Travel blogs to read, watch

The Cheapest Destination blog
Need we say more? Readers
can find tips on how to plan a
trip to an exotic vacation spot
on a shoestring budget and
still have a good time
http://travel.booklocker.com

The Vacation Gals Blog
entries here are all about
ideal destinations for romantic
getaways, family vacations and
all-girls gang trips
http://thevacationgals.com

TravelerWIRE
The blog ,as the blogger Tanya
Schliff puts it, is about all
things ‘travel’. It includes
restaurant reviews, accessories
that are absolutely essential
and gadgets. It answers
two of your most important
questions while travelling:
Where to sleep and eat?
http://blog.directoryofhotels.com

As We Travel
Navigating through this blog is
easy, making it a boon to both
first time and frequent travellers.
The blog is filled with upto-
date facts about travelling. It
also includes videos and easy
to read city guides
www.aswetravel.com

Backpack with Brock
Believed to have one of the
best travel videos , Backpack
with Brock includes photos, reviews
and travel stories that
can help one plan his trip from
the beginning to the end
www.backpackwithbrock.com

Where East meets West The ravages of war and Communist rule have left their marks everywhere, but equally noticeable is the transformation of East Germany in the past couple of decades, writes after a visit to Berlin, Gorlitz and Dresden

Where East meets West

The ravages of war and Communist rule have left their marks everywhere, but equally noticeable is the transformation of East Germany in the past couple of decades, writes after a visit to Berlin, Gorlitz and Dresden

In Berlin, cycle taxis are a good mode of transportation to explore the city

The stark contrast between the dozens of baggage runways at Frankfurt airport and the lone conveyor belt at Berlin's Tegel airport pretty much represents the divide between West and East Germany. While Frankfurt in the West got on to the fast track, Berlin nurses a hangover of the Eastern days. As I was driven into the German capital, I got the feeling that even two decades after reunification, Berlin still retains the distinctive stamp of the Communist era.
Born-again Berlin
Karl Marx Street, formerly called Stalin Strasse, a 20-lane-wide tribute to the common man, left me wondering at the size of the Communist armies that must have marched down this street. It was only at the Potsdamer Platz that the before-and-after story became apparent. This entire area once had either vacant land or buildings ravaged by war. Seeing today's futuristic buildings at Potsdamer, it was hard to believe that the transformation had taken place in less than 20 years.
What has changed little is the traditional food, from gnocchi (soft dumplings) at the TV Tower's rotating restaurant to a dinner of pork knuckles and flat pasta at Zur Letzten Instanz, which is the oldest restaurant in Berlin (started in 1621, according to its own signboard). Or you can be equally satiated with the 1euro sausage-breads on the sidewalk.
Old-world Gorlitz
From Berlin to the quaint town of Gorlizt is just a couple of hours by road, but it seems like a world apart. From rooms in homes-turned-boutique hotels for less than 80 euros and traditional meals for less than 10 euros (with a glass of wine thrown in), to shopping for German souvenirs at Polish prices, Gorlitz is one value-for-money European destination.
And how often do you get to travel between two countries on foot? Cross the bridge across the Gorlitz river, and you are in Poland.
Indestructible Dresden
If Gorlitz represents old world charm, you have to visit Dresden to see German resilience. Long after the allies won the war, they came striking at Dresden just to test the potency of their weapons of mass destruction. And whatever was left after the carpet bombing during the war, was reduced to rubble by the Communists in the 60s and 70s. It's remarkable therefore how they have put the pieces back together and rebuilt the entire city in the last two decades.
The only monument that survived was the Church of Our Lady, which today is the nucleus of the city. For an Indian, a visit to the green vault in the Palace Museum is well worth one's while for a look at a big green diamond that came out of India and a local artist's lavish interpretation of Aurangzeb's court. As much as the inner city is about art and architecture, the outskirts are an epitome of European beauty — from the Saxon Switzerland, with its rolling meadows and grazing cows, to Glashutte, an entire village dedicated to watch making; from the Bastei rock formation, which is a tourist magnet, to the Meissen porcelain factory, which has its roots in the quest to make gold in a laboratory. Never mind the gold, this place promises golden memories.

