1. We plan our travels WAY in advance

Saving ourselves from -20C in January while trekking the Himalayas. We booked the trip in April Last Year

Seriously if I ever hear that I can't plan that far in advance or I don't want cancellations I am running out of the room. Ever since we started traveling we have been asked the question and we have told the honest answer. Me being the fool I am I go to lengths to explain to the answer seekers what they are doing wrong but leaving it to the last minute. Result is not always good but thankfully nobody asks me again about how to travel more.

There is no real reason to plan in as much advance as we do. The problem is most of us desk dwellers are not spontaneous enough to travel when the time comes, hence the need to plan your travels.

We plan our trips at the start of the year or as soon as we get the holiday calendar for the upcoming year. We usually plan a few 8 day trips (In 2015 we have 26 days for long trips and a lot of smaller 1-4 day trips are peppered in between. Spacing the longer trips means that we are not out of office every few days and we make sure to use all the long weekends and a lot of regular weekends too.


Planning that far in advance keeps us open to deals that might come our way. this is one of the biggest reasons why we usually pay far less for flights and can afford to travel more on a much smaller budget. If you are interested to know how exactly we plan our travel head over to this detailed post.

There is no way we would be able to travel as much as we do with a 5.5 day working week without planning in advance. If you are one of those who find both motivation and money to go on a spontaneous week long trip you don't necessarily have to plan the way we do.

2. We got a great Travel related credit card

If almost every other traveler or blogger is telling you that you need a great travel credit card it is time to accept that probably you do. We bought our credit card in 2013 around the time we started traveling. We have had many free flights, buses, discounted flights or hotels and all from doing nothing else except for taking out credit card instead of cash at the grocery store.

3. We learned how to not book stuff

When we went off to Srilanka for a week long trip the first question our colleagues asked us was who did you go with. They wanted to know which tour package we had booked and how did that turn out for us. Imagine the shock when we told them we went on our own. Is that safe? Yes it is.

4. Control your expenses and be clear about your priority

If travel is your priority then you should probably not be spending on filling your wardrobe with clothes and shoes. If you want to travel to far corners of the world filling in your home with furniture and gadgets you hardly use and definitely don't need, is not a wise plan either. So what is wise? 

Enjoying the heritage of Rajasthan at Citi Palace Jaipur.

Actually it depends on you, if like us you are happy with enough at home so that you can spend more time on the road you don't need much. On the other hand living like we do with all required furniture and a fully equipped kitchen might feel less to people because they need TV or AC. We don't watch TV and I believe it is a conversation killer as it is, since we are in office most of the day we don't need Ac either. These save us a considerable amount of money every month, and we never had to bear the one time cost either.

5. We really want to travel and are OK with working for it

What are your ways of travelling that have kept you travelling better, longer and being even more awesome? Don't keep those hidden let them show off.

A Lantern at Palolem Beach Goa

South Goa probably is at the stage where North Goa would have been a decade ago. Quiet pockets and secluded beaches along with good food and readily available services. I still remember the first time we went to Goa way back in 2012, we knew just one Goa- the one which revolves around Baga, Calangute and Anjuna beaches. It was busy, chaotic, crowded and expensive. Our second trip took us to Velha Goa as we were on the GoUNESCO 2013 mission of visiting all world heritage sites. In 2014 we got our SCUBA certifications here and spent a blissful week soaking in the relative quiet of off season in the state.

Go Diving

A School of Fish

You know I love diving and if I could I would be diving every beach we can find, this time we were out of money but if you are heading to Goa go diving. We are certified divers that means we can dive with minimal assistance, go deeper and it is usually cheaper. If you do not have a diving certification and are mot interested in spending upwards of 18000/- to get one go for Discover SCUBA.These are pretty cheap starting from around 5000/- and you don't have to spend time learning and then passing the test.

The City of Nizams and the home of Kohinoor Hyderabad has a distinct culture, a proud mix of Telangana, Andhra and Nizami heritage which shines through the city and its various monuments. As we started our bike at 7:30 in the morning to visit some of the best parts of Hyderabad we were sure we will miss a lot. There is just so much to do and see, that we decided to take up the entire next month and dedicate it to the city. From its old city bazaars to the up coming new offices and glass facades.


Home to the Qutub Shah dynasty after breaking from the Bahamani rulers the city took birth from the enclosures of Golkonda fort, when Charminar was constructed. Like I said earlier there is a lot to see and do we were hard pressed to eat it all and then see it all. We covered five of city's famous monuments and ate at some of the well known places, and then some of the less known ones too.
Though the city is now knows for its IT parks the heritage stands tall, literally. With a fort high up on the hill overlooking the tombs of its rulers all kept safe by an enclosure running into kilometers.

