#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! :)

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.