Kuhu's Travel Playlist

Music has the power to make us happy, share ideas, preserve culture, and inspire others. A great travel song should do something along those lines and it doesn’t necessarily have to be about traveling itself. I’ve added salsa greats like Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, and Buena Vista Social Club in the past who is a must listen for any traveler

Some of these talk of exploration and travel, but other’s simply convey a mood. Songs like Tennessee Whisky or Makeba may not have direct ties to travel, but they are like a snapshot of culture and transports you to another place. The songs on this list range from rap to rock, pop, salsa and even some country.

Whatever music platform you use I’ve got the playlist on Wynk, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

---

Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root

What better way to kick off this playlist than a song to send us on our way, even if it’s a bit hard to understand the lead singer at times.

Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

Because every great collection of songs includes a song from Queen.

I’m Gonna Be – The Proclaimers

This Scottish rock band is a classic for road trips and travel songs. It’s perfect for driving 500 miles, for example, the NC500 in Scotland for instance.

Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

You can’t go wrong with Led Zeppelin and “Ramble On” is just too fitting a title.

Cold Little Heart – Michael Kiwanuka

The newest song on this list is gorgeous and haunting. It’s perfect for reflection.

Society – Eddie Vedder

Pearl Jam’s lead man stepped away to record the soundtrack to “Into the Wild” and gave us a stunning album. Society speaks of checking out of the “need” and “want” in society to be “free.”

Harvest Moon – Neil Young

The melody of this song is beautiful. Exploration and travel can have many moods and feelings. This song is perfect for a long walk down the beach.

The World At Large – Modest Mouse

This song is all about escaping. It could be to “another planet,” or just another city.

Aeroplane – Red Hot Chili Peppers

What could be more fitting for a playlist of travel songs? Anthony Kleidis explains it all with “music is my aeroplane.”

California Love – 2Pac

“California knows how to party”

Little Talks – Of Monsters & Men

“Though the truth may vary. This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore”

The Funeral – Band of Horses

Africa -Toto

It’s catchy. It’s awesome. It’s Epic. It’s Africa. Deal with it.

Shakira – Waka Waka

The 2010 World Cup song. Nothing unites the world like football and Shakira. It’s one of the biggest songs of all time and just about everyone in the world has heard it.

Pata Pata – Miriam Makeba

This song is undeniably catchy even if you can’t understand all of the Xhosa lyrics. Makeba was a vocal activist against apartheid in South Africa and was even exiled. After the release and election of Nelson Mandela, he himself personally convinced her to return where she continued to produce music and fight for civil rights in Africa.

Makeba – Jain

It’s catchy, draws heavily on modern afro beats, and it’s a tribute to Makeba. Pretty cool with me.

Gangnam Style – PSY

I’ll never forget the moment I came across this video on Reddit. It left me speechless. The music video was simultaneously hilarious and amazing. It had all of 4 Million views which was massive at the time, fast forward to 2017 and the music video has nearly 3 billion views. PSY has become a cross cultural phenomenon touring all over the world and is a perfect example of the increasingly global world and music scene.

Paper Planes – M.I.A.

Sri Lankan M.I.A. is a polarizing figure and Paper Planes is a politically charged song filled with drug references. It shouldn’t be any this song is considered one of the best of its decade.

Soy Yo -Bomba Estereo

Bomba Estereo has been making waves for nearly a decade now bringing Colombia and Modern South American music to the masses. There electro jungle beats and entrancing lyrics are sure to hook you. Get ready for some fire in Latin America.

Aguanile – Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe

Sticking with Espanol and heading up to central America it’s time for some salsa. This is a classic song by two of the genre’s greats.

Chan Chan – Buena Vista Social Club

This album sparked an interest internationally in Central American music. The talent of the ensemble group is everywhere in the album.

All Izz Well – Kej

Bollywood is a cultural juggernaut and right behind Hollywood. This is from “3 Idiots” starring Aamir Khan one of the celebrated modern day Indian films.

Chaiya Chaiya – Sukhwinder Singh

This song is from the Hindi film Dil Se, but what’s most incredible is the music video shot entirely on a train… You have to watch it. Oh, and the song is great.

Lamallem – Saad Lamjarred

Moroccan culture and music was well known for its influence in music laying claim influencing greats like Jimi Hendrix. However, it’s been largely quiet in recent years until pop sensation Saad Lamjarred came along.

Around The World – Daft Punk

The French duo known as Daft Punk are juggernauts in the music industry and the world is still waiting for the day they tour “around the world,” again.

