Quick Maldives Getaway - Aug 2023

Travel:

- Direct flight to Maldives

- Costed about 44K for 2 ppl return trip

- Indigo Airlines- Took about 2 hrs one way

Stay:

- Stayed in Acacia Beach Hotel in Hulhumale for 2-Nights

- Sea view room; Costed $222.00 for 2 nights

- Taxi from Airport costed MVR 85.00

Excursion:

- Took Day-trip package to Adaaran Hudhuran Fushi Private Island

- Included morning & afternoon snacks

- Buffet lunch and Swimming pool access

- Costed $125.00 per person

Currency Exchange:

- Got USD in Bangalore through BookMyForex

* Costed a bit more, but hassle-free delivery

- Exchanges at Airport gives lower rate

- You need to save the receipt if you want to convert back at the airport when coming back

- Forex shops inside the city offer better rates

Misc:

- Took Bread and MTR Upma readymix (Good) for breakfast

- Bought Steam rice for MVR 30.00 from Bombay Darbar for Lunch

- Bought Curd for MVR 14.00 from a nearby supermarket

 Guruvayur Trip - Feb 2023

Reached Thrissur at 5am by an overnight sleeper bus. Took an auto (200RS for 6kms) to the city centre as veg restaurants were available only there. The place we got dropped was called Mannathy bypass and its on a highway. There are a few hotels but no veg restaurants nearby. Stayed in Emerald Residency. Paid Rs2600 for a 4bed AC room. Average rooms! Not a value for money. There are no Uber/Ola services in the city!

Thrissur to Guruvayur is about 30Kms. Took a roundtrip taxi from the stand. He charged Rs.1500 for roundtrip with 2hrs of waiting. The travel time is about 30 to 45 minutes. The temple is very crowded. Average waiting time for darshan would be 2-3hrs on a weekday. The temple is very strict about what we carry inside the temple! No smart watches, no mobiles!!! Had to wait in queue to deposit all the belongings. Also, better to wear VEshti and Saree! VEry strict about attire as well. Even for kids! Food is average in normal hotels. Better to stay near some standard hotel.

Thulabaram has a seperate queue inside the temple and starts at 5:30am in the morning. Waiting time for thulabaram was about 30 minutes. No need to carry anything. They perform the ritual and then we need to pay according to the weight.