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Backpacking Guide to Nepal

Published by vaibhav

Call it adventure, adrenaline, fun or any word associated with pushing you to the limits of your fear, this Asian country in the laps of Himalayas has it all, be it camping in Himalayas, bungee jumping, rafting in the Trisuli river, paragliding above the mountains and the beautiful Pokhara lake, zip lining etc and the list is endless and that too without spending a fortune. So just make up your mind, pack your bags and experience for yourself what this mountain country has to offer you.

Pokhara

An ancient place, which served as a trading route between India and China, this city has its own tales to tell. A city which has the most beautiful aspects of nature intact within itself, simply, every tourists dream.

Pokhara has the power to make you weak in knees with the magnificence of its temples. The cuisine here is so divine, that you will not be able to control yourself from having more and more. If you are a trekking enthusiast and looking for getaway, this place is ideal as it has Annapurna Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas.

This place will free your soul from all the troubles and make you appreciate the majestically of nature.

Kathmandu

A land full of interesting myths, unforgettable legends and unimaginable beauty, a place which is known for its amazing collection of temples and breathtaking closeness to Himalayas, this is the place a nomad will find his/her home.

Welcome to Kathmandu, a city beautifully growing peacefully in the mountains, and having a life which is completely different than the others. Simple yet magnificent, this is the  place where one can find something new in every nook and corner. This is a city which is blessed with amazing artist, a legendary history and a welcoming culture. The mountains will cast such a spell, that no one leaves without discovering them. A place which will intoxicate your soul in such a way, that you’ll be born as a new person altogether. Come and rejuvenate your soul.  

Kumpir Turkey Potato Fast Food

Talking to the skies : Paragliding in Pokhara (Nepal)

Published by vaibhav

Talking to the skies is what best describes  paragliding and what better place than the majestic views and mountains of Himalayas. Nepal is the answer if you want to try this amazing adventure activity.

With its clear skies, pure wind, breathtaking views of the mountains and lakes, Pokhara serves as the best paragliding resort in Nepal where adventure seekers, backpackers and other traveller flock in for having a perfect holiday.

Paragliding is generally done with an experienced pilot with you where you go to a height, wear your gliding suit, tie the parachute on your body, take a little run towards the edge of the mountain and before you realise anything , you are no more running on the land but already in the sky at a height from where you can see 360 degrees of sheer natural beauty, breathing in the most clean air , looking down from where everything looks tiny.

I did paragliding 3 times (that is everytime I go to Nepal, I do it), an amazing activity to make you feel relaxed, think about nothing and everything at the same time, feel your breath and also to see how small are the things from above that seems massive to us on the ground.

Depending on your capacity, you can also ask the pilot to do some adventure where in they make you swirl in the sky, speed up the glide, perform different kinds of stunts in the air and then finally when you touch the ground, you are thankful to nobody but yourself for doing this. Do it for the views, the fun, the adventure , the feeling of nothingness, but don’t miss it.

Map my Escape, Travel Group

HOW TO GET RESOURCES TO TRAVEL

Published by vaibhav

It’s a myth that you got to have a lot of resources or  money to travel, rather, the resource which is needed the most is  passion for travelling and willingness to move out of your comfort zone  and explore the beauty & diversity in this world.

Try cutting down the unnecessary expenditure that you do everyday just to socialize or without any reason. You will be amazed to see  that just by cutting on a little spending everyday, you are able to save a big amount at the end of the month. Start with researching and then zeroing down on the place to be explored. Internet is the biggest,  best & cheapest resource for all the information, trust me, it helps you save a lot of money. Select the  destination whether domestic or international which fits your pocket the best, as we backpackers need to be a bit calculative so that we can afford to travel continuously and live a lot of different experiences. If the destination is domestic,then there’s  not much work to be done  but if its international, first read about the visa obtaining process and other formalities needed & then book the air tickets, compare and take the maximum use of promotional schemes & cashbacks while booking air tickets. Travel Insurance is a must if traveling internationally, as it is a little spending which gives you a peace of  mind.

Backpacking is  all about experiencing maximum in minimum cost, so try ditching a stay at  luxury hotels, rather look for hostels as they are cheap, clean and very lively, plus you get to meet a lot of new people with like minds sharing their traveling experiences and adventures. While you are there to explore the particular place, spend on experiences, adventures and activities rather than a whole lot of dollars on stay, as you are there exploring the whole day and only in the night you need a place to sleep, hostels are the best option or if you have friends in that place or if you are lucky to get a chance to stay with locals, grab it (not blindly, but if you find genuine people), it saves a lot of money and also gives you the feel of the place. For experiences and activities also, try searching for the best rates, it takes a little effort but saves a good amount of money, as competition between the companies is a blessing for us travelers.

