Siem Reap, Cambodia Travel: Part 1 – Visiting Angkor

May 23, 2019

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

This post was actually supposed to come out nearly two months back, after my return from Siem Reap. However, life happened and I got really busy with work, more travel and I just did not get the time to write down about my experience. Anyway, here we are and I am repeating what has become my mantra for blog posts now. “Better late than never”. 🙂

Also, since there is a lot that I want to write about, I am splitting the post into two parts. The first one, which is this, will focus only on the sightseeing bit and the places where I went to. Part 2 will be about food and shopping in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap Travel

Planning for the Trip

So, how did the planning start? Randomly actually. I desperately wanted a holiday but did not have a lot of time so one day just decided, how about visiting Angkor and ticking that off my bucket list? Siem Reap is not too far away from Kolkata and can be managed within 3 days. I started checking up on flight fares, hotels etc and then in a conversation with a very old school friend, I brought up the topic. Kasturi, my friend, said that she would arrange for everything because she just started her own travel outfit, The Travelling Life (her IG handle is @the_travelinglife), and I could not have been more relieved. From air fares to hotel and transportation to visa, she took care of everything. And the best thing was that she had free time as well and so we agreed to travel together.

Getting to Siem Reap from Kolkata was not really a breeze. We checked out all affordable options and finally settled on the Air Asia flight to Bangkok and then a connecting flight to Siem Reap. The return flight was via Kuala Lumpur. Since we booked quite late, the fares came to around 25k in total but we also did include 20 kgs luggage. The price goes down a lot if you do away with the checked-in baggage option and can manage only with the cabin baggage allowance of 7 kgs.

Visa is available on arrival but we just found it easier to get an evisa. All you need to do is submit an online application, pay the fee of 36$ and you get the evisa emailed to your ID within a few minutes. In terms of hotel, we selected Saem Siem Reap, a considerably new hotel in the city, located not too far from the city centre.

: Siem Reap, Cambodia

: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Visiting Angkor

Well, if you are going to Siem Reap, then the no 1 reason for your travel should of course be the Angkor temple complex. We visited at the end of March and I can tell you that the place was already as hot as a furnace. But I can also tell you that if you want to see the temples relatively in peace without having a bunch of tourists pushing and shoving, Jan to April is actually the best time to visit. Once the rains start and tourist season begins, it just gets crazy. Our guide said that all you can see are heads inside the temple complexes. So, brave the heat and go earlier in the year.

To gain entrance to the Angkor Archaeological Park, you need an admission pass, called the Angkor Pass. That pass is also valid for other monuments in the Siem Reap area, like Phnom Krom and Wat Athvea. The Pass can only be purchased at the official ticket counter which is around 4 kms away from Siem Reap town and open from 4.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m. We bought a 1 day pass for 37$ but if you are staying in Siem Reap for more days, it actually makes sense to get a 3-day pass for 62$ or a 7-day pass for 72$. That way, you don’t have to rush into seeing all the temples in one day and can space out your visits. Most of the temples are open from 7.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Angkor Wat is open from 5 a.m to 5.30 p.m making it possible for tourists to witness the sunrise and sunset. We did not go for either because those times are the most crowded and as much as we would have loved to see the sun rise or set against the backdrop of the gorgeous temple façade, standing in a queue for hours just did not make much sense.

The Most Important Temples in the Angkor Complex

Siem Reap is full of temples and if you are staying there for a few days, you can see all of them but if you have only a day or two, then I would suggest you absolutely see the following which is what we did.

