tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28632664073310603562024-03-20T00:55:12.644-07:00Places.Travel.ExperiencesMy travel saga shared with a lot of snaps, few words and some thoughts.
Dedicated to those who love traveling and life! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-11302973651386259292015-05-10T03:14:00.001-07:002015-05-10T03:20:37.023-07:00Two things that helped me be on the road !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So many times people ask me HOW I have been able to travel so much - for almost two years without a job in hand, do I not feel scared traveling alone, where did I get the money for it and so on and so forth. Initially I felt there was no particular answer to it. 'I just did it' used to be my answer. When I consistently got this question from friends and strangers, I gave it a serious thought. I traced the travel back to the people I met, the ones who influenced me and the circumstances that made me quit my job, pick my bags and just leave. There were many such awesome people and horrible situations that came my way. However two reasons stood out from all this noise. Two main reasons why and how I could finance my trip for so long and how I was able to do it with no fear ( well almost ).<br />
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The reasons are real simple. Firstly I had the savings to do it. Secondly I had the courage to do it. And the source of both these is my Mother.<br />
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Since an early age she encouraged me to save money. Since my very first job she ensured that a part of my earning was invested. Not only did I have enough savings to travel and live without a job for two years but I also got money pouring in my account while I was traveling from the old investments she had encouraged me to make those past years. So this is the first reason.<br />
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Second and the prime reason - the courage. One might have all the money but how do you buy courage? The answer lies in the martial arts training I got for almost four years back in the day and who else but my mother encouraged me for it. When all my friends in school were busy painting beautiful flowers and scoring for the next exam I was out in the Taekwando field kicking some ass ( and getting mine kicked ). That training gave me all the courage I needed to pick my bag and go alone because I knew I could take care of my self ( almost in all situations ). That training has given me all the courage I need for most tough situations in life.<br />
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I have never really told my mother about this. I am taking this perfect day, Mother's Day, 11th May 2015, to let my most loved mother know that all the good things I have in life I owe it to her ( along with the bad habits too .. giggle ).<br />
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Happy Mother's Day mummy. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-15277037586098529052015-05-05T04:21:00.005-07:002015-05-05T04:30:33.302-07:00Elephant ride in Chitwan National Park in Nepal! March 2015.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I write this piece on Nepal when the country is suffering from a recent earth quake. It was heart wrenching to see Nepal crumble and fall. After my little trip around the country and the really royal welcome the locals gave me, I feel really attached to it. Just a month back I was there and and it was standing high in all its glory and to see it go down is difficult.<br />
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The earthquake hit parts of Chitwan as well, sadly. I had spent about half a day there, purely to get onto an elephant and ride it through the preserved jungles of the Chitwan Park. As much as I wished to stay longer, my tight schedule allowed me no more.<br />
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After a 5-6 hour bus journey I had arrived in Chitwan in the middle of the day and the scene at the bus station was hilarious. I still remember it fondly. A number of hotel agents standing across the road from the bus, screaming their respective hotel / resort offerings. For some reason none of them crossed an invisible line. When I signaled to one of them asking for more, all of them moved in one go, surrounded me and again enthusiastically started sharing various details of Chitwan and their hotels. One of the hotel owners answered one of my questions straight to the point and I agreed to go with him. Without wasting a single moment he grabbed my bag, threw it into the back of his truck and climbed in himself - all done in split second and with a very grim expression. With this all the other guys reluctantly, quietly moved back - looking for another tourist. It all happened in less than a minute. Usually such incidents can tick me off. But just something about the way they all approached - enthusiastic yet not crossing their line, left me impressed and amused.<br />
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A short drive later I reached his resort. I told them I was there just for a few hours and not really looking at an overnight stay. They remained as hospitable, served me yummy Indian lunch and shared all the details of the elephant ride I was there for.<br />
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Packed in a jeep with Chinese tourists I was off to the Chitwan Park for the elephant ride. I got busy just clicking snaps of the lovely animals and was the last one to board, thus not having the best seat. ( TIP - try and get a front seat on the elephant and preferably not the last elephant in the line - for best views ).<br />
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It was a long, scary, fun ride. At moments when the elephant had to walk up a little uphill part with me hanging and facing the ground, I could not help imagining 'what if the harness gave way and I fell on the ground.' The elephant ride was fun however I knew I would not do it again, simply cause to me the elephants did not seem to enjoy it and looked so bored.<br />
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Our super enthusiastic rider made sure we all got a good view of the rhino he spotted. The rider was definitely a character. At one point he stood on the edge of the elephant neck, his hands in the air, clicking our snaps.<br />
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That very night I left for Bhutan. I was told I ought to stay in Chitwan for atleast two nights to really enjoy it and I could not agree more. I am glad I could visit even if it was for half a day.<br />
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My prayers all with everyone in Nepal. I hope the beautiful country and its people can go back to normal life soon. God bless! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-50438289694328001482015-04-11T09:34:00.004-07:002015-04-11T09:40:39.661-07:00Pokhara - Ten things to to!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While Pokhara is majorly frequented by trekkers and used as the starting point for Himalayan trekkers, the lakeside city has enough to do and explore for non-trekkers, like me, too.<br />
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Things to do in Pokahara for non-trekkers:</div>
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1) Boat-ride in the Fewa Lake:<br />
One ought to take a boat-ride when in Pohkara simply cause there is no reason not to ( unless you have aquaphobia ). I took a three hour boat-ride which included one hour to-and-fro ride and two hours of exploring the island temple and the stupa on the other end of the lake. The boat ride was a little scary and I kept feeling it will topple. I literally hung onto it for my life. A little tip, start early morning at about 6ish for this ride and you will be rewarded with stunning sun-rise views and no crowds of screaming tourists.<br />
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2) Barahi temple prayer:</div>
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An island temple, about fifteen minutes boat ride, has been very smartly built to attract tourists and give the boat rides additional meaning. There is not to see on it however deserves a fifteen-twenty minutes stop while on the boat ride.<br />
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3) Trek upto the Shanti Stupa, Pokhara:</div>
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The peace pagoda, or the shanti stupa is located at the other end of the shore, about twenty minute ride from the Few a lake shore. Perched on top of a hill it stands at 1000 mts. A 45 minute trek up with one halt and I was at this Buddhist style stupa with stunning views of the valley and the Pokhara city overall. With this walk up my quota of Nepal trek was definitely done with!<br />
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4) Scooty around</div>
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If I can get a scooty or a two wheeler ride I never miss it. Scootying around in Pokahar was super fun and highly recommended as it is easy to visit neighbouring towns with your own ride. Every pretty view and my scooty was parked and camera pulled out. Charms of your own ride!<br />
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5) Get your Fat-me click at the Devils Fall:</div>
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I was a little surprised to see the much hyped devil's fall as it was just one little fenced-waterfall and not much to see around. However on my way out I saw these fixed human structures in Nepali dresses with missing heads. This snap alone made the visit worthwhile for me.<br />
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6) Sarangkot stunning views:</div>
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My guesthouse owner told me about this adjoining town Sarangkot and mentioned it has awesome views. A fourty minutes ride and I was at Sarangkot and was glad I didn't miss the wonderful sights. It is really beautiful and I highly recommend a visit to this place during first half of the day if in Pokhara.<br />
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7) Eating Nepali cuisine:</div>
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I felt the Nepali cuisine would not be too different. But it was different enough and I think the spices used were different than I am used to. I have to admit I didn't like it too much for some reason. However trying local cuisine at least once is a must ;)</div>
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8) Chill in the cafés</div>
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There are so many cafes on the commercialised Lakeside street that choosing one is quite a task. If you are finally able to select one ( I took almost an hour ) out of the many options then chill out at these lakeside cafés. It was funny to be served a Turkish dish and be told by the waiter it is Mexican! </div>
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9) Travel gear shopped:</div>
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As Pokhara serves as the starting point for trekker's the market place has tons of travel gear shopping options. It is a very competitive market thus a plus for shopper's. Remember to wear your haggling hat on and have fun negotiating on the street shops of Nepal. Most of the stuff is cheap and pretty good quality. I bought a much needed 40 litres backpack for barely $20. Simply loved it! Happy shopping while at Pokhara.<br />
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10) Para-gliding:</div>
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As it wasn't the best weather during my visit I missed doing this. Thus if you get a chance to go to Pokhara, do some paragliding and send me the pictures ;)</div>
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Pokhara in Nepal is sweet place to rest and relax. Have fun when you there and drink a Gorkha for me ;)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-77835932110019601602015-04-03T07:45:00.000-07:002015-04-03T07:45:59.159-07:00Nepal and Bhutan in 10 days!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I am back from my Nepal-Bhutan trip and still reeling from the excitement of the trip. I can not believe how much I did and the places I traveled in just a span of 10 days. Since it was my first ever visit to these countries I visited the most toured places.<br />
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I had only 10 days at hand to squeeze as much as possible of Nepal and Bhutan in it. Without any prior bookings the below is an account of my tour of Nepal and Bhutan in 10 days. I was not even sure I would be able to stick t it when I chalked it out and started on it. Having done it I know it is totally possible. ( Pls note: I could afford no prior bookings and reservations especially into Bhutan as I have an Indian passport. For all other Nationalities prior bookings are mandatory for entry into Bhutan ).<br />
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Day 1: Kathmandu, Nepal<br />
