Trip #3 is the most recent one, a short getaway with dear friends who moved cities a few months ago. It was something we talked about for months & as the date drew closer, my excitement (& anxiety) mounted! I can’t remember the last time I visited in the rainy season. While I will be sharing some vlogs from the trip, now that a month has passed I thought it’d be a great time to share some memories through a little photo diary (all captured on my phone)

The Idyllic Vistadome Journey

There’s a lot of ways to get to Goa from Mumbai – road (car / van / bus), train, flight. I have definitely tried them all. While a flight is the quickest, the inaccessibility of the airport is the reason I usually chose the overnight bus. Tejas, who I was travelling with suggested travelling by the fancy vistadome coach on the Jan Shatabdi. It was one of the highlights of the trip, with panoramic views of the Konkan (which is so lush at this time of the year!)

I think I packed light for the first time in my life – a simple, streamlined wardrobe that was both location & weather appropriate. I’m wearing a crop top, Fjallraven kanken sling as well as nylon cargo / trackpant hybrid (that have lots of pockets & repel water, double whammy!) I wore Crocs & didn’t carry any spares because they were just the only thing I needed. Accessories were super simple- gold earrings, a couple of my favorite rings & my treasured HMT watch (I should’ve skipped the watch, considering the weather).

Beach Day

Mom hooked us up with amazing rooms at our favorite resort in Benaulim, a village that sorta feels like home. It was nice to take Rydell & Tejas around, to show them my favorite spots & introduce them to the local vendors for kadak chai & freshly made steak pav. We intentionally abstained from planning too much & just decided to take each day as it comes. One of our first major outings was an afternoon at the beach, which is luckily just walking distance away. We settled in at one of the beach shacks & since I was feeling adventurous, I thought it’d be fun to try urrak, a traditional Goan liquor distilled from cashew fruit.

The urrak (with limca) was so refreshing, we had to get a second round! Afterwards, we took a nice little walk on the seashore as the sun set.

Furry Friends

It was my second time at the same resort in just a few months (I was there with mom in the summer) so I had befriended the local cats & dog, & I was delighted to see them remember me so we could pick up where we left off!

The cats are so wonderful (they’re both female, with completely divergent personalities) & the dog is large, brown & extremely friendly! I made regular detours to feed the cats throughout the day. The dog roams where she wants & she would find us outside our rooms or on our walks.

A day trip to the city

On our last full day in Goa, we hired scooters & took a day trip to Margao, the nearest city. It’s customary for non resident Goans to visit the local spots & bring our favorite foods back home with us.

We started the day by heading to the choris stall (local Goan sausages – they’re to die for), dropped by Zantye’s for some cashew nuts & decided to lunch at the iconic Longuinos.

I had taken slightly ill at this time so I decided it’d be a good idea to have a shot of cashew feni (very potent local liquor) which has long been considered a home remedy for cold & cough. Drinking it feels like you’ve set your oesophagus on fire momentarily. I’m not sure if it helped with the cough but it did succeed in get me day drunk, I’m quite the lightweight.

Five days passed by in the blink of an eye, but I’m reviling the trip through the photos & video! All of these were taken on my Pixel 6a. I hope this inspires you to try something different on your next getaway. x

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All my life, I’ve always felt like I was a city-dweller only, but the last year or so I’ve been feeling very disjointed about living in an apartment like I want to grow vegetables & take walks in the sun. Goa trips bring some respite – I find myself savouring every part of farm life – from cooking, to overseeing the animals; I don’t even mind the long walk to the nearest supermarket.

These photos were taken back in the village a few years ago – I spent most of my childhood summers there & got pretty acquainted with the facades of all the nearby homes, most of which were built in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, and many of them have been unoccupied ever since I can remember (which is the better part of three decades). Some of them are in states of decay even – most suffer from collapsed roofs, which end up being the weakest part of the home (terracotta tiles held up by wooden rafters). The walls are strong – they’re not built with cinderblocks or mud bricks, but laterite stone cut into the shape of bricks.

In the last decade or so, things have been changing somewhat rapidly though – there are a lot of new homes being built, either in previously open spaces or over demolished older Indo Portuguese villas. The new homes are all generic & extremely ugly, but that’s the cost of development I guess. The villas are gorgeous but aren’t too practical to stay in & the cost of restoring or maintaining an old home can be pretty high – they were all built before electricity & running water.

