[Travel] All I Want For Christmas Is.....

... TO SPEND TIME SHOPPING AT MY FAVORITE MALLS!

Yes, I confess I am a mall rat. Considering the climate we live in, a nice air-conditioned space with dining, entertainment and shopping options is the best place to even. And if you are travelling to the cooler regions, it's a good idea to get warmed up in a mall. Here's where I would rather be:

1. Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Year End Sale in Malaysia is a force of nature. The discounts are huge and the shoppers are fierce! Suria KLCC is one of my favorite destinations in KLCC and not just for the shopping. The dining options are endless (one of the best Nasi Ayam/Chicken Rice can be found at the Signatures Food Court on Level 2), a tropical park and a 12 screen cinema. Oh, and Aquaria KLCC, Petronas Art Gallery.... and so much more!

And Christmas really is the loveliest time of the year, even in the tropics. The Christmas decor is just stunning and the malls in KL really up their game every year. Check out Santa's workshop in the main Concourse at Suria KLCC this year. Also, don't forget to get your Tourist Privilege Card at the Concierge,


2. Dolmen Mall Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan

The greatest part about this one, it's home! Feels and smells like any international retail space should. The mall hosts fun activities from time to time but for a mall rat the best one is a nice, fat sale. This year's sale goes from 16th Dec to 1st Jan (I think it should be extended to include the next pay check).  For a list of the all discounts offered go here.  Besides the discounts there's Sunday brunch specials at the food court with live music, a Beauty Lounge and Kids Arena as well. And lots of activities for adults too, shop and win style. Because free stuff is always a winning feeling! They also have a bunch of online contests happening so do find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat as well!

3.  VivoCity, Singapore

Not only is VivoCity Mall the gateway to Sentosa Island, it is a destination in it's own right. And come Christmas season, the sales and freebies alone demand that you spend an entire day there. In terms of dining, your options range from Burger King to Jamie's Italian. The mall also has a 300 m water front boardwalk, a rooftop amphitheatre and a water feature the size of four Olympic sized pools! Is this a mall or WHAT? This Christmas, there's 107 ft tall tree and similar sized discounts all across the mall.

[Travel]: We're Dreaming Of A KL Christmas....

So finally I have been able to put together a trip to Kuala Lumpur that is not the same old boring tour operator list of '10 Things To Do in Malaysia' but one that let's you experience the city like a seasoned travelled and not a tourist. And the bonus of having ME as your guide to the city and beyond

Here goes!

Let's getaway to tropical Malaysia this Christmas! 10 days in magnificent Kuala Lumpur with day trips to Malacca and beyond! You will be exploring the temples and markets of old Kuala Lumpur, the hip night spots, budget shopping and the best of Asian cuisine. And top it all off with New Year Eve celebrations in the heart of Kuala Lumpur! All for Rs 180,000.

Includes:
Return Tickets
Malaysian Visa Fees 
Accommodation 
Airport Transfers

Entry to Tourist Attractions

City Tour of Kuala Lumpur

Day Trip Malacca City

Lots of freebie surprises along the way and a KL Kit with all your travel essentials!

You will be guided by cool, hip young folk who know the city inside out. At Have Love, Will Travel we believe in stretching our dollar as far as possible, but not comprising on comfort and quality. And we like taking the road less travelled, so do not expect the same old ’10 Things To Do in KL’ kinda tour. We will get under the skin of the city and beyond!

Contact us on www.facebook.com/havelovewilltravel2012  or havelovewilltravel2012@gmail.com for more details.

[Travel]: My Kinda Kabul

The experience of any city is created by the ‘user.’ You can make any city our own. Even in a city as close as Karachi, Kabul is deemed ‘exotic’ and adventurous.  As a Pakistani, it is closer to home than most of us would imagine. However, Kabul is not for tourists, it is for travelers. But there is a romance in the air that is unmistakable. If you are in Kabul, explore something besides the ruins and war relics.

Food Trail

Kabul, like Karachi, has only one kind of nightlife – a foodie kind of nightlife. But it can be a little bit more risqué/fun that Karachi. While Karachi asks you to bring your own, Kabul serves its own.  Kabul has a decent variety of cuisines being served across the city. Thai, Chinese, Indian, Croatian, Middle Eastern and many more.

Kebabs are everywhere in Kabul!For traditional Afghan food head to Sufi . The restaurant is frequented by expats and visiting delegations as an introduction to Afghan food and will cost you about $10-12.  For a flavor of the aid-worker/foreign journalist watering hole try L’Atmosphere – a French restaurant serving crepes, pizzas, pastas, salads and soups. The bar area is rather popular  for obvoious reasons. The food is a bit pricey but the music is nice – starting with classics in the early evening and ending with Lady Gaga and Pitbull at night. A meal and drinks will set you back by $20.  To eat where the locals eat, try Barg Restaurant in the Khair Khana bazaar.  Barg serves Western fast food and local fare. The ground floor is for men and the upper floors are for families. Meal and drinks will cost you no more than $7.

