Bombay Bygone: Colaba through the Looking Glass

‘Little Alice fell down the hole, bumped her head and bruised her soul.’ ~ Lewis Carroll

Have you ever had an Alice in Wonderland moment? Falling through the rabbit hole, without looking back, only to enter your very own whimsical, magical universe – one that takes you back in time, to a special place that remains embedded in memories. A few places in the city of ‘Bombay’ manage to evoke such a strong sense of nostalgia for me – Colaba being one of them.

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Jaipur Diaries – Painting The Town Pink

Jaipur is a smorgasbord of culture, colour, and chaos. A city that sits on a threshold of a vibrant, historic past and an emerging future. Jaipur is where I decided to take a whirlwind 48 hour getaway and immerse myself head first into the land of palaces, shop for local artisanal crafts, and gorge on some delicious traditional fare. And most importantly decided to spend some quality time with myself.

My previous Rajasthan holiday took place roughly fifteen years ago, though some memories still remained etched in my mind. A wobbly camel ride in the heat. Spotting peacocks on the drive upto Jaigarh Fort. Biting into a crunchy, flaky kachori and then wiping my hands on my mother’s dupatta later. Looking up at the regal, ancient forts in amazement, wondering how they managed to build such structures back then. Fifteen years down the line, I experienced a strong sense of déjà vu throughout the trip. Some things never really change, do they?

The Great Wall of Jaigarh
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Singapore Diaries: Five Reasons to Visit!

I remember my father bringing home a brochure highlighting Singapore Tourism from one of his travels, roughly a decade ago. The 3D-glasses that came alongside the mag brought alive the pages – Toucans from Jurong Bird Park squawked at me, the cable car ride to Sentosa island whirred past, and the white tigers at the Singapore Zoo roared at me, inviting me to come aboard. It is amazing how some small, insignificant memories remain imprinted in one’s mind.

A month ago, I happened to remember that magazine, whose pages I so longingly turned through, hoping to visit all of these places someday. And on a whim, we decided to take a family holiday to Singapore! With places such as Sentosa Island and Universal Studios on the itinerary – places that I was looking forward to seeing with my parents, re-living childhood, and becoming their little girl once again. And then there was the lure of Singapore’s multidimensional food scene. Dishes that I had heard of, read and even tasted back home, that enticed me to try the real deal.

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Udvada – Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds, Great Food!

A sleepy, little coastal town in Gujarat may be the only place in the world where Parsis are not in minority. Udvada is barely 200 kilometers from Mumbai, but instantly transports you into a different era, with different geography.

Udvada is a hidden treasure, cut off from the modern outside world we belong to, deeply rooted in culture and religion. Udvada is where Zoroastrians the world over throng to pay homage to the Iranshah Atash Behram – the sacred fire whose sacred flames have been continuously burning for over 1280 years. Udvada is where many Parsis, like me, come to worship their second religion – food!

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My 24 Hour Getaway at Courtyard by Marriott Pune, Chakan

If, like me, you’ve exhausted all your weekend getaway options close to Mumbai – this post may hold special interest for you. If, like me, putting your feet up and relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of the city is what you crave, then read on!

The sleepy town of Chakan may be barely heard of by most, barring a few car aficionados owing to the large number of international automobile factories it hosts. It is here in Chakan that the Courtyard by Marriott property sits, like a pretty oasis in a sun kissed desert. The sprawling property, scrumptious local food, and trademark Marriott hospitality is how I experienced the past weekend. Read on for a step-by-step account of my 24 hours at the Courtyard by Marriott Pune, Chakan – 

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