tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26781202388116185472024-03-13T05:23:14.957-07:00My TravelogueWe love to travel and try to squeeze in as much travel as we can between our holidays, shutdowns and long weekends. Here is our account of what/where/when/how of the places we have travelled to. It is meant to be an account of what we did and could have done to take a look at a few years later, may be!
- Neha & SumitNeha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-21557791790489292052021-01-01T01:01:00.002-08:002021-01-01T01:03:47.060-08:00Wishlist for the next decade. Hello 2021!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuKFUDTqFBMbltEQWeoohv3xyZq-jbF7YjuwQDVGgYAio6kh4cpalwVhvEkzT-curVtxswcgrPNg1OZHvYWjds-1p9jW8a34gBuS-9RzKLj4VcEwhhUTzHOUZiCCbHuen3cjrz_viLkE/s1564/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-01+at+12.58.24+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuKFUDTqFBMbltEQWeoohv3xyZq-jbF7YjuwQDVGgYAio6kh4cpalwVhvEkzT-curVtxswcgrPNg1OZHvYWjds-1p9jW8a34gBuS-9RzKLj4VcEwhhUTzHOUZiCCbHuen3cjrz_viLkE/w567-h439/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-01+at+12.58.24+AM.jpeg" width="567" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> Image credits: All over internet!</span><br /><p>After a #throwback post on Facebook yesterday, it is time for a post #LookingForward in 2021. And this one deserves to be on the blog. I spent some time picking five destinations I would like to visit sometime in not-so-distant future. I did some research online and (finally!) read "World's Best Travel Experiences" by NatGeo. Then it was time to dig deep and think what would I really like to do/see/experience to arrive at this list. I am an easy traveler, just the thought of traveling and being in someplace new, surrounded by new culture, new language excites me. Now with a little one to travel with, all these places sound too adventurous! Let us see how many years till I check them off my bucket list.</p><div>Here is my list, in no particular order:</div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. Botswana/Rwanda:</h3><div>African Safari. This has been the most unique experience from all our previous trips. This time I'd pick a different national park for a different experience. the Okavango Delta in Botswana seems like a good choice, as we have been to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania already. But I also want to meet the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Now while I am here. why not go see Victoria waterfalls in Zimbabwe. I am getting greedy! </div><div><a href="https://www.okavangodelta.com/" target="_blank">Okavango Delta, Botswana</a><br /></div><a href="https://www.andbeyond.com/destinations/africa/rwanda/" target="_blank">Rwanda</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. Torres Del Paine:</h3><div>Really want to trek the W circuit or the O circuit. It has to be all pre booked from what I understand. Luckily I have a few friends who have been here and their pictures were beautiful to say the least. Might make sense to combine this with a trip to Buenos Aires and take some Tango lessons.</div><div><a href="https://torresdelpaine.com/en/" target="_blank">Torres Del Paine</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. Galapagos Islands:</h3><div>Nature in its pristine glory. Definitely want to see the big turtles and the blue-footed boobies. The only way would be to book a tour and a cruise perhaps. I must learn how to tread before I go here. I can't be zipping in and out of wetsuits! </div><div><a href="https://www.galapagos.org/" target="_blank">Galapagos Conservatory</a><br /><a href="https://www.galapagosislands.com/" target="_blank">Galapagos Tourism</a><br /></div></div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">4. Maldives/Zanzibar/Bora Bora:</h3></div><div>A luxury beach vacation where I can switch off from the entire world. Get some classy beach pictures and stay in an overwater bungalow. I am really not particular where I get to do that. Is it Maldives or Zanzibar or Bora Bora. It just needs to be pure luxury. As Zanzibar is the least popular, I will share a link about this options.</div><div><a href="http://www.zanzibartourism.go.tz/" target="_blank">Zanzibar Tourism</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. South Georgia Islands:</h3><div>I want to see penguins in their natural habitat. We did go to Prince Philip island in Australia, but I want to see bigger and more penguins. So this fifth choice is completely driven by this. Only way to get here is by a cruise. </div><div><a href="https://www.gov.gs/visitors/how-to-visit/" target="_blank">South Georgia Islands</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to mention close contenders, but they are mostly the places I want to go to. Not too exotic, but just some wishlist places. May be this list will carry over to the next decade, or may be I will have to create a new one! Who knows!</div><div><br /></div><div>But here is wishing everyone who wishes to travel, lots of cheap flights, luxury hotel deals, and a lot of paid-time-off at work. May we all get to travel and meet our loved ones soon enough. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy and a very Happy New Year!</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers!</div>Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-79869604476117064132019-07-05T20:34:00.000-07:002020-04-01T14:57:56.119-07:00England (London, Stonehenge, Bath, Cotswold, Oxford, Lake District, York, Manchester)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home of Sherlock Holmes</td></tr>
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2015. It was in the year 2015, when I decided that I must watch the next cricket world cup, which happened every four years and interestingly, the next one was in UK and I hadn't traveled there yet. After passing through the London Heathrow airport a zillion times, I was finally determined to fly into London airport in 2019, which, alas, didn't really happen. Here is our brief itinerary before all the juicy details.<br />
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Day 1: Train from Edinburgh -> London</div>
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Day 2: London sightseeing</div>
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Day 3: Day trip to Cotswold, Oxford</div>
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Day 4: Day trip to Stonehenge, Bath</div>
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Day 5: London sightseeing</div>
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Day 6: Relaxed day in London with some sightseeing</div>
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Day 7: Match day in Birmingham</div>
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Day 8: Train + car to reach Lake District</div>
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Day 9: Lake district</div>
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Day 10: Lake district -> drive to York</div>
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Day 11: Match day in Leeds</div>
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Day 12: Day in York -> drive to Manchester</div>
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Day 13: Fly out of Manchester<br />
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I plan to log about this trip city-wise and not day wise. It makes more sense that way as our itinerary was also driven by car rentals and visiting families. Also, I am going to add just a section on match days to log our memories from the match days. This itinerary is a part of longer UK trip which included Scotland travel before England, which is also logged in the blog. Take a look if you'd like.</div>
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Where to fly in:</h4>
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Anywhere you get good flight tickets to. Taking a train to the city you intend to visit isn't much troublesome. The distances aren't much, so it won't be time consuming as well. We flew in to Manchester as we got a good deal with the flights. Hence we visited Scotland first and then England. However, with non US/UK/EU passports, it does take a while to get through immigration.</div>
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When to go:</h4>
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It is mostly cold and rainy in London even during summer months. I was afraid we are going to hit that weather going end of June. But luckily, weather got better and we were there during a heat wave, which is so much nicer than the heat waves we get in California. Weather was warm, bright and sunny. No rains, so no days were wasted sitting at our hotels. Hence, I would think July and may be August would be good times to visit. Unless, you want to go see snow clad Great Britain. I am sure that has its own charm.</div>
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London</h3>
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London always always reminds me of the TV series FRIENDS that was shot in London for a few episodes. I just can't get that out of my head. So here we were. Six adults, ready to explore London!<br />
We spent three days in London and I think we got to most of the touristy stuff we intended to, including Crystal maze! Here is how our days went.<br />
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<li>Day Zero: </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dishoom, King's Cross</td></tr>
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We arrived late in the afternoon via train from Edinburgh, It was a decent 4 hour journey and once we got here, we decided to settle in our Airbnb, which was a three bhk apartment to accommodate us and our parents and our kitchen needs. Once we were settled, we met Roohi, my childhood friend and Rohit, Sumit's cousin was a sumptuous meal at Dishoom. You will soon realize we are huge Dishoom fans. We mostly strolled around the King's cross area and London being under heat wave, was just perfect for us. Balmy summer sun. In the evening, we got back and waited for our parents to get home from the airport. Today was the day to just settle in and start exploring the following day. <span id="goog_1048451634"></span><span id="goog_1048451635"></span><br />
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<li>Day One: </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRc4t1CoJPzscCqbO2UvhscKCbRTrVIpduCZkVZeSyY0Vpf2_WviIjQsy2ajYrLAi0aSOOHerHp_aS-Oor9Ot3R0JVA_qULI8n7syOaLgB354YYgY5Uc4OR2wG8khzWNUMb3QxCF6PSA/s1600/IMG_20190627_112050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRc4t1CoJPzscCqbO2UvhscKCbRTrVIpduCZkVZeSyY0Vpf2_WviIjQsy2ajYrLAi0aSOOHerHp_aS-Oor9Ot3R0JVA_qULI8n7syOaLgB354YYgY5Uc4OR2wG8khzWNUMb3QxCF6PSA/s320/IMG_20190627_112050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckingham Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOHPXlBzWcjN_BQ10TlJjk_iWd9ETZh__KMGjU7-S0QkiyxPyppRLC5qJkn0UBZm8GYZDTbUkGc1D7oCx3LnHJXhtiC5YaHce8T3g3J2izZoTYCddXg6mw2uaWoT4N3RhP5d1KNCQ8ZQ/s1600/IMG_20190627_140351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOHPXlBzWcjN_BQ10TlJjk_iWd9ETZh__KMGjU7-S0QkiyxPyppRLC5qJkn0UBZm8GYZDTbUkGc1D7oCx3LnHJXhtiC5YaHce8T3g3J2izZoTYCddXg6mw2uaWoT4N3RhP5d1KNCQ8ZQ/s320/IMG_20190627_140351.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster Abbey</td></tr>
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Today was supposed to be a typical touristy day in London. Best thing we did was to buy the London explorer pass for ourselves and our parents. Parents had the 5 attraction pass and we had the 7 attractions pass. First we called an Uber to the Buckingham palace. We got dropped off a little farther away from the palace entrance. We walked all the way and took pictures. We were in time for the changing of the guard ceremony. It gets really crowded here, so find a good spot. Well, as good as you can with all the tourists blocking your view. Up next was the walking tour of this area. We walked from Buckingham Palace, to James Palace to all the way to Trafalgar square. Here we took a break to take pictures and grab something to eat at a nearby cafe. Then we took a token picture outside 10 Downing Street before walking to the Westminster Abbey. We didn't plan on going inside. But took plenty of pictures outside. Then we walked all the way to the Big Ben. And in between stopped to take pictures with the statues of Gandhi and Churchill. Big Ben was sadly under scaffolding and undergoing major renovations. Next up was a ferry ride from the pier right outside the Big Ben to the Tower Bridge. Our explorer pass had this covered and having an app on the phone was super helpful to scan and get your tickets. The ferry ride was sunny and bright, but windy. The commentary was funny, and gave you a good overall idea about major attractions in the city. Once we got off the ferry ride, we walked all the way to the bridge, got our tickets to get in the towers and took pictures inside. We also witnessed the opening and closing of the bridge as a ship had to pass through. Pretty exciting. Next, we spent some time at a Starbucks drinking coffee and cooling down in the hot weather.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Eye</td></tr>
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Final segment was to Uber all the way to London Eye. Here we got our tickets through the pass and got in the long albeit fast moving queues to get on the London Eye. It was almost sunset. View were pretty, I wish we had come here after sunset, would have been nice to see well lit London from bird's eye view. Once we got off, we grabbed something to eat and headed straight home and called it a day. We were done with a lot of major attractions today, but were a bit tired with all the walking.<br />
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<li>Day Two: </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUL2obXg9W3En1pe-c9GXP2EUKv3bmftsVt1gRzsDOTY7TzlM_isM7YoyscR_d3qAB-EImyZvX3hfkQaXMVKzaIy2G2y-CspofrLqzpaX_XboC1rk_e8j-nQWeW6o7BEiY0mL4vWip1g/s1600/IMG_20190630_114349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUL2obXg9W3En1pe-c9GXP2EUKv3bmftsVt1gRzsDOTY7TzlM_isM7YoyscR_d3qAB-EImyZvX3hfkQaXMVKzaIy2G2y-CspofrLqzpaX_XboC1rk_e8j-nQWeW6o7BEiY0mL4vWip1g/s320/IMG_20190630_114349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Famous '83 World Cup balcony</td></tr>
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We started off our day with Lord's tour. I had booked this off six months ago, because I knew that due to World Cup, there would be limited openings for tours. I am glad I did. Our parents loved the tour, especially going to the balcony and seeing the cup Kapil Dev had lifted in 1983. If you are a die-hard cricket fan like us, must must do this tour.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Megxit</td></tr>
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Next up, was Madam Tussaud's. It was covered under our Explorer Pass, but the queue for getting tickets is long plus there is waiting for the entry time too. We had found this out the previous day and gotten our tickets for this day, so luckily it worked out. This attraction is the busiest one in London and make sure you have tickets beforehand, so that you avoid those 2-3 hours of wait. So we had about an hour to kill before we were let in, so we went out to grab food and drinks with parents. Also, Sherlock Holmes' house, 321 Baker street is very close by, so it makes for a good quick trip. And don't forget to take a picture with his statue. Anyhow, once we got in the wax museum, our parents went crazy taking pictures with all the Bollywood stars. They even had Narendra Modi and Virat Kohli. I have never taken so many pictures in a single location before. It was so much fun to see our parents thoroughly enjoy this place.<br />
It was already late afternoon by the time we got out, so our parents headed home and I headed to meet my friend Roohi. I took a brief stop at Bond street for some window shopping and then headed out her place. Sumit joined me later after dropping off the parents. It was so much fun and just like old times hanging out with her.<br />
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<li>Day Three: </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wF-UZUdKAtZHVtId-mwu2Pr_P2VT7gsgIYEQtXhem5gwh-JQa3GFC9wMgRuDM_-_afditPOfKf_ALd48jRC4uedICRQK0G2kTnIJT8qx-804vwTOVcppfTXhyK667tLITe7UQyyJZwA/s1600/IMG_20190701_124328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wF-UZUdKAtZHVtId-mwu2Pr_P2VT7gsgIYEQtXhem5gwh-JQa3GFC9wMgRuDM_-_afditPOfKf_ALd48jRC4uedICRQK0G2kTnIJT8qx-804vwTOVcppfTXhyK667tLITe7UQyyJZwA/s320/IMG_20190701_124328.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal maze</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The activity I was most looking forward to was scheduled for this day. The Crystal Maze. I had grown up watching Crystal maze, and given how crazy I am about puzzles, I was so excited about it that I can't even express and yes, the experience lived up to its expectation. A crazy host leading us through four zones and playing different types of practical games. What else could I ask for. I was super duper amazed at the setup, execution and the overall experience. On my next trips to London, I plan on adding more such things to our itinerary. But if you are a Crystal Maze fan, this is a must do. Next up, we stopped at the St. Paul's Cathedral. And it is gorgeous. I absolutely loved it. One of my favorite cathedrals for sure. Beautiful and magnanimous. Then we headed home for some home made lunch and our parents rested and ready to step out. The first stop was the London Tower museum. Our parents were very keen on seeing the Kohinoor, so we just had to make a stop here. But this time we took the tube to get to the museum so that our parents can experience the public transport as well. Once we got to the museum, we headed straight to the section where kohinoor is kept as there is a long waiting queue to get in. Its actually overwhelming to see so many jewels and gold housed in one place. Once we got out, we wanted to get on the Big Bus as our final to-do item in London and that is what we did. We took the big Bus tour which was also included in our explorer pass and got off the near King's cross. We had made a reservation for dinner for parents and my friend and a cousin this day. After a big sumptuous meal in at Dishoom, we called it a wrap for our London tour. I guess three days were plenty for relaxed and easy touristy sightseeing in London. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf_XeFcTQUXzqQhaXYOEmIycD8gBpLevTKeWE7SkIk4mSTZtcluN6Sok5m52t1hSdEZpJ67UxkLvil9v_X7E9K-eTjtjjeAX5gzSdiVB9iRWPzYNfSoUfrSDf_4vViCXUtGttoWbYbLk/s1600/IMG_20190701_101354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf_XeFcTQUXzqQhaXYOEmIycD8gBpLevTKeWE7SkIk4mSTZtcluN6Sok5m52t1hSdEZpJ67UxkLvil9v_X7E9K-eTjtjjeAX5gzSdiVB9iRWPzYNfSoUfrSDf_4vViCXUtGttoWbYbLk/s320/IMG_20190701_101354.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Paul's Cathedral</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Day trip to Cotswold and Oxford</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRhbLycrZ3e1XR0d-Qk4DJ20zRBpBB6h8gF4jzJTMPVhldu_afU1QM_kWLjV_pPKmeL466H4ZSBX6Ls8XR3Nwogo49PwKGs7qtDwjmpgrYh0_MS0BPeRyZPvOFIoWm0Sp8Y9uFPqc0fs/s1600/IMG_20190628_105643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRhbLycrZ3e1XR0d-Qk4DJ20zRBpBB6h8gF4jzJTMPVhldu_afU1QM_kWLjV_pPKmeL466H4ZSBX6Ls8XR3Nwogo49PwKGs7qtDwjmpgrYh0_MS0BPeRyZPvOFIoWm0Sp8Y9uFPqc0fs/s320/IMG_20190628_105643.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea at Cotswold</td></tr>
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We rented a car in the morning to drive to Cotswold and Oxford and get back to London the same night. We picked a Hertz rental closest to our location, which was Marble Arch. Pick up was quick and easy, but the trick was to get out on London central zone before you get charged for driving in the high traffic zone. So, we carefully navigated out of the city to make sure we aren't driving in the high traffic zone. Maps are readily available online for the zones.<br />
Our goal for the day initially was to visit a village or two in Cotswold, then head out to Stratford Upon Avon followed by a walking tour in oxford. But, we realised that may be stretching ourselves with parents, so we dropped Stratford Upon avon from our plan for the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMZhweVQzaZXSV_0O3PZwlaQcN2WWGezhuwFvnbnwrT5xABCNXdLVIDE2nkN-80wCBU5-7Q-5yDLnsfKKV5ur9pyHhQz9hwYMZ3eT4ugloef341qHscvUuphcahsAOGYNI449nU9OXTg/s1600/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190628142951789_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMZhweVQzaZXSV_0O3PZwlaQcN2WWGezhuwFvnbnwrT5xABCNXdLVIDE2nkN-80wCBU5-7Q-5yDLnsfKKV5ur9pyHhQz9hwYMZ3eT4ugloef341qHscvUuphcahsAOGYNI449nU9OXTg/s320/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190628142951789_COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford</td></tr>
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Our first stop was Cotswold. Its is an AONB, Area of Natural Beauty. Some classification in UK, parallel to national parks I believe. The village we decided to visit was Burton-on-the-water, the most popular village to visit. Once you navigate to the village, there are some single roads to the village and you may be better off finding parking as soon as you see the little shops lining up the street. Else, you can drive up to the end of the long street that goes through the village and park at the end in designated parking complex. But you will need change for the parking meter. These small villages are a perfect weekend getaway if you want to spend peaceful couple of days away from a noisy city. There are some things to do in this little village, like a maze, a motor museum, a miniature village, etc, but nothing that would interest us, so we decided to just walk along the tiny streets. Beautiful little bridges and a walk along a narrow stream is what interested us. A perfect idyllic setting, straight out of a story book. We stopped for some tea and scones and then visited some shops. Its just a cute little place to visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrqrCNAWyxZcHGUyEPOYlPLoxklpwZP24bD3ov1sikEPKFCs4QEDk4BXLIO6ehOu8_gU7tfo9U3Zw7wnnPZ-0aOE09uL0hFMfnIqRyG0vjJsH52jSZ8LKRLXr8FrayGzjsF2meXayeBo/s1600/IMG_20190628_143916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrqrCNAWyxZcHGUyEPOYlPLoxklpwZP24bD3ov1sikEPKFCs4QEDk4BXLIO6ehOu8_gU7tfo9U3Zw7wnnPZ-0aOE09uL0hFMfnIqRyG0vjJsH52jSZ8LKRLXr8FrayGzjsF2meXayeBo/s320/IMG_20190628_143916.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ratcliffe Camera</td></tr>
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Next up, we headed straight to Oxford. One thing to note is that Oxford comprises of multiple college and you can't see it all in one day. There are few iconic libraries and halls you might want to pick and visit on your own, or with a tour. Best way to see Oxford for us was on foot on a walking tour. You can book different types of tours, paid and for free. We chose the tour that was <a href="https://footprints-tours.com/oxford/oxford-walking-tours/2-hour-free-oxford-walking-tour" target="_blank">offered by Oxford students</a> for free and takes about a couple of hours. They take you to all the famous Harry Potter libraries, the dining room, the fame Christchurch college, Alice in Wonderland locations amongst many more. This is the best way to Oxford if you are budgeting your time. My favorites were the Christchurch College, the Ratcliffe camera and Einstein's handwritten equations on a blackboard in a tiny museum at Oxford.<br />
Another thing about Oxford is parking. If you have driven here instead of taking a train(a better idea), finding parking will be the hardest thing you do. We went straight to a mall on Oxford campus and parked at the mall. (One of the best tips given by a family friend). After our two hour long walk, we stopped at a cafe, had lunch, had coffee, and rejuvenated ourselves to head out for another hour long drive to meet old family friends over dinner.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Day trip to Stonehenge and Bath</h3>
Since we already had a rented car, we had planned for another day trip outside of London. Mind you, since we were a family of 6 adults, it made sense for us to drive than to take the trains. But for a couple or 3 people, trains is definitely the way to go. Or plan was to go to Stonehenge, visit the city of Bath and then Windsor Castle if time permits. Clearly, we had to drop Windsor Castle from the plan as with parents along, things move a little slowly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MGOE4p9xgvR_CFHBgbkEyGjV69kjnSxwxsfTpRtU7KvMxyUMQU9KLxDRg_paSCZ7uuZqegAf3i8XXo7FXLtBiTMCSMmew2BZjvMWpEeZfjv-GQPhElbU8QiTlC-OYh8zVeU8Rzu9oa0/s1600/IMG_20190629_122324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MGOE4p9xgvR_CFHBgbkEyGjV69kjnSxwxsfTpRtU7KvMxyUMQU9KLxDRg_paSCZ7uuZqegAf3i8XXo7FXLtBiTMCSMmew2BZjvMWpEeZfjv-GQPhElbU8QiTlC-OYh8zVeU8Rzu9oa0/s320/IMG_20190629_122324.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonehenge</td></tr>
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Our first stop was going to be Stonehenge. This is a perfectly planned tourist spot. The visitor centre has tickets and then you get in a queue for the bus to take you to the Stonehenge. The actual circle is pretty big and located in middle of nowhere with rolling greens hills surrounding it. The whole location is pretty scenic. You get audio guides with your tickets, so take those and listen to the commentaries as you walk past various spots. We were with our extended family that day, so had planned on a picnic here. Out came the sheets and the burgers with some drinks. Was a brilliant idea by our cousins and a lot of fun. As such there is not much to see here, but you can get engaged in all the history of why and how this structure appeared and be fascinated. Later, you get in the queue to get back to visitor centre, where there is ample parking btw.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREBktEVc6qBeNcnuFOn5B915GMIvJtZ0nIJ2V01FNWYdsqwSfUpissnOVpobyV6anauWBabkNofl4BH5ynfsVlkfKnPAgo16lO1GLArAMnG7x19hh4DMiU70KvGrqTwZcYdPQl9V4Dos/s1600/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190629155825548_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREBktEVc6qBeNcnuFOn5B915GMIvJtZ0nIJ2V01FNWYdsqwSfUpissnOVpobyV6anauWBabkNofl4BH5ynfsVlkfKnPAgo16lO1GLArAMnG7x19hh4DMiU70KvGrqTwZcYdPQl9V4Dos/s320/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190629155825548_COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath in the city of Bath</td></tr>
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Next up was drive to the city of Bath. Our plan was to rent a boat and just take boat on the canal, but unfortunately, wherever we enquired, all the boats were rented out, given it was a weekend and a sunny day. So we settled for walking on foot in the old town area. We found parking at a cricket club, which we later realized wasn't open to public and had to pay parking ticket. We walked past a county cricket ground, on to the old town center. The major attraction here in the "bath", as in the real Roman baths from which the city gets its name. The entry is a little steep and includes audio guide. Taken about 30-45 minutes to see the entire thing on your own and head out. Outside, there are cobbled streets with some musicians playing music and vendors all around you. We also went to the cathedral and wanted to climb up the stairs to get a view of the city, but the last entry had already closed. So, basically we were late today. You must plan things as per the closing times and head out early in the day if you want to check off things from your list.<br />
Luckily, we found a very nice Boston tea shop, where we all settled in and got ourselves some refreshing teas and coffees. There was an Indian cafe nearby too, but the guy was hesitant to make chai/tea as he had run out of existing tea and didn't want to make any fresh tea. Oh well!<br />
It was scorching hot today, given UK was under a heat wave! But nevertheless, we walked back to our cars through the streets lined with many local and branded stores and head back to Croydon, our dinner stop to meet our extended family that day.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Lake District</h3>
We wanted to spend a couple of days in a scenic place while our parents went to Scotland on a pre booked tour. After thinking and researching hard, we picked Lake District and kept Snowdonia for some other time. We had stayed over in Birmingham after our match the previous day, so booked a train to Manchester and a car rental from Manchester to drive to Lake District.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn5E8qcOYTALmo9rtGsaMskeXn2PZ34M6cE7qW6tLZJ7mUXuuRzpsjfvRuWWVx4WQxsT9ekj1YvW9wYQCdTjfPlVxdAcVqdBVJhvVvOE7dj7W9TIr6LnJ7GQCLsN3yvJmqOUp8sL1htI/s1600/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190703163722857_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn5E8qcOYTALmo9rtGsaMskeXn2PZ34M6cE7qW6tLZJ7mUXuuRzpsjfvRuWWVx4WQxsT9ekj1YvW9wYQCdTjfPlVxdAcVqdBVJhvVvOE7dj7W9TIr6LnJ7GQCLsN3yvJmqOUp8sL1htI/s320/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190703163722857_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Beatrix Potter's house</td></tr>
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Lake District, like other AONBs, and national parks are a collection of smaller villages in a pristine natural setting. So, like any other place, pick a village which will be your base and drive to other places of interest. We had picked Windermere, as clearly this was the most popular tourist choice and had plenty of options to eat, sleep and shop. So, from Manchester railway station, we picked our rental car and drove straight to Windermere. We reached our Airbnb early evening. Parked our car, dumped our luggage and headed out.<br />
Over the next couple of days, our goal was to visit a few location in Lake district and spend half a day biking in the area. Sumit had pre booked his bike rental and chose a few bike routes. He finally rode the Hawkhead hill and the Wrynose Pass, which turned out to be quite challenging. Cell phone network is patchy here, so downloading maps will be a great idea. He chose the following bike route and enjoyed the views so much, that we drove here in the evening.<br />
Now if you are not planning to ride a bike, all the places are mostly accessible by car. Lake Windermere is a pretty huge lake and offers plenty of options to do and see. We drove all the way to Beatrix Potter's house and spent time in the tiny village most of which features in her story books. And then drove down the hill to take a car ferry across the lake. One could also take the cruise along the lake and get down at various spots and do a small hike, or visit various locations and come back on the ferry to get back to you starting location. There are plenty of options.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUXlmMA34-mvT5sFMvxLNSuNwKwacsqTEd-0jBsjAihH5hro-hce4YfcAY2XrTDurIz9kUrl97xovpFvp1NhQLAM6ifhHr6QtUynADXlK6z3YMVO6kpTEqQYR6Vg4VmENouw8qVNv_ws/s1600/IMG_20190703_164703-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUXlmMA34-mvT5sFMvxLNSuNwKwacsqTEd-0jBsjAihH5hro-hce4YfcAY2XrTDurIz9kUrl97xovpFvp1NhQLAM6ifhHr6QtUynADXlK6z3YMVO6kpTEqQYR6Vg4VmENouw8qVNv_ws/s320/IMG_20190703_164703-EFFECTS.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere in Lake District</td></tr>
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Driving Route: We started with drive to Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass. beautiful views. Then we drove back to Ambleside, a beautiful village by the lake Grassmere. Here we grabbed something to eat and then hiked to the Stock Ghyll waterfall. Next we continued driving to Castlerigg Stone circle, which was like a mini Stonehenge, only much more scenic and a lot less crowded. Took plenty of pictures here. On the way we stopped at William Wordsworth House, which was under renovation, so couldn't go in. Roads are narrow, so it tends to get a bit scary, but just drive carefully and it will be all fine. We drove further to Ashness Bridge and Surprise view near Derwent Water and then drove all the way around the Derwent Water Lake to Honister Pass. Drive was scary but the views were beautiful. Then we drove to Buttermere lake and back to the town of Keswick, where we again got something to eat. This is a comparatively bigger town. So you could cho<br />
se to stay here or Windermere. On our way back,we went to Aira Force waterfall, near the lake Ullswater, which was short hike from the parking lot. And then drove around Ullswater lake back to Windermere. The views were simply amazing. I especially loved our drive next to Ullswater.<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/nosGQu4oPZD8Z85KA" target="_blank">Link to our route</a> on the map.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas1hRsN2oHTU_ZvtAqkfzxKTDT47P_qmTPoqenWkDpl_nMarV0OV8NLda6NI_sYxaqQJgrj2jwefdvMqvVcpPsql2fuu5NJwuctCl0r-CVEkDQToyyfd8sxAhYan-Aaa8ym7m04zemRo/s1600/PANO_20190705_153803.vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="1600" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas1hRsN2oHTU_ZvtAqkfzxKTDT47P_qmTPoqenWkDpl_nMarV0OV8NLda6NI_sYxaqQJgrj2jwefdvMqvVcpPsql2fuu5NJwuctCl0r-CVEkDQToyyfd8sxAhYan-Aaa8ym7m04zemRo/s400/PANO_20190705_153803.vr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ullswater Lake</td></tr>
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The last day, we had some time to ourselves, so we went on a boat cruise on the lake. Nothing too fascinating, but some sort of activity to do. Also, I loved the local shop sin the Windermere area for shopping. Really cute stuff here. If you want to shop, don't let go of this opportunity. Even for dining there are quite a few options. We had Italian one day and Thai the other day. The weekend dinners were crowded, so we were recommended to make reservations and glad we did. Note, we spent 2-3 days here including the biking and the driving around. We were finally driving off to York, so spend some time here and meet our parents. Also on agenda was to go watch the cricket match in Leeds.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
York</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwexMaic2QZJzU2vyPEqVd8DuWGbGZ6hvfxbd_Ty4evS4SAJjtpUwKD_66laJyqEEcCC4FmZKskjFH6qh8NLBHB_gtFOMw1omuWpvA8tBbnhhoVBbgg-4r9bdwqIrrmjvsBtYdzt3_Nw/s1600/IMG_20190707_135810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwexMaic2QZJzU2vyPEqVd8DuWGbGZ6hvfxbd_Ty4evS4SAJjtpUwKD_66laJyqEEcCC4FmZKskjFH6qh8NLBHB_gtFOMw1omuWpvA8tBbnhhoVBbgg-4r9bdwqIrrmjvsBtYdzt3_Nw/s320/IMG_20190707_135810.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">York Minster</td></tr>
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This city has two parts, and old town surrounded by fort walls and the new town outside of those walls. Needless to say, most of the attractions are inside the walled city. We were driving from Lake District to York and had planned on keep the car rental in York and then drive to Manchester. Car parking in a nightmare here especially in the old town. You can find parking for an hour or so, but overnight and long terms parking are very expensive. We reached the city in the evening and spent some time looking for parking! We temporarily parked in a short term parking to access our Airbnb. Locating our Airbnb was another task. The houses were numbered in a weird fashion and most of the residential buildings have shops at the ground level. It took us time, but we managed to get in. Once here, we unloaded our stuff and looked for long term parking. We found something a little farther out. After parking our car, we decided to just walk around and grab dinner before meeting our parents who were getting back from Scotland later in the night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol-XH0Cae5zVJU4IduP4AMkACWSnZQcWdv4QvZABRikb9oVvwG63VBR2LUJyaLWC00XywYRQLoF3okQJtLk0PCRPxVwzsTAnjL-P1Sr0nuKtukXJZ5kfWdbyPLFDlsAzHAi6xEB5bz9U/s1600/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190707154616762_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol-XH0Cae5zVJU4IduP4AMkACWSnZQcWdv4QvZABRikb9oVvwG63VBR2LUJyaLWC00XywYRQLoF3okQJtLk0PCRPxVwzsTAnjL-P1Sr0nuKtukXJZ5kfWdbyPLFDlsAzHAi6xEB5bz9U/s320/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190707154616762_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea Rooms @ York</td></tr>
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There are some places from where you can access the fort walls and walk on foot on the top of the walls around the city perimeter. The few entrance to the walled city have cute guard towers, which aren't guarded anymore, but make for nice pictures. We walked along the fort walls for sometime, then grabbed dinner at Akbars, an Indian restaurant with decent enough food before meeting our parents at the train station and walking back to our airbnb. It is a very cute town and a lot of young vibrant crowd keeps the streets busy on the weekends.<br />
Next day we were our to Leeds to watch the cricket match and our parents enjoyed a rest day. But the day after we decided to explore the city. The old town is easily walkable and the cobbled streets lined with local and branded shops are very inviting too. We started from the York Minster, a huge gothic style church at the one end of the old town. Then we made our way to the other end of the town, Clifford's tower. In between we stopped at some shops, and also spent time getting tea and scones at a tea boutique. That's where my fascinator came out and we took pics I had been waiting for the entire trip. Before I forget, we had dinner at 29 States Indian restaurant and the food was very good. I recommend this place if you are looking for Indian food.<br />
York is a perfect weekend getaway town with a very medieval feel to it. I am sure its popular with UK residents as a popular vacation place. We enjoyed our time here and I loved the city vibe. In the afternoon, we were headed out to Manchester by road. The train ride is also only an hour and I highly recommend not taking your car to York and using public transport.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Manchester</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manchester</td></tr>
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The moment you drive in to the city, you realise this is an industrial town. A syou head towards the downtown, it is like any other big city, with lots of cars, one way streets and no place to park. Our hotel was very close to most of the attractions and we were luckily able to find an overnight parking. After we freshened up, we decided to take a walk near the old town area. We walked to the Manchester Cathedral and there was huge music festival going on near the Royal Exchange Theater. Entry was free but we skipped it and chose to go to Dishoom for dinner. Since we had been to Dishoom in London and Edinburgh, it only made sense to try the one in Manchester. As usual food was great and we ended up having a very pleasant conversation with our server, which resulted in dinner being complementary and getting invited to free breakfast the next day! How sweet was that. So, for next day, we got up up early to make sure we got our breakfast at Dishoom before heading out to the airport. Interestingly enough, at the airport, we got a free upgrade! It was 24 hours of freebies for us before our vacation ended. But well, there isn't much to do/see in Manchester, unless you are planning to watch a football match. We weren't as there were no matches on the days we were there.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Match Days</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Edgabaston, Birmingham: </li>
</ul>
</h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PoHYSZ-6WzbqbdUWN74OTWUUqIY4Q1dgbCxAfEPaivYmGzyPcUeVqyunTZ-IbPuZFHqSKwn9II_OuZgGh-65f8Dw2VI_lpN1fclUDQXStLsyDVCIUqFmAoSKlT4gG-D6xQMsDRDTYzg/s1600/IMG_20190702_111612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PoHYSZ-6WzbqbdUWN74OTWUUqIY4Q1dgbCxAfEPaivYmGzyPcUeVqyunTZ-IbPuZFHqSKwn9II_OuZgGh-65f8Dw2VI_lpN1fclUDQXStLsyDVCIUqFmAoSKlT4gG-D6xQMsDRDTYzg/s320/IMG_20190702_111612.jpg" width="320" /></a>Both the matches we attended were very well organised. From the moment we got off our train from London Marylebone station to Birmingham, there were directions and volunteers to help you get to the stadium. We had to first dump our bags at the hotel before we went to the stadium. And then we got an Uber to get to the stadium, but it was so crowded, that we decided to get off the car and walk to the stadium and it was definitely a good call. The security check in was super smooth and quick and finding our seats was easy enough.<br />
And oh what seats! We got so lucky with our seats. The cricket fields are not as big, and hence the view is so good and so close to all the action, it is just a fantastic experience watching matches in UK. The crowd was fully charged up and watching the match in such an electrifying atmosphere is definitely worth the trip. There were food stalls outside and plenty of options to pick from. The queues got long during the innings break, so I highly recommend skipping a few overs and getting your food in early. Or carrying your snacks with you. Must carry your hydration with you. It got hot closer to noon and we were glad to be carrying our water bottles. All in all, Indian won against Sri Lanka, and got to see live action on the field, with Dhoni, Kohli and Sharma right in front of us. <br />
Could not have asked for more.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Headingly, Leeds: </li>
</ul>
</h4>
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Just like Birmingham, everything was super well organised. From parking to check in, it was all streamlined. Easy to get it and get out. Lots of food stalls, and again an electrifying atmosphere. We were carrying binoculars, so we spotted Anushka in the pavilion and also spotted Charulata, the oldest fan. Our seats were again very well located and we were seated in the first 4 fours for both the matches. We tried hard, but couldn't make it to the TV crowd. Sigh! But had a wonderful time waving our flag and wearing the Indian jerseys. Absolute fun.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Other Pointers:</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Driving - </h4>
Its left side driving, opposite of the US, but same as India. So you have to comfortable with that. Besides that, the roads aren't as wide a sin the US, I felt things were a bit cramped, parking is difficult and speeds are a little lesser.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Shout out to <a href="https://www.dishoom.com/" target="_blank">Dishoom</a> - </h4>
One super nice discovery in UK was Dishoom Indian restaurant. Its a UK based chain, but each and every venue is unique. We tried the one in Edinburgh, London's Kings Cross and Manchester. Some of them have a long wait, but its totally worth it. We tried quite a few options on the menu and they were all great. Also, their chai has unlimited refills and I could drink it all day. When our server in Manchester learnt that we were visiting all locations, he was so happy that our dinner was complimentary and we got invited back for free breakfast. They don't just focus on good food, but a good experience for the diners.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Bus London</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
London Explorer Pass - </h4>
For sight seeing in London, we opted for <a href="https://www.londonexplorerpass.com/" target="_blank">London Explorer Pass</a>, it gives you a cheaper price for combined ticket to a specific number of attractions. Turned out to be pretty economical for us. The app is available on phone. You can download your passes and scan the barcode at the ticket booths to get your tickets.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Rail travel - </h4>
Super duper convenient. Highly recommended to book in advance and get seats. You can book later without seats, but then you don't want to be travelling in a crowded train without a seat. Also, look at the discount passes. They offer huge savings. We bought two together cards, which saved us a bunch of money. You need to have the passes on your phone and upload your picture, etc. Its a set up hassle, but savings are great especially you plan on using the rail transport. We use the <a href="https://www.thetrainline.com/" target="_blank">trainline website</a> for bookings.<br />
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<div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Phones - </h4>
We bought local numbers from a local grocery store and activated them. They worked just perfect for our phones and the unlimited calls and data was super convenient for navigation to stay in touch with our parents.<br />
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<div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Other places to visit:</h3>
<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i><b><u>Stratford Upon Avon</u></b> </i>- A tiny Shakespeare village. We had initially planned to combine it with Oxford day trip, but we chose to go to Cotswold instead as it was closer that Stratford Upon Avon.</li>
<li><b><i><u>Windsor Castle </u></i></b>- Outskirts of London. You need to buy a ticket to see the castle. It is one of the more popular and in-use castles by the royal family. But we dropped it from our day as we got pretty late driving back from Stonehenge and Bath.</li>
<li><b><i><u>Cambridge </u></i></b>- It was a choice between Oxford and Cambridge for us. Both make for a good day trip from London. You could use public transport, but we were driving and as we just had to pick, we decide we will stick with Oxford as it was on our route to our family friend's house.</li>
<li><b><i><u>Snowdonia </u></i></b>- It is located in Wales and we had planned to pick between Lake District and Snowdonia. After much research, we felt we should stick with lake District for this trip and then visit Snowdonia next time. It was just a matter of choice.</li>
<li><b><i><u>Wales </u></i></b>- Another country a part of UK, Cardiff is a popular tourist town to visit and then Snowdonia is a national park that usually people visit. As we were skipping Snowdonia, we thought we would leave all of Wales sights for our next trip.</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comUnited Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597312.203021 -86.0531605 90 79.1812145tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-31925599165745860192019-06-28T14:27:00.000-07:002019-07-09T14:29:35.506-07:00Scotland (Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXB0veoLMjJqnwtODWX89sGOMRojO0gFGrFZGcuTp7uYrI8kAq4CDAxPzf4aZKgBj8WE1SZA6gEgksQB2ISAAlIQesV6Ioy2O0lvzNs1ouuz3mK3pYGGEEEzfHom97lwHdjt_JXGAKU/s1600/IMG_20190625_153607-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNNVlxBqLSr0vgeQYqPmtHK32WzgG9wrbfF2ku-GZVLr7wJgQ3mmxk0zer6FwzjgAc8YRi4JwiOUtvnBaHwAWxqbFsvc5IZDxHaiaZt8ziyv7EVNHk8nRoyAkSMbl-N4LBKeXND1e2kY/s1600/IMG_20190625_153607-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1600" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNNVlxBqLSr0vgeQYqPmtHK32WzgG9wrbfF2ku-GZVLr7wJgQ3mmxk0zer6FwzjgAc8YRi4JwiOUtvnBaHwAWxqbFsvc5IZDxHaiaZt8ziyv7EVNHk8nRoyAkSMbl-N4LBKeXND1e2kY/s640/IMG_20190625_153607-EFFECTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">After reading rave reviews of Isle of Skye, Scotland kept jumping up on my travel list. Now that we were going to UK for the cricket world cup, I was all excited to go to Scotland for a few days before our England trip. So here we were. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Our brief itinerary:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 0: Arrive in Manchester -> Train to Edinburgh</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 1: Edinburgh</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 2: Drive: Edinburgh -> Inverness -> Loch Ness</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 3: Drive: Isle of Skye</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 4: Drive: Portree -> Fort Williams -> Edinburgh</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 5: Edinburgh -> London</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-d04b3b4e-7fff-5854-0296-e031da08443c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When to go:</span></h3>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We got really lucky with the weather. There were no rains. Was cloudy and sunny mostly and we got a little bit of drizzle in Isle of Skye. From what I hear, you hit rains around 90% of the time, so we did well I believe. Even though it was summer, it wasn't hot. We had to use light jackets and full sleeves shirts to feel comfortable. It gets hotter in July-August though. And I am sure the winters here must be spectacular with all the snow covered landscapes, and bone-chilling too. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 0</span></h3>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<h4 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Getting to Edinburgh</span></h4>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We arrived in Manchester and after a brief rest stop at a hotel, we were headed to Manchester. We had pre booked our tickets to Edinburgh. Advance booking saves cost when I compared the prices. Also, you can book seats if you get tickets in advance. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Edinburgh AirBnB</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Train journey from Manchester to Edinburgh was about 3 hours and some change. But our train kept getting delayed. First due to a disruptive passenger. Then they didn't have functioning toilets, so they had to take a restroom break at another station. The train in-charge made an announcement that if anyone took a smoke break and took more than five minutes, she would leave, and boy, she meant business. Haha! Luckily we arrived only 25 minutes later than scheduled time. Had we been delayed by more than 30 minutes, we would have been entitled for 50% refund. Darn! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the airport, our AirBnB was a twenty minute walk. Even while booking two months in advance, the availability of hotels and BnBs wasn't as great. Looks like the options are few and they fill up fast. Our BnB was located on Queen Street and we walked everywhere from here. So, anywhere close to Princess Street, or Old Town is a good place to stay. Our BnB was cozy and pretty. Such an English/Scottish feel to it. Lacy curtains, black and white pictures in old frames. Pastel wall paper in the room and a small balcony.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edinburgh Old Town</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were so jet lagged that we desperately needed a nap. Thankfully the sunset was at 9:40 pm, so even after we slept for a couple of hours, we had daylight for quite sometime. We went to </span><a href="https://www.kamasutrarestaurants.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamasutra Indian restaurant</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for dinner. Pretty decent food, and to my surprise, Edinburgh has quite a few Indian restaurants. If you are here on a weekend, it may make sense to make reservations for wherever you plan to have dinner at. The restaurants get crowded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">After dinner, we walked to the Greyfriar's kirkyard, which is an old cemetery, but the main attraction for me was the statue of a dog outside the courtyard who dies waiting for his owner next to his grave, Greyfriar's Bobby. From here we just walked towards the High street. And walked along the Royal mile for sometime. The street is lined with souvenir shops and there are street artists performing in the evening. You will hear the sound of bagpipes at any given point in time. After a short stroll, we walked back home via Princess street. It is a cute little city where you can enjoy the local shops and cafe and just walk around and soak in the culture. Meanwhile, don't forget to stop by one of those many red telephone booths and get your standard UK touristy picture!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skilts everywhere</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks to jet lag, we were up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7 am. So we decided to go for a run up to Calton Hill. It was a pleasant day with sun playing hide and seek with the clouds. The run included quite a few stairs to get to the top as well. Their is a loop around the hill to give you 360 degree views of the city. You get the views of the Holyrood Palce, the Princess Street and the sea. There are also a few old monuments and observatory at the top of the hill. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After we got back, we were hungry, like really hungry. Luckily, yelp works in UK. And I discovered </span><a href="https://www.dishoom.com/edinburgh/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dishoom</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The one in other cities would have definitely had a long wait, so we decided this was our chance. On our way, we discovered that the St. Andrew's square, right where Dishoom is located had a fair and some bagpipers! It was armed forces day, so a lot of men and women in uniforms. At dishoom, we loved the ambience and the look of the place. Old style Irani cafes from Mumbai. We ordered chole-puri, vada pav and pav bhaji. All excellent. The flavors were amazing. I so wish we had a restaurant that served food of this quality in the bay area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up next was doing the standard Royal Mile walk. But first we walked along the Princess Street. Stopped by the iconic Scotts monument and got some good pictures and walked all the way till the end of the street. On our way was the Waterstone bookshop and cafe. I got in to use the restroom, but was pleasantly surprised by the views of the castle from their second floor cafeteria sit out. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT6lsqBHlgAf2lI949zCooL00bXtlfrJ-wJucM81hshK3bLIoz-1qjdKzhsf_PboNjx8jXjGpzUYxIB58miXXTk4EjC8-9UEF-F6j8opPlXCOt1xhFc-X7cMGXHdsvzxwTMTxqXvp098/s1600/PANO_20190622_100908.vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1600" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT6lsqBHlgAf2lI949zCooL00bXtlfrJ-wJucM81hshK3bLIoz-1qjdKzhsf_PboNjx8jXjGpzUYxIB58miXXTk4EjC8-9UEF-F6j8opPlXCOt1xhFc-X7cMGXHdsvzxwTMTxqXvp098/s400/PANO_20190622_100908.vr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Calton Hill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Continue walking and you are at the King's road. Its all uphill from here till you get to the castle entrance. If you have pre bought tickets, you get 2 pounds off each ticket and you avoid the long wait in the queues. We weren't too keen on going in, but wanted to hang around and take in some views. But our highlight was running into our friend Smita and her sister. We knew they were in UK to watch the world cup matches, but had no clue they would be in Edinburgh and we would just run into them on the streets. What are the odds!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Giles Cathedral</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">From here we started walking down the High street. We had walked a portion the previous day as well. But it being Saturday, it was crowded. Our next stop on this cobbled street was the St. Giles cathedral. Its very beautiful. The arches in the roof and the stained glass paintings are beautiful. There is a small room inside, I don't remember its name but it is used for granting the knighthood. The wooden engravings there are absolutely gorgeous. Its a small cathedral, compared to the ones you would see in Italy I guess, but is beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moving on, we stopped for some street performers and then had to wade through small groups of pride parade. Then we took a break at one of the cafes for a quick bite and coffee. There are narrow alleys that run all the way to the main street and give you the feel of old town. Plus, there are other spots to check out along the Royal Mile if you are interested. There is a museum of optical illusion, recommended by our friends, a dungeon (Mary King's close) and some galleries and museums on the parallel streets. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holyrood Palace</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holyrood palace will remind you some scenes from The Crown. The last entry is at 4:30 pm and of course we missed that. But were happy to get the view of the facade from the entrance. There is Scottish parliament right across the street. This is their new parliament house, functional since the last decade. The previous house was on the Royal Mile and is now closed. Apparently you can watch the parliament in action and see some live debates. The building is modern and the architecture so much in contrast to the Holyrood palce it stands across to. You can also listen to Rick Steeve's audio guided tour for the </span><a href="https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/edinburgh-royal-mile" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Royal Mile </span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">walk. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur's Seat</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up next on our list was the hike up the Arthur's seat. It was a strenuous hike. About one mile each way with 1000 ft of elevation gain. It wasn't easy, but the views from the top are mind blowing. Do it if you have the stamina and the time. Gorgeous. Downhill didn't take much time and once back, we wanted dinner. We decided to meet with Smita and her sister at </span><a href="https://www.motherindia.co.uk/index.php/mother-indias-cafe-edinburgh-home" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mother's India Cafe</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They serve small portions, so you can try multiple things and being four people we tried quite a few things on the menu. All were so good. This was our lucky day with some good Indian food at Dishoom and then here. I recommend panipuri and chaat for sure. Everything else was good too, so you won't go wrong with your order. I just loved how walkable this city was. There is uber too if you aren't too keen on walking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our plan for the day was to rent a car at the airport and drive. We ubered to the airport. Our Scottish driver was so chatty and so helpful. I loved our conversation for the fifteen minutes. He kept telling us basic road rules, how to get the gas at the station. And we passed by a beautiful school, which I assumed was an old palace or something, but I was wrong. It was built as a school for the deaf and the dumb and was not functional anymore. As you get out of old town, you start seeing newer construction and realize how big the city is. Anyhow, we rented our car and were off.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Tea at Perth</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following directions wasn't hard at all. Scottish people love roundabouts and so do Chandigarh people. So we were home as far as navigating around the roundabouts was concerned. About an hour in, we decided to have brunch at Perth. Luckily, yelp showed this tea and breakfast place, </span><a href="https://effiesofperth.co.uk/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Efiie's at Perth</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I absolutely loved this place. The English setting and serving in fine bone china, was just too good of an experience. The food was okay and so was the tea, but I was wowed by the experience. Must go to a tea room if you are in UK. Must, must.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Driving further, we spotted Blair Castle. I had no intentions of going in. So, we skipped that part, but you could stop by and take some pictures of the castle. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoA7cKrjSP9jWzlB3yDD_RCtd1ZUH_ZzjGQa2Soid9Dv7YX3lcFHsphO2INZdWBDhy8xvmucq7M8CCrNv9RkyfWjs1LoTulkcAk7VL3qHaAlRm1m1EMdc8lOD6XXX_kE6lUmHWHwNl1o/s1600/IMG_20190623_143353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoA7cKrjSP9jWzlB3yDD_RCtd1ZUH_ZzjGQa2Soid9Dv7YX3lcFHsphO2INZdWBDhy8xvmucq7M8CCrNv9RkyfWjs1LoTulkcAk7VL3qHaAlRm1m1EMdc8lOD6XXX_kE6lUmHWHwNl1o/s320/IMG_20190623_143353.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inverness Castle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The views are pretty. Vast green highlands. A river at times next to the highway. Keep driving and you'll reach Inverness. A good place for lunch. We wanted to get our swim for the day, but their fancy athletic centre was closed for a swim meet that day. Hence, we ventured into the city. Very small old town area. You can walk the entire area in a 10-15 minutes. Got some good views of the Inverness castle from the Ness bridge. And next stop was a restaurant for lunch. While I got hangry looking for a restaurant, they started closing at 3pm. So I opted for whatever I saw next which happened to be an Italian place was pretty decent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next we were driving along Loch Ness. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6fTymp2lo61hTZp8__dllLXlg9xV5WRwfJvFGZwf5g1HzVfSsTQEu237JuRX6HTV25ucB4HrnLHR3OzXEqyScoa-AUiX_mNczqO1NVTUGZIxrahzX8bDJHM3h_VLzRITzPqTGpx-XyQ/s1600/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190623163324586_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6fTymp2lo61hTZp8__dllLXlg9xV5WRwfJvFGZwf5g1HzVfSsTQEu237JuRX6HTV25ucB4HrnLHR3OzXEqyScoa-AUiX_mNczqO1NVTUGZIxrahzX8bDJHM3h_VLzRITzPqTGpx-XyQ/s320/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190623163324586_COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Ness</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We drove straight to the Urquhart Castle. Very pretty castle, apparently at the deepest point in the lake. You have to buy tickets to go in and get some views. Its mostly in ruins, but thats the beauty of it. From here, keep driving to Fort Augustus. A small town to take a break and you could drive to the Suidhe viewpoint form here. We were tired and wanted to head back, so we didn't. This place has top views of the lake and the pictures are pretty, so might as well stop by if you can. You could follow </span><a href="https://www.visitinvernesslochness.com/explore-the-scottish-highlands/scottish-car-tours/car-tours-loch-ness-circuit/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this itinerary</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or viewpoints. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX_RuWKGoz5mULfLR0e9dkvfN3j1nJAvQbHF-sTrhP0azsqyG73YkEt5YybDsTTJVkr-jIGUkQ2r9QP0H5Uc52ISSUfRN9ZCis-sopGZ1JnKk-AXH1m0Y_EWoQTFm1FbR6iQTkrGA23M/s1600/IMG_20190623_172233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX_RuWKGoz5mULfLR0e9dkvfN3j1nJAvQbHF-sTrhP0azsqyG73YkEt5YybDsTTJVkr-jIGUkQ2r9QP0H5Uc52ISSUfRN9ZCis-sopGZ1JnKk-AXH1m0Y_EWoQTFm1FbR6iQTkrGA23M/s320/IMG_20190623_172233.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Urquhart Castle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Onwards, we arrived at our BnB place booked via AirBnB. It was a cottage at the end of narrow road in Dornie. Walkable distance from the Eilean-Donan castle. I'll write more about the castle on our way back to Fort Williams as that is when we visited the castle. The views from our room were amazing and once again we were served english breakfast in fine bone china by our host. Its Glennan House, and we recommend it, in case you are looking for options. The castle lights up at night and looks really pretty, but we both were tired and skipped it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isle of Skye:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today was the day for our highlight of the Scotland trip. The weather forecast showed mild showers all day, but it was a bit of drizzle in the morning and not at all disruptive. I am so thankful for the lovely weather that cooperated with us. Portree is definitely the town where you can get options to eat and drink. So we planned our trip around Portree. We started from Dornie and reached Portree in about an hour. We weren't as hungry, so decided to do the north out and back loop. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUGlwTKyOE4bRUaQkg2DYStDO8vdx8cVReOyASaNKBTANUOUitFywMqCvglPIpKYQc5IoWcY0CILeaTXgW0s_nRkllxEgJh5LoAp7ywf5GEI8J-c5iFooqFLNF6lFxCtZ3tolWYa4iUs/s1600/IMG_20190624_114344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUGlwTKyOE4bRUaQkg2DYStDO8vdx8cVReOyASaNKBTANUOUitFywMqCvglPIpKYQc5IoWcY0CILeaTXgW0s_nRkllxEgJh5LoAp7ywf5GEI8J-c5iFooqFLNF6lFxCtZ3tolWYa4iUs/s320/IMG_20190624_114344.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Man of Storr</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drive is pretty and the first stop is </span><a href="https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/top-ten-skye-walks/old-man-of-storr" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Old Man of Storr</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Its a rock formation that stands firm at the top along with other strangely shaped rocks. Its a hike from the car park. So, park the car and get your hiking bag out and start walking. It is a decent elevation gain to the gate from where you could either do a loop or go out and back. If you got a little up, you will get rewarded with beautiful views. Sumit hiked all the way up and I huffed and puffed till I saw him returning back. I realized I had hiked around a mile from the car park and the views were getting better and better. Also, the constant bleats of sheep and lambs were quite serene. <span id="goog_7497192"></span><span id="goog_7497193"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7BwubeyYeFOY7DHlGK5KVFdeelg8mQimwEYf_3Z49ZiJQOLNNdvxmcNLZNOUCjQkjkI29oY3kAtvdQKlgP0YPuWzeb2w54u65RlqnbkGG-NIdxNlOD9HgPZWuJ5RbGjVHFERC-3aEEY/s1600/IMG_20190624_130630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7BwubeyYeFOY7DHlGK5KVFdeelg8mQimwEYf_3Z49ZiJQOLNNdvxmcNLZNOUCjQkjkI29oY3kAtvdQKlgP0YPuWzeb2w54u65RlqnbkGG-NIdxNlOD9HgPZWuJ5RbGjVHFERC-3aEEY/s320/IMG_20190624_130630.