How Beggars Can Be Funny in India

The scenario of beggary is quite bad in India as it is in many other developing countries. Although I do not like the behavior of beggars with the locals and tourists, I cannot ignore their immense sense of humor and sarcastic tone of language. There have been several incidences when the panhandlers have turned sarcastic if their stubbornness to fetch money does not work. One such instance comes to my mind when I was traveling to Pune with my friend.

My college friend, Shikha, is a gorgeous looking girl, and she has been in touch with me for more than seven years now. In most parts of India, if a man is just standing with a girl, almost everyone assumes that they are in love. I am not talking about the hamlets of the country; this judgmental thought process prevails even in the metropolitans. We had planned a trip to the mountains with a couple of more friends, and we were to meet them on the Hong Kong lane in Pune. Since Shikha could not think about anything but shopping in the market, I decided to devour on some pav-bhaji.

I was silently enjoying my food while admiring the young crowd in the bazaar. Even though I had no intentions of entering even a single shop, I could not help but visit a couple of outlets that looked promising. However, I was tired of shopping in just a few minutes, and I decided to call Shikha. She, thankfully, answered and promised to stay with me until everyone else came.

As we were talking while enjoying our glasses of watermelon juice, a little child around seven years of age comes to us. He has a beautiful smile, but his clothes reveal that he is a beggar in the market. As he asks for some money, I cannot help but refuse since I do not encourage beggary, no matter what. He starts pulling my pants and says, “Bhaiya, paise do na." His act irritates me, and I try to shun him to go away while saying sorry to him.

He again pleads and blesses us saying, "Aap dono ki Jodi bani rahe” meaning may God bless you two to be together. I laugh at his words and tell him that the girl is not my girlfriend. He stops smiling and shows sympathy towards me saying, "Bhaiya wo to lag hi raha hai” meaning it was quite obvious to him. I ask him shocked what he meant by his words. He walks away while uttering, “Didi kafi achi hain” (Sister looks quite good).

I stood fixed in the ground while the savage child walks away, and I can hear Shikha in the background, laughing and rolling on the floor. I knew that I was slain for the day, and she will narrate this incident to everyone coming to meet us. Even I could not help, but feel impressed by the high levels of sarcasm running through the veins of every person in India, or Pune, I would say. I rested on my Self-Drive Car Rental and waited for the time when everyone would come and make lame jokes on me. Pheewww!

Most Popular Off-Beat Destinations near Bangalore

Bangalore is said to be one of the most happening as well as historical places in India. If you live here, there is no other place that you would like to live in. And not only is the city astoundingly beautiful, but it is also in close proximity from other really popular places that you must visit if you’re a resident of Bangalore.

Even though there are a lot of places to visit around Bangalore, but we’ve shortlisted 3 of the best and the most off beat ones where you could just drive down easily. Just Rent a Self Drive car, convince 2-3 friends, and you’re all set.  Also, Self-drive cars in Bangalore have recently become pretty popular among the youth, because of being accessible as well as economical. These places are a must visit, and if you haven’t planned a trip to them, then do it right now.

1.       Mysore –

This is merely a 5 hour drive away from Bangalore, and known as the city of Palaces, it is an apt destination for a weekend trip from Bangalore. It is one of the heritage sites to be visited, and one of the main tourist attractions of Karnataka. Some of the other attractions of this beautiful city are the museums, temples, gardens, zoo and most importantly The Mysore Palace.

2.        Hogenakkal –

At a distance of even less that 150kms from Bangalore, Hogenakkal has the one of the most beautiful waterfalls in India and it is a perfect one day trip from Bangalore. You can just sit besides the waterfall, and hog on some great snacks and drinks while enjoying the weather here. Fish fry is said to be a popular snack served here.

3.       Yelagiri Hills – Just 180 kms from Bangalore, this beautiful hill station is in a district in Tamil Nadu. You can see beautiful orchids, rose valleys and greenery all around. It is surreal and really peaceful and is one of the perfect places to go to if you need a break from your hectic life. You would be able to see how the tribes live, and it’s like delving in the village life.

Everyone requires a break, and you don’t even need to wait for a long weekend to go t these places. These can be easily covered in a span of two days and you can visit these off beat places any weekend. Self Drive cars are a blessing in disguise and thus there is no headache of getting your own car or going with a driver. You can enjoy your privacy and concentrate on counting memories rather than getting all anxious about how to travel.  So pack your bag right away, and leave for any of these places the very next weekend!

