Hospital beds are incomplete without 2 things! No, not a mattress & a pillow, but, a patient (could be better if a partner too was allowed!), and, a book! I filled 50% of that criterion recently, but the other 50% was vacant. So, I asked wifey to get me one..not a partner, sillies, but a book! Little did I realize that my plea was so (im)passioned, until she walked in with 4 magazines (I stopped buying books to end my library, from where books only went out, never in!). 2 were regular Business Somethings (I love the look on visitors’ faces when they see one in my hands & the subsequent awe with which I’m beheld) and the 3rd was on Gadgets. Before I opened my cribbox, wifey said “It’s free with one of the others”, nipping my budding lecture on Economy (our family’s, not Bharat’s). The 4th looked glossy & was thicker. Could it be that wifey had got me one-of-those, which I-hoped-it-was?
Aah! The first thing that struck me was the girl-in-bikini-on-beach-chair, fingering her aperture, of the camera in her hand! Hungry eyes prowled higher (up the cover, guys!) ere I noticed the name– ‘Travel Plus’. Looks promising, I told myself, eager to begin exploration only after the wife left, lest she suspect my concentration on fine print(s) within! That was until I saw the price – Rs.50. I read again. The figure didn’t budge. “What the heck, 50 bucks for a bloody travel mag on pricey destinations?”, I voiced my concerns to the Finance Minister. “Meine socha…” quipped she. I could instantly think of at least 3 things I could do with that denomination, to better satisfaction. But, scared of foregoing precious visiting-hour gossip, I orderd myself shut. When I was back in the company of I, me and myself later, I pulled out the subject of my earlier curiosity, hoping for hidden ‘jewels’!
First Shot: Page 1 held a smiling (kinda good looking) lady in a floral shirt, with “The Art of the Matter” below. Probably an intro on the centrespread, I thought. Then I saw “Editor’s Letter” scrawled on top, which rudely woke me to the first realization that what I held in my hands was a Travel Mag, and not a you-know-what!
Elizabeth Eapen- Ah, my country cousin, I ascertained Editorial origins! Not without a bit of disappointment, I started to read her words. I decided to hate her after the first para (Oh she would hate me!), born out of my inherent dislike of Editors who spewed 8-lettered words in 80-word sentences. Why don’t you KISS, I wanted to ask – Keep It Simple, Silly! But whether the big word gallery depleted or sense prevailed, the rest of it was relevant, material and competent (a la Perry Mason!).Neat fonts, blue signature and a box of ‘Editor’s Picks of the Issue’ added a certain likeable difference to Page 1.
Flip Thro’: Most right side pages seemed to be ads, though I can’t blame the relevance or quality (of ad text and photos) but only the quantity, which partly accounts for the higher thickness, apart from good paper quality. Onmy way back to Page 1, the left held promise (unlike its politi-afficionados in my state) – colourful, crisp and eminently readable.
Brass Tacks: Armed with a comforting sense of presumed content quality, I set down to peruse what Ms Eapen had on offer, probably about places where the high & mighty could fly to! I had to nod in recognition at the Contributors’ page, replete with their mugshots. This, as I later could confirm, gave a more personal touch to the articles. But I hated one of the 3 on the bottom panel – the international from NY. ‘Nothing at NYC escapes Lavina’, it said! Big Deal! And I’m best friends with the Big B! Ha! All others on the page looked human, with interesting intros.
I liked the variety. From actual destinations (in Outlook Traveller style, but greater detail) to travel infrastructure, flight and rail updates and the latest pieces of international and domestic news on travel, it had ‘em all. Every other page had a so-called ‘Hot Deal’ - of fares, packages & discounts. Though some were indeed ‘Hot’, the degree of Heat of others remained suspect and a lil Cold! Guess they had to count up 20 deals, so part blame could be rested on Google!
Apart from detailed travel reviews with spectacular pics (Nik style) and phone numbers of hotels, what struck me was their consistent tips on suitability for family and kids. The destinations were international and domestic and, the budget and range, varied and useful. What if it also featured ‘Cruises on Onassis’ yacht’, at a few crores - nothing prevents Herr Beckham too from being brought this same mag by his wife, for hospital reading!
Regulars: There were 2 pages of “Best of the Month’ activities with dates and details. Locales were as varied as Gujarat and Guadelope! I didn’t resist the smile, seeing 27 Aug showing one Mr. Ganapati (looking quite comic on 1 leg and, 4 hands resembling a cross between hands of Hema Malini and a traffic cop) and a brief on his annual immersion!
2 pages on ‘Good Buys’ featuring Camera, Sunglass, Perfume et al is best avoided. (Read Vinayak’s reviews in lieu). I preferred to watch the Rahman ad on the right side, on World Space radio! A page on ‘Quick Fix’ (nothing on glue) was great, with complete itinerary solutions in answer to readers’ specific queries. A ‘Travel Log’ by the inimitable Jug Suraiya provided humourous food for linguistic thought and funny bones. 2 pages of ‘City Update’ focussed on London, NY, F’furt, Ah’bad and K’kata (don’t ask me the criteria, I don’t own India Today Group!).
This Issue: A piece on Ms Eapen’s family tour to Kaziranga in off-season made good reading. The Hot Deal of rs.900 a night per couple was too good (with BF), especially as she recommends “take the jing bang along” under ‘Family’. Whether she meant kids or steel utensils, I leave it to you!
Ace snapper Ashok Dilwali’s ‘Photo Essay’ of mountain goats was breathtaking, simple and natural. A piece on junk food in Bangkok was tasty, mouth-watering and filling (JK listening?). For Gizmo freaks, there’s some masala, as also a list of 5 useful travel sites.
Rear End: 3 pieces feature in its ‘End Notes’.
(a) People Like Us – Wonder what it was all about! Compulsive column filling, or, boredom at being away from NYC and in Delhi on vacation, among PLU!
(b) Humour – There’s some. But largely, he rambles on about US Rules on banning some bric-a-bracs from flights. Guess he had a bad long-haul sleep onboard!
(c) Last Stop - An interview with a desi dude settled in denmark and who’s torn (!) between being an aam admi on bicycle and Mr. Seen-All, who claims he’s ‘run out of new things to taste’! Ha! Try modesty, maybe it’ll taste different!
The End: For 50 bucks, it packs a lot - entertaining, colourful, varied content & well written being some. At least it has many things for everyone, if all issues are such! But wonder why semi-nudes are on every cover, though I’m not about to crib on that!
I’ve for sure added Travel Plus as the 4th good thing I could do, with that 50 buck note (with or sans the semi-clads)!
...and, thank wives for small mercies!