India through my eyes - A performer at a temple festival

Many years ago, I had started this series called India through my eyes and had posted a few images ..The posts became a bit irregular and slowly died..When I started my 365 project a few months ago, I decided to revive it again and so - here I am with the first post

India is filled with Gods, temples , festivals and legends . Here is a temple festival which happens on my street every year in Bangalore , when a performer dons the role of Veerabhadra, an angry form (avtaar) of Lord Shiva . Was quite amazed to find some locals,  falling at his feet and seeking his blessings .

Skywatch - Standing tall

With all due respect to John Keats, my favourite poet - " The poetry of the earth (and sky ) is never dead.."

To see some brilliant skies around the world, visit Skywatch

Top Places to Get Married Around the World 2

To help you with this problem here are the top places to get married around the world:

• Mauritius. A place where you can enjoy your event with great accommodations offered from luxurious hotels here. It’s an island primarily called “the island that inspired heaven”. People intend to visit here every summer because of the white sand beaches.

• Megeve, France. Couples who like to spend their event from snowy to sandy destinations; megeve in France is what I meant. It’s a place where there are many luxury hotels and restaurants which provide precious services.

• Nevis, British West Indies. For couples who wish to spend their wedding celebration at seaside with beautiful volcanic ash beaches, full service resorts and easy to get to is the Nevis, British West Indies. It actually the same with Caribbean place which offer stunning sunset and sunrise every day perfect for your wedding event.

• New York. New York City has been one of popular places all over the world. It’s been used by many movies as their main setting so as people who wish to get married here. Many couples are interested to spend their memorable event here because of the luxurious stuff provided by the city.

• Orlando, Florida. An ideal place to visit together with your partner, Orlando, Florida is a perfect place for wedding celebration. With exotic gardens and waterfront pavilions, there’s no place like Orlando, Florida that suits to any celebrations.

• Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Riviera Nayarit, Mexico is considering as one of beautiful places in Mexico. It’s a perfect place to get married because of pretty pacific coast offer. It’s not a famous place in Mexico but it’s a place where couples are perfect to celebrate their special days.

• San Diego, California. When it comes to wedding celebration, it’s been always essential to consider the weather of the place you wanted celebrate your event. San Diego, California is a place where you can set your wedding celebration along with white sand beaches to spend your honeymoon afterwards.

Heritage Hotel Bangkok: Easy Access to Bangkok's Business District and Shopping Area

Bangkok is a tourist heaven. Millions and millions of tourists visit this famed city of Thailand every year. This is because all kinds of fun and interesting activities to do are found there. Cruising, cycling, boxing, sunbathing, shopping and strolling - what more can you ask for! If you want the day and night to be as filled as ever, then Bangkok is definitely the place to visit.

You'll never run out of activities in this lively city. Beguiling temples like Wat Pho and Wat Arun expose Bangkok's exotic taste and visual delight in a certain unique way so it is a must to visit these sacred historical attractions. Also, Vimanmek Mansion and Jim Thompson House are worth seeing together with the Grand Palace Complex. If you are planning to stay in Bangkok only for a day, then you would not want to miss the said places. Bangkok is also famous for its shopping centers - MBK, Emporium, Siam Paragon, Central World, Chidlom, Sukhumvit, etc. Everything that you're looking for are offered there, and these shopping areas will surely satisfy your item cravings.

If you want to indulge yourself more in the city's history, you can visit the National Museum. Artifacts and antiques that you once thought never existed are there. Or if you want to relax yourself from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can visit parks and zoos. The snake farm is worth visiting for you get to encounter different types of the said reptile in all different colors and sizes.

Getting all the fun and enjoyment you want also depends on the hotel where you are going to stay. Easy access to the city center is a must especially for tourists. One of the most recommended hotels for visitors is Heritage Hotel Bangkok. Each unit contains LCD screen TV, satellite TV channels, refrigerator, mini bar and snack, coffee-tea making facility, hairdryer, private bathroom, rain shower, bath tub, hot & cool water and other amenities, all made available for your convenience. Heritage Hotel Bangkok is located between Silom and Sathorn Road, which is very near the business district and shopping area of the city.

