Sunaina Gulia talks about her recent visit to Brazil where she spent two months with her family and friends.

Taking a trip to the other side of the planet was the best thing that happened to me. I’d gone to Brazil for a month, but it was so amazing that I extended my trip by a month. It was truly a life changing experience.”

Out and about
I landed in Sao Paulo, which is known as the ‘city that never stops’. I made many friends there and we partied non-stop. It was a big city with warm and friendly people and great food too.

Next up was the City of God — the gorgeous Rio. It was so beautiful that I stayed for 10 days there. I lived in Ipanema and went to the vibrant Ipanema beach everyday. I also visited the Christo Redentor, climbed the Sugar Loaf Mountain and watched the sun setting over Rio. Learning the samba was fun and Lapa on Friday night was when the entire street turns into a wild party and the people lose themselves to the beats of samba into the wee hours of the morning. I also did sky diving, which was simply awesome. And yes, somehand gliding too.

Drum corps
Then I went up north to Salvador which is known for the African drum corps. You would have seen them in the Michael Jackson video All I Wanna Say is That They Don’t Really Care About Us.

Walking down the cobbled streets of the ‘Old City’ and watching the bands spinning their drumsticks in the air and pounding on the drums in wild unison was one of the top ten moments of my life. I still get goose bumps when I think of this. I also feasted on my favourite Brazilian dish, a fish stew called moqueca.

Musical trip
Post this we went to this island cut off from the rest of the world for a seven day music festival called ‘Universo Parallelo’ which means ‘parallel universe’ in Portugese. With beaches, lagoons, different music stages and floating hammocks inside the ocean, it was truly paradise!

Lastly, I travelled north to Jericoacoara.‘Jeri’ as it’s fondly called is a real marvel of nature and my favourite place.