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Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

A Scottish Summer Part 1



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It has been a year since that road trip in the Scottish highlands, yet, even today, I long for the same 5-day break again.

     
One of the many places you can eat at,
when at the beach
Beautiful sunny weather, great company, the car loaded with music and merriment, and hop-on and hop-off any time, and at places we wanted, is what made this trip a success. We started from London only to reach Edinburgh, and the Travel Lodge closer to the airport in the night. The Travel Lodge rooms were okay-- a clean, warm bed, a clean room and a clean toilet. However the breakfast did let us down, given the time taken to prepare it and the menu options. Still, after a heavy breakfast, we started the day driving towards Aberdeen.
        
Having on the beach
   
The Aberdeen Beach
We spent most of the day on the beach and then started on our journey towards Beauly, a village close to Inverness.

We stayed in a very cosy B&B, Caledonian Hotel on the main street in Beauly. The owners were very nice and helpful, and the rooms cosy, clean and warm. There are many things to see and do in and around this place. You can visit the Beauly Priory or The Uruquhart Castle.

What we did?
   
Towards the Great Glen Water Park
Towards the Great Glen Water Park

We spent half of the day getting grips with white water rafting at The Great Glen Water Park. It was so much fun!!! After that we visited the Caledonian lochs and we ere lucky enough to see how they operate for real, as there was a yacht moving out of the Loch. We topped this up with the last-ride-of-the-day at Loch Ness. You get all the brochures, and you can make all the bookings at the venue itself. And if you happen to be there on a week day and the last tourist, you can get the whole boat for yourself. The close-to-an-hour ride is interesting. You can enjoy the waters as well as have breath taking views of the Urquhart Castle if you did not visit it. The next day, we spent time picking strawberries in the farm close by and then off to the Distillery close by, to see how they make whisky. I would suggest that you visit the distilleries in the highlands because apart from their own brand, they also sell some nice local ones too.

Enroute to the Isle of Skye
After lunch, we decided to drive towards the Isle of Skye and towards the Dunnollie Hotel (Broadford). It is a close to 4 hour drive from Inverness. If you are driving that way for the first time, please be alert. At one point, in the highlands, you will come on one lane roads. These are covered with sharp stones on the sides. Please do not go off the road to give way for the oncoming vehicle...just go in reverse.

At first, when we were driving, we thought that to be weird, but after a punctured tyre and help, that took two hours to come by, we understood the whole thing. Thankfully the guys at AA helped us.Since we had an infant with us, they sent us a replacement taxi to take the others from our group to the destination. we had to travel back to Inverness to get the tyre changed.



To be continued.........

Time Flies in the Portobello Market



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The Saturday that went by was so beautiful! So sunny, cheery and warm, that it would have been a crime to stay home...cooped inside the walls.

So, me and my camera...we decided to do what we love the best...visit the markets!!! This time we went to the Portobello Market- one of the oldest and the largest antiques market in the UK. Its very easy to get lost in this huge market, which takes up most of the Portobello Road. Also, in addition to antiques, you can buy fashionable clothes, jewellery, bags, art, books, household items, etc. One of the shops was selling miniatures, for the dolls houses, another, old records, while yet another was specialising in bells and keys. People-- men, women and kids-- were browsing through various stalls, looking for the best bargains.

With all that is on offer in the market, it is easy to spend around two to three hours easily here. And you will never once get bored. The best part is the wide variety of food available in the market. From Ghanian delicacies to Spanish, to French sweet and savoury crepes, to the regular burgers and fresh fruit juices. One of the stalls offers fresh pomegranate juice for £5, and it is so refreshing. You should have it after a bit of shopping...you will be ready to shop again :)

Now is the right time to visit the market as many stalls and shops are offering deals and discounts. It is also very easy to get to the Portobello Market. You can take the Bus no 52 from Victoria Station and get down either at Notting Hill tube station or at Chepstow villa. The market is a 5-minute walk From Notting Hill Tube station, and starts with all the bag, clothes and jewellery shops.

For more information on reaching there and opening days and times click on:
Some snaps of the market: 

Feeling at home



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Stranger in the strange land! 

That's what I always feel like when I move places, and this time was no different. The cold grey weather had added to my woes.

And then, one sad evening, while walking down the street, I smelled a familiar smell. The world just stopped existing for me! The time stood still! And all that mattered was that smell. The walk to that small eatery was just 5 minutes from where I was standing. And in those five minutes I remembered all the good times spent with my friends...especially when low on cash; the times when I was drenched to bone on my way home from a long day,  and this smell-- how it revived my spirits! And now again. Despite the biting cold I was sure that I was going to have a big smile on my face. I started walking towards the place sniffing in the air like a starved puppy!

