Goa - Where Life Itself Is A Carnival!

If you want to experience Holi - Goan style, don't miss the carnival. Festivities derive their energy from floats, costumes, dance, beer, and water balloons. However, there is just one condition if you really want to soak in the experience - you have got to be a little bit crazy. 

We travelled to Goa this March and were fortunate to get glimpses of the iconic Goa Carnival. We unknowingly landed in Goa during the last two days of the carnival. I had heard about the carnival being an out-of-the-world experience. So, it was always on my bucket list.

On the way to our resort, the driver urged us not to miss the carnival. However, the hotel staff told us that the carnival was happening in Mapusa, which was quite far from Salcete, where we were staying. But the good news was Benaulim, which was close to our hotel, was hosting a local carnival.

So, all excited, we left for the carnival in a local cab and asked the driver to take us to a place from where we could watch closely. On the way, we could see people dressed up in colourful costumes, filled with enthusiasm. The driver dropped us at a junction from where all parades and floats were to pass, culminating at Benaulim beach. 

PUBG Themed costumes

The locals had gathered there with their water guns, water balloons and bucket full of coloured water to be spilled on people participating in the parades. It seems, in olden times, Goans would throw eggs, fruits and flour on one other, which has now been replaced by colours. It is Holi – Goan style.

The level of excitement and enthusiasm was crazy. Loud music, colourful costumes, excited locals, decorated streets - the atmosphere was electrifying. As and when the floats kept coming, making their way to the beach, the locals kept throwing water balloons, and cheering them. People were dressed like fictional characters - the iconic masks and PUBG characters. There were jeeps with people dressed crazily going around the streets.  

The carnival was to end at Benaulim beach, where prizes for the best floats and costumes were to be distributed. Competition categories included dancing, singing, acting and more...

Colourfully decorated floats are iconic symbols of the carnival. The floats floated around effortlessly in all shapes and sizes, making the atmosphere pulsating. We started walking towards the beach through colourful and crazy streets. There were jeeps and bikes going around at top speed. We too were hit by a harmless water balloon. Not just the locals, tourists like us too became part of the carnival festivities. 

Different types of Floats

At the beach a stage was set up to put up performances and announce the winners. As the sun set, the disco lights went on, and people took to singing and dancing in their costumes. Both beer and excitement flowed. I couldn’t stop myself from shaking a leg to Goan and Bollywood songs.


After dancing in the open DJ party by the beach, we ended our day at Rogers Shack, enjoying candle light snacks – a near-perfect end to the day. 

The Goan carnival is celebrated before start of the holy period of Lent. The carnival dates back 500 years and was started by the colonial Portuguese rulers. As a tradition, it is celebrated before a period of abstinence from meat and liquor. The locals let their hair down and party till sunrise.



The huge carnivals in the cities of Goa are thrilling, but the smaller local ones too provide an authentic experience. We were fortunate to be at Benaulim that day and experience this unique cultural extravaganza.

Pack Your Bags - To Penang, Malaysia

Pack Your Bags - To Penang, Malaysia

Penang is home to heritage, colonial architecture and a range of arts and festivals, all in the backdrop of a bustling city. I was pleasantly surprised to know that Penang is a gastronomical capital and is famous worldwide for its cuisine. Penang is highly acclaimed for its street food and local cuisine. It seems, in Penang, food is life.

I recently got a chance to attend the Penang Sales Mission to India 2019 at the ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. Penang, situated in Malaysia, is a booming tourist destination. 

Mr. Ashwin Gunasekeran, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, shared that 2018 witnessed an 11 percent increase in tourists to Penang from India. There were around 40,000 direct arrival tourists from India, excluding those which weren’t recorded due to arrivals in Kuala Lumpur. Of the 80,000 business travelers to Penang, 80 percent were Indians. 

Mr. Gunasekeran also said that India featured in the Top 10 Leisure Inbound tourists and Top 5 Business Inbound tourists list. The top inbound Indian sectors are information technology, engineering, pharma, medical and agriculture.

