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DocDivaTraveller

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Canals zigzagging the city...Amsterdam: Venice of the North

What comes to your mind when you think of Amsterdam? For me its the gloomy, rainy weather, tulips, beautiful houses along canals and bicycles. Not to forget the nightlife but I would come to that later on. Now don't say windmills too! Who can see windmills in midst of a city? They are a part of the Dutch countryside which I have loved even more than Amsterdam! Coming back to the city.
For a person living in Delhi, Amsterdam is a really small city. I mean you can cover it in a single day. Well this does not apply if you want to analyze everything minutely. However, during our 24 hours, we tried to cover as much as possible; at least all the famous things! After a tranquil experience at the countryside, we hurriedly headed to the city centre to cover as many spots as possible.

The centre of the city is Dam Square, the way Connaught Place is the centre of Delhi. It was raining the moment we stepped out of the airport. Amsterdam was really cold (I had expected it to be 20 degrees) and we did not have anything wintery. I had a couple of blazers but they were not enough to combat the chill plus rain. In fact we both were the only ones to roam around in summer clothes!

The entire city was bustling with tourists and locals alike. It was 'summer' after all! But Dam Square was particularly crowded.

The largest departmental store in the Netherlands with its flagship store in Dam Square.

We stopped at a McDonald''s in Dam Square for a cuppa to warm up. We had a funny experience there. The price to use the washroom in McDonald's  is one euro and when you pay, you get a voucher for a cold drink worth 50 cents!! That was something absolutely new for us!!

The rain and the cold wind had been too much for us. After that we proceeded towards the actual square. The Royal Palace on one side, Madame Tussauds in the corner and the huge departmental store De'Bjenkorf on the other side. It was crazily crowded and noisy so we decided to make a quick exit.
A man in a 'don't know what' costume. In front of the Royal Palace

A panoramic view of Dam Square

Notice the warm clothing of the fellow pedestrians!

Cycles and cyclists are a menace in Amsterdam!
Amsterdam is famous for its history too. There are a hundred of museums and we decided to pay a visit in one of them. The Anne Frank House or the Anne Frank Huis is the preserved house where Anne Frank stayed hidden and wrote her diaries during the World War II.

There are many other museums like the Rijks Museum, Van Gogh museum etc etc but they would be in another post.
In front of the Anne Frank House or Huis in Dutch
Amsterdam is not known as the Venice of the North without substantial reasons. There are hundreds of canals encircling the city layer by layer. The canals have rather complicated names. eg Prince canal is known as Prisengracht Canal in Dutch! I found Dutch language very tough. Maybe because I have learnt Italian and Spanish seems familiar.
The canals in Amsterdam have quite complicated names!

Tulips are one of my favourite flowers. I have visited the two homelands of tulips: Turkey and Netherlands. But have never seen the fields. We have visited during summers and hence no tulips. Thankfully the Amsterdam Tulip Museum helped me fulfill my tulip dreams. I touched them. They are so delicate and pretty!

Got to see and touch tulips even in the midst of summers! 
I have been in love with tulips since times immemorial! For those wondering, these are real tulips!
The neighborhoods are particularly beautiful in Amsterdam. Among these the prettiest are found in the Jordaan Neighborhood. Since it was raining so heavily, we could not take satisfactory pictures.


A dreamy home of Jordaan neighborhood..

Cycles and cyclists are quite a menace in Amsterdam

The Prinsengracht or the Prince Canal.

The Westerkerk Church in the Jordaan district. 
The Westerkerk Church is a Dutch protestant church in the Jordaan neighborhood. When we were there, the church gong struck seven.



Probably our only couple picture in Amsterdam!
With so much rain and cold, we were exhausted from time to time but the experience is unforgettable nonetheless.

Top: Next
Shorts: Zara
Purse: from Dubai
8/29/2016 8 comments

Mermaid Prom Dresses


Seems the wedding fever has really got into me! With so many weddings lined up one after another in the coming months, I simply can't seem to put away the thought of it! Some of my friends are requesting me for giving them suggestions  on what to wear. While in the other case (the more significant one) I am hunting for the perfect dresses to wear to the coming weddings! Just because I am married that does not mean that weddings do not mean anything now! In fact I just LOVE getting dressed!

To find such outfits I am perpetually browsing the internet; waiting for some miracle to happen. This is when I stumbled across a perfect website Modabridal.co.uk which had everything I was looking for!

When it comes to weddings, we customarily think of white. White represents purity and that's what brides were expected to be! ( I don't want to sound judgmental but I am stating what the society used to think). So maximum brides opt for an all white outfit! A white wedding dress looks divine nonetheless.