Top Places to Get Married Around the World 1

Seeing our self marrying with the man we love is definitely a successful fulfillment for us. The fact that getting marriage is an expensive agenda, people are striving just to make their marriage special and elegant. Many want to spend their marriage outside of the country especially at romantic countries. There are lots of destinations offer by online that you can check on if you really wanted to celebrate your engagement events. 

 

To help you with this problem here are the top places to get married around the world:

• Amalfi Coast, Italy. One of the visited countries is Italy. It is a perfect place to marry since there are many old churches to spend their special moments. Amalfi coast in Italy is a seaside restaurant which allows you to see the stunning ocean. You and your partner will never forget your day.
• Las Vegas, Nevada. A perfect destination for any event is Las Vegas, Nevada. There are many scenic beauties around here which you can spend your engagement party or even wedding celebration.
• Maui, Hawaii. One of tourist place that visited by many individual is Maui, Hawaii. It is a location which you can spend your wedding celebration. After your event, you can stay for a night and enjoy the white sand beaches offer.

Cheap Hotel Rates

Planning for vacation trip needs some consideration to avail. One consideration to acquire when deciding for summer trip is to find cheap hotel rates accommodations. It not just save your money but gives you extra money for your souvenir items. Therefore, it is always necessary to look for cheap hotels before your trip. Reservation for hotels is always available using online. It keeps your expenses low.

To help you determine the best cheap hotels here are some tips to keep in mind before traveling:

• The destinations. Hotel rates vary from the place you are planning to visit. You need to acquire information about the destination you are going to. You have to consider the location before you check in. If your destination is a popular place then you have to expect that most of hotels are offering high rates. But you should be clever enough to find and search the best hotel. You can have this by searching information about the hotel.
  

• Booked early. Just like items, if it is summer, beach resort is in demand as well as hotels. The best solution to have cheap hotel rates is booked as early as possible. As much as possible booked few months prior to your trip so that you can reserve cheap one. Hotel rates during summer vacation can be very in demand, meaning hotels have high rates at the same time. So, it is always good to booked first.
  

• Search online. When you already have your destination then your next move is to find your hotel to stay. Using search engine, you are able to find cheap hotel in your location. Internet let you go anywhere around the world by reading their information and about. It exactly helps you wherever you wanted to go.

Shatabdi musings - from jolarpettai - part 1

Sitting in an ac coach of a train and looking out thro the window , I feel like I'm living in an ivory tower watchg the world go by - yet the world outside seems to be headed nowhere - two lone people bicycling their way in opposite directions in a vast open green field ; a railway crossing where an assortment of cycles and bikes are waiting for us to pass so that they can get on with their lives : two drongos surveying the scene from the wire and some bikes and cycles parked below an old mandapa . After a montage of picket fences, old and new towns, vast open spaces, fields, dusty buildings, some huts and encroachments, lakes and trees , the train pulls up at jolarpettai for an unscheduled stop . The smell of cold vadai and upma comes in as breakfast is served .

The old and the young, the sleepy and the silent, the restless and the curious, the bored and the bores , all wake up suddenlty to attack the cold food, not necessarily out of hunger , but just to fulfil the need to do some activity .

A curious kid is still at it - the questions keep coming - idhu traina busa , namba eppo madras povam, nee enna sapre ( is this a train or a bus, when we reach madras - ok the kid said chennai , what are you eating ?)

Some phones ring and loud voices fill the air . A man switches effortlessly between kannada and tamil giving some instructions , another is talking about blackberry phones, the girl next to me is singing besura with her headphones on , aunty close by is reading her favourite magazine .

I shut my mind and look out , but the sun is shining right through . I draw the curtains, close my eyes, put the phone on silent and try to sleep or at least day dream . Another three hours to go to reach Madras .

