Unmaad 2018 – IIM Bangalore

Unmaad, the annual cultural fest of IIM Bangalore and the biggest B-School fest in the country, is back and we are proud to partner with them since their theme this year is Travel! Unmaad is the annual cultural festival of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

Conducted over a period of three days, Unmaad includes events like dramatics, music performances, dances, quizzes, debates, street plays, professional concerts and fashion shows. The first edition of Unmaad Festival was held in 1996 and since then it has been an integral part of life at IIM Bangalore.
The 22nd version of Unmaad, based on the theme ‘A Wanderer’s Paradise’, which will transport its attendees to a global village, will be held from 2nd to 4th of February. This Unmaad promises to be an exciting array of Dance, Drama, Music, Fashion, Lits, Quizzes and a ton of online events!

With exciting performances by Farhan Akhtar and Varun Thakur lined up for the final Pronite on Feb 4th, the event has already witnessed record registrations. There is also a performance by the Indian Ocean scheduled on Feb 2nd, which allows free entry for all. Like last year, the ‘World Cultural Fiesta’ will witness some superb performances by extraordinarily talented international artists.

With amazing participation in its outreach events so far, including a treasure hunt on bikes, ‘Road To Unmaad’, and several online events, this three-day extravaganza has already set the excitement rolling! Unmaad has a host of events lined up to entertain people across all age groups and participation from over 400+ colleges across the country. There’s prize money of `11+ lakhs to be won this year.
Further details are available on the official website, http://www.unmaad.com

 

 

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!

Camping @ an Alphonso Farm

We buy them at upto INR 400 a kg but did you know the farmer sells them at less than INR 50 to dealers??? Read about our camp stay experience at “Alphonso by the lake”.

For all those staying in Bangalore, what do you do on a weekend after working your ass off from Monday to Friday and sometimes even half day on a Saturday? Do you spend your evening being exhausted and tired at your cozy home? Do you go out partying with friends? Do you go on a movie date or get involved in some pyjama party at home? Naturally after spending few hours at your work place it gets too late for anyone to go on a weekend getaway!!

Being in this maddening corporate world, we have faced this situation a lot however unlike most, we don’t sit at home with a drink or go out partying. We are travel freaks and any opportunity to hit the road always excites us. When such situations arise instead of being in this noisy city, we head down to one of our favourite weekend getaway destinations, which is 100 km from Bangalore – a small hamlet near Krishnagiri called Nachikuppam.Nachikuppam is a village in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu State. A village which is known for its mango plantation. Hold your breath coz I am not talking about any other mangoes but the most delicious Alphonso. Managed by a group called Linger, this property is called “Alphonso by the lake” nestled in a 60 acre mango farm and surrounded by beautiful hills. As you drive into the property you cannot miss the acres of mango, coconut and vegetable plantations in the vicinity.The first thing that attracted us the very first time we heard about this property was it’s name. Sure enough when we reached the place we could not take our eyes off from hundreds of mango trees which surrounded the property. We could just pluck them and eat as much as we wanted – WOW! These are the luxuries we can never enjoy living in the city.
The drive to this place is quite scenic. Tall green trees cover the road and the farm lands around make it even more beautiful. The property is a perfect place for those who are looking for camping and adventure and for those who love spending their night under a star studded sky.
The property does not have any rooms but what it offers is even more exciting. Army style tents fixed under a shed with wooden cots for a comfortable sleep- a complete feel of camping in the hills. There are  some hammocks for you to lie on while flipping the pages of your favourite book along with a chilled one by the side. We suggest you carry small speakers, your favourite book or games to while away your time here. The Linger group’s theme is Do Nothing and that’s exactly how we spend our time here. We laze around, take naps, play games and spend time next to the bon fire. We never really missed the telly or mobile phones during our stay here!! That’s the beauty of this camp site.
Another thing that we love about this place is their food. The cooks are from the neighbouring village and can come up with some very unique dishes. Right from the dal, veggies to the non veg, everything had a very authentic local flavour to it. The heavy lunch can be followed by a walk by the lake, a hike to the hills, or a lazy satisfying nap on the hammocks under the Imli trees. Evening snacks usually consists of bhajjis, tea/coffee, or lemonade followed by a live BBQ.
Nachikuppam has so far been one of the best places we have been to. It’s close to Bangalore, cost effective and a complete value for money. A perfect place to escape the hustle bustle of Bangalore city and a great way to spend your weekend amidst hills and open sky staring at the stars.
This unique camp gives you an opportunity to camp amidst a beautiful mango orchard, observe the village life, and spent the evening by the lake! A place which we call our perfect weekend getaway.

