Travel Thailand Sand, Beaches and Beyond!

After having traveled to the Himalayas to beat the summer heat, we were speculating on our next travel destination. We wanted to hit the beaches to enjoy the sun and surf and the timing could not have been any better as we were approached by Air Asia in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to visit Thailand for a week on a sponsored trip. Having visited Thailand earlier, we were impressed with the itinerary that had leisure schedules but at the same time had some interesting activities to look forward to. We were excited to be a part of the 7 day trip that had a couple of days stop over at Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok.

We boarded a comfortable Air Asia flight, true to their tag line "Now Everyone Can Fly,' they offer economical air fare to multiple destinations across the globe. Their frequent offers and promotions could fetch even better deals. Indian currency is gladly accepted on board the aircraft. Icing on the cake was our flights were not delayed and one of the flights reached its destination a good 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

Our first destination was Chiang Mai, former capital of the Kingdom of Lan Na, situated among the highest mountains in the country and we were greeted by lush green, fertile hills of northern Thailand. Until 1920s reaching Chiang Mai was not so easy with the only options being a strenuous river journey or riding on the back of an elephant through the jungles. One of the most scenic destination in Thailand, Chiang Mai is a temple town with over 30 ancient temples spread across 2 square kilometers. It is an ideal place to relax and unwind far away from the ultra busy and fast paced Bangkok. The streets are relatively free of traffic and the ancient age old structures strewn around the city give the it a rustic and antique feel.

We started our tour at Chiang Mai by dining a very healthy and heavy meal at Salad Concept.

After lunch, we headed to the most famous temple in Chiang Mai- Wat Doi Suthep. The prime attraction being the 'Inner Sanctum - The Pagoda.' The massive golden Chedi towers 79 feet high and is adorned by precious stones and gold. There are a lot of stunning monuments and statues built around the sanctum. Another interesting attraction is the Bodhi tree, the sapling is believed to have been brought from the tree in Maha Bodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, India where Buddha attained enlightenment. A scintillating view point from here offers panoramic and dramatic views of Chiang Mai.

The 11 km road leading to Doi Suthep is believed to have been laid by the people of Chiang Mai in a record 5 months and 22 days showing their grit and determination. A fleet of 306 stairs with Nagas on either side welcome you to this grand temple or a cable car can be chosen as an easier option. We opted for the cable car to reach the temple and climbed down the stairs. Entry to the temple is 30 Baht per person and a cable car round trip is 20 Baht per person.

We then headed to pamper ourselves at one of the best spas in Chiang Mai -'Oasis Spa.' The spa surrounded with beautiful gardens soothes you as soon as you enter. They have tried to make the surroundings as green as possible and the décor in the massage rooms has a traditional Lanna touch. The open bath just adds on to the romance in the air. They have extensive packages and massage options to choose from.

We were treated to their Signature two hour session King and Queen massage. The King massage is a traditional Thai stress buster treatment with herbal hot compress placed along the stiff muscle lines followed by a hot oil massage to relax the muscles. The Queen massage is a combination of hot stones and aromatherapy relaxing the muscles. We thoroughly enjoyed the couple massage and felt rejuvenated and light. We were given one of the best welcome drinks and post massage were served herbal tea and cut fruits. It truly is Luxury in the Lap of Nature.

This was followed by a lavish dinner at Khum Khantoke with Live Cultural performance.

The next day we headed out to Dumbo Elephant spa to pamper, feed and bath these gentle giants. This sanctuary came into existence with the sole aim of rehabilitating elephants. Tourists can feed, play with the elephants but they are not allowed to ride. This spa had 3 - 4 adults and a calf. The elephants at the spa were not chained and were let free in the wild. It was a refreshing feel that they were not confined to a small area and were well looked after. The sanctuary is open to give us a unique experience with the elephants and help them take care of these beautiful animals.

