Koh Samui never aged !

Koh Samui…is like that cool uncle who never aged… I first fell in love with Koh Samui when I was all but 18. At almost 30 now I can say, Koh Samui rather than becoming OLD and passee, it has embraced a new generation of resort goers, many of them upscale. Fine stretches of sand clogged with beach loungers, almost rubbish free roads, world class international cusiine, luxurious spas that are dirt cheap and beach bar parties for the scantily clad 20-something that start at noon. They say Koh Samui has a quieter side with long, tourist free stretches of wild and shaggy coconut palms. But if I really needed the quite  would I go that far now?

We travel not to escape life ... But for life not to escape us ! 

I have always mainted, I am the quintessential city girl who loves her hustle and bustle. I find that almost meditative ! I love the steaming streets-side food stalls, I love backpackers shanties as much as I love those ultra modern beach bars serving fancy over priced cocktails. I love my street side shopping and bargaining as much as I love walking into that open air mall only a tourist place can offer ! Koh Samui is everything that I love and more.



Koh Samui is glossy in the night and a sleepy town by day. It really wakes and breathes life only after 5. Something I absolutely love ! I went with my sister Dhwani and friends, Ami, Pankti, Jinal and Varun and we were living at The Novotel Kandaburi, which is 5 mins by a tuktuk from Chaweng beach. The beach here is relaxing, Crowded enough to find an eye candy in his beach shorts lazying and reading a book but not that crowded that you want to walk further and further down the strip to find some peace and quite. During the day we enjoyed relaxing by the pool and enjoying cocktails. The hotel is literally on the beach and we enjoyed our time dipping in the ocean and enjoying vendors coming to us with fresh cut food and corn on the cob. 

There are a few things I highly recommend. A Day trip snorkelling/ scuba diving to Ang Thong National Marine Park which is made up of an archipelago of about 40 small islands combining sheer limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, white-sand beaches and dense vegetation providing a postcard-perfect vista almost anywhere you look.

The numerous caves and crevices are home to nesting swallows and there's a narrow coral reef in the southwest of the park. From Ko Samui, a couple of tour operators run day trips to the Ang Thong archipelago. We booked a Kayaking tour. For as awesome as the picture looks, we were very happy discovering all the caves surrounded by the endless waters... but there comes a time when you look back and find you are miles away from the beach that you first started at. I just want to say this... it was quite an upper body workout ! 

But once we hit the shore, the cool wind under the winter sun, on a hammock made everything worth it ! A word of caution, and it might just be my stupidity to carry it with me, but I lost my first and only hat while kayaking :(

The evenings are very easy to fill up. Once we hit Chaweng, there are plenty of things to do. We watched a Muay-Thai Boxing Match at the Chaweng Boxing Stadium. Grotesque to say the least but an experience which makes all rocky balboa movies look real to me for the very first time ! 

 

At Samui’s northern end, on a small rocky island linked by a causeway, is Wat Phra Yai. Erected in 1972, the modern Buddha (sitting in the Mara posture) stands 15m high and makes an alluring silhouette against the tropical sky and sea. 

 Ark Bar with its fireworks display every Wednesday and Saturday makes the 9pm slot easy to fill. Head over to see the stunts and smoke some sheesha. The staff is a little flustered, ofcourse with reason, years of dealing with drunken men and women of all ages and sizes have given them frown lines !

 Another good place of sheesha, drinks and good music is Solo Bar. Head over there for some pre-dinner cocktails and you will find a whole mix of people. If you over hear them, they are talking in all different languages with insertions of Ang Thong, Koh Tao and Koh Phan Gang ... so you know they really are making sight seeing or next day plans or simply discussing what to do ! It's when you go to a place of mix-cultures that I really go down nostalgia and remember my trip to belgium as a student of the Rotary's Youth exchange program.. .. Click here to hear all about my experience. 

When in Thailand, have some soul food comprising of a good Thai Curry with Steamed / Bamboo Rice. Terminal D is a Wine and Resto Bar has Some amazing food options for the hungry traveler ! 

If you get tired of Thai Food, I would recommend Gringos cantina on Chaweng street for some Tex-Mex !  Blue Berry Margaritas anyone ?? 

