South India Beaches – Least Known!

Are you a beach lover? Are you looking for great beaches which aren’t very crowded? Yes, India still has some beaches that are serene, beautiful with not many people around.

We all have thronged Goa’s beaches from the North to the South, done Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, Gokarna, Karwar, Ratnagiri, Dhanushkodi etc but have you tried some of lesser known beaches mentioned below???

If you are looking for newer beaches to go to that are less frequented and haven’t been hit by the tourist bandwagon, then you must check these out!!

TRASI

One of our personal favourites, Trasi beach is located in the Udupi region just 100kms from Mangalore. We chanced upon this place during our ride from Goa to Mangalore and were taken by the serenity, cleanliness and seclusion on this small beach. Close to Trasi, is a small island called Coral Island that can be accessed via boats. There isn’t any boat tour and you will have to depend on the local fisherman to take you there.

At the time we visited, Trasi had two hotels, Turtleonsea Justa Hotels and Sagar Kinara Beach Resort. If you are visiting Agumbe, its a 2 hour drive through the Agumbe ghats down to the beach and definitely worth a visit.

MARARI

Alleppey is known for its backwaters but not many people know about the white sand beach nearby called Marari. Dotted with coconut trees along the shore, Marari is one of the best beach getaways in this region and a must visit if you are a beach lover. Located around 60kms from Kochi, Marari beach has plenty of stay options at very economical prices. Interestingly, Marari was rated as one of the world’s top five HAMMOCK BEACH by a National Geographic survey

UCHILA

Uchila is small village located in between Udupi and Mangalore and its beach is yet to see tourist footfalls. This is exactly why you need to visit before it gets commercialised. Uchila is a quaint little fisherman’s hamlet and the only accommodation closely is Akuna Matata.

We have heard rumours about an island off the coast from Uchila that has hardly been visited by people and its waters are frequented by dolphins. The only way to reach there is to convince a local fisherman!! If you do ever get to go there, tag us in your pics!

HOLANAGADDE

Another pristine beach unspoilt by the tourist crowd is Holanagadde, located in the Kumta region near Gokarna. There isn’t any development around and you will have to find accommodation in Gokarna or Kumta. Holanagadde is great for an evening trip to watch the magnificent sunrise, with the sun rays bouncing on the gentle waves of this beach.

VAKKAD

This one’s in Kerala located in Malappuram and has the Tirur river flowing into it. Flowing through the Malappuram district, this river reaches the ocean through the Vakkad beach. You can enjoy the sights through a boat cruise organised by private players and is a good opportunity to see some migratory birds from all over the world. Known for its calm environment and stunning sunsets, Vakkad should be on your next travel plans to coastal Kerala.

If you know more such places do leave a comment so that we can share it with others in our next blog post. If you have travelled to these beaches then do share some pics with us too!!!

What’s in my travel bag?

Since a kid the one thing which always made me happy was when Mom and Dad said “let’s go travelling”. Those days while Mumma would pack my bag, I would ask her to pack all my favourite dresses and toys and shoes etc., but I remember she would only pack limited clothes of mine and no toys at all. I would get depressed and fight with her so much but as I grew older I realised why she did that.

Travelling doesn’t mean you have to look beautiful and stylish just because you will take a lot of pictures of yourself!! Travelling means to explore, to discover to admire and to have fun and all the above is possible only when your travel bag is light and comfortable. I have learnt how to pack light in the course of time and would like to share a few essentials I carry while I travel. Some are beauty products while others are things/ gadgets, but in both the cases these have been my life saviour till date.