 

Heritage Stay @ Coonoor

A blissful escape from urban life isn’t complete without an awesome stay. Recently, we were invited by Nature Group Resorts to experience a stay in their properties located in Coonoor. Out of all the properties we visited there, this particular homestay called Tea Nest Annex truly was breathtaking. The view from the property and the clouds in front constantly moving and changing their shapes were creating magic in the sky. The scene was so mesmerizing that we could sit there and look at the sky for hours together. l guess it won’t be wrong if we say that heaven felt closer to us.

Tea Nest annex is located amidst a large tea estate of around 1800 acre and is 20 km away from Ooty at the top of a small hillock in Coonoor. Winding roads, lush green tea estates, the aroma of freshly plucked tea lying by the roadside and the view of the Nilgiri hills add to the mystical charm of this weekend destination. Tea Nest Annexe is housed in a quaint, cozy little bungalow, built almost 26 years ago with 2 large and spacious rooms named Rosemary and Basil with adjoined washroom and a seating area. You will find all the necessary amenities and beverages, cookies kept inside the room including a mix of special Ooty chocolates to enjoy. At first, the intention behind building the place was for the manager to stay there with his family so that it’s was easier for him to look after the estate but now the estate owners have leased it out to Nature Resorts who manages the hotel.

We arrived at the property around 11.30am and we’re offered with a welcome drink made from their local and organic tea. There was a small garden area outside with a table and chairs for those who wish to sit there while having their breakfast/ lunch with a view of the hills. The air here was so clean & pure. The colours of the landscape around us consisted of hues of green and blues which made the sights so fresh.
As we settled in, lunch was served on the portico outside the bungalow. It was a little chill as there was a slow breeze and from behind the trees, we saw a group of clouds coming into the property. I remember running out to the gate hoping to feel the clouds and enjoy the moment and as I looked behind I saw the manager standing at the entrance with a strange expression like he was quiet amused as for them this is a regular sight, every single day.
Lunch had been really heavy so we decided to take a stroll through the tea plantation in the evening as the weather was just so great. We went at the top of the hill until we reached a viewpoint through which you could see the whole of Mettupalayam city. How could we miss clicking pictures there. Of course, we did some photo shoots so that we could share them with you. That night in Annex it was cold and quiet. There was no noise of the traffic or people – just grazing sounds of some bison nearby.
The next morning was bright and sunny, hence we decided to take the cycles out and go cycling on those curvy scenic roads. This has so far been one of my best cycling experience. I guess it’s the roads and the flying clouds that made it so special. Imagine riding your cycle on a road like this and the clouds covering your view leaving you clueless where you are heading to? Soon after our cycling session we were served some nice breakfast cooked by the Nepalese chef who is truly an exceptional. I still remember the taste of the dal he served us for lunch the previous day. Witnessing a magical view along with finger licking food in the table – What more can you ask for?
This place is perfect for those looking for plantation trails or for people who would just like to relax, soak in some sun while watching the clouds float by. A great destination for couples and parents. The property is small but it’s a whole world in itself with plenty to do if you are a nature lover!

A Gastronomical High

Think Ooty and you come across images of the Nilgiris, massive landscape tea gardens and stunning time-lapse of cloud movements. But you would never associate a trip to Ooty with a treat for the taste buds. Travelmynation was recently in Ooty for 2 nights and decided to stay at Delightz Inn located in Tiger Hills, one of the highest points in this mountain range. It’s an exotic location which lies to the east of Ooty; at the lower corner of Doddabetta Peak and is 6 kms from Ooty town. It’s great for travellers looking for a quaint place that is highly economical and offers all the basic amenities for a weekend getaway.

