what's the point of a getaway if everyone is going that way?

Rampura. Yes, Rampura. The moniker doesn’t conjure up the most exotic and exciting visuals but that’s precisely why Bill Shakespeare asked “what’s in a name?” The town and its majestic fort are all the wonders that you never see coming. Rampura is the reason someone said “F the GPS!” and took the broken path over the beaten one. Yes indeed, reaching Rampura isn’t easy. The roads, if I may take the liberty of calling them that, for 100 kilometers are bare and rough. It’s quite a bouncer if you’re coming from Delhi or Agra’s pretty cool highways. But that’s it. When the worst part of your experience was a few bad roads, then you’ve probably had a great holiday. And if you can’t handle a few rough patches, then an off-the-map location would probably not suit your taste to begin with. Pity, if that is the case. Because you’d really be missing out on a real hidden gem; one of the actual places that make India, !ncredible India.

For a young population that’s parched for new, fresh weekend getaway options, Fort Rampura is a wonderful find. Less than 7 hours of driving time from the capital is the fort at Rampura. It has all the charm of a bygone era, preserved beautifully but without the commercialization of a branded hotel. The 700 year old fort is massive and, depending upon your love for solitude, you can spend hours exploring its endless wonders. A walk through the old moat, which now serves as a mustard field is enchanting during winters. When the fields are draped by bright yellow mustard flowers it is imperative to run through them and recreate your own Yash Raj moment. The Palace is filled with living rooms which are more like museums. They house countless and priceless artifacts, rugs, furniture and more. The animal heads used as trophies and tiger skins weren’t particularly to my liking. But the complete works of Shakespeare in its miniature form certainly was.

We unfortunately stayed only the one night at the fort. But in just that short time we fell head over heels in love with it. Had the most unusual and unforgettable experiences during the stay, which included driving a tractor! Just a ride on the tractor is a bumpy, crazy experience but driving one is simply amazing. What silly Lamborghinis we keep chasing all our lives? I’m telling you, tractors are the way to go. The village market was an amazing place to see the local shopaholics in action. The colourful, unique faces and shops almost blew the brain of my photographer friend. We came thisclose to having his brain splatter all over the potato sacks. Fortunately, it never came to that. Sitting by the Pahuj river in the evening was just the right mix of lazy and silence. The only sound we heard was of skipping stones.

Still planning a trip to Nainital, are we?

The disconnected heart of India.

There's complete truth to the fact that sometimes hype kills the product. But turns out that it's also true that joy is infectious. At least, that's what i found out when i went to the uber famous Khajuraho temples. Expecting to be underwhelmed, as i usually am by things that are uber famous, i undertook the journey from Delhi to Khajuraho, for work, might i add. The journey took us to first to Jhansi and then, to this unsuspectingly divine place called Alipura Palace. The Palace is about 300 years old and staying there was an unforgettable experience. The royal family that has been calling the Palace their home for generations, recently turned it into a heritage hotel and homestay. The step taken to save it from dilapidation and neglect turned out to be a boon for travellers like me; travellers who take the unbeaten path and have rarely seen the face of a map. Today, people come here looking for solitude, uncommercialised beauty, and the aura of a bygone time. Most people have only heard about the Palace through "friends or friends of friends." This keeps the number of visitors low and preserves its peaceful sanctity.

The journey to Alipura is not the easiest. One either has to drive two hours from Khajuraho's airport or one and a half hours from Jhansi's train station. It's really a pity that most of Madhya Pradhesh's beauties are suffering from the government's neglect. Lack of airports, distant train stations and even pathetic highways. It's like a proper attempt at self-sabotage. Little wonder, the people of MP can't stop envying the high priority given to their counterparts in Rajasthan. But, what's a broken road or two for those who revel in finding such hidden gems, which are sprinkled all across our amazing country.

