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DocDivaTraveller

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 If you have tried planning a trip to Vietnam, you will know this dilemma. The biggest decisions lie in the selection of destinations while planning for your trip abroad. And if you are travelling abroad after a long time, read after 2 years of Covid, then expectations are really running high and you don't want to mess it up for your family.


Now what kind of traveller are you or your family members? The touristy ones or the people who love to explore? Well this is the principal deciding factor in choosing the destinations on your itenerary. I, personally love to take the less traveled path more but can't ignore the touristy spots too. For me, the famous spots have to be ticked off from my list and then will tread the road less taken to satisfy my wanderlust soul.
Ever since I started traveling abroad 15 years back, Halong bay in Vietnam has been on my list. For me, the main destination in Vietnam were the limestone studded cliffs in the Gulf of Tonkin, the famous Ha Long Bay which had been declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.
The norm is to take a cruise on this bay. Either a day cruise or an overnight one. However as we started researching, we realised that Ha Long Bay is overcrowded with 300 operators conducting cruises on a daily basis. In further digging we discovered that Lan Ha Bay, which lies on an extension of Ha Long Bay, has the same topography yet lot less tourists. While Ha Long Bay could be reached directly from Ha Noi, the capital, Lan Ha Bay couldn't. We would have to go to Cat Ba island first and then venture into the sea. That meant more time and money for the limestone cliffs only. We were in a fix.
Upon extensive research, we found out people were raving about Lan Ha Bay. We decided to take a leap of faith and booked our stay plus travel to Cat Ba island. 
The best part of the cruise was when our ship docked in the middle of the sea and we were supposed to swim to a secluded beach. The white sand felt like velvet under our feet. The water was warm and clear. Too sad it was cloudy otherwise the gulf water would have appeared green, as the pictures in magazines.
Me, husband, my father and elder daughter swam to the beach. My mother stayed back in the ship with my little one. We four swam, walked around the islets and saw the grottos. The feeling was absolutely surreal. Natural beauty at its best. And there were hardly any other swimmers apart from the 5 or 6 people from our ship itself. It was our private beach moment!
If you ask me, I have absolutely zero regrets about not visiting the "Halong Bay" . In fact our ship crossed a part of Ha long bay and Lan Ha is part of Ha long itself. Our cruise ship had only 20 people and it was kind of a private experience. Also, the prices are more economical than Ha Long Bay.
God is very generous. The more you explore nature, the more you realise. He is the real magician. Those limestone karsts, thousands of islets, caves and hidden pristine beaches are nothing but God's surprise gifts to us. I am so very grateful to be able to witness a minute part of it.


This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.


12/16/2022 21 comments

 

Can you spot me? This is the view from our room ....the South China Sea with the innumerable limestone cliffs; the very reason of our trip to Vietnam


What's your first priority when it comes to choosing a stay on vacation? For us, it depends. Like the nature of the destination as well as our accompaniments. Of course, budget is a very big deciding factor, especially when abroad. We don't like to squander n luxurious properties mindlessly because of mainly two reasons. Firstly, we hardly spend any time in the property because we are there to explore, right? Secondly I feel that all five star properties provide more or less the same amenities all over the world. For example, there isn't much difference in the amenities of Pullman New Delhi Aerocity and Novotel Hyderabad Airport. Similarly the properties like Rennaissance Powai, Mumbai and ITC Maratha are similar (although I love ITC properties more). I can quote endless examples based on my say and am totally confident in my claim. Of course there are numerous luxurious properties that deserve a stay like Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Ocean villas (of any property) in Maldives, etc. What I mean to say is that budget is a major factor for us (and most travellers like us) and hence we should opt for expensive properties only when such experience is absolutely unique.



We love to feel the local ambiance to the fullest and that's the reason why we love Air B n Bs so much. A home of someone opens the doors to that particular culture and lifestyle, something which I crave for while travelling abroad. However Air B nBs may not be family friendly, so this trip had to take into account everything. We were travelling with two small kids and my two elderly parents.
Cat Ba Island is a protected site in Hai Phong district, Vietnam. Very sparsely populated, with tourism being the main occupation. There were Air Bnbs, but far from the city centre. That was a No No since we needed to buy milk and bread from the department stores on a daily basis for the kids. So we decided to go the conventional way and started scouring for hotels near the sea.
Thankfully we found a property that ticked all my boxes. It was at a five minute walking distance from the beach (a must when on a beach vacation), had a beautiful pool and above all, the balconies provided view of the south China Sea with its limestone cliffs along with being situated n the main road; just across the sea promenade. The reviews were mixed, people complaining of service and cleanliness while raving about the location. We took a leap of faith and booked the higher end rooms praying they would be cleaner. The other properties nearby on this budget were not even half as pretty as this one.

The resort was Cat Ba Oasis Bunglows. Thankfully, the rooms were sparkling clean but it lacked many things like tea coffee, mirror in the bedroom, etc. Also, since it was a sea view room, it was on a hill and we had to climb lots of stairs to reach our room. That was a bit of a hassle for my parents and the kids.

However, the view from the room was a million dollar one. We had travelled all the way to see those limestone cliffs; and I could stare at them throughout our stay from the bed itself! Such a surreal feeling!
Our room faced the tall thickly forested hills of the island on one side and the sea on another side. It was best of both worlds!