The house from these photos was always a favourite because of the distinctive resting lions on the gate posts – it wasn’t too far from my ancestral home & the sight of it was comforting even if I’d never met the family that once lived there.

But on one trip back home in 2019, we saw signs of an impending demolition & bricks to support a fresh construction. I’d carried one nice dress on the trip, so one afternoon I dressed up a bit & begged mom to take photos by the gate. A few months later, the home (& gate) were torn down & though I haven’t been back since January, I’m sure the new construction is coming along in full swing. I’m very glad I have these, even though they are just slightly vain outfit photos on the surface, they remind me of nice things.

The lesson I take away is that things will always change, & a lot of that change is out of our control. What we can do is savour the experiences we’re having in the moment, & enjoy the memories in the future. x

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A couple of months ago, this space turned 12! I can still remember starting this blog as a way to chronicle interesting happenings in my life during my first year of college. Even though I’m not as regular here as I used to be, I’m grateful to have this space to come back to, to write, document & reflect.

While this space is public, it still feels very much like a diary and reading posts from a decade ago makes me smile & cringe in equal measure. In these last few months, I feel like I’ve made a lot of small changes & set some much larger ones in motion.

Going Home

The year started out quite promising with a trip back home to Goa. I always look forward to these & I hadn’t visited in almost two years. It was dreamy – after many months of being cooped up in a very urban setting, we walked many miles everyday, cooked many fresh amazing meals, visited family, plant spotted & took a lot of great photos.

I wore very little makeup, accessorized with my favorite chain necklace & made sure I wore comfy shoes. My new pair of 90’s style bermuda shorts & me were totally inseparable.

Goa is always fun to visit but this time I found myself considering the viability of staying? I mean sure it’d be a big adjustment, but what if?

Making Ceramics

While on the last days of my trip, I decided to take a course in ceramics. It’s something I’d always wanted to do but kept putting off but after spending months at home consuming pottery videos on youtube (throwing stuff on the wheel can be so calming to watch!) I finally signed up.

It was just a beginner’s course but in a very idyllic setting. I also had the privilege of having an amazing teacher who was both very experienced & extremely patient. Handbuilding my first piece was a thrill & after our ten sessions we over, I made the decision to continue practising at home.

Buying all the necessary tools pinched a bit but it was also quite exciting to commit to this new art form (new to me, at least).

I spent a few weeks in April working on my ‘first collection’ & even set up a new instagram account. I experimented with two clay bodies (an ivory white & a lovely toasted brown) & there were some failures & frustrations but that just made the successes even more special. Pottery does have such a long production cycle though – building may be one of the more laborious steps but there’s also the refining, bisque fire, glazing & glaze fire. My pieces are carefully drying with me & I can’t wait to see them finished! I’ve even made a few small gifts for friends. Here’s hoping that the kiln gods will be on my side.

Moving Forward

Now that you’re up to speed on what I’ve done so far, it’s probably time to discuss my immediate plans. I’ve turned into a total homebody & I’m not complaining. I’ve managed to cut down on buying new clothes & using (or donating) pieces I already own. I’ve taken to needle & thread for the first time since school – just to mend things, but I hope to experiment with embroidery.

Remember when I wrote about getting into houseplants last year? I got a lot more. I did lose a few but most are thriving, & it’s been a very enriching experience. A few days ago I decided to get into growing food. Doing so in an apartment has it’s logistical challenges but I’m starting with onions & it’s fascinating to see how fast they grow.

I hope to knock learn a few new skills in the next couple of months but for now I’m enjoying the stillness at home & the simple routine of watering my plants, playing with the cats & cooking a lot of wholesome meals. I just bought some kimchi so I’m gonna try & make kimchi fried rice tonight! x

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The 5-midweek getaways around Bhopal are:

• Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary 
• Pachmarhi
• Maheshwar
• Ujjain
• Sanchi

Ralamandal wildlife sanctuary

Distance from Bhopal: 190 km

This place is the perfect place for photographers hoping to click some beautiful shots but tragically no cameras are allowed here. And frankly, it’s good because people can really enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty with their open eyes and mind not just for sharing photos on social media. This place quite a range of rare and beautiful species of flora and fauna. Wildlife safari and trekking are two of the most attractions of this place. The trekking experience becomes more beautiful due to the surrounding of thick and dense forest. The trekking path is 2.5 km up and 2.5km down. You can enjoy all these for just a mere sum of 20 Rs entry fee which is just nothing.

