KAO SAN ROAD BY NIGHT :)

A walk around Kao San Road by night.

MY OFFICE !

May be I shared it several times. Or may be not. To be honest, I am not very sure.
Its been quite some time that I work from home. I use my computer as my office. I can operate from anyplace or any corner of the world. That gives me the benefit to be anywhere and still deliver to my work.

Be it online consulting, online selling or making tours in both Indian and International destinations; my work always gives me a privilege or keeps me on the move.

My office can be anywhere. My bedroom or a coffee shop. My terrace or a park. It could be a free wi fi zone. It could also be the flight I take or the train I travel. It could be a ferry boat or just my hotel room.

I could travel anywhere, see new places, meet people from another country, explore their culture. I could live a local's life.

Really, its true. If to work from home feels good, then being global citizen feels so much better.

NOSTALGIC FROM MY WINDOW :)

Neither the views nor the weather is new. It's simply the nostalgia.

I have seen these views in many weathers. I have seen the road, the river, the balconies, the monasteries, the trees etc. I have seen them all with the sun, with the winds and with the clouds. I had lived here many beautiful memories.Yet I want to see them again. I wanted to feel the freshness and cherish those beautiful times. I wanted smile.

Good times are the best and the moment you think of them, you simply smile.

7 ELEVEN NOSTALGIA !

So my room was all set and I went down to bring some to drink and some snacks to munch. It was 4:30 am. Where could I go to buy water? Which shop would be open now?

Its 7Eleven. It is one of the biggest international retail chain in 17 countries around the world to sell some of the basic needs to customers.

There is one 7Eleven right next to the Mango Lagoon Place. So I just stepped in and there comes the sound; Tinnnngggg Tinnnn. The stores all over have automated sliding doors and the moment you step near by the door it makes the noise. Its a sound which rings many memories in seconds. It reminds the belongingness you have which this retail chain. The thousand times you must have heard this sound. It leaves you in a state of nostalgia. The good old memories.

In the whole one day of my stay in Thailand, I must have stepped in to many of these 7Elevens while I ran for my errands. Great feeling and waiting to go back to one of them again.

Tinnngggg Tinnnnn!

HOTEL HOTEL :)

Every time I fly somewhere other than Thailand in South east Asia, I tend to break up my journey either in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or Bangkok, Thailand.

So this time in Thailand, I had one whole day to run all my errands before starting my work in Cambodia. But the point is not my errands. I do not even want to talk about errands.

I want to talk about my hotel. Every time I am in Bangkok, I stay in this hotel called Mango Lagoon Place. It is a well equipped property with restaurant and bar. It has rooms for everyone.

I always ask for a small room in the terrace floor for good views. If at the terrace floor you can still see a tiny bit of the Chao Phraya river and the Monasteries in the Kao San Road.

So arrived in the hotel at 4 AM and it was already pre booked for me. I like the room and the hot shower in this hotel. After which I organise my clothes, shoes etc. Every time I am here I organise things in the hotel like its my room in my house.

I play it like a game. A sweet game called HOTEL HOTEL :)

HERE I GO AGAIN!! ANOTHER MARATHON!!

Every time I have fly out of my hometown to some international destination, its the same story.
Its always a combination of flights, trains and taxis.

This time it was to Cambodia. Forget my hometown, Cambodia does not have any direct flights to any of the metros in India.

So I took a train from my hometown Bhubaneswar to Howrah -> then a ferry to cross the river and reach Esplanade in Calcutta -> then took a taxi to Netaji Bose International airport -> then I took a flight to Bangkok -> a taxi to my hotel -> flight to Siem Reap international airport.

But its all worth it once I am in Siem Reap.

MY TRAVEL MAP !!

Today my friend Laurent Floch shared his travel map in Facebook. I was very curious to see how my travel map looks like. So I immediately started ticking boxes against the countries to get my travel map.

Now I have a travel map and the count of countries I have been is 30.
Oh yes, it is beautiful.

SHARING IS CARING # 11

Visa on arrival is a blessing for Indian travellers. It is a blessing for any traveller but the amount of documentations and legal frame work we go through in India, Visa on arrival is really a blessing.

It could be stamping with prior online application or could be direct stamping. But it is all worth it. 

Not only the south east Asia, these days Indians get Visa on arrival in Africa, South America, Pacific etc. 

This Sharing is Caring is really caring as I am sharing some exotic destinations around the world to travel with VOA from www.skyscanner.co.in

Out of the list of 8 countries, I have travelled in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Jordan with VOA without any hassle.