Apart from my usual essentials there are a few additions I have started carrying recently especially after our ride to Arunachal Pradesh last year. Due to the extreme cold temperature there many a times I had to skip taking a head bath due to which my hair would start looking disgusting and oily. Most of the days we were literally depending on our deodorant which helped us feel and smell fresh. Below are a few items from my bag just for you 🙂

1. New Pantene Oil Replacement – This newly launched product from Pantene is in my top favourites these days. The product has a rich and creamy texture yet non-sticky. It has Pro-V and goodness of oil which will give you 2X times stronger and hassle free hair.  One of the reasons why I am totally in awe for this product is because of its absorption power. Rubbing a walnut size amount of this product and running it through your damp or dry is good enough to relive you of your dry and fizzy hair. I wish this product had launched a little early so that I could have taken it to Arunachal Pradesh with me and saved myself from those bad hair days

2. Peesafe- Another new found love of mine is the product called Peesafe which is a disinfectant spray. This product is perfect for girls while using public toilets. It helps in keeping you safe from urinal infection

3. Pepper spray – This is one of the best defence spray products to use.  Incase of any emergency don’t hesitate to use one

4. First aid box for emergency situations. All bikes and cars have a very basic one and it would be a good idea to top them up with medicines you use frequently or ones that aren’t available easily

5. Deo- There will be times when you may have to skip a bath. It happened to me a few times as mentioned to you earlier. Thank God I was carrying a Deo which helped me feel fresh :p  Currently the Nike range is in my hot list

6. Energy bar. They are excellent source of instant energy and comes in handy during hanger pangs. I prefer keeping Snickers 🙂

7. Sunscreen- During summers using a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is a must. My personal favourite is from Bioderma with SPF 50. Sunscreen is also said to protect you from skin cancer caused due to extreme sun rays hitting your skin

8. Plastic bags can come really handy and be used for rain lining your luggage or for storing wet clothes

9.  Sanitary pads – Keeping a sanitary pad in your bag is really essential especially to deal with those unexpected situations

10. Mosquito repellent Carrying anti mosquito spray/lotion or the goodnight mosquito cards is very important for a comfortable bite free sleep. You don’t want to have a sleepless night when you travel

11. Bungee cord – These are a bikers life saver. You can mount any amount of luggage on your bike with a couple of bungee and we literally swear by them

12. Spare Phone and chargers /power bank- A spare phone and phone chargers are must-haves in your bags. A power bank which is lightweight, compact, and easily portable and can charge multiple gadgets while roaming around is an essential product while travelling

13. Torch / Head torch – These days everyone has a torch on their phones yet at times their power may not be enough when you are camping inside a jungle or in some very secluded place. Carrying a torch-light or a head torch is really essential. They are light and handy. You can find some really good ones in Decathlon stores

14. Matchbox- This tiny thing has saved me so many times. Sometimes it has helped me lite a fire and protect myself from extreme cold and at times it has worked as a fire to keep wildlife away from our campsite

Hope you find the above products useful and start carrying a few if not all, while you travel too. I will keep adding more products in my bag in case I bump into something very useful. In case you happen to bump into something do let me know in the comments section below. Would love to hear from you guys “what’s in your bag”?

 

Tips for Solo Women Travellers

Being a woman, I play various roles everyday such as a wife, a daughter, a daughter in law, a sister, a friend and the list goes on. Many a times I feel exhausted and I desperately long for some”me time”. There have been a lot of times when I felt I needed to be alone, to spend some time with myself and get some space, to think about my life, to realise I am an individual and I exist. For me this is only possible when I travel and I travel solo. Being on my own allows me to have time  for myself, listen to myself and let go of all the worries of my everyday life.

I know many women who travel solo and of many who are planning to do so. Out of the ones I know, there are only few who traveled safely without facing any incidents. However, being lucky a few times doesn’t mean you will be every time. NO I don’t intend to discourage anyone here from travelling solo however having travelled solo so many  times and having hitchhiked from one state to another I personally would  like to share a few tips and tricks. It’s all about ” know before you go”.

I hitchhiked in 2007 when India was much safer place than what it is at present. Although I am proud of the fact that I lived the dreams I dreamt yet at times I do sit back and think “what a fool I was to have hitchhiked alone. It was such a risky thing to do. Anything could have happened to me. I was so immature and crazy.” Gone are the days when hitchhiking or travelling solo was considered adventurous and fun. Considering the fact that the crime rate has increased in India tremendously today, travelling has become a challenge for solo women.

Having said this I also believe that as long as one follows the basic safety precautions, one should be just fine and safe. Below are few good to know tips which might help you travel safe.

