Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

It heralds the festive season, the weather starts to cool, the sun gets gentler, the roundabouts of Delhi start to see early winter blossoms, jazz festivals in the park are announced and there’s that wonderful sense of accomplishment you get when you’re starting to wind down from a year full of travel, activities and initiatives. It’s like when you’ve hosted a fabulously successful party, and when all the guests leave, you kick your shoes off and sit back to relish the fact that you did a fine job! October is also that unique month when you can enjoy India and its neighbours at their finest. Apart from the religious festivals like Dusshera and Diwali, this month marks the start of a season of spectacular music, literature, film, art and dance…

AT FIRST GLANCE, it could be a scene from a bygone era—the sails of the tall ships fluttering against the sky. But a closer look at the smaller boats which surround them reveal this is, in fact, a far more modern scene. The 50 stunning tall ships had come from across the world to take part in SAIL Amsterdam, which takes place every five years and sees hundreds of boats accompanying these historic vessels on a trip from IJmuiden, in the western Netherlands, to Amsterdam. The nautical festival this year hosted, among the 50 regal tall ships, 13 first-timers from around the world. The free event, held every five years in the Netherlands’ capital since 1975, begins with the 7.5-mile-long Sail-In parade, which also features four Dutch Marine vessels, marine…

The holy city of Varanasi is a treat for all senses at any time of the year. But, there is a different vibe in the city air around Diwali as a five-day event, Ganga Mahostava, is organised at the Dasaswamedh Ghat. With musical performances, arts and crafts exhibitions, and sports events lined up, November is the perfect time to visit Varanasi. It is also the most opportune time to witness the religious and cultural heritage of the colourful city. The culmination of the fest coincides with Dev Deepawali, celebrated 15 days after Diwali. This religiously significant festival attracts devotees from the world over, and is an unmatched experience. On the auspicious occassion when the full moon appears, the city and its ghats are decorated with scores of diyas and colourful…

OCTOBER/2015 RAJASTHAN | Jodhpur RIFF | 23-27/10 | Back with a great line-up of Indian and international artists like Thumri performer Suchismita Das, and Papa Julius, and Yossi Fine. MAHARASHTRA | MAMI Mumbai Film Festival | 29/10-5/11 | B-Town biggies like Kiran Rao, Karan Johar, and Farhan Akhtar have taken up the task to encourage independent cinema. DELHI | NH7 Weekender | 28-29/11 | The coolest music fest in Delhi has hippest gigs this year by mavericks such as AR Rahman, Parikrama, Raghu Dixit, and Mark Ronson. RAJASTHAN | Pushkar Fair | 18-25/11 | Time for camels and cattle to play dress up! It’s a colourful bazaar in a sleepy town. MUMBAI | Prithvi Theatre Festival Mumbai | 5–15/11 | A much-awaited event, the annual festival of Mumbai’s celebrated Prithvi…

TRAVEL DIARY MY WIFE NAINA and I took a two week trip to South Africa about six months ago and what a fantastic driving holiday it was, all across the country. I loved the easy, relaxed pace, and discovering sights and sounds as we moved along at leisure. The Amani vineyards in the Stellenbosch wine lands of South Africa give you a brilliant rush of fine wines. The sunny view of the Cape of Good Hope was spectacular, and the sight of the Indian and Atlantic oceans from this point is absolutely stunning. This was my second trip to the country and I loved the lazy safaris, guaranteed with sighting of the Big Five. I find the canvass of wildlife in South Africa simply unforgettable. I was lucky enough to…

1 WALES | Ages ago, young Welsh men used to lovingly carve wooden love spoons for their sweethearts. The hopeless romantic in you won’t need much persuasion to buy these symbols of love. You can exhibit these on walls just how women who received these from multiple suitors used to do. 2 JAMAICA | In the resort town of Ocho Rios, Wassi Art (wassiart.com) is a family-run studio that produces stunning pottery and ceramics. Apart from buying lively vases, tumblers, and jars, you can also watch young artists fusing life into clay at the studio. 3 GERMANY | Open top or with a hinged lid; stoneware or glass; hand-painted reliefs of historic events or figural comic faces—German beer steins are prized possessions, and not just during Oktoberfest. Find a pre-19th…

