GALLERY

AROUND THE
WORLD WITH
SIX EXPERTS
Change your holiday game, with
pro tips on everything from eating to
shopping and even packing
Photographs MEHTAB MANN, JIMMY GRANGER, ASHITH SHETTY
Words AKHILA VIJAYKUMAR

hen preparing to travel, lay out all your

clothes and all your money. Then, take
half the clothes and twice the money.
Were not so sure about the second part. But with
airlines charging us to bring extra air on board and
every blogger worth their salt reviewing the hell out of
every place, how do we really make the most of a trip?
We invited six globetrotters to spill their secrets on the
best travel experiences possible.
A LLIA A L- RU FAI
32 , FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T, M U M B A I
The effortlessly chic Allia Al-Rufais
travel philosophy is minimalist with an
edge. She emphasises being inspired by
the city youre in and suggests wearing
comfortable trousers for long flights.
Also, spending your fortune on a few
good pieces, not excess baggage.
Your secret to looking great on-the go?
Versatile separates you can wear over
and over. And finding that balance
between comfort and style. When
youre travelling, theres a lot of walking
by default. So stay comfy, without
compromise. Even if Im wearing track
pants and a tank, Ill thrown on a
Balenciaga jacket to elevate my look.
Your perfect packing mantra is?
Roll your clothes when you have a lot
to fit in. And make lists.
Must-carry pieces?
A jacket and my Louis Vuitton shawls.
THE ART OF
LUXE SHOPPING
FIFTH AVENUE,
NEW YORK, USA:
The most expensive
street in the
world? Check.
Designer boutiques
and expensive

077-079- travel feature-vijay-R1.indd 62

Im always cold in planes and airports.

Your take on accessories for travel?
I try to travel with stylish canvas bags
as they are lighter. Bottega Veneta,
Givenchy, Prada and Chanel are some of
my favourites. I also carry a nice small
sling which can go from day to night.
Favourite accessory?
My Muji backpack. Lightweight,
minimal design with the right amount
of pockets. And, best of all, it means
hands-free travel.
What advice do you wish youd
known years ago?
I wish Id known not to weigh my
bags down with unnecessary footwear
that I would end up wearing only once.
Todays sneaker game has changed
everything white sneaks go with
everything unless youre travelling
to Paris!

departments stores?
Check. Credit card
maxed? Cheque.
OXFORD STREET,
LONDON, UK:
Sterling, pound
sterling. Luxurious,
expensive and yet
irresistible, this is a go-

to for haute couture

and hotter brands.

brand you could

dream of.

AVENUE
MONTAIGNE, PARIS,
FRANCE: In the
hometown of all the
maisons, this street is
a second home, with
every high fashion

GINZA, TOKYO,
JAPAN: Got a yen for
high fashion? Youd
need many. Ginza
is beautiful, and an
aesthetic experience in
a mere walkthrough.

21/04/16 5:30 PM

K A RU NA E Z A R A PAR I K H
3 0 , T R AV E L S H OW H O S T A N D
WRITER , NEW DELHI

Whats the secret to balancing

relaxation and sightseeing?
Walking. It allows you to see
and take in a lot, without getting
exhausted. Its a good idea to finish
sightseeing by sundown and keep
your evenings for wine, good cheer
and absorbing the days delights.
What advice do you have on
making the most out of a holiday?
When you switch off, truly switch
off. You may want to use your
phone for photos and you may want
to post them, and thats fine, but
you will not die without a local
SIM card or 24/7 Internet access.

Any tips on solo travel?

Good travel is made great by
interactions, but be smart about
it. Dont be scared to tell someone
theyre making you uncomfortable.
How do you spend on holidays?
My father always says, Invest in
experiences, not in things. The ten
dresses you buy in Bangkoks night
market will fade faster than you can
say last season, but that bungee
drop will last you a lifetime.
A new destination or an old one?
Im always excited to add a new
city or space to my list of beentheres, but theres something
special about the familiarity a
traveller creates with a place they
dont call home. Like, so many
people call NYC or London a second
home, but Im certain each person
has a different version of them.

