Yes, Miami supports spring break, but there's also a bunch of fun stuff –movies on the beach, art deco walks, nitrogen cocktails, biking with gators, kayaking under the moon–that doesn't involve hysterical college kids. It does however rain pretty randomly, so your experience may involve wet T-shirts after all. PS: Public transport here isn't great and cabs are super expensive, so we suggest you make your stay short (200 USD can get you a flight ticket from New York to Miami) or find a cousin with a car like this Scouter did.

Stay

If you can splurge, the Delano Hotel in Miami's art deco district is fancy, but with character. From mad arty chairs to a gorgeous pool and giant chess set, this place is beautiful and a stone's throw away from the beach. For cheaper places near South Beach, see hotels like Chelsea Hotel and The Anglers Boutique Resort at Washington Avenue. Air bnb has a list too. 

Delano Hotel, 1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; Chelsea Hotel, 944 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; The Anglers Boutique Resort, 660 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

Eat & Drink

For Dinner

Barton G serves playful food like lobster pop tarts and Mouse Trap Mac And Cheese and also uber cool nitrogen cocktails; try the Sabrina-tini made with orange vodka, watermelon liqueur and served with a champagne popsicle and chocolate monkey hanging off the side of the glass. Yes, it can get pretty crazy. Tantra with its delightful dinginess and Indian accents will remind you of Veda back home, but with an indoor grass floor. The drinks here aren't super, but the aphrodisiac-influenced menu serves some yum dishes like Love Apples, lobster risotto and wild bassa. For Florida stone crabs—you can't leave without eating some—head to River Seafood and Oyster Bar that also does delicious cheese baked oysters. Situated in the work district, the place is buzzing during happy hours.

Barton G, 1427 West Avenue, Miami Beach; Tantra, 1445 Pennsylvania Avenue, Miami Beach; River Seafood and Oyster Bar, 650 South Miami Avenue, Miami Beach.

Local Watering Holes

Nick named 'Dirty Purdy' by the locals, Purdy Lounge is the grimy bar you should hit to escape the Ocean Drive tourist flock. There's also Chalk, with cheaper drinks, pool and ping pong tables. If you need some more action, there's always Lucky Strike, the bowling alley with a DJ and bar. And our personal favourite—check into Avenue D, a department store turned into a jazz club with improv acts and lots of whisky on the menu. 

Purdy Lounge, 1811 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; Chalk, 1234 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; Avenue D, 691 Michigan Avenue, #115, Miami Beach

Clubs

While Clevelander is Miami's most popular out-of-towner club, we preferred Mangos, a few doors down. Also touristy - this entire stretch of cafes and clubs is - Mangos plays Spanish music that instantly draws you to the dance floor. Here, the skill of the others may drive you to take a weekend salsa class at Yuca on Lincoln Road. It should. For the more upscale (and slightly pretentious) South Beach scene, there's Club Bamboo and Wall.

Clevelander, 1020 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; Mangos, 900 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; Yuca, 501 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; Club Bamboo, 550 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; Wall, W South Beach, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach.

Do

Miami Animals

A different kind of nocturnal activity in Miami, the Blue Moon Outdoor Center does full moon kayaking at Oleta River State Park, during which this Scouter may or may not have spotted a shark. For more wild things visit the Everglades to see Miami's alligators. You can either take a two-hour tram ride around the park or a 15 mile bike ride. Although it's super touristy, we recommend you do a boat ride at Bayside, just to glide past Millionaire's Row, a cluster of celebrity houses (Jennifer Lopez, Julio Iglesias, Naomi Campbell) on the water that will seriously make you re-assess your life. 

Oleta River State Park  3400 NE 163rd St, North Miami Beach; Everglades, 26700 Southwest, 8th Street, Miami

Culture Club

Culture vultures can take an art deco walk in South Beach. While you're there, you may want to get the super pricey but awesome Swedish-Thai massage at Agua Spa at the Delano Hotel that has great beach views (the water here is five different shades of blue) and a sunbed rooftop decked with bougainvilleas. If you're in Miami on a Wednesday, pack a picnic and go for an outdoor movie at Lincoln Road. If it's raining, the movie theatre at the Dolphin Mall serves you fancy dinners and potent cocktails at your seat. We watched Skyfall here while drinking martinis. And Bond drank Heineken. 

