Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

11.4.17

Beach Essentials : The Secret List



Who doesnt look forward to the beach vacation where days are by the beach and nights are endless lullaby of rising & falling waves. It surely is an ultimate relaxation, but certain precautions makes it smarter.


Of course we packed our slippers, but trust me the material makes a hell lot of difference. There are certain factors like coarse sand, water, sun etc. Its important that the footwear is airy, sturdy and comfy. After lot of trial and errors I feel rubber sandals are the best. And there are both expensive & inexpensive options, like this and this.


Its needless to say that sunscreens are a must. But considering the fact that humidity is intense near the sea, its a better idea to go for oils. They are nourishing and doesn't melt off. When you are headed for snorkeling the mask wont slip off and neither would it get to your eyes.
Try this, this & this.


Take it from the girl from a hot country, you need this! Talcum powder helps soak sweat and keep you fresh. I usually carry a small container of talcum powder and sprinkle it all over at the end off the day, once I have washed off all the salt water and sweat. Waterside places tends to be humid and noone wants to be sweaty after a shower. So this keeps me dry. Be careful of how much you sprinkle though, especially if you are wearing black.


Carry an umbrella. The most unpredictable thing about a beachside is the rain. It pours crazy or suddenly, so an umbrella saves the day.

29.1.16

How To Unpack After Travel

courtesy: Etsy

You had a great holiday and now your are back home to the daily grind. The motivation you had while leaving is not there anymore, plus you are tired. We used to leave our suitcases right in the middle of living room and forget about it, sometimes for weeks. And then we would start looking for that polka dot t-shirt and not remember where it is. And of course where else could it be?

So now I have simplified the process. Its quick and I just get over with it. Mostly, the moment I am back home.

First things first...

I flung open that suitcase and take all the clothes out and put it into the laundry. If it has warm clothes then I take them out too and put them aside somewhere. Usually hang them off my coat rack. Its a good to have a predesignated areas for all the winter essentials. Even in small apartments. Like hooks for coats and a box/basket for gloves/caps etc. Saves you time when you are looking for them.

Next...

I put away my shoes. Even for my shoes I have slots to put them. Try this & this if you are looking for shoe organizing ideas.

Now...

The toughest part, if you ask me, are the toiletries. I hardly remember while packing in those random loose things like the weird colored lipstick or the shaving kit when I am traveling for a skiing trip that I am hardly going to use them. So once I am back I stare and stare and stare at them. But here is what to do. Divide between what goes in the bedroom and what goes into the bathroom. In my case makeup and some skin products stay in the bedroom while the toiletries in the bathroom. Easy? Now start with placing the bathroom products first. Then move over to the bedroom and do the rest.

What should be left are....

The souvenirs! We all love to collect some. I like to get magnets wherever I go to put them on my refrigerator. Keep those aside. Place them later when you have time and are relaxed.


14.12.15

Hair Products I Carry When I Travel

I love traveling. I always have. And this year, as we draw to a close, has been one of the most exciting year in that case. The big issue I have always felt has been packing. What to carry, how to predict the climate and most importantly how can I not over-pack? The last one is something I am still working on. But in case of the beauty products I have drawn a, sort of formulae where I carry a set number of products, all travel size wherever I go. I have a set for hair as well, which consists of a shampoo & conditioner. A dry shampoo if I am not able to wash my hair for a few days, in case of a little longish trips or even a week. An elasticizer (pre-shampoo conditioner) just in case I have the time. A wrap around towel, which I can wrap around and forget about while I put on my make up or my night treatment. And a drier. And I am quite happy with my little kit, the products are excellent and give the perfect outcome. I find this to be quite a complete kit for my hair.

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11.12.15

Outfits For Every Location


You surely feel the need to be covered while running around in the snow. But the joy of being at a ski resort sipping hot cocoa and eating beef chili could hardly be let gone. If you aren't an expert skier like me, the former would be the highlight of your trip. However, whatever are your reasons, its well worth the trip.


I love beaches. And I am yet to meet anyone who doesn't. Beautiful sand & blue waters never stops enticing.



When I visited Savanah, I found it unexpectedly beautiful. Of course, I saw some popular pictures and videos but then it felt to lovely, green & tropical. The gorgeous trees and parks & waters, everything makes you feel "lets live here"!

Dress | Shoes | Bag | Hat 

Have you seen the movie called In Bruges? Well do if you haven't. Not only does it stars the beautiful Clemence Poesy & is a great movies but also is shot in the beautiful city of Bruges. It has long been a dream destination and I hope the dream comes true soon.



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10.11.15

Travel Diaries : Barcelona


My Spain visit was awesome to say the least. It was long and exhausting but I definitely feel satisfied. It was an absolute gastronomic treat, visually delightful and the experience of a lifetime. Each city was different, had a different flavor of its own and aura. Here's the download.


Barcelona

Eat: Barcelona has abundant choices. You should be ready to be on your feet to experience it all. You never know, where your heart pulls you for a little sangria and tapas break and you might end up discovering the best thing ever! From our journey these are the few places thats still on my mind.

