What is a STAYCATION?

staycation
steɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
informal

a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.

The popularity of staycation is increasing and rather why not. I think staycations are very underrated.
Staycations are vacations with utmost comfort without stressing yourself giving you the leeway to do things as much or as less you want according to your liking. Giving you the complete rest and indulging you in utmost relaxation .. instead of going on vacations where you want to see it all and do it all without much chance to relax . One needs another vacation to just get over and relax all the tired muscles after all that sightseeing and activities back to back.
Staycation is the new league of vacation or not, just our age old vacations where we stayed at home and did as little or as much as we wanted or visited some relative to do the same.
So an old vacation wrapped in a new package - staycation - which is catching everyone's fancy and rightly so.
Especially staycations at neighbourhood / nearby hotels and resorts are very much in demand. Why not ? With amenities, comforts, pampering yourself to the hilt, good food, spa, without worry in the world, no agendas, fun activities that the hotel plans, yoga, nearby sights if you want to see that is and the works ....
In today's fast paced life where everyone is running a race against time .. staycation helps us to stop, unwind just relax and catch up with yourself or your loved ones ..
and in the end ....
some snippets of our staycation -

Just unwind

Indulge

Catch up on some reading

Feast away

Do what you like - hobbies, activities, spa - anything that makes you happy and that which you don't do in your daily routine.

Play your favourite games, take up a class or sport activity, dance, do yoga ... endless possibilities...

Be one with nature, hike , be a tourist in your own city...

Get loads of rest, catch up on movies, catch up with friends ....

Just Relax and do what your heart and body feel like.

Check out How We Do A Staycation

xoxo
Bhakti

Our litttle Adventure from Siam to Platinum mall Bangkok !!!

It was a bright and sunny day calling us to explore Bangkok.(oh boy and did we explore in the truest sense)
We decided to go to Siam and check out Siam center, Paragon and Discovery. We took the BTS our daily, friendly, fast, easy and cheap mode of transport. The BTS takes you to Siam and is directly connected to the Siam center. So here we were in the Siam center, enroute we had gorged on street side fruits, which are truly yummy and delicious, the best of them being the guava and then Mango.
Well this was our daily breakfast and oh did we enjoy it.

our breakfast - bags of fresh fruit.. I dint like this fruit much though

 We explored Siam Paragon which is a luxury shopping mall took a look at the Siam underwater ocean world.

Holiday hangover - Thailand tales -- Pattaya it is.

As most of you know that I have been ranting about my holiday. Well to tell you honestly I still have a massive holiday hangover which refuses to go.
So here I thought why not blog about the same as I can't keep the thoughts to myself alone ( so typical me hehe)
Bangkok being one of the popular destination of the world. As you all know I being a OCD victim have a habit of doing in depth planning and research of most of the things (eyes rolling) so I was all prepared and well versed with Thailand. Thanks to bangkok.com which is an amazing website which allows you to download a free pdf guide as well as has detailed iteneries, maps, convenient travel, packages, food, shopping and any other think you can think of listed.

Tourism Thailand site which has detailed information about Thailand, everything you need to know and much more.

But Thailand has its own way. It springs surprises at you no matter how well you are prepared.
Thailand especially Bangkok and Pattaya are so similar to Mumbai yet so distant and mystique I felt. Every lane (soi as they call it) had a surprise to offer, something new to discover.

We were there for 9 days in Thailand but every day was a new experience. There is so much to explore, so much to experience and at the end of it all Thailand binds you in the magic unknown, and all you can do is keep reminiscing your experience until you create another new one with Thailand.

Don't worry as you very well know me, I am going to provide you with all the details of my Thailand trip with its beauty, markets, shopping, tips and tricks.

However today I feel like beginning with the last leg and day of our holiday, that was in Pattaya.
As you very well know that I am driven by my whims, so here it goes.

Pattaya- (we were here for 3 nights)

Completely took us by surprise, after much insistence of our peers and family not to take Pattaya and instead go to the pristine Phuket, stubborn that I am, thus here we were in Pattaya and were we glad about it.
Pattaya has its own charm. Active by night more than day, though plenty of things to do during the day as well.
We use to sleep till late, have a huge lunch, take a stroll or swim on the beach, go for a massage, do some shopping, get ready and have a relaxed dinner after which we used to go for a walk at the walking street followed by long hours of shisha till the wee hours of morning.... ahhhh Bliss indeed!!


