The Height of Cool

Cafe Beat
Travelogue

The Height of Cool
It’s third highest, so it tries harder. The icy peaks of Kanchenjunga are only one of Sikkim’s many charms. The other major plus: no pesky tourists for miles around. Except you.



When it gets right down to it, who are we? And why are we here? And where would we rather be? The last one’s easy and it might help answer the other two: we’d rather be warming our toes by a dying fire, picking at the crispiest bits of a barbeque dinner and looking out at sleepy mountaintops thinking, tomorrow let’s … zzz. Sikkim is great either way. It’s perfect if the plan is lazy and hazy, and it’s just right if you’ve got adventure and tales-for-the-grandchildren plans for your vacation. The landscape is so gorgeous you could easily get your fill just looking out the hotel window. But there are plenty of options if you want to take active part in the scenery.

Planning Sikkim
You will need at least one week to soak up the fun and explore a little. Gangtok should be your landing pad. Once there, get in touch with the Adventure division of Sikkim Tourism or take your pick from the many local travel agents swarming about town. They will take care of itinerary, transport and other little details, which is good… but they may hustle and over-charge if you aren’t diligent. Doyour homework and get smart about the details.

Backpacking
A visit to Sikkim won’t clean out your savings. If you decide to go with friends, you can bargain for discounts on your hotel stay too. The food is cheap and pretty good. Many of the settlers living in Sikkim are Nepalese so prepare for some lip-smacking delicacies. The hills are criss-crossed with green-flanked trails that lead you through the many monasteries that dot Sikkim. Serene at a glance, these trails still offer enough hardship to please a monk. A good place to practice your Kung Fu moves.

What, Where, How
Kanchenjunga is, of course, the ultimate challenge. From here you can hike all the way up to the Chinese border. It is always snowing here and temperatures can dip to minus 10 degrees. A must-visit on your way to Gangtok is Changu Lake. It is frozen for most part of the year and a major crowd-puller thanks to the amazing scenery that surrounds it. You should also try to spend one day exploring the Kanchendzonga National Park. Here’s one place you won’t mind getting lost in.

Suggested Trek Itinerary
No hotels. No five-stars. No warm beds. Lots of fun. Loads of memories. Villagers in this state are accustomed to trekkers knocking on the door and asking to be put up for the night. They’ll feed you and make sure you’re refreshed for the next leg of the trek. A typical trek could be from Gangtok to Pemayangtse to Khechopalri, onwards to Yuksum, Tsokha, Dzongri, Thangshing, Zemathang, Chaurigang, Tashiding, Varsey, Yangang, Rabongla, Sang and Sikip.

Getting to Gangtok
By Air: The closest Indian Airport is 124 kms from Gangtok, Bagdogra in Siliguri which is in West Bengal. Flights operate from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati and connect onwards. Travel time from the airport to Gangtok is 4 hours.
By Rail: The closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal about 148 km away, and Siliguri.
By Road: Gangtok is connected by road to Siliguri, and takes about 114 kms. Other routes are Darjeeling (4 Hrs), Kalimpong and with Bhutan, Phuntsholing (6 Hrs).

On a Budget, in Dubai

June 2007
whats on - Wine-N-Dine

The moment you set foot in Dubai, the grandeur of the city awes. The shiny and glitzy glass and metal facades which form the cityscape can leave a newcomer dazzled and wide-eyed. But the City of Gold does not demand its visitors to pay the toll in gold. You can enjoy all its facets – sights, shopping and eating out – on a restricted budget and yet return with a fulfilling experience.

In the back lanes of several of the shiny towers, you will find tea and fruit juice joints. With a huge immigrant population, strong and flavoured tea is a favourite. While scouring the Souqs for fresh condiments, perfumes and electronics, you will find large servings of Kiwi Juice at Dhs 2 very refreshing.

If a quick bite means grabbing a Jumbo Vada Pav or an Idli-Vada before jumping into a fleeting bus or train, you must reach out for a Shawarma in Dubai. A Lebanese item, it has shreds of roasted chicken with tingling sauces rolled up conveniently in a Pita bread, apt for the person on a move! The Shwarma’s are priced at Dhs 3, with a guarantee to satiate hunger-pangs at all the odd hours.