IT WAS 3.30 AM and pitch dark. The auto-rickshaw rattled through the narrow roads, trudging slowly over steep slopes dotted with laterite homes, and towering coconut and betel nut trees, before suddenly whizzing into depths downhill. “I know small small English,” muttered Ajay, the driver. I chuckled over his choice of words as we headed towards Naaraath, a village in Kannur district to watch a Theyyam performance. Kannur in north Kerala is known since ancient times for its spice trade links with the Romans, Greek, and the Arabs. I’m told the timber for King Solomon’s great Temple of Jerusalem was shipped from the port of Kannur. Kannur is the nucleus of Kerala’s cultural heritage, Theyyam being one of them is a combination of dance, music and some major tribal influences…

Collar and Leash. Keep an extra leash just in case one of them breaks. ID Tag. Get a temporary ID tag with local address and phone number. Food kit. If you’re travelling abroad, be sure to research your destination’s rules about importing meat products. Food and water bowls. Keep a can opener if your pet is fed canned food. Treats and toys. Extra-good treats, to coax them into a carrier/crate. Old familiar blanket. Something that smells like home. And bedsheets, to protect the hotel’s bedspread and sofa. Grooming supplies. Small bottles of shampoo and conditioner, brush and comb, pet clipper, no-tangle spray, super-absorbent towels, nail clippers, and dog hair dryer. Keep extra towels for wiping muddy paws. Harness and seat belt clip for car travel. Medications. Keep any prescription medications…

LENGTH 10 NIGHTS, 11 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$7,560 With their cobblestoned alleys, intimate restaurants, storied palaces, and secluded caves, Croatia’s beautiful islands—places like Vis, Brac, Bisevo, and Hvar—have, surprisingly, been off the American radar. Yet they offer all the charm of the Greek Cyclades or Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and are great to sail to and from with friends or family. Over a weeklong island-hopping jaunt—with a crew on hand to navigate, of course—you’ll swim in crystal-blue seas, taste local wines too delicious to ever be exported, and eat fresh local food at konobas (taverns). When you’re not relaxing under an umbrella, you’ll go on private walking tours of a medieval castle and cathedrals, or taste just-plucked oysters in the Bay of Mali Ston. Lore and history are wonderfully…

LENGTH 9 NIGHTS, 10 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$8,820 Morocco is sensory overload in the best way possible: it’s accessible yet exotic, urban yet completely wild, distinctly North African with a global, cosmopolitan edge. There’s nothing more glamorous than lying by the palm-tree-shaded pool at Marrakesh’s La Mamounia, a hotel that has drawn the glitterati (everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Jennifer Aniston) for nearly a century. And few experiences are more humbling than driving up a twisty, narrow, two-lane road through the High Atlas Mountains, trekking with nomads in the Jebel Saghro range, or landing in the desert—arguably the true soul of Morocco. Riding camels and sleeping in a deluxe tented camp on the Erg Chebbi dunes of the Sahara is like being on a movie set come to…

LENGTH 11 NIGHTS, 12 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$3,780 From the minute you arrive at Purity, a striking modern villa on the shore of Kerala’s Lake Vembanad, you’ll begin to breathe a little deeper. The horizon stretches away endlessly in front of you, and the only sound is the dipping of boatmen’s oars out on the water. In contrast to much of India, relaxation is part of this southern coastal region’s culture. On a daylong backwater cruise in a traditional kettuvallam, or houseboat, you’ll observe the calm simplicity of waterfront life. For four nights, you’ll stay in jaw-dropping hotels, from the grand, historical Brunton Boatyard in the port of Cochin to a tree house set on a 400-acre coffee and spice estate in Wayanad. During two days at Bison…