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilt's viewpoint</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next stop was drive all the way upto flower cottage. Not a scenic viewpoint, but a hotel located at the scenic spot. We stopped, took pictures and started driving back. We stopped at the Kilt Rock viewpoint, which is a must stop. Offers the view of cliffs, a waterfall and the clear waters. Keep driving and their a waterfalls on the left. Its right along the roadside, so might as well stop. Now we were back in Portree and it was time for lunch before heading to the south loop. We got lunch at cafe Arriba. They had some decent vegetarian options, so no complaints. Also, we tried vegetarian haggis, which is a Scotland specialty. Umm, not that bad. I could get used to this taste. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, we drove to the Fairy Pools, Off the higway, it becomes a single narrow lane. And you must drive carefully. Pull into the passing lanes to let the traffic pass by. Fairy Pools are about twenty minute walk from the parking lot. Go and take some pictures, don't have to hike all the way up. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsysFDIiYdAXL9xNl1XyI74Ll2-r-JDf4dMxISQJdN9LA2lq0VA9wBm00F3_D7KLXyvH45aY9yPJyORxBz53iPSdsYegBelOo4PAH82BzsKaQKokckGuxUSQ4WuyDaMiBIz9FYEqdP5ds/s1600/IMG_20190624_171313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsysFDIiYdAXL9xNl1XyI74Ll2-r-JDf4dMxISQJdN9LA2lq0VA9wBm00F3_D7KLXyvH45aY9yPJyORxBz53iPSdsYegBelOo4PAH82BzsKaQKokckGuxUSQ4WuyDaMiBIz9FYEqdP5ds/s640/IMG_20190624_171313.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neist Lighthouse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">From here, it was a long drive to the Neist Point Lighthouse. My favorite attraction in the Isle of Skye. Find some car parking. Now you can either take the designated pathway all the way up to the lighthouse, or just go right from the cafe shop and walk ten minutes out to get the beautiful cliffs and the lighthouse in the view. We did the latter and oh boy, the views were amazing. I didn't think that hiking up to the lighthouse could give me the views of the cliffs and the lighthouse. So, we skipped it. Also, I was excited to get my cover picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up next, was the final stop of the evening, Dunveagon Castle. They close at 5 pm, so of course we were late. And I kept looking for some view points, which should be outside the castle, but didn't get any results. Later discovered that if you follow the road all the way till end you will be able to get views of the castle, but they are from a little farther away than you'd like. Now we were headed to our Airbnb, some five miles away from Portree. Nested in middle of the valley with such pretty views, these people get up to such view everyday! Again a decent experience with the AirBnB. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We should have called it a day, but went for a swim to the Arainn Fhinn, the Fingal Centre in Portree. Excellent pool and some great facilities. You see, I try my best to get Sumit his training workouts even when we are on a vacation. We had dinner at Taste of India, which was pretty pretty bad. But some Indian food at 10 pm, is better than nothing I guess. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 4</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bike Ride:</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ts2Ny8He80FHXzKR-RBJte2MUPxfIds-Q74CfIvt9EJqmzAtygXxlWOAyvOPW2GYyUGCGqFI5uBS1WvrG-kxGLnrWO6Ie82RnZNKMlWQ_qLIgko7q5Hskkpo8XxhF63KglYZiS93i78/s1600/IMG_20190625_120725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ts2Ny8He80FHXzKR-RBJte2MUPxfIds-Q74CfIvt9EJqmzAtygXxlWOAyvOPW2GYyUGCGqFI5uBS1WvrG-kxGLnrWO6Ie82RnZNKMlWQ_qLIgko7q5Hskkpo8XxhF63KglYZiS93i78/s320/IMG_20190625_120725.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biking the Isle of Skye</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan was for Sumit to rent a bike at the Skye Bike Shack, close to Portree and go for a bike ride, while I spend time at various cafes and get this blog done. Portree is a cute little town and walking around was fun. I visited quite a few souvenir shops and also walked around the harbour. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXDpUxDQQIRcV6F2yRrkKMB8C3XKZKhqjGPS0eyAeLuKGI14MmXp5HdnCDhfRJ1G_VEH0WCTx9D0unM07Cvn64WaeGQGX0k-yCr65sYm5M3mS4h9Ds3hMOw0CZnMPVRoPr6BdP0vav-g/s1600/Screenshot_20190704-134716.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="993" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXDpUxDQQIRcV6F2yRrkKMB8C3XKZKhqjGPS0eyAeLuKGI14MmXp5HdnCDhfRJ1G_VEH0WCTx9D0unM07Cvn64WaeGQGX0k-yCr65sYm5M3mS4h9Ds3hMOw0CZnMPVRoPr6BdP0vav-g/s200/Screenshot_20190704-134716.png" width="123" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike Route</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sumit completed this bike loop, about 40 miles from the bike rental place Skye Bike Shack. The owner was pretty helpful and a bike enthusiast himself. The roads are narrow, but the drivers are used to bike riders, so nothing to be really scared of but we mindful at all times. From here we were headed to Edinburgh, but not before making a few stops on our way back. Goal was to reach Edinburgh by midnight. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silgachen Bridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our first stop was Sligachan brigde on our drive back. It is a very old bridge and you get some great pictures of this bridge. Keep driving and admiring the views. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next stop was </span><a href="https://www.eileandonancastle.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eilean Donan Castle</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which we had skipped the day we stayed in Dornie. We went in the castle. It is a residential place and the inside is fully furnished. You get to see a few parts of the castle if you get the tickets. If you are interested in pictures, the best shots ate from outside. It is one of the most picturesque castles I have seen.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdHjGTnh2YzukkbJGSaOUQAPz-p75oMXKx0-BEQj79Q1VIWA1kAie8BqX0W6HbDuQONLI6haDiAvYt7C1Nimfo-e5xLzDlbkFZLy4LWjXv-o7c7ZQjKOjDK6Z0YHeiQM9GlUk-9Dm4Yo/s1600/IMG_20190625_200024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdHjGTnh2YzukkbJGSaOUQAPz-p75oMXKx0-BEQj79Q1VIWA1kAie8BqX0W6HbDuQONLI6haDiAvYt7C1Nimfo-e5xLzDlbkFZLy4LWjXv-o7c7ZQjKOjDK6Z0YHeiQM9GlUk-9Dm4Yo/s320/IMG_20190625_200024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viaduct view from Glenfinnan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next up was drive to Fort Williams. We just drove straight to the town and headed to a </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">restaurant we picked online. The restaurant food was okay, nothing great, but I was more excited to go to the Harry Potter bridge. It is 30 minutes from Fort Williams. The views of the viaduct however are not on the main road and you need to hike for about 20 minutes to get a to a good viewpoint. Its not difficult to find the viewpoint as you'll see a lot of people heading in that direction. It is located close to the Glenfinnan station. However, you must time your visit with the train times. There are regular trains passing the bridge, and also steam engine trains going a couple of times every day. Look up the timetable if you want to see a train on the bridge. Nevertheless, the views of just the bridge are spectacular too. You can also </span><a href="https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/jacobite-steam-train-details.cfm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ride the train</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from Fort Williams to Mallaig and then then the ferry onwards.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Drive to Edinburgh: </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next up was drive straight to Edinburgh. If you have time, you can stop by various viewpoints on the way, else drive straight to Edinburgh. I would suggest you stop by close to Loch Lomond for a day and enjoy the views and take pictures on your way back. We hadn't planned on visiting Loch Lomond, so we drove straight to Edinburgh If you have time, stop by to take in the views of Ben Nevis, Glencoe, three sisters and Brackfinn falls. We reached our rental center at 12:05 am, dropped off the car and hired an uber to our airbnb. Luckily, we had rented the same airbnb as before so we were familiar with the house and the owner had given us the keys to keep for our second stay. Worked out perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Day 5</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Train to London:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pre booking your train and making a seat reservation is always a smart things to do. We arrived at the station in the morning. Grabbed a couple of bagels and coffee and got on the train for our 4+ hour journey to London. Bye bye Scotland. We will be back again for some parts we missed, but our parents will be visiting next week on a pre booked tour.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Other pointers:</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Must get a railcard if you plan to take multiple trips. Check out various options. The one that worked for us was "Two Together Railcard". It was easy to get and gave us deep discounts on tickets. We booked all our tickets from trainline.co.uk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Narrow single lane roads are everywhere, especially in the Isle of Skye. Follow the protocol and wait in the passing areas for other drivers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decided to skip Glasgow as it is "just another city"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Skipped Loch Lomond as we were short on time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">If going to Loch Lomond, might as well ride the jacobite train too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aberdeen is another popular city to visit.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Castles:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I personally don't like going inside the castles as much I like enjoying their setting and their facades. For me a castle nested in middle of mountains, on top of a hill are more picturesque than going inside these castles. See below for the list of castles on this trip:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Edinburgh Castle - Set atop an extinct volcano, looks majestic from the city. Has exhibit of crown jewels and one of the oldest inhabited castles.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blair Castle - Looks very pretty from the highway with green mountains in the background. Boasts of a good distillery closeby.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inverness Castle - Smaller castle, but if you stop by in the city for lunch, take in the views from the bridge.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Urquhart Castle - Castle is in ruins. It is next to Loch Ness and you pay to go see. We totally enjoyed going in seein the ruins. Gives really good views of the Loch.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eilean Donan Castle - Loved the setting of this castle. You take a footbridge to get to it. The better views of the castle and the bridge are from the parking lot. Fun fact: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai movie was shot here. See this </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-S-Yxo3AHA" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">link on youtube</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dunvegon Castle - We missed this as we arrived late. It closes at 5 pm. But I anyway didn't intend to go in, but couldn't figure out where to get the views of this castle from. If you do, let me know and I will add them here :)</span></li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comScotland, UK56.490671199999987 -4.202645800000027547.764661199999985 -24.856942800000027 65.216681199999982 16.451651199999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-28345259799608714292019-01-10T14:26:00.000-08:002020-02-10T14:28:35.636-08:00Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9o0y7Ikzt7VLNcLF54Ltm-kGs9Q4nmJV7cKrKnsUAlkUDyh_v3goRO58EiTJGdP0mvT0HReZblRES0Ix8PxrPdikQ4wcJlmKvSJ9V6zpq-PMJzaf0_z4mUjzo2J3OT2S8ont0Qog5y0/s1600/IMG_20190108_203103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9o0y7Ikzt7VLNcLF54Ltm-kGs9Q4nmJV7cKrKnsUAlkUDyh_v3goRO58EiTJGdP0mvT0HReZblRES0Ix8PxrPdikQ4wcJlmKvSJ9V6zpq-PMJzaf0_z4mUjzo2J3OT2S8ont0Qog5y0/s640/IMG_20190108_203103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We always knew that Australia was going to be a family and fun trip because we have a lot of extended family, mostly cousins settled in different cities. Hence, we planned accordingly and spent some time with them. Also, a must to-do was to dive in the Great Barrier Reef. And it took us a while to figure out where to go for that. More on it later. Here is our brief itinerary:<br />
Day 1 -> Arrive in Sydney. Sightseeing. New Year fireworks at midnight<br />
Day 2 -> Fly to Melbourne. Drive around<br />
Day 3 -> Sightseeing Melbourne. Philip island.<br />
Day 4 -> Drive to 12 Apostles.<br />
Day 5 -> Fly to Cairns.<br />
Day 6 -> Snorkel/dive in Great Barrier Reef<br />
Day 7 -> Sightseeing Cairns<br />
Day 8 -> Fly to Sydney<br />
Day 9 -> Sightseeing Sydney<br />
Day 10 -> Drive Great Ocean Road<br />
Day 11 -> Fly out<br />
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When to go:</h4>
Well, Australian summers are our winters, so this is a good place to celebrate Christmas and New Year in summers if you'd like. Only catch is that if you are interested in Great Barrier reef diving and/or snorkelling, this will be jellyfish season. We used stinger suit provided to us by the company that took us for diving and it worked just fine. So, this may be something to look out for.<br />
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Flying in and out:</h4>
We were getting good deals on tickets to Sydney, so we picked that as our fly in/out city. Other cities, Melbourne and Cairns are very far from each other and you would have to take domestic flights between cities anyway, so just fly in and out of any that works out. Though keep in mind that since our flights included a stop over at Auckland, we needed a New Zealand visa on our segment from Sydney to San Francisco. But since we didn't have that, and we had no clue that we needed a transit visa even if we didn't plan to get out of the airport, we had to rebook our return flights, else we wouldn't have been allowed to board.<br />
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Domestic flights:</h4>
We mostly took JetStar and Qantas as those times worked best for us. Most of the airlines are good and have similar rates and luggage restrictions. Note that the domestic airlines do weigh your carry-on luggage as well and you need to make sure that your number of items and the weight are within their specified limits.<br />
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SYDNEY</h3>
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New Year's Eve and half a day:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOuFZ4HHz66cLm4z4CHeJu9cmQ3KOvl4ZdeZd8WhpiPYr3TwqN5fRhvb2204hEr-kv8FnCAUhAORG41HJQVKTb-1jIAwPCnFhjk3-UIEaKgMcFRQfa2D2tOTJvkXQd4cSYqXmeASLAEg/s1600/IMG_20190101_000052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOuFZ4HHz66cLm4z4CHeJu9cmQ3KOvl4ZdeZd8WhpiPYr3TwqN5fRhvb2204hEr-kv8FnCAUhAORG41HJQVKTb-1jIAwPCnFhjk3-UIEaKgMcFRQfa2D2tOTJvkXQd4cSYqXmeASLAEg/s320/IMG_20190101_000052.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year fireworks</td></tr>
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We flew in on 31st December morning and luckily got our room early in the morning even though our reservation had check in time of late afternoon. Since we were jet lagged we were ready to step out as soon as we freshened up. Now Sydney goes crazy on 31st to watch the fireworks over the Sydney bridge and the Opera House. There are <a href="https://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-city/sydney-harbour/new-years-eve-fireworks" target="_blank">some spots which are crowd favorites</a> and people settle in their spots with their garden chairs early in the morning. The most favorite spot is Mrs. McGuire's Chair. Its a bit of a walk from the downtown, and people start queueing up pretty early in the day and plan to camp out all through the night. There are other popular spots too and you could just google for them or ask one of the many volunteers set up by the city. Its pretty decently well organized. Anyway, our plan was to roam about the city during the day and then head up to Google's office to see the partial view of fireworks from their terrace. Its a separate story that we fell asleep, thanks to jet lag and woke up at 11:40pm only to scramble out of bed and beat the traffic and make it to the terrace at 11:58 pm, just in time for the fireworks, haash!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U-598U1IGJ8VnSfvNc_eSz_wTGluoruAfm53r65cI6lMePVBc6150xZ41maVzs5G_ng7_KZFsCPZfFImfI-HhX03BnqGMLsAi7Torm9VLSvlM8eTFzEy8I97Ezd4Lw8amfmO7JCoz1s/s1600/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20181231124957352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U-598U1IGJ8VnSfvNc_eSz_wTGluoruAfm53r65cI6lMePVBc6150xZ41maVzs5G_ng7_KZFsCPZfFImfI-HhX03BnqGMLsAi7Torm9VLSvlM8eTFzEy8I97Ezd4Lw8amfmO7JCoz1s/s320/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20181231124957352.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MCA Cafe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawTZe9O7ZmiwT7c6uLyRcoXH-VYYZSKnMV5CheOSuxt4lun8UxinZ9li-dtnERfHK1OZGgPrkh3yUU8Bdo4HwJQiS0jxRgiMZLBxtIyEUIbzR0PbzKT9JMnDNH13hTgOgF8Sf45asK5I/s1600/IMG_20190101_003005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawTZe9O7ZmiwT7c6uLyRcoXH-VYYZSKnMV5CheOSuxt4lun8UxinZ9li-dtnERfHK1OZGgPrkh3yUU8Bdo4HwJQiS0jxRgiMZLBxtIyEUIbzR0PbzKT9JMnDNH13hTgOgF8Sf45asK5I/s320/IMG_20190101_003005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown all lit up!</td></tr>
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We started our city tour from St. James Station and roaming around the Sydney tower area, ate Indian food at the Chachu's street food. From here we went to the circular quay. Walked around the area and went to the MCA cafe to get good views of the Sydeny Opera House. Take a note, THIS IS the place to get good pictures of the Opera House and some views of the bridge. From here walk around the Barangaroo area for options to eat as this place has plenty of different restaurants and this is the commercial area of the city. We had had a long day and we retired for the day to our hotel and decided to take quick nap before heading out for the fireworks to the Google Office. But, the jet lag had set in, and we have no clue, when the alarm went off, when we switched it off. Before we knew, we were sleeping all through the evening and I luckily just got up to look at the time as I felt it was dark outside and it was already 11:40 pm! Only 20 minutes to go for the New Years. We have never been so quick to get out of the bed and get ready and get out in Uber. With all the traffic and everything, we still managed to make it to the rooftop at 11:58, just in time for the fireworks. We don't have that typical picture of the bridge and the opera house and the fireworks (for that you need to be at the MacGuire's chair), but we have a few decent ones. Not bad huh!<br />
"The Rocks" area which has old quaint shops and some nice little restaurants. Generally a good area to wander about. From here, you could also explore the <br />
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A day in Sydney:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvlcF_jo5T62DcoFbSXWMcWco76dzZH-VNMLng5l7Vt7zsWR0kgj3YWFF8rwQ4hFQGu7-kFj4R17DHXA1c3yqH1a7GkphwBhmXCEwNDXK80o4KK1SJqkYMg7nxm3o1eer7wUEJXtZZ90/s1600/VID_20190108_143156%257E2.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvlcF_jo5T62DcoFbSXWMcWco76dzZH-VNMLng5l7Vt7zsWR0kgj3YWFF8rwQ4hFQGu7-kFj4R17DHXA1c3yqH1a7GkphwBhmXCEwNDXK80o4KK1SJqkYMg7nxm3o1eer7wUEJXtZZ90/s320/VID_20190108_143156%257E2.mp4" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">QVB</td></tr>
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After we got back from Melbourne, we decided to spend a couple of days in and around Sydney. For the day in Sydney, we started with a late lunch at "The Canteen" in Barangaroo. Good Indian food and a very vibrant area during lunch for office-goers. We love grabbing coffee from local cafeterias on our vacations and that what we did before heading out to <a href="https://www.qvb.com.au/" target="_blank">QVB, Queen Victoria Building</a>. It is a really pretty building and you feel you have been transported back to Victorian times and somewhere in England, Even the nearby area has some statues and building architecture which reminds you of the old English architecture.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFOKaiX3jkkbnpItvMgAvbETR9xfIODLkpAg9hlMucCRw6KUkuw-T5hpmrL7K1zPbAVX4wqcde8g2nmQYmOsb5vNrvQeuMIRxoWrVYlH_2YLD2Kx8b_NA_VhjlViDdzCuwAq-MNqV2E0/s1600/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20190108155205671-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFOKaiX3jkkbnpItvMgAvbETR9xfIODLkpAg9hlMucCRw6KUkuw-T5hpmrL7K1zPbAVX4wqcde8g2nmQYmOsb5vNrvQeuMIRxoWrVYlH_2YLD2Kx8b_NA_VhjlViDdzCuwAq-MNqV2E0/s320/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20190108155205671-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Mrs. McGuire's chair</td></tr>
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Next, we took the bus to the art gallery and walked all the way to Mrs. McGuire's chair. It really is the best view of the bridge and the opera house. Highly recommend it. From here, we walked along the shore through the botanic gardens to the Opera House. We didn't go inside, or didn't watch any show here, just roamed around and took pictures of the opera house and the bridge.<br />
Next we took a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. Walked to the Manly beach. Its like a cute little promenade by the beach. Walked along the beach. Some of the beaches in Australia have really good waves if you are into surfing.<br />
After spending some time at the Manly beach, we decided to take the ferry back and walk to Mrs. McGuire's chair as we wanted to take sunset pictures here. After that we walked back to the nearest train station and headed back home. Our day had a lot of walking, but the views and the vibe were worth it.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Grand Ocean Road to Wollongong and Kiama:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWds8NFgi294f_sFcpYTENlSKMFCOj_xjjjtIFpqhVeMzTT72-IwfFBd0DSlKulTcj1tOR-RScy95Y09jV0vwNmdQNwWh6axiXEGCFYl7Xbm0x-GGCUswYHMMrxP6irE1DxC0N2fSoYx4/s1600/VID_20190109_153522.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWds8NFgi294f_sFcpYTENlSKMFCOj_xjjjtIFpqhVeMzTT72-IwfFBd0DSlKulTcj1tOR-RScy95Y09jV0vwNmdQNwWh6axiXEGCFYl7Xbm0x-GGCUswYHMMrxP6irE1DxC0N2fSoYx4/s320/VID_20190109_153522.mp4" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiama Blowhole</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
We had one day before we flew out, so our plan was to drive the<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/fVp5Sww3UcxpYzAd7" target="_blank"> Ocean Road all the way to Kiama</a> and then return and spend some time in Sydney. We left after breakfast and just before we hit the Grand ocean road, there was a lookout. We spent some time there admiring the cliffs and some para gliders. Grand Ocean Road is good, but if you have been to Hana Hwy in Hawaii or Hwy 1 in California, this wouldn't live up to your expectations. The route we took was mostly a coastal route with some vista points. Our first stop was the sea cliff bridge to take some pictures.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Next up, we drove straight to Wollongong lighthouse. This is a scenic area with cute little shipping dock. Wollongong beach was also close by. We then grabbed lunch at JJ Indian in the town. This was a decent restaurant and food was good. Next we drove to Kiama blowhole. You have to wait for a bit for the water pressure to buildup, and its a bit crowded. But was a pretty cute thing to capture on camera. Well after that, it was time to head back to Sydney.<br />
We were excited to visit the <a href="https://us.sydney.com/things-to-do/beach-lifestyle/bondi-beach" target="_blank">Bondi Beach</a>. Such a huge beach and so crowded! The beachy shops are across the road from the beach. Can't believe there is a such a lively beach next to such a big city. A lot of surfers at this beach, a lot of volleyball and such a warm sandy beach. We were headed to Paramatta next to meet our extended family for dinner. Australia does have some nice restaurants, I have to admit. We ate really good Italian food at the Mama's and Papa's Italian restaurant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlrf70gYnEz9duCoX909T-4-WenVCXtCwunwYFDwc90GMKGht352J08BVO0Lptb3HkuTEokHjjtxlQMppdI1nzq2GQvD3LDmQr6reP8sZKlWEoyw6_xrBLJ9jELRCn9M33wysEfqdln8/s1600/PANO_20190109_182933.vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="1600" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlrf70gYnEz9duCoX909T-4-WenVCXtCwunwYFDwc90GMKGht352J08BVO0Lptb3HkuTEokHjjtxlQMppdI1nzq2GQvD3LDmQr6reP8sZKlWEoyw6_xrBLJ9jELRCn9M33wysEfqdln8/s400/PANO_20190109_182933.vr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bondi Beach</td></tr>
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<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Some pointers for Sydney:</h4>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>We had Mexican food at <a href="https://mejico.com.au/" target="_blank">Mejico</a>. I really liked their food, but it was a bit expensive restaurant.</li>
<li>Commuting via buses and trains is super convenient. use google maps to route.</li>
<li>You could also <a href="https://www.bridgeclimb.com/" target="_blank">climb the Sydney bridge</a> in Sydney. You have to make reservation in advance. It sounded like fun, but I wasn't up for the vertigo challenge.</li>
<li>We didn't plan to visit the Sydney Cricket Ground, but we should have, as we heard later than Indian team was practising in nets the day we were near SCG.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
MELBOURNE</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoNkTfFuF7_3GL71SNyx7U2mVsXzrI8LX1QShWHViLcrSy3cFHy9UHafKuyMU63M5iqt3ljdTUxfQYlwb2vM1xtrHZ9S3I8dBVCgOM3Lv3mJuLVUH5BFnAyC3sM_IFNjAftADj7PN_8c/s1600/IMG_20190102_151714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoNkTfFuF7_3GL71SNyx7U2mVsXzrI8LX1QShWHViLcrSy3cFHy9UHafKuyMU63M5iqt3ljdTUxfQYlwb2vM1xtrHZ9S3I8dBVCgOM3Lv3mJuLVUH5BFnAyC3sM_IFNjAftADj7PN_8c/s320/IMG_20190102_151714.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Melbourne station</td></tr>
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We arrived in Melbourne in the afternoon. We rented a car and headed to our friend's place where we were planning to stay. After sumptuous homemade lunch, we headed out for a drive through the hidden Kangaroo valley and spotted quite a few kangaroos! So much fun seeing them hoping around. They are huge and turned out much bigger than I had expected. Next we were heading out to Williamstown for a drive through. Some lovely views of the city downtown from here and some coastal beaches to drive by or you could even stop and take a stroll. Lovely seaside views! And we called it a day.<br />
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<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
A day in Melbourne:</h4>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKUMvk7Urn_HvT-r_R53nEYe9u_SeVhTCMH9inNsrnocwtaM2eN3_AGI9eKIqteFOJH36eitRpJBi9Fccdpb57fraVVxh2VCH1NuRKwGU5JQRky8ofnGW3AqSA6CzxQwb4xI7QsLit6k/s1600/00000IMG_00000_BURST20190102200625273_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKUMvk7Urn_HvT-r_R53nEYe9u_SeVhTCMH9inNsrnocwtaM2eN3_AGI9eKIqteFOJH36eitRpJBi9Fccdpb57fraVVxh2VCH1NuRKwGU5JQRky8ofnGW3AqSA6CzxQwb4xI7QsLit6k/s320/00000IMG_00000_BURST20190102200625273_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotting Kangaroos</td></tr>
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We started our day with a pre <a href="https://www.mcg.org.au/Tours" target="_blank">booked tour of MCG</a>(Melbourne Cricket Ground). We parked near the Jollimont station as there was plenty of parking there during the weekday. We walked up to the ground and totally enjoyed the tour. The ground is quite big but I guess ground in India are even bigger. There are some statues of cricketers outside too if you want to take pictures with them. There were views of the tennis courts being prepped for the Australian Open from the top floor of the ground. Next we were headed to the downtown and after we managed to find parking somewhere on the street(super expensive) we headed out toFlinders street and Collins street. Then we walked to St.Paul's Cathedral and took pictures of the Victoria station. By this time we were tired and hungry and went to Bodega underground for Mexican food. Food in Australia has been rarely disappointing. Then we walked to the Bourke station and Chinatown and grabbed some coffee. It was about time for us to now leave for Philip's island to see the penguins. I was super excited! It was quite a drive and we had planned to stop over at Nobbie Point for some views. Totally worth the time. Lovely views of the coast. Next up was the penguin parade. <a href="https://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/" target="_blank">The Philip island penguin parade</a> was totally<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBsog16yQ8HGq6tY7PHDYBe3d8XmAwhoCo-G4KF8YKF6PQfoWyOi5JzuaGk2I1h0bcvjs9gu7KuJQV1m6nJb158-3a2m_SsSr8RWlwuTfLB1HbTLs0Wh-OsII43K-WzUr_AUMO3Zg0-g/s1600/PANO_20190102_134658.vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBsog16yQ8HGq6tY7PHDYBe3d8XmAwhoCo-G4KF8YKF6PQfoWyOi5JzuaGk2I1h0bcvjs9gu7KuJQV1m6nJb158-3a2m_SsSr8RWlwuTfLB1HbTLs0Wh-OsII43K-WzUr_AUMO3Zg0-g/s640/PANO_20190102_134658.vr.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MCG</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGisKrPFE6hVDkohDo9QDQr2tXBJ0TRTrGjjTiNiUYslGw_CNQNSG9XUlil8A88Lt6wIRblDGOUU-mL1hbhYaKEjt_KlyaMVlxw_5KcgdxxRzwBRxSvS-Rc-EuM_R8jNy3Ge3YqXXtF8/s1600/IMG_20190102_193911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGisKrPFE6hVDkohDo9QDQr2tXBJ0TRTrGjjTiNiUYslGw_CNQNSG9XUlil8A88Lt6wIRblDGOUU-mL1hbhYaKEjt_KlyaMVlxw_5KcgdxxRzwBRxSvS-Rc-EuM_R8jNy3Ge3YqXXtF8/s320/IMG_20190102_193911.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobbies Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
commercialized. And crowded. We got tickets and grabbed seats and waited, and waited and waited. Penguins didn't return till it was almost dark and the visibility was quite low. There were lights to see the penguins, but it was very crowded and after they arrived in a few groups, we decided to head back as it was quite a long drive too. It wasn't a bad experience, but go prepped with a blanket, food and be ready to wait. You can't take pictures yourself, but can download them from their website. Hence, I don't have any pictures of the penguins, but of the crowd waiting to see the penguins.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWBqusuNU9YFyWSoG3eBHF3N4236FsRjmY3OL2ay8I8Hsi2Y5oZ52td2otXzOgGQmjjvkt_QNGQqOOqiTJ5u-50PSqz-M8K9WTp5dIP_pWVm9YZKi5BJnySJ3X-qBexeEMU-gdeukh40/s1600/PANO_20190102_201358.vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWBqusuNU9YFyWSoG3eBHF3N4236FsRjmY3OL2ay8I8Hsi2Y5oZ52td2otXzOgGQmjjvkt_QNGQqOOqiTJ5u-50PSqz-M8K9WTp5dIP_pWVm9YZKi5BJnySJ3X-qBexeEMU-gdeukh40/s400/PANO_20190102_201358.vr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for penguins.</td></tr>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What we skipped were the Grand prix circuit and the chocolate factory.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Drive to Twelve Apostles:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8zD5tEVKDqq88GJv0oP0wU0602of15dfZsTlij0AqXdw2gTSi7rDq7C6TUYARvrIfCmJc5yL1mb74OSOHCtCCbnp8CZjKvsXghlh3tHYmYCQOtvuvwR1IrBR8067jbN2iSELQBYT8Ik/s1600/IMG_20190103_181527-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8zD5tEVKDqq88GJv0oP0wU0602of15dfZsTlij0AqXdw2gTSi7rDq7C6TUYARvrIfCmJc5yL1mb74OSOHCtCCbnp8CZjKvsXghlh3tHYmYCQOtvuvwR1IrBR8067jbN2iSELQBYT8Ik/s320/IMG_20190103_181527-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twelve Apostles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were planning to go visit the famous twelve apostles today. It was a long drive especially since we were planning on taking the long coastal route. The drive was long but decently scenic. We stopped at a small beach town for lunch. Had pizza at Italo Cafe followed by coffee at a local cafeteria. And off we were to the apostles. There were quite a few Vista points on our way. And it was super hot. But more than the scorching heat, what bothered us were the flies. Way too many flies made everything annoying. For twelve apostles, there is designated parking for tourists and <br />
designated pathway to walk. A further south, there is a pretty beach and you can take he stairway all the way down to the beach as well. On our way back we decided to take the shorter route instead of the longer scenic one. Once we got home, after dinner, we wanted to go checkout the Crown Casino in downtown. The casino was nice, but nothing compared to casinos in Vegas. We spent sometime playing poker and roulette but were so tired by now that decided to head back and get some sleep before flying out Cairns the next day.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
CAIRNS (Great Barrier Reef):</h3>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpfTdgE36ottsLnuCd2degUu8uvxYOeiLX4I2U8zn__66oSqYMCbxYQ2vUIkUmBfy5yVWQLolBeH16VcP0P0aw39zUg2Pl0fPLKHST9W-bO9rEzZLbpJZxrJewhMFBlYVcALhVIxAl7g/s1600/IMG_20190106_113851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpfTdgE36ottsLnuCd2degUu8uvxYOeiLX4I2U8zn__66oSqYMCbxYQ2vUIkUmBfy5yVWQLolBeH16VcP0P0aw39zUg2Pl0fPLKHST9W-bO9rEzZLbpJZxrJewhMFBlYVcALhVIxAl7g/s320/IMG_20190106_113851.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Cairns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We landed sometime early in the evening. The humid weather was so welcoming compared to the dry heat waves of Melbourne. Hired a cab to our hotel which was a little far. We stayed at the Hilton Cairns which I thought was located well. It is a typical beach town and the vibe is so touristy. biryani to go for our early morning breakfast. We walked around the city pool area. There is no access to the beach or the water from here. Beaches are located a little further out from the main town of Cairns. This is however a very touristy and a well developed area to stay. While walking back to the hotel, we saw so many bats flying all around as our hotel was located near a small park with lots of trees and I guess bats were heading out for the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jQAct-WAqapFkHYb-YpVQyMnGX4Qm8ibPwneYAYEimnqi86ArXkDddsBcsXvrzBVUGiUCbKODvJtKXt5GTQVbEMUJvVMSEpuDtOMTuvFMNPp_mWHd6L-YrBLYyUwbmHfA1JtXHReL_4/s1600/IMG_20190105_185014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jQAct-WAqapFkHYb-YpVQyMnGX4Qm8ibPwneYAYEimnqi86ArXkDddsBcsXvrzBVUGiUCbKODvJtKXt5GTQVbEMUJvVMSEpuDtOMTuvFMNPp_mWHd6L-YrBLYyUwbmHfA1JtXHReL_4/s320/IMG_20190105_185014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got into my tropical clothes and we headed out for dinner. Very walkable market area with plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants. We grabbed dinner at <a href="https://www.yelp.com.au/biz/spicy-bite-cairns-5" target="_blank">Spicy Bites</a>. Dinner was pretty good and since we were leaving for our snorkelling/scuba diving tour in the morning, we also got some<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Snorkelling/Scuba Diving:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSr1XhJ3rLf6HD3xOm1M6Vw5kocwwIYunfvbfMI8ZY37FlHASYXC6pnZj1AcDCZtxcV9GZleUK0oVq2qNY9MdtPnkE3VlJoMJMhv_E_daC6KGjgSizK3KV5PUhkLgXuK4nyKT6R-eavw/s1600/IMG_20190105_112057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSr1XhJ3rLf6HD3xOm1M6Vw5kocwwIYunfvbfMI8ZY37FlHASYXC6pnZj1AcDCZtxcV9GZleUK0oVq2qNY9MdtPnkE3VlJoMJMhv_E_daC6KGjgSizK3KV5PUhkLgXuK4nyKT6R-eavw/s320/IMG_20190105_112057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to find Nemo!</td></tr>
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We had booked our tours with <a href="https://www.seastarcruises.com.au/" target="_blank">Seastar Adventures</a>. Our overall experience was excellent. Very well organized and excellent guides. They had stinger body suits for everyone to wear and avoid jellly fish stings as it was jelly fish season. We were off to a small island, more like a strip of land in middle of the reef where the boat was parked and we all got off with our respective guides for snorkelling and scuba diving. I wasn't keen on scuba so I opted for snorkelling, but Sumit was scuba diving. The water was surprisingly clear and not as muddy as I had anticipated. We got some look at the fish inside and I kept looking for Nemo or Dory! I spotted one Nemo. Yay!! After about an hour or <span style="background-color: yellow;">so</span> in the water, all the divers and swimmers were back and we were served lunch. They had decent veggie options, so no complaints. next we were headed back to Cairns. I think we got back late in the afternoon, so still had a few hours to explore Carins, even though there isn't much to explore in this tiny little town ^_^<br />
The evening after our snorkeling trip we spent walking around the esplanade. Went to a Indian brothers for dinner and then had coffee later at one of the cute little cafes.<br />
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A day in Cairns:</h4>
We had the entire day to ourselves and we wanted to just chill and take it easy. My favorite holiday breakfast is pancakes, so we found a breakfast place, <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/helgas-pancake-house-cairns-city" target="_blank">Helga's pancakes</a> which has excellent reviews. A tiny little diner a few blocks from our hotel and had good breakfast options. Pancakes weren't anything out of the world, but pancakes are pancakes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3YvhyyLQ5iWsxpQ71zdS24ax1LOOA9FAbP0zP6PMh3qHtLZQ_TACGj0ZsmzpXB0p7XK6p_cymfttW34fqgh4CKljTTw4PSnbpvhUhWeYQkAoPI2tbRhQ5IYrdtzrsQ6ly5wLjTgLwrU/s1600/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190106103428818_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3YvhyyLQ5iWsxpQ71zdS24ax1LOOA9FAbP0zP6PMh3qHtLZQ_TACGj0ZsmzpXB0p7XK6p_cymfttW34fqgh4CKljTTw4PSnbpvhUhWeYQkAoPI2tbRhQ5IYrdtzrsQ6ly5wLjTgLwrU/s320/00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190106103428818_COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pancakes</td></tr>
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We also thought of getting a massage as there are quite a few massage parlors around, and there were a few with very decent reviews, but we somehow, decided to give it a miss.<br />
Next up was visit to a Koala! The reef Casino has a Mini Zoo on its top floor and you get a chance to take picture and pet a Koala. So we headed straight to the Reef Casino. After our pictures, we grabbed lunch at Flinder's Grill in the Casino and watched the cricket match. It is so much to travel in cricket loving nations, because you can watch matches playing their sports bars, restaurants, etc.<br />
Next up was short run along the coast. They have a well paved path for joggers and walkers. Once we returned, it was almost evening and the city was getting lively with all the hustle bustle and pubs and shoppers. We had found Spicy Bites really good, so we decided to have dinner here once more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yLVs3QhOm59ejwv8Fa32uoOzg1JwTSz6x6zZuqD8-onRXMO18zvthJJgcVMM2g0Vyq3DV8UaWKLDcNc9t4kxRBpR3jrGRGNZ0LgHJNhCfBH-7uMIABLy5Ri-Bc1dEVlWAPEMYvOmoF4/s1600/217b8cbcf4f647faa91b6e5d99256225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yLVs3QhOm59ejwv8Fa32uoOzg1JwTSz6x6zZuqD8-onRXMO18zvthJJgcVMM2g0Vyq3DV8UaWKLDcNc9t4kxRBpR3jrGRGNZ0LgHJNhCfBH-7uMIABLy5Ri-Bc1dEVlWAPEMYvOmoF4/s320/217b8cbcf4f647faa91b6e5d99256225.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koala picture!</td></tr>
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Another place recommended for breakfast is Jafflehead. Also, there are plenty of branded shops and beachy outlets for you to shop in Cairns. If nothing else, you can spend entire day roaming around and shopping.<br />
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Other things to do in Cairns:</h4>
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<li><b><i><a href="https://www.skyrail.com.au/" target="_blank">SkyRail Rainforest Cableway</a></i></b>: This is located about an hour or so outside Cairns. You can take a train to go here or drive here. We hadn't rented a car and weren't interested in visiting a rainforest, so we skipped it.</li>
<li><b><i><a href="https://www.ksr.com.au/Pages/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Kuranda Scenic Railway</a></i></b>: To get to the rainforest you take the Kuranda railway which is supposed to be an attraction in itself.</li>
<li><b><i>Palm Cove:</i></b> One of the more popular beaches. Since Cairna is not really located by the beach, you need to get out of the town to access a beach and this was one of the more popular ones.</li>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
OTHER POINTERS FOR AUSTRALIA</h4>
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<li><b><i>Uluru Rock:</i></b> Its a popular touristy thing to do in Australia, but it is far from any of the main cities and we would need a few days to fly in and out and visit the Ayers Rock.</li>
<li><b><i>Brisbane/ Gold Coast</i></b>: This is popular for beaches and amusement parks. We weren't interested in either and decided to keep this for our next visit to Australia</li>
<li><b><i>Blue Moutain/Three sisters</i></b>: It is a popular day trip from Sydney, but most of friends and family discouraged us saying there is nothing much to do/see and its not even blue. haha! Three sisters is a rock formation in the blue mountain park.</li>
<li><b><i>Transit Visa</i></b>: Check for transit visa regulations if you are flying through New Zealand. It looks like you need a transit visa even if you don't plan to get out of the airport. And the rule is applicable only when you are flying out of Australia. We had to rebook our return flights because of this.</li>
<li><b><i>Opal card</i></b>: Can get at any grocery or general store and is used for using public transport in Sydney. Makes life a lot easy if you take public transport.</li>
<li><b><i>No id check at the airport</i></b>: Surprisingly, there was no id check at the airports.</li>
<li><b><i>Food courts at the airport</i></b>: Have plenty of options and good ones. In general, food in Australia is so good, and the food courts at the airport also surpass expectations.</li>
<li><b><i>Weather</i></b>: It was so hot in Melbourne one day that they couldn't turn on the airplane engines and that delayed our flight! But it got chilly in the night. So prepare to face multiple weathers in the same day.</li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comAustralia-25.274398 133.77513599999997-75.0662695 51.157948499999975 24.517473499999998 -143.60767650000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-6750864278088740212018-08-30T14:51:00.000-07:002020-04-02T18:44:46.301-07:00Denmark ( Copenhagen, Odense)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our plan was to visit Norway, but we figured that Denmark was a short flight away and having family in Odense meant we definitely wanted to spend a couple of days here. Hence we booked our flight to and from Oslo to Copenhagen or Kobhaven through SAS airlines. Except for their capital city of Copenhagen, there isn't much to see we figured. Here is our itinerary:<br />
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Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen -> drive to Odense</div>
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Day 2: drive back to Copenhagen and fly out to Oslo</div>
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When to go:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywK0yy491nSuK-gv4jLoFQA4C2oTr6HHoRX4BjNHFG2dusbaqP6bWtwoIOeqRQlmbk0aCFvJT0lcMcTzu7vlbG-hDuq6SN4uTOg4viZsU29Hiyj5bAolz0sDQo3d7Oi4ZflfCHUPfHiw/s1600/IMG_20180827_143916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywK0yy491nSuK-gv4jLoFQA4C2oTr6HHoRX4BjNHFG2dusbaqP6bWtwoIOeqRQlmbk0aCFvJT0lcMcTzu7vlbG-hDuq6SN4uTOg4viZsU29Hiyj5bAolz0sDQo3d7Oi4ZflfCHUPfHiw/s320/IMG_20180827_143916.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this clock really fascinating</td></tr>
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We were here for a couple of days end of August and it was drizzling all through. I would perhaps recommend going earlier in summer for a sunnier weather.</div>
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Getting around:</h4>
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Public transport is your best option. We got a bit lazy and decided to rent a car and drive to Odense, which was only a couple of hours drive, but it turned out to be an expensive proposition due to tolls and rental. Public transport is pretty well connected and your best bet. I won't complain about the drive though, the bridge and the views of the sea were quite pretty! </div>
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Luggage storage:</h4>
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In case you want to take a day trip to Copenhagen, which is not a bad idea at all, you can <a href="https://luggagehero.com/central-station-luggage-storage-copenhagen/" target="_blank">store your luggage</a> at the airport or the train station. We had intended to do that, but after renting a car, we didn't store our luggage. </div>
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Odense:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdKlBr1W0h4KAAuQMcLf3tg-_CPi3UbEZ76vu8MfXtfLBRL6K6bw_IrqzhpD69kSLCzhhccdEVlzRSIC-GR_bcI15Sx65YrItUyudpr3f22R2g2Lr-z8zqPqqGhL-DaHsCEQvYSOq9Hw/s1600/IMG_20180827_151027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdKlBr1W0h4KAAuQMcLf3tg-_CPi3UbEZ76vu8MfXtfLBRL6K6bw_IrqzhpD69kSLCzhhccdEVlzRSIC-GR_bcI15Sx65YrItUyudpr3f22R2g2Lr-z8zqPqqGhL-DaHsCEQvYSOq9Hw/s320/IMG_20180827_151027.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round tower</td></tr>
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It's the third largest city in Denmark, but still a very small City by any standard. We were here to meet family and we are so glad we did. Drive to Odense is beautiful. The views of the sea are spectacular and I have always been in awe of European road engineering especially with bridges and tunnels. We also got to witness our families Desi Danish life. </div>
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The town is small and had a very calm and serene vibe. We were happy to gobble up home cooked Indian food and later went for a walk to a nearby park and pond and then to a community garden closeby. Ate fresh Danish apples and walked back home. Was so lovely to meet our nephew and our niece. For those looking for more things to do, Odense is the hometown of Christian Anderson, writer of some famous children story books like The Ugly Duckling. You could visit his house and his museum. Another things to do would be to visit the Egeskov Castle and the church in the city. We went to the castle but ditched going in as it was raining and we wanted to get to Copenhagen and spend as much time as we could in the city.</div>
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Copenhagen:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-glZSPoRk2SsrYG1Lk83ImUTVPtzb3wjvrOzaWcb73N2wVOWeXAc0024A2mcQIAlrUHJpiTsyC6ZFJbKIx2xa4NWH1PlMbSMbYGu6mEslNNe3cUzo5OyvkCui8nMq2nsfb9W7Zrvoko/s1600/IMG_20180827_155842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-glZSPoRk2SsrYG1Lk83ImUTVPtzb3wjvrOzaWcb73N2wVOWeXAc0024A2mcQIAlrUHJpiTsyC6ZFJbKIx2xa4NWH1PlMbSMbYGu6mEslNNe3cUzo5OyvkCui8nMq2nsfb9W7Zrvoko/s320/IMG_20180827_155842.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stroget</td></tr>
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This city has lots to see and you can plan your entire day visiting various tourist spots. Again, we shouldn't have rented the car because parking was crazy expensive. But we didn't have a choice. First stop was an Italian restaurant, Spaghetteria la Perla, for some good lunch. Now we were set to walk around and explore the old town on foot.</div>
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We started walking to the round tower (Rundetaam) and the church. Then we walked all the way to the City Hall square and visited the clock museum. Clocks always fascinate me, hence the visit. Next up was walk through Stroget to Nyhaven. Goal was to take a boat tour. But, we didn't check the times earlier and ended up missing the one that had just left. So, plan your day trip around this tour if you want to get on one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7RUulF2BzmM9go3tOoHRchTfd12hcGipeJBxpcIT0Kcx6QPlxSkcu9Ghz0CVp2vHz2UO1ldV4T7kYQeqkJLH7k4F8hSLyPs4caVD9R8bpUUuj_Am7kx0i8IzV3zkcBKTRdfLKRqP2X4/s1600/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20180827175211066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7RUulF2BzmM9go3tOoHRchTfd12hcGipeJBxpcIT0Kcx6QPlxSkcu9Ghz0CVp2vHz2UO1ldV4T7kYQeqkJLH7k4F8hSLyPs4caVD9R8bpUUuj_Am7kx0i8IzV3zkcBKTRdfLKRqP2X4/s320/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20180827175211066.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many fountains in the city</td></tr>
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Anyhow, we decided that since it had stopped drizzling, we would simply walk around the old town. So, we walked along the colorful boat harbor to Amalienborg and the Geifan fountain, and carried on to the The Little Mermaid statue. This was an absolute must on my list. Why, I don't know, but I have read and heard so much about it, that I just had to visit and take pictures of this statue. Mind you, it is quite a long walk, but had plenty of pretty sceneries to offer. From he we walked back to Frederik's church and picked up dinner to go from Indian restaurant, Caven before driving to the airport for our return flight.<br />
I strongly feel that we should have stayed for a little longer may be another day and enjoyed the evening/ night here in Copenhagen. We missed visiting the freetown Christiania and going to Rosenberg Castle. Our <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/xKF5MPmzBHA4u6xp9" target="_blank">rough walking map</a> in case you want to get an idea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfFTTqQG_gjDSMN2Ok8BfgJlU61cT-aYVTyhInO9VvsuYzKoOUxKVxzit2EUBOhbmrhVbeer3Tx2p4h39PSI995J6kQu_OhXB7-DfxXw0xVKael6eCBsqkesvQwl_wwJfdz6QYMGHrAE/s1600/PANO_20180827_170857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfFTTqQG_gjDSMN2Ok8BfgJlU61cT-aYVTyhInO9VvsuYzKoOUxKVxzit2EUBOhbmrhVbeer3Tx2p4h39PSI995J6kQu_OhXB7-DfxXw0xVKael6eCBsqkesvQwl_wwJfdz6QYMGHrAE/s400/PANO_20180827_170857.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amalienborg</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What else to do in Denmark:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVbe5wvfYMMjgHQ2xM6sVDog5iI0pD1w2wTHntp2guuppfQGwNdI2MGOPz0veqsITFYWdpPtWRwEP2ezSlMsJO4e4h4DMlq_Aq0u7UmARcmthV9Cd92riimp42kxX6MBG0bGVxmRbEfE/s1600/IMG_20180827_172941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVbe5wvfYMMjgHQ2xM6sVDog5iI0pD1w2wTHntp2guuppfQGwNdI2MGOPz0veqsITFYWdpPtWRwEP2ezSlMsJO4e4h4DMlq_Aq0u7UmARcmthV9Cd92riimp42kxX6MBG0bGVxmRbEfE/s320/IMG_20180827_172941.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite - mermaid statue</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Drive to Sweden via an underground tunnel. I hear its pretty exciting and popular htings to do as lot of people combine their travel to these countries.</li>
<li>Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen are another popular attraction that we completely skipped in the interest of time.</li>
<li>Lot of museums to visit. </li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comCopenhagen, Denmark55.6760968 12.56833719999997455.532822800000005 12.245613699999973 55.8193708 12.891060699999974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-43376360223393381192018-08-25T17:07:00.000-07:002020-02-25T15:03:25.335-08:00Norway (Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Geiranger, Alesund, Andalsnes)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Norway had always felt like a far fetched destination on the map. But this time, when I took some time off between the jobs, I felt it was a perfect time to go to Norway. But when I started exploring I realized this country looks much smaller on the map because of the latitude, but it is actually a very big country and travelling around the country isn't as easy. Hence we settled down for a shorter quicker tour of the country. Here is a brief itinerary:<br />
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Day 0: Arrive in Oslo</div>
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Day 1: Norway in a nutshell ( Olso-> Bergen)</div>
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Day 2: Day in Bergen. Fly to Stavanger at night</div>
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Day 3: Pulpit ferry and hike to pulpit rock</div>
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Day 4: Fly to KSU(Kristinasund) -> drive via high Atlantic road to Alesund -> Geiranger</div>
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Day 5: Ferry in Geirangerfjord -> drive to Molde via Trollstingen. Stay in Molde.</div>
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Day 6: Drive to Molde airport and fly to Oslo</div>
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Day 7: Day in Oslo</div>
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Day 8: Fly out in the evening.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
When to go:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDBVMjw7qDci-8amfA-N5FM8Ve5kfJnZW0brvWBovng0APf3ml19iJdz0pb2gX2texssLbSCYLfcnXesBkBgfBaq7DVFNNmDLLqNzGU6wAv5Qd7rUJ3b349tXSrO0NO4jrja-dYvonuo/s1600/IMG_20180831_202850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDBVMjw7qDci-8amfA-N5FM8Ve5kfJnZW0brvWBovng0APf3ml19iJdz0pb2gX2texssLbSCYLfcnXesBkBgfBaq7DVFNNmDLLqNzGU6wAv5Qd7rUJ3b349tXSrO0NO4jrja-dYvonuo/s400/IMG_20180831_202850.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norway countryside</td></tr>
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Summers! Of course. Unless you are targeting auroras and want to fly to north Norway in winters. I am not a great fan of winters and can definitely do without auroras, hence the plan to always target summer months in any country we plan to visit. Norway however, we ended up going during end of winters, which was late August. Summers were ending, but winters had not yet begun.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Where to fly:</h4>
Oslo is the biggest airport. So you will find plenty of flights getting in to Norway. Even though it might be the biggest airport in this country, it isn't as big as other airports you might have seen. So, we chose to fly in to Oslo, however there are some airlines, like Norwegian and SAS which fly in and out of many other airports in the country connecting other Scandinavian countries. So you could totally fly in and out of different airports if that is how you want to plan your travel.</div>
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Drive or fly for intra-country travel:</h4>
Norway is a huge country, don't fall in to the trap of their deceptive size on the map. Plus driving around isn't that simple. We realized that it may be better to just fly between cities of interest and drive locally if needed, instead of driving between the cities. And this turned out to be a huge time saver for us. Unless you are planning a road trip in Norway, there is no reason for you to be driving within cities.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for Norway in a nutshell</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Arrive in Oslo</h3>
We were flying in from Copenhagen, or as you would see on airport terminals, Kobhaven. Yes, it can be confusing, so be prepared to look for Scandinavian names instead of the English names of the cities. We had booked a hotel closer to the Norway central station as we had to board our train for our Norway in a nutshell tour from this station early morning at 6 am the next day. Oslo is in general a safe city and it was perfectly convenient to take an uber or a train from the airport to the hotel.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Norway in a Nutshell</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruise ships docked in Flam</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD55e35Ef22zjNrPbPCCFMxfGLyCaShHiOApMY0hyphenhyphen38PB7amrqCceNL0zl8gjt0yiLZz2lHcDYdKnVJ__a0I9yIXIXezJ6dDM2x0yMEtsqwfuiv_FUXl2UvG6QTBowYpYN3HCUJphtVMQ/s1600/IMG_20180828_115524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD55e35Ef22zjNrPbPCCFMxfGLyCaShHiOApMY0hyphenhyphen38PB7amrqCceNL0zl8gjt0yiLZz2lHcDYdKnVJ__a0I9yIXIXezJ6dDM2x0yMEtsqwfuiv_FUXl2UvG6QTBowYpYN3HCUJphtVMQ/s320/IMG_20180828_115524.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myrdal station</td></tr>
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This is by far the most convenient and easiest way to get a taste of Norway. If you are here for a short time, I highly recommend it. It had fjords, trains, scenic rides all wrapped into one. <a href="https://www.norwaynutshell.com/" target="_blank">Their website</a> offers multiple options, over multiple number of days, but we chose the one day option from Oslo to Bergen. Two things you must keep in mind, first, you must collect your physical tickets for a part of your tour from their kiosks at railway stations and airport which have limited hours of operation. So, plan accordingly. Second, We booked a <a href="https://www.porterservice.no/" target="_blank">porter service</a> from Oslo to Bergen, which simply picked our luggage from our hotel in Oslo and transported it to our hotel in Bergen. This way, we didn't have to ferry our luggage around through multiple hops. Super duper convenient. Now about the tour itself, ours was the original Norway in a nutshell tour.<br />
<b><i>Oslo to Myrdal by train:</i></b> First leg of our journey was a train ride from Oslo to Myrdal. After the first couple of hours of mundane train journey, the views became better and better as we gained altitude. Last hour or so were very pretty and keep your cameras ready if you have been lucky enough to be assigned window seats. We were!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrr9OyfW9vYs44LCQXM_sMnej-yx7hyphenhyphenGU2Blz6uv_04yYsYPk0SXA8Gv6oiHawHWTtqrvIpGHBeSBQZy_8NVvGXzbypRSGMvEbHbLt760rxi_P32ZZZks1HaQ57hyphenhyphenDbQ2qOR59nvJQddI/s1600/IMG_20180828_160553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrr9OyfW9vYs44LCQXM_sMnej-yx7hyphenhyphenGU2Blz6uv_04yYsYPk0SXA8Gv6oiHawHWTtqrvIpGHBeSBQZy_8NVvGXzbypRSGMvEbHbLt760rxi_P32ZZZks1HaQ57hyphenhyphenDbQ2qOR59nvJQddI/s320/IMG_20180828_160553.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurlandsfjord</td></tr>
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<b><i>Myrdal to Flam by legendary Flam railway:</i></b> This is a very cute scenic ride going through several hairpin bends with waterfalls along the way to the town of Flam located in the fjord. Our train stopped for few minutes midway where there was a performance by a lady dressed in a white gown on some music, keeping up with some old folk tale. Was funny.<br />
<b><i>Flam:</i></b> Once you are in Flam, you get an hour or so to unwind, get lunch and enjoy the fjord. There are a few short hikes nearby that you could indulge in. We did a short hike nearby in the time we had after we grabbed lunch. Its a beautiful tiny little valley town. Here is the <a href="https://www.visitflam.com/en/se-og-gjore1/unesco-and-the-fjords/" target="_blank">official site for Flam</a> tourism.<br />
<b><i>Ferry ride/cruise from Flam to Gudvangen:</i></b> The cruise takes you through Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen. The fjord cruises are all very serene and peaceful You see some waterfalls along the way and the calm waters of the fjord. There won't be much for you distinguish between various fjord cruises except for the surrounding mountains.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVqA3WOTw_zHpDou-AvhbrEgRITla3k9kidByvIVnhgPKY0Mf-UN-uMR3id67TdhZAab0GoUO0ruc296Mms9XyibWeyjuGry1h3KD4fdtEdDVsyozZBXhueC8qFCVGO2Ey1DeC9-IUCw/s1600/IMG_20180828_125847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVqA3WOTw_zHpDou-AvhbrEgRITla3k9kidByvIVnhgPKY0Mf-UN-uMR3id67TdhZAab0GoUO0ruc296Mms9XyibWeyjuGry1h3KD4fdtEdDVsyozZBXhueC8qFCVGO2Ey1DeC9-IUCw/s320/IMG_20180828_125847.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gudvangen to Voss</td></tr>
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<b><i>Bus ride from Gudvangen to Voss:</i></b> This was one interesting bus ride. The roads are narrow with hairpin turns. A couple of times I did have my heart in my mouth while on the bus. The view offered were beautiful though. Lush green mountainous landscapes while you are on a good 15-20 degree downward incline.<br />
<b><i>Voss to Bergen train ride:</i></b> The final leg of our journey. Was mostly through plains which were fields and farms and of course green. I dozed off through most of this journey as we had had a long day. But were glad to have discovered Norway in a nutshell.<br />
Once in Bergen, we walked to our hotel Radisson Blu, which wasn't too far from the station and luckily found an Indian restaurant on our way back to dine at, Arti Indik. At our hotel, our luggage was waiting for us and it was time for a nice shower and a good night's sleep.<br />
<b>To Note: </b>Mind you, it isn't a guided tour, just a bunch of tickets that were purchased for you and its simple to follow the route. You could do the same by booking the tickets yourself at the times you find convenient.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Day in Bergen</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen from the top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City centre</td></tr>
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Initially, we had planned that Sumit might go biking nearby, but it was constantly drizzling and biking was ruled out. We also thought of renting a car and driving up to Rosendal, but then we both got lazy and decided to have an easy day in Bergen. We were staying at Radisson Blu which was an excellent choice. Loved the hotel, the location and the amenities. Breakfast in the morning was sumptuous and I was ready for the day. All we had to do was remember to carry our umbrellas. First, we walked along the cobbled pathways and visited a tiny museum nestled up in a house in the alleys right behind our hotel. Then we walked about to the entrance of the funicular that takes you all the way up to the Floibanen. It offers a bird's eye view of this port city. We just walked around the area and then it started drizzling again, so decided to come back to the city and grab something to eat and drink. After a cup of coffee and sandwiches, it was more walking through the city. Its a very walk able town and we just enjoyed the small tiny little shops everywhere. Then we walked across the port to get a look at the colorful houses, or the Bryggen. Its a little far for taking pictures, but otherwise it offers a good view. Now this side of the city was little more modern and had a mall and some upscale shops. After strolling for sometime, we decided it was time to get early dinner and take a bus to the airport. We ate at Maharaja and the food was good. Then we picked our bags and got on the bus to the airport which btw, is the most convenient way to get the airports in Norway as most of the airports are fairly outside the city.<br />
There was also an old church we visited, right behind our hotel and there are other plenty of things to see and do in Bergen, which we conveniently skipped for an easy day. You will find more details and an <a href="https://awaradiaries.com/explore-bergen-in-1-day-the-complete-guide/" target="_blank">itinerary for spending a day in Bergen</a> here.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Stavanger</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPnFk8MuKGeqq495XjwqQ8SmMXrt3eM78TJzVjHG-HFNNc6vZ94MV0H6I-N5jKw5c-MQeBlHfF4ozIEjsWPQ3_0C96dZfTEQI8ovySRPAY5-HavhXZgu_Y1Ln-1kIQAzNYvK690kf75c/s1600/IMG_20180830_112022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPnFk8MuKGeqq495XjwqQ8SmMXrt3eM78TJzVjHG-HFNNc6vZ94MV0H6I-N5jKw5c-MQeBlHfF4ozIEjsWPQ3_0C96dZfTEQI8ovySRPAY5-HavhXZgu_Y1Ln-1kIQAzNYvK690kf75c/s320/IMG_20180830_112022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful houses in Stavanger</td></tr>
