R-Adda-in high spirits

It’s not very often that I visit pubs, the reason being the underwhelming crowd and scarcity of sitting arrangement. But deep inside I love the idea of getting dressed and dancing to foot tapping numbers. And probably, when you don’t arrange anything, things get arranged the best. The same happened this Friday, recuperating from fever, visiting a pub was the last thing in my wish list. But my husband, Avishek, wanted to and he assured that we would return, immediately, if I don’t feel good.

It wasn’t the first time, he visited R Adda in Juhu, but it was my introductory visit for sure.

Truly the place is high spirited and is one of the very few that remains open till 3:00 am. The crowd is good and starts pouring in only after 12:00. We didn’t have food but the drinks were good and there is hookah. I think it’s also one of the very few where the music is a mixture of English, Hindi and Punjabi blockbusters, and hence there is an intriguing desi twist to the hip-hop and English chart-busters.

Great company, euphoria and fun, experimental music made my rendezvous overwhelming. Overall R Adda fascinated me and I would love to revisit its maddening and celebrating aura once again.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Quietude and Wengen

My fingers touched the rim of the coffee mug

I could feel the warmth and cherished

As steam escaped from the pool of caffeine

I gazed through the windows, my vocabulary had perished

Sun rays passed the glass and touched my amazed eyes

But my lids refused to curtain my vision

My eyes and me craved for a little more

My life suddenly had an enticing reason

I witnessed overwhelmed, the mighty Alps

Oaks, Maples and Pines embellished my sight

Little Heidi with freckled cheeks, angry, old grandpa

Came alive with a boom, tangible and bright

A beauty beyond words, a beauty too naive

Wengen is a tale of amorous congruence

Expression defy my orders, I am the dethroned queen
Shout out loud and clear,  the song of its reverence

By Aritra

Whenever we talk of exotic landscapes and breathtaking views, the first name that comes to the mind is Switzerland. It is an over-discussed location, but believe me it is not over-hyped. It is not that I have seen too much of this world of diverse beauties, yet I strongly feel, that Switzerland is indeed one of the best that nature has to offer. 

It is like that Paula Donna with Alps for her hood and Pine lined lush greens for her robe. She is sublime, she is amorous, she is even erotic at times, but whatever be her mood, she never fails to overwhelm her onlookers.

In my recent visit to Switzerland, we went to many places and I will relive those experiences through my subsequent posts. But the days we spent in Wengen, are special and I dedicate my first narrative about our Swiss extravaganza, to its aura and grandeur.

Wengen is situated at the foothills of the Alps and easily accessible by train. It is a small village blessed with a magnum opus like natural beauty. The stretches of green, the mountains overlooking the never ending abysses, the stretches of valley, the typical chalets and the palpable blue sky, you cannot resist falling in love. It is like that fairy land we have heard stories about, where flowers grow on the bed of grass, and smoke escapes the chimney of wooden chalets, Wengen is a painter's paradise. And its a painting that the supreme has painted in mirth.

We had a taken a home-stay from Airbnb and the room was extremely cozy and comfortable. Though our host Chris wasn't there to be with us, he had taken care of all our needs and we were impressed by his systematic approach.

Wengen is about flowerbeds and cinematic landscapes, its best explored on foot. We walked around for hours around the little village, clicking pictures of the panoramic view and devouring the endearing silence, interrupted by the occasional ringing of the chapel bell. We sat for hours on the benches overlooking the valley and enjoying the coldness in the air.

It is also the best place to plan your trip to the top of Europe "Jungfrau". Its a journey for about an hour or a little more by train. You can buy tickets from Wengen Station and plunge into exploring the snow-clad glacier region of Jungfrau. The journey is indeed unforgettable as the train traverse the vast white cloak of snow, rising higher and higher in a altitude. 

We were fortunate enough to get good weather and witness the vast glaciers basking in the  summer sun. And on our way back we enjoyed the unexpected and indulgent snowfall. Nature unfolded its enigma is full blossom and we had no choice but to admire her majestic aura.


