On-board flight experience made fun and entertaining with JetScreen by Jet Airways

I have been a Jet Frequent Flyer for couple of years now and usually prefer flying with this full serviced airline for my domestic travels. It has always been cost effective for me with barely any price difference with low cost airlines. I usually miss in-flight entertainment on domestic flights which makes me take a nap on my journey. With my last minute travel plans, I never have time to plan my entertainment and download it beforehand. For the month of February, I flew with Jet Airways to the captial from Bangalore for 5 days to spend some time with my best friend. On my outward journey, I found out about JetScreen by Jet Airways.

Initially I was wondering what is JetScreen, I got to know that it is Jet Airways' wireless streaming in-flight entertainment service. My happiness knew no bounds and it felt like a dream come true. JetScreen had a vast range of Indian, Hollywood and Regional movies, famous TV shorts, video games and music to suit every mood and taste. I had a fully charged WiFi compatible device ( my phone ;) but you can access JetScreen from a tablet or laptop too) and connected to JetScreen, once the flight had taken off, to explore their content. With over 330+ hours of content, I relaxed on my flight and streamed the content depending on my mood. Initially, I had to download another app called Airtime Player to enjoy JetScreen. Now, I did not need to as the player is integrated within the Jet Airways Mobile app itself.

I love to have a smile on my face and watching Tom & Jerry just brings the widest smile on my face. I started streaming a Tom & Jerry episode followed by all time favourite sitcom Friends. As Jet Airways is a full service airline, in between my streaming, I enjoyed my morning breakfast where I always opt for egg but chose dosa on this flight, wish I hadn't change my meal ;) I also noticed a kid watching Chhota Bheem and the person sitting next to me was listening to Ghazals. I binge watched Friends during my entire flight. I did not face any interruption while streaming my favorite content, except during announcement.

                                        

On my inward journey, I spent time listening to some hindi songs and played Solitaire Classic. As I was exhausted on my inward journey, I took a nap and requested for a pillow for my neck rest and the staff provided me with the same. With this gesture, I was very pleased and my overall onboard experience with JetScreen was entertaining. 

Travel in 2018 with the Biggest Travel sale on EaseMyTrip.com

With new year comes resolutions and travel is mostly on every person's new year resolutions. What if I told you that you can get discount upto Rs.20,000 on your flight tickets? What if I added discount upto Rs.5,000 on your hotel booking? This can happen with Easemytrip.com's biggest travel sale of 2018. You can also get an instant 10% discount on your bus tickets, just if you wish to check the roads of India and not fly.

The offer is limited but can be used by existing and new customers and can be used between 9th January to 11 January 2018. Use the code "WELCOME2018" to welcome this new year full of travels. You can avail this offer on EaseMyTrip's app which is available on android and iOS or on their website here.

Apart from this discount, you can get additional cashback on transactions done through HDFC bank debit cards and retail credit cards. So head to EaseMyTrip and get cheap flights and your travel plans into action. You may get lucky to win Activa from Droom, Rs.50,000 exclusive vouchers from Jabong and gift vouchers worth Rs.8,000 from various brands. Do not forget to read the T&C of the sale and for any additional information click here. Go and book now. Happy travelling.

A trip to 'Jewel of India' - Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

I got a chance to experience and learn about the beauty of Kashmir which I have always seen in movies and read about it. After a long flight and 2 stopovers I reached Srinagar. There were many people flying to Srinagar as my flight was full and the airport did not look deserted too. From airport I head straight to Grand Mumtaz hotel where we were welcomed with some really good and hot Kashmiri Kahwa. I fell in love with the tea and the servings of cookies with it.

View from the plane - snow clad mountains

 Airport

The view while heading to the hotel

Kashmiri Kahwa

Srinagar is the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies in the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River. It is famous for its gardens, waterfronts and houseboats. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dried fruits.

My room

 View from my room

 Srinagar is ringed by an arc of mountains, mesmerising Dal Lake on which a bright array of stationary houseboats form a colourful scene and a unique opportunity for romantic chill-outs or some alone time. A drive around dal lake will take you to most tourist locations. The gardens in Srinagar are very famous - from Nishat bagh to Shalimar garden, there are various gardens laid by the Mughal emperors. I visited Shalimar Bagh which is largest in size in Kashmir valley. This bagh was built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his wife Noor Jahan. Nishat Bagh is a terraced Mughal garden and second largest Mughal garden and more beautiful.