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Our flight from Bergen was on time, but we were reaching pretty late, just before midnight. The airports, like I said are fairly outside the cities, so the best way to get in and out is by local buses if you don't plan to rent a car at the airport, which we didn't. We took this <a href="https://getbybus.com/en/blog/airport-bus-stavanger/" target="_blank">bus service to city centre</a>, and simply mapped the drop off location closest to our Airbnb. Such a safe country, we didn't feel unsafe at all while walking in the middle of the night to our rented location. Our AirBnb was just 10-15 minutes walking distance form the city center. Once we reached, we just dozed off as the next day we were planing on a long hike and a cruise.<br />
Next morning, we were up bright and early and decided to explore the town on foot before our cruise at 12 noon. So, we walked the old town, took pictures near the old church, wooden houses, the tower and the pier after grabbing breakfast. It is a really small town and the old town area is easily walkable and explorable on foot.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit rock hike</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lysefjord cruise</td></tr>
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I wanted to combine the fjord cruise and the hike and I found a perfect option for that. The cruise left at 12 noon and took us through the Lysefjord, then dropped us off. Here a bus picked us up and dropped us at the base of the hike. After the hike, another bus would pick us up and drop us off at the ferry terminal, Tau, for the ferry to take us back to Stavanger. It worked like a charm. Note that the return from the base of the hike has fixed departure times for the buses, so time your hike accordingly. If you are interested, here is the link to <a href="https://rodne.no/en/fjordcruise/lysefjord-preikestolen/" target="_blank">Rodne cruises</a> with which we made the booking.<br />
The cruise through the fjord is like any another cruise, infact I would say the Sognefjord and Geiranger cruises were better. This one was just to get to the base of the hike.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3JZjCi2kh041u1TreWqh5dPgnKqvwbfRLlRx-2MQUQfg_JwEEAv_U9f8WHRInsdnQ0K19d-KMPaJCgB5YlpfFAE-pbbcuKUON6tM8pgrexPvFZZzmqYseyDjV4oLECNBVR3Kpur37XI/s1600/IMG_20180830_181535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3JZjCi2kh041u1TreWqh5dPgnKqvwbfRLlRx-2MQUQfg_JwEEAv_U9f8WHRInsdnQ0K19d-KMPaJCgB5YlpfFAE-pbbcuKUON6tM8pgrexPvFZZzmqYseyDjV4oLECNBVR3Kpur37XI/s320/IMG_20180830_181535.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hike is challenging though. Pack yourself enough water and snacks. Its not an easy one. It took us 2 hours for the uphill climb and took us 1:45 hours for the downhill. Wear sturdy shoes and be aware of the slipper rocks in between. Once at the top, I absolutely loved it. Some people were brave enough to take picture sitting at the edge, I clearly wasn't. But the flat rock at the top and the view of the fjord from here is absolutely gorgeous and majestic and totally worth the hike. I was so so happy to get this off my bucket list. Here is the <a href="https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/fjord-norway/the-stavanger-region/listings-stavanger/preikestolen/185743/" target="_blank">official site</a> for details about the hike and how to get there.<br />
Once back the base, like I mentioned earlier, we took the bus back to the ferry terminal which took us back to the city centre. Then we got some good dinner at Delhi restaurant, some really good Indian food in Norway I must say, or may be we were too hungry! Now was the time for an easy stroll back home and crashing for the night.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M-ssBIvH6Q9siiJkuqqkoUht4tEoKvhq_C1bsdADMyFAggrpL2m7HoWPJSMPnsQMoAJhZBaogn9DKobEwVHSDPOcDfAltx4LdtlvWqsjF5-7WTAQ9_S5VMCz9IPOXs4kIwCkujz03JI/s1600/IMG_20180830_163259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M-ssBIvH6Q9siiJkuqqkoUht4tEoKvhq_C1bsdADMyFAggrpL2m7HoWPJSMPnsQMoAJhZBaogn9DKobEwVHSDPOcDfAltx4LdtlvWqsjF5-7WTAQ9_S5VMCz9IPOXs4kIwCkujz03JI/s320/IMG_20180830_163259.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Drive High Atlantic Road to Geiranger</h3>
We had our flight booked from Stavanger to KSU(Kristinasund) on SAS airlines in the morning. But, our flight was cancelled and we were put on another flight to KSU via Oslo. This totally disrupted our plans for the day as we got in 2-3 hours later than expected. So we decided to see how things panned out and make a call accordingly. Luckily, the days are so long in summer.<br />
We rented a car at the airport and drive straight to the High Atlantic Road. There are some spots which give you a very view of the road and once you are underwater, I was so freaked out, but apparently this is totally common in Europe. I just felt that the tunnel is going to collapse by water weight at some point. But nothing happened, of course. There are a few spots, where you can stop and take pictures and enjoy the sea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNPeksWEFUCoNyUvQ4Hhf7SBvBD7BXCqQwenVKX0yy0im5OQD4NbO2hXeGH5e1lwKr6-1rZPS6qPkhGX3G0CmgHYDF0GDhase3BGgvLyohe81fv460_vBJwFZa6pUK9wIM4ChL5Z6A9k/s1600/IMG_20180831_152356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1600" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNPeksWEFUCoNyUvQ4Hhf7SBvBD7BXCqQwenVKX0yy0im5OQD4NbO2hXeGH5e1lwKr6-1rZPS6qPkhGX3G0CmgHYDF0GDhase3BGgvLyohe81fv460_vBJwFZa6pUK9wIM4ChL5Z6A9k/s400/IMG_20180831_152356.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Atlantic Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU902nRRH6_EN3aKuEA92sDOHGD1y3gu2RJC-D4q9wxx8WTTzhXzkB0cex-HlWqzDy01U953uIYMNVMmXdWuQlxLbQHxarKgEHG0FnrzkDNeQSkXHU4zZ1ARyAs7K7RyarC_cpjj0MDZI/s1600/IMG_20180831_211023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU902nRRH6_EN3aKuEA92sDOHGD1y3gu2RJC-D4q9wxx8WTTzhXzkB0cex-HlWqzDy01U953uIYMNVMmXdWuQlxLbQHxarKgEHG0FnrzkDNeQSkXHU4zZ1ARyAs7K7RyarC_cpjj0MDZI/s320/IMG_20180831_211023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle Road to Geiranger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We decided to skip Alesund and drive up to Bud and then turn to Geiranger as we were already very behind on our schedule. Else, the plan would have been to go to Alesund and get lunch there. But we took a break in Molde instead. This is a bigger town which is a popular stop for cruise ships. From here there are regular ferries (for people and vehicles) to cross the water bodies. I was totally in awe of these car ferries. Saved so much time going around instead, Just drive in your car on to the ferry. Get out, get coffee or something, and then just drive out! So cool. So we took two ferries, one from Molde to Vestnes and another one to Valldal.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr-EHZNWrQ2JjZOuWN0o3fEj3jFp0dsuzcGltxlBkl5jBR4VPcXk0Eu4t3ZQYXJJtCFzdfayFWX8yl9hSyF7SKj2adJOgtI5DCbIhTYwyvmBapc7fvEwjVnaX6zJLZkCivAgD4rmI4Hs/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr-EHZNWrQ2JjZOuWN0o3fEj3jFp0dsuzcGltxlBkl5jBR4VPcXk0Eu4t3ZQYXJJtCFzdfayFWX8yl9hSyF7SKj2adJOgtI5DCbIhTYwyvmBapc7fvEwjVnaX6zJLZkCivAgD4rmI4Hs/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The drive was pretty from Vestness to Geiranger. Some areas were narrow and curvy and a little challenging to drive, especially the Eagle Road, but nothing unmanageable. And this road offers the best views of the fjord. We reached geiranger pretty late in the night. And it was all very quiet. Luckily we had gotten some dinner to go in Molde, so we didn't have to look for food that late in the night. All hotels offer a very pretty view of the fjord and are located at the very end of the fjord. Postcard worthy views of this town and the neighboring areas. Lots of hikes to explore too.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Geirangerfjord:</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpsL2c_Jek4k2ns-68BE2kVJofzWShtCuW7GElJWJIMuYnrMuEhX64cpq6RomL788xTSx4C8PnL56H_hgZkdeGbkLasdxN1q4LZMD0kr4GjYKN5dDzgM7njGdwyKigRtwzWgoWp6ZFKw/s1600/PANO_20180901_084717.vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpsL2c_Jek4k2ns-68BE2kVJofzWShtCuW7GElJWJIMuYnrMuEhX64cpq6RomL788xTSx4C8PnL56H_hgZkdeGbkLasdxN1q4LZMD0kr4GjYKN5dDzgM7njGdwyKigRtwzWgoWp6ZFKw/s400/PANO_20180901_084717.vr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Geirangerfjord from our hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next morning, we had a pre booked tour of the fjord. Many options for the fjord cruise. There are quite a few hikes and you could get dropped off at the base and hike all the way up get the bird's eye view of the fjord. We didn't explore that option and simply opted for a regular cruise in the fjord. The town if so picturesque that Sumit opted for an early morning run before the cruise. The town is located at an elevation, so I am guessing any activity would be a little more tiring than usual. The cruise was one of the prettier ones and this fjord is definitely one of the better fjords we saw in Norway. The drive up to the town and the fjord itself are very unique. After our short cruise, we got lunch, did some souvenir shopping, ice cream eating and picture taking before heading out of the town.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Drive to Molde via Andalsnes and Trollstingen:</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJ17_cqw8jzKNyIUXCOuIBJynOnk9NxVQrtgkLro48iCXzcQmFrrTsvJd5oXtYTLUA-Wyr4wJXlKg02K3APakC2bjjbHW3mUxc9usSy61TrQCWciQXAxdA-0GTFgWFtuAbOyi3OZgN8U/s1600/PANO_20180901_141223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1600" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJ17_cqw8jzKNyIUXCOuIBJynOnk9NxVQrtgkLro48iCXzcQmFrrTsvJd5oXtYTLUA-Wyr4wJXlKg02K3APakC2bjjbHW3mUxc9usSy61TrQCWciQXAxdA-0GTFgWFtuAbOyi3OZgN8U/s320/PANO_20180901_141223.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trollstingen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We drove back through the Eagle Road, this time stopped again to take pictures and take one final look at the Geirangerfjord. From here we drove straight to Trollstingen. What a beautiful road with such curvy hairpin bends. Its one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pNChecS4I" target="_blank">bucket list items for cyclists</a>. I had tried so hard to convince Sumit to rent a bike and give it a try, but he had no enthu and I really wish to go back for him to try this out. You will see a lot of bikers on your drive and I can only imagine the euphoria at the end of the climb.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfOfnh2OzkorimsX5A7Ka4OEsXlOfdH2B3z_8Q1kydbYiDnpOhZrAFmBv4av7fS9vYLEaRrVw7IK5oJ8dTQTt4xuH-yhLbj45-I_NHtQjYVZ7LuZu1LzRpTjpvlHTw3_W1huLH8mLfdQ/s1600/IMG_20180901_184727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfOfnh2OzkorimsX5A7Ka4OEsXlOfdH2B3z_8Q1kydbYiDnpOhZrAFmBv4av7fS9vYLEaRrVw7IK5oJ8dTQTt4xuH-yhLbj45-I_NHtQjYVZ7LuZu1LzRpTjpvlHTw3_W1huLH8mLfdQ/s320/IMG_20180901_184727.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molde</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Trollstingen is a proper tourist spot, with an area to park cars and then walk up to the vista points. Some of them offer picturesque views of the entire valley.<br />
From here we drive to Andalsnes, which is another popular tourist town and had lunch at Bakgarden Thai, good Thai food. And then had coffee at Sodahlhuset. A very tiny coffee shop with excellent coffee. That's the things about such family run coffee shops, they have unique settings and give excellent coffee, such a refreshing change from your regular Starbucks.<br />
We then drive to Molde, again via an underwater tunnel, less nerve wrecking this time. We reached early evening and had some time to walk around the city. Explore some fountains<br />
, streets, a very old church and then grab dinner at a local restaurant, Egon. Next morning, was our flight to Oslo from Molde airport, this would be our final stop, before our vacation ends.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Oslo:</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnu2qqV_50dSV8pKhzGJBrVMXghWufoHnpiwYngtEENZEIhgM8e5gKfG2CGZzKcx41FOqCXNS7VAgWvemzBdj0SaoT8Tlh-GtLaHCxfqH_ypVYaoVlI55VACEifT5Yg-BxQ0PbJIEIOg/s1600/IMG_20180902_125616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnu2qqV_50dSV8pKhzGJBrVMXghWufoHnpiwYngtEENZEIhgM8e5gKfG2CGZzKcx41FOqCXNS7VAgWvemzBdj0SaoT8Tlh-GtLaHCxfqH_ypVYaoVlI55VACEifT5Yg-BxQ0PbJIEIOg/s320/IMG_20180902_125616.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello sunshine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMnRlF4H88pLN7s3jdYpifEyuPR19Q0NV-E6DXWj14uCN4HxP_7YqTW4RQSxBfQ0OySqOQTW7KHgwRx6LWhQzc3dJAo0wPKPm6MyMiQP1uj00pxFyvJBRG1o-iUy6HMG9L1hegNtYpK4/s1600/oslo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMnRlF4H88pLN7s3jdYpifEyuPR19Q0NV-E6DXWj14uCN4HxP_7YqTW4RQSxBfQ0OySqOQTW7KHgwRx6LWhQzc3dJAo0wPKPm6MyMiQP1uj00pxFyvJBRG1o-iUy6HMG9L1hegNtYpK4/s320/oslo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our walking map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Welcome to a city! Well connected public transport, a big city center and lots to offer. We reached very early in the morning, so we had planned to store our luggage at the airport instead of checking into our hotel. Super convenient option once you find the lockers. Then we took a train straight to city center. Our touristy day in Olso began with visit to a cathedral in the city center. Like we all know, I love cathedrals! The city has too many museums and halls to offer, so pick the ones you would like to visit. Here is our rough walking route to just explore the city on foot.<br />
We walked from Central station to Oslo Cathedral. From here we walked through the Karl Johans street all the way to the National Theater. From here we walked to the Nobel Peace Center. Then hung out by the pier and the street with lots of cafeterias and restaurants for some time Then walked to the Akershus fortress and spent sometime walking around this area before finally walking to the Opera building. We didn't really go inside most of the museums, except for the Nobel Peace prize one. From here, we took a bus to the Viking ship museum. I was really curious to explore that for some reason. Was pretty cool to see the typical viking ships. You see them in movies and pictures, but I was happy to see them for real. And then we were back to our hotel to call it a day on our very interesting and a picturesque Norway vacation.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOXknWWdtLmdeSdwaMhPwQfaqYvfUqQu626Zl-5MdBJ-fRJKtQ_xfmtOs9InNVAXwQG0YLr6d31IZ1Vs7niXbBMaqEidaqXe4yGXSAgzI-6n6qsuob4Vs6w6FBza_cKD1Gct8BG1CAIw/s1600/IMG_20180902_154723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOXknWWdtLmdeSdwaMhPwQfaqYvfUqQu626Zl-5MdBJ-fRJKtQ_xfmtOs9InNVAXwQG0YLr6d31IZ1Vs7niXbBMaqEidaqXe4yGXSAgzI-6n6qsuob4Vs6w6FBza_cKD1Gct8BG1CAIw/s320/IMG_20180902_154723.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Ship museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What else to do:</h4>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjBVFPZFBbLdNGIigkMPV3ZFbPoiPcg8QrXC_ueOfOKGveq1me_gVM09g4eBGg-fwVGMo1RnboSWQh-ax2zOzaDtKmIMADzotCGmwdPdjiST-xNfs5ZRikuXM9V-CwoQxGWsDmLutWmk/s1600/IMG_20180901_113305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjBVFPZFBbLdNGIigkMPV3ZFbPoiPcg8QrXC_ueOfOKGveq1me_gVM09g4eBGg-fwVGMo1RnboSWQh-ax2zOzaDtKmIMADzotCGmwdPdjiST-xNfs5ZRikuXM9V-CwoQxGWsDmLutWmk/s320/IMG_20180901_113305.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knows, a kiss might turn a troll into a prince!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><i>Fjord Cruise:</i></b> A lot of people explore Norway Fjords on a cruise. Definitely a great option to combine cruise experience with fjord tourism. I never though about it because it needs a minimum of 10 days or so and I was also interested in other activities.</li>
<li><b><i>Hikes:</i></b> Norway boasts of hiking as its national sport. So, yes, there are quite a few hikes in this country which a world famous. Mostly Pulpit rock (the one we did), Trolltunga and the Kjerag Boulder. Google for them to see the fascinating pictures. This is <a href="https://www.visitnorway.com/" target="_blank">best site to explore</a> your options and decide which ones work for you.</li>
<li><b><i>Tromso:</i></b> Northernmost town. Well, the sun wouldn't set here in summer and this is a popular town to see the northern lights. But we decided to totally skip it because we realized unless we were planning to go see northern lights, there wasn't much to see up north</li>
<li><b><i>Svalbard Islands: </i></b>Polar bear viewing. There are cruises to the island from other cities. You can see polar bears roaming freely on ice covered lands on these islands. So much so that polar bear spotting is guaranteed. But it would have taken a few more days and we weren't that eager to explore these and we had to leave something to bring us back to Norway.</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comNorway60.47202399999999 8.4689459999999646.052253499999992 -32.839648000000039 74.891794499999989 49.777539999999959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-49830170801356181602018-07-16T02:29:00.000-07:002019-08-13T02:30:27.628-07:00Monaco (A day trip)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCaxPh1c9-y7frwlTkcjT5O2YFMoNFOfW9ik673lKYI_8a4s6L99MxVva7Tx6YvF9BR-BRHUI_wNe8x_-QDoDMSjON7p8lEFUvT0Gzb86ehWTnWjciBjY6OjM6PPjB9o8mFuXeZkrokA/s1600/PANO_20180706_160037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1600" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCaxPh1c9-y7frwlTkcjT5O2YFMoNFOfW9ik673lKYI_8a4s6L99MxVva7Tx6YvF9BR-BRHUI_wNe8x_-QDoDMSjON7p8lEFUvT0Gzb86ehWTnWjciBjY6OjM6PPjB9o8mFuXeZkrokA/s640/PANO_20180706_160037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Monaco gets its special page because it is an independent country and I do not want to put it under the South France page! More about the <a href="http://travelogue.musaafirs.com/2018/07/south-france.html" target="_blank">South France itinerary</a> is on its dedicated page. This page is about our day in Monaco.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Getting In:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy90TapWOxuMXf7dIwI1EREMS5z27h4ydk3UiR0Qx5_tsAgfJNAMrsVQoR9mStp1YuMHq03TBTXCBU2i5Mlh5qYUz6HBMQE6CUDEZmG_QagOWLRZuJsE4IhQsXYwwMUXZBDZvxQR_KFCU/s1600/IMG_20180706_115917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy90TapWOxuMXf7dIwI1EREMS5z27h4ydk3UiR0Qx5_tsAgfJNAMrsVQoR9mStp1YuMHq03TBTXCBU2i5Mlh5qYUz6HBMQE6CUDEZmG_QagOWLRZuJsE4IhQsXYwwMUXZBDZvxQR_KFCU/s320/IMG_20180706_115917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biking from Nice to Monaco</td></tr>
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Conveniently connected by trains from nearby cities. It was a twenty minute ride from the Nice train station. Train tickets may not be available or the trains cancelled, so check early on the day off or the day before and get tickets.<br />
While I took the train, Sumit was <a href="https://www.routeyou.com/en-fr/route/view/64173/cycle-route/nice-monaco" target="_blank">biking from Nice to Monaco</a>. On his way, he stopped by a cute town Eze, a popular stop over for a hopping southern coast tour.<br />
We both reached around the same time, but rendezvous was a nightmare. Here is what happened. Since Monaco is a different country, our phones that were working fine in France, didn't immediately start working in Monaco. I had a bad connection and no wi-fi at the train station, so I couldn't connect with him. We had initially planned to meet at the Oceanography museum, but I couldn't get a taxi. During the intermittent signal calls I got, we decided to meet at the famous pool located in middle of the city by the docks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydnMD0Cvg1Yg6eKewTNhI9T70nsggfiV_7QhHbP1seIyEoCVfFlEnwvRJCTXhMwK4yXc3qoM2A-3G_rsVDWBFVLJIzHNneAH4U4ZGX7PuimWuc0PCw7SwGV_SY_00MfB_hNTSh99Ih7k/s1600/IMG_20180706_125422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydnMD0Cvg1Yg6eKewTNhI9T70nsggfiV_7QhHbP1seIyEoCVfFlEnwvRJCTXhMwK4yXc3qoM2A-3G_rsVDWBFVLJIzHNneAH4U4ZGX7PuimWuc0PCw7SwGV_SY_00MfB_hNTSh99Ih7k/s320/IMG_20180706_125422.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to Nice</td></tr>
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However, I had come up to the second floor exit of the station and figuring out how to get there was a nightmare. It was right in front of me, I could seeit , but when I stepped out, I couldn't find a road leading up to it. Thankfully I went back into the station and found a help desk. So, this city is vertical and horizontal! I was at the wrong floor. I had to exit on a different floor and just take the stairs all the way down and walk straight for 10 minutes to get to the pool, or the La Condamine area. but I spent an hour figuring this out and with no connectivity I was almost prompted to head back to Nice.<br />
So when you get here, take a deep breath, ask someone and find the right exit and navigate correctly and not just rely on the google map as it doesn't have capability to navigate vertically!<br />
Also, while you are the the tourist information office or the help desk, make sure to get a tourist map to help you navigate.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What to do:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRuh_v2g3JP_XibiZFAiE9uDJS6xSYePherKihjYw129Ia79lTWUrPUeTp6dVj2txEt1hKnFg0-wsXKkzOpwsz-wtttqKBhn1TPeIVKf1FYoMCBjYGJvhhKwUqCbxZAdaQOd2Tf3MkmU/s1600/IMG_20180706_144805-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRuh_v2g3JP_XibiZFAiE9uDJS6xSYePherKihjYw129Ia79lTWUrPUeTp6dVj2txEt1hKnFg0-wsXKkzOpwsz-wtttqKBhn1TPeIVKf1FYoMCBjYGJvhhKwUqCbxZAdaQOd2Tf3MkmU/s320/IMG_20180706_144805-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic pool - Next time, taking a dip!</td></tr>
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Initially, I had planned on following this <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/NuiqvMWrEaP2" target="_blank">walking map</a> I had created. After our fiasco, we met at the pool. First, we grabbed lunch at on of the many restaurants around the area. Sumit left his bike securely fastened to a lamp pole near the restaurant. Food was good.<br />
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Next up, we decided to follow our tourist map and go to the Prince's palace, many steps later we were outside the palace and got really good views of this tiny little city-country. Some souvenir shops are close by. There is also an oceanography museum and a view point located close by, but we ditched that and decided to head out straight to the Casino, Monte Carlo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaukhfR1p7NC1QyjrD5HWt91xA9q0aUhKJZtfx0rwf1e_8z-ZUVXY-9kbA09e7lDYNijYzNynR2LyBTvQblORlhkn1HWJ-8Smul8hK_-fuOsZku2MjrrS6c3wYcEyvVTugDF9xhM88XsQ/s1600/IMG_20180706_154852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaukhfR1p7NC1QyjrD5HWt91xA9q0aUhKJZtfx0rwf1e_8z-ZUVXY-9kbA09e7lDYNijYzNynR2LyBTvQblORlhkn1HWJ-8Smul8hK_-fuOsZku2MjrrS6c3wYcEyvVTugDF9xhM88XsQ/s320/IMG_20180706_154852.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F1 tracks in the city!</td></tr>
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We walked to the Casino Monte Carlo and what a sight! Luxury cars lined outside. I think there was an entry fees, but I don't remember now. the interiors are so royal and opulent, it was much more royal than I had expected. Of course you aren't allowed to go inside to all the game rooms as I guess they are reserved for some "A-list" people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrCAKXKDrsnDSCVejgrTLle6JDewz8CR_9BB988hasywRMuUNBDtAGPBoVS3n5wHb6fssA9if6BIZwq5Nh7y_7z6zCjHvpklpdPAf0_tNmznzMogX48JZ71IoMG_3PNaI-B0QQoO3Vwg/s1600/IMG_20180706_175035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrCAKXKDrsnDSCVejgrTLle6JDewz8CR_9BB988hasywRMuUNBDtAGPBoVS3n5wHb6fssA9if6BIZwq5Nh7y_7z6zCjHvpklpdPAf0_tNmznzMogX48JZ71IoMG_3PNaI-B0QQoO3Vwg/s320/IMG_20180706_175035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casino Monte Carlo</td></tr>
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We then walked back to the La Condamine area and settled in a restaurant to watch the France vs Belgium semi final at a restaurant. The atmosphere was electric and there were of course French supporters everywhere.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv7Ayyl3O1xQQDC1x9LNJM34ge9ZMJMlLLhlUixEN__iMjAEK0-cH1grEcRJfgUc47Okfml-oTBfv-Dew7hcdi3Yo7AvZCD3oURFJA7S5Ztzt6a4MQmXc47ift4znI0WHnc6symzWzN0/s1600/IMG_20180706_165136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv7Ayyl3O1xQQDC1x9LNJM34ge9ZMJMlLLhlUixEN__iMjAEK0-cH1grEcRJfgUc47Okfml-oTBfv-Dew7hcdi3Yo7AvZCD3oURFJA7S5Ztzt6a4MQmXc47ift4znI0WHnc6symzWzN0/s320/IMG_20180706_165136.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Condamine area</td></tr>
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After the match, we headed back to Nice via train. This time we had no issues going to the station and yes, we took the stairs and the elevators. Pretty convenient if you do that and follow the tourist information map. The city oozes luxury and clearly you see it would be the richest per capita country in the worls.<br />
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-42323257845856461132018-07-13T01:48:00.000-07:002019-08-13T01:54:12.340-07:00South France (Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Lyon, Grenoble)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For our Euro summer trip, there was one city I definitely wanted to visit and that was Grenoble, because of all the endless tales I had heard from Sumit about his internship. So, why not visit South France along with this city. We were going to be in Switzerland after our Germany roadtrip. So this was the plan for the last leg of our trip through South France. Its is a comparatively shorter trip, but you could spend more days in each of these beach towns.<br />
Day 1: Arrive in Nice<br />
Day 2: Bike to Monaco and spend the day in Monaco<br />
Day 3: Train to Cannes ->Antibes -> Lyon<br />
Day 4: Day in Lyon -> Drive to Grenoble<br />
Day 5: Bike day in St. Michelle -> Drive to Lyon ->Train to Paris<br />
Day 6: Fly out of Paris<br />
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<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
When to go:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcv-xjtYIMx9BUwiO1_F6af7T0fdYdz7bju6o3bNjwAYshz_CbRHz0nrL9WMkSFLqlD9Tg3g-hSPtNZ4H5GMnsDncvWW2n1LAEaqXEJae00M92iAcWyDB9Ypn-kVNaoRYC9EV1YMwAsA/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180708152224262_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcv-xjtYIMx9BUwiO1_F6af7T0fdYdz7bju6o3bNjwAYshz_CbRHz0nrL9WMkSFLqlD9Tg3g-hSPtNZ4H5GMnsDncvWW2n1LAEaqXEJae00M92iAcWyDB9Ypn-kVNaoRYC9EV1YMwAsA/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180708152224262_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crepes + Coffee = France</td></tr>
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South France was hot when we visited. We were there end of June and it was scorching sun all through our trip. If you love that, this is the places for you, but carry buckets of sunscreen! Else, you may want to give the shoulder season a try. Perhaps, May or September.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Where all to go:</h4>
Southern coast of France is popular for its beaches and the coastal drive. We didn't drive along the coast but that is always an option. Here is a route that I had picked <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/qGobf45dVW52" target="_blank">along the coast</a>.<br />
Nice, Monaco, Cannes are most popular, but there are smaller beach towns which also make for a good relaxed vacation, eg: Antibes, Saint Tropez.<br />
Marseilles is a big city in the south with popular connections to take trains from or fly in to.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Getting around:</h4>
Europe is of course well connected with public transport, so you don't need any car unless you want to drive around. Our trip was a mix and match of both. Between cities which were more than 2-3 hours away, we preferred public transport, or else we rented a car.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Getting to Nice:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3E1nPUocPkhXnUscdleG8_mLsQ1i56BvHTRsMCg9Zmucx_Vm5jTLgnryHopE4WEufMFr72AIpib-i-QE44NNj__RwlHjWWOmV_99pO2Y2drEkg8izQsSKtW9_wMeMaHmjtgRyl3i4Yk/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180706203319720_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3E1nPUocPkhXnUscdleG8_mLsQ1i56BvHTRsMCg9Zmucx_Vm5jTLgnryHopE4WEufMFr72AIpib-i-QE44NNj__RwlHjWWOmV_99pO2Y2drEkg8izQsSKtW9_wMeMaHmjtgRyl3i4Yk/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180706203319720_COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice beach</td></tr>
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This was an adventurous day. We had our flights reserved from Geneva to Nice at about 6 pm. Around 3 pm we get a message from our airlines that our flight has been cancelled, and they won't reschedule us, but simply refund the money. We were both in Lausanne that time driving from Zurich to Geneva. We had no idea what to do now. There were no flights, or trains available for the next two days. Everything was completely booked as it was a weekend. One option was to skip the south France trip and just take the train to Grenoble after 3 days, which was the only available option. Or, option number two, which was to extend our car rental and drive to Nice. It was 6-7 hours drive, but we would be in Nice the same day we had planned and we wouldn't need to alter any other reservations.<br />
So, of course, we picked option two. We had to pay a couple of hundred euros extra for returning the car in another country, but it would save us more in reservations and re bookings.<br />
We drove through southern Switzerland, near Mont Blanc, and norther Italy, close to Turin. The drive and the tunnels are a beauty. Its amazing how the bridges have been built connecting mountains and tunnels have been built cutting right through these giant mountains. It was an adventure as it was unplanned, but good thing was, we made it. We were in Nice at midnight and driving through narrow streets and one-way alleys of Nice was a challenge we hadn't signed up for. Luckily we found street parking as we had to return the car the next day, we didn't have a hotel with car parking.<br />
Haash! A long day, but we reached Nice!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Monaco</i></h2>
Plan was to bike to Monaco. Sumit had found a bike rental shop in Nice and he left early, around 8 or 9 am to return the car and rent a bike as soon as he could in the morning. He was planning to bike to Moncao and I had plans to meet him there and spend the day with him in Monaco.<br />
More details about biking to Monaco and the city are here on the <a href="https://travelogue.musaafirs.com/2019/08/monaco.html" target="_blank">Monaco blog page</a>.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Nice</i></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cKDSPgixdXBrNNVANvHv8yN0YzDyLB1O7XSNn5IYyM_iOexWVFc5BNbU750fGlPAc5rKgwOsi8FNLEZFID6INFOITs-tLwJq5jtdBwg9Yg8plNGl7C3yLadEuq6jCVJ6-ndnytgl24I/s1600/IMG_20180706_214924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cKDSPgixdXBrNNVANvHv8yN0YzDyLB1O7XSNn5IYyM_iOexWVFc5BNbU750fGlPAc5rKgwOsi8FNLEZFID6INFOITs-tLwJq5jtdBwg9Yg8plNGl7C3yLadEuq6jCVJ6-ndnytgl24I/s320/IMG_20180706_214924.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamborghini by the dinner table</td></tr>
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We returned in the evening and spent time in Nice. We were staying at de la Fontaine. Tiny rooms, but thats what we could manage with such late reservations. Location was good with respect to the train station, Gare du Nice Ville was only 15 minutes walk.<br />
Walking along the beach in the cool evening breeze is definitely a memorable experience. Lot of food carts, caricature artists, crepieres along the beach. The city side of the street, Promenade du la Anglais has a lot of hotels and casinos and plenty of restaurants to pick from. You can spend a few days here easily, without getting bored. Its a crowded city, so don't rent a car and prefer Uber or walking around. We had dinner at a really good Lebanese restaurant, Ya Habibi.<br />
True to its reputation of opulence, there was a Lamborghini parked right outside our restaurant and it was a picture-worthy moment to have dinner with a luxury car casually parked right behind you on the street.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Cannes</i></h2>
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Plan for the day was to visit Cannes, spend some time in a beach town, and we chose Antibes and then head out to Lyon from Cannes in the evening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB_Ze9RMtjr9bBvJJkr4W3TuDkB4NpKVylLvbEdH9iX6jfSw_kXFEt0-tIrI_5bsWl2bKx9lAI6-NLkjkrk6PROgvvGv-XEHyq8hsx0slNQZZgRISCXrN_wiInP8nuJORr2wv5-n3iWo/s1600/IMG_20180707_112341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB_Ze9RMtjr9bBvJJkr4W3TuDkB4NpKVylLvbEdH9iX6jfSw_kXFEt0-tIrI_5bsWl2bKx9lAI6-NLkjkrk6PROgvvGv-XEHyq8hsx0slNQZZgRISCXrN_wiInP8nuJORr2wv5-n3iWo/s320/IMG_20180707_112341.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the red carpet</td></tr>
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It is a 30 minute train ride from Nice. Given the town is popular due to Cannes Film Festival, it is crowded with tourists. We left our luggage at the luggage storage right outside the train station (very convenient!). Now we had our days packs and were ready for the day. This town has quite a few private beaches and also public beaches. We chose to first walk straight to the theatre with the red carpet to take our pictures there. The theatre is actually a convention centre, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The town is small and walkable. There is also a gallery next to it which has displays of movie stars who are regular a the film festival. After posing for pictures and feeling content, we headed to the beach right next to it. It was still quite sunny, so we thought of going to Rue D'Antibes for some shopping instead.<br />
Pretty little walkable town with small cathedral somewhere in the middle. The shopping was fun and I went crazy at Mango store as we don't have many of those in US and they had an awesome 70% discount going on! Yayy! Grabbed a bite sometime in between all of this.<br />
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<h2>
<i>Antibes</i></h2>
Next up was Anitbes. It is 15 minutes ride from Cannes. A cute little beach town. But, while on our way to train station, we realized that Sumit had forgotten his biking jersey in the hotel room as it was drying in the bathroom! It was his IronMan Canada jersey, so we couldn't leave it behind. Hence, we went all the way back to Nice, got the jersey and came back to Cannes and then headed out to Antibes.<br />
I always have stories from our trip, don't I?<br />
Anyhow once we reached Antibes, we picked a beach to go to from many beaches listed online. We went to Plage LaGrauppe. We took an Uber from the station to get to the beach. Loads of activities at the beach and an Italian restaurant with private showers to offer. Its a lovely coastline here. I would advise you carry or rent an umbrella here as it gets super duper hot. There is a Picasso gallery here which we didn't have time to visit, but it did sound interesting.<br />
A few hours and we were off to Cannes to get on our train to Lyon now. Train was super comfortable and so glad we chose to ride the train instead of driving. Fours hours just flew by. We reached Lyon and we staying at Ibis hotel close to the train station. Tiny rooms, but comfortable. Luckily we reached just in time to watch the FIFA semi final of Croatia vs Russia extended thirty minutes and the penalty shootout.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Lyon</i></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ5wH4DwiIjDkhfgEYZ5h_eUC_UnR9hqqnijDZRXXfEhMpl9qCKeDcJ9pa8w6lw2hqZwHwkE9fGJxFDlNukm4n03qSOg28jrGR23WtCqLaw4vMnV_PaKXT_fjTO4WbatZFu1ZSl2o8E0/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180708131106390_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ5wH4DwiIjDkhfgEYZ5h_eUC_UnR9hqqnijDZRXXfEhMpl9qCKeDcJ9pa8w6lw2hqZwHwkE9fGJxFDlNukm4n03qSOg28jrGR23WtCqLaw4vMnV_PaKXT_fjTO4WbatZFu1ZSl2o8E0/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180708131106390_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vieux Lyon</td></tr>
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We had a <a href="https://en.lyon-france.com/" target="_blank">full day in Lyon</a> and I was ready to explore. First we got our rental car and drove to the old town area. We first headed out to Bellacur. After parking our cars, we just used Google maps to explore the city. We first took the funicular up to the church Fourviere. Beautiful church and it offered lovely views of the city from the hilltop. Must do. The ride, the church, the views, a perfect thing to do in Lyon. Next, we were roaming around Vieux Lyon (old town). Visit the Church Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Just roaming the streets was a lot of fun and we decided to stop by one of the shops to get some Onginon pies. It was pretty good. I had been quite skeptical about french cooking, but this was good. Next, I just had to try some crepes and coffee. I mean, I was in France after all!<br />
Here is a <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/vwp6eVq9vMq" target="_blank">link to the walking map</a> that will help.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-4hG_6XatgPCQi3NBx-pwiphblQdm2Ubbyb-urSH9Jpi42d_bD5Cf4qycap6WsAc7EHo87QBUbrbWIB8T6ckzRqOuvp2ytEtfcCqTGUdcMdv_6wQ2R587DOyYQcIkuzC3c85gZYaK8M/s1600/IMG_20180708_143525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-4hG_6XatgPCQi3NBx-pwiphblQdm2Ubbyb-urSH9Jpi42d_bD5Cf4qycap6WsAc7EHo87QBUbrbWIB8T6ckzRqOuvp2ytEtfcCqTGUdcMdv_6wQ2R587DOyYQcIkuzC3c85gZYaK8M/s320/IMG_20180708_143525.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Fourviere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel in Grenoble</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Grenoble</i></h2>
In the evening, we headed out to Grenoble. First up, we went to Inria. It was about time I got to see this place. What beautiful location. Surrounded by tall mountains. Being a weekend, we couldn't get in. But was totally worth the visit. We drove around the city first and then headed out to Fort Bastille, but the roads were so narrow that we ditched it. If you intend to go, must take the funicular/gondola. The town is super cute and a great place to spend a few laid back days. We ate at a really good Indian restaurant, Bombay. Then we drove around the old residence and then to the old town. We were staying at beautiful hotel, in the lovely old town area. Since we had to park, we had to drive around a few loops to find an overnight parking spot. The old town area had some good restaurants and a lively ambience.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Biking around Saint Michelle</i></h2>
Early morning we left for Sanit Michelle and headed straight to the bike rental shop, <a href="http://velominute.e-monsite.com/" target="_blank">Velo rental</a>. This is a village at the foothil of Alps and a good starting point for very interesting bike routes. Some of the bike routes around are also a part of Tour de France routes. At 9 am, we were at the shop and Sumit got his bike and was ready to head out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x9n2v5aBRH5pTN8vP6LvqWecb3eKhaJ2HNMdSX4TOfBC41yTHl2WyEKevb_8PD68HmpllqZUIWWxiJcE_mlBMT9Vs_O_iuLWeE6snbwvKIXOQ0roandKHLhi-tcLRtWPwpNiOPVtkSQ/s1600/IMG_20180709_210822_167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x9n2v5aBRH5pTN8vP6LvqWecb3eKhaJ2HNMdSX4TOfBC41yTHl2WyEKevb_8PD68HmpllqZUIWWxiJcE_mlBMT9Vs_O_iuLWeE6snbwvKIXOQ0roandKHLhi-tcLRtWPwpNiOPVtkSQ/s320/IMG_20180709_210822_167.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 hours to spare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlhywMZ4fLOCEeMibqtQ7TT8X-bq9z19d4hBtuehNpjdtsc66O0t-M6zeAbZ27jYTdDfYD5uf1ZL_4AjdnZG2t3-3CERnn7mbD686M_ylWmPvcz_oEhsHZoT6RoMA8KJ9nbO_iQyYz4M/s1600/IMG_20180709_141245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlhywMZ4fLOCEeMibqtQ7TT8X-bq9z19d4hBtuehNpjdtsc66O0t-M6zeAbZ27jYTdDfYD5uf1ZL_4AjdnZG2t3-3CERnn7mbD686M_ylWmPvcz_oEhsHZoT6RoMA8KJ9nbO_iQyYz4M/s320/IMG_20180709_141245.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now who finished his ride!</td></tr>
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I had to kill 6 hours ahead of me. I spent that time arguing with a waitress who wouldn't understand English or sign language, offering Swiss Francs to pay for food, and completely forgot I needed Euros in France, and also struggling with a public toilet that self cleaned every few minutes and if you were inside, it meant, you would get drenched, and yes I did. I kept myself fully entertained for those six hours while Sumit was burning calories and <a href="https://www.strava.com/segments/647438" target="_blank">riding up Col du Galibier</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col du Galibier</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Back to Paris:</h3>
Around 4 pm we headed back to Lyon for our train to Paris at night. We were stuck in traffic first and then, had a tough time refueling our car beacuse it was a diesel and the nozzle type wasn't available at all gas stations. Luckily we made it in time at the station with full TEN minutes to spare before the train! Whew! it was an adventurous day for sure. But we got on our train back to Paris and on our flight back home.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Pointers:</h3>
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<li>Make reservations early to get good hotels in Nice.</li>
<li>Always prefer a train ride over flying. More reliable and super comfortable.</li>
<li>Indian vegetarian food may be tricky to find, but not hard.</li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comNice, France43.7101728 7.261953199999993643.5265063 6.9392296999999932 43.8938393 7.5846766999999939tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-36284847214034487942018-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:002019-06-04T20:20:22.017-07:00Germany (Trier, Heidelberg, Romantic Road)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Germany was always on our destination list. As a tourist, one can divide Germany into two parts, historic Berlin and other big cities. And the second part, smaller quaint towns with castles. Germany has two tourist routes, Romantic Strasse (with all the quaint towns) and Castle Strasse (with all the castles) with a decent enough overlap between the Romantic Road and the Castle Road. We chose Romantic Strasse for our road trip, which runs from Wurzburg to Fussen and we stopped by a couple of other towns on our way from Luxembourg.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Here is our itinerary:</h4>
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<b><i>Day 1: </i></b>Trier -> Mainz -> Heidelberg<br />
<b><i>Day 2: </i></b>Heidelberg -> Wurzburg -> Rotheburg ob der Tauber<br />
<b><i>Day 3:</i></b> Rothernberg ob der Tauber -> Dinkelsbuhl ->Nordlingen<br />
<b><i>Day 4:</i></b> Nordlingen -> Augusburg -> Fussen/Schwangau<br />
<b><i>Day 5: </i></b>Fussen -> Konstanz -> Zurich<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb27oBMR6Fs1cBjJ4U0R7aHsNPtk7DQHgzAs032LCb1nSt5qaQrdzGWjNQ6oClxjYS80BDMy_kszvQ-gcCTfPmO9ypszsbxy8VkVPqnP5aUwoh7H2qBGiweNKa7w7ojLyk6DeDcGX_qXc/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1395" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb27oBMR6Fs1cBjJ4U0R7aHsNPtk7DQHgzAs032LCb1nSt5qaQrdzGWjNQ6oClxjYS80BDMy_kszvQ-gcCTfPmO9ypszsbxy8VkVPqnP5aUwoh7H2qBGiweNKa7w7ojLyk6DeDcGX_qXc/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our road trip route</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Getting Around</h4>
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We rented a car in Trier and returned it in Konstanz, our last destination in Germany. Driving around was pretty simple and roads were not crowded. There are some online sites to help you get acquainted with the <a href="https://www.autoeurope.com/travel-guides/germany/germany-road-signs/" target="_blank">road signs</a>. Also, our favorite store was ALDI to buy water, snacks or anything else we needed. Getting vegetarian food isn't difficult in Germany and most of the restaurants do offer a vegetarian variant of most of their dishes.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Day 1: </i></b>Trier -> Mainz -> Heidelberg</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd4kWSsYXoSPxG3ODLAcx5rcQ4GBaVpSY8nBdgEbzv8WjXnq2lGyRRvp1Ctm1kr8B1TqqVUtqZkgOVQH0o-WkA0impKi7W2kCyUUal0B4z639fQ-8sLKdTwQBXxNAAlnnsMzjhanLeEk/s1600/IMG_20180629_153424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd4kWSsYXoSPxG3ODLAcx5rcQ4GBaVpSY8nBdgEbzv8WjXnq2lGyRRvp1Ctm1kr8B1TqqVUtqZkgOVQH0o-WkA0impKi7W2kCyUUal0B4z639fQ-8sLKdTwQBXxNAAlnnsMzjhanLeEk/s320/IMG_20180629_153424.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl Marx's birthplace</td></tr>
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We reached Trier from Luxembourg via train. We took the local bus to the Hertz rental where we rented a car and drove to the old town. We spent some time wandering about in the old town (Altstadt) area. All the major attractions are in this area. We grabbed some lunch here. Saw the old cathedral, Point Nigra and Karl Marx house. From here we drove to Mainz. Mainz was a comparatively bigger city and all we did there was to have a burger at <a href="https://hansimglueck.com/" target="_blank">Hans im Gluck</a>. Burgers were really good and so was their lemonade. I highly recommend them. I guess they are a chain so you can find another restaurant in some other city.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Oy76vILesiPRAhvhSWZe7hlLaMY8xuo25TRY4tkZy0h-gTgS_dOuf3iC7JvKpB5H9sunA8ZFxqa5F_uebAVkds-hx3Be6svAgwHY0Q5cxY98DN9O4sdjzpToARB2cfopDQsmBUsA-A/s1600/IMG_20180629_214117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4Oy76vILesiPRAhvhSWZe7hlLaMY8xuo25TRY4tkZy0h-gTgS_dOuf3iC7JvKpB5H9sunA8ZFxqa5F_uebAVkds-hx3Be6svAgwHY0Q5cxY98DN9O4sdjzpToARB2cfopDQsmBUsA-A/s320/IMG_20180629_214117.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidelberg Citadel</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Up next, we were headed to Heidelberg. The drive was through vast rolling hill pastures. We reached Heidelberg in the evening. Parking on street is hard to find, but there are enough parking garages in the city. Also, try making a reservation for your stay where parking is included. Once we found parking and checked in to our hotel, we decided to head out to Old town for getting some dinner. We walked along the Haupstrasse. Its a lovely pedestrian area with many local shops all around. We walked all the way up to the old bridge. Crossed the bridge and took picture. The views of the hilltop citadel are also great from here. There are many dining options in the old town area, and we decided to get some Thai food. Now was the time to head back to out hotel.</div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Day 2: </i></b>Heidelberg -> Wurzburg -> Rotheburg ob der Tauber</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHObUKyIzT-bcqPq8LkSSyttUCUXBhQPy4OUM1ChnkCAngXtl4nR63KuNbmTsQstZcr-QOr_wLJEj8D8p82Iqju0YCSQFQcf5nv9RxuTBMVFmOG11KLJEpA663HR4RTNEKt_DeAfQK1k/s1600/IMG_20180630_154631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHObUKyIzT-bcqPq8LkSSyttUCUXBhQPy4OUM1ChnkCAngXtl4nR63KuNbmTsQstZcr-QOr_wLJEj8D8p82Iqju0YCSQFQcf5nv9RxuTBMVFmOG11KLJEpA663HR4RTNEKt_DeAfQK1k/s320/IMG_20180630_154631.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wurzburg Marketplatz</td></tr>
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We had initially wanted to go to the citadel in the morning, but decided against it. You see, there are so many citadels in Germany, that they get repetitive after a while, so we decided to skip this one. Instead, we spent our morning going to a swimming pool (Thermalbad). Finding parking was not easy in the morning as there were no parking structures closeby and the directions for one way streets can get confusing. But after some struggle, we did manage to find a parking spot with an hour validity or something. After our swim session, we head a sumptuous brunch at Mindel Cafe. Another cafe I can recommend. Now we were off to Wurzburg.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We drove straight to the top of the Wurzburg fortress which overlooks the city. It was too hot and we were just looking for some shade. We walked around the fortress to get some views of the city. I remember there was a tiny little shop in the corner which had ice creams! Yay! Then we drove to the Old town area. There was a pretty old church as usual and lots of shops all around. We found parking in one of the garages and then just walked around the Marketplatz before settling in at a Bierhaus for the football match. It was a party!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xIwUNE1m9LBjk83eA67DqPBD4vMbWwb2rz9F52LBokpe6NGNtbtfCCKJ9kPjEylEQckR1co_R4MZ1BzdJRQDss0A5ikODmX4-QOtnSbV9oDlTA91KMb_UPEDuolY82AR1XpzGvRvjjQ/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180630200114375_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xIwUNE1m9LBjk83eA67DqPBD4vMbWwb2rz9F52LBokpe6NGNtbtfCCKJ9kPjEylEQckR1co_R4MZ1BzdJRQDss0A5ikODmX4-QOtnSbV9oDlTA91KMb_UPEDuolY82AR1XpzGvRvjjQ/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180630200114375_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Watchman Tour</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngVwQDPQnwbyHd2R3aOFTyyiuztq7K_kU3tY8OWYYiGqBiXBcp1E9XKboymklc_-4lEPDhBbUDJnXTlBl_bI7XKLHsa7EMBxLZhKp8eXGqAqvkZpE8JYIwchrANab7PXM8mbMW0aSu_g/s1600/IMG_20180630_220540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngVwQDPQnwbyHd2R3aOFTyyiuztq7K_kU3tY8OWYYiGqBiXBcp1E9XKboymklc_-4lEPDhBbUDJnXTlBl_bI7XKLHsa7EMBxLZhKp8eXGqAqvkZpE8JYIwchrANab7PXM8mbMW0aSu_g/s320/IMG_20180630_220540.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rothenberg ob der Tauber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After the match we drove to our next destination, Rothenberg ob der Tauber. Such a cute little town on a hilltop and my favorite town in the country. You can only enter from one side and it was hard to find where to drive in from. But once we figured, we were good. It felt as if we were transported in to a fairytale village. We were here in time for the popular "<a href="https://www.rothenburg.de/welcome/guided-tours/tours-for-groups/nightwatchman-tour/" target="_blank">Night Watchman Tour</a>". It was so much fun walking around this tiny little town and hearing the stories of this watchman in his costume. This is the best way to go around this town. It takes only about an hour or so. Later, walking around cobbled streets we got dinner at a local restaurant. Surprisingly enough, finding vegetarian food in Germany hasn't been tough at all. There are quite a few boutique hotels in this town and we stayed at Golden Rose. And do not forget to take the famous picture at the most photographed spot in the city.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></h4>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Day 3:</i></b> Rothernberg ob der Tauber -> Dinkelsbuhl ->Nordlingen</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnRC0pNLjPDFqWpYzwAvgvERUERseYCF5JkPOt9vzBKzNBvP0umiMSQ4jNwnqJmP3SO7nqPy4iuCTLWmxRnzMRXjzgzqMbigZs9GDxXUmDVFX_c7ktP-ixPD6qgNW-YsqmeBdoK4V4Xc/s1600/IMG_20180702_153656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnRC0pNLjPDFqWpYzwAvgvERUERseYCF5JkPOt9vzBKzNBvP0umiMSQ4jNwnqJmP3SO7nqPy4iuCTLWmxRnzMRXjzgzqMbigZs9GDxXUmDVFX_c7ktP-ixPD6qgNW-YsqmeBdoK4V4Xc/s320/IMG_20180702_153656.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romantic Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We had initially thought of renting bicycles and biking around the town, but the bike shops were closed on Sundays, so we decided to go for a run instead. I think the whole loop around the city was less than 5 km! But what fun running around this city. This city has a lot of souvenir shops. We wanted to get a cuckoo clock and we found the one we liked and shipped it directly to our home in US. There are a lot of price ranges and options if you want to get one. We got ours safe and sound in the next few weeks and it works just fine. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After brunch, we headed to another small town of Dinkelsbuhl which was like a miniature replica of Rothenberg ob der Tauber. We found parking right outside and went for a walk in the city. Got coffee at a local gelato and coffee shop. Wandered around aimlessly, perfect vacation!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
From here, we drove to Nordlingen. After checking in to our hotel, we went to the cathedral. Here you can go up the tower for a minimal fees and get some views of this tiny little town. These towns are so small that you can walk around the entire town in a few hours and be familiar with the entire layout of the town. We rented bikes at the JUFA hotel for 24 hours. Plan as to go biking the following morning. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant, Pablo Cantina. Again, the food was awesome. Then we got back to our hotel to watch Croatia vs. Denmark. </div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Day 4:</i></b> Nordlingen -> Augusburg -> Fussen/Schwangau</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGEHKv_BZLt2nPbvwn3-oZTfYRubctCcHkmf02UiRqUq4NN1MEZVKDf8R8aFfkse49vSsoPW9X4fX4_Cve26wruD3RCQWSXWURqRp6P1ZSbuphXdWks76FIRfG7Js_ko-VytOxwqbRNk/s1600/IMG_20180702_121228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGEHKv_BZLt2nPbvwn3-oZTfYRubctCcHkmf02UiRqUq4NN1MEZVKDf8R8aFfkse49vSsoPW9X4fX4_Cve26wruD3RCQWSXWURqRp6P1ZSbuphXdWks76FIRfG7Js_ko-VytOxwqbRNk/s320/IMG_20180702_121228.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biking countryside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We were up early, Bright eyed and bushy tailed! Ready to for a short 15-mile ride around the German countryside. We had to get back in time for the checkout. Sumit had already chalked out a route the night before, so we knew where to go. We had our water bottles and energy bars ready in Sumit's backpack. Be wary of the drivers around as these are not popular bike routes so it can get scary and risky when you cross roads. I am so glad we biked around, it was a very different way to experience the countryside. Totally loved passing through fields with cottages, small towns and coffee shops.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once we got back to our hotel, something interesting was waiting for us. A parking ticket! We had unknowingly parked overnight in a parking spot without displaying an appropriate parking sign. So now we started looking for the municipal office to pay our fine. After some sign language and broken English, we figured where the office was, of course everything is close by, the towns are so small! We went to the office and paid our fine.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6XzlCNixvXNulPHmzaAzRvgdF0HR-UUVwDy_4z1MQy23jATOgzCXF_Skzs3LnHecnn4s-Cd1qyQSCdqjVH_6j9EQOjDKrMEBKdQFoSbI2KbOdEojxrg7H-PgZ6wJfSagZIFl3VTuNic/s1600/IMG_20180702_143904_702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6XzlCNixvXNulPHmzaAzRvgdF0HR-UUVwDy_4z1MQy23jATOgzCXF_Skzs3LnHecnn4s-Cd1qyQSCdqjVH_6j9EQOjDKrMEBKdQFoSbI2KbOdEojxrg7H-PgZ6wJfSagZIFl3VTuNic/s320/IMG_20180702_143904_702.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Experiencing the German countryside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnm8FkYeITozCG-ysxCJ0yf9t_9T6ET80-wwp_irleQrWFFetz6OTRKjjU9W9SZLpUGMndJDWzDF6V8Bml-qI9ONimw43eE599v_UOBHwOrY635Eq2KNrew4j1cdW9n50VOLGa1b0duM/s1600/PANO_20180702_180522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnm8FkYeITozCG-ysxCJ0yf9t_9T6ET80-wwp_irleQrWFFetz6OTRKjjU9W9SZLpUGMndJDWzDF6V8Bml-qI9ONimw43eE599v_UOBHwOrY635Eq2KNrew4j1cdW9n50VOLGa1b0duM/s320/PANO_20180702_180522.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Augusburg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After getting some bad Italian food for lunch, we headed out to Augusburg. We drove past Donauworth as we didn't have much time on our hands. Augusburg was a big city. We parked in a garage. Walked around the old town (Altstadt), saw the fountain and the old church. The golden hall had closed by the time we reached. We spent some time walking around the marketplace and shopping. There was an Indian restaurant in the vicinity, Sangam, so we decided to get dinner here. We got some food to-go and headed out to Fussen, where we were staying overnight.</div>
Drive to Fussen got prettier as you got closer to the Swiss border. As you get closer to the Swiss Alps, the scenery just keeps getting better. We reached a pretty little cottage in the Schwangau area and were all set to go see the Sleeping Beauty castle the next day.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Day 5: </i></b>Fussen -> Konstanz -> Zurich</h3>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeNJiFDQH37rvnEU6e2IRHmJQmQRApCGVHjjlwUzTAUYlNh-LMicVOkOSayfZHtjHxMdb7Z8ELsRnhDFWiTlH1O5u7FuWITBrKCK2vNnRuaGnZ2MPOwngAf9Kwikg_icgfNFTU97jGqM/s1600/IMG_20180703_102048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeNJiFDQH37rvnEU6e2IRHmJQmQRApCGVHjjlwUzTAUYlNh-LMicVOkOSayfZHtjHxMdb7Z8ELsRnhDFWiTlH1O5u7FuWITBrKCK2vNnRuaGnZ2MPOwngAf9Kwikg_icgfNFTU97jGqM/s320/IMG_20180703_102048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carriage ride up to the Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So glad that we had made the reservations earlier for the <a href="https://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/" target="_blank">Neuschwanstein castle</a>. This place gets super crowded. We drove up to the visitor area and parked. Walked upto the ticket window to collect our physical tickets, but it was a long wait. Then to get on the horse carriage was another long queue and wait. Glad that we started the day early. Once at the castle, you are called in groups and have to stick to your group tour. From inside this is like any other castle. Lavish and bautiful. The real beauty of the castle is its location I believe. There is a short hike to the bride close to the castle where you get beautiful panoramic views of the castle. That is a MUST DO. This is where we got all our great pictures and lovely views. We spent good enough time around this area and then hiked all the way downhill to the visitor entrance.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7t2OuQ3gVAv_w4zfRToBqfFFWNEfllesjCPueuLBBdlftSGU0A5qdw0JVkclb3d4fsWO3fWlDoXIfAdj2H329YnhYp9bnyqQHIBb6amKkZWKK1NBOkeg4-zaM0hI3m48USCWGtTnsWQ/s1600/IMG_20180703_104403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7t2OuQ3gVAv_w4zfRToBqfFFWNEfllesjCPueuLBBdlftSGU0A5qdw0JVkclb3d4fsWO3fWlDoXIfAdj2H329YnhYp9bnyqQHIBb6amKkZWKK1NBOkeg4-zaM0hI3m48USCWGtTnsWQ/s320/IMG_20180703_104403.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Next up was the drive to Konstanz where we had to return our car and take the train to Zurich. The views just kept getting prettier as we drove.After we returned our car in Konstanz, getting to the train station was a but of a struggle. Public transport wasn't as frequent and we had to walk quite a bit to get to a bus stop. Nevertheless we made it and reached Zurich pretty late in the night.Voila! That was a lovely German road trip.</div>
<div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Pointers:</h4>
<div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Payments are accepted mostly in cash. Very few restaurants and shops accept credit cards</li>
<li>There are very pretty boutique hotels that you might want to stay at instead of hotels. So prefer AirBnBs.</li>
<li>German countryside, atleast the area we were in aren't as scenic. But as you get closer to the Swiss Alps, the scenery keeps getting better.</li>
<li>The towns are quite but very similar. Pick the towns you want to spend your time at. Pick a few citadels, castles you want to go see. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comGermany51.165691 10.45152600000005840.944362 -10.202770999999942 61.387020000000007 31.105823000000058tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-18173204271660445442018-06-20T21:08:00.000-07:002019-05-23T21:10:57.120-07:00Luxembourg City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjlKXMxpNa-EWhsaR87md9504_XWtqUZ1XclidlJA-2IG0bZruoiW-Mkv4aL2h1oWQKStKtoU9eKdlYHTZHUmxhm-gTUJfOIHHb29sSfwxnWkSFsOpQZThSGlr56cqchoNsvfO-c3QEg/s1600/PANO_20180629_100237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjlKXMxpNa-EWhsaR87md9504_XWtqUZ1XclidlJA-2IG0bZruoiW-Mkv4aL2h1oWQKStKtoU9eKdlYHTZHUmxhm-gTUJfOIHHb29sSfwxnWkSFsOpQZThSGlr56cqchoNsvfO-c3QEg/s640/PANO_20180629_100237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For our summer trip to Europe, the cheapest flights were in and out of Paris. So, we decided to plan for our trip accordingly. The first destination we chose was Luxembourg. This tiny little land locked country in tucked in between France, Belgium and Germany. Since we were planning to go visit Germany this time, this was a perfect choice for a few days.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKFcJkVEyKwGSGVBE0ECfspmSQEeItrjDOxmdb0UXmyjbFVxlLN6A5dg4t_3Yp5w4wGNI46nOqb_XFruJC7gBFpprTCv9uKGprVFaUaXGG6xCe9mDxVLv3FH-6z-wzR81Zxh5TnVdh9A/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1353" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKFcJkVEyKwGSGVBE0ECfspmSQEeItrjDOxmdb0UXmyjbFVxlLN6A5dg4t_3Yp5w4wGNI46nOqb_XFruJC7gBFpprTCv9uKGprVFaUaXGG6xCe9mDxVLv3FH-6z-wzR81Zxh5TnVdh9A/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Places to visit in Luxembourg</td></tr>
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However, since our flights were delayed (not a surprise- flights Gods haven't been happy with us for a while now!), we got to spent much less time than we had anticipated.<br />
<br />
Here is the itinerary we had initially planned for:<br />
Day 0: Arrive In Paris -> Train to Luxembourg city<br />
Day 1: Day in Luxembourg city<br />
Day 2: Drive to Echternach and Vianden -> Train to Tier<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What really happened:</h4>
We arrived in Paris a day late. And hence had to reschedule the train to Luxembourg city. We had to cut short our trip and skip Echternach and Vianden from our itinerary to get to Trier on time. I will write about roaming around Luxembourg city and some pointers for Echternach and Vianden from our plans.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Getting in/out:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c6eLjSEzhiD1bOpvtzudHDz9c6icHPEIIpdEjzJnEYmwrZR5AaSt3vQZw59BATwL51vcUMxMkGn74gHhft4bCQRieRdm6x6KYYE-N5xUg_0BKCgu_TTPl4jSlMaO8Dv0AxoXoM9M96Y/s1600/PANO_20180628_224442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c6eLjSEzhiD1bOpvtzudHDz9c6icHPEIIpdEjzJnEYmwrZR5AaSt3vQZw59BATwL51vcUMxMkGn74gHhft4bCQRieRdm6x6KYYE-N5xUg_0BKCgu_TTPl4jSlMaO8Dv0AxoXoM9M96Y/s320/PANO_20180628_224442.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxembourg City station</td></tr>
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Luxembourg City is very well connected by rail, like most of Europe. There are frequent direct trains from Paris to Luxembourg city and also from various other cities in Germany and Belgium. Its a short 2 hour train ride on TGV from Paris.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Getting around:</h4>
the city itself s very well connected with public transport. The buses are frequent and convenient. We took the bus to get form the train station to our AirBnB and also to get around the city for lunch and dinner. Pretty convenient and the Google maps are always there to guide you through public transport.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 0 in the city</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACuHyn1jvzIGvH90KYIPhe5UfOngh9dqkb2wzvhUfEa6JAd8R54Leg_sczP2xNOszp00i-mkBtB00fqG0WyADkxnCQvViXznS7Xkd8-4max5aQGyJtnHPdZsr3Xvew1oWlG5wwPgKBKI/s1600/IMG_20180629_091338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACuHyn1jvzIGvH90KYIPhe5UfOngh9dqkb2wzvhUfEa6JAd8R54Leg_sczP2xNOszp00i-mkBtB00fqG0WyADkxnCQvViXznS7Xkd8-4max5aQGyJtnHPdZsr3Xvew1oWlG5wwPgKBKI/s320/IMG_20180629_091338.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running aound to explore the city</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
We reached late at night, around 8 pm and wanted to grab dinner before heading out to our accommodation. We found an Indian restaurant close by, and not knowing the fate of our future dinner cuisines, we decided to grab a bite. I think it was Taj Mahal restaurant and food was a-okay. The city was very lively even at 9 pm in the night. There was quite a bit of hussle bussle and we felt safe walking alone. After dinner, we took a bus to our AirBnB which was located a little away from the city centre. The hosts were lovely and we had a room to ourselves on the top floor. Their pet dog was especially adorable. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
