LONGING TRAVEL: Food

We are still recovering from our road trip as well as the tasty goodness of Pondicherry. Both of us feel like all we did was eat at Pondicherry. It is not like we went on a rampage, we ate three meals but those were much more lavish and expansive than our regular one dosa each fare.

Here are some of the best food we had the pleasure to enjoy. There are many more pics to see, head over to our FB page or follow us on Instagram.

Our foodie friends might find the pictures lacking but believe me for some reason the SLR around our necks does not get clicking on a table with food. Infact these are some of the rare pictures of food you would find here, because we forget clicking as soon as we see food. We had no inclination to click filling breakfasts we had at Chitoor and Vellore while riding, the truth is posting the food here was the last thought on our mind.

Dhaba food

So as you would know we started off on our bike at 11:40 am (too late) lunch on the highway was our first pit stop and the food was great. Dal, chapati and egg bhurji made for a hot and satisfying meal in the rainy afternoon and we spent close to an hour just resting our vibrating selves and letting our bike cool down while we gobbled up all the food.

Tea at Kadapa

This is the tea which marked our entry in the city of Kadapa and what a ride it was. Dripping from rain and shivering this came as a welcome relief even though it was probably the most expensive tea we had.

Filter Coffee (I am in love with the brassware)

You know the feeling when you can just taste victory, this filter coffee was exactly that. Some 40 Km from Pondicherry after crossing Thindivanam. Ajay saw this place which had a toilet. We were again wet from the rain and hassled from crossing one city after another; bursting bladder didn't help much either. As I used the facilities Ajay ordered this awesome cup of coffee and it was heavenly. Don't ask me how it compares to the famous coffee houses because right then it was the best coffee ever.

After sleeping for a while at our host's place we decided it was time for dinner as our lunch hadn't really been filling. TripAdvisor said Villa Shanti was the place to be and it was Ajay's birthday so that is where we went and food was great.

Breakfast spread at Kasha Ki Asha

Next day we woke up a bit late and headed to Kasha Ki Asha which is definitely a place we both liked and enjoyed. Our food was as colorful as the place itself and I love the way they serve lemon soda.

Lunch at Dune

Moving on we were off to keep our date with Dune, where Subhajit waited for us to give us a property tour as well as feed us some good food. Ajay loved the watermelon gazpacho while I favor my stuffed spinach ravioli. If I could have finished it I would have ordered their Ayurvedic fare but that platter was so much food that it took and entire paragraph in the menu.

Pizza at La Teresse

This brought us to the dinner which was pizza in one of the famous restaurants of Pondicherry- La Terrasse. Though I like the pizza it was a bit bland for us (I know Indian taste buds) surprisingly so because we had asked for a spicy version. Last year we had one near Auroville and that is still my favorite.

Dahaba Food Again

I just have this one pic of our lunch next day which is a surprise because we were famished. I guess blogging is catching up with me, otherwise it is difficult for me to stop and take a picture when food is on the table. This is at Sher-E-Punjab Dhaba at Nandayal; there are quite a few of them. This one was next to a petrol pump and also has toilets.

We feel we ate too much, but I am not complaining. Food was good, though we did eat expensive fare than our usual meals. Before I sign off there is nothing like hot parotha and Kurma to make you feel satisfied. Pondicherry is one of the places I have had some of the best parothas, Try it at any shop they they usually cost you 10 a piece and Kurma is kind of complimentary. If you are a vegetarian like me you will struggle to total 30 for a meal of Parotha Kurma.

Hold on let us know what are your favorite places to eat in Pondicherry and the best highway meal you have ever had. Feel free to share pics.

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Arequipa, Peru - Things to Do and Know for a Weekend Getaway

If Peru is on your radar and you were about to just visit Machu Pichu it is time you look beyond. If you are already in Peru and are looking for a place to visit beyond the ruins our friends at Two Monkeys Travel Group suggest you look into Arequipa and make the white City a stop for your weekend adventures for a long weekend.

