3 Magical Days at Vivenda Dos Palhacos, Goa

There are some places where you go on holiday and you end up never wanting to leave! Vivenda Dos Palhacos, a quirky boutique hotel in the South of Goa (Majorda to be exact), was just this sort of place. A group of all school friends planned a reunion of sorts over the long weekend and this lovely hotel/B&B provided us with the perfect setting to catch up, unwind and reminisce about the good old days :) 

The hotel itself consists of a beautifully restored one hundred year old Portuguese Mansion and an old house with rammed earth walls (which have now been made into the main house) and a few old outhouses. The setting is a typical Goan village and it's quite an interesting feeling waking up to cocks crowing and also hearing the village church bells ringing in the evening. The setting reminded me so much of childhood family vacations in our ancestral home, now sadly sold off. 

The property is owned by brother-sister team, Simon and Charlotte Hayward, and they are the most amazing hosts. Charlotte has travelled all over India and she was always ready to help with suggestions on the best places to visit in Goa. 

Breakfast is a communal meal and all the guests sit together and share stories about their adventures and experience. This massive concrete table was where we were treated to the most amazing breakfast of fruit, cereals, fresh Goan pav, eggs, the most delicious banana pancakes and homemade preserves- I could go on and on. The staff is incredibly helpful and go out of their way to make you feel at home. My tip would be to enjoy breakfast and head out for lunch and dinner, although they do have a fixed dinner as well as an al a carte menu. If you do it eat, try their burgers and the chilli prawn salad and for dessert, their chocolate pots are to die for.

A great amount of thought and care was put into the styling of this hotel. It's Indian, but still modern and the owners tongue in cheek sense of humour is unmistakable throughout. The bar/reception is the hub of all activity and its here where you can book yourself in for a massage (done by the most amazing couple) or order yourself an evening cocktail (they do a great Gin and Tonic and Dry Martini).

If you are a bit of a romantic, a dreamer and have a quirky sense of humour, then Vivenda Dos Palhacos is for you. It's a place to go and forget about the hustle and bustle of city life and get a feel of life in a Goan Village, although quite a luxurious one. If you are however expecting 5 star luxury, sparkling clean floors and instant service, then its most definitely not. This is a sort of home away from home, and in true Goan fashion, things happen at a different pace. I absolutely loved my stay here. It's quite kid friendly too and is perfect for a group of friends holidaying together. A must visit in my books. 

[All images by Shalini Pereira, please do not use without prior written permission]

An 18th Century Villa, Lotus flowers, Heritage & History

We are back from our Sri Lankan Odyssey- 10 days, 6 towns, 3 provinces and I have to admit, by the end of it, I was sort of wanting to get back home :) But I fell in love with Sri Lanka- it's like a juxtaposition of Kerala and Goa, only much cleaner! And I have so much to share about all our experiences there, that I don't know where to start :)  

But the designer in me loves pretty things, so let me start with some eye candy- The Fort Printers Hotel, Galle. Galle fort is a 16th century Dutch fort and a beautiful example of colonial architecture. It's a living fort and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's quaint, beautiful and has made the list of 'my favourite places in the world' :) We stayed at The Fort Printers Hotel... it was love at first sight when I came across it on Agoda, and we stayed in a bunch of smaller guest houses, just so we could afford 2 nights here :) (it's a little pricey)

So often when we see a hotel on the net, the reality doesn't live up to the expectations... but in this case it surpassed them! By now you all know I love heritage architecture, and this place has been adapted so lovingly and sensitively by owners, husband and wife, Dorine and Shahzad, to create an amazing experience. See for yourself...

I really liked everything about our stay at the Fort Printers... the location, the building, the decor, the atmosphere, and the hospitality extended to guests... Owner Dorine personally takes guests around the hotel and escorts them to their rooms, all the while giving them a brief history of the hotel. She explained to us the difficulty in renovating an old building- the restrictions involved and the constant need for maintenance.

The food here is also really great. We had a lovely candlelit meal here one evening. I had the ceviche with avocado and mint and it was divine! So if you happen to visit Galle, at least drop in for a meal here. They also bake their own breads and we enjoyed these at breakfast with some delicious homemade mixed fruit jam... going to be trying to figure out the recipe... so major experiments going to be happening in the kitchen :)

The staff here is very friendly too. One evening we had a really fun chat with one of the guys who worked there. The Champions League was going on and we got down to talking about cricket. (everyone in Sri Lanka loves talking about cricket!) I mentioned that my favourite player was MSD and he excitedly told us that Dhoni is very popular in Sri Lanka... as is Virat Kholi, especially after the way he destroyed their bowling during the 2012 series :)

There are 3 buildings which make up the Fort Printers, two that adjoin one another and another across the street. The original printers building is done up in old world, colonial style, while the newer wings are very contemporary and Bawa-like in style. 

So even if you aren't staying here, visit and take a look around this lovely old building and the way it's been restored and revived :)

[All images by Shalini Pereira- please do not use without prior written permission]

The Last House, Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Happy Monday folks! How was the weekend? Do anything interesting? Or just enjoyed a chance to be a little lazy :)

Got a little bit of a treat for you. Some real eye candy. The hubby & I are planning a holiday to Sri Lanka and while I was doing my research, I came across this beautiful boutique guest villa in the town of Tangalle, Sri Lanka. This is a chic luxury villa that is contemporary, while still managing to stay true to traditional Sri Lankan architecture. Love the concrete floors, the colorful decor and the overall dreamy feel of all the spaces- embodies the idea of barefoot luxury. I can completely imagine my self sitting in the veranda, on those comfy cane chair, sipping on a chilled beer and doing absolutely NOTHING... what bliss! 

Enjoy!

[All images- Mr & Mrs Smith]

[Please note that these images are via the Mr & Mrs Smith website, please do not reproduce without prior permission from the Hotel or the website]

Abode Mumbai - A Quaint Boutique Hotel in Colaba, Mumbai

When I stumbled upon this hotel on the We Heart website, my eyes lit up in joy. As I went through all the images, I kept repeating the phrase, 'Love it!' again and again. I love modern interiors, but what I love even more is when a designed space captures the essence of a place. And since I live in India, I love modern design that is Indian at heart, but still contemporary in its outlook. (I hope that makes sense) 

In this case its Mumbai, the design behind this hotel captures the Spirit of Mumbai. It is just such a wonderful space and done up so perfectly. Located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Colaba, Mumbai, an area known for its Colonial and Art Deco architecture, this hotel is the ultimate quite escape. It's quirky but modern style is the perfect backdrop for everything that celebrates the essence of Mumbai, from the photographs of Mumabi life, knick knacks, artwork and the old colonial furniture. 

Designed by Sian Pascale of Young Citizens design studio, the hotel is inspired by Art Deco and Colonial styles that are such an integral part of Mumbai's fabric. I love the care with which the team has picked up items from flea markets and recycled elements like the teak wood floor, that came from demolished houses and teamed them with bespoke items of furniture done especially for Abode Mumbai. I especially ADORE the beautiful cement tiled floor, made from a local manufacturer. 

Take a look... I promise you'll be wanting to stay here the next time you visit Mumbai. I know I am!

[All images- We Heart & Abode Mumbai]

Make sure you tune into All Things Nice tomorrow, we have our next installment of Design Bloggers Fab 5 with Anu Varma of My Dream Canvas. Be prepared to be wowed by Anu's amazing sense of style and home decor ideas.