First Impression of Bangkok

Tourism is one of the most important factors which contribute to Thailand’s economy. Traveling to Thailand has entered on the bucket list of thousands of travellers. One of the reasons of attracting travelers from India is its affordability & VOA (Visa On Arrival). The process is simple & cheap thus lots of Indians chose Thailand for their holidays & honeymoons. I went to Bangkok & Pattaya for 4 days on a solo trip & here is my first impression of Bangkok.

 

Arriving at Bangkok airport: First thing first, applied for Bangkok visa on arrival. It is a very simple process. For me, it took approx 20 mins to complete the entire process. However, during the rush period, it takes more than 2 hours of time as well.

The moment I stepped outside the Airport. The city engaged me with its charm & vibe. The best way to explore a city is by living like a locale; use public transport, eat on streets etc etc.

Human Interactions:

People of Bangkok were really very nice. They were helpful in every best way possible. From helping me understand the currencies to board the buses, they helped me everywhere. Best cities have best people to support them & Bangkok is one such example.I was traveling by bus & asked a fellow passenger to inform me when to get down, the lady was super sweet & helped me to get down at my designated destination. She also helped me in deciphering the currency. One more incident that showed the generosity of Thai people was like this.

I was searching for my home stay in Pattaya, it was hot & humid & I walked for at least an hour to find my hostel. But, I was not able to locate the address.Tired of walking, I stopped at one shop.

The shop owners asked me “What happened?”.

I said “I am lost”.

They were generous enough to call that homeowner thrice to locate the house. So, from whatever experience I had; I felt that they were super sweet to me.

Infrastructure

The city has a beautiful infrastructure & fantastic public transport system. It is easy to get around the place. Taxis are equipped with meters to avoid any inconvenience. Police are active in Bangkok & it is very easy to locate their car while on routes. But, I don’t think you will every require it. I certainly hope; that you don’t ever require it :D.

Mark My Adventure

 

Culture:

Bangkok is a proper backpackers place. You can wear shorts & travel to most to the places & local people will hardly roll their eyes. Every place you visit, there will be some traveler accompanying you.

Once I went to China Town for a trip, I was hungry so ordered a plate of noodles & specifically told the lady to “prepare a veg noodle”. The lady didn’t know the English; hence it was difficult to communicate with her. However, seeing the lady in a problem; a local girl came to her help & told her what needs to be done.

I guess helping others is engraved in their nature.It doesn’t feel like you are traveling to a different place if you meet such helpful peoples. It is refreshing to see the energy of the city. The moment you land on the airport the pain of traveling long hours just vanishes. It is such experience which can not be captured in any amount of words.It is refreshing to see the energy of the city.

Activities:

Places in Bangkok doesn’t disappoint you a bit. It is very easy to see the pics & get excited but by the time you reach the place is opposite of what you expected (Filters effect). But, Bangkok was the opposite, the places were exorbitant beautiful. I only covered places which grabbed my attention. It is better to cover few places completely than covering all the places. One activity which needs to checked is the adult shows. Adult shows are one of the most sought of activities in Bangkok & also the most duped ones. It is better to check the place before entering these places. There are lots of stories of people getting duped here.First impression of bangkok

Overall, I would suggest everyone, to visit this place, the place is amazing; especially the Khao San Road. It is on the list of every travelers & tourist. The place gets insanely happening after the midnight. The crowd dancing to beats without any reason is epic to watch. I spent two nights there & loved every bit of it.

One thing that I loved was canal rides in speed boats. It was one of the very rare experiences for me from this trip. Just stand at the front & experience cities skyline like a movie star.

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Is Bangkok Safe To Travel Solo

Bangkok attracts thousands of crowds every year & each year the number of tourists visiting this country is growing. But, a question arises in everyone’s mind.

Is Bangkok Safe For Solo Travelers?

Safety is a foremost issue which needs to be catered while traveling. It becomes much more important if traveling solo. Solo traveling has its own drawbacks & one of them is being self-dependant all the time. Late night strolls, partying at pubs & traveling to unknown locations certainly becomes unrealistic.