Golden pakoras and fries at Mandavi

Kabul also has fantastic street food – pakoras, fries, deep fried ‘aloo paratha’ and spicy corn on the cob – from 5 to 10 Afghani.

It is not uncommon for most ‘meetings’ to take place at lunch. It seems most offices, organizations and even ministries have their own mini-catering units, manned mostly by women. These lunches will be the best food you find anywhere in Kabul.

Home made mantu at the FES Kabul office

Bazaars

There are plenty of bazaars all over Kabul. The cool weather makes it easy to spend hours in a bazaar but the dust doesn’t help. Mandavi, is a whole sale market selling almost everything you can imagine – vegetables, fruits, clothes, shoes, motorcycles, mattresses, biscuits – from Afghanistan as well as Pakistan, Iran and China. Of course, the one thing you must buy from here are the dry fruits – go for the local produce instead of those imported from Iran.

Dried fruits and seeds at Mandavi

The legendary Kandhari Anar

If you’re looking for more contemporary’ shopping then head to the Laisa Marium bazaar in the Khair Khana locality – you can find traditional Afghan outfits here, colorful, embroidered kurtas for men and women. It’s also a great place for people watching. The Shar Nau area is great for loitering around and get posters of Afghan heroes and local handicrafts. Most of the malls including Kabul Mall and City Center are also located in the area.

People

By far, the most interesting thing about Kabul is it’s people. The city is rich with stories. Nearly every Afghan I have spoken to in Kabul has lived in Pakistan and speaks Urdu fluently. The people on the streets are friendly and love telling their stories – even if they are a bit exaggerated. Striking a conversation is not difficult. Kabul is a microcosm of Afghan society – Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek and the foreigners from all over the world. Take the time to visit sporting events, cafes, barber shops, beauty salons and markets and talk to people to get the real flavor of Kabul.

Semi-final game of the first ever Afghan Premier League football tournament

Music  

Kabul has a thriving music scene – both local and foreign. There are some plenty of venues that host and groom young musicians. The French Cultural Center in Kabul, recently hosted the Sound Central Festival – an alternate music festival featuring bands from Central and South Asia and beyond.

The Venue is a space for young musicians to get together and jam. The Venue is run by Humayun Zadran, an avid music supporter working on several music related projects including ‘The Bridge’ – which currently brings Pakistani musicians to Afghanistan. If you are a rock music fan, look out for performances by Kabul Dreams. Kabul Dreams consists of young Afghan men, who are average musicians at best but rock and roll needs all the encouragement and support it can get. White City is another Kabul based rock band consisting of an Australian, a Brit and a Swede, who describe themselves as ‘rock therapy.’

The dust never settles in Kabul. There is a permanent slow moving haze. In October, the air is chilly and dry – dry enough to cut skin. Kabul is not an easy city – moving around the city is difficult and slow; the weather can be harsh; a woman’s laughter might offend someone on the street.   – but it is a city that will embrace you only when you begin to embrace it. I would love to return to Kabul and get to know it even better, because this was one of the hardest goodbyes I have had to say….

Reluctant good bye

[Travel]: Marini's on 57, Kuala Lumpur

I know you may be a bit tired of me raving about everything Malaysian and particularly from Kuala Lumpur... but... it's my favorite city in the world. I make a trip there every year and the city keepsreinventing itself and there is always something new to do in Kuala Lumpur. My last trip to KL was over Christmas and New Year and my dear friend Hee Wei Han took me to a hip, new bar called Marini's on 57. 57 for 57th floor of the third tower of the Petronas Twin Towers. Well, technically the 'third' tower is not a part of the famed Petronas Twin Towers but it is an adjoining tower that is a part of the property.

But first, a selfie in Suria KLCC

Marini's is a restaurant and a bar that gives an unprecedented view of the Twin Towers. We went there on a whim so there was no way we could get a table at the restaurant on Christmas Night. So, as most disgruntled people do, we headed to the bar instead. And surprise, surprise... it was not as expensive as I would have imagined.  Besides, the view was nothing short of stunning.

But as luck would have it, KL decided to have one of it's signature down pours. I loved it but my gentleman friend was rather disappointed that I could savor the view for longer. I thought the rain made it quite brilliant.

The art deco furniture and neon lights make it a fun, young (but not too young, thank god) place to spend a splendid KL evening. The crowd consists of well-heeled locals, expats and tourists with cash to burn. The age group is definitely 28 and above. There are no Rihanna remixes but the DJ does spin some smooth electronic jazz and progresses on to house music. The music could have been better, but that's only because I am a better DJ. 

It's not straight forward getting to Marini's on 57, but then you have me on your side. Head to the Versace store in Suria KLCC and find the dedicated elevator right next to it. You will be personally escorted all the way to the bar. Dress well, not skanky! An average drink will cost you about RM 50. 

