Author: deeyab

5 must try foods when you visit Amsterdam

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

While I know this isn’t exactly adventure related, I am a big foodie! My favourite thing to do while travelling is trying out new cuisines. This is an article I had written previously about my favourite foods in Amsterdam.

The capital of Netherlands, Amsterdam, is known for its stunning canals, colourful tulips and wonderful art museums. If you’re planning a visit do keep in mind that the city has great weather from March to October. With much to see, eat and do I suggest spending three to five days in Amsterdam to do it justice!

Taxis are relatively expensive in the Netherlands, making public transport, cycles or walking the best way to get around the city. You are likely to find yourself spending a day (or three) walking around the famous museum square. The square contains the famed Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and Royal Concertgebouw – a beautiful concert hall. You are also likely to visit the historic Anne Frank house (be sure to get tickets online, as they sell out much in advance) and maybe even tour the Heineken factory. 

Regardless of the activities you plan, I’m sure you’re going to work up an appetite as you move about the city. Amsterdam is a city that takes its food very seriously. So here’s a list of my favourites just for you. 

Here’s our list of 5 must eats in Amsterdam: 

  1. Stroopwafels: 

This delicious snack is a traditional accompaniment to tea or coffee. It consists of two wafer thin waffles sandwiched between a layer of caramel. These buttery cookies are a must try for anyone travelling to Amsterdam.

Where to find it?

  • Get a freshly made stroopwafel from “The Original Stroopwaffels” cart in the Albert Cuyp market.
  • Or stop by Lanskroon, a small tea room which offers three different fillings with their big crispy stroopwafels.
  • You can also get these cookies in any local store, their most common supermarket is the Albert Heijn. If you get a store bought one, make sure you warm up your Stroopwafel by placing it on the top of a steaming hot beverage before you dig in. The store bought version also makes a great gift for all your foodie friends back home! 
  1. Loaded French Fries (Locally known as Patatjes)

This might not sound new or exciting on a list of must eats, but the Dutch people simply love their fries. Which makes this a “must try” when in the city. The hot, thick and crispy fries come loaded with the most amazing toppings and are served in a paper cone. They make for the most amazing street food which you’re going to relish every day when in Amsterdam.

There are many many different combinations of sauces that are available but the two you must try are the patatje oorlog (a combination of peanut sauce, mayonnaise and chopped raw onions) and the patat speciaal (with curry ketchup, mayonnaise and chopped raw onions).

Where to find it?

  • Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx is a tiny hole in the wall establishment that serves over 25 different varieties of sauces on their fries.
  • Frietboutique is known for their locally sourced potatoes, the fries here and cut and fried right in front of you. They’re so good you (almost) don’t need the sauce.
  • Anywhere really. You will be sure to spot many kiosks and shops selling these decadent fries. Don’t leave town without trying them.  
  1. Herring

Herring is another classic Dutch street food. It is a  small fish that is typically eaten raw with raw onions and pickles. While it may seem unappetizing to eat raw fish, the people of Holland have been doing so for hundreds of years. Try it for the experience if nothing else. Still not convinced about eating plain raw fish? Consider trying the herring in a broodje (herring sandwich) instead. 

Where to find it?

  • Stubbe’s Herring has been around for more than a century and is certainly the best place to try herring! Situated near the Central Train Station, the Stubbe’s is fairly easy to find. 
  • For the Herring Sandwich head to Vishuisje Herengrach. Also easy to spot via google maps.
  • Everywhere else – you will see stalls selling herring all over Amsterdam, so don’t fret if you can’t make the time to head specifically to Stubbe or Vishuisje Herengrach.
  1. Bitterballen

Bitterballen is a flavourful deep fried meatball – the meat inside is usually beef or veal. Not a typical street dish, you will typically see bitterballen in cafe menus. Though, a few food stands in busy tourist areas do offer versions worth trying. Order this dish as an appetizer, accompanied with chilled beer from the comfort of a cafe while you watch the world go by!

Where to find it?