Missing out on the delicate carvings and beautiful ceilings of the Chowmahalla would be criminal if you ever set foot in the city. A treasure trove for the history buffs and a delightful experience for any one who is looking for food and culture Hyderabad can keep you occupied for days but there are very few who give the city the time it deserves.

Charminar and The Market

 The icon of Hyderabad Charminar a mosque constructed by the Qutub Shai rulers. The monument stands tall with four roads reaching it one from each direction. With markets famous for its finery like bangles (Lad Bazaar) pearls (Patther Ghati) and Nizami cuisine Charminar the monument is but a part of the larger CharMinar area what is called the old city of Hyderabad.


Over past few years we have visited the monument multiple times and the charm of climbing the winding stair wears out after the first time for most. Though if you go early int he morning it is a great setup for clicking the area.It is a must visit for anyone who wants to see the bazaars of the city. A walk around the area from Charminar to Chowmahalla palace or Ashur khana is one of the best ways to take in the area.

Important points

• Tickets are 5 for Indians and 100 for Non-Indians. There are no charges for a regular camera but video cameras are charged.
• The monument is open from 9am to 5:30 pm all days except Fridays.
• Reach the monument as early as you can and even the bazaar. This gets a lot of visitors and it is not uncommon to have a long line almost running around the periphery of the building
• It is not accessible to people with any mobility issues. upper stories can only be reached through winding stairs which can be a challenge for even those with best legs.
• It is better to walk around the market if you don't want to test yourself with high steps with small treads. Maneuvering a wheelchair might be difficult in the market on your own.
• Traffic gets worse as the day progresses, beware of your surroundings especially while crossing the road. Vehicles can come from any direction and would not stop unless they have to.
• The area has some of the best eateries around town for Nizami cuisine and have been here for ages. Sample Irani tea with some Osmania biscuits.
• As long as you are decently dressed and not showing much skin nobody will frown upon your choice of dress. If you want to completely eliminate the possibility of people looking wear a headscarf, it is completely normal for some to cover their faces with the head scarf. This is by no means necessary unless you want to visit the mosques in the area.
• There is no toilet access in the monument itself.

The Chowmahalla Palace

Palace of the current Nizam though not his current residence the palace showcases luxury and opulence of the city's rulers. Barely a few km form Charminar it is a cheap auto ride or a good walk through the markets.
Rooms of the palace have been turned into galleries displaying historical facts, seals, royal finery, crockery and restored Qurans to name a few exhibit. The exhibit which draws attention the most is the one with royal ides on display from elegantly embroidered buggy to bikes, cars and jeeps leading to the prized Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. For those with historical weapon interests this is a must visit with displays of weapons ranging from fine arrows to guns.
The palace and specifically its ceilings are something which are well worth the visit if you do not like any thing historical.

Important Points

• Entry is 40 for Locals and 150 for non Indians. 50 Rs is charged per still camera and 100 for video cameras which is checked at many spots.. For some reason  tripods and stands are not allowed. Parking is 10 for a two wheeler.
• Opening timings 10 am to 5pm and is closed on all Fridays and national holidays.
• Keep at least 2 hours for the palace if you plan on moving fast with cursory glace at the exhibits, more if you actually plan to read the description.
• Photography and access is prohibited in many areas. Such areas are clearly labelled. You cannot go wrong as there will almost always be a guard on duty in any room.
• Though the palace in general is accessible with a wheel chair most of the exhibits aren't. We saw a few with wheel chairs but most were at some point assisted to their feet or had to wait while others roamed inside.
• This is also one of the more visited monuments of the city and it is quite common to have buses after buses stop here. if you want to roam around in quiet reach there by 10 am.

Golkonda Fort

Probably the second most famous building of Hyderabad after Charminar, the fort is famous for its acoustics among other things. You will find a crowd clapping right at the entrance of the fort so that others at the top of the fort can hear them. Known worldwide for being the home of some of the famous diamonds in the world including the Hope diamond the fort can take days for any one to discover its nooks and corners. Some parts of the fort are closed for conservation purposes while many openings have been closed to maintain the integrity of the fort.

Important points

• Entry is 5 for Indians and 100 for foreigners. Video camera is charged at 25 and there are no charges for still camera. Be sure if someone asks you for a ticket for your camera, if it is not a videography camera you don't owe any body any money.
• Opening times are 9-5:30 everyday except Monday.
• There is a sound and light show in three languages. The show starts usually around 7pm and the tickets can be bought from the same window as the entry ticket for 130 per person.
• If you plan on climbing to the top carry water with you as there were no water source on our climb.
• The fort is partially accessible but we did not find any ramp to access the upper areas.
• Like the other two monuments there is a huge crowd every day in Golkonda especially on weekends.
• Guides are easily available, you can also choose to take the GPS audio tour they are available right outside Fateh Darwaja after collecting your tickets.
• There is a cloak room near the ticketing window and no bags are allowed inside though we did find people playing badminton inside. Charges are 5 per bag and you are issued a receipt, keep it safe.
• Another small monument that can be visited is the Taramati Baradari, entry is free and it is a around 3-4 Km from Golkonda fort. It is a part of Tourism hotel grounds but you need not spend a penny to visit it.

