epaper.dnaindia.com PARTYING SHOT , Thursday, January 12, 2012 20 Classical vocalist Pushkar Lele explores the Netherlands, including the beautiful metropolis of GOING Amsterdam during his recent concert tour Thailand therapy Glam girl Natasha Suri shares her experience in Thailand Shreya Badola

Dutch It is almost a yearly ritual henever I travel for model-turned-TV anchor abroad for concerts, I Natasha Suri to jaunt off on make it a point to a vacation with her close set take some time out of friends to celebrate New for sight-seeing, my Year. “This time we thought recentW concert tour to Netherlands of going to some place in and Belgium being no exception to Asia, so Thailand sprang up this. As I had concerts in Antwerp, as the best option,” says Natasha couldn’t resist Utrecht, Amsterdam, Den Haag and Natasha, who was all the shopping in Thailand even Massmechelen, all in a week, I decid- more thrilled since she had though she feels that “Thai- ed to stay back for another week and not been to the place before. land ain’t as good a place to explore the beautiful metropolis of It was a good, week-long va- shop”. She says, “I’d any day Amsterdam. cation for Natasha who was prefer shopping in New York My brief visit there last summer there with eight of her close or London, but just the com- had already captivated me and I was friends. “It was the first time pulsive shopper in me led really looking forward to discover it at that I visited Thailand, even me to pick some dresses.” a more leisurely pace. Luckily, though I had been planning Natasha also loves to collect I had a friend with to go there for the last so artifacts and she picked whom I could pile many years. Somehow it many of them as souvenirs. on for a couple of never happened. And you Since she had a lot of time in days. Clockwise from top: Pushkar won’t believe this — I had to hand, she even decided to Amsterdam is Lele in Amsterdam; the cancel my tickets to Thai- dedicate one day each to like Venice founded National Monument, which land some five times!” she shopping, spa therapies, in- is flanked by human figures on and still today fo- and regal lions, is a symbol adds. dulging in sporty activities cussed around water of freedom from tyranny; the Natasha says that she and chilling by the beach and waterways with vocalist enjoys a bike ride had heard a lot about the side. 165 canals and 1,281 body massages in Thailand And guess what was the quaint bridges criss- has continued to be a and being a complete spa swears by the shell therapy quirkiest thing she did. “I crossing the unique melting pot of cultures person, she couldn’t have re- and aroma therapy that she ate a snail,” she laughs. and typical Dutch archi- and religions, co-exist- sisted going for them. “My went for. “I am so super lazy, “Trust me, it wasn’t as bad tecture. My first stop ing and inspiring each friends had sung such prais- I love to laze around and get as was the thought of it. But was at Square, the other in harmony. This es about them, and trust me, pampered in spas,” she I wouldn’t put that in my token heart of the city. history is what under- it’s all so worth the praises,” laughs. mouth again!” The imposing Royal pins the characteristic exclaims the model, who A complete shopaholic, [email protected] Palace, which dates back and much-admired at- to 1655 lends an imperial mosphere of liberali- aura. Looming prominent- ty which I found ly in front is the National there. As Amster- BUZZZZ Monument, a symbol of dam is a surprising- freedom from tyranny, ly compact city and Celebrating Rann Utsav flanked by human figures well- serviced by ex- and regal lions. The area cellent public around the dam is a shop- transportation in The ongoing Rann Utsav at Kutch ture, as the exhibition platform for the per’s paradise and one is tru- the form of buses, in is a popular cultural varied range of arts and crafts of the re- ly spoilt for choice. The trams, metro and the well-funded University of Amster- event among the masses. The an- gion. Also, there will be an array of folk Magna Plaza, a striking build- ferry boats, one dam. nual festival is the plethora of var- music and dance performances in the ing of great allure was a for- does not waste The following day, I decided to ex- ied hues, profusion of design, su- moonlit mer head post office, now con- time travelling plore the lovely countryside of perfluity of culture, cornu- verted into a high-end mall. I from one place to Netherlands and set off with my copia of music and dance, rounded off my day with a the other. As I friend to Delft, world famous for Delft- all together in the arid lovely dinner with friends on couldn’t resist ware blue pottery. After a comfortable lands of Kutch. The Utsav the top floor of the stately build- the urge to ‘go-Dutch’, two-hour train journey, we reached creates a mosaic of exquis- ing of De Bijenkorf. I decided to take a two-hour city tour the idyllic village and were awestruck iteness, which reflects the The next day I headed to on Prinsengracht on a bicycle. With a ticket of 20 euros by its picture perfect beauty. It being a identity and spirit of the re- Tropenmuseum, which is one of which attracts many visitors who including bicycle rent and a cheerful Sunday morning, there was no one on gion. During the full moon Europe’s leading ethnographic muse- wish to see the rooms where the Jew- guide who took our group around ex- the roads adding to its surreal charm. night of the winters amid ums. After spending a couple of hours ish family hid from the Nazis and plaining Dutch history, it was pure After a hot cup of coffee, we took a the awe-inspiring and con- watching their current exhibit called where the teenage Anne wrote her fa- fun. leisurely walk around soaking in the trasting landscape each year, ‘Death Matters’, I gorged on some mous diary during the Second World Weaving in and out of traffic, cy- stillness. a three-day festive extrava- fresh French fries with mayonnaise War. The Van Gogh Museum too is clists in Amsterdam defy classifica- I decided to spend a major part of ganza brimming with hospi- sauce, a typical Dutch snack. A walk worth a visit and houses the largest tion. You’ll see all types of people on my last day in the public library in tality and traditional flavour in the adjoining Oosterpark helped collection of paintings by Vincent van bikes — everyone from businessmen Amsterdam called The Bibliotheek, is hosted. landscape. The colourful fairs burn some of those sinful calories. Gogh. A visit to the Coster Diamonds in three-piece suits to grandmothers near the science museum Nemo. With This carnival is organised at various held near the banks of a lake What caught my attention was the museum enlightened me about the and musicians packing their instru- a never- ending collection of books, locales within Kutch, introducing the vis- and the organised tour around Kutch is various kinds of bicycles people were process of polishing a rough diamond ments. I rounded my day with a lovely newspapers, magazines, journals, itor to the indigenous and ethnical cul- an ideal occasion to be part of the region riding, so comfortably. With more into a sparkling gem. Four centuries Surinamese dinner followed by DVDs and various other media, one ture of the people. Semi-parched Grass- and experience the zeal and uniqueness than 50 (including museums on Vodka of craftsmanship has given Amster- watching The Artist in an old theatre can spend an entire lifetime in this lands of the Banni hosts the most mag- of the people through a celebration and Marijuana!!), I had to choose the dam the world-wide fame as a dia- called Rialto, a 1930s relic. The next mammoth library. A lovely Indone- nificent display of vernacular architec- of life. ones I wanted to visit. The one I could mond centre. day was spent in exploring the flower sian dinner with friends was the per- not miss was the Anne Frank House Throughout the ages, Amsterdam market and in visiting my friend in fect end to my Amsterdam vacation.

