Truth is stranger than fiction

Three-storey-high Buddha statues, stupas and monasteries that look like they have been cut out from fairytale books and yaks with floor-sweeping hair are some of the unusual sights you see when you visit Ladakh, says Swetha Amit http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Tourism/20120125_journey.html We woke to cloudy weather and a slight drizzle. Sincere prayers were rendered in silence to not let the weather play spoilsport on our drive to Pangong Lake. The clouds soon cleared. Snow-covered mountains all around made it feel like Christmas season in the month of August. Great heights : We soon reached the Changla Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in India. This is usually a stopover for many on the way to Pangong Lake. Similar to the Khardungla Pass, the signboard here too was adorned with colourful Buddhist flags. The hot cups of tea served were more than welcome in the freezing temperatures. Going yak yak yak: One of the wonders of the Himalayan region is its exotic fauna. Excitement ...

Three-storey-high Buddha statues, stupas and monasteries that look like they have been cut out from fairytale books and yaks with floor-sweeping hair are some of the unusual sights you see when you visit Ladakh, says Swetha Amit We had an early start as we had a long drive up the mountains ahead of us. It was a sunny day. We noticed something unusual; the mountains seemed to change colour as we drove along. As we climbed the steep passes, we realised how difficult it would be for bikers who were passionate about exploring these steep mountain paths. Approximately four hours later, we reached the Khardungla Pass. On top of the world : A cold gust of wind greeted us as we got out of our vehicles. It was about 18,380 feet above sea level. We were on the highest motorable road in the world. The signboard was decorated by little flags which symbolised the Buddhist culture. We were awed by the magnificent view. All around us were snow-capped mountains, which looked even more beautiful in th...

This year we celebrated Diwali in an unusual manner. We decided to explore the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. After watching the first show of Ra one, we headed towards the airport to catch the evening flight to Jabalpur. After an overnight halt here, we drove down to Bandhavgarh National Park the next morning which took us around 4 hours. We reached there by noon and were escorted to our tree house. The little wooden cottage was perched among the branches with the interiors done up in a tasteful manner. The next 3 days were spent in exploring nature and experiencing the sounds of the jungle like never before. We didnt see the tiger as the big cats hardly ventured out during winters. However we enjoyed the game drives in the forest and the entire expedition of living like birds. A unique experience indeed. We managed to learn a lot about wildlife and birds. Travelling to such remote places no doubt makes you wonder why Wildlife in India isn't given the due credit.

This is an article appearing in the Crest edition of Times of India. An interesting one which talks about how people travel to pursue a hobby. I have given my comments on Scuba Diving. Posting the link below. http://www.timescrest.com/life/travel-the-world-on-your-hobby-horse-3967

The last few weeks have been unbearable. The weather hasn’t been kind enough with its temperatures so high that it feels like Mercury has descended upon earth. Not to mention the monotony and the usual routine that makes you long for a good getaway. What could be more heavenly than that of being near the sea side? Added to which this is one place not many seemed to have explored or visited. So looking forward to yet another travel expedition into these lovely islands. The pictures seem to indicate a promising venture into more than what meets the eye. A list of to do activities have been made and I sure hope that I don’t come away disappointed or accompanied with feelings of regret. The time factor is bound to be a hurdle of course. But like my other trips I hope to manage to make the most of my limited resources-time solely. For some strange reason I have never been so excited about a holiday, considering the pre-vacation syndrome of my earlier travels. Guess the 26/11 incident increa...

It’s true that travel is no doubt the best teacher. Indeed it opens your mind to a gateway of experiences making it seeming almost surreal and yet portrays a reality that leaves you awe inspiring. Exploring into various parts of the world, right from remote corners of poverty, to plush locales of silver sand beaches amidst the heights of luxury denotes an exhilarating experience in different ways. Over the past few years I have travelled like never before on a frequent basis all over the country and abroad. Intriguing and enthralling experiences is what I come away with as souvenirs with each location leaving its imprint in a firm manner. It’s astounding to realize that there’s so much to see and so little time. Every time I return from a vacation, my mind traverses back to the list of to see places already planning for a next getaway. Call it impatience, restlessness or morbidity as it makes me want to live life like there’s no tomorrow. But isn’t it true that while one day everything...

By Swetha Amit http://domain-b.com/goodlife/travel/retreat_waves_20090113.html We have often wondered what life under the sea would be like and were always curious to find out. Our trip to Mauritius gave us an opportunity to find out and we headed out for what promised to be an adventurous trip. Mauritius is known as the star of the Indian Ocean. When we set foot on this paradise island we realized that it more than lived up to its name. Our exciting expedition began with a visit to the lle aux Cerfs (the Isla nd of Deer) situated towards the east of Mauritius. As we drove down the smooth roads, we couldn’t help but admire the lush green sugar cane fields on either side. Before we realized it, we had reached the ocean bay from where we took a speed boat to the Miniature island. On the way to the Miniature island we stopped for parasailing. Riding on a high ! This 20-minute flying high in the air is a must for those seeking a thrill. Gazing down at the ocean from high above enhances th...