Pachmarhi

Distance from Bhopal: 194 km

This place, also known as the queen of Satpura is the only hill station of Madhya Pradesh. It is a perfect destination for travellers being famous for its mesmerising natural beauty. The place has an altitude of 1067 feet and is also the home of the picturesque beauty of Bee falls. The history of famous Pandava caves and wildlife at Satpura national park are the other attractions of this place. Watching the sunrise from the hilltop is quite the experience which no one wants to miss while travelling at this place. It has also been serving as a cantonment since the British empire.

Maheshwar

Distance from Bhopal: 288 km

This beautiful temple town is situated on the banks of the Narmada river. This place has quite the mythological and historical importance due to its honourable mentions in both the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Some of the places here generating the most number of crowds are Holkar fort, Narmada Ghat, Jaleshwar temple, Ahileswar temple and Omkareshwar temple. The picturesque architectural works of Rajwada will surely leave you in awe of this place. Maheshwar is also well known for exquisite cotton sarees, famous as Maheshwari sarees.

Ujjain:

Distance from Bhopal:192 km

This holy city is situated on the banks of the Shipra river. This place holds quite a lot of historical importance due to its so much mention in the kingdoms of different rulers of different eras. It is considered to be one of the sacred cities of Hinduism and it is full of cultural heritage. Ujjain, was the capital of India’s one of the biggest rulers, King Ashoka’s dynasty. Temples at Ram Ghat and Ved Shala are huge crowd attractions due to their spiritual charm. It serves as one the most famous Hindu pilgrimage points due to the famous Kumbh Mela held here once every 12 years time.

Sanchi

Distance from Bhopal: 48km 

It is probably one of the best places to visit around Bhopal due to its cultural heritage and importance in Buddhist philosophy which is why it is marked as one of the ‘World Heritage Sites ‘ by UNESCO. This place is mostly known for the Buddhist stupas of hemispherical structure containing huge amount of relics of Buddhism. During King Ashoka’s dynasty,  these stupas were made to preserve such wonderful and kind Buddhist philosophy. The architectural beauty of these structures will completely left you bamboozled. The stupas, monasteries, Ashokan pillar and temples are not only huge attractions for Buddhism followers but also for travellers from all around the world.

After going through this article we can have a clear view about why and what to expect during your midweek gateway trip around Bhopal. And if you are looking to do it in a budget without sacrificing the comforts and excitement then websites like Happyeasygo, GoIbibo, Makemytrip are the perfect options for you to book flights or hotels.

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If you ever find yourself in Surat, I’ve put together this guide of must do / see, eat, & buy from there that should help you make the most of your time while there.

How To Get There

The most convenient way to get there would be to fly. Surat has a bustling airport & it’s quite easy to find flights to & from all major Indian cities, you can check these flights from Surat to Delhi for the best deals. Indian railways can also be an affordable & efficient way to get there. And finally, if you’re elsewhere in Gujarat or even Mumbai, it’s quite easy to drive there too.

What To Do

Gopi Talav is one of the better known attractions in the city. A man made pond surrounded by a park, it also has food stalls & a playground which can be great for a family trip.

Jagdishchandra Bose Aquarium houses more than hundred aquatic species, it’s well known for 52 tanks that each contain unique ecosystems.

History buffs might enjoy Sardar Patel Museum. It’s well over a hundred years old, it’s dedicated to the grand old man of India (it was originally called the Winchester Museum) & has over ten thousand exhibits.

There are quite a few beaches in and around the city, Dandi beach, famous for being the destination of one of Mahatma Gandhi’s most satyagraha during the Indian freedom struggle is quite easily accessible from the city.

Surat had a multi cultural history & as such there are many beautiful Hindu, Jain, Christian & Muslim places of worship that you can visit.

What To Eat

Surat is best known for it’s amazing street food culture. It’s easy to find delicacies from all over India, but if you’re visiting – Locho, Surati Sev Khamani, Fafda & Undhiyu are some local savoury chaats or farsans that shouldn’t be missed.

What To Take Home

Surat has a thriving manufacturing industry. It would be a mistake to visit & not shop for textiles. Whether you prefer to buy good fabric or gorgeous readymade ethnic garments, you’ll find it in one of Surat’s many markets like Sahara Darwaja or Shanivari Market. Definitely pick up a silk saree in one of Surat’s many emporiums, you can also find sarees with beautiful zari or kinari embroidery work.

