Real experiences in vegetarian travel, in India and beyond
Tips and tricks, galleries and other cool stuff.
2019 has been a good year for The Good Life With IQ. Lots of travel and some focused writing have made for lots of interesting posts (if I do say so myself). So, dear reader, here’s your verdict of the top 10 posts of 2019 on The Good Life With IQ. Read More
A scenic but shattered granite hill outside Hyderabad; why Nusa Ceningan is one of the best places to stay in Bali; and a video on our day-trip to Lepakshi from Bangalore. All in the monthly roundup for November 2019. Read More
We had often driven over and past Khanapur hill, and had always wanted to stop and explore its boulders. When we did, we were shaken by what we found. Read More
With nice beaches, great diving, good food, plenty of culture and nightlife, and few overnight tourists, Nusa Ceningan is one of the best places to stay in Bali. Read More
Our three days in Ubud, the bustling cultural heart of Bali; and a day trip from Bengaluru to the intricate, 500 year-old Lepakshi temple. All in the roundup for October 2019. Read More
During a recent visit to Bengaluru, we took a quick day trip to see the famous Lepakshi temple. The 500 year-old temple, and the massive Nandi statue next door, were well worth the drive. Read More
A video diary from three days in Ubud, Bali; and turning flaws into strengths with the Flawesome Blogger Award. All on the monthly roundup for September 2019. Read More
It’s always great to be chosen for an award by a fellow blogger! And this one is particularly interesting: it makes you think about your flaws, and how you’ve turned them into strengths. Read More
A post about our time on the peaceful little island of Nusa Ceningan, with a video to match; and some of the best pizza to be had in Hyderabad. All on The Good Life With IQ in August 2019. Read More
‘Zza Bar (short for ‘Pizza Bar’) may only be a little hole-in-the-wall vegetarian pizzeria, but it serves up some of the best pizza and cheesecake you’ll ever eat in Hyderabad. Or anywhere, for that matter. Read More
Some unique experiences to have in Rajasthan; a video about our week in the mountains in Dharamshala; and my 100th blog post and celebratory giveaway. All on The Good Life With IQ in June 2019. Read More
As a special ‘thank you’ to you, my readers, I’m celebrating my 100th blog post by giving away a brand-new copy of Lonely Planet’s India travel guide to one lucky winner. Read More
If you’re the type that loves heritage and culture but doesn’t want to do the usual touristy stuff, then try these seven off-beat Rajasthan experiences. Read More
The end of our motorcycle ride through Rajasthan; a video diary of our time in Udaipur; a review of our action camera; and a compilation of our favourite footage over the last year. All on The Good Life With IQ in May 2019. Read More
I got my GoPro HERO 5 Black action camera a year ago, and we’ve travelled all over with it since then. Here’s how it measured up. Read More
Two weeks of riding through southern Rajasthan ended in Udaipur. With its lakes, palaces, and art around every corner, this city may well deserve its reputation as ‘the most romantic city in India’. Read More
Seeing snowy mountains and Tibetan art up close; a great camera phone for travellers; and a towering citadel on a granite hill. All on The Good Life With IQ in April 2019. Read More
The inner citadel of Golconda Fort is arguably Hyderabad’s most popular sight, with its panoramic views and palace ruins. And even if you’ve seen it before, there’s always something new to discover. Read More
As a travel blogger, I was on the lookout for a phone that had a good camera to complement my DSLR, and that was easy on the pocket. And the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) delivered for me. Here’s my review of this phone’s impressive camera. Read More
We’d heard a lot about Dharamshala over the years; about its views, its food and its Tibetan-Buddhist-influenced atmosphere. Here’s the story, in pictures, of when we finally managed to visit. Read More
Exploring the largest hill fort in Rajasthan during our motorcycle tour, with a video to give you better feel of what it was like. And a video on some hidden gems at Hyderabad’s most popular tourist spot. All on The Good Life With IQ in March 2019. Read More
The massive hill-top Chittorgarh Fort was the Mewar region’s defence against invaders for 800 years. The third stop on our motorcycle tour took us up the hill, and into the last surviving settlement within the walls. Read More