A day in the Luxermbourg City</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTwb78Ld4_LWlroILij3mWws7B-ljaF3UQLonsCf91Un5gwsZNZBHPkyDSKnazd2_Lgf6xf_iOCxM3_h5rkWSqlQNcWYq9s9ZqhWpB29-PxWf5rsSPPb8oAPkbFRskv2YkuBqIe1eWKc/s1600/IMG_20180629_095323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTwb78Ld4_LWlroILij3mWws7B-ljaF3UQLonsCf91Un5gwsZNZBHPkyDSKnazd2_Lgf6xf_iOCxM3_h5rkWSqlQNcWYq9s9ZqhWpB29-PxWf5rsSPPb8oAPkbFRskv2YkuBqIe1eWKc/s320/IMG_20180629_095323.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame Cathedral</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
We had until late afternoon in the city as we were supposed to get to Trier in time to rent our car for our Germany trip (my next blog!). So, we decided to go for a run and explore the city. Luxembourg isn't flat. It has varied elevation and levels, and following the google map directions can be tricky, which we discovered only once we stepped out for a jog. </div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JR57QXGWgaa6p7brQXbpvMNMIs6vLAkycKc9lifg6qOU0cf47zxFWKeJF2Atd0ddNSNQHBZq-JBWRL8bWgZbNotlObSANQrClovgHC6HFHgI29-NVCMLy2cRdGqy1vNWedULm6WU5PE/s1600/IMG_20180629_095843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JR57QXGWgaa6p7brQXbpvMNMIs6vLAkycKc9lifg6qOU0cf47zxFWKeJF2Atd0ddNSNQHBZq-JBWRL8bWgZbNotlObSANQrClovgHC6HFHgI29-NVCMLy2cRdGqy1vNWedULm6WU5PE/s320/IMG_20180629_095843.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palais Grand Ducal</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
We started off with navigating to the Notre Dame Cathedral first. On our way though, we stopped for a cuppa joe and a croissant at a local coffee shop, which I can't remember. They had good strawberry yogurt too. Ahh! And most importantly, they told us, that instead of taking the zig zag uphill route, we could take the elevator upto the plaza level. Who needs a hilly run on a vacation anyway! ;)</div>
Once at the plaza level, everything was right there. The cathedral of Notre Dame, Palais Grand Ducal, Casemates and the souvenir shops. Walk down Chemine de la Corniche to The Grund. A few other touristy spots to stop by if you are interested and have time. This level gives you good views of the city and is the centre for touristy and old-town stuff. Our rough <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/3oRXHpF14iP2" target="_blank">walking route</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIL-YZNGxsl8X7-JqY0huW5aRFgw0qOJAJzlK-eqIKIC6iaIjJo61kvHkOVwHFZbZVm2vJGz5Gkq2_e1lM_x4tgK3PhF1zYshXaRik5LBaWLkLgKOsx1rcAKS_qag7QD2qdgoKXmhmps/s1600/PANO_20180629_150351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIL-YZNGxsl8X7-JqY0huW5aRFgw0qOJAJzlK-eqIKIC6iaIjJo61kvHkOVwHFZbZVm2vJGz5Gkq2_e1lM_x4tgK3PhF1zYshXaRik5LBaWLkLgKOsx1rcAKS_qag7QD2qdgoKXmhmps/s320/PANO_20180629_150351.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Plaza - Domfreihof</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Coming back was easier as it was mostly downhill. You could also take the local bus if you want to get around via public transport. But the most exciting thing was yet to happen. Sumit decided to jog back and I waited for the bus. He reached home before I did and when I reached, I rang the doorbell. He was of course in the shower and only heard my doorbell after, umm, unbearable fifteen minutes or so. And in his quest to open the door asap, he accidentally opened the door without realizing that our host's pet dog was let out running on the street. They weren't at home and it was us running behind the dog in middle of Luxembourg. He was getting farther and farther away, while some good Samaritan got hold of him and picked him up to return him to the huffing and puffing folks running behind him, i.e. us. </div>
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Whew! We now packed and took the bus to get to the train station for our bus to Trier. Would have been nice to go visit the other cities of Echternach and Vianden, that we had initially planned, but oh well, next time!<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What we didn't do:</h4>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Echternach</b>: Town on your way to Trier in Germany. A small town with old abbey, basilica, an old town area and a lake to boast of. </li>
<li><b>Vianden</b>: Boasts of a famous castle and Victor Hugo museum.</li>
<li><b>Beaufort</b>: A small little town on your way from Vianden to Echternach. Boasts of cobbled streets and very famous chateau.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Tips:</h4>
One of the <a href="https://www.earthtrekkers.com/one-perfect-day-in-luxembourg-city-itinerary/" target="_blank">day trip</a> itineraries that I liked.<br />
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comLuxembourg City, Luxembourg49.611621000000007 6.131934600000022349.44698600000001 5.8092111000000219 49.776256000000004 6.4546581000000227tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-62967315510470309302017-12-28T21:38:00.000-08:002019-01-25T21:40:40.176-08:00Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Luxor)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvRGA9Ry3xtalGBsdpqyr1GjKrR_Knc9429n2o9iXo8Fr88d0MHJK9ipws0ImHlw5nTsFutz1VKY7LsHsBl5WL5_Sz1p8duH8U4LqKktUDX375ZpUaAy4sDxRFUneF_3cn9RqlY_uBsc/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="1600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvRGA9Ry3xtalGBsdpqyr1GjKrR_Knc9429n2o9iXo8Fr88d0MHJK9ipws0ImHlw5nTsFutz1VKY7LsHsBl5WL5_Sz1p8duH8U4LqKktUDX375ZpUaAy4sDxRFUneF_3cn9RqlY_uBsc/s640/Untitled2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Egypt had been our bucket-list destination forever. We had initially planned our trip in 2013 June end, but the protests broke out and we had to cancel our trip and extend our Turkey stay that time. But it all turned out to be good. We spent an extra week in beautiful Turkey and this time we had a pre planned itinerary and we were going with our family! Here is our trip summary:<br />
Day 0 - Arrive in Cairo<br />
Day 1 - Day trip to Alexandria<br />
Day 2 - Fly to Aswan - Drive to Abu Simbel and back to Aswan<br />
Day 3 - Sightseeing in Aswan - Drive to Luxor<br />
Day 4 - Day tour in Luxor<br />
Day 5 - Fly to Cairo - Sightseeing in Cairo<br />
Day 6 - Fly out<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
When to go</h4>
Our first trip in 2013 was planned for June and thank God, it got cancelled. Even in December the south is super hot and dry, so I can only imagine what the weather would be like in June. The temperatures in Cairo and Alexandria were mild, but Aswan and Luxor were super hot. So, do keep weather in mine when planning<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Food</h4>
Traveling with vegetarian parents was concerning. Cairo had a few choices for vegetarian food, with Indian restaurants readily available. But, Aswan and Abu Simbel offered none. We had to make do with scavenging the buffet of our hotels for vegetarian food. But Abu Simbel was a nightmare for our parents who couldn't stand the smell of meat being cooked in a regular African restaurant. So stock up on snacks when traveling south. Luxor had an Indian restaurant but it was mostly always booked for the large tour groups and hence we had to work around their times. So yes, food is a bit of concern especially if you are keen on Indian vegetarian food. Also, if you are stepping out early for the day, most of the hotels provide packed breakfast boxes.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Trip logistics</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGJkEPUAkRpbm0y8-8AqNrpVdPdhWjeFo4a4TA8V-t3HfOw_MDISRz_8rpPmxz5ehZDTuqPsPQ1R3iG45P0ODeWx4TWLpoRU4KBuwQ-Uhlgs-jYojr3zkzSYbUaJXMuOnKs8Od0Oi4uc/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1157" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGJkEPUAkRpbm0y8-8AqNrpVdPdhWjeFo4a4TA8V-t3HfOw_MDISRz_8rpPmxz5ehZDTuqPsPQ1R3iG45P0ODeWx4TWLpoRU4KBuwQ-Uhlgs-jYojr3zkzSYbUaJXMuOnKs8Od0Oi4uc/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cities we visited</td></tr>
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There is a lot to see in Egypt and it offers plenty of history. But its not possible to plan for things without a tour company. You can absolutely plan according to your preferences and comfort, but you can't do the trip as a DIY. Hence, pick the list of things you want to see and do and pick a travel agency that can weave it all into one itinerary. For us the hotels offered were 4 and 5 star rated and they were all excellent. None of the hotels we stayed at were disappointing. At this point, I must mention the our tour planners: <a href="https://www.memphistours.com/" target="_blank">Memphis Tours</a>. Very responsive, prompt and had very good transportation and guides for us, given we had 8 adults and 1 child in our entourage.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Getting around</h4>
We flew in and out of Egypt from Cairo. Alexandria is a three hour drive from Cairo. For Abu Simbel, either you fly directly to the airport in Abu Simbel, or you can fly to Aswan and then take a three hour drive to Abu Simbel. Luxor is a three hour drive from Aswan and also has an airport to fly in and out of. Plan as you see fit. Some folks take an overnight cruise along from Aswan to Luxor as well. We chose to fly or take the road between various cities. Its a developing country so there aren't many rest stops along the way, road aren't that great and scenery isn't too exciting as well. So, if the cost doesn't hurt, flying may be the best option.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Cairo</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGmVQi-BIAQdDujfThwPMa_VcKX6mBwVnScPGGrAhqq_VNCvAwPZNZDIkS0WKsfpmm48kRvtOIqMCX2sEWIESfseLa8GzwDwyKcm2opbHKnQal7V1FjcZDAp-NcAz5jLU4vk_csnvSMU/s1600/IMG_20171231_110120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGmVQi-BIAQdDujfThwPMa_VcKX6mBwVnScPGGrAhqq_VNCvAwPZNZDIkS0WKsfpmm48kRvtOIqMCX2sEWIESfseLa8GzwDwyKcm2opbHKnQal7V1FjcZDAp-NcAz5jLU4vk_csnvSMU/s320/IMG_20171231_110120.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite from the trip</td></tr>
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<b>The Pyramids</b>! Yes, the pyramids. Our first stop in the city was The Pyramids. There are three pyramids of different sizes and they are huge! Yes, they live up to your expectations. There is a special ticket and you can go inside the biggest pyramid and see the tomb. There is a narrow opening and a narrow passage to get to the tomb and come out. Of course we were doing that! Only that once we got in, and were half way through, the passage was so narrow that I suddenly started feeling claustrophobic, with my legs shivering and I was sweating profusely. Without a second thought, I turned around and came out. It was a strange feeling I had never experienced before but I think I am more considerate of people who say they feel claustrophobic. Its not pleasant. But the rest of the gang completed the trip and came out pretty happy about their accomplishment.<br />
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For the pyramids, the more important thing is to know where to take the pictures from. The guides know it the best. I had clearly stated I wanted pictures jumping over the pyramids and kissing the Sphinx. He made sure that we went to all these spots. There is also a camel ride around the pyramids, but its best to ask your guide to negotiate a price in case you are interested. Have heard enough instances of being cheated upon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8_s7HgFB6Df9RfNRUo1DViFkTWEpFsrrciSmP9u0rTn8tTlc3SC70aNXtUvSOIUGbW8NWqSFAoyUyvFFNlj2VKuHqg0jgVu3ctdkq3OIylEAeoyRPzShR6prDfvWjO3SK4KUZjxzkFk/s1600/IMG_2997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8_s7HgFB6Df9RfNRUo1DViFkTWEpFsrrciSmP9u0rTn8tTlc3SC70aNXtUvSOIUGbW8NWqSFAoyUyvFFNlj2VKuHqg0jgVu3ctdkq3OIylEAeoyRPzShR6prDfvWjO3SK4KUZjxzkFk/s320/IMG_2997.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the pyramid</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6VDzRYJR5h2t8lgjlHAI_ldUqasDzoN4ugKXt3CZVcyE4yUZDVXmMB5YnkozZ6upuvjbTq29Sls2S5U3s9BlRVsXxfhTxlfxRYKGt8NczC5NRWq3QpCs0Pn9tf6esyRU_3nHbhcqGW0/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20171230195622241_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6VDzRYJR5h2t8lgjlHAI_ldUqasDzoN4ugKXt3CZVcyE4yUZDVXmMB5YnkozZ6upuvjbTq29Sls2S5U3s9BlRVsXxfhTxlfxRYKGt8NczC5NRWq3QpCs0Pn9tf6esyRU_3nHbhcqGW0/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20171230195622241_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khan- El - Khalili</td></tr>
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So after our awe-inspiring Pyramid and Sphinx darshan, we were headed to the the <b>Egyptian Museum</b>. It was undergoing renovation then, but I hear it is now ready and is well renovated. The guide gave us our own headsets so that he could communicate with us. This museum is loaded with historical significance, but our parents were super tired walking around in this museum. So, not a good idea if you aren't up for setting your fitbit on fire. For me, personally, the highlight was Tutankhamun mask and his chamber. Just pure gold, loads and loads of it. There is a mummies chamber too and there are plenty of them and the bodies are so well preserved that was scary I felt.<br />
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From the museum, our next stop was the <b>Coptic Church</b>. Cairo has a thriving Christian population also. And there was news of some shooting at a nearby church the previous week. But, funny enough, the guide compared it to the school shootings in the US and told us they were safe as we were still sending kids to school in America. I really had no answer to that. The church wasn't that great architecturally, but had more significance in terms of history and having a church in middle of a Muslim dominated city.<br />
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Next and final stop was the <b>Khan El Khalili</b> bazaar. I was looking to get a pendant in the hieroglyphs, but we were short on time, and the suggestions that the guide made were a little too expensive than I had imagined. So, I changed my mind. Family was very interested in buying some Egyptian cotton sheets and all, but this is where we felt being with a guide wasn't useful as they took us to the shops they knew and they were pretty expensive, I imagine they had a commission in the sales. So, we didn't buy those either.<br />
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This is the rendezvous city for Egypt. Cairo airport is well connected to Africa, Middle East and Europe. The tour agents are allowed to come into the airport before your immigration check and help you out through the immigration as well. Not that there is any help needed, its pretty straightforward like anywhere else. We stayed at two hotels in Cairo, one at our arrival and other for our departure. <b>Fairmont Nile Hotel</b> was luxurious hotel and we absolutely loved it. Second, we stayed at <b>Fairmont Hotel Heliopolis</b> as it was close to the airport and made our trip to the airport shorter.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Alexandria</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zmyMJgxpXgAN1obFub7I2pkxMhhS2n9iAFB3qyk8mpz7RKCEDkNZJBmo98WMKNDuZRfSO6O5NT7xs8sHVxw7LrwP-0pYnNkiJzFxmcNzAIu2oMJocrLAhnXmKNErtvnWbbROI_41fJI/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20171227140423488_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zmyMJgxpXgAN1obFub7I2pkxMhhS2n9iAFB3qyk8mpz7RKCEDkNZJBmo98WMKNDuZRfSO6O5NT7xs8sHVxw7LrwP-0pYnNkiJzFxmcNzAIu2oMJocrLAhnXmKNErtvnWbbROI_41fJI/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20171227140423488_COVER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qaitbay Fort</td></tr>
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A barely three hour drive from Cairo, it is a crowded old-town on the Mediterranean coast. Navigating through the town in a mini-bus reminded me of crowded streets of Delhi. Densely populated and not much order to the chaos. Our first stop was catacombs. I was quite excited as the first time I went to <b>Catacombs</b>, was in Peru and it left me in awe of the whole concept. Bit the catacombs here are quite underwhelming. First, they are in middle of a housing locality and there is just a tiny staircase leading to the underground catacombs. The facade isn't exciting, on going downstairs, you see the tiny, humid rooms with hieroglyphs and painting on the wall and you are reminded, you are in Egypt. The mecca of historians.<br />
Next up, was the <b>Qaitbay Fort</b>. Perfectly located fortress at the Mediterranean shores. It gives you really pleasant views of the city. I loved taking pictures here. Next we went to <b>Alexandria library</b> and it had such a unique architecture. I here the new tech buildings in bay area are based on that architecture. The sunshine comes in through the roof at every floor. I thought this was definitely worth the visit.<br />
That completed our Alexandria visit and we were on our way back to Cairo from here. We stopped at some Indian restaurant for dinner. Glad we found something that was tolerable for our parents tastes and we went home fully fed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLLTyFe18qG07jSV-xpGWH8KMNt5fEpFoxxpXdd4eoFC1gZvesOm4aCFNRD20WjGAIzWKEqMSggrA-9I6DjF-4oP2vejFgDC-v8izGUzukj2Cj8WexkPUJSpqkUPnrn6K3lv2xeOT-P8/s1600/PANO_20171227_141654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="1600" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLLTyFe18qG07jSV-xpGWH8KMNt5fEpFoxxpXdd4eoFC1gZvesOm4aCFNRD20WjGAIzWKEqMSggrA-9I6DjF-4oP2vejFgDC-v8izGUzukj2Cj8WexkPUJSpqkUPnrn6K3lv2xeOT-P8/s640/PANO_20171227_141654.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qaitbay Fort</td></tr>
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<h3>
Abu Simbel</h3>
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After pyramids, the next thing on my list was Abu Simbel. Its three hours one way from Aswan, but absolutely worth it. A very old temple, located at the bank of the river and just next to Sudan border. Its not just the history of Ramses II that makes this place highly significant, but how construction of the dam made relocation of Abu Simbel and international project. A marvellous engineering and archaeological feat. More so, the public access to Abu Simbel just started recently, as earlier due to threats from Sudanese terrorists, you had to be accompanied by security convoy in order to visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzrq8yV8qBphlMg3A4_g8GSGupqPMC626HLhVbZ8r6i3DUbv0cyVO13SlN16rc_B6nVQCzDjF6eg6Hy4wpDuIX4ZgFdBtx8phsTAaVXHLkyJD8BF4QjQq9A57eMYgzHnREZqF9ojAgRI/s1600/MVIMG_20171228_142123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzrq8yV8qBphlMg3A4_g8GSGupqPMC626HLhVbZ8r6i3DUbv0cyVO13SlN16rc_B6nVQCzDjF6eg6Hy4wpDuIX4ZgFdBtx8phsTAaVXHLkyJD8BF4QjQq9A57eMYgzHnREZqF9ojAgRI/s320/MVIMG_20171228_142123.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abu Simbel</td></tr>
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<b>Abu Simbel</b> does not disappoint. Its freaking awesome. The whole architecture, the history, the location, its simply mind blowing. I am so glad we made the trip all the way here. I won't write too much about the history of this place as you need a guide for that, plus I don't remember much of it anyway!<br />
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The drive from Abu Simbel to Aswan offers vast landscape full of dunes. I was so happy to see those that I requested the driver to stop around sunset so I could take some SRK pose pictures. But, there are no places for food. A couple of local restaurants didn't have vegetarian options and we barely got by with soup and rice. My mother in law refused to even taste it and didn't enter the restaurant because of the smell. So, be mindful to pack up your food bag when making this day trip.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Aswan</h3>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
By the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> time we reached Aswan by night, we were dead tired and wanted to catch a break. So, we decided to start a little later the next day. The hotel we stayed in was by the bank of river Nile, <span style="color: #222222;"><b>Movenpick Aswan resort</b>. Luxurious hotel, with excellent amenities. had to take a short boat ride to get to the hotel as there was no direct road to the hotel. So cool!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReg88B_sb9ghAfe-cdlDFSfES6XwUKAficvj5h9qM1ZsDRBgjUBMvDJhD7bmB3Eqn9T-yS118nUS_etOSB-ycmIna8hg6kMTmXSJDZK0buLgtyddhTZ91d9wjpJNCKui0d5PKnhMxGM8/s1600/20171229_104347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReg88B_sb9ghAfe-cdlDFSfES6XwUKAficvj5h9qM1ZsDRBgjUBMvDJhD7bmB3Eqn9T-yS118nUS_etOSB-ycmIna8hg6kMTmXSJDZK0buLgtyddhTZ91d9wjpJNCKui0d5PKnhMxGM8/s400/20171229_104347.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of Philae</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">After a late start to our day, with our bellies full of buffet breakfast, we headed to the <b>unfinished Obelisk</b>. Initially uninterested, I quite liked it. And after that have been paying more attention to other obelisks in the world and where they are located. I didn't know that most them were quarried as a single stone and were stolen from Egypt during multiple wars and raids. It was a bit of a hike to get to this unfinished obelisk, so we left our parents at the market on the streets and made a quick trip with the guide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Next was the <b>Aswan dam</b>, nothing too exciting about it in my opinion. Just like any other dam. The funding and the construction of the dam was a big deal at that time. And I was just happy to know that there are quite a few crocodiles out there in Lake Nasser </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0zZl08ycl5L1bTA8M4SgZyxUuQuMBXuQkTlMxg-6gOOxswZUwwlj0O8QY3EbkdasN9MDuw-RjxDxUNQ6ZT4HfFNUZWgGvB63P6n4_FMEbB4sUt0doCwQH3KSZaOx8gEpciNyVHtrFvM/s1600/PANO_20171229_111413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0zZl08ycl5L1bTA8M4SgZyxUuQuMBXuQkTlMxg-6gOOxswZUwwlj0O8QY3EbkdasN9MDuw-RjxDxUNQ6ZT4HfFNUZWgGvB63P6n4_FMEbB4sUt0doCwQH3KSZaOx8gEpciNyVHtrFvM/s320/PANO_20171229_111413.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of Philae</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Our final and most enjoyable stop in Aswan was the <b>Temple of Philae on the Isis island</b>. You can get here by boat. You walk through a local market of handicrafts and souvenirs. Good place to shop, but must haggle. Also not that once you engage any seller, they won't let you be. After a quick boat ride, we reached the Isis island. Beautiful, old Egyptian architecture with many many wall paintings and carvings with colors preserved till date. This place was crowded and why not. It was beautiful and that history lesson from our guide made it even more valuable. Excellent place to take pictures too! </span></span></div>
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<h3>
Luxor</h3>
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<span style="color: #222222;">I loved our hotel in Luxor too. <b>Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor</b> was where we stayed and Luxor is the most touristy places of Abu Simbel and Aswan. It has more shops and is a bigger township. We were staying here for two nights.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0bLPOXrPCqiZFWhp_977YCPfEv6ea3I9ZNRM0zSYoM-ynqmjvA8nfMQ9kUNKsdtXOHHF6pRTkz_ecSvMn8qCKdRT7VOYJTR6EUNcSmLahyyU4E4A5e9zmRWFb492JaSMfxzsjZPPQSA/s1600/20171230_110934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0bLPOXrPCqiZFWhp_977YCPfEv6ea3I9ZNRM0zSYoM-ynqmjvA8nfMQ9kUNKsdtXOHHF6pRTkz_ecSvMn8qCKdRT7VOYJTR6EUNcSmLahyyU4E4A5e9zmRWFb492JaSMfxzsjZPPQSA/s320/20171230_110934.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley of Kings</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Since we reached early, we decided to venture out, which turned out to be quite an experience! We decided to take horse carriage rides from our hotel to the local souvenir market. A well known tourist stop, now I don't remember what the exact name was, but ask your hotel people and they'll know. So, we fixed a price and got on their carriages, Two of them, of course, with 8 adults and a kid. They took us straight to some souvenir hop where they probably had a commission on sales. It was pricey, didn't have much stuff and not where we asked to go to in the first place. Hence, we got really pissed and asked the carriage guy to take us back. Now on our way back, they tell us the price was one-way price for the carriage ride. It was a nightmare to just sit tight as it wasn't your country, not the language you spoke, so just sit quietly and go to the hotel. Once back, we got off and asked the security folks of the hotel to deal with them. Apparently it is a well known scam run by these folks and if in any case you need to go somewhere, either by a carriage ride or by a taxi, ask your hotel staff to help you out. They will get reliable people.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvAtNOudEGbnZGzrMTLtiqw3rzzTKHTrV-_bWBLbcLs28DCHGrqhIYgstnBH6cG7wCGzYxLNJ-E71gWt61l8mWiYTpEVvhfYdq8HvhKbeIVu4zkBpqocenmCzT5rvd-eDk1tNxBpODE4/s1600/PANO_20171230_122109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvAtNOudEGbnZGzrMTLtiqw3rzzTKHTrV-_bWBLbcLs28DCHGrqhIYgstnBH6cG7wCGzYxLNJ-E71gWt61l8mWiYTpEVvhfYdq8HvhKbeIVu4zkBpqocenmCzT5rvd-eDk1tNxBpODE4/s640/PANO_20171230_122109.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of Hatsheput</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExTVoP66NytEHWjzzul5TEI22YtAYJUiGO1hUuLT7BGZ0LGgO1N9AMA3K85tRNIMuXhBnltKU_eiBSOEI8SvCCeNd_JabIbUZC7hVwKGTchyphenhyphenP-UbnBGGNabWrZxBebdHNgPVBHetYB8o/s1600/20171230_071955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExTVoP66NytEHWjzzul5TEI22YtAYJUiGO1hUuLT7BGZ0LGgO1N9AMA3K85tRNIMuXhBnltKU_eiBSOEI8SvCCeNd_JabIbUZC7hVwKGTchyphenhyphenP-UbnBGGNabWrZxBebdHNgPVBHetYB8o/s320/20171230_071955.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot air balloon ride over the valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;">Okay so now for the good stuff. Luxor has hot-air balloon rides and Sumit and I skipped it, but we sent our parents for the balloon ride. We decided to sleep in for extra two hours and join them later. If you haven't done it before, you should do it at least once! Our first stop was <b>Valley of Kings</b>, this is the burial spot for Egyptian Kings. There are many tombs that are open and colors on the walls are still bright and painting clear. So, definitely go inside a tomb or two. King Tutankhamen's tombs has his mummy. All the other stuff from his tomb is in the Egyptian museum in Cairo though. It truly is the valley of kings. But it gets hot and dry hair, so take that and always carry a bottle of water.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyNwM5ZKbQz-HwGNLSxWMcM806FdSzBtx6zdtr_QV7Jg3CZr-jO5-Mg36Qy69LzO44NbAiGx88ah2_y-8gRlEX5_1I7b7NJctBSLP041zfdJygh1mSUhN_i4AyqN5lKdSUhQeRrBQ4Io/s1600/MVIMG_20171230_154650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyNwM5ZKbQz-HwGNLSxWMcM806FdSzBtx6zdtr_QV7Jg3CZr-jO5-Mg36Qy69LzO44NbAiGx88ah2_y-8gRlEX5_1I7b7NJctBSLP041zfdJygh1mSUhN_i4AyqN5lKdSUhQeRrBQ4Io/s320/MVIMG_20171230_154650.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karnak Temple</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Next up was <b>Temple of Hatsheput</b>, which has this grand facade and makes you think how did they manage to build such architecture back in those days. Behind the facade things aren't restored as well, but it is worth the trip. After this, we went to <b>Colossi of Menmon</b>. Final stop for the day were <b>Luxor and Karnak temples</b>. </span><span style="color: #222222;">Overpowering pillars and structures throughout this small sight. Lovely place to take pictures and soak in some Egyptian History.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">As the sun sets, the lights come out and light the pillars and the architecture in a very elegant manner making these historic masterpieces look even more magnanimous. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Luxor by far had the most beautiful architecture and history to offer in Egypt. There was also a cute little marketplace to shop. We went here on the second day, after the carriage-ride adventure on the first evening. Best place to shop for some souvenirs. They have these painting on a piece of paper that they roll up and give it to you for you to frame on your own. Best souvenir you can take back, I think. There was also an India restaurant around to cater to the huge Indian tourist groups. The owner was a very sweet guy, who on request made space for u sin his tiny little restaurant during his off-peak hours.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5J1vjKFhLw5zj0-umtTjYjZA0YoZ4IFO1rB4k0IAfInpAKmyyvUCnWpVn6WH_mZskwGtf8-YN1qTmg19iVVxaiJ65oon2iDZyp8zakfdrGDq0_kqhyphenhyphenLWgX1j3KTo5YQN3rMkVLCBOhms/s1600/MVIMG_20171230_172841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5J1vjKFhLw5zj0-umtTjYjZA0YoZ4IFO1rB4k0IAfInpAKmyyvUCnWpVn6WH_mZskwGtf8-YN1qTmg19iVVxaiJ65oon2iDZyp8zakfdrGDq0_kqhyphenhyphenLWgX1j3KTo5YQN3rMkVLCBOhms/s320/MVIMG_20171230_172841.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxor Temple</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What else to do in Egypt</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkcU2sg3CnLHi03AeY_2gcHl6MDbIX5TYRqMQwcLsi0wL4O38hhxCcFzGUSltDgLjFPEUNCfPBAAQmdGW8k-p_3AEN_-BQqg61pEfQgW5dFmb0M6Bfezbd6qPtPfRqt3eCeUkIN8SwoA/s1600/MVIMG_20171228_220536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkcU2sg3CnLHi03AeY_2gcHl6MDbIX5TYRqMQwcLsi0wL4O38hhxCcFzGUSltDgLjFPEUNCfPBAAQmdGW8k-p_3AEN_-BQqg61pEfQgW5dFmb0M6Bfezbd6qPtPfRqt3eCeUkIN8SwoA/s320/MVIMG_20171228_220536.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of river Nile and the city on the banks</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li> <b><i>Cruise on Nile:</i></b> This is super popular. Given Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxor are all located on the banks of Nile, staying on a cruise make sure your travel time is covered overnight. Also, the view from Nile of lighted up cities across the banks must make for a pleasant view.</li>
<li><b><i> Sharm-el Shaikh</i></b>: A popular resirt area north of Egypt. We weren't interested much due to the unrest near Suez area. Also, diving here is a popular activity</li>
<li><b><i>Light and sound show:</i></b> Both cairo pyramids and Luxor temples have evening light and sound shows. We skipped those, but something you might want to consider.</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comEgypt26.820553 30.80249800000001412.435578 10.148201000000014 41.205528 51.456795000000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-5659280334760023402017-12-20T18:59:00.000-08:002018-12-10T19:01:26.822-08:00UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dubai had been on our list as a transit stop for quite sometime. And having a direct Emirates flight from bay area definitely helps to pick this as your next stop over. So when we decided to vacation with our families, Dubai was an obvious choice and for making the trip worth our while, we added Egypt to the mix as well. But our first stop over was Dubai for four days. More on Egypt later, lets focus on Dubai for now. Our brief itinerary:<br />
Day 0: Arrive<br />
Day 1: Dubai sightseeing<br />
Day 2: Dubai sightseeing<br />
Day 3: Day trip to Abu Dhabi + Evening cruise in Dubai<br />
Day 4: Day at the beach + fly out<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
When to go?</h4>
Definitely not summer! We went during our Christmas holidays and the weather was pleasant. If the winters are so pleasant, I can only imagine how brutal summers would be. So, definitely keep weather in mind when you plan your travel to Dubai. Other driving factor is your trip to India or someplace and considering Dubai as a stop over. 2-3 days are good enough for short stop over and Emirates offers great deals on air tickets.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Where to stay?</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Walk- JBR</td></tr>
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Lots of choices in terms of neighborhoods, affordability and accessibility. Being with Family, we opted for apartment rentals and we were lucky to find a luxury 4-bed/5-bath condo near Jumeirah beach. It was in <a href="https://www.jaresortshotels.com/en/dubai/ja-oasis-beach-tower" target="_blank">JA Oasis Beach Tower</a> and I couldn't be happier with the location, amenities and the overall experience.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What to do?</h4>
There is a lot to do in Dubai. The country has worked extraordinarily to make this a tourist destination of choice. Here is what we did along with what else is there to do in this country.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 0</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunited with La Familia</td></tr>
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We arrived late in the evening. The airport is pretty big and it took us a while to get to the visa on arrival area. Do check the visa regulations for visa on arrival before you book your travel as they keep changing frequently. We met our extended family travelling from India at the visa counter and by the time we chatted and caught up, the visas were done and we were walking out to pick up our luggage. We ubered to our rented apartment and were pleasantly surprised at the size of the apartment and the views offered from its glass walls in the living room.<br />
Then we headed out for dinner and there were plenty of options in the area. That was such a relief, though we expected that as much. After dinner, we decided to take a stroll in the lively neighborhood. We were actually hunting for some good eggless cake options, but we could just manage regular cake as it was my father in law's birthday the following day. Then we had some cake were off to sleep.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 1</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bling!</td></tr>
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We were up bright and early, thanks to a bit of jet lag! Our first stop was <b>Gold Souk</b>. It is amazing to see such a huge market full of gold shops. The jewellery designs are pretty close to what we get in India, I guess to suit the south asian taste, which contributes to the majority of buyers. However, I am not sure if the whole debate about gold being cheaper is valid or not. Go figure! We didn't end up buying anything and after a few hours, it was time for lunch. So we headed out to lunch in Meena Bazar area. We picked <a href="https://www.zomato.com/dubai/atithi-meena-bazaar" target="_blank">Athithi</a> which had thalis and turned out to be an excellent choice.<br />
Our next stop for the day was <a href="https://thedubaimall.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Dubai Mall</b></a>, the most popular and the biggest mall in Dubai. They have a lot of options for entertainment. A rainforest cafe. A huge aquarium with walk through tunnel and innumerable shops. You name a brand and you have it. So, we went shopping here but got tired soon enough and grabbed a cup of coffee before heading out to <a href="http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Burj Khalifa</b></a> where we had our pre purchased tickets for getting to the top. A wise decision to buy them beforehand and save us some time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ecu_AGy3yLYpHAkQQvPiVjtew7NQMNPcoFeSCrT9HUo921pnCuzECHP0CyikwFEPJWlxq4yeynAQFTuAW6YmRYMiNbKBqdlG-3M7y_Qpj-Lf5zyKx5S9N_xpcSPmsDeZFGtt53A18zc/s1600/MVIMG_20171223_173614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ecu_AGy3yLYpHAkQQvPiVjtew7NQMNPcoFeSCrT9HUo921pnCuzECHP0CyikwFEPJWlxq4yeynAQFTuAW6YmRYMiNbKBqdlG-3M7y_Qpj-Lf5zyKx5S9N_xpcSPmsDeZFGtt53A18zc/s320/MVIMG_20171223_173614.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qutb Minar of Dubai?</td></tr>
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We got in the queue and it was pretty swift and quick moving. Once we got to the top, it was all cloudy below us. And the patches where it cleared up, it was sure to give you some vertigo. pretty damn high. I was afraid to think what would happen in case of an earthquake (a thought bound to occur if you have lived in California for over a decade!) After taking some pictures and spending some time at the top, we headed downstairs to the waterfront. Lovely fountains, that remind you of Bellagio. Weather was perfect as sun had gone down and there were just people all around you.<br />
Then I met an old roommate of mine from LA who now lives in Dubai. We walked around the <b>Dubai Souk</b>, which is just next to the mall, but and old architecture gives you that middle eastern feel. Perfect place to shop for souvenirs. Then we grabbed some dinner (plenty of options in the mall to suit your needs) and headed back home.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 2</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jumeirah Beach</td></tr>
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Today we planned to head out the beach next to Burj Al Arab. This gives you the best views of the building and the beach is just lovely. Warm waters and fine sand at Jumeirah public beach. Luckily usn wasn't too sharp and we spent some good time enjoying the water and taking pictures.<br />
Next, we headed to <a href="https://www.jumeirah.com/en/destinations/souk-madinat-jumeirah-destination/souk-madinat-jumeirah2/souk-madinat-jumeirah/" target="_blank"><b>Madinat Jumeriah Souk</b></a>, which is an old architecture styled mall. Not too huge, but has a variety of shops. They were gearing up for Christmas celebrations and I loved navigating this mall. It reminded me of old malls in India.<br />
For lunch we had delicious, sumptuous meal at <a href="http://ushnadubai.com/" target="_blank">Ushna</a>. I highly recommend this place. From here we headed out to <b>The Atlantis</b>, Palm Jumeirah. We wanted our niece to go visit the aquarium here. And we just strolled about in their shopping arcade. Then we walked along the Crescent road for lovely views of the sea and the hotel itself. This is the perfect place to take pictures. The light, the ambience is just perfect. Next up, we went to the <a href="https://www.dubaimiraclegarden.com/" target="_blank"><b>Miracle Gardens</b></a>. Its a fancy garden where plants and bushes are manicured in various shapes and sizes. Its pretty nice and good for a short visit. Our family loved it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33qmXrZFzV7wu6Oc85p64C43JYIKDk2RVwml9SGI9s8D-pq2eIKqdf8-8OQco3dAHbM7RvM65kKsmMDVRXwa1DFR183GKiOQRTtG2mEJvhQvC6ADehAmW7ZIDpEgHPTw1mfe-Tp6OOn8/s1600/MVIMG_20171224_124019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33qmXrZFzV7wu6Oc85p64C43JYIKDk2RVwml9SGI9s8D-pq2eIKqdf8-8OQco3dAHbM7RvM65kKsmMDVRXwa1DFR183GKiOQRTtG2mEJvhQvC6ADehAmW7ZIDpEgHPTw1mfe-Tp6OOn8/s320/MVIMG_20171224_124019.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madinat Jumeirah Souk</td></tr>
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After some rest, we all went from a stroll near our residence, in the <a href="https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/the-walk-at-jbr" target="_blank">promenade</a> near Jumeirah, known as The Walk, JBR. You can spend all your time doing nothing but walking around in Dubai. It has such lively areas that you can just be here and do nothing. For dinner, we went to a mediterranean place, Operation falafal. It was decent enough, but didn't suit the palates of our Indian parents!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miracle Gardens</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 3</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlLKvTsSMVdbJOOoKJIyI6m1MlRhpu7MZK3MDpE_2umd2c9-uCVzJE0pi8u-YmItIHfPkX1wU004FtJcxxfHEwGMCLTCFj9DJg7RodauLqFUHjc6r-o-xLp2IK21E92_H1han24y97IY/s1600/MVIMG_20171225_121314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlLKvTsSMVdbJOOoKJIyI6m1MlRhpu7MZK3MDpE_2umd2c9-uCVzJE0pi8u-YmItIHfPkX1wU004FtJcxxfHEwGMCLTCFj9DJg7RodauLqFUHjc6r-o-xLp2IK21E92_H1han24y97IY/s320/MVIMG_20171225_121314.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Mosque</td></tr>
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We had reserved a day long tour in a family vehicle to Abu Dhabi. Its a good 90 minute drive to the city. The city doesn't have much to offer, but the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Mosque_(Dubai)" target="_blank"><b>Grand Mosque</b></a> is a must see. It is so intricate, beautiful and peaceful that I was totally awestruck. You have to stick to their dress code and the tour guides provide you free robes to wear for this. We spent about an hour here. Just walking around and admiring the royal carpets, ceiling, chandeliers, took some time. This is a must do if you are in Dubai. Its worth your drive.<br />
There isn't much to do and explore in Abu Dhabi other than the mosque. But we made a customary stop at the palace and then at the <b>Ferrari World</b>. The entry to the circuit is paid, so we skipped that and just spent some time in their lobby outside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickWcSq1GSYm4oRFpzdMA906dfF7pVaHoalpURuxAYppqXtUYsqWEHVh4QFodFJDKnDt9D8jhMxppyBWsAIdL34f21HuWG9mQuUorVoWIIe-PU0dV3JzFn9f78xUN7n3t90rtENa6x0ks/s1600/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20171224164826789_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickWcSq1GSYm4oRFpzdMA906dfF7pVaHoalpURuxAYppqXtUYsqWEHVh4QFodFJDKnDt9D8jhMxppyBWsAIdL34f21HuWG9mQuUorVoWIIe-PU0dV3JzFn9f78xUN7n3t90rtENa6x0ks/s320/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20171224164826789_COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk along the Ocean, Palm Jumeirah</td></tr>
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Our tour guides took us to shop for dates in Abu Dhabi as that is what it is famous for. Our families went crazy shopping for dates, as expected. For lunch, we had stopped at <a href="http://www.venetianvillage.ae/punjab-grill/" target="_blank">Punjab Grill</a> restaurant. A bit pricey, but food was finger-licking good. Then we were headed back to Dubai as we had planned a cruise for the evening.<br />
We had to show up a designated pier for our cruise. A pretty standard cruise of the Marina, in a medium sized, two storey boat. They had an Indian buffet and dance performance for entertainment. The views from the boat are good as they navigate through the downtown. Food was good enough for us and we enjoyed our time here as a family.<br />
Later in the evening, I caught with my undergrad friend, Shashank and his lovely wife Anamika. It was so good to meet up with old friends here in Dubai.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 4</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dates market- Abu Dhabi</td></tr>
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Our final day in Dubai before heading out to Egypt in the afternoon. So, we went for a run in the Jumeirah promenade (The walk- JBR) in the morning and then went to the marina beach for a quick swim. The water was just perfect. I loved the beaches here in Dubai. Mom even made a Russian friend here at the beach. haha. Then we got back, packed our bags and headed out to the airport.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What else to do:</h4>
Dubai is a city created for tourists. There are plenty of options to pick from. You can visit their extravagant malls if you are one of those shopaholics, or if you like doing touristy stuff, they have quite a few parks to visit as well:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Dune Bashing</b>: This is rated as a must-do for everyone visiting Dubai. The reason we skipped it was that I get motion sick and since we were with our niece and she was just 2 years old, we couldn't have taken her along. </li>
<li><b>The Atlantis</b>: You could stay at this resort and enjoy their facilities with amazing views. Their water park is rather well rated.</li>
<li><b>Global Village</b>: This park has attractions from various countries and is like a mini world. It apparently takes almost a day to visit this and it gets very tiring, so we decided to skip it and it was anyway low on our priority list</li>
<li>They have a famous <b>ski park</b> inside one of the malls, if you are interested. We live in California and get plenty of snow in Tahoe so we weren't very eager.</li>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Other Pointers</h4>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Visa: We were eligible for visa on arrival. Looking up online for visa requirements is pretty straightforward and simple. Do that before you plan.</li>
<li>Uber vs Cab: We learnt pretty late that in UAE cabs are much cheaper compared to Uber. So, make that comparison before you take your pick.</li>
<li>If you are interested in specific attractions that need tickets, like Burj Khalifa, or even if you want to book a Marina cruise or dune bashing, make reservations before you go. If it is a peak touristy season, you may end up waiting for long or not getting reservations at all.</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comDubai - United Arab Emirates25.2048493 55.27078280000000624.2844238 53.9798893 26.1252748 56.561676300000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-27994721135689838792017-08-25T17:08:00.000-07:002018-01-16T20:28:41.967-08:00Singapore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Xynt4T9-a68Ijd6KhfSqiMPjnNODV2H96ab00LUxfACyP-r7f3Kyknql9-1xbMOad2KuiC_52HYgfHzYacbKl1sZlEei-LLFHRrQCfnuevtkkgnGRo3R5mJfQHx_ForpyAErdcjdDyw/s1600/PANO_20170825_172309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Xynt4T9-a68Ijd6KhfSqiMPjnNODV2H96ab00LUxfACyP-r7f3Kyknql9-1xbMOad2KuiC_52HYgfHzYacbKl1sZlEei-LLFHRrQCfnuevtkkgnGRo3R5mJfQHx_ForpyAErdcjdDyw/s640/PANO_20170825_172309.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This would be my second visit to Singapore, after exactly ten years. Singapore is a perfect home base for a south east Asia trip. Its modern and well connected to other popular tourist cities. We chose Singapore as our final destination in this trip as we got a great deal on the direct flight from Singapore to San Francisco. Here is our brief itinerary. Note that this was my second visit and we weren't interested in typically touristy things that Singapore has to offer for first time visitors. Scroll down to "What else to do" for those options.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 0 - Arrive</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 1 - City sightseeing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 2 - City sightseeing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 3 - Fly out</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When to go</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Singapore has perfect weather all year round. It is a multi cultural city and makes for a perfect stop over no matter what your destination is. Singapore does get some rain in the months of August- September, but they weren't too bad for us as we were visiting in August and weather for absolutely pleasant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to get around</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Metro train or bus is the best option. But we didn't buy a day pass as the number of trips we were making were not as many and it wouldn't have been economical. So we decided to pay per trip. Also, it may be easier to get single trip passes from the ticket counter than the vending machines.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 0</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We landed around 7 pm in the evening. And instead of taking Metro, we decided to Uber to our hotel. We were staying at <a href="https://www.rendezvoushotels.com/" target="_blank">Rendezvous Hotel</a> and getting an Uber was pretty convenient for the airport had designated Uber waiting and pick up areas. Once we checked into our hotel and settled in, we decided to head out for dinner. Singapore being a food lover's paradise had plenty of options. Yelp is a good place to search. We ended up at the Anglo Indian Cafe in Chijmes. <a href="http://chijmes.com.sg/" target="_blank">Chijmes</a> was a popular place with many cafes offering many different cuisines. You can simply come here for food hopping! Food was about average and we then headed back to the hotel. The walk wasn't too long and we ended up walking through a park which had some kind of exhibit or a festival going on. It was lovely and it was energizing to see such a young crowd everywhere. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 1</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab", "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our first stop today would be a brunch place recommended by our very dear friend, Roohi who had lived in Singapore for good 5 years. So, we headed out to </span><a href="https://www.marche-movenpick.sg/en/our-locations/313-somerset" style="font-family: "roboto slab", "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Marche</a><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab", "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The place was an absolute delight. It had different counters with different foods and you could get everything added to your tab and pay later. And food was excellent, plus you could taste plenty of things without having to order full portions of everything. I loved this concept. I wonder why we don't have something similar here in US yet! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIT67-3amO3h4cK5ZOVfeBGtiEdZdM2Oemxw6sOhhJzJDqeoL6ImkDd5Z2zz0mGs4B-FH1GhYNwot6fINx2iWPO2khh-V156ZULRUozHVYM9hDp6Bq3GivT_aPCIVJ0yjSCM5GNdYMkI/s1600/PANO_20170825_145834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIT67-3amO3h4cK5ZOVfeBGtiEdZdM2Oemxw6sOhhJzJDqeoL6ImkDd5Z2zz0mGs4B-FH1GhYNwot6fINx2iWPO2khh-V156ZULRUozHVYM9hDp6Bq3GivT_aPCIVJ0yjSCM5GNdYMkI/s400/PANO_20170825_145834.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marche @ Somerset</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens by the bay</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up next was the customary visit to the Merlion statue. We took a few touristy pictures and then headed to a nearby office, where another friend, Anu was working. After meeting her, we decided to walk down to Marina Bay sands. It was lovely to see how so many runners took to this area as the evening set it. Lovely walk to the Marina Bay Sands, but the malls here were too overwhelming. Nothing that I would buy from such high priced brands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, we navigated our way to the elevator to take up to the connecting bridge to walk down to the Garden by bay. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both Marina Bay sands and <a href="http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html" target="_blank">Gardens by the bay</a> have evening shows. So, we headed to Garden by the bay first.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIEyc-9shlAYvDR-RZT99_O_jughrb4qIcJsb22TM-Lbia_V9ABYLzhCt_94CtsH9dpXuW2C0s2Qc0KlU4sSGzXbsQzuSsoyysWIJ9xGh5rH0IK55Mo4KzbSHY6woFSJeRNoeezTltkY/s1600/IMG_20170825_204716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIEyc-9shlAYvDR-RZT99_O_jughrb4qIcJsb22TM-Lbia_V9ABYLzhCt_94CtsH9dpXuW2C0s2Qc0KlU4sSGzXbsQzuSsoyysWIJ9xGh5rH0IK55Mo4KzbSHY6woFSJeRNoeezTltkY/s320/IMG_20170825_204716.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marina Bay Sands</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was about 20 minutes of walk in all. But the views were very pretty from the connecting bridge. We took some pretty pictures. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But we didn't get tickets to the elevator or to the bridge in the Garden because we had missed the last entry time. But we waited for the show to begin. There was a cloud forest nearby which also had good reviews, but having seen quite a few rainforests in real and at California Academy of Sciences, this didn't interest us much.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The crowd swelled up for the show and people started looking for places to sit and watch. We too found ourselves a spot and waited for the show to begin. It was typical music and lights show which was interesting at first bu then became monotonous. so we headed back to the <a href="https://www.marinabaysands.com/" target="_blank">Marina Bay Sands</a> after a few minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here we found ourselves a spot to watch this show, which was a water, light and sound show. Similar to the other water and sound shows we had seen in the past. So, after spending some time here taking pictures, we headed out to some place for dinner. The mall also had a food court which had plenty of options btw. We had some snacks here but had some room for dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We headed to <a href="http://vatossg.com/" target="_blank">Vatos</a> which was a Korean-Mexican fusion, and it was excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant. After stuffing ourselves with good good food, we went back to our hotel and it was TV time!</span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 2</span></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Qw9mogHJQb68J_WKH8ZiIwS2nt8PnLE5IMa5p_oOYOdP8EQn5_lZE8bE_56WS2-_ND_pj2Ix4jBVThHQ-GeQPOyRfXXzczv5PCGixtXvO5-HedkojsY2rfFGd3kwNJ7k5IntVPSx420/s1600/IMG_20170826_153958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Qw9mogHJQb68J_WKH8ZiIwS2nt8PnLE5IMa5p_oOYOdP8EQn5_lZE8bE_56WS2-_ND_pj2Ix4jBVThHQ-GeQPOyRfXXzczv5PCGixtXvO5-HedkojsY2rfFGd3kwNJ7k5IntVPSx420/s320/IMG_20170826_153958.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinatown</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today we started with breakfast as Toby's as were meeting Anu here. I had mini pancakes and this place was good. Then, we headed to Chinatown for some souvenir shopping. Chinatown is just the same,no matter which county you are in. It was so hot, that we headed to our hotel for an afternoon break and decided to head out a little later in the evening. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First stop was Bugis Mall, but I didn't get too enticed to shop. So, we headed to Clark Quay. Right across the Quay was mall, which had a food court. So we headed right to the <a href="https://www.nomvnom.com/" target="_blank">NomVNom burger place</a>. Best vegetarian burgers outside India. Loved there veggie potato croquette burgers. Then we headed to the Orchard street was some strolling around and shopping. After a few hours, it was time to head back to our hotel.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_LXFVI-ty62AVKRigt0PrO1OZqqhOAzkUaYn_vi5IFXtoqG_NhHJ_qFDOgvgFKzyNEyHx1IlZoLyU3tD5M6otG5lKj5D0LdKE8PIQLTRrGni9giZwpD-mOnRQ0t5RCFNZ72_NcsA81I/s1600/PANO_20170826_193423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1600" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_LXFVI-ty62AVKRigt0PrO1OZqqhOAzkUaYn_vi5IFXtoqG_NhHJ_qFDOgvgFKzyNEyHx1IlZoLyU3tD5M6otG5lKj5D0LdKE8PIQLTRrGni9giZwpD-mOnRQ0t5RCFNZ72_NcsA81I/s400/PANO_20170826_193423.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clark Quay</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 3</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our flight was scheduled for early morning. So, we figured it was best to get an Uber at that time. At the airport itself, there was an excellent south Indian restaurant and I stuffed myself full with delicious dosa and sambhar before boarding the flight. </span></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What else to do</span></span></h3>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentosa Island is a full one day trip and a lot of fun with Dolphin show, museum and sound and light show to offer</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Night Safari here is very popular. It starts at night, so it can be easily clubbed with another activity during the day</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Singapore has its very own Universal Studios now. So, you don't have to head out to US for visiting one.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Singapore Zoo is also popular, if you are going with the kids, perhaps. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Jurong bird park is another popular pick with tourists</li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comSingapore1.352083 103.819836000000010.8441055 103.174389 1.8600605 104.46528300000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-47488241779827290172017-08-22T13:27:00.000-07:002018-01-16T20:28:03.905-08:00Cambodia (Siem Reap - Angkor Wat)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0By6-VCnrOUlpeRp02OhXkmDAbngIHAXNU2ffPUGvBCwYwg1ZeSx22SSpwODuaLfQ2YltaelFD6CTPc1AJVpB7IVS587NUTYl-KRqQxdOSz-QI17dD7xlzSdqT6mogL2_FaUjHs4chU/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1600" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0By6-VCnrOUlpeRp02OhXkmDAbngIHAXNU2ffPUGvBCwYwg1ZeSx22SSpwODuaLfQ2YltaelFD6CTPc1AJVpB7IVS587NUTYl-KRqQxdOSz-QI17dD7xlzSdqT6mogL2_FaUjHs4chU/s640/cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">I had wanted to see Angkor Wat, ever since I had seen Lara Croft - Tomb Raider sometime in 2003-04. The entire sequence that was shot at the Ta Phrom temple had left me mesmerized with this location and I just added it to my bucket list. Finally, I could visit this place some 15 odd years later. Even though the forecast was that of rains, I wanted to take our chances. Hence, we added a two day itinerary for Cambodia to our trip. Here it is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 1: Arrive -> Check in -> Buy tickets</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 2: Angkor Wat -> City sightseeing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 3: Depart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angkor Wat Pointers</span></h4>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Plan ahead. You have the option of 1-day, 3-day and 7-day passes. You have to buy your pass yourself, as your picture is on it.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Ticket office is a few miles outside the Angkor Wat complex. So, factor in time for that.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">You can buys the pass for next day beginning at 5 pm today. This gives you an extra evening entry into the complex a day before your pass is valid.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Carry cash, notes in good health. Else, you might be forced to use cards at the ATM.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Hire a cab to take you around inside the complex. Super convenient. You can hire a romrok too given the weather is pleasant.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Book a good hotel, the staff will help you for almost all your needs.</li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where to fly:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If the plan is to visit Angkor Wat, then Siem Reap airport is your best choice. It is a tiny upscale airport catering mostly to Angkor Wat tourists. It has plenty of connections from other South east Asian countries. However, if you plan to visit Phnom Penh and other cities, you can explore other airports.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, when I was exploring options to visit from Thailand, there were trains and buses too. The reviews weren't that great, especially for the immigration check as apparently they are time consuming if you enter via road. But I didn't explore much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 1:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We arrived around afternoon and our hotel had a airport pick up and airport drop included in our booking. We were flying via Kuala Lumpur again as we had our bookings via Air Asia. Immigration and baggage pick up were very quick and easy. We had gotten our e-visa online before we had left USA. We however, got some local currency at the money exchange counter. You can totally avoid it as US dollar is the defacto currency here. But, they are very particular about the quality of your notes.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGRrCInsy641HFxha4bU1aKIH3O8Egfm0TlBYI4VXTRwVhzJZC0xLSLZ35XNVOBS_rJsO7tQoBgdyw_Vh1WfweLMXutTtZ4llqMqFC2IxqAY68l9WydCwx5EHPaXpp0Vtit0qaHDEm3s/s1600/IMG_20170822_192308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGRrCInsy641HFxha4bU1aKIH3O8Egfm0TlBYI4VXTRwVhzJZC0xLSLZ35XNVOBS_rJsO7tQoBgdyw_Vh1WfweLMXutTtZ4llqMqFC2IxqAY68l9WydCwx5EHPaXpp0Vtit0qaHDEm3s/s320/IMG_20170822_192308.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Dakshin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji9bsNsTLK9jARRcZGvEVr5aC6qqdCRAmZBymnEbBa_uqcKLqMXwLqgkp7t-Eg9pyX6jCMETa0WFc8VX3D5ZcsilcIiOPU6DYUK287CWxRml_Ngqu8wLMgSaKm8XhkeuotExzXaJu8fU/s1600/IMG_20170823_064954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji9bsNsTLK9jARRcZGvEVr5aC6qqdCRAmZBymnEbBa_uqcKLqMXwLqgkp7t-Eg9pyX6jCMETa0WFc8VX3D5ZcsilcIiOPU6DYUK287CWxRml_Ngqu8wLMgSaKm8XhkeuotExzXaJu8fU/s320/IMG_20170823_064954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from top of Angkor Wat temples</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were greeted by hotel staff and taken to our hotel, <a href="http://privilegefloor.com/lotus/" target="_blank">The Privilege Floor, Lotus Blanc</a> which was just 15 minutes away. Our check-in took sometime as they explained us all the options to go to nearby markets, Angkor Wat, etc. To be honest, my information on Angkor Wat was much more updated than theirs. They didn't know much about the tickets and times of visit. Our plan was to go get the tickets for the next day, which starts selling at 5:00 pm or so and then go see sunset.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, we hired a romrok to take us to the ticket office, which is a little farther than Angkor Wat. Here, we had to wait for sometime for the ticket counter to open. Closer to the opening time, long queues started forming. So, we stood in the line and the ticket counter opened up. When we asked for our ticket, they refused to take credit card in spite of having big labels saying we accept visa and MasterCard. Then, we tried to scramble for cash. We found 20$ bills, but they refused to accept some of them saying they have a mild tear, they are folded, etc. Basically, they want you to use their ATM to withdraw cash and use that. We did have an argument with these folks about the mismanagement, but they were very non chalant and used to this everyday affair. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyhow, after we were done getting our tickets, we headed straight to Bekhong hill for a sunset view. But they allow only a fixed number of people to enter the complex. And we were pretty late. For a sunset at 5:30 pm, the queues start forming at 3:30! So, we were pretty late and didn't get in. We walked back and got back to our hotel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a brief rest, we decided to head out to the Siem Reap market for some dinner. There were a few Indian options and my spice buds were dying for some good desi food, so we headed to Dakshin and I ordered a south Indian thali and ate to my heart's content. Loved the food. Super authentic and super tasty. The area was lively, but we were tired and decided to go home and take rest for the early sunrise the next day.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUl08Du0OMbCe2Ajaz8pZWdeHBiTCtzcHS1HAp2bUx49YNI1xerOR2UOrBVBq4P7TsliE33Ph4pW5OWIcR2BCbkzS3xyofx-8GGpuo-xNPYV0HUrz0mum6ctNMJbx77_cGLNfrCLFm4o/s1600/PANO_20170823_074912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUl08Du0OMbCe2Ajaz8pZWdeHBiTCtzcHS1HAp2bUx49YNI1xerOR2UOrBVBq4P7TsliE33Ph4pW5OWIcR2BCbkzS3xyofx-8GGpuo-xNPYV0HUrz0mum6ctNMJbx77_cGLNfrCLFm4o/s400/PANO_20170823_074912.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayon Temple Complex</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 2:</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SHm2hQ9VNEVM7HI6X-wGg-XzE2qKbwKzMlRGVc8t5lsGf0tkkvZXqyEM0gYMWzsvTfNhjLrtQfDNt7ByQtYebT0vDGLaqPLvCBmE9rmSFcKQTermLMH_b6CJEOdnpQryLUAi_t_264Y/s1600/IMG_20170823_064739-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SHm2hQ9VNEVM7HI6X-wGg-XzE2qKbwKzMlRGVc8t5lsGf0tkkvZXqyEM0gYMWzsvTfNhjLrtQfDNt7ByQtYebT0vDGLaqPLvCBmE9rmSFcKQTermLMH_b6CJEOdnpQryLUAi_t_264Y/s320/IMG_20170823_064739-EFFECTS.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angkor Wat temple</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had asked our hotel staff to give us boxed breakfast so that we could go watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat temple. We had hired a cab for the day to save ourselves from scorching heat and long walks with in the complex. Best decision ever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We got up early and headed to the complex while it was still dark. All the crowd were heading in one direction, so we couldn't get lost. Get there early to grab your spot next to the pond where you see the reflection. There are two of these, one on either side of the temple. The one on the left (while you face the temple), is the better choice. And, you cannot go wrong with this picture. It is magnificent. But all the street vendors trying to sell you all the stuff kind of get on to your nerves. Plus, wear mosquito repellents. Plenty of tiny little ones here.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdUmWH6d6DMWfovni1fTzqWTJhjb2fvvu2JlfqfkHfNO2_9YdC_AIt0uah4Uoo6Si7p_Awi8i21xZ3XhFVLXT55AJv6cEfUgCc62MKILEsrKnAaXi7WtdsudOltkXI2bk_CnRdPFMZC8/s1600/IMG_20170823_075622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdUmWH6d6DMWfovni1fTzqWTJhjb2fvvu2JlfqfkHfNO2_9YdC_AIt0uah4Uoo6Si7p_Awi8i21xZ3XhFVLXT55AJv6cEfUgCc62MKILEsrKnAaXi7WtdsudOltkXI2bk_CnRdPFMZC8/s320/IMG_20170823_075622.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayon temple</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the sunrise, we headed inside the complex. I loved it. It was my first time going to a Hindu complex that was so ancient and old. I was absolutely in love with it. Then, as you walk further in, there is another queue to get into the central, tallest complex. Luckily, we were on time and got in that queue. It was a steep staircase to get to the temple. This temple is layered vertically. This was the highest courtyard inside the temple. Good views and really high. After a few minutes we came down. Stairs were so steep that I had to sit on every step and come down. Just couldn't climb down the steps normally. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGYuFLq9gKuqYZwgp2p3QWoF1u6NVf1EvYXAHfThHhYiiMTmW5g8fjE0TU7YPj9VvjEkg1n3CzHOnfzewNaA3ZlQt6xgWhrk6Riqtq-eRCQv0fQgc6r4VA1zqGjydm64tsbDicXL9ZMQ/s1600/IMG_20170823_073733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGYuFLq9gKuqYZwgp2p3QWoF1u6NVf1EvYXAHfThHhYiiMTmW5g8fjE0TU7YPj9VvjEkg1n3CzHOnfzewNaA3ZlQt6xgWhrk6Riqtq-eRCQv0fQgc6r4VA1zqGjydm64tsbDicXL9ZMQ/s320/IMG_20170823_073733.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leper King</td></tr>
