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About the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes

The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki are part of the Paparoa National Park. They are limestone formations created by immense pressure on alternating hard and soft layers of marine creatures and plant sediments. The rocks started forming about 30 million years ago. During high tide, the ocean water bursts through several vertical blowholes.

A number of walkways winding through the rock formations, make the Pancake Rocks accessible. Some parts of the walkways can also be accessed by wheelchair.

Location and getting there

Punakaiki is a small township on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand between Westport and Greymouth. It is located near the center of the 'Coast Road' one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. State Highway 6 passes through the town.

If you are flying into Christchurch, you can take the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth, one of the most scenic train journeys in the world, and then rent a car to Punakaiki. The TranzAlpine covers a distance of 223 km in just under five hours.

Punakaiki is on the edge of the Paparoa National Park and forms a great base to explore the park. There is plenty of different kinds of accommodation available in and around Punakaiki, including upmarket hotels, bed & breakfasts, motels, a campervan and camping ground, and backpacker accommodation.

Visit the Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre in Punakaiki to get more information on the Pancake Rocks and surrounding area.

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My Experience

I took the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth, where I was met by photographer and tour-guide Neil Silverwood with whom I had connected earlier for my trip to the West Coast. Neil is an acclaimed Kiwi photographer who won the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year Award in 2017.

It was only 2 p.m., and after a quick coffee, Neil and I decided to catch the sunset over the Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki. This gave us plenty of time to drive first to the Pororari river in the Paparoa National Park, where we did some hiking and kayaking. After an early dinner of fish and chips (costing NZ $30 per head!) at the Pancake Rocks Cafe in Punakaiki and a walk at the Punakaiki Beach, we headed to see the Pancake Rocks. I was struck by the beauty of the majestic limestone structures rising from the ocean floor and bathed in the golden rays of the setting sun, along with the heavy roar of the ocean waves beating at the rocks. The Pancake Rocks are a must-do while visiting the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Where I stayed

I stayed at the Charleston Lodge in Charleston that I found very good. The area is quiet, and the rooms are clean and comfortable. The hosts are nice and welcoming. They helped me check-in late around 10:30 p.m. and also left some milk for me in the refrigerator in my room. It cost me around NZ$135 for a single room. However, it is not a luxury lodge.

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For my trip from New Delhi to Los Angeles this summer, I was booked in Premium Economy on Singapore Air, except for the first leg of the journey from Delhi to Singapore which was booked in economy class.  

This would be my first time flying Singapore Air and I didn't quite know what to expect. After check-in and security, I browsed through some of the duty free shops before heading to my gate. Luckily the gate was located just at the beginning of the departure lounge diagonally across the Starbucks cafe (for those of you who are familiar with the international terminal at the New Delhi airport probably know how long a walk it can be to get to your gate). 

Singapore Air offers priority check-in and boarding even for premium economy passengers. Even though the first leg of my journey was in economy, I was allowed priority boarding since the rest of my ticket was booked in premium economy. I had reserved my seat in advance on the upper deck just behind the business class. As I passed through the business class to get to my seat, I was very impressed by the business class seating configuration of 1:2:1, very comfortable for an A380! Just for comparison, Lufthansa’s business class configuration in an A380 is 2:2:2. 

The economy class was also quite comfortable with a seating configuration of 2:4:2on the upper deck. As soon as boarding was completed, the crew distributed hot towels followed by the dinner menu. Flight safety video was in English with subtitles in Hindi and also sign language, a wonderful gesture for those with hearing problems. 

The crew was kind and courteous, the meal was acceptable, the ice-cream delicious and the in-flight movies entertaining. 

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Before I left for Norway, I researched the internet for some practical information regarding how much time it would take for me to change from the international to the domestic terminal at the Oslo Gardermoen Airport. I was flying from New Delhi to Tromso via Paris and Oslo. Perhaps, the easier way would have been to fly directly from New Delhi to Helsinki with Finnair and then take a connecting flight to Tromso. However, I went with Air France because the timings suited me better.

Anyway, to be on the safer side so I didn't miss my connection to Tromso from Oslo, I gave myself 5 hours between arrival and departure at the Oslo Gardermoen Airport. But I did not realize that since I had already gone through immigration in Paris, I would quickly be able to go from the international to the domestic terminals in Oslo. In less than two hours, I was able to collect my bags at the international terminal, self check-in and drop my bags at the domestic terminal and go through security. To add to my dismay, my flight to Tromso was delayed by an hour which meant a total wait time of 4 hours at the airport! Thankfully I had upgraded my ticket to SAS Plus and was able to access the domestic lounge during this time. There is no walk-up entry at the lounge and the doors open with the boarding pass, so it ended up being a great idea to have this SAS upgrade done before arriving in Oslo. 