Angkor Wat – the largest of the lot and easily takes about 2-3 hours if you want to see everything so go early in the morning. Don’t forget to click a picture of the façade at the water lily pond in front of Angkor Wat but just be prepared to jostle for space because a crowd of tourists will also be waiting at the exact spot to click that perfect shot.
South Gate Angkor Thom – Angkor Thom (big city) was once the Khmer capital and the south gate is a masterpiece. It is approached via a causeway and on each side of the causeway are railings fashioned with 54 stone figures that depict the Hindu mythological story of the Churning of the Ocean.
Bayon – This temple is at the heart of Angkor Thom and best known for the gigantic face sculptures that adorn its 37 surviving towers. The faces are thought to represent Avalokiteshvara, a Buddhist deity.
Baphuon – Located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon, this was the state temple once. It is shaped like a pyramid and is said to be a symbolic representation of Mount Meru.
Terrace of the Elephants – This is part of the Royal Terrace, a 360 meter long sandstone wall that is carved with life-size sculptures of elephants.
Terrace of the Leper King – Located to the north of the Elephant Terrace, this terrace is named after a statue of the ‘Leper king’ that originally stood at the centre. Now a replica stands with sculptures of royal dignitaries, priests, nagas and court ladies.
Ta Prohm – Dubbed the Tomb Raider temple because it provided the mystical backdrop for the 2001 Hollywood hit starring Angelina Jolie, the root-riddled Ta Prohm temple is an incredibly fascinating site. Go here early morning or slightly later in the day to get the entire feel of the place.

: Angkor Wat

: Angkor Wat

: Angkor Wat

: Angkor Thom South Gate

: Angkor Thom South Gate

: Bayon Temple

: Bayon Temple

: Bayon Temple

: Ta Prohm Temple

: Ta Prohm Temple

: Ta Prohm Temple

: Ta Prohm Temple

For first-time visitors, before exploring the Angkor temples, I would suggest you go to the Angkor National Museum that houses plenty of images, paintings and artefacts. There are 8 galleries and a film screening called Story Behind the Legend that tells the story of Angkor and the Khmer empire. Tickets are priced at 12$.

Koh Ker

On our second day in Siem Reap, we visited Koh Ker, the capital of the Angkorian empire from 928 AD to 944 AD. It takes about 2 hours to go to Koh Ker from Siem Reap and since the place is not as popular as Angkor yet, there are very few tourists so you can explore on your own.

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

: Koh Ker

The main structure of Koh Ker is the Prasat Thom, a seven-tiered temple very similar in appearance to the Mayan temples of South America but on the way there are plenty of temples that you must visit because they house some of the largest Shiva lingas in Cambodia. Unfortunately, no restoration work has been carried out in Koh Ker so the place is not as maintained as Angkor but I found the entire complex to be incredibly interesting. If you are fond of archaeology, history and old ruins, definitely add Koh Ker to your Siem Reap itinerary. You can also climb on top of the seven-tiered temple for great views of the countryside. Entrance is free.

Siem Reap is famous for Angkor Wat and Bayon but there are actually a lot more to see there. I did not know about the pink Banteay Srei or lady temple which I heard is exquisite or Phnom Bakheng, popular for sunrise and sunset viewing. Maybe next time.

That turned out to be a very long blog post but I just wanted to share all the details. Watch out for Part 2 where I will write about the food and shopping scene in Siem Reap.

If you want to visit Siem Reap or other places in Cambodia and want a relaxed, comfortable and hassle-free holiday, ask Kasturi of @the_travelinglife to do everything for you. The best tour planner ever!

5 Wonderful Things To Do In London In Winter

December 27, 2018

Winter Wonderland 2018

London in winter is magical especially during Christmas time. I’ve been to the city three times already earlier this year but my fourth which was for three weeks from end-November to mid-December was no doubt the best of the lot. Christmas lights and decorations are up everywhere, people are in a happy and festive mood and there is so much to see and do. In this post, I will list five of my favourite things to do in London during winter. Most of these attractions are available till the first week of January every year so if you are already in London or planning for a trip in future, remember to tick all these off from your things to do list.

Things to do in London in Winter

Go on rides at Winter Wonderland and Winterville

Winter Wonderland is absolutely amazing! I went there a day after it opened for this year and the atmosphere was fabulous. On weekends it can get really busy with long queues to get in (entry is free) but it is an experience not to be missed.

Winter Wonderland 2018

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park is London’s biggest Christmas event featuring Christmas markets, an ice skating rink, carnival rides and games, circus shows, an ice sculpture kingdom, live music and entertainment, cinema and of course, my favourite, the food and drink stalls. Even if you are not doing anything else there, you must visit to at least have the bratwurst, grilled salmon, mulled wine, fudge, hot cider and hot chocolate.