-By Swetha Amit http://domain-b.com/goodlife/Travel/jaisalmer_20081202.html We had heard a lot about the land of camels and sand dunes and this created an enchanting vision of Jaisalmer. When we reached Jaisalmer, the view was breathtaking as sand dunes unfolded before us almost like a live encounter with the tales of the Arabian Nights. Situated in the heart of the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer has its own share of sightseeing spots. Not to be outdone with its counterpart regions in Rajasthan, the Havelis, fort and Gadi Sagar Lake add charm to this sandstone city. Added to which, the story behind every monument made it even more intriguing. Starting with the first glimpse of the famous lake, o ur journey began from a learning experience and ended with an adventurous streak. Lake and boat rides The glistening waters of Gadi Sagar Lake in the morning gave it a mystic look. A chirpy narration by the locals gave us knowledge of it not only being a popular tourist attraction but also the only sou...

By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=ecbd1b54-f6e8-4cfe-8227-a41f97b3b04d An adrenalin rush was what we experienced from the moment go. And it certainly wasn’t due to watching a nail biting Indo-Pak cricket finals. The infamous traffic in the maximum city seemed to surmount its usual tenor. This delayed our journey to the airport by a good half an hour and extended the usual one and a half hour one from South Mumbai to a two hour relapse. It was with much anticipation that we looked forward to a rather thrilling vacation in Rajasthan over the long Independence Day weekend. Little did we realize that this break would commence with such over excitement that would result in excess cardiovascular activity giving even a heart patient stiff competition. Our hearts seemed to be ticking at a faster pace than the seconds hand in our watches as we looked at the sluggish traffic in dismay. After what seemed like eternity, we scrambled off our car seats and rush...

-By Swetha Amit http://www.domain-b.com/leisure/Travel/20071218_tree_top.html The Sajan Nature Club situated on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway is an ideal holiday getaway. Spread over 20 acres, the camp offers various adventure sports such as valley crossing, rappelling, mountain biking and kayaking and makes a perfect setting for corporate group training and workshops. When was the last time you climbed a tree and relaxed on its broad branches? As adults, we tend to move further and further away from the simple joys of childhood. Our stressful lives in crowded, dusty metropolises do not help either. Experts vouch for the rejuvenating benefits of short breaks from the predictable routines of our everyday life. Yet, our quest for a retreat is filled with contradictions. We yearn wistfully for the serenity of nature, but find it impossible to live without the conveniences of modern life. We want it to be easily accessible, yet shy away from the obvious tourist centers. It is almost impossi...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=88c87fce-2f35-4ea2-adca-665c316e0dea A three hour drive from Mysore in the frosty morning brought me to the abode of the wild. Bandipur is one of the well renowned national parks situated about 80 km from the city and was the first Tiger reserves in the country. The cold wave of air engulfed me as I got out of the car. It expelled the tinge of drowsiness that accompanied along with the long drive. As I mounted on to the jeep along with the guide, I eagerly awaited the two hour endeavor with the animal kingdom. As I reached the woods, the guide’s hawk eyes immediately fell on some freshly made footprints. Apparently it was noted to be left behind by an animal probably out on its early morning stroll. Retrospection discovered that to be of the mighty tiger’s. Alerting the possibility of seeing the royalty perked my excitement and elation. From there began a cat and mouse game on a literal basis. Following the footpr...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=e23d2d33-9b5b-420a-b850-40d04edec099 Its six months since I got married. As clichéd as it sounds, time flies. Tracing into the memory lane of this half yearly period, brings back pleasant encounters with the sun and sand, not to mention my soul mate on a romantic island. My honey moon in Maldives was indeed an unforgettable experience.I had heard lots about this exotic location haunted by foreigners all through the year and was looking forward to this trip. As I reached this mesmerizing destination, my expectations were far from being dashed. It was love at first sight as I rode on the waves in a speed boat to the resort tucked away deep into the ocean. The massive lagoons of different depths and varied shades of blue and the exploration into the underwater coral garden made it an ideal tropical destination. However these islands had more to it than what meets the eye. Situated to the South West of Sri Lanka, Mald...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=83f7cb9b-4f72-40d0-a64e-e06047d2f6bb Pitter-patter raindrops of the seasonal monsoons welcomed me into their divine abode. As I set foot into this paradise, my feelings were no less than being on seventh heaven. Pearl like water droplets spread out in abundance on this evergreen plain carpet. Driving down the smooth roads from Cochin to Kumarakom, I could see the coconut trees waving out a cheerful hello with their long leaves. Wanting their “new guest” to feel at home, they gestured me to quench my thirst with their hard fruit coolant. Little did I know, I would encounter more enchanting experiences from this magical endeavour.I eagerly awaited the famous backwater cruise from Kumarakom to Allepey.I reached this beautiful retreat tucked away behind the green cascade of grassy curtains. The water sparkled with a purity portraying its inherent glow. I seated myself on the boat, which sailed across this channel acco...

Far from the maddening crowd of Mumbai is a hill station situated at an altitude of about 800mt called Matheran. A two-hour train journey from Mumbai till Nerul and another adventurous exploration via a two-hour toy train ascent takes you through the shady, evergreen forests of this magnificent hilltop. Possibilities of a tough 11 km walk or an exciting ride on horseback are alternatives to reach this hilltop. Choosing the latter option, I rode along the steep cliffs that provided stunning views of the lush green valleys. An adventure from there began as I looked forward to encountering with the unknown wild, enchanted woods. A common sight of monkeys jumping around, vendors pulling up their carts along the roadside and the mysterious jungles with trees so close to each other made me wonder if they were sharing secrets with one another. Curious to find out more about the place, I engaged in a conversation with the locals there. It was a destination ruled by the British making horse rid...