Some points for travelers to know:
a. Wengen is easily accessible by trains and is little farther up towards the Alps from the more known station Lauterbrunnen. We traveled to Wengen from Luzern, and had to change train at Interlaken. Tickets are readily available online or even on the spot in the station ticket counters. We had booked online, and if you too do so, keep your passport handy to show to the ticket checker.

b. You can select a homestay, there is a wide range of apartments to be offered. Airbnb is safe. Our host Chris was a meticulous planner, he had made everything so easy. From directions, to the door code, to valuable informations and instructions to avoid confusion, he had planned all.

c. You can plan your trip to Jungrau from Wengen. Don't buy tickets beforehand, its much cheaper if you buy from the station. Buy tickets only after ascertaining the weather, which is pretty unpredictable in the Jungrau region.

d. This place is famous for winter sports, so if you are a lover of skiing etc. head to Wengen during the chilling months.

e. It is worthy to spend a night or two in this heavenly hamlet. Besides the jaw dropping view its offers, it also bestows serenity which is a luxury in our lives these days. It gives that relaxation, which you might be trying to achieve since long.

My Swiss trip would have been incomplete without the rendezvous with this beautiful little village. I still remember the evening, when me and Avishek, my hubby, sat hand in hand on the bench, by the little chapel. It was approaching darkness and fog was engulfing the sunshine, it was chilling, it was divine. I could not have felt better. I cannot thank Avishek enough for choosing Wengen, no doubt you know me too well.

I end my tale of serenity by thanking Wengen, for giving me back a piece of my childhood.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta
For complete set of photographs visit  www.talestotell.co.in

Je t'aime PARIS

If you were a painting

I would display your aura

If you were a person

I would cherish your presence forever

If you were a bird

I would love to see you fly

If your were a flower

I would wake up to witness you blossom

But if you are a city

I wouldn't believe you are just stones and concrete

I would believe you have a heart

Graying hair and wrinkles on your forehead

Yet you are ageless

I would believe you define class

I would believe you define love

I would believe you are that prince called "PARIS"

By Aritra

Paris is the dream travel destination for millions of travelers across the globe. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions of the world, with unimaginable footfall every year. And like the millions of aspiring travelers, I too wanted to experience the splendor of the city and imbibe its exuberant vibes.

It was only some time back, that I was roaming in the lanes of champ-de-elysees, drowned in gaiety, I was witnessing the grandeur, world class brands and sheer panache all around. But all good things come to an end and the same is true for holidays, but the happy news is, they don't vanish. They continue to reign supreme on the dwindling paths of your memory lane. At times bringing a smile to your lips, or leaving you gasping for more.

The days I spent in Paris, will be cherished forever. Some say it is overcrowded due to the incredible number of tourists it pulls, but the reality is, it is an impeccable travel destination. After all, is there a soul on the face of this earth, you wouldn't love to sail in a cruise, on the emerald waters of a river and see couples sitting by the bank playing guitar, while the Eiffel Tower at a distance, lights up in its resplendence? I guess none.

The make of the city makes it unique. The lack of high risers, uniformity of architecture, splash of history, resonance of art, the narrow stone lanes and the open air street restaurants, it is extremely difficult to be not overwhelmed. 

Our first day, was the day the city revealed its eccentricity to us. We had opted for a home-stay option through Airbnb and the apartment was in Bastille, the heart of Paris. Truly speaking it was a great location to be. Very well connected to all major tourist spots and also a happening locality lined with many eateries, which are open till late at night. Our hosts, the lovely couple Yacine and Emmanuel were great company to be with. They made us very comfortable and we actually had long hours of chat. While Emmanuel is French, Yacine is from Africa, both of them are majorly associated with social work. It was indeed a pleasure meeting people, who believe in humanity and love, and practiced the same through their lives. Emmanuel also helped us in figuring out the best way of commuting in the city, and his magic bus number '69' made traveling easy and fun. This bus basically goes to every place of interest in Paris.