I took a 2 hour flight from Delhi to Kathmandu and landed in the capital city of Nepal, over a majestic mountain range landscape, around noon. Immigration clearing was the easiest it has ever been, thanks to the Indian passport I had. It was almost like a domestic flight exit from the airport.<br />
I spent the rest of the day walking around the busy streets of Thamel. The first and last night in Kathmandu was spent drinking Gorkha beer with 5 travelers from different countries and some crazy events.<br />
I found Kathmandu different from Delhi in just one aspect - polite people. Rest all the pollution level, busy streets, crazy traffic, shopping streets was a lot like Delhi. So I escaped from Kathmandu the very next day early morning.<br />
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Day 2 & 3: Pokhara, Nepal<br />
After an almost 8 hour bus drive ( which was supposed to be 4 hours ) I landed in Pokhara in the afternoon. First sight I loved it. I hitch hiked to my hotel after fighting my way through the taxi drivers who desperately wanted to sell me their hotels. I had been told not to miss going to Pokhara and it was good advice. Set on the shore of Lake Phewa this laid back, beautiful city is a far cry from the madness of Katmandu's busy streets. I did as much as a traveler and non-trekker me could do in the day and a half in Pokhara - walking around the lakeside Pokhara, riding a scooty to distant view points and surrounding town area, boat-ride in Lake Phewa, walk-trek up to the Shanti Stupa, travel gear shopping, chomping Nepali food and yapping with locals. <br />
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Day 4: Chitwan National Park, Nepal<br />
As much as I wanted to spend more time in Pokhara I was on a tight schedule and if I had to cover<br />
both Bhutan and Nepal in 10 days I had to move fast. So the next morning I packed my bags and was off to Chitwan National Park. 6 hours later I reached Sauraha, a small town located just outside Chitwan National park. The chaotic sight at the Sauraha bus station was hilarious. Almost seemed a do-or-die situation for the workers seeking tourists for their bread and butter.<br />
The afternoon was spent on an elephant back in an elephant safari in the National park. I was really looking forward to it however by the end of it, i knew never to repeat it ever, as it was a very uncomfortable ride for me and I believe for the poor overloaded elephant as well.<br />
With that I completed my checklist of Nepal and having covered what I had set out to, I could not wait to get to Bhutan.<br />
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Day 5: Nepal to Bhutan<br />
I took an overnight bus from Chitwan Park and by changing about 5 transportation and almost 24 hours later I reached late evening to my much awaited destination Thimpu in Bhutan. There is so much ambiguity linked to Bhutan that I was not sure if I will ever make it there. Hence I had not booked an accommodation prior to my arrival. Thus the first few hours were spent in hotel hunting. I was lucky to find one in a prime location within my budget. I was extremely tired hence all I did was have dinner and collapse into deep slumber.<br />
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Day 6: Thimpu, Bhutan<br />
First sight it had seemed very flat and boring to me to be honest. But that changed the next day. Infact I realized it is anything but flat. Even a walk in the city is like a trek as there is so much uphill walk.<br />
I hired a local cab and did my own tour and sight-seeing of the city covering all major sights and various temples. By the end of the day I was totally in love in Bhutan and keen to explore more the next day.<br />
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Day 7-10: Paro, Bhutan<br />
At the tail end of my trip and eager to explore more I gave a few more hours to Thimpu and was off to Paro.<br />
A short, picturesque one hour drive and I was in Paro - the place I did not want to move from for the next 3 nights. This is the place I felt I had been seeking and traveling to reach for the past one week. It is extremely laid back with people so happy they will induce you with a sense of satisfaction in you with their simple words. The many dzongs, monasteries, stupas and temples make it a fun place with enough to explore. I loved the vibe of the town and will go back to it any day.<br />
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Day 11: Bhutan to India<br />
With a promise to return, next time with Gabi, I set out early morning from Paro on my journey back home. Since the trip was completely unplanned with no prior bookings of any sort, I was a day late in reaching Delhi and had to spend the night in Baghdodra in Bengal. I took the next day noon flight to Delhi and after 11 days was happy to be back home with my family. :)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-50304473013943970002015-03-09T18:28:00.001-07:002015-03-09T18:29:28.621-07:00Hindi is super cool too!<p dir="ltr">It took me months to get a decent job in Netherlands, despite my qualifications and work experience. Reason being, language barrier as it is commonly referred to. Meaning I was needed to know the local language, Dutch well. Almost 85% of the jobs need Dutch professional fluency. And the availability of 15% English speaking jobs in Netherlands, is considered high when compared to countries like Germany and France.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I didn't expect this at all before I found my countless job applications rejected in the very first round and the reason cited was 'a low Dutch knowledge'. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Whatever said and done I have grown to respect this way of the Dutch maintaining and preserving their language and culture. The power and respect they give to their own local language is commendable. </p>
<p dir="ltr">In the months I have spent learning Dutch, which at times seems absolutely illogical with a little too many exceptions for rules, I have grown to love Hindi language more than I did. It is so pure with set rules, mantras (symbols) and akshar ( alphabet ) for every sound. Many a times when I fell short of corresponding English alphabet, I used Hindi akshars to convert and remember the Dutch alphabets or words. I realised how simple yet clean Hindi language actually is. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However it is disheartening to see the importance of Hindi go down in a professional scenario in India. Imagine trying to bag a high flying job in an MNC or even an Indian organisation, without English fluency. Whether you know Hindi or not is immaterial. English is considered cool while using Hindi, our own mother tongue is given barely any importance. Though I have always liked Hindi I have to confess I used to think like this too. I feel compelled to change it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Recent correction: Hindi <u>is</u> super cool too! </p>
<p dir="ltr">I would want my kids to speak fluent Hindi apart from Dutch, English and maybe couple of more while they are at it ! ;)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Each culture and country has some beautiful offerings and it is worthwhile to adopt a few from each don't you think! </p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-74922916245902351682015-03-03T03:14:00.000-08:002015-03-03T03:17:12.492-08:00I lost my passport and got a job!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have many a times heard 'whatever happens in for good' and somewhere I am a strong believer of it ( not every single day of my life but definitely on most days). Recently I had an experience which strengthens my faith in the saying.<br />
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About 3 months back, sometime in December 2014, I lost my passport. Everything including my passport was robbed from the car parked in a parking ( not in Netherlands but some other country. Lets skip the name! ). I had a flight booked for Portugal in mid January 2015 but I could not take it anymore. You can imagine my disappointment and anger as I was being kept away from the thing I love and enjoy the most - traveling. But somewhere I just had one thought 'whatever happens is for the good.' Maybe some good was meant in this too I consoled myself. I told my father about it and expressed my disappointment and he repeated the famous words of Amitabh Bacchan ' man ka ho toh acha, na ho toh zyada accha.' ( meaning if what we wish for happens is good and if it does not then it is even better.' I felt glad he said it.</div>
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So I could do nothing but apply for a new passport, miss my flight for Portugal, carry on with usual life and most importantly try and take all this in with a positive attitude. </div>
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Just recently ( about a month and a half later) I have got a new passport. Now when I look back at the series of events that have happened since then make me happy and thankful that I actually lost it back then.</div>
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<li>I applied for jobs during the dates I was to be in Portugal ( Just like I had been for the last 4 months. Getting a job in Netherlands is far more difficult than I imagined). The interviews were spread across three weeks and guess what I got the job. I cant help but think if I had been Portugal I would have missed applying for this particular one which I was meant to get. </li>
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<li>My A2 level of Dutch classes got pre-poned from February and for the dates I would have otherwise been in Portugal. </li>
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<li>At the passport office I met two girls ( Indian and Indonesian). We got friendly and they have assisted me in my application. The process gained me two new acquaintances and I can comfortably say future friends. I would not have had a chance to meet these lovely two girls otherwise.</li>
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<li>I traveled to nearby places over weekends and met some great people which I would have not met otherwise. Thus not missing out on traveling either. </li>
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Did I mention here, the day I got the passport the next day I got the job and the day after that I booked my trip to Portugal once again. I went with a free mind and no tension of job applications which I might have had back in January.<br />
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My conclusion, accept the not-so-good-things that happen with an open mind and appreciate the good they too bring with them. My faith in 'whatever happens is for good' is made stronger. Not that I will not be disappointed at all when misfortune strikes again but yes this faith will just make it a little less painful and a little more acceptable. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-28120803949674994372015-02-20T04:51:00.000-08:002015-02-20T05:05:35.831-08:00Luxembourg - My favourite city center<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I hear the word city-center the impression I have is shopping arcades, buzzing streets, food vendors, cafes, restaurants and lots of tourists if it is a touristy place. Somehow I never imagined a city center with beautiful hills, valleys, gorges and a river flowing through it. Luxembourg city center has this and more to offer.<br>
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After a perfect day with a our couch-surfing family in Fischbach, Luxembourg<br>
(http://adventurousruchi.blogspot.nl/2015/02/valentines-in-fischbach-luxembourg.html )<br>
we drove off to Luxembourg city. A twenty minute drive from Fischbach and we found ourselves in amazing Luxembourg city. First look at the place and I was totally amazed! <br>
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Beautiful hills, gorges, old fort ruins and river all blending into one and serving as a recreational park right in the center of the city makes it my favorite so far.<br>
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Luxembourg city is really small and super easy to explore on foot. The best sites are very close to each other and can be easily done in one day's easy walk. Generally visitors find it difficult to chose a starting point of this grand 2-3 hours walk. Gladly we parked the car right next to the bock and began our walk from the Bock itself with Casemates du Bock on one end and Adolphe bridge on the other.<br>
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The view from the top is stunning. I just stood there for long just soaking it all in.<br>
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The walk down to the Grund is really sweet. What amazed me was the silence. No loud noises. Only flowing river, chirping birds and fresh clean air. We had a lunch break at the Grund and even the noise of munching chips seemed too loud.<br>
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We walked up and down in and around this place so many times without once repeating a chosen path. It could very well be a maze. The views are really out of the world and I could not stop clicking.<br>