Night Call – Kavinsky

Produced by one-half of Daft Punk the opening song to the movie Drive makes me want to put the pedal to the metal and drive.

The Passenger – Iggy Pop

I love this song.

Anderson .Paak – Come Down

Have you heard of Anderson .Paak yet? Expect to see a lot more of this guy if you didn’t catch his incendiary Grammy performance. The song is upbeat and blends jazz, hip hop, rock, and soul successfully.

Call Me – St Paul & The Broken Bones

This white guy from Alabama has got the soul!

Tennessee Whisky – Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is one of the most prolific song writers with being credited for dozens of modern country hits and even Adele. However, it’s his cover of Tennessee Whisky I can’t seem to get out of my head.

Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf

If there is one Iconic travel song it has to be Born To Be Wild. “Head out on the highway. Lookin’ for adventure”

King Of The Road – Roger Miller

He may have nothing, but the “King of the Road” has all the freedom of a vagabond.

Jackson – Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash

“When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow.” It’s about setting the night on the fire in a new city song by a country great.

Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

It’s hard to stay in a bad mood when listening to this song. It’s a love song about being at “home” with your friend or someone special no matter where you are in the world.

Report this ad

Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen

Let’s all follow Bruce’s advice and escape the modern day “death trap…suicide rap” and hit the open road because we were “born to run.”

Space Oddity – David Bowie

Who’s going to be the first tourist in space?

Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes – Paul Simon

It’s a blend of Americana and South African Lady Blacksmith Mambazo that’s undeniably catchy. It’s hard not to love Paul Simon.

Coming Home – Leon Bridges

What decade is Leon Bridges from? Because he certainly doesn’t sound like a modern day artist despite being only 28. I just hope my travels home go as smooth as his voice and this song.

Theme from New York, New York – Frank Sinatra

What more can be said about the legendary Frank Sinatra. It’s the perfect song to sip martinis in the greatest city on earth. (New York).

Je T’aime moi mon Plus – Serge Gainsbourg

Serge is more or less the French version of Frank Sinatra and one of the most Iconic French pop artists. His musical style varies greatly and you can find his influence across a wide range of music and pop culture.

Zina – Babylone

Algerian rock band Bablyone made this beautiful love song that has an ability to transcend language.

Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

One of the greatest songs of all time.

Carolina In My Mind – James Taylor

Not only is it a destination song, but it’s from my home state. Every time I hear this song it brings me right back home. I couldn’t think of a better song to finish with.

Mumbai Muses

must visit MUMBAI 

 In the month of December of 2018 i went to visit my maternal family in Mumbai for 6 days, of course my camera and thirst for exploring the city came along with me on the trip , well this blog is  dedicated to whatever places i could go and cover in those few days.

 CHHATRAPATI TRAIN STATION

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this has got to be one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world – it’s a stunning building that dates back to 1887 and was originally named for Queen Victoria before being renamed in 2016.

COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN COLABA

This area of Southern Mumbai is crammed with astonishing buildings – you’d never guess that you were in India half the time as you wander the streets. As you walk down from the train station towards the Prince of Wales museum there is plenty of architecture to admire.

PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM

This has recently been renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum which is a bit of a mouthful, but it’s still commonly referred to by both names. It’s one of the best museums we’ve visited and has some amazing collections. Highlights for us included the Japanese art and pottery and the collection of snuff boxes but we happily wandered for hours and would definitely return.

LEOPOLDS CAFE

Visiting Leopold’s is a rite of passage for many visiting Mumbai and it’s definitely worth dropping in while you’re here. It’s a little pricy as a tourist destination primarily, but lunches are good and one curry should easily serve two people as portions are large. This was the centre of the action in the book Shantaram, set in Mumbai, and was also a site targeted in the 2008 terror attacks – you can still see the bullet holes in the walls.

GATEWAY OF INDIA

Probably the most famous site you’ll visit on your day in Mumbai, this magnificent archway commemorates the landing of King George V when he visited India in 1911. It’s located right on the waterfront and is always packed with people – so be prepared to queue and to pose for lots of selfies with people.

ELEPHANTA CAVES WORLD HERITAGE SITE

This spot is trickier to get to and requires a ferry journey of just under an hour from the courtyard in front of the Gateway of India but it’s worth it to take a trip out of the city and visit another world heritage site. Elephanta is a small island with several interesting caves of Hindu and Buddhist origin, although the exact history of the place is unclear. Some of the exhibits in the Prince of Wales Museum were originally discovered here.

