Magical Moments on a beautiful Spring afternoon- The Pinewood Cafe, Barog- My video on You Tube

Its Spring in the hills and my husband Avi and I have decided to spend some time in beautiful Himachal Pradesh- a state that we come back to time and again. Each season has its own special charm and there is something new to discover and enjoy every time we come.

En route to Himachal, we definitely make a stop at a beautiful little cafe in Barog. Called The Pinewood Cafe, it has everything one could ask for and then some! Apart from from their very special coffee and mushrooms on toast, it has the best possible range of flowers that one could think of.

So this time, we were greeted by a veritable sea of poppies - large, red and very beautiful. Then there were more flowers, including one called Paper/Tissue flowers, very unique and very beautiful-Something you really have to see to believe. Check out the video I've posted here and you will know exactly what I mean.

More Himachal stories unfold as the days go by so stay tuned folks and let me know what you thought..  

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Istanbul Diary revisted - Lasting impressions and some real Food For Thought

Looking through my blog entries on my first visit to Istanbul a few years ago, these are some excerpts that caught my eye and these are also what I'm choosing to share with you. 

Looking out of my hotel window

"Approachıng the last leg of thıs trıp whıch I wıll be ıllustratıng wıth lots and lots of photographs as soon as I upload them, these are some of the lastıng ımpressıons of my fırst vısıt to Turkey, wıth my mınd clearly made up to come here again,some tıme ın the future.

The people here are just wonderful ,arm frıendly and extremely hospıtable. And really do care about you beıng a vısıtor to theır country.In fact, they are extremely concerned that you really should see the best of what Istanbul has to offer. Whıch to my mınd ıs plenty!

Some great street food, bread which tastes fabulous!

The hıstory of thıs place-just too much to take ın! And here I am -a student of Hıstory-I actually found all my hıstorıcal and other flıghts of fantasy comıng true.

Istanbul ıs Constantınople, the most ancıent place ın the cradle of well developed cıvılızatıon. A place where fırst the Romans then the Byzantıne rulers followed by the Ottomans/Othmans came to power and boy,dıd they have some power! All evıdent wherever you look...

A Priceless vase made of a single slab of marble inside the Hagya Sofia

And today we met Mustafa an Ottoman Turk, just outsıde Hagya Sofıa. I dont know what ıt was that propelled hım to come across and talk to us but he dıd and what a wealth of ınformatıon we gleaned from hım!(I'm goıng to need a whole new blog entry for thıs story.)

Mustafa and Avi outside the Hagya Sofi

And at the end of that meetıng we learnt quıte sımply and baldly from hım that he was dyıng of pancreatıc cancer."Dua Karo mere lıye" were hıs last words as we saıd goodbye and he went ınto the mosque for hıs mıdday prayer leavıng me thınkıng that thıs was the most calm acceptance of lıfe and death that I've seen ın recent tımes, coming from a man who had been told that he had two years (at the most to lıve.) 

Of whıch, one was almost up.

Sometimes, I think of him and I can't help but wonder if.... 

Why I love the Musee D' Orsay, Van Gogh and the fabulous Impressionist art in Paris

A couple of years ago on a lovely November morning, I walked into the Musee D' Orsay in Paris and it was one of the most memorable moments that I can recall .Right from the breathtaking overview to each and every corner of this fascinating museum, the day that I spent here is a cherished memory and one that I will try and share with you in this blog post. I deliberately use the word 'try' because it really is very difficult to do complete justice to such a monument in a short piece. Suffice it is to say that this is a place that I recommend very highly and if you see one thing in Paris after the Louvre, then it really has to be the Musee D'Orsay! 

Installed within a railway station, the Musée d'Orsay opened its gates on December 9th 1986, after it had been inaugurated by François Mitterand on December 1st. Within its walls there are six different collections (painting, photography, graphic art, architecture, sculpture and objet d'art), which

Originally a Parisian railway station, it is now a fabulous museum

mainly come from three different establishments: the Louvre Museum, the Musée du Jeu de Paume and the National Museum of Modern art.

One of the world's most-visited museums, the Musee d'Orsay houses the largest collection of painting, sculpture, and decorative objects produced between 1848-1914, showcasing many of the most remarkable works of the early modern era. Giving visitors a detailed and breathtaking look at the birth of modern painting, sculpture, design, and even photography, the Musee d'Orsay's permanent collection spans from neoclassicism and romanticism to impressionism, expressionism, and art nouveau design.Highlights include important works by Ingres, Delacroix, Monet, Degas, Manet, Gaugin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh.

