Of new beginnings...

Remember the 'new venture' I mentioned in one of my earlier posts. The one that kept me from blogging for a while. Well, it's finally launched and on it's way.

Ever since I started traveling extensively, and began helping friends and family plan their trips on and off, I had it in my head that one day I would want to own a 'holiday planning' company. One that would make life easy for everyone by helping them at every stage; from the minute they thought of going on a holiday - through their planning - till they were off! 

A couple of months ago, I found myself having a discussion about this with a friend who had the same thought. Wonder of wonders. So we decided, instead of becoming competitors, why not pool in our resources and start this together. After all, we were both equally passionate about it.

And so, after much planning and numerous discussions, came about Broken Compass, Manjari Verma and Avani Patels brainchild. A company very close to our heart. A company we are slowly but steadily building on. Yes, we are new but we know what we do. And we make sure we do it well. 

It's a nice feeling to watch your dream turn into reality. To work for yourself. Every long working day and sleepless night seems worthwhile now. Every penny spent on making this happen seems well worth it. For now, we just hope people like what we do and things only get better. 

Wish us luck.

And yeah, happy tripping all! :)

A secret revealed on The India Tube

Weekend trips around Mumbai meant Lonavala-Khandala, Matheran or Karjat, but ten years ago. Today, there are a whole lot of places around screaming to be discovered. Quaint little, off-beat places. Places with character. Places that teach you something. Places where you can unwind. And one such hidden wonder, by location and by name, is Hideout. I am glad I visited it and gladder still to be able to share the experience with you.

The article was very recently published on The India Tube website. 

Click here to read it: A secret worth sharing

Some of India's best Eco Resorts

Another long break. Damn.

No, it wasn't laziness. It's been a busy phase, the last couple of months. In fact, a lot happened between the last post and this one - a couple of small trips, a few articles, a very exciting new venture being put into action and a whole lot of more writing and planning.

Any how, so before I begin the prelude to this article, I want to make it very clear that the 'Top 10' is just a way of saying 'some of the best'. By no means is this a claim or something approved and signed by any committee so any resort owner, hotelier who feels offended and decides to sue me after reading this, think again. This is *my* humble list, approved by my editor. Does not mean other resorts are not worth a visit or are any less Eco-friendly. So now that that very sensitive issue has been tackled, lets move on. :)

This article was published early this year in Asian Geographic. It covers some of the best eco resorts in the country. Have had a word with most of the owners and almost all of them try and do as much as they can for the environment with respect to their properties. If any of you have been to any of these, do write in your comments. 

 

Hope you enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed discovered these places. And then, go visit!

Words v/s Photographs

It’s been a while since my last post. Apologies for the gap. Been juggling between writing about my previous reviews and fixing some for the next month.

This post isn't  going to be about a place. I have a question for you instead. One that was asked to me by a friend’s friend over dinner the other night, “You think it’s a picture that gets someone to read a travel piece or the quality of writing?”

My instant response was, “Both.” His question led to a big discussion amongst us over wine and steak. For an hour. Conclusion: there was no conclusion. Some said it was just the photographs; some said, the writing and some said, their state of mind.

I on the other hand realized, I didn’t have an answer to his question. Because I am on the other side, clicking and writing about a place. Plus, my passion for knowing about every bit of the world is so strong, I would just soak in everything related to it that comes my way. Be it words or photographs. So I really wouldn’t know what a regular reader would like.

It’s you who reads what we write. Is a good photograph required for you to want to read, even if the writing is mediocre? Is it the headline that lures you? Do long paragraphs just put you off? Or would you rather read and read and read some more, and oh well, if there are photographs to compliment what you read, good enough.

The writer and photographer in me is curious.

Mumbai Rediscovered

I’ve spent almost sixteen years of my life in Mumbai and the city still doesn’t cease to amaze me. I love it. Just like any other Mumbaikar would. From the vada pav’s at every nook and corner to the throbbing night life, it’s alive at any given point of the day. Having lived in different parts of the city, I thought I knew every inch. Only a couple of months ago did I realise how wrong I was. Thanks to my interest in photography.

J and I take off every two weeks to explore some aspect of the city through our lens. We usually end up getting some fabulous street and slum shots (considering good old Mumbai has so many of those). The other day, bored of the increasing number of these and the lack of knowledge on any interesting and different  place, we resorted to the reliable Google. The first few options that popped up were the usual – Gateway of India, Chowpatty beach, VT Station and so on. Somewhere in between, there was the Zoo. Neither of us had been to a Zoo since we were kids so off we went.