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We rested at this one sunny spot in the Grund where I could see the river flowing down below and the rising cliff walls all around me. Just the two of us there with no one else to intrude made it even more special. It was amazingly quiet and peaceful there. I think it is my new favorite spot in Europe so far. I felt I was one with the place and not just a visitor viewing it. A glimpse of the place is in the picture below. It captures just a fraction of how amazing it really was.<br>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lt2cIJ2FWWU/VOcrYiGYhDI/AAAAAAABBvM/79evijz0pQw/s1600/IMG_20150215_141206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lt2cIJ2FWWU/VOcrYiGYhDI/AAAAAAABBvM/79evijz0pQw/s1600/IMG_20150215_141206.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
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We walked by the river Petrusse for almost a stretch of a kilometer and back from the Grund to the old town side. Many joggers ran past us and I could see how they were really enjoying their regular jog. I wouldn't mind jogging around such a beautiful scenic view by a river either.<br>
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A casual lazy walk around town-wide and we came across the Luxembourg Palace. It is undoubtedly grand however when I hear Palace I expect a little more than what I saw. The shopping center was just a 2 minute walk.<br>
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The town-hall, Place Guillaume II, is an excellent example of classic European square with a historical statue. Luxembourg is the world's only remaining grand duchy and I highly recommend a visit to this rich but small country.<br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-86555341575843414772015-02-16T04:19:00.001-08:002015-02-16T04:41:25.286-08:00Valentine's in Fischbach, Luxembourg. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Generally people flock to Paris for Valentines and rightly so since it is considered to be the most romantic city. I too dabbled with the thought of spending Valentine's in Paris however for some reason I couldn't get Luxembourg out of my head. So we decided to ditch the routine roses or popular Paris and visit Luxembourg instead and do something different.<br />
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Instead of choosing to stay in some swanky hotel and spending time alone, we chose to go couch-surfing and stay with locals. Couch-surfing mostly has singles registered on it, few couples and travel enthusiasts. Rarely have I seen families on the site. I was pleasantly surprised to see a family of three ( Luxembourg gentleman, Japanese lady with their girl ) not only on the site but with a huge number of references. Somehow I was really drawn to it and wanted to spend time with this adventurous family and gladly Gabi was open to the thought as well.</div>
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Our couch-surfing family was based out of Fischbach, a small village about 20 minutes from Luxembourg city. The drive up to the house through meadows, green landscape and low hills was absolutely stunning. The landscape and houses reminded me of Switzerland.</div>
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We reached our destination by mid-day and were welcomed into a beautiful country-side house in lush green surroundings by our CS family.<br />
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Michel invited us to join him on his daily walk in the forest. Even though it was drizzling and cold, a walk in the forest sounded fabulous and too good to refuse.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PRiXuU_KEg/VOHdtAgCvYI/AAAAAAABBgQ/QeeoGUjA5AQ/s1600/IMG_20150214_155118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PRiXuU_KEg/VOHdtAgCvYI/AAAAAAABBgQ/QeeoGUjA5AQ/s1600/IMG_20150214_155118.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Walking hand-in-hand with Gabi, enjoying the views, chirping of the birds, clean fresh air, alternating sun-n-drizzle and Fischbach stories from our CS host Michel, was how we spent our afternoon, our Valentine afternoon. It was simple and perfect.</div>
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Our walk back was awarded by yet another picturesque view and a rainbow</div>
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We enjoyed dinner together sharing stories of our respective countries, cultures and of-course food. Dum-aloo ( which I had carried for our dinner together with me ), egg-plant with Japanese rice from our host.</div>
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A Spanish dessert prepared by our host Yoko</div>
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The house was better than any five star hotel! Truly! Each and every corner was perfect and so clean. Later Michel told us that their house had won awards for the energy preservation techniques used. The house was naturally warm and used no artificial heating. The toilets functioned using the natural rain water. Michel himself was an engineer and energy conservation was both his profession and passion. Turns out he was almost a celebrity in this field and a published writer.</div>
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The surprises did not end there. Later at night after dinner we all went down to their basement living room where they had a piano. Michel's wife, Yoko played beautifully. We stayed there for sometime and then excused ourselves to our room on the top floor. As I prepared to sleep I could hear the family laugh and enjoy themselves together. It was all so beautiful and honest. As I drifted off to sleep to the piano music I whispered a small 'thankyou' to this universe, for the beautiful experience on the day of love. It could not have been spent better.</div>
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A big Thank You to Michel and Yoko for having us over. It was a pleasure to have them as company and experience staying in their beautiful eco-friendly house!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-4362769534805391672015-02-05T07:18:00.006-08:002015-02-05T07:18:59.958-08:00Giethoorn - Venice of the Netherlands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Giethoorn, is a small enchanting village in the Netherlands about 1.5 hours from Amsterdam. It is a car-free village and for the longest there were absolutely no roads in the village and the only means of transport was by water over the many canals. Now there is a narrow bike-path made to explore the village on bike or on foot. Even to this day cars have to be left outside the village - how cool is that.</div>
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I had never heard about Giethoorn up until recently and I am glad I could visit this mesmerizing place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlw3Fiu6HTZUpnwpsDQrF8xe6oHZlbDS4Ez_e2FN-YETGxOfzrb-3aDTgpfWju4ysMxAOBGMo4EiXzrzjKvR33TWe_bbio3QslMT-OGGZsKTr8asUTbowLnmJ1C_xOJT1Egh3DVzJDQA/s1600/DSCN1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlw3Fiu6HTZUpnwpsDQrF8xe6oHZlbDS4Ez_e2FN-YETGxOfzrb-3aDTgpfWju4ysMxAOBGMo4EiXzrzjKvR33TWe_bbio3QslMT-OGGZsKTr8asUTbowLnmJ1C_xOJT1Egh3DVzJDQA/s1600/DSCN1674.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">It is popularly known as the Venice of the Netherlands however it is much smaller than Venice. Venice was somehow oozing romance while Giethoorn to me seemed straight out of a fair-tale. Both have their own charms nonetheless. Walking around the Giethoorn was a bewitching experience and I could not help feel part of a magical fairy-tale. If there is a fairy-land it must be a lot like Giethoorn!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The village has about 1800 small bridges which connect the village and the small island-houses. Almost each and every house is amazingly captivating. With only 3000 people living in the village I believe it must be one of those places where everyone knows everyone.</span><br />
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Some houses were up for sale. I wondered how it would be to live there - a mixed bag I think - with a beautiful enchanting surrounding but with curious intruding tourists peeping into the houses and the house being almost on a display forever. The place was amazingly quiet however we were told that it can be very busy in the peak season.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Biking, walking around and sailing in one of the famous 'whispering boats' are some of the activities to engage in while at Giethoorn. We did a whispering boat tour for about two hours ( at about 13 euro / person ) - sailing in and around the picturesque canals. The whispering boat tour gave a much closer look however I personally enjoyed exploring the village on foot more.</span><br />
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The the size of the village the number of restaurants were definitely sufficient for locals and travelers alike. We enjoyed yummy Italian meals in the heart of the village. Some unique souvenir shops just added to the experience and of-course I had to collect my most favorite one - a fridge magnet!</div>
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There are many good b&b in the village itself and the people there are known for their hospitality. Most of them also provide bike-on-rent and whispering boat tours.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Giethoorn became locally famous when Dutch movie Fanfare was shot there. Once back from my trip I saw the movie as well and it was interesting to link it back to my trip.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I would definitely love to go to Giethoorn in Spring again and maybe this time I can stay with the locals than in a hotel. It can also be an easy day trip from Amsterdam ( 1.5 hours one way) and I highly recommend it. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-34236249198133077052015-02-03T05:57:00.004-08:002015-02-03T05:57:50.044-08:00MY 2015 TRAVEL PLAN. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I believe any goals or targets need to be penned down if they have to be achieved. That is the first step I follow to accomplish any goals. All my 2015 goals are well sketched out and one of the major ones is to travel to 15-20 countries. So here I am penning down the list of countries on my wish-list of 2015. It would be awesome to review it by the end of the year.</div>
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<b><u>My 2015 travel wish-list:</u></b></div>
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<b>Turkey : </b>I hope to visit Turkey with a friend from India. We do have a rough plan in place and I hope we are able to do it.</div>
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<b>Bosnia :</b> It is high in my travel list. Looking forward to visit the Sarajevo War Tunnel and the Bascarsija.</div>
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<b>Ireland: </b>Considering the flight tickets to Ireland can be 30-40 Euros return from Amsterdam it will be a sin to not visit this heavenly place.</div>
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<b>UK:</b> To be honest I haven't ever been too fascinated with UK however I do wish to experience a Christmas in London. I have been planning this for years and I do hope 2015 Xmas can be in London.</div>
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<b>Norway and Sweden : </b>I missed visiting the Scandinavian Countries during my Europe travels and would love to visit this paradise soon.</div>
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<b>Morocco:</b> As funny as it sounds I have been wanting to visit Morocco since I saw the movie Casablanca. So 2015 definitely has to see Morocco.</div>
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<b>Portugal:</b> I had a flight booked to Portugal in January 2015 and this would have already been ticked off by now if I had not lost my passport in December 2014. I do look forward to getting back my passport soon and making a trip to Portugal and its warm island in the middle of the Ocean, Madeira.</div>
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<b>Hungary:</b> Movies do inspire me to travel to places and The Grand Budapest makes me wants to go to Hungary, though Budapest is one place I have been wanting to for quite sometime.</div>
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<b>Croatia:</b> A summer week-ten days have to be spent in the sun and sand of magnificent Croatia.</div>
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<b>Luxembourg:</b> I have heard lots of wonderful things about this tiny-miny beautiful country and I shall definitely visit Luxembourg this year.</div>
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<b>Denmark:</b> Considering it is stone throwing distance from Netherlands and is considered to be one of the happiest countries of the world, it definitely deserves a quick visit.</div>
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<b>Bhutan, Nepal</b>: I missed visiting these countries while I was in India. I hope to visit them this year even if it is touch and go whenever I visit India this year.</div>