An architectural masterpiece, one marvels at the look of the place 

Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Taking the glass elevator to the first floor, I walked into the Impressionists art gallery. I was precisely looking for the inimitable Van Gogh's work and when I found them, learnt to my dismay that photography was not allowed in this part of the museum. Happily, that did not deter me and I managed to click a few very quick photographs 

( w/o a flash) and then taking a quick look around, found that many others in this gallery were actually doing the same! 

Talk of going away with the best memories captured forever. 

Like Rembrandt and Goya, Vincent van Gogh often used himself as a model; he produced over forty-three self-portraits, paintings or drawings in ten years. Like the old masters, he observed himself critically in a mirror. Painting oneself is not an innocuous act: it is a questioning which often leads to an identity crisis.

So he wrote to his sister: "I am looking for a deeper likeness than that obtained by a photographer." And later to his brother: "People say, and I am willing to believe it, that it is hard to know yourself. But it is not easy to paint yourself, either. The portraits painted by Rembrandt are more than a view of nature, they are more like a revelation". In this head-and-shoulders view, the artist is wearing a suit and not the pea jacket he usually worked in. Attention is focused on the face. His features are hard and emaciated, his green-rimmed eyes seem intransigent and anxious. The dominant colour, a mix of green and pale turquoise finds a counterpoint in its complementary colour, the fiery orange of the beard and hair. The model's immobility contrasts with the undulating hair and beard, echoed and amplified in the hallucinatory arabesques of the background.

Another spectacular work by Van Gogh

        Looking across from the Musee D Orsay 

They really do start young!

I finally left the museum just before closing time, delighted with all that I had seen and experienced that day. Walking out, I realized that this visit had merely whetted my appetite for more and it wasn't long before I returned here for a second and then...a third visit

One of my most memorable sunsets at the Hilton Marina, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, On You Tube

I love sunsets and can't help puling out my phone or camera as the case may be whenever I see a good one.

And then love to look at those photographs in my own time- recreating the time, mood and feel of that particular day.

But this one here is that I actually took a video of. We were standing just in front of the Ras Al Khaimah creek, having walked from our hotel steps-the Hilton Marina and it happened to be  Prayer time.

That coupled with the Muezzin's call , the chirping of the birds as they settled in for the night, the beautiful pink , gold and reddish hues that enveloped the sky,that particular moment in time and the overall sense of calm and tranquility that accompanied it..

In a word, unforgettable! 

Glimpses of A Winter Wonderland and some postcards from Himachal Pradesh

In my last blog post, I shared a video from the Shiva Temple Shivpur. 

In this post, I've decided to share some real life postcards from the real life Winter Wonderland that we were lucky enough to experience one afternoon in December. 

It must have been about three in the afternoon and we had just returned to our hotel at the Club Mahindra Resorts in Mashobra when we saw the weather change.

It was a very rapid transition and like many of the other residents of the hotel, we made the most of the afternoon-clicking shots that we may not have got to see during the rest of our stay there. 

 

A real life Christmas Card from Mashobra -Himachal

And then it looked like this

Avi actually stepped out for a walk, while I stayed, watched and clicked

It soon became whiter...and colder...

A view from the top

And I'm so glad we  did- because we then had our Christmas postcards, just before Christmas.

 Hope you like the pics too!

Exploring Enchanting Himachal- A trip to the Shiv temple, Shivpur-My Video on You Tube

Last month we had a wonderful holiday in Himachal Pradesh. The weather was fabulous and we tried to do something different and visit a new place each day. 

While I plan to write a series of snippets about most of the places we saw, here's a ready made video for you on our visit to the áncient Shiva temple in Shivpur near Mashobra. Í recorded it on my I Phone so its technically not the best quality, but since its self explanatory, I've decided to keep this post short and sweet.

PS -Must add, it was an absolutely delightful visit!

Magnificent Prague as I saw it--My Video on You Tube

The iconic Charles Bridge, the stunning Prague Castle which thrives on its legends, the legend of 'Golem, our daily walks in the incomparable town square, the Jewish quarter which brought a lump to the throat. I've tried to encapsulate all this. 

Not sure if I've succeeded but am happy that I tried.

Would love to know what you think so do let me know folks!