An average adult elephant requires around 250 kg of food everyday which makes them hungry almost throughout the day. We carried pumpkins, pineapples and sugarcane which they seemed to love. They were grabbing food right off our hands and the youngest of the lot employed coy ways to sneak food from right under our nose. We headed out to a nearby water body to give them a scrub bath and post this amazing cardio workout we were treated with a simple but amazing Thai lunch comprising of boiled vegetables, steam rice and chicken curry along with juicy fruits.  They ended the lunch by serving some amazing and finger licking french fries.

In the evening, we took cooking lessons and learnt the basics of Thai cuisine and prepared a meal for us.

During our two days stay in Chaing Mai we checked into hotel Des Artists, Ping Silhouette on Chareonrag Road. The decor of this extremely comfortable and luxury hotel had a very authentic and antique touch to it with wooden doors plus age old door bell and brass taps. There has been a lot of effort and hard work put in to give a very rustic and ancient vibe to the hotel. The rooms have soft mattress and pillows, cozy quilts and a huge bathroom with aesthetic fitting. They have a swimming pool, pretty well stocked bar and café with amazing service. The complimentary breakfast at the hotel is amazing with extensive spread and their Thai chicken fried rice is quite heavy but amazing for breakfast.

Our next destination was Phuket and the stunning views of beautiful islands of Phuket from thousands of feet in the air were breath taking. We started our Phuket sight seeing by visiting one of its kind, mind blogging 3D illusions- "Tricky Eye Art Museum." This is an exceptionally well kept unique museum, perfect for kids and adults alike. The perfectly done 3D illusions are unbelievably realistic with scenes from epic movies and fictional characters depicted with military precision. It brings out the best of our creativity while striking poses. Open everyday from 10 am to 7 pm with last admission at 6 pm, the entry fee is priced at 500 Baht for adults and 300 Baht for kids. 

After illusions, it was time for some adventure to experience the rain forest of Phuket and we arrived at "Flying Hanuman." High speed zip-lines crisscrossing from one massive tree to another guaranteed one of the best jungle experiences. It was an ultimate adrenaline rush flying from tree to tree amidst total wilderness including a zip line running 400 mt and two nerve wracking 90 degree free-falls. If you crave for extreme adventure, this is your ideal place. It is very professionally run and though they take extreme precautions for user safety, one is expected to sign an indemnity form. Patrons could also get their photos and videos shot by professionals for an additional charge. The experience ends with a heavy Thai meal.

We ended our day by dining at One Chun restaurant that serves amazing seafood apart from the local Thai delicacies.

No trip to Phuket is complete without a visit to its stunning islands and we set out cruising to the beautiful Hong Island. The beauty of this tour was hopping on to paddle canoes surrounded by limestone rocks exploring her stunning caves with massive stalactite and stalagmite formations. The massive green mountains standing several meters high above the blue sea is a sight to behold. Paddling across the caves through narrow channels opens up to hidden lagoons and that is what makes it so special. After exploring the caves we moved to our next stop which was the much famous "James Bond Island." Needless to say it got its famous name after the James Bond movie "Man With Golden Gun' was shot here, it is otherwise known as 'Koh Khao Phing Kan."

Silver Hawk tour company had impeccably planned our timing in such a way that we had the entire James Bond island to ourselves, free from the crowd. We stood there on the white sandy beach soaking in mesmerizing views of the island. A short hike from here, led us to the other side which opened up to a delightful stretch of turquoise blue water. The entire crew was extremely professional and made sure we had the best of our time despite rains. In our opinion, the cruising experience was very safe and comfortable. They entertained us by teaching us traditional Thai dance and taught us how to make a kratong. Later on, they took us on a long tail boat to pirates cave to traditionally offer prayers, make a wish and float the water lilies in the sea. After the ritual the water lilies were promptly retrieved. Post sunset, we relished the meal that was served by the crew and it was one of the best meals in Thailand.

During our stay in Phuket we checked into hotel Casa Blanca, a hotel that still retains its old school vibe in the old town of Phuket. The rooms were very spacious, clean and comfortable and loaded with all modern amenities. Their service standards were excellent and professional. The hotel also has a pretty good swimming pool. If you prefer a quiet stay in this part of the town, this will be an ideal choice. The most elegant part of this old town is the Chinese and Portuguese architecture. The weekend market is located just 2 lanes away and Airport is 45 minutes away.

