Munni of all Trades

Award winning Lifestyle and Travel Blog by Khushboo Motihar

Travel

Lemon Tree Vembanad Lake Resort: Review and My experience

Certain journeys in life are so precious that they always manage to carve a special place in your heart. They make you smile when you fondly remember those carefree days and always make you want to return at least once again in your lifetime. My recent trip to Lemon Tree Vembanad Lake Resort is one of them.
I truly cherish each and every moment that I spent there healing myself and reigniting that spirit of adventure that the city had stolen from me. The first thing you must know about this resort is that it is beautifully designed. They have taken elements from local Kerala style architecture and have created a warm, cozy space where people can relax and unwind. No wonder their slogan is #RefreshinglyDifferent.

The entire resort is stunning and I am definitely going to take some time out to write an ode to their infinity pool. It was breathtaking.

Allow me to give you a tour of the resort; let’s take a photo walk 🙂

Love that gorgeous eli! We are going to take a right and have a look at my room now.


As you walk through the corridors, you can see Raja Ravi Varma’s works accompanied with a brief explanation of the paintings.

A friend I made in the resort. She would be around a lot.


This was my room. Isn’t it lovely to be welcomed every day by towel animals? I got a swan, a duck and an elephant. I would be excited every evening at the prospect of opening my room to find something new. 🙂

It would break my heart to pull apart the animal while going for a bath. They are so adorable!

Let me take you to the Infinity Pool now. I could open the doors of my room and walk straight on to the deck.

*Growl* that is my stomach! Let’s have a look at the dining area shall we?

The entire space has so many different elements; the traditional cooking utensils, that beautiful ceiling; I had a great time trying to discover something new till my food arrived.

And the rest of the resort…

I must end with this. A resort, no matter how stunning and impressive it is, is incomplete without its people. The staff members at Lemon Tree Vembanad Lake Resort were remarkable is simply an understatement. They were helpful, answered all our queries about the local language, places and the culture very patiently and were so attentive to details. I fell in love with this place a little more because of the graciousness of the people; from the watchman to the general manager, everybody was very kind. The Lemon Tree Vembanad Lake Resort cocooned me with its many hundred smiles that I received over the period of my stay, its natural beauty and its serenity.
Stay tuned for my next post on Alleppey and Lemon Tree Vembanad Lake Resort 🙂

Amazing Jaipur

I remember this day very clearly. I was a little girl with two pony tails, wearing my pink princess outfit and sport shoes (because hey, I had to jump out of the train) who was extremely excited to visit the Pinky City. I expected to see huge Barbie doll palaces with sparkly chandeliers, baby pink houses with huge polka dots all over it and rumbling old forts painted bright pink. As the taxi started moving from the Jaipur station, I started passing by the city, my imagination faded and was replaced by a sense of wonder. Jaipur was beautiful, far more beautiful than anything my 6 year old mind had come up with and there it hit me. I was in love with the city. I had decided that I was going to grow to be a princess and reside in one of the palaces. To fulfill my dreams, my parents picked out the Taj Rambagh Palace, one of the luxury hotels in Jaipur, for our stay.

I have had the chance to visit the city on two more occasions and every time I visit, I fall for the city a little harder. What has made Jaipur my amour? Come, see the city through my eyes and you will know.

Amer fort

Amer Fort: That’s me in green! Picture credit: Priyada

A red sandstone beauty; majestic in its grandeur with its unique blend of Muslim and Hindu architecture and fine white marble pavilions is a sight to behold. As a child, I used to run around playing hide and seek with my many cousins and as an adult I learnt to listen to the tour guide to know its colourful history. Built on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of the Eagles) the Amer for also known as the Amber Palace has a secret subterranean passage connecting it to the Jaigarh Fort as an escape route for the royal family during times of the war.

This fort also houses Sheesh Mahal with its delicate mosaic glass work that never fails to take my breath away. As my generation would say, the entire place is selfie worthy!
Hawa Mahal
A gorgeous 953 jharokhas (window) monument with intricate lattice balconies, the Hawa Mahal was designed for the royal ladies to enjoy processions and street performances. Hawa Mahal is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. This 5 storey monument has slopes instead of steps and it hosts an archeological museum, too.

Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal, Jaipur Picture credit Nithya

I had the unique opportunity of visiting the Jal Mahal a few years ago when its restoration was just on the verge of completion. The Jal Mahal, once considered to be a fine blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, had fallen to a state of disrepair until the Government of Rajasthan, in collaboration with a few like-minded individuals, decided to restore it to its former glory. After years of extensive research and back-breaking work, the Jal Mahal, which has four floors under the lake, was made accessible to visitors for a few days.

Gorgeous Rajput style boats which took me to the Jal Mahal have now been stopped but one can still stand on the banks of the river to enjoy its breathtaking beauty.
The Jaipur Lit and Film festival
Jaipur has been the home to a wonderful literature and film festival for quite a few years and I had a remarkable time at the Golconda theatre enjoying the movies.
To know more about Amazing Jaipur, do check out this detailed post on the Pink City! 🙂

Goa Calling: Untouristy things to do and falling in love with yourself

“Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” – Ibn Battuta
If I had to rephrase Batuta, I would have said, “Goa- It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” For Goa is truly a land where you can find peace and pulsating music, pristine beauty and glamour, freedom from the city along with local ties that will bind you to this place, all at the same time. I have had the opportunity to visit Goa twice in the last two years and on both occasions I avoided doing the usual touristy things. Instead, I focused on taking a break from my usual life, away from all the chaos, and settling comfortably in Goan Hotels.
 

