“What? Are you crazy?” My mother asked me, absolutely flabbergasted.
Erm…no? I said confidently not ready to give up so easily.
“Then how the hell are you going to make it”? She continued staring at me, like I had decided to go and watch ram gopal verma ki Aag on dvd.
If you are wondering what was causing my mother such excruciating grief, then let me tell you. I had just told her that I was going backpacking across Rajasthan. Simple enough, right?
Well, hold on before you say “wow that’s so cool”. The fact is that I was going on a shoestring budget. To be honest, it was just a “string budget”. Shoes are too expensive and overrated anyway. My budget for the overall trip including returning home in one piece was 3000 k. Yes…you heard me right! 3000 bucks. And I am not crazy!
Now before you jump to conclusions and say that “It’s impossible” let me just straighten my collar and tell you that I have done it before. A lot of times. I am an avid backpacker. Yes, I have backpacked across the whole of Rajasthan within the aforementioned amount and I can say, very proudly, that it’s a very achievable task. All it takes is a little bit of planning and the stamina to rough it out! (But trust me, IS also a lot of fun!).
I made my first trip when I was 16 with a bunch of girls I wasn’t too fond of. I went to across Maharashtra, spent 1200 bucks for 15 days, listened to them bicker about the heat and headed back home. It is not that I like traveling like a pauper (which I am, most of the time. But that’s beside the point) but the idea of backpacking, is to use minimum resources and see maximum places. Yes, you do need a certain amount of cash but what is more important is a sense of adventure and challenge and being open to the idea of stealing from roadside eateries in alien cities.
Now all these gyaan seems a lot of fun when you are just reading it. But the problem is that most of us, Indians, get our thrill, or sense of “adventure” by just watching AXN and silently hoping that they get to take part in a survivor or amazing race one day. I love us. But come on people, get real! If your idea of adventure is to go trekking to bushy dam in lonavla and are one of those who prefer to get your beauty sleep every weekend then this isn’t for you! Go back to sleep and don’t thrash in bed!
IF you are still reading then, I am guessing that you do like traveling and the idea of shoestring backpacking is something that you want to consider.
Super. Read on.
No first, let me just clear some myths about the notion of backpacking.
- It is NOT an activity undertaken only by hippies or phirangs.
- You do NOT have take a year off or a month to backpack. (But if you could then it will be awesome). It can be done within 2 weeks.
- You do NOT have to burn hole in your pocket to travel. You’ll keep losing your change, see?
- And lastly, you do NOT have to head to Europe or any other country to backpack. Apna India has a lot of fantastic places to go to.
Now since all that is cleared, let me just get in to the details. (This is crucial for budget traveling).
Step 1: Now that you have decided to travel I hope you know where you want to go. No? Then what are you waiting for? Christmas?
Okay, that bit. But I am allowed one bad one.
Take out a map of our country and mark a place. But before you do that fix on a budget because that will primarily decide how far you can venture. Now you can’t go to Arunachal Pradesh with a budget of 5 k, can you? Not unless you are not planning to return. And don’t worry if your budget is not too much. Just be prepared to slog a little.
Now that your budget is in place and you know where you are going.
Step 2: Next step, book the cheapest tickets possible. And I don’t mean air tickets! Railways zindabaad. But before that find out if there are some alternative ways to get to your destination. For example, if somebody you know is going in that direction via car or anything the just join them. Sounds cheap? Well it is, but whom are you kidding. You’re reading this article and you’re poor. Deal with it.
Shelf your pride. Period.
Once when I had to gone to Himachal Pradesh I went along with an uncle whom I had never seen before till Delhi in his car. Imagine the amount of money I had saved!
Step 3: Before you jump in to your mode of transportation, do some research. This is where Google comes handy. Find out the cheapest places to stay in. Hotels, hostels, guest houses, etc. With some good research, you will be amazed at the amount of options of you will find. Take a printout with you and don’t lose it! Making paper rockets when bored isn’t an option either.
Step 4: So you have reached your destination. Don’t rush towards a hotel! Mingle with the locals for a bit because in some places you can stay with the families also for dirt-cheap prices. With food. Just don’t be uptight, act lechy with the women or inform them about your fascination with blood.