Weekend Gateways near Vadodara

After Ahmadabad and Surat, Vadodara is the third largest and upcoming city of Gujarat. It’s a multi-cultural city, and has become one of the popular tourist attractions. Vadodara has a great location, as it’s close to a lot of amazing places. So if you’re getting bored, you can just call up your group of friends any weekend, hire a Self-Drive car and go on a road trip!

Self Drive Car Rentals have become even more popular than booking a car with a driver, as it gives people their required privacy throughout the day. There are great destinations within 300kms of Vadodara, such as Mount Abu, Indore, Udaipur, Nashik etc, and if you’re in the mood for a great drive, then these are the places that need to be visited for sure.

1.       Mount Abu – This is the only hill station in Rajasthan where one would love to go on a road trip from the city life of Vadodara. Amongst all the forts and palaces scattered all over Rajasthan, this quiet and peaceful hill station is one of the best escape places.

2.       Indore – If you’re a foodie, then this township would be perfect for you. It is packed with just the right kind of holiday experience that you would want for a weekend. With a distance of approximately 300 kms from Vadodara, Indore is just a drive away.

3.       Udaipur- Is the land of romance, with the amazing ethereal monuments, and the romantic landscapes. Udaipur remains to be one of the popular heritage tourism sites in India, and it’s hardly an overnight drive from Vadodara.

4.       Nashik- This is one of the holy cities in the vicinity of Vadodara. Tourists usually go there to visit the forts, temples and admire the architecture in the city.

Apart from these, Ahmadabad is even closer to Vadodara, and now that Self-Drive cars in Vadodara have become a success, one can just book it in a minute and drive over to this city. Not only is it convenient, but also it is pretty economical. And there’s no headache of taking permission to get your car for a road trip, as these do the job in a much better way.

Everyone out there has a pretty hectic life in their own ways, and one needs to take a short trip to let it all out. That’s why if you’re staying in Vadodara, and you need a break, then these are the places that you must visit. You can either take a bus, or a train if you’re not too keen on driving but go out there and have some fun. And if you’re a person who loves to drive along the roads, no matter what the distance may be then you should definitely rent a self drive car and enjoy the long drives.

To travel is to know oneself, and it is as important as your work is. To explore places, know different types of people, and have a great time should be on your check list right away!

Buy Diamonds in Delhi with Just a Few Bucks in Pocket

What is the definition of a diamond? It is something that you can wear on your hands or neck once in a while and be happy that it shines brightly in a party. It is meant to make you happy at the end, which I suppose anything else can do as well. In my opinion, food is something that gives me equal happiness as diamonds. I am a big-time foodie, and l like to experiment with foods all around Delhi. Rather than spending one lakh bucks on a piece of tiny stone, I would rather be happy with bare hands and spend that money on life experiences.

Food travel rather than anything else is my cup of tea, and I can spend any amount of money on it. Travel, at least in India, costs much less than diamonds, and it suits my current state of earning. I would surely buy a diamond for myself rather than expect it from my guy, but I want to win many more experiences before that. Let me share a few instances when I had the best time of my life, in addition to delicious food, in Delhi.

The Qila  

The Qila is situated in Qutub Institutional Area in a quaint region in Delhi. I just love this area because of the peace it provides. Being there with my spouse before marriage for a romantic candlelight dinner was one of the most breathtaking feelings ever. It was the time when I did not know him much, and we talked for an hour on the terrace of the restaurant under the full moon. The best thing about the place is that no one disturbed our piece as we stood there in each other’s arms watching the moon. Nowhere in Delhi or India have I experienced such a place where I can sit with my partner for an endless time without any interruption. 

When we returned, we were welcomed with complimentary snacks, to begin our wine. The bread, I must say, tasted delectable with the sauces. The quantity of food is not what you look for at such places, but the experience of being with someone you love with all your heart. The time spent at a restaurant like The Qila is much more precious than anything in the world. I still look at the lone picture we got clicked from a person, and the smile on our faces is priceless. No diamond in the world can give me that smile when I wear it, but looking back at those memories can. After we got married this December, we still rent a car without driver every time we wish to have a fantastic drive and have a great time together. Again, the feeling of being in each other's company is the most precious feeling for me. Yes, I would like to have many more diamond-like candle-light dinners in future with my bae in all corners of the world.