Like everyone, I too had a doubt of traveling solo. My first solo trip to China was a happy affair & I had the same feeling while traveling to Bangkok.

So, what can be done to ensure solo traveling is safe?

Foremost thing one can do is to read about the places beforehand. Always read about the place before going, it not only boosts confidence but also familiarizes you with the place. I read about Bangkok through various blogs & never crossed any negative reviews about the same. Most of the travelers shared their happy stories. After reading positive reviews I had a no doubt in my mind about the place.

One important part is to wear a smile while talking to people. It has a positive impact on the peoples. A smiling face is welcomed in a much warmer way. So, never forget to smile. Also, always appreciate the efforts of others by saying “Thank You” for their services.

My trip to Bangkok & Pattaya was a very safe & overwhelming experience. Bangkok is a very friendly city & people are generally very helpful to every extent possible. It was very overwhelming to see the warmness with which they greet the travelers. During my stay, I was helped by roadside shop owners, bus conductors & locals.

Bangkok doesn’t have anything alarming about it. But, keeping yourself safe & sound is necessary even in the safest of the places. There were few observations from my side which I encountered during my travel.

Careful on TukTuk Drive: TukTuk Drive is a very lucrative mode of transportation. A vehicle which can accommodate 4 to 5 people with ease just attracts you towards it. But, before boarding; make sure you ask for the rates. Clear everything before boarding, if you don’t want any last minute surprises. There are lots of Tuk Tuk Drivers who charged more than they should have. In my opinion, avoid riding TukTuk without knowing the price; no matter how short the distance is. I have heard stories of fellow travelers who were conned to pay extra by Tuk Tuk drivers because they did not check the prices before availing the ride.


The most famous activity of Bangkok is adult shows. But, it is also one of the suspicious ones. I got to know about this, through one hostel guy. The guys went to a show which was supposed to cost THB 250. But, they had to pay thousands of THB before leaving the premises that too without any major expenses. After hearing their story, I preferred to refrain from these sort of activities. Avoiding such activities could save fortunes of money for you. If you are too eager to one of such shows check with some local guys about the authenticity of the place & then go ahead. Better to be safe than sorry.

Traveling at the night was a safe affair for me. But, being careful is an important criterion to be on a safer side. I mainly used public transport & always cross checked with fellow commuters if I am going to the right destination. It is better to clarify things like destination, fares etc to avoid any last minute surprises. I was pretty high one night & took a cab from metro station to Khao San road.The cab driver dropped me safely to my destination & without charging anything extra. I was lucky during my trip, but it could have been different. Avoiding awkward situation becomes a necessity in a foreign land. So, always be aware of surroundings.

Always keep your valuable with you or at some safe location pickpocketing or losing something valuables is not a very healthy sign. However, this goes for each & every place.

I enjoyed the place like anything & would suggest everyone visit this place at least once in their lifetime. Being a backpacker in this city is bliss, the vibe is amazing, the places are amazing. Just keep few points in mind, other than that the place is rocking. In my previous post, I have written about things to do in Bangkok. So, if you are still having any doubts just shot that thought pack your bags & just experience the place.

PS: Some western travelers stays in Bangkok for 6 months on a stretch.

Traveling helps to gain a new perspective & to learn things which are not taught in any books. So, travel in your 20’s when you are physically fit & low on responsibilities.

“Traveling is a drug; I am addicted to ;)”

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Bangkok On A Budget

[spacer height=”20px”]Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. The place is on the list of every traveler. Throughout crowded with tourists & travelers, the buzz of this place is amazing. When traveling to this wonderful place; it is very easy to lose an account of money. I went for 4 days & spent around 15K INR inclusive of everything. The place is dirt cheap according to western traveler & I too feel the same. Here is my guide to cover Bangkok On A Budget.
I have covered 3 countries till now (out of India) under INR 1 Lac cumulatively. When I circulate this fact, their eyes pops out.

So the big question

How I managed to keep my expenses low?

This post is the guide for Bangkok on a budget. However, the main principles to save money while traveling remains the same for each & every place.