As I reached the place that was the source...all I could see was happy, smiling, contented people leaving the place. From the big window, I saw friends chatting with each other over cutting chai [half a cup filled with strong tea], couples in their own dreamy land, sharing their wada-pavs and dabelis.

Jai Shree Krishna! Thats what I really felt!

It was the smell of hot, spicy and fresh batata wadas [deep fired blobs of mashed potato mixed with spices and dipped in batter]. The next hour was complete food heaven. My husband joined me at the place and we relished all those platefuls of our life back in Mumbai--wada pav with spicy lasoon chutney and green chilly, dabeli, spicy misal, gulachi poli [chapati bread made with jaggery filling] and cutting chai!

This eatery, Shree Krishna Wada Pav, is located on the Highstreet in Hounslow [close to ASDA] and dishes out authentic Mumbai food. Reasonably priced and modest in ambience, Shree Krishna Wada Pav will surely impress you with its service, friendly staff and quality of fare.

Whats more! For those from Mumbai...the place will surely make you nostalgic and you are sure to go back home thinking about the good ol' days....and a big smile on your face that says "Wow!!!!! Authentic wada pav in UK??!!"

Bon Appetit Folks!


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Name of the eatery- Shree Krishna Vada Pav, Location- Hounslow High Street TW31QT, 
Cuisine Served- Maharashtrian
Would I go back? Again and again...in fact I was there a few days back

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Note: Pictures taken from a google search

मुकल्या आणि बुन्कुस go to Keukenhof



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Keukenhof  Gardens of Holland are popular across the world for their flowers and beauty. One trip to this garden will revive your tired souls and freshen up your minds.


Click here to know more about the Keukenhof garden or click the logo to visit the official site.

दिवस सरला रात्र झाली,
खूप-खूप खेळून मुकल्या दमली.
खाऊन गरम वरण-भात-तूप,
मुकल्या-बुन्कुस झाले गुडुप.

 पण एकाएकी काय झाले!
मुकल्याने डोळे उघडले.
उठवले पटकन बुन्कुसला,
घर नाही, ही तर बाग आहे, फुलेच-फुले आजुबाजूला.

पटकन उठून बघतात दोघे, बसले आहेत मऊ बिछान्यावर,
अन जवळ उभ्या छोटया बाहुल्या, नजर आहे त्यांच्यावर. 
नाहीत या साध्या बाहुल्या, त्यांना आहेत दोन पंख,
निळे-निळे डोळे, अन गळ्यात घालतात शंख.

बाहुल्या म्हणती, "आम्ही पऱ्या, करतोय तुमचे स्वप्न खरे,
कालच पार्थना केलीतना, तुम्ही देवबाप्पा कडे"!
देवा..........मोठी बाग हवी ज्यात असतील न्यारी फुले,
झाडे असतील, जादू असेल अन असतील फुलपाखरे.
"तर आमच्या छोट्या बागेत या आणि आवडेल तिथे जा,
पण सूर्य उगवायच्या आत, इथे परत या".

 मुकल्या-बुन्कुस प्रचंड खुश, उठले उड्या मारत,
बागेत भटकू लागले कधी चालत-कधी पळत.

"मोठी मोठी ही फुले कोणती"?, मुकल्या विचारे बून्कुसला,
"ह्यांना म्हणतात ट्युलिप मुकल्या, रंग यांचा खूपच न्यारा".
"आणि ही कोणती पिवळी फुले ज्यांच्या भोवती पाखरे करती किलबिल"?
"तलावात स्वतःचे रूप पाहणारी, नाव ह्यांचे डॅफ्फोडिल".
"बुन्कुस, ही फुले कोणती?, ह्यांना ठेवले का काचेच्या घरात"?
"ग्रीन हाउस आहे हे मुकल्या अन ऑर्किड येथे वाढतात".


किती छान फुले इथे, बागेत दुसरे दडले काय?
एक  मोठा जूक बॉक्स, गाणी ज्याच्यात थांबत नाय.
आहेत घनदाट झाडे, जी देतात बागेला सावली,
याच सावलीत वावरतात ही परिलोकातील मंडळी.
आहे एक सुंदर तलाव, ज्याच्यात आहे भरपूर पाणी,
मासे, बेडूक, बदके, बगळे, सगळे मिळून गातात गाणी.

