We love Goa, it is a place I would probably never grow tired of. Goa gives me a sense of relief even if getting to the state is a bit tiresome. This time we headed off to the South Goa instead of the happening and always partying North Goa. It was probably one of the better decisions we made.

After our trek in the Himalayas we had been really busy with all the shifting, and our next decided travel plans were far away in August, when we head over to Maldives. This meant we had six months of no travel (I don't count visiting family as travel) and by March we were both getting cranky and travel withdrawal was getting to us really bad. so we decided to head over to the beaches and as always they did not disappoint for our 2015 visit to GOA.

Goa to most means beaches, cheap booze and sea food, it is way more than that. Here are somethings you should do in Goa apart from just lazing on the beach.

That being said if you ever dream of spending a week in a live aboard or diving around the world invest in your certification.

Visit the Churches

Bom Jesus Basilica

These churches of Goa are a World Heritage site and for good reason, they are beautiful and where else can you pay respect to St. Francis Xavier, whose mortal remains are displayed in a coffin at the Church. Ride to the church is beautiful as you navigate streets of Velha Goa early Portuguese capital.

See the forests

Dudhsagar Falls

Goa has a huge forest reserve and if you ever make the journey to the state on the train you would pass many water falls and dense forests as the train moves slowly along the edge of a cliff. Many companies run treks to falls and various parts of forests. Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife sanctuary along with Netravali, Cottigao make for a perfect vacation for forest and animal lovers. Two of our friends spent a morning visiting Cottigao (I was sleeping in pain, with a weird stomach ache) and we all went to the beach later; win-win for every one.

Tap your feet to music

Axwell performing in Sunburn Goa

Well this is definitely seasonal but there is almost always something going on in Goa. If you would like to be a part of some of the best EDM concerts in India, head to Goa in the end of December. Though this will be way more expensive compared to visiting Goa any other time, but as they say you gotta live a little. After thinking and ending up broke just before booking tickets every year; we are pretty sure we would be at sunburn this year and it is expensive already.

Go eating

The famous Vindaloo

If you want it there is probably a shop in Goa that sells that food- within reason. We have sat down for traditional North Indian thalis, Goan food, Israeli breakfasts, Italian, Mediterranean and a lot more. though the pricing is not as cheap as you would find in some of the smaller cities but they are fairly good for a tourist magnet like Goa. The portions are usually decent and once you add a few drinks (always cheap) it will be a great meal. Have at least one meal (candlelit dinner anyone!) in one of the numerous shacks along the beach.

Our recommendations for booking your stays

A villa on Airbnb

1. Airbnb- If you still haven't registered with them I don't know why but we have stayed in one of the places through them and it cost us 700 per person. If you are actually not registered, use this link to get 25$(~1500) off on your first booking. If you are looking for luxury book some of the beautiful villas near the sea.

The route how Google Maps shows it and how we did not do it

Trek Day 1 Lamayuru to Wan La

This was an awesome trek and it also is my favorite day of trekking, why because the sun was shining, it had both ups and downs and I was my 100% today. It doesn't matter if I was one of the last few to make it to the camp, the day was glorious. Also I caught cold today and that had a lot to do with labored breathing in the coming days..
I also tore my down jacket today, don't ask me how it happened; I have no clue. It is resting peacefully in my room all patched up with bandages. I'll talk to the store and let you know if there's hope for it.

That red bundle is me walking up to the pass, wearing bright colors in places like Ladakh is a great way to be found.

Trek Day 2 Wan la to FangiLa (Phonjila)

The small pools of river which were yet to be frozen.

Today we walked on Chadar, the frozen sheet of ice on the river. Though I am not sure of the name it is either WanLa river or Yapola river, you can't miss it the river is right next to the road and today it was frozen ice. A few of us got our feet in the water but nothing major. What waited for us was a cold night at Phonjila; me being the scared cold ridden person that I am slept in the Dining area with most of our group.

Trek Day 3 FangiLa to Hanupata

The mountains shined golden when sun fell on them. On a side note I have never loved sun so much.

This was a change of plans and I am still not sure how I feel about the day. even before we had started I was a bit skeptical about how I will fare. I had bad cough and every few steps I had to stop and catch my breath. Still I survived the first half, and after lunch things promised to look up till I broke two layers of ice and my foot was stuck.
Thankfully help was near and I regained use of both my legs in a few minutes. But by them my let was paining from the bruise and my breath was hitched. The result I took a car to the base camp with just 5 km left of the day's trek, what i am really sad about is that Ajay had to come with me. It was a beautiful day but the fact that I couldn't complete the trek was a big downer.

Pangong Lake and Back

Third Highest motorable road and VERY cold, I guess I was out there for just 30 seconds, and none of us wanted to get out on our way back. Yes it was VERY cold.

