9 tips for a better travel

Lately, travelling excites me. Well, whom does it not? Ever since, I was a kid, I have always loved visiting new places, learning new cultures and meeting new people. Travelling is all about making memories all over the world. As Anita Desai says, "Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow". If you have planned a travel once in your life, there is a taste that you get addicted to. It's a healthy drug that gushes into your senses and cannot leave till you have visited every corner of the world. 

I do not believe in paying extra money for a tour package where some agency tells me about how I should travel and the places I should visit. For me, travel begins right from the day I start thinking about it to the booking of the places to stay as well preparing my own itinerary. My 10 days honeymoon trip to Italy was an excellent experience of how I managed and planned my travel. 

I have been waiting to share my plan from a long time. So here I am giving you few tips for a better travel.

1. Plan ahead: Planning your travel 4 to 5 months earlier not only saves you a  huge    

    amount of money but gives you ample amount of time to relax and plan for an amazing travel. You     can get fabulous offers on your flight tickets and offers from websites like Booking and Hotels for     your stay. 

2. Make a list of places: Websites like Tripadvisor and Cox and Kings 

    provide you with readymade travel itineraries. You can pick up any of them and start making a list     of all the places you wish to see. 

3. Do not crumple: While making a list of the places to visit in a particular city     

   that you are travelling to, do not crumple your travel. You do not have to visit every place that    

   Tom, Dick or Harry visited. Pick up the places that interest you. Have a look at the pictures of such 

   places on  Google and then make a choice. It’s always good to spend your money and time in    

   places that I interest you than wasting your time in visiting a place that makes you feel sad. 

4. Get to know your choices:If you are interested in art then make a list of the museums that you cannot miss in a particular place that you are visiting. Keep a checklist of all the historic places of interest. If you are a person who loves adventure, then add that to your checklist. You choice  

 is something that is very important. 

5. Dial a friend: It’s always good to call up a friend who has visited that place earlier. He/she can give you some insights that you can never find even on the internet. 

6. Know the culture: There is a famous saying which goes like this, “When in Rome do as Romans do”. It’s always good to have a brief overview about the culture and some ideas about the place you are visiting. You never know when it could come handy. 

7. Know what you pay: There are websites that provide you the cost of common items like Milk, water, bread, alcohol or a sumptuous meal. It’s always good to have a look at it rather than be cheated. 

8. Manage your time: While preparing your itinerary always keep track of the amount of time you are going to spend at every place. Make a timetable and try your best to follow it.

9. Last but not the least: The last Item in the checklist is to keep your money at different places. For example, separate your money and keep some in your wallet, some in your bag and some in a secret pocket in your dress. This comes handy especially when you are in an international travel where access to that currency is difficult. 

The 9 tips mentioned above are tested and verified. You can blindly follow them and I bet you will have the travel of your lifetime. 

Let me know If I could add anything more to this list and also your feedback!

Linking the post to Write a List – Rediscovering Your Blogging Groove Day 1

The Peace-d place !! #Happy

Yesterday was Sunday and the best part of it was that I spent it in the city I love the most, "Pune". It's where my parents live and also the place where I lived most of my life in. 

There is such a nostalgic feeling when I go to this city. I feel warm. I feel subtle. I feel complete right from the time I step my foot into the city. There is an aura that engulfs me and brings back all the memories.

But there is something more beautiful about this place. It's the home where I grew up. Specifically, the BALCONY. The hall in our house has an attached balcony and this is that one place that has actually seen me grow over the years.

It has seen me cry, it has seen me shout in happiness and it has seen me stand quietly and ponder. There have been times I have stood there doing nothing at all.

I remember sleeping in the balcony with my brother as a kid during the summer seasons. It was mesmerizing to watch the stars twinkling above. 

Whenever my relatives were home, we would play Antakshari(Sing song game) while sitting in the balcony.

There were times I would walk up and down in my balcony before my exams. It has seen my memorizing just days before the semesters. I have seen the sun go down literally everyday by standing here.  There has never been the need to go to a hill station to watch the sunset.

When I was completing my very first novella (Which is due to be published soon), this was my shelter during the early mornings and the late nights. It was my secluded place that had so much of positivity in it.

It was at this very place where I had spoken to my husband over the phone for the very first time. Our conversation had last for around 90 minutes. To this day, this has been a mystery.

Even today, whenever I go home, this is that place that defines “Peace” for me. Whenever, I visit my parents, I stand in the balcony for some time. It rejuvenates me and energizes me.

Which is that one place where you find solace and peace? I would love to know. 

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The Dandiya time #Navratri

India is considered to be a land of varied cultures, traditions, religions and heritage. Every Indian takes pride in stating that we that live in a country that respects everyone’s sentiments. Muslims,  Hindus, Christians,  Parsis, Jews,  Buddhists are alike and we live in apartments where one neighbor would be of a different religion and the other of another. Inspite of being a Christian, I light Diyas(lamps) outside my home every Diwali. For me Diwali is a festival of lights. I love the way every house is decorated with lamps on every nook and corner.

The reason why I began writing about the unity is diversity was because of a recent festival I participated in, last Saturday. It was my Mom’s birthday on Friday and invariantly I just needed a reason to go to my mother’s place in Pune. Mumbai(Where I live in) is just a 3 and a half hour drive to Pune which makes it all the more easier. My Husband and I drove down on Friday night to spend the evening with my mother and make her feel special.

She had informed me of a Dandiya Night that was supposed to be hosted in our society for which she had been practicing since a week. I was excited as it had been years since I had played Dandiya.

Dressed in my best attire, I joined the platoon that was dressed in bright coloured ghagra cholis. 

The show lasted for around two and a half hours and by the end of it I was exhausted. There were prizes for different age groups and those who were best dressed and danced the best were awarded. It was a public gathering and all of them were equally elated.