Our last leg of the trip was Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. On one side it keeps a spiritual traveler contended and happy while on the other hand it ignites the spark and gets the party animal going. Bangkok is a shoppers paradise where big brands and cheap knockoffs happily co-exist. The over populated city and her crazy traffic could shatter your weekend plans whereas the express quick bike taxis and comfortable sky trains ferried us around the city without any delay.

Among the many local markets, Ko kret market is vibrant and lively. This massive local market houses very nominally priced day to day household products, from cosmetics to souvenirs and most importantly Thai street food. The goods here are nominally priced saving the time and effort on haggling. Another interesting thing about Ko Kret market is the many temples around that is an added advantage. Another even bigger market is the JJ weekend market near Mo Chit. This massive market is spread over acres of land and has even more extensive shopping options. Interesting road side shops were selling 'Bose and JBL' speakers for few hundred Bahts. After a long walk we walked into one of the many spas and pampered ourselves with a foot massage. Do try the local food and coconut ice cream here.

If you are looking for fancier goods then Asiatique, an open air mall is the perfect place. Once a warehouse but later converted to a swanky market and entertainment hub with tons of shops selling almost everything. This would be a perfect family getaway option. A wide variety of shows of different genres are played here in the evening plus there is a lot to keep kids entertained such as Ferris wheel and go-karting. Sunset by the pier with sky rises in the backdrop makes for a perfect romantic evening. While at Asiatique, we were treated to yet another lavish meal with a puppet show at Joe Louis Puppetry.

During our stay in Bangkok, we checked in to Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit. A luxurious 5 star hotel that pampers their guests in ultimate way possible. The architecture of the hotel is like the deck of a ship and the massive rooms are loaded with every luxury and comfort that could be expected. There is a fitness lounge, pool and spa. The complimentary breakfast is way too grand and lavish and their service was extremely professional and perfect. The hotel is centrally located on Bangkok Sukhumvit Road right opposite Terminal 21. They also provide free tuk tuk service to Asok BTS for their guests. If luxury and comfort is what you are looking for, this would be your ideal stay option.

To know more about Thai food, enjoy Culinary Delight in Thailand.

And for a visual treat, have a look at Thailand Thru Our Lens.

DISCLAIMER- This trip was sponsored by Air Asia India and Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mumbai.

Alleppey A Floating Paradise!

The placid canals and backwaters, massive amount of palm and coconut trees dotted along the backwaters, traditional homes, rich green paddy fields and banana plantations aptly defines what natural beauty is. Kerala is the perfect place to unwind while sipping coconut water and gorging on excellent sea food. Of course a mere mention of Kerala and the first thought that crosses our minds are the houseboats giving you a glimpse of Punammada Lake.

The houseboats on Punnamada lake, which is a part of the longest lake in India- Vembanad, are a pretty sight adding a lot of charm to Alleppey, no wonder it has been named, Venice of  the East. These traditional looking massive built house boats that are in abundance provide all the creature comforts in a luxurious way and complete the whole Kerala Backwater experience making it a pretty sight but cliche. But this most often chosen option of enjoying the Kerala life comes with its own hindrances or loopholes- Traffic jams due to their sheer numbers, docking the boats all of them cramped together at one place at night, limited movement which means less exploration and the food options are not much.

We thought instead of opting for a houseboat it would be best to travel like the locals and take a ferry ride to catch a glimpse of their daily routine. The ferry ride helped us understand how on a daily basis it positively touches millions of lives. We passed through villages that had no roads, saw multiple small channels breaking from the massive backwaters and leading to even smaller and more beautiful villages. Some of these channels were so narrow that they could only be accessed by canoes.

The journey offers breathtaking views of paddy fields, the beautifully scattered churches and schools, the iconic post office and in a true sense we understood how massive and beautiful the backwaters of Kerala are.

