Taking the Step into the Unknown :

Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger,
Or wonder,
till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.
- C.S. Lewis

This poem by C.S.Lewis sets me thinking, isn’t this the most important part of travel? To take a step into the unknown and explore, to explore and wonder at nature’s beauty, the most important part is to take THAT STEP, and to make that move.  

Because if you always played it safe you would never discover a new path, a new route, a new hill. What drives a traveler is his heart, his heart that beats at the sight of a new landscape. This drive is what makes you talk to complete strangers on a train, listen to them and if they say that there is this ONE place that you ought to go to, even if it does not fit into your schedule, you do it. When on a trek, your on your safe known path , but the thrill is from the small route through the absolute thicket that might well just take you to the best clearing that not many other travelers have seen, it might give you the best view of the mountain range, or you might just get caught in the thicket with scratches and might lose your trail, but then, that is the risk you oughta take … aint it ?

When I think back on all the many trips I have done, the ones that went absolutely perfectly I remember, but the ones I remember better are the ones that I hadn’t planned, hadn’t expected, I had just listened to my heart and had set forth. Some of them failed and failed bad, but still its etched on my mind and I still sit back and reminisce that.

 So here is my tip of the month – As much as all of us would like to just “Take Off” without a fixed number of days for a trip and just follow our heart, how many of us can actually get to do that ? I don’t think many, all of us have jobs that need us there, we get a few leaves and so we plan out our trip in such a way that all the best places fit right into the schedule. Yes this is the best way to see the most number of destinations in the given time, but then there are these times when you saw a place and wished you could just stay there a little while longer … that is what this tip is for … When you apply for leaves or take time out of your busy schedule for a long trip, make sure you take two to three days more than your tight schedule plan, your boss might get a little more irked than usual but it would prove worth it.

Keep a few days extra on your long trips, when you like a place so much you don’t want to move use those two days, when you get to know there is a small village near your destination that needs a visit use those two days to visit that place. That way you can still catch your flight/train back as booked, and you will get that time to spend in that place that you want to. And trust me you will reminisce THAT the most …

Parinitha Konanur

Photography Tour to Bhoganandeeshwara Temple

Life is calling organized a photography tour a few days ago. Photography for most travelers comes as an accessory , it’s a package, you want to travel to see new places and when you see new places you want to capture it. Photography has its nuances, its subtleties, its own understanding of the visual in front of you. Photography not only creates memories it can create an artistic portrayal of an exotic place. So we at Life is Calling thought why not club the two and have some fun on the way.

So a renowned Bangalore Photographer Neeta Shankar worked along with us to create some awesome experience with a photography workshop. The plan was to visit the Bhoganandeeshawara temple which is close to Nandi hills, the temple is about a 1000 years old and is known for its architecture and beauty.

The workshop was a superb success with the whole team meeting up and reaching the place by 9am. After about an hour of initial photography the team was given a talk on basics of photography, the main Do’s and Don’t’s the understanding of composition, colour and contour till 1 in the afternoon. Then a sumptuous meal to get them started for the rest of the day and learning. 

The group was filled with enthusiastic people trying out new techniques that they had learnt, trying to capture the temple in all its beauty.

Photography trips are a wonderful way to not only spend a weekend doing your favourite thing but also a great way to meet similar minded people and to experience and experiment and also get expert advice on the go. So we have planned up a few more photographic trips in the same way. Check out our website to know the schedule of the upcoming photography tours, to enroll yourself and join in on the fun. www.lifeiscalling-travel.com

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The view of Jodhpur in the night - from a camera man's point of view ....

As we finished seeing the most beautiful fort - The Mehrangarh Fort - we see this Camera man's seat, set up for a shoot. Then we get out into the golden reddish glow of the evening sky wondering how the same Blue Bright City of the morning would look through the lens in the night.

Parinitha Konanur

How to plan your trip ...

Travel is a passion, its what most people live for, some do it often, some occasionally when leaves are approved. whatever be your way of travel one must understand the basics and importance of planning ahead. I was one of those people who loved to go on the go planning, it is a good way to see the best of every place, as in experience it for what it really is, without expectation or anticipation. 

But over the years what I have realized is that even if you do one or two such spontaneous trips in a year, it is also important to do some trips which are well planned. What are the benefits of a planned trip is that you can choose exactly the kind of activities that you love and do that and filter through many options which are just there for tourist attractions. And believe me in India especially, this is important, if you have an absolutely free and open calendar then you can waste a few days doing all the odd things and figuring out what you love and then do that. But honestly who has that kind of time now ? Nah not any of us. So here is the best way to plan. 

1. Obviously - select your destination. This has to be done carefully, decide if you want a hill station, a beach , a relaxing trip, adventure, or cultural experience or whatever may be your deal. Then pick a place that would be best in the month/climate you are planning to travel. I cant put enough stress on this, this probably makes or breaks a trip's experience.  Then also pick a place depending on whether you would be going with your best mate, your colleagues who are picky choosy or you family with your kids. 

a. With Your best mate - well here you can both talk it over and decide.

b. With your picky choosy colleagues - this is tricky, don't plan too many adventure sports, have at least one day of relaxing planned into your schedule. Not all people want to be on the move all the time. This is one of the most repeated travel blunders where you make such a tight plan of running about that the ones who like to relax cannot cope and are left with a grumpy mood - An absolute no no for holidaying.

c. With your family and kids - here you can choose a more relaxed place where kids can engage themselves, not a very over crowded place. Also don’t put your kids in a place where they are sure to get utterly bored, include some things that kids will love, like a zoo, a Butterfly park, an Elephant ride, or atleast good food and lots of delicious sweets :-)

2. When doing a planned trip coincide your dates with some offers sometimes airlines run cheap to certain places at a certain time of year. Plan it ahead and use the extra cash to shop, this saves a lot of pain, money and trouble. 

3. Do a little bit of a read up on the place, some places are better seen in peak season, some places are just breath takingly beautiful even in the off season and that way you can save a lot of cash and over crowded atmosphere. 

4. Ask around, read up on the places that are available for stay , don't lamely book hotel rooms, may be there are nice little unknown home stays, paying guest houses which are not only safe, cheap and lovely but also give an awesome feel of the local lifestyle and cuisines. 

5. Apart from all this know yourself and your fellow traveler. This might sound funny but most of us discover ourselves while we travel with each other. So that way you know their likes, their dislikes and their little quirks, keep these in mind while you plan your trip, instead of blindly following what your over enthusiastic friend said about mountaineering and taking your peace and quiet - loving wife to a sweating trip which she will hate.

If you feel you need help planning a trip, we at Life is Calling are always there to offer our services. We can plan a customized trip for your likes, preferences and specifications.

Feel free to contact us at info@lifeiscalling-travel.com

Check us out at - http://www.lifeiscalling-travel.com/