Around the World

After visiting the Gulshan Mahal bungalow galleries , you move to the Modern Glass Galleries. Spread over four floors, it was a delightful interactive experience and incorporated everything about cinema as reflected in the famous words of a director on sets "Lights, camera, action!"  (and sound techniques too, of course). Hats off to the curator and the team who have put so much time and effort into setting up the galleries across the two spaces (the bungalow, and the new building) of the National Museum of Indian Cinema, Mumbai .

Gulshan Mahal is a 19th-century  bungalow that houses the first section of the NMIC Museum, Mumbai . The second is the Modern Glass Galleries in its own independent building, just adjacent to the bungalow. Architecturally Gulshan Mahal is a magnificent heritage structure and you can capture some superb images from various angles. Visitors can check out the interesting history of this bungalow at the entrance to it, on the display board on the right-hand wall.  There are 9 galleries here. I turned right from the main hall so as per my walkabout tour, I am mentioning the gallery numbers. 

NMIC Entrance Gate The National Museum of Indian Cinema, Mumbai is located within the Films Division complex at Cumballa Hill and is spread over two buildings, the Gulshan Mahal bungalow and the adjacent Modern Glass Galleries building. You are transported into the midst of Indian Cinema's incredible journey right from the time cinema was presented to an Indian audience by the Lumiѐre Brothers at Mumbai's Watson Hotel, to the modern-day use of technology.  Gulshan Mahal covers the early era of Indian cinema, the transition from silent to Talkie cinema, informative details on regional cinema, and how Indian Cinema evolved in the first half of the 20th Century. The Glass Galleries showcases cinema across India (4th floor), technological innovations in Indian Cinema (3rd floor), a Children's studio that includes activities for children (2nd floor), and a gallery dedicated to Gandhiji's influence on Indian Cinema (1st floor). More information on the individual galleries c...

There is a marvellous museum in Dundee, Scotland worth a visit for its design alone - the V&A Dundee. A branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the V&A Dundee not only exhibits artwork and product designs, but is also a cultural centre to host concerts and workshops. The majestic facade of the museum immediately grabs your attention as you approach it on the Riverside Esplanade. The museum has been designed by   Japanese architect K engo Kuma.   The distinctly layered precast concrete slabs on sloping walls represent Scotland's cliffs, and on stepping inside, the interiors will stun you even more. Best of all, this museum is open to everyone for free with no admission fee. There is a paid ticket only for specific scheduled events.

Dundee, Scotland is no ordinary city. Yes, it has the usual tourist attractions, including the marvellous V&A Dundee design museum , but a primary reason why we found it to be a delightful place is the street art and sculpture.  It is not surprising that Dundee received the prestigious UNESCO City of Design award in 2014 as a recognition of the city's contribution to global design.  As a pedestrian-friendly city, walking around is comfortable whether you wish to set out on a treasure hunt to locate the sculptures and statues that are around the city, or dine in charming cafes and pop into shops to take home a souvenir. Mind you, if you are not observant enough, the streetscape will result in a blink-and-miss walkabout! 

Yes, the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden has a tea house with tea and fortune cookies. However, it is not a tea garden in the literal sense of the term, which is generally a more private space to host a tea ceremony. This spacious garden is a place of leisure ensconced within four gates inside the larger Golden Gate Park, where you can quietly stroll around and absorb the breathtakingly beautiful landscape . Each section of the 5-acre San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden harmoniously blends in with the others. Credit goes to  Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara for expanding this botanical marvel from a n  exhibit depicting a Japanese village at the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition to the stunning masterpiece that it is today. Starting from the entrance gate and culminating with enjoyable refreshments at the tea house, there is much to take in as you stroll around the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden.

The Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the five temples we visited during a trip to Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. This temple, dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, has, over the centuries, acquired architectural features unique to various dynasties, including the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, those of the Vijayanagara Empire, etc.  About seven years ago, the temple complex underwent renovations to maintain its traditional characteristics and continues to draw lakhs of devotees with its aura.

Calton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is no ordinary hill. It has national monuments and, as you must have seen in a zillion photos of the place, it is where you should head for a fabulous view of the city’s skyline. Don’t forget to take binoculars!

One of the major highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka was a boat cruise across the Madu River, referred to in the tour operator’s itinerary as 'Delightful Madu River Safari'. It was indeed delightful, and truly marvellous, something that you should not miss out on. It is not some kind of luxury cruise that you may have enjoyed in, say Goa. It is a cruise in a motorboat and as you ride along through lush mangroves, you will be enchanted in many ways.

One of the many, many plus points of staying at Hotel Gautam in Porvorim, Goa is the in-house restaurant. There is absolutely no need to go elsewhere to dine unless you crave non-vegetarian food since this is an only-veg restaurant. The food and service are excellent by all standards and really yummy😋 What's more, they are willing to customize food and lend an ear to a request for something specific. The restaurant is also one of the best we've ever dined in with its bright yellow cheerful interior, flooded by natural light, with sketches on the walls that will bring an instant smile to your face. 