Let’s Start

Expenses are generally bifurcated into broad headings like flight tickets, Accommodations, Activities, Food & site seeing. Out of all these expenses, the major chunk of money goes into Flight tickets. If this factor is catered, then it is easy to manage other heads.
Flights: Here is the tip, a TO & FRO Flights cost less compared to two individual flights. The prices of tickets from India to Thailand has dropped dramatically. During offer, it is easy to find flight tickets at a price of INR 3.5 K one way. Yeah!!!! Just INR 7 K from India to Thailand. But usually, the offer is from one or two airports only. In my case, I chose Chennai for my departure. I got an offer of 5K INR from Chennai. Whereas, the same flight costs me approx. 11K INR from Mumbai. Thus, I traveled to Chennai via train & boarded a flight from Chennai. This way, I was able to cut down on my flight charges. The best place to find cheap tickets is SKYSCANNER.[spacer height=”20px”]

[spacer height=”20px”]Accommodation: Staying is another factor which can pull a major chunk of money. However, as Thailand is much cheaper than western countries &hence it is easy to find good accommodation at a cheap rate. Hostels price starts from as low as INR 150 & goes up to INR 1500 for a night. I booked a hostel through BOOKING.COM & stayed in one of the best hostels at the premium location of Khan Sao Road; at a cost of INR 250 per night. I prefer hostels for two reasons; one it costs very low & second it provides an opportunity to meet new people. I made several friends while staying at hostels.[spacer height=”20px”]

[spacer height=”20px”]Food: Being vegetarian it is difficult to survive outside India. One of the best ways to eat cheap & veg food is to have food on streets. I was able to eat noodles, rice, bread & butter, juices all on the street that to at the cheapest of prices. A price of noodle plate costs INR 40; whereas the same plate cost approx. INR 120 in some restaurants. There is not a major difference in the taste but there is surely a difference in prices. There is one departmental store in Bangkok which is 7 11. It is the best departmental store I came across ever. The place is open 24 * 7 & it offers everything on an MRP. Thus, no matter where you are, you can always find a good offer in this shop. This shop is located at every corner of Bangkok. So, the best way to have anything is from this shop only.[spacer height=”20px”]

[spacer height=”20px”]Public Transport: Bangkok has a very efficient public transport system, buses, metro & waterway all have a decent connectivity. The buses run from each corner & connect major points in Bangkok. I traveled mostly through Buses & ferries. I liked ferries more as it was a nice change for me as it also gave a feeling of some movie. The prices of bus tickets are as low as INR 2.[spacer height=”20px”]

[spacer height=”20px”]Also, I have not done activities which do not excite me, I am a person who believes in experiences, so rather than doing everything; I just did the things which were interesting enough for me. This is a nice way to keep cost on a check.
All these techniques helped me to reduce price subsequently. If on a single trip one can save upto 40% of the trip cost (which is a huge cost); it is always a blessing. There will be many people who will be against such thinking, but it is ok. I am here to share my stories ;).
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If you like my stories. Do Subscribe to my blog. Your comments will inspire me to write more.
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In case, of any queries; you can mail me at [email protected].

Top Things To Do In Bangkok

Bangkok

Thailand is a fantastic place to be in. A true backpackers paradise, on the out-sight it is vibrant, colorful & fun loving. Crowded through the year with travelers, this place is surely on the list of everyone. I stayed for 4 days in Bangkok & Pattaya. It was a great trip, I loved the culture, the ambiance, the energy & the feel of the city. This place needs to be visited at least once in a lifetime.

So, What are the things to do in Bangkok?

Here is my take on the world’s backpackers capital & my guide of things to do in Bangkok.

