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My Favourite Podcasts during this Pandemic
Ever so occasionally I get bored of my music playlist or even Spotify (although I’ve come across a great find for music – Radio garden where you can stream any radio station across the world!), so I love tuning into podcasts especially during this long and difficult pandemic. What is great about podcasts is that you can practically listen to them anywhere – I usually put one on during a run or while I am cooking. And ever since I acquired a new pair of absolutely yummy white and rose gold Bose 700 noise cancelling headphones, I can’t wait to pop ’em on and get on the podcast train (NB:…
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Delft Blauw, Chinese Porcelain: Reading ‘Vermeer’s Hat, Indra’s Net and the Dawn of Globalisation’
The book is in many ways a joint effort by a Delftman and a Canadian, separated by centuries. Through painting and prose, Vermeer and Brook weave a multifaceted narrative, connecting 17th century Europe to the world.
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The Best Hummus in Amsterdam
What’s better on a rainy day than a warm bowl of tangy hummus accompanied with some real crisp pieces of pita and a secret sauce so delicious it’ll leave you wanting more? I am guessing nothing much. Luckily for me, on my last trip to the Netherlands, I found the best hummus in Amsterdam. On a cold rainy day in Amsterdam, after a morning at the Albert Cuyp Market, shopping and munching on some delicious fries with cheese sauce, the stomach was ready for more. Hungry and desperate, the two of us dragged our feet through Amsterdam’s glitzy De Pijp district, known for its top-notch restaurants and brewries. And Sir…
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Out and About Aarhus on a Boat
For ten days at the end of August/beginning of September every year, Aarhus turns host to one of Scandinavia’s biggest cultural fests: the Aarhus Festuge or the Aarhus Festival. As a newbie to the city I had to check it out. Except I had one teeny problem – a busted foot that has been a hindrance to any social and most daily activities. With the last few days of the festival, I threw caution – and my temporary cast – to the wind to explore what the Aarhus Festuge was all about. I mean YOLO, right? [But also I only have one right foot 🙁 ] I had scanned all…
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Florence’s Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia
In a city whose narrow streets are bustling with clueless tourists, presumptuous art aficionados and history buffs, the Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia offers a much needed “off-beat” respite. Located close to the Piazza San Marco, this unassuming and nondescript building seems to blend into the surroundings. Only the stone signboard outside its door gives any indication of hiding one of Florence’s most underrated Christian art pieces. On any average day, the cenacolo (Italian for The Last Supper) is devoid of any lines or crowds that frequent other sites such as the Uffizi Gallery or the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and is just the kind of hidden gem that guidebooks fail…
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Top Coffee Spots in Delhi-NCR
Call me out on this cliché but there is nothing better than sinking into a nice book with some great coffee. After eight years in Delhi, I have found some great places to shun company, sip some great coffee and be an unapologetic introvert/bookworm. And I don’t mean at Starbucks! Here are some of my top coffee spots in Delhi-NCR: 1. Sibang Bakery – Gurgaon Located in one of Gurgaon’s many non-descript malls (South Point on Golf Course Road), I first discovered this café nearly three years ago. Since this part of Gurgaon is a hub for many Asian companies, it is easy to find authentic cafés that cater to the…
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Five Crime Novels to Read this Summer
There is nothing quite like diving into the pages of a great crime story especially after a gruelling first year of masters. This season I have resolved to move away from binge-Netflixing to binge-reading so here are some of my favourite crime novels to read this summer: 1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie There is a reason why this Poirot brain-scratcher has been voted the best crime novel of all time. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is lauded not just for its literary style but its startling ending. Like other Christie mysteries, the clues are hidden in plain sight but my guess is you won’t be able to…
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Zostel Gokarna – A Review
Cliffs, beach views and tranquility – Zostel Gokarna has it all. Although not bang on the beaches like most other shacks in Gokarna, this Zostel – perched on a cliff overlooking the Kudle Beach – has something unique to offer budget/backpacking travellers. Gokarna is a great place to spend a weekend and is quite close to Goa (for those who think Goa is too mainstream). The three of us reached here by train from Udupi, only a few hours away. Other travellers here were mostly stopping over for a day or two on their way to Goa. Like most other Zostels, this one too has both mixed and female dorms…
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Wandering through the Neemrana Fort Palace
Rajasthan has got to be one of my favourite destinations. Part of it stems from spending two years of my adolescence in Jaisalmer. The other part stems from the fact that it is so gosh darn gorgeous – I can’t even! Back in college I had always wanted to go to Neemrana after listening to countless accounts of how fun the zip-lining was. But slowly, that enthusiasm faded – Neemrana started to seem like a cliché picnic spot for every bored Dilliwalla. My first ‘visit’ to the Neemrana Fort Palace in 2015 was with my family and it ended in an abrupt decision to go back home. The entry fee…
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Gurgaon’s Secret Paradisiacal Bookstore
It was a typical Sunday. We had finished a hearty breakfast – sandwiches, chocolate cake, vanilla latte, et al – at Sibang Bakery (it’s Korean) at Gurgaon’s South Point Mall – I tell you this understated mall has THE BEST treasures tucked away. (Try Izu, if you love Japanese. The portions are larger than most Jap restaurants in Delhi-NCR). Anyway, so instead of going back home, we decided to walk around the mall in the hope that we stumble across another hidden egg. And lo and behold, there it was: the best bookstore ever! Hidden in plain sight, Chapter 101 seems like a pretty nondescript shop from the outside. In…