PS - This is my first ever live post from a train and its the first time I have used my phone  - Blackberry to blog . Thankfully, the network is very good . As I travel between Bangalore - Madras (Chennai) every month , I hope to make Shatabdi Musings a monthly feature  - hopefully you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy posting them 

Five good reasons to chill on a holiday

I don many roles when I travel - A backpacker sometime, a budget traveller next, a birder/wildlifer sometime , a heritage enthusiast  , a culture monger and sometimes an explorer . I am also a lazy bum and that  is a confession. My moods change along with the destinations and of late, I am addicted to the form of travel which has CHILL written all over it .And I am going to enjoy it while it lasts .

So why is chilling a good thing on a holiday ? Here are my reasons

1. Its good for your nerves. Even better, its good for the nerves of the person who is with you. And believe me , it helps digestion too. For someone like me who has a delicate stomach, a chilled out holiday keeps  acidity at bay !

2. On a more serious note,  travelling without an agenda helps you to discover more about a place or the people or even the culture .Many a time,  I have met interesting people who have shared far more interesting stories. If you want to travel with a purpose - say , you have come to see a tiger and then you end up seeing a jungle cat, you are bound to be disappointed . But if you travel with just the intention of just travelling , then any discovery is good - even if its five days old elephant dung

3. It keeps the surprise going. Sometimes you may just find the beautiful bird singing next to your window and that makes you jump in joy. You would have probably spent the last few birding trips, waking up at unearthly hours, plucking leeches from your feet , while looking for the bird all over the place.  Everything about the chilled out trip is a delight factor and it keeps the romance of travel going

4. Your itinerary is flexible . If the weather is bad, you can read a book or soak in  the mist around you. You can walk into a local eatery or a coffee shop and enjoy some warm conversations . Do whatever pleases you and spoil yourself in the freedom ..

5. It makes you savour your holidays more . Sometimes when you are running from one destination to another  and from one must see spot to another, you may just wonder where the holiday disappeared . Here you live every moment and eventually its those moments that count

So, there you are - would you like to chill on your next trip ?

So where would you like to be this Monday ?

I would like to be here - where I was over the last weekend -up in the hills , deep inside the forests,  on a cliff enjoying a 360* view of hills and watching the mist come and go ...

How was your weekend ? 

Top Beautiful Churches

There are many beautiful churches around the world nowadays. In fact, some countries are continuing to build their churches today with modern things and stuff. Whether you are religious or not, you can appreciate a church if it is made beautifully and elegantly. Every country has historical churches serve as their landmark. And most of it is created with unique designs and shapes. Catholic people are the most persons who love to visit churches especially if they are in other countries. Philippines is a country which has many historical and old churches. The place is popular because of these old buildings that were preserved for tourist people. Though most of it is not so big, traveler are still want to check and see the churches with their own self to look at the spectacular staff from Spaniards time. Cathedral churches are the common name called by churches here in Philippines.

Another place to visit with pretty churches is in Italy Rome. There, you can see different churches that made of different designs and styles. Vatican Italy is the most popular church around the world. Everyone is wishing to be here since it is the home of popes. There are number of churches here which particularly operate modernly with huge buildings. It’s definitely good to visit Vatican City if you are a church lover.

Spend Holidays by Traveling

Planning for destination alone is a wonderful job for you. A singles holidays have become popular for most of people right now. Whether you are alone in life or have partner, you can always do your trip anytime you want to spend with your own self. Such trip called singles holidays. Most of single traveler only wants to breathe from problems or want to explore new ambiance alone. It is the most popular for all ages nowadays.

Increasing number of establishments now are offering single tour because of the popularity of trip. It gives individual chance to go alone at their favorite destinations. It also gives them confidence to travel bringing their self alone to different tourist spots. If you like to travel alone that you never been before, one great tip for you is to search information from online search engine website about the place you are going to. It is apparently the best way to travel without anyone.

The best days to travel is during holidays. And the quickest way to get to your destination is traveling by air. One great place to spend holidays is to go beaches and resorts around the world. There are different destinations right for you.

Here comes the tourist season..

When I was young and naive and believed everything the books told me , I learnt that there were just  two seasons - summer and winter or coming from Madras, it used to be the hot summer and the cool summer as elders in the family used to joke. Those were the days when life was in black and white . It was either Rajinikanth or Kamalahassan ,  thumps up or goldspot, idli or dosa..