The tragic other Ireland Belfast has been through a lot: A three- decade long political bombing of 'The Troubles' and the destruction of what was believed to be a ship that was unsinkable. writes about how the city is trying to get back on its feet

The tragic other Ireland

Belfast has been through a lot: A three- decade long political bombing of 'The Troubles' and the destruction of what was believed to be a ship that was unsinkable. writes about how the city is trying to get back on its feet



If Shakespeare had to write a play with Belfast as its main protagonist, it would be one of his tragedies.
Don't get me wrong. There is nothing tragic about Belfast today. It is the city's history — its meteoric rise and fall within the span of a century that lends the capital of Northern Ireland its tragic aura. It is the story of its rise as the shipbuilding and linen-making capital of the world at the end of the 19th century, its decline during the three-decade long political bombing of 'The Troubles' and now its brave move to reinvent itself as a city of the future (by fashioning itself after every other city of the future) that makes me look at Belfast that way.
It was in Belfast's dockyards where the ill-fated Titanic was constructed in 1909-12. Three decades later, during World War II, Belfast was the UK's second-most bombed city after London because the Germans wanted to halt production in its shipyards that hugely aided Allied efforts. In one night alone, 1,000 people died in German bombing.

Photos: A Palestinian flag beside Falls Road, a gate to the office that was open to shipyard workers for 10 minutes everyday and the Titanic Visitor facility. The height of each of its wings corresponds to the height of the Titanic's bow

The bombings didn't stop there. About 25 years later, political conflict, referred to locally as 'The Troubles' started in Northern Ireland and its largest city, Belfast, bore the brunt of it for nearly 30 years. On one side were Catholic nationalists or those who wanted Belfast and Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland. On the other side of this divide were Protestant Unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain with the United Kingdom. In 1998, the warring groups signed the Good Friday agreement that has kept the peace except for sporadic incidents of violence.
During a whirlwind tour, one can clearly see it still bears marks of a city divided. An 18-foot high wall made of reinforced concrete, topped with corrugated sheets and barbed wire runs for five miles, dividing Catholic and Protestant communities, eerily reminiscent of the hateful wall that divided Berlin. Locals call it the peace wall because it "keeps the peace," says our guide. In a city where minor incidents like football-related violence can lead to major flare-ups, the wall is essential to keeping warring groups on their side of the fence. Its many gates, manned by CCTV cameras, are shut at night and at the signs of the slightest trouble.
At Falls Road, where the Catholic community is dominant, a section of the wall is covered with murals dedicated to worldwide movements against oppression. A portrait of Marxist revolutionary Che Guvera (who has Irish ancestry) stares down at you as a Palestinian flag flutters from a pole beside the road.
You will never see a Union Jack in Falls Road, says our guide. Similarly, you will be foolish to carry an Irish flag on Shankill Road, the Protestant enclave. "The only thing Irish about this road," chuckles our guide, "is its name."
Rosie Smith, a friend who grew up in Belfast during The Troubles recalls it was part of daily life. "We didn't live in constant fear of being bombed but The Troubles manifested themselves for me in the form of inconveniences. The train to and from school would frequently be delayed by bomb scares. When we went shopping, you'd have your bag searched every time you went into a shop."
During the quickie tour, the names our guide rattles off are a blur. The most bombed bank, a school that still has bullet marks in its walls, an apartment block taken over by the IRA — are all testaments to Belfast's difficult past.
That said, Belfast is trying hard to rid itself of this troubled history by reinventing itself as a city of opportunity and growth. The Titanic quarter, where shipbuilding firm Harland and Wolff built some of the world's largest liners, is dominated by construction cranes and shiny new apartment blocks. The shed, where the Titanic was painted, now houses a studio owned by Hollywood star Tom Hanks in which HBO's mega series Game of Thrones is being filmed.
Ironically, it is the Titanic that is one of the attractions Belfast is trying to capitalise on. 2012 marks the centenary of the luxury liner's maiden voyage and tragic end four days later. Sign on for the Titanic Walking Tour to visit the dusty corridors of the once-grand offices of Harland and Wolff. Our Titanic walk guide Ed tells us how shipyard workers only got a seven-minute break all day. Supervisors called 'minute men' would time these breaks and make a note of whoever exceeded the limit. Penalties included pay cuts and even termination. 100 years later, conditions at the Maruti plant in Gurgaon seem strangely similar. Workers on the Maruti assembly line have gone on strike several times in the past few months to protest against similar 7-minute toilet-cum-tea breaks!
During the tour, you are also taken to the boardroom where White Star Line chairman Bruce Ismay insisted that passengers walking onboard for the first time would be alarmed to see its many lifeboats and ordered that they be reduced. In the movie, Ismay is shown to have escaped the sinking ship by getting onto a lifeboat by disguising himself as a woman.
Speaking of disguises, I see Belfast's attempts to reinvent itself akin to efforts of an industrious older brother trying to compete with the more exciting but somewhat spoilt younger brother (Dublin). I'm more than ready to drink to the success of that!