After visiting the roadshow, I feel an urge to visit Penang. As an upcoming destination, it is not overcrowded with tourists and has preserved its culture and beauty. Penang, a tropical paradise, is a full package. It has beautiful beaches, lush rainforests and even the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town. 

Penang is home to heritage, colonial architecture and a range of arts and festivals, all in the backdrop of a bustling city. I was pleasantly surprised to know that Penang is a gastronomical capital and is famous worldwide for its cuisine. Penang is highly acclaimed for its street food and local cuisine. It seems, in Penang, food is life.

Its coffee shops, hip cafes, mom and pop restaurants, and fine dining establishments have traditional cuisine living in them. You won’t be disappointed by the variety of the cuisine. 

There is Nyonya Cuisine, Kopitiam Breakfast, Nasi Kandar, Malay Cuisine, Indian Cuisine and much more.

Why Penang could be your next travel destination?

Penang delivers authentic Asian cultural and heritage experience as well as modern comfort.
It offers a variety of hotels and resorts to choose from for a comfortable stay. Along with a range of hotels, the city also offers many unique venue options for your next event or special occasion. Be it Chinese Clan House, Peranakan Mansion, Botanical Garden, Nature Center, Beach Resort, Hotel Ballroom or Convection Center, the city has it all to make your event perfect.

Penang is home to the living museum – George Town. The UNESCO heritage town bursts with heritage and culture. This historic city center has people from various cultures living in harmony. 

Penang is directly accessible from 25 major local and regional airports and over 100 local and international destinations via Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The city is modern and has Wifi facilities almost everywhere. Getting around Penang is convenient with easy and cheap public transportation. Major credits are accepted in most of the restaurants, tourist attractions, and retail stores.

Penang’s itinerary can go up to six days and still you are unlikely to have enough of the place. Get ready to also fall in love with the city's handicrafts and street art culture. Places to check out are:

ñ  Armenian street - popular for its murals and other street arts. 

ñ  Find India in George Town’s Little India and see Penang’s spice trade legacy. 

ñ  Witness traditional Songkok maker, Chinese tradesmen, and get hands-on experience making Nyonya beaded shoes.

ñ  You can also see Chinese signboards and crafting paper oblations of Chinese deities all in the city of Penang.

Some untouched cultures & traditions of Penang include The Penang Batik Factory, Clan Jetties dating back a century, Penang Trishaw and the Penang Ferry Service. 

In terms of the city's rich preserved heritage, there are several architectural gems that unravel the secrets of ancient Penang - like Kek Lok Si Temple, Goddess of Mercy Temple, Koo Kongsi, Pinang Peranankan Mansion, Tow Boo Kong Temple, Shri Mahamariamman Temple, and Masjid Kapitan Keling. 

The luxurious colonial architecture lets you soak in the treasures of old Penang, like Fort Cornwallis, St. George’s Church and St Annes Church. 

Want to add some adrenaline rush in your trip? Then there are several urban adventures like Escape, Tech Dome and The Gravityz waiting for you. 

Penang’s things-to-do list is endless. From heritage to urban adventures, from preserved cultures to modernity, from city life to lush natures, and the insatiable gastronomy, Penang has definitelymade its way to my bucket list. Has it to yours? So, when is your trip to Penang? 

Mazgaon- A Hidden Gem in Mumbai

Mazgaon- A Hidden Gem in Mumbai

What does the average Mumbaikar know about Mumbai? Marine Drive, Queen's Necklace, Juhu Beach, Malabar Hills, Powai Lake......But does he know about Mazgaon? Does he know that Mazgaon houses much more than the docks? Does he know that you can `visit` China in Mumbai? My blog takes you through the lanes and bylanes of Mazgaon, where dwells history and lots of nostalgia. 

Sundays are generally to laze around. But on this Sunday, I decided to do something productive and went for a heritage walk organized by The Indo French Hub, Mumbai. I was convinced that I wanted to be a part of this once I read about it. The walk was going to take us through the unexplored parts of Mazgaon, Mumbai. Mazgaon is generally known for it’s docks. So, what else could be explored there? But as it turned out, there was more than what we expected. 

