Kumbalgarh, Rajasthan, India 21st December 2013 The Great Wall of India. Yes, you heard that right. India has its very own version of the great wall in Rajasthan. This thirty-six-kilometer-long wall surrounding the Kumbalgarh fort is the second longest continuous wall in the world after its more illustrious peer in China. But unlike the Chinese …
Varkala, Kerala, India 26th January 2015 Originally a small temple town, the South Keralan town of Varkala is fast turning into a favourite backpacker hangout. And I would attribute this to what is called ‘the Varkala Formation’ – a steep red cliff rising adjacent to a small strip of beach having excellent views of the …
Oudtshoorn, South Africa 23rd June 2016 I clicked this picture when I visited the town of Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape region of South Africa. It is unofficially called ‘the Ostrich Capital’ of the world, and this title is not without merit. With its booming ostrich industry, this town is all about the the world’s …
Zurich, Switzerland 31st October 2008 They say a dog is a man’s best friend. While I can’t comment on the verity of that quote (not being a big fan of pets myself), I found that Europeans in general definitely believe in it strongly. What else would explain the high population of pet dogs across Europe? …
Ramanagara, Karnataka, India 22nd February 2014 Idli is undoubtedly my favorite breakfast. This traditional South India cake made of rice batter is hugely popular not only in the South but many other parts of India. I was aware of many variations of the traditional circular Idli, but stopping at a restaurant on the Bangalore-Mysore highway …
Kas, Turkey 7th October 2014 In India, we have an age-old superstition that if someone is envious of you, bad luck and misfortune will befall your friends and family unless you protect yourself from the ‘evil eye’ by following certain practices. Though superstitions are generally very culture-specific, I found it fascinating that the very same …
Masai Mara, Kenya 12th June 2016 Sunsets are undeniably beautiful to look at. But witnessing one in the backdrop of the vast Savanna Plains of East Africa, is a truly special moment. I had the privilege of having that moment during our safari in the Masai Mara Reserve. We were just heading back to our …
Bergen, Norway 2nd September 2015 John Lennon might not have referenced ‘Norwegian Wood’ in a flattering way in the famous Beatles song, but you cannot help but admire the pretty little wooden houses that are seen in the Norwegian towns and countryside. In Bergen, there are many neighborhoods with traditional wooden houses and I actually got …
Hanoi, Vietnam 27th September 2012 Anyone who has traveled to Vietnam would definitely remember the galore of scooters on its streets. I remember the hordes of two-wheelers roaring past us on the narrow roads of the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The sheer abundance of scooters on Vietnamese roads makes you wonder – where are the …
3rd September 2015 Gundvangen, Norway Much before the advent of the modern trolls that we know of on the internet, there were supernatural beings called 'trolls' in Scandinavian mythology. Usually depicted as ugly, scary, human-like beings, these original trolls are a big part of Norse folklore. No wonder that it’s kind of hard to miss …
23rd August 2015 Bern, Switzerland While roaming around Bern’s historic center, I stumbled upon a giant outdoor chess set. A riveting game was on between two evenly matched players who had contrasting styles – one man who was always in a hurry and the other who was calm and took his time to make a …
11th March 2013 Hampi, Karnataka, India Animals have traditionally been accorded a special place in Hindu mythology as vehicles of gods or deities themselves. That is the reason some animals are considered sacred even today in Hindu culture. Apart from the ‘Holy Cow’ which is considered the most sacred of all animals, elephants are a …
The Wandering Buddha 