Unique Sights

 There are many around the world. Some that I have been to, and I think are unique-

Lonar crater.. formed due to a crashing meteor, thousands of years ago. In Buldana district, near Amravati. 

Mount Rushmore- four faces carved into a mountain.. Presidents of the U.S.

Ha Long Bay.. unique for limestone peaks jutting out of the bay. Vietnam.

Buddhist temples- many, in Thailand. architecture is unique.

Ladakh- a cold desert, unique in India.

Konark and Khajuraho- unique for their erotic sculptures on a temple wall.

Bali temples- again, unique shapes, open architecture.

Belur-Halebid in Karnataka.. carvings are 3D, and unique. A pic-

Pulicat and Chilika lakes- salt water lakes near the Ocean. 

Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park.

What Travel Has Taught Me

 If you can afford to, travel. If you can't, still try to.. coz it's a great teacher. You learn through observation, immersion, and a lot of interactions. For instance, I was fascinated by the varied experiences in recent years at Vietnam, Ladakh, Japan, Bali, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, during international travels. Also, within India, I went to Nagaland for the first time, and had a fascinating interaction with an MLA and a Minister, and learnt a lot. Also met a businessman who drove us around, and told us about modernisation of business practices.

People in Bali including taxi drivers were very polite, punctual and well-behaved. Their architecture- temples particularly- is fascinating, and different. 

Japan is a very modern country technically, but they follow quite a few traditions too. Innovators in many ways, ahead of the West.

Vietnam- just the Ha Long Bay cruise is enough to give you goosebumps. And they have a Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius, my hero..

Cambodia has a rich culture, partly Hindu, part Buddhist..

Sri Lanka grows a lot of tea and spices, and follows Ayurveda..

Singapore is known for good governance, and Management of govt. services. Great universities too.

Vocations and Vacations

 What a difference ONE letter makes. You can only take a vacation once in a while, but a vocation is something you need to indulge in for a few decades, if you are not from the gentrified class. Not a bad thing, the vocation, but sometimes it can get on your nerves. Then, you start pining for a vacation.

Vacations come in all sizes, shapes and types. From a road trip into nowhere (or somewhere), to an Alaskan cruise, it also has options of the means by which you travel. Most of our childhood vacations were by train. And the coveted seat was that at the window, even though coal dust from the steam engine frequently flew into your eyes. But the sights were mesmerising, including a view of the train rounding a curve. I also remember a more exotic European train trip or two, when we passed great scenery, which the film DDLJ later reminded me of. 

One really hot train trip was to Kolkata from Hyderabad, which we undertook in April or May, and stayed at the Police Mess, courtesy a friend. Apart from the heat, it was a fun trip, and we enjoyed taking the bus, the tram, and the boat on river Hooghly, including a view of the Howrah Bridge, for moving around the city.

Ladakh was another vacation that was memorable for its scenery- very different from anything we had seen till then. I think the Ha Long bay Cruise comes next in memorable trips. Greece too, but its memories are fading. The Jaisalmer road trip a few years ago was also very good. And Sri Lanka, for a destination wedding.

My Avatars on Earth- 7

 The other avatars- Golf Trainer (above), In Step with the Family (below)

 Above, The depressed listener of modern Hindi songs/remixes/non-music

 The pagdi-wearer with swag in Kuldhara Rajasthan (above), and a chilled-out specimen on a boat in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (below).

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam- Part 2

One post about this fantastic site is not enough. So here is the second. "Halong Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sqkm. This extraordinary area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. For many tourists, this place is like something right out of a movie (quite accurate, in my view). The fact is that Halong Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has indeed featured in endless movies. The best way to get to Halong City is by car, minibus or bus from Hanoi which is only 170km away."- the description is from a site on the net.

Read more at: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/ha-long-bay/?cid=ch:OTH:001

 This view is from a vantage point on an island to whose top you can trek-420 steps, totally worth it.

Vietnam Ha Long Bay Part 1

This is the first post that describes a fantastic cruise in the Ha Long Bay at Vietnam a few days ago-there may be more.

 The deck and sea breeze. Below, another section of the boat, near the Captain's Wheel.

 The cruise boat from the outside (a smaller boat took us to this one) and below, the Spirit of the cruise in the cabin.

 Other boats in Paradise- what it felt like. Below, a view from the cabin.