Leaving the Palace, where we were treated like royalty and like family, we headed out towards Khajuraho. The temples, it turned out were absolutely exquisite. The carvings and the creations will leave you most impressed, if you can ignore the giggling group of teenage boys. The thing that left me most mesmerised by the temples was that there's more to them that the famous erotic carvings. really. If you look beyond the carnal carvings you'll find a deeper message, which the creator tried to convey through his chisel and stone. i dont wish to be mistaken for some deeply philosophical know-it-all. Quite honestly, I just figured out the complete meaning behind the temples courtesy the daily light and sound show, held at the temple. The narrator of the show is thee Amitabh Bachchan. And to go beyond a superficial appreciation of the temples, it is imperative to attend the show. The temples, are actually divided into three sections - the Southern, the Eastern and the Western. Most people turn back from the main complex/Western section itself, usually because they're completely unaware of the other two's existence. Although, not nearly as expansive or grand as the western complexes, the other two are also wondrous in their own right. One complex is dedicated to the Jain teerthankaras and clearly, here, one wont find any erotica decking the walls. they're the most unusual Jain temples one can see and are calmingly beautiful in their own right.

like any other tourist destination in the world, Khajuraho too comes with a smorgasbord of souvenirs to choose from. You'll find plenty of locals trying to coax you into buying Kamasutra Cds, books, t-shirts and other kinky keepsakes. It's actually the kinky keepsakes that make for the best mementos. Brass bottle openers, cheeky key chains, marble statues and much more, inspired by the temples' unique draw, are sold all over the city. There are some real funny and naughty key chains one can buy by the dozen right outside the Jain complex. From personal experience i can say that they were the most appreciated back home in Delhi.

The heart of India, as the ads would peg it, Madhya Pradesh is huge (how poetically appropriate). There's a lot to see here. so much in fact, that its lesser known, unheard of treasures remain unheard of. Alipura, i hope isn't one of them. i also hope that the government does more to facilitate tourism in MP; more than just making ads with catchy soundtracks.

Ni hao Beijing!

Ok. So I was showing off my linguistic skills just a wee bit. But as far as Cantonese is concerned all I know is “Ni hao” = “hello”, “ni hao ma?” = “how are you?” and “shishye” = “thank you.” That’s it. So humor me a little. You learnt something in the process didn’t you?

When I was almost dragged to Beijing I was pretty jaded and bored. Had just quit my job and thought, “hell! It isn’t one of those places I have been dying to see, but it’s a holiday. So, whatever.” And so I end up in Beijing, a city that took me completely by surprise.

It was around Christmas time. The temperature was between 3 to 5 and I was sure I would freeze my booty off. But as it turned out, the season was the highlight of our trip. We got to see, the aptly named, Great Wall covered in snow. The winter sun was at its peak, the jet-setting tourists were in another country, and we had The Great Wall almost all to ourselves. Even the jaded part of me was melted by the rare sight. I, like the rest of the world, had seen innumerable screensaver-style pictures of the Wall. So I doubt I would have been as moved if we had gone during tourist season. In fact I am certain I would have come back with typical postcard pictures from a foreign holiday. Instead I was treated to rarely seen vistas of the Badaling (no jokes please) area, which is where The Great Wall is located. The Wall is actually 75 kms North-East of Beijing and on the way we went to the Sacred Way and Ming Tombs.

The Sacred Way is a long stretch lined with statues of the royal priests, knights, animals and other things that were considered important to the Kings. Sort of like the equivalent of being buried with the things you love. The Kings are buried along the endless path and we didn’t bother making the supposedly 30 km long walk. A short drive from the Sacred Way are the Ming Tombs. This is large area with an underground site where many items from the period have been preserved. There’s also a museum here which displays the lavish costumes, jewels and more of the Mings. Reminded me A LOT of Indian Maharajahs and our museums.