The first rendezvous with the majestic Eiffel Tower, is a moment I will always cherish. Books, internet and many other sources have made it visible to the world, but nothing compares to standing in front of its hugeness. It was one moment when I felt so happy to have planned the vacation.

The amount of walking I have done in the city is incredible, probably I don't walk that much in a month in India. And the sole reason being the weather, which infused infinite amount of energy into my ever lazed out self. 

Well, at this point I must confess. that this post is not about the artistry you cherish in Louvre, or the excitement of climbing 300 mt to the top of Eiffel or even the ecstasy of cruising on the river Seine, because the world knows enough of that. My narrative is enjoying unison with the soul of a city, and breathing in sync with it. It is the unbridled joy of walking kilometers hand in hand with your loved one on the banks of the river, waiting patiently for the sun to sink and the tower to light up.

One of my best moments with the city is the time we spent on Pont Alexandre III, a deck arch bridge on Seine connecting Champs-Elysees with the Eiffel Tower area. It is considered as the most ornate bridge in Paris. And trust me, the view from the bridge, its aura and the surrounding eateries, makes it worthy to spend some time. In fact it is a beautiful location for photo-shoot and we witnessed many newly weds posing amidst the grandeur.

Nature was truly giving and we cherished its different hues in full galore. The dawn and the dusk, the cloudy and sunny, it even drenched us in an unexpected shower when we were relaxing on the garden adjacent to Eiffel Tower one evening. 


Some words of advice to travelers:

a. Paris is famous for pickpockets and snatchers, be very cautious. One wrong move and you are doomed.  However, it is not as bad as it sounds, but its very important to know about this in advance.

b. Well, my personal experience says,never go with a tours and travels agency. Public transport is easy and safe, you can easily avail and roam around. Besides if you are an uncurbed soul, you need to have the power of deciding. However you have to do a good amount of homework about the metro and bus routes, which my husband did for us.

c. Food is expensive and be prepared to spend a good amount on that. But the eateries have great aura and are worth experiencing.

d. You can book a home-stay from Airbnb. It is safe. But while choosing see the location and study it's accessibility from nearby metro station and bus stands. We stayed in Bastille, with Yacine and Emmanuel. They are wonderful and warm hosts and the location is very convenient.

e. Make a note of holidays, on some days the Louvre Museum is closed.

f. We had booked our Eiffel, Louvre and Seine Cruise, through Viator. But I didn't find it very well organised and it's overpriced.

g. A little warning about Paris Airport, Charles De Gaulle, dear readers its huge and baffling. And anytime if you plan to transit via Paris, have sufficient lay over to enjoy hassle free travel.

Travel tales, like that of Paris, are more than just travel. They impart that pleasure for the soul, if you truly want. Yes it is crowded, yes it is expensive but its unique, in its aura, its vibe, its architecture and of course its soul, which unifies with that of the traveler if they intend to.

We loads of paintings, artistry and ambiance we have returned back to India, to relish those memories forever.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

www.talestotell.co.in

Marriot Marquis Houston- luxurious dwelling

Last month I had almost a week long stay in Marriott Maquis Hotel, in Houston. This starred hotel in Houston downtown is no doubt a luxurious abode, with all world class facilities. The location is great, with many restaurants, offices, shopping centres in walkable distance. Its distance from George Bush International airport is around 19 miles. 

The hotel is chicly furnished and is extensively maintained. Well! With the kind of money they charge, there is practically no room for bad execution, anyways. Initially we did face some internet issue (for info: wifi is chargeable), but thankfully it was well addressed.