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Once out, we were hassled by some vendors to have breakfast at their shop, but we managed to evade and get to our car. Here we had breakfast, breathed some cool air and headed to our next temple, Bayon temple (the face temple). Another beautiful complex and we got some awesome pictures here. We did not hire any guide, as we wanted to spend less time and thought we'd read the history and details once we get to our hotel. It was just too hot and humid to have any patience for guides.</div>
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Once we were done, we headed to Ta Phrom temple via Terrace of Elephants. It makes for a few good shots.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW6Xh4flEF7_Ilp_nyK0X0XggxUalbVU6HD_3pMNn81uWnSTQ4lTULkF8_8h5Ndein6luFLC5nR9tVDXkIuxqhjSEo6q0d34wKNK0UhzMPv-jpO7rpQYPupKopYJhjFxgUtxAc60Gp-8/s1600/IMG_20170823_081926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW6Xh4flEF7_Ilp_nyK0X0XggxUalbVU6HD_3pMNn81uWnSTQ4lTULkF8_8h5Ndein6luFLC5nR9tVDXkIuxqhjSEo6q0d34wKNK0UhzMPv-jpO7rpQYPupKopYJhjFxgUtxAc60Gp-8/s320/IMG_20170823_081926.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrace of Elephants</td></tr>
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I had wanted to visit Ta Phrom since so many years and finally here it was. This temple is currently under restoration in partnership with Archaeological Society with India. One of the guards here, was kind enough and led us through the temple and took pictures for us. He gave us a good "photo tour" here and Sumit and I were happy kids. We tipped him well after we were done. Half of this temple is in ruins and the other half is in roots, literally. Beautiful. Then we headed to N<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297390-d1200224-Reviews-New_Delhi_Indian_Restaurant-Siem_Reap_Siem_Reap_Province.html" target="_blank">ew Delhi restaurant</a> for lunch. Average food, but a decent Indian option. After this, we went to our hotel for some well deserved rest from the heat and humidity. Btw, while flipping channels I was happy to see some desi channels here, dubbed in their local language. Was hilarious.</div>
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After this break, we headed to Bekhong hill. We reached 3:30 pm and were able to get in. View was good, but just 30 minutes before the sunset, it started raining and we had to head back. So, in other words, we didn't see any sunset here. </div>
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Later in the evening, we headed to the marketplace. Strolled on some streets, Pub street looked really lively. I got henna done at one of the shops. Picked up some souvenirs. I had wanted to get the fish pedicure, but since I had an open wound on my ankle, due to the bike fall in Bali, I decided not to take a chance.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUiKDrqkdtBJScyG2xa7byuT5lF_6M3lkkqpibxALuTR0sL4VEjQR9KLPcZ_lIDwdArkBcGY0o0yicf1pxKMJAStI0qhiczeX78XetXO2NKzTbk7evkmq2uk5i5G9Bm8RHUzwAdy9XSQ/s1600/PANO_20170823_085753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUiKDrqkdtBJScyG2xa7byuT5lF_6M3lkkqpibxALuTR0sL4VEjQR9KLPcZ_lIDwdArkBcGY0o0yicf1pxKMJAStI0qhiczeX78XetXO2NKzTbk7evkmq2uk5i5G9Bm8RHUzwAdy9XSQ/s400/PANO_20170823_085753.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta Phrom Complex</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_y0odFSNg-58NFPP1CrLeRqClQVlOo8F53arhO7mqPKFa2iR8rSpj_JtSL8CTwXynaQCVfvN6z-g40Ujxg28GVY8KUCorPa7JD6UDQY1E06fDtFe1sCDsvrFANya-jJicVnNWNagKrc/s1600/IMG_20170823_210223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_y0odFSNg-58NFPP1CrLeRqClQVlOo8F53arhO7mqPKFa2iR8rSpj_JtSL8CTwXynaQCVfvN6z-g40Ujxg28GVY8KUCorPa7JD6UDQY1E06fDtFe1sCDsvrFANya-jJicVnNWNagKrc/s320/IMG_20170823_210223.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pub Street</td></tr>
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Day 3:</h4>
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We had our flight in the evening. So we slept till late and then spent time at the hotel They had a great pool and a private restaurant for breakfast. Then we packed and headed to the airport for our final destination of this trip. Luckily it was a direct flight. We spent some time in the airport lounges, thanks to our priority pass form Chase! Cambodia was brief and sweet. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Other pointer:</span></h4>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We didn't go to Tonle Sap Lake due to immensely horrid reviews online.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make sure to carry US currency. Everything is one dollar here. No one uses local currency</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You could visit other towns of Phnom Pheh and some beach towns, but we skipped.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make sure you plan keeping you flights in mind. Some airline fly only on certain days, so it can be tough to coordinate. Like, we had to shift our trip by a day to find a direct flight to Singapore.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Most of the people speak or understand English. But, bargain the hell out of everything. Most of the places, people are trying get the most money out of you.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comKrong Siem Reap, Cambodia13.3670968 103.8448134000000213.1198938 103.52208990000003 13.614299800000001 104.16753690000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-5247960179547973882017-08-15T12:49:00.000-07:002018-01-16T20:27:23.630-08:00Indonesia (Bali, Yogyakarta, Gili Air)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rSXFKKcnxoc8aDFJ5gBuC4EUjMNhyj5ppfK5MJDE8PUwWKO93SXlRBZyJPIcgSE8TShIt3qOvsBOvEFzXqegB6STNVpMrlFsH17yWBsIop8OKnS_9-aHyRk81a9LZN8AcHI_AABGvNg/s1600/IMG_20170814_181230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1600" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rSXFKKcnxoc8aDFJ5gBuC4EUjMNhyj5ppfK5MJDE8PUwWKO93SXlRBZyJPIcgSE8TShIt3qOvsBOvEFzXqegB6STNVpMrlFsH17yWBsIop8OKnS_9-aHyRk81a9LZN8AcHI_AABGvNg/s640/IMG_20170814_181230.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While picking countries for our trip this time, weather was the deciding factor. It looked like Indonesia was one of the few countries that doesn't have much rains during this time(August) of the year. So, Bali it was. Here is our itinerary for Bali. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 0: Fly in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1: Pool dive in Seminyak -> Sunset at Tanah Lot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 2: Day trip to Yogyakarta</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 3: USS Liberty shipwreck dive in Tulamben</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 4: Ferry to Gili Air</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 5: Free/dive day in Gili air </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 6: Ferry back to Bali -> Temple visits -> Ubud</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 7: Sightseeing in Ubud</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 8: Sightseeing in Ubud</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 9: Fly out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where to fly</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were flying in from China and most of the connections were via Kuala Lumpur. The Denpasar(DPS) airport in Bali is located south of the island. That's the only international airport catering to many international flight. Since the visa was on arrival, we hadn't applied for anything earlier. We had to stand in the queues, but they were very fast moving. It didn't take us long to clear immigration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When to go</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our travel dates were fixed, so we searched for non-rainy places in August in south east Asia and it turned out that Bali has good weather conditions in August. But definitely check for weather conditions before you plan. If it rains, it will not be fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where to stay in Bali</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was a big question. You got to choose from plenty of options like Seminyak (an upscale town with lots of traffic), Kuta (more posh than Seminyak), Ubud (a very touristy part of the island, with crazy traffic) and Nusa Dua (private beach resorts in south of the island). We decided to stay in Seminyak for a few days and then Ubud. We were also heading out to Yogyakarta and Gili islands in between. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 0</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our incoming flight from Kuala Lumpur was delayed by 4 hours. So we reached around midnight. Luckily, the hotel we were staying at provided airport pickup, so it worked out pretty well. Else, we figured that the taxis from airport don't charge you a fair amount. They charge exorbitantly over the metered price and there is no other mode of transportation into the city. Once we reached our hotel (<a href="https://www.ossotel.com/page/rooms/" target="_blank">Ossotel Legian Bali</a>), I was so happy to find out they had 24 hour room service and I ordered a bowl of soup as I was super hungry. The weather was just perfect and the rooms in the hotel were nice. There was door on the backside to lead you to the beach. But this day was over and we had something exciting to do the next day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had to head out to the Scuba Diving office for a pool dive before our scuba dive session. Luckily breakfast was included and the hotel had a pretty decent restaurant where we had breakfast and then headed out to the office of <a href="https://www.adventure-scuba-diving.com/" target="_blank">Adventure Scuba Diving</a> which wasn't very far away. The office and the pool are located in a very well built house/office building. Our instructor was very nice and very calm. He gave us all the instructions and we were ready for Scuba diving in the pool. Since the instructor was holding my hand all through the dives to the pool bottom, I felt very comfortable and felt that I will be ready for the real dive day after. Once we were done with the pool dives, Sumit and I started walking back to our hotel as there were no cabs nearby. Plus, walking was faster as the cabs were all stuck in a traffic jam. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA_g_JQJb8GXuoGtoxfeBxKOFqvDUXvlTcjWdWzW88_XwAii9UbQP3-FjlXetWG-aDyYRO_RooUmsA6S4dnERzGm6P6Hy_nyphyphenhyphen403vX7ykcsZLEUnrgNynPTb9NCbGJRNdPALhnjWlw/s1600/IMG_20170814_184759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA_g_JQJb8GXuoGtoxfeBxKOFqvDUXvlTcjWdWzW88_XwAii9UbQP3-FjlXetWG-aDyYRO_RooUmsA6S4dnERzGm6P6Hy_nyphyphenhyphen403vX7ykcsZLEUnrgNynPTb9NCbGJRNdPALhnjWlw/s320/IMG_20170814_184759.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly tattoo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While walking back to the hotel, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant, <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297694-d7709173-Reviews-My_Kopi_O-Denpasar_Bali.html" target="_blank">Kopi-O</a>. All through the island, cold coffee was just awesome. We also ordered some fried rice and some chips. Everything was good. Then we walked back to our hotel through the streets lined with shops and did some shopping too. Bargain hard. Don't be shy to quote as low at 20-30% of the asking price. On our walk back, we realized that for our evening trip to Tanah Lot, cab will be a bad idea, we should just rent a scooter. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily we had a scooter rental right across our hotel, but it was 2 day rental, we somehow convinced him for 2 days and got the deal. Also, the laundry service was right across the hotel and they charged per kg. Very cheap to get laundry done in Bali. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We snaked through the heavy traffic on our way to Tanah Lot. Directions on Google maps are very accurate. We made it just before sunset. But by the time we reached from the parking lot to the temple, we couldn't go in, as they close the entryway sharp at 5 or 6 pm I believe. So check before you go. But we got some beautiful shots. The weather was just too good. While walking back to our scooter, I decided to get a henna tattoo from one of the shops and then we headed straight to Seminyak Square. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Plenty of options here to drink, dine and party. We ate vegetarian burger at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g469404-d1574583-r251796541-Nirvana_Restaurant-Seminyak_Kuta_District_Bali.html" target="_blank">Nirvana</a> restaurant -burger bar. Then we headed to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g469404-d12557798-Reviews-Gelato_Shack-Seminyak_Kuta_District_Bali.html" target="_blank">Gelato shack</a> for some awesome gelato. One of the best gelatos I have had. After this we were headed to the scooter rental and our hotel as we had an early morning the next day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 2</span></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borobudur</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-yPIPE9hEz6h7QMFpR_0gSMpFG0EdpfMit5xPsnz5LnDoKFpY7n0YQnDKHgLIrEOaU_JEdFQdtmu33kqyxmpJ3wmZvwCb2QHxxM38KMeunxDZK1r0-EAVLOSK3rHPWNJ9C8HZqwHIBU/s1600/IMG_20170815_162643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-yPIPE9hEz6h7QMFpR_0gSMpFG0EdpfMit5xPsnz5LnDoKFpY7n0YQnDKHgLIrEOaU_JEdFQdtmu33kqyxmpJ3wmZvwCb2QHxxM38KMeunxDZK1r0-EAVLOSK3rHPWNJ9C8HZqwHIBU/s320/IMG_20170815_162643.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parambanan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had booked a 10 am flight to Yogyakarta. There is one hour time difference and its an hour long flight. So we reached around the same time. We had already booked a driver for our tour. We had booked him after looking at a lot of tripadvisor reviews. Here is the link to our </span><a href="http://jogjakartadriver.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Yogyakarta driver</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. We drove straight to Borobudur, where we got a guide with the ticket purchase. It lived up to its expectations. Then we headed straight to Parambanan. Here we didn't hire any guide, just the tickets. Spent an hour here and also took some clicks during sunset. I was thoroughly impressed by the scale of these temples. I have never been to Hindu temples outside India, so I found this quite fascinating. Both Borobudur and Parambanan are worth a visit I'd say. We grabbed our lunch and dinner at an Indian restaurant close to the airport, </span><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294230-d9859431-Reviews-Taj_Indian_Kitchen-Yogyakarta_Java.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Taj Indian Kitchen</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Traffic here wasn't as bad as Bali. Also, while driving and from the top level of Borobudur, you can see some of the active volcanoes. And of course, our return flight at 9 pm was delayed by an hour or so. So we reached around midnight again. This time since our hotel wasn't picking us up, we had to pay that extra surcharge to the taxi drivers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 3</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today was our big scuba diving day. We were picked up bright and early in a mini van from our hotel and we were headed to the north of the island, for Tulamben shipwreck dive. Our hotel gave us packed breakfast since we were leaving before the regular breakfast time. It took us about 3 hours to reach there. </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lE0phzdNaP0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lE0phzdNaP0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once we reached, our instructor gave us some more instructions and got our gear ready. We had 2 dives to go to. We were located at a restaurant by the beach. While our instructor got our gear ready, we changed into our swim wear and diving suits. And headed out to the beach. Here we dived about 10 meters. The fish were exquisite. We had no trouble equalizing and it was a whole different world. Diving was so much more comfortable than the pool dive. We took a few pictures, a video and spent about 30 minutes under water. But I couldn't let go off my instructor's hand. I was nervous being all by myself. The best thing our instructor had said was, "There is nothing that can go wrong, which I can't fix". After we got done with our first dive, we came back to the restaurant and our lunch was ready. We took about an hour long break and then walked to the shipwreck dive site. It was a few meter away and was super crowded being a popular dive spot. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RFDVc1lSOd-dMaWyVD6oyiNeY4tgUcgvtlkZafLqqmEKfZHIXqgBmokL-osg6IBsZLrAq1nfgtxntiTPj0iSnOBc6o7KtKQ-ME2fcrwoib26QdJ1rZMc6FEZ8M51Is9RTK4_2D9KaIo/s1600/IMG_20170816_142313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RFDVc1lSOd-dMaWyVD6oyiNeY4tgUcgvtlkZafLqqmEKfZHIXqgBmokL-osg6IBsZLrAq1nfgtxntiTPj0iSnOBc6o7KtKQ-ME2fcrwoib26QdJ1rZMc6FEZ8M51Is9RTK4_2D9KaIo/s320/IMG_20170816_142313.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Divers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We dived in, but I had trouble equalizing, so we went only till about 7 meters instead of 12 meters we could ave. But looking at the ship wreck was a new experience. I wish we could have gone a bit deeper to experience it more up close. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once done, we headed back to the hotel and it was another 3 hour long drive and we slept through it mostly. Once back, we freshened up and headed straight o <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g469404-d1476371-Reviews-Queen_s_Tandoor-Seminyak_Kuta_District_Bali.html" target="_blank">Queen's Tandoor</a> in Seminyak, an India restaurant. There was wait, so we strolled the streets and went to the shops nearby to kill time. Didn't buy anything in particular. Food here was decent enough, but costlier than other places we had been to. Once done, we thought we'll Uber. But the Uber cancelled on us, since there was a lot of traffic. This we realized later, was a norm. We somehow managed a taxi and got back to our hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 4</span></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manta Dive Gili Air resort</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we were leaving for Gili Air island. We had picked Gili Air as the reviews said it was more of a laid back place and that's what we were looking for. Gili Trawangan is a party island and Gili Meno is very laid back as well, but has fewer resources than Gili Air. So Gili Air it was. The way to get to the islands is either via ferry or by air. Make sure you book your ferries timely, because only a few providers have good ferry boats with good reviews and the frequency isn't as much as you'd like. We had booked Gili getaway one way and Blue Water Express for our return. Both had good services. Here is the link to <a href="https://www.gilibookings.com/bali-to-gili-fast-boat" target="_blank">book the ferries</a>. Make sure to book a "fast boat". And don't hesitate to look at other ports in Bali if your best option isn't available, as the transportation from your hotel is included. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we were picked up at the given time, bright and early from our Seminyak hotel and driven to the Serangan port. Everything was smooth, check-in, bag tags and then we had to wait. They were giving a sea-sickness tablet, which I took as I knew I get sea sick. I am glad I did as the waters were really choppy and I slept through most of my ride. Also, make sure to pick the side of the boat where you won't get any sun. It took us about 90 minutes to the get to the Gili Air port. Since there are no motorized vehicles on the island, you can hire a horse cart. But, remember, everyone is trying to rip you off for some money. We were asked for some horrendous amount for 0.5 mile distance. So, we decided to walk. Good call. There are no paved roads here, btw. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GtScvcQDnKHI-uTgqdhOQbk0nctK_K_02itg7QrYmHXLXkHdIe0Ijdfsa44I04C7e_gDLG2z4lvFI71KN2_-Ydm9HgpmLlCKihuTBvn4FTgbdw5UMNKjnfqYqr1ezRoLuOj082ergf0/s1600/IMG_20170818_124726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GtScvcQDnKHI-uTgqdhOQbk0nctK_K_02itg7QrYmHXLXkHdIe0Ijdfsa44I04C7e_gDLG2z4lvFI71KN2_-Ydm9HgpmLlCKihuTBvn4FTgbdw5UMNKjnfqYqr1ezRoLuOj082ergf0/s320/IMG_20170818_124726.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All meals by the beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our resort, </span><a href="https://manta-dive-giliair.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Manta Dive Gili</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Air was located by the beach, like all the resorts. There was check in cabin where we checked in and were walked to our cottage. There were a couple of pools and across the road was a restaurant by the beach and some hammocks. This was the perfect place for a vacation. Once we got a bit settled, we got some food from the restaurant by the beach. The weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too humid. Then we rented a couple of bikes to go around the island. It would take only an hour on the bike. But we were 20 minutes into the ride, and I tried to ride in sand and bang, I fell. I had a huge cut in my ankle and I wasn't a happy kid. So, we cut short and walked the bike back to our hotel. Rest of the evening was all about a grumpy kid who fell off the bike. But, I wish we had continued further. The bikes were rusty and old, so we didn't. So rent better bikes and complete the loop, at least view the sunset on the other side :)</span></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 5</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB1UsDEwAfgeDsJWKmqLD4s-knYApLYuVdCA5vGVNJXHW8zz5qSKWJqeDZYxmIzgaHO04p8Oy3yHD18xrNTFVCEdK6xpRKEulgztU-6Ndm6LbFgBYuFuiQneotuDtnflL6-Hu_PLqOe0/s1600/IMG_20170817_165414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB1UsDEwAfgeDsJWKmqLD4s-knYApLYuVdCA5vGVNJXHW8zz5qSKWJqeDZYxmIzgaHO04p8Oy3yHD18xrNTFVCEdK6xpRKEulgztU-6Ndm6LbFgBYuFuiQneotuDtnflL6-Hu_PLqOe0/s320/IMG_20170817_165414.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right way to vacay</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was what I call, "free vacation day". Sumit had plans to go diving, his briefing was happening in the same restaurant where I was killing time. So, I just sat close by and observed what was going on. Once he left, I knew he would be back only late afternoon. So, I decided to go get a massage. I looked up online and decided to go to <a href="http://www.h2oyogaandmeditation.com/" target="_blank">H2O Yoga and meditation centre</a> and I didn't like it much. Now mind you, I get sports massage done mostly, so unless the masseuse is working on the knots, I am not too impressed. But after the massage, I walked back to hotel and on my way stopped for a Crepe. Again, everything here is by the beach. Nothing happens inland! Then stopped by a few shops, but they were so much more expensive than the Bali island.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwse718g4kb_YTTWGzrDHdWyKYMZiNjiDQHDJLUTSh8ABOaFHNqVT1ylyL73B5z4tetYqSB3GRW2b6C2p4XY1Fo04YuznKiPX9Bx4415iMajq_NEx8XWcs7KqfmzT5MCci8pqsHqGo4K0/s1600/IMG_20170818_175648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwse718g4kb_YTTWGzrDHdWyKYMZiNjiDQHDJLUTSh8ABOaFHNqVT1ylyL73B5z4tetYqSB3GRW2b6C2p4XY1Fo04YuznKiPX9Bx4415iMajq_NEx8XWcs7KqfmzT5MCci8pqsHqGo4K0/s320/IMG_20170818_175648.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We snorkeled here a bit</td></tr>
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I spent rest of the day on the hammock, reading a travel guide, drinking cold coffees, eating and browsing facebook. Perfecto! </div>
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Once Sumit got back, we went to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g664667-d5521690-Reviews-Caballito_de_Mar-Gili_Air_Gili_Islands_Lombok_West_Nusa_Tenggara.html" target="_blank">Cabalito De Mar</a> for dinner. Really good location. Beautiful beach views, lovely weather and good food. I could just eat and eat. Then we got back and it was movie night. It was our last day on the island and next time I am going to stay here for a few more days.</div>
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Btw, Sumit had a great dive and saw many fish. He dived independently and was super excited to have done it all by himself, of course under the supervision of his dive master.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 6</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ditched plans to go for a run and see the other side of the island. I was on a vacation! Packed up, had breakfast and checked out. Glad I had booked this resort, <a href="https://manta-dive-giliair.com/" target="_blank">Manta Dive Gili Air</a>. Everything was smooth. Even before we had arrived, we had made a few calls to ask which fast boats would work best and about booking dives, etc. and the lady on the phone was super polite and super helpful. Except for a patchy wifi connection in our cottage, everything was just great. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVRxZLN4C6aMRdWp2h018j9-k84zPrlSMlXP2Ft1Y-d_z3Mlrza9BqqTUVF2-h9bHw6XDpJr5DEHRiYO55JtIZdrdvPXABke8yiD-UGbzLMQadgM91mXJxLR9D5csbXoN6YkJNn59oh0/s1600/IMG_20170819_173801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVRxZLN4C6aMRdWp2h018j9-k84zPrlSMlXP2Ft1Y-d_z3Mlrza9BqqTUVF2-h9bHw6XDpJr5DEHRiYO55JtIZdrdvPXABke8yiD-UGbzLMQadgM91mXJxLR9D5csbXoN6YkJNn59oh0/s320/IMG_20170819_173801.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pura Besakih with Mount Agung in the background</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, a horse cart was horrendously expensive, so we just walked. We had booked </span><a href="https://www.bluewater-express.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Blue Water Express</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and they were pretty good too. I took the sea sickness tablet and it got me through the choppy water ride for the next 90 minutes. We had booked our return to Padang Bai as we wanted to visit a couple of temples on this side of the island and it made sense to land here. We had booked our driver for the day and he was picking us up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were headed straight to Tirta Ganga first. I am glad we came to this side of the island. Beautiful lush green scenery. The temple wasn't too big. It had stepping stones in the water ponds. Lot of fish in the ponds. Was fun hopping on those stones. After a few pictures we were headed to Pura Besakih. It is the biggest temple on the island, with Mount Agung in the background. The tickets include a guide. But you need to buy some flowers, incense, etc. to actually enter the temple, else you can roam around in the complex. It was a very different architecture for temples. But then if you have seen one temple on the island, I guess you have seen them all. It was nice to see separate temples for Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Once we got done, drive to Ubud was another two hours. So we drove back to Ubud and there was just crazy traffic. Ubud is so much more crowded than Seminyak. Anyhow, we reached Ubud and checked in to our hotel, <a href="http://rasasayang.komaneka.com/" target="_blank">Komaneka Rasa Sayang</a>. Not the most high end hotel, but a luxury hotel as per my standards. Great location, great staff, a balcony and a spacious room with a cookie jar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once we settled in, we headed to </span><a href="https://ganeshaeksanskriti.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Ganesha</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for dinner. It was walking distance from our hotel and excellent food. Crispy chili potatoes were too goo. Highly recommended. We landed here for dinner the next two days as well. A very popular street and had everything you'd want. Then we asked our hotel staff to arrange a scooter for next two days the next morning and called it a day. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0C-6-Wm4auZr1RQe5r6waTno-lhMsC3p4m9cMeXkP9Eqa9zcZVSGpmCwxrbKs-9EEzlKXEwq9GF6tkAdwfyWs2Q0XgIPLgo0dJc15cjl033cXyDmjWOdoEI9yQgQ3il_3ueT9yvOy7c/s1600/PANO_20170819_143453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="1600" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0C-6-Wm4auZr1RQe5r6waTno-lhMsC3p4m9cMeXkP9Eqa9zcZVSGpmCwxrbKs-9EEzlKXEwq9GF6tkAdwfyWs2Q0XgIPLgo0dJc15cjl033cXyDmjWOdoEI9yQgQ3il_3ueT9yvOy7c/s400/PANO_20170819_143453.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tirta Ganga</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 7</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU18gUS8vF3iw8xw6w9P9pFlKKC3QV3d9og4nXeL8nM8cAg1WRcNo6AnNeRwqU5QBPNBxYpQipWtIQ4KclBFqTlTg9CtIsblhhlrGsv8Bekr6lQslh5EMPF4NeOu_XVzVNpELoSPw6iWs/s1600/IMG_20170820_161811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU18gUS8vF3iw8xw6w9P9pFlKKC3QV3d9og4nXeL8nM8cAg1WRcNo6AnNeRwqU5QBPNBxYpQipWtIQ4KclBFqTlTg9CtIsblhhlrGsv8Bekr6lQslh5EMPF4NeOu_XVzVNpELoSPw6iWs/s320/IMG_20170820_161811.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goa Gajah</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After a late morning, we picked our scooter from the hotel lobby and headed straight to a laundry shop across the hotel. Then we went to the monkey forest. Everything was neatly inside our bags. The monkeys were too aggressive and I felt scared. Plus, I have seen quite a few monkeys in India, so I was okay doing this quickly. There were a lot of tourists, but I possibly wouldn't have kept calm if a monkey would have tried to snatch something from me. So, we quickly went around and I just wanted to get out. We stepped out and I felt so relieved. Whew! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we headed to Queens in Ubud for lunch. Not that great food. Then, we drove to Goa Gajah. Paid entry tickets for this small cave temple. The cave entrance is pretty, but that's about it. Inside is a small dingy cave set up a temple and that's about it. A bit underwhelming I felt. Next, we drove to Tenguengen falls. Hiked all the 150-200 steps to the falls and back up. Too crowded, but I love waterfalls. Weather was good and the coconut water at the end of our hikes was the best. It was fun driving around the city on our scooter. We then headed straight to the Ganesha for dinner. Ordered chowmien and hara bhara kabab today. All good. Once we got back to our hotel, we looked up online for massage parlours and booked an appointment for the following day. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XbV0ft4pmVMrrlk3xOoUXOMoQI6G2Xv0TUkkAB0BtBUNcFC8i435cxR9tlXKgNQxtt_GB9k8U0v-0tYKL4oTjgMHIuLw8Do-t-5hGIjgqmdyaMF-i3hz8fOzX2O5q5KgCvyoVbKY1b4/s1600/IMG_20170820_124213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XbV0ft4pmVMrrlk3xOoUXOMoQI6G2Xv0TUkkAB0BtBUNcFC8i435cxR9tlXKgNQxtt_GB9k8U0v-0tYKL4oTjgMHIuLw8Do-t-5hGIjgqmdyaMF-i3hz8fOzX2O5q5KgCvyoVbKY1b4/s320/IMG_20170820_124213.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too many monkeys for my comfort</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 8</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we were headed to the rice terrace fields. It was hot and humid, so we ditched the hike around the fields. Just took a couple of pictures and spent time souvenir shopping around the area. Then, we drove back and went to </span><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297701-d1182606-Reviews-Bali_Buda-Ubud_Bali.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Buda bar</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for some snacks. Decent snacks. After this we spent some time at the pool hotel and headed for our massage at </span><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297701-d1595128-Reviews-Shambala_Spa-Ubud_Bali.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Shambalaya</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Great pick. Good experience. Then we headed for dinner, straight to Ganesha for a simple dinner of dal and rice. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2adIPlizXyb7QeASWe1RZjm5YDLMVB3w-7WNQ_FUPzpHqSmmrIWeV7h5J1CFwJ_KflqEY3pNEnLTzwh8JhTXBw8bvs1EKgplgxyAxT1nDn4nwN9dXRhzaITzY68lyjLbwojYLT8oZ38/s1600/PANO_20170821_132644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2adIPlizXyb7QeASWe1RZjm5YDLMVB3w-7WNQ_FUPzpHqSmmrIWeV7h5J1CFwJ_KflqEY3pNEnLTzwh8JhTXBw8bvs1EKgplgxyAxT1nDn4nwN9dXRhzaITzY68lyjLbwojYLT8oZ38/s400/PANO_20170821_132644.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice fields</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 9</span></h4>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our flight was early morning so we had booked a taxi to the hotel and we were ready to go. But Bali is one of the best vacation places to go to as everything is made convenient for tourists.</span></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
Where else could you go?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Komodo islands for Komodo dragons. But the reviews were so bad, that we dropped the idea</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Jakarta for urban Indonesia</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Lombok islands </li>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
Other pointers</h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PXntV_RJq1qp9Fi6zXXqP2gig7VWBXxPvNO1MLVa68Ug1tj9bhpbd33ccF4MBX4o-Xolz2xoO1b8E8Np-HxFZGc6F5bEBsBLMNz5Ewodk1G5WuuGpKj8aSaWfoTkxNdi_sn_zdFitxk/s1600/IMG_20170820_180755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PXntV_RJq1qp9Fi6zXXqP2gig7VWBXxPvNO1MLVa68Ug1tj9bhpbd33ccF4MBX4o-Xolz2xoO1b8E8Np-HxFZGc6F5bEBsBLMNz5Ewodk1G5WuuGpKj8aSaWfoTkxNdi_sn_zdFitxk/s320/IMG_20170820_180755.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renting a scooter is the best option</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Rent a scooter. Cab is a bad idea. Scooter will take half the time.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">If you are booking a cab for the day, make sure you do that before you land in Bali. Drivers here are very busy so you need an advance booking.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Food is good here and options are plenty. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">While shopping, bargain, bargain, bargain. Go down to 20-30% of the asking price.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Uber also works here, but during rush hours, drivers cancel their rides. Its a norm. So they aren't reliable.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">In case you are planning to book fast boats to any of the nearby islands, book them in advance too. There is a very high demand and only a limited options. We had to book our hotel reservations according to availability of the fast boats.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">If you are planning to get massages in one of the better places, book them a couple of days in advance as these are mostly booked too. </li>
</ul>
</div>
Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comBali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-9.4146568 113.89802250000007 -7.4043788 116.47980950000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-64228890044981713512017-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:002017-11-09T13:50:22.638-08:00Malaysia ( Kuala Lumpur - A day tour)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8bvjcII583aaS-l2T9-CsbAjmdacN-1ekHmP1YNQFCVDhTAGi5rSvWziB_VeMHCXD55zp0JX_ENroEagUMr68ArMn0Qhc2G2JV1y1MmSY0oTzjHuvuStYwzgsJVt5rG_Az4IR__0tXw/s1600/PANO_20170813_102012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8bvjcII583aaS-l2T9-CsbAjmdacN-1ekHmP1YNQFCVDhTAGi5rSvWziB_VeMHCXD55zp0JX_ENroEagUMr68ArMn0Qhc2G2JV1y1MmSY0oTzjHuvuStYwzgsJVt5rG_Az4IR__0tXw/s640/PANO_20170813_102012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Initially we had no plans of going to Malaysia, but we figured that since we were travelling with Air Asia, we got a free stop over in Kuala Lumpur. Having been to Malaysia about ten years ago, I knew we could tour Kuala Lumpur in a day and Sumit didn't want to miss a chance to visit KL. So, we booked our flights in such a manner that we arrive in the morning around 7 am and our return flight was around 6 pm.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Visa on arrival:</h3>
Sumit and I had applied for e-visa online. We had our printed copies of the visas and we just had to get the passport stamped. But the queues for immigration were so long and so slow that it really dampened our spirits. We were standing in those queues for a little over an hour to get our passports stamped, even after procuring the visa before arriving in the country. So be prepared for these slow moving long queues.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Getting around:</h3>
We used KLEkspress, which a fast train service from the airport to the city centre. It was quick, convenient and had a frequent service. It took about 45 minutes to get to the city centre from here.<br />
Other option is to Uber. We didn't realize at first, but Uber is very cheap here and cars are usually, neat and clean. So, we mostly ubered for rest of our day.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Our day:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGVgcqXVxgzOt91XKGrBCVztvu_9kozuQ_2MQmYGopbzx4OSuIeozAzDZtsqH7c0S3UOlF3BfSuwY1mpye1vARO1RW_FGCgOmtTwlQ4q7UhaQlwzDcWz2RrBEq4link48aC5RLRpVQ80/s1600/IMG_20170813_101810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGVgcqXVxgzOt91XKGrBCVztvu_9kozuQ_2MQmYGopbzx4OSuIeozAzDZtsqH7c0S3UOlF3BfSuwY1mpye1vARO1RW_FGCgOmtTwlQ4q7UhaQlwzDcWz2RrBEq4link48aC5RLRpVQ80/s320/IMG_20170813_101810.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the skydeck</td></tr>
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We got out of the airplane with our day packs. Got our visas stamped and took the fast train to the city centre. Here there was a tourist office where we consulted on what to do and how far it was. We had two things as top priority, KL tower and Petronas Towers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ByqMz1AvJW89p-8-3N7xbNyv5wTDLHmILF84vS_AnEqUnNnQt3crqFuECFWLPxMM3A38mFwPok5Fau3s4KgY7umXchrKC-a2pIJMjCoC1JE9_2DwlBw3nhFaNJbejICiI8SCk0KJuaw/s1600/IMG_20170813_111448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ByqMz1AvJW89p-8-3N7xbNyv5wTDLHmILF84vS_AnEqUnNnQt3crqFuECFWLPxMM3A38mFwPok5Fau3s4KgY7umXchrKC-a2pIJMjCoC1JE9_2DwlBw3nhFaNJbejICiI8SCk0KJuaw/s320/IMG_20170813_111448.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petting Zoo</td></tr>
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We first grabbed breakfast at Starbucks and then ubered to the KL Tower. The uber driver dropped us right in front of the entrance. Here we got our tickets, which gave us access to the observation deck plus one extra activity. There was a wide range of options to choose from and we chose the Mini Zoo. Since it was still early in the morning, around 10 am, we didn't run into any long queues to get into the elevator the observation deck. After getting some great 360 degree views of the city and taking some pictures on the glass floor (it took us about 20-30 minutes in all), we headed for lunch at the Indian restaurant located in the shopping complex at the base of the tower. Average food, but it was good to grab something as the next meal would be after a while. Now was the turn to visit the Mini Zoo which was a free add-on to our skydeck ticket.<br />
Surprisingly this mini zoo was quite fun. Parrots, iguanas, rabbits, python, tortoise, monkey, birds, this place had every animal I could think of. The moment I thought we were done, they led to another part of the zoo. I really enjoyed this place. It was so much fun! And a learning experience ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSX6Bel3rtW1PvhUK98pvTYF7SbhWgSNR3sZA1CYG1cb7MZaaKXZxYYbkADXTgkx7GkS4KH5MzInC1O8gKGZYHU44GQubpWTvW5M-pj6uv0N7x3rtn6tqMEVgxeW2Pilm8tec812mVTQ/s1600/IMG_20170813_105805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSX6Bel3rtW1PvhUK98pvTYF7SbhWgSNR3sZA1CYG1cb7MZaaKXZxYYbkADXTgkx7GkS4KH5MzInC1O8gKGZYHU44GQubpWTvW5M-pj6uv0N7x3rtn6tqMEVgxeW2Pilm8tec812mVTQ/s320/IMG_20170813_105805.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the mini zoo</td></tr>
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From here we ubered again to the Petronas Towers. We took some pictures at the base of the tower. I clearly remember that I came with my parents to KL about 10 years ago, it was not possible to fit the Petronas Towers in one frame with my digital camera and there was no concept of panoramas then. So, our guide took us to some far away park from where we could get a picture of tall, but tiny Petronas towers in a single frame. Thanks to the new phone cameras, we got some good clicks here.<br />
Next option was to either go to the botanical gardens, aquarium, etc within the city, or head out to see the Batu caves. I had been there earlier with my parents a decade ago and I clearly remember that it wasn't much impressive. So, I researched for reviews and figured it was a clear no-no. So, Sumit and I stepped into a nearby mall - KLCC Suria and spent our time at a coffee shop in this huge air conditioned mall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbPlCdsdXANR2btVVhEcgea4MnjCDdLWzHg5RbcqR9M0aDTkMQh-_ttpbep01j0PomqX7bYjkq7jdbgyrRM3ugHraqtdZnrcpaPNYMRPJLkIKWQJLg6sshJ7t3sod-5Nvvahd9OM8ZPg/s1600/IMG_2080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbPlCdsdXANR2btVVhEcgea4MnjCDdLWzHg5RbcqR9M0aDTkMQh-_ttpbep01j0PomqX7bYjkq7jdbgyrRM3ugHraqtdZnrcpaPNYMRPJLkIKWQJLg6sshJ7t3sod-5Nvvahd9OM8ZPg/s320/IMG_2080.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrona towers - 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9enW4irf6KFPGQN7Kz8y6rccsczsm60wCujog1CYK4tEtvRCB_-wQWZ-7jT9mVBaCZthyaclQkSreTdnfpb7E2UxNJOswVji2HYZADsTDm9YIy3vNorOiG9enggjAqC4h7YXm52hY-Q/s1600/IMG_20170813_122600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9enW4irf6KFPGQN7Kz8y6rccsczsm60wCujog1CYK4tEtvRCB_-wQWZ-7jT9mVBaCZthyaclQkSreTdnfpb7E2UxNJOswVji2HYZADsTDm9YIy3vNorOiG9enggjAqC4h7YXm52hY-Q/s320/IMG_20170813_122600.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrona towers - 2017</td></tr>
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Next up, we had to head back to the airport and we had bought our return ticket through KL Ekspress, so we ubered back to the city centre railway station and got on to the train to head back to the airport. Once we reached the airport, we realized, it was another long queue and long wait to get inside the airport. After about an hour, we got in and head to our gates. We still had about 2 hours before our flight, so we went to the airport lounge. Luckily, our credit cards give us free access to premier lounges, which came as a blessing in this trip where flights are regularly delayed. We relaxed in one of the lounges. Got some food, took a break and relaxed. Then, we headed to our gate through another set of checkins, which took longer than expected and made us anxious tat we will miss our flight, only to find out that the flight was delayed. And, of course the monitors were not updated. The flight was delayed by three hours, which was the same time as the flight duration itself!<br />
We were super hungry it was hard to find vegetarian options at the airport, but we luckily found Maggi cup-o-noodles. It was a long long wait before we got to board our plane.<br />
Once we boarded, there was more confusion. We were sitting on the last seat, row 31, and we figured, the boarding passes were issued up til row 32. So, the passengers with row 32, had to de-board and wait for the next flight to Bali. Whew! Thank God we were row 31!<br />
Nevermind, the flight took off and we were on our way to Bali. It was a short day trip to Kuala Lumpur, but well worth the stop over I think.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What we skipped:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyVyRci7tGKFAhP8fTW8uIUXi5T5g5wEEp9zq7HUiK0xPbfKS0qExtgJpzKGtxv38aS_NXeFlPfpD1LJknzyShIxF7EEB68YafCe8LVPKiZtigQ44T9aYRS50IvYXP9ksASz4XiqfRkI/s1600/IMG_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyVyRci7tGKFAhP8fTW8uIUXi5T5g5wEEp9zq7HUiK0xPbfKS0qExtgJpzKGtxv38aS_NXeFlPfpD1LJknzyShIxF7EEB68YafCe8LVPKiZtigQ44T9aYRS50IvYXP9ksASz4XiqfRkI/s320/IMG_2033.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batu Caves from our 2007 visit</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Batu Caves: Can be covered in a single day, but I didn't have that many fond memories and reviews changed our may-be to a no.</li>
<li>There are a few temples, mosques , Chinatown and famous flea market that you could go to during a day trip. But given that we had no enthu and it was super hot, we skipped it. Here is the <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/NvzvSTdyMTN2" target="_blank">walking map</a> I had created. </li>
<li>There is much more to do in Malaysia, for instance Langkawi, Genting Highlands. Having been to Genting Highlands in my last trip, I thought it was just a mini version of Las Vegas, so was not at all interested.</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comKuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3.139003 101.686854999999922.885326 101.36413149999993 3.3926800000000004 102.00957849999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-87630146939568518732017-08-07T00:55:00.000-07:002017-10-07T12:54:30.631-07:00China (Beijing, Xian, Shanghai)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For about two years, China had been on my list, just because I wanted to go see The Great Wall, the only wonder of the world left on my bucket list! But for some reason or the other, it didn't happen. So when it was time to plan for our next vacation, the decision was simple. We gotta go to China, and any other place would be a bonus. Here is our brief itinerary:<br />
Day 0: Arrive in Beijing<br />
Day 1: Tour of Great Wall of China -> half a day in Beijing<br />
Day 2: Forbidden City -> Train to Xian<br />
Day 3: Xian tour -> Terracotta warriors -> Fly to Shanghai<br />
Day 4: Suzhou day tour<br />
Day 5: Hangzhou day tour<br />
Day 6: Shanghai day tour -> Fly out around midnight<br />
This is a part of a much longer three week itinerary where we traveled to Indonesia, Cambodia and Singapore with a one day stop over at Kuala Lumpur<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What to expect:</h4>
Let us get the expectations right. There are plenty of similarities between India and China, both being overpopulated, modern developing countries. I felt in many ways, China was more developed than India. But here are some observations and pointers to keep in mind:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19esZrQRgW5j6nUvTrKind93ycwEscgciZfxqvKHbDLNseR2QoyJ1tMB4nLhPS1RXhu94Kufvo3cwwAnpki76m_Rro16h-tG7hAm1jc0Mg2hOlGLeV5Smjs31tZAkiOUXgevHCyLvQyg/s1600/IMG_20170811_075904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19esZrQRgW5j6nUvTrKind93ycwEscgciZfxqvKHbDLNseR2QoyJ1tMB4nLhPS1RXhu94Kufvo3cwwAnpki76m_Rro16h-tG7hAm1jc0Mg2hOlGLeV5Smjs31tZAkiOUXgevHCyLvQyg/s200/IMG_20170811_075904.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfortable high speed trains</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There is no concept of a queue. It is mostly a funnel. After a couple of days, I was in that mode as well, "hum jahan khare hote hain, line wahin se shuru hoti hai". And it took me a while to unwind from that mode after getting back. Glad I grew up in India and knew how to deal with it.</li>
<li>Hailing a cab is an art. But it isn't important that the person who hailed the cab, would be the one to get in. Person closest to where the cab stops, usually gets in. And the cabs can outrightly refuse to take you.</li>
<li>Traffic is crazy. But, no matter how crowded it is, honking was way less than what I hear in India, close to nil. I was super impressed.</li>
<li>Delayed flights are a norm. Be surprised if your flight is on time. And this is in general for east and south east Asia. No one will update the monitors or make announcements about the delay.</li>
<li>China is surprisingly clean, with no garbage on the roads.</li>
<li>People do not speak English. Use google translate even for address translations. And carry taxi cards for your cab drivers. they are life savers.</li>
<li>Always take cabs from taxi queues outside your train stations or airports. Some drivers might offer you out of line service and you may be enticed to skip the queue, but it is not legit and they will ask for twice or thrice the amount. And always go by meter.</li>
<li>People won't keep their phone on silent. There is no concept of personal space (remember we are in an overpopulated area), so in trains, buses, queues, no one leaves a gap. Just like home, India.</li>
<li>Carry cash. Credit cards are not widely accepted. People mostly use phones to pay using their Wechat app. And you cannot link your cards to this app, as you don't have Chinese bank accounts. So, this is really tedious for travelers. So always remember to carry cash.</li>
<li>I was able to use my cell phone through VPN and we had cell reception in most of the places.</li>
<li>China has their own version of an app for every app in the US. And mostly, its a better version. they have their own, Google (Baidu), Uber, Whatsapp, etc. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Most resourceful website was: <a href="https://www.travelchinaguide.com/" target="_blank">Travel China Guide</a></li>
</ul>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
When to go:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZQfWzqa2jz4ewsXavQwaiBq12U0qa2EL6onyC3UmwwUSk1-HkzFx8xiMy0udCplEy0ixKK-IjDxzgYX2U3JkLe2-RBkXf5mEcnh_baINTmXLGd_zrAByZElWbTUODRhiASFMovIxeN4/s1600/IMG_20170808_092748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZQfWzqa2jz4ewsXavQwaiBq12U0qa2EL6onyC3UmwwUSk1-HkzFx8xiMy0udCplEy0ixKK-IjDxzgYX2U3JkLe2-RBkXf5mEcnh_baINTmXLGd_zrAByZElWbTUODRhiASFMovIxeN4/s320/IMG_20170808_092748.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super crowded Forbidden City entrance</td></tr>
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We travelled in the hot and humid month of August. It was pretty much like Indian summers when we were feeling super hot and sweating the entire day. Good thing was we knew what to expect and planned our visit in such a way that we would be go out after breakfast and get back around noon and then step out in the evening again. Or we would travel in the air conditioned vehicles/public transportation.</div>
<div>
One thing to remember is that all touristy places are super crowded during summer break (June-July-August) and during Chinese New Year. August is comparatively less crowded for summer vacation travels, but I thought it was still quite crowded. </div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Where to fly:</h4>
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Depend on what route you are planning. We intended to travel further to south east Asia and hence decided to fly into Beijing first. Luckily, the flight options were also plenty from this airport and hence we picked Beijing. Also, if you intend to visit only the great wall, their is a 72-hour visa on arrival for many countries. You could easily see a few landmarks in that time around Beijing.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Transportation between cities:</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
China is very well connected with high speed trains and flights. Of course both the options are pretty convenient. Pick the one that's available and suits your time and budget goals.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Trains are on time, neat and clean. Getting to the station and designated waiting room is pretty straightforward and language isn't an issue. Only thing is that you have to book them in advance through a third party and they need to send you paper tickets. We booked all our tickets from the travel china <a href="https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/" target="_blank">website</a> and we received them at our hotel. Simple and easy.</li>
<li>Air tickets can be bought online, but we booked ours through an agent. The main difficulty with the air travel is that all the announcements are in Chinese at the airport. None of the staff speaks English and they do not update the screens with flight changes or gate changes. We were lucky enough to find someone who told us about the gate change and we ran to the right gate. And all the flights are mostly always delayed by an hour or two. Its the widely accepted norm.</li>
</ul>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
</h4>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Our detailed itinerary</h3>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 0</h4>
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We landed at the Beijing airport around 2:30 pm. After we got off the plane, we went straight to the immigration counter and got in the queue. Then, another plane landed and a whole bunch of passengers came in and formed another parallel queue out of nowhere. New passengers were casually coming in and joining the queue anywhere. Well, welcome to China. It took us good 2-3 hours to get done with immigration and then we picked our bags and headed straight to the hotel via cab. We were so tired, we didn't consider the public transportation option. We had booked <a href="http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/china/hilton-beijing-wangfujing-BJSWFHI/index.html" target="_blank">Hilton Beijing Wangfujing</a> and it was an excellent choice. Perfect location and very helpful staff.<br />
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For dinner, we looked for an Indian restaurant and chose to go to <a href="http://www.ganges-restaurant.com/en/find-us-ganges-indian-cbd.php" target="_blank">Ganges</a> for dinner. It was located in a very upscale mall "The Place". Good Indian food and very posh mall to spend the evening at. We picked up the cab cards from our hotel and had earlier printed the cab card for our restaurant to help the cab drivers and they were life-savers. We used cabs for all our transport needs in Beijing.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 1</h4>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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We had booked a day tour to the Great Wall of China for the day through <a href="http://catherinelutours.com/" target="_blank">Catherine Lu Tours</a>. Usually we prefer DIY tours, but we booked a private tour after reading and hearing about group bus tours and how they stop are unreliable and take longer than expected and stop at fraudy chinese shops. So, we had a private car and a guide to take us to the great wall. Now the great wall has various sections to visit. primary choice is Badaling, but it is so damn crowded by the locals, that it is tough to find space on the wall. Foreigners usually pick Mutiyanu section or Jinshaling section. We figured that Jinshaling had better views, but was under renovation and was a little further away, so we visited Mutianyu section. This <a href="https://www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall/section/" target="_blank">link</a> will help you pick the section!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2OEa5TeFbVAty3aqwBi33vbXjukxIRhmHovx461gjhcPvtWc9o0MSG1FooWz6UxqgQtg4DAo5Tap5fqTGqoFh16U706vO8lUF6iouGpaCMIeNXvxczD0Foa4yJFhcRFQ3uxjefMzLoQ/s1600/IMG_20170807_113013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2OEa5TeFbVAty3aqwBi33vbXjukxIRhmHovx461gjhcPvtWc9o0MSG1FooWz6UxqgQtg4DAo5Tap5fqTGqoFh16U706vO8lUF6iouGpaCMIeNXvxczD0Foa4yJFhcRFQ3uxjefMzLoQ/s320/IMG_20170807_113013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking the steep section of Great Wall</td></tr>
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The whole set up is pretty well done. And our guide, Robert Ren was super helpful and on top of things. You take a bus to the base of the wall and then you can take the cable car up. But for coming down you have an option to take the cable car or the toboggan slide. We picked the cable car both ways and we figured toboggan won't be scenic and the wall was more scenic near the cable car stop.</div>
<div>
Once up on the wall, we hiked till the next open tower. I don't exactly remember the tower numbers, but the wall was well maintained and had really steep sections towards the end. The guide requested to stay back and we both climbed the steep section. What views!! Plus all the stories from our guide were a lot of fun and added to the experience. Once we got down, we walked through the street shops selling souvenirs. And as our guide said, "Everything in China is negotiable, except the authority", so please haggle. And he was right, haggle, haggle, haggle! I picked a nice model of the great wall to complete my collection of the seven wonders. Yayy!</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIaOq3_PymUSf8cPJTOiBkkzAz2CAd715PJrzoa24QQsddfRAasbc_8pONmGaAWgUsHV6hipV4TaV4gO5dRSCH3GuxD5_M2UNXh8EYtO2MecKOrMqmiVvR35zWAX48AQy8PolxE3fs54/s1600/IMG_20170807_184401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIaOq3_PymUSf8cPJTOiBkkzAz2CAd715PJrzoa24QQsddfRAasbc_8pONmGaAWgUsHV6hipV4TaV4gO5dRSCH3GuxD5_M2UNXh8EYtO2MecKOrMqmiVvR35zWAX48AQy8PolxE3fs54/s320/IMG_20170807_184401.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Live scorpions ready to fry</td></tr>
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From here we headed to a Chinese restaurant close by for lunch. Here, we ordered veg fried rice. Good food. Then we headed back to the hotel. After resting for a few hours, we decided to go to Wangfujing street, which is a posh walk-only area lined up on either side by malls and big brand showrooms. We walked through the souvenir street, where we saw live scorpions perched on the skewers ready to be fried and served fresh to the customers. If you don't eat stuff like that, the smell can make you sick. Once out of here, we strolled on the Wangfujing street for a bit and then headed for dinner in the apm mall next to our hotel. We picked <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294212-d7390904-Reviews-Lime_Thai_Restaurant_APM-Beijing.html" target="_blank">Lime Thai</a> restaurant. The vegetarian rice also smelled of fish oil and I had to leave the food and walk out. Wish we had picked an Indian restaurant nearby. But we went back to the hotel and gorged on theplas we had packed for such situations.</div>
<div>
And this is a video of what we saw earlier at the great wall. A cart ride with some background Indian score for entertainment. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqB-xaFEO-O29QLeDK6PspM3ireZjXF0cx476X1mc3jy4Ruc3u3zsqUVXmhEUHwe5Zvf_gnT4HJPIoWstwyWDN60gCm9AdKokbGsIoowKuPDpcXFPjp97yKWI7zktpYw_OxHNDq2j_j0/s1600/VID_20170807_123556.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqB-xaFEO-O29QLeDK6PspM3ireZjXF0cx476X1mc3jy4Ruc3u3zsqUVXmhEUHwe5Zvf_gnT4HJPIoWstwyWDN60gCm9AdKokbGsIoowKuPDpcXFPjp97yKWI7zktpYw_OxHNDq2j_j0/s320/VID_20170807_123556.mp4" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 2</h4>
<div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Thanks to jet lag, we were up early. We grabbed croissants from our hotel cafeteria and took a cab to the Forbidden City. Our guide from the previous day had told us all about the emperor and his stories, so we understood the historical and cultural significance of this place and we were looking forward to it. The guide dropped us pretty far off as the area is cordoned off to regular traffic. We walked across the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square" target="_blank">Tiannmen Square</a> to the entrance of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City" target="_blank">Forbidden City.</a> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRTcA6NspYb5RoqP_fdT9uT3B-1BBpNDvjA7X3TD7vc34Gpt9iY7YNA-0RO8ETVeB5ut0ws76whMSf0S0tRqyVIxgfdQ5hpYWhwSM5mmsIljJzePdDXvVCd4tX8o9CAfxATv2FqURHK4/s1600/IMG_20170808_092309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRTcA6NspYb5RoqP_fdT9uT3B-1BBpNDvjA7X3TD7vc34Gpt9iY7YNA-0RO8ETVeB5ut0ws76whMSf0S0tRqyVIxgfdQ5hpYWhwSM5mmsIljJzePdDXvVCd4tX8o9CAfxATv2FqURHK4/s320/IMG_20170808_092309.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Forbidden City</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
We had bought our tickets online as the number of tickets sold daily are limited. But we had to collect them here. It took us a lot of effort and sign language to figure out where to collect them from. No one was able to help or guide us. After being throw around from one window to other, we finally figure what one of the guard was trying to say. Once we got our tickets we were in. It is for sure very huge and magnanimous. But, I was tired of all the ticket hunting and heat and humidity and wanted to just reach the exit located at the other end. It is a long walk, as it truly is a huge city built inside the wall. Long corridors, beautiful rooms, small gardens. Very charming and very crowded.</div>
<div>
Once we exited, we went to a garden located right across the city. Another tip from our guide, Robert from previous day. Its called <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/qU8BNVm6gJN2" target="_blank">Jingshan Park</a>. Its a short walk to the top of the hill and it offers a good view of the entire Forbidden City. It is much less crowded, had shade and is worth the effort. I enjoyed this short hike and got a 360 degree view of the entire city. </div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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Then we got down and started looking for a cab back to our hotel. Most of the cabs refused to take us as it was a very short ride and not worth their time. So we walked back, all tired and sweaty to our hotel. We freshened up, packed our bags and headed straight for lunch, to the Ganges restaurant again. We didn't know when would we get to Indian food next, so it was time to gobble up. Hailing cabs isn't easy here in China. Because, even if you hail and stop it, someone else might get it and second, they may refuse to take you. Nevertheless, we reached our hotel and hurried up to load our bags into the cab for a ride to the Beijing West railway station. Btw, cabs weren't available, so our hotel staff called for their local replacement of Uber. </div>
<div>
At the station, we couldn't figure out which gate to enter from, it was all in Chinese. But after a couple of tries, we were let in through one of the gates. Once inside, it was easy. Everything was in English too. Platforms or Waiting Room numbers. We went to our designated waiting room and got a couple of seats. 20 minutes before the departure, the gates opened and we walked to our assigned seats. Simple and easy. We were off to Xian now.</div>
<div>
But but but, an hour away from the destination, our train was halted. We wondered why, and looked around to see if someone may know English and luckily found someone. He explained there was an <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/08/asia/china-earthquake/index.html" target="_blank">earthquake in Chengdu</a> and they are checking the lines. All announcements are only in Chinese, btw. And we had no cell reception. Hence our need for a translator. We were halted for 4 hours. And people here watched videos on cell phones on full volume, didn't have their ringers on silent and I had a running fever. And giving dirts to the people doesn't help, they will still have their constantly pinging phones on full volume. Well, we finally reached at 2 am instead of scheduled 10 pm. Took another hour in the long taxi queue to get a taxi and we reached our hotel at around 3:30 am. We were staying at <a href="http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/china/hilton-xian-XIYHIHI/index.html" target="_blank">Hilton Xian</a>. Again, a great choice. Good rooms and very courteous staff. </div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 3</h4>
<div>