  • Febo is a notable place to try Bitterballen. Not only is the bitterballen here one of the best but the restaurant also operates on an interesting and unique model. It is completely automated and uses giant vending machines to serve the food! 
  • De Ballenbar is a quaint food stand located inside a food market (Foodhallen). Run by a Michelin star chef, the food stand serves Bitterballen with innovative fillings such as shrimp and truffle. You can also try the original version of Bitterballen here. 
  • You will find Bitterballen in any cafe serving Dutch cuisine!
  1. Dutch Cheese 

The Dutch have been making cheese for generations which explains the number of cheese shops in every corner of the city. In fact, there is even a Museum of Cheese in Amsterdam! A popular local cheese that you might have heard of and tried is ‘Gouda’,  but there are several others that you must also try such as Edam, Limburg and Leidin. 

Where to find it?

  • There are plenty of markets in Amsterdam, but on the top of the list for cheese is the ‘Noordermarkt’. With six different stalls selling cheese, you’re sure to enjoy sampling and find many that you like. Unfortunately, the Noordermarkt is only open on Saturdays so plan your trip around it if you can.
  • Book a cheese and wine tasting at the Reypenaer Tasting Room, where a professional will tell you all about the delectable wine and cheese combinations while you sample. 
  • The supermarkets. The cheese aisles in the supermarket are absolutely huge. A trip to the closest grocery store is a good way to get a quick cheese fix.

While many people often talk about all the activities and sights Amsterdam has, the food is certainly not something that one should overlook. Make sure you try all the 5 dishes to get a taste of all that Amsterdam has to offer! 

Originally written for OnManorama by Deeya Bajaj

Gorgeous Greenland: A Quick Guide

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

One of my favourite things about adventure travel is getting to explore different parts of the world in a very different way. Through the ‘quick guide’ series I’m going to talk about some of the lesser travelled places I’ve been to and highlight how to get there, what to do and what to eat!

Greenland is the world’s largest island, an autonomous territory that is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Though it is technically a part of the North American continent, it is politically and culturally more associated with Denmark and Norway. The local people in Greenland are called Innuits, and interestingly enough they will be offended if you call them ‘Eskimos’- the name you might popularly know them by. 

How To Get There

  • Only two airlines (Air Greenland and Air Iceland) offer flight options to Greenland. You must first fly to Copenhagen or Reykjavik and then take a flight to Greenland. 
  • The easiest and biggest airport to fly into is the Kangerlussuaq Airport. There are flights available to Kangerlussuaq from Copenhagen year-round. 

What To Do

  • The Northern Lights: Visit Greenland from September to April to experience one of the most magical sights our world has to offer. Be aware that this is the Arctic winter, however, it will be extremely cold and the daylight hours are very short during this time. 
  • Explore the Icecap: With difficult terrain and harsh conditions, most of the activities in Greenland include an element of adventure! Options to explore the icecap include dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skiing. You can also take scenic flights over the icecap if you prefer to do something less active. 
  • Ocean Adventures: You can explore the coast of Greenland while kayaking or scuba diving. 

Wildlife cruises and boat tours are a great option for those who want sightings of seals, whales and seabirds. 

Must-Try Foods

  • Suaasat: This is the national dish of Greenland – a traditional Greenlandic soup. It is often made from seal, whale, reindeer, or seabirds.
  • Seafood: The majority of Greenland is covered with permanent glaciers, and hence most of the food you get is from the sea. Dishes that you can try include fish such as Ammassat or capelin (often smoked), mussels, and shrimp. 
  • Uncommon Meats: The harsh terrain in Greenland means you will have the opportunity to taste some of the most uncommon meat! Including whale meat which can be eaten raw, smoked, or cured (Arfeq Nikkui). Other meats that are a part of traditional Greenlandic cuisine includes that of musk ox, Eider sea ducks, seal, and narwhal blubber. 

Greenland is incredible- with much more to do and eat! This is meant to be a quick guide so I haven’t gone into as much detail as it deserves. Comment if you’ve been to Greenland or have any recommendations about more to do/ eat!

Originally written by Deeya Bajaj for Onmanorama

Exciting Ecuador: A Quick Guide

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

One of my favourite things about adventure travel is getting to explore different parts of the world in a very different way. Through the ‘quick guide’ series I’m going to talk about some of the lesser travelled places I’ve been to and highlight how to get there, what to do and what to eat!

Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

Ecuador?
Ecuador is a small beautiful country in South America. It is known to have the most biodiversity per square kilometre than any other country and has an incredibly diverse terrain. From pristine beaches to the cloud rainforest, Ecuador has the most incredible natural beauty and wildlife sightings! 

How To Get There

  • Getting to Ecuador is quite a long journey from India! You can get direct flights from Madrid or Amsterdam and fly to the International airport at Guayaquil or Quito in Ecuador. 
  • Alternatively, you can catch flights from Miami, Houston or Atlanta in the US. 

What To Do

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
  • Visit the Galapagos Islands: The islands are home to some of the most unique species on our planet. Swim with giant sea lions and sea turtles, dive with manta rays and spot flamingoes! If wildlife is not your thing, you can always just relax on the beautiful beaches. 
  • Float Through the Amazon Jungle: Fish for piranhas, look for pink river dolphins and if you’re brave – go on and search for the anaconda!
  • Explore the streets of Quito: Ecuador’s capital city is a UNESCO listed world heritage site. Walking down the cobbled streets of the city will make you feel like you are in a different era altogether. 

Must-Try Foods

  • Empanada de Viento: These delicious giant fluffy empanadas are stuffed with cheese and have a light sprinkling of powdered sugar on top.  
  • Horando: As you walk through the Quito or Otavalo markets, you will be sure to see locals roasting giant pigs! While it might be an ungainly sight, be sure to try it. It is extremely flavourful. 
  • Exciting fruit: Ecuador has a variety of fruit that you may have never heard of before! Be sure to try the granadillas (a type of passionfruit), naranjillas (delicious citrus fruits ) and uvilla (small bright orange fruits which taste like cherry tomatoes)

Ecuador is an incredible country with much more to do and eat! This is meant to be a quick guide so I haven’t gone into as much detail as the country deserves. Comment if you’ve been to Ecuador or have any recommendations about more to do/ eat!


Originally written by Deeya Bajaj for Onmanorama

Magnificent Mongolia: A Quick Guide

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

One of my favourite things about adventure travel is getting to explore different parts of the world in a very different way. Through the ‘quick guide’ series I’m going to talk about some of the lesser travelled places I’ve been to and highlight how to get there, what to do and what to eat!

Where is Mongolia?
Mongolia is a landlocked country sandwiched between Russia and China. About 30% of the population is nomadic. A traditional saying in Mongolia is “a Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings.” In fact, the horse population in the country is larger than the human population! 

Photo by Nick Bondarev on Pexels.com

How To Get There
Fly to Hong Kong and get a connecting flight to the Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport, Ulaanbaatar. 

What To Do

  • Explore the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar: Ensure you stop by Genghis Khan Statue Complex, the National History Museum, and the Gantangdegchenling Monastery. 
  • Spend a night in a yurt: Many Mongolians still live in gers (also known as yurts), a visit to Mongolia must include a night in a Yurt! Many eco-resorts are offering the option to stay in a Ger. 
  • Horseback Riding: As horses are such a vital part of the Mongolian way of life, I highly recommend at least one horseback riding trip! 
  • Ride a Camel in the Gobi Desert: Spend time wandering the beautiful sand dunes of the third largest desert in the world. With plenty of wildlife, rock formations and colourful cliffs, you will have an incredible experience travelling through the dunes in the most traditional way – camelback. 
Photo by Nick Bondarev on Pexels.com

Must-Try Foods

  • Khuushuur: A deep-fried pastry filled with ground mutton and onions.  
  • Bantan: A traditional Mongolian clear broth with meat, dough crumbs and chopped spring onions. 
  • Buuz: A Mongolian steamed dumpling filled with seasoned meat. 
  • Mongolian Barbecue: Popular world over, this dish which involves cooking food on a giant iron circular grill was surprisingly invented in Taiwan, not Mongolia. However, if you are craving Mongolian Barbecue in Mongolia, we recommend a visit to BD’s Grill, in Ulaanbaatar.
Photo by Nick Bondarev on Pexels.com

Mongolia is a beautiful country with lots more incredible things to do and eat! This is meant to be a quick guide so I haven’t gone into as much detail as the country deserves. Comment if you’ve been to Mongolia or have any recommendations about more things to do/ eat!