1. Spend extra for your safety. Ensure you book your stay well in advance. While checking in at your hotel ensure to do a thorough check for any hidden cameras or anything unusual

2. Avoid taking taxis off the street if you are not familiar with the region/language. Instead ask your hotel to book you one. It might cost you a little more but this should be a safer option

3. Don’t look confused when you are out and about. Pretend you are familiar with the city and know your way. Don’t try to flash paper maps that show that you are a tourist

4. It’s a good thing to let your friends and family know where you are heading by checking into the locations through Whatsapp or any channel that let’s you do 1-1 communication. DO NOT share your current locations on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc as anyone can see track location. Drop a message to your near ones with the address and contact number of the places you stay in

5. Apart from storing the important contacts on your phone, I suggest you note them down in a diary that you can carry. It is also a good idea to have the hotel address written down in local language so that in case you forget your way you can seek help from the locals

6. The way you dress plays an important role when it comes to being safe while travelling solo. Avoid showing skin and dress modestly. You don’t want unwanted attention

7. While taking public transport try sitting next to a women. Avoid jam-packed buses and taxis where there are chances of you getting squeezed and being trapped inside a confined space

8. It’s always good to avoid venturing out alone at night. Incase you still do, then try to walk close to a family or couple. It’s always a good idea to walk with people. A smile can make things comfortable and tend to let them know that you are not stalking them

9. Be aware of your surroundings. Be very observant and pay attention to every detail around you be it a person, a place, a drink anything. Don’t zone out or get lost looking at the beautiful places you visit. Avoid the temptation to plug-in your earphones and listening to music while you are travelling

10. It’s absolutely ok to be little stern with people you don’t  feel comfortable with. Creating boundaries is very important

11. It’s ok to have a couple of drinks during the day or night but getting drunk in an unknown place can get you into some serious trouble. Avoid over drinking

12. Carry a pepper spray with you all the time. Every time I travel solo I carry mine along with a small knife just in case 🙂

13. Ensure you have a postpaid connection and a reliable service provider with good connectivity. You can’t afford to run out of balance or connectivity

14. Store your cash in different places which are secure. I usually roll them up tightly and push them inside a ball pen.

For me travelling solo is almost like a religious experience. Travelling alone means not relying on anyone but rather getting the most out of your trips. The above tips I have mentioned are something which I follow personally. However, I am sure every girl has their own  strategy when travelling solo. If you have some, then do share with me by leaving your comments.

Camping @ Sathyamangalam Forest

Weekends and holidays are the best times to refresh yourself, camping under clear skies. We have been riding to camping destinations across South India but never found any one destination close to Bangalore that offered seclusion and the feel of being in a wildlife reserve with easy access; till we found out about Wild Valley.

Two years ago, a few of our office colleagues approached us to see if we could take them for a weekend getaway close to Bangalore. They wanted an affordable yet comfortable place, preferably a campsite with lots of activities too. A place which was “Far From The Madding Crowd” of Bangalore and gave you a feel of being in the wild. They felt the need to just let their hair loose, have fun and stay somewhere where they could enjoy nature.
Arrggghhhh!!!!! That was such a complicated requirement but we took up the task coz when it comes to finding a place like this, Vidur has the skills to get one. He loves looking for new places and prides himself with the ability to sift through hundreds of pages on Google to find exclusive locations that are not very well-known and off the tourist grid.

As expected, in less than a few hours he came to us with a place called Germalam. We had never heard of such a town, ever!! This place was 200 km from Bangalore and close to Satyamangalam Wildlife sanctuary which was once dominated by the brigand called Veerappan!Wild valley is spread over 50 acres of landscape fully covered in lush green grass throughout the year. It is surrounded by the forest on three sides and a stream with a small water fall on the other end. There are a number of Amla trees ( Indian gooseberry) around the property with hundreds of Amlas growing in it. You are free to pluck and eat them whenever you want. Wild Valley is as affordable as 1950/- per head which includes your stay, lunch, dinner, snacks and breakfast. Located near the Sathyamangalam forest, the area is untouched and unspoilt by mass tourism and one can witness the pristine footprints of nature all around. Wild Valley combines the concept of eco tourism and farming; all managed by the owner, Mr Daniel.
Our colleagues had wished for a camping experience in the wild and that is exactly what we got them. The place is completely surrounded by wildlife and lots of peacocks roam open in the property, deer jumping in and out of the fences, elephants trumpeting at night and if you are lucky enough you can also hear the tiger roaring at times.
The drive to Wild Valley passes along BR Hills and runs close to Dhondeling Monastery, which is one of the youngest Tibetan settlements in India. It’s a small village yet astoundingly beautiful. Set at the foothills of BR Hills, the village is surrounded by farmlands, lush green grass fields and a view to die for. We suggest you take this short detour and cover the monastery as well.