Since we were super tired and I had fever, we had texted our guide that we would start our tour at noon instead of 8 am. So, we decided to skip the pagoda temple visit and cycling on top of the city wall. They are highly rated activities in Xian, but, oh well, next time!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhQvPfl8eZGMJ0cZQyCeL8TL8oEgTkjIpSLaeI5CSR0V6-vQH2O0dhjjY-Fa1BD98lDuAr39fMSLhipRrgy9jVYcN39GjpkcM4OsmuAY8jABKgxJpjE-zGZRdDoYcZusfx6EeSgq2-f0/s1600/IMG_20170809_135632%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhQvPfl8eZGMJ0cZQyCeL8TL8oEgTkjIpSLaeI5CSR0V6-vQH2O0dhjjY-Fa1BD98lDuAr39fMSLhipRrgy9jVYcN39GjpkcM4OsmuAY8jABKgxJpjE-zGZRdDoYcZusfx6EeSgq2-f0/s320/IMG_20170809_135632%257E2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each warrior looks different from the other</td></tr>
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I felt better after having caught up on sleep and feeding on theplas to my heart's content. At noon, we were all packed and ready as the plan was to go directly to the airport from our Terracotta visit. A cab and our guide was ready and waiting for us. Again, we booked through Catherine Lu tours and it was great experience overall. Our guide, Sally was great and told us stories about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army" target="_blank">Terracotta Warriors</a> and the city on our drive to the museum. After an hour, we were here and decided to go get lunch first. She had picked a great restaurant for lunch. Had excellent lychee tea here, was so refreshing as I was feeling under the weather and vegetarian chow mien were just like Indian street noodles. Do not know the name of the restaurant as they were all noodle restaurants in that area.</div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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From here we went to the museum. We went from pit 3 to pit 2 to pit 1. Hence, it kept getting better. Pit 1 will simply take your breath away. It feels overwhelming to see these artifacts and think that someone built an entire city for their after life. It was great for sure, but didn't live upto the hype I felt, or may be, may be it was my fever and the heat. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY6AkHNmqJqz6PEQfIohUnBrKIZVHwpFyX7dps9u22HUlEKFy6E-luGSyi8DEEWD11-M0G3I31dfBAryiHzYvHWa75hualCOen4eDxbeV5oGlcc2WLJDPMIeV_gXJ8SAT7V6PjBnVaSU/s1600/IMG_20170809_133014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY6AkHNmqJqz6PEQfIohUnBrKIZVHwpFyX7dps9u22HUlEKFy6E-luGSyi8DEEWD11-M0G3I31dfBAryiHzYvHWa75hualCOen4eDxbeV5oGlcc2WLJDPMIeV_gXJ8SAT7V6PjBnVaSU/s320/IMG_20170809_133014.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kneeling warrior</td></tr>
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Having checked this off my bucket list, we bought a souvenir warrior from the shop owned by one of the farmers who discovered these wile digging in his farm. How nice to see him right there. Then, we headed back to the airport and our guide informed us that the flight was late. Not surprising at all. She helped us through all the checking and everything and we were on our own. Our priority pass got us free access to the vip lounge and we spent our time on a couch eating free snacks. Well, we headed to the gate for our flight, but figured the monitors are never accurate. Our flight was further delayed and this wasn't the gate. With no one speaking English, we tried looking for other foreigners around us to help us out. Luckily found a family who guided us to the right gate. We got here and waited to board. As per the monitors, our flight had left 3 hours ago. I wonder why are they even wasting electricity on these. No one updates them or even looks at them for reference. Our flights were with China <br />
Eastern airlines. Like any other regular airlines, they were comfortable and we didn't face any issues.</div>
<div>
Well, once in Shanghai, we took a cab to our hotel, <a href="https://www.radissonblu.com/en/newworldhotel-shanghai" target="_blank">Radisson Blu</a>. Time to rest up and recover now.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br />Day 4</h4>
<div>
We had initially planned and booked tickets for Suzhou today. But, we decided the previous night that I needed another day to recover. So, we cancelled our trip. And I had to deal with this whole laptop issue. </div>
<div>
Talking about the laptop issue, while checking in for our flight to Shanghai at the Xian airport, I realised I didn't have my laptop and then it struck, after full 24 hours, that I had left my laptop on the hotel in Beijing. #facepalm. When I called Hilton Beijing, they confirmed that they had found my laptop and were more than happy to ship it to my hotel in Shanghai. But later they called that they can't send it by air due to shipping restrictions, hence the laptop wont reach in time. Then after a lot of back and forth, their concierge chief offered to come to Shanghai himself and give the laptop to me in person, procided I pay for his ticket. Well, I felt quite guilty and even if it was my work laptop, I decided to pay for his trip and get my laptop. But shout out to Hilton Beijing folks for being so helpful and prompt in their communication.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjWf24jitnoDYLVpsmbLAzlJcu00SYtUwrS5yH-lX43pXcsPaN_8u6ABt1W8FwB9d0CVydWFtB9Sq1XDdCYHaGjBQmCOx4zmnauC15pzJEJCnHy_22dZ1XmE-bIonsSdla6rt0sG7ZZs/s1600/IMG_20170810_154909-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjWf24jitnoDYLVpsmbLAzlJcu00SYtUwrS5yH-lX43pXcsPaN_8u6ABt1W8FwB9d0CVydWFtB9Sq1XDdCYHaGjBQmCOx4zmnauC15pzJEJCnHy_22dZ1XmE-bIonsSdla6rt0sG7ZZs/s320/IMG_20170810_154909-EFFECTS.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juan temple</td></tr>
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And also, we were planning to visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou" target="_blank">Suzhou, the Venice of the East</a>. We thought of taking a train to the city, a quick 30 minute ride on the fast trains. Also, we were considering booking a day tour with a private <a href="http://www.suzhouprivatetour.com/" target="_blank">tour company</a>, but it never materialized given I got sick and we cancelled our plan. You could consider them if you'd like to go to Suzhou.</div>
<div>
So, we had a day in Shanghai. Metropoliton city to the core. We had planned on sticking to the public transportation here and hence gotten our hotel right outside a famous metro stop - People's Square. We started our day around noon and headed straight to an Indian restaurant, <a href="http://www.masaalaart.com/" target="_blank">Masala Art</a>. Good food. And after refueling ourselves, we decided to do some touristy stuff. Again, hailing a cab is some talent here in China. So, we preferred sticking to metros as much as possible. At a metro station we were looking to buy day passes, but the customer service attendant mis-directed us as she didn't know English. Sometimes, even using the google translate app wasn't helpful. Then while we were struggling with a ticket machine, a young guy in early twenties, offered to help and helped us communicate with the same customer attendant who had initially turned us away. </div>
<div>
We first went to the Jade Buddha Temple which was a-okay and under renovation. Next stop was Juan temple. This was nice and right in the middle of the city. Has a huge coutyard and a flight of stairs leading to the main worship area. This was worth the visit. Next to this was a mall, and we just went in to get away from the heat and luckily the metro station was also located inside this mall.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf3JeU65vyBbxCyD_OdOXIZvfgACBN0LTVTMiP0TxSS9BWdXwhNlSs9BqtlNk_0iuOCo23cHSa6hNatuANwpB1sw-VnsVHg3Jp2hhSq_ZffRcPop5dr5IoNi4CO7r85ODpjaMC44s9zg/s1600/IMG_20170810_210315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1600" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf3JeU65vyBbxCyD_OdOXIZvfgACBN0LTVTMiP0TxSS9BWdXwhNlSs9BqtlNk_0iuOCo23cHSa6hNatuANwpB1sw-VnsVHg3Jp2hhSq_ZffRcPop5dr5IoNi4CO7r85ODpjaMC44s9zg/s320/IMG_20170810_210315.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shanghai - Across the river from The Bund</td></tr>
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We took a break at our hotel and then in the evening, headed out to Hongyi Plaza, a pedestrian mall, very lively and full of hig end shops. From here we walked down to the Bund. We could see the Shanghai pearl distrcit across the Huangpu river. Beautiful skyline views of Shanghai and super duper crowded. After we took a few pictures, we walked around the area and then decided to head out to <a href="http://www.kebabsonthegrille.com/" target="_blank">Kebabs on the grille</a> for dinner and call it a day. </div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 5</h4>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuekhYw6exnGFB4Os6-RhFzMrL0j37xuFYL-2e_jSs01Ercx0yaoDPzsX2SvFBv8iYadZj3L3plE0KDJSbVby5GtRZIO9U6BkTuj_ytZ-hwOxY1-WUiot3XsBV3Wl47Hmtmf7_-fdSgoA/s1600/IMG_20170811_140309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuekhYw6exnGFB4Os6-RhFzMrL0j37xuFYL-2e_jSs01Ercx0yaoDPzsX2SvFBv8iYadZj3L3plE0KDJSbVby5GtRZIO9U6BkTuj_ytZ-hwOxY1-WUiot3XsBV3Wl47Hmtmf7_-fdSgoA/s320/IMG_20170811_140309.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West lake</td></tr>
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We had planned to visit Hangzhou today and I was feeling well enough to take the trip. We used public transport to get to the Hongqiao railway station. It was easy to navigate and get to the waiting room looking at the monitors. It was quiet 90 minute journey on the fast train.<br />
After reaching <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Hangzhou" target="_blank">Hangzhou</a>, we took a cab from the station and headed out to the Lingyin temple. There is a walking path here that takes you around the carved caves. Really well done carvings and makes for some good pictures. From here, we headed out to the famous West Lake. This place is huge and it is unlikely that you will be able to walk around the entire lake in a day. So pick the spots you want to visit. For us, we were headed for lunch first, at <a href="http://www.indiankitchen.com.cn/" target="_blank">Omar, Indian Kitchen</a>. The food was below average. but we somehow ate and headed out to the lake. We took a short stroll and then, I came across this costume shop. Sumit didn't believe that I did want to take a picture in the empress costume. But hell yeah, I did. While clicking pictures, a couple of locals were amused enough to take my pictures and I graciously obliged ;)</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpafqWiApvXvN7tapgzQ91uN97GlviqX9pznpABvUAzeXdnIII8FhFqZ888t_r-wz_j_7-f9o-JgNISiwRB8tNlvNxMgGUji8rtpzhu1wxaPcSTsJoM18kIBfFx469DOVGQS_p5XvXo58/s1600/IMG_20170811_141203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1028" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpafqWiApvXvN7tapgzQ91uN97GlviqX9pznpABvUAzeXdnIII8FhFqZ888t_r-wz_j_7-f9o-JgNISiwRB8tNlvNxMgGUji8rtpzhu1wxaPcSTsJoM18kIBfFx469DOVGQS_p5XvXo58/s320/IMG_20170811_141203.jpg" width="205" /></a>So we weren't interested in a boat ride, or going to the lily pond or the pagoda. We just wanted a quite stroll. After a while, we figured we had sometime before our train back to Shanghai, so we looked for a mall and headed to a mall for some air conditioned time. Literally. Btw, Hangzhou also has metro, which is super convenient but the metro network isn't as widespread. So, we had to mix and match cabs and metros. After whiling away our time in a cafeteria in a mall, we headed to the station for our return to Shanghai. And we chose <a href="http://www.tandoorchina.cn/" target="_blank">Tandoor</a> for dinner. Excellent Indian restaurant. Very upscale and the best Indian food in China so far. More expensive than the ones we had been to, but the food was all worth it. It is located in the premises of a very upscale hotel and in a very posh area. After we had dinner, we headed back to our hotel.</div>
<div>
Now at hotel, when I switched on the TV, I couldn't hear anything and the maximum volume was not enough. So I called the room service and they came over to check and said, we fix the maximum value to 20, so that negibours dont get bothered. I was so amused and I told them, if I can't hear, how can the neighbor hear? At least raise the volume enough for me to hear? It was fun to watch Chinese soap operas though. I didn't understand the language but I think I could figure out what was going on. And then I fell asleep.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G7lb3m3S99lt-1ixuxxpv_InvQou9mP7_RjH3CThBJ69FehZGV3glR-WST_L1qmUka48UJCEqbvBlVLxAQYyLYotcsPqWVuSjPZEZEudLKKyIRPIJ50Ak0zDZqsFrg-rurldUMzfboQ/s1600/PANO_20170811_113159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G7lb3m3S99lt-1ixuxxpv_InvQou9mP7_RjH3CThBJ69FehZGV3glR-WST_L1qmUka48UJCEqbvBlVLxAQYyLYotcsPqWVuSjPZEZEudLKKyIRPIJ50Ak0zDZqsFrg-rurldUMzfboQ/s400/PANO_20170811_113159.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lingyin Temple</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br />Day 6</h4>
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Last day in Shanghai before we fly out to Malaysia and to Indonesia. So, for brunch, we headed up to the 45th floor revolving restaurant of our hotel. Such beautiful 360 degree views and they had some Indian items in the menu too! We had to wait until around noon so that I could collect my laptop from Dennis, who was a staff member at the Hilton Beijing hotel. Once I received my laptop, we headed to the East Nanjing road, to walk around the busy posh streets. After sometime, we decided to have lunch at Din Tai Fung close by, They did have some vegetarian options btw and Sumit was having dumplings for the first time and I am glad he liked them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LlqeWesYsoqpPL_CI6W0ouGdLOvcbnRFe5WdSE39_TAducI1VOTdS7g2STboWVwaujwwOVjhaI8l00Pm-TyExGqkChnd_GKVxlpImmWaSTqD5ga-az5ZrpYisb1Xz8OVCej4tteQ9lU/s1600/PANO_20170812_175836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1600" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LlqeWesYsoqpPL_CI6W0ouGdLOvcbnRFe5WdSE39_TAducI1VOTdS7g2STboWVwaujwwOVjhaI8l00Pm-TyExGqkChnd_GKVxlpImmWaSTqD5ga-az5ZrpYisb1Xz8OVCej4tteQ9lU/s400/PANO_20170812_175836.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yuyuan Gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LF9M-QHHYxXV_HjQ_irSShH5vHhLNUfmLLtiy2SwvrTRISDK9h_r50YHm5mqlcbd5u4pugDuQA98lQuH5ugUCT2fwXOm7KMJ049uME9J_5r85vQKApWLbuXyX2EUmofv_GvRqEB2yhY/s1600/IMG_20170812_190704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LF9M-QHHYxXV_HjQ_irSShH5vHhLNUfmLLtiy2SwvrTRISDK9h_r50YHm5mqlcbd5u4pugDuQA98lQuH5ugUCT2fwXOm7KMJ049uME9J_5r85vQKApWLbuXyX2EUmofv_GvRqEB2yhY/s320/IMG_20170812_190704.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanzifang</td></tr>
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Then we headed straight to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Garden" target="_blank">Yuyan gardens</a>. A maze of narrow streets outside the gardens, filled with souvenir shops. Was like walking around Chandni Chowk in Delhi, We bought some souvenirs and took some pictures in the garden and then headed to the <a href="https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shanghai/tianzifang.htm" target="_blank">Tanzifang</a> area. This is an upscale neighborhood with some classy shops and restaurants. We got dinner here and then headed back to the hotel. We again went up to the 45th floor to get some night time views of the Beijing city before heading out.<br />
We packed our bags and now were ready to head out. Best way to get to the airport, outside of metro hours would be a cab. And always always, go by the meter. So long China, until next time :)</div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br />Food</h4>
<div>
Food was not an issue in China at all. There are plenty of restaurants of various cuisines. We were able to communicate regarding our vegetarian needs in non-Indian restaurants using google translate and it worked out just fine. We did have theplas for backup and they were helpful in case of delayed flights or trains or late night hunger pangs.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br />Visa</h4>
<div>
Visa instructions on the website of Chinese consulate, San Francisco were pretty straightforward. There is no appointment system. You just show up as early as possible on a given day and wait after taking a token number. Think of this as your "welcome to china" orientation. Its crowded, there are random queues. And there is this person checking documentation, who will ask you to retake a picture, or make a photocopy of your passport using their photocopy machines and photo booths. And you have to pay for it. You have to make another trip to collect your passport as well. But, overall it was pretty seamless process.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br />What more to see/do</h4>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Beijing: Temple of Heaven, Other sections of Great Wall</li>
<li>Xian: Bike on top of the city wall, pagoda temple, Muslim quarters. Going to Terracotta warriors by yourself is totally do-able by bus too, if you have time.</li>
<li>Shanghai: River cruise at night on the Hangpu river, French concession area and other day trips to canal cities. Zhujiajiao is pretty popular. Take the hop on hop off bus</li>
<li>Chengdu for Pandas</li>
<li>Guilian for countryside</li>
<li>Other national parks</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-53705093943427092252016-11-20T01:00:00.000-08:002017-05-12T12:06:31.996-07:00New Zealand (South Island)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We usually never travel during Thanksgiving, but this time it was different. I couldn't travel during Christmas and New year holidays due to work, so we had to pick someplace for Thanksgiving.<br />
Now ever since we got back from Iceland, every one just compared Iceland to New Zealand and I had to see it with my own eyes to figure out how much similar or dissimilar it was. Plus, the tickets turned out to be surprisingly cheap and we didn't think twice before we booked them. So, we were off to New Zealand for Thanksgiving!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoVGGPrg52Wyn3sW9C7ES-asBQ9Dl37BfMqtEa_RuZhLZBVh9GGFrd3pOWdNbZRlTUOdNpWCy8cixqBLPrQbY5peWgHfWCWrPnRg_xpqDJet2AEHuHJE6r_0sxqf6J7470kqcfu2B3tE/s1600/nz_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoVGGPrg52Wyn3sW9C7ES-asBQ9Dl37BfMqtEa_RuZhLZBVh9GGFrd3pOWdNbZRlTUOdNpWCy8cixqBLPrQbY5peWgHfWCWrPnRg_xpqDJet2AEHuHJE6r_0sxqf6J7470kqcfu2B3tE/s320/nz_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route in New Zealand South Island</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Brief Itinerary</h3>
<b>Day 1:</b> Fly in to Queenstown. Drive to Fox Glacier<br />
<b>Day 2:</b> Fox Glacier -> Franz Joseph Glacier -> Punakaiki -> Stay at Greymouth<br />
<b>Day 3:</b> Greymouth -> Christchurch<br />
<b>Day 4:</b> Christchurch -> Mount Cook -> Stay at Twizel<br />
<b>Day 5:</b> Twizel -> Queenstown -> Te Anau<br />
<b>Day 6:</b> Te Anau -> Milford Sound -> Queenstown<br />
<b>Day 7:</b> Spend the day in Queenstown. Bungee Jump. Drive to Glenorchy.<br />
<b>Day 8:</b> Fly out.<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/NoBkXn7EM6C2" target="_blank">Maps link</a><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Where to fly?</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are two major airports in South Island. Christchurch and Queenstown. Depending on what route you prefer to take, you can pick either of the two. For us, we flew Air New Zealand flying directly from San Francisco(SFO) to Auckland(AKL). We had a connecting flight to Queenstown(ZQN). The flight is short and pretty. Landing at Queenstown airport, which is a very small airport, is like landing in a small valley surrounded by beautiful mountains.</div>
Some folks fly in to Christchurch and fly out of Queenstown or vice versa.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
When to go?</h3>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Of course the seasons are reversed in southern hemisphere, so summer months are September- March. And since the tourist rush increases in December, we felt November would be ideal. A couple of days during our stay were very warm and pleasant, and other days were cool and breezy, but not unbearably cold. It was also a bit rainy, but very few quick showers.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
</h4>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Where to go?</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">South Island carries the reputation of being the prettier of the two islands, so I guess if you have less time on hand, you may want to first pick the south island. This island has the glaciers, the Mt. Cook and the famous Milford Sound. So, we decided to do a road trip around the South Island on this trip. North Island has the famous <a href="http://www.nationalpark.co.nz/" target="_blank">Tongariro National Park</a>, Rotorua for the famous Hobbiton set and the Waitomo gloworm caves. But I guess we will see those the next time.</span></h4>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What we did?</h3>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 1</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4TtZri6HEBI-c3KzeM9i6tQnPGnTMDNiuC2vIgDgXh_DyGbklqoTSCtHUDYj3fyR65znmG02G9vs9UH8q8xlLgpv69Mo6fCL8ZYbS4LejDUXTdOhJljK2zov1tMQVSw8c57CVKjBp-0/s1600/PANO_20161121_132730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4TtZri6HEBI-c3KzeM9i6tQnPGnTMDNiuC2vIgDgXh_DyGbklqoTSCtHUDYj3fyR65znmG02G9vs9UH8q8xlLgpv69Mo6fCL8ZYbS4LejDUXTdOhJljK2zov1tMQVSw8c57CVKjBp-0/s400/PANO_20161121_132730.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Queenstown from Crowne Range Pass</td></tr>
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We landed at the Queenstown airport at around 10<br />
am in the morning. We had been in a long long flight and definitely needed to freshen up before starting our long road trip. We were staying at Fox Glacier lodge for the night, so we inquired regarding some recreational/gym facilities around and just next to the airport was the Queenstown event center. So, we bought a day pass and were off to locker rooms for a refreshing hot shower. This was, well the first country we were travelling to, outside of India, where cricket has an ardent fan following. So, it was exciting to see the jerseys of various teams hanging around in the event center. After we were all fresh and ready to go, we saw a narrow passage with a sign "Cricket Ground"! It was a no brainer to check it out and we discovered this is the same Queenstown cricket ground that we have seen so many times on TV. A couple of pictures and poses later we headed out for lunch.</div>
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There are two very famous burger joints in Queenstown. First, Ferg burger and second, <a href="http://www.devilburger.com/" target="_blank">Devil's Burger</a>. Ferg has long long queues, so we skipped this one and headed to Devil's burger. Awesome veggie burgers and fries. Must try! We then headed out to Fox Glacier and had many stop planned on our. First we drove through Arrowtown through Crown Range Pass. This a windy road which takes you a bit of uphill and is a perfect place for bird's eye view of Queenstown.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI5yQDYTwQzOQFr1Fex-cvFSHXk7pH2eSsMJJLq6skFwrdof69zvm1V-uJTcc8iutFtOPjUDGeUAlGyAHGFpPzUMGbwTH1CK0JMifDNShoZjw3358wai866lCO7EJAOp-qmsXJz5wZCw/s1600/2A7A5580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI5yQDYTwQzOQFr1Fex-cvFSHXk7pH2eSsMJJLq6skFwrdof69zvm1V-uJTcc8iutFtOPjUDGeUAlGyAHGFpPzUMGbwTH1CK0JMifDNShoZjw3358wai866lCO7EJAOp-qmsXJz5wZCw/s320/2A7A5580.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald Pools</td></tr>
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Further, we drove to <a href="https://www.lakewanaka.co.nz/" target="_blank">Lake Wanaka</a> and stopped by puzzles world. Trust me, I could spend an entire day here. I just love puzzles, but we only had a few hours :( So, after letting me fiddle around a bit with free puzzles lying on their tables, Sumit decided it was time to drive to Lake Wanaka. One of the many beautiful lakes in New Zealand. No pictures can do justice to this place. Perfect for an evening stroll, a jog, a swim or just sitting down and quietly taking in the sunset. After wandering about and a few pictures later, we stopped at a nearby coffee shop to grab some coffee and a grocery store for some munchy stuff. </div>
<div>
Driving further towards Haast Pass, we stopped at the Fantail falls, Thunderbird falls and the emerald blue pools. Blue pools were my favorite and involved a short hike. Weather was a bit cloudy and we did have a few quick showers, but the drive from Queenstown until Haast Pass was beautiful. We then drove from Haast Pass towards Fox Glacier. An average drive, I'd say, I find Pacific Coast highway, much prettier. Just Sayin! Anyhow, we reached <a href="http://www.foxglacierlodge.com/" target="_blank">Fox Glacier Lodge </a>well in time to grab dinner at a nearby restaurant, <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-last-kitchen-fox-glacier" target="_blank">Last Kitchen</a>. Good food, big portions. </div>
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Our hotel manager recommended we go for the glow worm walk very close to the lodge. It was pitch dark and the walk was only about a quarter mile long, but it was scary as you had absolutely no clue what could be next to you. The glow worms were pretty, yes sure, but after seeing a few huge patches of glow worms, we figured it would be best to briskly walk out of there.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 2</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXlTcXC1VL8l6tVDr6w4GbKubPX2IM6pMFvP7OioyZNXzN3iZy1XVGF0pvkKSdzn2UKIqeOqFpRLc77TtxYd-GTTrS7ryLjLa1qLEzrQp2qwjkVkskB7bqRiPY4wgI-IFKEQ6S8lVFvE/s1600/2A7A5618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXlTcXC1VL8l6tVDr6w4GbKubPX2IM6pMFvP7OioyZNXzN3iZy1XVGF0pvkKSdzn2UKIqeOqFpRLc77TtxYd-GTTrS7ryLjLa1qLEzrQp2qwjkVkskB7bqRiPY4wgI-IFKEQ6S8lVFvE/s320/2A7A5618.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox Glacier</td></tr>
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Today we had to visit both the glaciers and then drive up to Greymouth which wasn't very far away. All the hotels and lodges have a printout of things to do/see with touristy map of both the Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph glacier townships. You can see them online <a href="http://www.glaciercountry.co.nz/explore-our-regions/downloadable-maps/" target="_blank">here</a>. These were super helpful. Today was the day of hikes. So we started off with a short drive to the Lake Matheson. There were a few glacier lookouts mentioned on the touristy map. We stopped there and took a few pictures. It was bright and sunny so we were lucky and got some good views. Then we drove up to Lake Matheson. There are various 2-4 mile hike options around the lake. At the other end of the lake, you get a full reflection of Mount Cook. It makes for a beautiful picture. Even though it was sunny, it was windy and the lake water had enough ripples to spoil the reflection. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUq6EbzLwmA9kciI4QkGnsljAe31U6bs2NH69QU8_yrS11Bv3a5r5vODhq_77itGZOSMgWfn6IseI1O43RzWCNuHacPZC2DvegQB8j1Gy84xZqNVu_QFJqRLoeIpGs2X42O-kBvSZuAw/s1600/2A7A5650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUq6EbzLwmA9kciI4QkGnsljAe31U6bs2NH69QU8_yrS11Bv3a5r5vODhq_77itGZOSMgWfn6IseI1O43RzWCNuHacPZC2DvegQB8j1Gy84xZqNVu_QFJqRLoeIpGs2X42O-kBvSZuAw/s320/2A7A5650.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punakaiki rocks</td></tr>
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From Lake Matheson, we headed straight to the base of Fox Glacier. It is a short mile long hike to the mouth of the glacier. Was rocky, so good sturdy shoes are a must. Lovely valley views up to the glacier and slight uphill closer to the glacier. Once we got back, we were super hungry and wanted to grab something to eat. We drove straight to the Franz Joseph Glacier township, which is much bigger and more populated than the Fox Glacier township. Here we ordered some spicy Thai food at <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/snakebite-franz-josef-glacier" target="_blank">SnakeBite</a> cafe. Then we headed to the base of Franz Joseph glacier. This was comparatively a longer hike, about 3-4 miles. Since it was also quite an uneven surface, I opted to stay out and take care of my ankle and Sumit hikes all by himself up to the glacier. It is a much bigger glacier compared to Fox Glacier. Most of the touristy activities, like guided glacier hikes, glacier landings, happen here at the Franz Joseph, but we opted out of these as we had already done these in Alask and Iceland and were here mostly for the views. We also skipped the glacier water pools here.</div>
<div>
Next up, was drive to Punakaiki. There are several smaller townships on your drive from Franz Joseph to Punakaiki, for instance, Shantytown has some activities for kinds and Hokataiki has a very famous glass factory. But, we skipped those and drove straight to Punakaiki. At Punakaiki, it is a short walk around the strange rock structure. But you see the force of water that has carved some blow holes in these rocks. Very pretty formations along the coast! Then we drove back to Greymouth. Views of this coastal drive were pretty and it was around sunset, so watching the sunset over Tasman sea was a surreal experience. I guess the coastal drive is pretty going North to South.</div>
<div>
Once in Greymouth, the Indian tastebuds opted for dinner at <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/priya-indian-restaurant-greymouth" target="_blank">Priya</a>, an Indian cuisine restaurant. Then we were off for the night, staying at <a href="http://www.gablesmotorlodge.com/" target="_blank">Gables</a>.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 3</h4>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL43jrBTWa6N4vmRESBJ-F45NXkYqo5K-wRrPQBTlwBar8_q_dIx1Bw_ubRUFN_D6NtYNTY5Q3ETpUxorimdDVKkU5fUXXlR9FbHv_IFkuHjcqIw4EcA3yzIPB2KPJhZD8fHMtVUbeeo/s1600/2A7A5748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL43jrBTWa6N4vmRESBJ-F45NXkYqo5K-wRrPQBTlwBar8_q_dIx1Bw_ubRUFN_D6NtYNTY5Q3ETpUxorimdDVKkU5fUXXlR9FbHv_IFkuHjcqIw4EcA3yzIPB2KPJhZD8fHMtVUbeeo/s320/2A7A5748.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur Pass National Park</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RkGkByGKG1lyciz3uuPDqNeOMvDZFSoWGf3xpUKD3IdBvsBx0WPx2YX1Gjh3UQ5hj5zfog76jrHo6DCmoBDYsG6zfMCjNs-zauBmIW7sch0alRnG_1WfqgpPrqAS67ycCbraskfarKY/s1600/2A7A5723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Our goal today was to drive from Greymouth to Chrustchurch. It isn't a very long drive but is very very pretty. There is a famous <a href="http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/tranzalpine" target="_blank">Trans Alpine railroad</a> that connects Christchurch and Greymouth. It takes about similar time as a car, but promises to offer better views and is decently expensive. Well, for the most part, the railway tracks were next to the highway, so I hope we got in most of the views on our drive.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RkGkByGKG1lyciz3uuPDqNeOMvDZFSoWGf3xpUKD3IdBvsBx0WPx2YX1Gjh3UQ5hj5zfog76jrHo6DCmoBDYsG6zfMCjNs-zauBmIW7sch0alRnG_1WfqgpPrqAS67ycCbraskfarKY/s1600/2A7A5723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RkGkByGKG1lyciz3uuPDqNeOMvDZFSoWGf3xpUKD3IdBvsBx0WPx2YX1Gjh3UQ5hj5zfog76jrHo6DCmoBDYsG6zfMCjNs-zauBmIW7sch0alRnG_1WfqgpPrqAS67ycCbraskfarKY/s320/2A7A5723.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere on our way to Christchurch</td></tr>
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Starting from Greymouth, we walked around the market area, looking for breakfast and settled for tomato cheese sandwiches at <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/maggies-kitchen-greymouth" target="_blank">Maggie's Kitchen</a>,which, by the way are awesome everywhere in NZ. Next, we started our drive and it got a little foggy and misty. In the parts where it cleared up, we could see valleys and mountains, and imagine that had had it been clear, it would have been quite pretty. But, oh well, we kept going. Next, we stopped for a short hike at one of the places. Now I don't remember the name, but it was an impromptu decision and the trail heads were just by the roadside. It was about a 1 mile long walk in the woods, which took us to a bridge over the river and had clear views of the mountains around it.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEm_3W4AKTgamiR6bxATOo6Gz7cyDVCoIdXHnYhDSx2U9vO8dZIZRv0rMNE5N4xcD5SwvD4MKWIN3QBzDel3R4rH2gZ6YAvxMNuXJfazOkF__1L-qd6LhCp9zZ1Q109Fae_9UguGaPQ0/s1600/IMG_20161123_180136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEm_3W4AKTgamiR6bxATOo6Gz7cyDVCoIdXHnYhDSx2U9vO8dZIZRv0rMNE5N4xcD5SwvD4MKWIN3QBzDel3R4rH2gZ6YAvxMNuXJfazOkF__1L-qd6LhCp9zZ1Q109Fae_9UguGaPQ0/s320/IMG_20161123_180136.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aftermath of 2010 earthquake - Christchurch</td></tr>
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We drove further to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur%27s_Pass_National_Park" target="_blank">Arthur Pass</a> village and the weather started clearing up a bit. Here grabbed whatever veggie food options we could find the cafeteria and drove further to the Arthur pass. Now the views were exquisite with clear, sunny skies and mountains all around. This is why this drive is so famous! the views continued for about an hour before we entered some township close to Christchurch. Once we reached Christchurch, we head straight to King of Snakes Thai restaurant for some snacks and then to our AirBnB. </div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-slh8DMgiag4SzuH6frKNDjXMmdth4IlRmk4H_ilfU7dIn_a4a2fwR1a-y9lbCPCzgTFFLSh3UlQBQyXPxRrBuNYYxpT_v0QJ_G56Nayxla3ac-KtUJLNVawcK647pk7WPBv_dvVUR4/s1600/2A7A5751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-slh8DMgiag4SzuH6frKNDjXMmdth4IlRmk4H_ilfU7dIn_a4a2fwR1a-y9lbCPCzgTFFLSh3UlQBQyXPxRrBuNYYxpT_v0QJ_G56Nayxla3ac-KtUJLNVawcK647pk7WPBv_dvVUR4/s320/2A7A5751.jpg" width="320" /></a>After some rest, we headed back into the town. The famous church was in a real bad shape, after the 2010 Christchurch earthquake and was under repair. But you could clearly see the damage. Then we went to the famous cardboard church and couldn't figure out why it was famous. Then, after walking around a bit, we had dinner at <a href="http://mumbaiwala.co.nz/" target="_blank">MumbaiWala Cafe</a>. Good Indian food, but little too much on the wallet. It was still day light and we realized that the NZ-Pakistan test had just ended the previous day in Christchurch. So, we decided to explore that option. It was interesting to see that the cricket ground was just next to a park, we no security and not gated entrance. We just walked around the ground and it was exciting to see the same ground you had seen on the TV so many times!</div>
<div>
That was a day well spent.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 4</h4>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ajCEzn7EAltmjs8hh6QeN0GdjreBt9rzLHobdhfcwqP-1O5-_MenhewnyLqdklK6UbRCPQk_EZqx-bIcJq8Ct7tSot8wsQZpsoruYW9-aA1sSIcvlEuC43UZ1wrlv3oTr6bVy0uutb0/s1600/2A7A5795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ajCEzn7EAltmjs8hh6QeN0GdjreBt9rzLHobdhfcwqP-1O5-_MenhewnyLqdklK6UbRCPQk_EZqx-bIcJq8Ct7tSot8wsQZpsoruYW9-aA1sSIcvlEuC43UZ1wrlv3oTr6bVy0uutb0/s320/2A7A5795.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drive to Mount Cook from lake Pukaki</td></tr>
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We were up bright and early on Day 4 and were looking forward to our drive to Mount Cook. Our first stop was Lake Tekapo. I bright blue lake surrounded by mountains. The drive is exquisite with vast plains surrounded by snow capped mountains. The drive is beautiful and it only gets better as you get closer to Mt. Cook. At Lake Tekapo, we took our lunch break, found some cheese sandwiches as veggie options in the menu and a couple of pictures later, we headed out to Mount Cook.</div>
<div>
The drive from Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook is about an hour or so long. As soon as the Lake Pukaki becomes visible, the scenery just gets mind blowing. I have seen such turquoise blue lakes ever before. We actually went up and down the drive along Lake Pukaki a couple of times to take in the view. And to our benefit, it was bright and sunny and Mount Cook was so clearly visible, there was no chance you could miss it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnmbHvlQghlK5QPcgaQlZr8oUv5oLD1-dLI6NoBRGRU56C15BReXoyVsP4HEg3xTxm5j7DhWMzHz_MXdAvAA6ILC1QoIEWn5kj6mz5oBqGCku_vuJGMzysV4RIB8FFCQpJ89-FKtIc2E/s1600/2A7A5875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnmbHvlQghlK5QPcgaQlZr8oUv5oLD1-dLI6NoBRGRU56C15BReXoyVsP4HEg3xTxm5j7DhWMzHz_MXdAvAA6ILC1QoIEWn5kj6mz5oBqGCku_vuJGMzysV4RIB8FFCQpJ89-FKtIc2E/s320/2A7A5875.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker Valley Track</td></tr>
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</div>
Our plan to reach the Mount Cook National Park and then hike the Hooker Valley track which takes you to a Hooker glacier lake just at the base of Mount Cook. It is a very popular track and provides great views at sunset. You can find more information on tracks in this park <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/aoraki-mount-cook-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/aoraki-mount-cook-village-walking-tracks/" target="_blank">here</a>. We started the hike and after about an hour, we could clearly see Mount Cook, but my ankle gave up and I decided to stop and take in the views till Sumit completed the rest of the hike and returned. There was a picnic bench right there, so was a good place for me to sit, relax and take pictures. Plus, I had full five bars on my phone, perfect time to take pictures and instantly share!<br />
By the time we were done with the hike, it was getting dark, so we looked for some place to grab dinner, and settled for Poppies in Twizel. Good food. Then we headed straight ot our lodge for the night.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 5</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u9OiuAQrbgpC2sBQLmSPggIB7bpayyrCbOKgy7D12XoxuUaXc2uU0zdyHGJaZ8ezI9ZW2xO_mJryLgJYs3wjjnM226JXJSAnacRG5u3Fo5C67n163uBSQYd6g9PzpNJbma_ZnSH7MMU/s1600/18402208_10105147661990935_2756162112773483753_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u9OiuAQrbgpC2sBQLmSPggIB7bpayyrCbOKgy7D12XoxuUaXc2uU0zdyHGJaZ8ezI9ZW2xO_mJryLgJYs3wjjnM226JXJSAnacRG5u3Fo5C67n163uBSQYd6g9PzpNJbma_ZnSH7MMU/s320/18402208_10105147661990935_2756162112773483753_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay cliffs</td></tr>
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Todays' goal was to drive to Te Anau via Lindis Valley. First we stopped for breakfast at a nearby restuarant and grabbed our daily meal of cheese sandwiches. Then we went to clay cliffs close by. Pretty, multi colored, multi layered cliffs just next to the main freeway. A few pictures later, we started driving towards Queenstown trhough Lindis Valley. This a beautiful vast valley, but to be able to appreciate the view, you must stop by at one of the view points and take in the view.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
From here, we carried on to Queenstown for lunch. Today, we wanted to go to <a href="http://www.fergburger.com/" target="_blank">Ferg Burger</a>, no matter how long the queues got. And so we did. And the burgers and big and delicious. After we stuffed ourselves, we wanted to pick up some fruits and yogurt and go meet our friend Balu, who incidentally was also in Queenstown and staying at a Youth Hostel. But he was sick and suffering from regular bouts of vomit and had fever. He later discovered her got dengue in Fiji. So, we met Balu, who looked weak and we were glad he was flying back to India the next day so as to recover well at home. Then, while crossing the road, I heard someone shout out, "Neha", and to my astonishment, it was school friend Mrinal. What are the odds! It was a quick meet up as she was on her way to the airport to get back to India. But it was so cool to run into someone in a foreign location.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MvPjdJlHoeSGkpRho_ekkPEj51Kpkef84C1lhQ5k_Tfj95GA4LdWAc9zCfmgQ-J8tshSP-pAlEb6teziD880ookl19ZWDYs6W2heLxPf7FubmvdWkz0gH3BuOYsOp-3M2NMXDjdezFU/s1600/2A7A5906_7_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MvPjdJlHoeSGkpRho_ekkPEj51Kpkef84C1lhQ5k_Tfj95GA4LdWAc9zCfmgQ-J8tshSP-pAlEb6teziD880ookl19ZWDYs6W2heLxPf7FubmvdWkz0gH3BuOYsOp-3M2NMXDjdezFU/s320/2A7A5906_7_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindis Pass</td></tr>
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Well now, we were headed straight to Te Anau. This was our stop over before heading to Milford Sound the next day. We reached our AirBnB well in time to rest, change and head out for dinner at Radcliffe before our gloworm cave tour. Well, in New Zealand, the Waitomo caves in the north island are much more popular, but if you are in south island and don't plan to go to the north, you make do with Te Anau. <a href="https://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/experiences/glowworm-caves/te-anau-glowworm-caves/" target="_blank">The tour</a> was well planned and organized. We left on a boat to get to the mouth of caves. The guides were nice and sweet and the hike within the cave was well paved. It was cold and dark inside. The whole water system inside the cave was quite impressive. I had never imagined that water could flow within the caves like that.<br />
Once we got back, we were tired enough to doze off almost immediately. South of Queenstown gets all cold and wet.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 6</h4>
<div>
We had our 12'o clock tour booked at Milford sound. So, we got pup and headed straight to Milford sound. It is a very pretty drive. You have tall snow capped and green hills along side the road. It was still drizzling so was wet and cold. The drive was however beautiful. It wasn't very foggy so even with the rains, the view was just worth the drive in the rains.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7arN4oqVzWdC7NvfSqi359SNX0Ysl2T_6cyTIB7WAVKq9ozmurGMvLCKlX0Fw2antbuxOWHUxL0mBmbAH4j62BtZsJZKtmgM717UzpKNfQRY4O4dDWMoJRwjiWlAFj0Q-C-ghsMkm5Dg/s1600/2A7A5944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7arN4oqVzWdC7NvfSqi359SNX0Ysl2T_6cyTIB7WAVKq9ozmurGMvLCKlX0Fw2antbuxOWHUxL0mBmbAH4j62BtZsJZKtmgM717UzpKNfQRY4O4dDWMoJRwjiWlAFj0Q-C-ghsMkm5Dg/s320/2A7A5944.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milford Sound</td></tr>
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Once we reached Milford sound, everything was very straightforward. Multiple tour operators run the cruise, but pretty much use the same route. It takes about a couple of hours on the boat. The boats get closer to the waterfalls, you spot seals and I have been told you see penguins too. But we didn't see any, and I think just for that, I might have to go back! We went with the <a href="http://www.mitrepeak.com/experiences/cruises/" target="_blank">Mitre Peak tours</a> for our Milford sound cruise.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcn03JBR1aL_9AmSPpxDMUgVi37ANpIFKWi0868k5fZuoysPAha1FRP5DFQVxJFH9LcX6EO58_LXGzf5hwJH1TZNp4uMmcd00a_Ox0DdJY3YQQpS0DD6ubDnPofztRZHwWpHJMyPVEus/s1600/2A7A5921_2_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcn03JBR1aL_9AmSPpxDMUgVi37ANpIFKWi0868k5fZuoysPAha1FRP5DFQVxJFH9LcX6EO58_LXGzf5hwJH1TZNp4uMmcd00a_Ox0DdJY3YQQpS0DD6ubDnPofztRZHwWpHJMyPVEus/s320/2A7A5921_2_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Te Anau to Milford Sound</td></tr>
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Once the tour was over, we got something to eat at the cafeteria and headed back to Queenstown. As we got closer to Queenstown, the weather improved and it got sunny and bright. Once we reached Queenstown, we headed for a stroll in the main marketplace of Queenstown. Shopped for some souvenirs and decided to have Indian food for dinner at <a href="http://www.tandooripalace.co.nz/" target="_blank">Tandoori Palace</a>. At Tandoori Palace, the owner, looked very familiar and I kept thinking where have I met her, when it occurred to me, that she is the same lady I had seen in the Mumbaiwala restaurant in Christchurch. I happened to talk to her and she told me she often shuttles between the two cities to manage both the restaurants. What a coincidence.<br />
Here is the video of hailstorm on our Milford sound cruise</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJibrwK41JcPz5nxdSB0snbJwgjkiD2tQpgOpKayNmuxN0W4y9AJEvutXtbKg6k4wjMKQtz4dHVs_zz_dzJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Well, we were done for the day and it was time to doze off and prepare for our big bungee jump the next day.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day 7</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dmrb3FGauEgdH5mBVNjtR2c2X4Xdk_JdzgXTyoLQMkX7WwiTNPCm353zhgyPK0DoFagxKxvkgo_61oFktbZRKvp2Glq6QfEgI520uT5yzijwaUG0s6vAGEO9WYf2_SiNJmbwxT2F2Gg/s1600/AJH-KB-20161127-047-001-0002-Cam02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dmrb3FGauEgdH5mBVNjtR2c2X4Xdk_JdzgXTyoLQMkX7WwiTNPCm353zhgyPK0DoFagxKxvkgo_61oFktbZRKvp2Glq6QfEgI520uT5yzijwaUG0s6vAGEO9WYf2_SiNJmbwxT2F2Gg/s320/AJH-KB-20161127-047-001-0002-Cam02.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bungy Jumping</td></tr>
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The two of us almost couldn't sleep all night because we had looked atone the bungee jumping videos and were freaked out all night. We had booked <a href="http://www.bungy.co.nz/" target="_blank">Nevis bungee jump</a>, which was the highest in New Zealand and if you look at one of the videos on YouTube, you will freak out too. So, the first thing I did was, call them in the morning and asked them to either cancel our booking, or to move it to Kawaru bridge jumping, which I thought being lesser height, would be less scary. Nevis is 234 ~ meters I guess and Kawaru bridge is 84~ meters. But no, they did not make any changes and spent 30 minutes conuselling me on how I would so proud once I was done. So, well, hesitatingly, we headed to their center in the downtown. From here we got on to the bus and went up to the canyon where Nevis jump happens. I was petrified, to say the least. And then, as it would happen, they announced that the winds are too strong today, so they advise to etiher wait for 4 hours or cancel the jump. My eyes lit up and I decided to downgrade to <a href="http://www.bungy.co.nz/" target="_blank">Kawaru bridge bungee jumping</a> - where the first bungee jump happened in the world. It was as if God was listening to me. And then we were drive to the Kawaru bridge. Here even though I was freaking out again, it didn't look as scary as Nevis.</div>
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Sigh.<br />
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I was on the platform before I could realise, with my feet tied, with the ropes in place and the guy said, jump before I count to three, or you go back and no jumping for you. I think I jumped on 2. I was flying, and my heart was thumping. I was just so relieved when I felt I was being pulled down to the boat. Whew. Done. Off the bucket list. Here, check out the video<br />
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Next up, grab a burger for lunch and then Sumit wanted to take a dip in the Lake Wakatipu. So, excited about our latest achievement, we headed to the lake, where Sumit took a short swim in the cold cold water and then after taking a shower we decided to drive up to Gelnorchy. A beautiful lake side drive all the way up to Gelnorchy took around an hour or so. Then, we headed back and hung out at a sports bar for a couple of hours before getting dinner at Bombay Palace. </div>
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Our trip was over. It was time to head back to the hotel, pack up, watch some TV and then head out tomorrow. Queenstown is beeeutifullll! And so in south island. North Island, I will see you next time.</div>
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What more could we have done?</h3>
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<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.abeltasman.co.nz/" target="_blank">Abel Tasman National Park</a> in the north is a very popular national park. You can plan a multi-day or a single day hike here. The camping sites have to be booke din advance and get filled out pretty quickly. You can also hike one way and take a boat-shuttle the other way. Nelson is the closest airport.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Instead of Milford Sound, you could visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubtful_Sound" target="_blank">Doubtful sound</a> in the south, which is much less crowded, but takes more time to visit as it is further away from the land. People usually opt for an overnight cruise here.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">There is a TransAlpine railroad option between Greymouth and Christchurch which is quite popular and decetly $$$. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">While in Christchurch, driving through Akaroa which is the coastal area, is also a popular day activity. People go for cruises and whale watching here</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Driving from Fox Glacier to Greymouth, you have options of stopping at Shantytown and Hokataiki which is famous for its glass factory</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dunedin on the east dise is popular for penguins. But again this is seasonal, so make sure you check before you go, especially if your only motivating factor to drive there is the penguins</span></li>
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Visa</h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">We had to fill the visa forms online and submit our application. Then we mailed our passports to embassy in Washingtom DC. But, after we received our passports, we realised there were no stamps. So, we called the embassy and some helpline numbers only to figure out they don't put stamps on the passports anymore. They add your details to the database and all and you just have to carry a piece of paper they send over to you with all the details.</span></div>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comQueenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.66264350000006-45.120947199999996 168.50128200000006 -44.9413772 168.82400500000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-55529704501177396872016-07-20T02:01:00.000-07:002016-10-25T13:12:01.535-07:00Japan (Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kamakura)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Its been three months since our Japan trip and finally, I get to write about our trip. No No, don't worry, none of the memories have faded away, they are all here on my desktop, on tiny post-its from keep. For our summer vacation, I had given Sumit a choice between China and Japan, secretly hoping he picks China, because Great Wall would complete my list of seven wonders. But well, Japan wouldn't be a bad choice either. He picked Japan and we were all set to explore this land of samurais and hunt for Hatori Honzo sword ;)</div>
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Here is our brief itinerary:</div>
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Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo. Tokyo sightseeing</div>
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Day 2: Tokyo -> Hiroshima. Hiroshima sightseeing</div>
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Day 3: Hiroshima -> Kyoto. Kyoto sightseeing</div>
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Day 4: Kyoto sightseeing. Kyoto -> Tokyo</div>
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Day 5: Kamakura half day trip, Tokyo sightseeing. Fly out</div>
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Where to fly</h4>
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Either Kyoto or Tokyo, depending on what suits your itineray. Now when you fly in to Tokoyo, you can either fly to Narita Internationl airport (NRT) or Haneda International airport (HND). NRT is on the outskirts of the city it takes more than ahour to reach the city centre but there are plenty of flight options. HND is cloer to the city and takes about 30 minutes to get to the city centre. We were lucky to get good direct flight from SFO to HND. It is very conveniently located and connected very well by public transport to the city.</div>
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When to go</h4>
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We were going in July and expected the temperatures to be high, but not that high. The humidity and heat was much like Delhi summers and it drained us. It wasn't the best season to visit Japan and I recommend you go either in early summer or early winters to avoid extreme weather.</div>
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Tokyo (Day 1)</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are here!</td></tr>
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We arrived early in the morning at Haneda airport. We had to redeem our Japan Rail Pass coupons from one of the designated offices, but realised that the one at HND airport didn't open till 8 am. So, instead of waiting at the airport, we heade to our hotel in Tokyo, <a href="http://www.tokyustay.co.jp/e/hotel/GZ/" target="_blank">Tokyo Stay Ginza</a>. The train ride itself got me excited! Yay!! Japan! Our hotel was newly renovated. The rooms were the smallest I have ever seen, but I am so mightly impressed as to how they had managed to fit in every damn thing in that space. You name it, you had it in the room. </div>
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After we got ready, we headed straight to the <span style="text-align: left;">Tokyo station to redeem our passes. It is a huge station and if you had fitbit on, you would have been happy to see the steps count that day. Also, for local trains in Tokyo there are two networks, the JR(Japan Rail) network was free to us but the stops were not conveniently located and the other network had many more stations, but we had to pay for the rides or we could get the daily pass from some locations. Stationery shops, BIC camera being one of them. So, we walked all the way (about a mile) to a shop only to discover that shop doesn't open until 10 am! Good Lord, I hope you are counting the number of steps with me. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senso-ji</td></tr>
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Anyhow, time to start our tourism. Yayy! First stop: <b>Senso Ji Temple</b>. Beautiful temple. Exactly how I imagined it to be. Very royal. I liked the market streets leading up to the temple. Perfect place to wander by. And I was excited to find out that the Japanese used essence sticks (agarbatti) for offering prayers, like we do. Alright, next up, <b>Ueno park</b>. The next staion. We walked up to the park. It was a huge one and we decided to only walk up to the lotus pond. We walked around a bit, the heat and humidity was killing us and we decided to not walk much, but to head out for lunch. Before we left, we saw a group of friends playing some music and performing in the park. That was nice and we got some rest. Here I talked to two really old Japanese men, sitting on the bench. They were trying to guess which country I was from and then decided to ask me to figure out who won. We happened to talk and they told me how they love Indians' warm and loving nature and their spicy food.</div>
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Alright, hunger strikes, we are heading up to <a href="http://priyajapan.tripod.com/" target="_blank">Priya</a>, Indian restuarurant, close to our next stop of the day. After stuffing ourselves with some good Indian food and listening to Madhuri's songs on TV, we headed out to <b>Shibuya</b>. As soon as you step out of the station, you see the statue of <b>Hachiko</b>. And the crazy pedestriam crossing. Immediately, I realised the best place to get a shot would be the starbucks, second floor. But that was for later. First, we just wandered around here. You can easily get lost. It is like a shopping district located in the downtown. The most populous place I have been to, I guess, after Delhi. So many types of socks, so amazing. This place is like bustling with life. If you are still counting the steps, hang on, there is more to come. So, we finally went to starbucks for a cool drink in the darn hot weather and a good view of the crossing. I can't describe it, see the video. </div>
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Next up, we headed to Harajuku, to see the <b>Meji Shrine</b>. Just so you know, if you planning to go to Kyoto, you are gonna see much more amazing shrines there, you may skip this by all means. We then decided to skip the Yoyogi gardens and headed straight to <b>Shinjuku</b>. It is less posh version of Shibuya. Looks the electronics shopping market area of Tokyo. There is a Robot restaurant where they have a robot show. It had good reviews on trip advisor, but we were in no modd to wait in the heat and headed to the mall to stay indoors and cool down a bit. After we recovered, we decided to call it a day and head back to our hotel. So, after a long walk back to our station (keep counting the steps) we took a train to our hotel. We relaxed for a while and found a public swimming pool close by. Well that was quite a bit of walk too, but the swim was super duper refreshing. Exactly what we needed.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shinjuku</td></tr>
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Now for dinner, we thought of going to <a href="http://dhabaindia.com/dhaba/index.html" target="_blank">Dhaba</a>, again highly recommended by our friend who had lived in Tokyo for a while. So, we decided to walk (don't stop counting the steps yet). It was upposed to close at 10, but we made it in time at 9:30 only to discover that in Japan restaurants stop taking orders 30 minutes before the closing time. Arggghhh!!! But there was Bistro right across the street and we went there to find salad as the only vegetarian option on the menu. So, we went to the food court of a mall next door only to find there was not even a singly veggie dish on the menu of any of the restaurants. By now we were so cranky that we decided to setlle for that damn salad. To be fair, it was quite good. And yes before I forget, <b>Ginza</b> is the most posh area I have ever seen. Big brnads, with vibrance of Vegas and elegance of Paris, this is is where you want to spend your evenings. Then, we headed back to our hotel to call it a day. And if you were counting, the steps for the day were close to 30,000.</div>
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Hiroshima (Day 2)</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ground zero</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okonomiyaki</td></tr>
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Good morning Japan!I am already mighty impressed by your punctuality, hospitality and cleanliness. Lets see what we got today. Given our schedule, we had to pick between a day trip to Mount Fuji or Hiroshima and for all the historical significance, we picked Hiroshima and we weren't planning on hiking Fuji anyway, so this made for a better choice. Early morning we were on our train to Hiroshima via Shin Osaka. When taking the Japan Rail, you can either get in to the coaches with pre assigned seating, or other coaches, where if crowded, you might not get a seat. So, we booked our seats for our trip to Hirsohima. It was a pretty empty coach and pretty clean too. The announcements were in Japanese and the only recognizable part of the sentence was the name of the city. The trains are on time. The little time we had during our stopover at Shin Osaka, we spent it hunting for veggie food. We only found cream sandwich that would fit our needs. </div>
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Well, after we reached Hiroshima, we dropped out luggage at <a href="http://www.jrhotelgroup.com/en/138.html" target="_blank">Hotel Granvia Hiroshima</a>, which was conveniently located right outside the station and headed straight to Indian restaurant <a href="http://www.roopali.jp/roopali_e.pdf" target="_blank">Roopali</a>. It was a short walk and the food was good. Then we got back to our hotel and our room was ready to check in. There is this city bus that runs around the city and stops at famous tourist stops. Since we had the JR pass, we were covered. Our first stop was the <b>peace memorial</b>. It is a huge park with the ground zero, the actual site of bomb detonation that was the most significant here. It was truly horrifying to see it. The museum was worth a visit too. After we walked around a bit and had mango flavored ice cream, we decided to go to <b>Miyajima shrine</b>. Getting here could be tricky, so here is the best <a href="http://www.hiroshima-navi.or.jp/en/qa/20123.php" target="_blank">route description</a> I found. It was totally the highlight of the day. The shrine, the pagoda temple, the deer roaming freely around on the island. And not to forget the Torii gate. We could see the water rising at the base of the gate from low tide to high tide. The whole trip to the island the beautiful red corridors makes this a must-do in Hiroshima. There were quick heavy showers and that made the weather pleasant. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E2_6vjA2_p4UknyjsVYtsrbsV6O-t51Qb2_XTfIUKrAXx5GFy5a9hnRGP8Kxg0vPeajIJCk9Wi04wr7S09LckSo66cDG-GhCQzSGZLAgMe05vGbiJt6ZmxfgjeIWuNC0X-NDP21b0u4/s1600/2A7A4618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E2_6vjA2_p4UknyjsVYtsrbsV6O-t51Qb2_XTfIUKrAXx5GFy5a9hnRGP8Kxg0vPeajIJCk9Wi04wr7S09LckSo66cDG-GhCQzSGZLAgMe05vGbiJt6ZmxfgjeIWuNC0X-NDP21b0u4/s320/2A7A4618.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miyajima shrine</td></tr>
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For dinner, we wanted to try <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki" target="_blank">Okonomiyaki</a> suggested by @Roopak and searched for a <br />
restaurant that would serve us this traditional dish. Well, close to the train station, there was a Gaia building which had a food court on the top floor, so we just headed there. This food court specialized in Okonomiyaki, Well, there were these small shacks which has a grill for preparing them and stools arranged around the grill for you to see the preparation too. Super fun!! And Okonomiyaki was super tasty! After this, we headed to our hotel, we had an early morning train to Kyoto. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Kyoto (Day 3)</h3>
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We got on to our train to Kyoto. Impeccably clean trains and always on time. Once in Kyoto, we stepped out to walk to our hotel, <a href="https://www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/tower_hotel/en/" target="_blank">Kyoto Tower hotel </a>which was right outside the station and perfectly located. We checked in, freshened up and figured out the closest Indian restaurant. So, in Kyoto it felt that both bus and train are a good ways to commute. only issue being that the bus stops were written in Japanese inside the bus. So, we were constantly looking at google maps to figure out the bus number to board and using pattern matching to figure out the stop to get down at. Our lunch was at Ajanta, not a great Indian restaurant I'd say. There are better options for Indian food in Kyoto.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjMVUA25IXDHCZ3IzT0r5REa7kdtKDb2vupXsAcOmxyd4UjK7h9GH5YuqA8N5uzOfxZqv9RlJNCpLq43iB7cPA0EzLiDO8W6GDoY9cIsrNhD3GgG-O_2hfSzOnW43aYdnyQIOoJgt2co/s1600/2A7A4647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjMVUA25IXDHCZ3IzT0r5REa7kdtKDb2vupXsAcOmxyd4UjK7h9GH5YuqA8N5uzOfxZqv9RlJNCpLq43iB7cPA0EzLiDO8W6GDoY9cIsrNhD3GgG-O_2hfSzOnW43aYdnyQIOoJgt2co/s320/2A7A4647.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pottery class</td></tr>
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After we were refueled, we headed to <b>Ginkaku-ji </b>or Silver Pavilion. A cute little market leading up to it. The place itself didn't take long to walk around. Our plan was to walk down the "<b>Philosopher's Walk</b>" and visit all the shrines and temples along the path. It was a pretty little shaded walk with trees around. So, shade was a welcome relief in that weather. On our walk, I spotted a pottery shop, with pottery lessons! I walked in to see some tourists making pottery and I learnt that they would ship my bowl/cup back to states in a few weeks. I didn't think twice before grabbing a chair. Oh, it was fun and I was so excited when I received my rice bowl back at home a few weeks later. Perfect souvenir.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMtxI1slE62foncs9IWEtYQLPV_raSHAkZtedcJn1u_WBYqqX864_MdrKKsrn3gBxaCwrDCNlmx0Rtt9L0N7d1rqLtqNA7DFxvgcRzHO_U7YfZztR9ESqC98wO-tlO_JKR5PWLRPY3yA/s1600/2A7A4668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMtxI1slE62foncs9IWEtYQLPV_raSHAkZtedcJn1u_WBYqqX864_MdrKKsrn3gBxaCwrDCNlmx0Rtt9L0N7d1rqLtqNA7DFxvgcRzHO_U7YfZztR9ESqC98wO-tlO_JKR5PWLRPY3yA/s320/2A7A4668.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiyamizu dera temple</td></tr>
