Saturday, February 28, 2015

TRAVEL SPECIAL .........TRAVEL PLANNER - TOUCH, FEEL, SMELL... TRAVEL

TRAVEL PLANNER - TOUCH, FEEL, SMELL... TRAVEL


Buying travelogues or booking tourist guides isn't the
same as travelling with a local companion who takes you
through the secret coves and homespun bistros for that
authentic flavour. Local travel is trending big time this year

It's like having a guidebook written just for you. No touristy
rip-offs or standard rec ommendations. It's getting
downright personal with your destination. From having
high tea with the descendant of an erstwshile nawab of
Lucknow to sharing a home-cooked meal of kolumbus,
pootus and poriyals at a local's home in Chennai -local
sharing and caring is every traveller's demand today.
“Conventional luxury is available in almost every travel
destination. What people are searching for is
meaningful and authentic experiences -whether it's
an enriching conversation or a delicious dish they
can share with their friends upon their return,“ says
Aashi Vel, co-founder, Traveling Spoon ­ Travel Off
The Eaten Path, a community that lets travellers dine
at local people's homes around the world, including India.
PERSONAL CONNECT
Who would you rather have in your jeep on a tiger
safari... a seasoned wildlife photographer or a regular guide?
We all know the answer. Face-to-face recommendations
and insider tips from in-the-know locals or professionals
rank much higher on people's itinerary than a tour escort's
rehearsed stories. “Local travel comprises authentic,
off-the-beaten track experiences. It can range from meeting
an ex-monk in Malaysia, who will take you through several
 sacred spots to learning how to cook organically with a
family in Bali,“ says Madalina Buzdugan, communication
manager of Withlocals.
Connecting with local people is also easier than ever thanks to 
technology. 
This rapidly growing trend is transforming how
travellers see the world. And what's the best part?
It's all very cost-effective. The trend is encouraging individuals
and communities to share their resources, right from sharing
their couches, renting their cars, leasing out their residential
farms for camping, to hosting delicious dine-ins.

 MICRO TOURISM

In local travel, the trips could get as narrowed down as
meandering through the Dharavi slum in Mumbai (by the
startup Padhaaro) or seeing Agra in battery-driven rickshaws. Seeksherpa.com, a website currently operational across New
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, offers potential tourists
the option of choosing specially-created tours, all priced under
Rs 3,000! These micro tours offer a plethora of options -from
street photography in old Delhi to cycling in the British-era
Mumbai. Micro tours are also ideal if you're passing through
and only have a limited amount of time. The best feature is
that anyone can sign up to be a sherpafriendgreeterlocal expert.
All you need is the enthusiasm to talk to people and, of course,
sound knowledge on the lay of the land.
Local travel is big not just among the budget traveller, but also
for those who have travelled abroad extensively, and now want
to explore their own country in detail. Holidaymakers are accepting
that the exoticness of the unknown doesn't have to take the form
of a desert island in the middle of the Pacific... it could be hidden
in their own backyard.“Earlier, only going abroad was seen as glamorous, but now going to the Rannotsav or doing a high-altitude drive in Ladakh is also a talking point,“ says Piya Bose of Girls on
The Go Club. Her Great Rann of Kutch vacation is all about
staying with the tribals in their traditional huts and buying authentic
embroidery first hand. The trip also includes a rendezvous with a collector of ancient fossils and dinosaur eggs... an experience one
would surely miss on a guided tour.

FOOD MELTS BORDERS

Going by the popularity of local travel, you'd probably be booking
a delicious home meal instead of a fancy restaurant on your next vacation. Imagine accompanying local hosts in Rajasthan on a
spice bazaar tour before being served a rich Rajasthani spread of
soolas (a battlefield speciality meat), ker sangri and bajra roti
with chunks of homemade butter! “Cooking and sharing a meal
allows people to open up, share stories and realise how similar
we are despite cultural differences,“ sums up Aashi.

CHECKLIST BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Do your background check on the locals you will be hanging out
with, especially if you're staying with them.z Keep an open mind.
Don't be judgmental about lifetyle or food choices of your host.
It was your decision to be adventurous and try something new.

TL22FEB15

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