TAJ PALACE HOTEL

A world famous luxury hotel and sadly another place that was badly affected by the 2008 attacks, this is another incredible building as well as being one of the best places in Mumbai to sit and enjoy a drink. I think it was the first licensed bar in Mumbai and is a popular drinking spot for businessmen. Worth dropping in for a quick drink and a look around even if you can’t budget for dinner or to stay the night!

 

If you have a bit more time, other popular things to do include the markets – Colaba and Crawford markets are supposed to be particularly good. Slum tours are also possible and very interesting given that over 60% of people in Mumbai are estimated to reside in slums or temporary makeshift housing. Our favourite way to spend time in the city on our one day in Mumbai was to admire the amazing architecture and soak up the chaotic but fascinating atmosphere as we wandered around.

Kuhu's Tips for Efficient Packing

No matter the length of the trip — be it a weekend beach getaway or a three-week Himalayan trek — you'll need to pack a bag, and you’ll want to pack it right.There’s a lot to consider when determining what to bring: the type and length of your trip, your itinerary, the weather, the size of your luggage, and any weight limits imposed by your mode of transportation. And with so many factors at play, it’s easy to overpack or underpack, especially if you’ve waited until the last minute.

Here are my mantras to packing efficiently for any trip 

Pack by Outfit

There's nothing more annoying than struggling to stuff everything back into your suitcase at the end of a trip only to realize you didn't even wear half the clothes you brought. That's why I started strictly packing by outfit — not individual item — and only letting pieces I had a plan for make the cut. I'll take a skirt only if I know I'm bringing a top and shoes that I would wear with it, and I'll think about the activities on my itinerary and what I see myself wearing while doing them. I hate checking a bag but love clothes, so being realistic and planning ahead is key.

Lay Things Out First

Even when I pack at the very last minute, I take time to lay everything out before any item goes into my bag. Grouping things together on my bed helps me see quickly what items don’t pull their weight. A pair of pants that can only be worn with one top, or that requires shoes I wasn’t already planning to pack? Back in the drawer. Seeing everything clearly before I start also helps me fit things into my bag in a logical way. For me, this means starting with my bulkiest items, then cherry-picking lightweight items to tuck into gaps around them to form a sturdy base layer to build up from.

Bring Half of What You Initially Packed

When I went on my first international trip, I was advised to pack everything I'd like to take with me — and then remove half of it from my suitcase. I find this really helps in terms of figuring out what I actually need for a trip and bringing just the essentials.

Have a Ready-to-go Health Kit

After going on international adventures and suffering food poisoning, sudden fever, cuts and scrapes, terrible bug bites, and other ailments — and then having to navigate a foreign pharmacy — I've learned to always pack a small medical kitthis link opens in a new tab. I keep a toiletry bag ready to go stocked with Band-aids, Neosporin, pain relievers, cold medicine, medicine for stomach trouble, itch relief ointment, antibiotics (you can ask your doctor for an emergency prescription before you travel), and ear plugs (life savers on long-haul flights and trains). And if you never have to use it, all the better!

Be Selective About Footwear

To pack light, I only bring items that I can wear in more ways than one. No matter now many nice 'going out' outfits you bring on a trip, the likelihood of you defaulting to comfy T-shirts and leggings or breezy dresses (one-piece outfits are a packer's best friend) is much higher. The same philosophy goes for shoes: Since they take up so much precious space, make sure they're putting in the work to deserve a spot in that carry-on. Ditch the heels you might wear for one fancy night out and instead opt for dressy sandals that are comfortable enough to wear while sightseeing as well. Or pack a pair of all-purpose sneakers that can easily go from day to night.

Roll, Don't Fold

I always overpack, so rolling up my clothes so that they take up less space in my luggage is essential.

Keep Essentials Packed and Ready to Go

I am a terrible packer. No matter where I am going, or for how long, or how far in advance I booked my trip, I will inevitably be up at 2 a.m. the night before, just one misplaced sneaker away from a complete meltdown. I’ve accepted this as an inevitability and tried to streamline the process where I can, so now, I always keep a clear toiletry bagthis link opens in a new tab packed with all my favorite products, so I can see at a glance what I have and add in a couple essentials (sunscreen for a lake trip, bug spray when there’s hiking planned, etc.). I also keep a few plane go-to's — chargers, lip balm, eye mask, neck pillow — in my favorite travel bag, which helps me speed through the personal-item prep so I can get back to bemoaning my lack of good shoes and waffling on how many caftans and books I’ll need for a four-day weekend.