Discovering the crumbling grandeur and 10,000 year-old history of Bundi; Getting within touching distance of some of Africa’s most magnificent wildlife species; and a video on each, so you can really get into the action. All on The Good Life With IQ in February 2019. Read More
We had always wanted to see the amazing wildlife of Africa up close. And our Kenya safari in Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara finally let us fulfil that wish. Despite the maddening amount of driving involved. Read More
Bundi is a small town lost in time, peppered with crumbling mansions and temples, and with the old Garh Palace looming over everything. We were glad we had taken a friend’s advice and made this the second stop on our motorcycle tour! Read More
Our first Ranthambhore safari experience; things to do and top itineraries in Hyderabad; a quick spinach and mushroom recipe; and incredible memories of Bhutan and Lakshadweep. All on The Good Life With IQ in January 2019. Read More
The first stop on our two-week motorcycle tour was Sawai Madhopur, where we had planned our first-ever Ranthambhore safari. We wanted to catch a glimpse of Ramthambhore National Park’s famous tigers, and—after a few hiccups—we did! Read More
Hyderabad’s 400-year history means the city has lots to see and do, not to speak of its rich and varied cuisine. This downloadable infographic will give you some easy-to-reference Hyderabad itineraries and things to do. Read More
This simple take on creamed spinach with mushrooms is perfect for adding some quick veggies to your meal, without becoming too heavy and rich. Read More
Motorcycling through southern Rajasthan; my second peer-nominated blogger award; a review of a very handy lens for DSLRs; and a detailed post of our Jaipur experience; all on The Good Life With IQ in December 2018. And a recap of the most popular posts of the year. Read More
The Tamron 18-400 mm zoom lens is a great all-in-one lens for mid-level photographers who like both close-ups and wide-angles; who don’t feel like burning a hole in their pocket; and who don’t like switching lenses all the time. And who don’t mind sacrificing a bit of image quality in the bargain. Read More
Being nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award would have been an honour even on its own. But coming close on the heels of my first-ever blogger award nomination last month makes this nomination extra special! Read More
Our motorcycle tour through southern Rajasthan covered Jaipur, Ranthambhore, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Udaipur. Here’s a quick video with the highlights. Read More
A city decked up for Diwali; disturbing the king of the forest’s beauty sleep; discovering crumbling grandeur; hearing echoes of Rajput valour; and wandering the bylanes of ‘the most romantic city on Earth’. All on our motorcycle. Plus my first-ever peer award nomination. On The Good Life With IQ in November 2018. Read More
It’s a great feeling to have been nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award, an award that acknowledges all the effort that goes into a keeping a blog going.
During the second half of our two-week motorcycle tour through east and south Rajasthan, we explored the massive Chittorgarh Fort and the romantic ‘Lake City’ of Udaipur. Here are a few glimpses of what we saw. Read More
Touring through east and south Rajasthan on our motorcycle gave us a unique perspective and a greater appreciation of the things we experienced. Here are some glimpses of our experiences in Jaipur, Ranthambhore and Bundi. Read More
A quick look at all the new stuff on The Good Life With IQ in October 2018. Read More
Tatva may just be Hyderabad’s best kept secret, as far as vegetarian restaurants go. With excellent Italian, continental and north Indian cuisine, this is a place foodies should try at least once. Read More
While most of India celebrates Navratri and Dussehra, some parts celebrate Durga Puja instead. And no one does Durga Puja quite like the Bengalis, no matter where they are. Read More
A long motorcycle tour will give you a great feeling of freedom, excitement and adventure—if it’s done right. Here are 16 tips that can help make sure you have a great time on the road.
A quick look at all the new stuff on The Good Life With IQ in the past month. Read More
This easy recipe will let you whip up a sweet and tangy vinaigrette sauce in minutes, perfect to use as a salad dressing or dip.