LENGTH 8 NIGHTS, 9 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$4,920 There’s no denying the country’s fascinating time-capsule quality, with its gloriously crumbling cobblestoned plazas and beautiful faded façades in Old Havana. But on this trip, Black Tomato will show you that the city’s revitalisation is in full swing. You’ll see it in the sophisticated apartments for rent, like Penthouse Ydalgo, your base for three nights in the leafy Vedado neighborhood, or in the spate of new paladares (private, family-run restaurants) popping up in unconventional spaces like neglected tenements and refurbished factories. You’ll encounter aspiring musicians at Fábrica de Arte Cubano, a renowned cultural venue, and artists at the Instituto Superior de Arte, a hotbed for young talent. But Cuba is so much more than Havana, and for four days outside…

Japan LENGTH 10 NIGHTS/11 DAYS PRICE US$9,840 PER PERSON Japan is defined as much by its hypermodernity as by its heritage , and Black Tomato will show you the best of both worlds. In Tokyo, stay at the serene new Aman hotel, tour the pulsating shopping district of Shibuya, and visit Senso-ji, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple. In Hakone, take a dip in onsen baths and taste kaiseki cuisine before bedding down in a traditional ryokan. End by hopping on the bullet train to Kyoto, where you’ll stroll the Gion geisha district and seek inner peace at the tranquil rock garden at Ryoan-ji. TANDL.ME/JOURNEYS-JAPAN Colombia LENGTH 6 NIGHTS/7 DAYS PRICE US$5,860 PER PERSON This South American jewel is ripe for exploring. You’ll walk the colorful streets of Cartagena, taste local…

Some call it the most sublime spectacle on earth, others call it a gloriously riotous celebration of Hinduism without parallel, while a few fall back on the rather factual description of calling it the single largest gathering of humanity. We just call it the Kumbh. You’re likely to be a single, insignificant drop in an ocean of nearly 100 million pilgrims. The Kumbh Mela isn’t simply about religion though: it packs in myth, mystique, curiosity, and cultural showmanship in equal measure. This celestially ordained pilgrimage of taking a dip in the holy Ganges is homage to the mythical battle between the Hindu Gods and demons over a kumbh (pitcher) filled with the nectar of immortality. This nectar was purportedly bestowed onto the cities of Ujjain, Haridward, Nashik and Allahabad—the Kumbh…

ONE THING UNMISTAKABLE ABOUT Melbourne’s coffee culture is that it is deeply rooted in the communities that live around each cafe. Their character, charm, design, and food come from the kind of people who frequent them. So in Collingwood you might find yourself drinking filter coffee in an old shopfront that’s been converted (with sledgehammers and paint rollers) into a downbeat brew bar (Everyday Coffee) alongside a tableful of Macbook Air-tappers, or sipping a silky flat white in a red-brick textile mill that’s become a destination for cafe-goers, like Proud Mary. In Brunswick, some young folk with beards and big glasses turn a dead corner shop into a good spot to hang out and drink coffee, and the whole neighbourhood joins in. At A Minor Place, the corner comes alive…

The seventh annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival makes October a perfect time to visit the city of lights. Over 300 wine and food stalls will take to the Central Harbourfront Event Space near piers 9 & 10 while carnivals, wine-themed tours, and cooking classes keep streets alive till early hours of the morning. Expect a packed crowd of locals and tourists sampling Chinese signature dishes at counters by Hong Kong’s premier hotels and restaurants, and top dishes from HK’s Best Culinary Awards 2015. Hop counters to taste global wines and cue up to talented international chefs at the privileged dining spot for an exquisite foray of authentic grubs that include wine-paired meals. On between October 22 and 25. discoverhongkong.com…

CATCH | DUBAI The Move The Manhattan seafood hot spot has opened in the Fairmont hotel in Dubai. The Translation It’s about half the size of the three-story original, but graffiti-covered brick walls and industrial fans convey a distinctly American vibe. The Draw Only-in-Dubai dishes include the Land & Sea sushi roll (made with miso lobster and Wagyu beef) and the Pearl Necklace cocktail (vodka, passion fruit, and oyster-and-star-anise cordial). emmgrp.com. MOTORINO | SINGAPORE The Move The Clarke Quay party district gets a branch of New York’s cult Neapolitan pizza joint—open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The Translation This is the first Motorino with outdoor seating. Naples’s San Gennaro Cathedral inspired the marble floor, and the chairs are from a Belgian flea market. The Draw The Soppressata Piccante pie…

