LONGING TRAVEL

I love safaris, there is something surreal about being so close to mighty animals. We still have to save up enough to get us to and through a week in Africa but it is on our list. If you have ever been on a safari, you would agree with me on one point for sure. The animals look majestic in real life, in their natural habitat. Zoos have nothing on national parks and wild habitats.

I am from Rajasthan, which means I grew up with an occasional Elephant on the street few times a month, but nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of a wild elephant. This mother with her cub in Kaziranga National Park was much more than what I could have imagined. We were far away just like we were far away form the Rhino mother and her cub. They did not fail to impress and did strengthen my desire to go for Big Five African Safari just like the one up in the prizes.

Well that might never happen, and at the rate these poachers are going on it is a very big possibility that the Rhino we spot might be the last of its kind remaining. Oh you thought our kids would see one and be as amazed as we were? Doesn't look like a real possibility unless you help and that help can get you some really cool prizes, a 10 day Galapagos Tour with International Expeditions worth 5298$ or a Big Five African Safari with Adventure &Life for 2 worth $5000 waiting to be claimed.

For offer are two really tempting stays, a seven night stay in Barbados and a 10 night spa stay in Nicaragua. Add to that vouchers from Secret Retreats for stays in South East Asia and you have most travelers ready to donate, not only to support a cause but also to stand a chance to win these and many other prizes.

What is #JustOneRhino

Photo courtesy of Great Plains Foundation

#JustOneRhino is a campaign to support Rhinos Without Borders a project which is working to translocate 100 rhinos from South Africa to Botswana to protect them from the tragic rise in poaching. Botswana has one of the best policies and anti poaching laws in Africa. Moving these animals who can weigh up to 3 tonnes is not an easy task or cheap for that matter. Every step requires security and precision or else you would lead Rhinos to their certain death.

I had been ambivalent about the #JustOneRhino campaign, I knew it is a step in the right direction but I wasn't sure if I felt strong enough that I would put it up on my blog. This image changed it all for me, now it was not something I had heard about it was on my screen and it is tragic. For me the absence of the horn makes it far more scary had it just been a dead Rhino. This was what tipped the balance for me and I hope it does for you too. They are being killed because of us and I know none of us want deaths on our conscience.

Photo courtesy of Great Plains Foundation

It is the same as Human Trafficking in some ways, many suffer so that select few can get what they want, and for those benefiting nothing apart from their own well being matters.
What does travel have to do with saving a Rhino? A lot actually, travelers make the biggest impact, they bring news and traditions form other lands, they cause change. Jeremy Scott Foster from Travelers Building Change put it in the best way possible.

"After taking some time to reflect on my years of independent travel, I realized how much of an impact the altruism of strangers had on my experience. I had entered into numerous communities as a stranger and felt genuinely cared for and looked after. When I realized that many other travelers felt the same way, I vowed to find a way to give back to the communities that had nurtured us on our travels."

http://bit.ly/1AFxdCD

More about the prizes

Now for the gifts we were talking about well they are awesome and not just that you can win one by pitching in as little as 20$(1200 INR) that's less than what you spent on drinks this New Year and definitely less than the flights you will be taking to go on those tours. Here's a sneak peak of those prizes.

And even if you don't win anything you will still get rhino backgrounds for your computer as well as a DIY Origami Rhino. Stop! this is more than winning prizes it is perhaps the earliest chance this year to do something good. We all give away some amount to the less privileged or for a good cause, let this be what you do this year.

Image shared by Angela Aschmann

And the people who made this possible

There are some awesome agencies who have helped the campaign to reach so many people with their contribution.

Apart from them the biggest contributor is YOU. Be a part of this campaign by donating and helping us spread the word in your offices or schools. Don't forget to...

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Over past few weeks I have received a lot of requests for good stay options at various locations from friends and family. Form houseboat rentals to beach villa and I have been looking for the best deal possible fro them. Yes I know I am the best friend ever, and they are awesome people so I love doing something special for them.