But the highlight of our stay wasn’t the location or the view or the bison we saw strolling into the property; but the food we had! Who knew that we would experience such high quality gourmet food in the middle of Ooty at such a nondescript place. Mr. Arun, the MD had promised that our stay there would be magical and take us on a culinary journey like none other we had experienced before. So we decided to give it a try to explored the rather comprehensive menu of Indian, Chinese and Italian food.
Tandoori Dishes

The Chefs, mostly from Bengal and Nepal insisted we try their tandoori non veg platter so we ordered one. Delightz Inn offers only in room dining and we were a little concerned that by the time food arrived it would be cold, since it was about 10 degrees at night. The order was placed for 8:30 and sure enough the door bell rang at the right time and we were served the kebab covered in aluminium foil. We love our chicken and prawns and were starving just at the thought of having the platter. Tandoori Chicken always tasted a little bland to us, sometimes salty, and often burnt. I’ve had it in various parts of the world, including India, Dubai and the US. I always find myself ordering it at times and often leaving the place disappointed. But this was not the case at Delightz Inn.

The first thing that hit us was the aroma as we peeled off the aluminium foil from the plate. The tandoori masala smell was evident and immediately our mouths starting watering at the sight of the platter. A big morsel of the prawns that went into my mouth set ablaze my taste buds and create a near euphoric moment! A glance at the chicken and we could make out that it had been marinated for a long time in authentic spices and cooked fresh. Every bite from the platter of the juicy, succulent chicken and prawns was as good as the next one. The waiters would have been shocked to see how we cleaned out the dish; not even a speck of oil was left behind.Chicken Pasta in White Sauce

We are not pasta lovers for the simple fact that we don’t usually find the right texture of cream sauce or the thin pasta we generally like to eat. Due to this we do not visit Italian restaurants and stay away from ordering pasta even when we visit gourmet restaurants. But the pasta here came highly recommend so we decided so have some. When it was served, it looked ordinary. The same thing we’ve seen many times and eaten so many times in restaurants across the country; from cafe’s to 5 star restaurants.First taste impressions – WOW! Delicious, flavoursome in the best way possible. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The sauce was creamy yet didn’t feel chunky at all and the succulent chicken added a great flavour to the dish. The parmesan cheese grated to perfection, landing all over the pasta looked like white xmas on a plate!  It was such a different experience from eating the usual white sauce, but entirely amazing in its own right. I know it sounds weird to call a pasta dish as light, but that’s exactly what this sauce was. None of the ingredients interrupted the texture of the sauce or the pasta and blended in perfectly with each other to create an amazing taste. Our only regret was that we could only eat so much and couldn’t order another plate of this heaven!The standout dish here is definitely the Chicken Pasta in White Sauce. One spoonful of it takes you to the streets of Italy and delivers an explosion of flavours on your taste buds. It’s simply the best we’ve EVER had. Delightz Inn might not offer the best of stay options but the food is a strong enough reason for us to go there each time we are in Ooty. Drop in sometime and have some pasta; leave us a note when you do!

Some pics from our stay at Delightz Inn.

 

 

 

Renault Duster AMT Ownership Review

Exactly 10 months ago on this day we took delivery of our Renault Duster AMT. It was a well thought of decision and after reviewing cars like TUV, EcoSport, Brezza, BRV and the Creta,  we decided to book the Renault Duster AMT.

Fast forward to today, its been a good experience after completing around 22,000kms till now. We are travellers and have tried the Duster in highways, off roads, broken roads and jungle trails. We’ve covered hill stations, valleys, flat roads, beaches, hair pin bends – any terrain that we could get.

Steering/Handling – The Duster is called an SUV but it actually is a cross over. It operates and handles more like a sedan than an SUV. I switched from a small size Wagon R to the bigger sized Duster but felt no discomfort in handling the car in city as well as highway stretches. Yes, the increased width and length took some getting used to but from the moment I stepped into the Duster, handling was a piece of cake. The steering is very fluid and operates effortlessly in all conditions. I have the habit of driving single-handedly during highway stretches and still the car handles pretty well. There are some reviews that the handling is stiffer at lower speeds but I never experienced this; on the contrary the Duster seems very nimble and agile even in bumper to bumper traffic.
Tires – Before the delivery, I had asked for Bridgestone/Michelins but instead got the Apollo. I have never used this brand before and decided to give them a try. It hasn’t been a great experience though. I am not saying that the tires are bad but they are not suited for the terrains I travel to. They are not suited for bad roads or wet conditions and I have always felt them struggling for grip in the slightest amount of gravel or loose mud. Even the smallest stone can be felt and I am not sure if this is a tire issue or a suspension issue. I am just waiting to run these out and switch to better tires.