Kach Mu and Jonathan Howe are the working-on-the-road couple behind twomonkeystravelgroup.com. They are both certified Tantra Yoga Teachers, Ayurveda Massage Therapists and TEFL Certified Teachers - working wherever and whenever they want! Travelling status: 18 months of on the road and currently based in Arequipa, Peru…
Their next major travel goal- Antartica via Argentina! Follow them at facebook.com/twomonkeystravel

While Peru is best known for Machu Picchu, the Amazon and of course, llamas, you shouldn't miss out on a trip to its second largest city, Arequipa. Also known as the White City for the Sillar (white volcanic stone) buildings, the city is small enough to walk around most places and there is a strong sense of culture here.

Arequipa has its own airport, so you can easily fly to or from here from Cusco to visit Machu Picchu. It’s also a great stopping point on the way to Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, although there are plenty of attractions in the immediate area to keep you entertained.

Cities and Distances:

Peru - 1018 Km

Cusco - 482 Km

Puno- 293 Km

Arequipa, Google Maps Snapshot by Parul

Getting Here and Getting around

While driving to Arequipa from Lima can take up to 20 hours, Peru has a great private coach infrastructure, with luxury ‘flat-bed’ seats available from ($40USD). If this seems a bit too long then you may want to invest a little extra in direct flights from Lima (1.5 hours), which start at around ($80USD).
From Arequipa itself, it’s only a 3 hour minibus ride to Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, where you can enjoy trekking to a desert oasis and relaxing in volcanic hot springs.
It’s the same distance to the coast where you’ll find Pacific waves, beautiful beaches and delicious seafood.
About five hours inland will land you in Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812 metres above sea level.
There are many tour companies offering a variety of trips from Arequipa, so there’s plenty to choose from. We’ve always had a great experience with Gloria from Arequipa Tours and they have always been reliable and professional.

Arequipa Colca Canyon

Best time to visit

Arequipa offers great weather almost all year round, with the only months to avoid being January to March due to the heavy and frequent summer rains. Being a high-altitude desert situation, it tends to be very hot and dry during the day, with chilly, but not uncomfortable temperatures at night, so you’ll need to pack some light jumpers or jackets for the evenings

Things to do and See

Arequipa Beach Pacific Ocean

The Plaza de Armas – The original city centre with its twin-towered Cathedral taking pride of place at the head of the square, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The unique blend of European-colonial, native-American and Baroque architectural styles give this city a truly enchanting atmosphere added to by the vaulted archways, thick stone walls and intricate decorations.

The food - Arequipa boasts some of the best cuisine in South America, from Rocoto Relleno, Adobo and Ceviche to Camarones. Try the local food in the small Picanterias; local restaurants that usually serve a specific menu of great food, freshly cooked to order. If you step slightly outside of the tourist areas then you can have a two-course meal for as little as $2USD!

The Ice Maiden – Visit the Museo Santuarios Andinos to see the Ice Maiden, aka Momia Juanita. This perfectly preserved mummy of a young girl is thought to have sacrificed in a ritual offering to the gods sometime between 1450 and 1480. Time Magazine named it as one of the World’s Top Ten Discoveries of all time.

Molina de Sabandía (Sabandia Mill) – Spend an afternoon in the tranquillity of this beautifully-restored 17^th Century Mill within walking distance or a short taxi from the city centre. Explore the old buildings and equipment or relax with a picnic in the shade of the Weeping Willows.

For kids and elderly

Anyone can enjoy Arequipa for the sights, sounds, tastes and markets; there’s so much to see and so much local history and culture that you’ll find it hard to take it all in. Be prepared however; there are no theme parks or water slides in sight for children who tire quickly of walking around absorbing the atmosphere as we adults like to do. (I believe seeing these cute llamas would be enough to get your kids in a tizzy and if they love to eat then you are in the right city. Also if your kids are a bit older then its the best place to get some active time in.)

Arequipa llama

Conversely, being historical city in a South American country, disability access is certainly not what some people may be accustomed to, for example the Europe of the US. Rough pavements, lack of handrails and steep, winding staircases are commonplace here, so be prepared to assist your elderly or less mobile travel companions.