For a more substantial luncheon, look out for the famous chain restaurant – Karachi Darbar. A no-fuss eating joint, office-goers can be seen galore; they come here for quick service. Although a little cold-shouldered, you find that the food seems to appear magically in a flash, piping hot. Savour a three-course meal of Chicken Tikka, Dal Ghost, Rotis, Lassi and their famous hot Jamuns for a neat Dhs 50 for two people.

Similar to the Shwarma joints, you will find the city dotted with small joints which prepare burgers, Indian-style, if you please. At Dhs 5 a plate, these chunky burgers surely give a beating to McDonalds, KFC and Burger King in terms of value-for-money which are priced at Dhs 18.

As the scorching sun sizzles behind the cooling waters, another facet of Arabia comes to life. People prefer to spend a relaxing evening over Shishas and endless hours of banter. This perfect setting of Al Paras fortunately comes minus the high price-tag. An open air restaurant, they have Khus sheets with water running over them to keep cool.

You will be escorted to an elevated wooden canopy, with a carpet and seating on cushions for the party. The meal commences with an earthen bowl of Hummus with a generous dollop of olive oil, cheese stick, mint leaves and Khaboos. The Kebabs, their speciality, are served along with a live barbeque, so you can enjoy the meal at a slow pace. This is accompanied with Irani Rice, liberally sprinkled with homemade butter. This rice itself is flavoured and most people don’t find the need to combine it with a gravy dish. This elaborate evening might cause a small dent of Dhs 250 for five people. But then, its is all worth it!

If you, though, prefer a quick dinner minus the frills, head for the back alleys of Bur Dubai, where you will find the labour class of the opulent city voraciously digging into heaps of Biryani. These cubby holes also have separate seating for families, often in upstairs booths. A meal can be enjoyed here for as little as Dhs 7 for two people.

Be warned though, a trip to the world-famous malls can surely leave your pocket light of all that you saved up with this culinary budget.

Pondicherry - The French Connection

March 2007
whats on - Getaway

Pondicherry The French Connection

Sights are manifold, from pastel-coloured churches to bright temple towers; Joan of Arc's heavenward gaze vies with the tall carved pillars from Gingee at the seafront; cricket competes with petanque.

Pondicherry, a confluence of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage and Tamil culture, is one of the few surviving union territories with a pristine coastline. Fondly called Pondy, it is a charming Mediterranean town with cobbled streets, stylish houses and ornamental gardens. Pondy instantly transports the first-timer to a picturesque town. All the roads and institutions have names in French, such as Hotel de Ville, which is the Town Hall. Little wonder then that Pondy is often called the French Riviera of the East. The French first arrived and ruled the town for nearly 281 years. Today, it stands as a living and breathing monument of the French culture in India.
A convenient way to see Pondicherry is at leisure, by a cycle rickshaw. And, if you really want do want some pace, hire a motorcycle. They come for as little as Rs 100 per day (fuel extra). It is easy to whizz about, zigzagging through the lanes, all over the town with no chance of every getting lost. This French Boulevard town has everything planned down into a grid, much like New York City.
Sights are manifold, from pastel-coloured churches to bright temple towers; Joan of Arc's heavenward gaze vies with the tall carved pillars from Gingee at the seafront; cricket competes with petanque. Apart from the monuments, there is the French Consulate and the Foyer du Soldat for war veterans of the French Army.
The restaurants serve a rich variety of French, Indian, Asian and continental food, with the latest pizza for an American bite. A favourite with tourists is Rendevous, a quintessential French restaurant.
For an avid shopper, Pondy has a lot to offer and is a favourite shopping destination. With taxes low or practically non-existent, Pondy is soft on your purse. It is known for its traditional doll making, textiles and silks. It is also the birthplace of several world-class brands in leather, pottery, aromatics, fashion and handmade paper. Scented candles, incense sticks, lamps and articles made with handmade paper and dry flowers are the flavour of Pondicherry.
On the border of Tamil Nadu is the international city of Auroville, which has the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Inspired by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, Aurovilled has been largely realized through the vision of his French disciple, known as the 'Mother'.
The French have a saying - Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose - which means, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And this could be somewhat the case for Pondicherry. At the crossroads of eastern and western culture, and of ancient and modern spiritual disciplines, Pondicherry truly is a heritage town.