*) Khao San Road: No matter from which place you come, this place is a must visit place in Bangkok. The road is famous for its roadside cafes, bars & never-ending party nights. This place is vibrant & lively. From roadside eateries to decent restaurants everything can be found here. The place is decent until 11 pm in the night. But after that, it is just a madhouse. By 12 this place is jam-packed with peoples. High music & vibrant environment is hard to be ignored & if you are YOUNG, WILD & FREE; this is THE PLACE FOR YOU. Scorpions are available like a Kabab’s 😛

 Things To Do In Bangkok Khao San Road

*) Nana Plaza: Nana Plaza is another prime attraction of Bangkok. A red light area. The place gives a glimpse of everything :D. There are different types of outlets depending upon interests. It is visited by almost every tourist. The nights are lively & eventful.

Things To Do In Bangkok Nana Plaza

*) China Town: Chinese have made a place for themselves in most of the cities. The place to find cheap & affordable collectibles. Known for shopping, one can find good products here. One way to cover this place is through the cycle, but I did it on foot.Food is also one of the specialties of this place. Try street food here; it’s amazing.

*) Floating Market: One of the most promoted activities in Bangkok. It is astonishing to see all the selling done on the boat; it is good for the first time. I did not find it interesting enough. However, it is very famous among western tourists. The cost of the boat is higher comparatively, but it is expected considering the hype of the place & amount of tourism it attracts.

Floating Market Mark My Advneture

*) Temples: Bangkok is mainly a Buddhist country. Every place there is temples of Buddha. I am from India, hence had a little interest for the temples. However, for western travelers, it is a good attraction. The Grand Palace is one of the main temples in Bangkok. The place can be reached through waterways as well as through road.

The Grand Palace Mark My Adventure

Spa:

After roaming around the places, one is always up for some refreshments & in Bangkok, there are plenty of Spa & Massage centers. Nothing best than ending your day with a perfect spa & massage. There is a service provider named Riwigo; which offer best services at discounted rates. When in Bangkok book an appointment through Riwigo & enjoy some leisure time.

This is my views of things to do in Bangkok. However, Bangkok is not all about all these; there are many other attraction like MBK (A shopping paradise for Bangkok peoples) , Wax Museum, Ayuthaya Ruins ( A city of ruins), Tiger Safari ( A place to get photo with big Cats, I chose to skip this after seeing one documentary about how owner teased big cats; It saddened my heart hence chose to skip this), Elephant Safari ( Elephant is respected in whole of a Thailand, There is safari of the same).

So, It depends on what you like, there are so many things to do in Bangkok. I stayed for 4 days but should have stayed more. But, it is the beauty of traveling, it is difficult to cover everything at a single point in time. However, I loved the experience of the city & would definitely visit it again.

Other than places, there is a factor which adds to the flavor of Bangkok is the COST. South East Asia is considered as one of the cheapest places for a holiday. On average, per day cost works out to be INR 500 (less than $10). So, no doubt why this place is topping the chart in tourism.

This is my suggestions on top things to do in Bangkok.

In case you have any queries, you can write to me. My co-ordinates are mentioned in Contact Me page. Also, SUBSCRIBE to my page for staying up to date.

The Perfect Evening In Mumbai

Mumbai is a financial hub of India & also among the most famous ones. It is the only city in India which is running 24*7. Mumbai attracts approx. 4 to 5 millions tourists every year. There are so many things to do in Mumbai.

Why wouldn’t any one will fall for this city. There are many facts to support that Mumbai is way more than a city; some of the reasons are SAFETY, GOOD VIBES & the ARABIAN SEA. But, most interesting part of Mumbai is it’s people. I have hardly seen anyone fighting here.Local trains are jam packed with commuters but still, people help each other.  May be, this is the reason for the name “Amachi Mumbai

There are many to do in Mumbai. From pub hopping in Bandra to beach in Juhu; From nature abode in the national park to the hanging garden. But one thing which is epitome of Mumbai is “THE NARIMAN POINT“.

One of the so many things to do in Mumbai & one is to spend a perfect Sunday evening at Nariman Point. Nariman point is located at the end of 1.5 Km stretch of Marine Drive. This point attracts thousands of tourist

So, What Makes This An Exciting Place To Be In?

A place from where it is easy to see the skyline of Mumbai (Long tall buildings standing on the Arabian Sea is worth a view).