Originally written by Deeya Bajaj for Onmanorama

How to Get to Antarctica

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

While we’re stuck at home dreaming of post pandemic travel to new frontiers – what better journey to dream about than a voyage to the end of earth – Antarctica! Interestingly enough with strict protocols in place about who can and cannot visit, Antarctica remains the only continent in the world with zero Covid cases. Until the pandemic ends (or a vaccine is found) tourists will be unable to travel to Antarctica. 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Why Antarctica
‘Antarctica’ in Greek literally translates to ‘the opposite of North’. The continent consists of  over 90% of all the ice on our planet – so needless to say it is extremely cold. In fact, it is the coldest, windiest and driest continent of all. With such conditions, Antarctica might not seem appealing at first, but the stunning landscapes, white mountains and views of a neverending expanse of  ice and snow, make for an absolutely incredible scenic experience!  

With a population of barely 5000 people (consisting of mainly scientists, researchers and their support teams) on the continent, Antarctica is one of the few true wilderness experiences on our planet. 

A word of caution
Due to the extreme weather conditions a trip to Antarctica is only recommended for those who are comfortable with the cold. Temperatures on the coast usually don’t rise beyond  0 degrees celsius, even at the peak of summer. The interiors usually never get warmer than -20 degrees celsius.

When to go?
The best time to visit is in the Antarctic summer –  November to February where you get close to 24 hours of daylight.

How to get there? 
Getting to Antarctica is easier than one might imagine.

The most popular way to get to Antarctica is on a ship, the best option for those interested in experiencing the incredible wildlife in the continent. 

For those who are more interested in experiencing the Antarctic icecap and it’s terrain, you can also take a flight straight to the interior of the icecap. 

Ushuaia to Antarctica (via ship)  
Ushuaia in Argentina is a three and a half hour flight from the more well connected Buenos Aires airport. Cruises that start at Ushuaia go via the Drake Passage – a 1000 kilometer body of water that separates Antarctica from South America. It usually takes 36 hours to make the journey to the Antarctic Peninsula. This journey is a wonderful opportunity to get some albatross sightings. Trips that start at Ushuaia range from 9 – 20 days.  

Punta Arenas to Antarctica (via ship)  
If the idea of the Drake Passage and 36 hours of travel in a ship to get to the peninsula doesn’t appeal to you, you can opt to start your journey from Punta Arenas, Chile. The journey from the southern tip of Chile only takes a couple of hours to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Due to the shorter distance to get to Antarctica, cruises starting at Punta Arenas offer short 4 day trip options. 

Punta Arenas to Antarctica (via flight)  
A flight to Antarctica is the best option for those who get seasick and prefer to experience the vast icy wonder of Antarctica’s ice cap (and perhaps even visit the South Pole). This flight to Antarctica takes 5 hours on a Russian Illushian plane. The flight itself is an incredible experience as the plane lands on a blue ice runway at a small settlement on the ice cap called Union Glacier. Delays due to weather conditions flying into the glacier are common and you should set aside at least 15 days for such a trip. 

What to do in Antarctica

Cruise: Once you reach your destination, you spend your nights on the ship itself. The days are spent exploring the surrounding areas on smaller boats with options to get on the icecap and even spend a night in a tent.  This option is highly recommended for those interested in wildlife. There is a high probability of amazing sightings of  seals, penguins and whales.

Flight:  When you fly directly onto the glacier you spend your days hiking, using snow scooters and snow cycles to explore the area surrounding Union glacier. You also have the option to venture further towards the center of the continent by taking another flight to the South Pole. 

Photo by Dick Hoskins on Pexels.com

Service Providers/Travel Agents
While there are many service providers offering cruise options to Antarctica, there is only one company, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (ALE), offering the flight option. You will, therefore, have to book well in advance for flight and accommodation on the icecap, if that’s your preferred travel option. Once you get there, ALE will provide comfortable tented accommodation for you to stay in. 

Regardless of which company you choose to go with, the company will provide for your food, accommodation and activities throughout the duration of your stay. As Antarctica is barely inhabited, you will not be seeing towns or restaurants during your journey there. Due to your sole dependence on your provider, I suggest that you spend your time researching and choose wisely before you pick who you want to book with.

