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Memsahib in India
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Memsahib in India
  • Reviews
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    • Discovering Destinations Differently
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  • People
    • People of India
    • Encounters with Locals
  • Musings
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Musings, Travel in India

Not the bloody Taj Mahal!

3 
Discovering Destinations Differently, Musings

The Poop Survival Plan

1 
Travel in India

Solo Female Travel, the kindness of strangers and using common sense.

1 
Reviews, Travel in India

Discovering off beat Rajasthan

0 
The Book, Wildlife

Now Available – Escape to India by Philippa J Kaye.

1 

most popular Blog Posts |

Discovering Destinations Differently, Travel in India

Celebrating 25 years in India

This is it. My 25th year in India. I had no idea on that first trip, just where the journey would take me. People say to me, “Come on, 25…

PkayeSAdmin / March 19, 2023
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Celebrating 25 years, Travel in India

#Celebrate25K2K Day 01, Kerala backwaters.

A cheeky little upgrade from Delhi to Cochin was a lovely welcome back, particularly after the hellish transit procedure at Delhi Airport. Be warned if on connnecting flights. After that…

PkayeSAdmin / March 20, 2023
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Travel in India, Wildlife

The Art Of Bespoke Travel

“If you havent seen it, you can’t sell it.” This was the philosophy that was told to me when I first started in the travel industry. To see it is…

PkayeSAdmin / March 14, 2023
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Encounters with Locals, People of India

Because you are beautiful…

May I take your photograph, I ask (always). They pat their hair and ask why?“Because you are beautiful,” is my reply. They respond in various ways, some surprised, some shy,…

PkayeSAdmin / March 8, 2023
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Encounters with Locals, On life in India

Delhi Diaries: Valentines Day, Indian Style

It was Valentines Day and I was in Lucknow, ‘on assignment.’ I had a choice, I could stay in and ordered room service or I could venture out and have…

Philippa Kaye / February 14, 2023
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Delhi Diaries, Musings, On life in India

Chicken Tikka Masala? There’s no such thing…

This week we  mourn the sad passing of Ali Ahmed Aslam of Glasgow’s inimitable Shish Mahal, and founder of  Britains National Dish, chicken tikka masala, so I thought it an…

PkayeSAdmin / December 23, 2022
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Delhi Diaries, Discovering Destinations Differently, Top five's, Uncategorized

Delhi’s Top 10 (Original) Eateries according to Celebrated Food Critic Marryam Reshii

Marryam H Reshii has been writing about food and lifestyle for the last 35 years. She is the Times of India food critic  and has  worked on the Times Food…

PkayeSAdmin / December 18, 2022
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Uncategorized

Perceptions and Poverty moving into 2023

From 1998 to 2020 India was not just my career, but my life, my passion and, for 15 years, my home. It’s safe to say that I lived, breathed, traveled,…

PkayeSAdmin / December 15, 2022
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Travel in India, Wildlife

Cheetahs are reintroduced to India but what about the indigenous people of Kuno Palpur?

There’s been a lot of talk over the last couple of years amongst a niche section of society, this is a section however, that whilst relatively small, crosses all boundaries…

PkayeSAdmin / September 17, 2022
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Discovering Destinations Differently, On life in India, Travel in India

India: Knowing a Little Bit About a Lot Goes a Long Way

Face book today reminded me of this post below.  It made me think. I started specialising in India as a destination in 1998. We had a policy; if you hadn’t…

PkayeSAdmin / February 16, 2022
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Travel in India

Has tourism failed the camels which made Pushkar Camel Fair a Globally Recognised tourist event?

It has become a scene as synonymous with India as the Taj Mahal, thousands of Raika camel traders with their immaculate white dhotis and brilliant and intricately tied red turbans,…

PkayeSAdmin / November 14, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Encounters with Locals

The Raika Journey – Immersive Tourism Supporting the Camel herders of Rajasthan

The Raika are a community in peril, their lifestyle is in danger and their future is uncertain. The Raika provide the globally recognisable images we see of the Pushkar Camel Fair…

PkayeSAdmin / November 14, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Travel Facts, Travel in India

WTM RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS INDIA LEADS THE WAY – 17 WINNERS REVEALED

India was the standout destination at this year’s awards, winning 17 accolades and emerging as a “leading country for responsible tourism.” An international panel of judges came together remotely to…

PkayeSAdmin / November 3, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Hotel Reviews, Travel in India, Wellness & Wellbeing, Wildlife

Three hotels in Gujarat which aren’t quite what you’d expect.

