Make Way to Bora- Bora Island

Are you looking for something new and fresh? Do you want to spend your vacation in a place where you will experience nothing but the cool breeze, golden sunset and clear crystal water? Make way to Bora- Bora Island the new tourist destination that will surely give you the satisfaction and recreation that you need.

Bora – Bora Island can be found in the Leward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. The name Bora- Bora comes from an ancient word Pora – Pora which means “first-born”. The island of Bora- Bora is a rich place perfect for romantic getaway. The verdant slopes and valleys, white sand beaches, blue-crystal like waters, coral gardens and its sweet atmosphere is ideal for lover’s hub. In the island you can also see the different accommodations that will cater and treat you as royals as you stay in the island. You can choose from overwater bungalows, villas and resorts.

Bora – Bora is also an island of excitement and adventure. You can enjoy the island with different activities such as snorkeling, diving, jet skiing and sunset cruising. You can even shop in its local and international stores where you can buy Tahitian pearls, perfumes, Oils, and wood handcrafts.

If you want more than a taste of respite, go out and try Bora- Bora Island where you can find almost everything. Bora – Bora Island is worth a visit!

Inside Story - Shey

Standing amidst the countless chortens or stupas that are scattered around Shey, I heard a foreign tourist narrate a story to her reluctant daughter, who was refusing to climb up the steps leading to the ruined palace of the Ladakhi kings.

And that’s where I heard about the Epic of king Gesar or Kesar as Ladakhis refer to the legendary Tibetan hero sent by the Gods to defeat demons. The mythical gLing ruled by Kesar could possibly be Shey, the capital of the ancient Ladakh kingdom. Even today there are a few artistes around Ladakh and Tibet who can sing their own versions of the 1000 year old ballad.

Located about 14 kms from Leh, Shey ,situated at a height of 11000 feet is now a small village on the banks of the Indus. Tourists flock by here to see the ancient fortifications, palace and the monastery that houses an imposing idol of Sakyamuni, the form of Buddha worshipped by the Sakya clan of saints.

Glittering in copper and gilded gold, this is one of the largest statues in Ladakh built by the king Senggee Namgyal. The lama here tells us that four craftsmen were specially brought from Nepal by Gyal Katun,the king’s mother to create this deity here . “As they had married locally, they were not allowed entry into Nepal, and so even today, their descendants live in a small village called Chiling ,” he says.

The sun is merciless and I collect my breath after having climbed the hillock where the monastery is housed. A row of prayer wheels, mani walls and chortens fill the landscape as I look down .Several dynasties have ruled Shey besides the mythical hero Kesar and his descendants. However historically, Ladakh came under Tibetan rule around the 10th century when Nyima Gon , established his empire here and built probably a few chortens in Shey.

It is ironic, said the lama I was chatting with ,that Tibet itself was in a turmoil after Nyima Gon’s grandfather, king Lang Darma was murdered by a seer for apparently persecuting Buddhists .

The flags flutter in the breeze while the shutterbugs are busy taking pictures of the valley below. I am told the monastery here was built much later by the Namgyal rulers. The lama tells me that somewhere in the middle of 16th century, Ladakh was a divided kingdom ruled from both Shey and Basgo. The king from Basgo , Bhagan deposed the Shey ruler and titled himself Namgyal or Victorious. It was during this dynasty’s reign that power slowly shifted from Shey to Leh, with a palace being built in Leh. And like any erstwhile capital, town, Shey slowly lost its strategic significance .

“When the Nangyals finally lost power to the Kashmir kings and to Mughals, Shey was abandoned .” There was a ring of finality in his tone .I see the tourists rotating the prayer wheel as they climb up. Shey is now just another must see in their sightseeing list .

Published in my column, Inside Story in the Metro Plus, The Hindu

India through my eyes - A fishy story

A poster in Mahabalipuram ..they know how to bring on the fishy tales

Travel Destinations in Korea

It’s been considered the most famous historical tourist attraction side of South Korea entirely includes this ancient capital in Seoul, Buveo, Seoul and Gveongju. Since, most of these international tourists’ individuals came from Seoul in order to experience just both of this modern and classical aspect for Korean culture. With that, number of these natural landmarks considered as an essential attraction sites for the tourist individuals. Since, it’s been considered that these huge aspects are those peaks of Baekdudaegan especially the Seorak-san and this Jiri-san. In addition to it also, the caves of Hwanseongul and Danvang and those beaches that includes this Haeundae and this Mallipo will now be considered as quite popular attraction sites. Apart from this Jeju of South Korea got various smaller islands have also played an essential role for their tourist attractions. Its been considered that excursion are quite common into the southern and western portion of this coast and have also grown along this Ulleung-do off to this eastern coast.