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<b>Germany, France, Belgium, Italy </b>: I have been to these countries before however there is lots there I have yet to see and I would love to go back and explore new cities, towns and villages.</div>
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<b>India:</b> A must.</div>
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<b>Netherlands : </b>There is so much to explore in this stunning country apart from just Amsterdam and I do wish to visit different provinces of Netherlands.</div>
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While it might seem a crazy travel list I think it is very doable and not outrageously ambitious. It is mostly exploring the neighboring countries and many can be an extended weekend trip, barring the South East Asia ones. I do hope to cover this list and it would be wonderful if I can add more as I go along. :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-13350791781244998252015-02-02T04:03:00.002-08:002015-02-02T04:09:49.897-08:00One month - 19 movies!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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January was a full-on movie month with 19 movies! That is, probably, the number of movies I used to see in a year and now I managed to squeeze all these in one month! Wola! Few were really, some were crazily boring, some classics, some new and Oscar nominated and some for which I am not an audience anymore. By year end I would love to review my 2015 movie list. For now the January 2015 ones are:</div>
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<b>Heaven is for real</b> ( As the name suggests I do believe<b> </b>that heaven is for real<b> </b>maybe not exactly how it is depicted in the movie. It was interesting to see how the father believed in his son against all odds and did not dismiss what his young son shared )</div>
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The magic of Belle isle </b> ( Sweet, slow and simple movie. Wouldn't mind a second watch simply cause of Morgan Freeman and the dialogues )</div>
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Esio Trot</b> ( Sweet - one time watch )</div>
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Rocknrolla </b>( Watched it for the second time and loved it yet again )</div>
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Piggy</b> ( The DVD was gifted to me. It has to be revenged and an equally torturous one gifted back! ;)</div>
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Boyhood</b> ( Strong message conveyed via a very casual story )</div>
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You're not you</b> ( I wouldn't watch it again )</div>
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Fanfare</b> ( First ever Dutch movie made. I saw it to celebrate my clearing Dutch A1 level)</div>
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Good Will hunting</b> ( Awesome of course )</div>
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Inglorious Basterds </b>( Great movie without doubt however playing with historical facts is just so weird )</div>
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PK </b>( First Bollywood movie Gabi and me saw together in a theater. I wouldn't watch it again )</div>
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Unbroken</b> ( Very good message and a good movie however it has too much pain and blood thus I couldn't watch it again )</div>
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Tevar</b> ( Typical Bollywood masala and a total time pass)</div>
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Love, Rosie</b> ( Maybe I would have liked it some years back but found it dreadfully boring now)</div>
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Blackhat </b>( To me it seemed as if its a movie made for the heck of it. I did not find it special at all )</div>
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The Imitation G<u>ame</u></b> ( simply a must watch! It's fantastic !)</div>
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100 hour movie</b> ( loved the movie. Very engaging and ohh gives you ideas on how to set right a cheating partner ! ;) </div>
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Into the Woods</b> ( My conclusion- I am not a big fan of musicals and I should watch another one only if it is the last movie available on planet earth )</div>
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Lord of the Rings - the two towers</b> ( and they say Bollywood movies are long ) </div>
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Couple of months back I discovered a hard-core foodie in me and now a movie buff. Simple pleasures of life! :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-51787366848464581832015-01-27T09:00:00.002-08:002015-01-30T15:19:49.835-08:00Learning a new language - making it fun while I am at it.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My first level of Dutch learning ended last week. It was a great 6 week session learning a new language with a batch of people from all over the world. Some dropped out and most of us went along. Gradually we all got close - sharing stories of our countries, our culture, food - learning more than just a language in those 3 hourly classes thrice a week. Absolutely worth the time and money spent!</div>
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It was a small batch, almost like a private tuition<br />
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Left to right - Me Ruchi from India, Jade from Wales ( she did excellently well in chapters pertaining to food cause of her love for food ) , Panayis from Greece (known for the Greek salad he makes in his sea-side restaurant-bar in Greece which we sadly never tasted ), Lucille from Wales (the life of the batch. Even boring, dull days seemed happier with chirpy and caring Lucille around ), Teacher Michiele, Lucille, AET from Estonia ( always had an interesting story to share )</div>
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On the last day of the session we had a potluck and everyone got their local food. It was yummy afternoon.</div>
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Desserts from Wales</div>
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Fish and Bread from Estonia</div>
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Pork pie from Wales</div>
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Our Teacher Michiele H, was everything a student can hope for - motivating, encouraging, patient, one who made classes fun and easy. He had a keen interest in all the stories we shared about our respective countries or our daily lives and shared some of his own. <span style="text-align: center;">Michiele always said that whatever we studied in the classroom was only 30% of the total effort needed to learn the language and I cannot agree more with him. Just attending a language class does not guarantee that one will learn it. A good teacher will just teach in an interesting way making the class un-boring however it needs a lot of practice outside the class to get a grasp of it.</span></div>
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Gladly having passed my Dutch classes with flying colors I feel I am qualified to share some <b><span style="color: red;">tips which can be used effectively if one is serious about learning a new language:</span></b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Find excuses to use the language </b>-</span> More I speak the language the better I will get. Its as simple as that. I have started finding excuses to speak the language - with locals, at a party, in a restaurant, with a friend. I try and read the movie reviews in dutch ( even for bollywood movies )</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">Strengthening the vocabulary -</span></b> Grammar comes gradually and especially if it is a difficult language like Dutch however by strengthening the vocabulary learning and understanding of the language becomes much easier. I learnt the top 2500 words most commonly used words in the language and that has been my strength in the language learning process. It was a pleasure to be well versed with the words being used in the class and that motivated me to learn more. So one of the best tips is to learn more and more words and build up the vocab.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Exposing yourself to the language in more ways than one</b> -</span> reading ( web, magazines, children books, comics ), TV, movies ( most fun way of learning a language I think ), radio, youtube videos, songs, recipes for cooking are different interesting ways to increase exposure.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Make it fun for yourself -</b> </span>Learning happens faster if it is fun thus use or learn the language while having fun. My favorite way is to watch movies or read Tintin books in Dutch. I enjoy them and it feels like an accomplishment when I can understand them in a foreign language. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">Shed your ego -</span></b> I will falter when using it as I am still learning it. I will sound like a retard to many Dutch proficient people. People might laugh. But the more I speak and more mistakes I make the quicker I learn. Thus I ensure I do not let ego pull me down in using it as often as I can.</li>
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It will be a long time before I can 'think in Dutch' or be proficient or speak like a local but I know I am closer to it with each passing day, with each new movie watched or with each Tintin story read. </div>
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I begin my Dutch second level learning this week with a new teacher in a new school and I hope it will be as much fun and a rich learning experience as the last one.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-64546384209797578862015-01-05T13:49:00.000-08:002015-01-05T14:04:03.637-08:00Euro-transport options <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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During My Euro trip 2013, I used various means of transport some of which I had never heard about before. While it seems very obvious to locals in Europe, it is all new for travelers from other parts of the world hence I am putting together a small note for all you budget travelers. </div>
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1) Cheap flights</div>
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When I say cheap I mean really cheap. I had no idea that there are some airlines that provide tickets worth 10 euros at times ( INR 1000 onwards ). http://www.ryanair.com/ is one such airline provider. I was lucky to get a flight worth 18 euros on it from Netherlands to Spain! Can you beat that. Just do be a little careful when booking your flight on this one though. Do make sure that the airport is well connected to the city or your place of stay. Ryan air airports tend to be a little too far from the city. It is a no frill airline so you will have to have minimum luggage to be able to juice this option.</div>
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2) Carpooling</div>
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There are a number of car pooling sites in the Europe and most of them are free. A very good one which I have personally tried is http://www.blablacar.com/. Check it out. I used it to get from Cuenca to Bunol for the Tomatina festival '13 in barely €5. Recently I used it to offer a ride, from Netherlands to Prague and managed to make up for the fuel costs. A great way to meet new people as well. Travel with the locals!</div>
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3) Ferry</div>
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Ferry over a flight any day for me! Especially if it is cheaper. I love water and ferry rides are definitely more fun than flights.</div>
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I happened to take the ferry from Valencia to Ibiza in barely 60 euros to and fro when the flight costs were 150 euro++.</div>
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4) Hitchhiking</div>
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Travel for free. It really cannot get better than this. Hitchhiking was part of my to-do-eurotrip'13 list. It was a concept alien to me. It was definitely scary initially however it turned out to be super fun and an amazing experience. Just remember to take your head with you and use good intuition to judge which car to choose and which to let go. </div>
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I met a 60 year old man in Bordeaux, France who told me that he had traveled almost half the world just hitch hiking. He was my inspiration then and soon after I hitch-hiked from one end of France to another. </div>
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5) Buses</div>
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I often used buses, even for large distances, since most of my planning was done last minute. I found them much cheaper, comfortable and was pleasantly surprised to find WiFi on almost all buses. </div>
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6) Euro rail pass</div>