Places to Eat

Arequipa Pachamanca Food

El Hornitos – Pizzeria – San Francisco 216, Arequipa, Peru
Zig Zag – Peruvian and Fusion Cuisine – Zela, Historical Center, Arequipa, Peru
Deja Vu – Good food, bar and party spot - San Francisco 319B, Arequipa, Peru

Places to stay

Arequipa Cathedral Plaza de Armas

Backpacker

Wild Rover Backpackers Hostel - Alfonso Ugarte 111, Arequipa

Dorm from - $7 Private from - $22

Mid budget traveller

Casa de Avila – Av San Martin 116, Vallecito, Arequipa

Matrimonial rooms from $53

Luxury traveller

Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa – Calle Ugarte 403, Arequipa

Rooms from $111

Have you been to Peru or to Arequipa. Share some insights with us. If you have some questions about the place let us know we'll get Kach to come and aanswer them for you

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As we work on bringing together our series on "Weekend trips to Take in 2015" Pondicherry was one of the obvious choices. It fits our requirements perfectly with something quirky to offer and a place to suit everybody's needs. Then the search was on for places which in themselves would be interesting and comfortable for you our readers.Dune Eco group fitted our bill, their Eco resort in Pondicherry was the first one we talked to, and they were generous to host us for lunch and property tour. Here's a recap of all we saw, ate and a brief review of the resort.

The Quick brief

Location

The resort is located in the outskirts of Pondicherry and lies in Tamil Nadu state 16 Km from city center.

Pricing

Dune is a bit on the higher end of the spectrum with total 55 rooms ranging from Non AC nature cooled cottages along the sea costing you around INR 6000 (100$) a night up to private luxury rooms with pool setting you back by INR 16000-18000 (265-300$).

Facilities

Every room gets two cycles so that patrons can move with ease around their 40 acre property. Room service gets food to your rooms even though the area is quite big.

Two restaurants-one a sea food specialty restaurant and another which boasts of tasty and organic food.(Second one is where we had our lunch more on that later)

Spa- the spa offers Ayurveda massage and treatments ranging from a day to 21 days. Along with the spa there is a water treatment called The Watsu which relaxes you, and is only available at 2 other locations in India. They also have yoga classes and personal yoga coaching is available too.

After a very satisfying late breakfast we directed our bike to Dune a modern village as per our host, even though the 16 Km sounded long the property didn't feel that far away. We were greeted by Subhajit at the reception for our tour to begin. Earlier we were told that they were completely booked and we did get evidence when around 4-5 couple walked in quick succession to the reception. The resort is spread over 40 acres, a vast expanse of land right next to the beach. They claim to not have cut a single tree while building their 55 residences and other facilities. It looked like the case too with almost the entire property covered with one type of flora or the other. The designer and manager have both taken great pains to keep the details intact. Small things like the painted car (OK not small), use of mud vessels as dustbins and the direction totem create a laid back ambiance.

Most of the furniture here has been re purposed or bought from other antique shops in and around Karaikudi and Pondicherry. Antiques like the fans, clubbed with artist creations (these lights) and my favorite lights refurbished with window blinds (cover image) bring forth the efforts taken to keep the place eco-friendly. Repurposing is quite close to my heart and as an architect we both could understand how much time and energy it takes not just to reuse but also to maintain.

The rooms are luxurious and quite a bang for your buck. Even though we could not visit a nature cooled room the images of those have me quite biased towards them not to mention a reasonable price and the fact that we rarely put the AC on. We loved the open bath and the pool setting, what I found missing is a mini bar counter but maybe they can arrange the same on demand. What we liked the most was absence of TV in some rooms and even in the rooms where they do have a television there are no soaps and serials playing, no cable means people get out of the room and enjoy the place. Or you can rent a DVD as you cosy up in the room.

They grow quite a bit of vegetables on a small farm and also have around 7-8 cows, so if you have a milkshake here most probably it was from their own cattle. This helps them keep the food organic and fresh. Quick tip : ask them for a milking session if you would like to learn how to milk a cow.

The reason why I would ever stay in a resort apart from all other creature comforts, is the pool. They have two of those, one for your toddler near the children's area and another for you. Adult pool is raised high on a deck, you can easily laze on a lounger and take in sea views. Right next to it is their snacks and sea food specialty restaurant (very convenient). Even if you are not living in the resort you can access their pool for 1500+ taxes for adults and 500+taxes for children.

That brings me to the beach, accessed through the door you see in the Dune promotions, it is a perfect piece of sand well maintained by the resort. Only problem you can't really spend a night on the beach, they don't recommend it because of villages nearby. Another issue is with strong currents which make most sea activities difficult but if you are a strong swimmer dive in. (We did not find any lifeguard along the beach so maybe you shouldn't)

As we moved on to lunch both of us were almost sure that it was going to be awesome and indeed it was. Our only complaint was the time it took for food to reach us but as soon as we had our first bites or sips we were sold. Well balanced flavors and good presentation it definitely added to our Awesome Food Day in Pondicherry.