It was an awesome sight to see the massive ferry stop on either sides of the banks for locals to alienate and reach their homes. The ferry definitely rules the waters here and it pretty much reminds you of the bus journeys on the road with so many left and right turns combined with a couple of U turns. The ferry clearly wins over the buses as they do not have to face traffic jams, it is an absolute free way! To our astonishment this mighty vessel managed to venture into small and narrow canals with as much ease as a small canoe would have.

Also, from the ferry you can witness various birds from egrets, cormorants to kingfishers busy hunting for fish and some even gracing your camera by posing for photos. We even saw an eagle resting on the compound wall of one of the houses in a village totally comfortable with so much activity around and completely at peace, making us realize once again how awesome and beautiful nature is. She feeds us when we are hungry, quenches our thirst, helps us travel. The least that we should give back is the respect that she deserves.

Since we were in Alleppey to attend the most awaited event of the year- the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, we got excited to see multiple teams prepare for the boat race set to happen the following day. The serene and calm town of Alleppey completely transforms and gives a feel that you are on the sets of action flick 'Fast And Furious.' Every year on the second Saturday of August, the government of Kerala conducts the prestigious 'Nehru Boat Race Festival.' We would definitely rate witnessing the teams sweat it out and practice as the highlight of the ferry ride.

This whole awesome package of a two and a half hour ferry ride with the locals from Alleppey town jetty to Pullicunno church came at an all inclusive price of  INR 15 per person.

We were left speechless when we saw the church on the banks of the water providing a picturesque view. This church with its Portuguese style architecture shot to fame thanks to the Tamil movie "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa," parts of which were shot in this beautiful church. The church was so peaceful and we were the only visitors, it has a calming aura around it that makes you fall in love with this place almost instantly. We decided to get back by bus and it took us only 40 minutes to reach Alleppey town. If you are short on time or do not wish to take the local ferry there are frequent local buses that ply from Alleppey town to Ramankary with tickets priced at INR 22 per person and as always you have the luxury to hire a cab too.

The best way to explore any place is take a stroll around and you never know what might catch your attention. While walking towards the beach, we came across these beautiful bridges and canals that made us stop and appreciate the beauty all around us.

Alleppey Beach, a beautiful stretch of white sand and deep blue waters, is an ideal destination to watch the sun set in the horizon. It is not way too crowded giving ample space for an evening stroll. Kids and adults can enjoy camel ride and there are couple of eat outs to treat your taste buds. The hot fried peanuts and the view of the sunset makes one's life just perfect, indeed, small things in life give such great pleasure.

The Alleppey lighthouse is also worth visiting. We got to experience Kerala monsoons when we were at the lighthouse. It was a perfect moment with the panoramic view of the massive beach and rail tracks, the thunder of the clouds followed by mighty downpour. Note that the lighthouse is closed on Mondays.

Our enthusiasm to try out Kerala's authentic food had us all pumped up and we were not disappointed at all. Kerala's authentic food will satisfy even the best of food critics. There are plenty of restaurants to dig into for authentic Kerala cuisine and the meals includes Fish gravy, traditional fat red/white rice, two varieties of vegetable curry, sambar/rasam, Morekolambu, buttermilk, pickle, papadam and sweet. The best restaurants to try out the meals in Alleppey are 'Thaff' and 'Brothers.' In Thaff, do try out the chilly fish fry and the parota with chicken curry. If you are uncomfortable with the traditional fat Kerala rice do enquire if the hotel serves the normal thin rice.

For other delicacies like appam or parota, puttu, kadala curry, chicken curry, 'Creme Corner' restaurant is an ideal choice. The perfect way to finish your lunch or dinner would be with piping hot cup of 'Kattan Chai.' If you love sandwiches and puffs  head to 'Himalaya Bakers' that serves a wide variety of baked goodies and cookies to choose from.

The ideal way to commute within Alleppey would be by autos. The auto drivers were such gentlemen, they did not over charge us even once nor did they refuse to go to any part of the town. This was so much in contrast compared to other touristic destinations where they tend to burn a hole in your wallet.

