Indholdsfortegnelse for June - July 2024 i Outlook Traveller

WHEN I TRAVELLED TO TÜRKIYE ABOUT A YEAR AND a half ago, I was pleasantly surprised that everything was so affordable. From the fresh produce and groceries at the supermarkets to the local fashion brands at high-end districts like İstiklal Caddesi to the fantastic meals at the many establishments specialising in Adana kebabs and other Turkish delicacies, it was such a relief not to have to keep converting prices in my head—a particularly odious task for someone as terrible at maths like me. With a Turkish lira equivalent to about three rupees, there’s a lot you can do on a meagre budget. And your money will go even further in smaller cities like Konya. I remember walking into a shop laden with sweets like Lokum, Baklava and the utterly sinful…

WHILE TRAVELLING IS ALL about embracing the unknown and being spontaneous, the safety net of a comprehensive travel insurance policy ensures that unforeseen circumstances don’t deter you from exploring the new. If you have doubts about travel insurance, Parthanil Ghosh, Director & Chief Business Officer, HDFC ERGO General Insurance, lays out key points to consider. ◗ Why should I buy travel insurance when I already have a global health insurance plan? Usually, a family goes on vacation for 10 to 14 days, and based on our experience, medical emergencies are least expected during this period. While the thought of going on a vacation brings excitement, issues like loss of passport or baggage, flight cancellation, etc., can dampen the holiday spirit. A comprehensive travel insurance plan covers both travel and medical-related…

EXPLORE THE LIST FOR MANY YEARS, I ASSOCIATED EGYPT WITH THE Great Pyramid of Giza. But as I read more about the country, I got drawn to the saltwater lakes of Siwa, viewing Luxor from a hot-air balloon, and diving with dugongs along the Red Sea coast. And so, my solo trip to Egypt revolved around these experiences. I began with Siwa. Tucked away in the western end of Egypt, along the border with Libya, Siwa’s main draw is its crystal-clear, emerald-green saltwater lakes, where the high salinity (almost 95 per cent) makes it impossible for one to sink. Siwa came as a promised land, offering a chance to disconnect from the world and reconnect with myself. I stayed at Talist Siwa, a completely off-the-grid property built over a decade by…

FINAL SHOT MAYANK RAJORIYA I wanted to create a captivating image of Jaipur’s Patrika Gate, highlighting its embodiment of beautiful architecture and countless untold stories @MANMAUJI_YAYAWAR SUBODH SHETTY A lioness in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve carefully picks up her little cub by its scruff @subodhshettyy Scan to follow us on Instagram SHIVU GOUDA This Nandi sculpture, dating back over a millennium, is inside an ancient temple in Nandi Hills, Karnataka, and rests beside the waters of Amruth Sarovar @SHIVU_GOUDA45 NISHCHAY BHARATI JAIN In July 2021, after a 500-metre hike in search of the ideal vantage point, I finally captured Spiti’s Key Monastery @MEINBHIPHOTOGRAPHER…

COLUMN COMPASS STEPPING OFF THE PLANE in Raipur, the sweltering sun greeted me with a stifling embrace. Beads of sweat formed on my brow but I couldn’t help but smile. Smaller Indian cities hold secrets and untapped treasures for those willing to explore beyond the bustling metropolises. My visit was to speak on my latest book, “The Asura Way,” at the Young Chamber of Commerce’s book club. But I knew this trip promised more than just another engagement. Raipur once used to be the gateway to an enigmatic world—the ancient realm of Sripura (or Sirpur), roughly 70 km away in distance and 5,000 years in time. The taxi grumbled as it slowly departed from Raipur, leaving behind the bustling city life. We drove past endless fields with rolling hills. Swirls of…

FORGET SCULPTED ABS AND chiselled features. Model Dinesh Mohan offers a far more compelling story: a triumph over depression and an eating disorder. In a world obsessed with external beauty, Mohan, in his sixties, inspires those facing similar battles. After completing his education in Hisar and Chandigarh, Mohan settled in Gurugram, working as an English professor before choosing voluntary retirement in 2004. However, a personal loss that year triggered a downward spiral, leading to depression. For years, he struggled with this and disordered eating, reaching a peak weight of over 125 kg. In 2009, a medication overdose caused him to lose control of his legs, leaving him bedridden for nearly a year and a half. But in 2012, there was a turning point. Pushed by his family to improve his…

THE LIST EXPLORE SITTING AT THE EDGE OF A TURQUOISE LAGOON, I watch a young boy dive headlong into its waters. He slices the blue neatly like a freshly sharpened sword as his circle of teenage friends burst into applause. The cheering dies and the silence of the jungle takes over again. I continue to soak in the unbelievably pristine surroundings until I get on my rented scooter and ride back to Vang Vieng, my second pitstop on my journey through Laos. When I first picked the country, I was shortlisting places that met my checklist—a country I had not been to, one that offered visa-on-arrival, was pocket-friendly, and women-friendly. I kept missing it on the map as it was tucked in between the popular Thailand-CambodiaVietnam circuit I had traversed years…

Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is a transcontinental nation of 11 million people. Since the turbulent post-Soviet era of the 1990s, Azerbaijan has transformed, thanks to its oil wealth. Now a notable global player, it hosts events like Formula 1 races and Europa League football matches, which have boosted tourism. In fact, Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2024 report highlights a 438 per cent increase in searches for Baku, the country’s capital, in 2023. Ankur Talwar, a PR professional from Delhi, chose Azerbaijan for his vacation in late 2023. He found it to be an excellent choice, with budget-friendly rates, including five-star hotel stays at just INR 6,246 per night. “A full-day chauffeur-driven city tour was a mere INR 3,331, while round trips to destinations four hours away…

THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABLE travel is that it is expensive. It is most often thought of as “luxury travel,” and that is far from the truth. Choosing trains, opting for off-season travel, avoiding plastic water bottles, and choosing local cuisines and accommodations instead of big-name chains are great ways to make your travel more budget-friendly. Responsible tourism is a choice you make. It may not be the most popular choice, and it does take a little extra time and research, but it’s not as expensive or elitist as it is touted to be. TIP 01 Embrace slow travel or offseason travel. Try spending more time absorbing the culture and essence of a destination instead of just ticking off a to-do list. Offseason travel is also a…

MAN IN EUROPE COMPASS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE in Naples is Diego Maradona. His face appears as graffiti on the walls under bridges, as murals covering the side of buildings, painted on café chairs, imprinted on bedroom sheets, and even marketed on energy drinks. Where his face is not watching over, his jersey number—number 10—is present. Souvenir stands are covered in scarves, jerseys, and posters of Maradona with trinkets of red chillies which are considered to be a symbol of luck across the region. Why is Maradona so prevalent everywhere? I wondered aloud while waiting in a queue to grab a slice of pizza. “Well, he was our saviour,” answered a local man standing next to me. “Here we believe we have been robbed for centuries but Diego was…

COLUMN COMPASS IN VAST URBAN SPRAWLS where life pulsates frenetically, we often surrender to the convenience of pre-packaged sustenance. Bottled and boxed consumables populate endless supermarket aisles, a stark contrast to the cherished rituals of small-town existence where every sip and morsel is steeped in local tradition. On my recent trip to Ranchi, I embraced Jharkhand’s undulating landscapes and culinary riches. Under the scorching sun of a fierce Indian summer with dry leaves dancing in a hot breeze, the city offered a refreshingly unique tableau of indigenous beverages. Exploring the city’s heart, just across Church Complex—a popular local haunt—I stumbled upon a cart bursting with the vibrant green of raw mangoes. The vendor was selling Aam Jhora, a tangy and sweet mango sherbet made with mangoes charred on an open…

A land with the highest mountains in the world, the birthplace of the Buddha, national parks with a diverse array of flora and fauna, and some of the most delicious food you can find in Asia—Nepal is a paradise for trekkers, adventure seekers, religious pilgrims, and those simply looking for an immersive experience. While Nepal may at first seem familiar for Indians because of cultural similarities, it is offers a completely novel experience. This multiethnic and multilingual nation relies heavily on tourism, and Indian travellers are its biggest market. It helps that INR 1 is equivalent to about NPR 1.60. This means that you will get the most bang for your buck as you explore this landlocked country from top to bottom. TOP ATTRACTIONS Kathmandu will keep you busy with…

THE LIST EXPLORE Buda and Pest, on either side of the Danube were linked by a Chain Link Bridge BUDAPEST IS HUNGARY’S CAPITAL AND crown jewel. Its architecture is an amazing mélange of Romanesque chapels, Gothic cathedrals, and Baroque palaces. Buffeted by the vast winds of change which brought it under the sway of the Austro-Hungarian empire, followed by the Nazi occupation of WWII and captured as part of the Soviet Communist empire until its liberation in 1991, this beautiful city has only just begun to reclaim its rightful place as the "Pearl of the Danube." Once, there were two cities, Buda and Pest, on either side of the Danube linked only by a single Chain Link Bridge, and it was not till 1873 that they were united. Both their…

COLUMN AHIKE IN A WET LEECH-infested wilderness after a sumptuous dinner would not appeal to most people on a holiday. However, an invitation to see something extraordinary at night can push anyone with even a faint interest into discovering the wonders of the natural world. A few years ago, Nirmal Kulkarni, the well-known herpetologist and Goa-based wildlife conservationist, took me on a night trail through Chorla Ghat, Goa—a section of the Western Ghats in the Sahyadri mountain range. The monsoon had been bountiful that year, making the dense forest resplendent with hues of green. With just the aid of a torch beam, we scrambled up a slippery slope with only frog calls for company. After a short hike we came to an abrupt halt in the middle of nowhere. We…