Voyaging Together

Japan How did I end up there for a vacation? When I think of Japan the few things that come to my mind are Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, earthquakes, Supply Chain Management, Kaizen, Toyota and the seasonal Cherry Blossom. None of which are an inspiration to plan a vacation to Japan in the month of August. Moreover after having spent a good 2 months to plan a Euro trip and spend time in the beautiful gardens of Florence, party in the streets of Prague, get the customary Eiffel Tower picture, Japan just did not sound like a great idea. But more often than not, my husband’s conviction wins over and that is how we ended up going to Japan. The trip was planned within a week unlike the itineraries I had spent time preparing. (The visa processing takes just two days, which is impressive.) Still not fully convinced what further added to my scepticism was the fact that whoever I mentioned Japan to assumed that it was a business trip and when they got to know it...

Singapore is known for food be it the variety or quality. There is an option at every price range hawker centers, Food Republics or stand alone eateries.  Not really a foodie I still like exploring new food options. On a lazy Sunday morning when cooking is the last thing on my mind, a brunch is something I look forward to. This post is dedicated to the the beautiful cafes which make Sunday noon a  reason to rejoice and the weekend a gastronomical delight. Super Loco Located in a corner at Robertson Quay (which I think is a quieter version of Clarke Quay) this place is perfect after a weekend hangover, but still continuing on the festive mood. The perfect blend of pastels on the walls, the wooden benches and river view try and bring the Mexican experience to Singapore. Reasonable on the wallet and a comprehensive variety of Mexican food, I have already been here more than once ( Menu ). Must Haves: - Any of the drinks (That is what Mexicans do th...

Among one of the few Reality Shows I follow, MasterChef Australia is my favorite. In an endeavor to groom great chefs, the show lays stress on multiple factors which make eating food an experience including things like plating, the use of the right ingredients to decorate the dish etc.  The entire concept of plating and presentation is not just limited to TV shows now. 80% of the reviews  on the popular food blog website – Zomato,  lay great emphasis on the ambience of the place (Moreover ambience is contributes significantly to the high food bills). Even when I think of my favorite food, not only do I know how it should taste but exactly how it should look. What is the correlation between well-presented food served in great ambience with the taste?  Although there has been enough research to show how sense of smell and taste are intertwined and the interactions between smell and taste enhance the perception of food, there is no such...

Life has been rather kind to me. For the first 25 years, I've had the luxury of driving (and being driven around) in my own car. It all started to change when I moved out of the comfort of Chandigarh to Mumbai, where even if you own a car - at times it is just more convenient to hire a cab. The first few months in Mumbai were best described as a nightmare. I landed up totally unprepared, in the midst of the legendary Mumbai monsoons. Clubbed with the arrogance of auto drivers not willing to travel a short distance and the radio cabs which were either overbooked or often cancelled last minute - I began missing the small luxury that is a car, very much. Things were looking better a couple of months down the line with a brand new Honda at my disposal, but Uber launching in Mumbai was even bigger savior. The time it was launched, we literally had free credit and rides all the time, that the price never really bothered me. People who've stayed in Mumbai can very well...