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It is suggested to go for the Euro rail pass however I skipped this recommended option and I didn't really miss it!<br />
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7) On-foot</div>
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Yes I have to pen this one down especially for Indians - we do not want to walk! Till about last year I needed a ride to cross even few kilometers. </div>
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Then on the Euro trip, I just started exploring places on foot. And trust me it is so much better. It is filled with far more surprises than a bus journey. There were days I walked about 15 - 18 kms exploring the city on foot walking just about to wherever I needed to go. </div>
I happened to meet a tour guide in Prague who said that he had run through every country in Europe. Well that is not my target but yes within a city nothing better than exploring it on foot.<br />
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8) Biking<br />
Europe has an awesome biking / cycling culture. Please do not miss out on it. Bikes can be rented on a daily basis from 1-10 euro / day depending on the city. A great way of getting around the city and a healthy one too. Paris, Netherlands and Denmark are especially known for this for a reason!<br />
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I am still discovering comfortable, last minute, cheap options of traveling around Europe. I will add them as and when I come across them. Feel free to add more in the comments.</div>
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Happy traveling !</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-69138333180128197462015-01-02T06:12:00.004-08:002015-01-02T09:01:46.461-08:0012 Things I do when I visit a new place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I prefer traveling to new places and building new experiences. Each place has something unique to offer and new stuff to experience however there are 12 things I almost always do when visiting a new place.<br />
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1) Walk around city center<br />
Each city has a buzzing city center with lots to offer and if it is a touristy city then it is packed with tourists as well. While I cannot be forever in a city center it is interesting to visit the center and scan the offerings of a place. It is populated and buzzing for a reason. Why not see it ?<br />
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Pub street of Pataya. Cant get more touristy than this.</div>
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2) Visit Old city area<br />
Old part of a city attracts me a lot. That is where the real culture of a place thrives, unmasked. Old sections of a city hold a totally different story than their urban, fancy, decked up developed new parts. The real food, shopping, bars, so much so even people are found in old parts of a city and more often than not it is much cheaper to stay, eat and shop in.<br />
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Old city area in Rome.</div>
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3) View the city from Top<br />
Nothing like climbing on a high hill, or top of a church, or a high touristy building or anything that can provide a top view of the city and enjoying the view. It is enthralling to see the whole city spread in front of me. If it has been a good walk to reach that place, it fills me up with a sense of satisfaction having walked that distance and made that effort. My love for heights always draws me to capture one such moment from each place I visit.<br />
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Top view of Cuenca, a small amazingly beautiful village in Spain.</div>
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4) Eat local food<br />
Even though I am a vegetarian I always try the local food veg, non-veg and of course local sweets. I have landed up trying sea food at Amalfi coast in Italy, paella a typical Spanish dish in Barcelona and muscles in Ibiza. I have especially traveled to Naples, the birthplace of pizzas, to eat pizzas and it was the most amazing thing I have ever tasted!<br />
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The Pizza from Naples. The best thing I have ever eaten in my whole life!</div>
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5) Visit the local supermarket chain<br />
Local supermarket are fun to walk around and a great place to get an insight into local foods, vegetables, fruits, drinks and just about everything related to tummy. To top it all,the stuff is much much cheaper than in other local shops. You will be surprised how much you can learn about a place from a visit to their supermarkets!<br />
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6) Visit a bar frequented by locals<br />
I am a beer lover and I think it tastes best in a local bar with locals. Read some local blogs of a place to know about hidden local gems.<br />
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A local bar in HoChiMinn.</div>
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7) Click a touristy pic<br />
A 'I was here' snap in front of the most popular place or monument of the city is a must. Even better if it is a typical pose all tourists get clicked at that spot. It is stupid and hence it is even more fun. Going to Taj Mahal and not clicking the 'holding the tip of taj' pic is like having never been to Taj. ( go back again if you do not have that pic )<br />
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A typical TAJ moment.</div>
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8) Shop for a souvenir<br />
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A trip is incomplete without a souvenir. I want to sit in my living room, look around and see glimpses of each trip I made. It makes me feel happy each time I see a travel souvenir catching some dust in my house. Initially I used to shop for anything that caught my eye - like a magnificent buffalo chair from Sri Lanka which is known for good furniture or coasters from Australia or just about anything. Then on my Europe trip I fell in love with fridge magnets. Cheap to buy, light weight to carry and a perfect display. Now a trip is incomplete for me if I do not have a fridge magnet from that place. Currently I have about 100 of them. I think I will soon have to buy another fridge just to display them! :)</div>
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9) Experience a festival or a local event<br />
I have been lucky to be at some 'right' places at the right time simply because some gala fest was on. Like the Yacht exhibition in Cannes or the Tomatina Festival of Spain. Experiencing a local festival, event or a concert is a cherry on the cake during any trave;.<br />
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The Tomatina festival in Spain. My zindagi na milegi dobara moment.</div>
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10) Travel the local way<br />
Each city has its own local means of transport. Like the 'tanga' or horse-carriage of Lucknow India, or the tum-tums of Pataya or the bike taxis of Bangkok. They are much cheaper than cabs and so much more fun.<br />
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My bike-taxi ride in Bangkok. Barely a charge of 10 cents for a distance of 5 kms.</div>
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11) Click with a local<br />
I love clicking atleast one snap with a local in that place. Be it with a friend, a restaurant owner, a worker, a local travel-mate. It is a sweet memory to capture.<br />
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With my local travel guide in Cu-chi tunnels in Vietnam.</div>
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12) Do the most touristy thing possible.<br />
Some people run away from touristy stuff for some odd reason. I don't. It is fun to play tourist. Sky-diving over coral reefs in Australia, bungee jumping from one of the oldest bungee jumping points in the world or a ride in the whispering boat in Giethoorn all are super fun touristy things and I simply enjoyed each one of them.<br />
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Canal cruising in Bangkok.</div>
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This is my bucket list for every new place I visit. What is yours?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-25676393011824751802014-12-31T07:11:00.001-08:002014-12-31T13:03:33.415-08:00Take a moment to appreciate yourself and be grateful for the good 2014 offered. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Year 2014 was an absolute roller coaster ride - at times fun and and at times scary. Lots of sweet memories and some scars, hopefully which will go with time. Lots of accomplishments and some misses. Some good deeds and some blunders committed. Some so called 'friends' lost some new made. Lots of lessons learnt!</div>
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My Yoga teacher said do not forget to appreciate yourself for your accomplishments or hard work. Some of the good I can look back and remember 2014 with a smile:</div>
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<li>Gabi and my parents, family accepted and welcomed us with open arms. Could not have asked for more in this respect.</li>
<li>Experienced having a pet - a little kitty </li>
<li>Learnt a new language ( still at it )</li>
<li>Did Yoga Teacher Training Course ( a long way to go )</li>
<li>Started a new company ( it was short spanned but a great experience and I am glad I did it )</li>
<li>Visited Taj Mahal for the first time ever </li>
<li>Traveled a little</li>
<li>Shifted to Netherlands from India- experiencing a whole new life here</li>
<li>Never imagined I would be paid for writing. It is a new found passion and I am totally loving it!</li>
<li>Learnt cooking and cooked for the first time ever for guests come over for dinner ( there is always a first time ;) </li>
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2014 has given me a fresh new life! I am grateful for all the good it brought me.</div>
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Tomorrow, 1st January 2015, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. I hope to write a good one and make 2015 an honest and fulfilling year. </div>
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I wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Have a good one and be good! :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-31135598382612561542014-11-24T08:41:00.000-08:002014-11-24T09:19:36.643-08:00The Hundred-Foot Journey to Indian green-chillies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What I have been upto this past week-ten days? Manic cooking!! So much that I feel the need to pen down this experience.<br />
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I am no cook. I have survived on pan fried noodles and anda-maggi whenever I had to cook. Yummy food is so easily available and at such a good price in India that I never felt the need to learn cooking either. Besides my parents who lived stone throwing distance spoilt me bad by sending even packed breakfast of egg-bread over to my place. So I never really got to cooking.<br />
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Past 6 weeks I have enjoyed the yummy food in Netherlands. All the Apple tarts and yummy salads. I felt home. Till last weekend when I went for the movie The Hundred-Foot Journey! Its a movie all about food and I found myself in tears as I missed both Bollywood and Indian Food. As soon as the movie ended I scurried to a nearby restaurant not expecting too much from the food ( i have had a bad experience with Indian food here ) but was pleasantly surprised by a delectable feast - daal, rice, paneer butter masala, palak paneer, naan, mixed vegetable, raita, pickle,papad.. mmmmmm.. and all so delicious. Almost like a home cooked meal. ( I salivate even as I write about it ). I couldn't stop smiling. My soul felt happy. It might sound I am exaggerating but I am not. 6 weeks away from some good home cooked Indian food coupled with foodie-bollywoodish movie was too much for the foodie in me to take I guess.<br />
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Conversing with the restaurant staff in my beloved language Hindi was cherry on the cake. These little glimpses of India I see here make me unbelievably happy. Happier than maybe even being in India did.<br />
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The friendly restaurant staff also pointed me in the direction of the store which sold green chillies. Very few shops here sell the Indian green chillies. At least that's what a 6-week-old-in-Netherlands-me thinks.<br />
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So.. first thing next day I went to that supermarket to buy green chillies. A special shopping trip of about 4 kms just to shop for green chillies. And I found them there of course. Neatly packed in bunches of about 20. Each costing Rs 100 (lol). Seeing them made me happier than seeing my best friend would have ( I am dead if she reads this ). I have new found respect for green chillies now.<br />
