Around the World

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.