Fact File
Area: 480 sq.km
Language: Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, English & French
Population: 973, 829
When To Go: The climate is tropical, which means that is is hot and humid. Average temperatures are 24C degrees typical of January and 30C degrees for June. The monsoon is active from October through December.

Shack Up!

USP Age
What's On - Wine-N-Dine

If you are yearning for the soft sands of Goa just head for 100ft Road, Indiranagar to shack up at The Beach. This restaurant will instantly transport you to the sultry beaches of Goa – sand, ocean, coconut grooves, et al.
Designed like a Goan shack, you feel at ease the moment you step in. The first things you notice are the lush bamboos which stand tall, blocking away any reminiscence of still being in Bengaluru city.
Essentially divided into four areas, you can enjoy 'an evening in Goa' in all the sections. The Predo Shack is lit subtly with goblets of candles, and is walled off with glass. The high-backed chairs are accompanied by beautiful tables, which are filled with sand and white pebbles, make it a perfect venue for a quiet romantic evening.
The Beach Area has a more upbeat feel to it. The high ceiling with jute and bamboo complete the Goan-shack feel. The glass tabletops are balanced on coconut tree stumps. The stools which make up for seats, are also logs of coconut trees. The accompanying bar area too has a backdrop of bamboo shoots. You will be tempted to dig your feet into the soft sand which makes for the flooring while enjoying hip-hop and house music dished out by the resident DJ.
The bar serves both Indian and imported liquor. Must-try is their Margarita and Long Island Iced Tea. ‘Sex on the Beach’ also came recommended by the manager. You can enjoy your drink over the gentle murmur of waves. The Beach boasts of a water machine which forms waves, thus completing the 'oceanic experience'.
The Lounge area has under-played lighting with low seating. You can laze on the sofas for hours on end. Head for the fine dining section, which is on the first level for a hearty meal. They serve both lunch and dinner, with a multi-cuisine menu. But the kitchen specialises in Goan dishes from where Xazuti, a coconut-based gravy, comes highly recommended. You have a choice of meat – fish, chicken or mutton. The Goan curry which is another hot favourite among patrons, too has a coconut base, spiced delicately with Goan condiments. They also specialise in Continental dishes.
Going by the crowds flocking The Beach every weekend, it sure seems like Goa has found some tough competition in Bangalore.

Go Gizmo

Boys have always loved toys, but girls aren’t behind in the game either. And they do it with panache. Here is a low-down on the must-have gadgets which will enhance your style-quotient instantly.
A book which doesn't run out of paper and a pen out of ink. No wizardry required for modern-day iball Digital Notepad on which you can draw or make notes. It holds up to 150 pages of handwritten notes which can be transferred to computer. Email the tailor to have your dress tailored, or send handwritten emails to friends…computer can be made truly ‘personal’ again.
OSIM helps you rid(e) away your fat. And this does not need heading for the closest race track; the ride comes home for you. iGallop is a mechanical saddle which moves the body in multiple directions giving a full body workout and melts away the fat.
Want to spice up the ride with music? Then you will love the techni-colour iPod Shuffle which can hold up to 240 songs. Tall as your little finger, this mp3 player is now available in vibrant tints - fuchsia pink, electric blue and lime green. Clip it on your collar or belt and rock on for 12 hours, non-stop.
Lost your way in the Ghats? Look up your camera! Exilim EX-S770, the digital camera from Casio can take maps you found on the internet, emails, even business documents. This is besides the 1739 pictures or 43 minutes of video you can take. A slim card camera in funky colours, slip it in your handbag and make any moment a best-shot.
Your nail chips in office or the keys fall in the dark at the doorstep? Hit SOS, or keep Miss Army Kit alongside. This pocket-sized pink kit fits in 16 disarming tools including knife and flashlight; needle, thread, and safety pin for wardrobe malfunctions; mirror, nail fileand perfume bottle for an unplanned date.
Shopping alone and can’t trust the sales woman’s advise? Snap a picture and ask your girlfriend for advice. With Intel UMPC aka Ultra Mobile PC access media and online content on the go. Chat, watch videos, go through presentation on your drive back home…everything you would do on your PC, scrunched in a handheld device.
Word of warning – these gizmos can get very addictive.