MakeMyTrip Salutes the Pride of Being Indian

Let’s celebrate our 61st Independence Day with the pride of being an Indian.

http://work.quasar.co.in/2008/MMT/IndependenceDay/

Pattaya in Thailand

Pattaya is the place from where I dint wanted to go back. It’s a great place to live, people enjoy their lives. There were many attractions in Pattaya however some of the places I had seen in MTV Roadies 5.0 too, so was more delighted to explore the place.

Pattaya Beach was beautiful; it was situated alongside of the city center, which was also close to the shopping, hotels and bars. Most section of the beaches were covered by rented deck chairs which are run by local beverage vendors during the day hours, however in the night half of them are closed. The beach was surrounded by many tourists who were enjoying their swimming, sun bath etc.

Million Years stone park & Crocodile Farm is a must see place, it has rock gardens, more than 1000 crocodiles in its farm, 200 years old Thai Bonsai Trees. There are crocodile performances and display daily.

Wat Yansangwararam is a temple which is under the King’s patronage is also unique for it’s Thai architecture. It is 12kms south of Pattaya. It also has a Chinese style building nearby called as Wihan Sian which shows many antiques and art objects from China. It had an admission fee of 30 baht per person.

Elephant Village is on the road to Siam Country Club Golf Courses. The village shows elephants exhibitions, displays to people everyday. It has the football skills, parade of the elephants. It is situated on the Pornprapanimitr Road, the Elephant village also arranges for a small jungle trek on an elephant. The village also exhibit how wild elephants were captured in the north eastern part of Thailand.

Tiffany’s show was one show which I will cherish as no opera come close to its sets and costumes. It is the best cabaret for the one to enjoy with its family in an evening. The sets and the costumes change numerously with every musical number. The nightlife is rocking in Pattaya and I think Tiffany’s is the best place to rock at night.

There is nothing like having a traditional Thai massage. There are many massage parlours in the market, the girls are trained in ancient Thai massage techniques that have made them famous world wide.

Koh Samui, island in Thailand

Koh Samui is the hidden island of Thailand, and after exploring it I found it a perfect place for honeymooners looking for lovely and romantic beaches in a quite place. It has all those funky beaches communities with white beaches and clear and warm seas, and it has a few exceptional ones to choose from.

It’s most popular destination is the Big Buddha which is 15mtrs tall sitting Buddha, plus all the visitors offer their prayers here. It was visible to me when we were about to reach the place from far. And at the base of the statute there are many shops and restaurants where one can enjoy shopping and eating the Thai cuisine. And then I went to view the Namuang Waterfall which is 10km south from Nathon. There were 2 waterfalls, one was 18 meter high and we were able to reach through our cars. Although the second one was 80 meter high and we reached there by approx 30 mins of walk. It was the most scenic on the island. There were so many people taking photographs, enjoying the Thai food, exploring the fall. The Hin Lad Waterfall was located 2km from where I was so we thought of exploring that too. However when we reached there we found that we need to walk for 3 -4 kms down, in evergreen rain forest, but it was worth walking as the waterfall had several levels with a cool pool for a fresh water swim.

Next day after having my continental breakfast I went to the Choeng Mon which is one of the smallest tourist beaches, but the quietest one too. It didn’t have too much hassle like our beaches in Mumbai but did have a number of small restaurants and a couple of shops, addition to it there were many luxurious and expensive hotels that surrounded the bay. I wanted to relax with my friends which we did. And in the remaining day we wanted to see the famous Thai boxing so our guide took us to a Muay Thai professional bout at Chaweng Stadium. The crowd was everywhere; most of them were tourist or the supporters of the boxers or the family members. I enjoyed viewing the match and it looked as if I was watching a WWF match but in a sophisticated manner. After all the hassle we went back to our hotel.

The Samui nightlife is good; there are many discos, cabarets shows, bars opened in the night. We went to Green Mango which is among the main discotheques of Koh Samui and opens up until sunrise.

The third and the last day we had planned to view the butterfly garden. Na Tian Butterfly garden had some of the most numerous species of butterflies on display. It had bee house, a Thai style house which allows the visitor to observe and learn the activities of bees. We also saw the insect museum and rare insects from Thailand and various other countries displayed here.

Thailand Travel Information

Boat to a Port

A long weekend of shopping at St. Tropez was an invitation to spend a few days on the Italian Riviera with close friends was a welcome change. Crazy Too is a 108 Mangusta, two 2400 HP engines with a top speed of 40 knots make the Mangusta the largest and fastest Open Series yacht in the world. These yachts are day cruisers and whether you want to go from point A to B at the rate of 40 knots or just anchor off st. Tropez, they cater to every whim of their owners and at super speed.