Besides fabric, Surat also has a lot of handicrafts that you won’t find elsewhere in the country. The wooden sculptures & figurines are pretty famous – They’re great to decorate with & can make unique & thoughtful gifts.

Surat has a lot to offer & I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface with this post. But if you’re in the city with a short time to spare, I hope this post gave you some fun ideas. x

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Chail at a glance

At about 45 KM from Shimla, Chail was like a breath of fresh air for us. The tiny hill town was mostly occupied by backpackers and trekkers, who just wanted to experience the serenity of nature. Furthermore, the Delhi to Shimla cab fare is cheap, making our trip inexpensive and convenient. There were endless nature trails to explore and enjoy the verdant vistas of the Himalayas in summer and the cool mountain air to rejuvenate us inside out. Fortunately, we found a cozy homestay on the outer perimeters of the town, surrounded by alpine trees and wildflowers on the outside and the warmth of a Himachalese family inside. What more can a weary traveler ask for! And did I mention the nighttime views of the Sutlej Valley, Shimla, and Kasauli? In one word- breathtaking! Like clusters of light huddled into the folds of the mountains. 

We were going to stay in Chail for a couple of days before heading to our next destination. We befriended a trekking group and learned about a few famous trails to explore. One of them went through the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary and touched Junga. It was a good 4-5 hour trek from the edge of the sanctuary all the way through the forests. 

A trek through the wild

The Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is a huge forested area with alpine trees and wildflowers, and not to mention, a wide variety of birds. Being summer, there was a lot of greenery around and the weather was perfect to explore the wild. 

The trail passed through some tiny hamlets and forested slopes. We started walking through clusters of pine and deodar, with some fruit trees growing randomly amidst them. As we closed into the interiors of the forest, trees like Rhododendrons, Cedar, and Blue Pine, became more prominent, distinguished by their sharp, spicy fragrance. At certain places, the sun shone directly upon us and we took to the shaded ridges when it felt too hot. From the ridges, we could see the entire hillside of Shimla and Shogi skirting the mountain edges. 

The path we were walking on was unmarked and hidden within the sanctuary and was truly a hike’s paradise. The wooded charm was enhanced by the chirping of birds, some with unique calls that I had never heard. During our walk, I came across at least 20 different species of birds like the Grey-winged Blackbird, Himalayan Bulbul, Black Headed Jay, Golden Eagle, Grey Headed Flycatcher, Slate-Headed Parakeet, and the Blue Capped Redstart. We also photographed a couple of Chir Pheasants, which are endemic to this sanctuary and the most famous bird of this region. 

They say that a sanctuary is also a popular place for sighting various wild animals like the common langur, leopard, Goral, European Red Deer, Asian Black Bear, and the Wild Boar. A lot of wildlife enthusiasts often come here for a safari. 

After a few hours of walking, we took a break at an open grassland area within the forest. The views from here were spellbinding. Far away, in a distance, we could spot the Junga Fort, where we would be reaching soon. Post a quick lunch, we continued on our journey. As we gained height, the air started to get cooler and the afternoon sun also felt mellower. It took us nearly six hours (including break) to reach Junga. 

I had visited Chail long ago on a winter break and it was an entirely different experience. The trees were dusted with frost and the tiny icicles on the pine needles made it looked like a white Christmas. And now, in summer, there was a greenish-golden glow all around, which the sunny, blue sky smiling on the mountains. Like I said before, I always end up having a new experience in the hills, every time I visit.

Before you go:

• Chail Wildlife Sanctuary remains open around the year, but if want to explore the wildlife, visit between March and October, since this is the best time to see animals, birds and a huge variety of flora. For winter treks, you can visit in December through February, but do watch out for heavy snowfall. 
• You can also plan a Shimla-Chail-Shogi tour since Shimla local sightseeing car fare is inexpensive. 
• If traveling in peak tourist season, avoid staying within Shimla city and opt for options outside the main town. 

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ajio top // zara shorts // puma bag + shoes // ray-ban sunglasses // daniel wellington watch

Photos by Sheila Vaz at SaffronStays Beyond

It feels like forever since I just shared a good old OOTD here on the blog. Do people even read blogs anymore? Digital media is bigger than ever, but seems to be dominated by a few social platforms. I’m currently tying to use instagram less, so it feels natural to share this here.

Politically & socially; we’re living through some pretty terrible times right now. And I’m not going to lie, things feel bleak. In times like this, I used to think that talking about beauty & fashion was frivolous, but right now it feels like self care.

