Friday, August 31, 2007

Food Fiasco

So, I was at Times Square in New York, when a friend, who recently came from India, suggested that we all eat hot dogs. Well.... sometimes making food choices in the West can be disastrous. Not because there is anything wrong with the hot dogs, except for one thing -- here they are made of beef unlike the potato ones that we get in India. And, I am sure for most Indians beef is a no-no on the menu list.

It is always good to research a bit on the food before you travel. It only makes your life easier and avoids any such disasters!

Honeymoon Travels

So..I was chatting with a friend of mine when she shared the plans of her upcoming wedding and the honeymoon that follows. Her plan -- to go India for the wedding, and while on her way back to the US, take a stopover in Europe for the honeymoon.

I guess many expat Indians often make such plans for their weddings. But, to me it doesn't sound to be the best idea. And as a recently wed person, I definitely can say that.

First, you are dead tiered after a three-day Indian wedding... which you arranged within the three weeks of your time off from work. Believe me, organizing an Indian wedding is quite a task and given that most American companise allow an average of three weeks' vacation every year, which one definitely uses at the time of his wedding. And then, the ceremonies leave you drained off energy... you definitely don't want to travel right after that when you know you have to take a 20-hour flight back home.

Second, the trans-Atlantic flights allow two baggage to check in and another one to carry...so together with he spouse, one may be carrying six+ baggage... and you don't want to travel in Europe with all that load. Given that you just got married chances are that you had enough to carry back to US... and this just might ruin your dream holiday!

My Take: take a short vacation after the wedding in India or close by if time permits, basically to relax and catch up on that lost sleep during the festivities and then plan another holiday in Europe or any place else, when you are rejuvenated, settled and ready to enjoy the beauty of the place. And travel light!