Step outside the glamorous casinos and give Macau a chance to surprise you with its rich culture and heritage. The city has iconic experiences that’ll show you the best in their art, architecture, cuisine, and festivals. Vantage Point The eighth tallest building in Asia, the 338-metre-tall Macau Tower dominates the skyline of Macau. Go to the Observation Deck to take in the breathtaking views of the city or climb up the vertical ladders to the top of the tower. Or better yet, go bungee jumping from this tower and make a personal record. This tower offers the highest commercial bungee jump in the world at 233 metres. Gourmet Tour Dining in Macau is an iconic experience in itself. One of the must-haves in the city is the famed Portuguese egg…

A short flight away from Malaysia, Langkawi is a land of pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and fascinating legends. Since 2007, it has been recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark and the natural wonders found here—more than 100 geo-sites—give it a distinction of being a tropical paradise. Naturally Langkawi is the best way to describe the destination. This laidback archipelago of 99 islands has three dedicated parks, clustered on the basis of their geological features: Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, and Dayang Bunting Geoforest Park. Discover unique attractions of each one—take the Langkawi SkyCab cable car up to the top of Mt Machinchang; visit the 83-square-kilometre Kilim Karst Geoforest Park on foot or in a boat; or swim in Langkawi’s largest freshwater lake at Tasik Dayang Bunting. One…

ABOARD THE SILVER Sea Cloud, I arrived in paradise, tucked away in this corner of the earth. From the veranda suite, a stunning vista unfolded as the vessel begun sailing through the famous Norwegian fjords. Millions of years ago glaciers cut deep ravines to create this natural wonder. The mountains soared to the sky, and under the grey cloud cover are the ravines, with foliage covering the rocks, cut at intervals by waterfalls. It was so quiet that the ambience simply shushed us into pin drop, awe-inspired silence. In this cold wilderness, a few homes were perched high on the slopes. The ingenuity of man to tame the wild is mind-boggling. I wondered how they got up there, fifty floors high in the sky, to build a home. The impressive…

SUPER SAVER The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi Celebrate Diwali in the capital—take a tour of the city; be a part of the festivities by lighting diyas at the hotel; and buy customised gift hampers from the hotel. R12,000 upwards for two people; valid between November 7-14. Stay in deluxe and luxury rooms, Taj Club Suite and Executive Suite; free internet access. Inclusive of breakfast; 20 per cent discount on F&B; dinner at Machan once during the stay. Save 30%. tajhotels.com INDIA THE WESTIN MUMBAI GARDEN CITY This festive season, the 269-room hotel beckons you to spend your long weekends relaxing in a spacious room with a Heavenly ®  Bed and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the fast-paced city. R 8,600 upwards per night for two people; till November…

CHAI IS AN EVERYDAY INDIAN drink and everyone has a favourite way to brew a cuppa. While home-brewed chai is something of a habit that one cultivates in the comfort of the home, there are many who enjoy their chai from roadside stalls. Chai ki dukan, the roadside tea stall dots the landscape of all market places and all roads leading to colleges, offices, cinema theatres, and even hospitals. Office goers often take a break to have a sip of this elixir and discuss serious matters close to heart, be it politics, climate change, or news from the world of entertainment. It was a pleasure when Le Meridien conducted a tea trail in association with Delhipedia and introduced us to the city’s eminent chaiwalas. A bus ride to Delhi 6…