The smiling captain was there with his crew, all very refreshing in the warming Mediterranean sun. Crazy Too berths at Golf Juan and the crew prepared to sail. Our first port of call was Sanremo, about an hour and a half away (60 miles). Sanremo had an ancient history, there are plenty of tourist attractions but our purpose of visit was something else. There is a colorful market open only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which offers a range of accessories and fakes of all a famous French and Italian brands. There are numerous restaurants that serve Italian food and the wines.

The next morning was for the fakes market and everybody was carrying excess baggage of their shopping. We walked back to the harbour and made a noon departure for Portofino. It is an ancient village which preserves and blends old world atmosphere and charm with modern tourism. As we cruise in to dock on the port side, a narrow castle like building is pointed out as the residence of famous designers Dolce & Gabbana. The right top is dominated by the Hotel Splendido which is a home to many Hollywood stars. There are little ateliers and cafes at strategic points with views of the village and sea. We made a late morning start for our next port of call, Portovenere.

It gets its name from Venus for whom there was a temple herein ancient times. The village sits on a rocky peninsula in the Gulf of Poets. Writers like Shelley, Byron and Lawrence visited and stayed here. The promenade along the harbour is a pedestrian only zone lined coloured houses, seafood restaurants and bars. We walked to Byron’s Cave, a rocky area where the young Lord Byron would swim, there are no sandy beaches and sea is not calm.

As Crazy Too is a day cruiser, she has a flat shallow hull, which in maritime parlance, means that as she cuts through the water it gives higher speed. If you are into marble sculptures then you must visit Pietrasanta. Its little difficult approaching from the sea, so the approach was from a commercial port, which had no birthing for leisure yachts. The drive to Pietrasanta was about 45 minutes, after enquires we were able to find some of the people who made and carved statues of all sizes, from little ones available at tourist shops to giant ones. Pietrasanta has many famous bronze structures and a giant bronze Botero occupies central place in the little town.

The next port of call was Santa Margherita which is a fashionable little town and is a dreamy spot better known for its food festivals and lobsters. The shopping is good and its nearness to Portofino makes it more popular. This was our last stop and after spending a restful night and some more shopping and lunch we head back.

The Italian Riviera is still unspoilt, this is more about the Mediterranean as it was with old fishing villages, cobbled streets, simple Italian fare and honest wine. de

Sardinia Italy most charming island

I feel adventurous somehow, stepping out of Cagliari’s large and well maintained Elmas Airport. The Italians are a terrifically friendly, as also handsome, lot that carry themselves with great pomp and flair. So far, I haven’t seen anyone not return a smile. But before I can test assumptions my host and I are whisked away by her cousin in his jaguar. I settle into the back seat, trying to take in the baffling new cityscape of the capital of one of Italy’s most charming islands, Sardinia. They told me that Sardinia is the oldest settlement in the Mediterranean Sea with an 1800km coastline that is home to Europe’s top seaside and aquatic sports destinations.

After a quick check in at the The Hotel Mediterraneo, we went to Poetto beach which is famous for its sunset. The beach makes a perfect place to socialize and enjoy the seafood. With evening lights all around the beach water it was time to head back to the hotel again. When we were driving back through the city’s central district I saw the mammoth structure that towers over the city, it’s called II Bastione and the under the orange glow of street lamps, it looked much larger.

Next morning, Cagliari’s, is not just a blast from the past. It’s a modern, well load out city out with its centre divided into four parts: Castello, Marina, Stampace and Villanova. It is also pedestrian’s paradise. You can start in the morning and walk down half the city by evening. The piazzas are neatly arranged, and if you are armed with a map it’s next to impossible to get lost, even if all the public boards and signage are in Italian. While strolling down the Cagliari’s fish market and African, Chinese and Indian shops I landed in heaven, name the brand and it’s here from Max Mara’s flagship store to Ruggeri’s shops in Via Alghero and Piazza S Benedetto that sell all top designer footwear and jewellery from Bvlagri, Tiffany and Cartier. I spend my whole day here, I wander down Via Roma in Marina, whose shaded cafes and boutique filled pavements overlooking the sea bring back memories of South Mumbai’s Colaba district.