After being driven back to Leh and sleeping in a warm real bed I was still debating if I should join the group to Pangong or not, I had no desire to feel breathless or catch fever and become an even bigger burden. Thankfully I decided to go for it, even though I spent most parts of the two days trying to keep myself warm the lake was worth driving for even if I spent just a few hours on it.
Most people visit Pangong in summers and they are right, accommodation options are closed, the lake is no more turquoise and temperatures are beyond cold. The frozen lake however is a sight in itself, perfect sheets of salty ice coupled with mountains in the backdrop are definitely the best backdrop for clicking stupid pictures and playing football.

Bangalore is one of the most active cities I have ever seen, and both of us like Bangalore a lot. one of the reasons we like it is because there is just so much to do in and around Bangalore. Just Like I said with Hyderabad it would have been so easy to just do a quick list but this has to be easy and no brainer, like Chennai and Mysore, because I know of friends who have not yet visited these two even though they have been living in Bangalore for ages.The list below has everything from forest to Beaches.

If you would like to add to the list and we have quite a few we would have added too, just put it down in the comments. Also let us know how many of these places have you been to.

A great destination, Hampi is 370 kms fromBangalore and is reachable by daily buses and trains. Recommended for long weekends, you’ll love the slow pace of the historic boulder city. Best time to visit is winters. Don’t forget to pack huge loads of sunscreen and umbrella if you plan to go in summers and you may miss the coracle ride during rains. With heritage temples, village life and awesome restaurants Hampi would be your best pick. You can easily find accommodation in the range of 400-500 a night and food can be as cheap as you want. There are no designated camping grounds but we have heard a few camping stories as well.

Read more about the city here

Some 220 km from the city are the forests of Nagarhole with its varied wildlife and lush green forests. Like most of the tropical forests you should be planning a visit during the cooler months from October to March. With easy bird sightings and nature walks the National Park is a dream destination for any nature enthusiasts. To add to this there are quite a few resorts which have come up and promise to provide you with responsible tourism options. Though these can be very expensive during the peak season you can definitely look around and get some cheaper options. The best part is that there is no fee for the national park, at least that is what Wiki Travel says.

This is almost a default choice for anyone who lives near enough, with the sea, French buildings and delicious food it is a must visit. If you have not been to Pondicherry yet, even after living in Bangalore pack your bags right away.  we have been to the Union territory multiple times now and I would go back in a heart beat, if only for the quirky shops and good food for all tastes. If you are a meat eater you would be a happy person sitting down at one of the many French places or sampling some parotha at any one of the shops.

It might not be the default choice in terms of weekend destinations but Chennai is a great city to spend a eating weekend in. Everyone agrees that the best sambhar is to be had in the city and I second them. Not only that the city has good beaches and heritage monuments which will not just keep you busy but also satisfied. To add to that the city is barely 350 Km from Bangalore and definitely deserving of a road trip. If you opt for the road trip take your time at places like Vellore and Kanchipuram.

This small town in Hassan district is even served by the KTDC tours from Bangalore, so all you have to do is hop on a bus. The town on the banks of Yagchi river is a treasure trove for any history enthusiasts and the forests nearby are equally inviting. The city is just 3 hours drive from bangalore but that doesnot man you make it a day trip. Take at least three days and include Chikmanglur and Shravanabelagola, both of them quite different but defintley worth a visit; Chikmanglur with it's coffee plantations and Shravanabelagola with the world's largest monolithic statue of Jain deity.

Thanks to the cheap flights going to Kochi from Bangalore is very easy and once you are that near to backwaters a weekend cna only get better. Though Kochi is a good place to visit at any time still you would do good to avoid the Monsoons, instead in the cooler months of the year the city can be one of the best destinations to visit. The main city of Kochi is not where you want o spend your time. take a bus from the airport and get to fort Kochi and spend the day and evening there to soak in it's Portuguese Heritage. It is pretty small and we cold walk around on foot easily. If you are interested in spendign a night in a houseboat (as you should be) head to Alleppy. Local buses are good and punctual and you should have no problem reaching any where.

Really you have not been to Mysore and you are in Bangalore! Well never mind this year go and see the lighting on Tipu Sultan's palace and be amazed. the wealth held inside the palace is amazing but photography is strictly prohibited. Apart form the palace do go and visit the Rail museum, or if you are feeling adventurous or religious climb up the Chamundi hill. 1000 or so steps will take you to a temple and get you some of the most beautiful vies of the surroundings. Just 150 Km from Bangalore Mysore cna be an easy day trip for those weekends when you still want to sleep in your bed.

Called as the cradle of Indian temple architecture Pattadakal is more like a laboratory where in one enclosure you will find various temple styles. The village is very small and while visiting we did not find a single lodge but then again we did not ask. We were busy roaming around the campus and then looking for food. Badami is the place where you will find options to stay and it is where you will get in if you take the train route. Badami caves are beautiful though not as widely spread as those of Ajanta and Ellora but beautiful none the less with sculptures to rival any one of the famous caves. If you are there for a long weekend take a trip to Aihole too.

ou might want to check out this post The practicals of Badami and Pattadakal

You might want to check out this post The practicals of Badami and Pattadakal

We put together a guide for the caves, click here to sign up and download it.

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.

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 the people who made this possible

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

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.

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