I came across this lovely video and thought of sharing it.
ENJOY 🙂
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Anup Baria is not a professional filmmaker, just a passionate traveller who wants to share the beauty of the world in the most creative way possible.
This video was made in October 2015 when he packed his bags, his  filming gear and flew to South India to a place he always wanted to visit, Kerala. This video showcases places he has visited Kochi, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Kumily and Athirapally.
Friends, I would like to introduce you to travel blogger Alice from Teacake Travels.
Me: For the readers, please could you introduce yourself and your blog?
Alice: Strong-minded, honest, inquisitive, straight-talking and in search of the next thrill, I’m Alice at Teacake Travels! It’s all about solo female travel in Asia and pushing your boundaries to reach your full potential through travel. It’s for the traveller who is on a path to find out more about themselves and test their limits but also for the armchair reader who wants to go deeper into life’s reflections and life lessons through all the experiences I put myself through.
Me: What was the motivation behind starting this blog?
Alice: What started out as just writing a piece for my friend’s blog about teaching English abroad quickly turned into an addiction to travel writing and promoting women’s rights. I always had it in my mind that I would write a book or make a zine but discovering blogging through all these ideas into one platform. I absolutely love it. It’s my baby, it’s real, it’s me and it’s proving to be a great resource for women to gain strength, courage and motivation to go out there on their own and conquer their adventurous dreams.
Me: How do you fund your travels?
Alice: Through many ways! I predominantly funded my travels for the first five years through Teaching English Abroad in South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. I adore teaching and get immense satisfaction by giving others the gift of English. Then the other things I love brought my money too. Playing the drums in bands, performing in Burlesque shows and now through Travel Blogging.
Me: Which are favourite travel destinations?
Alice: The challenging ones! I write about solo female travel in Asia and to date my most favourite country has been Bangladesh. The experience was fantastic because of the Bangladeshi people (possibly the nicest people in the world) and the food and the scenery and the architecture and (I could go on and on).
Me: Where is your next travel destination?
Alice: In July, I’m driving from the UK to Mongolia across 21 countries with four amazing women in 50 days to raise money for and document women’s rights. It’s all part of the Mongol Rally and it’s going to be one hell of a journey to follow. Make sure to follow along with us! After that, I think I’m gonna need some respite and TLC. I’ll be heading to Bali to catch some waves and recover.
Me: What is it like to travel solo? Any tips for the first-time solo travellers?
Alice: It’s the best! Please don’t be scared. This planet is awesome with amazing people and extraordinary places and if you want to find out who you are, what you want, what you need and what you want from life, solo travel is for you. There’s no better way to educate yourself on these matters. You’ll be challenged and treated to some life-changing experiences and your old-self will be thankful for taking the leap and deciding to travel. No one wants to leave this earth not having fulfilled their dreams. If you’re dreaming, seize the desire! If you’re travelling for the first time, check out my backpacking packing tips and build up for excitement and motivation here.
Me: The best meal you’ve eaten anywhere?
Alice: Kimchi Jiggae in South Korea. I’m nuts about Korean food. Even if I’m in Germany or made it to the North Pole, I’d go out of my way to find a Korean Restaurant.
Me: Who is (are) your inspiration in the travel world?
Alice: Women who do crazy stuff, strong stuff and stuff other women don’t do are pretty much my heroes. This includes Iris from Mind Of A Hitchhiker and Jessica from Comfort Is For Wimps.
Me: Are there any books you read as a child that inspired your travel interests?
Alice: Alice in Wonderland!
Me: What is your travel motto?
Alice: Grab fear by the balls, push your boundaries and reach your full potential through solo female travel. I use to travel for life lessons and to be the best person I can be by trying to learn from others and myself.
Me: Name three hardest things/setbacks that you experienced through your blog?
Alice: Setting up a blog is a bit of a minefield. I’m constantly learning new things and having to backtrack, making changes, chopping things up…it’s a never-ending learning process. I integrated Pinterest at a much later date than I really should have. I only learnt about SEO six months ago and I have a newsletter advertised but still haven’t sent one out! Rome wasn’t built in a day. That’s what I tell myself ><
Me: Name 3 (personal travel stories) setbacks that you experienced in your travels?