Suspension – One of the best features of the Duster and this is probably what sets it apart from the competition. What I really love about this car is the distance between the wheel arches and tires giving it a distinct SUV look and feel. Having a soft suspension is a boon when you are battling the potholes in Bangalore or taking the car out for some off-road in the Nilgiris. Ground clearance is the key highlight and my savior in some pretty rocky stretches I have covered.
Economy – The AMT comes with a normal driving mode and an ECO mode which basically shifts gear at lower RPM’s resulting in increased mileage but lower power delivery. I have ALWAYS used the ECO mode except for off roads and found it very comfortable. The drop in power as compared to normal mode is not much and hardly noticeable in city driving. During high-speed overtakes, I have noticed a slight lag in power delivery and I generally stick to M mode in such situations. The highest mileage I have recorded was 22.5kmpl on a 350km trip from Bangalore to Chennai. I did use the Cruise Control a lot with speed setting on 85kmph. On a normal day I get about 15-16 kmpl on the highways if I maintain speeds of around 90kmph and about 12-13kmpl in city conditions. All these figures are with ECO mode and Air Conditioning on.

Interiors – This is where Renault needs to make serious improvements. I am highly dissatisfied with the overall looks and quality of the interiors. Plastic quality in certain places is of cheaper quality to the ones used in low-end cars in India. You touch the plastic panels near the infotainment system and they start squeaking. It is evident where Renault has cut costs and cut corners too. When you drive over a rough patch, you can hear the plastic parts vibrating which is an irritating distraction for some drivers. The seats are very comfortable and clad in decent quality materials. The AMT is almost the top end and Renault should have offered me Art Leather seats. The Automatic climate control delivers and the AC performance has been top-notch as of now. Apart from the plastic my biggest complaint is the cabin noise. Renault seems to have done a lot of cost and quality cutting in this regards. In traffic, it feels like I am travelling in an open air vehicle as the doors and windows don’t have enough sound protection. I have asked the service centre several times if they can give me an extra lining on the doors but according to them it’s not recommended by Renault. The AMT is equipped with the usual seat high adjuster, lumber support, steering mounted audio controls and anti pinch windows.Build Quality – The most disappointing part and something Renault needs to work on. For a car priced around 15.5 lacs on road Bangalore, I am left wanting for good build quality. The exterior of the car feels flimsy and you can see how thin the body is once you press hard on the bonnet or the body panels. I have constantly faced this nagging issue of the bumpers coming off a little bit. There is a visible gap between the front/rear bumpers and the body panel. Even after complaining multiple times to Renault the issue hasn’t been rectified. The windows keep making a rattling sound, probably due to the glass hitting some metal parts inside the door panels.

Infotainment System – The Duster comes equipped with a new Media Nav infotainment system with an 18 cm touch screen. It included Sat Nav, multimedia functions and bluetooth connectivity with smartphones (max 5). The system offers easy access to functions such as Radio, Multimedia, Maps and settings through the home screen. Navigation is a bit tricky for first time users but you get used to it after spending some time on it. The Bluetooth tech enables drives to make and receive hands free calls along with synching your phones phonebook. The inbuilt maps are very basic and not as good as Google Maps. I had to spend a couple of hours reading the manuals as operating the Maps can be a very tricky affair.

Engine/Gearbox – Having driven a manual all my life, switching to an automatic was a big move. Before I got the Duster, I test drove the TUV AMT as well and found it lacking on several fronts. The Duster on the other hand has the best AMT vehicle in the country in its category. The problem I faced with lags during gear shifts in the TUV are very minimal and hardly noticeable in the Duster. Sudden gear shifts while overtaking have been very soon provided you press the accelerator hard, which signals the chip to do the rest. The gearbox has performed well in all conditions all though I was not very happy with the performance in hair pin bends. I found the system getting into higher gears as soon as it hit 2000 RPM which might not always be the best gear to be in. But hey, it’s just a computer and not as smart as a human brain. In such conditions, I generally switch to the manual mode which gives me better revs and increased power delivery. Renault has also introduced the Hill Assist Feature which I got with the AMT. Essentially, HSA holds the car for about 2-3 seconds in its place when on an incline, giving the driver enough time to accelerate and move forward without rolling back. Very useful feature while driving in ghats or while parking on an incline.
Overall my experience with the Duster has been a mixed bag of feelings. I love the handling, suspension, features but hate the build quality.

What’s good!

