(From top): The Petronas Towers; a Malaysian spa and specialities from the region

Here?s a spot of advice for travellers who like to stay on the move. Go into training for a month before your vacation and build up your stamina and ability to walk long distances. I speak from painful experience here. That?s why I found myself, the soles of my feet throbbing from unaccustomed exertion, sitting in a reflexology centre in Sungai Wong, a glittering shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.

The reflexology centre called Blind Elite is unique: it?s run by a group of visually-challenged people. Does that result in a better massage? It might sound cruel but I think that the massage was one of the best I?ve ever had. By the time I?d finished my 20 minutes, I was ready to face the shopping plazas and the fast-moving city again.

I wish I had been to Kuala Lumpur when it was a sleepy colonial city famed for its languid lifestyle. Today?s KL is a vibrant, on-the-move city where you can shop-till-you-drop in one glass-and-steel shopping arcade after another. You can cruise from Sungai Wong Plaza to SuriaKLCC, Bukit Bintang Plaza and Berjaya Times. The only thing to stop you is your own energy levels. But if you take the trip halfway up the Petronas Towers ? the symbol of the new Malaysia and KL?s most famous landmark ? you can look down on colonial bungalows on luxuriant lawns that still nestle between the giant new monuments to trade and commerce and 21st century living.

But, hang on just a sec. I had to mix business and pleasure and check out the city?s spas. Most spas in Malaysia incorporate both Western and Asian treatments. They offer both natural treatments and modern day world-class products. So in one treatment, you could be given a scrub using herbal products and moments later, the therapist could be using La Mer products.

Like in India, Malaysian spas also often give their customers a body-smoking treatment which is carried out where you sit on a round stool covered in herbal paste. Underneath the stool is a pot filled with burning charcoal and herbs that emits fragrant smoke. The aim is to leave your entire body tightened and revitalised.

So if you need some pampering like I did, step into any of the numerous options available in KL. Spa culture is quite popular and hopping onto the efficient and cost effective monorail, I got a fabulous view of the city on my way to a spa in Jalan Stonar ? after all even beauty experts need spoiling at times!

I opted for a grape treatment that uses grapes and the seeds as the base for the scrub and wrap (don?t forget grapes are great cleansers). After a footbath, I was steamed like dimsum in a herbal steam room and then made to relax in a room where the therapist scrubbed in the seeds to revive my tired skin.

The grape flesh was slathered on me. Then, I was quickly wrapped in a banana leaf to ensure that the goodness of the grapes stayed on my skin for some time. Once all that dried up, it was time to shower and ready for a Javanese massage and a facial. This was followed with an exotic seven-flower bath. Sounds tiring? Take my word that it?s inspiring, rejuvenating and it made me feel like a queen.

What?s next after an invigorating massage? How about a good meal? When it comes to food, I believe that old saying about ?When in Rome?. And Malaysian cuisine is well worth a try. This country has become a confluence of different cultures and it shows at meal times ? there?s everything from Indian to Chinese, Thai, Malay and Japanese food available.

Fast facts

• Getting there: Malaysian Airlines flies from Calcutta to Kuala Lumpur every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The return fare is Rs 14,000. From Delhi, the airline operates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The return fare is Rs 19,500 • Local transport: Metered taxis, the Monorail and local trains are convenient ways of getting around. • Local currency: The Ringgit and cents. • Language: Malay and English

But I ventured into the tiny food shops outside the shopping areas. Malay cuisine has a range of flavours ? spicy, sharp, sweet and sour and I discovered that many herbs and spices are similar to our South Indian dishes ? tamarind, curry leaves, ginger, coconut milk are the commonly used ones followed by lemongrass and lime. Some of my favourite dishes were satay with peanut gravy and ketupat (rice cakes), nasi goreng and rendang, a dry curried meat dish.

Rice or rice-based dishes with accompanying meat and vegetable dishes is standard fare in a typical Malaysian meal. And Malay food is fast to cook as most things are cooked in a curry paste. The aromatic padang leaf is a popular ingredient in Malay cooking and has a strong flavour. Chicken ayan-peeick is an interesting way of cooking where a mixture of spiced chicken is put into a bamboo and barbecued.

Paratha dal with vegetables and sambhal (made in a dry fish paste) are dishes characteristic of Malaysian cuisine. Also, as in India, Malay cuisine is about different methods of cooking as it is a combination of 13 states incorporating the traditions of each of these states.

In culinary terms, I had quite a few exciting outings. On one trip I ventured into a quaint roadside bar near Sungai Won where I tasted a divine cucumber mocktail. I swapped recipes with the bartender and procured his secret recipe: 1 cucumber, 2 whole lemons, 1 bunch of mint leaves, 2tsp honey, cucumber sticks and frozen ice. Whisk all the ingredients in a blender with half a glass of chilled water and pour over a glass of crushed ice. Garnish with a cucumber stick.

What are the other bits to be enjoyed in Kuala Lumpur? I particularly liked the Sunway Lagoon, where I found a 20metre-high Sphinx. Sunway Lagoon is a delightful combination of theme park and mall. You have a stomach-churning ride and follow it up by poking around the upmarket boutiques like Body Shop and Nina Ricci. The Niagara Falls ride was more than I could take. After that I only went near boards that read: ?For under five-year- olds and over-60?.

I was a guest of Malaysian Airlines and they ensured that I had a good flight to Malaysia and back. But I must say it?s a great country for a quick getaway. All the charm of the old Orient combined with the speed of the fast-changing, modern era.