What is Eco friendly about it

A lot actually but I'll let their own words tell you more about it
"Low consumption LED, waste water treatments plants, Solid Waste Management System, no use of chemicals products anywhere, organic food, organic linen and bath amenities, re-afforestation programs, composting units, solar electricity in common areas, solar hot water systems, up cycling of old buildings into new rooms, buy local, employ local, invest in education, developing fauna and flora biodiversity"

The thing that was IT for us

I told you about how they have re-purposed stuff, well it's not just furniture, they have even moved houses from Kerala to reassemble them; still this was not IT. My favorite part was the wedding mandapa they have shifted from Karaikudi region and re installed here. Over a hundred years old the mandapa must have seen quite a few weddings and you can add yours to the list too. We are already married or else I might have considered Pondicherry and Dune, how awesome it is to get married on a antique.

What we wish they did differently

Though they are a eco resort you will still find petrol/diesel fueled vehicles used to ferry guests around. It would not just be good but also more eco friendly if they switch to battery powered vehicles. Also bad electricity situation forces them to use DG which is not that eco friendly but I do appreciate them running common areas on solar power.

Would we stay here

Yup, Ajay loved the place and I definitely wouldn't give up so much luxury. It also would be a step ahead in us trying to reduce our footprint with small efforts.

In case you would like to book your stay with them either send us a mail or just go directly to them here or book through agoda.

We were hosted by the Dune Eco Group for a free property tour and free lunch, the opinions in the post are our own.

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Past few weeks have been very busy not just with office demanding a bigger share of our times but also with us deciding to change things up a bit on the blog and heading towards a business. 2014 has been a great year which took us from ad hoc freelancing travelers to travelers who are now working on something big. A lot of exciting things are in store from a email course to a weekend travel series, our subscribers will get a Longing Travel calendar and not just that there is something bigger than all of us which we are going to be a part of.

Another big news is that Ajay is now going to be here a lot, we had distributed roles which left me to be the writer and promoter and Ajay did the photography and back end part. we are slowly moving to a situation where we both share and engage those of you who have been on our Facebook page would have noticed Ajay lurking around much more. Oh and another news we crossed 1100 likes on Facebook this Sunday thanks to a promotion we did this past week. The reason why I am excited about it is because a considerable amount of those are organic actually more than 30% are. We are also partnering with some exciting people and if you had seen our FB page you would know we are getting a lot of new stuff for you.

If anyone of you has been facing problems with your business and socials write up to us we are testing a few things and right now our services are free; simply because we are testing. Wait, have you subscribed to the email updates? You should otherwise how will we become closer friends and how would you be a part of our blog.

That's all for updates today let's now talk about one of our favorite encounters on the road.

We have been called foolish and I would have agreed with those people on the day we were walking in Khajuraho from Western group of temples to the railway station. This was not our first visit to the temples of life, and last time we had left no corner unseen so this time all we wanted to do was relive Khajuraho's most famous temples.

After a walk in the complex and eating our heart's content at Raja Cafe across the road we decided to walk the 8 km distance to the Railway station confident in our ability to walk and assured by the string of Hotels on the way. As we walked and sun beat down on us (it was October not fair) water and then beer was a thing we were looking for. Autos, shared vehicles, motorcyclists, four wheelers and even trucks looked at us in surprise. I remember a shared auto did around 2-3 round trips while we were walking and it is quite possible that he did a few more while we wasted our money at Ramada. (Do not expect a cold drink at Ramada Khajuraho, basically don't expect anything cold, AC doesn't work either)

Aloo Paratha and Chutney

With breaks along the road and exhausted we reached corner of the road where a few men were eating what looked like good food. Nothing more than a shack and run by an elderly couple it was definitely the best part of our day even better than the temples. we were served with aloo paratha and chutney, the same you see in the photograph above. Hot, crispy and soft it is still one of the best aloo paratha I have had. We were really happy, you know the kind of happy food makes you, yup that kind warm fuzzy and really intrigued by the dhaniya tamatar ki chutney (cilantro and tomato) which was quite different from what we are used to.

