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The weekend escape to Puri!

Such a shame that my first post of the year is coming when I have been confined to the indoors in wake of the spread of the deadly virus. At this time, when the heart aches to roam around, I am reminded of the trip I never blogged about. Weekend getaways are something we all crave, and are forever looking for places to explore within the bounds of two days. With an intent to escape the cold that Delhi was wrapped in, I chose a little unexpected destination - Puri. Reasons: 1. Easily doable on a weekend 2. Quite connected to Delhi (details below) 3. Easier to convince parents (incentive of a pilgrimage) Day 0: Friday, 10th January, 2020 We took an early evening flight to Bhubaneswar, landing there aroud 6.45p.m. We had booked cab via Make My Trip for dropping us to Puri (cost us around 900, with some discount). It took us slightly less than two hours to reach. We had booked a room in Mahodadhi Palace hotel (review here ). The Sankranti festival had just started at the beach,...
Recent posts

Transferring my Activa from Hyderabad to Delhi

Last October, I moved from Hyderabad to Delhi, and decided to take my TS registered Activa along. Here is my account, which others may find useful in similar circumstances.  First and foremost, ascertain you want to get the registration changed. Make sure you have paid any pending challans before proceeding. One of the documents required for applying for NOC is a police verification certificate. You can get one issued easily by your nearest Mee Seva Kendra. Fill in the form, and attach the copy of RC, along with an ID proof. The acknowledgement receipt consists of a number using which you can track your application status on their portal. It should ideally take only 3 to 4 working days. If it is taking longer, you may want to track down where your application is stuck. On the RTO portal, select the option for obtaining NOC. It would be good if you can specify which RTO you will be transferring it to in the destination state. You will be required to book a slot at the design...

Solo Travel: A novice’s take.

Didn't someone say that "Travelling isn’t a leisure activity anymore. In 2019, it is a competitive sport."? Well, I recently decided to enter myself into the "Solo Travel" category of this sport. The destination chosen was Pondicherry, because it is considered to be one of the safer places in India for female solo traveller. Trip details aside, I thought of jotting down the pros and cons of this genre. So, here is my two cents worth, based on the experience. Downsides: No pictures of you!  I suck at taking selfies, and the trip was planned in such a hurry, that I couldn't source a selfie-stick. Still, I tried taking a selfie, and quickly realised that my dad, the quintessential retired uncle, takes them better. And I wasn't keen on asking anyone to take one, because, socially awkward. No single bed hotels these days Attribute it to my last minute bookings, or the changed culture, but there were barely any decent hotels/guesthouses with a si...

Beyond Flavours - Gachibowli

My review of the place comes after multiple visits, that have spanned over 4 months. And now I can safely say that it's one of the good places around. They're located near the Biodiversity signal, above Fabindia. There's ample parking for both two and four wheelers. The ambience is a bit dim after dark, and the seating is divided into various options, including a PDR section. The menu design is in the shape of a bottle, and the array spans Continental, Chinese and Indian cuisines. Here's the list of things that I have tried, across all my visits Panko Crumbed Mozzarella Sticks ❤️ - Cheese sticks that are coated and fried. Pure cheese bliss. Veg Lasagna ❤️ - This place has one of the good Lasagne in the town. Crispy Chilli Corn Kernels - The usual favourite, this one has a slightly different presentation here. Makhmali Paneer Tikka - Cottage Cheese Shashlik Sizzler Italian Nachos - Nachos topped with red sauce and cheese, and baked in the dish. Cheese and Cheese Pizza ❤...

The Blenders Cafe - Madhapur

Stay Hydrated. That's been said multiple times, and ignored an equal number. It isn't until you have braved the afternoon sun that you want to gulp down a glass of something soothing and hydrating. I sought respite in these two drinks from The Blenders Cafe, Madhapur. Made from all natural ingredients sans any additives, they not only solve the above purposes, but are also healthy. The delivery is in an insulated cover, to maintain the temperature in transit. And the straws are made of cornstarch, and hence, a cent percent degradable! I choose the following two: 1. Hydration Fuel: A blend of watermelon and strawberries, with a hint of lime to balance out any extra sweetness. 2. The Pit Stop: Milk based drink with chikoo, apple, almonds and pistachios. The first one was so refreshing! Your hydration levels feel instantly replenished. The second one, a thick milkshake, had a dominant taste of chikoo, with chunks of almonds and pistachios hitting here and there. The apple flavour...

CakeZone

My tryst with CakeZone began way back in 2017, when my family sent me their midnight delivery on my birthday. I have admired their taste and timely delivery since then. So, when I got a chance to sample some more of their offerings, it was a big yes. I received the following: ▪️Chocolate Truffle Pastry 🍫 ~ They do this really well, and if you're a chocoholic, this one's definitely up your alley. ▪️Pineapple Pastry 🍰 ~ I absolutely adored this one! Must try. ▪️Red Velvet Pastry 🍰 ~ A bit dry, but decent enough ▪️Butterscotch Jar Cake 🎂 ~ A little out of words for this one 😌 It was light, fluffy, airy and not too high on sugar. Another recommended one. ▪️Molten Choco Lava cake ~ This was the familiar, comforting dessert that you can never go wrong with. The USP of CakeZone is that they have an express delivery (I once ordered via Zomato, and got it delivered in less than half an hour), and the bakes are fresh. You can also order up from their website, and choose to add on t...

Desi Vibes - Punjabi Bagh

Punjabi Bagh is overflowing with joints these days, but most of them do not qualify for having a peaceful, sit-down meal with family. I had earlier been to the Connaught Place outlet of Desi Vibes, and when I found out that it has opened in this area, it was a no-brainer choice for a family dinner last Saturday. We booked a table for 4, via Zomato and the confirmation was instant. The place is located a bit off the opposite side of Bikanerwala, and right on the main road. They have a valet parking, so you don't have to worry about the vehicle. It's situated on the penultimate floor, and we sat by the glass walls, that offered a view of the road below. No sooner were we seated, a glass of jaljeera was served as the welcome drink. And once we placed our order, there arrived a platter of papads, with bowls of vinegar onions and green chutney. For the starters, we had Katahali Seekh and Desi Vibes Ka Khaas Potli Kebab. The first one was made with tender jackfruit, mixed with chana...