Music on the wheels!

No road trip is complete without some amazing songs. Music can be a great companion during travels, especially road trips - be it a short drive of just a couple of hours or a long summer road trip to your favourite holiday spot. A great stress-buster and mood lifter, easing all boredom and monotony of the trip and giving a happy-feel - thats the magic of music!

Here are some songs that will have you smiling and humming through the trip, keeping everybody in a cheerful mood. 

• Slipping away - Moby: It’s fast, will keep you awake yet not very loud.  You will surely like the way this sounds. Listen to it here.  

• Should I stay or should I go? - The Clash: Any song you can sing along without feeling embarrassed, is the best choice for travel. Click here and hum along.

• Wonder wall - Oasis: It is one of those songs you just cant stop listening to. Here it is on YouTube. 

• Love is noise - The Verve: A fun tune to put your car in the ‘drive ‘ mode. It will surely set the mood for your road trip. Check it out here. 

• Songs of Shaan: Most of his songs have vibrant, happy tunes that are fun to travel with. Excellent music to listen to while on the move. 

'Frame' your Adventure!

God’s own country, perched on the southern tip of India is one of the favourite holiday destinations for people around the world. This lush green paradise, has a charm that is difficult to pen down in words. The beauty of this picturesque little state cannot be limited to the stunning backwaters, golden beaches and the beautiful landscapes alone! The exotic wildlife and the unspoilt wild will take you to a totally different world! An experience you should experience. Trek the jungles, take the roads less travelled and have a delightful encounter with the wild life, at close quarters. 

Couple this exciting experience with your passion for photography. Stare the lions in the eye, click the tigers hunt their prey or the majestic elephants stroll by. Unleash your adventurous spirit and go clicking, capturing the wild in its raw beauty. Check out some of the best places in Kerala that guarantee you fantastic frames. 

• Munnar: Often called the Kashmir of South India, Munnar is one of the most charming yet adventurous destination in Kerala. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel and many other rare species.

• Wayanad: Muthanga and Tholpetty are two major wildlife reserves here. It shelters a small population of tigers, elephants, barking deer, cheetal and also several pretty varieties of birds and butterflies.

• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: It is one of the most popular widlife sanctuaries in Kerala. Experience nature like never before. Elephants, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs - you can find them all out here.

• Kumarakom Bird sanctuary: This bird sanctuary is visited by numerous migratory birds every year. Kumarakom is also famous for the Vembanad Lake which is the largest backwater in Kerala.

Hitchhiking: Dos and don’ts

Looking to add a little adventure to your travel? Go hitchhiking. Experience the adventurous yet fun way to do a road trip. Hitchhiking is an exciting way of moving from place to place. Here are some dos and don’ts to get the right rides and to make your life on the road a pleasurable one.

Don’ts

·        Avoid hitching alone.  Hitchhiking sure is a free and fun way to move around but you are locking yourself with a stranger. So having someone with you is a safer bet.  

·        Do not flash the thumb in areas where there is no room to stop. Make sure they can see you from a long distance and there is space for them to stop and pick you.

·        Never hitchhike at night. If you do then wear reflectors and hitch in well-lit areas.

·        Don’t drink and hitch.

  

Dos

·        Look clean and presentable. This will better your chances of getting a lift.

·        Convey purpose. Travel with hiking backpacks. This will give the impression that you are trying to get somewhere. Without any baggage you may look an aimless traveller and less safe to pick up. Being surrounded by suitcases lessens the chances of getting a ride, too. Travel light.

·        Carry your identity papers and phone number. This is essential when stopped by the police for enquiry.

·        Advertise your destination on a cardboard. Write out the destination big and clear.

·        Trust your instincts. If a car pulls up and something about it makes you feel uncomfortable, then decline politely.

·        Leave clear tracks. Inform somebody where you are heading. Carry a mobile if possible. Note the number plate and text it to someone you know – just to be on the safe side. 

Promise to travel more!

Face to face with another brand new year – 2011. New opportunities, new dreams, new adventures: the season to start everything new with promises for a happier life.

Promises. Resolutions. If there is one thing that you promise yourself this New Year, then it’s a promise to explore God’s Own Country! Plan a vacation to Kerala, spend time in the lap of nature and forget the mundane affairs of the world. Explore the enduring charm of this enchanting little state perched on the southwestern tip of India.

It is truly a haven for those who love nature. The sun-kissed beaches, the sparkling backwaters, the misty green hill stations, the wild forests, roaring waterfalls – all this and there’s more to this green paradise. Explore the brilliant beauty of this truly charming little state. You are sure to be mesmerized by it all.

With so many experiences to enjoy and things to see, deciding on where to stay is a difficult choice. Abad Hotels and Resorts offer a luxurious yet comfortable stay while you are in God’s Own Country. Our resorts are located at Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Kovalam and Marari will provide you a relaxed stay in tastefully designed cottages and rooms.

Kick start the New Year with a trip to God’s Own Country. Don’t keep thinking, just go. It will be a trip of memorable memories. 

Spend memorable times with your family

Have a fabulous time with your family!