A perfect place to chill with friends!

At Joseph Baptista Garden.

Finally got to visit the Eiffel Tower :P 

Our meeting point was Café Coffee Day, Mazgaon. The first stop was Joseph Baptista Garden. We wondered why we were being taken to a garden. But we found out to our surprise that the garden is actually located on a historic fort. The garden is located on a fort on Bhandarwada Hill. It covers an area of about 1.5 acres and is 105 feet (approx) above ground level. 

The garden is amazing with its vast flora and beautiful landscapes. It has replicas of the seven wonders of the world, and we thought it was there only in distant Kota, Rajasthan? Be it early morning jogs, spending some relaxed moments or just strolling around with your friends, the garden is perfect for all.

The highlight of the garden is that it overlooks the sparkling harbour, mazgaon docks, busy dockyard station and the bustling roads. We surely did not expect the garden to be so appealing and beautiful. 

The British chose Bhandarwada Hill to build a fort for trading purposes of The East India Company. The fort was later destroyed by Siddhi ruler Yakut Khan. The 150 years old fort also homes the lesser known Gaon Devi Temple. The path to the temple is steep. But once we reached the temple, we felt serene. This small, calm, powerful and ancient temple was built by Shimaji Appa, younger brother of King Bajirao. 

View from the garden

Way to the temple

The temple’s priest told us that initially the idol only had the face of the Devi. He, who is a sixth generation priest, also told us that the fort back then was surrounded by water on all sides and was used for trading purposes. 

We then headed towards an even lesser-known temple - The Chinese Temple. We walked through the streets and lanes of Mazgaon and discovered a completely new part of Mumbai. Kwan Tai Shek Temple, situated on Nawab Tank Road, is a small secluded temple, surrounded by 400 Chinese families. 

Parsee temple on our way to the Chinese temple.

Entrance to the Chinese Temple

Chinese decor buildings

The Chinese Temple

The Cantonese Chinese have been living in the area for decades. They, besides working in the docks, have been in professions like dentistry, shoemaking and hairstyling. A lot of families migrated post the 1962 India-China war. When we entered this two-storeyed temple, it felt as if a little part of China dwells in Mumbai. There were Chinese decorations and idols in the temple, which gave a true essence of the country's culture.

The wooden beans

The wooden beans in the temple are said to predict if your wishes will come true. It is believed that if you roll and drop the beans and they fall facing the same direction, your wishes will come true. There are also sticks that predict your future. It was a very interesting and new concept for us. The whole area took us into a completely different world, and is a Must Visit.

Portuguese style house of Matharpacady

Our next stop was the heritage village of Matharpacady. The quintessential village is known for its characteristic Portuguese-styled houses. In its calm lanes live East Indians, Bohri Muslims, Roman Catholics and Maharashtrians. 

Once you step into the village, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and enter into a world of it’s own. The village is in the fishing neighbourhood of Mazgaon, and it houses some of the city's oldest homes. The houses here are splattered with color, with the locals sipping cups of tea in their balconies and cats snooping around in the lanes. There is also a small chapel, where the locals come to pray. 

The Association of Paroda

The village has a dormitory too - The Association of Paroda - which charges Rs 100 per month, but is available only for the locals of Paroda. Another historic spot is the Lion’s Den built by Leao’s grandfather Daniel in 1829. It is modeled after its biblical namesake from the book of Daniel. The village is truly a hidden gem in Mumbai City and it needs to be saved from builders trying to make skyscrapers out of these pretty homes. 

Matharpacady village

Chapel in the village

Our final stop was The Taj Mahal of Mazgaon. Yes, you read it right - The Mausoleum of Agha Khan Hassan Ali Shah is also called Mazgaon’s Taj Mahal because of its three white domes, intricately crafted minarets, and the architecture. The monument takes your breath away. It is amazing to find this serene structure in between shops and the hustle and bustle of people.

