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Joanna Lobo

@thatdoggonelady

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Creator @goawithjo
Consultant Editor @goyajournal
Guidebook author @lonelyplanet
Dog-ma | Dodma. Always 👼

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Northern (Light)ing up my world.

Even before I knew the term bucket list, seeing the Northern Lights was at the top of it. I know I have always wanted to see this phenomenon because it felt unattainable at that point. Get a Schengen visa, save enough money to travel to the Nordics, stay in a glass igloo and just wait and watch.

Life has been kind enough to allow me to reach that point (with some help on the way).

Before leaving, I sent out messages to the Universe. Downloaded three different alert apps. And stayed up late to ensure I didn't miss it.

The first time I got the alert, I jumped out of bed and ran outside in the cold and in bathroom slippers. It was magnificent sight and I actually got emotional because I couldn't believe it.

I was fortunate to see Aurora to see this thrice during my trip to Lappi. I am truly blessed.

My second time seeing the Northern Lights was with @arktisella_polulla. We drove a long way, trying to find spots without light pollution and we got lucky.

We stopped at a lake that was only lit up by the stars in the sky. It was so clear, we could actually see the Milky Way.

She got these photos on her Iphone and shared them with me.

The most common question I was asked: can you actually see the NL? Yes, you can. It is fainter than what a camera can capture and you typically only see the greens first 💚

You need a clear sky and good solar activity to be able to see them. And once you do, all you can do is stop and stare. It is mesmerising.

My phone camera and DSLR couldn't capture anything but I tried. This was at Apukka, my first glimpse of the Northern Lights. taken in Lapland, Finland by @thatdoggonelady

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12 days ago

This doggone lady.

If you know me, you know I LOVE dogs. During the planning of my trip to Lappi, I was keenest to meet huskies - in their natural habitat unlike the poor things I see in Goa and Delhi.

I got to visit a husky farms + pet them + kiss them + run my hand through their fur + take them for a walk + feed them treats + play with them.

When I have to think of a happy memory to conjure a patronus, that morning spent at @huskyco_saariselka will help me conjure it.

My husky hike with Hokkus (his sister is Pokkus) and Star.

Star is an eight year old veteran who didn't like my handling of his leash so I let him loose!

Puppy love.

How to get dogs to like me? Feed them treats!

All the puppies are kept in separate playpens, with one senior (unrelated) dog to help them 'behave'. Can you spot the senior?

Begging for treats.

The puppy I am carrying in the first photos. All that weight training being put to the best use!

Spot the senior!

The senior, non working dogs are either adopted by the workers themselves or given up for adoption...the homes are vetted, of course.

The trainers spend their whole day at the farm and they know every one of the 200+ dogs personally. This is my dream job.

Each pen has two dogs (with their names), and they have their own dog house, and are taken out to play and to activity areas daily. taken in Saariselka, Finland, North Pole by @thatdoggonelady

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13 days ago

Rein on me!

I didn't just meet a reindeer in Lappi, I got to walk AND feed them. And, learn a lot about reindeers too.

Did you know:
- there are more reindeer than people in Lappi?
- Or that every reindeer is owned/belongs to someone?
- Or that they are semi wild: spending half the year by themselves in the forest, and the other half with their handlers doing walks like these.
- Or that you never ask a herder how many reindeer they have (it's akin to asking someone their age or salary).
- Or that even if they look friendly, you shouldn't pet them.
- Or that their antlers fall out every year but it doesn't hurt them?

It was a fascinating morning.

This stately old man is Porsche, thus named because of his speed on a sleigh. Despite his age, he is still one of the fastest reindeer there.

Swipe to see us walk together, and to watch me feed him his favourite food, lichen. taken in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland by @thatdoggonelady

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15 days ago

It's kinda chic to spend time with your (cousin) sister.

I spent my 30th birthday with Valerie in Europe (my first Euro trip) and we had champagne and danced at ruin pubs and drank too much prosecco and absinthe, and had coffee at the most beautiful cafe in the world.

I knew I had to spend some part of my 40th year with her again. And I was fortunate that the Universe heard my wish. I got to meet her and Otto's little one (ah, I love holding babies), squish their dogs, forage in the forests, pick apples, eat home cooked food, meet extended family, do sauna sessions, attend a film festival premier, go museum hopping, enjoy evening walks and talk. A LOT.

Being in different continents feels awful but it only ensures every moment we spend together is that much more beautiful ❣️ by @thatdoggonelady

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16 days ago

Once upon a night in Chandigarh.