Note on what to Pack
Because of the extreme temperatures in Antarctica you will need specialised gear to ensure that you’re safe and comfortable. While the company you choose to travel with will share a detailed list, there are a couple of items that you will certainly need and should plan for:

  1. A good down jacket:  To ensure that you stay warm during the colder parts of the day. 
  2. A pair of sunglasses:  The sun’s rays are very harmful for your eyes in these extreme regions. 
  3. A good pair of boots: So that you can move about comfortably once you are off the ship/ plane. 
  4. Sunscreen: The Antarctic sun is very harsh, sunscreen is a must for any part of your body that is exposed. 

TL;DR
Antarctica is an absolutely incredible part of our planet. Experiencing the incredible wilderness of the coast or the stark beauty of the landscape are journey’s like no other. Step a little out of your comfort zone for an experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life. 

Originally written for Onmanorama

Making Friends Outdoors

On By deeyabIn StoriesLeave a comment

Doesn’t it sometimes feel like a majority of our life is now driven by technology? Most of our communications with friends and family happen on a screen. Even when we are out for dinner we spend more time communicating with people far away on our phone than we do the people we are eating with (I’m totally guilty of doing this myself.) By forcibly removing technology from your life the outdoors helps you build connections that are actually real. A ‘ digital detox’ every now and again is great for the human soul!

When I was 17, my father and I embarked on a cross country skiing expedition across the Greenland Icecap. (We had been to Greenland before on a sea kayaking expedition and had seen the Greenland Icecap. There was something mesmerizing about the vast icy expanse that had us talking about returning as soon as possible). We spent months training for the expedition which  entailed cross country skiing for a total distance of approx 600 kms, from the west to east coast of Greenland, close to the arctic circle. We would be on the Greenland icecap, the second largest chunk of ice on the planet for up to one month with an ambient temperature of – 20 degrees Celsius, dropping to -40/-45 C with the windchill factor. At 17, I was a typical high school student, my life revolved around academics, friends and of course social media. So, one of the things that worried me the most was that I would be so bored during the evenings- stuck in the middle of nowhere for 3 weeks with no access to the internet or people my age (everyone on the expedition was much older than I was). However, I had the opposite experience.

The days were long, we would spend about 8 hours skiing every day and spend the first part of our evenings setting up camp. We would then all gather in a kitchen tent, melt snow, cook food together, sing songs (Bohemian Rhapsody was one of our favorites) and tell jokes. Though our expedition team of 8 members had people from 5 different countries (Greenland, USA, Belgium, New Zealand and India) we all bonded through our love of outdoors (and Queen, got to love Freddie Mercury for bringing the world together). Our two Inuit guides barely spoke English, but through the 3 weeks we spent with them we realized language is only one form of communication and that not speaking the same language is never a barrier to making a friend.

The Greenland icecap expedition was one of the first expeditions where I experienced the magic of how the outdoors can bond people for life regardless of how old they are, where they’re from or even what language they speak. When you spend 24 hours a day with a group of people and with no communication with the outside world, you are forced to get to know each other. So, whether you want to spend time with old friends or make new ones, the outdoors is one of the best places to do so.

Scuba Diving with Manta Rays (and sharks!) in Thailand

On By deeyabIn StoriesLeave a comment

“Have you ever wondered why scuba divers roll into the ocean backward?” asked my dive instructor Fran, taking her regulator out, as we sat on the edge of the boat, ready to start our dive. I look at her confused and respond saying  “No idea, why?”

“Think about it, I’ll tell you after the dive” she said grinning, and put her regulator back on, gracefully rolling off the boat. I held on to my regulator and mask with my right hand, and waited for the captain’s signal to roll off the boat as well. The feeling of doing a backward somersault into the ocean is disorienting to say the least, and it took me a couple of seconds to catch my bearings once I was in the ocean. I gave Francesca the ‘all okay’ signal and added more air to my Buoyancy Control Device,  waiting for my father and sister to join us in the ocean. 

We were in Thailand for a family holiday and Dad, my sister and I had just completed our ‘Rescue Divers Course’, we were celebrating by going on a fun dive to a site known for its sightings of manta rays. With the regulators in our mouths, we couldn’t speak, so once Dad and Meghna rolled in, we gave each other the ‘all okay’ signal followed by ‘let’s go down’, and deflated our BCD’s. As we moved further down underwater I looked up at the beautiful trail of bubbles going up to the surface from our breaths. It was a sunny day and the ocean waters were clear and calm. 

