Page 12 - Masala Lite Issue 167 November 2024

12 SPILL THE CHAI

MANISHA MANCHANDA, 31
For Manisha Manchanda, social media
plays a role for travel inspiration: “One
Instagram page leads to another, and
before I know it, I've spiralled down
a rabbit hole of stunning landscapes
and delicious food pics. Girls, you know
how this goes!” she says with a laugh.
Manisha is a primary school teacher with
a decade of experience in international
education based in Bangkok, Thailand,
She travels frequently and takes a
couple of major trips a year. She also
ITINERARIES getaways closer in the region, along
makes time for shorter tips or weekend

with travel for work conferences or
professional development trips abroad.
She, like Kaushi, does not follow guides
like the Michelin Guide or the World’s
Community members reveal how much Top 50 or Top 100 lists, preferring to rely
their travel plans are influenced by on personal recommendations and her

own research.
globally-recognised awards and lists. “I prefer seeking hidden gems, like a
quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant in
BY NIMARTA NARANG Newtown, Sydney, where the finest
gnocchi melted in my mouth, perfected
over generations. In South Africa, I
ne of the topics that comes up when catching up with someone, be it a
friend, family member, auntie, uncle, or acquaintance, is where one has dined at a restaurant where the waiters
travelled and where they will be travelling in the near future. Perhaps performed on stage, and in Malaysia, I enjoyed the unique experience of dining in the

they’ve seen a mutual friend’s latest Instagram travel post, or maybe they’ve dark, guessing flavours without sight,” she recalled. “In Japan, I sampled fresh tuna

heard about how Italy is the new favourite place to summer – I myself know of at a bustling fish market, indulging in a tasting platter of otoro, chutoro, and akami.

nine different individuals, six of whom reside in Bangkok, who travelled to Rome These memorable experiences truly make a trip unforgettable.”
last summer; my feed was filled with gelatos galore! Manisha also looks for diverse experiences when it comes to lodging and accommodation:

“I spent Christmas in a charming manor house at the Rickety Bridge Wine Estate in
As travel is becoming normalised again post-pandemic, so are the globally-
recognised awards for Food & Beverage and hospitality, such as the Michelin Franschhoek, South Africa, featuring a thatched roof and beautiful wooden interiors.
Guide and James Beard Foundation Awards for food, as well as the different Ultimately, while I admire the artistry of award-winning places, it’s the unique and

worldwide rankings for hotels, the number of which is growing each year. For authentic experiences that captivate me.”
example, Michelin has now released their Michelin Keys list, which ranks hotels
worldwide by one, two, or three keys, akin to their star rankings for food. And the
global recognition of Thai restaurants and hotels continues to skyrocket – fun

fact, there were five Thai hotels listed in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards
for the 100 Best Hotels in 2024, and Capella Bangkok topped The World’s 50
Best Hotels 2024 list.
But just because these rankings exist does not mean that they are necessarily used NIRAN SACHDEV, 31
religiously. Masala spoke with three individuals based in Thailand who love to
travel, and how much they use these rankings when they plan their trips, if at all.
According to Niran Sachdev, rankings
and awards “often present curated
experiences that don’t fully delve into
the cultural aspects I seek.” Niran, based
in both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, is a
Design Director at a real estate company
specialising in serviced apartments and
hotels within the hospitality industry. He
travels frequently for work and for leisure.
“Being in this industry has spoiled me,
KAUSHI KOGAR, 34 particularly in Southeast Asia, where
the service and cleanliness standards
Kaushi Kogar lives in Chiang Mai and are unparalleled,” said Niran. “I often

works remotely at a feminist movement find myself comparing other parts of the
building organisation. She bases her world to these standards, and more often

travel off of her work schedule but last than not, I’m disappointed.” Niran prefers
year, she travelled about 50 percent of accommodation that goes beyond hotels
the year, and has taken four international – in fact, he prefers Airbnb rentals for
trips this year alone. “I actually don’t care most of his travels.
so much about award recognition at all. The one list that he does follow, though, is the World’s Top 50 Bars, and whenever
I am not influenced at all by rankings he travels somewhere new, he checks the list for cocktail bars in that location. “In

and awards in terms of places to stay my view, they highlight creativity in a unique way. The entire process of experiencing
or restaurants to go. I spend most of cocktails from these places is vastly different and more imaginative compared to a

my time reading other people’s reviews, dinner menu or a tasting menu. It’s an art form of its own,” he explained.
whether that’s on Google, Reddit, or
other platforms,” she revealed. Niran makes it a point to visit at least one cocktail bar on the Top 50 list if they are
in the city he’s travelling to. “One of my most memorable experiences was at Little
Her most recent travel destination was Kyoto with her partner, during which they Red Door in Paris, which stood out among many others,” he recalled. Cocktails, like
went to Gion Sasaki, a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Japan. It is touted as one travel, he tells me, can be concocted and curated to fit each person’s preferences and

of the most difficult restaurants in the country for which to get a reservation. “We restrictions – be it through dietary or lodging.

didn’t even know that it had a Michelin Star rating until we got to the restaurant!”
Kaushi shared ruefully. “That’s how little I take these awards into consideration.” IN CONCLUSION
However, Kaushi admits that she does look at TikTok or Instagram video Kaushi, Manisha, and Niran are only three of the many residents who live in Thailand.
recommendations, but not necessarily to jump on the latest trend of restaurants All in their 30s, they represent a decent contingent of the communities who have
or hotels to visit. “I’m mainly curious about how many people will be waiting in line access to social media at their disposal. Inevitably, they will come across any of these
for the restaurant based on likes, views, or comments,” she says. “I don’t think that world-renowned lists but, like many around them, they each engage with them
I derive inspiration for my travel plans in that it probably won’t determine the places differently. However, one thing is certain: travel anecdotes travel well through word

I want to go, but it might help me decide if I should visit or avoid somewhere I’ve of mouth. Those close enough to them will hear about their journeys directly, or for
already decided on.” the rest of us, through their Instagram profiles.