Kolkata-based fashion designer, Pranay Baidya sends us a postcard from Bruges and Bavarian Germany

I grew up hearing about the legendary travelogues written by my maternal great-grandfather, Probodh Kumar Sanyal, a journalist and a travel writer, but I never expected to be consumed by the same wanderlust bug. Perhaps the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Every few months I have an uncontrollable desire to set off on an unknown path, exploring a new country, learning about its culture, meeting new people, admiring the arts and architecture, and all of this while fuelling myself on local gastronomical delights.

The ever-growing Indian summer is the best time to travel for me. My usual practise is to study a global travel map months in advance and then chart out an itinerary based on the experiences I wish to gather. But the best journeys are often gifted with unplanned stops and discovering magical hidden spots that don't usually make it to the travel forums. Medieval towns glistening in fairytale stardust have always fascinated me. It is with this thought that I chose to start my travel diaries from West Flanders city, a medieval town in Bruges in Belgium.

The historic settlement is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can often be seen on postcards in Europe. There are quite a few ways to reach Bruges -one is a picturesque three-hour train ride from Paris, but instead, I decided to fly into Brussels and board a connecting train to Bruges. While choosing the accommodation for this trip, I had a few simple requirements-central location, free WiFi and easy on the pocket. My charming hotel located right in the heart of the historical centre of Bruges was the perfect base for exploring the town on foot.

The tourist world may have fallen in love with Bruges after the Hollywood neo-noir, comedy drama starring Collin Farrell, In Bruges, but it is also an outstanding example of a historic city which has maintained its Gothic flavour, yet evolved over the centuries to become an important commercial and cultural metropolis of Europe.

The egg-shaped layout of the city centre popularly known as Markt Square is lined with charming boutiques selling Dutch porcelain, Christmas decorations and family run chocolateries whipping up an ensemble of scrumptious handmade dark chocolates. One of the best ways to have an authentic experience of any city is to participate in a walking tour with local guides who are passionate about showcasing their city to curious travellers, offering fun anecdotes and showing walking routes that take you to some well-kept secrets of the city. No trip to Bruges, also known as Venice of The North, is complete without the age-old tradition of cruising down Bruges' canals-these remarkable arteries reveal picturesque gardens and elegant bridges.

The Flemish folk are very proud of their rich culture and culinary heritage. I was thrilled to discover that potato fries, popularly called French fries, have been a Belgian speciality since the 1600s. Exquisitely hand-cut, double fried to perfect crispness, smothered with a generous doze of freshly made mayonnaise and mustard, these potato wonders will surely keep you coming back for more. I stumbled upon a charming restaurant straight out of one of our childhood fairytale stories, while out on a walk. It served authentic Flemish cuisine in a candle light setting, paired with an extensive wine menu to match each course of the meal. The main course was served with a generous portion of fries and its accompaniments.

I chose a few glasses of local wines and beer to go with each course. Freshly baked waffles topped with organic strawberries and cream were the perfect end to an extraordinary Flemish meal. Feeling quite happily sedated after a fulfilling dinner, I wandered along the much photographed Rozenhoedkaai canal and was enthralled by the stunning view. No wonder it continues to be the most photographed spot in Bruges. My next stop was Bavarian Germany and its phantasmagorical castles which inspired Walt Disney while he was producing the 1950's American animated musical fantasy popularly known as Cinderella.

Since there were limited direct flights between Bruges and Munich, I decided to hop on the EuRail instead. The eight-hour journey with a change in Hannover was picturesque to say the least. Munich itself is a beautiful city and very well restored after the devastating wars. There is plenty to see and do but I was focused on exploring the castle region outside the city, and also accommodate a day trip to Regensburg-the 12th century medieval town on the Danube river which famously houses the oldest sausage kitchen in Europe established in 1135 AD.

I also opted for guided tours of the Nueschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace. Popularly called the Swan King, Duke Ludwig II Of Bavaria commissioned the castle as his summer retreat and a homage to the German composer, Richard Wagner. However after the Duke's sudden death in 1886, the contruction work was left incomplete. The hour-long guided tour culminated in the balcony looking out from the cliff to a hauntingly beautiful view that will be forever etched in my mind. On the drive back to Munich, amid a raging thunderstorm and Richard Wagner's romantic operatic music playing in the background, I couldn't help but realise that perhaps travel is the only thing we spend our money on that makes us richer.

How to travel smart
1 Opt for specialised tours.
2 Choose intimate boutique hotels.
3 Explore the city on foot and discover its waterways and bylanes.
4 Take out time to experience the local cuisine.
5 Get acquainted with the city's history.