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As we continued down the walk, we visited <b>Nanzen-ji</b> and <b>Chion-in</b>. By now, we were extremely tired of all the walking. So, we took a cab to <b>Kiyamizu-dera</b> Temple. It was full of tourists and bustling with activity. There were so many little shops to get to the temple. Men and women both dressed in traditional attire were headed to the temple. Loved this place for its hustle-bustle.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uzcZ04hjVFZ6cCBohS7fn2y97QHZSU4qCGE_Zmgj0ZthS3XxStXInj4OcvX6sLQ4PBoeFI9Lm9kO6k8KKJ9WeaMput6cx4rzFBy5E7HQPFS40EeGpDrZFLkXhx5kJnQBrBaQRAHHat4/s1600/2A7A4695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uzcZ04hjVFZ6cCBohS7fn2y97QHZSU4qCGE_Zmgj0ZthS3XxStXInj4OcvX6sLQ4PBoeFI9Lm9kO6k8KKJ9WeaMput6cx4rzFBy5E7HQPFS40EeGpDrZFLkXhx5kJnQBrBaQRAHHat4/s320/2A7A4695.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fushima Inari shrine</td></tr>
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Next up, we took a bus to Sanju-sangen-do, only to discover that it had closed like 2 minutes ago. Nevermind, we decided to take the train to <b>Fujima Inari shrine</b>. We missed the station and didn't realise till about twenty minutes and felt we were on the outskirts of the city. Oh boy! time to get off and take the train in the reverse direction. Well, when we got to the correct station, the shrine was right outside the train station. This shrine has a whole hike through the torri gates. Absolutely beautiful. This was my favorite place in Kyoto. Sumit was a bit tired so I walked around the hiking path for a while and then we both decided to head home. But before that, it was time to grab some dinner and we decided to go to <a href="http://www.kyoto-mughal.com/" target="_blank">Mughal</a>. This day was once again full of walking around the city. So, before you visit Japan, make sure you got your pedometer with you.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Kyoto (Day 4)</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p4OCDrhEu2EAOHL-Kw67QfHSIya-UagQLCRUZV400eV3u1ojE6CNHBrFUbC91dlPQhv0Z_1T_ZAjoOuKRDLCkenfwwNt20sw84762ojblauxgmV5M60-6ASjiiDf9Syr7reiFrbhMTs/s1600/2A7A4710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p4OCDrhEu2EAOHL-Kw67QfHSIya-UagQLCRUZV400eV3u1ojE6CNHBrFUbC91dlPQhv0Z_1T_ZAjoOuKRDLCkenfwwNt20sw84762ojblauxgmV5M60-6ASjiiDf9Syr7reiFrbhMTs/s320/2A7A4710.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Pavilion</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86uoVyudi5as9hRuoFcaY55HNl6QmmxkaIDkoCSvcpXKk1qGG7uCRKcBe52TzejDSS1vAN-xAB1gw7CSWzGbGhGnnRfA716KgfSF4sSO79OA-mDgMXh6Do5xpESisOFnj2OTZTOs05Bk/s1600/2A7A4697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Day two in Kyoto. Today we were going to the temples and shrines on the outskirts. And we had figured out the previous day that buses would work better as the train stops were a little farther away. So, after gradding a quick coffeee and croissant from the neaby Starbucks, it was time for us to head to Tenryu-ji. It was so hot and humid that after walking around for 5-10 minutes, we just wanted to rest in the shade. Right outside <b>Tenryu-ji</b> was the <b>bamboo garden</b>. It is really pretty, but unlike the pictures you see online, it is super crowded, so you can't get that prefect shot. There is one long walkway that is lined with bamboos on both sides. The garden as such is on a huge area and you could walk around, but decided to skip it and headed to our next destination, <b>Kinkaku-ji</b> or the Golden Pavilion. Now, this was one of the prettiest temples I had seen. A perfect golden temple with a perfect reflection to complement it. This would be a must see.<br />
Next up, we decided to head to<b> Nijo castle</b> only to find out it was closed on that day of the week. Ugh, so much effort in so much heat for what! So, we started looking for food sources and found this place <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d8390780-Reviews-Indian_Restaurant_Tadka-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html" target="_blank">Tadka</a> for lunch. <b>Sanjusangen-do</b> temple with a 1000 warrior statues which we had missed the previous day. It wasn't surprising to see so many similarities in both buddist and hindu mythology. It didn't take long for us to go around, but pictures were prohibited.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXpDLdGB2-4/V34tuqpchGI/AAAAAAAAsfQ/7oA84R_LoSwNpMLNNMugUPVqKk1Z3KHSQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20160705_110618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXpDLdGB2-4/V34tuqpchGI/AAAAAAAAsfQ/7oA84R_LoSwNpMLNNMugUPVqKk1Z3KHSQCPcB/s320/IMG_20160705_110618.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo Garden</td></tr>
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A small restaurant inside a home. But this was the most authentic south indian food I had in Japan. So good, you would lick your fingers. I was so impressed that I asked if the chef was Indian. But it turned out the chef had actually trained in India for a year or so. You got to have food here if you are in Kyoto. Well, now that we were refueled, we headed out to our next stop, Sanjusongen-do. <span style="text-align: justify;">This was our last stop for the day before we headed to our hotels to pack up and head out to Kyoto station to board our trains to Tokyo. Kyoto had so much to see that you really can't do justice to this place in two days. Until, next time! </span><br />
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When we got to Tokyo, we decided to visit the Tokyo Tower at night after dinner. This time we made it to Dhaba restuarant well in time. The food was really good. I didn't expect Indian restaurants in Japan to be so good. It was a pleasant surprise. We had dosas. And before I forget to take a note, we saw a drunkard the the train station. Like, really a Johnly Walker kind of drunkard. From here, we took a bus to <b>Tokyo tower</b>. Once we got our tickets, we headed to the observation deck. I am glad we did at night time because the views were just so beautiful. We spent some time strolling about on the two levels of the observation decks. Then we got down and Uber'd to our hotel.</div>
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Kamakura and Tokyo (Day 5)</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_BK-3heSKryrVd20XNY62md_w4pv5_ZtlLVC3ZNWHIEJF1UW3v8VJ9prrhoXmknqaLejLaoVkT0VUEWEEMZZPlzIlkd3nOpKqnMyYhGRBz5lg4H6jIf8h9m3doUDYBgqgHnUCePacMk/s1600/2A7A4765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_BK-3heSKryrVd20XNY62md_w4pv5_ZtlLVC3ZNWHIEJF1UW3v8VJ9prrhoXmknqaLejLaoVkT0VUEWEEMZZPlzIlkd3nOpKqnMyYhGRBz5lg4H6jIf8h9m3doUDYBgqgHnUCePacMk/s320/2A7A4765.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kamakura shrine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQoNhxzrpQuUN5jk91bNCoyed28T37-LIUw_xIQcCL_9Jcg9Qlb1incQB9WekOaY2ffoPFrvELLSxvFhPfN8GTB_1F4RSS60pXcKKgULq33RsIrOEQ317qsukdp_8zH_pB2Eoo2dqiOk/s1600/2A7A4753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQoNhxzrpQuUN5jk91bNCoyed28T37-LIUw_xIQcCL_9Jcg9Qlb1incQB9WekOaY2ffoPFrvELLSxvFhPfN8GTB_1F4RSS60pXcKKgULq33RsIrOEQ317qsukdp_8zH_pB2Eoo2dqiOk/s320/2A7A4753.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kotoku-in</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQoNhxzrpQuUN5jk91bNCoyed28T37-LIUw_xIQcCL_9Jcg9Qlb1incQB9WekOaY2ffoPFrvELLSxvFhPfN8GTB_1F4RSS60pXcKKgULq33RsIrOEQ317qsukdp_8zH_pB2Eoo2dqiOk/s1600/2A7A4753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Sumit had declared the previous night that he was too tired to walk the next day and wanted to take it easy. So, I decided to take a solo day-trip to <b>Kamakura</b>. I got on the train for Kamakura. Once you get down at the station, everything is pretty well marked. You can get tickets for the local train at the ticket booth where they also have brochures for all the touristy stops. It was an easy walk to the giant Buddha statue(<b>Kotoku-in</b>) from the local train station. It wasn't just the statue, but whole set up that made you feel at peace. It was a very pleasant day which added to the experience after having spent 4 days in scorching sun. You could walk inside this hollow statue too. Once, I was done roaming around and taking pictures, I headed to the <b>Hase-dera temple</b>. Pretty fancy temple will gold plated statues and a beautiful view from the courtyard overlooking the beach. It was cloudy, but I hear that you get a pretty clear view of Mount Fuji from here as well. I went to the beach for a short walk but wasn't very impressed and decided to get back to the Kamakura station.</div>
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There was a shrine very close by and it the walk was through wiggly streets flocked with shops on either sides. Pretty good day to walk around in general. Once here, I was happy to see the lanterns floating around and the flock of tourists. After spending a few minutes, I headed back to Tokyo. </div>
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Sumit and I decided to have conveyer-belt sushi in Shibuya. Our meeting point- Hachiko. Then we walked around a bit, shopped around somewhat since we had the entire day to just do nothing. After we were done with Shibuya, we headed to <b>Roppongi Hills</b>. This is another posh area after Ginza, but is mostly for corporate offices. We went to Roppongi Tower to visit Google's Japan office since Sumit was carrying his badge. Pretty cool, eh? After grabbing some snacks, and walking around the area, we decided to have dinner at <a href="http://greenasia-tokyo.com/" target="_blank">Green Asia</a>. Average food, but a very posh area to hang out. Then we headed straight to our hotels, to check out and were on our way to the Haneda airport for our flight back home.</div>
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Arigato Japan! I am amazed at how traditional yet modern you are. How overly crowded, yet developed you are. How focused and friendly you are. I will be back for more.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
Pointers:</h4>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Japan Rail Pass</b>: You can only get those before you travel to Japan. You are eligible to travel only in certain trains using this pass. They are not the fastest, but are pretty good. And if you are taking for than 3 inter-city trips, this makes perfect sense. However, you might not be covered for local transport using these. <a href="http://www.seat61.com/Japan.htm#.Vw9AW_krKM8" target="_blank">More details</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pilgrimage hike</b>: Next time we are in Japan, we plan to take this <a href="http://www.walkjapan.com/tour/kumano-kodo-pilgrimage/" target="_blank">pilgrimage hike</a>. This time we were just not up to it.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Don't forget to purchase the different flavors of kitkat here in Japan.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Itineraries:</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Kyoto: <a href="http://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-itineraries" target="_blank">Itineraries</a></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Y4tEYtPq0/V34tuh5newI/AAAAAAAAsfQ/3B6JO3ww6HUWqSUq8LUn8215OiEjHC6qQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20160706_215103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Y4tEYtPq0/V34tuh5newI/AAAAAAAAsfQ/3B6JO3ww6HUWqSUq8LUn8215OiEjHC6qQCPcB/s320/IMG_20160706_215103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have a break, have a kitkat</td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Tokyo: <a href="http://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-1-day-itinerary/" target="_blank">Itinerary</a></li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">What more to do in <b>Tokyo</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Odaiba </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Imperial Palace</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Fish market</li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Other day trips</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Nara: A day trip from Kyoto. Has more temples to visit.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Fuji: We wanted to visit Mount Fuji initially but figured that hiking at night to see the sunrise is the bext way to explore this option, but it seemed that it might still be covered in snow during first week of July so decided to give it a pass. See <a href="http://1stforeverything.com/2013/08/28/climbing-mt-fuji/" target="_blank">this</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Nikko: Two hours north of Tokyo</li>
</ul>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comJapan36.204824 138.2529249.5419805000000011 96.944330000000008 62.8676675 179.561518tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-14676186825419127902016-02-16T18:31:00.000-08:002016-11-14T14:06:48.542-08:00Delhi, India (A day tour)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had been to Delhi at least 50 times I think, but I had never been a tourist in this historic city! I mean, as a kid, sure, my parents had visited Qutub Minar and Red Fort with me, but I had no memories, whatsoever. So, this time around I was determined to go see all the touristy places on my list. I only had a day(and a few hours next day) to spare, but well, something is better than nothing. So, there I was. I was accompanied by my parents-in-law, sister-in-law and my 10 month old niece on first day and oh, how much fun it is to roam around with family! I will treasure these pictures with them forever! :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS: I think I did a good job with the pics from my cell phone! \m/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Getting around</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Car:</b> We chose to hire a cab for a day. Having a car was super convenient since I was accompanied by my family. We did end up spending quite sometime in traffic, but we tried to avoid rush hour by starting at 10 am and getting home by 6 pm. Parking was an issue, but didn't hurt us much since our driver would drop us at the main entrance and then spend time looking for parking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Metro: </b>Delhi is very well connected by Metro. Especially the touristy spots have a conveniently located metro station close by. So, if you are keen on doing-it-yourself, this may be a good option.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Touristy places to visit</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rashtrapti Bhavan</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9AkRCQyo26ie_s1A4NVA171z1dxQ27niMFkVAQq7TtYcOoQt2yCFqy3KO6W3M-VG3vXtR0vaZ4BgjVx0MADkaRdF4_7WDOYLHJB3_EH5OgpNhY93VJd0hytFOyI06ReH18dYZPQCR6w/s1600/IMG_20160217_111638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9AkRCQyo26ie_s1A4NVA171z1dxQ27niMFkVAQq7TtYcOoQt2yCFqy3KO6W3M-VG3vXtR0vaZ4BgjVx0MADkaRdF4_7WDOYLHJB3_EH5OgpNhY93VJd0hytFOyI06ReH18dYZPQCR6w/s320/IMG_20160217_111638.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rsashtrapati Bhavan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtrapati_Bhavan" target="_blank">Rashtrapati Bhavan</a>. You can drive right up to the main entrance of the building but can't of course park here. Entry is strictly prohibited unless you have a visitor pass. We didn't. However, it makes for a good picture spot. Built by the British, it has such a modern yet classic architecture. Very impressive. Mughal gardens are well-manicured lawns located on the backside of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Our driver dropped us somewhere close to the entrance of these gardens and after thorough security check, we were let in. The gardens were very crowded and demanded a long walk. It took us a little less than an hour to walk the entire visitor path and head back out. Be ready for all the walking. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo-TBSlNK5V_2TDmQ61u8PWajzsh6hX1dBAf3FAXArF1R5QCfDRm65rmKeBQC2aiD3DoaPyVD_HgFQNvuASDeyyqDF4V8lSmAo3d9ECXpEUwZ5YR0Bw43dNRVV23dvV56tge1mNWFqyk/s1600/IMG_20160218_002645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo-TBSlNK5V_2TDmQ61u8PWajzsh6hX1dBAf3FAXArF1R5QCfDRm65rmKeBQC2aiD3DoaPyVD_HgFQNvuASDeyyqDF4V8lSmAo3d9ECXpEUwZ5YR0Bw43dNRVV23dvV56tge1mNWFqyk/s320/IMG_20160218_002645.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exporing Mughal gardens with family</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On a side note: One can visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan after taking permission on their website and submitting the required documents. On my list for next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jama Masjid</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWakeu8i_1kY1qcoDtR9Pn9-GC3jyPlRn5YJVBXibmfZG7404VaBagYYJm6PqVDgRZZJy3cVhjlyTzz8BViPGGJi7HVx0cvKIY9lQfgApyaEapheTL_2NLIkoHuk2JiJ3_3ccGQmIDcA/s1600/IMG_20160217_134333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWakeu8i_1kY1qcoDtR9Pn9-GC3jyPlRn5YJVBXibmfZG7404VaBagYYJm6PqVDgRZZJy3cVhjlyTzz8BViPGGJi7HVx0cvKIY9lQfgApyaEapheTL_2NLIkoHuk2JiJ3_3ccGQmIDcA/s320/IMG_20160217_134333.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jama Masjid's Courtyard</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next we drove to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Masjid" target="_blank">Jama Masjid</a>. We were now getting in to narrow crooked old-Delhi roads. What fun! Driver dropped us off at the footsteps of the entrance. It is a courtyard with huge doors and beautiful corridors all around. We were here during the prayer time so we had to wait for the prayer to get over before we could go towards the corridors where prayers were begin offered. We just sat and relaxed. Lot of pigeons in the courtyard, so lot of photo-ops with them. And you could also get a very clear view of the red fort from the corridors. Beautiful, sunny and a good reminder of old Mughal architecture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Fort</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgui3wYysMn5VHr2XbL8BvY04Yj3Tha5iYE2gTPCSUcsvWw-RnrUxOtVxDf7lkHy9znNANvBMnDOVR_KwhoRbT6YjuufD5OHVSJ6ZpMRefMDP6Grp-HbDyFYOm7rwT2jJ8cshGAo5v2uA/s1600/IMG_20160217_154314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgui3wYysMn5VHr2XbL8BvY04Yj3Tha5iYE2gTPCSUcsvWw-RnrUxOtVxDf7lkHy9znNANvBMnDOVR_KwhoRbT6YjuufD5OHVSJ6ZpMRefMDP6Grp-HbDyFYOm7rwT2jJ8cshGAo5v2uA/s320/IMG_20160217_154314.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic Red Fort</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Very close to the Jama Masjid and hence, of course our next stop was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Fort" target="_blank">Red Fort</a>. Get your tickets from the ticket counter and head towards the main entrance. A beautiful Indian flag atop this fort welcomes you. Once you get past the narrow alley lined with many small shops, you are in the Red Fort courtyard. I would suggest grabbing a map and following a route as per your plan. May be getting a guide would have been a better idea. I was highly disappointed by the state-of-affairs here at Red Fort. A monument of such great historic importance and significance shoudl have been well maintained. Scores of people visit this place everyday and it doesn't make for a good impressions. However, after going around the area and taking a few picture of Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khaas, etc. we head out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCv8CQXs_SefVSTGqBiwOalQldOrFZ2-OnvZfDX9jWRmEiYrMSruDFTEw7FXbvpdpLFCK7eSxTuDEB3r1GJdOlA_WuPXX7KKkdRnCjg2_j4Ys_7UUgqJKU0Tgef2O8Tp5p0_gXhui6Ow/s1600/IMG_20160217_145834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCv8CQXs_SefVSTGqBiwOalQldOrFZ2-OnvZfDX9jWRmEiYrMSruDFTEw7FXbvpdpLFCK7eSxTuDEB3r1GJdOlA_WuPXX7KKkdRnCjg2_j4Ys_7UUgqJKU0Tgef2O8Tp5p0_gXhui6Ow/s320/IMG_20160217_145834.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get a map before you explore!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted to go see Agrasen ki Baoli as it makes for a terrific photo -op, but somehow skipped it. So yes, get a guide and don't be too hopeful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Humayun's Tomb</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2aHsBOMgnAD8LqUC-pI2qF1flwjly3Hv14tZejOIydxeNFrQzdEi4W43ZSx86_ORO3HTdsBngm-aggrKc8lWcIyihVshPwL2paqGx4WiA3j1fbIZZk5GYwDcpCxuFeOT8zQ8EEszG80/s1600/IMG_20160217_165806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2aHsBOMgnAD8LqUC-pI2qF1flwjly3Hv14tZejOIydxeNFrQzdEi4W43ZSx86_ORO3HTdsBngm-aggrKc8lWcIyihVshPwL2paqGx4WiA3j1fbIZZk5GYwDcpCxuFeOT8zQ8EEszG80/s320/IMG_20160217_165806.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isa Khan's tomb</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun%27s_Tomb" target="_blank">Humayun's Tomb</a>. This was my favorite spot for the day. It has been well preserved and well taken care of. We walked up to the entrance, went upstairs, roamed around in corridors. The layout reminds you of Taj Mahal (both being tombs). Beautiful manicured lawns all around the tomb and lovely views of the densely populated city surrounding the area. On your way out, towards your left is another old tomb, which is Octagonal and was currently under restoration. This will be my pick for the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">India Gate</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd-NQS1SBiGH7oIszoE32J8jMiEfHN5NQ2p4kv5Qh3T6cp_vW7kOGLqb5Dl3I34GlO65-ApcTH8m9ocxJS2asZtFmraxsXYD6k6z5Dy-snIkK-VDCnGY716c-0mSMYbkTcUAi_CICLdk/s1600/IMG_20160216_234340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd-NQS1SBiGH7oIszoE32J8jMiEfHN5NQ2p4kv5Qh3T6cp_vW7kOGLqb5Dl3I34GlO65-ApcTH8m9ocxJS2asZtFmraxsXYD6k6z5Dy-snIkK-VDCnGY716c-0mSMYbkTcUAi_CICLdk/s320/IMG_20160216_234340.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India Gate at night</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have roamed around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Gate" target="_blank">India Gate</a> with friends at night a few times while in Delhi during college days. This time too, it brought back old memories. Met up with cousins and friends for a long stroll here under the street lights. Plus, the snack-shops all around are the best bet for Delhi street food. If you go before 10 pm(I think), you can walk up to the Amar Jawan Jyoti in memory of all the soldiers lost in war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Qutb Minar</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While we were able to visit all the above spots during the first day, we left <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qutb_Minar" target="_blank">Qutb Minar</a> for day #2. It is easily do-able the same day as well. For starters, weather was lovely. Cool and pleasant. The restora</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">tion has been very well done and this monument too, like Humayun's Tomb is very well maintained. Plenty of remains/ruins of other buildings in this area along with Qutub Minar. This was the best place for photo ops in my opinion and I had a good time. However, going up the tower isn't permitted, so that's a bummer, but the views, the remains of a courtyard with a corridor in front of the tower are surely worth a visit.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being Touristy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UMKtT4XWYZdqrhedtMgrQ-89jHXFD9l8Ur9sXCGiMBF6dCZXEWzyw12T8p7Gz49nzD54G43l1U0QXJy5taxhRuzojFb_ATO0ofUOTHwPRZHyisV23enfVgsqk-KmbIFyFe76ixLi57s/s1600/IMG_20160218_115046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UMKtT4XWYZdqrhedtMgrQ-89jHXFD9l8Ur9sXCGiMBF6dCZXEWzyw12T8p7Gz49nzD54G43l1U0QXJy5taxhRuzojFb_ATO0ofUOTHwPRZHyisV23enfVgsqk-KmbIFyFe76ixLi57s/s320/IMG_20160218_115046.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qutb Minar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What more to see/do:</span></h3>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Roam around Connaught Place</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shop @ Dilli Haat</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AkshardhamTemple</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lotus Temple</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And many many more: Find a comprehensive guide <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Delhi" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comNew Delhi, Delhi 110001, India28.6139391 77.20902120000005228.1680166 76.563574200000048 29.059861599999998 77.854468200000056tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-61062501975335260992015-12-30T13:10:00.000-08:002016-01-05T13:12:27.808-08:00Puerto Rico<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It was about time for a beach vacation! Had been almost two years since our last beach vacation, so we thought of picking a destination in the Caribbean. After doing a bit of research on the Caribbean islands, we narrowed down to Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. We ended up picking Puerto Rico because Dominican vacation meant we would've been mostly confined to the hotels/resorts where as Puerto Rico had more activities and places to offer.<br />
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One thing I learnt from this trip was that you gotta have your expectations right. I had heard extreme reviews from our friends visiting PR. Some of them had a whole lot of fun and others didn't know how to kill time on their vacation. For us, we knew we would have 5-6 days and we would have to plan our time well as both of us prefer vacations loaded with activities and things to do. So, we did some good research on what all we'd like to do and planned all our days so that we wouldn't get bored and we did not. We had a wonderful time, a good mix of activities and leisure and it was just as we expected and hoped for. <b>Our brief itinerary:</b></div>
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Day 0: Arrive in San Juan. </div>
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Day 1: Old San Juan, Ashford Avenue</div>
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Day 2: Culebra (Flamenco beach, Tamarino beach)</div>
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Day 3: Isla Verde beach, Sea Trek</div>
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Day 4: El Yunque rainforest, Luquillo beach</div>
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Day 5: Boqueron beach (Jet Ski, Kayak, ~~Paddle board)</div>
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Day 6: Old San Juan. Fly out.</div>
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Fly in:</h3>
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SJU: San Juan Martinez International airport is well connected with many cities within the US, especially the ones on the east coast. We booked ours with American Airlines with a stop over at Charlotte. The airplanes are so darn old, with such less legroom and no entertainment units. Thankfully I slept through the entire flight.</div>
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Stay at:</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our apartment - Condado beach</td></tr>
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Initially we were looking at accommodations close to Isla Verde beach as we wanted to spend most of our time here, but we figured that we were already late looking for hotels and airbnbs even in mid-November. Most of the places were already booked. So, we moved to Ashford Avenue and finally found an 1bhk apartment in the heart of Ashford Avenue. I couldn't have asked for a better location. We had private balcony with a partial ocean view, walking distance from the Condado beach, next to 24 hour Walgreens and restaurants open till 3 am or so. I loved this street! It had some good restaurants and was always always lively. Would be a bad choice for a light sleeper though, but wasn't an issue for us at all. For some reason, we never considered staying in Old San Juan! I guess we were looking for parking options too as we had rented a car and driving and parking in Old San Juan would've been a nightmare.</div>
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Day 0:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lively Avenida Ashford in the background</td></tr>
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We arrived around 7 pm at the airport. And the moment I stepped out of the airport, I was in love with the weather. Purrrfect! We took a cab to our airbnb accommodation at Ashford Avenue. YOu got to stand in the queue for the cab, where the person in charge would ask you for the address and let you know the fixed price to your destination and assign a cab. Once we reached our apartment, the hosts greeted us and gave us some good recos on where to eat and what to do in Puerto Rico. We felt really welcomed and comfortable :) Once that was done, we headed out to hunt for some veggie food. We found <a href="http://bunsburgershop.com/" target="_blank">BUNS</a> (burger shop) which had some grilled cheese potato buns to offer. We were both hungry and found the burgers pretty good. I'd say decent enough option for vegetarians. After our dinner, we strolled on the lively Ashford Avenue, explored some souvenir shops and then crashed for the night. After our jet lag woke us up at 3 am, we gave in to our Maggi cravings. (benefits of having a mini kitchenette and renting from Airbnb!) </div>
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Day 1:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castillo San Felipe del Morro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZhu31KyYHlXl-qn488cJg_I-9oX8mGQ_L7xIosc6iVp2m718MDOi8YdhsZPZvfvLBpWB_tFpKwN9MmOUCchMROpOsoSyT5SFESoFTGQR11PzYSYk3WjDMZY90-PifQ1NJQUUBZ646iE/s1600/IMG_1745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZhu31KyYHlXl-qn488cJg_I-9oX8mGQ_L7xIosc6iVp2m718MDOi8YdhsZPZvfvLBpWB_tFpKwN9MmOUCchMROpOsoSyT5SFESoFTGQR11PzYSYk3WjDMZY90-PifQ1NJQUUBZ646iE/s320/IMG_1745.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paseo de la Princesa</td></tr>
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Our first vacation day was here and I was all excited to explore San Juan. We had not planned much for this. And after catching up on our sleep, we headed out only around noon. First stop was <a href="http://benandjerryspr.com/" target="_blank">Ben n Jerry Cafe</a>. We tried Vegetarian pizza and burger and I loved the pizza, but hated the burger! And their lemonade was out of the world, just fyi! Good place to try. After we got some fuel in, we just spent some time admiring the Condado beach, right behind the cafe. Then we headed out on the Ashford Avenue to pick our car rental. Once we got our car, we drove to Old San Jaun and parked in the Dona Fela Parking. Now, we visited a few spots here. There isn't anything mind vlowing or out of the world here. But, I just loved the cozy feel of bright multi colored houses, on wither side of narrow inclined cobbled streets. Lot of tourists and everyone walking around. It was a good way to spend just half a day and trust me, you will get a lot of good photo ops! Here is our approximate <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/UWMyGDkiuXn" target="_blank">walking map</a>. We mostly walked up to the old fort(Castillo San Felipe del Morro), the San Juan Bautista, La Terraza, Paseo de la Princesa. Meanwhile, we took a break at <a href="http://websitecasacortespr.com/" target="_blank">Choco Bar</a> for some snacks and then ate dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/istanbul-turkish-restaurant-san-juan" target="_blank">Istanbul Turkish restaurant</a>. Chocolate lovers may want to go to Choco bar, I didn't find it all that unique though. Istanbul Turkish restaurant was good though. Since it was Christmas eve, we had a very few options to choose from as many places were already closed. Walking around PR 1 will also give you scenic views. After dinner, we just wandered around the streets and then shopped at a few local shops for souvenirs, snorkeling shoes, beachwear etc. Was a very relaxed day and I really did enjoy hanging out in the Old San Juan neighborhood. </div>
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Day 2:</h4>
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It was December 25th and we had saved it for our day trip to Culebra. This was one of the most fun days!<br />
There are two ways to get to Culebra which lies on the west of the main island. One is by ferry, which is like 5-10 bucks per person, takes about an hour and a half one way. Here is a <a href="http://www.islaculebra.com/puerto-rico/culebra-ferry-schedule.html" target="_blank">ferry schedule</a> I found. Now, this being the peak touristy season, and we being super late in our bookings, ran in to trouble while trying to book ferry tickets online. They were all sold out! Some of our friends told us that you do end up getting tickets on the day of, but we didn't want to take a chance, so we booked air tickets(the other way to get to Culebra), which are usually 50$ one way, but being the holiday season were ~75$ each way. There are many local airlines that fly between islands. Here is a <a href="http://www.islaculebra.com/puerto-rico/transportation-to-culebra.html" target="_blank">list</a> I found. Another thing to remember is that, you have the option of booking these tickets from a number of airports, San Juan International airport, Cieba and Isla Grande airport. We were lucky to find tickets from Isla Grande airport which is five minutes away from the downtown.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamenco beach - The best beach in PR</td></tr>
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So, we booked 7:30 am flight from Isla Grande to Culebra. And we being excited, jet lagged tourists, reached the airport at 5:55 am, only to <br />
find the gates closed! Apparently, the airport opened at 6 am! So, we waited for a few minutes and then someone walked up to the gate and opened it for us. We drove and parked in the open area outside the small building for some 10$ a day. There is not hurry to get here 90 minutes before your scheduled departure. No one cared to check us in till about 30-40 minutes before the flight. So, we could've very well caught up on sleep. Anyway, it was a ten seater plane and they are strict about seating their passengers in a particular order because of weight balancing. It was smooth 30 minute ride though.</div>
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The airport at Culebra was similar to one in Isla Grande. The car rentals were right in the airport lounge. However, the golf carts and scooters were all booked and we could only rent a jeep, which wasn't a bad option either. They gave us a map of the island a list of things to do. We got in the jeep and headed straight to some bakery, which was suggested by the lady at the car rental and was the only place open at 8 am. Just got some coffee and packed chips as I wasn't too impressed with flies all around. Then we headed straight to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamenco_Beach" target="_blank">Flamenco beach</a>. We were here by 9 am and had the beach almost to ourselves. Found a nice shaded spot. This was my favorite beach in the entire trip! White sand, turquoise water and pleasant breeze. The sea was a little rough though. But not bad at all. We spent about an hour or two here. Initially I had planned to camp here, which I think was easily do-able, but then, just didn't fit our plan, so we skipped it. There were some shacks at the beach where we ate some fries and burger. </div>
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Our next stop was <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g580453-d4563164-Reviews-Tamarindo_Beach-Culebra_Puerto_Rico.html" target="_blank">Tamarindo beach</a>. There is no paved way to get here. It a dirt road, so you better ask your way around. A perfect place to snorkel. This was a pebble beach. So water was clear and our snorkel booties came in handy. We hung around this place for about an hour. I just absolutely loved snorkeling here. I didn't go in the deep as I am scared of deep water, but there were people who were swimming a little farther away and spotting turtles and such. We spotted some translucent fish, some multi colored striped ones and I spotted a baby fish which had a long nose, I have no idea what is it called! Plus some corals too. There were some day tours leaving from this place, but didn't fit our schedule as we had to head back by 3:30 pm flight. Weather was pleasant and it even started drizzling. It was just a perfect day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tayzan Sushi</td></tr>
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Then we headed to the town, got some really pizza for lunch and drove around the island for whatever time we had left. We were suggested to go to Zoni beach as well, but we just didn't fit it in our schedule. This is our <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/Sco8jLZ79Cs" target="_blank">route</a>. We didn't go to Zoni beach, but I just added it to the map, for reference. We got on to our 3:30 pm flight back to San Juan.<br />
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We grabbed some sushi at the <a href="http://tayzanpr.com/intro.html" target="_blank">Tayzan Sushi</a>, close to our apartment before going home and taking rest. Once we got home, we took rest and then met our friends in Old San Juan who had flown in that day and were going to keep us company for the next few days. We had dinner at this Spanish place, <a href="http://trianatapas-hub.com/" target="_blank">Triana</a> with Flamenco dancing. We didn't get to see any dancing, because we were sitting upstairs, but the food was cold and service was bad. So, this place wasn't really fun, but all in all it was a great day given Culebra was magnificent. For late night snack, I had nutella crepe at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/crepe-maker-san-juan?osq=crepes" target="_blank">Crepe Maker</a> and others had Praline gelato at <a href="http://www.lemacaronpr.com/" target="_blank">Le Macaron</a>. Crepes were average and gelato was average too. </div>
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Day 3:</h4>
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We were scheduled for a Sea Trek at 10 30 am in the morning. But, we got a call around 9 30 am that it was high tide and we need to move it later in the afternoon. So, we settled fro 3:30 pm, but this meant our plan for going to Camuy Caves after Sea Trek wouldn't work out. So, we headed out to Isla Verde beach instead. But before that, we stopped at <a href="http://tomatepr.com/" target="_blank">Tomate</a> restaurant for lunch. Excellent mexican food and great service. Highly recommend it. After lunch, we headed to Isla Verde beach. Nice, calm beach with a great view of the city and lovely warm water.</div>
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We headed out to Caribe Hilton for our Sea Trek tour at 3 30 pm. We had booked our tour with <a href="http://www.aquaadventurepr.com/" target="_blank">Aqua Adventures</a>. I was initially very scared, but this was so simple and easy. We took some great videos with go pro. The entire activity took almost an hour. One thing we discovered was that this bay at Caribe Hilton was a good place to swim and snorkel even on your own and it was open for public. So, if you want to snorkel and head out in calm waters close to Old San Juan, this would be a good choice!</div>
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In the evening, we chose to dine at <a href="http://budatai.com/" target="_blank">Budatai</a> as recommended but our host. Excellent place. Fusion asian restaurant and they had great vegetarian options too. We made reservations as most of the popular places have a long wait time. </div>
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Day 4:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail head map</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNOKFmZteVMr9XGvB7sx9I5Hef1nylhKP5kjptxmNr5BLDUyWKJ5Q34tlZYHZgpNbs9Ezq1LK9fqjqn46PYswBbk_umxM97oGMWJlvz6Ax7Ge7EsMQ5Mbg_IH9155fpde7v4HqKLk3oU/s1600/IMG_1819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNOKFmZteVMr9XGvB7sx9I5Hef1nylhKP5kjptxmNr5BLDUyWKJ5Q34tlZYHZgpNbs9Ezq1LK9fqjqn46PYswBbk_umxM97oGMWJlvz6Ax7Ge7EsMQ5Mbg_IH9155fpde7v4HqKLk3oU/s320/IMG_1819.jpg" width="213" /></a>Our plan for the day was to go to El Yunque rain forest and Luquillo beach. We planned on having a sumptuous breakfast to begin the day (benefits of a kitchen!) But, in the process, we got pretty late, to my utter dislike, because this just meant we would have to do only one hike instead of the planned two. One thing to keep in mind is to go to the Palo Colorado Visitor Centre and not any other information center as the trail heads for the two most popular hikes (<a href="http://naturalbornhikers.com/trails/laminafalls.html" target="_blank">La Mina trail</a> and the <a href="http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/el-yunque-trail-map/" target="_blank">El Yunque trail</a>) are here. Here is the exact <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/RDhSHeiRy9U2" target="_blank">location</a> on the map. The El Yunque trail leads you to the peak with some great views, but we had to ditch because of less time. But we did the La Mina hike to the La Mina waterfalls which was a lot of fun. Completely shaded and pretty easy hike I'd say. Involves some steps, but totally do-able! Waterfall was good, and don't forget to take your swimwear if you want to take dip. It was just utterly crowded and we din't stop here for long. We headed back to the trail head and our parked car. I suggest getting here early and starting your hike early on before the crowds get here. <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/elyunque/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5190546&width=full" target="_blank">Useful Maps</a>.</div>
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Plan was to hang out at the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147324-d148049-Reviews-Luquillo_Beach-El_Yunque_National_Forest_Puerto_Rico.html" target="_blank">Luquillo beach</a> after the hike. We had the option of eating lunch at the shacks at the beach, but didn't feel they maintained good hygiene, so headed out to a nearby subway. Luquillo is one of the better beaches around. Not very crowded. Calm and warm waters. very neat and clean shower and locker rooms at the beach. We spent an hour or so here. I guess this beach offers some activities like jet skiing and parasailing too. </div>
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Once we got home, we headed out for dinner to <a href="http://alibabarestaurantpr.com/" target="_blank">Alibaba</a> Mediterranean restaurant. Good food. Lavash was very fresh and delicious. For dessert, it was Gelato and Co right outside Marriot. They were out of chocolate gelato, but had a good hazelnut chocolate (Bachio or something). If you like gelato, this is the place for it. </div>
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Day 5:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UytdZ7kOILZEzu1FJ8Mbh-vK89xuu0wd7xiNvsdPHTrJlyftIOMQT8k1oY4d4YiHhqZwhVoCX7m6UyPCw7btdyFi6dtOk_rYrgTOOt0iUzmE3rVZOn2oxmpkIW6nBqSf7CgC1vTrOyg/s1600/IMG_1898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UytdZ7kOILZEzu1FJ8Mbh-vK89xuu0wd7xiNvsdPHTrJlyftIOMQT8k1oY4d4YiHhqZwhVoCX7m6UyPCw7btdyFi6dtOk_rYrgTOOt0iUzmE3rVZOn2oxmpkIW6nBqSf7CgC1vTrOyg/s320/IMG_1898.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boqueron beach</td></tr>
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This day was set aside for <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147319-d149635-Reviews-Boqueron_Beach-Puerto_Rico.html" target="_blank">Boqueron</a> and beach activities. We drove for about a couple of hours to Boqueron beach. A nice quiet beach, very less crowded and pretty clean. But we couldn't find any restaurants for change of clothes. But, we managed. We first rented a jet ski. It wasn't our first time, but it is always fun! Then, after lunch at Subway, we headed out for kayaking at the beach. There are two little shacks at the beach itself for rentals. After kayaking, we tried our hand at paddle boarding for about 5-10 minutes. It is talent to balance yourself on that thing. I mean, you gotta try and see it for yourself. Then we spent time at the beach watching the sunset and it was beautiful. A lot of sail ships at the beach so, it makes for a good photo op for anyone who is looking for a good sunset picture. </div>
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For dinner we tried Italian food at <a href="http://diparmapr.com/" target="_blank">Di Parma Trattoria</a>. Ravioli and pizza were excellent. I have to give it to Puerto Rico for really really good food. </div>
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Day 6:</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-x1AjinWO2T3Yo-O9EXdHo0dzKuSSYLl-GgNyLtM8UKErwO0N4bVqBOJdPiF4THcjWcLUcVmYlbY0KpQLRaNHKa-SOf-yriwW2eQKSaaRSS_T8VpRfg5slHc_MbPukowirmQWeiC7dA/s1600/IMG_1719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-x1AjinWO2T3Yo-O9EXdHo0dzKuSSYLl-GgNyLtM8UKErwO0N4bVqBOJdPiF4THcjWcLUcVmYlbY0KpQLRaNHKa-SOf-yriwW2eQKSaaRSS_T8VpRfg5slHc_MbPukowirmQWeiC7dA/s320/IMG_1719.jpg" width="199" /></a>We could have either left really really early and gone to Camuy caves. But we ditched it for a few extra hours of sleep. This has been indeed the laziest vacation for us. So, we decided to spend rest of our day before our flight in Old town. Loved walking around in the colorful streets one last time. Taking pictures. The museum had high ratings, but was closed until early January. So, we had to skip it. We then bought some souvenirs and cigars! After one final meal, we headed out to the airport for flying out. It was a fun trip and we had a really good time. Thank you Puerto Rico.</div>
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More fun stuff to do:</h3>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Bio luminescence bay</b>: Three places to do it in order of brightness and popularity: Vieques, Fajardo and La Parguera. We didn't do it because it was full moon night and the tour operators told us that the visibility will be close to zero.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do the triangle</b>: A lot of people go to Vieques by ferry for bio luminescence tour at night. Then go to Culebra in the morning and spend the day there and then fly/ferry back to San Juan.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Camuy Caves</b>: You need to leave early as they take tours on first come first served basis and the tours are for about ~2 hours. You could end the day with a sunset near Rincon where you could also watch surfers.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Camping at Flamenco beach</b>: If you are up for it, <a href="http://www.campingculebra.com/2013/01/camping-information-flamenco-beach.html" target="_blank">here</a> is a website that'll be helpful. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Old San Juan <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Guide-g147320-k4444-San_Juan_Puerto_Rico.html" target="_blank">itinerary</a>: I collapsed most of it in to one day. Plus, don't forget to take pictures of the fort in the evening. We missed it, but it will be well worth the trip, I am sure.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pina Colada</b> was invented here in Puerto Rico, so do try one!</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Boqueron</b>: You could do jet ski tours or head out of mangroves in La Parguera. We just weren't too enthusiastic about it, but they have good reviews online.</span></li>
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Remember to:</h3>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Make reservations well in advance especially if you are heading to PR in holiday season. We had a tough time looking for accommodation and making reservation for Culebra. Thnakfully we had reserved our car well in advance.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Eat at a different restaurant each time. Some really good places to eat, you may need to make reservations. We missed eating at Verde Mesa and Pani Agua because we didn't make any and these places had really good ratings and good vegetarian options.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">We used Google Maps. The names of the roads and exists are all messed up. So, you need someone to navigate and tell the driver to take next left or next right else you won't be able to use maps.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">For local airlines, don't forget to print your boarding passes. We had to walk in to Marriott and pretend to be their guests and ask them to print our boarding passes.</li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comPuerto Rico18.220833 -66.59014916.2903545 -69.171936 20.1513115 -64.008361999999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-60305799065905564702015-07-10T16:01:00.000-07:002015-09-03T20:28:54.767-07:00Icleand (Ring Road)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The idea of a road trip was always fascinating. So, when I started exploring the options of a road trip, a few ideas that popped were that of cross country, a national park loop in Utah-Arizona or Iceland. Now Iceland was very enticing given that it would be the best way to see the country and also we'll not run in to too many tourists! So, we came up with a 7 day road trip for Iceland and it was fantabulous. It is an absolutely gorgeous and stunning country with such a variety of serene landscapes to offer and 24 hour daylight made it even more enjoyable.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJnzLnoB-91DAqO38Hehgzq_BaOtOg73Ubne3yN8S17WMi45V14r534VfmeQFMN8AIml41PvYVAjWhYFCjXct4IYKd5J4KDAkgceo1zwhuJoYn_jKWf5CQf5qWTKqPl7KbRhv761RFL0/s1600/IcelandRR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJnzLnoB-91DAqO38Hehgzq_BaOtOg73Ubne3yN8S17WMi45V14r534VfmeQFMN8AIml41PvYVAjWhYFCjXct4IYKd5J4KDAkgceo1zwhuJoYn_jKWf5CQf5qWTKqPl7KbRhv761RFL0/s320/IcelandRR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route over 7 days</td></tr>
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Here is our brief itinerary with <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/G8Edq" target="_blank">Google maps</a> route:</div>
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Day 0: Arrive in Reykjavik.</div>
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Day 1: Reykjavik -> Vik.</div>
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Day 2: Vik -> Hofn</div>
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Day 3: Hofn -> Seydisfjordur -> Lake Myvatn</div>
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Day 4: Lake Myvatn -> Husavik -> Selfoss/Detifoss -> Akureyri</div>
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Day 5: Akureyri -> Reykjavik</div>
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Day 6: Snaefellsness peninsula</div>
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Day 7: Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon</div>
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Day 8: Fly out</div>
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Pointers for planning:</h4>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Visa: Like any other Schengen visa, you have to take a set of documents and a schengen visa application form to the nearest embassy. For us, it was the Norwegian embassy in San Francisco and they sent us our passports in two business days!</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Make reservations for your stay as soon as you can. They fill up very fast, especially in summer. Unless you plan to go camping, which a fantastic idea!</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">We stayed at guesthouses and they were all pretty good. Mostly shared bathrooms, but it wasn't much of a trouble</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Just in case you love waterfall, like me, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_of_Iceland" target="_blank">this</a> is a super resource.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">If you are looking for hostels and a 7/10 day itinerary, <a href="http://www.hostel.is/SampleItineraries/IcelandontheRingRoadessentials/" target="_blank">this</a> is extremely useful.</li>
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When in Iceland:</h4>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Sunset was around midnight and sunrise was at 2 am. But it was always twilight, never completely dark which gave us plenty of time to drive around</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Stock up your car with food, water supplies. You will be on road for hours before you see a store or a food joint. Fill gas when you get a chance.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">We rented a 4 wheel drive. Though most of the roads are paved, we thought it was always better to have an all wheel drive.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">An old saying in Iceland is, "If you don't like the weather, wait for 20 minutes" and it is true! Weather here has terrible mood swings :)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Vegetarian food is not a problem. Everywhere, they had an option for a veggies burger or a veggie sandwich! Food hunting wasn't an issue at all.</li>
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Day 0:</h4>
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We arrived at the Keflavik airport (KEF) around 10 pm or so. It was twilight and a little rainy. We got our car and drove straight to the 24 hour subway and then to our hotel close to the airport, <a href="http://www.airportinn.is/" target="_blank">The Airport Inn</a>. Nice small rooms. For after hours check in, they send you their entry codes and you can pick your key from the envelopes lying on the shelf once you are inside. Pretty smooth and after a good night's rest we were all charged up the next day to start our road trip!</div>
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Day 1:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNceZpVpbVDSJvIEeeK8HUF5ePWY5-bi58z_RHxH9tU1c2IvTW-FDz2bZexI-yC2fbcXmWx7ohN74JrJQgOcL4olCoZkW4L3qIcs9C1Is7_jr4OjE3BPHz2VPkaVEmzK6V0ERyydFloBQ/s1600/IMG_5081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNceZpVpbVDSJvIEeeK8HUF5ePWY5-bi58z_RHxH9tU1c2IvTW-FDz2bZexI-yC2fbcXmWx7ohN74JrJQgOcL4olCoZkW4L3qIcs9C1Is7_jr4OjE3BPHz2VPkaVEmzK6V0ERyydFloBQ/s320/IMG_5081.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seljalandfoss</td></tr>
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We drove from Keflavik to Reykjavik. About 20 minute drive. On our way we stopped at "Bonus", their supermarket chain and got some basic snacks, water and stuff. It was rainy and cloudy. After we reached Reykjavik, we found an Indian/pakistani restaurant, <a href="http://www.shalimar.is/en/" target="_blank">Shalimar</a> for lunch. But parking here is a nightmare, like in any other city. After we found a parking garage, we walked to the main square and ate a filling and sumptuous meal. </div>
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And then we started our Ring Road Tour. Got on to Hwy 1 and as soon as we crossed the city of Selfoss, it was just a visual treat for next 7 days. Our first stop was <b>Seljalandsfoss</b>. Set in a pristine landscape, you could take a short walk to this small cave like lookout behind the falls. This got us our best shots. We got fully soaked in all the mist flying around, but it was totally worth the effort and our water proof jackets were now a justified expense ;) We continued on Hwy1 and the landscapes were so beautiful that we wanted to stop everywhere and take pictures, but camera can never do justice to such views. Our next stop was <b>Skogafoss</b>. Another beautiful waterfall. We hiked to the top for even better views of the lush green hill tops and the meandering river.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk7IgY9FPIsY7gaNJ6NlYuNob_jusI8UbX0yWzqVicJyBnErspItewcDOMAIFPVrKO2gl9iK9nLcQol3EyfV4Sz2kkR6hINQckLOh5IMebWaVt_EIaSK1N-E4_Et9-42OXjcpzukJQbM/s1600/IMG_5133_4_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk7IgY9FPIsY7gaNJ6NlYuNob_jusI8UbX0yWzqVicJyBnErspItewcDOMAIFPVrKO2gl9iK9nLcQol3EyfV4Sz2kkR6hINQckLOh5IMebWaVt_EIaSK1N-E4_Et9-42OXjcpzukJQbM/s320/IMG_5133_4_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views by the roadside</td></tr>
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Next stop was <b>Dyrholaey </b>Arch. It was a little steep uphill drive and very foggy. A couple driving downhill recommended that we head back. However, we decided to drive and see where we get to. Once we reached the top, the clouds were swept away by the winds in a couple of minutes and it looked bright and sunny and clear. Beautiful views of the arch. On our drive back to join the Hwy 1, we stopped by to pet some Icelandic horses grazing on a farm by the roadside. They look like they walked right out of Vidal Sasson. Such beautiful tresses!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpUY9uQ9fDaE5yF_iuTFZ8B2xgRVetxWfSzX5eqPLKvQma1o6Qzop-o1isihj7elQYbLnHzHDe5BZKpMHTWu4sdFXw1OYwBpYWiWYCdj1rktFrHNZqrnVNThV-NflJHsVWGGRxsGjiqE/s1600/IMG_5191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpUY9uQ9fDaE5yF_iuTFZ8B2xgRVetxWfSzX5eqPLKvQma1o6Qzop-o1isihj7elQYbLnHzHDe5BZKpMHTWu4sdFXw1OYwBpYWiWYCdj1rktFrHNZqrnVNThV-NflJHsVWGGRxsGjiqE/s320/IMG_5191.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basalt columns by Reynisdrangar beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9utsnJHEzoOmlETAIUuJ-Z4o9HmoPEanVWF-asqya523XecaJh02-w-hvuUR9kdwHK3Rop4mU6n6zIa2EE1Eobvxe7wyUnGH6A7pqu6tRLniCXLIWX49F8nfZzDYSrwBJ0BuWG8tEwo/s1600/IMG_5204_5_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9utsnJHEzoOmlETAIUuJ-Z4o9HmoPEanVWF-asqya523XecaJh02-w-hvuUR9kdwHK3Rop4mU6n6zIa2EE1Eobvxe7wyUnGH6A7pqu6tRLniCXLIWX49F8nfZzDYSrwBJ0BuWG8tEwo/s320/IMG_5204_5_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our restaurant</td></tr>
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Next stop was to see the famous basalt columns. And they were magnificent. We drove up to the <b>Reynisdrangar </b>beach which is a black sand beach and has towering basalt columns. Hiked up a few of those to take some great pictures. After some pictures, we decided to drive to Vik for some dinner. We hadn't realised, but it was already 8 pm, but the sun was up in the sky and shining bright. Had pizza at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189978-d2336514-Reviews-Strondin_Bistro_and_Bar-Vik_South_Region.html" target="_blank">Strondin</a>. Then walked up to the coast to get some pictures of the tall rocks in the seas. Now was the time to drive back and sleep. We had booked <a href="http://glacierviewguesthouse.is/" target="_blank">Glacier View Guesthouse</a> an hour south of the Skaftafell national park. But we drove up to the <b>Kirkjugolf </b>basalt columns via the vast lava fields (Eldhraun). Weather kept changing from foggy to clear. After spending some time here at the basalt columns, we drove back south to our guest house. It felt like it was in middle of nowhere but that was the fun part. And then we retired after a long day to get ready for another long day.</div>
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On our way, I missed visiting the plane crash site <b>Solheimasandur</b>. It is a little difficult to track it, but <a href="http://expertvagabond.com/airplane-crash-wreckage-iceland/" target="_blank">this</a> is a good resource. It was a short detour and completely slipped my mind. The fuselage still lies here untouched even after so many years.</div>
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Our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/6fI84" target="_blank">Day1</a>. </div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
Day 2:</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZhB6LL1A5ymFkxhHsGNajIfdBtyBgJZcUe-Ke_k3jQ7c2G8KeXkz1cM597J9RUdqPGGGvAhIfcXJtWgGz3tR_TG37O-ZwyUa-8gPm1hPIzI8lA0eZci8l4EpnROop8EgwSdFl8hWZKg/s1600/IMG_5258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZhB6LL1A5ymFkxhHsGNajIfdBtyBgJZcUe-Ke_k3jQ7c2G8KeXkz1cM597J9RUdqPGGGvAhIfcXJtWgGz3tR_TG37O-ZwyUa-8gPm1hPIzI8lA0eZci8l4EpnROop8EgwSdFl8hWZKg/s320/IMG_5258.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71weg8f6m3SWAZo8yAt7HmayxOvlHi9LEx5QfBmxc6bQFZsCulgaZEMXgOF52XM__k_67p-JqupQLpOa28CH2UwldcAfIgrKhQiIxoVrEzLjMoiRCKXaA9TbhtMhlpDM5XK1TJBaaLd4/s1600/IMG_5262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71weg8f6m3SWAZo8yAt7HmayxOvlHi9LEx5QfBmxc6bQFZsCulgaZEMXgOF52XM__k_67p-JqupQLpOa28CH2UwldcAfIgrKhQiIxoVrEzLjMoiRCKXaA9TbhtMhlpDM5XK1TJBaaLd4/s320/IMG_5262.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icefall - up,close and personal</td></tr>
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We got up really early, around 7 am and were eagerly looking forward to our glacier hike. We packed our stuff and after a good sumptuous breakfast served by our very kind and polite hostess, we headed toward the visitor center of <b>Skaftafell </b>National Park, where our tour was supposed to start from. We took the full day glacier hike and lagoon tour (Glacier Grand Slam) through <a href="http://www.glacierguides.is/" target="_blank">Glacier guides</a>. We geared up with our helmets, our axe and most importantly our crampons. Since we were supposed to drive further up north, we chose to drive ourselves in stead of taking the tour bus. We just followed them to the base of the glacier where we were given some instructions on basic do's and don'ts and we were split in to smaller groups of 6 people.</div>
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Our guide was, well, I can't spell the name, but she was really sweet and so very fit! First was a 45 minute hike to the base of the glacier. It was mostly through the silt or the sand and was like any other hike. But from distance it wasn't impressive at all. Once we reached the base of the <b>Falljokull </b>glacier, its vastness just left us awestruck. It was amazing how little streams of melting glacier are forming rivers. Once we reached the base, we were reminded that walking on ice is no easy business and it wasn't. Time and again I felt, I will slip and I did slip once. Twisted my ankle at least 3 times and the fall left a black-blue bruised knee too. But, it doesn't mean it wasn't fun. It was an amazing experience. I would rate it as the best activity I did in Iceland. Surprisingly, it wasn't really cold up on the glacier and we were fine with one warm jacket. After we hiked for a little while climbing up the glacier, we drank water from the streams. Purest form of water, straight from glacier ice. We hiked all the way up to the base of the icefall. We had to be cautious of the treacherous crevices and weak spots. Once we reached the base of the icefall, we found a spot to have lunch. Some folk tales and local stories later, we headed back. Once we reached the base, we unloaded all the gear and felt so relieved.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLaUNyxbykQmhPaxq1HHvILcRR_7_8MeXuRlrT_-Hkg9Q_DceXokGqawUTV9xKqXPZqXCqVOBvV3cvNGuEZX6QYzMOzmALqUprh1i96_xROxB5MWf9EpdGNDuc9OYwyW3D6vHlXNbfyY/s1600/IMG_5291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLaUNyxbykQmhPaxq1HHvILcRR_7_8MeXuRlrT_-Hkg9Q_DceXokGqawUTV9xKqXPZqXCqVOBvV3cvNGuEZX6QYzMOzmALqUprh1i96_xROxB5MWf9EpdGNDuc9OYwyW3D6vHlXNbfyY/s320/IMG_5291.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for our lagoon boat ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwLkNndPtkpGZjWWK4rX-_7ByvIqE1ugP4RS2HnJjE-4__gRffIE9C7OeknhkEUzLgNN4g1nDr_KEXJdZ-cHHDQ3BnRHACqqolws7pj6Xw38va6tli5E4LCBAjj1qiYz9XwCx596-EJI/s1600/IMG_5330_1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwLkNndPtkpGZjWWK4rX-_7ByvIqE1ugP4RS2HnJjE-4__gRffIE9C7OeknhkEUzLgNN4g1nDr_KEXJdZ-cHHDQ3BnRHACqqolws7pj6Xw38va6tli5E4LCBAjj1qiYz9XwCx596-EJI/s320/IMG_5330_1_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jokulsarlon</td></tr>
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Once back to our car, we drove another 30 minutes to a glacier lagoon, <b>Fjallsarlon</b>. Just the drive on Hwy1 was so beautiful. There were so many glaciers on the left and the ocean to our right. It was bright and clear and the views were so different from the previous day. Once at the lagoon, we wore these red jumpsuits for our safety and got on a boat for a ride in this lagoon. When our guide lifted what looked like a tiny piece of iceberg, we understood what "tip of iceberg" really means. It is only 10% above the water surface. 30-40 minutes later, we were back to our car and ready to drive further north to our final destination for the day, Hofn.<br />
We also stopped at <b>Jokulsarlon</b>, the bigger lagoon and definitely the more crowded one. Fjallsarlon was very tiny and nothing compared to Jokulsarlon. It is a huge lagoon, unbelievably huge. There are boat trip here too, but it way too crowded and there was a long queue. We stopped here, took some great pictures and just admired the beauty of this place. A hot chocolate later, we were back on Hwy1 heading to Hofn.</div>
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On our way, we took a couple of detours and just drove towards some glaciers and then got back to Hwy1. before we reached Hofn. Once we got here, we found a place to dine. Tired, we grabbed a bite and crashed in our guest house, <a href="http://www.hafnarnes.is/" target="_blank">Hafnarnes guest house</a>. Shared bathroom again, but neat. clean and very comfortable. Plus, some pretty views in the backyard.</div>
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Our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/ecmhS" target="_blank">Day2</a>.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