For passengers flying directly to the Oslo Gardermoen Airport from from the US or other countries outside the Schengen area, I recommend allowing enough time to change from the international to the domestic terminals since you will also have to go through immigration in Oslo. Also, it depends what time of the day you are arriving in Oslo. I arrived around 12 noon and there were not so many passengers. However, I noticed that it got really crowded towards the evening. 

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One of the greatest surprises awaiting me in Oslo was street art! I didn't know Norwegians loved street art so much that larger than life murals and graffiti walls decorated different parts of Oslo. My tour guide Rami, who manages Oslo Photo Tour, drove me to the Brenneriveien & Vulkan areas of Oslo, particularly rich in street and urban art. Rami explained that urban artists of international acclaim as well as local art enthusiasts have turned the streets of Oslo into a virtual art gallery.

In fact the neighborhood of Tøyen is so rich in urban art that it is all set to become Scandinavia's largest outdoor gallery when the Munch Museum leaves the area in 2020. To arrive at Tøyen, take any east-bound metro train and your art tour will start at the metro stop of Tøyen itself. 

Here are some pictures of the incredibly awesome street art in the Brenneriveien & Vulkan area of Oslo. It reminds me of the Shoreditch area of London that I had visited last year, but the street art there is not as rich compared to the street art in Oslo. 

Photo credits: Oslo Photo Tour

Radisson Blu hotel is the only five star hotel in Ranchi, the "City of Waterfalls" in India. I go there almost every year to visit the ashram of Paramahansa Yogananda for a yoga and meditation retreat.

Here is why I enjoy staying at this hotel so much.

1. Central location

It is just 6 km from the airport and about ten minutes drive to the YSS ashram of Paramahansa Yogananda. It is also only minutes away from important corporate offices, educational institutions and some fascinating ancient temples.

2. Comfortable Business Class room

The Business Class room is very comfortable and quiet with all the amenities like tea and coffee-maker, complimentary mineral water, cookies and fruits and an evening turndown service that I enjoy very much. There is nothing like getting fresh towels and having your bed made again, when you return to the room late in the evening!

On my recent visit, I enjoyed sitting by the huge bay window of my room and taking in sun, while catching up on work for my blog!

The bathrooms are huge with showers and a bathtub and enough shelf space to spread all my makeup and toiletries!

3. Hospitality & Room Service

A round the clock room service is just what I need when I check into a hotel. I usually like to enjoy a late night hot chocolate or an early morning breakfast in bed which they serve promptly in the room.

I loved their warm hospitality in the form of red roses in the room. :)

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3. Coffee Shop & Breakfast Buffet

They have a beautiful coffee shop on the lobby level where tea and coffee are served all day with delicious home-made cookies! A great breakfast buffet comes complimentary with the room rate.

At the buffet, I usually like to get my choice of eggs made in front of me. :)

4. The Kabab Factory

An evening at the Kabab Factory where they serve an array of delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian kababs is a must. I have tried their delicious vegetarian kababs that come with live music and great hospitality!

5. Gym, Pool & the O2 Spa

On my last visit, even though I did not have the time to work out, I did end up visiting the spa for a much needed massage. The massage therapist was indeed very good and I recommend anybody staying here to pamper yourself at the spa - for me it was truly worth it!

This is a shot I have taken while driving to the airport!

1. Tickets

Eurostar tickets can be purchased 4 months in advance and become more expensive the closer you are to your travel date. I bought my tickets two months in advance from www.eurostar.com and paid as less as 29 GBP from London to Paris and 44.50 GBP from Paris to London! There is also a special price for youth under 24 years of age. Tickets can either be downloaded and printed at home from the Eurostar website or picked up at the railway station. In my case, since I had booked two passengers on one ticket, I was not able to print them at home and could only pick them up at the railway station. This meant arriving half an hour earlier to ensure I had enough time to pick them up!

2. Boarding at St Pancras Int'l

The Eurostar between London and Paris runs between London St Pancras International and Paris Gare du Nord. Boarding at St Pancras involves scanning your tickets at the automated check-in gates, x-ray screening and passport control. Sometimes the queues are long which is why you need to ensure that you have enough time to check-in before boarding the train. My train's departure time was 8:31 a.m. and I did not have the slightest idea about the check-in process. I reached around 7:40 a.m. to pick up my tickets and meet my friend (who was traveling with me) for breakfast at the railway station. However, when we saw the long queues at the check-in gates, we had to sacrifice our breakfast and get in the queue to make it in time for our train! We eventually did get our breakfast-to-go - hot croissants with cheese and tomato and coffee, which we had in the train! I would give it atleast an hour before the train's departure time for picking up tickets and checking-in for the Eurostar.

