DocDivaTraveller

Long before Instagram was a thing, photography and food enthusiasts had a knack of capturing food on their cameras, without thinking of posting it anywhere. When I was in college, I had a simple mobile camera, but I made sure that I documented all the meals that we are out, the beautifully laid o

ut ones. Often someone would pick up my phone and find all these droolworthy food pictures and rave about them. The point which I am trying to establish is that whenever we a lip smacking picture, we try and smell its flavor and taste through our taste buds, in our imagination. However, how many times have you given it a thought beyond its taste and flavor?

This picture was taken on Firangiri beach, the most popular beach town of Penang island, Malaysia. It was a beautiful evening, and this eatery was right on the road. I ordered Tom Yum noodles with shrimps and husband ordered a plate of simple egg noodles.The shrimps on my plate looked absolutely tempting and it tasted better than it looked. Now, shell fish are notorious for triggering allergies in sensitive people, which I am not at all. In my (almost) 37 years of existence, I don't know of a single food item, that is known to evoke any allergy in me. So I am pretty experimental in what I can put inside my tummy. I am willing to try everything and anything. And being a Bengali, shrimps and prawns are far from experimental, they are a staple of anyone's diet. I relished every morsel, oblivious of the fact what my future held for me.

I couldn't sleep that night because of intense itching all over my body. The husband was deep asleep, and I didn't wake him up. I kept slathering body lotion all over myself, thinking that the pruritus was because of extreme dryness from sea bathing and swimming. I couldn't notice any rashes too, as it was dark and we had only warm white light in out hotel room.

As soon as dawn cracked, my jaw fell when I started noticing the redness all over my body. The sight was horrendous, something I had seen only in textbooks; not even on any patient of mine. I shook my husband awake in anxiety, and it took him some time to come to his senses and realize the gravity of the situation. We were not carrying an anti histamines, as it was a short trip, the kids were not there and allergy was the least of our concerns. However, this incident proves that you can never be over prepared.

We rushed to the nearest chemist shop (not so common on a beach side) and got the substitute of whatever we get in our country, after trying to convince the chemist that we are registered medical practitioners from India.

My redness, swelling and hence itching subsided after 12 hours, but along with it came intense drowsiness. In all, we lost 2 precious days of our trip. I am still not sure what exactly triggered that allergy, I could only pin the shrimps as the culprit. Now, I would be super apprehensive of trying shrimps or prawns, (or would keep an Epi pen with me)..

It could have been much worse too. I could have gone to an anaphylactic shock and died, if it had been too severe.

Could you imagine this story while looking at these happy pictures? I bet not! There's usually a long saga behind every picture, and from next time onwards, let's ponder over other possibilities, instead of just drooling on the food!

This post is part of #BlogchatterFoodFest

June 13, 2025 No comments

May 31, 2025 No comments

May 16, 2025 4 comments

You can check the full interview (including a detailed itinerary here.

Last week, my interview as a traveller was published on Just Dial, about a place that has left a lasting impression on me. I could think nothing but Zanzibar, as it definitely is one of the greatest destinations of life. Here is the raw version of the Q and A.

1. Let’s start with a little bit about you! How would you describe your travel style? Do you seek adventure, cultural immersion, or something entirely different?

If your travel personality had to be summed up in 1-5 words, what would they be? Think of it as your personal travel tagline!

I am on a mission to explore new lands, learn new languages, mingle with the locals and taste new food.

It's a combination of both adventure and cultural immersion. That's why you will never find me chilling in a Maldivian resort island for a week. I prefer to stay on local islands with the locals. I might visit the resort just once during the entire stay to get a slice of that luxury, but can't stay away from local culture throughout.

2. What fuels your wanderlust? Is it the thrill of the unknown, the stories waiting to be discovered, or simply the joy of stepping into a new world?

All of the above! The thrill of exploring a new place or revisiting an old one (Goa/Malaysia Duh!) Wanderlust is fuelled by the new people, new landscapes, different food and of course different language and culture.

3. Every journey has a spark—what was it for this one? Was it the allure of breathtaking landscapes, the pull of rich history, the rhythm of the local culture, or something deeply personal that made this destination call out to you?

It was a combination of stunning beaches and culture. There's not much history of Zanzibar, it became a part of Tanzania in the 1960's. However it was the centre of African slave trade, and the museum literally brings tears to your eyes!

You can find the local Masai tribe inhabiting the island, which I was very excited about. I had never interacted with any tribal clan of Africa before. And Zanzibar has stunning landscapes. It's the most underrated island of the Indian Ocean.

It has pristine beaches like Maldives, luxury resorts like Mauritius, adventure like Reunion and marine life like Seychelles, all wrapped richly in culture!!

4. Did you have a budget in mind for this trip? How did you creatively manage your finances to squeeze every bit of magic out of your travel experience?

Of course, there's no trip without budget! The flights were the biggest expense and we got a good deal from Saudia Airlines. New Delhi to Jeddah, Jeddah to Dar Es Salam. While that flight cost us 45k, the 25 minute flight from Dar Es Salam to Zanzibar was 7k!