Patches of Christchurch in New Zealand

Christchurch after the quake


Patches of Christchurch in New Zealand look as though they had been subjected to a severe thrashing before being gouged out. What's left, post the February 2011 earthquake, in parts of the city centre with its once-magnificent Gothic architecture, is cannibalised chaos. But like a divorce that comes as a shock after what you thought was a particularly beautiful marriage, you move on, you re-build, sometimes better than before, and the pain does eventually go away.
And Christchurch is doing just that - rebuilding. While parts of the city remain cordoned off, most visitor services, from the airport accommodation to the tourist attractions, continue to remain open. Exploration, for those who've been here before, feels like an extended state of rediscovery. For instance, the half-an-hour boat punt down the Avon river, which runs like a parting in a thick head of hair through a section of the 30 hectares of Botanical Gardens planted with over 10,000 specimens of indigenous and imported plants, is a surreal experience.
There's the sound of birds and peace to be found in the reflection of the willow trees in the water, but there's also the faint but jarring noise of earthquake-hit buildings being pulled down. The boatman says philosophically, "What goes up must come down." As we approach the photogenic, green-and-white Antigua Boatshed to dock, I find myself grateful for the blissful boat ride, and the sounds of the buildings being demolished feel like a poetic if tragic reminder of the transience of life.
But no matter what mood I'm in, the place I'm told I simply can't miss is She Chocolat. A 20-minute drive from the city centre, it offers, in addition to its gourmet menu, locally- produced, handcrafted chocolates and truffles. The aficionados just can't seem to get enough of the produce of this veritable Hansel 'n Gretel house — Mayan bars, chocolates with beetroot centres, hot coffee bombs, and delectable treats like Mocha from Marz made from layers of walnuts, coffee ganache, and marzipan.
As I sip my Mayan hot chocolate, feeling warm and comforted, the waitress tells me that when the earthquakes struck, the café sent out, in its large 'chocolate' bus, free mugs of hot chocolate to all affected victims. She says, "The police woman to whom I offered a mug told me that this was the first moment in the whole day that she had a chance to stop and rest. Chocolate was, in a way, doing what it does best — nourishing every soul."
The 45-minute hot air balloon ride with "Up, Up and Away" puts things further in perspective. From up there, with a view of the sun rising out of the Pacific Ocean to the east and the snow-covered Southern Alps to the west, high above the lush farmlands of the Canterbury plains, things are put into context. I'm reminded yet again that no matter what's gone down, Christchurch is still the gateway to several marvelous experiences on offer in the wider South Island. That this is the starting point for many Antarctic expeditions. That within a few hours drive from here, I could be iceberg-cruising in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, or swimming with the world's rarest dolphins in Akaroa harbour.
There were several other things I relished about the trip to Christchurch. A visit to the Antarctic centre with its little penguins, 4-D theatre, and simulation rooms recreating the Antarctic experience. Shopping at Untouched World, known for its merino and natural fiber clothing. Dinner at the vastly popular Italian restaurant Tutto Bene. But really it was just being present as the town was recovering from the quake that moved me the most.
In the voice of every taxi driver I spoke to, there were undertones of hope — that the 'new' Christchurch would be an improvement on the old, that this was a chance to re-design and recreate the city. In the casino, which opened in May 2011, just 3 months after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake, I saw signs of resilience. In the people who went beyond the call of duty to see that their neighbours were doing all right, I saw empathy, and a living, breathing manifestation of hope over history.