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Once back home I googled some recipes, tried to remember all the tips I got from family on cooking and then started my week with cooking. Manic-crazy-non-stop cooking week followed. Every day I tried my hand at couple of new dishes. All that I relish. Egg curry, daal, malai kofta, stuffed capsicum, baigan bharta and more. Mid week I got luckier and learnt about this Indian Grocery Shop in Amsterdam. Since there are none in Haarlem, the city I live in, I travelled especially to Amsterdam to buy ata and besan! Indians will know what it really means. Imagine traveling from Gurgaon to South Delhi just to buy besan! Love for pakoris can make one travel FAR is my conclusion. I bought some spices there as well. Gladly I carried a big bag full of spices, enough to last 6 months, with me from India. I preferred to carry my beloved spices rather than few more clothes! (ya I am the aloo-puri kind of traveller. I travel with my food).<br />
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The week ended with some friends over for dinner and I cooked an Indian feast for them. It was the first time in my life I cooked a meal for someone especially come over for dinner. I feel a little embarrassed even admitting it. For Indian standards its beyond terribly bad I think, where almost every girl is an excellent cook and cooking for family and friends is common.<br />
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Its been a wonderful week just being adventurous in the kitchen. The house owner who loves cooking himself, feels his kitchen has been hijacked as he has not had a chance to cook for the past week ten days. The kitchen has now been returned to him. Dutch food will be a welcome change now for me too.<br />
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I think I will go back to my travelling and leave the kitchen alone for a bit. :)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-2423475374008034592014-11-13T04:06:00.000-08:002014-11-13T06:16:56.914-08:00REASONS WHY I LOVE TO TRAVEL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whenever I get the opportunity I pack my bags and
leave. I go alone if I have to. I do not do it for anyone else or for pictures
on facebook ( though I love sharing my travel experiences ) or luxury or cause
travel sites and blogs are urging me to or cause it sounds cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I do it because:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be alone and JUST BE.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be alone with myself and my thoughts. It’s at these
times when I can really hear myself and block all the noise out. To eat alone
and enjoy the meal too. Love and accept myself despite all my imperfections. To
enjoy my own company. Traveling brings out facets of me I don't even know
exist. It makes me so much more accepting, giving and adventurous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Value Time.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a one day stop-over at Helsinki, Finland, I did
not waste a single moment and was out there exploring the beautiful city on
foot as I had just one day there. It makes me value time and realize that a day
is just not 1 day but 24 hours or 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Faith.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Traveling builds my faith like nothing else. I
realize even the worst of situations turn out all right and that everything
will be FINE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Feel Free.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Its when I am out exploring a new place, meeting
new people, seeing new things, gaining new experiences I feel free and not
bounded by pressures that everyday life can bring with it. Being in a foreign
land with strangers that all guards are let down. No judging happens. The ease
with which all this comes during traveling gives me a taste of it and then
bring it back with me in my everyday life, imbibe it and make it a part of me,
gradually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dreamy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As funny as it sounds traveling
brings out a side of me I didn’t know existed. It makes me dreamy, love life
and everything that comes with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Discover.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is a big fat beautiful world and I want to see
as much of it as possible in this life on my feet with my own eyes. I would
like to visit every country taste every cuisine meet people from all cultures
before I die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meet new people.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meeting new people with different experiences gives
me a whole new perspective to life and how things can be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Because I learn more when I am out of a cubicle
than in it. 9 years of work experience did not give me as much exposure,
learning and acceptance that a year of traveling did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gain experiences and build memories.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">While all the information I can imagine is
available on the Google, my experiences cannot be built by the worldwide web.
Stories for children and grandchildren do not come from what I read on Google.
Because at 80 or maybe even 90 I want to look back and say YES I had a
wonderful life and I saw the world through my own eyes and not a computer or an
android.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be in the present.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">To be in the moment and not be lost in my thoughts
of past or worries of future. To just BE which is so much of a happier and
content space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Decrease materialism.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">While backpacking for 3 months I realized how I need so much less to live on and still be the happiest I have ever been. It
made me less materialistic and I do not try to find happiness in things or shopping or that one pretty dress.<b> </b>While I am still drawn to that one
pretty dress in my favorite ZARA I know I can travel to a new
place and explore a new part of the earth than just another piece of clothing
in my wardrobe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Accept the unexpected.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">To go with the flow as the best experiences in life
are unplanned and not scheduled. They just happen. And accept things and be
patient when things are not going as planned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Adventure.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">To be adventurous and have fun and enjoy this so
called journey of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Miss family and friends.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I leave to miss the most important things in life.
To appreciate the otherwise mundane routine. To miss my bed and my pillow. To
realize what is all that I love and miss most about home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">These are my reasons. What are yours?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-64206629935298947112014-11-12T00:59:00.000-08:002014-11-12T01:43:17.889-08:00Zaanse Schans. Key highlight of the Netherlands.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Netherlands and windmills go hand in hand. One
such place to see them is Zaanse Schans, a windmill park with an iconic series
of working windmills, just outside Amsterdam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It offers a preserved glimpse of life in
Netherlands in the 18th and the 19th century and its damn interesting to walk
through the so-called typical green Dutch houses of that century<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Many of the houses there are being used for private accommodation and the tenants pay an affordable rent in exchange for maintaining the houses of the area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wondering how it would be to live in a beautiful windmill park but with tourists peaking into their houses all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Inside a windmill. Grain being grounded by the energy generated. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is so much to see, eat,
experience that Zaanse Schans can easily fill half a day or maybe more. It is
packed with working windmills, barns, beautiful houses and museums. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Albert Heijn,
which is a supermarket chain, was first started here in 1887. It was really cool. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You will also
come across chocolate and cheese shops.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">The people living there have their own party bread which they call DUIVEKATER which literally translated in English means pigion-tomcat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Klomps so pretty. But how do wear them without getting shoe bites ?! There was a wonderful collection collection of klomps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Klomps production unit. I was surprised to know about 3 million klomps are made each year in Netherlands and many Dutch especially farmers still wear them</span></div>
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Its one of the key attractions in the Netherlands and going by the number of
visitors I saw on just one day I guess there must be millions flocking each
year. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">To be honest though it is one of the key highlights of the Netherlands I had never heard of it before. I did see many Indian tourists there though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Have you ever heard about Zaanse Schans?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATgpI_MxNqq2OWCm-blnT9ptfoV-Zzvw9dWWN3VX4vOyIM9KD1x5poCxt53dEh4FLj3AcuhqM2-_QfqCQRqSlQbcsdHbsAWBejxL2GZGaiJk7uaP7l4A5eGq6mbxAxfGcoFVIrjE_5FU/s1600/20140601_161458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATgpI_MxNqq2OWCm-blnT9ptfoV-Zzvw9dWWN3VX4vOyIM9KD1x5poCxt53dEh4FLj3AcuhqM2-_QfqCQRqSlQbcsdHbsAWBejxL2GZGaiJk7uaP7l4A5eGq6mbxAxfGcoFVIrjE_5FU/s320/20140601_161458.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is a 45 minutes bus ride from central station Amsterdam. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">High up in my list of 'favorite places' now. Its good for all ages and a real good one if you have kids. The
entry to the windmill park is free however museums and other attractions need a
few euros entry fee. </span><br />
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Would you like to visit this place ?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">For the ones who do, here is a bed
and breakfast I found inside the park. It would be a great place to spend a day
I guess. If you look closely can see the contact details. ( lol )</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">For those who do not want to visit it I would like to quote </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">John Lubbock</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><b>"We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth"</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-71788425822059968572014-11-10T23:46:00.000-08:002014-11-11T12:48:17.395-08:00Day trip cycling to Castle Brederode<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Castle Brederode ( Ruins of Brederode ) is located near the village of Santpoort in North Holland province of the Netherlands. The castle founded in 13th century became the first to be restored by the Dutch government in the 19th century and it became the first national monument of the Netherlands</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Woodlands around the castle is a perfect place
for bikers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">First look, I wanted
to just sit down and enjoy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The entry fee is a
few euros which is used to maintain the remains</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArUOYe4DucGIRMYW2PxO5IpvnP8M2UF4vV8BKXShzsG2PQfcVcT13RlXrY80zjTRsMS1G1i3NCnxCkaqZGTrzzzMqjwV-7HS_wTrN8nELpnFiBsCsLI2_20zySscDe2eoTFMHF2-0Khk/s1600/20140523_153915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArUOYe4DucGIRMYW2PxO5IpvnP8M2UF4vV8BKXShzsG2PQfcVcT13RlXrY80zjTRsMS1G1i3NCnxCkaqZGTrzzzMqjwV-7HS_wTrN8nELpnFiBsCsLI2_20zySscDe2eoTFMHF2-0Khk/s1600/20140523_153915.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The castle inside has
beautiful scenic views</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A model of the castle
inside</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Top view from the
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Edgy :p</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In good weather its a
great place to visit for a couple of hours and soak in the beautiful scenic
view around. Personally, I find ruins very fascinating ( and cemeteries too.