Route maps

• When the world-famous Aman Resorts sets up shop in a country, it’s a fair bet that it has spotted an opportunity which nobody else had even dreamt about. That could be true in India too, where Aman is experimenting with a brand-new strategy that it hasn’t looked at anywhere else in the world. It’s building urban resorts where its discerning rich and famous clientele can come to while their time away.

Aman’s most high-profile move has been to snap the former Lodhi Hotel in the heart of New Delhi where it’s building a 40-room resort that will have small pools attached to each room. Besides that, it has also bought the Manor Hotel in Delhi and will be building a resort at Golden Greens Golf and Country Club just outside Delhi. Moving further afield, it has luxury tents in Ranthambhore which have been highly successful and a new resort in Alwar. Will Aman Resorts be a hit in India? The fact is that nobody in the travel trade ever dares to place a bet against Aman.

• Here’s one more highflying airline that’s soaring to new heights. South African Airways (SAA) celebrated 10 years of its India operations with daily, direct Mumbai flights. Now the airline has upped its five-times-a-week flight between Mumbai and Johannesburg to seven. What’s more, it’s now flying the Airbus A340-300E on this route. South Africa is a destination that’s becoming increasingly popular with Indian travellers and some are even using it as a transit halt to other parts of Africa.

Rules of the road

Business travel becomes easier if you remember a few easy-to-follow guidelines, says Samita Bhatia

Once upon a time, warriors picked up their swords, shields and set off for months or years on end to conquer foreign lands. Today’s business class warrior needs to be kitted up differently as he sets out to conquer the world — and he needs to master a new set of rules.

Check fares and tariffs

Since time is of essence, it’s best to schedule flights as early in the day as possible, so in event of flight delays, you have a chance to catch another flight that day. And never forget to tot up your frequent flyer miles. It’s worth comparing fares and hotel tariffs. Nowadays, the best way to do this is over the Internet. Always keep an eye open for special offers. If you are willing to put up with slight inconveniences, check out if there are special rates for early morning or late night flights. Also, these days it’s worth checking out the budget airlines.

Pack right

It goes without saying that you should travel light, if possible. The ultimate airline passenger’s dream is to carry only handbaggage which saves oodles of time at airports. If you are changing flights, check out your baggage at each stop. Why? That lowers the chances of baggage that’s gone to Saigon when its owner is in Toronto.

Travel to your destination by the most direct route. The fewer flights you have to take en route, the less likely are you to be delayed and tired. If you need to be dressed for a business meeting soon after arriving, wear a suit or carry one onto the plane. The rumpled, just-off-the-plane look isn’t great for business meetings.

One basic tip is to pack clothes of the same colour scheme so mixing-and-matching becomes easy. Blacks, blues and greys are the best for men while women have a wider choice. It’s best to pack crease-resistant clothes: cotton and polyester blends do not wrinkle as much as pure cotton. Travelling with linen could make you look elegant — but just out of bed. Before you zip up, spray your favourite perfume on tissue paper and fold it together with the clothes. That way, the clothes smell good, and the perfume can stay home.

Shoes take up space in a suitcase so opt for pairs that can be worn during the day for meetings and are smart enough to wear for the formal dinner at night.

Frequent travellers always keep a permanent toiletry kit handy — one that is complete with lotions, potions and the usual items one needs when on the road. However, pack the lotions in small containers and don’t fill them to the top as changes in aircraft pressure cause leaks.

During a flight

To arrive in better shape, set your watch to your destination time as you take off. Then start programming your body to it. On-board, if you travel economy frequently, ask for a seat at an emergency exit and you’ll be thankful for that extra legroom. But if you’d rather catch up on sleep, then it’s best to ask for a quiet seat — one away from the galley or the toilets. A good night’s sleep will always stand you in good stead if you are going straight into a meeting on arrival.

Eat lightly on-board. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. A glass of water every hour is good and don’t drink the free bar dry just to pass time! It never helps to arrive at a meeting with bloodshot eyes and smelling like a brewery.

Extra Shots

Since you are travelling on business, the utility of business cards is obvious. A must-carry is a medical kit complete with your prescription and prescription drugs. Always take into account the security and safety risks to your gadgetry. So never leave your mobile gear unattended — preventative measures will save you grief later when you try to restore data and replace the equipment.

Get it right, and living out of a suitcase can be easy and pleasurable.

My favourite holiday

Deepti Gujral,
model

My favourite holiday destination would have to be Goa, simply because it isn’t too far from home. With all the assignments and shows that I am currently busy with, it gets difficult to make time for a long, relaxed holiday. Goa, which is just an hour away by flight, is a perfect getaway.

Even for a day, Goa is perfect. Moreover, going there doesn’t require too much of planning. All one needs to do is hop onto the next available flight.

The last time I went to Goa was a couple of months back for Wendell Rodricks’ fashion show and I deliberately stayed back. I usually put up at Cidade de Goa in South Goa near Panjim.

A Goa trip is not only relaxing but also fun. I start out my day with a walk down the beach, after which I just spend my time lounging around on the sands, sipping wine. Also, I get to have lots of seafood, which is something I love gorging on.

Evenings in Goa have to be spent in Calangute with friends and fellow party-lovers. The beach transforms itself into something else in the evenings and I usually land up partying throughout the night. Sometimes, if there are that many of us, we just book a shack and have our own little private party.

Every time I visit Goa, I always come back with beautiful memories. I have always visited Goa with friends but this time, however, I am planning to travel on my own — for a different experience altogether.