Daily Times

Pore over cutting-edge street art, learn to roll a Cuban cigar or simply monkey around. For someone who tips the weighing scale a little over 100kg, visiting the beach town of Miami can be quite scary.

Most of the people here are not only fit, but they also like to flaunt it. So, on a recent trip to the beach city, to avoid further guilt of bingeing on massive American burgers, I decided to skip the surfboard and zone off to the ‘other’ side. You might wonder what’s more to Miami than beaches. Well, lots more.

Wynwood Art District is for those who wish to step out of comfortable galleries and experience the maniacal thoughts that reside in the head of artists

The Cuban Corner – the one place that adds oodles of character to Miami and gives a happy twist to its facade is a neighbourhood called Little Havana. Home to Miami’s ever-expanding Latin community, this is the place that many migrating Cubans have called home since Mr Castro took charge of Cuba in the late 1950s. Extremely different from the rest of Miami, Little Havana has a sub-culture all its own. It is always time to party here – you will generally find people tapping away to folksy tunes or engrossed in their little board games at the Domino Park. Little Havana is also home to many cigar makers; you can always walk in to one of them and watch as they roll a fresh batch of leaves for you. From the finest cigar cutters to other accessories, this place is like a candy store for all cigar lovers.

The Wall Of Rebellion – now who would have thought that Miami would be home to some of the finest graffiti in the world? Wynwood Art District is for those who wish to step out of comfortable galleries and experience the maniacal thoughts that reside in the head of artists, who literally use the world as their canvas. Here you will find art in every imaginable form. From abstract art to geometric patterns that can only be created once your mind is pushed into an overdrive. Wynwood has it all. The entire district is a massive canvas – you won’t find a single wall or street that’s not covered.

Tripping on art – museums is something I am happy to give a miss. But when my charming tour guide suggested a quick stop at the Perez Art Museum, we obliged, albeit grudgingly. What we expected: an hour-long snooze fest. The reality: a mind-blowing experience. This haven for modern and contemporary international art of the 20th and 21st centuries is unlike any other museum. From the first exhibit to the final one, there was not a single piece that didn’t transfix us. From using light to mirrors and sound to miniatures, the works at Perez are such that they take you on a trip that’s parallel to this universe, and yet not from our realm. Sounds absolutely bonkers, but Perez is a sensory overload that’s a must-do in Miami.

The Wild Zone – like most cities, Miami too has its own little paradise for animal lovers. The Jungle Island is a place that both kids and adults would love to visit. Built about 80 years ago, most of the animals are kept in massive enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. You also get to spend quality one-on-one time with certain four-legged friends. Your head can be a dance floor for a bunch of lemurs or your can get some much-needed TLC from a baby Capuchin monkey – all-in-all a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Fun detour – if you have a couple of days to spare, do visit Orlando. It might not have the glitz and glamour of Miami, but what it scores high on is a strong dose of testosterone in the form of some crazy simulation rides at Universal Studios. Also, if you have grown up binge watching cartoons, a trip to the Walt Disney World will rake up some memories.

Published in Daily Times, August 24^th   2017.