These photos were taken back in Jan on a quick little getaway to Alibag, which is just a few hours away from Mumbai. We stayed at the perfect villa, worked, relaxed, ate amazing home cooked food + played with some doggos. It was pretty blissful, & just thinking about it is bringing me some inner peace. Oh & there was sun! I’m really missing the sun right about now. x

If you’d like to see more of the trip, check out this vlog.

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I feel like it’s been forever since I checked in with you all. Sure, there have been posts… but we haven’t just chatted in a while. 2019 has been exciting so far – I’ve been on a few trips! Saw a new country. Created a bunch of videos that I’m quite proud of (one of them went sorta viral recently!)

Oh & I turned 27. That was a big one, or at least it felt big? Every birthday after 25 feels big, I guess. But I spent it in Goa with family & cake, so that was nice. A quick little two paragraph update on the last few months. I’ll be spending the rest of April playing catch up. And now, back to the noodles.

There’s something you may or may not know about me – I love noodles; I’m bordering obsessive about them. I take cheesy photos eating noodles, I follow the #noodleworship hashtag on instagram & no matter where in the world we are, if there are noodles on the menu, I will try them.

A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to Hello Guppy in Mumbai to for the noodle fest. I’d been there once before, but we only tried the sushi & edamame. Needless to say, I was excited.

Can I take a second to talk about the décor? An authentic Japanese restaurant brings to mind a certain kind of aesthetic. But Hello Guppy is less minimal & staid, more playful kawaii speakeasy!

We started off with a cocktail, sake of course. The Nippon Cooler is perfect for summer day drinking.

i’m wearing –oval sunglasses // cherry earrings // velvet top // mom shorts // wrist watch // suede platform sneakers

For lunch – I knew I wanted ramen. It can be a hearty meal, so we skipped starters (a wise decision imo).

I got the miso chashu ramen with pork, mom got dry ramen with chicken (all of the trappings that come in a ramen bowl, minus broth). We also got some udon noodles.

They were good noodles. Now I’m not going to pretend to be some kind of expert, my experience with Japanese cuisine is still limited. But the portion was hearty, the broth was creamy & the pork + eggs were both the perfect texture. I vlogged that day too, if you’d like to see video of that perfect bowl.

The Hello Guppy Noodle Fest is on till the end of April. If you can’t make it this month, most of the dishes are on the permanent menu, but if you’re a true noodle aficionado, you won’t want to miss the special dishes that are available for a limited time only.

Hello Guppy, Jet Airways – Godrej Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai (google maps /website)

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My taxi driver was telling me that offices opened early there, and usually, there are traffic jams at 7:00 AM. For some reason, that was very interesting for me to know. Another thing that struck me about Chennai that I appreciated (as a solo traveller, then) is that the locals are fluent in English as they are in their native language, Tamil. Commuting to and fro within the city is quite safe whether you take a local bus or rickshaw; the folks there are non-intrusive and mostly keep to themselves.

Places to See

A few of the must-visit places are Birla Planetarium, Chennai Rail Museum, Covelong (should you happen to swim, sign up for a surfing lesson here), Marina Beach (take pictures of the lighthouse, go up to the top and soak in the view of the people at the beach) and St. Thomas Mount (I went there on my last day, and the view of Chennai from this hillock is truly scenic). Some quaint settlements and towns that are few hours away from the city that you should visit if you like art, culture and spiritual structures are: Auroville, Mahabalipuram and Velankanni.

What to Drink and Eat

Filter kaapi, of course! South Indian coffee is delicious and frothy owing to the unique way in which it is filtered and prepared. Watching it being made only adds to the experience of enjoying the concoction. If you like simple, hearty fare, please indulge in the city’s staples – dosas (a savoury Indian pancake of sorts), idlis (rice cakes served with chutney) and vadas (my favourite!). For those with a sweet tooth, try some Mysore Pak, a melt-in-your-mouth Indian fudge-like sweetmeat made out of ghee, gram flour and sugar.

What to Take Home

Experiences are souvenirs in themselves, and I would hope that you leave Chennai with a happy heart! Should you prefer to have more tangible mementos, pick up bars of organic chocolate, packaged coffee from the local shops (to make your own filter kaapi at home), silk saris and traditional jhumkas. Fragrance sachets and incense sticks make for reasonable gifts to carry back home. There’s always something to find in the most nondescript places from fragrant hand-made soaps to exquisite journals crafted from recycled paper.

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