Dophin Mall, 11401 NW, 12th Sreet, Miami

Shop 

Shopping in Miami is mostly restricted to strip malls and bigger ones. Our favourite is Aventura that houses brands like Apple, Urban Outfitters, BCBG, All Saints and others.

Aventura, 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura

PS: Special thanks to local guides Puja Solanki and Dina Adler!

What: Cheese-making course at a farm-stay, Acres Wild, Coonoor, visit www.acres-wild.com or call +91 9443232621 or (0423) 2232621, Rs 5,000 for a two day course.

Why: Get stinky at an idyllic little farmstay in the Nilgiris where you can live in rustic cottages named after haloumi and cheddar and learn how to make your own cheese, from gruyere to camembert. Other things to do: fishing, farming and raiding owner and retired filmmaker Mansoor Khan’s documentary collection. We only wish they had room service and free space heaters (available for an additional fee).

When: You want to go curd watching.

Three Starbucks outlets opened in Mumbai last week (including one that is bizarrely located inside the Taj Mahal Palace and Hotel), triggering off a major frenzy and inspiring much vente-mocha-frap envy in the Capital. Plans to come to our shores are afoot, but in the mean time, read about the Mumbai branch here:

T’was the morning of the first day Starbucks officially opened in Mumbai, and for many, it was as exciting as the unwrapping of a Christmas present. Super hyped, sure, but there was an unmistakeable cheer ne sais quois in the air. After our Thursday sneak peek, we visited on this Saturday morning to find that the pretty Horniman Circle honey-coloured space was still in its Indian element(s) – with carvings and mirror work runners and photographs of Indian taxis – described in our previous post as LPQ-meets-Cottage Industries.

Ear Ear

“If there’s anything more fun than waiting in line and pretending like I’m back and working in the US,” our companion said, “it’s eavesdropping.”  Here’s what we overheard before we got our macchiato and cappuccino.

“People need to stop foaming at the mouth. Starbucks is super, but relax please.”

“Short, tall and grande? Where did venti go?”

“This place looks like the interior designer went shopping at the Indian cliché mart.”

“I can’t wait to Instagram my coffee!”

“Will they have their Christmas drinks?”

“Free Wi-Fi! And chai tea latte!”

“Yay!”

2012 is the year this Scouter took the road less traveled, one that stretched from Tahrir Square on New Years Eve and ran through Gulmarg and Krabi, Tokyo and Turkey (thee days the new Lonavala), Zanzibar and most recently Paro, Thimpu and Punakha in the kingdom of Bhutan. Here are notes from the roof of the world:

Stay:

If you’ve been saving up for one living-like-a-rock-star vacation, it’s time to break the piggy bank. Spread across Bhutan (six in all), the Amankora Resorts are spectacular, small-batch and so, so expensive (upwards of 700 USD per night per person). If you’re not up to spending quite as much but still want to live in style, check out the very luxurious Taj property in Thimpu and Uma Paro in Paro (tip: Uma Paro serves a mean hot chocolate, bitter and creamy, perfect for a cold mountain morning). We also enjoyed Nak-Sel Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paro, with its huge windows, painted walls and warm general managers. Budget travelers, try The Druk Hotel, located right in the center of Thimpu.

Eat & Drink:

They put cheese and chilli on mostly everything in Bhutan, which this Scouter appreciated greatly. Plus, momos! We loved the homespun, casual vibe and superior steamed momos at Sonam Trophel in Paro; and at a tiny tea shop in Thimpu market. For more international fare, head to The Zone in Thimpu – the pizza is pretty good, they have yak ribs on the menu and a lot of travelers hang here. The Asian set lunches at Amankora Thimpu are impeccable and at approximately Rs 1,000 per walk-in, an affordable way to experience the resorts.

You won’t find much of a party scene in Bhutan, but Thimpu does have a rising number of karaoke bars (just walk around the market area and pick the one that looks least shady). Also good is a local Red Panda beer and whiskey called K5. Smokers: cigarettes are super hard to find here and often confiscated at customs, so if you must smoke, remember to hide a pack in your socks.

