Month: December 2014

Losing a passport and why travel insurance proved useless

Published by Anita

This post is all about “what happens when you lose a passport” and my personal experience with ICICI Lombard Travel Insurance. Yes. I did the “no 1” thing feared by most travellers. It features probably on the top of things NOT to do when on the road. Lose a passport; your most precious travel document. So how I lost it is not a very glamourous story. It has no masala or intrigue at all. I won’t get into the details. For the record, somewhere on the streets of Malaga (Spain), while on a sightseeing trip (on a cycle), I am quite sure the passport got lost (case of the open bag, carelessness of not closing it properly). But more importantly, what happens when you do happen to lose a passport? While it’s not something you hope will ever happen to you, there’s always a possibility. Having gone through this experience, here’s what I did and I hope will help anyone who lands up in this quandary. My second part details with travel insurance. In my …

Chocolate fantasies come true at Jus’ Trufs

Published by Anita

An invite to taste good chocolate is always welcome. Especially, if it’s sourced from Belgium! The founder of Jus’ Trufs, Chenddyna (pronounced Chandana) Schae tells me that the raw material is imported all the way from this far away European country. Jus Trufs is located on #9 Jakkur Road, around a kilometre off new Airport Road. Along with my chocolate loving better half for company, I landed up at the rather impressive four-storey building that now houses a cafe, a chocolate production unit and a large performance/workshop space on the top floor. Despite its location, the place is well frequented by people around that area who know about it. And if you thought Jus’ Trufs is just about chocolates, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We make ourselves comfortable and settle into the warm and cosy cafe, with some sandwiches, while the better half decides on a chocolate shot to start off the evening. Chenddyna began her venture as a home business many years ago. Quickly, the word about her delicious goodies got around and she began …

Ancient connections to come alive through “Ghadai”, an initiative by the Kumbhars (potters) of Kutch

Published by Anita

The arts and crafts from the Kutch region are well known today. There is a lot of interest in the fabrics, the weaves, the prints, silver jewellery, copper artifacts and these products are in demand not only in India, but all over the world. Yet, one craft which is not getting the focus and appreciation it deserves is pottery. Reviving the ancient art of Kutch pottery The history of pottery in the Kutch region dates back 5000 years at least. Pottery products have been excavated from the archaelogical site of Dholavira, an ancient city belonging to the Indus Valley civilisation. Talking to Meera Goradia, the director of the Kutch-based NGO KHAMIR, I get to know a little more about the efforts being taken to bring alive the tradition of potters in the region. There are many who have stopped their craft, mainly due to a loss in livelihood. In some villages, the potter’s wheel now lies unturned. Yet in others, there is renewed interest as the craft has also started integrating aspects of newer and …

Scent of cardamom and taste of fresh honey: A visit to the Kalarickal Heritage Bungalow

Published by Anita

There’s something about a bungalow that was constructed in the 1800s. It feels like stepping back in time. The way the doors close. The old style latches and windows. The feel of the cool red floor under your bare feet. But the TV and the WiFi suddenly brings you back to present tense also giving you a sense of modern comforts! A part of the bungalow which has been renovated for guests. Photo courtesy: KH Plantation A bit of history – “the current owner’s grandfather, K K Kurian Kalarickal, settled in this area (Idukki district) in the early 1900s when the hills were still thick with forests and wildlife. He was among a few pioneers to make his way into the mountains and begin cultivating them.” Luckily, this area is untouched and still verdant and retains much of it’s charm. K K Kurian built this original bungalow in 1918 and for many years it was a landmark in Idukki. It doubled up as a village office for planters and visitors who came for advise. The …

Where cranes sing and flamingos dance: Into the Banni Grasslands Reserve

Published by Anita

Thousands of birds call the Banni Grasslands Reserve in Kutch, Gujarat their home. An excursion into this dry but rich ecosystem, has delightful surprises unfold, as you turn every corner. “Leave nothing but footprints; and plant trees. Lots of trees.” Flamingos against a beautiful sunrise over the Banni Grasslands. Photo credit: Jugal Tiwari Only someone wise and passionate can utter these words. And they come from none other than Jugal Tiwari of the Center for Desert and Ocean (CEDO). Established in 2005, the organisation has been tireless working on ecology and conservation issues for the last 9 years. Tiwari, who is originally from Rajasthan, on a visit to Kutch, fell in love with this area. It’s not hard to imagine why. What appears at first sight to be dry scrub desert, has more surprises, twists and turns than a detective novel and you look forward with anticipation to the next sight! We enter the reserve in the early morning hours. The cranes are already up, and fly across the morning sky, just beginning to glow …

Chili’s signature dishes and drinks don’t disappoint!

Published by Anita

I remember a day when we had gone to Phoenix city mall for some work. My sister and I. Tired after our shopping expedition, we wandered into Chili’s. We were quite happy with our cocktails – the Presidente Margarita – which arrives at the table with a lot of drama. Both of us being fish lovers, we ordered the Vietnamese basa, which we were very happy with.. Fast forward a few years and I see that a new outlet of Chili’s has opened in Indiranagar. This is the first stand alone restaurant, the other two being part of a mall (Phoenix and Orion). On a busy Sunday, after giving breakfast a miss (and to ensure we could eat a bit extra) – we head there for a meal on an invitation from the restaurant. We settled for a plate of non-veg starters called Triple Dipper, which was quite substantial and comprised of chicken wings, friend chicken along with crunchy delicious cheese balls. The drinks on arrival looked rather gorgeous though a few sips later, we …