Wishing you a Happy New Year. The first day of 2017 has this story in Deccan Herald’s Sunday Herald here. I spoke to Sudeep and Aindrita Ray who shared their best travel memories of 2016.

Sudeep

This year I visited Srinagar for the first time and was completely mesmerized by its beauty. The place is certainly one of the most beautiful creations of nature. In fact it is so wonderful that it must be seen to be believed. When I went there I actually felt very bad that people are keeping themselves away from here due to fear of terrorism. I really hope and think that will change soon. Srinagar is a place that families can enjoy as a whole. What struck me about it was that it was full of life. Also this is the place to appreciate the real beauty of nature. It is really a wonder o watch the same here. In fact when you step on the grass you will really feel the difference. I think it really is a place that everyone must visit and enjoy.

Aindrita Ray

I have just returned from a month long holiday to Australia and as my sister lives in Sydney we also celebrated my Mom’s birthday there. I had a great experience dining at The Rocks, a waterfront restaurant that has views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. I also went to Whitsunday Islands in the Great Barrier Reef on the Queensland coast and visited the Hayman Island, Airlie Beach and Whitehaven Beach. I had great fun doing a basic snorkelling course as well. I also did a lot of jet skinning and non touristy treks that took us through kangaroo creeks. I also did the Bondi to Coogee walk that is a six km trek with views of Bondi Beach and the coast. The corals and different fishes was a great experience and I really love the underwater world. I also went to the Jenolan Caves and visited the river cave which has a river at the bottom. The inside is beautiful crystallized with limestone and on the drive back I spotted a lot of black kangaroos. It was wonderful.