To me the best thing about vacation is brainstorming the places to visit and then making a tentative plan for the entire trip. Online reviews and Google comes to rescue for searching a comfortable hotel/resort, book safaris in advance and design the itinerary all by myself.

Years of traveling has made me a planner and I often look out for off beat destinations in India to avoid unruly crowd, commercialization of tourist places and to experience the thrill of meeting new challenges all the way. Traveling together to some known and some unknown destinations has made the nature lover, the adventure enthusiast and the history buff in my family come out in open. We now appreciate the ruins of history and pristine beauty of mountains in the same breath.

The resort we stayed in at Diu has beautiful cottages spread out in more than two acres of beautiful ground. The cottages are well maintained with spacious rooms, pool facing balcony, sit outs and all the ultra modern gadgets.

I could not control myself watching children play and splash water and was right into the pool next day…got a few swimming lessons from children…and scoldings from hubby for overdoing and choking myself at one point…

There was a beautiful river flowing behind Sinh Sadan and I asked the staff if we could go there. Though heavily loitered we could get a glimpse of village life from there.

Right outside the resort there were many vendors selling steamed corn on cob. I was skeptical to try out the corns but could not resist after seeing many nibbling on the same inside the resort. Every now and then I would run outside the resort to get a steamed corn smeared with extra spices, sit under the pool umbrella, watch children swim and chomp…chomp..

I loved the cool breeze and the occasional crazy sound of crickets breaking the silence in the wee hours of morning in the resort. Son clicked this picture from the balcony while I was playing with the tiny droplets of dew on grass trying to gather the roses of life.   .

I would get up at 5 AM, go for a small walk on the beach, come back and sit on the swing in the wee hours of morning till the silence was broken with “Good morning mam” and I see a smiling staff greeting me with morning tea.

How I wish time stops and I could live in those moments forever….

Healthy Sandwiches for Travel

I packed a few Chickpea and Avocado Sandwiches from home which we ate at the airport. A jar of peanut butter and Mayonnaise was packed in my bag-pack for our trip. I used the same to make quick Sandwiches whenever I could get some fresh veggies, fruits and dry fruits from the local shops.Some of the Sandwich recipes I made during our travel.

1. Chickpea and Avocado Sandwich

Ingredients;

• 1 cup boiled chickpeas
• 1 medium Avocado or cucumber
• 1 small onion
• 2 tbsp. Fresh coriander and mint leaves
• 2 tbsp butter
• Juice of one lemon
• Sat and pepper to taste
• 2 slices bread

Method; Wash and soak chickpeas overnight. Drain and boil till they become soft and mushy. Peel and chop onion and Avocado. Use cucumber if you don’t get Avocado. Mash boiled chickpeas (channa), add chopped onion, shredded coriander/mint leaves, chopped Avocado, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients well.

Spread 1 tbsp butter on one slice of bread and place the filling on it and cover with the other slice of bread. Grill the Sandwich in a grill or on griddle. I grilled mine in my Sandwich toaster. Pack the Sandwich in aluminium foil and enjoy your travel food.

2. Peanut Butter Sandwich

Ingredients; 

• 2 tbsp. Peanut butter
• 1 large banana
• 2 slices brown bread
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp. butter
• 2 slices bread

Method; Slice banana in thin roundels. Spread peanut butter on both slices, place banana slices over it and sprinkle cinnamon powder over it. You can grill the Sandwich or pack them as it is.

3. Mayonnaise and veggie Sandwich

Ingredients;

• 2 tbsp. Mayonnaise
• 1/4 th cup chopped veggies
• 2 tbsp. shredded herbs
• Salt & pepper as desired
• 1 tsp. butter/oil

Method; Grate veggies such as cucumber, cabbage and carrots. Spread mayonnaise over a slice of bread, place grated veggies, add shredded herbs (coriander/mint leaves), salt & pepper and grill the sandwich.

4. Healthy fruit and veggie sandwich

Ingredients; 

• 2 tbsp. grated Apple
• 2 tbsp. grated Carrot
• 1 tbsp. grated beet root
• 1 tbsp raisins
• 1/2 tsp. Lemon juice
• Few Mint leaves
• 1 tsp. Olive oil
• 2 slices brown bread
• Salt & pepper as desired

Method; Peel and grate apples, beet and carrot. Add salt & pepper and lemon juice in the grated veggies . Place grated veggies and fruit on a slice of bread, add raisins, shredded mint leaves and place other slice of bread over it. Grill it using Olive oil or pack it as it is.

With children around you never know when hunger strikes, a small fruit knife, few spoons, forks, small plates, scissor, salt & pepper shaker, handy hot water kettle and napkins are my best travel companion.

The thrill of wandering in these unknown places, talking to nameless yet friendly faces and challenging yourself to adapt to uncomfortable environs is what makes traveling a complete experience. And the reward for traveling to such unseen places is to be experienced to be believed.

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