Visa on arrival travel for Indians

A vacation does not have to be preceded by a long wait at the visa office. Indians can now travel without a visa to various countries and get one on arrival at nominal costs. Foreign holidays have become less daunting for us now that visa-less travel for Indians is an option in more than fifty countries.Skyscanner lists our top picks:  

1. Thailand

Hot favourite for a quick vacation! With its countless shopping and party options in bustling Bangkok, to the never-ending days on its sparkling beaches – Thailand leads the pack when it comes to visa-less travel for Indians. All you need are your passport and a wad of Thai baht and you’re ready for the country of warm smiles and massages. Visit Koh Samui and Phuket for a beach holiday, Chiang Mai for some golf at a hilly getaway and Pataya if all you have is the weekend.

Visa on arrival: Baht 1,000

Read more: Best beaches close to India

The land of smiles has something for the beach-lovers, culture-vultures, party-goers and shopaholics alike!

2. Indonesia

Bali is the perfect getaway for a mix of beach, nightlife and shopping, topped with a dose of culture. Wear batik inspired prints and stuff your bags with handmade art and crafts. Head to the ocean for exciting water sports and snorkelling – it’s all there for you without a visa! 

Visa on arrival: USD 35

Time to explore the scenic sights of Indonesia

3. Seychelles

Beautiful Seychelles is where you should head to when you want to get away from it all. Start your vacation without the headache of lining up at a visa office and continue in that spirit onto the cheapest flight to the idyllic island. Waiting for you are its peaceful beaches, bluest of blue waters and a dose of natural beauty that will make you wonder whether the maker has been fair to the rest of the world.

Visa on arrival is free of charge

Sink your toes into soft powdery sands while soaking in stunning seascapes

4. Jordan

Get a peek into Middle Eastern culture with a trip to Jordan. Jordan has it all – hot springs, the unique experience of floating in the Dead Sea, landscape gazing in Wadi Rum, adventure and hiking in Petra, history at Jerash and teahouses and hip shisha cafes in Amman.

Visa on arrival: USD 30

Expect to see some of the most amazing rock formations here too

5. Kenya

The most beautiful safaris in the world beckon in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Pack the kids up and book yourselves on the cheapest flight to Nairobi, the gateway to the most famous wildlife reserve in the world. It promises to be the trip of a lifetime, considering you will have no trouble with visa offices and the kids will have the best time ever!

Visa on arrival: USD 50

Tell the kids this is real-life Lion King in action!

6. Cambodia

With political stability returning to Cambodia, it has become quite the destination for holiday makers. Cambodia is home to the World Heritage site of the Angkor Wat temple complex, which has been preserved almost intact, thanks to years of inaccessibility to tourists. Also hidden away in its dense hills is a lot of beautiful colonial architecture. These treasures can be reached by flying into the capital city of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, the nearest airports.

Visa on arrival: USD 25

Explore and marvel at the grand temples of Cambodia

7. Mauritius

In need of a dose of the sun and some fun? Then get on a sandy beach in Mauritius with its sparkling waters and laid back atmosphere. The hospitable locals will ensure you have a cooler of choice in your hand. When the mood strikes, step into the water for some snorkelling or take the Undersea Walk for a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday like no other.

Visa on arrival is free of charge

Be bowled over by the sunsets at Mauritius

WOW!! IT's 30!!

Today is the day of making lists.

Its a big coincidence as my count of countries to travel is 30 and the countries I have been is 30. So the immediate wish was to make a list of countries I have visited.

1. India
2. South Africa
3. Qatar
4. Thailand
5. Vietnam
6. Cambodia
7. Indonesia
8. Sri Lanka
9. Malaysia
10. Laos
11. France
12. Switzerland
13. Italy
14. Germany
15. Portugal
16. Spain
17. Turkey
18. Jordan
19. UAE
20. Brazil
21. Argentina
22. Chile
23. Uruguay
24. Bolivia
25. Peru
26. Equador
27. Colombia
28. Singapore
29. Philippines
30. Myanmar

So,  Wow!! Its 30!!

WOW!! AYUTHAYA!!

A beautiful place, where every frame makes a incredible picture :)

It is called Ayuthaya.

MY FIRST TIME # 5 SKY TRAIN

It was 2010, when I made smalls steps into the gigantic Asia to kill my travel bugs.

It was not the first time I was travelling outside India, but the first country I visited outside India in Asia is Thailand. A very convinient destination for Indians to travel. This country gives Visa on arrival at its immigration for 15 days. 

But I realised, what impressions I had of Thailand was not enough. 

This country is way developed than I had imagined in terms of tourism and infrastruction. High rise buildings, great night life, good fashion at cheap price, delicious thai food etc floods the immigration gate at the airport. 

One of those days I decided to take a metro train with friends. I was surprised when my friend called it Sky Train. I had been in metro  train in Calcutta but never I had been in a sky train. I was amazed. What is it anyway...!! 