If by putting in a little effort you can save some money, you can always buy some cute and little souvenirs to take back home which keeps the beautiful memories of the trip afresh and acts as an asset for you as a traveler. Make friends wherever you go, for you don’t know what role that person has in your life. This is the best part of travelling that you make friends across the globe, you share your culture and experience with them and they do  the same with you. You get to know how big this world is and this motivates you to explore more & more, although you have to be cautious while making friends and getting close to them, but everything is good and falls in place if  you are good.

Make traveling and exploring as your motivation, as this motivation would make you work hard to arrange resources to travel. Life is one, explore as much as you can. There’s a lot to be learned wherever you go. Happy explorative traveling.

 

Souvenir Collection, Map my Escape

Souvenir Collection

Published by vaibhav

Souvenirs are undoubtedly the most treasured materialistic possession of a traveler. Anything that makes you remind of the place or the city or the country that you have been to holds a very important place in your memory because they are the things that keep you connected to the place after your return. You can always look back and cherish the impact that your travel has left on you.

 

I am a fanatic when it comes to souvenirs. With a travel room in my home specially dedicated for souvenirs from all around the world and all the places that I have visited, the collection has things as small as a pin badge, to t-shirts, to flags, to maps, to custom novelties, to currencies to boarding passes and the list is endless. They are my treasures and are being kept in the special travel trunks that give a perfect storage to them and motivation to me for traveling more and more as this is what I passionately live for. I try getting my hand on almost everything that connects me to the place I’ve been to, some of the diverse collections includes

1.Maps – As the first thing that gives me a kick to explore any place, pocket maps are a sure thing that I carry back home from every place that I visit.

2.Currency – I was always interested in collecting coins and notes of different countries since my school days, so now I make sure to get different denomination notes and coins of each country that I go to and put it in my collection which is ever growing.

3.Magnets and Keychains – For the purpose of gifting as well as a collection, these are the most loved souvenirs throughout the world as they depict the different aspects and places of a country and are very easy to carry too.

4.T-Shirts – It is a must for me to buy a T-Shirt from every city and country I visit, they are one of the perfect memoirs to be cherished and remind.

5. Personalised Souvenirs – Many destinations have some specialty souvenirs which can be personalized by your name and a background of that country or city such as the sand art souvenir in the Dubai Desert or a personalized passport cover in Thailand etc. Every time you look at them, you find yourself back there again in your heart.

6. Boarding Passes – Sounds a bit unusual but I save all my boarding passes as a memory and Souvenir of my trips which inspires me to travel and explore more and more.

7. Information Pamphlets and Small cards – I love reading and knowing about different places, religions, experiences, and celebrations, so if I get a hand on the pamphlets which have these kinds of information, mainly from the tourism board, I don’t leave them.

8. Country Patches – My backpack which has traveled with me to 39 countries and each country’s patch flag is stitched on this most valued possession of mine.

9. Entry tickets and passes– Other unusual things that I carry as a souvenir from wherever I go are the entry tickets to the monuments, rail passes, concert tickets, match tickets or even some food bills of the restaurants which I like a lot.

 

This is all about my collection of the memories in the form of souvenirs that I bring back home with me on the return from a trip and all I can say is they are very precious and you know the worth when you return. How about you?, do you collect souvenirs of your trip too?

 

Sri Lanka, Map my Escape

Sri Lanka – The Small Paradise

Published by vaibhav

Pristine Beaches, Endless Sea, Green Mountains, mesmerising train journeys, Colonial Architecture, Bustling Capital with Sources of Entertainment are the attributes which describes Sri Lanka- The Paradise Island or ‘The Wonder of Asia’.

A week or 10 days is the perfect span to visit this beautiful country and have a flavour of its diverse land.There are many beautiful places stretching from North to the South. The must visit places are Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Adam’s Peak, Mirissa, Galle and Colombo.

Start with Kandy, the second largest city of Sri Lanka which is a 3 to 4 hour journey from Colombo. A night or 2 is enough to visit this beautiful hilly place. The main attraction is Temple of Tooth and the Kandy Lake.

Depending on the time of the year  you are travelling there, you can experience the world famous Perahera Festival which happens generally in the mid of August, I was lucky enough to experience it. The whole city is decked up with lights and the famous procession with decorated elephants takes place at around 7 in the evening, but reach a bit early to take a good position to view it, many local people lend their terraces and balconies at a little cost to view the procession. There are a lot of local food stalls to savour the delicacies.

The next morning one can take the amazing observation salon train which goes up north to Nuwara Eliya and Adam’s Peak. The journey is a must as it has spectacular views of the tree plantations, waterfalls, mountains and greenery all around. Adam’s Peak is a long climb but very well worth as it offers amazing views which in itself is a treat to eyes. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is also a good experience to be with elephants and feed them, an hour away from Kandy.