I learnt about the third season a bit later in the day and that, believe me was an experience . When I stepped out of a tiny room after an entire night of editing and saw an office flooded with knee deep water , with old food floating around , I knew there was a third season called the monsoons.  It was Bombay that made me experience the fury of the Arabian Sea, the lethargy of the local government as I shivered with malaria , while the roads got flooded year after year . It used to rain heavily in Madras too, but that usually coincided with the winters,sorry cool summer .

But then, seasons to me have always meant weather conditions  - hot,dry, humid,wet, stormy, cold..but  later it came to be festive and fashionable too. And finally it seeped into the world of travel . The holiday season, the tourist season, the honeymoon season soon gave way to the Kerala season, Goa season, Rajasthan season . Every tourist worth his salt had to put his stamp in these places. You need to have those photographs against the Taj in the background, else you haven't travelled at all. 

When I started travelling, I was asked if I was going to Goa for new years eve and I would say no.( I still havent, but thats a different story ) They asked me if I had been to Jaisalmer and again the answer was negative. Thankfully I had been to the Kerala backwaters and I eventually redeemed myself by heading to Agra and got a glimpse of The Taj -whew ! that was a sign of relief.

I dare not tell them that I havent seen a single tiger or leopard in the forest, nor have I been to Corbett or Kanha. My last visit to Kanyakumari was probably when I was 15 to see the sunrise .. And yet, the eyebrows are raised..am I really a traveller ? " Maybe shes just a pretender , not really been anywhere." came the voices..

So who are these people , you may ask..People who believe that their holidays should be a list of only must see places as they keep ticking them off their bucket list. I see nothing wrong with it really as I have my own bucket list too and I will probably visit all the places mentioned above "whenever I feel like .." And that to me , makes me a nomad.  

I choose my destinations - I travel where I want to, when I want to - not because its the season to go there. I travel within my own city, around the outskirts of the city and sometimes to a getaway outside the city . And when I feel like its time to have a date with a destination , I check out my bucket list and go..

Meanwhile I realize I am a bit outdated still. Seasons have changed again -  you now have a tiger season, an angling season and a migratory season too and I will soon be hibernating to run away from all of this 

Since when did travel become so stressful, I wonder ! 

So where would you like to be this Monday ?

In Pulicat - not just looking at birds, but at some ruins ..Pulicat has a rich history from ancient times to colonial era and you can still find some of the monuments and houses around,though in crumbles . When asked where the fort is, I was shown a marshland with trees and you could squint through the woods to see some bricks..Here is a door,sorry window closed to the past

Guest post - Enjoying Toronto from the perspective of a local

Hello folks  - here is a guest post after a very long time  . Fellow traveller Priyank Thatte writes about Toronto and shares some lovely photographs here  . You can follow Priyank through his blog, twitter and facebook profiles too 

Toronto skyline - CN Tower and the Sky Dome being the distinguishing landmarks

Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the capital city of the Ontario Province, has been my home for over four years now. Top tourist sights include the CN tower, museums and art galleries, and so on. But like most other cities in the world, Toronto's 'real' charm lies in its other, ordinary, non touristic areas. My single most favorite leisurely activity in the city is to randomly walk around and discover new neighbourhoods. It's amazing what you end up finding!