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3. On Board the Eurostar

It takes a little less than two and a half hours with the Eurostar between London and Paris. After passing through the English countryside, the train enters the English Channel tunnel (the underwater tunnel) for about 20 minutes, when you can see nothing outside but darkness! The Eurostar offers three classes: the Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier. I traveled Standard and it was very comfortable. There are also two buffet cars in the train that sell drinks and snacks.

4. Time zones

You need to keep in mind that Paris is one hour ahead of London. My friend and I were making a day trip to Paris and forgot to set our watches forward when we arrived in Paris. The result was that we almost missed our train back to London from Paris!

5. Connections

Check the Eurostar website (www.eurostar.com) for connections to Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany including special seasonal trains to some of the most beautiful destinations in Europe.

A very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all my readers in India and friends across the globe! Last week I was in New Delhi and went shopping for a red coat to wear on Christmas. I found this beautiful coat that I bought from Zara with high neck and side pockets but could not wait till Christmas to wear it! These pictures are taken just the day after at Connaught Place by Utkarsh Narang who is also a photographer (Facebook page: @infinitocapture), while I was meeting him for coffee at Starbucks. After having the coat on for some time, I found that it was also quite warm! I styled it with a navy Michael Kors bag and black boots stolen from my sister's cupboard! The inner, a polo neck basic sweater, is also from Zara and I matched the navy color of the inner with the navy of the bag. The jeans are from True Religion.

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This little boy made my heart melt as he tried to sell his balloons to people passing by. I dream of a utopia where everybody takes care of each other, a society where there is no lack and which is not driven by greed and selfishness. Let us take time this Christmas to pray for a world free from evil, free from war and where every little child goes to school.

Since I love to swim, I thought it would be a great idea to make a holiday gift guide for swimmers. So if you have friends who can't stay away from the pool, you might want to try any of the following products to give as gifts to them.

1. Label.m Leave-In-Conditioner

Through the years I've tried using different products to protect hair from chlorine when I am in the pool, and the Leave-In-Conditioner from Label.m, (which is apparently also the Official Hair Care Product for London Fashion Week) has worked great for me. It smoothes and strengthens all hair types and shields against static and UV rays. Cost 14.50 GBP. Get my full post on Label.m Leave-In-Conditioner here.

2. Springsuit or wetsuit

An year round O'Neill spring/wetsuit has been one of my best purchases in swimwear. I swim in a solar heated pool in the winters, and the wetsuit really helps when the water is cold. There are some beautiful wetsuits also available from Patagonia. I got mine at a shop in a beach town near San Diego and cost $99. Get my full post on my wetsuit here.

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3. Landsend swim tees and swimsuits

I love the tugless tank from Landsend because it does not ride up from the back and fits really well. Cost varies depending on deals and sales. You can find one between $35-$50 (approxx.). I am also a great fan of their swimtees and stock up on them especially during sales. Catch my full post on Landsend swimwear here.

4. Sun Bum SPF 70 sunscreen

This is my favorite sunscreen lotion for Surf and Swim. It is available from trustthebum.com for $15.99 (SPF 70). It lasts 80 minutes in water and is hypoallergenic, oil-free, vitamin E enriched, gluten free and approved by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Get my full post on Sun Bum sunscreen here.

5. L.L. Bean tote bags

This is my favorite go-to bag for all my swim things! I have a medium size and it carries everything from my toiletries and towels to bathing suit and slippers. Available from llbean.com for

1. Chanel Sublimage cream

The human skin has essentially three layers and the Chanel Sublimage penetrates all three layers, leaving the skin soft and smooth from within. I have been using this cream fro the past three years and can hardly live without it. Priced at US$ 400, you might consider it expensive, however, since it lasts a very long time (8-10 months), on an average it works out to $40 per month which I think is great for such a quality product. It is essentially anti-ageing and has regenerative effects on the skin. Catch my full post on Chanel here.

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2. Chanel Le Vernis nail color

Chanel Le Vernis nail color is special because it changes with the color of light! Notice in the pictures, the same nail color looks different in different lights. It is one of my favorite nail-paints and is priced at US$27. Catch my full post on Chanel Le Vernis nail color here.

3. Weleda Bodycare & Body Shop scrub gloves

Weleda is a Swiss company that makes natural skincare products for body, face and hair. What I really like about their products is that they are certified 100% natural without any synthetic preservatives, fragrances or chemicals and are not tested on animals. The Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash and the Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion is great for revitalizing parched and dry skin. They can be ordered on amazon.

These scrub gloves from Body Shop are great to use with the Weleda Body Wash for a heavenly scrub bath once a week. Catch my full post on Weleda here.

4. L'Occitane hand cream

These made in France hand creams are the only hand creams that I have been using for a very long time that keep my hands soft and smooth. Catch my full post on L'Occitane hand creams here.