As we packed up and paid uncle, aunty his wife came out of the shack where she had been cooking and asked us why we did not take curd. We thought they might not have it and none of us wanted to be bothersome. As we talked to them they took us in like their own children for those few minutes we were there.

The shack was earlier run by their son, Mijaji whom they lost some time ago. Aunty nearly cried as she talked to Ajay calling him like her son.

I have thought about them a lot since then, whether their shack dhaba is still running or not. I hope it is, over months I have forgotten the address but it is on the road we walked and if I remember correctly it is near the river crossing.

Our Route

In case you do visit them let them know a couple still talks about their parathas and them.

Have you ever had story and food from a completely unexpected place stick to you?

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Last two weeks have been very different from our regular travelling weeks. We went to Jaipur my home town and stayed in almost the entire time. We get to visit my family for limited time and it is always nice to be able to spend time with your family. I wrote no posts and did practically nothing except sleeping, talking and eating. Boy did we eat it was like stumbling from one meal to another. So I decided to do this post today though this should have been the story from the road post but what the heck its my site an I can take liberties if I want.

Jaipur is a paradise for vegetarians we have more pure vegetarian outlets than I have ever seen anywhere. I have a feeling that Gujrat would outdo us but haven't been there so Jaipur takes the crown. This is what I think you should be eating if you are in Jaipur and they are all vegetarian fare.

1. Daal Baati

This is a must have and you have more than enough opportunities to stuff yourself with huge amounts of food and the sweet torture of piled up and ghee drenched food will be with you no matter where you go. It is definitely the way to grow your food baby.
All time favorite for daal bati and accompaniments is Chowki Dhaani. Make it a full night affair and it will be a night to remember.

2. Ghewar

If you are in luck and you visit the city anytime around teej, gangaur or other Rajasthani festivals you are right in time to sample some ghewar which are unique to the city. Even if someone says they have had better ghewar they are lying to you it has to be the rabri ghewar of Jaipur that will steal limelight from any other out there.

3. Tikki

We have many kinds of aloo tikkis being sold around the city. My fondest memories are of the ones which are a part of marriage buffets around the city. This is something that has to be a part of marriage along with s many other stalls we have grown accustomed to. Whether you like tikki with dahi or chole you will never be at loss in Lakshmi Misthan bhandar. My mom used to treat us to tikki in the shop and its legacy has been since their childhood. Though the shop seems to have gone down over time.
Another one I love is a small shop which opens its shutters in the evening at Indira bazaar. Its not the ones near Raiser Plaza. It serves some of the crispiest tikkis you will find.

4. Gupta ji ke Burger

I have no clue who Gupta ji in question is but that's is how the vendor's would quote these burgers to be. Some would call them Dilli ke Mashoor burgers but it makes no difference. These oily morsels are tiny sliders of deep fries bread cut and layered with a small potato patty (its tiny) slice of tomato, onion and paneer with chutneys to add to the flavor. These started out as 5 Rs a piece and last time I had one it was 10 bucks and just as awesome.

5. Papita shake (Papaya Shake)

This invention/recipe changed the fate of a juice shop making it a millionaire (from what I hear). Sweet shake with Papaya, milk and oodles of Icecream loaded with nuts and raisins it is something I never miss when I am in Jaipur. Though many places now sell the shake original outlet is at Gopal Pura by Pass under the flyover.

6. Kachori

Nobody does Kachoris like Rajasthanis and yes I am ready to let the arguments start. If you are in city you would be missing out on a lot of flavor. The city wide mecca for kachoris is Rawat. If you are coming to the city through train or bus it is not that far from you either. Take a small break and sample Kachori both with daal (roasted lentils), pyaz (onion)filling or mawa (sweet milk based).

There is a lot more that the city would love to feed you with and I feel bad omitting ganne ka (sugarcane) juice, Guddu's Icecream or Link road's Golgappe. It might be in one of my next posts soon.

All photos courtesy photopin.com

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If you'd tell our moms that we have tea they'll refuse to believe. We are known as people who do not have tea. Back when it was just two of us in Delhi we would not buy tea leaves. Only when some one visited did our house see tea. Since we have been traveling it has become our beverage of choice and our love for tea grew manifold while visiting Kolkata and assam regions. You have to try their tea to believe that it could be so good. I now know why people would kill for a bag.