A Thought Provoking Sunset and a memorable experience at the mighty Mahanadi, Chhattisgarh-A Photo Essay

Spellbinding-Standing on the banks of the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh

There are some moments in time that remain etched in our memories  forever. Thats  probably because they have touched our minds and hearts deep within and stayed right there. In this Photo essay, I'm going to share a series of exactly such moments with you and hope that you can feel some of that same emotion. 

During my recent trip to Chhattisgarh as a part of the #TWC2015 I had an opportunity to stand on the banks of the Mahanadi and it was one of the most profound experiences of my life. It may have lasted for a total of just about 20 minutes but stays in my heart forever.

 

En Route -Passing through the Shiva temple 


 The Mahananadi river  is truly the life line of Chattisgarh. Flowing from the Eastern Ghats to the Bay of Bengal through Cuttack, in Odisha and into the highlands of Chattisgarh, it flows through Odisha to reach The Bay Of Bengal.

Like all other rivers, the Mahanadi too is a revered one. It plays a major role in people's life and is part of all the major religious functions and festivals.It's water is considered to be highly auspicious for any occasion - and it is believed that this water has miraculous powers and can easily convert bad things or situations into into good ones.Rising from Central Chattisgarh, it passes through Eastern Ghats Mountains and ends at Bay Of Bengal, near Cuttack, Orissa. It forms a Delta at the Bay of Bengal. The Mahanadi's catchment area is estimated at 113,440 square kilometers. In the rainy season it carries an immense amount of water, up to 51,000 cubic meters per second especially at at the Naraj gorge.As the river flows at high speed, the Rivers Tel and Hasdo contribute as the main tributaries to the Mahanadi River. The Hirakund Dam, the world's highest dam is constructed on Mahanadi. There is a high Gandhi Tower for the introspection of the Dam and the drainage of the Mahanadi is shared by the Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

The iconic Shiva Temple

When we arrived, the birds were chirping and the sun was just about to set.The sky was a painter's delight and it got better as the time slowly ticked on. 

Watching the people closer to shore

There were a few men at the river bank and looking closer, I saw that most of them were 'Kavariyas'( those who carry holy water from the rivers to the cities.) 

  After having collected that water from the river the Kawariyas made their way back to the Shiva temple. Chanting 'Bol Bam' over and over again in honour of Lord Shiva, they moved in complete synchronicity and effortlessly climbed up the steps past where I was standing..

Moving towards the temple

And closer 

Just past me 

Almost at the gate of the Shiva temple

And they are inside 

I stood there for a few more minutes, loath to leave

Then it was  time.

We had to move on to our next destination and the journey continued.

But this was truly an unforgettable moment in time.

Enigmatic Chhattisgarh. Decoded -My magical journey into the heartland of India

Green, red, mysterious and magical- Chhattisgarh in the monsoon

Its been a while since my last post and for those of you who have been wondering, I've just returned from an unforgettable 6 day trip to enigmatic Chhattisgarh in the heart of India. Ever since my return, I find myself thinking incessantly of the magical journey that took me into fairly unchartered territory including the Bastar region and brought me back a changed person.

Changed? I could confidently say, for the better. For one, I've eaten my first meal of rice, daal, and 'aamat' cooked by a lovely little old Bastar lady with my hands. I've also travelled and made lifelong friends with a wonderful group of people,  many of whom I met for the very first time on Day 1 of the trip.

I also forgot what 'elevenses' are and happily went without that eleven o clock 'must have' cup of coffee ( until it was available- sometimes over three hours later- because we were on the road and it really wasnt possible to stop the convoy to grab that increasingly elusive cuppa)

Almost, but not quite- Touching the sky

But lets start at the very begining. My trip to Chhattisgarh materialised purely by virtue of the fact that I chose to join #TWC2015, ( Travel Wizards Club 2015) Started recently by Shraddha Gupta an avid traveller and blogger of Street Trotter.com a Boston based travel fashion and lifestyle blog, it  is a wonderful forum to meet and bond with like minded people. 

After the first meet, 12 lucky bloggers had a lifetime's opportunity to travel to Chhattisgarh as guests of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board 

http://www.chhattisgarhtourism.net/

to witness 'Monsoon Magic' and to my utter delight, I learnt that I was one of them.

Having recently moved back to India after 24 years in Muscat, Oman, I must admit, it presented a wonderful opportunity to visit and discover completely unknown terrain( in my book) and a few days and a whole lot of generous family adjustments later, I found myself on a Raipur bound flight with a few of the others and that was the start of one of my best travel adventures till date!

