Why people prefer road trips?

Think of travel think of hill stations, beaches, river sides, deserts. All your trip is successful if a major part of it which is travel is good from the beginning. There can be n number of means of travel. While I see a strong point in travelling by air if distances are huge, I do not understand why people prefer to road trips. I will take example of my husband. He always prefers road trips. While I used to appreciate road travel alot, but was totally surprised when I read people travelled to Europe by road. It rung a big strong bell.

This time I was surprised when my husband urged to travel by car that too self driven for a long 1100 kms in just two days! I was like taken aback! Why do you want to travel by road all the way up? He was like " I want to be flexible". Now 'Flexible' is a big word and comes with its own meaning in different contexts. Below are the points that I have realized as to why people prefer road trips? If you think you have another point that is not mentioned here, please feel free to add. 

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Nidhi KM

Cake Mixing Ceremony at Westin Gurgaon

Cake mixing ceremonies always remind of festivities, Christmas and celebrations. When the ceremony is to be held at Westin Gurgaon then the atmosphere is altogether different. By the time I reached, there was fun and frolic everywhere.

Cake mixing ceremony at Westin Gurgaon

I could see even kids doing their bit in a separate space. They enjoyed so much being the leader in their own space. All this clearly shows how kids friendly the staff is. On the other side.

Kids participating in cake mixing ceremony

Chef Deepak Bhatia with his team led the Cake Mixing ceremony with full passion.

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Nidhi KM

Rock Caves Khambhalida – Buddhist caves

After settling in hotel Heritage Khirasara Palace, we had to rush through 70 kms to reach Buddhist caves  Khambhalida in Rajkot.

On the way to Khambhalida caves

As we reached through lush green rocky area, we were delighted to feel freshness of the area.

There were human carvings on walls of caves. I had read about all these things but was experiencing them for the first time.

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Nidhi KM

Close view

Review Grand O7 Club, Ahmedabad

Grand O7 Club as the name suggests is indeed a grand property situated at outskirts of Ahmedabad. At an isolated location this property overlooks green belt which rejuvinates your mind.

Ambiance of Grand O7

As we got in the property, there was a vast reception area with more seating at the right.

There was a lobby area next to which were elevators.

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Nidhi KM

Adalaj Stepwell , a stop for caravans

Adalaj step well was constructed by Rudabai and later completed by Mahmud Begada. Adalaj Stepwell is a five storied step well constructed for travellers, traders and caravans to rest and drink water. This was constructed in 1499. The stepwell contains Indo Islamic interriors. I could see beautiful carvings all around. This is the first step well that I saw in my life.
Interiors were very gripping.

Adalaj Step well

The step well’s first floor had a platform having four rooms from where king and queen could address the public.

View-from-room-on-the-first-platform

Throughout the step well, I was engrossed in looking at beautiful carvings . I spotted a big Diya (earthen lamp) on one of the window style carving.

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Nidhi KM

Better kid's skills during travel- HappyMongoLearning

Hi travelling parents,

There is something interesting I discovered which can relieve us from our kid's study worries while we are travelling. The proposal seemed promising so I enrolled in an education portal called HappyMongo which is a new product to improve my child’s #LSRW (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) skills, Math & GK, IQ. As I was convinced by the whole concept, I now want to uodate you about its progress. When I got the workbook of HappyMongoLearning, I simultaneously got instructions from the website about how got go about it.

My kids were quite excited about the concept as they had to go through the learning program which is application based and they got the access of my laptop and mobile because of the same.

My both kids fall under the age range from 6-8. So, one book was sufficient for them. We started with the story program on the book and the application. An audio story was played which kids had to listen carefully and patiently and answer few questions in the notebook.

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Nidhi KM

Review Heritage Khirasara Palace, Rajkot

After a hectic day of driving, we reached Rajkot. After the long drive, we reached Heritage Khirasara Palace. It looked very beautiful from a distance. As we entered the gate, we were welcomed very warmly by authorities by a tilak on the head. As I entered further, a never before experience awaited me. I was showered with rose petals! I have travelled a lot be it domestic or International, but this type of welcome is unparalleled. It was indeed a warm welcome!

Khirasara Palace Rajkot

Ambiance of Hotel Heritage Khirasara Palace, Rajkot

Entrance of Heritage Khirasara Palace

There was a big open space after the entrance.

Open Area

To the right and front of the open space was a big lawn.

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Nidhi KM

Big lawns

How to prepare Lasagne ... By Vidya Murthi

Vidya Murthi is a talented woman who is a Homemaker, teacher, mother, wife, artist,movie junkie and a big big foodie who loves to cook and love to eat and serve. She is a super positive source of energy and a strong bond strengthening her family by the day. Vidya's passion for cooking reflects in the final outcome of anything she prepares. This article tells you about step by step preparation of Lasagne.

This time Vidya prepared Lasagne. Since I love it, I wanted to know the recipe of the same and share it across as the final result was enticing.

Lasagne

Recipe of Lasagne

Preparation of Pasta dough

Raw ingredients required- Equal parts of maida and sooji. Salt and 2-3 tsp oil.

Steps to prepare dough

1  Make a stiff dough with warm water.cover n keep aside for abt an hour

2. Later roll it out like paratha according to size of ur baking dish

3. Cook in boiling water to which some salt n oil has been added.Cook for 6-7 min

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Not to be missed- Garba in Gujarat!

During Navaratri, country is in total festive mood. Festive mood in Gujarat has its own aura altogether. While most of North India is busy fasting and worshipping Godess Durga, Kolkata worships Maa Kali. What happens in Gujarat is altogether different! It hosts world's biggest dance festival. I had made a wish last year to attend dance festival or Garba in Gujarat this year. By chance this year, I got an opportunity to attend the same. The offer was made to me by Gujarat Tourism. I was excited at the offer as I had heard alot about the Garba. Plus I was impressed by costumes of movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam most of which was shot in Gujarat.

My reaction to Garba in Gujarat

Soon we went to GDMC ground where inauguration of Garba Celebration was to be held It was a grand calebration. Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri. Vijay Rupani inaugurated the ceremony   Hon’ble with Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri. Nitin Patel, Shri. Parimal Nathwani, MP, Jharkhand, Shri. Ganpatsinh Vasava, Minister of Tourism, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Shankar Chaudhary, MoS, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Pradipsinh Jadeja, Minister of Law, Government of Gujarat, Dr. J.N. Singh, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Kamleshbhai Patel, Chairman, Gujarat Tourism, Ambassadors of various countries and many other senior officials of the Gujarat Government.

Inauguration of Garba in Gujarat

Garba in Gujarat

It was followed by award winners of Kabbaddi. Then there was grand dance performance with many artists young ones and adults that danced in vibrant colours with beautiful tunes.
There were many unique dancing postures .

Garba in Gujarat

Girls even danced with 10 matkas on their heads and there was a special dance performance of keeping 50 matkas on the head.

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Nidhi KM

Dance-with-several-matkas-on-head