But the hotel is special for me, and the reason is the grandiloquent view my room had to offer. For the few, who might be following my narratives, already know my fascination towards sky scrapers and the illuminated night view they offer to their dwellers. I truly feel at the top of the world, when I sit in the silent darkness of my rising abode and witness the lights moving around or  mesmerising in their stagnancy. To add to the beauty of the elaborate city, my room had a pool side view.  In totality what met my eyes, when I pulled aside the curtains, after returning from the seminar each day, was a high-flown city and its aureate lights, together with the turquoise fluorescence of the pools.

The Hotel's sixth floor terrace poolside is a sight to behold, numerous pools, lazy river, jacuzzi and  a bar by its side. If you are travelling with friends, definitely you can a have a gala time. 

The rooms are comfortable and well equipped. But the frequency of replenishing the toiletries was at times inadequate.There are many restaurants, sports bar etc and the lobby is luxurious, like all five-star properties.

Overall Marriott Maquis is a great hotel to be, the staff is warm and helpful. It is expensive and but we all know that luxury comes with a price.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Xochi-More than a restaurant review

When I visited this place in Houston, honestly I had no idea of its uniqueness. But after returning to India, when I read about Xochi, I appreciated its fame.

"Xochi (so-chee), from Xochitl, Goddess of the Flowers, meaning to bloom or catch fire, is the newest creative endeavor of award-winning Chef Hugo Ortega.  Xochi celebrates the culinary and indigenous richness of Oaxaca, Mexico and its varied geographic regions and preservation of primitive customs with an unrivaled menu of Oaxaca-inspired food and drink" - this excerpt has been taken from www.xochihouston.com. 

To be frank, the cuisines mentioned in the menu card were gibberish to us. We read the description to acquire some insight on what the dishes might be. Needless to say it was a tough time to narrow down, to what we could eat. We were meticulously searching for familiar ingredients and ultimately got some. Most of us ordered from the "Plato Fuertes" category, and I specifically wanted to have "Ensalada de Betabel con Pollo". This dish comprised of roasted chicken, some rice portion, and vegetables with dressings, pretty much unknown to me. However, the good news is, it tasted great. They even customized the dish with fish for us. Unfortunately I don't remember the variety, but the twist made it more sumptuous for sure.

I would specially mention the guy who served us. In spite of the quantum of communication gap, he really took care. In all my ignorance, I even savored a dish called  “Tlayuda” which Chef Hugo specially complimented us with, without actually having a word of appreciation with him. Now for those who might be interested to know, Tlayuda is an iconic street food dish of Oaxaca, very large, thin Oaxacan tortillas with various toppings cooked over wood. (Info source: www.xochihouston.com)

Although I missed the opportunity to meet a celebrated culinary expect and have a word or two with him, my narrative is a token of appreciation for sure.

We had entered Xochi with inhibitions; a little unsure of the tastes they serve. But they surprised us with their unique ability of blending the needs of every customer with the authenticity of Oaxacan food. The food was warm and so was their gesture.

I recommend Xochi to food lovers and enthusiasts, who believe in experiencing and experimenting with the different flavors that life has to offer.

Pappasito' s - A restaurant review

Travel is an experience and I believe in making the most out of it. Every travel diary is like a painting, where nature meets human emotions. A place, is not only mountains, sea or sky scrapers, the people, their culture, their living habits and their existences infuses that uniqueness, which travelers tend to explore and extract. I also believe that food is an important criterion or means to plunge into the vulnerabilities of a race or kind or type of people. Hence whenever I travel to an unknown destination, I love to experience their eating habits, as much as my limitations as a consumer allows me. 

In my recent visit to Houston, unfortunately I didn't get the chance to experience much of their culture or food. However one of the few eateries I visited interested me enough to write a review about it.

Pappasito's Cantina, a Mexican restaurant in Hotel Hilton in Houston Downtown, is strategically located to attract the attention of the passerby crowd. And also since its open for longer hours compared to other eateries nearby, it saved the starvation of late eating people like us.