Marine Lines Mark My Adventure

A place from where it is easy to view; is an unending Arabian Sea. An unending view to mesmerize your perception of life. A place to lose yourself & enjoy some peace time with waves & also with yourself ;).

Marine Lines Mark My Adventure

A place where every superstar has sat atleast once.

A place where people visualize their dream.

A place where the couples talk about their future.

For some peoples, it is a place to celebrate birthdays.

In short, it is a place for everything. While all these discussions are taking place there is small element “Sun” slowly slowly setting into the Arabian Sea. The transition of colors from orange to yellow to blue can be witnessed. The way sun disappears in the Arabian Sea, leaving its impression on the sky through it sunlight is one of the few precious moments which everyone can enjoy without paying a penny.  Nothing is much calmer than watching a Sun Setting & true colors of the sky.

Sunset at Nariman Point Mark My Adventure

I have their hundreds of times but every time I went there, it’s all new & refreshing each time.

Other Activites:

After relaxing at Nariman Point, head towards Colaba. Some of the must visit places in Colaba are as follows

Leopold Cafe: Very popular cafe in Colaba. The place has an amazing vibe &  food is good. The place was targetted by terrorist during 26/11 attacks. However, it is restored & fully functional now;  but the impression of bullets are still visible at some places in this cafe.

Leopold Cafe Things To Do In Mumbai

Mondegar: Another place to hang out. A customize music system add to the glory of this place. The rates are decent, food is amazing & ambiance is too good to be ignored. A must visit cafe in Colaba.

Mondegar Mark My Adventure

Gokul: One of the shady places in Mumbai & is located in the prime location of Mumbai. The reason this place is famous is cheap alcohol. This shady ambiance attracts lot of young crowds.Rates offered by Gokul is unresistable place compared to its surroundings.

Gokul Things to do in Mumbai

Bayview Cafe: If you like open spaces & sea view this is the ideal place for you. This cafe is way to go. It is at walkable distance from Gate of India. Sitting are in open. The breezy atmosphere & mighty Arabian Sea is its USP. Spend atleast couple of hours here.

Bayview

The Marina Upper Deck: This place is an open arrangement. Food & location is the USP of this place. Views from this place is amazing. The food is bit costly but with an amazing view & good ambience, cost part can be ignored.

Bade Miyan: The famous food outlet attracts every person at least once. The non veg is mouth watering. It has decend veg food. But, it is mainly famous for non veg. Recommended to try it once if you are in Mumbai.

Bademiya Mumbai

Gateway of India: Just visit this place & fall in love with the building.

This is my point of view to spend a perfect evening in India’s most vibrant city. I will be updating more on Mumbai in coming post. If you like my writing, do COMMENT or SUBSCRIBE to my website.

Why I Travel Solo

Traveling with friends is always fun. Before China became my first solo trip outside India, I used to travel in a group only. However, my perception changed after my first solo travel. I enjoyed it so much that now I prefer solo traveling, over group travel.

WHAT Solo Trip, R U MAD ???

Reason Mark My Adventure

This is the general answer people gets when they say the word Solo Travel.

Why is it still a taboo to travel solo in India?

Some of the reason I can think of are followings.

Fear: The fear of traveling alone is the most common reason. Fear of “IF”. What if you are lost, what if you are in some problem, what if you get sick, what if you die. But there is an interesting quote from Mark Twain he said “I have had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened”  which is true.

Unknown Territory: It is difficult to plan every move in traveling. Visiting an unknown territory always terrorizes humans.

Expense: While traveling in a group all the expense is distributed equally. However, while traveling solo expenditure has to be borne by a single person which can result in high expenditure.

Safety: Safety is one important aspect which possibly plays an important role in deciding. As being solo one need to be extra smart, extra active & extra observant to avoid any kind of mishappening.

