though i've done this twice already, i'm always up for it. goa is fun, period. and with friends its an all out blast. the next time i go around, i want to wander around fontainhas district in panjim, check out more shacks along the coast and definitely drive in an open top jeep.
where to stay : fort tiracol, north goa, is a small restored fort, far flung from the crowds and overlooks a deserted coast.
99. wild wadi water park
one of the best water parks on earth is actually at the edge of the desert in dubai. with a selection of killer slides, huge wavepools and even a flash flood simulator, you do have a good enough reason to visit over-the-top dubai.
where to stay : for the pure experience - burj al arab. its horrendous in its design sensibilities, but still. otherwise, the al maha desert resort and spa offers a great tented setup in the arab desert.
98. taj mahal by the full moon
98. taj mahal by the full moon
i doubt this needs any explanation. only passes for the bureaucratic brouhaha.
where to stay : obviously, the oberoi amarvilas, with its regularly updated collection of world's best awards and some astronomically high luxury standards. apart from the 600-m-away-taj views.
97. amsterdam's red light district
amsterdam's star attraction is its darkest, and walking around a district full of brothels, sex shops, 'hash' joints and strip clubs was a fun experience indeed. try and make it on a day when the dutch have something to celebrate about and its one wild party on the streets. when i'd gone, the dutch had just one a world cup match, and there were drunk oranjes on the loose, creating one laughathon.
where to stay : hotel patou, which has a gourmet eatery attached with 12 minimalist rooms. very chic, very intimate and bang in the centre of the city.
96. bhaang in jaisalmer
most of my batchmates fondly remember one wild night after having bhaang under jaisalmer's golden fort. you go crazy in rajasthan's best mainstream destination, and spend a night hallucinating, blabbering, losing your balance and so on.
where to stay : nowhere specific in jaisalmer, but outside, on the way to the sam sand dunes, you hit the serai, a classy collection of genuine luxury tents and even a pool, in the middle of the desert with nothing else in sight.
95. coffee plantations in coorg
or kodagu, as it is officially called. this is a pretty segment of the western ghats and has a countless number of charming estates and plantations, along with pleasant walks through forested hills. it also helps that the coorgis are rumoured to be the best looking in the country.
where to stay : orange county, though overhyped, is still a fine place to put yourself up.
94. jogging in central park
with every second hollywood movie romanticizing this rectangular block of green in the midst of skyscrapers, you do end up wanting to jog the mile, and catch the eye of a beautiful stranger in his or her nikes.
where to stay : the pierre by taj has just undergone a rehaul, and while it maintains a classical touch, the location is hard to beat. plus taj ain't that bad hoteliers.
93. cross the panama canal
be it on land or sea, and you'll pass through a tropical central american paradise to boot, between the pacific and the carribean!
where to stay : the canal house hotel in panama city is a chic townhouse which also put up daniel craig when he was shooting for quantum of solace.
92. drive on the autobahn
92. drive on the autobahn
pick an audi or porsche or mercedes benz or bmw, and simply rev it up on the now mythical autobahn in germany, austria and switzerland. drive from fussen in bavaria to innsbruck, austria, and youll be reaching top speeds in the sight of neuschwanstein castle and the alps.
where to stay : in munich, the 150 year old bayerischer hof is every bit the grande dame. off in innsbruck, leave town and head to an equally ritzy but far modern lanserhof which is also the haunt of roman abramovich.
91. dev deepavali
91. dev deepavali
this is probably cultural india at its peak. to crown off a thematic journey as any, benares offers a celebration full of lights, frenzied devotion and a placid river.
where to stay : nadesar palace, by taj, is a bit off the cultural core, but is hands down the finest place to stay.
current count - 3/10 journeys done.
current count - 3/10 journeys done.
next time, as we head from 90 to 81, you can mix a bit of romance, music and dance.
done any of these journeys? speak out and opinionate!
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