3 Best Places for a Romantic Winter Escapade

I have heard and read and seen abrupt endings. Being somewhat of an iconoclast, I intend on making an abrupt start. Winter is here. What it reminds me most of is, Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Frost, perhaps, intended it to be a philosophical guide. It has taken on a more adventurous yet equally fulfilling meaning for me. It instigates an urge to travel, to explore, and to soak in on all the adventures that are there to be experienced in the most exotic of places on earth. Winter is the time of many festivals and accompanying holidays.  No better time to pack your bags and embark on a journey with your loved ones!

The task of listing all the possible places to explore this winter could be an onerous one; so, logic dictates to list out my three favourites:

Thailand

My personal favourite. If you have a television or an internet connection, there is no chance that you would not have seen the magnificent pictures of the most exotic places in Thailand.  Adorned with ethereal natural beauty, Thailand has plenty of fun, adventure, and yes, shopping activities to offer. For honeymooners, Thailand is perhaps cupid’s gift. The islands of Koh Samui, Pattaya, and Phuket provide excellent opportunities to indulge in some hair-raising water activities like scuba diving, jet skiing, under water sea walk, parasailing, and much more.Thailand is also renowned for its spas-not just ordinary spas. The Thai people have taken the experience of spas two notches higher with their innovations.  You can have spas in the caves, jungles, almost anywhere. The newlywed couples would fall in love again-this time with Bangkok. Bangkok is a shopper’s paradise! From precious gemstones to apparels, from home equipment to electronic gizmos, Bangkok has it all and at prices that are far from exorbitant.

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Read more: 8 Secret Places to Explore in Thailand

Andaman Islands

If you are looking for a quiet retreat with your family, away from the bustle of the city, Andamans is the place to be. One of the most exotic and serene places in India, the calm and soothing waters of Andaman provide ample opportunity to reconnect with your loved ones. The destination remains relatively unspoilt from the vagaries of tourism development. There are plenty of activities to do and places to explore. Havelock Island is perhaps the one that scores the top numbers when it comes to beauty. You can scuba dive or go snorkeling or just frolic in the ocean at Havelock Island. The Radha Nagar beach in Havelock is one of the top 10 beaches in the world; and not without a reason. Unlike other beaches, the Radha Nagar beach has pristine white sand and is unimaginably clean; no litter at all. Havelock is also home to the indigenous tribe: Jarawas. Going to the Andamans is like going back to nature. I highly recommend a trip to Ross Island.  One of the lesser known of the islands in Andamans, it is an extremely quiet place and does not offer many physical excursions. It‘s one place where you can shut out the world and sit in absolute peace under the shades of the trees lining the island. 

Read More: Andamans: A Quick and Handy Travel Guide​

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Kuala Lumpur

This city is a tantalizing example of old meeting the new and modern sophistication embracing the colorful traditions. Though Kuala Lumpur literally translates to muddy confluence, you would be hard-pressed to find anything muddy in Kuala Lumpur.  It boasts of the Petronas Towers, the second highest towers in the world after Bhurj Khalifa in Dubai. The Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur is one of the oldest temples in South Asia and is a must to for architecture and history aficionados.  There is no dearth of must-visit places in Kuala Lumpur: the Menara Kuala Lumpur Observation Deck, the Batu Caves, the 100 year-old Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara mosques, and the Sri Mariamman Temple should be enough to tire out even the most ardent travelers. For the more adventurous type, there are plenty of trekking trails in Cameron Highlands. The trekking has an added advantage. It gives you the opportunity to see and learn about Malaysia’s native Orang Asli tribes. But I’m sure after all the trekking and sightseeing, you’d want to hit the road that leads to the ‘Partyland’.  Try the ‘Karaoke Nights’. Stroll along the Changkat Bukit and you will see plenty of nightclubs: Firangi Pani, Havana Bar, Clique Lounge Bar, the list goes on. My favourite: the ‘Become a one-day Pilot Tour’ where you can fly with an experienced pilot and view the panoramic city from above. Quite a sight!

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Read more: 7 Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur