A Date drenched in Turquoise Hue: Swimming in the Kuang Si Falls, a Day off from Luang Prabang!
“And you can still see the sea!” She wanted to swim there, immediately- she had a childlike urge of excitement at the sight of water so clear the rocks at the foot of the cliffs looked like clumps of turquoise flowers growing on the seabed.” (An excerpt from The Sea Garden by Deborah Lawrenson). My heart warmed up […]
Memories from a Melancholy Named Luang Prabang, Laos: Why Visit Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang takes time to grow on your mind. And once the sapling has grown inside, it will take forever to uproot her memories and plant it to a new destination. The landlocked country of Laos has experienced the Mekong turn into a monstrous river and flood the vast rice fields. History has taught this […]
In Photos: Memories of Hanoi Old Quarter
Soaking in the Grand Celebration of Life at Hanoi, Vietnam’s Capital City! I stayed in Hanoi for 4 days. I stayed in the old quarter of Hanoi. You already know about that. I took a few days’ retreats to Sa Pa and Ninh Binh from the bustling city but came back to the calmness of Hoan […]
10 food you must eat in Hanoi (includes Old Quarter and beyond)
While Thailand had blessed me with an incessant supply of seafood even in the capital city of Bangkok, Hanoi overwhelmed me with history and culture. Sated, when I felt the hunger pang by the end of the day, I could list down plenty of distinct style of great food. The initial sense of aroma, look […]
Be Charmed in Vietnam’s old Capital City : What to do in Hanoi for 4 days
I was pressed with the question what to do in Hanoi for four whole days while planning my trip to Vietnam? Should I spend just a night in Hanoi and hop off to Halong Bay the next morning instead? I got answers to my questions as soon as I approached Hanoi. The old city, immersed […]
Never Again: Saigon War Remnant Museum
It numbed a part of my mind. The moment I visited the War Remnant Museum, Saigon. Sure, I have read tons of literature, spent sleepless nights watching movies on the Nam war and felt the terror. And not lived in it. For when Copolla had filmed the Napalm bomb razing over the swaying palm trees […]
Hello, Saigon. My Old Friend
The city is old. It has had its own share of rendezvous with colonial rulers. But ancient indigenous civilization peeps from the morning customs as the populace prepare to welcome another work day. The old rat is dead and rots by the open sewage. What did you say? Delhi? Nay. It is not Delhi. There […]
Vietnam: My 2 Weeks Travel Itinerary
Time follows its serpentine course as we make merry by the side, all engulfed in fun and frolic. It was a little more than 30 months, Sayantan proposed me a plan of Nam escapade. Now, I am a Thai travel veteran and in love with the tiny nascent beaches by the Andaman sea. I had […]
Phuket Tsunami et al
Death of thousands. This is where it all happened. Enormous bout of overwhelm takes the better of me as I stand down the warning poll at Patong beach where Bangla road starts. It is a merry evening, the pubs are pouring heady cocktails, the poll dancers has started with acrobats and nightlife with uncomfortable […]
Bangkok’s Floating Markets
Bangkok‘s floating markets witness joyous family celebration as well as curious travelers’ footfall at large. You will see vibrant happy families feasting together on weekends with signature Thai dishes. They eat different varieties of food in smaller portions and fresh ingredients and herbs feature high on their choices. The floating markets are epitome of this […]