To make our day even better, we indulged in some amazing authentic breakfast at the iconic Byculla Bakery. 

Breakfast at Byculla Bakery

Hot from the oven!

I would like to thank The Indo French Hub for giving us the opportunity to discover this beautiful, hidden part of the city and learn about the incredible history of Mumbai. 

It was a Sunday well spent, and I look forward to discovering more such parts of Mumbai.

Rajasthan- A place you cannot have enough of- Part 2

In Part 1, I shared about our visits to Choki Dhani and the amazing palaces in Jaipur. You can read the full text of Part 1 by clicking on:  https://jaunt-fulmemories.blogspot.com/2018/11/rajasthan-place-you-cannot-have-enough.html

DAY 3

Ajmer and Pushkar were not in our plans. We had originally planned to take the early morning train to Jodhpur from Jaipur and return by train from there to Mumbai the next day.

But during our train journey from Mumbai to Jaipur, our co-passengers suggested we should visit Ajmer and Pushkar also. We first thought of taking a cab to Ajmer and Pushkar and reach Jodhpur late evening. However, we eventually dropped Jodhpur and chose to have a more relaxing visit to Ajmer and Pushkar. That way, we would also get an extra day in Jaipur. 

Entrance to the Dargah

Ajmer and Pushkar are popular historical religious destinations, In a way the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer and the famous Brahma temple in Pushkar, to which people from all over the world flock to, stand as outstanding symbols of religious harmony. The towns are just a few kilometers away from each other and yet have an ambience of their own. It is believed that if one worships with a pure heart, all wishes are fulfilled. 

The Dargah Compound 

After a three-hour journey, we reached Ajmer at around 1 pm from Jaipur. Our driver told us to be extremely careful of thieves while visiting the Dargah, as it is crowded. The car dropped us a little away from the Dargah, from where we had to take an auto up the road. Reaching the Dargah, we encountered a huge silver gate and entered a completely different world.

When you enter the courtyard, you can see a radiant white tomb, the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. You can make donations of any amount, but make sure to give them only to the concerned authority. The place gave me a sense of emotional calm even though hundreds of people were present there. It is important to dress appropriately and respect the culture. 
We left the Dargah feeling blessed and moved towards the holy town of Pushkar, which has a charm of its own. Popular for its camel fair, the town is also a prominent Hindu pilgrimage as it is home to India’s only Brahma temple. 

Our ride awaits! 

Post lunch, we decided to go for a camel ride in the desert. I was surprised to know that even Pushkar had a desert. We took a two-hour camel cart ride. The vendor showed us pictures of the movies shot there and the actors who had visited. We excitedly looked at the pictures and geared up for the ride. 

Much of the ride was through bumpy roads which had rose and amla plantations on one side. When we reached our destination, we realized it was more like the photocopy of a desert. It was a small land surrounded by isolated sandy areas. However, we decided to make the most of it. After all, we had paid Rs 3,500/- for this experience!

Rajasthani folk dancers and singers were performing in the area. There was also a photo booth where one could click pictures in Rajasthani dresses. We didn’t opt for those photos, but clicked pictures on our phones and danced to the beats of the folk singers. It was a fun moment and we were amazed to see how talented those singers and dancers were. Though it only provides a sneak peek into a real desert, it is still worth its while, for you can take click pictures with some interesting backdrops. 

Cultural performances at the desert

The camelback ride

The camel cart took us to another part of the `desert` which was more commercialised and had a lot of photo booths. It was very disappointing to see the litter that was scattered all over. As citizens, we must take responsibility to keep the country clean. Garbage in tourist spots affects the country's image. 

We chose not to spend time there and returned to base. The overall ride was not worth the money, but it was a different experience. Anyway, we were happy we took the ride. 

Pushkar Lake

We then headed to the serene and holy Pushkar lake. The entry to the lake is through a beautiful white marble building. Flower stalls and priests greet you at the entrance, with the priests offering to do puja.  