: Winter Wonderland 2018

: Winter Wonderland 2018

: Winter Wonderland 2018

: Winter Wonderland 2018

: Winter Wonderland 2018

: Winter Wonderland 2018

Another very good option if you find Winter Wonderland too crowded is Winterville at Clapham Common. Smaller in size to its Hyde Park variant, the attractions are pretty much the same. Lots of food, backyard cinema, theatre shows, circus, puppet shows, rides, craft fair and activities for children. Winterville starts from mid-November and ends just before Christmas.

Winterville 2018

: Winterville 2018

: Winterville 2018

: Winterville 2018

: Winterville 2018

: Winterville 2018

: Winterville 2018

See the Christmas Lights

Switching on the Christmas lights at major London streets is a big event. They usually turn them on early November and that pretty much informally starts off the holiday season. I thoroughly recommend going to Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Bond Street, Seven Dials and Covent Garden (they set up one of the largest Christmas trees in the city). Mind you these areas get crazy busy during this time especially during weekends but a visit is definitely worth it to see how the lights completely transform the streets.

: Oxford Street Christmas 2018

: Regent Street Christmas 2018

: Regent Street Christmas 2018

: Bond Street Christmas 2018

: Covent Garden Christmas 2018

: Covent Garden Christmas 2018

: Covent Garden Christmas 2018

: Carnaby Street Christmas 2018

: Carnaby Street Christmas 2018

: Carnaby Street Christmas 2018

: Seven Dials Christmas 2018

: Seven Dials Christmas 2018

Visit a Christmas Market

Apart from the Christmas Markets at Winter Wonderland and Winterville, there are quite a few that pop up during winter. This year, I visited the markets at Southbank, Greenwich and Leicester Square. They all offer an endless selection of handmade goods, jewelry, artwork, gifts, holiday knick-knacks, food and beverages. Also worth visiting is Borough Market for food. Even though it is open all year round, during winter, the market turns festive with beautiful decorations, Christmas goods like trees, wreaths etc and winter special food items like mulled wine, cider and other seasonal produce.

: Southbank Christmas Market

: Southbank Christmas Market

: Southbank Christmas Market

: Southbank Christmas Market

: Greenwich Christmas Market

: Borough Market

: Greenwich Christmas Market

: Borough Market

: Southbank Christmas Market

: Greenwich Christmas Market

: Southbank Christmas Market

: Southbank Christmas Market

Go shopping and check out the special window displays

This time of the year, window shopping is quite a treat. Literally. All the shops and big department stores put up special window displays and they are so beautifully done. This year, Harrod’s famous display features festive rituals with a luxury twist, animals are carved into the pillars and panels of the iconic Liberty store, a giant champagne bottle pops and pours gold and silver hues at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges has a rock’ n’ roll theme with even Santa getting a rock star style makeover.

Also worth a visit are the shopping arcades to soak up the festive spirit and see the beautiful decorations. Burlington Arcade on Piccadily was my favourite.

: Selfridges Christmas 2018

: Selfridges Christmas 2018

: Selfridges Christmas 2018

: Selfridges Christmas 2018

: Selfridges Christmas 2018

: Selfridges Christmas 2018

: Liberty Christmas 2018

: Burlington Arcade

: Burlington Arcade

Enjoy a festive afternoon tea

Afternoon tea in London is a serious affair and most restaurants, hotels and teahouses around the city serve up hot brews accompanied by trays of delicious mini-sandwiches, scones and other sweet and savoury finger food. While afternoon tea is available all year round, you tend to enjoy it more in winter. One of the most delightful Afternoon Tea experiences that you can have is at the iconic Fortnum & Mason. To know about my experience, read this blog post.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

Apart from what I’ve mentioned above, there are plenty of interesting things you can do in London in winter . If you know how to skate, you can go skating at Somerset House, Canary Wharf, Natural History Museum. You can visit Kew Gardens to see the illuminated trail, enjoy Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros Studio or watch one of the many musicals that play at West End. I’ve not been able to do any of these this year because you need to buy tickets way in advance but they are on my list for my next visit in winter.

What are your favourite things to do in London in winter? Do share in the comments below.

Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience At Fortnum & Mason, London

December 20, 2018

Fortnum & Mason is an institution in London. This iconic department store was established way back in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason who had connections with the royal family and over the years, this store has become a London landmark. It also helps that the store sells some of the finest goods in the city or perhaps even the country but what is truly iconic about Fortnum & Mason is their Afternoon Tea.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

Fortnums Afternoon Tea again has a long history. It was started in 1926 at the elegant Tea Salon now named the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon in honour of the Queen’s visit in 2012, when she formally opened the room, in the company of the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge.

The thing with the Afternoon Tea is that it is so popular you need to book way in advance to secure a table. I tried going there once in summer with my friend on a weekend and we were politely refused because we did not have a reservation but most importantly, they did not have any place for the next one month. Yes, it is that busy. Also, you cannot sit there forever. There is a time limit of 1.5 hours which means that for 90 minutes that start from the time you are seated, you can order as much food and refills as you want to from your choice of the menu. If you want to go there, you better go with an empty tummy.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea

— Henry James

So what is about Fortnums Afternoon Tea that makes it so popular? Well, firstly, the location is really fancy so you feel rather fancy yourself. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is an extremely elegant and refined setting for the tea. As soon as the elevator door opens to the salon, it becomes clear that you are in for a delightful experience. Because of the festive season, the salon is now decorated beautifully. There is a big Christmas tree in the waiting area and a pianist playing a grand piano.

Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon

There are two areas where you can be seated – the Drawing Room, lined with hand-painted silk wallpaper or the North and South Salons oozing charm and sophistication. The colours of Fortnum, pale green and white are everywhere, from the decor to the china and cutlery.

Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon

The Afternoon Tea is not just limited to the afternoon. It is available the entire day from 11.30 a.m to 7.30 p.m on weekdays and 11.00 a.m to 7.00 pm on Saturdays and you can choose from four options – Afternoon Tea, Savoury Afternoon Tea, High Tea and Vegetarian Afternoon Tea.

We were a group of four who went for the Tea experience at 11 a.m on a Saturday morning and after much deliberation, two of us decided to go for the Afternoon Tea and the remaining two went for the Savoury Tea. In my opinion, go for the regular Afternoon Tea instead of the Savoury version because you get a good mix of both sweet and savoury items in the former. My friend I think regretted his choice a bit because he was constantly eating out of our share and asking me to order for more. This is perfectly acceptable because you can order as much as you want to for a duration of 1.5 hours.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea Menu

What is in the menu? You get a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream (savoury scones in the Savoury Tea menu), strawberry preserve and lemon curd and a selection of tea cakes and cakes from the cake carriage (tea savouries in the Savoury version) along with your choice of tea. For an extra £13 per glass, you can also order champagne.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea has always been a rather elaborate affair in England and I got to know that there are rules associated with it. I’ve never been one to care for rules but these are rather fascinating. For starters, milk is always supposed to be added last to the tea, the correct way to hold the fine china is by making your thumb and index finger meet in the handle, tea should be stirred only with a back and forth motion, finger sandwiches must always be eaten with the hands, not cutlery, scones are pronounced as ‘skon’ and never ‘skone’, scones are always broken, not cut and they are never to be sandwiched back together . I might not have followed all these rules to the T at Fortnums but who really cares? Right? 🙂

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

Coming back to the menu, the star for me was definitely the sandwiches especially the Smoked Salmon with Tartare dressing and the Suffolf Ham with English Mustard. Incredibly soft and light, these were heavenly. The scones were undoubtedly the best I’ve ever had. I am not particularly fond of lemon curd but I do love my scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve and I might have had one too many. The good thing is that you can even take back the jars of preserve and lemon curd if you are unable to finish at the table. In fact you can take back anything from the menu that you are not able to finish. The servers will gladly pack the leftovers in a fancy F&M box and hand it over before you leave.

Savoury Afternoon Tea

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

From the tea cake selection, my favourite was definitely the Black Forest cake and a light as air cake with sugar rose petals on top. I was told that it is the Queen’s favourite as well. Not wanting to miss out on anything despite struggling to eat another morsel, I tried the Victorian Sponge cake, Battenberg cake and the Chocolate cake from the Cake Carriage. The Battenberg cake has been served with the Afternoon Tea since 1926 and is said to be created to celebrate the marriage of Princess Victoria to Prince Louis of Battenberg in 1884. This colourful cake with iced marzipan was a bit too sweet for my taste but everyone else loved it. Throughout my 1.5 hrs, I made sure to try as many varieties of tea as I could and ended up drinking chocolate violet, peach, vanilla and strawberry with the latter being the best of them all.