For Deli style fresh food, excellent coffee and sandwiches, hummus and falafels head over to Magnolias. Ask for Dahliya the Israeli owner and she will give you the warmest hug ! This is on my MUST-GO-AGAIN list ! 

LA-TAVERNA is an un-missable ITALIAN restaurant on Chaweng Street ! I can fly to Koh Samui, quickly eat the ricotta ravioli in sage butter sauce and fly back and still think its a dream.. ! Pair it with a wine or two and you are all set for an evening of happiness ! 

But happiness comes in many proportions on the island of Koh Samui. It can also come from a street side food cart selling crepes. They all do amazing crepes to be honest. Nutella or cream cheese and onion, anything is going to make you smile cheek to cheek.

Give me street food and I will be happy... give me a cocktail in a fanastic bar with a picturesque sceneary and you will see my happiness !! We went to On The Rocks Bar at the Six Senses Koh Samui. It's Simple and understated decor actually compliments the breath taking views this bar has to offer. We actually went there for dinner, but we didnt make the reservation mark. So if you plan on heading there, do make reservations before hand. 

The tuktuk will literally take you everywhere you need to go. NEGOTIATE NEGOTIATE NEGOTIATE .... ! Everything will come at half the price including a massage at an upscale place or simply a wrist watch which the shop owner claims is a first copy ! 

The street markets sell everything you will need to survive a beach location. From Flip flops to sunscreen. So you dont have to worry about what you forgot back home. It will also sell you things you really dont need. Like the carved hand made soap which I am now struggling to finish or those amazing hanging paper mache lights which got slightly squished on the way back home or my black hat from the first picture which i lost to the sea.... but Koh Samui makes everyone happy ! I cannot wait to go back  there. This time with my darling husband Kunal, who I missed so much throughout my trip. 

I'm Famous and Waiting to be Rich now !!

There are 2 aspects of the human mind that I have come to know in the last 48 hrs with certain clarity. When they say – you will know when you sail in that boat – you will know. So I sailed in that boat to know them FOR SURE. So what happened in the last 48 hours ! A couple of days ago in one of my entries I told you about how I got photographed for Inc Magazine. It is out and here is the link for the same.

http://issuu.com/incindia/docs/inc_india-vol-2-issue-04-may-2011_1_

I’m featured on the 26th Page of the magazine – and 28th page of the PDF File. After the much dilly dallying over the make up and costume bit – the actual day of the shoot is nothing but a feeling of discomfort in my head. I am more of a behind the camera person off late – and all my thoughts about Oh, I would love to be centre of attention – have now a different perspective. So 2 things happened. Both Revolve around Human Emotions.

1. The Human Mind loves Flattery. And Questions who it is coming from and Why.
While most people close to be seem to be having their own shit to deal with – so there is yet to be a celebration of sorts. And I thought like in the movies I would declare a party and have 50 people flowing in with the booze and the attitude. That did not happen, is my reality. Some close one is in the hospital, so people are tending to her. Others are busy in their bullshit. A few others didn’t have time to read – even though I delivered it to their mailbox. Others that read got so caught up in work that they didn’t have time to send their much love.
And then there are the unexpected. Those that took their time off to let me know how proud they are to know a person like me, words of encouragement, some critical words to make sure I do well in the future. Some in plain awe of me, and some who half expected me to succeed- but are only surprised it was so early in life !!


2. The Human Mind shrivels up looking at no one around to share their happiness with.
I have been in a constant fight with my best friend for over last 7 months. To a point where the period of 10 days before the magazine came out we didn’t see each other, we didn’t talk to each other, but made each other’s life living hell messaging from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Much of what was exchanged was un-needed, and uncalled for... we didn’t mean half of those things we said... but we did. And that’s our reality. So when the magazine came out – the first reaction was Who the fuck to i share this happiness with ? So it didn’t matter that I have 10,000 other people who I knew would be happy for me. What mattered is that she is not around !!

Both of which is now resolved. She emailed, we met and we have hopefully conquered ! And the immediate family despite all the shit that is happening will now congregate at a celebratory dinner Friday night !!! LOVE in today’s world comes but in a delayed FASHION. Life is not BOLLYWOOD film after all. It is just the human mind that needs slight training !!!

