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?

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

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 !

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

More from the Passport

Dear fellow travellers,

It's been a busy month and I've been dying to tell you about my week in Beijing.

But the old adage of man proposing and higher forces disposing has been holding true. So while you wait, I thought I'll leave you with a piece from Passport, my travel column in the RobinAge

This one's about Fort Kochi in Kerala.

Make sure that those budding travelers at home take a look at it.

So till next time, here's to exploring new lands and lots of adventure.

Dispatches from Siem Reap - VI

The last day in Siem Reap is spent in wondering...

We wonder how time sped past so fast.

We wonder whether we can slow down time this last day, so that we can get to see maybe one wonder more.

We wonder whether the elephants will still be ferrying excited travellers around the Angkor complex, the next time we visit.

We wonder whether this artist's work will be displayed with pride and fond memories in a house half-way across the world.

We wonder what the King who declared all the images of Buddha at Preah Khan to be changed to hermits, had been thinking.

We wonder whether this Apsara peeks out from behind the wall that hides her, at nights.

We wonder what this two-storeyed columned building must have been used for in it's hey day

We wonder how long will it take till we see interesting road signs like these again.

We wonder whether the restoration will ever cease to be and become only conservation.

We wonder whether any other ascent up has ever been so fulfilling.

We wonder whether it will be long, much too long, before we feast our eyes on this spectacular and humbling monument again.

Dispatches from Siem Reap - V

Every traveller yearns to carry a lit bit of their trip back home, where they can look at it and remember those experiences that will stay with them forever.

We do it in the form of photographs that will keep the stone lamppost by the Wat Bo bridge near the Siem Reap river virtually intact forever

By buying little pieces that represent Siem Reap, from it's colourful Bazaar

And then sometimes we do it by picking up the recipes that will help us recreate the flavours that had added to our Khmerian experience.

There's the delectable Pat Prik Gang or Pork in chilli sauce with long beans

The comforting Soup Psut or mushroom soup with minced chicken

The 'makes your tongue explode in a riot of sensations' Lok Lak or Fried beef with red sauce served with a fried egg

The deep fried minced pork with ginger, onions, beans and red bell pepper that got polished off within minutes of getting ordered

The flavourful Fried rice that could give fried rice from around the world a run for it's money

And the pork marinated and then cooked in Khmerian spices

What they say about Siem Reap is true, one visit is not just not enough to take in all the temples and monuments, but also sample all that it has to offer elsewhere as well.