In fact, this wasn’t the only time I found china similar to our country. It’s similar in many ways like both countries are historically very rich. You can’t turn around without bumping into a grand monument. Like if you want you can cover all the historical sites in Beijing in 1 day. The overwhelmingly beautiful Forbidden City, which is about a 2-3 km long walk, is connected to the Tiananmen Square. So as you exit one massive monument you enter another. As you walk away from Chairman Mao’s painting you head towards site of the student massacre. I really wanted to stand in the middle of the road and get a picture clicked ala the tank-stopper style. But clearly, that wasn’t going to happen. Our walk took us to The Temple of heaven. This is essentially a huge garden with a traditionally styled temple. You cannot go inside the temple but its history is rather fascinating. History has it that the King who built it, was rather arrogant and thought himself above the Gods. So instead of painting the topmost layer of the temple blue, which was a sign of heaven, he had it painted red, the colour of Chinese royalty. Soon after the temple’s completion, lightning struck it and the King feared he had offended the almighty. The temple was immediately repainted. And as you can see for yourself today, it is as blue as the sky above.

When the Kings weren’t busy crossing Gods, they were living it up in the Summer Palace. The palace is right on the edge of Beijing and is simply heavenly. There’s a huge lake embraced by mountains perched upon which stand the palace and a temple. When we went the lake was frozen solid, and personally, I think that added to its beauty. There’s an enormous marble boat which stands still on the lake. It’s actually so massive that it cannot be moved. Smaller boats are very much available for a ride around the lake.

A recent addition to China’s history-making character is the Bird’s Nest Stadium. It’s quite unique and intriguing. A classic example of how the country likes to do things differently. There was a frozen lake next to the stadium as well. And standing on it to have pictures clicked, made some people yell out funny things at me. Perhaps they were asking me to “Get off!” or for all I know maybe there saying “nice shoes!” The people often seem like they’re yelling for some baffling reason. Even the shopkeepers who are trying to persuade you to buy their VL bags (sic) seem to be cross with you, which they clearly aren’t because they’re giving you a big, warm smile. A little baffling.

But I suppose that’s china for you. Baffling but somewhat familiar. And a paradise for shoppers and particularly knock-off lovers. But that’s another blog and I’ll save it for another day of avoiding writing headlines. If you read till here, Shishye. If not, meh! Look that up in slang.com.

Repeat after me, Port Blair is a waste of time. Head for Havelock by the first ferry.

Ok. Maybe I'm being too harsh. The thing is that Port Blair is a city. And it has all the things a city of its size can offer – museums, tacky souvenir shops and seriously shady bars. But, the one thing it offers that no other place in the world can is The Cellular Jail. Whether you're a patriot or not, you should not miss visiting the memorial. In the morning you can tour the entire complex. It’s gooseflesh time when you see the rug-sized cells these inmates lived in. And sometimes even died in. It is a lot to absorb. Everyone around was touched by the experience, some more than others. There are a few multilingual shows in the evening that take you through the history of the complex. An audio piece with sound effects and intense narrations from the likes of Om Puri and Tom Alter bring alive the evocative stories of Cellular Jail and its inmates. I studied history in college and still had no clue that Andaman and Nicobar was not just occupied by the British but also the Japanese. Just one of the things I picked up in the hour-long show.

We also picked quite a bit of the dirt cheap alcohol. Thanks to which Port Blair is more like Port Blurry, not that I’m complaining. The next blurry morning we drove down to Corbyn's Cove. We made the journey in a jeep, which we hired from the hotel. Bikes, cars and even minibuses are easily available for hire. The beach isn’t too far - seven kilometres from the main market, if I remember correctly. Easily available auto rickshaws are also a good option. The 10 minute trip will lead you to Corbyn's. The stretching beach was beautiful and deserted, save the 2 or 3 families on either side. It was clean, had changing rooms and not too many people. It wasn’t swimmer-friendly because jagged stones covered a majority of the shallow sea’s bed. Yet, if it wasn't ridiculously hot we would've stayed longer.