Of course my thoughts on the magazine.
1. I love being famous
2. I love the fact that there were so many words of encouragement
3. I love the fact that I am happy I am in Inc. But I can’t wait to be on Forbes list now !
4. I love that I love being ahead in the race
5. I love that people around me cheer me up each time I tend to settle for no 2.

Do check out the link and let me know what you think !!! YIPPIEEEE !!

My Dream Bali Wedding !

With lots of free time this weekend - This is a very first holiday that my office is actually shut on account of a public holiday ! What a bummer. Anyhow - so this is my first holiday post. It has to has to has to be one with LOVE Involved. I have been back on the track of love - no dearies, not that of a boy - but some real best friend love. We made up ! And ofcourse it started with FOOD. We share that. The two of us.

So, this post it about celebrating LOVE and we got talking about the boys in our lives. Not that either of us is remotely close to one. But we know at the end of a night's conversation what our dream BEACH Wedding is going to look like.







Anyone wants to fly to BALI to be my bridesmaid ???

100th POST !

As a little girl I spoke when it was not my turn, I answered when it was not needed, I gave an opinion even if I was not entitled to in the wrong places and not to the right people. It gave me a reputation of sorts. A strong minded individual like me could be dangerous. BLOGGING is a serious passion for me. One that gives me the freedom to write freely what i feel and what I think, without the hazard of being explosive. Such is my blog. It is an extension to my life. and today – after much nurture and care my blog has reached a 100 !!!

A 100....!!! CELEBRATING A 100 blogs ... wooohoooo. When I started off, I had no idea that this would be the turn out. I did not know that this thing which started off as a rough template would take such a beautiful shape. It would be a place where I could talk about things I love - travel, books, art, interior design, fashion, music, movies, eating, being in love, design and my sunshine.

A lot of people to be thanked. My grand-parents. Who are somewhere there, looking after my universe. They are the first people who encouraged me to always express... they are the ones who were so proud of me – even if it only meant me saying a line in the class play ! They were there, applauding loudly !!

Next up my parents... These 2 people, single handedly can charge me up with enough energy to last a life time. They not only have inspired me to dream big , but gave me the ability to chase after my dreams.. and they are such a perfect example.
Dhwani, my sister, my soul mate. For her undying passion for her artwork – her relentless hard work, day after day after day. She knows what she wants. And she encourages me to work towards what I like the most Writing ! With her around, I strive to know what I want.. and be thankful for what I have. And always being by my side.

My friends... Pankti, Amzie, Raghuvir, Aakash, Jesal, ... for always being so available to discuss everything under the sun. I owe my sunshine to them. Everyone else too, who help me aspire to achieve more. To do more. To strive for more.. !!! Thank you so much for always being there, everyone.

Also to all those people who actually sit up and read some of my stuff, and time and again comment or call or message, just to let me know you care that i write .. Please keep them coming. There is nothing more I love than to hear you critique my stuff – mostly the good stuff ; p . but when you write, I know you read. When you write, I know my thoughts provoked something in your mind to move you to click click.. !!!

My PURPOSE : To provoke thoughts with my writing – Mission Accomplished !!!

To Pankti... with Love !

Every memory remains
as the days pass quickly by
as I look upon the past
my heart just wants to cry

We were always together
through the good times and the bad
I try to keep a smile
but I cant fight the feeling sad

You making me laugh was addicting
and so was your smile
now everything's changing
and I'm stuck in denial

The person that has changed
at first I thought was you
but I realize now its me
but it's not I changed, but grew

Everyone will change
and everyone will grow
but I will always forever love you
and thatI hope you know

Guys got in the middle
and other factors too
I guess one thing that's changing
is that I'm now jealous of a few

I miss so many things
about the way it used to be
we both have made mistakes
not "just" you or not "just" me

I miss all of the good times
like when we'd talk all night long
or when we'd belt out the lyrics
to a good old Rihanna Song !

When we'd fall over laughing
and we wouldn't know why
all the hugs you gave me
Now all I'd do is cry

I miss my blond moments
and the things you would say
acting like loosers
day after day

I miss when we'd talk
for hours on end
but I think most of all
i just miss my best friend.