Travel Secrets Jan-Feb 2016 Teaser

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“As the train approached the Devil’s Nose, passengers often fainted...”

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Know before you go!

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

Vienna

Your 14-page Personal Guide to Austria’s Prettiest City

Coffee+ Shops: Catch the coolest spots in San Francisco

Eat, Sway, Fall in Love... with Manila’s Musical Restaurant Meet Belgium’s

Master Chocolatier

#1milliontravelsecrets Gems from our giant collection PLUS: Canada • Barcelona • Meghalaya • Agra

11 Lust List Stunning images that will drift you into dreams of lands faraway 19 #1milliontravelsecrets From the beaches to Australia to the gullies of Agra, we’ve picked hidden gems for your wander-list 28 Q&A Top blogger Kirstie Jeffries shares her success tips and Spain secrets 30 Just Back From Budapest Inside advice from one who’s recently been there, seen that 37 How I Took This Shot Photographer Shoba Jolly captures a romantic moment in Lisbon 41 Cover Story Why Vienna will leave you wonderstruck

62 The Long Road to London

56 The Devil’s Nose Join Shozeb Haider on the world’s most thrilling train journey 62 The Long Road to London Nidhi Tiwari’s record-breaking trip

66 Guests of Honour

70 Belgium

66 Guests of Honour Why Fairmont Hotels love this Canadian couple 70 Meet the Chocolate Master Laurent Gerbaud sells sweetness in Brussels 74 Around the World in 80 Drinks Try them all!

74 Around the World in 80 Drinks

travelsecretsmag.com

79 Manila, Philippines

79 The Singing Cooks of Manila A unique concept restaurant

January-February 2016 Travel Secrets 5

Lust list

Photo: thailandtravel.agency

Loy Krathong, Thailand Celebrated nationwide in the month of November, Loy Krathong is probably Thailand’s most beautiful and enchanting festival. Participants let go of krathong—small floating vessels made from banana stalks and decorated with incense, offerings, flowers and candles—into rivers and other bodies of water. The ones who float the krathong often add a small clipping of their hair or fingernail along with some coins. It is believed that the krathong carries away bad luck and signals a fresh start.

If you wish to float a krathong into the water, make sure it’s made of natural materials (plant materials or bread, usually) and not Styrofoam or plastic, which don’t decompose and end up turning into litter and pollution. Make sure, too, to make a wish when you let go of your lantern or float.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 Travel Secrets 11

#1 Million Travel Secrets

TRAVEL SE RETS

#1 M I L L I O N

C

We are on an ambitious mission to collect 1,000,000 travel secrets! Here is a selection of secrets from our worldwide band of correspondents, tourism boards, bloggers and other reliable sources. Each secret is picked with one aim: to make your travel experience smoother, smarter and richer.

Join the campaign! Send in your secrets and win incredible prizes including air tickets, hotel stays, gift vouchers and more.

Get the details on our website: www.travelsecretsmag.com.

Mail your travel secret to travelsecretsmag@gmail.com January-February 2016 Travel Secrets  19

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Translation apps for your trip to Japan From: Vandana Chhabra, Delhi

To enjoy Japan to the fullest, there’s one thing you must know – basic Japanese. Language can be a big barrier since many locals don’t speak English. Apps such as Google Translate and Itranslate will see you through.

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Barcelona’s fancy Bar Mut Bar From: Anil Kapoor, Actor and Producer

Best known for its wine selection and creative décor (barrels are used as tables), Bar Mut in Barcelona is my favourite place to catch a drink. It’s one of the hippest tapas bars in the city, offering a fine range of spirits and food items.

20 Travel Secrets January-February 2016

359

Australia’s secret islands

From: Stephanie Bachtin, student from Germany

In Australia there are these beautiful islands called the Whitsunday Islands. This tropical haven offers a bunch of activities such as boating, sailing and snorkelling. You can also set up camp. I camped here for five days and it was a brilliant experience.

30 Travel Secrets JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

A portrait in portugal Shoba Jolly, a passionate photographer and avid traveller, loves capturing poignant slices of life, as she sees it, in her exciting sojourns around the world. Her vivid and endearing images tell stories about exotic and often unknown people and places in far away lands.

