Makeyourtraveleasy

  I wasn’t planning to eat anything unusual that night. I’d landed in Bangkok after a long flight, half asleep, hair sticking to my face, and the air thick enough to drink. Street food stalls lined the road outside my guesthouse — sizzling woks, clouds of chilli smoke, and a dozen smells fighting for attention. I just wanted noodles. Somehow, I ended up with something else. The vendor smiled, pointed to a tray, and said, “Try! Very crispy!” It looked like fried noodles at first glance. It wasn’t. It was deep-fried crickets — tiny, shiny, still recognisable. My British politeness betrayed me; I nodded before my brain caught up. Crunch. That first bite was oddly nutty, not awful at all. The t exture was strange — like popcorn that gave up halfway. Locals snacked on them casually, beer in hand, laughing at the tourists hesitating with chopsticks. One of them offered me a sprinkle of chilli salt and said, “Better with spice.” He was right. Since then, I’ve eaten stranger things....

  It is timeless to walk in Italy like some kind of poetry, it reads line by line. Nothing can be more than in the paths of Cinque Terre. These five villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are located along the Ligurian coast and are connected by rugged tracks that are facing the sea. Their upbringing is like entering into a water color portrait because it swings into various colors with each movement.   I would begin my walk quite early in the day, when the morning-mist would be rising off the precipices. It was silvery sea water, and the atmosphere was lightly salty-lemon.  The best known is the one leading between Monterosso and Vernazza, and well it deserves it; it contains a combination of steep ascents, narrow steps of stone, and sceneries so beautiful that you are almost mesmerized by them. I went through small gardens as well, grapevines hanging around wooden stakes, and locals returning with baskets of the products along the impossibl...

  It has that sort of silence that falls on a Japanese park just before the fireworks start, that between when everybody has got their place settled, the air is red with grilled corn and yakitori, and even the cicadas appear to have stopped. It is summer in Japan and fireworks festivals - hanabi taikai - take place to their full extent.   I can still recall my first one, in Osaka. I had trailed a group of friends, cartons of picnic mats and bento boxes going to the river.   Note: If you are travelling on a budget, then you can book  meet and greet at Luton   and save money for your trip.   The sun was fading away in the horizon and the sky was turning peach and lavender. Families, and couples and parties of teenagers were making themselves comfortable all around us, talking in low tones, and waving paper fans. The entire city seemed to be beating in unison. Everything came to a standstill when the initial firework broke the door to the sky. There wa...

I will say it, it is not my strong point to pack. I am the type of a traveler who once packed half of a wardrobe into a suitcase just in case only to find out that I did not use half of it.   Throughout the years, a number of insane airport rushes and one bad overweight bag fee later, I have learned that it is not about packing more but packing better. The following are the three packing tips, which have indeed transformed the way I travel.   Note: The best tip that I can give for stress-free travel is to book  long stay parking Heathrow   and start your journey without any worries. Roll, Don't Fold   The day when I rolled my clothes in place of folding them, it seemed to me that I had uncovered a secret formula. Then all was in place, and I was able to see what I had packed, not having to dig to the bottom. Not only does rolling save on space, it does not allow clothes to get too wrinkled.   During my last winter trip, I was able to squeeze two s...

 When I first entered Karlovy Vary I felt as though I were being welcomed by the steam escaping through the colonnades. This tiny Czech city is listed among the ancient spa retreats and even nowadays, when one walks in its pastel-colored streets, one can feel that they have been transported to the world of rest and renewal.   A Town Built Around Healing   The Karlovy Vary is a story of its springs. It is said that the town was created when Emperor Charles IV found out about the healing waters during his hunting. Royalties, writers and musicians have since then visited here to burn, drink and give in to its curative capabilities.   You are walking along the colonnades and you notice that locals and visitors alike are filling up the porcelain cups with warm mineral water that comes straight out of the springs, and it feels both old and new at the same time.   The Spa Experience   The actual magic however is the thermal baths. One afternoon I spe...

 When I first arrived in Germany I believed that bread was bread. A loaf which can be cut, toasted, or eaten with butter. That fantasy was soon dispelled when I entered a bakery in Germany.   Shelves and shelves of loaves of all sizes, colors, and shapes, crusty rye breads, soft wheat rolls, sourdoughs, seeded dark loaves, which seemed nearly too firm to slice.   Side note: Before travelling, make sure to check airport parking Heathrow to secure an affordable deal. More Than Just Food   It is not just a bread one eats in Germany but a cultural anchor. Families continue to share a meal called Abendbrot, or evening meal, which consists of fresh bread, cheese, cold cuts and spreads. It is plain, but strongly tradition based.   Every land contributes something: Bavarian pretzels, Westphalian pumpernickel, Swabian "Seelen". The country has more than 3,000 officially registered types of bread with each bearing tales of place, history, and craftsmanship. At ...