Street signs

The name "Toronto" is derived from a native language and its exact meaning is being debated to be either "the place where trees stand in the water" or "the place of meetings." From 1793-1834, Toronto, the capital of Upper Canada was called York. The neighbourhoods around just to the east of downtown are identified today as ŇOld TorontoÓ. This block is relatively less developed and still retains some of the 20th century feel to it.
Distillery District - A lane in the Distillery
Located on the edge of Old Toronto neighbourhood is the Distillery District - formerly world's largest whiskey distillery. Now the industrial activity has ceased and the old factory buildings have been converted to a beautiful space filled with art galleries, boutiques, specialty restaurants, etc. It's a great car-free zone for getting in touch with Canadian artists and spend a day in outdoor cafŽs - very popular with the tourists too.
Streetscape - Just another street 
Toronto streetscape is filled with murals of all possible shapes and sizes. From the random punk graffiti to exquisite promotional murals, the city was leave you quite impressed. Unlike several cities in the USA, Toronto's graffitis are considered to be an expression of art, not a sign of a run down neighbourhood. In fact, every year the city holds a graffiti festival, during which a whole alley is opened up for local artists to get creative with their cans of spray. The result? A free open air museum showcasing our talent all year long!
Toronto's architecture is mixed, but most of it has been influenced by European and US styles and ideas. Some distinctly French and British influences can be seen on some of the older neighbourhoods and houses. Styles vary depending on the income level of the residents and some of the social housing blocks are simply functional modernist high rises. As per the current trend, latest residential towers being erected in downtown have a distinct green-blue glass look. Building designs of Museums such as the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario museums seem to suggest a growing push towards bolder ideas.
Queen Street tram
Toronto is among the few of cities in the world that still have trams serving core areas. Since I prefer rail over bus, the trams (or "street cars" as we call them) are a nice way to explore the city without too many distractions. The Queen Street route is the longest single route in North America and a a ride in it is quite interesting and educational. As the streetcar passes through residential neighbourhoods to commercial downtown and back to upcoming residential areas, one cannot but admire the transition in scenery.
Street Festivals - Crowds during Nuit Blanche
The city is relatively quieter during winter months with the exception of few festivals, most notable of them being "Nuit Blanche", a French term that means "White Night." On this night, the city gets converted to a museum, celebrating contemporary art and inviting people from all walks of life to appreciate it. Art galleries open their doors, artists setup street exhibits, parks and squares showcase creative productions and the streets gets immensely crowded.
Near Dundas Square
Summer months are packed with festivals with about a dozen activities going on in different parts of the city each weekend. The joy of the sunniest season of the year can be multiplied by attending these celebrations, a lot of which are thematic - Greek food festival, Indian bazaar, Gay parade, Bicycle rides, Marathons, Jazz festival, and what not.
CN Tower and rail lines from Bathurst bridge
As I write this article, I realise that I have only scratched the surface of what makes Toronto's neighborhoods so charming. Have you visited Toronto yet?

Skywatch - The journey so far in 2011

I have been travelling a bit around India in the last three months - Forests,lakes, hill stations, birds,flowers, temples, , monuments, forts and people ..the list goes on. I have not had the time to blog much , but here are some skies from some of the places I have visited

It started with a birding holiday in Thattekadu and then to the tea plantations of Munnar

Next came Goa with its birds and snakes - a truly wild experience . Here is a purple heron that we spotted when we went birding in Zuari

More birding again near Sira in Karnataka where we saw some painted storks in a small village called Kaggaladu.

Then came Sira's fort and Dargah and Sibi's Narasimha temple .

Back to Tamil Nadu in March with birding in Pulicat lake and the ancient Dutch cemetery in the town

A visit to Nilgiris and her hill stations  followed . A visit to the Lawrence School., Lovedale, the alma mater of my dad was on the cards

And thereafter I went to Thirumalai to see some ancient jaina shrines and cave paintings

Madras or Chennai has been my regular port of halt in the last few months. The Marina has been my focus for a while and while I am at home in Bangalore, I have been treated to some gorgeous sunsets as well.

Where would you like to be ? To see more gorgeous skies around the world,  visit  Skywatch 

Visit Europe

There are numbers of destinations all over the world. One of most visited countries nowadays are the places of Europe. Mountain, cuisines, farm yards, road side taverns, majestic and cultural buildings are found in these places. Most of people attracted with these places because of wonderful scenic beauties offered. Europe has become one of the targets for any vacations. Whether you want to visit Europe places during summer or ordinary days, you can surely go there anytime you want because of the availability of tourist spots daily. Group of families, couples, and friends are most of people who are always choosing Europe places.

Planning to visit Europe needs some considerations to follow. One is to know the season. You need to pick season that suits to the attractions you wanted to see. The usual month popularly visiting time here in Europe is from April to June, September and October. These brackets of months are the perfect time to tour around the Europe places. To make sure that you are able to go to Europe safely and secure, you have to get some information about the places you want to visit. Such doing is a very helpful way to have right guidelines. You can get these guidelines from books or search from online.