As I went back to sleep that day with soared feet, I thought of the evening. The way the festival had brought together people of different age groups under one single roof was marvelous. It was just another break from the monotonous life that we live in. Such kind of social gatherings and events attract people and this is something that keeps our country united. I felt proud. Isn't it great how people join hands to celebrate festivals? 

My Mom and Me.
 Copyright +Cynthia Vincent 

As for me, as the dandiya season is about to get over, I can’t wait for it to arrive next year.

I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to myself to write as frequently as I can.

Winter Bucket List!!

With the rainy season just passing by and leaving us with a few spells here and there it's time to welcome the season that brings with it serenity and tenderness. It's time to welcome Winter!!!

Winter has always been one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. There is a kind of feeling where emotions outplay you. It is that time of year where you find yourself luring into romantic sounds, you find yourself squeezing inside think blankets, when your mornings are nothing but a silent quarrel between you and your alarm clock and it is also that time of the year when the climate lets you fall in love with itself.

Winter always reminds me of Christmas. The carol singing, the crib decoration, Santa Clause, Stockings, gifts etc.

Following my fellow blogger Nabanita, I landed up on the link up activity on Fall Bucket List. Since, Winter is my favorite season I planned to put up my Winter Bucket List:

1. South Mumbai: I moved into Mumbai a couple of months back after my marriage and since then I havent had the time to explore south Bombay. I did visit Marine drive and Delhi Darbar :) but I wish to walk and explore the entire South Bombay on one weekend.

2. Cook from my heart: As I said in one of my previous posts, I never enjoyed cooking before my marriage, but now I do trying out stuff on weekends when I have time. So this is up on my list. I will try new recipes and ofcourse put it up on my blog too soon :)

3. Adapt in my new office: With marriage, there has been a lot of change that has come around in my life. One of which is I landed up working in a huge organization where I still haven't found proper friends and it is sickening to go to such a place everyday. I am going to try and make new friends and stop cribbing about this.

4. Fitness: Fitness is something that I have given up owing to the lack of time which supposedly is something I shouldn't be using as an excuse. I am planning to get back to working out as much as I can and planning to get back in shape.

5. Creating a small Garden: It has been on my checklist to create a small garden in my balcony with tiny pots where I can sit and enjoy the evenings by sipping a cup of hot Coffee in Winter. I hope to get that started soon.

6: Write and Write: Now that I have made it a point to write as much as I can, I wish to continue this with passion and determination.

There goes my list, Now if you have yours, why don't you put it up on your blog or drop them down in the comments section? Who knows it may motivate you to have a great Winter.....

I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to myself to write as frequently as I can.

Gratitude is Great-Attitude!!

As we celebrated the World Gratitude day yesterday, I wanted to write a post on what gratitude means to me.

Gratitude is Great-Attitude!!

I would wrap up my entire ideology of gratitude in this single sentence of 4 words. Yes! That’s what gratitude means to me. Gratitude is one of the noblest attitudes a man can possess.

Courage: It takes courage to be grateful to people who go out of their ways to help you and make you feel special. All of us as humans have a big ego that we are born with and it takes grooming and a very good upbringing to break the ego and give importance to other people’s actions by being grateful to them.

Benevolent: Gratitude is an act of benevolence. It is being generous in saying those two words, “THANK YOU”. When was the last time you said a thank you to the auto driver who dropped you safely to work?

Practice: Just like it takes years to master any art like Yoga or Painting, being grateful is an art that is developed over the years. It is not something that you will achieve overnight. Start by saying a note of thanks to your maid when she goes out of her way at times to get things done for you.

Gratitude is one of the greatest attitudes that need courage, benevolence and practice to master it.

Day before yesterday one of my college professor’s had celebrated her birthday. I had called her in the evening to wish her and she was elated. She told me that one of her ex-students had come to visit her as a surprise and how special she had felt about it. She even said that the biggest happiness to her was how her students remember her and don’t forget to wish her. As for me, this was the best way I could be grateful to her for everything she had taught me in college and for the motivation she continues to give me.

On world Gratitude day,

• I am thankful for my family, my parents, my parents-in-law(my second parents), my husband, my brother, Dhivya(my sis-in-law), Cruz(her husband), all my closest relatives, my cousins who make the world a happy place to live in. I am thankful to God for having given me these people.
• I am thankful for Nitu, my strongest support and for always being there no matter what.
• I am thankful for Jude, who hates me saying thanks to him :P
• I am thankful for Arjun, for the words of advice that mean so much to me.
• I am thankful for Kavitha, Simi, Jocy to whom I endlessly rant and they are always there to hear me out.
• I am thankful for my closest friends Teresa, Roopa, Thomas, Globin and my Think Team back in Pune for being the best always.
• I am thankful for the gang of friends in Mumbai who helped me get accustomed to this city, Khatija, Akin, Neha Gulati and everyone in the gang.
• I am thankful for Sushma Aunty, Jobin and Subin for being a part of my life and for being my extended family.
•  I am thankful for Joanna Castro whom I met in Venice and for the lovely conversations that we have even today.
•  I am thankful for Geeta maam about whom I had mentioned above.
•  I am thankful for Write Tribe members who are ever motivating, who are an inspiration in helping me become a better writer.
•  I am thankful for my entire team of #Inspirati – Vidya, Abhyudaya, Vanya, Nikita, Sai, Bindu, Alok and Cifar.
• There are still a number of people whom I would like to be thankful for but the list would go and on.

Thank you- just two words that could brighten up someone’s day.

Who is the first person you are going to thank today????

This post is inpired by the prompt at Write Tribe.

I am a Write Tribe ProBlogger with a commitment to myself to write as frequently as I can.