Another beautiful garden which is Asia’s biggest Tulip Garden attracts crowds in April. It has long and straight rows of blooming tulips which will make the garden look like a typical Dutch flower farm but with the backdrop of mountains. This garden is open for a very short period in a year and attracts most crowd during this time. Though the tulips were not bloomed, I did enter the garden to see a patch of tulips grown and some bloomed at different patches of the garden.

No bloom yet

 This is from the month of April, clicked by Hritik

Next, Cheshmashahi Garden should be visited which is attractively folded amid the wooded mountain foothills. There is a square fountain pool fed by a water chute from the Royal Springs. The garden is located in the Zabarwan Range, near Raj Bhawan (Governor‘s house) overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir. Also, it is the smalles among the 3 mughal gardens. They say that if your drink that water, it keeps you healthy and without any diseases. I did try my hands at this chilling water.

Raj Bhavan can be seen from here

Sip some hot tea with pakoras while admiring this beauty

Hazratbal Shrine/Dargah is another tourist place which is famous and many relics related to the Islamic prophet Muhammad are believed to be there. It houses a holy box with a strand of hair of Prophet Mohammed making the place very beautiful and calming.

Dal lake is the first thing which comes to anyone's mind when anyone talks about Srinagar. Over 15km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar's jewel, a vast sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the Pir Panjal mountains makes the place very picturesque. Colourfully painted shikaras (gondola-like taxi boats) skiff around the lake, transports goods to market, children to school and travellers to delightful houseboats. Cliche but a must try when in Srinagar. You can also paddle out to see the floating flower and vegetable market which makes it to a colourful spectacle which is situated at the edge of Dal lake, you can also expect plenty of attention from souvenir vendors where you can pick up some amazing wooden carvings souvenirs.

Apart from houseboats, Dal lake also has shops to shop for handicrafts, clothes or just reada book and have coffee with a view of the mountains and lake all around.

Watching the sunset over the Dal Lake is a treat to eyes. Boulevard street along the Dal lake makes it great for an evening walk and one can always munch into different eatables. I did stop by a barbecue stall by the road to enjoy some barbecue. More than the barbecue, I loved the roti and different walnut chutney which is served along with barbecue and they never tell you to stop eating :)

I stayed on a houseboat for a night to experience it. The architech of the houseboat impressed me the most. Summers are the best time to stay on houseboat as winters can get very cold and the power-cuts could be more than usual. A 2-3 days on houseboat can give you the actual experience of staying on it and enjoy the service and view of the mountains. A houseboat can either be taken on sharing basis or the entire houseboat. Usually a houseboat has 4 rooms, dining room and hall.

My Bedroom

 View from the houseboat 

Hari Parbat Fort and Shankaracharya temple also attract many tourist. The Shankaracharya Temple lies on a hill top in the middle of the city. When in Kashmir, one should wazwan or their typical kashmiri cuisine. I was honoured when the owners of Grand Mumtaz hosted me for dinner. The spread was huge and very delicious. The cookies which I ate in Kashmir were one of the best. Do try the different biscuits and cookies which the bakery's in Kashmir has to offer. And for all those who love to shop, Kashmir has a lot to offer - saffron, almonds, walnuts, various spices and dry fruits along with Kahwa :)

 Kashmiri Pheran (winter clothing)

There is never a perfect season to visit Kashmir, every season has something to offer with summer offering green mountains and bloomed flowers and trees where as in winters you can witness snow clad mountains. In any season, Kashmir will make you say "Agar Firdaus bar rōy-e zamin ast, hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast". It is a jewel of India less explored. I am yet to see so many things in Kashmir, I am sure many more visits will give me a complete experience.

Some clicks while driving or walking through the streets of Srinagar

Various packages are provided by Thomas Cook India which will give you the complete experience of staying in Kashmir. So go ahead and book your summer vacations now for this summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.