The first thing I always do is switch off my gadgets except for my camera of course, roll out a beach blanket and bask in the sun. A lot of Goa hotels tend to have access to private beaches and The Zuri White Sands (the hotel I stayed in) was amongst one of them. There is something truly remarkable about staying on the beach all day, dozing off in between, reading your favourite novel and sometimes just staring at the clear blue sky.

 
I spent my time admiring the old heritage houses that I would pass by while taking a walk, interacting with a local lady who I would always go to get my daily dose of ice creams and Frooti and playing beach football with strangers even though I never managed to kick it even once!
 
I left Goa without any souvenirs, without any cashewnuts but with a light heart and a big smile!
During my second trip, I stayed in Alila Diwa, one of the many luxury Goa Hotels Salcette. This time, I opted to go for long drives to explore the area. I had my trusty GPS and friendly locals who would always know a short cut to reach a particular place. This trip was as fun as the last one and I had the opportunity to make many many friends as I soaked in the local culture. I surprisingly did not miss any company. It is a great experience to shut off everything and everyone you know and be a completely different person. Goa gave me an opportunity to do just that and somewhere down the line, I fell in love with the person I had become. 
 
Some tips I would like to share with you guys are:
 
Have two nariyal paanis daily; its delicious
Eat as much sea food as you can from local shacks and hotels; never from fancy restaurants
Play beach football and cricket
Walk barefoot as much as possible; it feels wonderful
Don’t forget to collect shells from the beach
Avoid shopping, seriously! You are here to get away from your mundane life
My last and the most important tip, follow your heart and leave with no regrets.

5 Star hotels in Ahmedabad for an exquisite stay

The city of dhoklas, fafdas and jalebis is also famous for something else. Its marvellous hotels! I have been to Ahmedabad once but I remember being absolutely spoilt for choice. I finally did end up choosing Hyatt Ahmedabad and had a lovely stay there. I am sure you definitely want to know about some of the best 5 star hotels in Ahmedabad. Here are my picks.


Four Points by Sheraton

Located right in the middle of the city, Four Points is perfect for those on a business trip. The airport is just a 15 minute drive away and this I think is one of the highlights for those who have to come to the city for official work. This hotel boasts of ahigh end fitness centre with the best of equipment and when you are feeling hungry after your work out, you can go to their restaurant, The Eatery for some healthy meals. with 104 suites, an ergonomic work station and great internet, business travellers will definitely feel  pampered. It is an office away from office for them. 🙂

 Novotel Ahmedabad

 

Contemporary rooms with all the amenities you can ever desire, Novotel is an ideal hotel for both business travellers as well as for those who are on a luxurious holiday. The Square, their all day dining restaurant serves delicious meals and when you feel like it you can go for a dip in their open swimming pool.

Hyatt Ahmedabad
 
 Rooms that boast of an amazing view of the Vastrapur lake and also the glittering city, Hyatt in Ahmedabad is a must visit for those looking for a luxurious time.
With a healthy continental breakfast offered to all patrons and an wonderful restaurant Nonya that serves authentic Pan Asian cuisine, this hotel has somehting for everyone. And if you love chocolates, do head over to Chocol’Art to indulge.
The Fern Ahmedabad
 
No cancellation charges, a delectable Roghan Ghosh and a Sunday brunch to die for, the Fern Ahmedabad has definitely pleased the foodie in me.Its courteous staff and the Garden Lawn restaurant which has a BBQ pit and the Garden Cafe are more reasons why you should visit this upscale hotel in Ahmedabad.
Courtyard by Marriott
 
One of the best luxury hotels in Ahmedabad, Courtyard by Mariott has 164 contemporary rooms that have perks like in room safes, high speed internet and in certain cases an access to the Executive lounge. Their 24 by 7 café -Java+ is definitely to look out for.
So these were my picks. Have you ever stayed in any of the hotels? How was your experience? Do share.

The Boat School of Varanasi: Making gentle waves in the education system

One of the biggest problems that this country with over 1.2 billion people faces is lack of education. Even in the areas where it is available, it is often done in a mundane manner with the focus inadvertently being rote learning and not gaining knowledge. But before we bridge the knowledge, we need to focus on making India 100% literate. India, currently, has the largest population of illiterate adults in the world with 287 million, 37% of the global total.

But recently, I’ve come across an interesting initiative which was highlighted by Tata Capital and Do Right that is taking place in the religious, cultural and traditional hub of India, Varanasi. It is on the banks of the holy river Ganga that one sees young children working or whiling away their time for want of a school. Ajeet Singh, realized that the only way to get these children to learn was to innovate the hub of learning i.e. transform their school. Under his leadership, Guria, an NGO started a novel and unique ‘boat school’. It is in this school that the children spend two hours after their regular school day to study, play or revise freely without any pressures or tensions.

As the float on River Ganga, these children gain useful knowledge under the watchful eyes of their teachers which helps them excel at school and become educated and learned citizens in the future. This initiative sounds wonderful doesn’t it? But it needs your help and mine to continue. The NGO requires funds to continue its wonderful work and expand it in the future so that they can reach out to many ore children.
Despite doing all it can to create a stimulating environment for the children, this boat school has a lot more potential and further enhancements can be made. But they funds for this transformation.
The magical transformation includes: Makeover of the interiors, a library, educational toys, stationery, a computer and a painting kit. 

How can you help?
Do share about the good work that Tata Capital is doing on social media and keep on the lookout for their next initiative.