To make it easier for all of you to find and book hotels in a way that would help you save some good money, I decided to do this post which will cover two of my favorite sites to book hotels on. There are a few affiliate links in the post below, which means if you do book anything from here I will get a small percentage of your transaction. Be clear, you will definitely not be charged extra, more often than not you will get a free credits.

These days we are not booking our stays beforehand because we love couch surfing and also because we don't mind walking around looking for a cheaper accommodation, or a place that will suit our requirements. We also do not have to take care of a kid and usually stay in a backpacker to low budget accommodations which usually do not require bookings. It might sound cool to arrive at a new place with out bookings and just roughing it out, believe me it can turn on you as it did for us in Bijapur. We recommend that you book your accommodation for first night at least.

Hotels.com

Hotels.com is an international site which offers a great incentive to book. If you book 10 nights with them you get one free night. This is not the only benefit of the site, let me tell you more about it. This is one of the transactions we were looking at but the plans fell through we are now working these days and travelling later.

The Start Page

We were looking for a place to stay in Goa for 4 days and 3 nights along with two other couples. Logging on to the site I fill in the form telling them where I want to stay and for how long. On the next page with search results I get an option to select the amenities I want and the search results are them filtered to suit my preference.

Search Results

Quite a few search results

Once satisfied with my choice on hotel I juts go one and pay the amount and voila I got myself a booking. Now this is almost similar to most of the other booking sites but In terms of filters I have found Hotels.com to be the most accurate.

Selecting my filters

Filtered Results

A property we liked (we do not endorse them)

Room options and Details.

Payment Page

You need to take care that as far as possible you book the hotels with the purple moon next to it and the room you are booking should show collect. Once I go through the booking and my hotel stay is complete these nights will be credited to my account, contributing to the 10 night quota for my free night stay.

This is where my friends come into play since i need to book 3 nights each for each couple, I can collect a total of 9 nights simply buy booking the hotel in 3 transactions, which will be credited the same way. If you are a frequent traveler or you travel with your family or friends you should have no problem racking up those nights and then you can use them to stay at a place you choose.

Another thing I like and the reason why I prefer the site over likes of Goibibo is because the prices are quite competitive. Recently the discount being offered on other sites have been dwindling. Most of the discounts now come with a minimum qualifying expense and put a cap on how much discount you might get. I used to think that the prices would be way higher but since this has not much to do with money and a lot to do with no. of nights rewards remains equal if I book a 600 Rs night or 6000 Rs night.

These make most sense if you are traveling in Europe or any of the other expensive countries since you will spend a good amount which will help you get a good place to stay when you come back to India. They also have this last minute deal which we have never tried. So if you are looking for a place to stay today or tomorrow look it up. In case you do let us know how it went.

I know what you are thinking, I stay cheap now and then stay expensive on my free night. That is not how it works your free night is the average of all the nights you have bought. So in case your office lets book you stays you might want to route them all through Hotels.com.

Do not forget to sign up for loyalty points of your hotel group be it SPG or Hyatt or any other, everything from your stay to food will help you get another free night from the loyalty points.

This is what they say about the free night.

Our loyalty program, Welcome Rewards, is for guests aged 18+ who signed up with a valid email address. When you book and stay 10 nights at eligible hotels, you’ll get 1 night free to redeem at another. We work out the average value of all the 10 nights you’ve collected and give it back to you as a free night. You just pay taxes and fees. And if you choose a room that costs more, you pay the difference. You can’t collect or redeem nights when you pay using a discount coupon or if you’re making a package booking.

Links above are affiliate links which means if you book after clicking through we will get a small percentage of the amount without you being charged any extra.

Next Up: Agoda.com

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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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It's New year and to start it off on the best note possible, here are some tips for our traveler friends in Europe and especially those in Dublin.