The blue and calm water is surrounded by small temples and settlements. It was a tranquil moment and we just sat by the lake enjoying the serenity.

Malpua in the making!

We then visited the historic Brahma temple. It is a small and exquisite blue-coloured temple amidst the city market. It is at a walkable distance from the lake.

Pushkar’s small town bazaars are perfect if you are looking for some local shopping and taking your palate for a spin. It has numerous local sweet shops popular for their malpua and kalakand. With it’s mystic lanes, blue temples, chanting of devotional songs in the background, small bustling bazaars and beautiful people, this medieval temple town will give you an experience like no other. We had a blessed day, visiting pilgrim sites of two major religions. 

Delicacies at Pushkar Market 

Snake charmer- Pushkar market 

DAY 4

Having had a hectic previous day, we decided to start our Jaipur city tour a little late. We had just half a day in hand, as our train back to Mumbai was that evening. 

City Palace

The Pink City, or Old Jaipur as it called, greeted us with all its buildings and shops coloured in pink. Our auto driver told us that the then King had decorated the city to welcome the arrival of a British noble and hence he coloured the city in pink. It is indeed fascinating to see everything in pink. It is like a city within a city. 

Our first stop was The City Palace. I took an audio guide for the city palace tour. The palace offers various tours. One part of the palace is open to public. In the other part, the current royal family of Jaipur resides. The cost for visiting the private is area is much higher. 

Pink City Palace of The Pink City 

Just Pink! 

Lovely photogenic doors

The palace is marvellous and exquisite. The architecture is a combination of Mughal, Rajput and European styles. The palace has some beautiful courtyards and buildings. The red and pink sandstone add an amazing touch to the architecture. We fell in love with the eye-catching gateways and doors. 

The palace has a museum, photo as well as and art galleries, which are a must visit. The palace is simply magnificent and is one of the best spots in Jaipur. 

                                                 

Opposite the City Palace is Jantar Mantar, which has a set of fourteen huge astronomical instruments were built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. There are instruments which predict time, act as a horoscope, measure latitudes and positions of celestial bodies and several other astronomical factors. This was built during a time when geometrical instruments weren’t even introduced. The accuracy of these massive instruments is beyond expectations, which generates a huge respect for our Indian rulers and ancestors. It is a one-of-a-kind attraction and adds to the must-visit list. 

Jantar Mantar Complex

We then proceeded towards the attraction Jaipur is known for – Hawa Mahal. We often associate Jaipur with Hawa Mahal. It is located in the city center, in the complex of the Pink City. Thought it didn’t turn out to be something I had expected, it is an architectural wonder. It is not a massive structure, but its presence is evident, ensconced as it is in between the bustling bazaars of Jaipur. 

Hawa Mahal 

Hawa Mahal- an architectural wonder

We then did some shopping in the Old Jaipur city markets. Bapu and Jowri Bazaars are two of the most popular ones. Jaipur is popular for its Jaipuri cotton clothes and gemstones jewellery. 

Bapu Bazaar

We bid adieu to this lovely city in the evening. Despite two rounds of Jaipur city tour, we missed out on a few attractions like Albert Hall museum, Galta Ji, Birla Mandir, Patrika Gate, Gaitore and Sisodia Rani Palace and Garden. Now you know why I say “You will have to come back for more.” 

Jaipur- Ajmer- Pushkar has been my best trip to date, with different experiences everywhere. Without doubt, Rajasthan is a unique destination - be it food, attractions, people or stay. That's why they say about Rajasthan, `Jane kya dikh jaye`.

Top Recommendations In Jaipur

1.          The Grand dining experience at Choki Dhani. 

2.          Try authentic local food at Khandelwal Pavitra Bhojanalay.

3.          Wax Museum and Sheesh Mahal at Nahargarh Fort. 

4.          Amer Fort during Sunset.

5.          Shopping at Bapu Bazaar (Pink City)

6.          Delicacies at Rawat Mishthan Bhandar (Sindhi Camp area)

7.          Malpua and Aloo puri in Halwai Gali, Pushkar