The crew was amazing and very welcoming, there was an uninhibitedness about the place. The decor was interesting and was dominated by the red colour. It was great to see people come to celebrate their weekend drowned in euphoria. We had ordered shrimp and chicken Fajita, it was more than enough for two people. The preparation was delicious, rise portion, tossed veggies and tacos tasted great. But the grilled shrimp was remember-worthy, I generally don't consume too much shrimp in restaurants, but that night was an exception.

Overall Pappasito was a wholesome experience and a good place to visit.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta 

Hi Houston!!

My first visit to the United States of America was purely official, I visited Houston for attending and presenting in a seminar conducted by Aspen Tech Inc. It was held in the Marriott Maquis Hotel, in Houston downtown.

Houston, is the most populous city of the State of Texas and the fourth most populous city of the United States. It is hub of different industries and job opportunities. The skyline of the city is expectantly lined with enormous sky scrappers and a lot is being built. In fact the city is anticipated to rise up in the radar of big cities of the US.

But my heart was not particularly concerned with the high-risers and hustle-bustle of the glittering city life. I wanted rendezvous with the soul of the city, but time was limited. The days kept me busy with the conference, anxiety of presenting and much more.

But the evenings were relaxed, and that was the time I tried to know Houston.

Coming from a developing country to one of the most developed countries of the world, definitely gives the opportunity to admire the perfectness of the manmade wonder cities. The cleanliness of the streets, the traffic control, noise control and intervening relaxation provided by the greens, water bodies, gives that feel good factor. 

The first admire-worthy aspect was the view from my hotel room. The magnificent poolside and the beautiful city, I knew I would love my stay. 

Anyways overcoming the jet-lag was a task, but as soon as I did that, I stepped out of the hotel, to sneak around. Contrary to India, most of the eateries close by 9 or 9:30 in the night. So locating a good place for dinner was the first challenge. We narrowed down to Pappasito's Cantina, a Mexican Restaurant in Hotel Hilton, with an impressive interior, dominated by the colour 'red'. We ordered shrimp and chicken fajita, and it was mouth smacking.

The next evening with we to the famous Galleria Mall of Houston. It was enormous, but commonality of all malls, strikingly disappoints you, whatever may be the size. This one however, is more known for the high end brands. Louis Vuitton, to Prada, to Burberry and many more, it was a melting pot, of high street fashion like Zara, Forever 21 and the ballroom class. However, as most of these names are available in India, I didn't buy much.

Third evening was the most beautiful one. Aspen Tech had arranged a party for all its customers, and the best part was, it was a rooftop party was Texas special country music. The poet and writer in me, always commemorates uniqueness. Be it a simple old eatery, or a gigantic city, I never tend to miss the little feeling that everything inanimate bears within itself. I loved the easy breezy looking, bearded musicians, who made the atmospheric tangibly amorous that night.

I believe that it not possible to explore everything, it is important to be at peace with the moment and relish its existence. And hence the last evening, I spent mostly with myself by the pool. I love swimming, but the temperature was low for a tropical girl like me. The sunset was endearing, I loved the breeze and the gradual lighting up of the enormous city. I could spent hours with myself and let the air play with my long black traces, but again time was limited. Nobody would know, my humming of my loved tunes. 

I didn't get much time to interact with people of the city, but my sparse interaction left warm memories in my heart. Aspen Tech gave us a very warm welcome and to the dreamer, writer me,  some frames I could cherish.

No travel, is long or short.

No travel is irrelevant.

No travel is unworthy of a painting in the mind.

No travel is insignificant to me......

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

A little warning for the people who travel to the city. If you are a foreigner completely unaware of the surroundings, avoid going out alone too far. We experienced people who asked for money, and at times when denied they shadowed for sometime. I have no idea what their intention was, but whatever it was, it wasn't too noble. 

Mia Cucina - A restaurant review

Mumbai is a city for sheer indulgence. No matter how much it wears and tears you apart, yet it sets up every opportunity to mend those wounds. So when the week long toil is about to break you apart, weekend dawns with the hope of rejuvenation. As the day shifts from Monday, to Tuesday, to Wednesday and so on, planning and formulating the upcoming weekend activities gradually build around us.