Hampi, in Karnataka, is one of the most documented places you can visit but it can still surprise you, as discovered when she strayed from the beaten track

The stone chariot at the Vitthala Temple

a rather sturdy coracle made of bamboo split wickerwork ferries people across the Tungabhadra ( the boatman must swirl you real fast when you're midway)

A heart of stone

Hampi, in Karnataka, is one of the most documented places you can visit but it can still surprise you, as discovered when she strayed from the beaten track



As I drove towards Hampi's main bazaar, a close friend's jibe rang in my ears, "You spoil it all by 'researching' your destinations. You travel only to tick off your to-do lists."
I smirked. I had had a day to plan this trip, and my homework was flawless. Day 1: Check out the ruins psychotically jotted down in my notebook. Day 2: Check out some more ruins (what else?). Leave by noon.
But the minute I entered the bazaar, I knew I had smirked too soon. The Portuguese traveller, Domingo Paes, visited Hampi in 1520 and said, "…it seems to me like Rome". If he were to overhear my plans, he'd flick the back of my head that instant.
I stood several feet away from the towering gopuram (entrance) of the Virupaksha temple. On either side stood the colonnaded bazaar built in the 13thcentury. Kutchi, Rajasthani and leather goods may have replaced spices, diamonds and gold sold back then, but the bazaar still seemed to draw its energy from the nine-tiered ornate gopuram affectionately overseeing the goings-on even today — locals selling trinkets to foreigners in impeccable English dipped in the heavy, yet lyrical accents that characterise Hampi's Kannadigas; a bookshop owner running out with pamphlets whenever he sees a new face in the bazaar; and a lady called Reshma offering free gajras with her bananas. I turned around to see the centuries-old columns stretching three kilometres behind me. Concrete walls had been illegally constructed around the granite to house Hampi's increasing population.
I understood then. You don't 'plan' Hampi. You can check out all the photographs and travelogues you like, believe that you know what the erstwhile Vijayanagara empire has to offer, but Hampi will always give you more.

ruins of a13th century colonnaded bazaar

Beyond the bazaar
Hampi flourished under the rule of two kings — Deva Raya II and Krishnadeva Raya, who showcased their might by building shrines and monuments. But in 1565, it all came to an end when Hampi was captured by the combined armies of Bijapur, Golconda and Ahmednagar, and vandalised.
Today, locals in the 500-odd homes in Hampi village seem to have forgotten a time when tourists did not drop by for a chat, or to enquire about guest houses. As one guest house owner admitted, "Hampi would feel desolate and eerie without tourists, and it's not just because of the money they bring."
The village has higgledy-piggledy lanes of colurful, one-storeyed homes. Rooms come cheap (Rs300 being on the upper side). Other things, like a glass of warm milk just taken from a cow, and suggestions to visit Hampi's best eatery, Mango Tree, come free. The next day, my friend and I mulled over what to do while watching Virupaksha temple's resident elephant Laxmi being bathed by three attendants along the Tungabhadra. We decided the ruins could wait. We told our guide Nagaraj we wanted to see Hampi's prehistoric cave paintings, making him raise his eyebrows.
Back to the Iron Age
We followed Nagaraj uphill, away from Hampi's bazaar , and we were soon panting as we cut through thick foliage. We passed a number of massive boulders before Nagaraj stopped by one of them and pointed out faint brown marks on it. Then he took our bottles and splashed water across the boulder. Voila! Bright red paintings in herbal colours showed up, looking so fresh that they could have been traced the day before. There were fish, stick figures carrying firewood, cattle, even a patch depicting a burial site. "These were made in 1500 BC, in the Iron Age. But no one cares now. As far as I know, you're the second pair to come and see this in 14 years," said Nagaraj.
The Dutch Connection
As we moved on and stood atop a hillock, we heard soft jazz music coming out of a cottage. "Oh, Robert's home," said Nagaraj, explaining that Robert Geesink was a Dutch painter who had made Hampi his home since the 1970s, dedicating himself to painting the ruins.
We went up to the first floor where Robert, 70, greeted us with a wink and cleared up some ceramic debris to make place for us. Robert and his friend were working on either side of the entrance to his studio, chipping tiles to make a mosaic of two dragons breathing fire.
"Just learning, just learning..."