Our next stop was a beach called Wandoor. The place turned out to be quite far and the way was extremely confusing. On hindsight, we should've hired a cab with a cabbie instead of just grabbing our old jeep again. It took a while but we got there and I believe it was fortunate that we took our own sweet time in getting there. Because if we had reached earlier, we would have been severely cramped for space. I say this based on what a very sweet and friendly nariyal paniwala told us. Apparently the man had sold over 1000 coconuts just that morning. Now, I don't know if we were plain lucky or if he was spinning stories for our benefit. But apparently thanks to the heat, the crowd had started thinning around lunchtime. And by the time we reached, what we saw was a bare beach complemented by a bright and sunny sky as it went through brilliant hues of blue and pink, just before the sun set. Between lots of sky gazing we did a bit of snorkelling and considered going to the Jolly Buoy. But an amused local told us that the island isn’t open to tourists after 2PM. So there! The decision was made for us. Wait a second. Did he call us tourists? He did. Dang!

In case you are fond of things like boating you can stop over at the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park on your way to Wandoor. If you get there in the morning, you can charter boats or join other groups to journey to Red Skin Island and Jolly Buoy directly. Now, don't go expecting any white sand beaches and stuff. But Wandoor is peaceful, clean and beautiful. I mean, there wasn't a single other group in sight which was fantastic.

If you can handle feeling like a sardine, then you can take a jam-packed ferry to Hudson Bay which is, if I remember correctly, is on the absolute other end of the island. The journey is long and rather uncomfortable. But it culminates into a fine afternoon of snorkelling and swimming under still, glass-like water. Now consider yourself warned – the tsunami caused a lot of destruction all over the islands. As a result, there are no changing rooms, no real restrooms, and other such amenities. In other words, a bashful girl like me had to go to the other end of the beach and change in broad daylight, praying hard that no one sees her. Till date I have this sinking feeling that one day I’ll find a tourist video of myself online. For the sake of timid people like myself I hope things would have changed by now.

But besides these few islands, there is very little to do in and around Port Blair. There’s next to zero shopping places, unless you consider buying tacky shell lamps, shopping.

Next stop, Havelock. That's where the truly majestic beaches wait for you. In Havelock there are three main beaches – No. 3, No. 5 and No. 7. Now, don't be so quick to judge them by their names. Even if they had corny names like golden sand, satin beach or a cool one like Bondi, they'd still be beyond beautiful. And you'd still be at a loss for words while describing them.

The resort at 7 is designed such that it's one with nature and extremely eco-friendly. Even the "hotel rooms" make you feel as if you're a part of Lost Season 3. They give you all the amenities you need but in the form of luxurious tree houses. The silver strip at Beach No.7 makes you realize that doing nothing is sometimes such a luxury. But it's not entirely nothing. If you wish to tear yourself away from the water, though I wouldn’t understand why, there are yoga lessons, hiking, cycling etc to keep you stimulated. Yoga lessons aren't available all year long, which turned out to be a bummer. Besides that, there's scuba diving at beach No.3, which gives just an unforgettable view of the marine life there. The reef and corals at Havelock are considered to be one of the world's most mesmerizing. I haven't globe-trotted enough to say that for a fact. But a group of Australians there told us that and I have absolutely no reason to doubt their words. Fishing is another way to unwind just like my favourite activity - lounging by the beach with a yellow umbrella in a tall fruity drink. You can even try kayaking and sailing to nearby islands. We missed out on that due to unfavourable weather. Well, that and the lack of sailing skills. Just talking about the place is making me questing why I ever came back.

And yet, I'm a concerned in sharing the experience. Because before you know it, it'll be flooded with tourists and lose its charm of being one of the world's last undeveloped islands. I truly hope not. I plan to go there again in spring. When yoga lessons can be arranged.

Few hours from the capital. And miles away from reality. Pushkar.

Recounting my first of three trips to Pushkar. I was 19 then and naive. didn't see it for everything it is. and yet i fell deeply in love with it. Last time i went there was no Lake Pushkar. Just a pond with urchins splashing around. Wasn't I envious.

..........................................................................................................................................................................

A place known for its fairs and renowned for its soul. It's where Brahma's only temple in the world is found. And where countless travellers, from all over the world, flock to every year.