Jennifer P. (aka Dr. J) is an American expat living in Dublin, Ireland. She founded Sidewalk Safari, a travel-focused photo-blog in December 2008. Jennifer works full time as a project manager at Google by day and spends 1-2 weekends per month traveling around Europe. Over the past four years, she and husband Scott have taken 80 weekend breaks and bleisure trips around Europe. Given all this travel, Sidewalk Safari will celebrate it’s 2000th post in about a week. You can find Sidewalk Safari on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Having a full time job that you enjoy and loving to travel don’t have to be mutually exclusive pursuits. You just have to be smart about how you go about maximising your time on the road. Tacking on a weekend to a business trip for a bit of ‘bleisure’ (business + leisure) fun is an easy way to make your time off go further and help the miles covered add up.

I work a demanding full time job but I’m lucky enough to call Europe home and Dublin (where I live) is an ideal hub for taking weekend city breaks. Ryanair travels to 89 destinations (and growing!) from Dublin so we are spoiled for choice when we want to get away. The distances are also much shorter in Europe than in the U.S. or India so it is very possible to leave for a ‘Ryanair Weekend’ early on Saturday morning and come back late on a Sunday night. You get nearly two full days to explore a new place without having to use a single vacation day. Splurge and throw in 1 vacation day and you have an enriching three day weekend. If you wrap the trip around a bank holiday, you can get a 4 day weekend for the cost of just a single vacation day.

What if you don’t happen to live in Europe? I’m sure that many of you travel for your jobs. Perhaps you have occasional business trips that take you there? If that’s the case, it’s easy to research possible ‘Ryanair weekends’ in advance and add them on before or after your business trip.

Hubs for Low Cost Weekends

Ryanair Flies to 89 Destinations just from Dublin

Cities like Dublin, London (Stansted and Gatwick), and Brussels (Charleroi) are low cost hubs for Ryanair. If your trip takes you to these locations, you’ve got it made. Most European markets of significant size have one or more low-fare airlines that can whisk you away for the weekend.

Check out route maps (links for Ryanair and EasyJet) for inspiration. Click on any point on the map to see where you can get to from there. Rick Steves has published a table that includes some of the smaller players in the low fare game. You are also likely to find deals on major airlines on routes that compete with low-fare specialists so don’t overlook those options.

How to Decide on a Destination for Hard Working Travel Lovers Who Want to go Everywhere

Skyscanner is an absolute must if you are completely open-minded about where to go, especially if you are on a budget. Put the place where you’ll be traveling on business in the ‘From’ field and Everywhere in the ‘To’ field. Input the desired dates for your weekend getaway and off you go. Skyscanner returns a price ordered list of destinations for you to consider. You’ll see which countries are cheapest and then can dive in one level deeper to see the cost of destinations within that country. Skyscanner also offers an easy to use mobile app.

Skyscanner is perhaps the best site to check fares

'Ryanair Weekend' Gotchas

There are some things you need to be aware of to ensure that your low-cost weekend getaway goes smoothly.

Don’t leave booking to the last minute

The best deals on low-cost carriers are found by booking well in advance. The prices go up the closer you get to the departure date with no deals for last minute travel.

Everything costs extra.

On Ryanair, you are allowed one small carry-on bag. Until recently that was all that was included in the price of your ticket. Even your ‘personal item’ (e.g. a purse) needed to fit into your single bag. That rule has been relaxed a bit as Ryanair is trying to revamp their image to be more customer friendly but be cautious or you could end up spending upwards of 50 EUR on baggage fees. You have to pay to check any bags so if your business trip is a long one, it’s best to stash the large bag at the office or with a colleague staying behind and travel light.

Find the Destination Airport on a Map.

The airports that the low cost carriers fly to are often not the ones you typically associate with a city. For example, Ryanair flies to Beauvais Airport in ‘Paris’ which is actually an hour and fifteen minute bus ride from the city of Paris. Check the map and make sure you know where you’ll be landing. This is especially important if you are trying to time your return with a long haul flight home.

Read carefully and follow every process exactly.

You will not get an exception from Ryanair. Full stop. For example, all non-EU citizens need to stop by the Ryanair check-in desk for a ‘visa check’ stamp. It doesn't matter that you already printed out your boarding pass at home. Without that little stamp, you will be denied boarding. Oh, and you must print your boarding pass at home in advance. If you request one at the airport, it will cost you. Beware and you’ll be fine. We’re good about following rules and have never gotten ‘dinged’ by extra charges in 4+ years of traveling with Ryanair (touch wood).