Strange for many people I don't know why! ).. And if they have such scenic
views, it makes the experience even better.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-41905841792338420572014-11-10T05:38:00.000-08:002014-11-10T06:47:11.211-08:00Hitchhiking.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Some of the coolest people I know are the ones who I met on the road. Whether it was on </div>
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A bike ride to Ladakh</b> ( Karl and Frenchie. Two super cool people. Karl is the person who I think inducted me into traveling more so budget traveling and Frenchie who has been to 70+countries is the most traveled person I know )</div>
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In a hostel </b>( crazy night with dorm friends, spent pub crawling - our own pub crawl - in Prague. One of them, Gabriel hosted me in Switzerland n who I later hosted on his Indian trip)</div>
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Doing carpooling</b> ( Irek and Monica the couple with whom I car pooled in Spain to the Tomatina festival and who hosted me in their home for about three to four days and are one of the most generous people I have ever met. The first ever cat I liked was Monica's cutie little kitty called Loesha )</div>
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Being lost</b> ( the Indian family who took me in their home when I lost my way to my hostel late at night In Vienna. Fed me, gave me a bed and dropped me off safely with a box of chocolates the next day )</div>
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Standing in a Queue </b>( Olly who I met standing in a ticket queue of a ferry from Valencia to Ibiza and partied with first in Ibiza and later in Amsterdam )</div>
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<b>Gabi </b>( memory very close to my heart and to be told only to be told to our kids and grand kids )</div>
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<b>While hitchiking. </b>Jana who I met while hitchhiking from Bordeaux to Nice and who now is one of the most special people in my life.</div>
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I was going to write about this aspect and my experience of traveling much later but a parcel from Czech Republic this past weekend makes me want to write about this much sooner. A totally unexpected gift from a very special hitchhiker friend. Five weeks into a a new country a new place one doesn't expect gifts and parcels delivered at his doorstep. But it is possible if they have an amazing hitchhiker friend like Jana.<br />
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Hitchhiking was part of my to do list when I traveled around Europe last year. I knew I had to do it, though the thought seemed scary. The possibility of things going wrong seemed high. But I had heard lots of hitchhiking adventures and I very much wanted to experience it myself. Some stories I had heard were scary but those come with the 'adventure package' I guess. </div>
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As luck would have it I got the chance in France when I had to leave for NICE from Bordeaux but due to lack of options, budget options, I chose to hitch hike instead. Trying to be all adventurous I hit the road with a typical hitch hiking banner and after having dumped some heavy things from my backpack and making it HH friendly. It took me a while before I got any ride. As they say about HH <b>'you stay long enough and you will always get it ' </b>( goes for anything in life I think ).<br />
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It was going fine. Not as adventurous as I had imagined it to be when my travel angel as always bestowed luck on me and I met Jana who was also trying to get a lift in the same direction. Out of sheer practical reasons, that its easier for two girls to get a lift than a solo girl ( for obvious reasons ) we decided to hitch hike together.<br />
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Soon we realized we were a super team. I somehow managed to stop the cars and once in the vehicle Jana owing to her multilingual skills managed to keep the driver engaged and entertained ( a hitchhiker's obligation ) till our drop off points. We must have changed four different rides in just about half a day. It could have been tiring but on the contrary it turned out to be super fun - stopping vehicles, getting to meet more strangers while being strangers ourselves, trusting each other while still being cautious, sharing food, exchanging notes of our travel. I found her super cool, fun and easy to be with. No hangups. Just living it up. Very inspiring. We came across some super fun people too who played some never heard before gipsy music and treated us to coffee and a bite.<br />
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I remember on one of the rides when I managed to stop a vehicle the owner told me that he had place for only one of us in the car. I was surprised myself when I chose to let the ride go and not attempt to reach my destination faster than letting my hitchhiker friend be alone. Initially the intention was just to get to my destination as soon as possible by taking lifts and jumping into unknown vehicles, my then definition of Hitchhiking. Gradually it changed to enjoying the journey with a new HH partner and yapping with strangers kind enough to stop for us. By the way, the person did manage to make place for both of us anyway which was so cool.</div>
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Another incidence I distinctly remember is, a driver after ten minutes of having dropped us, frantically waving at us from the other side of the road. Turns out that the lost and careless me had left my soooooper precious phone in his car. I think I almost jumped him in delight and gratitude. If felt, if strangers are so magnanimous, kind, humble, giving, I never want to KNOW anyone again.<br />
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Half a day of hitchhiking brought us to a point where we had to part ways. We exchanged contact details and bid good bye. I knew I would miss this lovely hitchhiker. I invited her to visit me in India and even while doing so something in me told me she would. </div>
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Which she did. Gladly. And what a time I had. Playing guide in the not-so-loved-by-me-Delhi. Touring Agra and Taj Mahal. Shopping at Sarojini Nagar. Doing seva in Banglasahib (my first experience ever hence v proud and bragging). It was an amazing one week. </div>
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Eating like an Indian meal the Indian way</div>
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Yep she can do yoga too</div>
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Shopping spree in Sarojini Nagar</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We knew we would meet soon in Europe too. Since I have arrived here, we have tried to meet up several times in the past five weeks but somehow our plans fell flat each time. I hope to go visit her soon for a skiing trip in Prague or be her guide again, in Haarlem and Amsterdam this time around.</span></div>
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I haven't thanked her for her gift yet because a gesture so sweet needs to be thanked in a little unexpected way. </div>
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Jana thanks a lot for the beautiful gift and the sweet letter. It's one of the sweetest I've ever received and YOU are one of the sweetest I have ever met. Hope to meet you soon- on the road -and build more adventurous memories. </b><b>Love always. </b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-20850221688304267012014-11-06T10:04:00.004-08:002014-11-06T14:50:23.477-08:00Beautiful Haarlem. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Haarlem, 'flower city', is where I live now. Its about 20 kms from Amsterdam or should I say 20 minutes train ride from Amsterdam. ( Basically half the time I used to take just getting out of Gurgaon in India..only my India friends would know what I mean here :p ). </div>
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The first time I came here which was last year in September 2013, I felt its a pretty boring place. ( I had come in from Amsterdam so you know what I mean. No red light district, no pushy tourists, no queue of souvenir shops or bustling trams ). It seemed way too quite for a touristy me back then. It seemed beautiful even then no doubt, just a little too mute!</div>
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It seemed more livable which it definitely is. It has a population of about 156,000..which is what.. about as many people who live in one DLF phase of Gurgaon in India.. which basically means people of one little small living society spread over a city. I don't mind it! I am not missing the traffic jams :p ( I do miss the food though ). Anyways let me not digress or start about Gurgaon. Back to Haarlem!</div>
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If you see it from my eyes, every corner for this city is BEAUTIFUL! Really. </div>
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2 min walk from home I see this view! </div>
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5 minutes walk I see this!</div>
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10 minutes walk I see this!</div>
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I guess I have made my point. No more walking distances and snaps! So ya, every little corner of this city is a treat for the eyes. It can very well be a writer's abode. Serene. Peaceful. </div>
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Just cycling around makes me happy. Its when cycling around this charming city I don't mind not having a job or being completely useless and just being. </div>
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And its not even a boring place as I first thought. Its got plenty recreational and go-to options. Many sports clubs, hang-out places like a windmill, De Adriaan where one can just laze around and have a beer, Jopen kerk which is a church converted into a beer brewery ( how cool is that ! ), Friday flee markets, Grote market which is the cool city center with multiple shopping lanes with all the brands any girl could ever wish for, cinema halls and so much more that I will need to write another blog post for it.</div>
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Grote market, Haarlem's city square with lovely open cafes, shopping arcade and beer bars. </div>
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Grote kerk ( church ) on Grote Market at Haarlem city square.</div>
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Me fooling around on top of the windmill, De Adriaan.</div>
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Yummy beer at the windmill, De Adriaan.</div>
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And houses so beautiful, you wouldn't ever want to leave home!</div>
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Ones like in snap below are my favorite. They seem to me like cake houses somehow and take me back to Hansel and Gretel. Fairytaled thinking!</div>
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This one here is so adorable with a cute little garden in front.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I read a little about the history of Haarlem and turns out that half the history of Haarlem is made up! lol. ( can i write lol ?! ). But that goes for every place I think. Its so often that stories and 'history' of a place is made up especially by guides. They have to build interesting tales to fascinate and attract more tourists I guess. Probably thats why I am not the best story teller. I don't make up or exaggerate things. My story telling is more like stating facts. Thankfully those facts happen to be interesting enough for me to live and write about. I hope they are interesting to read as well for some! Anyone coming to Haarlem, please visit. I can make decent tea and Gabi makes great coffee! :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-68909334330250000522014-11-05T05:31:00.000-08:002014-11-08T08:18:49.511-08:00India to Netherlands.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is a gap in the blog, with me being in Rishikesh, India in one blog and then appearing in Zeeland, Netherlands in the next one. A case of bad editing ? :p Not really. Its because I have been very busy, shifting countries! I shifted from my home country India to The Netherlands in October.<br />