Robert rolled a cigarette and waited, as if he knew the questions I'd throw at him — why Hampi instead of Amsterdam? Does he really only paint Hampi?
"In the 60s, I wanted to be an illustrator and briefly worked at the Elle magazine in Paris. But I hated having a boss. So, I left the country." Just like that? "Yes."
Inspired by Dutch painter Vam Batheveld who frequently visited India to paint, Robert toured the north, Gujarat, Kanyakumari and then, Hampi. "I fell in love with the Lambani tribes here. Their gypsy way of life, colourful attires... I fell in love and married one of them." Robert's first wife died after 17 years. Now he lives with his 30-year-old second wife, Jaini, and four children. His studio is a beautiful mess of paintings of Hampi's boulders, ruins, temples, Lambani women and his muse, Jaini.
Robert has sold many Hampi paintings in Amsterdam and Delhi. I asked him whether he ever thought of going back home to Amsterdam. "Hampi is home. I live in the past and the present. Can anything be better than that?"

Carved slices of life
Finally, on our third day in the village, we hired a bike to see Hampi's ruins. Our guide this time was Krishna, and he was on a mission to pack in all the must-sees and must-dos before dusk. He showed us the musical columns at the Vitthala temple. "But I can't play them… there are too many security guards in the temple," he said apologetically. To make up for this, he took us to a stone carving that depicts nine scenes. Depending on how you see it, the carving could be a toad reaching out for its young one, a serpent perched to pounce on a monkey, or two monkeys hanging from a tree.
The more you look at the slices of Vijayanagara life carved in stone, the more you appreciate how Hampi's splendid past cradles its present. Most locals, like Krishna, have given up farming to become tourist guides, guest house owners or shopkeepers in the bazaar. Their versions of history vary — three guides will tell you three different stories behind a stone carving. However, every one of them is so ingenious that you don't seem to mind the gaps in their training (most local 'guides' are self-taught, thanks to the many books on Hampi).
That night, as I walked through a long patch of banana plantations in the dark to reach Mango Tree for my last meal in Hampi, my friend asked me if everything on my to-do list had been ticked off. Sitting under a mango tree by the gushing Tungabhadra, the only flickers of light being the lanterns placed on our low wooden tables, I had to admit, at least to myself, that the wretched notebook now lies in a bin outside one of Hampi's many ruins.

NY COMEDY FESTIVAL

 
At more than 10 venues, over
150 comedians will perform
including Ricky Gervais, Tracy
Morgan, Wanda Sykes, Russel
Peters and more. There are panel
discussions, a star-studded
fundraiser for the Scleroderma
Research Foundation and a
“New York’s Funniest Stand-Up”
competition. The festival highlights
include a performance by
Louis CK and Bill Maher, and a
discussion with Ricky Gervais
November 9-13
New York

CIRCLE CRAFT MARKET Vancouver Convention Centre, Canada

 
Canada display their creations
at the sprawling Circle Craft
Christmas Market. Watch
artists in action at glass-blowing,
wood-turning and blacksmith
demonstrations. This
year’s new artists include ecoclothing,
Haida culture inspired
clothing and accessories, sweet
bamboo gear for kids, wheelthrown
and hand built pottery
There is an entertainment stage
that will feature an impressive
line-up of ballet dancers
November 9-13, Vancouver
Convention Centre, Canada

KITE FESTIVAL, Dunas de Corralejo Park, Spain

Kite flyers from around the
world flock to the beach to
make use of the early November
Atlantic Trade winds blowing
across Fuerteventura. The start
of the three-day event, usually a
Friday, is marked by the distribution
of commemorative
T- shirts and an all day ‘free fly’
on the beach. The following
morning the stars of the kiteworld
display their craftsmanship
until dusk. After dinner,
there is a night display on the
‘Playa de Corralejo’.
November 10-13, Dunas de
Corralejo Park, Spain

EQUITANA AUSTRALIA

This annual equine event attracts
over 50,000 visitors
every year. It features four days
of horses, Olympic gold
medallists, world renowned
educators, Aussie cowboys and
over 350 exhibitors making up
the largest equine shopping
spree in Australia. Equitana wil
be home to the Equestrian Australia
Grand Final, a world class
equestrian competition in dressage,
jumping and exhibition
November 10-13
Sydney

PUSHKAR MELA 2011

The Pushkar Fair is India’s
greatest tribal gathering featuring
cattle traders, merchants,
musicians and artisans.
Apart from the camel
race, there will be a camel
and horse dance competition,
a kabbadi match between the
locals and visitors and a turban
tying and tilak competion.
November 2-10
Pushkar, Rajasthan