Later I realised it is an organised system of transport which runs on an elevated bridge. I was very impressed for the passengers commuting in this organised system. The ticketing, the signs, the dos and the donts and most of all the dedicated queues of passengers to enter the train. 

Everything was calling for my attention and I was very wishful to have the same systematic medium to commute in India. 

I am very glad to do this sky train in my travel in Thailand for the first time. 

A MESSI(Y) FAN IN THAILAND !!

It was a usual sweaty day in Bangkok. I was in a bus to Chatuchak Market from Kao San road. It was little crowded and then there was only one seat available. Like a gentleman, I left it for a girl.

So, I was hanging on the aluminum road for rest of  the ride. All the way, this girl was watching football in her ipad. I was very amazed to find a football fan and that to a female fan. But, then I assumed it is okay as it is Thailand and unlike in India, women could be in love with football.

This girl in particular was very much into a game. She got me curious. In the beginning I thought she is watching a match online which she might have missed. But then she was constantly changing her search every 5 minutes. This time she made me very curious and I could not move my eye sight from her ipad.

She had this thing for impatience and something made me feel that she is bit messy. She would not stick to one window and every now and then she would get very excited. Completely detached from other commuters she was totally into her ipad and in small intervals would make a fist in celebration. Sometimes she would slide to watch the same goal many times. As many as 15 times, yes I counted.

At some point,  I even wanted to ask her but then I thought it is of no use as all her search were in Thai and she might not speak English. May be I was sigh too.

However, I was completely into her ipad  and after 20 mins, I realized she is a Messi fan and checking on the best goals by him, his achievements, strikes etc.

Really how messy is this Messi fan. May be that is the magic of this game called Football.

SMILE PLEASE # 5 : MONKS DO NOT SMILE

SMILE PLEASE is where I bring beautiful smiles from around the world into my blog.

But this one is different or unique is more appropriate word. This was when I was in a Monastery in Kao San Rod of Bangkok. I was spending a day in Bangkok after 2 months in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Myanmar. I was tired and had planned some rest before my return to India.

So I landed up in a temple in Kao San Road after breakfast. I had been to this temple before, yet I thought why not another time. And then something very usual happened. I noticed a little group of young monks sitting on a discussion in a jovial mood.

I wanted to make a picture of that moment. I have known by then that some monks could be sigh for pictures or would not like to be photographed. So I decided to ask before making the picture and they all nodded yes to my question.

While, I was making my picture the monk in the center laughed. It was a shock for me as I never saw a monk laughing like that and I could not capture the moment. I wanted to get that laugh. Although they were a group of noves, i.e young monks, they are already taught to give up on emotions. Immediately the happy monk, who was living a moment full of happiness as he is been photographed by a foreigner, sealed his smile.

I wanted him to smile again. Not only for my picture, but more for himself. I made many pictures and would politely say every time Smile Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee!

But there was no success. If you see the pictures carefully then you would notice the emotions hidden behind this quiet monk.

Shankranti = Songran

Songkran is the new year in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The south east asian countries celebrates one of its biggest festival of the year. Everyone puts the white chalk like powder and throws water on others to wish Happy New Year :)

The concept of the festival is like Holi in India minus the colours. 

Sankranti is the Oriya and Bengali new year which is mostly towards mid April. In Orissa it is also known as Maha Vishu Sankranti for the religious people offer Pana(a delious drink made of Fruits, dry fruits, condensed sweet milk, curd and may be Marijuana) to the auspicious Basil plant, the Linga of Lord shiva. This drink is also celebrated by sharing between family, relatives and community. 

As both Songkran and Shankranti is the start of the year in South east asia and East India, hence Songkran = Shankranti 

I EMBRACE BUDDHA # 2

BUDDHA LOVE ❤️

In the ancient city of Ayutthaya, I walked miles, adored the ruins, explore the beauty of the long lost time and between all there was a calmness dwelling in the air. 

All I thought of is Buddha, the time he lived and his greatness. Sometimes its incredible that while we are traveling, we travel virtually in another age/time for what we see. 

INDIAN FOOD OVERDOSE ...GRRRRRR

Its difficult to define Indian food as it comes from all corners of India. Like the people, the food in India is different for the culture, the religion, place etc it is coming from.

There is no generic Indian food. However, if you are traveling abroad and try Indian food then it would be mostly North Indian dishes coming from the northern states. A couple of Chapathis/Naan, Cummin Rice, Chicken Masala curry with butter floating on top, pickles. Its bit spicy mostly. That is the impression a foreigner probably has for Indian food.

But it is not their mistake as that is what sells in Europe, Americas. Although there are some restaurants serving regional food of India.