Fortnum & Mason Battenberg Cake

Fortnum & Mason Rose Cake

Fortnum & Mason Victoria Sponge Cake

Overall, I loved the experience and I cannot thank the person who invited me there enough. Savouring the famous Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea was on my wish list for a long time and it certainly did not disappoint. The service was impeccable, the food was beyond amazing and the staff, super friendly and helpful. I will certainly go back if I am in London again and I will click much better photographs 🙂

Fortnum’s Afternoon Tea

Have you been to Fortnum & Mason? What did you think of the Afternoon Tea?

Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon : Walking in the Bard’s footsteps

June 21, 2018

“And now my dear, you will literally be walking in William Shakespeare’s footsteps”. That’s when it sunk in. I was in Stratford-upon-Avon and I was about to enter the house where the greatest English playwright was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Visiting Stratford-upon-Avon

When I got to know that I’d be in Sheffield for two weeks in April, the first thing that I did was find out where I could go on the weekends. Everyone I knew said that there was nothing to see in Sheffield so I should make plans to visit some of the nearby places and one of the suggestions was Stratford-upon-Avon. I’ll write about the other two soon 🙂

William Shakespeare

Me and my colleague looked up Google, checked all information available, booked train tickets and tickets to see Shakespeare’s family homes and on a very cold, snowy Easter Monday morning, set out to discover the Bard’s birthplace.

How to Get To Stratford-Upon-Avon

Since we did not have a car, we took a train from Sheffield to Birmingham New Street railway station. Got down at the station and walked for about ten minutes to the Birmingham Moor Street railway station from where we took a London Midland train to Stratford-upon-Avon. There are a number of websites from where you can book train tickets for travelling within UK. We used the website Go Euro and paid around 35 pounds for the return tickets from Sheffield.

If you are travelling from London, the train ride is around 2 hours long and you will need to get down at Stratford railway station. If you want to fly down, the nearest airport is Birmingham and from there you can either take a train to Stratford or rent a car to drive down.

Travel tip – Don’t wait to buy train tickets two days before your travel because prices can be really high. It is always a good idea to book them atleast a couple of weeks before your trip. Make sure to compare prices between a few websites to get the best rates. Go Euro, The Train Line, My Train Ticket are some of the websites that you can check for tickets at reasonable rates.

Tour or no Tour?

If you are staying in Stratford-upon-Avon, it does not make sense to book a tour because the town is quite small and on a grid, so it is easy to walk around. If you are visiting for a day and have only a few hours to explore, it makes sense to book a hop on-hop-off bus tour from Viator for about 14 pounds (peak season will be more). We reached Stratford-upon-Avon around 11.30 in the morning and had about 6 hours till we boarded our train back to Sheffield in the evening. The bus tour therefore came in really handy because we saved time in getting from one place to another.

We booked the bus tickets online and once we reached the town, from the railway station we took a cab to go to the tourist office to board the bus. Like all hop on-hop off buses, this one was also an open top bus so the ride was a very enjoyable one. The bus drops you off at the major tourist spots and picks up at a designated time.

What to see?

Shakespeare’s Birthplace – No visit to Stratford-upon-Avon is complete without visiting the birth house of William Shakespeare. This is the house where Shakespeare was born, grew up and spent his childhood years. The house is located in the center of the town and is surrounded by shops, cafes and restaurants making it the most popular tourist spot. I went when the weather was really cold and there were hardly any tourists around but if you go during the peak season, make sure to reach early to avoid the queues.

Outside Shakespeare’s Birthplace

The visit starts at the Shakespeare Centre which houses an array of artifacts that date back to Shakespeare’s time including one of the three First Folios owned by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There are only 230 First Folios that have survived to this day thus making the artifact extremely rare.