White Wedding Dresses
http://www.modabridal.co.uk/white-wedding-dresses-c115521/

Lately the brides have been thinking out of the box and trying to break the stereotype without ditching the customs altogether. Here is when the colour Ivory comes to rescue. Its not white but its neither non white! You know what I mean! So an ivory wedding dress is the safest and the most beautiful way to look different without abandoning traditions!




Ivory Wedding Dresses:
 http://www.modabridal.co.uk/ivory-wedding-dresses-c115522/

Now comes my role! Yes that of a bridesmaid! When it comes to Bridesmaid dresses I like to keep it short and non flowey so as to permit easy movement. You don't want to be that kind of a bride's friend who takes more time in walking than the Bride herself! I feel that purple is a beautiful yet elegant colour for a bridesmaid.

Purple Bridesmaid Dresses:
http://www.modabridal.co.uk/purple-bridesmaid-dresses-c122172/

So whether you are the bride yourself or her close friend, find your perfect fit now!
8/26/2016 6 comments

Just arrived at the Schiphol (Amsterdam) Airport
After a travel parched period of five months (last vacation was in Dalhousie in February and it was a very short one) we set off for the longest vacation of our lives. Our last international trip was in July 2015 and my passport was craving for another stamp. I was hungrily looking forward to this two week journey. It was the longest vacation of our lives till date. But fate had something else planned for us.

Just like last year, we planned to leave our daughter with our parents, Just before the day of our departure, my paternal grandma became gravely ill. She was so serious that my father had to leave immediately for Bengal leaving my mom with my daughter. Now that was really alarming. My grandmother was critically ill and that meant the absence of my father here for an indefinite period.

Now what? Hubs suggested on cancelling our trip. My mom could not possibly handle my naughty daughter all alone! But mom was insistent. She said that she could not accept lakhs of hard earned money going down the drain! Everything had been booked and it was non refundable!

With a heavy heart, we left for our trip. It was a ridiculously rainy day. Our entire neighborhood was in knee deep water. One of our sweet neighbours dropped us to the station. Taking the road on this kind of rainy day could have never let us reach the airport. Thankfully we took the metro and reached the airport on time. My inlaws joined in few days after our departure to support Mom. Anyways as soon as we reached Terminal 3, somehow all the stress back home vanished and I was overburdened with the stress of being away from home for two weeks!

All set to proceed for immigration with boarding pass and passport in hand...India see you in a while! Excited for Netherlands!
The trip got off to an awesome start with some serious shopping at Victoria's Secret!
After we got our boarding passes, I did my bit of shopping. Hubs did not sleep two nights before (he was handling patients at the hospital) and neither did I (I had packing to do!) While I browsed the innumerable shops, Hubs snored for sometime.

Goodbye India for two weeks!
We boarded our flight at 3 in the morning. All the rush from shopping vanished as soon as I slid into my chair. We were travelling by the Royal Dutch Airlines KLM and I was deep asleep within no time. 
It was 3 in the morning and I was awake two nights before...So just dozed off immediately!
Right after boarding, they served a midnight snack which I missed as I deep asleep.
Delicious knick knacks at 3 AM! Midnight snack in true sense..
I woke up after a few hours and watched Mothers Day. I especially like ensemble casts and when its a Garry Marshal movie with Julia Roberts, its a must watch for me! 
Watched 'Mothers' Day' which I had longing to see since long...along with my breakfast...
Finally after being in the air for nine and a half hours, we landed in Schiphol Airport! I was immensely excited to explore Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside! The next day we were flying to Italy, our main destination. So our luggage did not get disembarked here at Amsterdam. Initially we were scared of losing our checked in bags but we were assured by the officials that we would receive them as soon as we land in Rome. This saved our cloak room charges. However we explored entire Amsterdam with all our hand baggages in the midst of rain and cold wind! 


8/23/2016 1 comments



So you all know that I am a summer person. I just hate piling up on clothes! So even during winters, I am hunting for some beach location. This summer, the situation was however different. We came back from the longest vacation of our lives and it was not an exclusive summer destination! We were two days in Holland and believe me Amsterdam and the countryside was freezing! Okay not freezing but it was raining non stop and all the people were in heavy coats except for us! (We did not pack any) The next fourteen days were in Italy which had a varied climate. While Rome and Tuscany were burning hot during the daytime, it was pretty cool under a shade. Florence's temperature dipped during evening and the fellow travellers took out their woolens. However in Venice, Cinque Terre and Bari, it was really chilly during the morning and evening. In fact it rained so much in Venice that we were literally sun bathing by the Grand Canal when the sun came out! This kind of activity we do during winters in Delhi!
The gorgeous Neemrana Fort
                 
Anyways just because I came back from such cold weather without having caught a flu, that does not mean I am over the heat. I look forward to more such warm vacations! I especially reminisce our first summer vacation after I became a mother. It was a short yet very beautiful getaway in Neemrana Fort. I was desperately in need of a break and  Neemrana had everything to cheer me up!