I was one of the journalists invited for a special 1947: The Taste of What Remains at Ikk Panjab, Chandigarh. An evening of poetry (I didn't understand much but it was moving), music and song. And, of course, absolutely delicious food. A butter chicken I am currently obsessed with.

The evening was designed to showcase the enduring legacy of Partition and hiw cukture indeed transcends borders.

Personally, it was a memorable experience, beautifully curated by Vernika @delectable_reveries, enhanced by the warm hospitality of @rajan_sethi @deepikasethii.

Bonus: I got to meet friends and writers from across India, and dress up in a saree (thanks to Insia and Ruth) 🌟 by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago

#FutureOfFlavour: For Joanna Lobo (@thatdoggonelady), Freelance Journalist and Consultant Editor with Goya Journal, clean eating isn’t about restriction. It’s about knowing where your food comes from, cooking with intention, and making space for “happy calories” that nourish the body while bringing genuine pleasure to the plate.

[Joanna Lobo, clean eating, Indian food traditions, healthy eating, wellness trends, happy calories] by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago

Fire in the mountains!

And I ran towards it.

Eating a meal at Naar wasn't on my bingo card for the year, but the stars aligned to make it happen. And, I couldn't be happier.

Enough and more has been said about Naar and the accolades and awards are well deserved. Even the snubs don't matter because Naar will always get customers because they get the basics right.

The food was exquisite, the service was exemplary, and the drinks were excellent (especially the wine list...shoutout to the lovely sommelier, @sonakshi.soni).

There's little I can add that hasn't already been said. The meal made me happy. It was satisfying in the most comforting way.

One of the best meals of my life, without a doubt.

Thank you @prateeksadhu @aaashinakaul for your warmth and generosity star ✨️

The most unexpected drink I've tried: made with fish bones and mustard and served with ice with a fosh bone in it.

My favourite: trout roe (there was a lot of trout on the menu!) with banana custard and banana honey. Shouldn't make sense but it does.

A snapshot of my meal = a taste of the mountains.

My treasured dining companion 💜 taken in Kasauli Hills, Himachal Pradesh by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago

Jury duty!

My first time as jury for the @travelandleisureindia Delicious Dining Awards was a hoot.

I was thrilled to join an illustrious team of folks from the F&B space. Thank you @meherbee for deeming me worthy!

It was a fun night, made better by the many gorgeous women who gave me their company and attention ✨

Swipe to see MANY pictures of me killing it in a saree 🥻(special thanks to the lovely @shubhra_shankhwalker for lending me her style) ❤️

My new friend, the very lovely Sonakshi. We met, for the third time as she reminds me, at Naar in Kasauli. And now, she's slowly becoming an important part of my life.

My first time on stage presenting an award!

The jury for DDA was quite the illustrious group. It did feel quite surreal to stand on stage with them.

My darling @vichitaa is not just a wonderful chef but also the sweetest person. I am so glad we connected and became friends.

So happy to have this one in Goa!

Chandigarh reunion in Delhi!

Is there anything better than being surrounded by some fabulous women ❤️ taken in Le Meridian New Delhi by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago

In honor of India’s Independence Day, we’re celebrating the country’s complexity with six stories from our archives, exploring caste, migration, tradition, and identity through lenses you might not expect.

All six stories are available to our Allies and Nerds — log in to read. Link in bio.

📸 Aliaksandr Mazurkevic

The God in the Mirror
by @sugatomukherjee1161 / Summer 2021

In a sacred grove in India, Sugato Mukherjee witnesses Theyyam — a metamorphosis that subverts caste divisions.

📸 Sugato Mukherjee

The Crucible of Patrimony
by @polkajunction / Winter 2022

Keepers of a lost art captivate Meenakshi J, who heads to her ancestral village in southern India to get immersed in the alchemy of Chola bronze idols.

📸 Meenakshi J

The Many Futures of Chellanam
by @colindaileda / Winter 2023

In Chellanam, India, Colin Daileda introduces us to rising seas, uncertain futures, and residents who have taken matters into their own hands.

📸 Haripriya Shaji / Pacific Press

Seaweed Queen
by @thatdoggonelady / Summer 2024

Along the sandy shores of Goa, India, Gabriella D’Cruz seeks a culinary revolution, but can she change her nation’s palate?