Think of Gujarat and what comes to mind? The first thing every inbound agent will say is that you can’t drink, not strictly true but yes, it can be off-putting…

PkayeSAdmin / October 17, 2021
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Wildlife

India’s Natural Wonders….. Wildlife parks beyond the tiger

My passion for wildlife had an accidental start. A failed relationship and a grumpy boss led me to take a sabbatical for six months running the fabulous and still my…

PkayeSAdmin / October 13, 2021
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Uncategorized

Discovering India Differently: Eco Lodges in Corbett National Park

My jaw hit the hideously over-patterned carpet. There he stood, microphone in hand bleating out something entirely unrecognisable, both for his apparent ability to change key four times in three…

PkayeSAdmin / September 25, 2021
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Musings, On life in India

The Mistress That Is India

India can’t be instantly appreciated, nor can she be rushed. She will reveal herself in her own time, she will move at her own pace. You can’t demand from her…

PkayeSAdmin / September 21, 2021
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On life in India, Travel in India

India’s Top 13 Street Foods As Voted By Its Most Intrepid Travellers

It all started with a plain dosa: one of those giant crisp pancakes made with fermented rice and lentil batter. It was 1998 and I was on my very first…

PkayeSAdmin / September 20, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Uncategorized

Discovering Agra Differently (and more sustainably)

The Taj Mahal re opens today, there is no denying that it is a magnificent monument (putting my prejudices aside here!) but if you are  going to visit Agra, take…

PkayeSAdmin / September 16, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently

Discovering Amritsar Differently

The year was 2017 and in 18 years of being a specialist in travel to India, I had never visited Amritsar. Why was this? I have no idea. Maybe because…

Philippa Kaye / August 20, 2021
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Travel in India, Wellness & Wellbeing, Wildlife

The Murder and the Lion – Wildlife Tales from Gujarat

We had heard there was a murder  and were invited to investigate.  Anyone who has watched any crime drama wants to get involved right? In this instance a murder could…

PkayeSAdmin / August 10, 2021
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Portrait, Lady in Purdah, Rajasthan
Uncategorized

So what exactly is a micro-destination?

I saw a video clip a few weeks ago by NDTV that made me smile. It was all about micro destinations and how they are the future of travel.  Now…

PkayeSAdmin / August 6, 2021
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Uncategorized

Focus on Mainstream Destinations for a More Sustainable Travel World

At the start of the pandemic, there were a lot of knee jerk reactions as to what would save tourism in India.  Many rightly said domestic tourism and in terms…

PkayeSAdmin / August 5, 2021
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Travel in India, Wildlife

My Top Five Books Tiger Centric Books – A great and diverse small collection for International Tiger Day 2020

It’s International Tiger Day, social media will be flooded with images of this truly magnificent animal, hopefully also praise for the forest guards who spend their lives protecting them, the…

PkayeSAdmin / July 29, 2021
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People of India, Wildlife

People of India Project – Varun Narain Mathur

I first met Varun many years ago when he, way ahead of the game, had set up a company to promote extraordinary guides of India, true experts who believed in…

PkayeSAdmin / July 18, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently

Discovering India Differently: Adventure Travel in Rajasthan

A while ago I was asked if I’d give a talk on travel in India, nothing unusual there. I happily agreed. I was told they would revert with the topic…

PkayeSAdmin / July 13, 2021
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Musings

Vindaloo,Who Knew?

This is, or should I say was, a pork vindaloo.  I kind of forgot to take the before picture. It was rather tasty. Now, the mere mention of a vindaloo…

PkayeSAdmin / July 9, 2021
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Uncategorized

Cultural Intelligence, leadership and travel

I’ve started a senior leader’s course with Common Purpose, as part of this we listen to a Ted X talk on Cultural Intelligence with Julia Middleton, its founder. This talk…

PkayeSAdmin / July 8, 2021
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People of India

People of India Project – Bob Rupani

I’ve never actually met Bob, and I never usually feature people I’ve never chewed the fat with over a campfire or an Old Monk, but his was the first book…

PkayeSAdmin / July 6, 2021
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People of India

The People of India Project – Shilpa Sharma

Shilpa started Breakaway to share her love for travel with others, and the philosophy of the company is very much ‘Beyond the Brochure’ experiences, enabling guests to enrich themselves with the connections…

PkayeSAdmin / June 29, 2021
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People of India

The People of India Project – Gaurav Bhatnagar

I first met Gaurav at the Outlook Traveller Responsible Tourism Awards in Delhi where he was a gold medalist! He is the inspirational figure behind The Folk Tales, which started…

PkayeSAdmin / June 22, 2021
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People of India

The People of India Project – Sanjay Thakur

  Sanjay and I had been in contact for some time but I first got to meet him by chance whilst consulting with a DMC in Delhi on a day…

PkayeSAdmin / June 15, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Travel in India

Discovering India Differently: Jodhpur

  THINK JODHPUR and quite rightly the image of Mehrangarh Fort pops in to your mind. It is undoubtedly magnificent, in my opinion, the most impressive of all the forts…

PkayeSAdmin / June 9, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently

Discovering Wales Differently

I’m sorry, what, bog snorkeling? Did I read that right? What on earth is Bog Snorkeling? Of course, the person who sent this text knew exactly what they were doing,…

PkayeSAdmin / May 26, 2021
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Musings

The World’s Tallest, Highest, wettest, most buoyant, gruesome and most bizarre, only in India!