We had a fabulous stay at Hotel Gautam Porvorim last month. A charming hotel with comfortable rooms and delicious food - all that a guest would wish for!  You can choose between a Standard room, a Superior room, a Deluxe room, and a Villa. The tariff is for two persons for the standard and superior rooms, while for the deluxe room and the villa, it is for four persons. There is an additional charge for an extra person in the same room/villa. You can opt for a package that includes the meal plan, but if you plan to travel around and dine out somewhere, you can take the package without the meal plan.

Hotel Gautam, Porvorim, Goa is the place to stay if you are seeking homely, vegetarian food with, naturally, comfortable rooms. Not only is it an ideal place for families with kids, but it is also a 100% safe place for ladies travelling solo or in groups. The tariff plans they offer, with or without meals as per your choice, are value for money, so don't hesitate to book a stay here. As mentioned in my initial post on the hotel location , it is beneficial to book a minimum 3-night stay so that you get free pick-up and drop-off service from the airport/railway station and complimentary sightseeing. 

On a recent trip to Goa, we stayed at Hotel Gautam, Porvorim which is located in North Goa. It was a wonderful 3-night stay in comfortable rooms with absolutely delectable customized vegetarian meals served in their in-house restaurant . Overall, excellent hospitality and a stay worthy of multiple visits. In this blog post, though, I would first like to focus on the location and travelling to the hotel.

One of the most common tourist spots of any tour package to Madikeri in Coorg, Karnataka, is Raja's Seat. On looking up feedback on Raja's Seat, most people say, "There's nothing much to do" or "It is basically just a garden where you can't really do anything" and other such inane stuff. What beats me is why on earth it is necessary to do something each time you visit a nice place. Why on earth can't people simply enjoy relaxing and doing nothing at all?! That is what Raja's Seat is meant for - relaxing, simply enjoying the lovely greenery and the beautiful views.  So here's feedback on this lovely place in Madikeri from somebody who visited some years ago, and loved it for what it is - one of those rare green environments where you are not expected to do any of the usual touristy things!

Having visited the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur , we also visited the equally well-known Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondaicholarpuram in Ariyalur District. Here, too, there is a parking facility.

Ask anyone who has visited the city of Thanjavur (the earlier name of the city was Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu about which places they visited, and it is highly likely that one of the first they will mention is the Brihadeeshwara Temple (Peruvudaiyar Kovil) or the  Brihadisvara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. While there are many magnificent temples in the District, and, indeed in the State as well, this one is, for many, the most awe-inspiring. Dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Shiva, the temple complex is vast and beautiful.

As mentioned in the general review , we had a very comfortable stay at Fortune Park Hotel Ahmedabad (March 2019). The Standard room that we stayed in was spacious enough for the three of us. There were twin beds, and, as requested, we got a roll-out bed that was placed between the twin beds and the seating area. Mind you, the space did not get cramped as a result, and there was enough place to move around comfortably. The washroom area was also spacious, and, like the room itself, clean and hygienic.

When visiting Daman, don't restrict your itinerary to visiting the beaches and just going around the outside of the Moti Daman Fort or entering and exiting through the gates. You must explore it properly inside as well. There is quite a lot that will interest you within that vast space, including charming churches, well-maintained gardens with truly magnificent flowering plants, monuments, and, generally, the remarkable layout of various administrative offices within. There’s a really charming and quaint blue-and-white lighthouse, too.

On the lighthouse within the Moti Daman Fort you will see the words "Small is Big". This aptly sums up what Fortune Park Galaxy, Vapi is – a small hotel with a big heart (read that as warm hospitality). As mentioned in the review , a hotel does not need to impress as a multi-storeyed building or have numerous facilities. This one is small, with a spacious and beautiful lobby and the mat at the entrance brings a smile to your face when you step in. The in-house Orchid multi-cuisine restaurant is on the ground floor, and rooms are located on the first two floors. There is a gym on the first floor as well, and they also have a banquet hall and 'Daffodils' which are conference/business meeting rooms of varying capacity for corporate guests. In fact, it is described at their official website as a business hotel, and, perhaps their main source of revenue is from hosting business meetings, However, believe me, it is an excellent place to stay for just about anybody, whether...

Surat is known to be the primary hub of fabrics, sarees, anarkalis , and the like and Valsad also has a huge market of retail stores selling materials and garments. Vapi, on the other hand, is referred to as an industrial city and corporate houses often schedule business meetings in the hotels here. Nevertheless, Vapi, too, has a buzzing marketplace and a walk around will spring little surprises if you are looking for fabric. On a recent visit, we did find some good places to buy fabric at reasonable wholesale rates. While the Bazaar Road that leads from Vapi railway station on the west side is the main shopping center, there are a few shops on the east side as well, on Koparli road and around Gunjan circle, ahead of Galaxy High Street.