Qutub Shahi Tombs

Tombs of the Golkonda rulers who changed the face of the city and its surroundings. They were the founders of Charminar and Hyderabad. The complex is barely few km from the fort and extensive conservation work is underway, which does not interfere in enjoying the magnificent architecture and elegant details.
Start your visit with the interpretation center which will take you through the history of the area. It is really fascinating to see older photographs of the area which show the vast expanse of the kingdom. There are over 40 tombs of various sizes, 23 mosques 5 step wells and an enclosure running for kilometers.

Important Point

• Entry is 10/5 per adult/child for Indians and for foreigners. Camera charges are 20 and you pay 10 for parking your two wheeler.
• Opening times are 9-5:30 everyday except Monday.
• This is a huge complex and would take at least 2-3 hours for you to visit it and take in all the information.
• Guides are available though we could not find any audio guide being provided.
• It is a decent walk from the entry gate on the main road. If you have come in a auto ask it to drop you inside after you buy the tickets we did see a few autos passing the barrier.
• Be respectful these are tombs and mosques. It is expected that you would be decently dressed though the chances of anyone harassing you are minimal.
• Do not miss the mortuary bath it is a rare buildings and you will not see this in most of the famous Indian monument complexes whether they house tombs or not.

If you are in southern India make a day stop at least in Hyderabad, you will not be disappointed.

We have been asked if we do Hyderabad day tours/ package tours. If you also have the same question please send us a message on our FB page. 

We are back from Andaman and here is one of the most common sites you will see island hopping in the archipelago. A distant Island making beautiful sunsets even more beautiful. Did I hear you go Awww... First post about Andamans is coming soon...

This photograph of fiver year younger us is something I still cherish. It was my first trip ever with friends and it was awesome. I still think about it and it has moments i can never forget like that time when I cliff jumped in Ganga.

If you want some quality time it is time to hit the road with your friends.

Travel can have many reasons behind it. You can travel for business or leisure, you might be running from something or to something you might be looking for company or you are looking for solace.
Many talk about how travel helps you find yourself, it is true. By challenging your ideas and limits you discover how much more you have to offer to the world and how much more the world has to offer you.
If you disregard the idea that a particular place can help you find the peace within you are missing something. No doubt peace is to be found within you but it is also something that a place can induce in you. Have you visited Mughal monuments without all the rush or sat down at the Taj you would have felt it. Don't rush through your travels and experience. this does not mean that you have to travel slow you just have to travel unhurried.

When was the last time you felt peace while travelling?

We took this photograph while roaming in the Galle Fort, Srilanka. This is a free museum which displays personal collections of a Srilankan gentleman. The collection varies from china to clothes. When we came across this lady we could not understand what she was doing. It looked like some kind of weaving but I could not have understood what was actually being made.
She is weaving Lace. If you have seen it being done similarly do share some of the pictures and if you do it how do you remember where to knot!

There are so many skills and arts that are practiced around the world. You will never come across them if you do not travel. These may be far more interesting than the Mona Lisa.

This was taken at Sundarbans though the monkey looks calm it is only because it is busy with food. They are perhaps the animals we have met most apart from humans. The most surprising meeting was at the Keola Deo National Park where a group of monkey roamed around free and were scared of us on our rickshaw.
The reason for monkeys acting docile is that visitors are not allowed to hand them any food or other article. If only people would heed this advice everywhere.
This might not seem a fitting inspiration for many but remember travel is not about isolation, nature and its various members should be a part of your travels too.
Also I wanted to say... don't hand out food to animals in wild you are not doing much good that way.

PS: We got our prizes for winnign the GoUNESCO challenge and they are epic more about that in the next post.

This was in the train to Hatton from Kandy. I have traveled a lot in train this past year but I am really scared to hang from the door the way Aj is doing in the picture. He loves it, so he asked me to pose and me being the stickler for rules and damn scared just spread my hand. I was definitely not standing on one leg. He on the other hand was really keen so I clicked this picture and you can see how happy he is.
We all have these small things we have always wanted to do but we don't. May be because we don't realize that we want it or because we are busy thinking what others will think. When you are away you can relax because they are all strangers and you are yourself. It can be therapeutic and will make you really happy. Try it sometime soon better yet go travelling and discover what small things you like.