Madras through the eyes of reimagined Disney princesses

Although we are Floridians, my family and I live in the middle of the state so a beach vacation is definitely my happy place. The combination of sun, salt water and sand leaves me relaxed and happy. For my kids, the highlight was taste-testing every doughnut shop within a five-mile radius. Ormond Beach is 15-minutes to the north of the its more famous neighbor, Daytona Beach.

...where the sun is shining and all is growing, smelling and tasting full of life. Collage created with handcolored paper

There is no place like home, but this pandemic has given us more than enough reason to be confined within our homes with our family for over a year now. A child learns to walk in a year, so even we are learning to appreciate all that is just around us by now. My 4 year old son and me, we spend a lot of our time reading books, eating, playing or just enjoy the best of Indian summer bloom with Gulmohar's to Laburnum from our house terrace. Are you experiencing simple pleasures of life!

Finally visited a bookstore again in person, and it makes me very happy! Obligatory stops include the English language section, new German titles, children's books and the art supply section.

Long walks on the beach may be a hackneyed activity but there's a reason it's a favorite for so many. This long sandy beach is just a few steps from my current hideaway and I love walking there on a foggy or sunny day. It's always exciting to watch the waves crashing and the shorebirds having a feast. You can keep on strolling down to Morro Rock and see the adorable sea otters too!

Here, the association of my village, rents costumes for a selfy at the castle, a walk in the village, a play, a family celebration, an exhibition ... We have costumes from the Middle Ages and other centuries. We also have monks, witches, princesses, knights ... it's Ali Baba's cave!

When people think of Germany, they always think of beer, but I live in wine country. The Oppenheimer Schlemmerwanderung is the first major wine event of the season, and really kicks off the nice weather and best time of year to live here. This is the first event my friends and I tend to meet for after a long cold winter, and somehow, this event ALWAYS has perfect weather. I'm convinced witches organize it. Sadly, it's been cancelled two years in a row due to the pandemic, so we could only attend in our memories, which inspired this map as my happy place.

One of my absolute favourite places to escape to is Cubbon Park, also known as the lungs of Bangalore. This green haven was originally created in 1870 and called Meade Park. It was renamed after Major General Sir Mark Cubbon, the longest-serving commissioner of the city. The park is spread over almost 250 acres and is a treasure house of beautiful and exotic plants, including gorgeous bamboo groves. It is a hot spot for nature lovers, joggers, bird-watchers and cyclists. The park is a major reason why pollution levels remain low in the city centre. A trip to Bangalore is incomplete without visiting this little piece of heaven!