Author: Priyanka Dalal
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Explore The European Countryside: Here’s How
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One of the exciting aspects of cycle touring is passing through the charming, small European towns. I know a lot of people who plan a trip to some popular metropolis in Europe often Paris but then they quickly realize that the romanticized notions are often lost in the hustle bustle of the huge city. But they find…
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Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra – Behind The Scenes Story
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It so happened that I planned my Jagannath Puri trip a week before the Rath Yatra which brings millions of devotees to this sleepy, coastal town in Orissa. If I had planned a week later, I would have really struggled with booking and high costs. To attend a festival like the Rath Yatra – which…
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6 First Time Solo Travel Destinations for Women, India
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Solo travel is now ‘cool’. This is great because when I first started solo traveling in 2009, I wasn’t sure how society will respond. Will there be too much of shock and stigma, or will they accept it? Really happy to note that while solo travel is still not so easy for a lot of women…
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Kumbh Mela: Ujjain Simhasth, May 2016, Photos
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Quick trip to Ujjain for the Simhasth Kumbh Mela happened in early May. I had traveled to Nashik for my first Kumbh Mela experience in 2015 and I deliberately went on the non-Shahi snan days. I was concerned about the crowds and overall facilities. This time for Ujjain I went impromptu on the 7-8th May…
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Social Implications of Solo Travel, India
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When I started solo traveling in 2009, it all happened a bit impromptu. I had a basic plan in place, Mumbai – Goa – Bangalore (transit) – Mysore – Coimbatore (yoga ashram). I provided all accommodation details with contact numbers to my parents and that was pretty much it. As I started doing this more…
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Cycling To Stege on a Very Windy Day, Denmark #Berlin2Copenhagen
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The second ferry of my cycle trip takes place at a quaint Danish town called Stubbekobing to another Danish town called Bogø. This was a very small ferry route. 15 minutes from one island to another. As I reached the other side, I didn’t see much of Bogø because I got off the ferry and…
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Faxe Ladeplads, Denmark: Coastal Towns #Berlin2Copenhagen
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After couple of weeks on the road – cycling & camping I found myself getting used to the lifestyle and loving it. Hence, it was a really grievous matter that I had totally only 17 days on the road, which meant just 2-3 more days to go before I head to Copenhagen (either reach it…
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Kaup Beach Lighthouse, Konkan Karnataka
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One of my first Lighthouse visits was the Kaup Beach Lighthouse near Udupi in Konkan Karnataka. I took a local bus from Udupi going towards Mangalore and got down at the small town. There was this Mariamma temple opposite the bus stand,
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Fanefjord Church on a Really Windy Day! #Berlin2Copenhagen
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As I have mentioned earlier in my Berlin to Copenhagen cycle story that from Stubbekobing to Stege was the maddest day in the entire cycling trip! I wanted to cycle 70-80 km that day but managed a very hard 25 km. It was too windy! Later when I checked the weather, I figured the winds had…
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How to choose your long distance Cycle Route?
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If you are looking to choose your first cycle route, here is some help. There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the route to cycle, by and large these are some factors to keep in mind. Also, the idea here is not to make it sound difficult – it may seem that way initially.…
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Unexpectedly Awesome Places in India #2: Mysore Lakes
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It is odd that this blog of mine hardly has anything about Mysore, considering that it was my favourite city to visit for years… so it is only fitting to write about it now in my Unexpectedly Awesome place series. In the first post I wrote about the Western Ghats and here I will write about the…
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Travel Switzerland – Walking Trails, Ferry Rides & Quaint Towns
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I had just finished my first long distance cycling trip. Solo cycling & camping from Berlin to Copenhagen, 550 kms in 17 days. 17 days in the European countryside, a dreamy solitude. I was to now spend a week with my parents in the country they really wanted to visit – Switzerland. Having enjoyed and…
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Cycling Berlin to Copenhagen Day 1: Leaving the Roost
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Quite a while and I haven’t written much about my Europe trip. Lot of posts need to be written, a lot of people want to know about my expenses and budget and all that. Today I am more in the mood for prose, so writing about Day 1: Cycling Berlin to Copenhagen…. This was the…
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Unexpectedly Awesome places in India #1: Western Ghats
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It is fascinating to visit a place and find it unexpectedly awesome! Old thoughts, old expectations, understanding of the land, all get questioned. A new respect and appreciation for beauty grows in my heart every time I come across such a place. So here is a series of posts on the lesser known places which…
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Year End Review: My travel adventures in 2015
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Finally I am sitting down to write my year end review for 2015. I love this exercise, it allows me to just sit and reminisce the years memories. 2015 is in a way a most memorable year for many happenings in my life. In the travel spectrum there was a big trip – Solo cycling…
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Meeting a Cyclist: Shayl Majithia cycling from UK to India
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Cyclists seem to come from every profession. Today morning I met a Math teacher from Oxford UK, Shayl Majithia who cycled from UK to India. From Mumbai he plans to head to Myanmar but probably via a long route as he still has many months in hand. He has already been on the road for about…
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Varanasi Calling…
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Lately my heart is turning to Varanasi – that crazy, crazy city! I am cooking up plans to visit it again, just to have my thoughts clash about all the various trips I plan to make. It is a common dilemma I think, of travelers who aren’t on the road indefinitely. Don’t get me wrong…
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Solo Travel & My Extended Indian Family #2
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Earlier I wrote about How I manage solo traveling with happy parents. Parents typically tend to be worry warts regards their off-springs, especially their single child. Such is the case with my parents too. So a combination of assuring explanations and spending time helps keep them calm and satisfied. I am also in touch with…
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Travel Friends: How I made a German friend Conversing via Google translate
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Leaving Berlin to be on the road solo-cycling was a crazy feeling. The most unusual feeling was of not having a specific accommodation booked for the end of day. I was really thrilled but also curious how this trip would pan out. I cycled away chatting with strangers and getting attention as not only a solo…
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Solo Travel Hacks: Enjoy the Solitude
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One of the common questions I get when I talk about solo traveling is ‘Do you feel lonely?’ or something on similar lines ‘how do you pass the whole day on your own?’. Here is my experience… I don’t just Enjoy & Love Solitude. I NEED it! I have always been someone who loves spending…
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Travelogue: My Kumbh Mela Story @ Trimbakeshwar, Nashik
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The 3 lovely days I spent at the Kumbh Mela in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik were a truly unique experience. I was thinking of going with a few friends but they were busy with some work, so went on my own. Usually I travel solo but for the Kumbh Mela I was a bit concerned. Not concerned…
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Cycling Berlin – Copenhagen: Santa is in, Himmelpfort, Germany
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Ride 3 from Zehdenick to Furstenberg Havel. One of the most scenic routes so far. A little overwhelmed with the beauty and solitude on the road – hunger was a constant companion (because I was keen on an early start so left without eating anything). I pulled in for food at this little town called…
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Solo at the Kumbh Mela – Notes for a Wonderful Experience
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Planning to be solo at the Kumbh Mela can be a daunting task for many as it conjures up images of huge crowds, religious frenzy and a truly eclectic bunch of people from rural folks to ash smeared sadhus. I was hesitant at first, but I really enjoyed my 3 solo days at the Kumbh…
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The Enigma of the Vegetarian Pizza in Germany & Denmark
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Vegetarian. Vegetarish. Vegetar. Vegetarian is Vegetarish in German and Vegetar in Danish. I used these words frequently on my Europe trip, along with actions saying ‘No Egg’ too. Because Vegetarish includes Egg, while we Indian vegetarians don’t have egg. Some kindly soul suggested that it would be easy for me to get a vegetarian Pizza. &…