Second-hand tales will have you believe that December is the ripest time to visit the place. The fair, albeit an amazing experience, is one of the slimmest reasons to drive over to Pushkar. Pushkar as a place, surprises you more and more the longer you stay there.

As soon as you walk in, you'll probably notice all the shops, cafes, parlours with boards saying something in a strange noodle-like script. Now, as a wannabe linguist, I racked my brain cells rather hard to figure out which language are they actually using. Russian? Nope. French. Definitely nope. Korean? I don’t think so. Maybe, it's better to just ask the shop owners. Do that, and the answer you'll find is Israeli. Yes. Israeli. Who knew, but the place is packed with people from Israel – tourists who're just passing through, as well as tourists who decided to stay on.

In fact, the Mediterranean culture as a whole is quite pervasive there. You can see the region's influence with a simple walk through the streets. It's in the food, in the language people speak and even how they look at everyone. When you walk into a shop it's quite possible that they'll sweetly ask you where you're from. When we were asked the same and replied "Delhi," they seemed to be quite taken aback. Apparently to them we looked Israeli. How and why, I'm not quite sure.

Going back to the food. Pushkar, you'll discover, is not just a peaceful little haven. But an absolute paradise for animal lovers, like moi! The people there are sticklers about no animal slaughter taking place in Pushkar. Unless there are confidential corners tucked away in some places, which is quite a possibility, it's impossible to find anything with a face land up on your plate. The place is teeming with travellers from all over the world, but when in Pushkar, all of them stick to vegetarian versions of world cuisines. Whether it is Israeli, French, Mexican or Indian food you want on your platter, it's going to be shudh shakahari. Even the German bakeries will offer you muffins minus eggs.

A good place to stay is Pushkar Palace. It's a trite expensive. But most months you can get the Rs. 6,000 suites for Rs. 2500 a night. Of course, you don't need to shell out so much because for a little more you can rent fantastic places for weeks, months even. One of the nicest things about the place is the Sun Set Café. It's right next door to the Pushkar Palace. It flaunts an amazing view, a sumptuous menu, chilled out patrons and a truly friendly staff.

I wonder if I can work from there? I am sure something can be worked out.

Come to Munnar and tell me you think there's no God.

Again, dug out from a journal, way back from 2006. Went there again in July '09. but that's another day, another blog.

What new things can I tell you about Kerala? Everything has already been said, written, shot, filmed and shared. Yes. It is enchanting. It is beautiful. It is everything the brochures promise. And then some. So let’s talk about the ‘then some.’

Let’s talk about Munnar. You might have seen it on the big screen if you’ve seen Nishabd. At the expense of sounding pompous, I have to say that we discovered its beauty much before the big screen did. For those who didn’t catch the movie, Munnar is a wonderful little hill station tucked between the unending spans of tea estates, most of which are owned by the Tatas. It’s clean, green with very few people and virtually no tourists. In other words, it’s like Simla or Mussoorrie, only 20 years back in time.

The first thing we did in Munnar was head over to the Mattupetty dam where the district authorities provide boating facilities. If that’s not your thing, you can hire speedboats or motorboats to splash your way up and down the Kundla River. The River is very placid, clean and did I mention there aren’t too many people around? The dam itself is a quiet little tourist spot, very family friendly. You can take home various kinds of teas from the makeshift market. We tried the chocolate and masala teas but they were a little too exotic for my rather discerning palate.

Now let’s move on to Thekkadi. While walking towards Periyar we realised that Thekkadi, at least the stretch that leads to Periyar, has some of the most wonderful hotels in the nation. None of them that we could afford but it’s always nice to see unique and esoteric architecture, particularly when it’s in your own country.

Now, I’m neither claustrophobic nor am I agoraphobic. Yet, I’m not very good with being in closed quarters with too many people. However, I managed to forget all that and took in the sights and sounds of the Periyar sanctuary. Not to mention breathe in the fresh and light air of the place. I think my carbon filled lungs took time to adjust to the unfamiliar feel of clean air. After almost gliding on water for an hour and taking pictures of interesting trees, we spotted a herd of majestic elephants. They were happily going from one part of the sanctuary to another with a bunch of their adorable calves playing around them. You could hear a flurry of clicks between the ‘oohs!’ and the ‘awws!’ And I’m secure enough to admit that some of those swoons were mine.