Alice: Oh man, where do I start? I accidentally became pregnant on my first serious backpacking trip and had to head to Cambodia for an abortion. Whilst I was there I witnessed a death at a funfair to add a cherry on top of it all and lately, I had to deal heavy-handedly with a Chinese guy.
Me: Have you ever faced a ‘writer’s block’? If yes, how do you overcome it?
Alice: Hell yeah. I hate it when that block comes and trust me, it can come every couple of months sometimes. I love writing and I love sharing my experiences with everyone. Sometimes the ideas and experiences come crashing across the ocean with full gusto but other times tumbleweeds are rolling across the desert in my mind. You can’t force yourself to write if the passion isn’t there. I just wait, keep on travelling and try to experience my days with full awareness for that next story to come along. It always does.
Me: Any tools you can suggest that bloggers could use in their first year?
Alice: Ooh yes! Travel Blogging is about 20% and 80% social media promotion. There’s no point writing a masterpiece if no one is going to see it. Get clued up on how to use social media and market yourself then use a couple of tools to help you manage all of it. I recommend Tailwind for Pinterest and Hootsuite for Twitter.
Me: Any comments, suggestions.
Alice: Feel free to pop me an email at aliceteacake@teacaketravels.com if you want to ask me anything and stay connected with the chaos on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!
Everyone has once dreamed, planned or even conspired for a Swiss holiday. Just like a star, Switzerland commands the attention of the eager traveler, is rather extravagant in its tastes and boasts of unspeakable beauty. Everything extracted from this wonderful country carries the luxury with it– Swiss chocolates, Swiss watches, Swiss cheese. Home to the Alps, the Swiss landscape has been the magical setting to many stories, from children’s favorite Heidi to Mary Shelley’s Gothic monster, Frankenstein; this alone should give you the sheer variety of views and things you would encounter here. No Switzerland itinerary can boast of having seen it all, but like everything Swiss, it can boast of quality over quantity.
The Swiss railways promise comfort with great views of the running landscape from your window. Various lines connect almost the whole of the country. Buses and boats are also great options. To make your journey easier, you can book the all-encompassing Swiss Travel Pass by Switzerland Tourism that gives you access to any kind of public transport in the country.
The most desirable city in the world, the most livable city in the world and the birth-point of art and music movements, Zurich’s multiple identities have coagulated brilliantly into one multi-dimensional, vibrant and chic city. It’s fast-paced life, lively night scene and more than 100 art galleries and museums, have all come together to make sure this city becomes the very first experience of the Swiss traveler. In fact, so great is its fame that it is often misconstrued as Switzerland’s capital (over its actual capital, Bern). No Switzerland Itinerary gives Zurich a miss.
Note: Get a ZurichCARD as soon as you reach here. It will give you access to the city’s railway system and some of its museums, trams, cable train and boat services.
1) Enjoy a Relaxing Boat Ride on Lake Zurich
2) Enjoy the Aesthetics of Contemporary Art
You are likely to stumble upon a gallery on every street, but you should specifically look for the Kunsthaus, Kunsthalle or the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst.
3) Enjoy an Evening of Opera
Opernhaus Zurich has an in-house opera, theater and ballet group that put up some popular performances in its elaborately built Opera house.
Zurich has the coolest service of renting out bikes for free! Take one and wheel off to some of its historical landmarks or just enjoy its routine beauty.
5) Welcome to the city of Chocolate
From rummaging through chocolate shops like Confiserie Sprungli and Confiserie Teuscher to taking chocolate tours around the city, the Swiss Chocolate is a dream come true.
Traveling between these two places can be made much more fun if you head to Lucerne, which is around an hour away from Zurich and hop on the Golden Pass Railway which will take you through exquisite views of Lucerne, Interlaken, Zweisimmen and Montreux. The Golden Pass is one of the most recommended railway journeys on a Switzerland Itinerary. From Montreux, you can take another train which will take you to Geneva in about an hour.