I consider above points as a prime villain’s against solo travel. I too came across all these points while deciding on my first solo trip outside India. In general, I take calculated risk. If I know 70% of things I will do that thing. (“At some point, I had even gone for far less than 70% as I really wanted to experience that thing even if the result was a failure”)

Leap of Faith

Conquering fears are the foremost thing while traveling. The moment mind is in control things seems to get in control. First time I was about to board the flight to China my heart pounded like anything. With no history of traveling outside the country,  my mind was covered with all types of thoughts. It was too hard to keep it stable. I took a deep breath drank water & promised myself not to react to any insane thoughts. I believe that“If you can’t control thing, you shall not worry; if you can then why to worry“. Sounds cheesy but I try to think of this quote in stress.

The World is there for taking 😛

So, while on the roads following were my observation.

Confidence: Stepping outside is always a challenging part. While on roads one needs to make several decisions whether it is good or bad needs to be decided in fractions of moments.  Small small decisions like taking a public mode of transport or taxi, staying in a hotel or a hostel boost confidence of an individual. The more decision we take the more confident we become. With confidence fear of unknown vanishes.

Observation: While on roads it is required to observe your surrounding as anything can happen. While coming back from Mount Hua to Xian I missed last bullet train, I was short on cash to check into a hotel or hostel, thus I decided to travel back. I took a taxi to a local station which was remotely located. I observed everything which driver did to be extra sure of the situation. Sounds scary but it is one good habit to develop while on the roads.

Company of the Self: I am not much of a social bug. While traveling my mobile phone is generally switched off. I believe “If you are not happy with yourself you are in wrong company 😀“. So, I stay away from the technology & spend much of the time to understand myself, to understand nature, to enjoy little things on road. I have watched people doing a group dance to invite customers to have food in China. Saw a kid playing some instrument while trekking to waterfall. I found out “the more you travel alone the more you start loving yourself rather finding yourself.”

Adventure: Traveling solo gives a sense of adventure. In this monotonous life, it is hard to break the norms. But, with traveling alone one can do the same. There is no one to help you no one to comfort you. For some this is scary. However, it is adventurous for me. I went to see waterfall by myself in Bali, I trekked Mount Hua solo.

Health: Health is an important criteria for current generation. There are some studies which shows that traveling makes you smarter, stronger & healthier. While browsing through some of the articles. I came across a very enlighting article about how traveling changes health. Read the article here.

P.S: I am smiling at present by remembering the glimpse of the same. This is how traveling solo shapes you up.

Faith & Trust: One need to make a decision by himself/herself. Whether it is good or bad you are the only sufferer. I took risk of traveling in the night at 11 pm in Bali. I trusted people to show me right path while looking for an address. While looking for my hostel in Pattaya local shop owner called my host to locate the exact place for me. All these are minute things but it builds the trust & faith.

A beautiful place: I was stranded in Mount Hua while trekking; a group of Chinese people went out of the way & offered me night torch along with showing me the path. I asked for a direction from a shop owner who did not know English in Bali but explained the direction with his gestures. These small act encourages humanity in the world.

New insight: Traveling alone has its benefit you tend to meet new people’s, you get to know about their story & their traveling experience. I met many people who were traveling for 6 months & planned to travel more. I enjoy talking to new people. It’s a worthy experience to know about different cultures.

Freedom: Solo travel often comes with a freedom to do anything. No more waiting for the group to decide on an activity. While solo you can decide for yourself. I relaxed on Gilli Air beach rather than opting for snorkeling.

Memories: You come back with million of memories. Even while writing this post, my memories of traveling to China, Bangkok & Bali came into my mind. I believe that fact that it best to COLLECT MOMENTS, NOT MONEY. While traveling alone “I forever engraved my solo experiences with me. When I am old I will tell about these stories to younger generation’s 😀 (Melodramatic I know)”

Drug: Solo travel is like a drug. Once this bites you, it’s hard to come back to normal life.I did my first solo trip on Nov 15 & the very next year I went to Bangkok & Bali. This year I am planning for Europe. I truly believe it is a drug.

If a solo trip has so many benefits why not do it now when you are young & free. I did mine & truly loved it. I hope you will do the same. Hoping to hear some inspiring stories.