La Tesquita De Blai: If you are there on a weekend then reach early. If you don't find a place then the best bet might be to find one of the customers who is just about to leave and then keep hovering around. But people are nice and know that you might be looking for a spot, so not really a big worry. Their Tapas are cheap (1 euro each & 1.8 euros for the special ones)x

Quimet & Quimet: Simply for the gastronomic experience. The food is just excellent! But do reach early as they close by 11pm.

El Raval: If you are walking around El Raval, Do stop around the square at the red tent for some excellent Moroccan tea. Its excellent and very refreshing to say the least. This isn't a store and won't accept a credit card, so keep your cash handy.

La Paradeta : You can choose your fish (fresh, raw fish; mind you!) and hand them over to cook. Then pick up a wine, while they prepare your fish at that instant. I loved La Paradeta!


Experience: Be ready to walk around. take a break at one of the open air cafes and then continue walking. The main district with all the attractions are walkable.

Gothic Quarters: Don't forget to visit the Gothic Quarters. The experience here during the day and night are very different. The stores are all open and you can visit the cathedral and coffee shops during the day. But as it starts to get darker the street musicians start their performances. And they are very good!

El Born: Once you are done with Gothic Quarters, head over to El Born for a few drinks. Its a very chilled out and pretty location, and loads of fun if you are in good company.




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23.10.15

Lisbon - A Photo Diary


Confession time: I like to be lazy. And lazy holidays are most welcome! So after a long trip around Spain, on a long European tour we ended with Lisbon and we had 3 days and 3 nights. We stayed at Alfama, and booked an apartment through airbnb. Now-a-days we mostly prefer airbnb, as they have lots of options at different price-points and the accommodations most of the time are gorgeous. And the apartment we lived in was amazing, in fact apparently, The Russia House was shot here. Yes that "Sean Connery" movie! 

But Lisbon was a gorgeous city. The reason to talk so much about the place we lived at was because, I think we chose the location wisely. It was well connected, old city feeling and lots of eating options!


Where to Stay in Lisbon:

I would say stay within the city. Stay where you are well-connected. So that you are not stranded, and suddenly the damn GPS stops working and you do not know all the connecting trains & buses. That happened to us, and I speak from experience, that you'll hate it then!

We stayed at Alfama, and it had a good mix of everything. 


What to See:

Honestly, I thought long strolls are the ideal things to do. The vibe of 'Bairro Alto' or even Belem during the day was something to look forward to. You can of course visit the usual touristy places but  walk as much as you can or take the tram to really feel the city. Don't carry a lot of valuables though, as in spite of all the cops present in around there are decent number of mugging incidents.



What to Eat:

I thought, if you love seafood then you must love this place. They have the best selection of restaurants wit excellent food and at a very reasonably priced. We found some favorites, not just for seafood, but great food/ambience in general.

1. Enoteca de Belem : If you ask for a bottle of wine here, they will hand-over a pair of binoculars. I don't want to kill your surprise moment by giving out this secret. But I have to tell you that they have one of the best selection of wines. If you ask for help in choosing the right wine they will find you the right one. As for the food, I think it was great. I recommend the duck magret. 

2. Santo Antonio de Alfama : They have great food, ambience and wine. The best part, you can actually listen to some great Fado, coming in from the restaurant next door, without having to pay the price.

And there were others randomly found while walking around for coffee, and especially one among them was this tiny store by an elderly gentlemen, no name just great freshly squeezed orange juice and best pasties ever, in one of the lanes in Alfama. If you find him, don't miss it.

And while you are at the bairro alto, don't forget to grab a drink at Pensao Amor. Its a church converted to brothel converted to a bar. Its obviously for the grown ups. But the caprinha here is awesome. So is the ambience!

3. Time Out : Once you are done with your drink head over to the Time Out for some food & drinks. Lots of options from meat to fish to vegetarian and as well as desserts!



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21.10.15

Balcony With A View








Sometimes small things make big impact. When I was in Spain and in Granada, this apartment that we booked through airbnb did that. It was right at the main square had 2 balconies and all we did was to sit there. Of course we did get out to look at the Alhambra and the Albaycin but the balcony was the cherry on the cake.

I was a bit sad to leave, hence couldn't stop myself for getting some pictures at my beloved spot. It was kind of cool weather but not cold and layering a white shirt with sleeve details with a dress was the perfect thing to do. I kept it simple as I had a lot to walk around, my black Vans kept it comfy for me.

Outfit Details : Dress - Old | Shirt - Zara | Shoes - VANS

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14.10.15

Butterflies In Barcelona





Outfit Details : Navy Blue Blazer : ZARA | Butterfly Dress : ASOS | Shoes : ASOS | Sunglasses : Prada | Bag : Dune London

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4.9.15

Maryland - A Photo Diary










Sometimes little breaks are just so refreshing. Something closer to home, yet beautiful. We stayed at one of the airbnb accommodations and I am telling you I am becoming a fan! We travel with Margo on our toes as much as possible, because its not fun without him. Its just too cute to see him run into the water and run with the wind towards you, in an open field, with his ears flapping around. I am going to be able to capture it one day, before he grows too big. 

Well here is a snapshot of our weekend!


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