Once you cross the Monastery, you drive through the Dhimbam Ghats which connect Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Curvy roads overlooking small hillocks and farm lands provide a breathtaking scenery of this hamlet as you drive through perfectly paved roads. The guards at the check post are quite friendly and don’t ask a lot of questions as they guide you to the farm.

As you approach Wild Valley, you drive into a kilometre long off-road track which wont trouble you much and into the cabbage plantations at the entrance. Mr. Daniel stays inside the property as well so you will have plenty of company in case there aren’t any other guests there. When you drive into the camp site, you will find an open green field surrounded by tall trees and Amla plantations on 3 sides. The open side provides a view of the Sathyamangalam range.
Daniel has put up 10-12 army tents with cots, pillows, blankets, drinking water and a LED bulb. There are no fans as the nights are quiet chilly and cold. Bathrooms and toilets are located 50m away and there are enough to accommodate a large group as well. In front of the tents is a large camp fire area along with enough open space for guests to play sports. Guests can carry their own camping equipment if required along with personal BBQ as well. Once you go there you will understand why this place is perfect for a barbecue!Germalam is usually a very windy place and the stooping trees all around are a testament to that. I remember riding to WV once at I just couldn’t keep the bike straight. The nights here are usually quite chilly and you must carry a light sweater/jacket to stay warm. The small bonfire area in front of the tents provides a great atmosphere for outdoor events, bon fire parties or the occasional BBQ. We usually carry our BBQ with us and Vidur cooks some yummy kebab to go with the drinks. Since Wild Valley is located in a secluded farm land the nearest alcohol shop is around 45 mins away and we suggest you carry your own stock.

Food is as good as a home-made meal prepared by the villagers. It’s quite simple with an expansive menu of roti/rice, dal, non veg, sambar/rasam, papad, curd, fruits and deserts. What we really like about the food is that it isn’t rich and is prepared with minimum oil and masala. Tea/Coffee is served in the evening, early morning and along with breakfast with snacks being served just before sunset.
There is a small perennial waterfall close to the dining area and makes for a perfect after-lunch walk. Guests are required to take a guide along since the stream in located in the forest area. Since this is a watering hole it is frequented by wild animals and we would strongly urge you to go with supervision.

Wild valley has been one of my personal favourites. It’s exactly the kind of place I would return to again and again with my family and friends. This place is not for people who look for romantic couple getaways, but definitely a place where people spend time with each other and where there is lots of laughter, playing, gossips and giggles. A place where families come together and relationships becomes stronger.

Luxury Stay @ Kurumba Village Resort

Archana and I have a special connect with mountains and jungles. We find solace, peace and mental rejuvenation each time we visit such destinations and that’s why any place location in such terrain is always close to our heart. This is what drove us to book our recent vacation in Kurumba Village Resort in Coonoor. Located outside the city, the resort is accessible through a fun and exciting off-road drive of about half a kilometer from the main road. It’s very easy to miss the turn, had it not been for a staff member waiting for us on the curb we would have trusted google and moved on ahead!

