India, Aug. 14 -- When was the last time you visited a zoo with your family?When you're raising twin boys, finding ways to tire them out without exhausting yourself is a skill worth having. I've learnt that the sweet spot lies in slow-paced outings that are interesting enough to keep them engaged, but gentle enough on my nerves. We often choose zoo visits, lazy boat rides and strolls in leafy parks, and these have become our go-to activities whenever we're travelling.

So there we were in Kolkata, soaking in the energy of its traffic and old-world charm. The trams rattled by, horse carts waited outside Victoria Memorial, jhal muri sellers worked their magic on the streets, and puchka (the local name for pani puri) vendors popped up on eve...