Step 5: One big reason people usually end up spending their money before time while traveling is because they are idiots. Don’t shop and you’d probably never come across a better time to diet. Now come on people, if you are traveling, you don’t want to have a burger do you? Ok, even if you do, then too bad. Try the local cuisine which will be way more exciting and new. And you are traveling, not for shopping. You do that enough once at home. And besides, such faltu kharcha will set you back on your budget. If you want to pick up souvenirs for family and friends then it is always a great idea to get them some sand and rocks. They’re not available at home, will remind you of your trip and are free.
Just don’t go on a spending spree. Remember every penny counts.
Step 6: Be open to adventure and fun. Don’t just stay in your room. Step out, meet people, visit the tourist sites, there is so much to do! Just be safe and don’t do anything stupid like taking lifts from strangers and venturing out in the middle of the night alone!
We know money’s tight but mugging never helped anybody.
Once you are out, you are responsible for your own safety. Keep in touch with your family and let them know where you are constantly. In your state of adventure don’t give your parents a hard time.
Remember, they gave you life and considering you’re unlucky enough to be poor, chances are, they WILL take it back.
As a fan of traveling I always suggest traveling in a group. Think about it! There is a lot of advantage. Your costs get divided, you have company and in general it is a lot of fun to travel with your buddies. But just in case you plan to make a solo trip, then just make sure you don’t make the trip too cheap. Keep a slightly higher budget and pick modest hotels with sane managers and staff. Don’t try and mingle with strangers too much and in general don’t try and act oversmart! Might just cost you big time.
All said and done, there is no bigger joy than a good trip. I have made numerous ones myself and I have never spent more than 5 k for any of my trips. Yes, I am super poor. Big whoop.
That is considering, I have stayed in people’s verandahs, monasteries and once under a tree. Ah…the way the crow poop moisturized my curly locks!
Now before I go into my nostalgia trip, go start preparing. And don’t forget to click pictures or make a diary of your trip at the risk of sounding like your 3rd grade teacher. That will just motivate you to make a next trip. And dont forget to psot some pictures!
Goa, the very mention springs images of beaches, beer, babes and bongs. Of late it seems that rape and murder is almost as popular an activity in the region.
Personally i never got the attraction of Goa, for me the beach has always been South Beach, Miami but the attraction is not hard to see. Goa has beaches, miles of it, cheap housing, cheap food and cheap booze. This serves to attract a wide range of people - students holiday, junkies looking for a cheap score and retirees, ex army folk from Israel. It is one of the few truly international/cosmopolitan cities in India due to its tourist make up.
Add to this a lax administration at the best of times (the entire civil administration is only out to make a buck shaking down people) and you have the easy availability of drugs and contraband. Then you have people trying to take control (Russians)
the Bohemian make up of Goa is at stake. The hippy mindset is beginning to blow up in peoples face, take a jaunt down to Curlys in Anjuna its like Amsterdam, you can get pills, bongs are passed around in the open, the falafal platter is 200 bucks you will start to see what the attraction is.
So what is the big deal? This has been going on for a while, the trance, the pills, the sex, so whats the fuss all about? The fuss is that crime is becoming a big part of this little state. People are being murdered and the drug use is getting out of hand. The hippies forget that everyone is not a hippie, free love, peace and all that bullshit. Plenty of people are there just to make a buck or take advantage of the situation.
Add to this the overtly aggressive and repressed Indian male and his propensity to consider all foreign women as easily available and you will see a pattern emerging which will end with acts like those forced upon Scarlett this past fortnight. The authorities need to wake up, to the threat this sort of situation holds for the entire tourism Industry.
The hippies need to wake the fuck up as well and figure out that they need to be safe first and then enjoy life and all the jazz. Ridiculous shit like sex for rent and sex for food is not the way to go through life. It will almost always end up blowing up in your face. I have seen so many women walk around unaided at 4am that its a sheer surprise you dont hear of more women being attacked.
Overall, i think Goa is dying, a day will come when the shit will hit the fan, people will be kicked out and then the locals will be left holding the shit bucket. One they helped fill.
As a young boy my father would take us on vacations,interesting ones, all over the country. We would see the sights, take in the airs, experience the life. However one peculiar thing about my family vacations, my dad would always leave something out, Delhi without the Qutub Minar, Nainital without Corbett, Rajasthan without Jodhpur & Jaisalmer. To this day i don’t know why.
