Roadtripping Between The Waves
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In the past, when we spoke of travel between the waves, it usually meant a beach holiday. The Covid era changed all that.
While some of us are still reeling from a second wave, others, ahead of the Covid curve, have already tided over their fourth and fifth waves. Those missing travel, or seeking to WFA (Work From Anywhere) have taken to short breaks between the waves, as cases begin to ebb. Several have chosen to stay away from the crowds by renting a cottage by the sea or in the woods. Others are finding ingenious ways to combine safety with adventure and road trips are a popular choice.
Sick of being holed up in their Mumbai flat last year, designer duo and couple Swati Paranjpe and Siddharth Khandelwal packed their office (and kitchen) into their car and embarked on a road trip spanning 3000 km, from Mumbai to Manali. In our latest pandemic travel diaries, Swati chronicles their experiences ranging from a tour of crumbling havelis with beautiful frescoes in Shekhawati, to women with guns strapped to their backs in Haryana. Find a snippet of the piece below, and look out for Part 2 where she will share details of the stay, the places and their people!
In the meanwhile, stay safe, stay well. At home, at work, on the road, or wherever you choose to be.
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The Pandemic Travel Diaries: Road Trip Mumbai to Manali (Part 1)
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Swati Paranjpe and Siddharth Khandelwal set off on a road trip across six Indian states in their quest to WFA. Swati writes:
"Our trip had no set route or plan; it would be the first time that we’d let chance take over. We got in touch with friends and family we could visit on the way from Mumbai to Manali, our first stops being Ahmedabad and Udaipur. We loaded our car with a mini-office: two work tables and computer chairs, desktops and stationery. Then, a mini kitchen, with ingredients to cook along the way and dry food to last a minimum of ten days. Plus sundry travel paraphernalia for any untoward incidents on the road."
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What does your pandemic diary look like?
Were you stranded far away from home? Did you get to travel and discover someplace interesting? Or did you rediscover your neighbourhood? Perhaps you sought travel virtually, through books, films, music, food and events.
Write to us at travelpurist@gmail.com to share your experience on Travel Purist.
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From The Archives: A Modernist Villa on Marco Polo's Maritime Silk Road
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The six-room Villa Romonea on the Cambodian beach of Kep is perfect for some R&R after a visit to the temples of Angkor. Located along Marco Polo’s historical maritime Silk Road, Kep was a gateway to the Khmer Empire and the gulf of Kampot, where silk and spices were once traded.
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Purist Picks
Our pick of interesting news, reviews and resources related to travel and culture:
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For those in America, Skyscanner launches a new Road Trip tool that helps put together an itinerary with eateries, hotels, car rentals and more for a multi-stop road trip. As featured in Conde Nast Traveler.
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There's nothing like a nostalgia trip with the memory of one of our favourite travelling chefs. Open Culture shares Anthony Bourdain's first food-and-travel series, A Cook's Tour (2002-03).
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Roadtripping in India? Here's a handy guide to some highway dhabas or roadside eateries along some major North Indian highways.As curated by Outlook Traveller.
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Image source for Purist Picks above in the order they appear: Photo of American freeway: Conde Nast Traveller, Getty Images | Anthony Bourdain 'Let's Get Lost'. Video grab, Youtube, Open Culture. | Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba is the most-preferred place to eat on the Grand Trunk Road. Photo: mrinalpal/ Shutterstock, Outlook Traveller.
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