Avika and her partner Milind are travelling extensively these days. So, this week for Travel Tales, The Pioneer quickly engages with the Telugu actress, who shares some insights from her Thailand trip, destinations she’d like to tick off from her bucket list, and more, this week for Travel Tales.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
Thailand has become one of the top tourist destinations for the Telugu actress Avika Gor—and travelling with her partner is something very close to her heart. With an urban landscape that the luxuries it offers, Avika and her partner Milind are travelling extensively these days. And she says it was just impossible to get bored in Thailand!
“The first thing we did in Thailand was to go and see the Phi Phi Islands, so famous and so known. I was easily spoilt for doing the choice of things on that island because it has so much to offer. I love the idea of living on an inhabited island or even visiting it. There are clear crystal waters, white sand and some tropical vegetation that will lure you.”
It’s all the international fame that attracts celebrities to have a postcard vacation over there. Being a regular girl at heart, Avika was, “More into enjoying the sunrise and sunsets. I was having my meals by the beach! I am always after a relaxing vacation, do some beach activities and island hopping. That’s how I feel connected more to the waters over there!”
Walking on the well-trodden and paved path, Avika had a lot of fun. She continued, “This trip was a little different than the other times we go. It wasn’t the tourist season that was going on! We decided to explore the villages over there. Gently swaying palm trees, there was ultimate privacy there. A moment later on, we saw there was a cleaning drive going on on the beach so we dived right into it in the mangroves. It was a learning lesson for me on how do we come visit somebody else’s country and sometimes litter it but it’s the responsibility of the locals to clean it then. And mind you it takes a whole long month to clear all that!”
Supervised diving, Thai spa or kayaking was enough to entice Avika to go and visit the island this time! “As I talk more about it, I only remember the water activities we did especially snorkeling. Or if it was sipping my cocktail by the pool! Or just lazying around on an empty beach. Seafood is the star attraction over there! But there are Thai and Western options too. What we loved the most was a candlelit meal.”
There’s no shortage of beautiful island hotels across the country and Avika chose one for herself. She said, “A low-key tropical destination was more than enough for me. We didn’t feel like going back! Beautiful was an understatement about the hotel that we were residing at. Offered absolute discretion, unique experiences and a world-class service.”
Very interestingly the next location that Avika Gor would like to tick off from her bucket list would be Alanya in Turkey — to see the town, their community and a relaxed lifestyle.
“I have been there and it’s heaven on Earth because of its Turkish Rivera. There is so much to explore even beyond the beaches! Hearing about the rich cultural heritage of Alanya. And if I get a lot of days to spend there then only I will visit the place because I really want to explore its ancient fortifications and history in depth once again.”
A trip to France and Switzerland will always be memorable for her, that’s when she found travelling very liberating! She explains, “Both the countries are only filled with kind and generous people. Don’t let travelling solo also put you off from visiting the mainstream places too. If you know how to speak a few phrases in French, you will be well-received in the capital if you talk about France. Whosoever help I wanted to seek, they were so appropriate.”
Next year she is also going to visit the northern lights like many other celebrities are dying to! An immediate next is the Maldives on her list, which has become like one of a second home. She is going again in July! “It’s not that I have not visited Alanya, I did for a film shooting when I was doing my Kazakhstan movie. But then it was freezing cold over there!”