Would I go there again? Every single time I am in Kuala Lumpur!

Cheers!

[Travel]: Pakistan's First Online Travel Agency - Checkin,pk

I consider myself a bit of a travel on a budget expert. I do my research well, dig out offers and discounts and stretch my dollar as far as it can possibly go. My experience with travel agents has always been terrible - slow, expensive and condescending. However, this time I opted for a travel agency as I had very little time to go through my usual meticulous research and penny pinching.

After going through a couple of travel agents who were obviously trying to take for a ride - one even told me that even though I had booked and paid for the tickets now, they might need to charge me extra if the fares went up in December. I mean.....is that even possible?

So finally, on a friend's recommendation I settled on Checkin.pk  It's a pretty need website that let's you compare prices and hotels for a particular destination and date. To be honest, I am not one for a completely human-free payment experience, so I called them. I spoke to a lovely lady called Naureen who gets full marks for patience.

I can be an annoying customer - considering that I did know the destination like the back of my hand (Kuala Lumpur), I kept questioning and changing my mind. Yet, I was dealt with in a most courteous and kind manner. I even changed my flight dates a week before flying and Naureen was kind enough to find me a flight on my desired for no extra charge even though it was peak season!

Final Result: I saved a total of Rs 20,000 on airfare and hotel  for 2 adults and 1 child by booking through Checkin.pk when compared to booking directly through the airline and hotel itself.

Get in touch with them for your next holiday - www.checkin.pk

And join the conversation about travel! - www.facebook.com/havelovewilltravel

[Travel]: 5 Travel Tips To Live/Leave By

1. Plan Ahead: Probably the most cliched of all travel tips - this can help you save some serious cash. Air tickets are cheaper when you buy in advance. Many hotels also have early bird offers if you book at least 2 weeks in advance. Also, if you are a credit card user, make your bookings on booking.com or agoda.com - they offer fantastic rates and in most cases, cancellation charges do not apply. Of course, some hotels are ahead of the game and offer guaranteed best rates if you book through their website. For example, I got a better rate by directly booking on the Soaltee Crown Plaza, Kathmandu website. However, for Club Himalaya, Nagarkot, I got a better rate on booking.com. These are both in comparison to their published rates. Be sure to cross check rates and read the fine print on cancellation charges.
Planning ahead also has the added advantage of pissing your boss off considerably less than you would if you gave him/her a short notice. It lets you work ahead and makes sure you don't have another ton of work waiting for you when you get back.

2. Invest in Internet: And a smartphone of course. Get an internet-enabled SIM at your destination. There are some fantastic travel apps that let you explore your surroundings. They offer suggestions, tips and reviews from other travelers. Some of them include TripAdvisor, Wikitude and of course, the Lonely Planet guide apps. Make sure you have a weather app and a currency exchange app too. I use WeatherTrax and XE. Some cities have dedicated apps dedicated to themselves, such as YourSingapore. Check if your destination has such an app and download right away. These are usually free. If you are not a fan of taking the train in a new city, then get a taxi application. Guidebooks are for tourists looking to get scammed.

3.Eat Healthy: I'm not even kidding right now, especially if you're on a shoestring budget. If you are travelling to eat, then forget about it.  If you are staying in a hotel, make the most of the breakfast buffet. Load up on complex carbs that will keep you full for longer. If you are in a country where tap water is drinkable, fill up your water bottle before you head out. Stock your back pack with apples or buy local produce on the move to munch on and skip a proper lunch. Under any circumstances, DO NOT come back to your hotel on an empty stomach. Eat dinner outside where you have cheaper options. Room service and hotel restaurants are expensive and usually rubbish. If you get peckish at night, stock up on fruits.

4. Pack sensibly: You don't need new clothes for every day of your holiday. It is unlikely that will become disgustingly dirty. Air out your T-shirt and wear it again after a day. If you're a clean freak then soak it in soapy water in the sink for 20 minutes, rinse and hang to dry. A good pair of pants (weather specific)  be your best friend. Check with the hotel if they have hair dryers (most do) and pack accordingly.
If you intend to shop till you drop, pack an extra bag in your luggage. Whenever I shop at airport duty free outlets, I make sure I have enough space in my backpack or have another carry on bag to place my loot in. Carrying heavy plastic bags can be painful and you stand the chance of losing things from them as well.

5. Research: Research and more research. Whether it's your first time in a city or your fifth, there's always something new to see, eat, explore, attend and buy. Is there a concert happening during your time there? Any festivals? Sale season perhaps? Special sightseeing packages? Check official tourism department websites, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, personal blogs, friends who have visited. I have gone as far as printing discount coupons  for my destination. This may sound tedious but it will help you save money, lower your chances of being scammed, create a holiday experience that fulfills your expectations. Also, keeping your mind on the holiday also prevents you from wasting money now.

Hope this helps on your next trip. I may sound like a stingy grandma, but hey, I get around. Until then, keep your eye on the prize....