"एवढी मोठी बाग बुन्कुस, हे कसे संभाळतात"?
बुन्कुस म्हणे, "का नाही! रात्री जादू होते तलावात".
"बगळ्यांची राणी येते इथे माणसाच्या रुपात,
जादूची छडी फिरवत करते बाग स्वच्छ एका मिनिटात"

"एवढच नव्हे मुकल्या, जेव्हा पऱ्या आपला शंख वापरतात,
शिट्टी सारखा फुंकून पक्षी-प्राण्यांना रांगेत उभे करतात.
सगळे आपली-आपली कामे एकदम चोख बजावतात,
कोणी प्रार्थना केली, की  आपल्या सारख्यांना येउन भेटतात".

सूर्य उगवायची झाली वेळ , दोघे लागले बिछान्याकडे परतायला,
विचार करत कि एक बाग अशी बनवूया आपल्याला खेळायला!
मउ बिछान्यावर झोपेपर्यंत त्यांचा प्लॅनही ठरला,
अन थोड्याच वेळात घड्याळाचा गजर वाजला.

आई आली उठवायला, अन मुकल्या म्हणाली "दोन मिंट,
उठायचं नाही आई मला! दमले इथे येई पर्यंत".
"अगं! काय झालं दमायला"? आई विचारी जवळ घेऊन,
"चटकन उठ अन पटकन दूध पी, दम जाईल पळून".
"नाही गं आई, काल गेले होते बुन्कुस सवे एका बागेत,
एवढी मोठी बाग बघून खुश झाली तब्बेत".
"अग्गो बाई! अश्या कुठल्या जादूच्या बागेत गेली होतीस आपल्याआप"?
"हॉलंड मधली सुंदर बाग ही आई, नाव तिचे क्युकेनहॉफ"!


                                               

The magic of flowers



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Don't be scared! Its time for me and Delulaa to do some soul searching and get some spiritual, mental cleansing and healing. Well, we watched too much of trash.....and then Prince--its show time had given us the final blow. So here we are trying to get some fresh air, and some calm, to get back to our former selves. Well, and what better place to have this than our dear kitchen garden,The Keukenhof? Keukenhof opens its gates for visitors only for a month every year to celebrate the Spring season.

So we packed our purses with debit cards and cash that was home, and hopped on to the bus to take us there. After a pleasant bus ride, we reached Keukenhof (which means The Kitchen Garden).

Just imagine, 32 hectares of land with the most amazing flower varieties--Tulips, Daffodils, orchids, and around 2500 varieties of trees!For once, me and Delulaa were in balance. It was like the garden of heaven. The walkways took us through a wide variety of flowers, a small zoo and general wait-and-pass-your-time areas. So many people around us...yet the noise does not bother you......We were at peace with ourselves.

The garden is so beautiful, that even the long walk did not tire us out. Birds chirping, butterflies, faint strains of music and delicious smells from the garden's kitchen, add on to the beauty of this magnificent Garden.

We are told that Keukenhof was literally a kitchen garden in the earlier days and the kitchen staff of the castle of Jacoba van Beieren used to come here to collect the herbs and spices required in daily cooking. It was after the death of Jacoba van Beieren that the Keukenhof changed ownership and with the assistance from  landscape architects J.D. and L.P. Zocher, a foundation was laid for the garden of today.

Delulaa and me, we spent an entire day there, walking through the gardens, playing with the animals in the pet zoo, eating the most delicious of all the meals and finally ending with a desert fit for a Queen.

We came back all rejeuvinated and refreshed and are ready to sink our talons into all the possible oddities of this world.

The Queen of good times



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Amsterdam has been hugely popular as the sex capital of the world, and is also known for its intoxicating moments thanks to the open sale of marijuana, making it THE place to have drop dead fun, especially for single revellers. But there are few (mostly Europeans and few from other parts of the world) who have attended the party of the year-Queen's Day Celebrations, or Koninginnedag (कोनिंखेंदाख) as is known in the Dutch Land.

The Queen's Birthday party begins early, starts a night before, much to the glee of party animals. There are the private house parties which are much more popular. Foot tapping music, dancing, beer and barbeque, dominate the scenes.

The next day, is even more lively. A concert at Museum plein grounds is the main stay where a number of people (around 500,000 to 800,000 visitors) can enjoy. In addition, makeshift arches of heights of a floor, where the DJs blast music or every possible genre (but the slow mushy numbers),cheap beer and good food dot the streets of Amsterdam. Whats more! The canals are dotted with private boats, with groups of people enjoying their own noise and tipple. The whole experience is out of the ordinary....few minutes on the road, and even a non-party person, will get up and dance.