📸 Rebecca D’Costa

Truth is the Timeless One
by @garysinghsj / Spring 2025

An unexplainable feeling catapults Gary Singh to Jalandhar, India, where Partition’s sudden borders and mass migration left marks seen and unseen.

📸 Courtesy of Gary Singh

Remembering a Nomadic Sky
by Mir Seeneen / Winter 2026

If age old traditions fall in a forest, the silence is deafening. The Gujjars and Bakarwals of Kashmir seek new routes forward amid cultural uprooting.

🖊️ Radha Ramachandran by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago

#AsiaSpecial | Almaty could well be the setting of Bible’s ‘Garden of Eden’, abundant as it is in lush green spaces and wild apple trees.

@thatdoggonelady maiden visit made her fall in love with the city. She takes us through its rich history and culture, a fascinating array of food, and a diverse and breathtaking landscape. There are parks on every corner, a wide variety of cuisines on offer, art galleries hidden away in basements, walking streets bustling with karaoke, and bathhouses to ease all aches and pains.

In addition, the Kazakhi people are a friendly bunch, particularly towards Indians – many grew up watching Bollywood films and will speak a few Hindi words or sing old songs, like actor Mithun Chakbraborty’s Jimmy Jimmy, she finds.

The favourite part of the city: the metro stations. Almaty Metro’s stations are a piece of art. They are the epitome of the city: unexpected, and beautiful.

If Central Asia’s cultural melting pot intrigues you, head to Almaty and bookmark this itinerary read. A city where Soviet architecture, Kazakh traditions, contemporary art and a new creative energy come together.

Read The Full Story: www.travelhandmade.com

Words By: Joanna Lobo @thatdoggonelady

Photo Credits: @arasanspacomplex @cameo.serrao @theritzcarltonalmaty

Additional Credit: @visitalmatykz

#TravelHandmade #visitalmaty#discoverkazakhstan taken in Almaty, Kazakhstan by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago

My maiden (birthday!) trip to Nepal surprised me in many ways, especially when it came to cuisine. I ate momos almost daily, fell in love with the steamed yomari, tried some delicious cocktails with Himalayan ingredients, and tried every kind of Asian cuisine. Unsurprisingly, many places came with a gorgeous view.

I have to say, much of my knowledge of Nepali cuisine is thanks to stories I have edited for Goya!

— Goya editor Joanna Lobo @thatdoggonelady shares her recommendations for the best eats in Nepal. Swipe for more.

Tungba at Potala Tibetan Restaurant, Pokhara

My first taste of the fermented millet beverage made from finger millets was at another family-run place. Went there twice, befriended the family, including the son, Rupesh (who loves masala dosas and idlis) and their dog.

Chicken souvlaki at Greeko Wrap, Pokhara

A tiny family-run place doing affordable and filling wraps. The owner lived in Athens for nine years and makes the pita and tzatziki himself. Good food and an origin story to boot: what more do I need as a food writer?

Pista gelato at Caffe Concerto in Pokhara

No better feeling on a rainy day than eating gelato under blooming jacaranda blossoms. Gelato sourced from what claims to be the first Italian restaurant in the city.

Veg chhoila or achaar at a street stall in Ason Bazaar

What makes eating vegetarian food memorable? Eating it off paper plates, sitting squished amid strangers on a rickety wooden bench.

A meal at Barang Community Homestay

A community homestay where I got to see farm-to-table as a way of life, not just a trend.

Yomari at Baiga Vutoo in Bhaktapur

This conch-shaped, rice flour dumpling, filled with molasses, became my favourite dish on the trip. It reminded me of patoli in Goa.

Halwa roll at Lovely Milk Bar, Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur's favourite breakfast is a paratha slathered with jam, and pappad. It shouldn't make sense, but it really just works.

Buff momos at Mountain View Cafe, Pokhara

The rare cafe that lives up to its name. I sat here just to breathe in the view of the majestic Phewa Lake and beyond, the peaks of the Annapurna range.

Juju dhau at Ramalaya in Bhaktapur

Rich, creamy, alm by @thatdoggonelady

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3 months ago

#DDA2026: Get ready! ✨ Our jury has a special message for you as we count down to the Delicious Dining Awards 2026. Stay tuned for all the delicious details, exciting moments, and everything you need to know. You won’t want to miss what’s coming next!

Video edited by: Ankush Chaudhary (@ankushchaudharyofficial)

[Delicious Dining Awards 2026, Travel and Leisure India, India dining awards, best restaurants in India, Indian food, culinary awards] by @thatdoggonelady

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2 months ago