STAR ATTRACTIONS Fabulous hotels that have been hiding in plain sight. Heritance Kandalama With boulders in the lobby and ivy cladding the balconies, Heritance Kandalama is Geoffrey Bawa’s paean to living it up in the refined world of Sri Lankan avant garde. His architectural majesty weaves through in towering sculpture, wrought-iron furniture, and airy cement-floor spaces. With wraparound views over the hill-hemmed Kandalama reservoir, some from infinity pools, this hotel is all about taking into stride Macaque monkeys running through the lobby on your way to a sumptuous breakfast. Their Sri Lankan preparations and smoked meats truly stand out. The Six Senses spa is divine. heritancehotels.com Jetwing Vil Uyana At Vil Uyana’s boutique thatched-roof villa retreat, you might forget you were in Sri Lanka. Its wooden floors, open-air sala-style library,…

iKibble (Free) Wondering what to feed or not to feed your pet when you’re on the move? iKibble has a range of food items ranging from dairy and meats to grains and veggies. You can browse by category to check if something is good to be fed to your pet or not. ASPCA (Free) The ASPCA mobile app stores and manages your pet’s health records, delivers breaking news about animal welfare, includes a step-by-step guide for finding a lost pet, and tells pet parents what to do to take care of pets in case of a natural disaster. PetSnap ( 120) Of course every phone has a camera. But with PetSnap you have more than 30 different sounds to attract your pet’s attention. It also allows your to share your…

LENGTH 7 NIGHTS, 8 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$9,450 Lake Como’s vibe can be summed up in two words: no pressure. Sure, there are must-visit landmarks like Bellagio, a hillside village lined with pastel villas; Comacina Island, a tiny spit of land, perfect for a champagne picnic; and Villa Sola, an 18th-century Baroque estate where the dukes of Serbelloni would summer. But the beauty of Como lies in exploring without rushing, and just reveling in its splashy fabulousness. Black Tomato has organised leisurely trips to all these locations, as well as a drive (on your own, at your own pace) in a vintage Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider. You’ll be chauffeured around on a 1961 Venetian motor launch owned by the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, an Art Nouveau landmark from the…

LENGTH 9 NIGHTS, 10 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$13,780 You’ll fly through Dubai, land of superlatives—mile-high buildings, shopping malls with ski slopes, and man-made islands—to get here. But Oman couldn’t feel more different. In the city of Muscat, the skyscrapers are mountains; the best shopping is found in the winding Muttrah souk, where you can bargain for gold, frankincense, and antique coins. Which is not to say this thriving metropolis, where you’ll spend two days, doesn’t have its modern charms: there’s the 14-year-old Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the few places of worship open to non-Muslims. (See that Persian carpet? Six hundred women spent four years weaving it.) And don’t miss boarding a wooden dhow—refitted with luxe amenities—to sail to the coral reefs of Bandar Al Khayran. Over…

LENGTH 9 NIGHTS, 10 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$9,055 You don’t fly halfway around the world to Mongolia unless you’re up for two things: horseback riding and glamping—some of the best in the world. Barely an hour outside the fast-growing capital of Ulaanbaatar, buildings give way to wildflower-filled meadows and green valleys, where nomads still raise horses and sheep. For nearly a week you’ll be bedding down in a private ger (tent), complete with amenities like heated showers, sundowners, and personal chefs, and diving into the tribal lifestyle. After a native horseman shows you the correct way to saddle up, you’ll ride for hours on end, even into the vast Terelj National Park, and join in on milking mares and making airag, a fermented drink that is traditionally offered…

LENGTH 23 NIGHTS, 24 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$14,175 To remind you exactly where Papua New Guinea is: it’s a nation just north of Australia, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea as well as numerous smaller isles stretching into the sea. You’re way out there, and this is a trip that requires mental and physical preparation (don’t expect marble bathrooms or room service). The reward, however, is complete disconnection from technology and some of the most memorable hiking and intense local encounters of your life. Begin with two nights at the Grand Papua Hotel in the capital, Port Moresby, where you’ll explore the city’s markets and play highland darts with locals before flying to the village of Fogomaiyu, deep in the rain forest. For the…

LENGTH 7 NIGHTS, 8 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$6,300 Sunny. Easy to get to. Under the radar. Both Nicaragua and Panama are emerging as Central America’s “it” destinations. Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast, where the pristine beaches are marked only by their rolling waves, now lures a fashion-forward, eco-conscious crowd. They, like you, are checking in to Mukul, the country’s top resort and the vision of local billionaire Carlos Pellas. All 37 rooms overlook the Pacific; for four nights, you’ll be in a modern bohio (tree house) that was built from sustainable teak and pine. Fill your days with surfing lessons and seaside dinners. Or a private guide can lead you to Ometepe, one of the 365 islets in massive Lake Nicaragua, to swim under waterfalls and walk a trail lined…