We rented a car for 7 days, and chose to stay in 3 resorts, 2 luxury and 1 budget, in 3 different parts of the island.

The activities and excursions were expensive, which can be customised according to one's choice and will.

5. What’s one fascinating fact about Zanzibar that sparked your interest? Was there a moment or place that truly stood out to you?

The fact that Zanzibar has not lost itself to ruthless commercialisation was a big magnetic factor. Also, the phenomenon of high tide and low tide is very prominent on every beach, every 12 hours.

I was ready to swim in the turquoise Indian Ocean, walk over the softest silver sand and eat sea food while immersing in the African culture.

We went on a boat ride from Nungwi, the northern part of Zanzibar to an area called "God's swimming pool".

It was a vast area shallow water in the middle of the ocean, where we could wade on the sea bed and the water was crystal clear. Every grain of sand beneath was visible. All while being surrounded by turquoise water!

Our guide served us a huge fruit platter and we munched on them while relaxing in the crystal clear water.

On that very excursion, we swam with dolphins and picked up star fishes! It was a never before experience!

6. If someone had just a few days in Zanzibar, what are the top five spots they absolutely shouldn’t miss? Bonus points for any hidden gems!

If you know swimming and are not scared of the ocean, I highly recommend swimming with the dolphins. Also, you can swim with rescued sea turtles in a lagoon, it's not scary in Baraka Natural Museum. Visit Stone Town, the hub of culture and the birth place of Freddie Mercury of Queen rock band. Explore wildlife in Jozani Forest Zanzibar and experience dining or just even coffee at the stunning Rock Restaurant.

7. Food can make or break a trip! Did you dive into any must-try local dishes? Which ones stole your heart (or your taste buds)? Any tips for our readers?

Zanzibar food is a combination of Swahili, Arabic and Indian flavours. So even pure vegetarians like my daughter and husband didn't have any issue and enjoyed the culinary experience to the fullest!

Like their Pilav is similar to our Pulao and my family had it everyday while I tried sea food everyday. Be it octopus or lobster, pomfret or red snapper. It was served with rice with a side of salad and fries. It was very satisfying, both to the taste buds and tummy.

You get very fresh sea food there (obviously!)

To dine in "The Rock" restaurant is on the bucket list of every tourist who visits Zanzibar. It's a restaurant situated on the top of a big rock, in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

During high tide, you have to take a boat to reach there (it's complimentary) while during low tide, you can wade on the wet sea bed to reach there!

The view from the restaurant is to die for and so is the fresh sea breeze! It's a multi cuisine restaurant, however quite expensive.

We ordered a cold coffee and tiramisu because we were there for the experience and not for the food. It was beyond my expectations. Must do activity!

8. Traditional attire often carries cultural significance. Did you notice any distinct styles or customs in local dressing that caught your eye?

The Africans, especially the Masai tribe are extremely well dressed and fashionable. Think of bright colours, quirky accesories and the best hairstyles!

The Masai men and women would give the runway models a run for their money with their gorgeous head gears.

Zanzibar is an Islamic territory, so you will find little children in hijabs.

9. How would you describe the nightlife there? Whether it is bustling bars, serene night markets, or cultural performances—what’s the vibe like?

Zanzibar is a Muslim island, so the public is conservative. However it's more open than the local islands of Maldives.

It's more open inside the resorts in terms of bikini, alcohol and nightlife.

There are a ton of bars and discos on the prominent beaches like Paje, Nungwi, Michamvi, Kendwa etc. All the big resorts host parties at night and really big ones during the weekend.

Our resort, Antonio Beach Resort hosted a fabulous party where they got DJ from Namibia and we danced the night away with the Masai people and other international guests.

10.How was your experience with the local hospitality? Can you share a moment when a small act of kindness or a heartfelt interaction made you feel completely at home, even miles away from your own backyard?

The Zanzibarian people are very kind and thankfully we have only positive experience with them.

Our snorkeling guide was very encouraging and it was because of him I gathered the courage to jump into the ocean to swim with the dolphins, despite being extremely sea sick. It was really not easy, yet he was very patient and encouraging.

11.In your eyes, who would make the most ofzi this destination? Is it the intrepid solo explorer, the romance-seeking couple, the thrill-chasing adventurer, or perhaps the perfect spot for a family getaway?

Zanzibar is perfect for every kind of traveller. A solo explorer as well as a n adventurer would have the time of their lives exploring this huge island. The abundance of luxury resorts with stunning beaches makes it an ideal honeymoon destination.

We visited as a family of 3. Me, my husband and our 9 year old daughter and it's one of the most memorable experience of our lives till date. We not only explored the marine life like never before, but the interaction with the local Masai tribe has left a deep impact on her.

12.Would you hop on board for another round at this destination? If so, what fresh adventures or unexpected twists would you plan to make your next visit even more unforgettable?