From having the most delicious lunch at Kanker Palace to walking in the footsteps of Hsuan Tsang and more recently, the Dalai Lama, a stay in luxurious tents at the Chitrakote falls, India's Mini Niagara followed by the totally awesome and thunderously cascading Tiratgarh Falls, a hugely thought provoking sunset on the banks of the Mahanadi and those great meals served at each of the resorts we stayed at, we really couldn't have packed in more than we actually did over those unforgettable 6 days.  

Lunch at the Kanker Palace, Chhattisgarh

Some glimpses for you..

The memorable long walk towards the Chitrakote Falls

Chitrakote Falls- The mini Niagara of India

Green, clean, lush  and beautiful

Served up with love - My very first tribal lunch in the heart of Bastar

Standing in front of  the majestic Tirathgarh waterfalls

Bright, colourful and very approachable- Tribal women of Chhattisgarh

Looking back, looking forward -in the jungle

Of course, there is a whole lot more. 

My top of mind  thought- something on the lines of more than can actually  be put in words because it is the feeling and the experience that has imprinted itself on my mind.

But I'm sure as hell going to try, so do watch this space for more.

And maybe..

 Just maybe...

That would actually be enigmatic Chhattisgarh decoded....

The descent -Back to New Delhi with a treasure trove of memories

A glorious afternoon at Naschmarkt-Vienna's most famous fruit,flowers and vegetable market

A riot of colour- these blooms could really make anyone's day!

It was a glorious October afternoon and we had spent the morning at Schonnbrun palace soaking in all the rich Austrian tradition and architecture. Next on our list was heading towards Naschmarkt to get a taste of all the buzz and action that we had heard so much about. 

Naschmarkt, Vienna which is located between Kettenbrückengasse and Karlsplatz is Vienna's most popular premier open-air fruit and vegetable market that should be on everyone's itinerary. Just over 1.5 kms long, Naschmarkt is truly an ethnic melting pot full of vibrant life and exotic scents. With endless rows of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, seafood, spices, homemade pasta, pickles of all kinds, cheeses and breads, this superb market can satisfy the most demanding culinary requirements. Interspersed are small bistros, as diverse and multi-cultural as the stalls and the market itself and if you know what you are looking for- you can have an absolutely delightful as well as memorable morning or  afternoon as the case might be. 

Naschmarkt is open Monday to Friday from 6am to 6.30pm and Saturday from 6am to 5pm. Mornings are the best time to absorb the market's sights and flavours. One of the highlights of this time of year( October) is that you can also find a glass of Sturm - semi-fermented grape juice/wine from this year's vintage.

With Halloween approaching you can see pumpkins in all shapes and sizes

And some more

Candies and sweets from all over the world.

Nowadays, you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables from around the world, exotic herbs, cheese, baked goods such as bread, kaiser rolls, and torte, meats, and seafood. There are also a lot of small restaurants which offer sushi, kebabs,fish, seafood, traditional Viennese food such as Kaiserschmarrn  or Palatschinken ( rolled up crepes) as well as other stalls which offer clothes and accessories. 

The crowd builds up as the day progresses

It was very interesting to learn a bit about its history.The Naschmarkt has existed since the 16th century when mainly milk bottles were sold ("Asch", for milk bottles led to the name "Aschenmarkt").  From 1793 onwards, all fruits and vegetables brought to Vienna with carts had to be sold here, while goods arriving on the Danube were sold elsewhere. 

'Must haves for all'- real as well as decorative tea pots  

Typical Austrian fare- Sausages and cheese of all types

Exotic spices that add a dash of flavour to any cuisine

Cheap and very fresh- these fruits taste fabulous!

More candy- this time from the Middle East

Cookies, sweets and bakes- the variety is huge

And if you thought this market sells only fruit, veges and flowers- think again. We found a wide range of scarves, sweaters and caps there as well.

We walked around for a long time - till the delightful aromas around us became irresistible. It was then that we found this lovely open air bistro and settled down for our lunch, accompanied by a delightful glass of chilled Rose

 However, since we had no idea that the portions would be so generous, we had to ask for a takeaway..

Lunch at an Open Air bistro

Satiated and very, very  happy, we made our way out of the Naschmarkt and headed towards our next adventure.

Goes without saying, it will be detailed in my next blog post....