Tires screeched as we took a sharp turn around, leaving swirling clouds of dust in our wake. We were chasing four small cars speeding past a barren and remote valley called Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh. We followed them for more than 20 kilometres to the next village called Dorjeeling where we were hoping to gatecrash a local wedding. Our plan had succeeded, but only because the lovely people of Mechuka saw us not as intruders but as guests, and let us be part of their intimate celebrations. Bordering Tibet in the north, just 29 kilometres from the notorious MacMohan Line that marks the official yet disputed boundary between India and China, Mechuka has more in common with its lofty blue-skied neighbour than the rest of Arunachal Pradesh. Home to the…

As you wade into passionate discussions on film with a collage of travellers, filmmakers and bohemian poets, as you step into the fragrant Himachali dham, with its wild bonfires, as you settle into a fabled north Indian winter for a film festival in a town that actually has not a single cinema screen to its name, you understand a couple of things: you could only be in Mcleodganj, you could only be at DIFF. In three eventful years, the Dharamshala International Film Festival has carved out a niche for itself on the global circuit. Charm and passion might have something to do with it. His Holiness the Dalai Lama calls Mcleodganj home, and the festival has taken some of his principles to heart in crafting a unique ethic: you’ll find…

TRAVELLER Seven Seeds is one of Melbourne’s premier third-wave roasters, and Traveller joins Brother Baba Budan as a hip city showcase for its coffee. Expect the tangy seasonal blend for espresso, plus a single origin batch-brew for filter fans. We love the informal coffee school that gathers in Crossley Street each morning—so Melbourne. GOOD FOR: A batch filter brew and a Cobb Lane cake BEANS: Seven Seeds Shop 2, 14 Crossley Street, Melbourne AXIL The Hawthorn specialty roaster and mega-cafe finally has a city presence. This tight space is meant for takeaways and quick standups of Axil’s seasonal blends and single origins—via the Spirit espresso machine or the Clever Dripper for filter fans. A giant photo-realistic piece of spraycan art by local hero Adnate keeps watch over the morning rush.…

FOR ME, AS FOR SO MANY BEFORE ME, HONG KONG HAS BEEN a haven. This destiny was written into its name, a rough transliteration of the Cantonese words for “fragrant harbor.” Safety smelled to me like stinky durian and sweet lychee, exhaust and sweat. I can still feel the backs of my eight-year-old legs sticking to the vinyl seat of a double-decker bus (upstairs, always). I can still hear my relatives’ voices, their rapid-fire Cantonese swelling and ebbing as they processed the rises and falls of the day’s stock prices. This was, in a manner of speaking, home: my parents had immigrated to America from Hong Kong in their twenties, and I was born in California. They carried with them their culture—hence my bowl-cut hair, my fried-rice-and-pot-sticker lunches, my sense…

Parvin Dabas Actor PHILIPPINES This picture of a boat at dusk is from a recent trip I took to Donsol in the Philippines. While I was there for whale shark sighting, during a walk down the beach, this combined image of the boat at a magic hour was too good to resist. The boat in the picture is used for the whale shark sightings and also for snorkelling. The Philippines, as we all know, has thousands of islands that showcase beaches so beautiful but this particular location is now just extra special to me.…

BURNING QUESTION What do you do when a diner or co-passenger is misbehaving with the restaurant or flight staff? Do you go all gallant and confront the person? Do you go to the head flight attendant and tell him he ought to be protecting his staff better? Or, do you ignore, after all, it isn’t your battle? Email (travelandleisure@emmindia.com) or tweet us (@TNLIndia) your answers, and we’ll publish the sharpest ones in our next issue. ON OUR WATCH SELFIE STICK NOT ALLOWED Did you know that more people have died from selfie sticks than shark attacks this year? No wonder they are getting banned—railway stations in Japan, the Palace of Versailles, the Colosseum, Disney theme parks, and many museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and…