Weekend Inspiration for Every Season

Here are some of my favorite weekend city break destinations in Europe that are a bit off the beaten track. I’ve chosen one for every season to hopefully give you some inspiration to super-charge your ‘bleisure’ trip.

Clockwise from Top left: (a) ‘Fat Margaret’ in Tallinn Estonia (b) the pastel market square in Gdansk, Poland (c) Mugs of gluehwein at the German Christmas Markets in Cologne (d) Pintxos and Txakoli in Basque Country.

Spring in Tallinn, Estonia

You won’t spend time hunting endlessly for internet access. Estonia is one of the most connected cities on the planet where free wi-fi is ubiquitous in the city’s bars and cafes. Stroll past ‘Fat Margaret’, the iconic gate to the Medieval core and take a step back in time. Step outside the walls into the modern city and see concrete blocks to remind you of the communist era. You can even take a day trip by ferry to Helsinski, Finland from here if you are feeling ambitious (we were and we did).

Summer in Gdansk, Poland

There is so much history in Gdansk. The first shots of World War II rang out here in Westerplatte and the city was the epicenter of the Solidarity workers movement led by Lech Wałęsa in the 1980s. The ‘historic’ core was mostly rebuilt in the image of the original after the war and is a lovely spot to enjoy a plate of pierogies (meat or cheese dumplings) that go down well with beer. From here, you can also take the tram and stroll the seaside boardwalk at Sopot.

Autumn in Basque Country

Basque country spans the northeast of Spain and the southwest of France and represents a proud and vibrant culture that transcends geo-political boundaries. Fantastic food and great beaches are the hallmark of the region. Try macarons made from a recipe created especially for King Louis XIV in the fishing village of St. Jean de Luz and gorge on tiny intricate pintxos served with effervescent wine in San Sebastian on the Spanish side of the border.

Winter at the German Christmas Markets in Cologne and Dusseldorf

The Christmas markets in Germany are a tradition that we revisit again and again each year. Some of our favorite markets are in Cologne. The largest is nestled in the shadow of the Dom (cathedral) but no fewer than six other outstanding markets dot the city. In a weekend, you can also easily access the markets at Dusseldorf and Bonn. I’m a collector by nature. You put down a deposit of a couple euro for the mug when you buy gluewein (hot mulled wine) but you can then take the mug home as a souvenir. We have mugs in all sorts of festive shapes ranging from boots, to snowmen, to beer barrels. We use them year round for our coffee and they always make me smile no matter what time of year it is.

Check out additional recommendations form Dr. J here.

I hope this post has given you the motivation to break free of the airport - hotel - office - repeat cycle that many business travelers find themselves in. Take advantage of your business trips and tack on a weekend break in Europe anytime of year

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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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I am the pillion rider and navigation expert who guided Ajay through the 1700 km we spent on our bike during five days of December 2014. You have probably read what the rider/driver Ajay had to say about the ride and the time spent on the bike.
I am here to bust a few myths and give out some handy information to those who are planning to ride pillion at some point or the other.

You should know how to ride too.

When we started/ Ajay suggested I kept on reminding him that this would mean him riding all 800 km to Pondicherry and then back. He was Ok with it and we did manage quite well. But I believe if I knew how to ride he could have rested a bit and be at ease on the road.

Nagging is not the way to go

If you do not like the way someone drives get off that bike and don't ride pillion unless it is a life and death situation, well at least don't go riding long distances. The rider is right up front and knows the traffic situation better than you (hard to believe right!). If you want to help keep an eye on things coming in from behind or blockages that he/she might miss because they are dodging the traffic.

You are no guest, help navigating

If you believe that driver is going to take the right turn that is not going to happen his hands are busy driving and mind is busy making sure you don't end up face first on the road, it is the pillion rider's job to help navigate. Use a GPS enabled device (highly recommended) or a map and make sure you are on the right road and take the right exit.