It was a lovely road trip to Alwar. The broad NH 8 surrounded by the Aravallis and desert gave me a 'Nevada' kind of feeling. It took around four hours to reach there (pit stop included) and after we arrived, my happiness knew no bounds. The fort was perched on top of a hill and the site was pretty impressive even from the parking area!
                         
After we freshened up, we set to explore the rest of the property. It was the perfect amalgamation of heritage, good maintenance and spectacular views. Alwar could be seen from the top. There were huge doors, cannons and other artifacts that would take you back to the Rajput era. There were well manicured lawns and colourful flowers too which gave a respite from the arid desert vibe.
We particularly enjoyed the evening high tea where we got to sip in style in a private room. This getaway was the perfect remedy for my post partum blues!















Delicious high tea

After Neemrana, the second vacation after we became parents was in the same year itself and it was none other than Goa! Though it was in November but this travellers' paradise is temperate throughout the year! After browsing through many hotels in Goa we decided to stay in two properties for a diverse experience...one in Anjuna and the other in Calangute.

Chilling out in Goa!
We had every kind of adventure in Goa. From trying all the adventure sports to falling off from our bike when a fellow biker hit us, we had experienced the worst and best. The end was however when I twisted my ankle in my heels and ended up in a wheelchair. Even after all these, that trip remains one of the most memorable ones. After being all around the world, the most memorable ones are those back home!
8/19/2016 5 comments
Okay loves for us Indians, the wedding season is right at our doorstep. Unlike the West, we people like to get married when the weather is pleasant or a bit on the colder side. In fact you can see girls flaunting their bare backs even in the thick of Delhi winters! Oh what can we do? Any level of pain can be taken for the sake of fashion! So many of my friends are getting married this year end and I have a lot of outfit planning to do!

Now coming to what to wear. We all girls swear by the line: A closet full of clothes yet I have nothing to wear! There are so many ceremonies in an Indian wedding. I would skip the main wedding day and concentrate on other yet important ceremonies like cocktail dinner or reception for now.

A Western outfit is perfect for the cocktail night or Reception. You can dance and drink as much as you like! Shaking booty becomes a bit difficult in a floor grazing Lehenga or saree. So here's what I have picked up for my coming friend's reception. I found this amazing site TBDress.com  which has everything that I want!


 Dress: You can find it here.
A lacy dress in a jewel tone. Green has always been my favourite colour and emerald has emerged as my new party favourite.


Pumps: You can find it here
Embellished with pointy heels. Perfect for an elegant party!

Clutch: You can find it here
Since blue goes so beautifully with green, I chose this clutch in a complimentary jewel tone.

Watch: You can find it here
An elegant silver watch. Period.

Necklace: You can find it here
Again blue jewelry to go with the rest of the outfit.

Earrings: You can find it here
Two hearts in blue representing the essence of the wedding!

Bracelet: You can find it here
Again an elegant blue and silver piece to complement the emerald dress.

What do you think about this party look?

8/18/2016 1 comments

Saluting the Greek Flag..
After Kamari, we were on our way to Monolithos. Just like Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari, Monolithos was on the Eastern coast of Santorini.The way to the beach was a very picturesque one (as if other routes were not). Not only the countryside was beautiful but we were crossing vineyards after vineyards on the way. Grapes is not something that meets my eye in Delhi. I am obsessed with the colour green and grapes is the best looking fruit according to me (strawberry and dragonfruit too).
Got down from the bike to touch the grapes!
\Picking grapes on the way..
I stopped on a lot of farms on the way to fondle the tender grapes. The harvesting season is September and hence in July they were unripe and immature. We were wondering how these tender vines survive the crazy wind and ferocious sun. We were exhausted by both of these natural forces!

The Monolithos beach was a very wide one. Monolithos means single rock. Maybe the name came from the fact that a huge piece of rock was adorning on side of the beach across the road. The sand was not as black as Perisaa or Kamari but was hot nonetheless. Most of the people sea bathing here were nude. It was not a nude beach but the first beach of this kind for me.
Wide and rocky beach...
According to me Monolithos is the best beach to swim. There are no rocks to hurt you in the water and the water is super comfortable. Part of it maybe because it was afternoon so the water had warmed up. Anyways this place will remain on the top for swimming in entire Santorini.

After having a blast in the crisp water, it was time to leave. The most awaited destination of my life was awaiting...Fira. On the way back we spotted an abandoned settlement in midst of the huge hill. First it looked spooky but then I gathered up my courage and took pictorial evidence. Satisfied from the great swim, we were feeling as fresh as a daisy. The most beautiful spot of Santorini awaited us.















8/12/2016 8 comments
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