Shakespeare Centre

From the exhibition, you go into the main house. Inside, you’ll find guides in medieval costume either performing or talking about the history of the house. It is remarkable how well the house has been maintained and credit for that goes to The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There are various pieces of furniture that belonged to Shakespeare’s time. You can see the room where he was born, the crib where he slept, the kitchens, the bedrooms, desks, chairs etc.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Travel tip – If you are a Harry Potter fan or intrigued by the world of witches and wizards, definitely go to Magic Alley and The Creaky Cauldron, a shop selling magic wands, wizardry games, spells and butterbeer made from an old Tudor recipe. The shop is located next to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and is quite easy to find.

Butterbeer

Shakespeare’s New Place – New Place is said to be the site of Shakespeare’s last home and the place where he died in 1616. The house no longer exists as it was demolished by Francis Gastrell in 1759. The story goes that Gastrell who bought the house after the death of Shakespeare’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Hall got irritated by the influx of visitors and destroyed a mulberry tree in the garden said to have been planted by Shakespeare. In retaliation, the townsfolk destroyed New Place’s windows. Gastrell applied for local permission to extend the garden. His application was rejected and his tax was increased so Gastrell retaliated by demolishing the house in 1759. This greatly outraged the inhabitants and Gastrell was eventually forced to leave town. In fact even till this day, anyone with the surname Gastrell is not given permission to live in Stratford-upon-Avon!

Shakespeare’s New Place

New Place reopened in 2016 and features an exhibition center with rare artefacts relating to Shakespeare’s life, as well as a beautiful garden with commissioned artworks.

Shakespeare’s New Place

Guild Chapel – Standing across from New Place, Guild Chapel was built when in 1269 the Guild of the Holy Cross was given permission to build a hospital and chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1500, Hugh Clopton, Lord Mayor of London paid for the Chapel’s wall paintings. Conservators now believe that the Guild Chapel’s walls display one of the few surviving pre-Reformation medieval schemes painted at the same time, and painted as one piece.

Guild Chapel

Guild Chapel Wall Painting

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage – Located slightly outside the town, this 600 year old thatched roof cottage was the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway. Inside, there are guides narrating the story of the Hathaway family, how Shakespeare met Anne, how he came to the house to ask for her hand from Anne’s father, the scandal their marriage caused etc. You can see many rare family items of furniture that date back to Anne’s time, including the finely carved, oak “Second Best Bed” that William left in his will for Anne.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage Garden

Inside Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Why Second Best Bed? Because in those days, having a bed at home was a rarity and a symbol of wealth. People rarely slept on the Best Bed and it was more of a showpiece. The Second Best Bed was used by a couple and therefore to give that to Anne was an expression of William’s love and affection for her.

Mary Arden’s farm – Want to experience life in a Tudor farm? Then you’ll perhaps also like to visit Mary Arden’s Farm, which is the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother and is also a working Tudor farm. I did not have the time to go in and only saw the farm from outside and it looked fascinating. If you are going with kids it will be a great experience for them because there are lots of farm animals inside and interesting activities.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre – If you are planning on staying overnight then you must definitely complete your Shakespeare experience with a show at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I missed out on the experience because I was there for only a few hours but if I ever go back, I’m definitely booking a ticket for myself.

River Avon – A walk along the river Avon or even a river cruise is a must do here. Before going back we spent some time walking along the riverside, gazing at the beautiful swans, clicking pictures and also enjoying a snack of crepes and strawberries. The peaceful atmosphere and the beauty of the place is soul soothing!

River Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon

Bank of River Avon

Useful Resources

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Viator Sightseeing Stratford-upon-Avon Hop=on Hop-off Tour

Royal Shakespeare Company

I hope this guide was useful and you enjoyed reading about my travel story. If you have been to Stratford-upon-Avon, I would love to know your experience and your stories. Do share in the comments below.

The Tempest

Pics – Niladri Chakraborty

Top Ten Things To Do When You Visit Johor In Malaysia

November 27, 2017

The first time I visited Johor was nearly twenty years back. At that time, my dad used to go to Malaysia frequently for work and on one such trip, my mom and I tagged along. I was in the capital city of Johor Bahru only for a day and did not get time to see much. A few days back, I got the opportunity to visit Johor once again and this time, I spent four days exploring the beautiful state with Air Asia and Tourism Johor.

