#BackpackingthroughHimachal: Part 3 - McLeodganj

I love places where you are never alone but always on your own. Cities and towns which never let your spirit go down. Oh and places which are surrounded by the majestic mountain ranges.

Mcleodganj was a surprise! Unusually crowded and noisy, there was an unsettling vibe, initially. This town was everything I didn’t expect to be. It wasn’t love at first sight but rather, love that finds its way and eventually grows. The mornings here are bright and cosy while the nights are dark and lonesome.

Sitting at Shiva Café on top of the waterfall, enjoying my French fries as the cold wind blows, for the first time in days I think of nothing at all. I just wanted to sit there, not think, not introspect, not contemplate, just sit there and do nothing, think nothing. Such picturesque memories, I tell you!

You know what I don’t like about memories? That urge, that craving you get to relive it.

And, I get this urge to back to Mcleodganj, to get lost in the streets, to sit at top of the waterfall and stare at the picture Mother Nature presents itself to me, to transport myself into another world as I sit at Illiterati reading a book. Memories of these experiences, still fresh, still alive, and can’t wait to be relived again.

Here’s how we spent two days in this beautiful town:

Café hopping: Oh! The number of cafes we visited. Sometimes I think all Sanjukta and I did was to eat, eat and eat. We went from one café to another and just didn’t stop eating! And, if you are someone who loves exploring cafes, discovering different tastes, Mcleodganj has a variety of places which will let you do that. Oh and you must visit Shiva Café and Illiterati for the gorgeous view it offers

Aimlessly walk around: You might wonder, how did we manage to eat so much? Oh that’s because we walked a lot as well. So here’s what we did: eat, walk, eat and walk. That was pretty much our itinerary. Fun eh?

On a serious note, go for long walks to explore every nook and corner of this town. Walk around with no expectations, with no sense of destination, after all those are the best walks, aren’t they? J

Trek: Well, this is something we didn’t do because we were too busy eating and walking. The Triund trek is extremely popular here and highly recommended. Definitely doing this during my next trip here!

Do absolutely nothing: How many times have we wished to just sit there, do nothing and think nothing? Mcleodganj is the ideal place to do that! Head to a café, order your favourite food and sit back. It is moments like these we crave for in the hustle and bustle of the city, so make the most of it!

#BackpackingThroughHimachal - Part 2: Manali

I always considered myself to be a beach person until that morning in Manali.

We were exhausted. Having slept around 4.45 am in the morning, I woke up at 8 am and peeped out of the window. What I saw left me dumbfounded! I remember nudging Sanjukta and asking her to look out of the window. The view was breathtakingly beautiful! That was when I realised, I am falling in love. I am falling in love with the mountains.

Having landed in Manali at 4 am and going through a whirlpool of emotions while we were stranded with no battery and network on our phones, we were almost about to cry out loud before we were rescued. We literally had a ‘then god said, let there be light’ moment as we reached Zostel after a nightmarish experience.

We didn’t sleep well that morning. Cold piercing through our skin and after the experience we had, we were too tired to think. We just closed our eyes and turned and twisted on our bed until 8 in the morning.

That morning was probably the most beautiful one I have ever witnessed. When I stepped outside the room, what I saw was the most stunning picture of winter. Snow-capped mountains, trees standing tall and naked and mountain dogs rolling on the dry leaves spread on the ground. This sight has been engraved in my mind.

While gazing at this view I remembered the poem ‘Ode to the West Wind’ by P.B Shelly. The words, ‘If winter comes, can spring be far behind’, was on loop in my head like a broken tape recorder. And then I thought; we all need that one happy memory to hold onto. That one happy memory which will turn our frown into a smile. That one happy memory which will uplift our drowning spirit and bring us up. That one happy memory which acts as a Patronus Charm for the human world.

For me, this is the memory. This is my Patronus.

Here are few things you must experience at Manali:

• Nepali thali meal: My taste buds still crave for the taste of this meal. I have never had such a scrumptious thali meal which made me go gaga over it, literally!

• Garden café: As the cold wind continues to blow, sit beside river Beas and enjoy a hot cup of tea/coffee. It’s one of those precious moments in life which you never want to let go of

• Vashisht hot springs: Feel rejuvenated after a bath here. Hot water and open skies, you won’t get to experience this anywhere else
• Solang Valley: If you are a mountain person, you must visit here. Climb that mountain as you make your way through the snow. For the snow lovers, trust me, there is no better place than this one to make your dream snow-man. Also, if you want to experience the thrill of jumping off a cliff and getting the birds’ eye view of the snow-clad mountains and pine trees, paragliding here will allow you to witness this (Yes, I did paraglide J)

• Café hopping: Manali has unlimited options of cafes which will leave you puzzled. If you have an extra day to spare with nothing to do at all, café hopping should be part of your itinerary
• Sitting beside Beas River: You know how sometimes they say that somethings can’t be captured in any form and its best left to your memory? This was the experience for me. I can’t capture it in words and pictures don’t do justice. You have to see it to believe it, experience it to know it

• Zostel: If in Manali, stay at Zostel. Period. You will not find a place more comfortable and beautiful than this one

#BackpackingThroughHimachal – Part 1: Shimla

“Why are you going to Shimla? It’s a honeymoon destination, don’t go there. Also, there’s hardly anything to see”

I lost count of the number of people who told me this before I started my backpacking journey. Tickets were booked, all arrangements were made, and we couldn’t cancel Shimla last minute. On the other hand, I thought to myself, ‘let’s just go, for what I’ve heard it’s a lovely hill station’. So I said to Sanjukta, let’s start our backpacking trip with a honeymoon destination.  And that’s where it all began.