Do

Even avowed urbanites like this Scouter are going to want to stay outdoors here, where the air tastes like champagne and every eyeful is insanely pretty. There are tons of hiking trails, the easiest of which lead up to a dzong or monastry or the popular Tiger’s Nest, the most intense of which can last for weeks. You can also bicycle along some trails and go river rafting in Punakha, which boasts level 3 rapids in the summer when the glaciers melt.

Know

Bhutan’s notorious minimum spend of 250 USD per tourist per day does not apply for Indians, but we strongly suggest you hire a guide and good SUV for your entire trip. Visa is on arrival for Indian passport holders, and there are daily flights from Delhi and Kolkata to Paro. Bring along a pair of hiking boots.

PS: The Tallest Man On Earth is one of our favorite artists, and his expansive, huge-hearted songs are a perfect soundtrack to the rugged beauty that is Bhutan. Listen to this, and you’ll know see what we mean.

Surfing is the new wave, and we tell you about how to begin, where to learn, buying equipment, Indian surf clubs and more. Many thanks to contributors to this list, Raffael Kably, Sandeep Gonsalves, Cabir Maira, and Arif Futehally.

Quick Guide for Beginners

Learn

Surfing lessons cost approximately between Rs 700 to Rs 1,500 a day (including equipment) and usually range from single sessions (not recommended) to six day and up courses.

Shaka Surf Club, Manipal

A Surfing Federation of India (SFI) accredited surf school, Shaka is run by two cute instructors – Tushar and Ishita – who’ll teach you how to surf and also ensure you get a yum fish and mussels lunch after. At the Shaka Beach Shack you can relax in between lessons, catch a surfing movie or hang with other surfers. Manipal, view their Facebook group here or call 09986742710.

Ashram Surf Retreat, Mulki

This guest house and teaching school doesn’t allow meat, cigarettes and alcohol, and advocates celibacy, but surfers tell us the teachers are great and super patient with beginners. They’ll have you living on the banks of a river that flows into the ocean, so you can paddle out from the ashram itself. View more information here.

Kallialay Surf School, Auroville

“Amazing place, amazing guys,” is the review we got for this Pondicherry surf school run by two Spanish instructors. Call 94429 92874/ 9789306376 or view more information here.

Cocopelli Surf School, Gokarna

This one’s a great option for beginners considering the gentle waves at Gokarna beach. Courses range from two hours to six days.  View more information here.

Soul & Surf, Varkala

This pretty Kerala hotel and surf school also comes with rooftop rooms and sunset yoga sessions. Our contributor Raffael Kably is actually “moving here to work as a manager and of course, to surf!” Go say hi. See more information here.

Quest Adventures, Alibaug

Our surfers turn their noses up at Mandwa, but it’s still an option for beginners. Call 09820367412 or view the Facebook page here

Buy

Surfing-india.com

This online surf store sells boards, stand up paddleboards, bodyboards, fins, leashes, wax and some pretty cool shorts. Visit surfing-india.com, boards start at Rs 28,000.

Quiksilver and Roxy

For tricked out surf boards, board shorts and bikinis. 

When Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya take a road trip, it usually involves loads of drama and bright lights and many, many pairs of wondrous eyes.

Mumbai-based filmmaker/researcher and photographer respectively, Shirley and Amit have been taking trips to rural Maharashtra for almost four years now, following travelling tent cinemas, nomadic talkies that set up make-shift theatres in villages after crop gathering season in October.  Bumper opening!

While Amit has had several exhibits, Shirley is now working on a film that captures this unique form of entertainment that has survived despite household television and digital entertainment. “The film explores how we live on through the images, memories, landscapes we create, which, however transient, remain abiding,” says Shirley, adding that the movie is currently in post production and should be ready by early next year. After the film, they will begin work on the book that is still in concept stage and has explored ideas like biographies from the travelling cinemas, a photo book of patron portraits and more.

Gold Rush

Since there wasn’t too much academic research on the travelling cinemas of Maharashtra, Shirley and Amit relied on oral narratives, conversations, folklore, legends, archives, a few collection records from the community, Amit’s images and participatory observation across three seasons of the tent cinemas. During this time, they found that it wasn’t just regional and Bollywood films, but also dubbed Hollywood flicks that were showcased in the villages.