The streets are filled with tourists and locals alike, all dressed in Orange, from head to toe. People wear orange clothes, and eccentric orange accesories........the funda being, the weirder, the better. They might also drink orange coloured drinks at times. This is known as the oranjegekte or orange craze, where the colour orange is a ubiquitous sight, and refers to the name of the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange.


Queens Day is also the day for vrijmarkt (the free market) and many of the streets, side walks, and parks are lined with a wide variety of stalls selling everything from second hand toys and discards to clothes, food and jewellery. Since the day being a Dutch Government holiday, sellers need not pay taxes on their sales.

(Only on Queen's Day will the cost of Beer be cheaper than the cost to pee)

The best way to enjoy this day is to dress in orange and walk across the streets of Amsterdam, drinking beer and soaking in the party weather. So make sure, you visit Amsterdam around April End next year.




Till then,
Cheers 

A little bit of History:
According to information on wikipedia, the present-day celebration of Queen's Day started with the celebration of the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina on 31 August 1885. The day was not only the birthday of the Queen, but also the last day of the summer vacation, which made the celebrations popular with children. However, after Queen Juliana ascended to the Dutch throne, Queen's Day celebrations moved on to her birthday on 30th of April every year. When her daughter, Princess Beatrix succeeded her mother as the Queen on 30 April 1980, she decided to keep the holiday on 30 April as a tribute to her mother.

The magical market of Amsterdam



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One thing that I have absolutely come to love about Amsterdam now (and which I did not like earlier) is the speed of life in the city. Things move at a leisurely pace. A quite contrast to the life-by-nanoseconds in Mumbai! It helps me sit around; sip my coffee and smell the beans too...most importantly, appreciate the concoction that has just been served with a sweet cinnamon biscuit. Also, there is a touch of history and the ol’ country charm that I would really miss about Amsterdam, should I have to move anywhere else. This is a kind of place that would inspire story tellers from around the world to weave their most magical tales.

One of my favourite places in the city is its famous Albert Cuyp (AC) market. Situated bang in the city and accessible to anyone from anywhere; this is the busiest part of the city. Set your foot here, and you will feel as if you have stepped in the bazaar of Agrabah. Surely you will look around for Aladdin and the gang. Traders bustling around, finding a buyer for their wares, colourful stalls beckoning the shoppers with the eclectic goods and displays, and vendors selling fascinating merchandise ranging from party poppers—costumes, masks, balloons and confetti—to everyday items and also edibles like smoothies, (reminds me of falooda and juice & gola gaadis at beaches and at every nook and corner) fries and mayo, sandwiches and so on. Fries with Mayo is a favourite snack of the Dutch and the stall selling it in AC is equally famous, with people swarming in a queue to grab their share of  the bite.

AC reminds me of yet another famous magical market—The Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter series. You can get everything in this one place, be it the Diagon Alley or the AC Market. Like the Alley, this place too is bursting with people and activity. There are the round-the-corner-cafes, eateries and grill rooms, serving the special of the day and also stalls that sell all-coloured juices. And while you may not get your wands and cauldrons in AC, but you sure will find regular clothes, shoes, jewelery, fabrics and textiles, cheese, bed linen, to lingerie, toys, pots and pans and furniture. etc.

The most fascinating of all are the sea food stalls. The freshest of clams, mussels, fish, shrimp...All placed so well in front of the buyers..........yum yum yum. The sellers are good people too. Eager to help out and make a sell, they encourage unsuspecting buyers like me to try new things. I bought some unknown variety of fish, which turned out well after cooking (the seller gave me cooking tipsJ). My old neighbour from Thane—Teja Kaku would have loved this place. She is known in our society for making the best sea food....be it bangda/bombil/paaplet/tisrya, so on. Then there are stalls that sell the freshest of all vegetables and fruits.

And how can a market be complete without the flower sellers and local musicians? You can hear the faint notes of an accordion while you are exploring this market, adding to its charm and charisma.

This amazing place, the Albert Cuyp market, makes me wonder, if Jack too came here to buy the beans for his bean stalk, or if Little Red Riding Hood bought her lovely crimson hood at one of the stalls here or whether the Pied Piper of Hamlin ever played his flute here? Whether Belle's (the heroine of Beauty and the Beast) father had tried checking this place out for his only Rose, or if Johnny tried his luck at buying a bunch of blue ribbons to tie up my bonny brown hair? For if they would have, they surely would have found it all here, in the hustle-bustle of the magical Albert Cuyp Market.
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