Turn to page to learn how Shoba captured this picture perfect moment in Portugal

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016  Travel Secrets  37

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JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 Travel Secrets 41

The Devil’s Nose

56 Travel Secrets JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

He Sells Sweetness In

Brussels

With Valentine’s around the corner, we found ourselves craving chocolate. On a whim, we reached out to top Belgiam chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud. And in a blink, he got back! The result was this delicious interview:

What makes Belgium the world chocolate capital?

We have a very long history in processing chocolate since the beginning of the century, from small manufactures to big European players. Thanks to a very high quality industrial chocolate couverture, the general level of Belgian chocolates is higher than in other countries.

What are the best street and shops in Brussels to buy Belgian chocolate?

The best handmade manufactures are on Place du Sablon, the very chic square of antiquaries and chocolate shops. You will find big names in small production like Marcolini, Wittamer, Darcis, Blondeel, and the big players Neuhaus, Godiva & Leonidas. French stars like Patrick Roger and Ladurée have also opened shop recently.

What makes handmade chocolates superior to factory-produced varieties?

The quality of the raw ingredients, the good recipes and the freshness of the production are the main keys for quality handmade chocolates. The production is made all along the season in small batches, using none or very little preservative. The big players all tend to have the same price and quality of ingredients, and recipes with a very long shelf life by using lots of sugar.

Their differences are more about the marketing and the packaging.

How do I pick and choose the best chocolates?

The best way to find your taste is to buy here. Try one or two pralines by the 70 Travel Secrets JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

Manila’s Singing Cooks & Waiters Singing Cooks and Waiters Atbp is the only restaurant of its kind in Manila, Philippines,.

The waiters, chef, manager, bus boys, janitors, cashier, and even security guards sing and dance for guests here

I

s yours the only musical restaurant in Manila?

No, but we are the first, the original, and the only restaurant with entertainment of its kind in the world. Our singing chefs cook authentic Filipino dishes and our singing staff serves them to our guests. The entire restaurant is a stage that showcases food and live musical performances.

We opened in the late 1980’s and the Singing Cooks & Waiters became recording artists in 1992 78 Travel Secrets JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

We know of restaurants where the waiters sing. But at yours, the cooks and security guards join in too! How did the idea come about?

The restaurant started as a traditional Filipino restaurant named Ihaw-Ihaw, Kalde-Kaldero at Kawa-Kawali Restaurant (Grill, Pots & Pans), where the chefs would cook while displaying their skills in the kitchen in front of customers.

Late one night, the owner Rodolfo Ongpauco was sitting in the dining room and he heard someone singing. He got curious and followed the beautiful voice. As it turned out, it was the janitor singing while he cleaned the restroom.

He immediately called the rest of his staff to find out if anyone else could sing.

The next day he went around and searched for other talents in all his restaurants (Barrio Fiesta and Bakahan at Manukan included).

TASTE NOTES

Agashiye House of Mangaldas

I

AHMEDABAD

Review: Tanya Anand

n Gujarati, “Agashiye” means “on the terrrace.” And that’s where we sat on a balmy evening, enjoying exquisite regional food.

Once the residence of a prominent Gujarati businessman Mangaldas Girdhardas, the 200year-old haveli is now a family-run heritage hotel. It is here you will find the sprawling Agashiye restaurant: Mega popular and always busy, with several awards tucked under its well-fed belt.

Two huge terraces are interconnected by a small one that houses a wooden cottage.

The dim lighting and architectural splendour transport you to another time and place.

The staff—mostly men from neighbouring villages, lead you to the waiting area where you are served a welcome drink and starters such as methi dhokla and bondas.

Food: Service: Ambience: Value for money: TS Rating:

The House of Mangaldas Girdhardas Opp. Sidi Saiyad Jali, Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad www.houseofmg.com

Next up, a server dressed in Gujarati attire brings a water mug and a small basin for you to wash your hands. This is followed by an endless stream of delicacies brought to your table—salad, pickle platter, a huge thali, pappadums, chaat, and a glass of chaach. The servers (whose sole mission is to make sure you pile on more kilos), keep checking on you at regular intervals without being intrusive.

The feast culminates with paan and ice cream served with two gooseberries. The undiya—a mix of 15 seasonal vegetables, and the kadi (both dishes included in the thaali) were excellent. The homemade guava ice-cream was fresh, and we enjoyed it immensely. Their menu changes every day as well as seasonally, so you may be served something totally different when you visit.

No matter how little time you have in Ahmedabad, don’t miss a meal at The House of MG. You won’t regret the decision; it’s truly a memorable experience!

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 Travel Secrets 81