Describing Geneva as the world center for peace (headquarters to both the United Nations and the Red Cross) is somewhat an oxymoron. The bouncing, zipping, swishing, racing nerve of the city can infuse energy even in the laziest of tourists. The second gem of from places to visit in Switzerland list, Geneva outdoes its diplomatic image with its warm and welcoming markets, museums and natural landscapes. If you are looking for a good time, it doesn’t get better than Geneva.
1) Find Treasured Souvenirs and more at the Plainpalais Flea Market
2) Take a Day Trip to Mont Blanc – the Highest Peak in the Alps
3) Chill at Bains des Pâquis
Swim, Laze around, take a massage or enjoy some brunch; sloth is hardly a sin here.
4) Tour the United Nations’ Headquarters
5) Gaze at some classical and tribal art at Barbier-Mueller Museum
Zermatt is a small snowy village at the foot of the gigantic Matterhorn peak. It’s a humble and quiet destination away from the glitz of Zurich and Geneva. To be honest, this is a sort of a stand-by on your Switzerland Itinerary; a resting place before you, once again, get swept off by the vivaciousness of St. Moritz. Apart from being home to snow adventures and breathtaking views, Zermatt is also the starting point of the Glacial Express – the almost unmissable experience of Switzerland tourism.
1) Take a ride from the highest cable car station in Europe: Matterhorn Glacial Paradise
Picture credit: ben d
2) Trek to Gornergrat
The view of the Gorner gorge is more than to die for!
Picture credit: CSaint Lin
3) Visit the Enchanting Glacial Palace
A chance to see ice sculpture 15-meters inside a glacier!
Picture credit: rumpelstiltskin1
Picture credit: Mark Goebel
This is undoubtedly the most loved train journey in the world. It is also a slow journey, about 7 hours that takes you across the wild, snow-covered Alps. It starts from Zermatt crosses Davos and drops you in St. Moritz. This is your railway journey of a lifetime!
The international ambassador for skiing, St. Moritz has become synonymous with the adventure, charm, thrill and the smothering beauty of the Swiss Alps. The point of origin for winter adventures, this alpine town has invited enthusiastic tourists, mad adventurers and pro-athletes and treated them with gorgeous mountain slopes and frozen lakes. Its resting beauty is complimented by its sophisticated infrastructure of some of the most luxurious and prime ski resorts, hotels, restaurants and galleries. Adventure and luxury know no better place to reside than in the cradle of the Alps, here in St. Moritz.
1) Go Skiing and Beyond
You can oblige to the natural cliché of the ski resort or go for the adventure less taken with ice skating, kite skiing, curling, tobogganing, ice sledging etc.
2) Enjoy Alpine views from Piz Nair
One of the most beautiful peaks in the area with an operating cable car service and snowy terrains that once hosted the Winter Olympics.
Picture credit: Vasile Cotovanu
3) Get Inspired at the Serangtini Museum
The 19th-century Swiss artist, Serangtini is much celebrated for his realistic paintings of the Swiss landscape. The museum hosts his largest collection of artwork in the world.
4) Walk through Local History at Engadine Museum
Takes you from the modern to the prehistoric past of the local culture.
5) Enjoy the Calm of St. Moritz Lake
To be continued….best places to eat while in Switzerland
SOURCE: Tripoto
Friends, let me introduce you to #travel blogger Paul Johnson.
Me: For the readers who don’t know about you, please could you introduce yourself and your blog?
Me: What was the motivation behind starting this blog?
Me: How do you fund your travels?
Me: How did you come up with the idea of writing exclusively on luxury travel? And, what is ‘luxury’ for you?
Me: It seems you are foodie with delicious recipes for your readers. Tell us about favourite cuisines across the globe?
Me: Which are favourite travel destinations?
Me: Where is your next travel destination?
Me: Name the hardest things/setbacks that you experienced through your blog?
Me: Any tools you can suggest that bloggers could use in their first year?