat” and “foodie” standing out the most. In her post she writes about a weekend getaway at Wai, not far from Mumbai and Nashik.

The next image I picked out is again, self-explanatory. It was taken in Rajasthan and submitted by Neha S. On seeing it the weekend before Holi, this image said more to me than I can explain. Look at the joy in his face even without the smile, the colours and what they do to enhance his inquisitive eyes and the curiosity that is unsaid.

I really wish you guys would load up more images and blogs like these for me and other travelers alike to enjoy. If not the weekly winner, you could make it to the top featured on the site.

What are you waiting for?

The first edition of Lonely Planet Magazine– India Edition is out on stands. It’s your comprehensive log of travelers’ experiences, the ones who got out of the box and discovered. Whether your budget is low or you’re hesitant about the negatives of traveling to a place you have never been or you’re just looking for a weekend adventure, you will find it in this magazine.

My favorite section in this is the Mini Guides, apart from the rest of the beauty. Tear it up, fold it and get on with your fabulous journey. Being the foodie that I am, I got thrilled reading and devouring the delicious images of food in the magazine. I was stuck at page 51 for around twenty minutes! You can’t blame me, my tummy got all nostalgic on me.

This month features an article written by Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet. He talks to a tourist bound for outer space. Tony writes, “The £20-million-price tag of a trip with Space Adventures probably deters a few punters…”

Vardhan Kondvikar, the editor of the magazine, writes about how he travels best. Like me, he prefers road travel, but for different reasons. Couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud at his reason for not traveling rail, “…it is utterly charming, watching the landscape go by and watching your fork miss your mouth and stab you on the cheek…”

Unless you’ve been traveling all this month, I don’t see a reason why you don’t have a subscription yet!

I’ve been traveling all of February, and I visited Leh. My experience was so breath-taking, that I ended up staying for two weeks instead of 4 days. I was online and visited the website for Travel Well. Thought to myself, “why not check out what other wanderers have discovered here?” But since I was hungry (even though I had just finished a big bread roll with a huge helping of Yak cheese), I typed “tasty” into the search engine and I get this image of a gorgeous dessert that had the most exotic colors to it. I’ll admit, it’s my senses that take me places. So, now I know I’d go there just to eat that delicacy, which I believe, has been created just for me! But that’s me, I travel crazy. Everyone has their own way of doing it! What’s yours?

Tell me in your comments.

Travel Well!