I have spent the last 5 years, since i returned to India, righting these wrongs. Qutub has been done. This past week it was Jodhpur & Jaisalmer.
Jodhpur
Jodhpur is a small town, with a lot of history, like most places in India, no one cares bout this history unless they make a living from it. The town itself has precious little to offer in terms of a genuine experience. If you like buildings and forts, you will want to visit once. Other than that, culturally, gastronomically and socially the place is pretty much bankrupt. You will be surprised to find that most places serve a mixture of punjabi + south indian food. Rajasthani is something you have to go looking for. Overall you need a weekend and you can “do” Jodhpur.
A visit to jodhpur tour is centered around Mehrangarh fort. Probably, the cleanest, largest, most well maintained historical structure in the country (i reckon because the government has nothing to do with it). The fort was built mostly between 1500-1650s, entry cost is 20 rupees, 50 rupees for a camera pass and 100 for a guide. Not a rip off at all and absolutely worth it.
You have spectacular views of the NOT so blue city from its ramparts. The houses were supposed to denote Brahmins, not so much anymore though.
the palace itself isn’t very grand but the overall architecture is highly sophisticated with a mixture of very different styles of work however the overall effect is seamless.
As is true for most forts in India there is always a moti masjid or mahal (mahal in this case) and a sheesh mahal (glass palace)
The fort also contains exhibits of arms(like Emperor Akbars sword), arts and artefact’s which makes the visit all the more interesting.
Umedh Bhavan is one of the largest private residences in Asia. A sheer monster even for a country known for its excesses.347 rooms took a near 20 years to construct & cost of nearly a Crore (back between 1925-1943). Mindless excess? Not really, it was built as a drought relief project, and employed 6000 people of all kind, laborers, artists.The structure is divided into three sections a small museum, a 60 room hotel and a private residence. Plenty of very interesting art on the walls, some fascinating murals you can stare at for a day.
That is pretty much it. If you are the likes of people who get taken in by Lonely planet etc, you would like to visit the Sardar (clock tower) market for its bangles and riff raff.
Our Hotel
Instead of staying in a not so great property in Jodhpur we chose a hertiage hotel in the village of Luni 35 kms away. It is really in what i would call bumblef**k, a village in and of the boonies. the hotel though was fantastic.
A heritage hotel built in a fort. Fort Chanwa is not only one of the best hotels i have ever been to, they also offered stupendously attentive, friendly and warm service. A testament to Rajasthani hospitality.
The food was also amazing, absolutely some of the best i have ever had. The chef would make anything on order, regardless of the menu. Some fantastic Khichadi, Dal Baati, Paneer Masala, Dal Makhani. the food alone was worth the stay. Evil Stuff.
A nice little pool to chill by. As disappointing as the trip was, the hotel and service made up for it by leaps and bounds.
Next Stop Jaisalmer. Be prepared to have your romantic desert notions shattered.
Open your eyes and all you can see is greenery. It extends beyond the horizon, hills covered with coffee plantation with patches of paddy field in between, clouds lingering on the mountain tops, there is a kind of sweetness in the air, only voices you hear are that of the peacocks or sparrows chirping, the air tingles against your skin. Do you dream of such place? If you do, I might just have found address of one of such places for you!
And the place is not far off from namma Bengalooru. Around 270kms from Bangalore, about 50kms after Chikmanglur, is the resort ‘Eagle Eye’. Situated far far away from the hustle-bustle of urban life, you get to enjoy a cozy holiday with all basic luxuries at good price. The place has something to offer for people of every taste. Are you looking for a silent gateway? Curl up with cup of hot tea or coffee grown in local gardens and a book on the terrace, on a hammock, or just sit by the window in your cottage, explore the coffee plantation nearby or order a massage for yourself. You will loose count of time. Want to enjoy with family and friends? Go for the guided tour of plantations, go fishing, take a coracle and drift on the water all by yourself, go for jungle picnic, bathe under the waterfall or just play badminton in one of the open air courts. Want an adventures holiday? Go for trekking, rock climbing, take a jungle safari or camp in the jungle. Enjoy your evenings by the bonfire. If you want, they will play the funky music and you can dance your way to midnight or enjoy romantic music with special someone.