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Exactly one year after meeting Gabi, I find myself living in a new country, his country.<br />
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This shift did not happen overnight. Both of us had been working towards it for months. As per The Netherlands immigration law, one has to clear a Dutch language and cultural exam called the Civic integration exam. Learning a new language was not easy. But if I wanted to join him, it had to be done. And besides learning a new language was not a bad idea!<br />
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I cleared the exam. Thankfully! Post which Gabi's work started. Cumbersome paperwork. He submitted my application in August. We were expecting the immigration to get cleared by October end-mid November. However on 19th September a very delighted Gabi told me that immigration had been cleared from Netherlands and that I was granted a five years residency and work permit. Our happiness had no bounds. Not losing anymore time I booked to fly out on 30th September which meant I had only five days to pack up my entire life in India and leave for Netherlands. Frenzied packing followed.<br />
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It was with a tear and smile that I left India. Sad at having to leave my home. Leaving was not as easy as I had thought. It was not just another trip. Though I was very much looking forward to fun times in Netherlands.</div>
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I<br />
reached Netherlands on 30th September and I was welcomed by sweet Gabi </div>
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On reaching home I got a memorable gift. </div>
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30th September, we also completed a year together. <span style="text-align: center;">A very special day, which will always be celebrated by clinking some beer mugs! :)</span><br />
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Soon I received my Dutch residency card.</div>
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Its been a little more than a month I have been here in this pretty country and left my own home. I do miss India at times however I am guilty of not missing it too much. Mostly because I feel at home here and have been welcomed with open arms.<br />
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With Gabi's mum for my birthday shopping.</div>
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My birthday dinner with family</div>
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So much has happened in this past one month. I will share that some other time. Just now, its time for a little Gabi cake.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-35379080017129860482014-11-04T05:40:00.001-08:002014-11-04T09:58:07.014-08:00My birthday trip to ZEELAND! Day3. A halt at Zierikzee!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Surprisingly I completely lost count of days. I felt we have one more day to go on our lovely trip. Turned out it was already Sunday, the last day of the trip when we were to return home. I was a little sad already checking out of our cosy room in the morning when Gabi reminded me we have another whole day of sight seeing left. Which did brighten me up :)</div>
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A lavish breakfast followed. I was busy chomping so I have no pics of the yumzy food to share. This snap is of Gabi and me after devouring the delectable buffet spread. ( arent we looking content ;) </div>
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It was soon time to bid goodbye to our lovely hotel. Packed in car again we were off to Zierikzee, a small city on the way back to Haarlem from Zeeland. We were there in hardly an hours drive through beautiful grassland. </div>
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First thing to catch our attention was this towering 62 mts tall church called Saint-Livinus Monster Tower also called the Fat tower. I am not surprised by its name :D It definitely was FAT. :) Inside the church were feudal displays of costumes. It was pretty interesting. Paying 2 Euros one could go up the winding stairs to the church top as well. I decided to skip as it was much too windy for me. </div>
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All packed up in warm clothes we trudged along to tour the very medieval looking city. It even has a poetic name says Gabi. Zierikzee! :) I wouldn't know. It all sounds the same to Indian me ;)</div>
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Can you spot me in the pic below? Wandering along in the intensely windy weather for the love of traveling!</div>
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New church at Zierikzee</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> A glimpse of the city hall.</span></div>
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We could see a Windmill from far and Gabi climbed up a bench and then a jumbo dustbin to click this closeup snap of it. </div>
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Windmill De hoop meaning the hope. Cute he !</div>
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Strolling ahead we walked past many adorable houses with lush gardens. This one caught our attention. Well trimmed hedge and comfortable seating inside. We almost wanted to invite ourselves in for a coffee !</div>
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And this garden actually had deer grazing inside! Why would anyone want to trap these free animals as pets! What happened to dogs and cats! Poor deer. Didnt look too happy to me. Sigh!</div>
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South Harbor Port Gate at the entrance of the old city harbor.</div>
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Among many amusing signages and posters I found this set-up and banner exceptional. Sweet!</div>
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Gasthuiskerk (church)</div>
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And with that ended our short and sweet trip to Zeeland. It was a wonderful 3 day trip.</div>
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Its when traveling I feel most lively. Its been only two days since we have been back and I am looking forward to the next swing already.</div>
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Zeeland is a beautiful place. Has the best of all the world's, if I can say. Within a small distance you have mountains ( though not too high), sea, beach, meadows, forests and the most beautiful houses ever! I would love to go back and maybe this time plan a Yoga retreat there! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-71845436717767411502014-11-04T03:15:00.000-08:002014-11-04T06:26:28.306-08:00My birthday trip to ZEELAND! Day2. A day in Burgh-Haamstede<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Second day began with a heavy breakfast from the huge buffet spread at Hotel ter Duin. An awesomehotel which we got at a good price and it included dinner and twice breakfast. Check it out at http://www.grandhotelterduin.nl/ for more details. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Soonafter, we set out on our bikes to explore Burg-Haamstede. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Windmill park with outstanding cycle art all over. Very close to our hotel.</span></div>
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Inside the windmill, De Graanhalm</div>
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On top of the windmill, De Graanhalm</div>
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Animals lazying around in the park.</div>
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From the Windmill, De Graanhalm, we went cycling ahead into town. A very charming place. Houses so delightful that we just stopped so many times to admire them; building dreams of owning one sometime :) </div>
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Though in the end we decided that traveling around the world and seeing many such beautiful places and unique houses would be far more fun than owning one house in Zeeland :)</div>
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A seasoned postbox outside a home on the way to the beach.</div>
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On the biking route.</div>
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About an hour of cycling through green meadows brought us to the beach!</div>
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First look of the beach while walking up the 'Dutch mountains'.</div>
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The beach-hut-restaurant serving a variety of yummy beer and delicious lip smacking food!</div>
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The beach had heaps of stunning shells. Unlike many beaches most of them were intact and unbroken. </div>
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Gabi picking shells for me :) Sweetheart he is! I have a bag full of them now :) </div>
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After many grey rainy days, a sunny beachy day was perfect way to unwind. Lucky for us, the weather was awesome. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">One must watch out for weather forecast before planning a holiday in Netherlands. You don't want to get stuck in your hotel in pouring rain!</span></div>
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A little yoga on the beach. Couldn't have asked for more! I could practice there forever :)</div>
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Late evening dinner in town. </div>
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Day ends with yummybeer!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12275035794748087738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863266407331060356.post-16601057948064825112014-11-03T07:34:00.001-08:002014-11-08T08:23:23.565-08:00My birthday trip to ZEELAND! Day1 to Delta Park Neeltje Jans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For my birthday Gabi, gifted me a trip to Zeeland. ( Trip! A perfect gift for me. ).</div>
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Zeeland is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. It consists of a number of islands and we visited Schouwen-Duiveland. It is about 2 hours drive from Amsterdam crossing the largest harbor in Europe, Rotterdam and beautiful country side of Netherlands. On the way we saw tall sleek windmills ( where Netherlands gets its energy from ), cute houses, river, water bodies and never ending green pastures.</div>
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We arrived at the theme park called Delta Park Neeltje Jans at about noon and spent the day there riding a ferry, watching a seal show, walking around, taking toy train ride, visiting the aquarium and many other attractions. </div>
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The best part of the park was the 45 mins ferry ride with amazing views all around and the interesting narrative on board, given in 4 languages. Though it was very windy for me and I was all covered up.<br />
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Since it is a huge theme park we chose to take a toy-train ride available. And what a train ride it was. The landscape was mesmerizing. I couldn't stop smiling I remember. </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">The aquarium is much smaller than the ones I have been to before. But was cute and entertaining.</span></div>
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The half hour seal show with two friendly and well trained seals doing various kinds of tricks and stunts left us awww-awwwing :D</div>
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Later in the evening we checked into Hotel ter Duin in Burgh-Haamstede. A lovely hotel tucked into a valleyish place in a quite corner of the island. Day1 ended in a super yum and high-end dinner at the hotel. </div>
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Delta park is a perfect place for a day's outing especially if you have small kiddies! :)<br />
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