Dress Up And Travel

If 2020 gives you a reason to dress up, you pounce on the opportunity.. And roll around in sequins while you’re at it! ✌🏼😜✨
Thanks for the opportunity to dress up. 📸 credits -

Akanksha Batura Pai

Throwback to leaving our house for the first time in Phase 2 after Circuit Breaker lifted. Naturally I went as with my as I possibly could. Disclaimer - a mask was worn immediately before and immediately after this photo was taken. 😷

Mantra of my life. 🧘🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️📸
Psych! 😜
@ Socially Distant Akanksha Batura Pai

‪For the love of sneakers! 👟 ‬
‪Continuing on the trend of my sneaker oriented posts, here’s a to wearing my Papa Don't Preach By Shubhika desi blinged out with equally blinged out PUMA sneaks for our dear friends’ (non-denominational) wedding in 🗽 (that’s the NYC skyline at the back)‬
‪.‬
‪Remember, sneakers can be worn with anything - including Indian wear. ‬


@ New York, New York Akanksha Batura Pai

Throwback to gallivanting in outfits, traveling and chasing golden hours... & , 🇻🇳
Also.. had some fun dressing up the golden hour skies with the app. 😂 The original photo is the second one... what do you think of my work? 😆
@ Mad Cow Wine & Grill Akanksha Batura Pai

Do or Do-Nut, there is no try 🍩
Remember to eat a lot of hole foods during this period of self-isolation... 😜
Swipe ➡️ for the real life inspiration: my fav donut cushion...
Will make these doodles available on my Insta Highlights in case anyone would like to screenshot and use them as your phone wallpapers... 📱 Do let me know if you do, would mean a lot to me to be part of your electronic lives.. 🤓

Been drawing ✍🏼 today to keep my mind off the worrisome numbers in Singapore today.. Hope everyone else is doing well too. 💪🏼
@ Singapore Akanksha Batura Pai

May we learn to appreciate 🙏🏼
The things we took for granted... 💜❤️💚
Throwback to , 🇻🇳
@ Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery Akanksha Batura Pai

A doodle a day, keeps the drear away... 🧡

Tap ☝🏼 for outfit details
@ Arun Aki Akanksha Batura Pai

A prayer for us all 🙏🏼
May we get out of this as unscathed as we possibly can. And may we never take our freedom - to travel ✈️ , to meet family 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦, friends 👯‍♀️and loved ones for granted ever again. 💕
Stay healthy and try to remain happy everyone... 💟
to wearing to the iconic Changi Airport Control Tower that is a normal sight for many of us to usually see going in and out of the country 🇸🇬 , but is now “out of bounds”

Happy P(a)i 🥧 Day 3.14!
With love, The 💕
Throwback to traipsing around Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia 🗿🇰🇭

Akanksha Batura Pai

Aight so you guys asked for it - CAKE RECS! 🎂 🍰 😋🍴
I was planning to just post it on my insta stories but insta stories only allows me to tag 10 accounts and well, I received way more recs from y’all! 😂 Looks like you guys love cake as much as I do. 😍 Go ahead, take a screenshot or save this post (just click that flag icon on the right under the picture) and try out all the bakers..
Disclaimer -
I’ve tried most of them but not all. Nonetheless they either all come recommended by trusted friends, or are talented friends of mine themselves 🤩 so I whole-heartedly recommend all. Many of these bakers do eggless/ vegan/ special dietary cakes too!
Also this is NOT a sponsored post - but if any of y’all bakers I’ve recommended wanna give me a slice or a full cake... Hold on, imma bring my fork! 😜
The list below is in no particular order… but, I gotta give a special heartfelt 💓 shoutout to whose work was particularly meaningful to me. Her cakes are pictured above. The two tier cake - meant to represent and my contrasting personalities melding together - was done for the ROM (civil marriage) Ceremony, and the Unicorn 🦄 cake (meant to represent me finding my unicorn ❣) and cupcakes 🧁 were done for the Engagement Party. She does eggless cakes in delicious flavours with personalised custom cake decor, and is spectacular.. 👏
And now… in no particular order, here are the recs:







sg




-> a close friends and awesome for small batch brownies
@ Singapore
Akanksha Batura Pai

Happiest when my outfit matches the sunset skies... 🇻🇳


( & of course, with a Martini 🍸 😜 )


@ Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery Akanksha Batura Pai

Behind my uncharacteristically black and white houndstooth in Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 is... (drumroll please) an ex-prison! 😱 So...our stay in Cape Town was in a building that used to be a prison but is now a hotel and the campus grounds of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business! What an interesting evolution of use and architectural conversion of a public space...