Colourful & Joyous Celebrations of Rajasthan
Pushkar Mela - Rajasthan The Rajasthani’s love for colour and joyous celebrations is proved by the elaborate rituals and the gay abandon with which he surrenders himself to the numerous fairs and festivals of the region. In addition to the festivals celebrated by the Hindus, Muslims and others, there are also the traditional fairs.  There are animal fairs, there are religious fairs and there are fairs to mark the changing  seasons. Infact, celebrations occur almost round the year and are a splendid opportunity for the visitor to gain an insight into the life of the Rajasthani. Other than the traditional fairs, recently established festivals which involve elephants, camel races, dance and music have been specially organised for the tourists

The Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) was a unique event that presented the best of folk music from all over the world, against the opulent backdrop of Jodhpur's grand forts and palaces,

A RIFF of royalty

The Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) was a unique event that presented the best of folk music from all over the world, against the opulent backdrop of Jodhpur's grand forts and palaces, writes

April Fishes, Meghwal performing

Jodhpur, while a feted tourist destination, has always remained in the overbearing shadow of Jaipur, which comes with its own rose-tinted colour scheme and camels-dunes-forts montages ready for tourist consumption. But when I spent two days in Jodhpur at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), shuttling between historic forts and opulent palaces, between folk music traditions that date back hundreds of years and electronic music traditions that date back five years, and between shopping I didn't have to haggle for and meeting people from all over the world in a single room, I realised Jodhpur is second to none in the tourism roster.

Rupa Marya, of the band Rupa

Living in a palace for kings
Staying in one of the world's top hundred hotels is not for the faint-hearted. When I entered the curving driveway that led to the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace's entrance, country mouse-like thoughts such as 'bigger than Buckingham Palace', 'did people actually live here?' and 'must take photos to show parents' began flashing through my mind. Umaid Bhawan is an art-deco sprawl that encapsulates beautiful suites, several gardens, and at least a couple of pools.
The structure is considered one of India's last great palaces. Located on Chittar Hill, the highest point of the city, it functions as a hotel, the residence of the royal family as well as a well-stocked museum which contains priceless China vases, weapons, and wall-mounted tiger heads.
Needless to say, I was completely out of my element. Turbaned men bowed as though pulled by invisible strings whenever I passed by, and personalised notes proclaimed that I was the most special guest they had ever had and they would treat me accordingly. The suite itself bore an uncanny resemblance to a Yash Chopra movie set. A bathtub that you could take laps in, four balconies, one with a view of a neatly-kept bougainvillea garden, and a bed that you could sink into and never be found again — it was beautiful, and I was giddy with it all. I wandered around dreamily and thrilled when I couldn't figure out how to get back to the bedroom.
It was in the hotel's amphitheatre that I met Yuri Honing, one of the world's most renowned saxophonists. The Dutch musician and his band performed with Rajasthani musicians at the RIFF, and would go on to perform in Delhi the next week. He has also named his new album The White Tiger, a reference to Arvind Adiga's novel.