• AMT is  great for city commuting. Also one of the cheapest and best in the industry
• Great suspension and handling in all road conditions
• Huge boot space and cabin space for all heights
• Balance handling and dynamics; stable at high speeds

What’s not so good!

• Body quality and interior plastic quality seem very cheap
• Lots of wind noise post 90kmph. Noise insulation needs to be done separately
• High cost. At 15.5 lacs the Duster doesn’t deliver the ROI expected
• No AWD option with the AMT

Let us know what you think about this review. Leave your comments and we will get back to you soon!

When the radio took us to Kotagiri!

It’s 9am and we are at war! Literally. Driving through rush hour traffic in Bangalore is nothing short of WWIII. The radio is on and it helps draw our attention away from the maddening crowd near Lalbagh. An ad on air catches our attention as it talks about tea estates and a serene hill station. Nature Resorts has opened a new property in Kotagiri, Tea Nest Nightingale and we immediately decide to get in touch with them. A call is made and we are booked for the coming weekend!

5:30am on a Saturday and we are off to Kotagiri. Its raining heavily as we drive through Mysore road. Soon we have crossed Bandipur and reach Ooty. The scene is quite harrowing. Rivers of sewage water flood the streets in Ooty as the rain pounds heavily all over the Nilgiris. Reminds us of the recent flood situation in the North East and Mumbai.

We take a break and have our lunch. Our shoes are completely drenched. Its 2pm and we head towards our destination. At this point we are tired of drving through the rain and waterclogged roads and just want to have a hot cuppa tea. The map shows we have reached our destination. We wind down from the main road on to a small 1 acre property that houses an old British bungalow. The car is parked and we are greeted by Augustine, the manager here.

All though the homestay is next to the road, its quiet peaceful here. There is a lovely landscaped garden in front of the bungalow with a view of the hills and tea plantations. At a distance we can see the hills surrounding Mettupalayam. Lovely view!! We check in and are taken to our room, The Scarlet Minivet. 4 rooms here and all are named after bird species. Ours has a king size bed with an attic and a bed for kids. There is a small sitout area too with a view of the garden.

The room is very plush with all creature comforts in it. The room is cozy, elegant and provides for a great recluse from our busy lives. The property is very well maintained and well suited for couples as well as families. Children would love it here since there is plenty of space to play around. There is a small trail that leads to the tea estates and we are sure the kids will love walking through these!

 The rain stops and the clouds move away. The hills appear from behind the black clouds and the view is just so amazing! This is exactly what we look for when we travel to such places. We take a table on the lawn and are served piping hot tea. A cool breeze blows towards us making the tea drinking experience even amazing. The next couple of hours are spent taking pictures of the landscape and talking to the staff. Some are locals and the chef is from Nepal. We request him to make us some nepali cuisine for dinner and he obliges. They have an elaborate menu with options of Indian, continental and Chinese food with yummy deserts as well.

After spending tranquil moments surrounded by tea estates, a couple of meandering clouds, immersing ourselves in the chirping birds and the clicks of camera shutters, we decided to head back inside. The chef informs us that dinner is served and we go out into the dining area. A large antique radio and a few, really old cameras are kept on the fireplace. We strike a conversation with the staff as they explain how these items were collected from all over the years.

Dinner is served and we are glad to see that the chef has made nepalese chicken and yellow dal. The food is absolutely yum and we finish it off in no time. Its time to hit the sack. We watch an old movie and soon doze off.

 6am and we are up to witness the sunrise. There is a small hillock next to Tea Nest and we see the sun rising from behind the hill. Its an amazing spectacle and we tried to capture this moment with our cameras. Tea Nest Nightingle offers a lot of activities such a horse riding/training, jeep rides, tea tours, waterfall visits, market tours etc and one can indulge in these during their stay here. We recommend you come here for at least 2 nights to experience all these activities.

Nature Resorts is the group that manages this and other properties such as Tea Nest, Tea Nest Annexe and Kurumba Village. We have already fixed dates to visit other properties as we’ve had a lovely experience with Tea Nest Nightingale.

Yoga, Meditation and Surfing!

We just finished our first meditation retreat; to say that we think it has changed us forever is an understatement. Fitness holidays are chosen by people whose goals are to return home slimmer, trimmer, or to become healthier, lose weight or to keep in shape with lots of challenging activities.