Being underwater is always a magical experience, it feels like you’re in a different world. All you can hear is the sound of your own breath through the regulator and an occasional boat as it whirs past. It’s a surreal and strangely meditative experience. 

‘Follow me’ signalled Fran. I took a salty breath and began to follow her, trying to move my legs as slowly as possible so that I wouldn’t disturb the fish as they went about their day. 

Halfway through our dive, Fran turned back looking excited, frantically signalling something with her hands. I moved a little closer and my heart skipped a beat. She was making the sign for a shark! I kept breathing steadily but I could feel my heart pounding louder and faster. As I looked at the direction she was pointing at, I could see a black tipped reef shark swimming towards us. Reef sharks are significantly smaller than their much maligned Great White counterparts, the average height of a reef shark is about 5 feet in length. This was just a harmless small shark that only eats much smaller fish – but after watching all the scary shark movies, the familiar shape of its fin and its menacing teeth still brought a shiver down my spine. The entire encounter lasted about 30 seconds, the shark gave us a fleeting uninterested glance and swam away. 

Almost immediately after I noticed that everything was getting a little dark, “there must be a boat above us” I thought to myself, while turning to look up. Instead, I saw a school of giant manta rays swimming above. Excitedly I looked towards my sister and dad making the sign for MANTAS!!! They had already spotted the school, I could see them both looking up, completely awestruck. The school of mantas gracefully danced above us and we watched their performance completely enthralled by the beauty of these gigantic creatures. I felt so tiny in comparison with the majestic mantas. Too soon they swum away and Fran gave us a thumbs up (the signal that unfortunately marks the end of our dive). We slowly ascended up towards the boat and clambered back on (this part is always quite a task with the fins on our feet.) 

We took off our gear and my stomach rumbled as I smelled the green curry the captain had heated us for lunch. We all had big smiles on our faces while discussing all the sights we saw while checking our stats for the dive and filling our Dive Log Books. I remembered the question that Fran had asked me at the beginning of the dive. “Fran, why do divers roll off the boat backwards?”


Fran responded with a hearty laugh saying “Well, if you rolled forward you would just roll into the boat”.


Featured

The 7 types of Pictures Dad Takes (A Series)

On By deeyabIn StoriesLeave a comment

When I was younger, I used to HATE posing for pictures. I also used to always forget to get my camera out when I was out on expeditions…

Both of these things hold true till date. It’s a pity because I’m often in these incredible places, and while I’m experiencing the situation 100% when I come back home I always think to myself- I really wish I had taken more pictures. 

Thankfully, my father LOVES to take pictures. Once we started going out on expeditions together, he found an extremely unwilling subject to practice his artistic skills on. 

I now present to you….

*drum roll* 

The 7 types of pictures Dad takes –  A Series. 

  1. The Extreme Close Up
    For some reason, my father LOVES to take extreme close ups. In this picture, we’re on a sea kayaking expedition to Greenland. I still know very little about photography, but I’m thinking he could have moved a little bit further away for this one. 
  1. The Unhappy Deeya Picture

Another classic in Dad’s repertoire, he loves to take pictures when I’m in a “mood” aka if I’m a little grumpy . He thinks it’s the best way to cheer me up. (To be fair sometimes when I see how funny I look- it totally works)

While on a hike in Rajasthan, India
On a boat to see Penguins, Chile

Punta Arenas, Chile
  1. The Classic With Prop Picture
    Sometimes to supplement his artistic vision, Dad will ask me to pose with a wide variety of props. In this picture, I don’t think I was really feeling the whole paddle thing. 
Sea Kayaking in Greenland 2009, looking extremly uncomfortable while posing
  1. The Funny (?) Sign

My father LOVES signs. I am often made to pose with any sign that is even vaguely funny.

Lhasa, Tibet 2018
  1. First Thing when I wake up 

Dad usually tends to wake up about half an hour before me on expeditions (logistics are just easier when you’re sharing a tiny tent). He inevitably decides to take pictures of me just as I get up.

