"Kem Che Dikra?"

These long breaks are becoming a habit now. Sorry, but a lot has happened since May (the last post) and it has everything to do with Broken Compass. Shall write about the rather exciting and eventful journey of Broken Compass in another post.

This one is about my latest article which has been published on The India Tube website. An article about a community I love dearly. 

The Parsis. 

My love affair with the Parsi community began 14 years ago when I first met my bubbly, curly haired, mad baawi (a common term used for Parsi women) roommate at AWWA hostel, Mumbai. I would have never guessed then, that over the years, she would become one of my closest friends, and through her life, family and friends, I would become so close to her community and its culture. Post our hostel days, we ended up staying at her parents’ home in Tata Co-op Housing Colony, Elphinstone (just one of the many Parsi colonies in Mumbai). Over the 3 years that I lived there, I saw a very different side of the city. One that is a very integral part of it, yet, poles apart from the fast paced indifference that Mumbai stands for.

Here is my article on The Baugs of Mumbai.

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.