You can stay in a cozy cottage lined with coffee tree woods, or the villas for a big group or one of the two tree houses. The tree houses are awesome but they need advance booking. Most important part is the place is spotless clean! Food is simple yet yummy; the air does wonders to your appetite. Even normal bread tastes sweeter. Staff is always smiling and very helpful. They don’t have any room service. Their motto is ‘home away from home’. The owner says he hasn’t provided room service because he wants people to come out of their rooms at least for food and get some fresh air.
They say summer is the best season to go there but I went in July. It was drizzling all the time but it added only more fun to the whole experience. More than a week after the holiday and I want to go back again. If you would like to go there too, checkout here for more details!
Incredible! Magnificent! Super! Awesome! Words failed to enter my mind. I was so mesmerized by the spectacular view in front of me. This was 2 weeks ago, in the South of France, Cote D’Azur as it is famously known, between St. Raphael and St. Tropez, in a small sleepy town called Les Issambres, high on a hill in Villa Bali overlooking what I believe is one of the best coastlines that I have ever seen. Check it out…
For interested holiday makers, the villa also has a small self-catering apartment and two double rooms with bed & breakfast facilities, which are rented out reasonably. All the rooms on this spacious property face the Mediterranean Sea. It’s simply amazing to wake up to white yachts, jet skis and fishing boats dotting the brilliant blue sea.
Interested travelers, check out the following website for Villa Bali reservations www.villa-bali.fr .The owners of the property, Jean-Christophe Bence and his lovely wife, Isabelle, were extremely warm, welcoming and helpful. We had a great time with them.
The best part about Les Issambres is it’s proximity to all the major tourist spots in the French Riviera. Monaco, Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, are within driving distance of 1 hour. Sure enough, these cities live up to their promise of showcasing pristine beaches, sparkling aqua waters and all that your heart could desire.
For wine lovers, a bit inland, not too far from Les Issambres, is Les Arcs village, nestled at the foothills of the French Alps, Provence, a district known for its vineyards. A visit to Maison de Vin (House of Wines) is a must, where one can taste all the wine produced from the Provence area. Dining in the restaurant there is an option but sadly it has nothing to offer vegetarians. This aside, visiting Chateau Font du Broc, one of the most popular vineyards in the area is something one can not miss. The wine cellar on the property was HUGE! For scheduling a visit, go to www.chateau-fontdubroc.com
The trip was… (gosh, I’m out of words again!)… fabulous! The icing on the cake was watching the Formula 1 race live in Magny-Cours and we were awarded with a Ferrari win which made it all the more memorable.
Traveler Tip - Renting a car is the only way of getting around from Les Issambres to all the above mentioned places. If you’re someone who has driven in the US then it shouldn’t be too tough to drive here. Make sure you have your international driving license and insurance cover.
Are you a thrill seeker, culture curious, nature enthusiast, party animal, sports freak, honeymooner, shopaholic, glam thirsty or in search of mind, spirit and body relaxation? Whatever the profile of the traveller there’s bound to be a wish-list of places to visit. Here are my picks and some travel must-dos for every possible type of traveller.
1. FOR THE THRILL SEEKING ADVENTURE LOVER - Wildlife Safari in East Africa – a trip of a lifetime! Though I’ve been there done that I want to do it again. Highly recommend it to those who love the wilderness and have a curiosity for the animal kingdom. If you have kids old enough to appreciate such a trip then you have all the more reason to go on safari. Tanzania & Kenya offer the best of game especially in migration season, June-July. A definite must-do!
Scaling heights in Scotland – The best views of lakes and mountains. You can never have enough of the landscapes of Scotland. Climbing one of the small peaks in the freezing cold (in mid-June mind you) in the Highlands, Inverness has been one of the most awesome mind-blowing experiences ever!
Crumber travel destination tip - Bungee Jumping in Rotorua, NZ - Fear of heights and wanna get over it? Nip that fear in the bud and head down south (literally)! Bungee jump off the most spectacular bungee sites!
2. FOR THE NATURE ENTHUSIAST - Frolic with dolphins in the wild in Maui, Hawaii – unless you’re the more fearless types and crave the adrenaline rush then opt for shark diving. Again, a family with kids, the interaction with this animal is simply amazing! With the dolphins I mean. 