KO MAL BA S ITH
31, E D I TO R- I N - C H I E F,
W W W. J OSS B OX .COM ,
B E N G A LU RU
Komal Basith gets beauty and how.
She loves finding new make-up trends
and products and feels that changing
up your eye is all you really need to go
from day to night.
Whats your must-have beauty kit?
A gentle, foaming, non-drying
cleanser-and-makeup remover like
Avenes Cleansing Foam; concealer,
which I find better at covering up spots and
balancing skin tone; mascara; and
a lip stain like Benefits Benetint. In
make-up, I carry the versatile Urban
Decay Naked 2 eye palette or the
Tarte Energy Noir Clay palette.
What beauty products would you suggest
for long-haul travel and holidays?
Hydrating Korean sheet masks and lip
balm for flights, spray sunscreen, longwear
foundation and cooling after-sun spray
for the beach, a heavy duty conditioning
masque and dry shampoo for my hair in

the mountains to avoid static and dryness,

wine-hued and blue-toned red lipstick as
well as fragrances for city getaways.
Whats your advice on scoring
beauty buys while travelling?
Ask a shop assistant at an edgy fashion
boutique or high-end department store,
places who hire people for their cool
factor more than anything else. This is
how I discovered the cheekily named
British brand Cowshed, and organic
Aussie brand Aesop, years ago.
Where should we buy what?
Skincare in France and Korea, perfume in
France, make-up in America, scented soaps
in Italy, and organic skincare in England.
What beauty advice do you wish
youd known years ago?
You dont have to wear a full face of
foundation everyday a bit of well-placed
concealer is all you need.
MAY 2016

077-079- travel feature-vijay-R1.indd 63

Hair and Make-up MEHUL SAKHRANI, ANISHAA CHHABRIA, SABRINA SUHAIL

Compiled by SPARDHA MALIK; In Allias photograph: Suitcase, Lipault

Being a travel host, Karuna Ezara

Parikh understands balancing
budgets and sightseeing, telling
herself, You have to save
something for next time, when
missing out on something iconic.

63

21/04/16 5:30 PM

GALLERY
SANA R E Z WAN SAIT
32 , F O U N D E R A N D C R E AT I V E D I R EC TO R AT
I N D E LU S T, B E N G A LU RU
Sana Rezwan Sait talks about how
to shop like a pro; where, which
brands, what designers and more;
so you can come home from each
shopping trip with something
amazing that youll wear for years.
Whats your shopping style?
I gravitate towards a utilitarian and
minimal sensibility and tend to shop
for pieces that can be worn throughout
the year; basically season-less dressing.
When I find a style that suits me, I try
to buy three or four of the same.
How does one avoid looking like
a tourist?
Prepare for the weather; pack the
right clothes and accessories for local
weather conditions there. Be mindful
of the culture of where youre visiting;
whats acceptable at home might not be
there. Oh and comfortable, nice looking
footwear is best when out exploring.

Psst... how about sharing some secret

shopping haunts that you love?
In New York, I love home dcor
from ABC Carpet, Canvas and Cassina.
For fashion, its Totokaelo, Fivestory,
In Support of, Story, Assembly and
La Garconne. In Bengaluru, Raw Mango
has some lovely, heirloom-worthy
handwoven Benaras silk saris and
blouses. And of course, Indelust,
which is my go-to for fashion,
home dcor and more.
What are your favourite indie
designers across the world?
In India, Shift by Nimish, Aish,
Bodice and 11:11. In the USA, its
Behno, Lemaire, Proenza Schouler
and Everlane. When in Zurich, I
look to Kinsfolk. In Buenos Aires,
I am captivated by Luz Ballestero,
Daniela Sartori and Marcelo
Giacobbe. And in the UK, Taetum
Jones and Joseph.