Find a way to get the luggage off your back

Your legs are going to get uncomfortable real soon there is no reason your shoulders should be taking any load at least for 16+ hours. Buy a pannieror luggage tie down and get that load off your back and shoulders.

Never say no to a toilet

Stop when you have to use the toilet whenever you can find it they will be hard to come by 10 Km after your pit stop. Ladies if it is periods time make sure you are not just well stocked but also change whenever you find a private enough toilet. If you get cramps do something about it back seat of a motorbike is not the place to practice drug free restraint, make that pain go because this ride is not ending anytime soon.

Odometer and roads talk differently

Did your odometer show you driving at 80 Kmph for last 40 minutes, but the road signs show you have barely traveled 30 Km don't scratch your head, trust those road signs because it is the road that matters. As a thumb rule you will average around 50-60 Km every hour including breaks so don't fret you will reach when you do.

Protect your self

There are elaborate protection options available for almost all parts of your body but full body armor is more often than not required. Get yourself a good helmet something you would be comfortable in wearing and can easily breathe in with the visor closed. Add to that rain protection and in case you are riding in cold weather get yourself a pair of gloves. There is another piece of gear which I love so much that I wrote and entire post about it, even if you don't get anything else get this. (The post is coming Soon)

Right glasses are a blessing

Like I said earlier you need to be navigating and also have your eyes on the road, getting blinded by sand or lights is not going to help. Get anti glare sunglasses which you can wear even in the night time basically they should not be CAT 4 or 5. If you have two glasses one for the sun and another anti glare driving glass that would be ideal.

Seat Covers matter

People will tell you a lot of functional reason why your bike seat should be protected and they are all right on point. What most miss is to tell you how a wrong seat cover can wreak havoc on your behind if you are going to be riding for long. We started with a old seat cover which was almost off the rear part of the seat and had folded. I could feel it poking me all through our first eight hours of ride and then we decided to get rid of it and the ride was much more smooth. Our plan was to get a padded cover but couldn't find one, still I was way better without any seat cover than a bad one.

Basic tools are a must

With all the vibrations and speed our number plate screws got loose and as we reached Nandyal we found out we were missing a screw. Our swiss knife came in really handy as we cut a piece of cord from our now removed seat cover and tied the number plate with it. When another one was lost next day at Ranipet same, since then we have driven over 1200 Km and our number plate is still secure. We had been thinking if we should take the knife or not. In short, Best Decision ever.

Soda works better than Chai

We had tea almost every hour either to stretch our toes or to keep me awake and though it served the first part well I would never really feel the stimulant effects of tea. Then at Kadappa on our way back we decided to drink some soda, and that did the trick. Not only was it refreshing I was up and awake for the remaining 8 hours. My research says there is same amounts of caffeine in a serving but usually the servings on road are quite small.

Huge meals are good for you

Usually we eat every few hours but if you are riding and do not want to waste time it is better to have huge meals instead of stopping to eat every few hours. We had some biscuit and chai early in the morning and then a huge breakfast around 9 am which would keep us full till 2-3 pm around which we would be in another city and sit down for lunch.

Take care of how you dress

This one is more for female riders or pillion drivers. Those movies which show shorts wearing ladies rocking a bike are not realistic especially if you are riding through Indian highways and rural areas. Be sensitive and more importantly sensible. Wear a loose jacket and tie in your hair. Less you look like a female lesser problems you will have. We rode through a lot of different roads villages and areas but had no problem except for a minor incident near Hyderabad. But it was enough to remind me that I had forgotten my self prescribed medicine of not drawing attention to us. The drive was safe even at 8-9 in the night and through villages just take precautions as you would take anywhere. It is irritating to even write this but it is still rare for women to be on highways riding a bike, and not all curiosity is good.

These are not all the things you need to know but they will take you through 16 hours on a bike any day, other's you will learn soon after you are on the bike. Do remember to take rest and start early whenever your destination is more than 400 km.

Let us know if these were of help and when you are planning to take your first road trip. In case you are a road trip veteran share with us your tips and tricks

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