Few weekends back the scene was no different and as per our plans, I and two of my friends went to Mia Cucina, Hiranandani Gardens Powai.

I loved the concept of that entire lane lined with restaurants with open sitting arrangements, somewhat resonating the European culture. We chose Mia Cucina, because it was relatively less crowded than the rest. However, that does not essentially mean that it is less popular. Basically, the other ones are relatively new, making them more attractive to the prospective visitors. 

We ordered Bruschetta polio con olivata, Spaghetti with chicken & white sauce and another Fish dish,and it is worth mentioning that the food was good.

In totality, Mia Cucina is a good visit, if you want nice food, open air ambiance and relatively less crowd compared to the other revered eateries in the vicinity, do visit Mia Cucina.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

  

Corniche - An evening by the bay

Life is stressful, meeting deadlines, commuting in traffic laden streets, the scorching heat and more. In this maddening race we all need respite. Moments of ease and thoughtlessness, moments of just nothingness. And it’s extremely scientific that we all have weekend leaves, because human batteries need recharge too. Therefore it’s important to make the best of your weekend, it should be a balance between over laze and over activity, because both are detrimental to our effectiveness.

My idea of a good weekend is pretty simple, a wonderful Saturday and a lazed out Sunday. So last Saturday, also because my husband was leaving for Amsterdam the next night, we decided to have a lovely dinner by the bay. In fact restaurants by the sea, are my favorite hangout spots in Mumbai, given to my love for the alluring sea breeze. So we chose Corniche-At the Waterfront, an open air restaurant in Bandra West, which has the luxury of enjoying the sea breeze soothing its visitors.

As expected the crowd was colorful and vivacious, given to the location. Though I did not like the furniture, with respect to comfort and ergonomics. I felt, when visitors come to have a drink or two or enjoy their favorite cuisines, in the generous abode of the sea breeze, they should be given comfortable chairs to spread their laziness on.

However, besides the ambiance and the vibrancy around, the place serves good food. I loved the pepper garlic prawns. The idea of adding a potato wedge with each prawn, was interesting and delicious. The grilled chicken platter with its variety of bread choices, was fine too. I loved my fruity indulgence and savored the last drop.

Overall Corniche is a great place, if you want to detox and have a moment with the sea and your near and dear ones. It’s not too loud and not too silent, hence my type of enjoyment.

Aritra Chakarbarty Sengupta

Leopold Cafe

Holding loads of memories, some great, some bloodstained, Leopold Cafe, stands strong clinging to its image of classic Mumbai. And since the time I have come to this city, I wanted to visit this cafe. Unbelievably it took me more than four years. However, its better late than never.

For people who do not know, Leopold Cafe was started in 1871 by Iranis. It was and still continues to be a popular hang out destination for Indians and foreigners alike. But it has more to its history. 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks, have left some formidable scars and bloodstains on it. (info source: wiki)

However, the daunting memories, haven't scarred its reputation as an eatery, and even today, you have to patiently wait in queues, to get into it.

Well! To me an eatery is much more than just food, and this very thought might be completely unrelatable to many. For me, eating out is a wholesome experience. Though food tops the chart of prerequisites, but there also has to be a share of good ambience, preferably a mouthful of music, scoops of delicious deliberations and portions of sublime gaiety. And if the bonne bouche is 'history', what more do I want!

Coming to Leopold, I can't say it serves the best food, but at the same time, the food was good. There is an uninhibitedness about the place. It is crowded, over crowded rather, noisy and very 'Mumbai'. I loved the decor, the old hollywood movie posters, Marilyn Monroe's intimidating red lip colour and the Harley Davidsons. 

We ordered Mumbai Special 'Keema Pav', and it was delicious. While others opted for their choice of poisons, I enjoyed my fruity indulgence.

My experience with Leopold cafe was great, with great friends, full moon night and some scoops of history, my night was made.