I know how everyone keeps saying that they’ll definitely be back to see more of Kerala. But I had the opportunity to do just that four months ago. Although I was there for work and our stay was limited to Alleppey, it was no less memorable. Before leaving for Kerala, my producer, Sudipta, kept warning me that the men are a little too friendly there. And apparently they have a peculiar habit of poking women with umbrellas! Perhaps it was their idea of flirting. But on landing there I was relieved to see that the place had not changed much at all. And the only man poking women with an umbrella was our director. I’d love to mention his name but the poor guy’s married.

I’m not one to preach and tell people how to live their lives. But if you are planning a trip to Kerala, look beyond the tourist maps. And you might find a discreet little missionary school in Alappuzha. The charming and perfectly behaved students there love Nestle Munch chocolates. And though, they’d be more than willing to share, why not buy a whole box, if not more?

The high end of Hong Kong

It’s hard to write about Hong Kong without letting it sound like a list of shopping centers; a well written list, but a list nonetheless. The shopping experience overwhelms everything else the city has to offer. The MTR metros often open inside malls that are carpeted by the biggest brands from all over the world. For instance, you can hop on the MTR and take a ride to Tung Chung. 30 minutes later the doors will open inside a giant mall that’s home to discount outlets of Quiksilver, Nautica, Folli Follie and many more.

Tung Chung is a new developing town on Lantau Island where you can also find Ngong Ping, one of the few tourist destinations in Hong Kong. A rather long and slow cable car ride from Tung Chung takes you to the Po Lin Monastery and the famous Big Buddha. Both are situated in Ngong Ping, where you can feast on world cuisines followed by a cup of steaming tea in the quaint Chinese tea house. Ngong Ping is not just a tourist destination but also a sacred place for Buddhists from all over the world. As a result it’s also a haven for vegetarians, like yours truly.

The other place to check on your list is The Peak, which is an incredibly steep and picturesque tram ride away from Central. The Peak is the highest point in Hong Kong from you can see the whole city as well as, on a clear day, China. But, unlike an ordinary viewpoint, The Peak is a whole region where you can find fine dining options, shopping hubs and, most importantly, Madame Tussauds. Inside Tussauds’ two floors you’ll bump into as many international faces as unfamiliar Asian ones. However, the only Indian who made the cut here was Gandhi.

One of the most frequently visited places in Hong Kong for travelers is Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. The place is packed with renowned hotels, restaurants and shopping malls like Sogo. As a result it is the preferred choice for foreign travelers. At 8 p.m., every night, tourists line up along the harbor for a light and musical show. In the fifteen minute show, skyscrapers across the harbor light up and “perform” to the music. Recently, people of Hong Kong objected to the exorbitant amount of power consumed by this daily event. Apparently, the governments reply was something to effect of Hey! We barely have any tourist attractions in Hong Kong. So we’re keeping it.

Besides Kowloon, the other big region is Hong Kong is Central, the uber posh residential area where you find more Masseratis than people. But, because it is a residential and financial hub you’ll find very few tourists. However, the nightlife in Central is at par, if not better, than Kowloon. Lan Kwai Fong better known as LKF is the most vibrant entertainment district in Hong Kong. An unending row of pubs and clubs line either side of a cobbled street which is packed with merry makers all year long. Few locals will be found here, it’s more popular amongst international travelers and ex-pats. Sevva in Central is a luxurious lounge reserved for the famous faces of Hong Kong and their privileged guests. And it is as famous for its breathtaking view of Hong Kong as the paparazzi outside. Even on a cold winter evening, we found ourselves on the terrace to take in the spectacular view in the company of their divine signature drinks.