TA NVI M E H R A
2 8 , YO G A I N S T RU C TO R ,
YO G A S TAT I O N , A N D
D I R EC TO R , TA N G E R I N E
A RT S S T U D I O, M U M B A I
Tanvi Mehra chases sunrises
and sunsets around the world.
Fascinated by eating local and
amused by people who order pasta
in Kerala, she eats every two hours,
for health and for the love of food.
How do you fuel yourself onthe-go?
I always carry healthy snacks;
I make easy-to-carry assorted
dry-fruit-and-nut packages.
How do you stay fit
when travelling?
Walk, walk, walk and walk some
more. It keeps holiday weight at
bay and helps you discover a place
too. Depending on where you stay,
cycling or swimming are good
options too.
What tips do you have for eating
well in a new place?
I love food, and visiting local

64

supermarkets and marts is always

one of the first things I do in a
new place. There on, I usually stick
to king-sized breakfasts, locallygrown fruits and veggies and try to
eat as close to source as possible.
I also never leave my hotel room
without a bottle of water in my bag.
How do you balance nutrition
and indulgence?
Sometimes I go all out, and cheat on
any one meal. I usually end the meal
with a lime shot or drink a lot of
warm water after, and balance it out
the next day with healthier meals,
a detox yoga sequence or a swim.
What are some great yoga or fitness
retreats/spas across the world?
My favourite are: Viva Mayr in
Austria, the Surf Goddess retreat
in Bali or one of the SUP (stand up
paddle board yoga)yoga retreats in
Tulum or Aruba.

MAY 2016

077-079- travel feature-vijay-R1.indd 64

21/04/16 5:31 PM

GALLERY

ANAHITA N D H O N DY
2 5 , C H E F - M A N AG E R ,
S O DA B OT T L E O P E N E RWA L A ,
NEW DELHI
With favourite experiences ranging from
vada pav outside NM College in Mumbai
and buying paprika from Budapest,
Anahita N Dhondy is a chef and food
enthusiast who broadens her horizons
and palate with travel.
What are some of your favourite
food experiences?
A restaurant in Hongkong served me
the freshest chilli garlic butter prawns.
Other memorable meals Ive had were
in Paphos, Cyprus, at the longest
buffet with the freshest ingredients;
The Scallop Shell in one of the bylanes in Bath, UK; the Beach Wadiya
restaurant in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Jaan
in Singapore; and the best ever pistachio
gelato in all of Rome at Gioletti.
Whats the secret to eating the best
food when travelling?
Research, research, research. And make
lists with restaurants, dishes, locations
and addresses. There is so much
out there that its impossible to do
everything. But be impulsive too you
might just walk into a random pub or
a small caf and love it. Or buy a bottle
of wine and sit in the park chewing on
some Sour Punk candy.
What are the best culinary shopping
places around the world?
Local markets globally are a must for
foodies; their quality is unbeatable
and you get authentic tastes, great
food souvenirs and even chef gear. The
Borough Market in London, the floating
market in Bangkok, and Singapores Wet
Market of fish and seafood stand out
in my memory. In India, the Kashmir
floating markets are great, and our very
own Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli
have the freshest masalas.
S
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FOOD UCKET-LIS ba with the
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on our ur ta stebuds sa t milk and
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o
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ries.
the calo down to delicio er the better.
Lumber ysia ; the cheap i, or savour y
iyak
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lak sa in e -ba sed okonom g and even
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in
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ll
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ork .
e with p
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pancake cious when mad , with flavour s
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Let Arg ts in whiskey, so .
qua
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like kum your tr avel fati
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throat a

66

How does one make sure that they

get the most authentic experience?
Ask the locals for recommendations.
Or visit local or small restaurants in
the vicinity; you dont know what you
might stumble on. If youre invited to
someones home, try the local fare as it
will be a different experience.

MAY 2016

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21/04/16 5:31 PM