Crumber travel destination tip - Snorkeling in Koh Kood, Thailand - For a fabulous and colourful underwater experience you can’t miss this one. It’s dirt cheap too. Can’t go wrong with this 1 for sure.
3. FOR THE PARTY ANIMAL – Freak out in the Caribbean – Ok, our Cricket World Cup debacle is over. Let’s brush off unpleasant memories and rediscover paradise and party away in sand and sunshine. Bum around on the beaches and swim in sparkling aquamarine blue waters. Aruba & Curacao – my all time favourite party destinations - 2 thumbs up!
4. FOR THE CULTURE CURIOUS - Go Greek Islands – Santorini & Mykonos located in the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. Breath-taking sceneries from charming villages perched on top of impressive cliffs. If you are a natural history and culture freak, these islands have a lot to offer on the Greek civilization along with the spectacular views of the dormant volcano.
5. FOR THE SPORTS FREAK - An avid Formula 1 fan? Do the F1 trail and follow your favourite racing team around the globe. My suggestion would be the Brazilian Grand Prix. Team your sports trip with touring one of the most beautiful countries in South America.
6. FOR THE HONEYMOONERS – French Polynesia - Tahiti & Bora Bora – Exotic, exotic, exotic!!! Heaven on earth! You don’t need anything else but each other!
7. FOR THE SHOPAHOLICS – Obviously the fashion capital of the world – Paris and it wouldn’t hurt to include London, NYC, Milan if it doesn’t cause any harm to the wallet. More economical shopping destinations – Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
8. FOR THE GLAM THIRSTY - Feel the GQ of your city ain’t quite up there? Head to Monte Carlo in Monaco or Cannes in the French Riviera for your dose of glam and get a view of some of the world’s hottest celebrities.
9. FOR THE MIND, SPIRIT & BODY RELAXATION SEEKING – For the unforgettable spa experience, Krabi, Thailand wins hands-down! Nothing beats the traditional Thai and aromatherapy massages.
10. FOR THE FOODIES - A separate post on that comin’ up shortly!!
Since there has been some talk of California on blah recently, I think it wouldn’t be inappropriate to dwell on some uniquely Californian experiences…
If you happen to be visiting the sunshine state, check out the Napa Valley Wine train. If you don’t want to drive around visiting various wineries, the Wine train offers a vintage railroad experience combined with food and wine.
The train travels along highway 29 (the main winery road) and serves a basic variety of wines from the region. The food is good quality - and the experience is unique.
On certain weekends, the Napa Valley Wine Train offers a children’s car where children can enjoy dinner and movies.
If you do like to drive around visiting various wineries, don’t miss ‘Godfather’ director, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery at the Rubicon Estate in Napa. http://www.ffcwinery.com
You’ll find FFC’s signature wines, movie memorabilia and a vintage chateau - make for an unforgettable trip.
Combining movies and wine comes easily to FFC, so they are currenlty running a very interesting short film contest:
“Rosso & Bianco are wines for everyday life. Francis Ford Coppola Presents is looking for you to create and submit short movies that represent that idea.”
Contest is open only to US residents but you can check out the very interesting short films that have been posted on http://www.rossobianco.com/
My favorite is the one titled “Afterlife”.
What is your favorite California Experience?
I’ve just come back from what i feel was the best ever managed and organised show in the past couple years! The Goa Fest 2007 was the most beautifully constructed structure. Held at the Cavelossim Beach in South Goa over two days (20th and 21st of april) , the expanse of the beach was turned into one big hangar. One saw everyone from the advertising and media world. Film makers , copywriters, ad gurus, creative heads so on and so forth. Rain dances to sunset parties , poi dancers to limbo dancers,kingfisher to blackdog, brazillian dancers to perfomances by the Priscilla Queens …we had it all. One got to see some awesome creative work over 2 days. The award ceremonies thrilled the participants
There was a buzz in the air at all times, lots of energy , millions of ideas , truck loads of humor, the killig heat ( the rain dances made up for it though), good food,hip shaking music… the beach was converted into one big advertising fair. 2000 people and more .. the place was buzzing with activity. If you were not here .. then i’d say you missed it.. but then there’s always next year  .
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