"Travelling is not just about seeing new places, it's about discovering a new perspective!"
We see people travelling to amazing places and envy them, but we fail to acknowledge the brilliant choices they would have made to reach where they are today! During my last few years of travels, I have interacted with several travellers from across the world, and all of them have had such beautiful stories to share which have been truly inspiring! Read on for one such inspiring story!!
Meet the globetrotter and restaurateur Deepak Bhatia, who has travelled to 43 countries and has some of the best travel recommendations up his sleeve! His passion for travel has only grown stronger over the years.
He lives by this Michael Palin quote "Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.”
It was in 2017 that he decided to explore the world solo, and since then, there was no looking back! His journey inspired him to start his own travel company- Travel Studio; providing the best of first-hand experiences and specially curated itineraries to his clients.
"My favourite travel memories are the ones I shared with other people – be it a meal, a beer, an adventure, a sunset, a sunrise, a story, a ride or a laugh", says Deepak.
He has explored incredible countries like Philippines, Croatia, Bosnia, Egypt, South Africa, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and so many more, where he spent 15 days to a maximum of two months in a place! The next big destination on his list is Iceland!!
"The most random and memorable trip until now has been to Turkey, wherein I booked my tickets 6 hours apart from my departure time without any itinerary & came back with absolute amazing memories!", recalls Deepak.
Exploring and spending time in a new country during his birthday, has always been special to him!
In 2022, post-pandemic when the global tourism was back in action, Deepak's unexpected trip to Ukraine completely changed his worldview! It was at this time when he discovered a new perspective that he never had before.
He headed off for a 2 month long trip to the enchanting Europe with Poland being his last stop! But the journey was not smooth sailing during the end of his trip.
“While travelling, things don't always go as planned, but that's when you make a plan out of the unplanned and turn the Covid-positives into negatives (pun intended!). But I'm glad that it all happened for a reason!", says Deepak.
While exiting Poland when he thought he had everything figured out, he tested Covid-positive and was quarantined for 14 days! Post that, he was provided with a recovery certificate over Covid-negative certificate, which could not allow him to fly back.
"Every travel increases your confidence and makes you a little stronger. After a while, you get used to deal with the unexpected situations!", adds Deepak.
That's when he made a decision overnight, to visit the nearest country by road, and take a flight back from there. The next day, he landed up in Lviv, Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflicts, yet decided to explore the city for a few days.
"As the tourism had slowed down in Ukraine, exploring different cities was not an option. But I totally fell in love with the Ukrainian culture!" recalls Deepak.
He realised that interacting with the locals over food, over their popular Ukrainian cherry liqueur and celebrating their vibrant art scene, were some of the heartfelt and intangible souvenirs that he could take back home!
This is when Deepak discovered Baczewski Restaurant, a favourite among locals (with top-notch food!), that served the most famous Galician buffet in the city! He instantly got connected to that place, out of all the places he had visited there.
"It was a very special place. The ambiance was akin to being in a tropical garden with live plants growing everywhere and birds present in the cages, under the glass-roof . Perfect acoustic and fresh air with a pianist playing modern classics.", recalls Deepak.
"If you don’t mind alcohol in the morning, try their black currant vodka and vodka with honey. But if you’re taking it easy, their fresh cherry juice is also phenomenal!", recommends Deepak.
That was his last memory from Ukraine before he flew back! Deeply saddened by the destruction and witnessing the loss of beloved landmarks and disruption of everyday life, he felt a profound desire to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine.
Driven by this desire, Deepak embarked on a journey to create a space that would serve as a symbol of peace and understanding, and bridge the divide & foster unity between the Ukrainian and Russian nations.
The Romeo House was born out of this vision – Mumbai's Newest Glass-Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, where the flavours of India can be enjoyed in an atmosphere of harmony and cultural appreciation!
"The Romeo House is not just a restaurant, it is a little piece of Ukrainian experience in the heart of Mumbai!", says Deepak.
Whether you're a curious explorer or a seasoned traveler, The Romeo House is a cultural haven promising an unforgettable dining experience!
Taking inspiration from the Ukrainian restaurant- Baczewski, the warm and inviting ambiance with cozy seating arrangements and exquisite Ukrainian and Russian artefacts, transports you to the heart of these regions!
One section of the restaurant has vintage vibes and is adorned with the beautiful Red Square mural from Russia. Whereas, the other section has tropical vibes with glass roof-top giving it an outdoor feel, with the painting of the Statue of Berehynia from Kyiv, Ukraine depicted on the wall!
"A third section is in the making, dedicated to the underground (bunker) restaurant feels of Ukraine called the Romeo Cave!", adds Deepak.
The restaurant also has a tropical bar that serves some unique blends of cocktails, adorned with the sign - "Budmo", which is the heart of all Ukrainian celebrations and encompasses far more than just saying cheers! It means 'let us be' and is the shortest and the most popular Ukrainian toast.
Deepak signs off," Allow yourself to wander, to explore the world and learn, meet new people, make new memories because travelling gives us tremendous amount of wisdom & we end up finding ourselves somewhere!"
Travel is all about falling in love with the journey, not the destination! It gives us our greatest stories, our most cherished memories and countless irreplaceable learnings that can inspire others.
The Romeo House, Mumbai
Address: 3rd floor, Hotel Hiramani Pvt. Ltd, Dr.B.A. Road, Police Chowkey, Lalbaug, Mumbai-400012.
Cost for 2: INR 1,000 approx
Follow Deepak's travel adventures on Instagram @follow_me_traveller.
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