Here’s a snapshot of the history for those who are interested - The original prison was built in 1859 for convicts from Britain. The prisoners were transported to The Cape to work on the construction of the breakwater which would allow the harbour - which is now the beautiful and world renowned - Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to be built. The remains of a treadmill on which prisoners were punished can still be seen.

During the later part of the 19th century other prisoners were accommodated at Breakwater prison and it was the first site to racially segregate black and white convicts.

The design with four castellated turrets and an enclosed courtyard was styled after Millbank and Pentonville prisons in England. After ten years as a prison it became a juvenile offenders institution and from 1926 until 1989 a hostel for black dock workers.

Since 1991 it has served as the business school of University of Cape Town and hotel run by the Protea chain.



@ Protea Hotels by Marriott Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge Akanksha Batura Pai

Take me back to sipping on Méthode Cap Classique 🍾 🥂 surrounded by these scenic Golden Hour views 🌅 in an OTT 😜 ✌🏼 @ Haute Cabrière, Franschhoek, South Africa 🇿🇦


Haute Cabrière Akanksha Batura Pai

Saigon-ing ✌🏼🍸 🇻🇳 ... in muted black and white tones with JUSSTTTT a pop of colour 😜💚


by COLLUSION


@ Pullman Saigon Centre Akanksha Batura Pai

I guess it’s obvious where I am... 🤷🏻‍♀️ @ The Pullman Saigon’s rooftop during golden hour🌇 Mad Cow Wine & Grill 🇻🇳


Sneakers 👟 by


by


@ Pullman Saigon Centre Akanksha Batura Pai

Good evening Saigon! 🇻🇳 🙏🏼 🥂


A little something about the - a pretty awesome 🐆 jumpsuit / boiler suit I packed without properly trying it on. Turns out, it needed a belt. So what did I do? Take the one from the bathrobe at the hotel of course!!! 😜 🥋

Never shy away from a little guys... 😝



Akanksha Batura Pai

’s at the memorable 👰🏻🤵🏻 reception 🥂 — In this intricate ivory Sole Affair outfit featuring a sumptuous Lucknowi trench coat.. 😍 Talk about giving the perfect contemporary twist to a traditional Indian textile while simultaneously crafting this lovely silhouette 🤩👏🏼 Well done 👌🏼


To those who recognize the precious customized clutch - gifted lovingly by and made by The Clutch Society


@ Raffles Hotel Akanksha Batura Pai

wining & dining at La Residence, Franschhoek - dreaming of the yummy food 🥗, stellar wines 🍷 & rolling hills ⛰


Wouldn’t mind if this was my residence 🥂 😂


by 💚


@ La Residence Akanksha Batura Pai

Franschhoek-ing with good wine🍷 & great views ⛰ 🇿🇦


by


@ Protea Hotel by Marriott Franschhoek Akanksha Batura Pai

Enroute Franschhoek via Stellenbosch and you can’t not stop to Chairs! 🥂 at the jaw-dropping Delaire Graff Estate... ⛰🍷 🇿🇦


So much so that even the designated driver agreed! 🤣

Tap ☝🏼 for outfit deets...

@ Delaire Graff Estate Akanksha Batura Pai

Gallivanting around the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 🇿🇦 🥂


Turns out - unlike Singapore - you can do almost anything under the table here! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🤣 ⛰

@ V&A Waterfront Akanksha Batura Pai

The insanely scenic views 👀 on the Chapman’s Peak Route ☀️ 🌊 ⛰, just south of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦


What better to enjoy them in than a neon green snakeskin print 🐍 from . Tap ☝🏼 for more outfit deets...



@ Chapman's Peak Scenic Route Akanksha Batura Pai

Hello Cape Town 👋🏼 🇿🇦 & a swoon-worthy looking cloudy Table Mountain ⛰ ☁️


@ The Silo Hotel Akanksha Batura Pai

Colourful boiler suits perfect for early morning sunrise Safari trips... 🇿🇦🏜


Swipe for a sneak peak at an elephant 🐘, and no... I’m not talking about ! 😜


Akanksha Batura Pai