VENICE MEETS VEGAS MEETS MY MAXED OUT CREDIT CARD

Almost exactly a year ago, around Christmas, I went to Macau for a weekend. Here's what I found in my old journal about the Asian Vegas:

The wonderful vices of Vegas and the carol-filled canals of Venice. The two seemingly opposite attractions come together on the other side of the world, in a small strip called Cotai in Macau.

The little region of Macau is divided between the islands of Taipa, Colane and a reclaimed area called the Cotai strip, arguably the most exciting place of the region. One of the newest members of this region is the Venetian Hotel, which recreates Venice for its guests, complete with sparkling canals, singing gondoliers and carnival performers. It is on this hyperactive strip where one can find the interconnected shopping strips of the Venetian and the Four Seasons Hotels, both of which are delightfully exhausting for the zealous shopper. As you strut in and out of the Grand Canal Shops within the hotel, you’re serenaded by the echoes of gondoliers singing O Solo Mio in their divine voices. The Grand Canal Shops are unending rows of high-end brand stores on either side of the Grand Canal. Between shopping for things you don’t need and dining on world cuisines you might bump into living statues, street performers and musicians on stilts as they entertain children and gleefully pose for pictures. The cobbled streets, indoor sky and Venetian architecture of the hotel are as much an attraction of Macau as the world outside.

If you can tear yourself away from the shops at Grand Canal you will find your way to the Shoppes at Four Seasons. From Anna Sui to YSL, the world’s biggest luxury brands are found under this very high roof. Unless you have a will of steel, which I did not, the brands will burn a whole in your pocket. Even during the festive season, when everything is on sale, the prices are steep and yet oddly, irresistible. If you happen to be there on a December weekend you might catch beautiful wedding ceremonies in progress at virtually every corner. The Four Seasons seemed to be the preferred place for an intimate yet lavish morning of exchanging vows.

Macau is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy a performance by the internationally acclaimed group Cirque Du Soleil. The CotaiArena at the Venetian headlines their show called Zaia, a blinding spectacle which combines enchanting music with larger than life production values and spellbinding acrobatics. The price of the ticket (HKD 388-788) dissuades many people from opting for it. But if you can spare the change, the show is more than worth the price. Cheaper thrills, of course, are speckled all over the land. From bleach blondes who light up the night at the Sands Hotel and Casino to cabaret shows in rooms of 10 by 10. In Macau, you might be spoilt for choice but never at a loss for options. If refined entertainment is more to your liking, virtually every hotel will promise you a night of diverse live performances in the company of a distinguished crowd. Both MGM Grand and Wynn are great bets for such a night. The nightlife is so dynamic and colourful that a lot of people who come in from China do not even book a hotel room. They spend their entire night enjoying the shows or hitting the tables. And the next day, they head back home straight from the bar counters. That’s the deceptive part about Macau. The big name hotels, intimidating brands and prices will make you expect an affluent crowd. But that’s not really the case. Only a fraction of the tourists will fit that description and they’ll be found more in the clubs and high stakes table rather than the first two casino floors.

Getting around:

MGM Grand, Wynn and The Sands Hotel and Casino are within walking distance of each other. But from the CotaiStrip in Taipa they are a thirty minute drive away. Public transport is cheap and readily available. However, complimentary shuttles from the Venetian to Sands do round trips every twenty minutes till 2 am. Although you’d be hard pressed to find the police anywhere, it’s good to know that the region is incredibly safe. The people are helpful, polite and orderly, except when they habitually steal your cabs.

Hindsight: I apologise if I gave the impression that Macau is all about poker chips, dancing girls and big white shopping bags. It also has a host of beautiful cathedrals, churches and chapels. Or so I’ve heard. I was a little pre-occupied with the poker chips.

Why now?

Since I'm used to being paid to write, the idea of blogging seems almost unnatural now. But, i finally got fed up of re-writing travel blogs for people and companies, about places i have never seen. The borrowed words and Copyscaped articles made me take the inevitable plunge. So here it is - an honest blog about all the places i have actually been to.

In my words. Under my name.