BHANDARDARA: Imagine lush green hills, brisk waterfalls and serene lakes. You get it all and more at this quiet hill station, tucked away within nature’s lap. Climb up to see the and fort, follow the trails that lead to Ajoba and Ghan- chakkar peaks, or try conquer the high- est peak in , Mount (1646 m). And once at the sum- mit, don’t miss out on the panoramic view of the Sahyadris. Bhandardara is 185 kms from and is easily ac- cessible by road. The nearest railway station is Igatpuri, where you could board a state transport bus or take auto rickshaws to reach your resort.

JAWHAR: Known as ‘ of district’, Jawhar is famous for its rich cultural heritage. Home to the Warli tribes, one of the tribal kingdoms in Maharashtra, Jawhar remains un- touched by modern concretisation. Vis- it Dadara Kopra Falls, Jai Vilas, the palace of the tribal kings, the Hanu- man and Sunset Points and the Shirpa- mal, where Shivaji chose to camp on his way to Surat. You could drive down or take state transport buses. WINTER : Hop onto a toy train and enjoy the stunning hilly view. There’s not much to do in this quiet, car-free hill station other than just lazing around, taking early morning walks or riding a horse for fun. Visit Hart Point after dark, to get a breathtaking VACATIONING glimpse of the lights of a buzzing Mum- bai. Remnants of the old world charm of the British and Parsi homes abound Take a weekend off and head to these hill stations to enjoy the nippy weather to the hilt all the way up to the Charlotte Lake. The bazaars here have on offer leather altitude of 1461 m, Toranmal is one of articles, hats, chappals and ! Take the most peaceful places on earth. And state transport buses that ply from when you are tired of plain lazing, you Mumbai and Pune to Neral for a toy could visit the beautiful Yashwant train ride to this sleepy town on hill Lake, Seetha Khali, or any of the top. charming temples of olden days.

PANCHGANI: What better than sitting , : Just three relaxed, enjoying a glass of strawberry hours away from the chaotic city, Khan- slush, taking in the foggy prettiness of Don’t forget to take a trip to Mapro Gar- Pandavas, killed the villainous Keecha- dala and Lonavala come in as the most Panchgani, known for its raspberry den for filling your goodie bags with ka and it hence came to be known as convenient and closest weekend get- and strawberry farms! For a pictur- jams, jellies, syrups and squashes! Keechakadara, which of course, over aways for Mumbaikars. Well known for esque setting, visit Table Land, a flat the years has transpired and been col- their scrumptious and countless vari- large expanse of laterite rock that is CHIKHALDARA HILLS: There is loquialised into Chikaldara — making ties of chikki, both Khandala and Lon- also the second longest mountain much more to this place than just the it more befitting in the local lingo. avala also hold some beautiful must-see plateau in Asia. Caves including the breathtakingly beautiful hills. The sights. The sporty ones can indulge in Devil’s Kitchen are visible from here. A name itself holds a rich heritage that TORANMAL: This marvel of a place is trekking and other adventure sports. must-visit is Sydney Point, situated on dates back to the . This is sure to get you high. Literally! Tucked — Compiled by Jayeeta Mazumder and a hillock facing the Krishna Valley. the place where Bheema, one of the away in the Satpuda Mountains at an Shreya Badola