Air Asia is starting direct flights from Kolkata to Johor

Malay Traditional Dance

About Johor

Johor is located in the southern part of Malaysia. It is surrounded by Pahang in the north, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan in the northwest, and the Straits of Johor in the south, which separates Johor and Singapore. Because of its location, Johor is an excellent holiday destination. If you want a beach holiday, head to one of the many islands off the coast. If nature and wildlife is your thing, Endau-Rompin National Park offers a brilliant experience. And if the city life attracts you more, head to Johor Bahru for shopping, amusement parks, sightseeing, and only a 5 minute shuttle train ride to Singapore!

Rawa Island, Johor, Malaysia

How to get to Johor? If you are in Kolkata, there is very good news. You no longer need to go via KL because Air Asia is starting direct flights from Kolkata to Johor Bahru from the 28th of November, five times a week at very reasonable prices.

What to do when you come to Johor? Continue reading to find out..

Top Ten Things To Do When You Visit Johor

1. Stay at Legoland Hotel and enjoy the Legoland Malaysia Resort Experience – If you have kids or even if you don’t, this should be on your agenda while visiting Johor. Legoland is Malaysia’s first international theme park and the first Legoland in Asia. There are more than 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions for families and children of all ages.

Legoland Hotel

Legoland Malaysia Resort has a Legoland Park with Lego Technic, Lego Kingdoms, Imagination, Land of Adventure, Lego City and Miniland, where miniature replicas of Asia’s popular landmarks made with more than 30 million Lego bricks can be seen. The resort also has the Legoland Water Park with the Lego Wave Pool, Slides and other ‘splashtastic’ rides and the Legoland Hotel, the ultimate staycation destination for your holidays. From the spectacular dragon guarded entrance to interactive Lego features to the fully Lego-themed bedrooms and lobby complete with Lego pirate ship and Lego castle, the hotel is packed with Lego-awesomeness in every nook and corner.

Legoland Hotel

Legoland Malaysia

Legoland offers a number of packages that you can book online to suit your needs. Check out their website for details.

2. Say Hello to Hello Kitty at Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Play with the Angry Birds at The Angry Birds Activity Park – Sanrio Hello Kitty Town is a treat for Hello Kitty fans. It is the first Hello Kitty theme park outside Japan and the park’s highlights include Black Wonder, a state-of-the-art interactive experience and Kitty House, filled with everything Hello Kitty from top to bottom. A must-do here is to watch a live performance by Hello Kitty and friends at the Town’s Purrfect stage.

Sanrio Hello Kitty Town, Johor

One of the most downloaded games of all time, has come to life at the Angry Birds Activity Park in Johor Bahru. The indoor park covers 26,000 sq.ft. and is located in the premises of Komtar JBCC, Johor Bahru City Centre’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. The activity park offers a wide variety of fun games and attractions suitable for toddlers, kids, youth and adults alike. I did not try any of the games here but few of my friends were brave enough to try the Space Drop Airbag where you have to jump off from a platform onto an airbag below. Other interesting attractions here are the Laser Maze Spaceship where you have to manoeuvre through lasers without touching them, Angry Birds GO! Kart Track, Birds Nest Climbing Track, Air Parkour Track and many others.

Angry Birds Activity Park

Angry Birds Activity Park Johor

3. Shop For Less at Johor Premium Outlets – Want to buy from luxury brands like Gucci, Coach, Furla, Michael Kors, Aigner etc at low prices? Johor Premium Outlets is where you must go then. JPO is a huge shopping centre and consists of all the premium luxury brands along with a few Malaysian brands as well. The reason why JPO is so popular is because you discounts at all the stores throughout the year. Everywhere I went, I saw boards with 50% off, 70% off etc hung outside.

Johor Premium Outlets

4. Enjoy the sights of Johor Bahru on a Trishaw – Possibly the best way to roam around the city centre. Hop into a trishaw and enjoy a 2.2 km journey through the Street of Harmony, where several places of worship are located, JB bazaar, a museum and Sungai Segget.

Trishaw rides organised by Johor Tourism

5. Eat Traditional Malay Food At Dapor Warisan – Dapor Warisan is located inside the Sultan Abu Bakar Heritage Complex and if you want to get a taste of authentic Malay food, this is where you should go. The restaurant offers a selection of traditional food like Nasi Ambeng, Tenggiri, Laksa, Mi Kolok etc. Try and go during a weekend for dinner because then you will also get to see cultural performances as well.