Kurumba Village Resort presents a luxury experience to its guests through it highly rated service, kosher food and fantastic location. It’s named after the Kurumbas, a local tribe from the Nilgiri region who were known to be excellent hunters/gatherers and lived in steep edges of the Nilgiri mountains. The resort, similar to characteristics of the tribe represents closeness to nature, artistic beauty, and focus on homegrown food.
After a 10 minute off-road drive, we lingered into the reception where the staff was waiting for us with garlands and a local herbal tea. As we were finishing the tea, we saw a golf buggy pulling up and we were wondering what it was for. The staff told us that since the property was spread across 17 across on the hilly slopes, the buggy would help us move around the vicinity. Super! Just the thought of roaming around in the buggy brought out the child within us as we hurriedly hopped on to it trying to occupy the best seats!The buggy took us through the winding roads full of Nutmeg trees, wild flowers and gigantic Bay Leaf trees. The property houses 3 kinds of room depending upon the view and the size of the bungalow – Kurumba Cottage, Kurumba Suite and the pampering Jacuzzi Room.
What we saw next, that moment was so beautiful and mesmerizing! Our room was located right next to a waterfall; so close that we could reach out of the balcony and touch the cold, clear, pristine waterfall flowing down from the massive mountains in front. We were booked into the Kurumba suite; a 2 floored luxury bungalow with a lovely view shown below.
The Infinity Pool

Kurumba Village’s infinity pool is not an accoutrement, but one of the main highlights of the property. The pool is more of a lounging area which juts out into the forest presenting a beautiful view of the valley in front.
Private BBQ in our room

This came highly recommended and we decided to take advantage of the starry night and have the BBQ in our balcony. Soon enough the staff walked in carrying all the ingredient and set up shop, ready to serve us some exotic looking preparations! We were  served with an aperitif and sat down to some tasty morsels, the sounds of the waterfall, Malabar Squirrels and chicken being cooked in ghee. The aroma flew across the balcony, a slow breeze carrying the flavours across to us. We were literally drooling looking at the ingredients and couldn’t wait to get a bite of all the dishes the chef had in store for us.

 

The BBQ preparation is made using home-grown spices and herbs by chef Bablu from West Bengal. He is from Digha and has been cooking for about 10 years. Started cleaning utensils then worked as a server and graduated to being a chef. He was kind enough to share his recipe for chicken kosha with us.

First up, was the tandoori chicken with spicy tomato chutney. It was a delicious combination of the chicken marinated for more a day in various spices all grown in the property. Visually it was striking and the taste of the chicken was an interesting contrast with the tangy chutney.

This was followed by Grilled chicken that brought with it heavenly taste of mustard oil and spices. Cooked to perfection and served piping hot, the chicken was a testament to the chef’s cooking skills. Finger licking good and dripping with juices, we hurriedly lapped up half a chicken in no time! The non veg was accompanied by grilled potatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and corn but we chose to write about the chicken since we are hard core non veggies. Nevertheless, every single tandoori dish was perfect and demanded as much attention as the previous one!

Tree Top Candlelit Dinner

A lavish 7 course dinner served atop a tree house. The walkway decorated with candles led us into the dining space with beautiful flowers on the table, antique lamps and the aroma of local spices. We were greeted by Mr. Murali, the head chef at Kurumba. He has even cooking since the last 20 years and just listening to him explain his preparations made us realise how passionate he is about this art.
The meal started off with a refreshing of mint & watermelon juice accompanies by Russian salad. The fruits and veggies, grown mostly at their property, tasted so fresh and tender and a far cry from the stale ones we get in the city. Next came Onion Rings and chicken fritters. I would have never imagined having these in the middle on a jungle in India and prepared just the way Americans would!
For main course. we had Bayleaf chicken. As we unwrapped the bay leaf, the aroma of authentic local spices filled the air and we could see the juices flowing into the plate. What we experience next was nothing short of an explosion of deliciousness in our palate! Nothing short of sheer brilliance, this chicken took just 30 mins for the Chef to prepare but has left a lifelong impact on us. We hadn’t even heard of such a preparation before let alone taste any chicken as succulent as this.
Our entire dining experience was surreal due to the food and the environment. Nothing can get more romantic for a couple than dining on a rooftop with fireflies all over the place! Thumbs up to the entire Kurumba team for giving us such a stupendous experience!

To sum it up, its a place so heavenly that even the clouds stop by. We watched the clouds, as still as a child in deep sleep, hugging the trees. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at Kurumba Village Resort and would definitely return. The hotel ticked off the boxes for us in location, service and amenities. Obviously, most people visit Kurumba for the seclusion but I think their greatest asset is their staff. They were all genuinely friendly and helpful and made our stay very comfortable!