Its no later than our second day in Cagliari, we walk up the cobbled steps of the Marina’s side alleys, with the wonderful smell of fresh fish wafting in from the port.
Our lunch destination is AL Porto. It is a up market, with a lovely sea blue entrance and no fuss interiors. The restaurant is buzzing with large families leisurely going through what I assume are four course meals. After tm done drooling over the bright rowboat that houses the day’s aperitifs, I choose something that tastes distinctly like fish pakoras, and squids fried in olive oil, which are positively addictive. I devour the bread breakfast until our main course arrive: ravioli with squid ink and spigola alla vernaccia ( sea bass coated with flour, suited in olive oil, dressed with olives and sprinkled with some spice) Dessert is Freddo al mirto. Mirto is the ubiquitous berry found in Sardinia and North Africa widely used to make a digestive drink.

Sardinian cuisine is simple, almost prehistoric, compared to the more sophisticated food of Naples and Sicily, which uses more animal fat and butter. Cagliari is proving to be hugely comfortable experience, thanks to my affable Italian friend. We take off on a mini break to Villasimus, a popular beach village on the outskirts of Cagliari, for a weekend of descendent relaxing. Mornings are spent lounging around, evenings in elaborate dining rituals. After we were free we swim and then we shop tradional Sardinian ceramics, carpets, baskets interesting jewellery and shawls.

We walk up the winding roads to the Castello neighborhood, braving 4pm weather. Sardinia’s shockingly strong winds make your face feel like sandpaper, a disparity in its otherwise moderate Mediterranean climate. Castelli, the city’s ancient fortication is still partially enclosed by bastioned walls. Two medieval towers in limestone stand along the bastion enclosure along with two city gates that escaped demolition during the 19^th century.

We crossed the city gates at the Porta dei Leoni and proceed to Piazza Indipendenza. Behind us looms the Cittadella dei Musei, built on old Spanish goals. Furthering our exploration to the east, we go down via Lamarmora to gawk at ateliers and eerie WW II reminders bomb made craters sulking up at the sky. We head back towards the gates, stopping for a while at the University building, which stores rare medieval codes. In the midst of this equally artistic and violent past, modern day Cagliari plays along to its own unique tune. The city is pulsating with life and activity.

Interestingly, Sardinia is one of 5 Italian regions held by special statutes. It enjoys autonomy in various parts and is somewhat removed from the mainland. Perhaps that uniqueness reflects in their way of life. Cagliari is neither a big city nor a quaint little town.

Stockholm and Sigtuna on a sunny day

Sigtuna is a quiet village, dotted with boutiques and runic stones. The town history is mesmerizing. It dates back to AD 980 when King Erik Segersall founded it as a religious town, and it was here the Sweedish coin was minted. There were churches made of granite, and stunning castles and palaces, where the peasants were once meek, the kings munificent and the Vikings gallant.

The kings are dead and the churches in ruins, but even today, Sigtuna is full of old world charm. Walk around the cobbled paths and you will find moss sticks shaped like bells and museums. That day votive lamps lined Sigtuna’s wiry street. The village is so small that you can walk the entire stretch to whip up an appetite for the absolutey scrumptious dinner at the imaginatively titled restaurant and bar, which serves up the best cheese and crabs. At night this village and its Sigtuna’s reputation as the country’s oldest town, noy even a acrawny Swede in his mile long convertible.

The next day I stepped into Stockholm, leaving all thoughts of Swedes behind. I drove past the immense sea, past Alfred Nobel’s yellow brick home. And as the landscape changed and cars screeched all around me, Stockholm started to get under my skin.

One of my first stops here was City Hall, which I learnt was made of eight million deep red bricks. Standing inside the blue room was intimidating natural, I suppose, given that it is here that the Nobel Prize is handed over by the king. I looked around and all I saw were apparitions of literatures, scientists, men in their grey hair and tuxedos, women in plaid skirts and moussed hair. Tradition has it that nobody can leave the banquet hall after King has entered, not even to answer the nature sudden call. I was distracted by the Gold hall, where 19 million shimmering gold mosaic tiles narrate fasicinating stories. Good thing too, considering if I would actually ordered the Nobel dinner, I would be burning holes in my pocket. My other options included surstomming which is fermented herring, which can only be eaten if you get past its putrid smell, crayfish and julskiks which is a large lumps of salted and boiled ham. I didn’t fancy the though of smelly, boiled meat and was happy to settle for hunger. Until I discovered the smorgasbord, a Swedish specialty that consists of many small dishes. Swedish meatballs, pies, salads, eggs, bread, boiled or fried potatoes and so on. Its popular mostly during Easster and Christmas and rare to find.

