Of Bucket list

Yesterday, me and the husband were returning back from a party late at night, when he posed  a question - What are the places you really wish to visit/ things you wish to do, if you had no constraints whatsoever.

I thought for a while, and here's the list that I drew up:

1) Go to Las Vegas with my best friends: Actually this came at the top, because I have already been planning this trip. My closest buddy lives in California and me and my bunch of girlfriends have planned a road trip from California to Las Vegas in an open-air convertible. We have also planned a lot of things once we reach Vegas, but that is a subject matter of another blog-post all together:)

Stuff dreams are made of: Las vegas, fast cars and best friends....

 













2. The magic of Buddhism and happy people in Bhutan:

I am fascinated by Buddhism. And I love mountains and the mountain people. If that was not sufficient to call me to this place, the fact that they measure 'Gross national happiness' kind of seals the deal for me. I just have to go to Bhutan.

Btw this love affair with the place began when I saw Batman begins. That sequence where Batman trains in Ninja-oh my gawd!!!

                                                      The happy place- Bhutan

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3. Glacier climbing in New Zealand: This dream is actually going to be fulfilled pretty soon. My tickets for New Zealand are booked and I am quite soon going to see for myself if it was simply the magic of Peter Jackson or the place is seriously that beautiful

Glaciers and pristine lakes beckon-




4. Living bridges of Meghalaya:

So, I have heard that deep in the rainforests of Meghalaya (literally meaning the abode of clouds) roots of trees and ancient vines stretch horizontally across rivers and streams, creating a latticework structure, strong enough to function as bridges.

Don't y'll think that this is a sight worth seeing?                                  

Do tell miss blogs, about your bucket lists...

Thailand

So this is a post that's been pending for long. I have always been meaning to update you miss blogs, but I have not been able to pour into you, for a variety of reasons.

Actually I think I should tell you the key one (after all, between a girl and her blog, there are no secrets) - it is tough to recollect the memories of the sober times between all the drunken revelry.

But then I am sure there's enough material for this one post:)

So let me begin with telling you about the 3 cities that I went to - Phuket, Koh Samui and Bangkok.

Phuket: I was quite amazed by the number of Indians that live, run business or travel to this place. Now guilty I am, but I did not do any touristy/traveller thing in the city. I mostly lazed in the hotel - 'Amari Coral Resort', which is located on Patong beach. Given the number of people that inhabit this beach, the resort can be credited for being comparatively secluded. Also the beach front views are awesome.

While in Phuket, I did all things one should do in Phuket- well almost! I indulged in flea market shopping, sampled some weird and some not so weird cuisines,  attended pseudo-boxing matches, scoured through it's narrow lanes, traveled in tuk-tuk's with blaring music and 'dhinchak' lights, and indulged in heavenly massages at the various spas that dot the city's land scape.

The night-life in the city can get debaucherous and nothing is beyond bounds in the city if you are looking for it. I was quite intrigued by the lady-boy culture in the city and picked up a book "Ladyboys:The Secret World of Thailand's Third Gender" and the book did make for an interesting read.

Koh Samui: The city is far less crowded when compared with Phuket and also has a definite air of comparative exclusivity. We stayed at 'buri rasa' resort on Chaweng beach (the most popular beach in the city). As unassuming as the place is from outside, once you step in, it's a world of it's own. We had booked one of their deluxe garden court with a dip pool rooms and I for once did not feel the need to step out. It's exactly what I had imagined a tropical paradise to look like.  

The evenings were spent on the Chaweng beach with unending Mohijtos and divine music for company, at one of the beach shacks.

What I really enjoyed doing in Koh-Samui was beach-hopping on a Scooter. What a lovely way to see the city and it's unexplored roads. It was fun uninterrupted.

Bangkok: Bangkok shopping experience had been sold so much to me, that I had decided that I would do nothing but shop, when in the city. So we wanted to do a quick check-in at the Tower club, Lebua hotel and head straight for shopping. But, once inside Lebua, I quickly realised that shopping would have to wait. The view from the balcony of my 51st floor room mesmerized me and held me captive and for a very long time I was doing nothing but watching in awe, at the city.

The day was spent in the hotel lounge and the evening at the Sky bar. Incidentally, I happened to be at the hotel on the new year eve, and the party scene got really livened up at night. Enjoy- I did!