one of the gates to Umaid Bhawan

Honing's album is a joy, right from the titles — homages as diverse as David Bowie and Bjork — to the jazz numbers which are as foot-tappingly addictive as they are technically brilliant. Honing recorded part of The White Tiger at Mumbai's Blue Frog studios, and he's enjoying his sojourn in Jodhpur. "I can't believe this hotel," he says in a confessional tone. "I can't seem to pull the band away from the outdoor pool."
Buried alive at the fort
Later in the evening, I left for the RIFF at Mehrangarh Fort. A section of the fort has been reshaped to form a creaky lift that rose several levels, and opened to a terrace which gives a 360 degree view of the city. Past this terrace, and after a walk through three pillared courtyards, we entered the main area of the festival. The stage is set in the corner of the courtyard, which is the size of several football fields. Surrounded on four sides by ornate walls, turrets and towers, and lit by a bright moon, it was an otherworldly experience.
The first performance I caught was of the Dharohar band, composed of UK beatboxer Jason Singh and a motley crew of Rajasthani musicians. Jumma Jogi, a descendant of the Jogi Mewar musicians, is perhaps the most interesting of the lot. His giggle-inducing couplets about NREGA, marital relations, funeral processions, and communal harmony aside, Jogi remains a paradox. He has performed at London's iTunes Festival, one of the first Indians to do so. He has also collaborated with international artists such as Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons. On the other hand, Jumma is poor, and because he cannot sustain himself on the fees of a musician, he is also a labourer, a rickshaw driver and a tractor driver in his native village. Jumma admits that petty politics have kept him from performing at state functions. "They want bribes. I may not have a lot of money, but I have my pride," he insists. Jumma says that he would forcibly keep his two children from following his path into music. "My father, who wanted me to study, was right. Music is a hobby, not a career. Nobody cares about music."
Eena Meena Deeka from San Francisco
After Dharohar, a few folk musicians take the stage solo. Despite my desperate desire to discover an unknown passion for Rajasthani folk music, I am quickly bored and peek enviously at the three-year-old girl snoozing between her rapt parents. I'm depressed at my own apathy for a dying art form, which I can't connect with unless it's adulterated with western collaborations.
The evening concludes with a performance by Rupa and the April Fishes. Rupa Marya, the 36-year-old headwoman of roma-punk band Rupa and the April Fishes, is easy to dismiss as a would-be American hippie. Before she begins her set, the wild-haired musician says that her group is from the 'sovereign nation of San Francisco', damns her nation for falling prey to a 'warmonger of a president' under Bush, and dedicates songs to Indian farmers who committed suicide. But she disproves my instant judgements with her ability to walk the talk. Marya also works as a physician and teacher at the University of California, San Francisco. She has spent days on the US-Mexico border interviewing a man who digs graves for Mexicans who die while attempting to cross the border illegally. "My mum was a brilliant musician," she says after the show, pointing to her proudly beaming mother. "She had an arranged marriage at the age of 19 and could never pursue her dreams."
Marya can also rock the talk: she is a vision of pure energy and vocal prowess onstage that startles the snoozing audience. The band's influences of street music, Latin grooves, and Romani soul take them someplace better than the usually insulated notions of 'world' music. Her set ends with a powerhouse rendition of Eena Meena Deeka which results in the audience dancing gleefully in front of the stage, and electronica musicians moshing energetically under the Jodhpur moon.

Kings of the castle hotels

Raffles Hotel, Singapore

The Raffles hotel is a colonial-style
hotel in Singapore. The famous cocktail,
Singapore Sling, was invented
here in the early 1900s. Its gleaming
white facade and the 1920s-style Empire
cafe never let you forget how seriously
the hotel takes its history

The Ritz, London

The neoclassical Ritz was built in
1906 and has Louis XVI furnishings. It
resembles a classy Parisian block of
flats. The world-famous ‘Tea at The
Ritz’ is served at the Palm Court, an opulently
decorated cream-coloured hall.
living heritage


Hotel Ritz, Paris

The palace and the square of Hotel
Ritz are masterpieces of classical architecture
from the end of the reign of
Louis XIV. The hotel has 159 rooms
and suites are named after Coco
Chanel and Ernest Hemingway who
lived at the hotel for years.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

The Taj Lake Palace was built in 1743
by the Maharani of Udaipur and has 83
rooms and suites. It is built on a rock
spanning four acres on the Jag Niwas
island in Lake Pichola. The upper room
of the hotel is circular and its walls are
decorated with arabesques of coloured
stones in the same style as the
Taj Mahal in Agra.

Raj Palace, Jaipur

The Raj Palace Hotel was the first
mansion in Jaipur and was built in
1728. The palace is adorned with silver
jharokhas, stained-glass windows and
opulent chandeliers. Meals at the
restaurant, Swapna Mahal are
truly memorable.

No lifeboats in Bangkok As Thailand gets submerged by its worst floods in decades, we packs his survival gear to see if he can keep his head above the water

No lifeboats in Bangkok

As Thailand gets submerged by its worst floods in decades, we packs his survival gear to see if he can keep his head above the water


The government is busy making money from tourism. As long as money keeps coming in from there I wonder if they are going to be concerned about people like us," complained resident of China town and tuk-tuk driver Weg Moon. Tired of pushing his three-wheeler stalled in the rising waters on a road which looked like a river on Thursday, he had given up and decided to come back for his tuk-tuk later.
Less than a hundred metres away, long queues of bright buses kept coughing out camera toting tourists on a point-and-shoot spree at the Grand Palace and the Wat Phra Chetuphon 20 acre temple complex (which houses the huge reclining Buddha statue). The ankle-deep water outside the Palace only added to its attraction but when I walked into the residential area within, I was numbed by what I saw.