Have a look yourself---

Lunch at the pizza company, we  had ordered extra large bbq chicken, the quantity was huge, but I found the pizza slightly on the sweeter side, though cheesy. The cheese garlic bread was yum.

 the remains--

 Pattaya beach - the beach is a thin strip in the common area filled to brim with loungers, one can hire a lounger for a small fee and sip beer for hours looking at the sea. Tip - buy a beer from the 7/11 stores located widely all over at short distances, you will find everything that you need in these stores, right from mobile recharge to ice creams, snacks, and everything. the price of everything you buy here is very economical.

 well I wont suggest to take a dip in the sea on this common beach as the water is dirty and polluted, one can swim in the private beach adjoining their hotel, or go to the nearby jomtien beach.

There is lot of street shopping in front of the beach. One can get good deals, I got myself a huge haul of swim wear. Do take souvenir Thailand magnets across the street- cheaper than Bangkok. Vast variety of pubs, restaurants with different cuisines, fast food joints, street Thai food available across the street.

dress- westside

footwear- footins

we- happy happy !

Massages are available in plenty- but do check their license as many times they fool you into illegal activities and take money- the massages start from 120 to 200 baht for feet massage (1 hour)

The walking street is closed for vehicles at night, the action starts after 8-9 pm. exotix shows, beer bars, shopping, street shows,fish market, you name and you have it. One needs to experience the pulse of this street to understand it. Must do ! (obviously not for children)

Shisha places dotting the streets near the walking street. have a beer and shisha and sit for hours watching life go by. All the shisha places are facing the road with chairs and tables put up on street. This was our favorite part.

Till my next Thailand post .

take care and plan up your vacation

xoxo

Bhakti

Much deserved break at Four Fountains Spa

As you all know that I keep on bantering about the holiday season with every ounce of enthusiasm, how could this post be any different?
The joy of my holidays is increased courtesy The Four Fountain Spa and their invitation to pamper myself with their exotic treatments. WOW!! I am all excited and happy, after all what more does a girl need ;p
One doesn't require any particular time to destress and pamper oneself at the spa but still I think this is the apt month for spa, or spa month. You ask why so, let me explain. Back from a holiday vacation , renew your self , rejuvenate for the beginning of holidays after work ,or just pamper your self for the wedding season , whatever be your reason, mine was two in one- returning back from Thailand vacation (as if I got less massages over there) and starting the Christmas holiday with renewed vigor. Point proved:) (sheepish grin).

There are many outlets available in my city, I chose one convenient to me, booked an appointment over the phone. This was not my first trip to their spa, I quite like it as they have lot of offers deals and different types of memberships one can avail. It's clean, hygienic, in budget. I love their therapies.:)

As Thailand is not fair to your skin I chose a Lightening Facial with ocean mist mask as my face required the pampering and to get rid of my holiday tan.

After an hour of gently exfoliating, cleansing, toning, massaging, scrubbing, steaming, application of mask and finally moisturizing.  I felt really great, pampered and my face felt clean and was glowing.

The service they gave was good , my appointment was on schedule. They also accept Sodexo gift pass. The manager assisted me in choosing a package, the masseur was nice, kept enquiring about my comfort ,but could be a bit discreet as in whenever I was dozing off she would announce to me though in a soft tone that we are doing this. Which would awaken me from my lumber, they can tell u at the beginning the process is going to involve these steps, and let you drift off in the la la land without any disturbance, the noise from the hallway by the staff members also added to the disturbance. Other than these minor hiccups I thoroughly enjoyed my self. Soothing music, in the background, green tea completed the experience. The freebie cream they gave to apply at night for relaxation got a smile to my face. ( we girls I tell you);p
Looking forward to them starting a couple massage which is yet not on their menu..

Christmas holiday movie party/marathon

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a Christmas holiday movie marathon.
All you need is some hot cocoa and cookies. tub of popcorn and a movie list. you are all prepared to either have a movie Christmas party or watch it just with your family or your loved one snuggled in.

you can even have a hot cocoa bar to treat yourself with some goodies.

Handmade Gifts for Christmas.

Christmas is a festival of joy and Happiness. Christmas celebrates the spirit of giving and sharing.
The feeling of contentment when you see someone all happy receiving a gift that you gave is unparalleled. this happiness multiplies when that gift is a thoughtful one and multiplies further more if you have taken efforts to make it on your own.

Christmas shopping starts weeks ahead to avoid the rush, get the best things, options. Christmas shopping is a big task which is no light on your wallet and exhausts you. Why buy something created in bulk for everybody? Why not create something special for the people you love, something crafted only for them, one of a kind at a very nominal rate?



Here are some ideas, so even you can start making your gifts, I have already started making mine;p

HOLIDAY SEASON - How to celebrate christmas

Its the Holiday season,

the season of red,

 of Santa and his goodies,

 cookies and cakes,

of carols and stories,

 of Rudolph and his nose red.

Its season for celebration

yes, its Christmas ahead...