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5. Sephora makeup organisers

Whether I am going on short weekend trips or long holidays or just sleeping over at friends, these Sephora make-up organizers and travel cosmetic bags are my best travel bags that help me keep organized in my trip. Catch my full post on Sephora makeup bags here.

6. Clinique anti-perspirant deodorant

For anyone who is sensitive to smells and is still looking for the wonder-solution to end all repugnant underarm smells, I strongly suggest to try the Clinique antiperspirant-deodorant roll-on: I have personally used it for years and it is the only one that really works for me. Catch my full post on Clinique here.

7. Kerastase hair care

I have tried many different kinds of products including organic and natural and Kerastase products are one of my favorites! Catch my full post on Kerasatse here.

8. Forest Essential body oils

I discovered this wonderful brand of Ayurveda called Forest Esentials from India and am an absolute fan of their shower gels, body creams and body oils. Catch my full post on Forest Essential here.

9. Chanel make up brushes

These are some of my favorite make-up brushes and I strongly recommend trying them out. Catch my full post on Chanel makeup brushes here.

10. Gucci lipsticks

I love my black Karen Millen dress! I love everything about it - the embroidery, the style, the cut and the fit! I recently wore it for a late afternoon high-tea at Coworth Park, the Dorchester Collection's luxury hotel and spa, located near London (check out my high tea post here!). After spending a couple of hours drinking tea in the hotel's elegant and richly decorated dining room, my friend and I wandered about the gardens feeling blessed and happy to be there that day! In this post, I take you through a picture tour of my evening at the hotel.

We found some benches outside in the gardens where we could relax in some fresh air while enjoying breathtaking views of the English countryside.

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I matched the dress with sandals also from Karen Millen. This dress makes a great holiday party outfit and is available for sale from me at a fabulous discount. Contact me for details.

High tea which is different from afternoon tea, is an English dining custom, where tea is served at the table with high back dining chairs in the late afternoon. I was recently a guest at the Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection's luxury country house hotel & spa near London, and enjoyed high-tea in their elegant drawing and dining room with stunning countryside views. Coworth Park is nestled amid 240 acres of picturesque Berkshire parkland at Ascot.

Dressed in a Karen Millen embroidered, black dress and black Karen Millen sandals, I had a taste of a quintessentially British afternoon drinking fine tea in plush surroundings, whilst admiring the beauty of the breathtaking English countryside. The hotel offers an extensive menu of teas including some which are rare and glamorous. If you get lucky, you might even run into a George Clooney or a Russell Crowe, as Hollywood celebrities have often been spotted enjoying afternoon tea here. The service of the staff is exceptional as they serve you with their utmost attention and sincerity. Dress code is smart casual - my advise is not to overdress and keep it simple and elegant.

Here are some pictures from my afternoon at Coworth Park, as I get ready for the buggy ride to take me to the hotel's drawing and dining room from my room located a little further away from the hotel's main building. 

(continued from my last post)

The Coworth Park Hotel, Ascot, where these pictures were taken, as I mentioned in my last post, is a luxury spa located near London. As my friend and I were walking around the extensive hotel grounds, we were immediately attracted to these flower fields richly decorated with flowers in lavender and white. Our hearts danced with joy as we made our way through the colorful fields leaving the world far, far behind us! Honestly, this hotel is such a great place for a retreat with so much beauty all around, that I can totally picture John Lennon writing the lyrics of his famous song Imagine here.

It was 4 a.m. when I woke up at my hotel in central London. My friend and I were booked on the Eurostar to Paris at 8:40 a.m. and were meeting at the Saint Pancreas International train station in London at 8 a.m. for breakfast. I quickly got out of bed, showered and got ready, very excited for my trip to Paris that day. However, it turned out that there was a long queue at the train station at immigration, and we had barely enough time to pack a couple of oven-hot tomato-cheese croissants which we enjoyed with coffee in the train later on. My outfit for the day was a Ralph Lauren woolen jersey knit dress and a Karen Millen long coat, accessorized with a cashmere stole, Marks & Spencer knee-high boots, and a Kate Spade sling bag.

In Paris, our first stop was the Louvre, the world's largest museum and a historic monument, housed in the Louvre Palace that was built as a fortress in the 12th century. Luckily for us, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day as we admired the glass pyramid structure of the Louvre and walked around the Louvre Palace.

I also felt that it was the perfect spot to photograph this beautiful Ralph Lauren dress as the graphics on the dress somehow connected to the graphic structure of the Louvre.

My friend wanted to make a quick errand to the nearby Apple Store, while I sat and waited for her, taking in the beauty of the surroundings. Meanwhile, this guy in the picture wanted to sell me small Eiffel Tower souvenirs but unfortunately for him, I was in no mood to shop!

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Most of the Louvre Palace, which in earlier times has been used by the kings of France as their main Paris residence, has now been transformed into a museum.

Catch my next post to see what we did next in Paris!