How China Became My First Abroad Trip

It is Sept 15 & birthday is around the corner. Need to do something different this time around

Tip:

Traveling for me is the big thing. So, I was itching to travel abroad for my birthday. I started browsing different places which can offer me an adventurous trip under my budget outside India. After surfing many websites I came across a list. A list of a most dangerous trek around the world; a particular trek in China attracted my attention. It was Mount Huashan. Mount Huashan is located in a small village Huashan near Xi’an.  The USP of this trek is that you get to cross a small patch of a mountain on a 0.5 Mt of plank which is 1000’s feets above ground.

YEAH !!! you heard it right if you fall, you are dead before reaching the bottom of it.

Budget:

So, after deciding on the destination it’s was time to cater to more important issue MONEY. I am a working professional in Mumbai & saving money & traveling is not usual. But, my enthusiasm towards traveling led me to cut down unwanted expenses to fund my travel. I looked for the cheapest flight from India to China. “During my this searching stint I found out that TO & FRO flights cost cheaper than booking tickets for two separate cities.” The tickets cost me around Rs 27 K INR TO & FRO. “Deciding a budget before traveling is essential. It helps you to plan things more efficiently“. I decided for a budget of Rs 50K INR including everything. Some will consider this as a very small amount, as many will say you are going for the first time spend more leisurely. But, I have a different mindset. “I want to travel more within a budget. Also, I am against of spending too much on unwanted things“.

Ticket Booking:

I booked tickets from Yatra.com as it offered me an EMI option at that time. Thus, booked the ticket without giving it a second thought. Booking ticket became my first step towards my first solo trip outside India.

Traveling alone is often considered as Taboo in India. People see you with raised eyebrows if you say you are traveling solo. But, this didn’t stop me from doing it. Traveling solo is fun which I will cover in another post“.

Getting Visa:

Getting visa was the tricky part, China visa required me to show INR 1,60,000 in my account & with a meager salary, it is tough to show all those cash in the bank account. So, I asked everyone to transfer cash into my account so that I can reach that magical number & after all the permutation combination in my bank account I applied for a visa.

Thankfully, after a week of time, I got my visa which was a big relief & after all, pre-requisite done it was time to pack bags & explore the place.

China Visa Mark My Adventure

This is how I planned for my first trip solo outside India. Eagerness to climb plank route I decided to choose for an untraveled place. Mostly people travel to Shanghai, Beijing,  Hong kong but I choose Xian for a single adventure. “Very off the road indeed but the road less traveled made all the difference 😉

Experience:

It took me around 3.5  hours from the base of the mountain to reach the south peak of Mount Hua. The moment I was about to cross plank route my pain of walking continuously on stairs for 3.5 Hours vanished. The site was a beauty, unending peaks of mountains can be seen through that point, the sun was about to set. With one long breath, I walked step by step & crossed the plank. The moment I reached at the end of the plank I  wished HAPPY BIRTHDAY to myself. I stayed for about 20 mint’s to recall the journey. It was a worthy experience. It is worthy to stop & look what all you have achieved. Enjoy it for some time & then leave for another journey

China Mount Hua My Adventure

 

It seems to be like a dream now. But, traveling alone to a place where English is not understood by 95%  of peoples that too without any guide or any group or without any prior experience is one kind of experience.

Little risk towards unknown territories makes you feel alive in this life. I am glad I took that decision to travel to China. This was just the start I hope to travel more & more.

 

Why I Started A Blog

Having a voice on the internet is becoming a trend & there is no better way to share your thoughts other than Blog. Blog’s has revolutionized the way internet works. People started blogging to share their knowledge which could help them to earn a handsome amount of money. There are many individuals like Neil Patel, Seth Godin, Nomad Matt, John Ward who has taken blogging to next level. People like these have inspired thousands of individuals to start something exciting & new &  I am one of them.

Blog Mark My Adventure

For long I wanted to start something for myself, a product which is owned by me. I tried many things but blogging pulled my attention. I am a civil Engg & didn’t know any line of coding. I tried to learn to code through online courses but realized it will take time. So, I needed to find some variant of the same.