“We witnessed the sheer intoxication that cinema has come to mean, for many of those who run companies despite the pervasive, slick digital media. I once met a cinema owner who had been stealing gold from his family to be able to run his theatre,” Shirley recalls. "There was also a story about a woman delivering a baby in one of the tents during a film screening. Of course this is part of community folklore, but it surely points to the patronage that the cinemas enjoy.”

Refugee and immigration lawyer Aurina Chatterji does a fair bit of travel. Born in Mumbai, studied in London and Montreal, currently working in Toronto, she recently returned from a holiday in Laos with a doggie bag for bpb. No awkward paws, please.

When we told people we were travelling to Laos for a vacation. we were often met with blank stares: "But....why?" People inquired with gentle bewilderment. "I hear it's lovely," we often sputtered, unable to articulate the allure of this little Asian country.  Surrounded by stalwarts of tourism, Laos still remains curiously off-the-beaten path for most non-backpackers, an emerald wonder still navigating its way to the 21st century. Technically still a communist state, Laos has little to offer in the way of shopping, but compensates with its gorgeous wats (pagodas), superbly maintained colonial architecture, 85% forest cover, the rusty Mekong and much to everyone's surprise - its food.

Eating Out in Vientiane (The Capital of Laos)

That tiny, twangy, tuning fork-like instrument is getting its own party in Goa early next year! The World Mouth Harp Festival of India, the first of its kind in the country, is being put together by Neptune Chapotin, a mouth harpist (check out his performance at the Blue Frog, Mumbai with folk rock band The Mavyns and fellow harpist Kenroy Sequeira) and collector who sells harps and gives free lessons at the Saturday Night Market in Goa. "I have co-organised the North American mouth harp festival, which took place earlier this year, and I’m excited to do this in India," he says.

Plan It, Neptune

Although the final artist and workshop line-up isn’t confirmed, he's hoping to bring traditional folk artists like Kutle Khan (who's performed with Susheela Raman extensively), the Rajasthan Roots and a few well-known morchang (mouth harp) players from Bangalore, along with some international acts to the festival.

Besides focusing on the instrument and the music it is commonly associated with, the fest will also include well-known bands and artists to display the mouth harp’s versatile fusion abilities. People interested in performing and conducting workshops, not just on the morchang, but any other instrument and providing funding for this project are welcome to get in touch with Neptune.

Oh and by the way, the entry to the fest is free. Harp diem!

Getting there: Arambol, Goa, February 7 to 8 2013, visit http://mouthharpfestindia.worldharps.com, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call 9890041686, free entry.

Some people live for rock. Others, they just live under a rock. If you belong to the latter group, you probably haven’t noticed that it’s music festival season, and stages are springing up across India. The one to mark next involves a lake and a six hour journey from Delhi at Naukuchiatal.

Run by the guys behind Parikrama Inc, this one’s called Aquajam (October 24-28) and will be supporting VPlay, their new foundation for up-and-coming musicians.

Ocean by the Lake

At the first edition of Aquajam, you can choose to either get a day pass or stay at one of their recommended hotels with a season pass. Either way, the line up looks great – new musicians mixed in with veterans like Indian Ocean and Shubha Mudgal, Adil and Vasundhara and Advaita, all of whom will play around a lake. There are also jam sessions every day and a club section that will remain open until 2.30 am.

Aqua, man!

Getting there: Aquajam fom October 24 to 28, call 8191816000 or visit www.aquajam.in, Rs 1,500 for a day access pass.

What: Caravans by Basecamp, to order call 01243366888 or visit http://www.basecamp.in/CaravanStory.aspx, start at 16 lakhs.

Why: With Santana and Norah Jones, Megadeth and Enrique Iglesias all coming into India, it’s only right that you have your groupie kit in order. Guitar, band T-shirt, bra to toss on stage? Turn this trio into a quartet with a seriously awesome and ridiculously expensive fourth member – a caravan. Adventure company Basecamp has tied up with European caravan manufacturers Hymer and Dethleffs to launch motor homes, so you can follow your favourite bands in style. These are tricked out with fancy bedroom, bathroom, TV space and kitchen. Next stop, the main concert stage. GleePS!

When: You want a new kind of mobile app.