The pool was super inviting and I had fun with my girls. There was a swing too and games in the reception area like Snooker and football.
The "I love Cat Ba" sign was just outside our resort, overlooking the sea. The walk along the promenade was unforgettable, every time we pranced along the water.


There was no breakfast included and service was almost nil. But still I feel it was one of the best stays given the view and the location at a good price. Food we could eat everywhere, but looking at those limestone cliffs studded blue sea...priceless...

What kind of property do you go for while travelling abroad? Let me know in the comments below!




This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

12/09/2022 20 comments

 We all have been there. Feeling blah about our appearance from time to time. It's very natural and human to feel so and this becomes even more prominent around the holiday season. While a change in makeup routine and adding colours to your wardrobe might give you a lift, it's rather short lived. One of the best ways to amp your look is to change the way how you do your hair. If you are a curly haired girl, straighten your hair and vice versa! Also a dash of colour changes the face like no other. However the long term effects may be damaging and you might not opt for them; if you too sceptical like me! So here I have curated a small list of all the ways you can change your hairstyle, without damaging your actual hair!






1. Try beading your hair with colours. As I said before, if you are too sceptical of doing something permanent, then this is a great way to elevate your look. Try weaving coloured braids into your hair. It instantly lifts up the face. The more the braids, drastic is the effect!

2. Try a good wig. I can't sing gaga over over this enough. Instant way to go from long to short or from shoulder length to long hair! Go from crinkled curly hair to razor straight or from beachy waves to well defined curls in no time!



I love how these looks are easy to achieve and maintain. Always go for a good brand. I personally have found Nadula really great as they offer such great variety. It's super easy to play with colours too!



Their wigs are beginner friendly and you can choose the density of the hair you want. Choosing the correct density is important because you don't want to look artificial. If you have already thick mane, go for lesser density.

3. Change your parting. It's always an easy way to elevate how you look. I love doing it from time to time.

4. Simple tricks like putting your hair inside the collar of your coat can change the way how you look; especially in photographs. If you have longer hair, this trick gives the illusion of a short bob.

5. Accessorise. Never underestimate the power of accessories! A jewelled headband would make you feel like a queen! Be it hair clips or cute elastics, they go a long way!

6. Change the way how you do your hair. If you are a ponytail girl, make your pony on top of your head. It will change the look. If you are fond of making buns, go for the top knot. Also don't forget the power of headgears...bandana, scarves, hats and berets! Bring them on board!

Girls which of these is your favourite? Add on more tips in the comments below!


12/08/2022 2 comments


Winters come with so many things. Basking in the crisp sun, picnics, lots of fruits and vegetables, chic boots and coats and so many other things that we wait for year long. Especially if you live in North India, then there are myriads of activities that can't be done in the scorching heat and you wait for the temperatures to go down. With all this comes the harsh side of winters too. Yes I am talking about dry skin and frizzy hair.



During these colder months, our hair and skin need extra care. While it's easier to slather up on moisturizers and lotions, the same can't be said about our hair. Taking care of hair is a mammoth task and it's even more challenging if you have curly hair like me. So after much trial and error, I have found a few ways that would help keep hair nourished, especially during these months.


1. Don't use hot water to wash your hair.


The winters are notorious for drying our mane and if you use hot water for hair washing, it would further strip off the moisture present in our crowning glory. Not only that, hot water increases the appearance of dandruff too. Always use warm water instead.


2. Oil your hair thoroughly before you shampoo.


Oiling your hair with a good hair oil has innumerable benefits. Choose a hair oil that has safe and tested ingredients and works for a number of causes.



Recently I have started using the Coco Onion Natural Hair Oil from Little extra love. I love that it's a concoction of effective ingredients like coconut oil, onion oil, sea satin, bhringraj etc. It is mineral oil free, paraben free and fragrance free which means it's absolutely safe for our hair.



This powerful formula strengthens our hair from root to tip, deeply nourishes our hair and hence fight hair fall. Also helps regenerate new follicles and helps in healthy hair growth and fights dandruff too. I have experienced noticeable reduction in hair fall and dandruff since I have started using it. Apply this oil and massage your scalp 30 minutes before you go for a hair wash. Follow this regime and thank me later!


3. Comb your hair at least twice a day.


If you have curly hair like me, which remains tangled for most part of our lives, then it's possible that combing is a big chore. This can become even more challenging during winters. However combing has innumerable benefits. It increases the blood flow to the scalp and also prevents dandruff.


So even when you don't feel like brushing and want to remain in the bun hairstyle, remember my words and do yourself a favour.


Use a wide tooth comb always. 


4. Adequate hydration and nutrition. 

You may not feel thirsty enough during winters so the water consumption may considerably go down. However that's detrimental to our skin and hair health. Make sure to consume at least 8 glasses of water and have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.


5. Use gentle hair products.



Make sure to read and know all the ingredients of a product before you use it on yourself. The hair products of Little extra love have everything listed and are free from every type of chemicals. Personally I like to know about the composition of the products I use in detail and hence I love this brand because they declare everything. The best part? These products are really effective.


So girls which one of these tips seems most effective to you? What else would you like to add?



12/07/2022 7 comments
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