Taking a stroll in Shimla is a joy in itself. Walking on Mall road while you browse through shops and the atmosphere buzzing with conversations, it’s a town which awakens all your five senses. Reminds me of how simple things in life can bring happiness!

Two things stood out for me in Shimla. One is while you are standing on the ridge, even though the crowd just seems to get bigger and conversations louder, the sight you witness from this place overwhelms you, in a good way, of course. As your lips curve into a gentle smile, a sense of solitude creeps in..and that is Shimla for you! Dreamy and charming with a tinge of romance.

Two, Shimla offers a range of places to satisfy the foodie in you. We enjoyed a lovely evening at Eighteen71. Live music along with Chinese food. Ah, it was lovely!

Happiness can be always found around food and Shimla has some lip-smacking food to offer in every nook and corner. Mall road is lined up with cafes which will leave you so puzzled. In fact, you might spend more time thinking where to go than at the café/restaurant itself. But, honestly, most of these café’s offer similar food; taste differs but, the menu? Pretty much the same everywhere.

Does that mean it’s not worth going café hopping? No, I didn’t say that. In fact, Shimla gives you an opportunity to do this. Not only will this be easy on your wallet but, you will be surprised to see how much you can actually eat! So yes, if in Shimla, café hopping should be included in your itinerary.

Do I regret going to Shimla? Hell no! For what it’s worth, we ended up doing our first climb here. The ridiculous fitness test which involved walking on steep roads and climbing stairs to reach the Jakku temple, I find myself smiling from ear to ear when I remember the number of cuss words Sanjukta and I uttered during this climb. But, we had made up our mind, no matter what, we will finish this.

I distinctly remember saying these 3 things to Sanjukta constantly during our climb:

-Damn, are we really that unfit?

-We can do it, let’s #justdoit

-We are on a vacation; we are supposed to be lazing around instead of doing some fitness test which drains the life out of us!

But you know what? We made it! We completed the test in 35 minutes which meant, we aren’t absolutely fit but we are fit enough!

I sat there at the top for a while and then walked around to enjoy the view. As I put on my gloves and clenched onto my sweater for it was getting cold, a daunting question popped up in my mind.

How many times have we been troubled by the thought that things never come easily to us? It’s always a struggle, an arduous struggle. But truth be told, nothing comes easily to anyone. We learn to appreciate outcomes only after we have been through the tedious process of achieving it.

And then I smiled to myself as I gazed at the image Mother Nature presented in front of my eyes and, I said to myself, ‘The climb wasn’t easy but for this view, it was worth it’.

In-short:

• No of nights to spend: 2
• Best time to visit: March to June (Shimla can get very cold at night hence, it is recommended to carry thermal clothes and gloves)
• Best place to stay: Try getting an accommodation at or near Mall road. Several hotels provide reasonable accommodation rates
• Things to do: Café hopping, walking up to Hidimba temple, relaxing at the ridge and window shopping at the Mall road
• Restaurants/Cafes to visit: Eighteen71, Café Sol, Central Perk, Hide Out and Rendezvous
• Must haves: Thali at Rendezvous
• Is shopping recommended: No, don’t waste your money on this
• Things you must carry: Warm clothes and a torch (When Shimla gets dark, it gets really dark)

7 reasons to visit Pattaya

Pattaya, just a mere mention of this place gets people grinning. And why not, it’s a place where you get to do whatever you want, it’s a happy place, for everyone.

This city has its own charm, cheerful vibes and a relaxed atmosphere. No wonder it’s considered to be one of the top tourist destinations in the world!

To me, Pattaya is an escape. An escape from your state of mind. If you’re happy, then that’s good because this city will just pump up your mood all the more. But, if you’re worried and gloomy, this city will ensure you forget all your worries and have the time of your life. Basically, make memories, which is, if you remember anything. ;)

Pattaya is like that person, you can love it or hate it, but you just can’t ignore it! Here’s why you should visit Pattaya:

Beaches

Pattaya has gorgeous beaches! You can spend your entire morning and evening walking by the beach side and never get bored of the view. If you’ve come here to unwind, beach side is the place to be!

Eating joints – cafes

Pattaya has these beautiful cafes and I reckon you visit at least 2-3 of them to enjoy their ambiance and food!

Tourist attractions

Alcatraz show, Tiffany’s show, Art museum, the list goes on. Reiterating what I said earlier, something to offer for everyone!

Also, Tiffany’s show is a bit over rated but never the less it’s an experience!

Water sports

Coral Island is over rated and crowded! Instead, I would suggest to go to other islands such as Koh Lan and Koh Phai. For me, the best part about Pattaya was doing water sports – Scuba diving and Snorkeling, best experience I’ve ever had!

And to be very honest, it’s these moments of your trip you will love the most and always remember. So go dive into the goddamn sea when you are here!

Nightlife

Like Bangkok, this city comes to life at night. Loud music and crowded streets, best describe the streets of Pattaya in the evening, specifically, walking street! Additionally, you have these mobile bars on the streets in the evening, these are a must try!

Street shopping

Oh yes! For all the shopaholics, if you haven’t gotten tired of shopping at Bangkok, Pattaya has more to offer. One of the aspects of Pattaya nightlife is shopping! Long stretches of markets, you can spend your entire night doing nothing but shopping! Also, if you are looking to buy gifts for your family/friends, suggest you do it at Pattaya at one of these night markets. A variety of gifting items can be found here at a very reasonable rate.

To experience the happy vibes

Like I mentioned earlier, Pattaya is a happy place. It’s the good vibes, you just can’t get enough of it. It’s a place where you get to be yourself, no judging what so ever!

Pattaya is a beautiful place, no doubt! Yes, it’s over rated and yes it remind me of Goa, just a lot more commercialized. But, it’s an escape route, an escape to another world altogether! :)