Yesterday there was an article in the Guardian, bakers and chefs in the southern state of Kerala had baked what they said was the world’s longest cake at (approx.) 6.5kms,…

PkayeSAdmin / May 18, 2021
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Uncategorized

Supporting India: Small/Local NGO’s and Aid Centres That Need Your Support

The people of India are enduring unimaginable hardship, hospitals are overwhelmed, and there is a critical shortage of oxygen and ventilators, livelihoods have been lost and people are starving. Many…

PkayeSAdmin / May 5, 2021
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Sri Lanka, Wildlife

Sri Lanka & A Truly Extraordiary Wildlife Experience

They said the meeting place was by the Buddha statue just on the edge of the town. A short while later they called to see if I’d reached. ‘I don’t…

PkayeSAdmin / April 26, 2021
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A bit about Yorkshire, Discovering Destinations Differently

Shops, Restaurants, Heritage and More at The Piece Hall

Why don’t you go to The Piece Hall? Where? The Piece Hall? Why? It’s a Grade 01 listed building and has got lots of shops. It didn’t do it for…

PkayeSAdmin / April 13, 2021
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People of India

People of India Project: Sameer Shisodia

I’m not sure how Sameer and I first connected.  We’ve chatted about this and come to the conclusion that social media will have played a part, sharing similar passions is…

PkayeSAdmin / April 3, 2021
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A bit about Yorkshire, Discovering Destinations Differently, Musings

Five Things You Never Knew You Needed to Know About Rhubarb

It’s cold, even by normal Yorkshire standards. Snow is on the ground and for several days temperatures hover around 0C, to which phone apps add comments such as ‘feels like…

PkayeSAdmin / March 23, 2021
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Musings

The Mysteries of Mountains

Ghostly, ethereal Layer upon interwoven layer of  mountains Shrouded in a gossamer mist Haunting, mysterious. Standing proud or hunched? Kind or cruel? Smugglers, nomads, shepherds, Centuries of stories Love? Maybe…

PkayeSAdmin / March 19, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Snapshots, Wildlife

Snapshots – A Visit to Vann Vihar, India’s Smallest National Park

It looks glamorous and I can’t deny it is fabulous, but being on the road on a recci trip is tough. The things you don’t see, although I agree that…

PkayeSAdmin / March 11, 2021
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Uncategorized

The Story of Tea and it’s Journey into Tourism.

From a Portuguese Princess to India to the world’s most popular brew to somewhat unexpected forays of tourism. The journey of tea might not be quite what you expect! ‘Stick…

PkayeSAdmin / March 5, 2021
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Hotel Reviews, Top five's, Travel in India

My Original Top 4 Off Beat Hotels for Slow Travel

Ever since I first visited India in 1997, I’ve had a passion for what’s different, away from the mainstream destinations but places where there is the opportunity to discover the…

PkayeSAdmin / March 4, 2021
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Discovering Destinations Differently, Travel in India, Wildlife

Discovering Goa Differently

Discovering Goa Differently  I’ve never been a beach person, truth is, I was once voted worse than a man to take shopping and worse than a child to take to…

PkayeSAdmin / March 2, 2021
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Musings

A Tribute to the Dogs Who Love Us Warts and All

As Brits we are a nation of dog lovers, we are renowned for it. This has only increased throughout lockdown, I am sure that there are stats on this, but…

PkayeSAdmin / February 28, 2021
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Sri Lanka, Travel Facts, Wildlife

Top Ten Reasons to Visit Sri Lanka

Serendipity – the phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. That’s the definition, but have you ever wondered where the word Serendipty came from? Probably not, but…

PkayeSAdmin / February 26, 2021
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A bit about Yorkshire, Discovering Destinations Differently

Did you know the Mulbery Bush nursery rhyme originated at Wakefield Prison?

As a child, my grandfather would walk me to the fields above his house and as we gazed down over Wakefield he would always point out three buildings, conspicuous by…

PkayeSAdmin / February 19, 2021
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Recent Posts

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  • Celebrating 25 years in India
  • The Art Of Bespoke Travel
  • Because you are beautiful…
  • Delhi Diaries: Valentines Day, Indian Style

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