Since, the limited tourism of Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) had already grown just along in the recent years. Aside of that, most of local districts have already holding on various annual festivals upon bringing on tourist individuals from just elsewhere in the nation. Some other famous examples also include the Boryeong Mud Festival and this Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival. One of popular holiday destination in the Eastern Asia portion of this nation is this North Korea. There are quite wonderful tourist destinations in portion of North Korea. Since, visitation of these tourist destination of North Korea during North Korea Tours that will entirely ensure of creating their holiday a mere memory of cherishing it forever. Aside of that, some of the highly well visited tourist destinations of North Korea includes the Wonsan, Northe Hwanghae and Pyongyang.

Creatures of Ladakh - The Kiangs

The kiangs or the Tibetan wild ass abound in Ladakh. We saw quite a few of them near Tso Kar kicking up the dust or grazing around. One particular incident touched us. The kiangs were in a circle near the base of the mountain and I was told by my driver they were mourning the death of one of them.We didnt take the picture of this private moment , but we took quite a few of them as they stared at us before gallopping away

The fleet footed kiangs are seen in herds and there are several in a herd - which can even go up to 300. I learnt that they are very good swimmers and enjoy lakes around grasslands .To read more about the Kiang, click here

Blue Marlin Key West

The Blue Marlin Key West provides detail information about the well recommended accommodations particularly, hotels, and vacation rentals. Not only that, the Blue Marlin Key West also provides mere various vacation packages that would allow the traveler to select upon. The informational lists of accommodation, vacation packages, and car rental packages that been provided by this Blue Marlin Key West serves as good reference for various to choice well in accordance to their financial budge due to the mere fact that they have provided a selection from the most affordable price rating and to the most expensive price ratings. Taking a look to the various Hotels in Key West Florida, various bed and breakfast inns, and vacation rentals offers a mere good relaxation environment that gives its outmost service upon catering the needs of the several traveler or tourist individuals. Aside of that, the watersport, car rental, and flight packages also offer various good choices to refer upon.

Not only that, the Blue Marlin Key West also offers water sports to fishing activities that include dolphin tours, swimming in a warm clear waters that been surrounded by this coral and tropical fishes through the Looe Key Reef Snorkeling, taking a high speed water tour with the Dry Tortugas Ferry, and forego different types of fishing activities. With that, travelers or tourist individuals would not ever regret choosing on this various offers that been provided through this Blue Marlin Key West. Based on the prices ratings with matching offers that been provided from accommodation, transportation, foods or restaurants choice arrangements, water sports and fishing activities; it can be seen that the prices are entirely be affordable and well suited to different individuals who wanted to prefer spending lower cost rating and up to the most expensive expenditure price rating especially for those travelers who wanted to experience a luxurious travel, environmental relaxation and upon doing various leisure activities. The Blue Marlin Key West also provides well experience real estate that supports several tourist individuals who may wanted of investing real estate property or perhaps buying home and commercial properties. With their professional real estate property expertise, it entirely allows and supports some tourist individuals to be able find an affordable real estate property that they may wanted to purchase based on their well financial budget particularly for those individuals who wanted to invest a real estate property for their future retirement and to those tourist or travelers who may want of resided to a new place or for vacation relaxation purposes.

Thanks Ugich Konitari ...

I've received a lot of comments and appreciation for my posts. Most of you have shared experiences, asked queries, given me awards and these motivate me to keep posting. However, I was quite touched when one blogger,Ugich Konitari aka Suranga Date posted this poem as a comment on my previous post .UK said that the first picture inspired her . I am no photograher , nor do I call myself one. My photographs are just accessories to my writing. But coming from UK, who is a prolific blogger , who writes on a variety of subjects, whose posts are highly perceptive and sensitive with her trademark sense of humour - it is a great inspiration. Her blogs ,Strewn Ashes and Gappa are a must read . She introduces herself as " an old lady in the seventh decade of her life " ,but her writing is so fresh and youthful, that you can hardly believe that she is several decades older than me. Here is the poem that she posted .

Valleys and peaks
in life,
Thick with hopes,
worries and questions,
Green foliage
carpeting
the hidden
cracks and roads
in the mountain.

But life goes on,
the wind stops
for no one,
as you look up
at the horizon,
to see
your future life
again with
lots of ups and downs,
but certainly lighter
and lighter
as the clouds
float in
to mist your eyes....