Day 3:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgJvxpbd7imGOpKj5ZQ7OfgnboGJ2p4Me43uPC3-fYnOZbyavrc9iWyvFy2vSmbk9VKKEwPHACCA7t0H8TK5y2tZ8_vYcI0B18hkqMmVTpdnMQSg6goGkuyQTJCeGSt_zTjQhIY5s1ZQ/s1600/IMG_5401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgJvxpbd7imGOpKj5ZQ7OfgnboGJ2p4Me43uPC3-fYnOZbyavrc9iWyvFy2vSmbk9VKKEwPHACCA7t0H8TK5y2tZ8_vYcI0B18hkqMmVTpdnMQSg6goGkuyQTJCeGSt_zTjQhIY5s1ZQ/s320/IMG_5401.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gufufoss enroute to Seydisfjordur</td></tr>
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Good morning Iceland! We left our guest house in search of some breakfast and ended up doing some snack- shopping at a convenience store. The goal was to reach our airbnb guesthouse close to Lake Myvatn by the end of the day. And we were in no hurry! We decided to drive through the fjords and took the longer route Hwy 1- Hwy 96- Hwy 92 instead of Hwy 1. Although the fjords aren't very steep, it just lush green or snow covered mountains on one side and the sea on the other. After a while I just lost the count of waterfalls we came across. Was a very surreal landscape.</div>
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We drove to Eglisstadir town and from here, took Hwy 93 to get to <b>Seydisfjordur</b>. A beautiful drive which was 50% of the times in the clouds because of the elevation. It was a very different experience and once at Seydisfjordur, we decided to get some sushi. Good food. The town is however, mostly famous for lobsters and other seafood. A very pretty town and after driving around for a few minutes we decided to drive back to Eglisstadir and continue on to Lake Myvatn as we still had a long way to go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPKj1dRvbIpegywCQBYSNET-2iPvALv40nPR30ZUoZcTXTNlU5eOclTR8_OgdGRU4XnO9j_vftx9oVWsKz9y28P7ORhxOI52hiZrsd0gGnXmXX84fHZsqJSa8kl4DEa5d-3UjOd18NlY/s1600/IMG_5437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPKj1dRvbIpegywCQBYSNET-2iPvALv40nPR30ZUoZcTXTNlU5eOclTR8_OgdGRU4XnO9j_vftx9oVWsKz9y28P7ORhxOI52hiZrsd0gGnXmXX84fHZsqJSa8kl4DEa5d-3UjOd18NlY/s320/IMG_5437.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hevrir mudpots</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
We got back on Hwy 1 and continued on to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BDvatn" target="_blank">Lake Myvatn</a>. This drive too was very foggy and had patches of clear weather. However, once we crossed the <b>Jokuldarlur </b>valley, it was very sunny and clear. On our route, we decided to take a detour, 8 kms south of Hwy 1 to a small town <b>Modrudalur</b>. Here we just drove around and took some pictures of Icelandic horses and sheep. A very small town with nothing much to offer, but the landscape was that of an alien land. Suddenly, all the memories of Star Trek (the original one!) were refreshed and I was certain that either they were shot here or inspired from this landscape. We got some beautiful shots of the sun in the clouds too!</div>
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Anyway, we continued on Hwy1 towards Lake Myvatn and> on our way were the geothermal mudpots - <b>Hevrir</b>. It was very small area with the pungent hydrogen sulphide odor and marked areas to walk. We walked around for 15 minutes, took some pictures and then headed straight to our airbnb guesthouse. We drove around the south border of the lake. Had some beautiful views of the sunset, as it was around 11 30 pm and the sunset was scheduled for 12:15 am. Well, it never really sets, but the views it offered were breathtaking.</div>
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Anyhow, we reached the guesthouse in Laugar and met another couple from USC! Chatted for a while and then retired for the night as it had been a long a beautiful day and we deserved some good rest :)</div>
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Our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/7N2Jm" target="_blank">Day3</a>.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
Day 4:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0erBy7JFIDNi7EYJUz9i9TCs5vPAWV9VtR4-a7ZcIAtsfIY_HL144-HWnLbmLFlaeBEVU6uuuENyAVEMSaYF1rwWtQIzXGvFZfQhoY_RDp0AMLJka3ulIf4qkHgka1Jtim_2SUiq1c68/s1600/IMG_5413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0erBy7JFIDNi7EYJUz9i9TCs5vPAWV9VtR4-a7ZcIAtsfIY_HL144-HWnLbmLFlaeBEVU6uuuENyAVEMSaYF1rwWtQIzXGvFZfQhoY_RDp0AMLJka3ulIf4qkHgka1Jtim_2SUiq1c68/s320/IMG_5413.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husavik</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEg8MBT7EsrOJksrN_C6aGtddU_4g2aJhFp5TbHmHBhnDKZrraQqjFso8KXETy5u5NA9wrbQ5IwH7PjUZPBkdaIRwr3Xvo5cmEaGaWjouNZU4y3qJUVZ0j5M0N0HyI-rdfyuJmYqO4AeQ/s1600/IMG_5502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEg8MBT7EsrOJksrN_C6aGtddU_4g2aJhFp5TbHmHBhnDKZrraQqjFso8KXETy5u5NA9wrbQ5IwH7PjUZPBkdaIRwr3Xvo5cmEaGaWjouNZU4y3qJUVZ0j5M0N0HyI-rdfyuJmYqO4AeQ/s320/IMG_5502.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfoss</td></tr>
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Our agenda for the day was to explore the northern part of Iceland. So we drove from guesthouse to Husavik. Took minor detours as we felt like as everything around us looked right out of a textbook landscape description. After we reached <b>Husavik</b>, we parked our car and explored the town on foot. Not a big city, but a lot of activity around the harbor. We were in two minds about the whale watching tour and eventually ditched it. Instead, went to a nice restaurant and had a sumptuous filling meal. Then shopped for some souvenirs, went to 66 degree North showroom. Really liked some jackets, but decided to get them later. And from here we started driving to <b>Asbyrgi </b>Canyon. Just followed the directions on our phone. Some vista points were good photo ops on our way. Once we reached the park, we stopped at the visitor center and they advised us to drive to the base of the canyon and do a short 1-2 mile long hike there. And that is what we did. Not very exciting, now that we have some real jaw-dropping canyons in the US, this one didn't look as majestic. Once we got back on the road, we were wondering whether to take 864 or 862 to see Detifoss and Selfoss. The viewing area is the same I am glad we asked the visitor center guides and they pointed us to 862. It was 37 km dirt road to <b>Detifoss </b>and <b>Selfoss</b>. There was quite a bit of elevation gain and we were back in the martian landscape. Once you reach the Detifoss area, you park your car and walk down to the view points for both the falls. I haven't seen a waterfall as majestic as this one. (Disclaimer: I haven't been to Niagra yet!) I just fell in love with this one and we just sat there for a while taking pictures. Lot of mist and slippery rocks here, so be careful. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcmHsah0WQ20PmQjQ9VsPNAZHj8ouTTJILLva-kWey5eOWRbm-t_fmP1-6dC13pNhV211HdzQNbwKIp-ZhXYr60j6rGtJSMt1KDGHsPYteihghCtcCww2nBKhpUkE5kVQOHO-MbVAsQI/s1600/detifoss_pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcmHsah0WQ20PmQjQ9VsPNAZHj8ouTTJILLva-kWey5eOWRbm-t_fmP1-6dC13pNhV211HdzQNbwKIp-ZhXYr60j6rGtJSMt1KDGHsPYteihghCtcCww2nBKhpUkE5kVQOHO-MbVAsQI/s400/detifoss_pano.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detifoss</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsmjtpGHwH7KG-sHISjkNq5Fo9lZ_12pwE8MZnT6H_E4NiDSYDJfRsRcMTy8595aJWBYvGdeLZjSWoWhzPThCBKryr_-0XXcreWPtM_cknqb-LMcbO2BXn92JBw69PIOu5GhI9_Nwl8w/s1600/IMG_5516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsmjtpGHwH7KG-sHISjkNq5Fo9lZ_12pwE8MZnT6H_E4NiDSYDJfRsRcMTy8595aJWBYvGdeLZjSWoWhzPThCBKryr_-0XXcreWPtM_cknqb-LMcbO2BXn92JBw69PIOu5GhI9_Nwl8w/s320/IMG_5516.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viti crater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLqaOfaP-LyFRPyVrX8s-0FWW0Of4rkdAXfdirvZ5arVj-eIolCFCVG9Bhdz3kCCeu8Vb6xNW7pnHmkhn4ly1JwKdG8DPpjOtlOTVIOdTgEG1wh2FD5WGxkTPuaQLczMZybQyAGODiLI/s1600/IMG_5559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLqaOfaP-LyFRPyVrX8s-0FWW0Of4rkdAXfdirvZ5arVj-eIolCFCVG9Bhdz3kCCeu8Vb6xNW7pnHmkhn4ly1JwKdG8DPpjOtlOTVIOdTgEG1wh2FD5WGxkTPuaQLczMZybQyAGODiLI/s320/IMG_5559.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Myvatn</td></tr>
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Then we got back on 862 and drove to <b>Krafla </b>volcano and <b>Viti </b>crater. Well, the crater was pretty and reminded me of crater lake (much smaller than crater lake actually), but nothing great about the volcano. From here, we headed to <b>Dimmuborgir</b>. Some interesting stone structures here and there is a hike at the base of these structures too, but we wanted to get some pictures of Lake Myvatn and spend some time here. So, we skipped the hike and headed to <b>Hofdi</b>. A small hike later, we were at a good spot to take pictures and admire the lake. It looks exactly like in pictures. A lot of people suggested we take thermal baths here, but we had already planned for Blue Lagoon. We stopped by at a few more spots around the lake before heading to Akureyri where we were planning to stay for the night.<br />
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On our way, we stopped at <b>Godafoss </b>and I really can't compare any of these waterfalls to each other. They are all just so beautiful and different, plus I love waterfalls, so I may be biased ;) After stopping here for a bit, we headed to Akureyri. It was around 12 midnight and as we got closer to the city, we were driving along the coast and the sun was setting. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen. Then we reached our hotel/hostel accommodation at <a href="http://www.hoteledda.is/en/hotels/hotel-edda-akureyri" target="_blank">Hotel Edda</a> and crashed for the night. </div>
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Here is our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/5eQg6" target="_blank">Day4</a>.</div>
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Day 5:</h4>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDLY4f5Uddd_9GoVniZYzhPRwmUjU5eKSYo3M0leiRmR_yP0Qp6Qexp48LxrBvbHpYH1_RSWJ8im_bZYy2nmqjAM8Ge7lU3qINJvHELBK07SKYCRwTSbICB7s3zRmyljtm74Q3ytDaR4/s1600/IMG_5593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDLY4f5Uddd_9GoVniZYzhPRwmUjU5eKSYo3M0leiRmR_yP0Qp6Qexp48LxrBvbHpYH1_RSWJ8im_bZYy2nmqjAM8Ge7lU3qINJvHELBK07SKYCRwTSbICB7s3zRmyljtm74Q3ytDaR4/s320/IMG_5593.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veideyjakirkja</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yKqzD3VPP5-c6QzGGDuMA6fDyKu1f8mI8Dcdt3l3ifO7kGsnN7nXjze9qmbKEUgTOt1A-o7Boj7nkir5Q6cpg0dAXLaa20r14xu1X6JFkFy6okHEyJUy2NjzZJnjNtO92s3Za2ZUPr8/s1600/IMG_5605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yKqzD3VPP5-c6QzGGDuMA6fDyKu1f8mI8Dcdt3l3ifO7kGsnN7nXjze9qmbKEUgTOt1A-o7Boj7nkir5Q6cpg0dAXLaa20r14xu1X6JFkFy6okHEyJUy2NjzZJnjNtO92s3Za2ZUPr8/s200/IMG_5605.jpg" width="133" /></a>This was the day of kirkjas or churches! We started our day by visiting the church in Akureyri, <b>Akureyrakirkja</b>. Good architecture, pretty modern, Then drove around the city a bit and got on to Hwy 1 to drive to Reykjavik. On our way we stopped at another church, claimed to be the oldest church in Iceland. It was a mile long detour to <b>Videyjakirkja </b>(I may have the name wrong). Old old church with a cemetery behind it. Then, we were back on Hwy 1, and just drove to Reykjavik. Stopped at some scenic location to eat our subways we had picked up in the morning. Not many pictures on this day. Once we reached Reykjavik, we headed to <a href="http://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/" target="_blank">Hallgrimskirkja</a>. What a pretty church! Looks bigger in the pictures though. Took some photos, went to the top and got some nice views of the city. Then our next stop was Gandhi, the Indian restaurant. Oh boy, what good food! One of the best Indian restaurants I have been to. Plus, it is located in a very lively central market place area of the city. We walked around a little bit after our dinner and explored the shops around. Then we headed to our guesthouse for next two days, <a href="http://www.minnamosfell.net/" target="_blank">Minna Mosfell guesthouse</a>. The location and views were beautiful. Plus, the hostess helped us with our itinerary for the next two days. Highly highly recommended. She suggested we explore the Sanefelles peninsula the next day and told us exactly what to do! It was a relaxed day and another day well spent. </div>
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Our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/35xuY" target="_blank">Day5</a>.<br />
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Day 6:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz5cnBEJbmFD4jeSBiZBY3Kp1Kk9O44eDtd_EUbOT7ONAYL-9uH-ZqpaaO9ol4wgpVex7xFOOPJRr_su7eTm1NntMsHiyzX9t_YoExMTAK5BSX-K6UthsWcBUL7aZZpcE1vOk7UjeRQw/s1600/IMG_5647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz5cnBEJbmFD4jeSBiZBY3Kp1Kk9O44eDtd_EUbOT7ONAYL-9uH-ZqpaaO9ol4wgpVex7xFOOPJRr_su7eTm1NntMsHiyzX9t_YoExMTAK5BSX-K6UthsWcBUL7aZZpcE1vOk7UjeRQw/s320/IMG_5647.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the many views</td></tr>
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The aim of the day was to go around <b>Snaefellsness </b>peninsula. Before I forget to mention, the route we took was Hwy 1 -> Hwy 54 -> Hwy 574 -> Hwy 54 -> Hwy 56 -> Hwy 54 ->Hwy 1 -> Hwy 47 ->Hwy 1. Details in link below. We started our day early and drove straight to the famous church by the seaside which is now a popular destination for weddings. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BA%C3%B0ir" target="_blank">The Budir church</a>. A very different landscape along the coast. We continued on Hwy 574 to get to the national park. We stopped at a small village <b>Arnarstapi </b>and had some coffee and snacks. From here we <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/xr42N" target="_blank">hiked to Hellnar</a>. A 3 mile hike or so, but along the coast and offered some very beautiful landscapes with puffins all around. One of the rocks almost looked entirely white because of the number of puffins occupying the rock. We went only about half way and returned as we had parked out car in Amarstapi and wanted to drive further. From here we drove to Hellnar, where the office for the national park was located. After talking to the ranger, she suggested we do the cave tour. So, we drove further and stopped at <a href="http://vatnshellir.is/" target="_blank">Vatnshellir Cave</a> for their tour. We didn't book in advance and there wasn't any need to. The caves were dark and scary, but a different experience. We also stopped at a few other vista points and hiked around. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUU60wib8aAGVKzWmrHF83vOze51exlQW2m7GhVB-bKohhZrCJA5SJaL3pnJo1GpwTsFv_XLtFEGaO1RrFtquWBPqC1w0-N0ZaoiETFf-uHJf7BNkN30CS3wiiZxfx9jPi-FmI__ZH4k/s1600/IMG_5620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUU60wib8aAGVKzWmrHF83vOze51exlQW2m7GhVB-bKohhZrCJA5SJaL3pnJo1GpwTsFv_XLtFEGaO1RrFtquWBPqC1w0-N0ZaoiETFf-uHJf7BNkN30CS3wiiZxfx9jPi-FmI__ZH4k/s320/IMG_5620.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arnarstapi</td></tr>
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And by now we were super hungry and our goal was to simply find some good food. So, we drove further and found a nice restaurant in the small town of Olafsvik. Gobbled up a lot of food and were ready for some more driving. We kept driving on Hwy 574 -> 54 towards Stykkisholmur and took some detours and got back on 54. We reached the town of Stykkisholmur. Hiked up one of the small mountains (<b>Hellgafells</b>) and got a beautiful view of the peninsula. Took some pictures and then got back on Hwy 54 and drove to Hwy 56 towards Reykjavik. From 56 we again joined 54 and finally we were back on Hwy 1. After driving for a while, we decided to drive around the fjord and took the detour on Hwy 47. Added about an extra hour to our drive but was very scenic, especially since it was twilight. And after some time we were back in our guest house, tired and sleepy.</div>
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Our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/JWzyJ" target="_blank">Day6</a>.<br />
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Day 7:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_uQLrhI-rcOKomHi2TzucZCvVEuDgClruXnyJGfb1GkNwnIEBC4zF6JgIOxQTfv3cyKkgF9po_c5Zrgj_LRrNKwwgHk66eHiyL36A4DlakJyPrP3kjLOVmL5VKEvVFgamjzZXIIdumo/s1600/IMG_5706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_uQLrhI-rcOKomHi2TzucZCvVEuDgClruXnyJGfb1GkNwnIEBC4zF6JgIOxQTfv3cyKkgF9po_c5Zrgj_LRrNKwwgHk66eHiyL36A4DlakJyPrP3kjLOVmL5VKEvVFgamjzZXIIdumo/s320/IMG_5706.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thermal mudpots</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdZ06K6EGBt0f8U_t2X2pSG0kc8kzKZnxRNH0GS3nus_b3ME9f4EZrdkRCXtj07yK4KV3-liZu5sNNFdux25M1auGJWchOiZZX4gEvZUkjsuH1aoujPMTDzYq522NRmA8WVTxcM5W96Q/s1600/IMG_5713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdZ06K6EGBt0f8U_t2X2pSG0kc8kzKZnxRNH0GS3nus_b3ME9f4EZrdkRCXtj07yK4KV3-liZu5sNNFdux25M1auGJWchOiZZX4gEvZUkjsuH1aoujPMTDzYq522NRmA8WVTxcM5W96Q/s320/IMG_5713.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gullfoss</td></tr>
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Our last day in Iceland was kept for all things touristy. We had to visit the golden circle this day and then blue lagoon. So we started from our guest house towards the <a href="http://www.thingvellir.is/english.aspx" target="_blank">Pingvellir national park</a>. The first stop was the first parliament of Iceland. Not very exciting. From here, we drove to the Strokkur Geyser. A collection of many geysers in this geothermal area. A good tourist place with restaurants and shops across the road and very crowded. The <b>Strokkur </b>geysir erupts frequently and reliably. A lot of people crowd this area and you have to be careful of the winds, as there were some accidents reported in the last few days. After spending some time watching a few eruptions, we headed to the restaurant for lunch. Good veggie burgers! :) Then we drove to <b>Gullfoss</b>. It was by far the most voluminous waterfall I had seen in Iceland. We took some pictures from the viewing trail. Now was the time to drive back to Reykjavik. I wanted to see the <a href="http://www.phallus.is/en/" target="_blank">phallological museum</a>, but it wasn't very exciting. So, we hunted for food and decided to have our final desi meal at <a href="http://www.austurindia.is/en" target="_blank">Austur</a>. Not that great and quite expensive. From here, we drove straight to the <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/" target="_blank">Blue Lagoon</a>.</div>
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Once at <b>Blue Lagoon</b>, we had to get wrist bands which were color coded as per your package and also served as a tab for what ever services you entail at the bar or the spa. We got to the locker room and then as per the tips on many travel forums, applied conditioner in our hair as the water in the lagoon is very harsh for your hair. Then once outside at the lagoon, we totally missed each other and spent some good 15 minutes trying to find each other! But well, after the chaos was over, we spent a lot of time in the lagoon, applying mud masks, taking pictures and then just enjoying the warm water in the cold weather. Yes, it is expensive, but well, why not do it now that you are here. Once we were done, we changed, got out and drove straight to the airport inn, where we were staying for the night before flying out to New York in the morning. It was the same hotel we had stayed at on our first day. Very comfortable with all the basic amenities. </div>
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Our route for <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/99ipe" target="_blank">Day7</a>.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/s_vi/8hAQ9BvE-ic/default.jpg?sqp=CNiNpK8F&rs=AOn4CLAF589nWOTHdRvxZ8GI4KLvlvUeOg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8hAQ9BvE-ic?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Day 8:</h4>
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We packed our stuff and left for the airport. Once you return you car, you have a decent 10 minute walk to the terminal. There is no shuttle and you have to carry your own luggage, so just keep that in mind. Once at the airport, the check in was quick and the terminal was huge with lots of restaurants and shops. We shopped somewhat before we got on to our flight and bid adieu to this beautiful place. Iceland is indeed the most untouched natural beauty I have ever seen. Hopefully someday we'll be back for northern lights :)</div>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comIceland64.963051 -19.02083500000003461.51099099999999 -29.347983500000034 68.415111 -8.6936865000000338tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-19512305731616800052015-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:002015-04-07T02:29:14.979-07:00Taj Mahal, Agra, India (A day trip from Delhi)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ62O5qn6kABvwvFhNk3_-XAz6LxwZbCElYnOBfJi-PCIHvyozz59MM4ej5QQfnQ2nCqQ-l5gzcoEVp-YYF3rET0LPl8zBXHCZQ1O0Qgo_FgV1uE5hyphenhyphen56Zy8ckX-1xwpWr3wdbZv0zHjo/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ62O5qn6kABvwvFhNk3_-XAz6LxwZbCElYnOBfJi-PCIHvyozz59MM4ej5QQfnQ2nCqQ-l5gzcoEVp-YYF3rET0LPl8zBXHCZQ1O0Qgo_FgV1uE5hyphenhyphen56Zy8ckX-1xwpWr3wdbZv0zHjo/s1600/Untitled.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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I always regretted not having visited Taj Mahal while I lived in India for 21 years. And every time we went home, we never had time to add that to our already jam packed itinerary of lunches and dinners and social meetups. So, this time when we planned an impromptu week long trip to surprise our family, we figured it was a perfect opportunity to add a day trip to Agra on the pretext of our wedding anniversary! :)</div>
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Getting Here:</h3>
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We wanted to take a day trip from Delhi. Hence we stumbled upon two options:</div>
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<li>Drive (Yamuna Expwy): This is what we did. This newly built expressway is freaking awesome by Indian standards. And it is a smooth ride indeed. I would highly recommend this as there is no traffic, lanes are wide and it is every penny worth the toll. Plus, it is super quick. Since we were 6 adults, we hired a 7-seater cab and a driver and left around 8 in the morning. It took us around 3 hours one way.</li>
<li>Bhopal Shatabdi: This would be the next best option from what I discovered. Take the morning shatabdi to get here and take the evening shatabdi to get back to Delhi if your agenda includes visiting Taj Mahal only.</li>
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Visiting Taj:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQjbWmyChbEq79wxE8mW4gMr-tljqjuwEtApYKOJ-wBhrE4dfVo3fhK61vNGTczciUqqx4EecfHTg8tLu1mlJCX57nF6D0lt3LkQ74TaR_9-U6ONlUJH3kfUyFcicFC40oGUxlHuNUJo/s1600/IMG_4153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQjbWmyChbEq79wxE8mW4gMr-tljqjuwEtApYKOJ-wBhrE4dfVo3fhK61vNGTczciUqqx4EecfHTg8tLu1mlJCX57nF6D0lt3LkQ74TaR_9-U6ONlUJH3kfUyFcicFC40oGUxlHuNUJo/s1600/IMG_4153.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main entrance to the Taj</td></tr>
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There are three entrances to the structure, East(reserved for VIPs), South (for locals and not very popular) and West(the one where most of the tourists enter from). There are assigned car parking areas close to these entrances. Once you park you car, you have to either ride a tonga, bus or small electric car to get to the entrance. None of the private vehicles are allowed closer to the monument.</div>
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We chose a small electric car(Golf car) to get to the entrance.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being touristy</td></tr>
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While you are parking, you'll see a lot of guides and it would be best to hire one. You can also listen to audio guides, which I think are great if you have time and would like to be sure about the authenticity of all the information. However, I absolutely enjoy the local guides who weave stories and help you take pictures! So, we hired a guide and he of course helped us to get tickets from the ticket counter. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being touristy - part deux</td></tr>
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After we got our tickets, we had to go through a security check and then ended up at the main entrance. Needless to say, it is simply beautiful. And it is amazing how everything is so symmetric and well calculated by the architect. Once you step through the main entrance, you'll be simply mesmerized by the first view of the marble beauty. It was super crowded, most likely because it was a Saturday. But we managed to get some nice touristy pictures and then headed straight to the main tomb itself. The structure is huge, but it is just a tomb, so there wasn't much to see inside the main structure itself. We just walked around and were taken in by the beauty of all the intricate beautifully carved patterns. Verses from Quran and intertwined vines are carved with great detail.</div>
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There is a lot of detail about the architect, number of gardens, fountains, etc etc which I have happily forgotten. It took us about 2 hours to thoroughly walk through this place and then we had to take an electric car back to the parking lot.<br />
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Visiting Fatehpur Sikri:</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buland Darwaza - Fatehpur Sikri</td></tr>
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After we stepped out, we thought we might as well visit either Agra Fort or Fatehpur Sikri. And Murphy would have laughed at us when we picked Fatehpur Sikri. We drove for about an hour and half to get here given the roads were narrow and there was so much traffic. Once here, it took us all about 30 minutes to see this place. But you have to park in designated areas and then take a bus to get to the visitor entrance. It is a courtyard with a famous dargah and the huge Buland Darwaza. Made entirely of red stone, it is beautiful but not worth the visit especially if you are short on time. Picking Agra Fort would've been a better choice as it was close to Taj Mahal and offered more to see, well after all it is a fort. </div>
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Driving back:</h3>
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This turned out to be a nightmare. First we decided to take a short cut, but there was an accident on the route and we had to come all the way back to Sikri and then go to Agra to get on the Yamuna Expressway. Plus the evening traffic made our lives miserable. But Google Maps were totally reliable! As always, they came to our rescue. Once we got on the Expressway after a lot of ordeal, we were all set to get back to Noida for our anniversary dinner with our extended family. We got late for sure, but didn't miss the fun :)</div>
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Useful Info:</h2>
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<li><a href="http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/">Here</a> is the official site. And here is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal">Wikipedia</a> article.</li>
<li>Visiting during full moon at night offers great views of the Taj Mahal. Some stones shine bright and look like reflecting mirrors and the milky white Taj looks even more mesmerizing. </li>
<li>Plan ahead if you want to visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort">Agra Fort</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatehpur_Sikri">Fatehpur Sikri</a></li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comTaj Mahal, India27.1750151 78.0421552000000251.730091599999998 36.733561200000025 52.6199386 119.35074920000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-49383188322093582402014-12-31T16:54:00.000-08:002015-01-18T22:27:04.490-08:00Costa Rica (Arenal, Monteverde, San Jose)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This December we were looking for a destination which wasn't a long flight away and gave us some time to relax, basically didn't offer much places to see. At the same time, we wanted to enjoy some adventurous activities as well. So, we chose Costa Rica. Here is our brief itinerary:</div>
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Day 0: Arrive in San Jose --> Transfer to La Fortuna</div>
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Day 1: Rafting --> Hot Springs</div>
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Day 2: Horse Riding --> Hike</div>
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Day 3: Transfer to Monteverde</div>
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Day 4: Ziplining --> Touring around</div>
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Day 5: Jungle hike --> Transfer to San Jose</div>
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Day 6: Day tour of San Jose --> Fly out</div>
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<h3>
Where to go in Costa Rica?</h3>
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Costa Rica is mostly known for its beaches, rainforests and volcanoes. While picking our destinations, my focus was to pick places which had good rafting and ziplining options and beaches were a strict no from Sumit. So, when I researched, I could see that popular picks were Arenal volcano(La Fortuna town), Monteverde cloudforest, Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste for its beaches and Tortuguero national park for its canals. Since we didn't want to do much hopping around, we chose La Fortuna and Monteverde.<br />
Overall, I would add more activities to my itinerary. I felt I had a lot of free time than I would have liked. I would have also chosen to go to Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio instead of spending a day in San Jose. Arenal and Monteverde are fun and beautiful and green though. </div>
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Where to fly?</h3>
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San Jose (SJO): It is a popular airport with many connections to offer and flies in to the capital so we got our tickets for here.</div>
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Liberia (LIR): This airport is closer to the Guanacaste and Monteverde area and is more popular for the tourists. But we did not find good tickets to this place and hence decided to transfer by road from San Jose.</div>
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Our itinerary:</h3>
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<h4>
Day 0:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arenal Volcano - La Fortuna</td></tr>
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We arrived at the San Jose airport around 10 am and had booked our private transfer to La Fortuna. So, we went straight from the airport to La Fortuna. It took around 3 hours for us to get there. We were staying at <a href="http://www.hotelsanbosco.com/">San Bosco Inn</a> and it was a very good choice. They had a very spacious property right next to the downtown. rooms for decent enough with a patio to enjoy the short lived rainstorms.</div>
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The downtown itself is very small and you can walk around the entire area in about 30-40 minutes. We ate at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g309226-d7273982-Reviews-Restaurante_Nanku-La_Fortuna_de_San_Carlos_Arenal_Volcano_National_Park_Province_.html">Nanku</a> restaurant. The typical Costa Rican dish includes rice and beans and is called tipica. Good for vegetarians like us, it reminded us of rajma chawal, though without the Indian "tadka", but was filling enough.</div>
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Day 1:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoopie!!</td></tr>
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Today was the rafting day. It was my first time and as I am terrified of being in water, I think I hardly smiled that morning. Our tour was booked by <a href="http://www.waveexpeditions.com/" target="_blank">Wave Expeditions</a> and this was the best thing we did on this tour. I highly highly recommend it for anyone travelling to this place.</div>
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We were picked from our hotel and were driven to the banks of Sarapiqui river which was about 90 minutes away. There was a stop in between in a town which is famous for iguanas and oh boy, we saw so many iguanas that I doubt I'd ever see in one place ever again. Our guide had given us instructions on what to and what not to do. Listening to the instruction on what to do when you fall off the raft did scare the hell out of me, but well, I had to get it off my bucket list. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar by the pool - Tabacon Hot Springs</td></tr>
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We were then split in to groups of 6 and given instructions once again by our guide on the raft. Five of us were newbies and Sumit was the most experienced one with this being his second time. I was lucky and did not fall off the raft. A few people from other rafts did and it looked scary to see people floating away with the river, but they were all rescued and were alive, which was pacifying!</div>
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There was a much needed lunch at the end of our two and half hour workout which tasted delicious. Then we were dropped off at our hotel after another 90 minute bus ride.</div>
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In the evening, we headed to <a href="http://www.tabacon.com/costa-rica-resort-thermal-springs-1.html">Tabacon Hot Springs</a>. Simply beautiful and a very relaxing spa. there were many different spring pools and we kept hopping from one to the other. we got towel and a locker on our entrance. Spent around 90 minutes in there and then we were ready for our dinner. Not many options for the veggies in that buffet, but we were able to stuff ourselves with some rice, beans, nachos, guacamole and some fruits. After a long adventurous day, we were ready to head back to our hotel around 10 pm to crash for the night. </div>
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<h4>
Day 2:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Chocolate</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm.. Veggie sushi rolls!</td></tr>
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We had horse riding and hiking on our itinerary this day. We got to the La Fortuna waterfall park around 8 am. Here we walked up to the stable and were given a horse each for a group of about 20 people. The name of my horse was "Chocolate". Initially I was a bit scared that I would fall off from the horse, but then ten minutes later, I was quite comfortable and enjoyed the horse ride. It was fun when the horse tried to gallop a bit. Once we reached the trail head of the waterfall hike. We got off the horses and started hiking downhill. Some steps initially and then some more hike to get to the waterfall. It was a pretty sight and the water was cold, but it was raining. So, I wasn't too happy about the rains. All drenched, I didn't even feel like getting in the water. Other tourists were happily swimming though. After a bit, we hiked back uphill and then horse ride back to the stable, with a an obligatory stop at the native village (arggh!!- precisely why I hate these tour organizers). Anyhow, it was fun experience. Hike was pretty good, strenuous though. I'd recommend it for the hiker sorts.<br />
We had the rest of the day to ourselves and we spent some time watching a movie at our hotel and some time walking around the town. It was sushi evening for us. We found an excellent restaurant to satisfy our veggie sushi cravings, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g309226-d2482140-Reviews-Kappa_Sushi_Fortuna-La_Fortuna_de_San_Carlos_Arenal_Volcano_National_Park_Provinc.html">Kappa Sushi</a>.<br />
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Day 3:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6K9_2dqsFEMNrCsERMMgBO6OVzehnoDc-WC60s0intsaTDeorrgb7k5ZEOesmhm0_yP1O6w5CpwC0Szj5Ax4zgwDp4Jz8uCg_WOGYUFQ2s9oetcK-5GLLxx4wGPXszBsQZ_7lP8tAXs/s1600/IMG_3300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6K9_2dqsFEMNrCsERMMgBO6OVzehnoDc-WC60s0intsaTDeorrgb7k5ZEOesmhm0_yP1O6w5CpwC0Szj5Ax4zgwDp4Jz8uCg_WOGYUFQ2s9oetcK-5GLLxx4wGPXszBsQZ_7lP8tAXs/s1600/IMG_3300.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transparent butterflies!</td></tr>
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Today was our transfer day. Time to pack our bags and head to Monteverde. We got to the Arenal Lake by bus. Then it was an hour long boat ride. Very beautiful views on our way. Just that I was freaked out about the boat capsizing. After an hour long ride, it was an hour long drive to our lodge close to the cloudforest. As soon as you enter the Monteverde area, roads disappear. There are no roads and all rides are super bumpy. Monteverde is also a little colder compared to Arenal area, but less rainy. After we got to our hotel, we headed out for some lunch and sightseeing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJeP_E9ZBOc8pSS0xr-h06edJDPvgVHUgk-GEqrf3rIzhGjG7P4uACm7GmMRcvTZ0L-axudaPxdyfckxH5mREHK22z8tHd4ODSdqGi2dq_UqIys6rOcBWZSkmA_CrISoE0C8a-n_VkFs/s1600/IMG_3267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJeP_E9ZBOc8pSS0xr-h06edJDPvgVHUgk-GEqrf3rIzhGjG7P4uACm7GmMRcvTZ0L-axudaPxdyfckxH5mREHK22z8tHd4ODSdqGi2dq_UqIys6rOcBWZSkmA_CrISoE0C8a-n_VkFs/s1600/IMG_3267.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello cockroach!</td></tr>
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After filling our tummies with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rican_cuisine">tipica</a>(Costa Rican typical dish of rice and beans), we walked around the small town. Headed to a butterfly garden. They have guided 45 minute tours. Our guide was really enthusiastic about telling us everything about the insects and butterflies and this visit was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed touching the butterflies and cockroaches. Then, we headed to the frog pond, which was a sheer disappointment compares to the butterfly garden. A dull and boring guide and tiny frogs trapped in a glass cage. Trust me, California Academy of Sciences has a better exhibit! After we headed out, we went to the downtown for some dinner. We dined at the <a href="http://www.treehouse.cr/">TreeHouse</a> restaurant and it was a very lively and fun place to be in the evening. Lovely ambiance and live music. That was our day 3 in Costa Rica.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the way a frog moves!</td></tr>
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Day 4:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAyw9MXVDhMGaR_IrhcZg0UdMusD0w6I3azClM0kjASlCmKlJo0gJQOqe9kUCHeR4_FGo5pw2GLwtWgF-Gm0t6dFMLoG9SrRzIBNmwgt3lXOUmWoj1PCCVkhlXthujUGqIdaKx0O-5u4/s1600/P564-021-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAyw9MXVDhMGaR_IrhcZg0UdMusD0w6I3azClM0kjASlCmKlJo0gJQOqe9kUCHeR4_FGo5pw2GLwtWgF-Gm0t6dFMLoG9SrRzIBNmwgt3lXOUmWoj1PCCVkhlXthujUGqIdaKx0O-5u4/s1600/P564-021-MOTION.gif" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziplining</td></tr>
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It was time for ziplining today! Early morning we headed to the <a href="http://www.selvatura.com/">Selvatura park</a>. Got our gear on, and paid some extra cash to choose the superman ziplining(I highly highly recommend this!). I was initially scared for the first zipline, so much so, that I braked using my glove accidentally and was hanging in the middle. Luckily, better sense prevailed and I let go off my brakes and was able to continue my zipline without having to be rescued by our guide to my embarrasment. After the first zipline, other 12 were a piece of cake and super duper fun. There was a tarzan swing in the end, which I chickened out of, but looked like fun! And I super glad we chose the super man swing in the end. It was the longest zipline and your harness hangs you like a superman from the rope. So, you get beautiful views and its an awesome superman-ish feeling! :) Must must choose this option. I don't have our picture, but <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=superman+zipline&espv=2&biw=1455&bih=665&tbm=isch&imgil=zzpnaLnDA4UTFM%253A%253Bju2eG0TnkO_F_M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.viator.com%25252Ftours%25252FJaco%25252FSuperman-Zipline-Course-at-Adventure-Park-Costa-Rica%25252Fd4144-5726DANIEL02&source=iu&pf=m&fir=zzpnaLnDA4UTFM%253A%252Cju2eG0TnkO_F_M%252C_&usg=__8BUjAWFwNlwiy0b-tqADKf9EwYc%3D&dpr=1.1&ved=0CCcQyjc&ei=U6O8VM-8BoaEyQTvg4CAAg#imgdii=_&imgrc=zzpnaLnDA4UTFM%253A%3Bju2eG0TnkO_F_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcache.graphicslib.viator.com%252Fgraphicslib%252Fthumbs360x240%252F5726%252FSITours%252Fsuperman-zipline-course-at-adventure-park-costa-rica-in-jaco-120204.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.viator.com%252Ftours%252FJaco%252FSuperman-Zipline-Course-at-Adventure-Park-Costa-Rica%252Fd4144-5726DANIEL02%3B360%3B240">this</a> is what it looks like.<br />
After spending almost the entire day here, we headed for our hotel and after a brief nap, headed to their small downtown area for dinner. We ate at restaurant exactly opposite the Tree House. Good food again. And it was time for some rest after a long adventurous day! We were staying at the<a href="http://calalodge.com/"> Cala Lodge</a> in Monteverde. Nice clean wooden cabins. No heaters, but well insulated though.<br />
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<h4>
Day 5:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH2jQUcycvswliVDTw97dKeDs0Y92ZaA9-LqOnd6uuUeu8vRsomaTHMiVKldUlmgdKLK5bBfarpyurZh1YPFTziFoCuSXqAqpoNnrcAF_ZDlkLzvfhSretNMFvhJpEBh0bhefsG6X3XE/s1600/IMG_3402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH2jQUcycvswliVDTw97dKeDs0Y92ZaA9-LqOnd6uuUeu8vRsomaTHMiVKldUlmgdKLK5bBfarpyurZh1YPFTziFoCuSXqAqpoNnrcAF_ZDlkLzvfhSretNMFvhJpEBh0bhefsG6X3XE/s1600/IMG_3402.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking time!</td></tr>
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We were scheduled for some jungle walk today. We spent a couple of hours hiking in the <a href="http://www.reservamonteverde.com/">Monteverde cloud forest</a> with a guide. This was the most disappointing activity. We spotted a few birds, squirrels and monkeys. But, it wasn't much adventurous. I think we were used to the adrenaline rush by rafting and ziplining by now :) But, only a couple of hours and we were back to our lodge for a quick pack our bags and grab a bite before heading to San Jose. We had a private transfer by <a href="https://www.interbusonline.com/">Interbus</a>. It was a 10 seater van and having no roads in that hilly area made me nauseous. So I sat in the front. It was a beautiful ride, just that all the nausea made it terrible for me.<br />
Once in San Jose, we checked into our <a href="http://www.hotelsantotomas.com/">Santo Tomas</a> hotel in the downtown area. Beautiful boutique style hotel. Reminded me of Hotel Transylvania. Headed out for dinner and got back in time to watch a movie.<br />
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<h4>
Day 6:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rpv_x4FJiS18QxW_KpYI_T70wZ1nXQzDMBa9ks4hMHmizAIfogbpI_YWRm5gIiI5OlUaqn9B0AhIMvjSfZp8_iISd24ghaFL5G_5aP-7RBaY4GQktQsRF7gIMtTnPqjnn8ztxhqlBc4/s1600/IMG_3460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rpv_x4FJiS18QxW_KpYI_T70wZ1nXQzDMBa9ks4hMHmizAIfogbpI_YWRm5gIiI5OlUaqn9B0AhIMvjSfZp8_iISd24ghaFL5G_5aP-7RBaY4GQktQsRF7gIMtTnPqjnn8ztxhqlBc4/s1600/IMG_3460.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are all business cards from around the world</td></tr>
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I hate myself for signing up for a day tour. And I also hate myself for choosing <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309230-d309752-Reviews-Irazu_Volcano_National_Park-Province_of_Cartago.html">Irazu volcano</a> over <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309227-d592793-Reviews-Poas_Volcano-Poas_Volcano_National_Park_Province_of_Alajuela.html">Poas volcano</a>. So, don't do any of these unless you want to regret later. I should have stuck to my instincts of DIY trip and headed to Poas volcano. The tour took us to Irazu, but it was cloudy, so we didn't see much, except that I could tell that there is a crater here, right in front of me, but I can't see it. Then, there was a short visit to a church followed by a visit to a botanical garden. Total waste of time. I could have flown in a day earlier and gotten over my jet lag to get ready for my New Year party. But well, lesson learnt for future.<br />
After we got back, it was time to find some Indian food. We researched and headed to <a href="http://www.thetajmahalrestaurant.com/">Taj</a> which was close to the airport area. Food was decent enough and quiet authentic. After stuffing ourselves and taking a couple of samosas to go for our long long flight, we headed back to the hotel. We took a short nap and packed our bags for the long flight home.<br />
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<h3>
How to get around?</h3>
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Cabs are your best bet. Monteverde and Arenal, cabs are cheap, but they are a bit expensive in San Jose. I had extensively read online that one shouldn't be driving in Costa Rica. But after my trip I met a friend, who recommended that we should've driven. So, next time I think I will most likely drive. Having driven in India, it won't be tough I think.</div>
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<h3>
What could have we done better?</h3>
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<br />
<ol>
<li>Book early: We made our booking about 5 weeks in advance and it seems we were late as most of the hotels were not available. Given it was a peak season, book early.</li>
<li>Spend lesser time: I felt we could have added more activities or visited more regions in the given amount of time.</li>
<li>Done tours ourselves: Should have definitely not done the San Jose day tour. Rafting and Ziplining were freaking awesome and are a must do. Even horse riding and hiking. Should have added hiking to the Arenal volcano. But the observatory was closed and we ditched it.</li>
<li>Nicaragua: A short day trip from Arenal and Monteverde is totally do-able.</li>
<li>Tour Company: made our bookings via Anywhere Costa Rica which was super convenient and if you are looking for travel agents to plan your itinerary, I would recommend them.</li>
<li>Laundry: You would need to dry your shoes if you plan on doing rafting one day and hiking the next day. There are many laundry services in Arenal and they helped us with drying our shoes, since I had carried only one pair of closed-toe sport shoes. So, you might want to carry an extra pair.</li>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comCosta Rica9.7489169999999987 -83.7534279999999851.7311404999999986 -94.080576499999978 17.7666935 -73.426279499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678120238811618547.post-62020573770471656512014-08-15T00:35:00.000-07:002014-12-17T00:38:28.480-08:00Canada (Vancouver)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjIMlSOqUyPExzVlcipUHW7Mi_dyVXXA3hRzhgrkteCWfVW7Svc7esSZzq2AM_9QkyhfJLSnOGzqgZ0YmWILIJMEt0EzgYumrhg31BDlWYcX8raB7D3u1rZypJDNfTI-D7QtZ0dpkk84/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjIMlSOqUyPExzVlcipUHW7Mi_dyVXXA3hRzhgrkteCWfVW7Svc7esSZzq2AM_9QkyhfJLSnOGzqgZ0YmWILIJMEt0EzgYumrhg31BDlWYcX8raB7D3u1rZypJDNfTI-D7QtZ0dpkk84/s1600/Untitled.jpg" height="266" width="640" /></a></div>
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This was one of those tag along trips for me. Sumit was in Vancouver for a conference and I decided to join him for a few days after his conference ended. We had 4 days in all and they were more than enough for us to fall in love with the Canadian people and Canada itself. </div>
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When did we go?</h4>
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We were in Vancouver from 14th -19th August and the weather was amazing. Very very pleasant, absolutely perfect. We didn't have to pick the dates, we had to stick with the conference days, and it turned out to be pretty decent choice of dates, weather wise.</div>
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However, in case you are planning to visit Whistler as well, you may prefer going sometime earlier in the summer as they have some gondolas operational only from May-July. </div>
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Where did we stay?</h4>
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We wanted to stay in the downtown area and found an excellent B&B option through airbnb. Beautiful apartment with an excellent view. The owner was a professional travel blogger and gave us some great tips on what to and what not to do in the city. We stayed close to the intersection of Seymour Street and Davie Street. We were within walking distance of major downtown streets and close to public transport as well. So, all in all, worked out well for us :)</div>
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How did we get around?</h4>
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Public transport is perfect to get around the city. Even to get to Granville Island or the Grouse Mountain, public transport works out perfect. But we rented a car to get to Whistler and since we had an extra day, we drove to Harrison Lake and Bridal Veil falls too.</div>
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What did we do?</h4>
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I landed on Thursday evening, right after Sumit got done with his last session at the conference. We had full four days until we flew out on Tuesday morning. On the whole, we spent time in Vancouver downtown, Grouse Mountain, Capillano Bridge and a day in Whistler.</div>
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DAY 1: Stanley Park, Robson Street, Gastown</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofoxC_3jvgqT32Vx3yNHArz78uoCROBwqfscX9459JrxiyY0qXGix_nw2RFi9D6EzGjea9nYBmCEuLZUlMZiM778EGdXd0xF1IGsN8Yu6TuqrbQE5thz8mTVguteBs_Ht1Eo0RNvkdTE/s1600/IMG_2150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofoxC_3jvgqT32Vx3yNHArz78uoCROBwqfscX9459JrxiyY0qXGix_nw2RFi9D6EzGjea9nYBmCEuLZUlMZiM778EGdXd0xF1IGsN8Yu6TuqrbQE5thz8mTVguteBs_Ht1Eo0RNvkdTE/s1600/IMG_2150.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tandem bike</td></tr>
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We had an early start to the day and were planning to spend half a day biking around the Stanley park and the Vancouver waterfront. Our host recommended <a href="http://reckless.ca/" target="_blank">Reckless Bike Store</a>, walking distance from our place. They had a tandem bike, which is a must for us, since I do not know how to ride a bike (yes, embarrassing, I know, but let us get past this now, okay!). So we got our bike route maps, which were super helpful when we got lost (like we always do on a bike), and we were biking! Our approximate <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/QdN9m" target="_blank">bike route</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totem poles</td></tr>
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<a href="http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx" target="_blank">Stanley Park</a> has so much to see that you can spend an entire day here, but we weren't really interested in museums or aquariums. Hence, we biked along the seawall and stopped at Totempoles for some photo ops, also at the light house, and some very very scenic views. It was a whole lot of fun just biking around the park, with so much activity going on around you. We stopped at the Teahouse for a quick bite.</div>
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Once we exited the park, we headed to the waterfront area, near Canada Place and then in search for a dedicated biking route, ended up somewhere close to the Rogers Arena. Then Google maps and biking maps helped us get back to the biking store. After we were done, it was time for some rest! Oh btw, we did try some veggie hot dogs at those mobile stalls that are in abundance in Vancouver and they were quite bad.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdjqYcQXvDknLwfsC4zupUTLEcNtKR3IZkyePtcHyWZAn6McFsfprU1iXEsiDecYV9vmxqhX4QwqKOUmy3w_4Hz3mhjrURunk3NVGXGmAvFclHc82QKsKs9AKDqqLgWZfoUiCpAXC4Cs/s1600/IMG_2204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdjqYcQXvDknLwfsC4zupUTLEcNtKR3IZkyePtcHyWZAn6McFsfprU1iXEsiDecYV9vmxqhX4QwqKOUmy3w_4Hz3mhjrURunk3NVGXGmAvFclHc82QKsKs9AKDqqLgWZfoUiCpAXC4Cs/s1600/IMG_2204.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steam clock - Gastown</td></tr>
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After a short nap, we headed to the Robson street for the evening. What a lively place to be. Reminded me of 3rd street promenade in LA. Our Indian palette was craving for some spicy food and we ended up going to <a href="http://www.salambombay.com/" target="_blank">Salaam Bombay</a>. Average. I expected Vancouver to have some better desi food options. Later, we headed to the waterfront for a stroll near the convention center and then to the <a href="http://www.gastown.org/" target="_blank">Gastown</a> for night. Another lively neighborhood to hang out. Must must hang around this area. Super lively and fun. Stopped by the steam clock to see what the fuss is all about and then headed back home. </div>
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DAY 2: Grouse Mountain, Capilano Bridge, Granville Island</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1mX3hlt9_WdwoXP0L1RAdDpOZitdVwIulPyYkmReS99EA7JF9QwgHb99fzuvrmYuiMrsqU8lJL8VXNX10H2iiufZxfGMALfmQGCPBF0xTHlKLuCUMT8fYzF2CiGGPZzFyCKQkXo_EhA/s1600/IMG_2241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1mX3hlt9_WdwoXP0L1RAdDpOZitdVwIulPyYkmReS99EA7JF9QwgHb99fzuvrmYuiMrsqU8lJL8VXNX10H2iiufZxfGMALfmQGCPBF0xTHlKLuCUMT8fYzF2CiGGPZzFyCKQkXo_EhA/s1600/IMG_2241.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouse Mountain</td></tr>
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Early start as usual. I wonder why on vacations I promptly get up at 7 or 8, while on regular weekdays, I am usually asleep till 9 30! Anyhow, we took the subway to the Convention Center. From here we took the SeaBus(ferry ride) to the Lonsdale Quay. From here we took the bus to the <a href="https://www.grousemountain.com/general-admission-membership" target="_blank">Grouse Mountain</a>. We reached by 10 am. </div>
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Once here, you would need to buy your passes for the skyride to take you at the first level. Here you have a nice restaurant; a couple of bears in a confined area, which you can spot if you are lucky; a lumberjack show, which I highly recommend and is super funny. There is also a show with the birds and stuff. But it was so foggy, that we could barely see the lumberjack show from 10 feet away. So, we were very disappointed. It was just a bad day. The weather in Vancouver was pretty bright and sunny, but the Grouse Mountain was covered in fog. I am sure it makes for a very scenic place to walk around, but fog makes it look all white.<br />
Then we took our passes for a chairlift to the next level. The ride was fun, even though it was more foggy here than at the previous level, mostly because of height. People were ziplining here, but we decided to give it a miss. It was so foggy, I am not sure if it would have been fun. There is a windmill here and you can take a ride to the top of the windmill for a 360 degree view. But, we skipped it due to the fog. Tip: You can buy passes for all three rides all together at the base ticket counter too.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx9ROngJYAWQDvdi0Xe7X3INsnQljeqJzohtjoVhP94a4TJFyo51z3g9S2R4d2vDknJbPEXMKFXORuakRTtQAi3IAGb-HkjgTdU2yujXWyHcFmNGFs9yGSjj_hcIpr00fmRMmr4FzCKU/s1600/IMG_2249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx9ROngJYAWQDvdi0Xe7X3INsnQljeqJzohtjoVhP94a4TJFyo51z3g9S2R4d2vDknJbPEXMKFXORuakRTtQAi3IAGb-HkjgTdU2yujXWyHcFmNGFs9yGSjj_hcIpr00fmRMmr4FzCKU/s1600/IMG_2249.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capilano Bridge</td></tr>
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Around 2 pm, we took the bus to <a href="http://www.capbridge.com/" target="_blank">Capilano Bridge</a>, which is on your way back to Vancouver from the Grouse Mountain. We were there in about 30 minutes or so. Got our tickets and the map. I love places which have maps to offer. It gives me a chance to come up with another mini plan. But first, we got some excellent falafals from the snack shops there. This is a very fun place to be. Walking on that bridge is freaking scary, especially when you get to the middle and the damn bridge is swinging. The tree top walks on the other side are fun too. There were some birds on display and my favorite was the owl. Such a beauty. Loved observing the bird so up, <br />
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close and personal. After spending some fun hours here, we got back on the bus to the downtown. Here we changed our bus to take us to the Granville Island. It is small little tourist attraction in itself.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public market - Granville Island</td></tr>
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We walked around the small little island and ended up at the Public Market. Here we literally pounced on the coconut water and some yummy chocolate desserts. Then, we couldn't stop ourselves from buying mangoes which looked so fresh. After we were done with our groceries (rolling eyes), we walked around for a little while. I hear the Granville Pub has some excellent beers to offer. From here, we took an aquabus back to the Davie Street, closest to our apartment. Small, round, multicolored ferries they are, that go from the Granville Island to different parts of the downtown. Super cute!</div>
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And then, Sumit had some sushi craving. Yes, veggies sushi. So we quickly googled for some sushi options close by and voila, we found one close to our apartment. <a href="http://vancouverkaidesushi.com/" target="_blank">Kaide sushi bar</a>. Excellent sushi. Best veggie sushi I have had till now. Plus, I will never forget the chef who was talking to me holding a butcher's knife in his hand. An image that will always be ingrained in my head. </div>
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DAY 3: Bridal Veil Falls, Harrison Lake</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridal Veil Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1CmQi_q2NL6DkB7HzQ5ncR7421_oC3q1nlmt_6H1pUmPRZ0kfXIxYM2XLEFu-2aOSLLFIQu38hmzWnoUQZMansoAVKhyf6TXaok1XUl489uNI5fRHA6-99rmiHL3_0_icPMaVfsQW8E/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1CmQi_q2NL6DkB7HzQ5ncR7421_oC3q1nlmt_6H1pUmPRZ0kfXIxYM2XLEFu-2aOSLLFIQu38hmzWnoUQZMansoAVKhyf6TXaok1XUl489uNI5fRHA6-99rmiHL3_0_icPMaVfsQW8E/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harrison Lake</td></tr>
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We had initially planned to go to Victoria Island this day, but figured it may be too hectic and given that Vancouver is such a fun place to be, we thought we will return some other time just for Victoria Island. Anyhoo, we had the car rented for this day. So after we picked up our car from the airport, we drove east towards the falls. Spotted a Gurudwara in middle of vast green fields. Felt like I was back in Punjab. Well driving was a lot of fun. We took a diversion because of a traffic accident and figured we were driving parallel to the US-Canada border at a distance of few meters. (yes, meters, not yards. I am an Indian and I was in Canada). Bad day to not have kept your passports with you! But luckily we were back on the freeway and at the Falls in a couple of hours.<br />
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A short hike to the beautiful falls. Very green, dense and lush forests. After some photos, we stopped at a burger place for lunch and then headed to the Harrison Lake. Huge, beautiful lake, surrounded by mountains on all sides. We had read about Harrison hot springs, where you could take a dip in the natural hot springs, but on reaching, figured they were still 45 minutes to an hour away from the lake. We didn't want to drive anymore, so decided to skip it. Just relaxed in the sun for an hour before driving back to Vancouver. We took a different route this time. We drove via BC-7 which was very pretty compared to BC-1.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rotato!</td></tr>
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On our drive back, we thought about exploring the Punjabi market that everyone talks about so much. It is just a bunch of streets which have quite a bit of Indian shops. The fun part is, all the shops have their names displayed in English and Punjabi. It was a good place to drive by and made for some good photo ops. We had dinner at some Indian place nearby and then decided to go visit the <a href="http://www.richmondnightmarket.com/" target="_blank">Richmond Night market</a>, which had been highly recommended by our host. It was like one of those make shift bazaars we have in India. But definitely a good place for any foodie. We got in the queue for the famous Rotato and finally got ours after some wait. It lived up to its reputation. It was only when I got back to the US, I was told we have something similar at Santa Cruz Boardwalk too! But well, it was fun. Lemonade was good too and this is where I bought my Superman socks! After our long day, we got home and crashed, for it was supposed to be an even longer day tomorrow. But before we snored away to glory, it was time to have some mango milkshake. The mangoes from Granville island turned out to be very sweet and the shake was the best thing to end such a long day. </div>
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DAY 4: Whistler</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackcomb mountain</td></tr>
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We left really early, around 7 on this day. Drove straight to <a href="http://www.whistler.com/" target="_blank">Whistler</a>. Some great views on our drive. Absolutely beautiful landscapes. Once we got to the village, we got our passes for the chairlifts and for the peak to peak gondola. We took the chairlift up to the black comb mountain. had lunch at the restaurant here. The chairlift further up to the seventh heaven was closed. Then took the peak to peak gondola to the Whistler mountain. The views are just so beautiful. You get such amazing views of the valley, it is out of the world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whistler mountain</td></tr>
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Once we reached Whistler mountain, we took the chairlift up to another peak. Amazing views and a bit chilly. Once we got down, we hiked around a bit at Whistler mountain. Took some photos and some best views I have ever seen from a mountain top. Then, we finally took the ride from the Whistler mountain down to the Olympic village. This reminded me of the Squaw valley at Tahoe. The village is huge and has plenty of options to eat, drink and relax. We ate at the Tandoori Grill. Good food. There are so many activities to do here, it is totally worth spending a few days. What I found interesting and amusing was that every instruction here was written in four languages, two of them were English and Punjabi! How awesome is that :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandy Wine falls</td></tr>
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We went up the Blackcomb Mountain, then took peak-to-peak gondola to Whistler and got down from Whistler. This was recommended by our host and worked out well for us. Firtsly, because the views were good and secondly, the village at the base of Whistler was good place to relax, eat and spend some time at. And you would want to do that towards the end of your visit I think.</div>
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On our drive back we stopped at many places. Some were great Vista points. I especially remember Shannon Falls and Brandy Wine Falls. We missed Porteau Cove. Stopped at the HorseShoe bay for a quick cup of coffee. Then drove back home to pack up and take the early morning flight next day. </div>
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What more could we have done?</h4>
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Victoria Island: It takes a lot of effort to get here. You need to spend around 3 hours on the ferry each way. Then public transport on the island itself isn't that great, so getting around is tough. We realized it wasn't worth a day trip and probably it is a better idea to spend a few days here, rather than just a day. Plus, you can get to Victoria island directly from Seattle.</div>
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Rockies: They make for a week long trip from Vancouver I think, or at least 3-4 days with all the driving involved. </div>
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Neha Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10157366920237000384noreply@blogger.comVancouver, BC, Canada49.2827291 -123.1207375000000249.1169131 -123.44346100000001 49.4485451 -122.79801400000002