UNIFORM When I travel, my (1) navy blazer is my briefcase. I put everything in the pockets: my passport, wallet, cell phone, chargers, and business cards. I get custom suits made at Eredi Chiarini, in Florence (eredichiarini.it). CARRY-ON My memoir, American Dreamer (Random House), comes out next March. Every time I flew, I would take a hundred pages or so with me to edit on the plane . It occupied a lot of time; I definitely didn’t sleep as much as I should have! ART FIX I met Andy Warhol when I moved to New York in the late 1970s, and have always been attracted to his work. I have a deep understanding of it, because I was very entrenched in that pop-culture scene. My favourite piece is (2) Grace…

Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton (Releasing this month) Brandon Stanton has become a blogging phenomenon world over. His third book, after Humans of New York and Little Humans, delves deeper into stories of his subjects. Safari: A Memoir of a Worldwide Travel Pioneer by Geoffrey Kent This book by A&K founder is infused with amusing tales of his celebrity clientele, childhood memories of Africa, and adventures that take him to faraway destinations. City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg Set in 1970s, this suspense thriller takes you back to the blackout of July 13 in New York City. Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux Travel writer Theroux takes a road trip to the southern states of America. Sixty Degrees…

Our first time in Malta We used to fly to Malta for an airline initially. And we fell in love with the place for its culture, history, beaches, island hopping, and hard core partying. Our first time there was seven or eight years back and it turned out to be one of our most amazing outings. We booked a Jeep and went around the Mediterranean Island, to Gozo in a ferry, took a day cruise to the Blue Lagoon, and a lot more. A restaurant to entertain for business Though we love most of the eateries that we have been to in Malta, one that stands out is Fontanella, in The Silent City of Mdina. The thing that we like about this place is the amazing view it has to…

Norway | TROMSO One of the northernmost countries in Europe, Norway is a Scandinavian snow paradise for winter lovers. Spring is the best time to visit, when frozen lakes start to melt, and the nightlife springs into action. Although Oslo is the more popular stop for city crawlers, not very far behind, Tromso, known as the ‘Paris of the North’ has a reputation for being the hub for great nightlife. Easy to get around and spot good hangouts, there’s Skibsbroen, Bla Rock Café, Tromso Jernbanestasjon, and Backbeat Café & Vinyl for bar hopping. Club it with a tour of the city’s historic sights, a husky sledge safari, a reindeer sleigh ride from Tromso, or see the northern lights surface in the horizon. DO THIS Ride the Eiksund tunnel between Volda…

Most of the antiques—writing tables, armchairs—are over 80 years old. The antiques were sourced by Megha Agarwal and her team from warehouses and antique dealers, as well as based on leads received from restoration specialists. The building dates back to 1904 and lay abandoned for over a century before undergoing a massive two-year restoration process. The Charcoal room is inspired by filmmaker Satyajit Ray and is done entirely in black and white. It features black and white photographs of Ray as well as some of his old movie posters. The 60-cover restaurant, by the same name, is now considered to be one of the finest in the city, helmed by Mumbai chef Rohan D’souza. The restaurant is done in a contemporary style, with nostalgic elements like cameras, record players and…

Air India states that the pet must be properly carried in soft ventilated bags/kennel in the prescribed size. The weight of the pet including the container should not exceed 5 kilograms for carriage in the cabin. Larger sized pets will be carried in the cargo hold. It is also specified that pets will be carried at an additional charge and will not be included in the Free Baggage Allowance, even if the passenger has no other baggage. Jet Airways accept domesticated dogs, cats, birds and rabbits on flights within India. Only dogs and cats can fly on international flights. You need to book your pet dog or cat at least 24 hours in advance as accompanied baggage for domestic flights and at least 72 hours in advance for international flights.…

