Travel Plans in March!
I’m penning this post from the cosy courtyard of one of my favorite cafes in Singapore, on whose sunny shores I landed two days ago. It was here, in this tiny island nation that my tryst with travel started, and I used it as a base to explore Southeast Asia while studying and then working. It feels surreal walking its familiar streets and revisiting my favorite hangouts, as I connect the many dots that led to the path I’m now on, but I digress.
While dealing with withdrawal symptoms from my recent trip to Bahrain, many exciting opportunities and plans cropped up. Here are all the places that I’m heading to this month:
SINGAPORE
Delving right into My Travel Bucket List for 2013, I lapped up the opportunity to revisit Southeast Asia on an invite from the kind folks at the Singapore Tourism Board. Much has changed since the last 1.5 years that I was here, and I’ll spend the next couple of days exploring the trendy new concept bars and cafes that have cropped up in what were once unassuming neighborhoods in Singapore.
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THAILAND
Even though I lived in Southeast Asia for almost 6 years, I never made it to Thailand; failed plans, high flight fares, the lack of time always got in the way. So early next week, I’ll be making my way with a couple of friends to northern Thailand where, away from the popular beaches of the south, the wilderness beckons. The very idea is making me nostalgic of all the time I spent backpacking in the hinterlands of Vietnam and Indonesia.
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SPAIN
That’s right! As though spending a month along the gorgeous countryside of southern Spain wasn’t enough, I’m heading back there in mid March, for a glimpse of Madrid and to catch Las Fallas festival in Valencia – a traditional street festival, that Wikipedia describes as:
“During the four days leading up to March 19, each group takes its ninot (Valencian for puppets or dolls) out for a grand parade, and then mounts it, each on its own elaborate firecracker-filled cardboard and paper-mâché artistic monument in a street of the given neighbourhood. This whole assembly is a falla.”
It’s hard to imagine what to expect, really, so you’ll have to wait till I report back with pictures and experiences! This will be a free and easy trip with the Spain Tourism Board, so if you have suggestions of secret / local hangouts and eateries in Madrid or Valencia, I’m all ears.
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ARUNACHAL PRADESH / MEGHALAYA
I’ll be ending the month with a much-awaited trip to Northeast India, to where I impulsively booked tickets on one of the recent airline sales! Besides soaking in the charming natural beauty that so many talk about, I hope to source both volunteer travel opportunities for later in the year, as well as build a trail for India Untravelled. Your suggestions again are most welcome, as well as whether I should be pick Arunachal or Meghalaya, since I’ll only have a week.
So March is going to be one exciting month! You’re invited to travel with me virtually on Facebook and Twitter =)
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Where is the road taking you in March?
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Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.
I am going to Kanyakumari in March! and Shillong and Guwahati in May!
Awesome! Hope to bump into you on the road sometime!
Great plans, Shivya! I’ll be heading back to Australia via Singapore….if you’re going to be around in mid March, we should meet up at one of your favourite cafes! I’m planning to move to Singapore after Australia, so perhaps you’ll have some tips to share with a fellow writer!
Hey Piccola, I’ll be in Singapore for on March 11 & 12, will you be here then? Sure, got lots of recommendations, shall be penning them down soon enough for you to read. If you’re looking for any specific suggestions, feel free to ping me here / on Twitter / via email 🙂
wow! what a itenary… can’t wait to read all about it 🙂
Can’t wait to write all about it, Jas! Greetings from Thailand 🙂
Yay! Singapore. . We should definitely meet. 🙂
Can’t promise if I’ll have the time on my way back from Thailand, but shall ping you if I do!
That sure are some busy days ahead for you all this month. I am heading to Cote De’ Azur in March.. I visited Madrid way back during 2009 Christmas. It’s an amazing city. Visit El Retiro Park & it’s crystal palace – it’s beautiful!
Thanks for the Madrid suggestions! Looking forward to hearing all about the Cote De’ Azur trip; get me some chocolates please 😉
What and Itenary ! I should be lucky to do so much in a month let alone a year ! Waiting to read the travelogues ! And I would love to travel with India Untravelled. Do let me knwo if you have something coming up !
Waiting to write them! We do have some trips to the high Himalayas of Spiti coming up in the summer – http://indiauntravelled.com/trips.html 🙂 Other than this, you can travel independently to our locations all year round!
sounds like a lot of traveling Shivya! I envy you the trip to Spain… will be waiting for the updates
There’ll be lots coming, Sapna!
So, we are likely to receive a bouquet of travelogues. Great going, dear! 🙂
Thanks Gayatri, you sure are!
I have discovered what I believe is the best travel blog!
you are the one.
Cheap Flights to india
Got here because I wanted to know who was behind India Untravelled. Really cool website especially the bit about responsible travel. Also very jealous of your travel plans and generally in awe. I think I have a crush on you 😛 Happy traveling.
Haha, that’s a first 😉 I remember being in awe of all the travel bloggers I used to read back in the day, but now it all just seems like not such a big deal. I hope you get there too 🙂
Oh, I hope so too. For now I’m keeping myself happy with the weekends. Also, linking your blog to a friend who said she couldn’t travel on her own because she was a girl.