Greenland Ice Cap Crossing 2011
  1. When my face is ENTIRELY covered pictures
    Often accompanied with dad making a “smile for the camera” joke.
Mt. Denali Mountaineering Expedition, USA, 2019
Mt Vinson Mountaineering Expedition, Antarctica, 2018
Mt. Vinson Mountaineering Expedition, Antarctica, 2018
  1. The GEMS
    But all things said and done, I’m so grateful to have my own personal photographer on expeditions. What are your favourite pictures from this series?
Greenland Sea Kayaking Expedition, 2009. One of the rare times I was open to taking pictures.

4 tips to take the best care of your Sleeping Bag

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

Your equipment is your lifeline when you’re out on an adventure and so it’s really important to take care of it. Here are 4 tips on how to take the best care of your sleeping bag to ensure it is a good companion on your next trip.

  1. Be nice to it on the trail/ when you’re outside. This includes things like ensuring you don’t drop stuff on it and don’t place it on sharp rocks! Remember the better you treat your equipment the happier you’ll be. 
  2. Cleaning your bag: If you’ve only used it for a couple of days just leave your bag unzipped in the sun for a couple of hours before you put it in storage. BUT, if you’ve just come back from a looong trek and didn’t shower for days, chances are your sleeping bag can get a little (more like very) smelly. In this instance, do not dry clean your bag BUT you should clean it. Here’s how: Use damp cloth to wipe down your bag and then leave it out in the sun for a couple of hours (make sure you check the weather forecast before you leave your bag out).
  3. Storing your bag: Never store your sleeping bag in the stuff sack that comes along with it because the next time you use it, the insulation won’t be as great. Instead try finding a larger mesh bag to store your bag. This is how I store mine!
  4. Washing your bag?? More often than not you don’t actually need to wash your bag. You can actually use your sleeping bags for years before needing to give it a full blown wash. If certain places are getting dirty- take a drop of non-detergent soap (I recommend castile soap, you can get it on amazon for like 200 rupees/ a couple of dollars) and specifically clean that area using an old toothbrush to remove stains. Do not use bleach or detergent on your bag. If you’re washing your entire bag, do it by hand (no machine please), use that same castile soap and most importantly be gentle with your bag. 

Choosing a Sleeping Bag

On By deeyabIn Adventure TipsLeave a comment

The most important thing to consider while choosing a sleeping bag is the purpose. Why are you buying this sleeping bag? The type of bag you buy to go on a two day trek in the summer is going to be very different than one you use for say a mountaineering expedition climbing a 6,000 meter mountain. 

That being said, regardless of where you’re going, investing time and energy researching the type of sleeping you need is always a good idea. While you might spend a majority of your time outside your bag, it’s the time spent inside your bag that will give you the energy to perform well and enjoy your experience outdoors. 

When it comes to purpose there are four things you should take into account.

1. Warmth. Being too cold in your bag is not a fun experience, and you always want to check the temperature rating of the bag (make sure you’re looking at the ‘comfort’ rating, not the extreme) and compare it to the coldest temperature of your trek or expedition. 

2. Okay great you’re warm enough? The next thing I’m looking at is the size of the bag. You want to make sure that if you’re a taller person the bag will fit you. You need to test the bag out before you go on the climb. Always err on the side of caution, and go for a slightly bigger bag if you’re confused, I like to be able to fit in my bag while wearing at least two layers.

There are many shapes as well – the two most common ones being the rectangle  and the mummy bag. I would strongly recommend a mummy bag for colder temperatures (i’m talking about anything below 10 degrees celsius here). 

3. The next thing you want to look at is the weight of the bag. If you are carrying all of your equipment yourself, you don’t want to be lugging around a HUGE extra weight, even 250 grams can start to feel like a lot if it’s on your back for 14 hours. If this is an assisted trek aka support team with porters or mules on your trek, then the priority of this weight factor goes down. 

4. Finally, the cost. This is a big one right. If this is your first time hiking, and you’re not sure whether you will do it again, it might be tempting to opt for the cheapest bag you find. If you do this, trust me chances are you won’t go out again for sure. Choose a bag that is in the middle range, and that fits all the criteria that I mentioned before. If you’re going on a more extreme trek or expedition, then you have to be ready for a bigger investment as there are a lot more factors at play, and having insufficient equipment can be dangerous.