Work, stress, work! That’s all we seem to have time for and care about. ‘All work and no play’ will surely make us dull. Get out of the cycle of stress and liven up your life. Spending quality time with family is one of the best stress-busters. Once in a while let go off work, take them out and have a wonderful time, building lasting memories in the process. There is nothing more rejuvenating than a holiday with family.

Family outing? The options are numerous – explore amusement parks with your little ones, just lie on the beach with your loved one admiring the beauty around, share light moments with friends and family while barbecuing, go trekking and the list goes on.

Stuck up with work and can’t make it for a week long vacation? No problems, holiday during the weekends instead. Plan a cosy retreat with your dear ones among the misty hills of Munnar. Trekking, winding lanes and the lush tea plantations will surely make your holiday one of the best. Abad Copper Castle resort amist the tea plantations is beautifully designed to provide complete relaxation.

Camp along the Periyar river and explore nature at every corner. Thekkady will surely leave you awe-struck and you will want to come here time and again. Stay at one of the cottages of Abad Green Forest modelled on jungle dwellings and have a exciting time! If it is the sun, sea and sand you prefer then head to Abad Turtle Beach resort located at Mararikulam or Abad Harmonia Ayurvedic Beach resort, Kovalam. Forget the world and play in the waters with your kids or get a healthy tan sipping cool coconut water. Have fun and enjoy the unforgettable experiences.

Go on a holiday with all the members of your family; it is a great way to forget stress, helping you bond better, laugh together and understand each other more. A family holiday can create memories that you will never forget. So go holidaying with your family and come back refreshed and renewed, full of energy to take on work!

Christmas recipes!

When it’s the season to be jolly, who doesn’t like to feast on yummy homemade delicacies? Here are some lipsmacking recipes from our chefs you can indulge in!

GOLDEN DELIGHT (Rich Plum Cake)

Ingredients

Refined Flour: 130gm

Sugar: 140gm

Eggs: 120gm

Butter: 80gm

Ghee: 50gm

Honey: 20gm

Marmalade/mixed fruit jam: 20gm

Liquid glucose: 25gm

Stewed & soaked dry fruits with nuts: 550gm

Fresh fruit juice: 30gm

Caramel colour as required

Essence as required

Baking powder a pinch

Method of preparation:

Mix butter and ghee together, blend with sugar till creamy. Add the eggs one by one and beat for some time. Add all the other ingredients and flour and finally the fruits. Pour the mixture in the mould and bake the cake in an oven for about one and a half hours.

STUFFED WHOLE CHICKEN ROAST

Ingredients

           

De-boned chicken (skin on): 1 (900 gms)

Chicken mince: 350gm

Ginger garlic paste: 50gm

Garam masala, whole: 5gm

Saunf: 20gm

Chilly powder: 20gm

Turmeric powder: 5gm

Coriander powder: 20gm

Coconut oil: 150ml

Curry Leaves: A sprig

Salt as required

Sultana: 25gm

Cashewnuts: 25gm

Green chilly, chopped: 20gm

Bread crumbs: 100gm

Garam masala powder: 5gm

Vinegar: 1 tbsp

           

Method of preparation:

Dry roast half the quantity of spices with a little coconut oil, marinate the chicken in this and keep aside.

For the stuffing:

Heat oil in a pan and add whole garam masala, ginger garlic paste and chopped onions. Fry till light brown. Add all dry spices and roast well. Add chicken mince, vinegar and salt. Stir and cook till done. Remove from the fire and allow to cool. Mix bread crumbs, sultanas and cashew nuts with the mince. Stuff the chicken with this mixture and secure to bamboo sticks with thread. Roast the stuffed chicken in a hot oven for about 45 minutes. Make gravy from the roast pan and serve hot. 

Luxury honeymoon hotel - Abad Harmonia, Kovalam

After the vows are exchanged and the bubbly champagne fizzles off on the D-Day, planning the honeymoon tops every couple's list. Start off your honeymoon in style and luxury at Abad Harmonia, Kovalam. This is one among the ten best luxury honeymoon hotels that costs under Rs 5,000 per night.

Head to God’s own country and celebrate your new life together amidst the romantic views. Watch the orange setting sun as you cruise along the palm-fringed backwaters or feel the wind on your face as you walk hand-in-hand on the sun-kissed beautiful golden beaches! The varying landscapes of Kerala -- misty green hills, meandering backwaters, golden beaches -- Ayurveda and the exotic wildlife makes it one among the ten paradises of the world.

‘Kovalam’ has been derived from the Tamil word ‘Kovalam’ meaning coconut groves. True to its name you can witness the gentle waves splashing on the golden sanded banks lined with coconut groves. Swim in the waters, get a healthy tan, go for a rejuvenating ayurvedic massage together or just relax under the shady coconut groves. The options are endless.

Plan your honeymoon getaway destination without spending a fortune! Abad Harmonia at Kovalam provides you with comfortable cottages which have been tastefully designed to suit your requirements at affordable rates. Abad Harmonia Beach Resort provides all the facilities that you could wish for:

·        Ayurvedic massage at our spa

·        Yoga and meditation

·        Recreation outside the resort – day trip to Kanyakumari or visit the fishing village or go for a country boat cruise

·        Traditional cultural programes on request