Malay Food

Malay Traditional Dance

6. Experience Johor’s History, Heritage, Culture and Nature at Kota Iskandar – Kota Iskandar is the Johor state administrative centre and one of Malaysia’s iconic landmarks. It is said to represent many things about Johor – ‘the heart of its politics, a storybook of its heritage, a thriving tourist hub, and the pride of its people‘.

Kota Iskandar

At Kota Iskandar, you can pray or marvel at the architectural brilliance of the Kota Iskandar mosque that serves as a visual gateway to the administrative centre. You can watch democracy in action at the State Legislative Assembly Hall, Malaysia’s first parliament that’s open to the public. You can relax in the many lush gardens, such as the fragrant Laman Kasturi (Musk Lime Garden) and Laman Bunga Rampai (Potpourri Garden). You can read about the state’s rich history at the Heritage Wall or take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding attractions.

Kota Iskandar

7. Get Back to Nature At Desaru Fruit Farm – Situated on 100 acres of land, Desaru Fruit Farm is a one of a kind experience. Packed with over 100 varieties of tropical fruits, plants, a petting zoo, koi fish pond and other attractions, a visit here promises an interesting experience for the whole family. Here, you get to know about different fruits, herbs and plants, get a crash course on all things honey, feast on fresh fruits from the farm, enjoy a buffet that includes dishes made with fruits and indulge in outdoor activities like paintball and dirt kart ride.

Desaru Fruit Farm

8. Play a Round of Golf at The Els Club Desaru Coast – Take the exhilarating natural setting of the Desaru Coast and the South China Sea, add the golfing mind of Ernie Els and the result is The Els Club Desaru Coast.

The Els Club Desaru Coast

I know nothing of golf but I can tell you that if I played the game, I would love to come to The Els Club to practice my swing. The three nine hole loops – The Lakes, The Coast and The Ridge, make up the distinct course layout. The 45,000 sq foot clubhouse overlooks the golf course and academy and offers plenty of comfortable corners to relax, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy service from the two casual dining restaurants. The Els Club also includes a fully stocked golf shop, practice areas for chipping and putting, private golf lessons at the EPGA Par 3 Academy and offers various corporate and golf packages.

The Els Club Desaru Coast

9. Soak up the Sun at the Beaches of Desaru Coast – Located on the south eastern tip of the Malaysian Peninsular, Desaru’s sandy white beaches are said to be amongst the best in Malaysia. The beaches are clean, lined with casuarina trees and stretch 17 kilometres long. The coast is lined with plenty of hotels and the Malaysian Govt has big plans of developing the Desaru Coast. Westin, Anantara, Aman and Hard Rock are scheduled to open resorts next year and there are plans of building a waterpark and a retail and lifestyle village. This area will be the next big thing in Malaysia very soon!

Desaru Coast

10. Stay in a private island owned by the Sultan of Johor – No, you don’t need to be friends with the Sultan to go to Rawa Island. It is open to everyone except on days when he decides to visit.

Rawa Island, Johor

The highlight of my trip to Johor was definitely the stay at Rawa Island. To go there, you need to get into a ferry at Mersing Jetty and the ride takes about 30 minutes. Rawa is a small island and there are limited options for accommodation but the beauty of that small island will take your breath away. Think soft white sand and clear azure water. In terms of activities, you can go for snorkeling, swimming, beach volleyball, windsurfing, sailing and fishing. For people seeking a relaxed holiday, you can’t find a more idyllic location than this one.

Rawa Island, Johor

From a bustling city life with swanky malls and amusement parks to breathtakingly beautiful postcard-perfect islands with white sand and azure water beaches, Johor is an excellent holiday destination that must be explored. It is wonderful that Air Asia is making it so much easier to visit Johor from Kolkata this month onward. I had one of my best holidays there recently and I really recommend you to visit as well. In my next post, I will share details of some of the places where you can stay in Johor. Stay tuned!

I was invited to visit Johor as part of the media FAM trip organised by Air Asia and Johor Tourism. If you are planning a trip to #Johor, check out AirAsia for the best deals.