We took off on a long-weekend road trip to a place which is 45 mins drive from Chennai and is set away from the busy tourist areas. We had been graciously invited by Srishti Wellness Retreat for a relaxing weekend there and since neither of us had ever experienced a wellness, yoga and detox program, we packed our bags and sprung outta town in excitement!

That day we left bangalore quite early but got stuck for 2 hours in a bad traffic jam which was almost 5 kms long. We lost most of our time there however managed to reach the resort by 3.30pm which included a stopover for lunch in KFC and some tea breaks. To be frank the drive was not as scenic as we had imagined – it’s the highway and the views were pretty mundane. However, the climate was quite pleasant as the weather Gods decided to be kind on us.
Srishti Wellness Retreat is located in a small hamlet called Chengalpattu and is cocooned in lush greenery. On our arrival to the beautiful place, we were greeted by Swatantra – the founder of Srishti and her husband Vivek. A beautiful garland made of white lily’s was put around us followed by a sandalwood tika – a traditional way of welcoming guests. Srishti wellness retreat is a dream being lived in the service of love, spirituality, peace and wellness. It is a community for everyone who knows how to love, give and share.As we walked towards our room, the one word which came in my mind was “WOW”. The place was beautiful. It was bright with lots of flora and fauna. A complete feel of relaxation and revitalization – may be it was the positive energy which filled the air at Srishti… Our rooms were quite spacious and had a beautiful bed with some bright pillows along with a personalised welcome note for us – It was really sweet I thought 🙂
We could see that Swatantra has taken great care to make this a place of love, relaxation and comfort. There were elements of luxury such as the AC, the huge king size bed but also elements of rustic Indian culture, like the earthen pot for drinking water in the room. We could see that Srishti aims at creating everlasting memories through these details.Soon, we learnt that there is yoga everyday in the morning, meditation daily in the evening, a trampoline if you’d like to jump with joy, and lot of fun activities to keep the guests engaged. The evening on our first day was spent in some meditation sessions which are conducted by Swatantra everyday at 6.00pm. After the session, we headed straight for dinner along with the other guests from Chandigarh, Gurgaon and even Bangalore. That night for dinner we had some boiled vegetable soup followed by raagi rotis, boiled dal, raw vegetable salad and some sprouts. All the food that you are served at Srishti is organic – right from the rice to the fruits to all the veggies. Quite self sufficient. The food was scrumptious even though they hadn’t used any masala or oil. Quite surprising!!

DAY 2

The next day was one of the most exciting ones in Srishti as for the very first time we got involved in Detox sessions – the art of cleansing your body. Swatantra has a “visiting master” that guests can work with during their stay, and this time it was Mrs Kamini – a professional yoga teacher from Mumbai who conducted yoga and detox sessions for all the guests. The detox session involved 5 exercises to loosen and unblock the intestines while drinking lots of salt water. Each of us had around 10 glasses of water before we hit the restrooms and let the detox take effect.
As part of the diet, we were only allowed to eat khichdi with lots of ghee in it as Ms. Kamini explained that since our stomach linings were totally clean, the Ghee would help lubricate the stomach lining. Also as an essential part of the detox program we need to eating something light.
By noon, the guests had gathered together in Madhyam – an open air shed made for everyone to sit, relax, share their stories and thoughts with each other. Madhyam is a lovely space to listen to the birds chirping, to feel the cool breeze and also practice yoga in the bed of mother nature. This is something we don’t get in the concrete jungles we stay in. After all  there is no better way to celebrate silence and yoga than to enjoy the sunrise and, opening our hearts to the sun to receive its first rays of vital power.
Initially we were skeptical about surviving the day eating only khichdi without masala or oil in it but surprisingly it was very delicious due to the ghee in it. We loved every bit of it and at times were craving for more! By end of the day we felt completely light, fresh and had so much energy in us. We were all set for Day 3 🙂

DAY 3

This day came with a surprise as the team of Srishti took everyone out for some surfing at a nearby beach call Kovalam Beach. The day was bright and sunny and perfect for the beach. Everyone enjoyed the day thoroughly, especially after their  previous day’s detox session. Lots of food, fun, giggles and laughter – A perfect day full of surprises.
On our return, we attended at art and creativity session conducted by the hosts. The objective of this session was to express ourselves through painting on the walls of Srishti. It was years since we had done this; the last drawing we did was in school and the thought of doing this put a smile on everybody’s face. It was heartwarming to see how creative and unique each guest was in the way they expressed themselves and by the time we were done, the wall looked like a big mural!
It was a good day. It wasn’t what we thought of what happens in a wellness retreat. But Srishti is different. They strike a good balance between fun and wellness activities and I think it very important to keep everybody engaged.