Where would you like to be this Monday ?

The Marina by moonlight . I am very much in Bangalore this Monday, but am headed to Madras/Chennai tomorrow..As summer sets in and both cities are getting hotter,I wouldnt mind some cool sea breeze ..

European River Cruises

The newest river cruise in Europe is now available. If you intend to travel along with your family, you can choose what type of cruise you like to ride. Well, there are different new river cruise. Below are the following.

Amadeus waterways. The cruise ship is cruising at the river of Europe, Russia, china and Egypt. They provided deluxe ships for the English people only. It has two elegant cruises which is the MS Amadagio and MS Symphony. The two types are operating Europe river cruises on the Rhine, Moselle, and Danube in holand, and Belgium.

Avalon Waterways. The newest cruise ship in Europe is the Avalon Waterways. It is privately owned by tour company Globus. It has a larger cabin room in comparison to other cruise ship. It offers European cruises on the Moselle, Danube, Rhine, Black sea Russia, and tulip time cruises in spring.

Peter Dielmann Cruises. Dielmann cruises have also one of the largest cabin cruises. It is owned by German company that mainly focuses on quality. They are not just focusing in English people as other cruises offers. The company offers its Europe river cruise programs on the Rhine, Rhone, Saone, Moselle, Danube, Elbe and more.

New York City Travel Hot Spots

Gay bars in New York City is one of the most popular destinations for gay people. It composes of impressive DJs that providing sexy music’s for everyone. The bars here had usually pole dancers for entertaining. The lights are all exotic that can make a person dance surrounded with hot gay people. All the bars are operated every night till morning. If you love to go at gay bar that is attached in hotels, restaurants or coffee shops, New
York has these bars. Music has different kind in which you can ask some request. Whether you like the Latin or salsa, DJ will guarantee your request. There are bars here for adults and young also. Therefore, all ages are free to come here as long as it will not do anything like bad staff. Gay bars are open daily but the hottest night is in Saturday and Friday.

However, if you are looking for a gay bar that only serves coffee or classy drinks, you can choose gay friendly hotels. The surroundings are perfectly luxurious and pretty. It has a beautiful swimming pool if you like to have some night swimming with your friends. It eventually makes your night unforgettable and enjoyable.

Where would you like to be this Monday ?

For a change, I would like to be no where - just be at home,enjoying a sumptuous Ugadi  lunch at my in laws place and gaze at sunsets from my balcony, like I did over the weekend

The Delights at Trinity Beach Accommodation

Trinity Beach Accommodation is the newest spots located just a short drive north of Cairns city. The beach is perfect for any group of people whether family group, couples, married, and group of friends. Each room is dedicated for people who are basically beach lovers. It has different styles and designs to choose from. The terraces offering stunning views over the Pacific Ocean and rainforest clad mountain views. Every individual attracts the blue ocean water while the room is freshly decorated airconditioned studio rooms. It is listed as one of the cleanest beach in the place with vast array of beach activities. It provides tour desk experts to accompany those visitors in touring the place. The service is free for everyone.

With its natural resources and views from the outdoor room, you will be relaxed village-like atmosphere. For the whole day tour, a group of people will be given the chance to visit the Daintree and Cape Tribulation Rainforest. Under the Cape Tribulation Rainforest, the reef, Mossman Gorge, Daintree River and Daintree Centre are the spots to be visited. Aside from it, it offers dinner cruise for the whole night.

If you are fond of historical reviews, you can learn about their traditional beliefs and customs. The park will let you know the historical information of the Tjupukai and Yirrganydji people.

Skywatch - climbing up hill on a hot summer day

We were about four hours from Madras(Chennai ) in Thiruvannamalai district in Thirumalai . This is an ancient Jain heritage site and we were here to look for rock caves , cave paintings and old temples of Jains . I will post a detailed article in some time, but I took these pictures as we climbed uphill to see a 18 feet monolith of Neemnatha , the 22nd Teerthankara and a few other temples  . It was noon and the sun was rather merciless  , but the trip was well worth it ..

For more summer and winter skies around the world ,visit Skywatch