The first recipe video I’ve ever made hasn’t turned out too badly (if I do say so myself). And if you like hearty vegetarian food, you might just like my recipe for pumpkin potato pancakes too. Read More
A quick look at all the new stuff on The Good Life With IQ in the past month. Read More
Whether you’re looking to pamper your pet, exchange notes with other pet parents or just hang out with pet people over good eats, The Pet Café is for you. Read More
Durable, versatile and with long battery life, this is a good choice for videographers looking for a single camera stabilizer for their light cameras. Read More
We’ve been travelling regularly for over a decade now, and have had to learn a lot of things about packing right. Here are 17 packing tips that could come in handy on your next trip. Read More
Riding over river rapids. Trekking through Martian landscapes. Swimming over surreal coral reefs. And, of course, admiring the breathtaking wildlife. This short video has all the highlights of our African adventure. Read More
If you’re looking for ideas to make a meal special but still keep it guilt-free, this recipe’s for you. It brings together healthy veggies and just the right amount of richness and flavour. And since they say a Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest around, even better! Read More
If you’ve always wanted to visit the Lakshadweep islands but didn’t know how to plan your trip, this short video guide will get you started. Read More
It’s been a little more than year since I started this travel blog, and it’s been tough but fun! Though I’ve enjoyed writing everything I’ve published, here are the top 10 posts I’ve enjoyed writing the most. Read More
If you’ve always dreamed of visiting the endless African savanna to watch lions, elephants, cheetah and wildebeest go about their business, then here is how to make your safari dream a reality. Read More
Nice craft beer, a great view, and surprisingly good vegetarian food make Olive Bistro in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills a great place to eat, drink and make merry. Read More
Reduce the impact of your travels on the environment and communities around you with these simple tips and tricks. Read More
If you’re a vegetarian in Hyderabad and running out of places to eat, these six restaurants serve excellent vegetarian food, despite being known for their non-veg. Read More
Some of these mistakes that we made during our travels around the world could have been much, much worse. Read More
We learned the hard way that having a good time in Coorg is not as easy as you might think. Here are nine things that we found out that you should know too, if you’re planning a visit. Read More
If you’re visiting India for the first time, here are 20 things you need to know so that you can find your way around this ancient land, with its many cultures, languages and cuisines. Read More
From walking a protected turtle breeding ground in Goa with two doggies and swimming in rock pools in the Seychelles to riding a motorcycle on a beach in West Bengal, here are 20 evocative beach pictures from our travels around the world. Read More
If you’re turning vegetarian, for reasons of health, ethics, economy or the environment, the good news is that every little bit helps. The bad news is that it’s not easy, especially if you really like meat. Read More
From Germany to the Seychelles, and from all across India, here are 20 spectacular travel photographs we’ve taken during our travels so far. Read More
While the majestic Virupaksha temple, and the Vitthala temple with its massive stone chariot and musical pillars, are probably on ever visitor’s itinerary, Hampi has a lot more to offer—regardless of the weather. From riverside walkways with stairs cut into the living rock, and hidden shrines emerging from their lush sugarcane fields, to gigantic boulders in fantastic shapes, and emerald rice fields reflecting the sunrise in their motionless waters, here are some of the sights that have enchanted us over the years. Read More
In late 2013, my wife wanted to visit Kutch in Gujarat as a sourcing trip for her fledgling ethnic gifts business, so we decided we would turn it into our annual new year’s holiday. We spent close to two weeks in Bhuj and its surroundings (arguably home to India’s highest concentration of high-quality textile handicraft producers), investigated lots of towns and villages, and took in India’s great white salt desert, the Great Rann of Kutch. Read More
If you think about it, a lot of human communication happens through body language; an arched eyebrow, a clenched jaw, crossed arms, or a squared chest can tell you a lot about what the other person is thinking. The same is true of dogs, only more so. Over my 30 years of living with them, I’ve learned that you can figure out a lot about a dog’s state of mind just by looking at them. Read More
Turning off a few lights, using less water and driving a little less are just a few easy ways in which we can make a difference. Here are eight easy ways to be more environment-friendly. Read More
From how to find the right breed for you, to making sure you have a healthy relationship with your dog, here are eight tips for every new dog owner. Read More