DAY4

This was our last day at Sristi; however the most important one as it was India’s Independence Day, Swatantra’s birthday and the official launch of Srishti Wellness Retreat. The day started with some yoga sessions by Mrs Kamini followed by a healthy breakfast. By 9.00 am all the guests gathered in the meditation hall where we celebrated the launch. Swatantra shared her story and how Srishti came into being. There was also a mesmerising kathak recital by their visiting guest Ms Ruchi Saini – an international kathak performer.
It was noon and time for us to head back home. The last 4 days in Srishti definitely gave us a lot of knowledge on health and wellness and we have decided to practice what we learnt at home as well. The guests we met at Sristi are no longer strangers to us. In Fact we have built such strong bonds of friendship among us that they are now a part of our lives and we have created a whatsapp group so that we can keep in touch.Apart from the sessions, what we liked most about Srishti is the personal connect we experienced there. In this connected world, where friends have become strangers, we saw relationships form like the way they are supposed to. It was quite refreshing to talk to like minded people, laugh, share life experiences and go out for a secret chai drive at night!!There are so many destinations for yoga and meditation lovers all over India, and it can be really tough to decide on the right one. However, if you are someone who is looking to just switch it all off and rejuvenate amongst nature, or someone who is looking for an authentic experience where everything is personalised, an experience where you reconnect with yourself, spend time in a temperate climate and return to your life feeling refreshed, then Srishti Wellness Retreat is a must visit for you.
Indulge yourself by going to this retreat and experiencing a mind-body-spirit rejuvenation while being pampered in natural surroundings. You will really appreciate the joy of finding like-minded people who are also on a quest to achieve more. There are so many things to enjoy here either alone or with others. Apart from fitness classes, guided meditation and personalised yoga classes the place also offers the company of the lovely host Swatantra and Vivek along with their cute little darling daughter “Reet” – who believes she is the princess of Srishti which she lovingly calls her Castle 🙂
**Little Princess “Reet” in her Castle 🙂 MUCH LOVE!!

Origine Helmets Review

For over 4 years, we have been using LS2 helmets and it was time for us to get new ones. LS2 is the most popular brand amongst starters and we had picked these as they looked good and were priced reasonably. This time around we wanted to try a different brand and got to know about Motogear.in which is a distributor for Origine Helmets and based out of Chennai.

We got the Origine GT Tek Silver and the Tonale Americano. The specifications as given by Motogear are listed below.

GT Tek

Tourism-Sport,Thermoplastic resin shell

Meets or Exceeds Dot and ECE 22-05 standards

Removable and Washable lining

Micrometric Retention System

Air Strike™ Direct Course Ventilation System ,Internal Sun Visor

All Clear! Sight System™ Optically Correct, Anti-scratch,

Uv Resistant Face Shield,1380 Grams

Tonale Americano

Thermoplastic resin shell

Meets or Exceeds Dot and ECE 22-05 standards

Removable and Washable lining

Air Strike™ Direct Course Ventilation System

All Clear! Sight System™ Optically Correct, Anti-scratch, Uv Resistant Face Shield

Micrometric retention system,1450 Grams

Ishaq from Motogear.in had shipped these from Chennai and we were very impressed with the packing. The helmets came in a lovely orange Origine box and were wrapped in good quality helmet bags.Out of the box, it’s the first helmet I have opened that had such good looks, classy paint job and the look of superior quality.

How good are they?

Lets take a look about what you will like/dislike about these Origine helmets. We won’t talk about each helmet separately since both of them are very similar to each other.

Shell

A look at the exterior of these helmets shows that they are compact, streamlined and well designed. The fit of the helmet is oval and should make for good aerodynamics.This design coupled with the optimal airflow provided by the ventilation system should allow for smooth, drag-free rides.
One drawback is that when pressed from both sides the helmets tend to bend a little. We are not sure if they are designed to be flexible or if that’s a feature of the shell used. We tested the helmets at a top speed of 140kmph and there is some wind noise in both helmets but definitely not a deal breaker. At 1.4 kgs the helmets are quite light and should be suitable for all kinds of riders.