IIn the evening I walked through the winding lanes of Gamla Stan, the old town. Known for its boutiques, cafes and the classy beer bar, Glenfiddich warehouse No 68, Gamla Stan is the best place to pick up souvenirs. It’s convenient to tire quickly, for then you have the perfect excuse to kick back and relax with some chilled beer at Glenfiddich. When you are hungry and craving some old Indian food, pop by Anna Khan. A little India seems to appear out of nowhere in Stockholm on Friday and Saturday nights, queing outside Anna Khan and the other nearly 20 Indian – Pakistani restaurants that dot this beautiful city.

I still hadn’t seen wnough of Stockholm. There was Sweden’s smallest theatre to be visited on e that can only seat 18 and Skansen, the oldest open air museum in the world. I also made a trip to Vasa Museum, a ship shaped museum that houses, well a ship. My guide was indigant and tried hard to make me understand that this ship was supposed to rescue the king. He was incensed at the oak and birch ship that sank on its maiden journey. For 333 years, the ship lay at the bottom of the sea until it was fished out. Surprisingly intact, not a chip nibbled by the shipworms. Painted afresh and standing tall, almost arrogant, it is now Stockholm’s most prized artifact, generating millions in tickets. These jingling coffers failed to modify the guide, who seemed genuinely distraught for the king who waited to be rescued. As I made my way to the airport, I wasn’t really quite ready to leave. Perhaps I need to go back a hundred times to do it al again perfectly.

Gambling in Macau, Hong Kong IV

One can get a serviceable manicure, pedicure and massage in any town. For true Hong Kong style pampering and pummeling reflexology is the word. Reflexogy booths abound but the best and largest outfits are Happy Foot, just by the Mid Levels Escalator that carries intense – faced locals up and down the vertiginous streets. When I entered I thought it was not at all pampering in the most luxurious sense, the room was replete with apricot frills and ugly lighting but once I was settled in a huge leather reeling chair, I didn’t care about the décor, just sat back and allowed the master reflexologist to massage all those pressure points in my feet and legs. If you happen to be after the most luxurious spoiling money can buy, head to The Oriental Spa, an urban oasis in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Treatments include Laconium, Rasul and Amethyst crystal steam.

A trip to Hong Kong really would not be complete without a jaunt to Macau. It is a sister special Administrative Region of China and is only an hour away from Hong Kong by ferry and is a great way to get a completely different taste of this region and I escaped the mad bustle of Hong Kong. Macau was handed to China few years ago and is a Portuguese colony for more than 450 years. Here picture postcard eatries like the restaurants sit along side Chinese temples with incense and oranges neatly arranged on their altars. It is this co existence of Portuguese and Chinese cultures, food and architecture that has maintained the very unique soul of Macau. It is the only place in China was gambling is legal and is being transformed into an Asia Las Vegas. Around USD 7 million has been poured into a dozen major casino projects, including an underwater gambling den.

Finally there is only one thing to do after all this avid exploring; I wanted to have a drink. Hong Kong main drinking district is concentrated around the heaving streets of lan Kwai Fong.

Shopping in Hong Kong III

It comes as a huge surprise to discover that thus seething metropolis is 40 percent protected parkland. As an antidote to the long hours, pork lard laden dim sum and late nights that are endemic here, most people transform into avid hikers during their weekends. One of the best, most scenic walks to Dragon’s Back which starts at the quaintly ramshackle seaside village of Shek O. Start outside the Correctional Centre on Shek O Road. The walk is not for the faint hearted, lasting between 90 minutes and two hours but the sea views are spectacular and a cleansing ale awaits at the Black Sheep when you are done.

I think Hong Kong can rightly claim to have the best hotels in Asia and the Grand Old Dame of them all is The Peninsula Hong Kong. Here is the most perfect example perhaps of that east meets west. Most of us cannot afford to be chauffeur driven in one of the fleet of deep geen Rills Royces or stay in one of the legant rooms, go for the famed afternoon tea featuring silver cake stands laden with delicate cucumber sandwiches, plump scones and baby pots of tiramisu while a small orchestra serenades you.

Hong Kong is portrayed the world over in three specific ways as a financial powerhouse, a great stopover and possibly most of all as a shopping mecca. Shopping for the Hong Kongese is a hobby, a sport, a religion and an obsession. No surprise then that every luxury label on the planet hasa flagship store here. Head for the corner of Queen’s Road and Pedder Street and enter the Landmark building which houses a purse crippling array of labels suc has Harvey Nichols, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci, Prada have stores nearby as well. I tried fashion with a more local flavour so went to Shanghai Tang which is decorated in the same 1930’s Shanghainese style that the fashion label takes its inspiration from. Shanghai Tang cleverly and chicly reinvents the traditional Chinese dress, such as Mao jackets and cheongsams, but gives it a modern funky edge. It also stocks wonderful homeware and gifts.

