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Are you really sure you know your Italian food?

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Rethink one of the most popular cuisines of the world…

Be honest. When you see this blog title, aren’t you thinking: “Why an article on this topic? Everyone knows Italian food, right? You WILL change your mind after you read through to the end.

When we came back from our vacation in Italy last month, we encountered naturally curious questions like: “Did you tired of having pizza and pasta everyday?” and “Was the Caesar Salad any different?” and “Wasn’t the food a cakewalk this time?”

Ha! We had gone brimming with the over-confidence. Thought we knew Italian food as well as Indian food. Came back humbled. There was tons to learn. We didn’t know it all.

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The fascinating mystery of the seven skirts

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Witnessing an old Portuguese tradition that lives on…

We stared across the waist-high parapet, dumbstruck by the glorious view of Nazaré and the Atlantic Ocean below. From the large Sitio Square at a mountain ridge over 100 meters above sea level, the softly curved sandy shores, the curling white waves on the beach and the tranquil blue-green shaded waters seemed unreal, untouched, perfect.

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Still Srinagar

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A photo-blog of Jehangir’s paradise… 

Besotted with the beauty of Kashmir, the Mughal Emperor Jehangir is said to have proclaimed: “If there is paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this”.Centuries later, Kashmir’s heavenly perfection still envelops you so naturally. It is still Srinagar.

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I was shocked to see graves under my feet

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Tombs on cathedral floors…

I craned my neck to marvel at the grandeur of the Gothic 225-feet high western twin towers of the 700-year old Westminster Abbey. Steps away, across the road, were the stately Big Ben and the illustrious Houses of Parliament. It was difficult to decide which was more impressive…London’s premier worship portal or the political powerhouse.

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Do you know who was madly jealous of the Pope’s powerful palace?

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A tale of rivalry and royalty at Avignon…

As you near the ramparts of the fortified old town, you will know why it’s considered the prettiest town of Provence. Entering one of the seven gates of the 4.3 km medieval ramparts punctuated by 39 towers, you are transported into a fairytale. Aptly deserving of its UNESCO world heritage site status, Avignon’s one-half mile wide and long historic centre has a unique soul…and it will connect with you…subtle, but sure.

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Do you know of the glorious Gloriette?

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Pretend to be Austrian royalty…

If you’re smitten by lavish and ostentatious heritage of Vienna, you’re bound to fall in love with Schonbrunn Palace. The summer retreat of the Habsburg royals is a worthy candidate for travellers with a cultural bent of mind, as well those who lust after perfection in garden landscaping.

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A city risen from the ashes

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Resurrection and resplendence in Dresden…

Crossing the bridge across the Elbe River, you will be stunned by this Jewel of Baroque. Tall elegant spires and lavish domes dominating a gorgeous skyline of extravagant architecture all along the tranquil leafy banks of the river, and the unassuming arches of the Augustus Bridge, as if frozen in time while leapfrogging across! If the picture postcard perfection of this first view hasn’t quite moved you, try this. This ornamental town, called the Florence on the Elbe, was almost razed to the ground during WW II. But it survived. And rose to its former glory. Resurrected. Reborn. Rebuilt. And how!

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Paradise is aqua-green

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Why Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes has to be on your travel list….

If you’re thinking of skipping Zagreb from your Croatian itinerary, you’re making a mistake. Not a big mistake. A colossal mistake. Not only is the country’s capital a surprise package in itself, it’s the gateway to Plitvice National Parks, one of the world’s most gorgeous natural wonders.

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When dreams come true, tears flow

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Venice made me cry: with joy…

Everyone has a dream destination, and mine has always been Venice. For as long as I can remember, the floating ethereal city has been the fairytale I wanted to live out. Naturally, my excitement was already sky-high when we boarded the train from Milan to Venice.

The sight of the water taxis outside Venice station fired my spirits higher and throughout the ferry ride, I kept standing at the helm, looking out at sea, eager for my first view. Despite all the fascinating pictures my mind recalled, I was totally unprepared! The city’s hazy silhouette from a distance kept sharpening as we got nearer…like a perfect painting hung up on a far wall in a museum. With every second, I noticed more colours under the intricate play of light and shade. Finally, we were here!

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5 tips to avoid meal disasters abroad

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Tackling comic and not-so-comic menu language barriers…

In most countries, where English is not the primary language, deciding on a meal venue can become a chore, or even an embarrassing experience. In good humour, my uncle recently narrated a tale of how he once sheepishly pecked at his eggplant dish in Israel, having mistaken it for an egg dish. I could relate to it very well…we have had our share of several such incidents too.

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