It was only very afternoon of the day next, that we ventured out, in the city. And then again, I fell to the charms of the 'Grand Palace' and 'Wat Arun'. The palace is magnificent and the artistry is par excellence. Wat Arun and the temple of sleeping buddha are also definite must-visits. Having done all that, in the end I did get to shop to my heart's content at the night market and the Siam Square malls.
What a girl wants is what a girl gets!

Bangla boxing at Phuket

 Beach shack at Koh-Samui with a sand-art sculpture

 Buri-Rasa

 Some more of Buri Rasa

The view from Tower Club, Lebua

 The Grand Palace

 The wall murals

 Wow!

My top 20 restaurants in Mumbai

It's a friday afternoon. I am supposed to be busy at work. Supposed- is the key word here. I am also fasting. And I don't ever fast. This is an exception I have made. I am also very hungry. I am daydreaming about food. So, while everyone is on a lunch break, I am quickly going to tell you about all my favourite places to eat - in Mumbai off course:

Here's my top 20 (and let me say this, I must have sampled almost all of Mumbai's restaurant  (at least the good ones))

PS:

- I am a vegetarian and so this list is for those restaurants that have good vegetarian cuisine


- It includes all sorts of cuisines at absolutely all price-points (anyways, what has price got to do with good food). So there are five stars to road side dhabas, all vying for their place in the sun...

- Some of these actually don't even qualify as restaurants .

So here it begins:

1) Hakkasan, Bandra: They are good. Really good. Coming from some one who does not even like Chinese cuisine..

2) Yuatcha, BKC: Again, total love affair

3) Oven fresh, Shivaji Park: Ok! their veg wok is to die for. And in-fact, almost all stuff on the menu is amazing. Hate the wait though. Btw they are quite economic too

4) Soam, Babulnath : For their super-interesting, economic and self-sufficient dishes and menu. The 'Pankis' are a must-try item

5) Shiro, Worli: For their ambiance. I am a fan..

6) The Golconda, Bandra: I actually love Hyderabadi cuisine, so may be that's the reason,  I like this place so much. Though the husband does not quite like this restaurant. So may be it's just me..

7)   Ellipsis, Colaba: Truth be told, whether the food turns out to be good or not depends on what you order, but I like hanging around here. Cool vibe..


8) O22, Trident, BKC- The buffet spread is so finger-licking good, it's a favourite with my 5 year old. Imagine! he already has favourites

9) Oh! Calcutta,Tardeo- Surprise, surprise! their veg menu is actually scrumdiddlyumptious. Anything with mustard sauce goes for me

10) Hangla's, Bandra- Another bengali place. This is a cute little place, which offers good food.

11) Moshe's- Now you can't go wrong with this one. When I really don't know what I wish to eat, this is where I head to. And nowadays they are almost everywhere.

12) Oye Punjabi, Kalyan- What would we not do for good food. We would find excuses to travel all the way to Kalyan and sneak out for this one. Unabashedly punjabi, fail-safe good

13) Neel on the turf, Mahalaxmi Racecourse- Limited menu, done not-so-surprisingly well. Btw, I did love 'Tote' (now, why oh why, did they have to close it)

14) Mainland China- Nobody believes me when I say that I dislike Chinese food. Actually, I love Italian cuisine. But, at Mainland china, they are good at what they do.

15) Out of Blue, Khar: Food- as good as it gets. Ambiance- So good, that I don't want to get up..

15)  Piccadily - What a sad looking place, but what food. Yummmm all the way. The veg lebanese platter is so so so good..

16) Bikaji, Malad- The Rajasthani in me roots for this one.You should just taste the jalebis, just once..

17) Eat around the corner- Why does this place remind me of Europe. May be, that's by design. The salads are a must have.


18) The Village - Loud, garish and totally over the top. Heck! I love it, specially when with the extended family. Bring it on..

20) Pritam the dhaba- The charpais are the sole reason I keep going here. Well! the food ain't bad either


Can I also tell you the ones which are over-hyped, but actually not so great:

1) Indigo Deli- I really really don't like the food there. Like ever! uhh!

2) Lake View restaurant, Renaissance- And what was that. I have given umpteen opportunities to several restaurants at Renaissance and always been disappointed

3) Basilico- I can't tell you why I don't like this. But I can tell you that I don't like it.

4) Suzzette- Aww..Spanish (or whatever cuisine that is) is so not for me

5) Some roof top restaurants (newly opened), Powai- There good luck- I can't remember the name. But, how bad was the food..