Friday, November 11, 2011

We've moved!

Dear Fellow travellers,

Footloose and Fancy free will now be posting in a new space. All the posts from this blog have been imported along with your comments and have been tagged under 'Footloose and Fancy free' for your reading pleasure.

Please head here with your packed backpacks or your comfortable armchair for new journeys and destinations.

See you soon! 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Destinations are over-rated

Yes, it's been a long while. And I have now become accustomed to apologizing for my absence. And for those readers who did not notice my comeback here or here, the reason why I was away - was the launch of my debut novel, 'Coming Up On The Show... The travails of a news trainee.'  The readers have received it well and it secured a spot on the Landmark Bestsellers list as well. So anyway, that's why the travel blog has been languishing.

Plus the rains lashing the Philippines have not exactly been conducive to travel either. Many a weekend plan was disposed off after the rain gods played spoil sport time and time again. This last weekend though, me and the husband decided to go on that elusive road trip, come rain or shine. Yes, we had Typhoon Mina hanging over our heads and most parts of the country had a Signal 1, 2 or 3 hoisted over it. But sometimes even drives in the rain can be totally worth it as this trip proved.

We were off to La Union - around 4 - 5 hours away from Manila by road. It is a surfers destination and as both of us had never been on a board before, we knew that this weekend would be all about seeing and absorbing.


Like this woman here who has decided that the soft sand is where she would be rather than slamming her rib-cage into a hard board as she attempted to ride the waves 



This man gave us some nail-biting moments. As the waves rose up and down and he struggled to keep his balance, we kept wondering, 'Will he? Won't he?'



And then there were the pros. You can see from his confident stride that he's the kind who is defeated by no wave! 




And finally after three rain-drenched days at the beach, where we overdosed on languid swimming in the resort pool and the best of hospitality, it was time to drive home. The six-hour drive back was full of sights like these. Through a rain-spattered windshield we saw people braving the rains to get on with their lives.




And noticed that rain does not stop the faithful either as they pile into trikes and jeepneys to head in the direction of church spires and pulpits on a rainy Sunday afternoon. 




And then of course there are the sights like these.  A smiling ladybug trundling down a country road as it always has for years. 

If the journey is this good, it makes you think that destinations are over-rated. What say?



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Wake. Walk. Wonder: A Travel Photography Exhibit

You have read my travel articles.

But they would be nothing without the images that accompanied them and it's high time that the photographs got to tell their own story.

You are invited to Wake. Walk. Wonder: A Travel Photography Exhibit


With photographs from Guatemala, China, Philippines and more- you are invited for some high-flying armchair travelling thanks to Sagar Rajgopal's camera.

Where: Chola Sheraton Hotel, Chennai
When: April 17th - April 18th, 11 a.m - 5 p.m

I hope to see you there!
P.S You can RSVP here as well

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Cobwebs on the backpack

And on the blog as well.

I've been busy setting up FIRST FEATHER CONSULTANTS, a firm that helps individuals start something new in the creative or business space and the only travelling that I've been doing is the day-dreaming kind!

For more on First Feather please head over to SIMPLY SPEAKING where you can read the full story! And writers make sure you head across, as FIRST FEATHER is currently looking for submissions for an e-Book on persons of note. All details on Simply Speaking.

And if this has intrigued you, do join us on Facebook via the badge you see on your right!

Show us some love just as the fine folks at Your Story.in, a site affiliated to CNBC's Young Turks has been doing! :)




But yes, nothing can keep my restless feet bound by the computer for so long! So I will be back with a travel post soon! :)

Till then, here's to dreams of conquering new destinations and adding the First Feathers to our travel caps !





Thursday, January 27, 2011

On why Apo island is a wondrous place

Traversing open seas to get there make you feel like the sea explorers of yore.

There’s nothing like the sound of the waves to wash all that city-bred fatigue away


Massive rock formations in the middle of the ocean demonstrate what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object


Rooms with a view in a place where electricity comes for but few hours every evening and no running water make you think about those things that you often take for granted


Stunning coves make you believe that you’re truly on a secret island


Grounded ships that make you feel happy to be marooned


Happy dogs that tell the tales of truly everlasting friendship


Sunsets that show you what those writers meant by sun-kissed waters


And colours that no photo-editing software can improve on


And the people who are just happy to be with themselves and stare at the restless sea