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.

Best Clicks: Lovin’ Food

It’s been quite some time since I have written something. Reason being, no inspiration!

I haven’t had a delicious meal in quite some time. Sure, I have had some good food in the past 2-3 months but nothing divine enough which would inspire me to write.

In search of inspiration I was going through my photo gallery and something struck me. I was hungry!
As I looked at some of my pictures I realized I was drooling. I could visualize how it tasted and started craving for those flavours. It was food porn at its best and that’s when inspiration hit me!

Food Pornography has existed for quite some time, and by some time I mean a decade or two. Its popularity resurfaced in recent times and currently is a buzzword in the culinary world. Food pornography is more than just an exotic representation of food. It is also to do with how food evokes feelings of hunger. Additionally, it forces us to look at food beyond its conventional terms. But before we dive into that, I decided why not showcase some of my best pictures in a blog post and tease your palate a bit.

Until my next blog post which will deliberate on food pornography in the present day, treat your eyes to some gorgeous looking food! :)

Red velvet cupcake from Glen's Bakehouse, Bengaluru

Vegetable sandwich at the Black Rabbit, Bengaluru

Gooey Chocolate at Cafe Moshes, Mumbai

Chettinad chicken prepared by Chef Somshekar, Bengaluru

Dhansak at Red Fork, Bengaluru

Churros at The Glass House, Bengaluru

Strawberry Surprise at HongKong, Bengaluru

Chocolate Wantons at Berry'd Alive, Bengaluru

Tomato and feta cheese at Cafe Zoe, Mumbai 

Strawberry white chocolate at Aubree, Bengaluru

Basil fried rice with potato pepper curry at Beijing Bites, Bengaluru

Corn and cheese balls at Cafe Noir, Bengaluru

Sponge pastry, Bengaluru

Nachos from Chinita, Bengaluru 

Chocolate mousse from Ambara, Bengaluru

Raj Katori from VV Puram food street, Bengaluru

Sol Kadhi prepared by Chef Shailendra Kekde

Drooling yet? ;)

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.