Visors

Both helmets come with the standard transparent visors but the GT Tek comes with an additional sun visor. Pretty handy during summer rides and sits well with all kinds of head sizes. I would have been happier if they had come with pin lock for anti fog capability. The drop-down sun visor on the GT Tek is easy to use and can be controlled using a slider at the side of the helmet.
Ventilation

Both helmets comes with vents on top with a slider for opening/closing. They are pretty easy to use and let sufficient amount of air in to make for a comfortable ride, especially during hot weather.

Padding/Lining

The padding inside is quite tight, snug and a little uncomfortable. But since they are new its quite natural and thats how most helmets are. The padding needs to ensure that the head doesn’t move around much inside and here the Origines do the job. One of us wears glasses and we didn’t find it tough to wear them with the tight padding. Its just a matter of getting used to it. What we liked was that the GT Tek had a small reflective piece at the bottom of the rear. Great feature for night riding!
Fitting

We are using the size L as it suits our physique. The helmet fits quite well and we found no movement at high speeds. The strap is quite comfortable and sits well without hampering movement. We did feel a little hot but thats because the fit is very snug as of now.Should you buy these?

Origine has some great helmet designs and Motogear.in stocks quite a few of these. We really liked the overall feel of these helmets and love the paint job. Our only feedback would be that we would like to see better vents and a harder shell. So far we have tested these for around 1,000 kms and have found no snags with them.

We had some rainfall during our ride and didn’t notice any water seeping into the helmets. If you are looking to buy  something different from the usual LS2, MT helmets then we would definitely recommended them. We are also very happy with the service Motogear has provided. Their delivery was right on schedule and we were very happy to see the packaging. Overall quite satisfied with Origine and Motogear.

You can check them out on http://www.motogear.in along with other brands they stock.

A Fairy Tale Homestay

As kids, many of us have watched fairytales on TV every Sunday morning, but in real life how many of us have got a chance to live or even be at a place like that? Well I have!! A place which is far from the maddening crowd and amidst a huge coffee plantation. Where Drongo’s make such cute yet unusual sounds that it blows your mind away. A place where huge mammals are welcome as well as cute little pups..a place which I call “LALALAND”For those who believe that fairytales exist and childhood dreams do come true then this place is definitely for you. Nestled in COORG-KUTTA, the unique cottages and their architecture is enough to remind you of your fairytales. No wonders its owners-Mrs Meena and Mr Ravi fell in love with this property the very first time they saw it, and decided to sell their house in Gurgaon in order to buy this plantation which they now call Turtlepond.
At the beginning, the huts were just shells and it was with the help of an Estonian traveller and his girlfriend who were on a cycling tour of Coorg and fell in love with the region. They stayed at Turtle Pond for many months and decided to design the shells and turn them into cottages. Later the cottages were also painted by them. The most amazing part about these wooden cottages is that every single bit of it is handbuilt and they typically look like cottages that are found in rural Estonia and Northern Russia.
The rooms of the cottages are cute, quaint, spacious and very comfortable. Apart from the beds, there is an almirah, a cooler, a dressing table and a big washroom.  Every cottage has a small and cute deck outside, where one can listen to the birds; their early morning chatter, or sip a cup of coffee, or even watch some wildlife pass through the property.  Moreover Coorg, that has a cool temperature throughout the year, makes this homestay an ideal place for you to relax and lose yourself in nature.
The owners/ host (I like to call them Uncle and Aunty) are an absolute pleasure to be with. They take such good care of you and ensure you are at your utmost comfort during your stay in Turtlepond. The food served is just delicious. Girish, their cook cum helper, prepares it all along with aunty. I still cannot forget the taste of that yummy chicken gravy which was served to us for dinner that night.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience at Turtlepond. The stay, the place , the room, the food, the gossips, the campfire and the warm hosts  were all just perfect. Exactly what you want when you are on a vacation. Oh and not to forget the thrilling discussions we had about their working days and Masai Mara!!
The owners of Turtlepond  are trying their best to restore the pristine beauty of their property and the plantation. They  are putting in all their efforts to turn their plantation into an organic one.  

Although our first visit to this place was planned for 1N2D,  I am coming back soon and given a chance I would spend days staying in this place. The homestay is so serene, beautiful and has a perfect blend of wild outdoors, coffee plantations, nature trails and beautiful scenic views. A perfect destination for us to be !