Our new found love took us to Sohanlal in Abids. Our fist visit was a chance one. We had a dentist appointment (I hate scaling) nearby and Aj remembered a friend talking about this place. We had the tea and we are certified fans. I have been going gaga over it for the entire time till we visited it again to sample as many goodies as we can.

This being our first week after the Year end trip we were facing some serious travel withdrawals and decided to visit the Sohanlal Teas Time again for a delicious Lunch.

The Tea

Masala chai to be had after you cool it in the saucer

It has to be one of the best teas I have tasted ever. I live in India and that's a lot to say about any place. I do admit you can please me with an honest flavor but this tea has perfect balance of spices to its credit and who doesn't like that. My usual complaint with tea in this part of the country is the amount of sugar they put in. This shop manages to keep sugar low milk perfect and tea awesome.

The Dosa

Butter Chatpata Masala Dosa with chutney

If you travel in India you will experience such variety of dosas that you will be hard pressed to choose just one as favorite. This place serves on of my favorite type of dosa and its spicy. In case i did not tell you spicy is my new favorite flavor. What do i recommend? Do not miss the butter chatpata dosa it is a delight and follow up with the Palak Paneer or the Butter Paneer dosa. What is different about this shop is that they do not serve any sambhar. If you know these south Indian crepes you know There has to be sambhar but there is not and you will not miss it either.
I wanted to have Idli and Uttapam too but there's only so much a person can eat at any time. If you visit and have any thing else do tell me about it.

The Samosa Kachori

You should not even expect any place to sell dosa and Kachori and if they do only one of those will actually be good. This place has done it and the taste is just like you get back in Rajasthan. I suspect that the owner hails from my state. No body does Kachori better than Rajasthan. I have been told they do good samosa and its on my list for next time.

Tea on sale in the shop they also sell a few other things

How do I get there

If you know Hyderabad it just ahead of the GPO at Abids as you go towards the Ramakrishna theater on your left. If you don't know the city ask anyone to get you to the GPO and you can walk to the shop. Here's a map to get you there

View Larger Map

I will be looking for your take on the place.

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How have you been since Saturday I hope you read my last post about eating local. Things have been a bit busy and I have not spent as much time on the site as I want. Any ways there are a few things I wanted to share with you.
There are a few things which have me excited there are festivals, travel plans and some changes.

Hyderabad Street Food Festival (13-15 Dec 2013)

Masala Kart the people behind Chennai Street food Festival are bringing it in Hyderabad.You'll find all the food at Hitex exhibition center in hyderabad. For all the north Indians in Hyderabad who have been craving aloo tikki they are promising Delhi style aloo tikki. I plan on hitting the festival as soon as I can see you there.

Sunburn Goa (27-29 Dec 2013)

I had no clue it existed but it not only is awesome its the nin

th best in the world. Wikipedia calls it 'The festival is an amalgamation of music, entertainment, food and shopping.'
All three days there are multiple stages with simultaneous shows. The early bird tickets are already gone (sorry!!) but you can buy tickets here. I had wanted to visit the festival but the dates just don't work for us, we are travelling!!

The Year End Trip
Like I said holidays are coming and whenever we have leaves we travel. This time we are off to the eastern parts of India. We plan to visit the Konark temple in Bhubaneshwar, Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya, Sundarbans (a day tour), Darjeeling toy train, Manas National park and Kaziranga National Park. Yes you guessed it right these are all World Heritage sites and a part of the challenge.
Below is a map which shows where all we are going.

Did I mention that we are off for just 7-8 days. Wish us all the best and do write in your suggestions below.

FOF Travel

This is a new site I am quite excited about and that is mainly because of following things

1. I love start-ups

2. They have a great concept of friend travel where you can offer or avail a few facilities from your friends.

3. They have introduced the concept of a locker.

Its the last thing that has me happy. More often than not I want to just unload my bags and roam about the city. Lockers and cloak rooms never actually give me the peace of mind I want. I would rather leave them with some trustworthy person which is one of the facilities on offer.

Now the concept of friends might be a bit skewed as you never know everybody on your friend list so I don't add people without their profile pic.

Also they have a few promotions going on where you win some shoes and £300 from STA travels.