This time in Thailand, I was with my best friend Vijay. An ex-Indian and now Australian. He is vegetarian and only has appetite for Indian and Italian food. We were staying in Sathorn in Bangkok and with in walking distance, there were ample of Indian restaurants. They were from normal to regular to fancy to chic restaurants. Naming few Indian Mirch Masala, The Indian Cafe, Little India, South Indian food etc.

Every single day my friend would take me to one of these and kill me there.  I had no option but eat. Its not that I do not like Indian food. Even in India if not eating at home, I would go for international food in 7 out of 10 cases. I would admit that I enjoyed eating in those places as the food is twisted to the taste buds of travelers. Of course Indians are not there only client.
So we ate out three times Indian food in a day. It was so much that in two days we both were sick. Although we had cold for the sudden change of climate. But the food helped as the food in restaurants would be deep fried and oily.

However that did not loosen our spirits. We continued eating Indian food, just that we started going to basic places. So much that the guys in restaurants know our grandfathers and their struggle for Independence and we know the village their great grand father took a boat to South east asia but that makes another story.

What an overdose!! Really !

ROLLS AND SAUSAGES

Talking about the Indian food in Bangkok, I remember the new corner I discovered.

This time in Bangkok, I was trying to draw a balance between Indian food and the my favourite street foods. So, if I take Indian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner; then evening snacks would be the street food. Or may be sometime to warm up for lunch.

So venturing around in the streets of Bangkok, I found a roll maker. Its simply delicious. It is made of the sweet dough to go with an omelet and some black pepper on top for aroma. There was also another kind where the roll is made of the usual pancake and the sausage inside.

The moment I saw them, I was very curious as the rolls had strangled strands. I was wondering how is that made. May be the pictures would help to understand what I mean. I am falling out of words as they were incredible.

Struggling with curiosity and my appetite I decided to go for a roll with omelet and black pepper. Ummm It was yummy. I paid the money. Said the Khapun Khap and went on the street. The moment I finished, I realized I want one more. It was immediate rewind and I was back at the shop. This time I decided to go for the roll with Sausage. It was twice good as the first. Then what the greedy person inside me woke up and I asked the seller can we customize. Of course with signs as its not easy to communicate in English.

We need no Language to communicate if we express things from heart. The seller was already confident that I am in love with his products and want more. He was smiling all through while he combined the sausage with the omelet to make the roll.

We both shared some smiles and said good bye until next time.

Simply delicious and irresistible.

EXCELLENT STREET FOOD OF BANGKOK

In Asia, there is a big street food culture. If march to the main streets in the evening, be it any city the sight to catch your attention is street food.

The snacky delicacies with great tastes. Even in India, every region has its own street food. Forget region, every city would have its own street food. For example the Raj Kachodi Chat  in Bhubaneswar, Orissa would be different from the one in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Similarly the sausages in the streets of Bangkok would be different from the ones in Pattaya.  Its true and I have tried them both. I am a big fan from the street food of Thailand. There is an excellent range of Thai cuisine i.e Pad thai, Thain red curry, green curry, Thai noodles etc etc. However, when I go to Thailand, I just hog on the street food in Bangkok. Simply love the Sausages, the pancakes, the cookies with cream on top, the pork, crab and fish fries. The list is endless. Beside the taste of the food, I appreciate there effort to clean it clean and the hygienic habits of the vendor. They never touch the food with bare hand. Always use plastic or sticks. The platforms where they prepare is also clean.

Although I am skeptical to try the Indian street food while in India. I would eat the Thai street food almost everyday.

Strongly recommended :)

AYUTTHAYA IN MY TRAVEL MAP!!

The feeling is great!

A place dreamt long ago. Every time there is a problem, everything holds you back, everyone tells you its not so special may be next time. 

But if you are determined and yes some day you want to be there. So I said many times I was sick for the year end. Overwhelmed from the magical Siem Reap. Too much Indian food and the climate in Bangkok made me sick. The doctor not only gave me good medicine but also the courage to enjoy the beginning of the year. 

He said I am too young to rest in Hotel for the year end. I should enjoy Thailand.  :)

I being stubborn decided to go Ayutthaya. So took a bus to Ayutthaya. Once there then there was no looking back. I walked around the ruins, the various stops. Met fellow travelers and also saw the Portuguese settlements. 

Ayutthaya is not as grand as Siem Reap in Cambodia, not as stunning as Bagan in Myanmar but has its style. It was interesting to see the historical monuments and read the stories. The conquest of Burmese Emperors and the buddhist monks from Cambodia, Sri Lanka etc

I loved Ayutthaya :)

GOOD MORNING AYUTTHAYA!!

A Happy Happy New Year to everyone. Guess where I am after all!!
Its Ayutthaya. The place I was longing for ages. Yes, I wanted to come here for many years.

Here I am!!
The very first day of the year I accomplished a long time dream.

Good Morning Ayutthaya :)