LENGTH 8 NIGHTS, 9 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$10,435 Arrive hungry. Spain prides itself on its cooking, and you’ll be eating your way through Madrid and Seville for more than a week. An excursion to Madrid’s gourmet market Platea, with Michelin-approved chef Ramón Freixa—followed by a cooking class and dinner prepared by Freixa himself—kicks off the trip in proper style. Don’t worry: you’ll work off the paella as you shop with beauty queen and Bilbao-born model Inés Sáinz and take a walking tour of the masterpieces in the Prado and Reina Sofía. In Seville, you’ll see the Real Alcázar by night: Black Tomato has opened the doors after hours, just for you. And after a day at Granada’s Alhambra, it’s back to Seville for a flamenco lesson and a…

LENGTH 14 NIGHTS, 15 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$14,960 When it opened in May, Wilderness Safaris’ Linkwasha Camp introduced Botswana-level luxury to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, home to one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on the continent. Elephants, lions, southern giraffes, hyenas, cheetahs—you name it, and you’ll probably spot it on twice-daily drives through the rolling floodplains. And at the eco-chic Ruckomechi Camp, you’ll lose count of how many hippos and crocodiles emerge during unhurried canoe tours along the rushing Zambezi River. It’s a marvel to see, all the more so because there are so few other visit ors—the destination is only now establishing high-end tourism. Its neighbor Zambia often gets passed over, too, but it shouldn’t: there’s everything from prime game viewing to vistas of Victoria Falls…

LENGTH 11 NIGHTS, 12 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$12,600 As you spend a few days in each of Myanmar’s most compelling corners, what will fascinate you most are the people and their distinctive culture. In the bustling city of Yangon, men still wear traditional longyi (floor-length wraparound skirts) and women cover their faces with thanakha, a yellowish paste made from ground bark, to protect their skin from the sun. Fly an hour north to Heho, drive to the colonial town of Kalaw, and set out to see remote mountain communities. Here, locals go about their daily chores, carrying wood on their backs and preparing monhinga, a rice-noodle and fish soup . Nearby Inle Lake is where life revolves around the water. You’ll glide on a boat past villages that…

LENGTH 16 NIGHTS, 17 DAYS COST PER PERSON FROM US$26,775* Forget Route 66. A more adventurous and lavish cross-country trip lies farther north. Start on Vancouver Island for this continent’s version of an African safari—deluxe tents with antique rugs, oil lamps, and heirloom china included. During four days at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, a luxurious camp set among old-growth forests, the routine is blissfully simple; look out for black bears foraging onshore and whales breaching in Cow Bay. A stop in Vancouver, with its dynamic restaurant and nightlife scene, is a perfect urban jolt before almost a full week back in the wilderness, this time in northern Manitoba. Seal River Heritage Lodge on Hudson Bay—where you can track beluga whales and polar bears—is as spectacularly rustic a setting as you’ll find…

A weeklong confluence of the melodic, the sacred, and the spiritual, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (Fès des Musiques Sacrées) is a rare experience. Played out against the backdrop of a beautiful century-old city, the Festival has something for the music afficionado, the truth-seeker, the adventurer, and the global wanderluster in you—how’s that for a journey? Long before you’ve touched the festival, you’ll be enchanted by Fes itself—gorgeously appointed riads, redolent old marketplaces, historic medina, and the simple charms of getting lost within thousands of interconnected by-lanes included. All the world’s religions seem to be present here. Naturally, the two decade-old global musical soireé lays on a treat of musical collaborations, cultural dialogues, bohemian escapades, and inimitable melodic journeys. The spirit of the ancient caravanserais is at play…

How is it that a tiny festival lacking the global buzz factor of a Jaipur, the big funds of a Hay, or the massive presence of a Berlin has managed to capture the literary world’s consciousness in just three years? Perhaps it’s the lack of exactly those things. Or perhaps it’s the sense of purpose and passion that drives Jane Heyn, founder of the Irrawaddy Literary Festival, and her small team. Held under the patronage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the ILF has quite unexpectedly taken on many avatars since 2013: as that of becoming a cultural window to the previously exiled charms of Myanmar; of becoming a showcase for many of Myanmar’s oft-denied poets and writers; of becoming a slow if powerful vehicle towards freedom of speech and…