Phuket, Thailand

We planned our next trip to Phuket, an island off the south-west coast of Thailand. If anyone while traveling to Phuket has a stop over at Bangkok, need to make sure that you have enough time for obtaining the Visa on arrival before the connecting flight to Phuket. I reached Phuket on 10th Dec early morning and Ashi, joined me on the same day afternoon.
We checked in to the Mercure Hotel, near to the Phuket town.








The next day, 11th Dec, we went for a speed boat tours to Phi-Phi islands. Our first stop was Maya Bay. Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's sheltered by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides. It has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi since The Beach was filmed here in 1999.








The boat took us around the various cliffs in the phi-phi island. The color of Andaman sea nearby these cliffs is really magical.









We also saw the Monkey Bay, where several monkeys were waiting for the food which tourists bring for them.








The lunch for the day was organized at Laem Thong Beach on Phi Phi Don. Laem Tong Beach is a magical place in northern Phi Phi that is ideal for a relaxing and quiet holiday.








Snorkeling is not so easy as it looks like. I have never drunk this much salt water in near times. Though it was a big failure, i loved swimming in Koh Khai Nai beach.








The next day we opted big cruise for the tours. The view was magical and sitting in front of the cruise ship with my wife is simply awesome and relaxing.








Our first destination was James Bond Islands. James Bond Island, known originally and locally as Ko Tapu or Nail Island, found fame through the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". The film starred Roger Moore and Christopher Lee (as the three nippled arch-villain Scaramanga) but it was the scenic topography that helped make the film into a firm Bond favourite. It also turned the previously unknown Phang Nga Bay into a major tourist attraction.
The Koh Ping Gun is the major attraction in James Bond Island, along with the walk around the small caves formed in the cliffs.








The small market in the James Bond island is a good place to do shopping for handicrafts. The view of Koh Ping Gun from the caves is really beautiful.








Another great adventure was canoeing in the lagoons through the small caves in those unknown unnamed islands.










I have to say again and again that Phuket is the best place I visited in the recent years. This trip has already become a mesmerizing trip for us.












We left Phuket on Dec 13th and told Phuket "See you again !!"

Poovar Trip [ Kerala, India]

We went to Poovar with two of our friends and their fiancees. It was a day trip, which we planned for a long long time.

Poovar is a small coastal fishing island at the southern tip of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, India. The village is embraced by a beautiful beach on one side and the backwaters on the other. During high tides, an estuary links it to the sea, so we went to Estuary Islands Resort to spend the day :)

According to legends the port Ophir where King Solomon's trading ships landed is said to be Poovar. Another legend describes this as the place as where Maharaja Marthanda Varma was given protection from his enemies by the powerful merchant, Moosa Marikkar. It is said that the picturesque sight of red kovala flowers floating in the Neyyar River led the Maharaja to describe the river as pu (flower) ar (river) or the river of flowers.

The view of the so called "pozhi", is something I cannot forget. We all went to the beach in the evening and enjoyed a lot.

The end of all my trips gives me a heavy heart, as I am not sure when all go together for a similar trip.I loved taking pictures of ashima along the beachside playing with the waves. She loves beaches !!

Shimla Manali - A honeymoon trip

As our honeymoon trip, we decided to visit Shimla, kulu and Manali. We booked our trip through www.makemytrip.com to reach Shimla.A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills". In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.

After a day stay in the cold Shimla, we headed towards Kulu valley. Kullu Valley is the largest valley in the Kullu district, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Beas River runs through the middle of the valley. It is also called the "Valley of the Gods".

After spending a beautiful evening in kulu, we went to Manali. At first sight itself, every one would fall in love with this place. Manali (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft), in the Beas River valley, is an important hill station in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. The British introduced apple trees and trout, which were not native to Manali flora and fauna. The climate in Manali is predominantly cold dur

ing winters, and moderately cool during summers. It was too cold in Manali when we visited and having horse ride in those cold wind is simply astounding.

We also visited the famous shiva temple in Manali riding on horses. Another attraction is Rohtang pass, unfortunately due to heavy snow fall the road to Rohtang pass was closed.

After a stay of 3 days in Manali, enjoying our honeymoon, we left to Delhi. It was such a memorable trip. A trip worth cherishing forever !!

Kumarkom [Kerala, India] Trip

A family trip !..I wished, my brothers wished it, for a long long time. Now my family is full of married couples, we decided to go for a kumarakom trip.Kumarakom is a tourist village in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala.The Vembanad Lake is the largest backwater in Kerala. Its view during sunset is magical.

We stayed in the hotel, Backwater Ripples. I would recommend this hotel for anybody is who is looking for a four star treatment. The second day, we booked a house boat and spent the entire day travelling watching the beautiful sights of kumarakom. Sorry mom, but I never had such a tasty food which I got from the houseboat.

Kumarakom trip is the best family trip I ever had !!...I came back with a heavy heart, as I am not sure when a similar trip turns up in my life.