It was not long ago that the only fashion industry in Hong Kong involved ripping off all those big name brands. Ask a taxi driver to take you to Elgin Street loaded with restaurants and cafes perfect for reviving weary shoppers and explore the streets of this area from there.

Szechuanese menu in Hong Kong Part II

Despite of government attempts to regulate or close the secret kitchens in Hong Kong down, some of the best food in Hong Kong can be found in the modest surrounds of secret dining rooms called private kitchens. Existing most private kitchens is unlicensed and offer a fixed price menu. Not all of them are great at worse I suffered a 10 course culinary torture but at best, these offer traditional, home style Chinese food with a purity, integrity and sense of adventure that makes them captivating. I liked the Da Ping Huo as in a chic industrial space; their Szechuanese menu is flaming hot and fabulous. At the end of an enormous meal, a petite Chinese lady swathed in black silk emerges from the kitchen and sings opera. She also doubles as the chef.

Yellow Door also calls itself a private kitchen well they are licensed too where I liked the food and is run by a self taught chef, Chun Lau. It is reached by a rickety lift that stops with a shudder on the sixth floor of a shabby building in Central. Here Lau serves one of Hong Kong’s best duck dishes .i.e. the eight treasure duck which is stuffed with ingredients like chestnuts, glutinous rice, dried shrimp and spices and braised for hours until meltingly tender. My friend said that in a market so driven by trends and labels, private kitchens are wholesome, traditional constant.

If Hong Kong is a town driven by luxury labels, then one is compelled to lap it up. In the last year, Hong Kong has been flooded by the world’s super chefs. Nobu and Pierre Gagnaire, the culinary equivalents of haute couture, have arrived recently along with Geoff Lindsay from one Australia’s best restaurants, Pearl in Melbourne. Few restaurants which I liked are Lindsay’s Pearl on the peak has the pick of the locations, perched on top of Victoria Peak in the newly remodeled Peak Tower. Get to Pearl on the Peak on the vertiginous Peak Tram for dinner and slip into a booth for 270 degree.

Pierre, an Asian outpost for the famed three Michelin starred – chef , Pierre Gagnaire, opened in the redeveloped Mandarin Oriental hotel in October last year. The food is contemporary French.

Nobu, the first in Asia, outside Tokyo is the Japanese restaurant, looking back towards Hong Kong Island, features signature dishes as yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and toro tartar with caviar.

The most recent arrival is French maestro, Joel Robuchon whose dramatic restaurant and thrilling food is wowing the locals. Book well in advance because there are queues of people jostling to get it.

Hong Kong in beam light evening Part I

There is a tussle going on between Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing as they are all keenly vying for the title of most exciting city in Asia, the destination for shopping, dining and style. But these cities still have a way to go before they steal Hong Kong’s limelight. Hong Kong has managed to bounce back from the upheaval of the handover, the Asian economic crisis and the SARS health scare an today, the city is more vibrant and successful than ever. I think if anything has changed in the last 10 years, it’s the fact that Hong Kong is finally transforming itself into a metropolis that cares, most crucially, about its heritage and about the pollution, which is its biggest blight.

My colleague who was accompanying me said that to truly experience Hong Kong you have to get out amongst the old wooden junks and huge container ships straining out towards the South China Sea. And the best way to do this is aboard the star ferry. This is no less than one of the world’s great ferry rides, particularly at night when the island glints and winks with the lights of hundreds of buildings. The trip takes just 6 minutes, thanks to the land reclamation that is bringing the two sides of the harbour constantly closer together. For something little more leisurely, we book a trip on the Aqua Luna which is a chicly renovated wooden junk which plies the harbour playing party music and pouring wine for its patrons reclining amid cushions and tea lights drinking in the stunning vista plus it was Saturday morning so we also climbed on board possibly the most famous icon of Hong Kong, the Duk Ling Junk, whose beautiful batwing red sails grace hundreds of tourist brochures, thankfully every Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning the Honk Kong tourism board hires it and tourists ride for free.

Hong Kong has awesome feats of engineering claw the skyline when I saw the International Finance Building which has giant claws on the top of it, boldly proclaimed the wealth and influence of this city. But to truly appreciate the towering monuments, we saw the vista at night. Every evening at 8 pm, s symphony of lights beams into action, laser beams, searchlights and spotlights bounce off the buildings towards the stars in time to music and narration. The best vantage point is along Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront on the Kowloon side between the Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Cultural centre, when we took the Star Ferry acroos.