I came to know about WordPress. A place where a person can design their website through minimum or no coding. They have thousands of templates & depending upon requirement one can select any theme.  I searched for “how to create a blog on WordPress” on YouTube & watched top videos to gain knowledge of the same.

It was tough at the starting but soon I started practicing on my dummy blog untouchedroads.wordpress.com. I posted few articles & once I was familiar with the process I took the decision to start my own website. I purchased my domain & hosting from GoDaddy & started my journey of a digital nomad.

Once I created my account I setup WordPress account & started my journey to create a WordPress website Mark My Adventure

I love traveling, hence I shortlisted Traveling. The result is in front of you. I am managing my website Mark My Adventure.

The reason WHY I STARTED A BLOG are following

*) Pride: Creating something from scratch is always difficult specially when it is not your field. I successfully managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat which gives me a pride of starting something new.

*) The unknown territory: This is the first time when I took a step to create something. I feel this is my startup & like every journey, this is also a journey. I didn’t have any godfather to teach how it is done but I realized it is all about first step & rest is simple.

*) Pet Project: I am an avid reader & there is one blog with the name how to land a job you want. In that blog, I understood how important it is to show your worth & opportunities will be created for you rather than you creating opportunities. This project is my effort to create something original & worth.

*) Earn: I believe in second income & this is sought of a way to generate good revenue so that I can fund my travels. I am in a good job but traveling & working together is difficult to manage, through this I want to travel most of the time & work remotely.

*) Name: Everything which is on the internet stays on the internet, through this blog I can create a brand for myself.

Mark My Adventure

All these are my views on starting a blog. I want to improve my expertise in blogging, digital marketing & growth hacking. I love to try new things & if you are looking to start your own, DON’T WORRY JUST START IT  everything will get into place; just take one step at a time.

There will be many people who are ahead of you at this given moment of the time but if you will keep working soon you can compete with the best.

Subscribe to my blog to know more about my journey.

PS: IF I CAN DO IT YOU TO CAN DO IT.

 

Why I Decided to Spend Rs 1500 on Camping on Rajmachi Fort

Start of an Idea

 
Working in a corporate world comes with only one perk; that is monthly salary. Bored of killing time in clubbing, I decided to try something new; so came up with an idea of camping at Rajmachi Fort. Thus, an idea came into existing. I recently bought a tent & was eager to put it into use & this seems to be a perfect opportunity to use my new product.

 

Sunset to remember

Ride To Unknown Territories

 
We fill the petrol, started a long journey to the unknowns. Mumbai – Pune highway is a   perfect territory for long drives. The ease with which car maneuvers is perfect. Put the music & relax every bone inside you. Long drives are fun & I wish I could do this more often. We reached Lonavala in 2 hours & from Lonavala we took a turn to Della adventures.

Mark My Adventure

There is two way to reach the fort one is through Karjat & another one from Lonavala; we chose Lonavala. But, the roads were worse, it was a road of stones. During our bumpy ride, we realized it is not workable to reach fort in next couple of hours. So, we came up with a plan B which was camping in one random cliff. Soon, we started to search for a place to park a car. We started our exploration of no man’s cliff. We reached the end of the cliff after crossing a river body, a small trail of forest, ups & down’s of rough path.
 
We lit the fire & used a tent to sleep. The most amazing part of that cliff was enjoying nature without any disturbance. Peace or the quietness of the place was an amazing experience. The feeling of staying on that cliff was adventurous & peaceful at the same time.
 

The Awakening

After few hours, nature showed its magic & everything seemed to be more beautiful & grand. We spend 3000 Rs on this trip we were 3 guys & after that night, I felt it was one of the good decision I made that day.
 
After Rajmachi Fort trek, I felt that sometimes it’s best to take a break from busy schedule & look back on things.
 
After spending so much time with technology which is making life busy. It is best to unwind yourself in such a pleasant place & enjoy unlimited inch of natural screen rather than enjoying a mobile 4-inch screen.

 

I will be documenting my journey through my blog posts. Do subscribe & share if you liked my posts.