We were fortunate to have the luxury of viewing lotus flowers in a small artificial pond right in front of our sit out bloom to the early morning sun rays. At the same time, we witnessed a darter dip and swim in the pond, and then bask in sun, providing company to the kingfishers perched on the palm trees making it one of the most beautiful mornings. This blissful experience was possible at  the 'Palmgrove Lake Resort.'

Set on the banks of Punnamada lake, this resort has great aesthetics with comfortable and cozy rooms. They offer 24 hour running hot water and free WiFi. Their service was top-notch. Though we did not try the food at their restaurant, we did go for a cup of Kattan Chai which was excellent. The flip side of this beautiful location was that we had to spend a little more to commute.

Mahabalipuram - Photo Tour Of Coastal Town With Rich Legacy

Mahabalipuram, fondly called as 'Mahabs' by locals rides with rich history, legacy and was mostly developed by the Pallava rulers. This town is mentioned in the Vaishnava Hymns written between the 6th and 8th Century. However, evidence such as Roman coins and pottery found here states that the town dates back to early Historic times. This ancient historic coastal town  buzzed with activity as this was a busy seaport and it was from here that Indian traders sailed to South-East Asian Countries. The mariners also called it "Seven Pagodas" as there were Seven Pagodas standing tall on the shore, of which, only one survived- the Shore Temple.

The Pallavas were renowned for promoting unique styles of art and architecture and this town stands as a fine example with its stunning rock cut or monolithic group of monuments and shore temples. 

The Magnificent Lighthouse with its beautiful tales of a bustling trade hub and a seaport.

Climbing the Light House to see the entire town, the roads, the sea and the breathtaking view of the Shore temple leaves you in awe.

There is a museum adjacent to the Light House which is worth visiting to know more about the port History. Deep Sea buoys are laid to mark shipping channels in the Bays and to prevent mishaps from rocks and wrecks. This Buoy was in use at Gulf Of Kutch.

The temples portrayed scenes from the epic Mahabharata depicting the Descent of the Holy Ganges and Arjuna's Penance. The story mentions Arjuna, one of the Pandava Brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Shiva's weapon.

The following panel of Mahishamardani Cave depicts the battle where Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura, who was considered unconquerable. The scene portrays Goddess Durga riding a lion in pursuit of Mahishasura with a bow and arrow.

The other panel of Mahishamardani Cave depicts Lord Vishnu in Tranquility State on a seven hooded serpent.

One of the many Cave temples in Mahabalipuram.

A village scene from the Krishna Mandapa Cave depicting their daily lives.

Varaha Cave Temples

The following panel depicts Four armed Goddess Durga standing on a lotus under an umbrella. This panel stands for victory over ignorance.

Trivikarma Panel depicting Lord Vishnu  overcoming the Demon king Bali.

The most prominent sculpture of the Varaha Cave is Lord Vishnu in his incarnated form of Varaha lifting Bhu Devi, Mother Earth, from the sea.

The Gajalakshmi Panel representing Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity. She is portrayed with her hands holding a Lotus flower surrounded by attendants and elephants.

Lord Krishna lifting the mythical Govardhan hill to provide shelter to villagers from torrential rains showered by Lord Indra.

The Massive Natural rock boulder,  popularly known as Krishna's Butter Ball, atop a hilly slope is no less than a wonder. It does a perfect balancing act defying all rules of Gravity.

Trimurti Cave temple- This is believed to be dedicated to the three Lords- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

The view of Bay of Bengal from the Shore temple.

The Shore Temple, is the only temple of a series of seven temples and the remaining now submerged in the sea.

The Pancha Rathas, perfect examples of Dravidian style architecture are monolithic rock cut temples.

Monolithic Five Rathas or Chariots dedicated to the Five Pandava Princes.

5 km from Mahabalipuram towards Chennai is the Tiger Caves.

Apart from the stellar monuments, there has been proof of many other monuments that have been submerged under the mighty Bay Of Bengal.