#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

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! :)

8 reasons why I love Bangkok

You never forget your first time. Every time you do something for the first time, the memories of it never fade, not one bit. You remember every tiny detail of it, loud and clear. Which is why I ensure, every time I am doing something for the first time, it has to be special.

Thailand ended up being my first international trip. To get the first stamp on my passport, oh that feeling is can't be put in words! :)

Bangkok and Pattaya were the two places I visited. I would have loved to visit Krabi and Phuket as well, but that is what next time is for, right?

So did I like Bangkok? No, I didn’t! I loved it, and here’s why:

Infrastructure

In a word, Majestic! Wide and well maintained roads, tall buildings and well-spaced. Bangkok leaves you in awe.

The people

People here are friendly and understanding. That is exactly what you would want when you are visiting a new country and not familiar with their language. Thai’s are lovely people, communicating with them wasn’t an issue at all. When they see that you trying to speak Thai (hello’s and thank you’s), their faces lit up! Speaking in broken English is the way to get around here.

Extremely approachable, you can always ask for help in case you feel a little lost.

Money matters

Unless you aren’t constantly converting Baht to Indian Rupee, you will find Thailand to be cheap! Extremely reasonable would be precise. Be rest assured, you wouldn’t be drilling a big hole in your wallet.

Massage parlors

Thailand is famous for their massage parlors, and why shouldn’t it be! A lot of people here make their living as a masseuse and trust me, they are very good at their job. A visit to Thailand is incomplete if you haven’t visited a massage parlor for a rejuvenating massage session. And yes, unlike in India, the massages here are very cheap.

Night life

This city never sleeps! These four words sums up the night life in Bangkok.

The city comes to life at night! Nightlife in Bangkok is an experience in itself.

Street food culture

I love street food, which is another reason why I loved Bangkok. Here, the street food scenes begin from morning. Stalls are set up by the road side which offer a range of items to eat. Yes, being a vegetarian there was a lot that I couldn’t try but, whatever I could, it was delicious.

Shopping

If you really plan on shopping here, do keep aside a good amount of money. I say this because while the shopping is cheap here (you get really pretty stuff for 200 -300 Bahts), there is no end to it. Once you start shopping, it really does take a lot of self-control to not over spend.

Yes, this is the place for one, especially shopaholics to test how much they can control themselves.

From street shopping in Sukhumvit to malls like Platinum and MBK to street markets like Jatujak, you name it and they have it. From clothes to accessories to antique pieces, they have it all! If you are keen on shopping, I would recommend you to visit the Jatujak market during the weekend and Platinum mall. They have a lot of variety and all items are priced at a reasonable rate.

Because it reminds me of Mumbai

Yes, Bangkok reminds me so much of Mumbai. From the buildings to the streets to night life, it screams Mumbai. Mumbai gives me a sense of independence, a feeling of warmth. Bangkok evoked the same feelings. Bombay is a feeling, so is Bangkok!

Crowded yet uncongested, noisy yet peaceful, strange yet so familiar. That’s how Bangkok was for me. You can get lost here yet never be lost, and that is the beauty of this city.

Glimpse of Rajasthan: Udaipur & Mount Abu

Palaces, lakes and gardens, perhaps describe what Udaipur has to offer the best. Window clear and statue still lakes which calm your nerves, magnificent palaces which showcase royalty and sprawling gardens which leave you speechless. Oh, this city is beyond beautiful!

The city lake palace sitting still on Pichola lake, the narrow lanes occupied by vendors selling Rajasthani art & crafts and the historical place characterized for its turmeric yellow soil, Haldighati where the battle between Maharana Pratap Singh and Akbar’s army led by Man Singh I took place are the stories you would want to tell others.

But the most beautiful of all was the sight of Pichola lake at night while dinning at Ambrai. A lake view restaurant, at night as the yellow dim light shines, the view of Pichola lake leaves you stunned.

And if Udaipur is the city of lakes and palaces, Mt Abu, the only hill station of Rajasthan is the place for Bhramakumari followers. My grandma is an ardent follower of this guru and this scenic hill station has many such followers visiting it throughout the year. This hill station also has a gorgeous Jain temple known for its architecture which is a must visit. The intricately carved white pillars and ceiling is something you can’t stop appreciating.

Tibetan market for the shoppers, temples and ashrams for the spiritual soul, Nakki lake for the ones who love boating and sunset point for the romantics, this place has something to offer for everyone. A special mention to the hotel I stayed at, Hotel Ganesh for such amicable service and clean rooms at a reasonable rate. Out of all the hotels I stayed at during my trip, this one got five stars on all my criteria’s.

For a bibliophile, Mt Abu is an apt place. Stroll on the streets, enjoy the scenic views and catch up on your reading. Now that’s a perfect holiday, right?

If you want to travel back in time, this city will unravel the pages of history book for you!

P.S - None of the pictures have been edited.