Definitely want to revisit this place with the entire family. We didn't take our younger daughter as she was just 4 and we were unsure of the African environment.

Would love to go more on snorkelling trips, spend more time discovering marine life and try new sea food (just for me 😉) The next time, we would love to plan our stay in other parts of the island, just to have a novel experience, although I would love love love to revisit the previous properties.

13.Let’s wrap up with a rapid-fire ‘This or That’—

Road trip or train journey? Road trip

Cosy coffee shops or sizzling street food? Sizzling Street Food

Stick to a map or get lost on purpose?Get lost in purpose

Pack light or overpack (just in case)? Overpack any day! (Fashion blogger problems duh!)

Travel to escape or travel to discover?

Stay connected or digital detox? Digital detox

DSLR camera or just a phone for photos? Both are equally important.

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April 30, 2025 4 comments

April 30, 2025 No comments

When we say we are secular, do we really mean it? Anyways, that was just food for thought. I am not here to get into any sort of political drama or hurt any religious sentiment. However, one thing is for sure. We love staying at home or not going to work or school on gazetted holidays, no matter what religious reason.

Speaking from a very liberal Hindu point of view, I have noticed kids having extreme excitement for Christmas. Growing up, I used to wait for Santa to come with gifts. When my mom finally told me that there's no Santa, that was one of the most disappointing moments of my childhood. I kept celebrating the festival, nevertheless. Christmas is a huge deal in Kolkata, my mom's birth place. Hence she was also partially responsible for inculcating the penchant of Christmas in me. Back then, we had always celebrated with cakes, sweet treats and gifts. I was in Christian School during the first three years of my life, and that too contributed to my enthusiasm for the birthday of Jesus.

During my school years, we used to have a Christmas party at the Ladies Club, organized by our moms. And my college circle had girls who had been educated in missionary schools. So the obsession grew bigger and bigger.

Over the years (last 25 years) , Christmas has grown into a commercial extravaganza. Malls in Delhi and NCR started putting up humongous trees, surpassing every year, elaborate decorations and people partied away as if there's no tomorrow. Somehow I feel the essence of this festival got lost in the commercialisation.

As my little one started growing up and younger one arrived top, I realized that I need to give them a flavour of this beautiful festival, sans all the artificial hoopla. So I started celebrating at home. I have always seen my mom put up a small (tiny rather) tree every year, which we used to decorate. So I also got one, 3 feet tall and started celebrating.

In 2022, I decided to go big and bought a 6 feet tree. I set it beside the mantle, we decorated it and had dinner with the family of my childhood friend. And that's how started this tradition of ours.

Ever since then, we have been trying to play around with the decor. We have dinner (cooked by me) exchange gifts and play games. This year, I did the viral bow Garland and was very satisfied.

Festivals should be about bringing people together, and not getting shoved in some mall amongst the maddening crowd, trying to follow what the business magnates are trying to feed us.

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April 30, 2025 2 comments

You can either be one of these. Or both. What kind of hotel person are you? A 5 star hotel person (or 4 or 3, I mean a conventional corporate hotel) or an Air B N B Or boutique type of resident? Well, as much as I like big chains, sometimes I feel their properties are cookie cutter. Unless you book a very high end room, chances are that you get a very boring looking room with the same design and decor. While the property amenities are the reason you are paying the price, sometimes or (most of the time) I want a place that's closer to the culture we are staying in. That's usually very much achievable while staying at some one's apartment or a boutique hotel.

It's a myth that Air BnBs are cheap. Actually if you open the site, you will realize that there are all sorts of accommodation, from very economical hostel like bunk beds to an entire house, prices varying. Then there are boutique hotels too, which are basically residential complexes turned into commercial properties. They are immaculately styled but doesn't necessarily have the amenities like a buffet breakfast and sauna and stuff.

While searching for our

stay in Georgetown, for the last leg of our trip, we booked the White Mansion. It was exactly in the centre of Georgetown. Every important place was a stone's throw away and we really liked how it looked from outside. What we didn't anticipate was how whimsical the rules were going to be living there.

There were big chain properties like Ibis and Tune Hotels which were offering the same price but no, we needed a boutique experience.

The place belonged to a Chinese man who happens to be very finicky. You can't touch the walls, since the fingers would stain them. Our room was extremely small, yet it had everything a traveller could possibly need, including a Dyson Air purifier. We were given lockers downstairs to keep our footwear, as outside shoes were prohibited and you are supposed to use the house slippers which they provided. Actually that was a nice thing because then you know that the floors are squeeky clean.

The wooden stairs were shining as if they have just been polished. The water kettle, cups and the hardware, all were golden. It was indeed a lesson for me, I took notes that how a place that small can be styled so thoughtfully.

I don't recommend this place if you are on the heavier side. You won't be able to navigate through the stairs or enter the door of the room. I highly feel that these places should come with some kind of instructions as in suitable for only petite and all. Lol. I love taking the leap of faith while booking. Isn't what travelling is all about? What about you?

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