Other stuff Archives | The Good Life With IQ

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: May 2019

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.
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Review: GoPro HERO 5 Black action camera

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.

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: April 2019

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.
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Review: Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) phone camera

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.

Photo diary: Snow-capped mountains and Tibetan art in Dharamshala

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.

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: March 2019

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.
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What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: February 2019

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.
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What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: January 2019

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.
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Hyderabad itineraries, and things to do in the city

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.

Recipe video: Creamed spinach with mushrooms

This simple take on creamed spinach with mushrooms is perfect for adding some quick veggies to your meal, without becoming too heavy and rich.
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What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: December 2018 | Plus, the best of 2018

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.

Review: Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom lens

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.

Nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award!

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!

Video diary: Southern Rajasthan on two wheels

Our motorcycle tour through southern Rajasthan covered Jaipur, Ranthambhore, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Udaipur. Here’s a quick video with the highlights.

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: November 2018

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.
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Nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award. Yay!

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.

Rajasthan on two wheels: Glimpses of Chittorgarh and Udaipur

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.

Rajasthan on two wheels: Glimpses of Jaipur, Ranthambhore and Bundi

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.

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: October 2018

Riding the rapids on the White Nile; how to plan a great motorcycle tour; glimpses of Durga Puja 2018, Bengali style; and possibly Hyderabad’s best kept vegetarian secret. All on The Good Life With IQ in October 2018.
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IQ’s veg review: Tatva, Hyderabad’s best-kept vegetarian secret?

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.

Durga Puja 2018: Glimpses of gods and mortals

In most parts of India, October is all about celebrating Navratri and Dussehra. But some parts of the country celebrate Durga Puja instead. And no one does Durga Puja quite like the Bengalis, no matter where they are.

16 tips to stay safe and have fun on that awesome motorcycle tour

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.

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: September 2018

A quick look at all the new stuff on The Good Life With IQ in September 2018.

Recipe video: Quick and easy honey mustard vinaigrette

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.

My first recipe video: Pumpkin potato pancakes

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.

What’s new on The Good Life With IQ: August 2018

A quick look at all the new stuff on The Good Life With IQ in the past month.

The Pet Cafe: Hyderabad’s new pawty hotspot

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 Cafe is for you.

Review: Moza AirCross three-axis gimbal camera stabilizer

Durable, versatile and with long battery life, this is a good choice for videographers looking for a single camera stabilizer for their light cameras.

17 packing tips from a regular traveller

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.

Video diary: The best of our memories of Africa

Riding over river rapids. Trekking through Martian landscapes. Swimming over surreal coral reefs. And, of course, admiring the breathtaking wildlife. This short video has best of our memories of Africa.

Fun and healthy recipe: Mushroom and broccoli pizza with homemade tomato sauce

If you’re looking for ideas to make a meal special but still keep it guilt-free, this healthy recipe is for you. It brings together 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!

Video guide: How to start planning your Lakshadweep holiday

If you’ve always wanted to visit the Lakshadweep islands but don’t know how to plan your trip, this short video guide will get you started.

My 50th blog post, and a roundup of my top 10 posts so far

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.

Hyderabad to Masai Mara: How to plan a Kenya safari from India

If you’ve always dreamed of visiting the endless African savanna to watch lions, elephants, cheetah and wildebeest go about their business, then here’s how to plan a Kenya safari from India, or anywhere else.Read more…

IQ’s veg review: Olive Bistro

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.

21 simple tips to be a responsible traveller

Reduce the impact of your travels on the environment and communities around you. Use these simple tips and tricks to be a more responsible traveller.

6 unexpectedly great restaurants for vegetarians in Hyderabad

If you’re a vegetarian in Hyderabad and running out of places to eat, these six restaurants serve excellent vegetarian food, despite being better known for their non-veg.

Don’t make these 10 travel mistakes that we did

We’ve made our fair share of mistakes while travelling the world, some of them could have turned out much worse than they did. Don’t make these 10 travel mistakes that we did, or you might not be so lucky.

9 things you should know if you want to have a good time in Coorg

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.

20 things you need to know while visiting India

If you’re planning on visiting India, here are 20 things you need to know. Use these tips to find your way around this ancient land and its many cultures, languages and cuisines.

20 evocative beach pictures from around the world

From walking a protected turtle breeding ground in Goa with two local 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.
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Turning vegetarian? Here are 10 tips from someone who’s done it

If you’re turning vegetarian, for reasons of health, ethics, economy or the environment, there’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news is that every little bit helps. The bad news is that it’s not easy, especially if you—like me—really like meat.

20 spectacular travel photos we’ve taken so far

From Germany to the Seychelles, and from all across India, here are 20 spectacular travel photos we’ve taken during our travels so far.

Magical sights of Hampi that you may not even know exist

An ancient stone pathway leading through caves and streams. Monkeys sheltering from the rain on a crumbling temple gate. A sage meditating next to a stone companion. And palace ruins dissolving into darkness. These are just some of the magical sights that Hampi has to offer.

The colours of Kutch

Memories of our visit to arid but colourful Kutch in Gujarat: intricate handicrafts, magnificent old palaces, pristine beaches, and of course the endless white slat plains of the Great Rann.

Nine basics that everyone should know about dog body language

Dog owners, especially first-time owners, need to have a good idea of how their dogs communicate, and what they’re trying to say. Over 30 years of living with dogs has taught me a lot about how they communicate. A lot of it is in their dog body language.

Eight easy ways in which you can be more environment-friendly

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.

Eight things every first-time dog owner should do (and one that they shouldn’t)

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.