On the other end , Sri Lanka has beautiful beach town Mirissa and the colonial town Galle in the South which are undoubtedly the jewels of this island country. Tranquility is what defines Mirissa, the beaches are so clean and lively that gives a perfect gateway to the sun, sand and ocean lovers. It’s amazing to see the way traditional fishermen get their catch, also the amazing aroma of spices in the food by the beach side restaurants, the chilled drinks and amazing lighted up party places in the evenings.

On the other hand the nearby colonial town depicting the old history and architecture being done by Portuguese, Dutch and British rulers takes you back in time. The port, Light House, Old Fort and artistic lanes makes it a must visit.  There are some mind blowing cafes and restaurants which serve different cuisines and delicious desserts. One can spend hours sitting at the shore and gulping in the feel that this place has to offer. I would suggest to spend a night there inside the old town, they have many old architecture houses which are being converted into hotels and guest houses.

One can got to Hikkaduwa beach, just 25 minutes from Galle to visit the famous Turtle Hatchery which is also a good experience in itself.

Now comes the bustling capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. A beach city in itself with a lot of diverse activities and places to offer. The city is big with a lot of people, unlike the other cities in Sri Lanka. It has some great places to stay with great views and also great Restaurants that offer Authentic Sri Lankan food and the food from all over the world.

The colonial architecture can be easily seen in the Old Buildings, Town Hall, Dutch Hospital etc. There are a lot of cultural and places of worship like The GangaRamaya Temple, architectural places like Dutch Museum and Independence Square near Colombo Fort and fancy sea facing places to chill out in the Galle Face Green. In the night, Colombo has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment, be it huge casinos or nightclubs or movie theatres.Cricket being the most widely played and loved game in the island, if you are lucky and there is a match, you can get to experience it and see the craze for it. There different modes of transport to commute in the city, the best being TukTuks and Private Taxis as the public transports are overcrowded and very slow.

The people are very friendly and open with smiling faces, ready to help always.

So if you are looking to escape from your daily life and replenish yourself, this Island Paradise is the place to choose for a week or 10 days of relaxation with a combination of some amazing places and diverse experiences to live. Give it a chance and it won’t disappoint you. Get Set Lanka.

Laughter

Zimbabwe- The Country Less Explored

Published by vaibhav

What’s there to see?, is the first question most of the people ask me when I talk about a trip to Zimbabwe. Surprisingly, this country is full of natural beauty and has a lot of adventurous experiences to offer.

The main attraction is obviously the Victoria Falls, being situated on the Zambezi river dividing Zimbabwe and Zambia. 3 days are enough to take a good feel of this place. Start with Bulawayo, the city depicting different shades of Zimbabwe. Walking is the best way to explore this city, one can see different architectures, museums and interact with the locals, savour local delicacies and drinks.

In the evening take the overnight train to Victoria Falls. This place needs no introduction, a look and a walk through it depicts the immense beauty which is a treat to the eyes. Overlooking the Zambezi River, often being called as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the largest stretch of flowing water, it amazes you with every look at every point. Also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders) because of the immense intensity, and the multiple rainbows formed amongst the falls are a sheer treat to eyes. There are many spots to observe this spectacular natural wonder and most of the spots lie in the Zimbabwean side of the fall.

One can spend hours gazing at this beauty, also the way inside is completely natural and gives a feel of jungle. In the evening, the best idea is to enjoy sunset on a boat ride in Zambezi River with snacks, drinks and some African Music. Nights are quiet and calm in Victoria Falls but there are a few places which has live music and good food to enjoy with stargazing.

Victoria Falls is the home to many Adventures right from Bungee Jumping to River Rafting to Lion Walk to Free Fall and the List is endless, so keep a full day reserved to satisfy your adventure adrenalin. Bungee Jumping on the Victoria Falls Bridge is an amazing experience and also the Lion Walk, there are many agencies and service providers arranging these activities, trust me you’ll feel like doing everything but then have to see the Pockets also .

Next morning one can go to the neighbouring country Botswana to take an amazing Water and Land Safari in the Chobe National Park (Read More- Botswana, Naturally African) and can return the same evening from there again to Victoria Falls. In the same evening you can leave for the small town of Livingstone which is in Zambian side of Victoria Falls.

The most amazing experience is to enter Zambia walking from Zimbabwe by the bridge which separates the 2 countries, in just a matter of 10 minutes you’ll be in a different country getting your passport stamped.

 

It’s a bit offbeat, but trust me Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls won’t disappoint you at any point of time, so pack your bags and get into this wild and amazing destination to discover more.

 

Baby Elephants

BOTSWANA- Naturally African

Published by vaibhav

The Landlocked Country in the South of African continent, is what we know about Botswana, and many of the people don’t even know about this country, but if you are a wildlife enthusiast, this place has a plethora to offer in terms of flora and fauna.

Although, I was there just for a day trip but was enough to get awestruck by the amazing scenes it has to offer. Be it the large groups of the Great African Elephants or Tall Giraffes or Lazy Hippos or fast Leopards, the beauty of Chobe River separating Botswana and Namibia or the Migratory Birds, the list is endless.

The Chobe National Park Safari is a must. Its very easy to get to Chobe National Park from Victoria Falls by road, the journey in itself is like a wildlife expedition wherein you see a lot of animals, specially Baboons and Giraffes crossing by the road. At the border between Zimbabwe and Botswana, after completing immigration and sanitizing your shoes so that they don’t contain any weeds, you enter into this amazing land called Botswana.

The beauty of this safari in Chobe National Park is that it’s both on land and in water. First it starts with the water safari in the Chobe River overlooking Namibia on the other side, in the motorboat you can gaze at the vast catchment of the river, Hippos submerged in water, Crocodiles, many African Birds, Elephants crossing and other water creatures. Every movement would make you feel like taking a photograph and saving it as a lifetime memory. After spending some quality hours in River Safari, they take you back for having a good buffet lunch and then starts the Jungle Safari inside Chobe National Park.

 

The Great African Elephants are a major attraction and you’ll find them in all sizes and numbers, a lot of Giraffes, Buffalos, Baboons, Cheetah or Leopard (if you are lucky) , a lot of Bushbucks and other animals & birds. Wearing those safari hats and hopping on to the safari vans and surfing on the rough terrains of the national park, there would be many unusual encounters whether it’s a family of elephant passing by or giraffes gazing at you or the pugmarks of swift Leopard or the other animals passing. Many a times people do this safari twice in a single trip, you’ll find many animal researchers and photographers waiting for the perfect shot of running elephants, or a hunt by Leopard etc.

If visiting Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park is a natural attraction which is not to be missed. Just dive into this African extravaganza.

 

Map My escape

Picture Perfect Paris

Published by vaibhav

Paris, sometimes the name is enough to give a prelude about a place or that feeling of imagination. It’s the charm and beauty of this city which brings millions of travellers here from across the globe and makes it the number 1 city in the world in terms of tourist visits. Almost everywhere you go in this city, you’ll feel like clicking a picture and capturing its beauty, that’s why I gave this blog the above title.

Although 3 days are not enough to gulp in the flavours of this city but still a lot can be done and felt in this limited time. The very first day can start with the visit to Basilica Montmartre which is a beauty in itself and provides breathtaking views of this Romantic city, you can see a lot of tourists as well as local people sitting and gazing this beauty.

 

The next stop can be Louvre but I would recommend to visit Louvre Square/ Grounds and take a good view of the place rather than going into the museum, undoubtedly the museum is world famous and houses the epic Monalisa painting, but sometimes it takes hours just to get in, so if you are short of time , think before getting in.

One more spot not to be missed is Notre Dame Cathedral which is an architectural beauty giving that gothic feel when you visit it. The next spot can be the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens.The beautiful fountains, green alleys, floral colour riot, historical architecture are some of the aspects of this place, rest is best experienced by going there.Very close to it lies the Latin Quarter or Neighbourhood which is famous for its bustling cafes and liveliness, go there to tickle your tastebuds and relax over a cup of coffee.

Evening is the time which raises this city’s beauty manyfold, pass through the bridges over Seine river to reach the Wonder of the World, Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel doesn’t needs an introduction, just go and get mesmerised by the beauty and glittering lights. You can climb up (the lines are generally huge) or enjoy the view from the garden with a cold Champagne and some snacks.

The next day should be reserved to visit the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’, Disneyland. Right from the kids to adults and old aged, there is something for everyone in this amazing theme and fantasy park, people come and relive their childhood and at the same time experience some adrenaline rush in the adventure rides, one such is a ride named space.

The Disneyland Parade and Fireworks are not to be missed. There are many theme restaurants and cafes inside the park, try the glazed apple candy if you have a sweet tooth.

Keep the last day to walk around the city to take a more deeper feel of it and soak in the culture. In the evening take a boat ride in the Seine river gazing the beautiful sights of Paris along it.

In the evening, walk through one of the most expensive shopping streets along Camp Elysees to reach Arc De Triomphe, to have spectacular views of the symmetrical streets of Paris and the fast moving pace of this city. Although it’s never enough to keep gazing, but you can walk from Arc De Triomphe to Eiffel to see it again and spend some hours under it before you adieu Paris a final goodbye, taking a lot of memories back. Don’t think twice before choosing Paris as a destination to visit.