Homes and shops stood inundated with waist deep waters that local residents were trying to pump out. I asked Aim Chanosha (she spoke English), who stood in knee-deep water grilling pork chops, the point behind the enterprise. The water pumped was flowing back into the river which was emptying itself into the homes and shops. "We have to do something. We can't just wait and watch the water ruin everything," she muttered, turning the meat skewers over.
Few days later when I took a 12-hour double-decker bus ride on the top deck front seat to Chiang Mai in the north, the extent of the damage hit me. Swathes of water submerged roads. The paddy stood rotting for as far as the eyes could see. On the way back from the north, I felt lucky to get cheap flight tickets to the domestic Don Muang airport. I realised why when we landed on a runway awash with water. Even the routine safety announcements took on an eerie edge. In fact within hours of our landing, 90 per cent of the airport was flooded and all flights were cancelled. With no cabs plying, passengers like me were glad to be taken on a Thai army truck to the Victory Monument from where we got transport.

At a mere 6.5 metres above sea level, Bangkok is now entirely at the mercy of its swollen waterway, the Chao Phraya River. "Though it rained heavily on Oct 11 and 12, what we are seeing now is the result of water from the heavy rains in the far north and north east that is emptying itself into the river," PM Yingluck Shinawatra, who was on a visit to flooded areas, told media persons. Admitting that the situation was overwhelming, she said, "The fury of Nature is more than we can manage."
Sand bags marking the periphery of every building and the construction of walls to contain rising waters is now a common sight with workers for the both tasks greatly in demand throughout Bang-kok. As residents continue their daily lives, scenes of people wading through waist-high water holding belongings above their heads is a sharp contrast from the way Mumbai reacts when Milan subway is flooded. Most residents have parked cars along flyovers and bridges and seem to be keen to get on with their lives. Their equanimity makes one wonder whether this is a Buddhism thing.

Out of town this Diwali? While some have extended their holiday this week, many are staying put till the puja at home before heading out for a family trip

Out of town this Diwali?

While some have extended their holiday this week, many are staying put till the puja at home before heading out for a family trip


Festivities bring with it happiness and cheer. And who wouldn't want to spread that happiness with one's family and friends? What with the extended holidays this Diwali, many are opting to head out of town to spend quality time with their loved ones. While a lot of them are staying put till the puja at home, several have had their itinerary charted out way in advance. Take the case of Neeti Shah, a homemaker, who decided to go on the much-needed family break only after the puja at home was over. "When my husband suggested we go for a holiday this Diwali, I immediately agreed. However, we also stay at home on the day of the puja, so we pushed the dates a bit to do that. We're going to Bhandardara today," she smiles.
Some opine that taking a holiday on Diwali does not mean belittling the importance of the day. "It's really up to the individual how he or she decides to spend the day. In an age, when you're always racing, squeezing a little time out for your loved ones is so rare. If Diwali lets you take your kids out, spend time with your family, what's wrong with that?" reasons corporate professional Ravindra Chakraborty.
Hill stations seem to be the favourite destinations, as most people feel that it's a great escape from the heat and pollution in the city. "Diwali is the perfect time to celebrate with your family. We've already had our share of bursting crackers yesterday, so today we just want to chill at some quiet place. Our entire family has booked rooms at a resort in this quiet little hamlet called Jawhar where the Warli tribals reside," says Meghna Mathur, a drama teacher. Among beaches, Goa wins hands down, what with Diwali packages and offers on hotels there. Not to forget, the famous taash parties and the casinos that pull the crowd there.
Several others, who've planned their vacation well in advance, have already headed out of the country for a short trip. Flights and hotels are offering tempting discounts and the lure is too hard to resist. Shweta Sharma, who runs a handicraft store, says, "It's tough to get holidays and when you get an opportunity like this, you must grab it. We had our air tickets and hotels in Malaysia booked quite some time back. My kid is so excited. Thanks to Diwali, I get to see that precious smile on his face."

Terrific Toronto! Actor Vivan Bhatena gets bowled over by the Niagara Falls, as he gushes about his recent trip to Toronto

It was a work vacation for actor Vivan Bhatena who had gone to Toronto, Canada, to host an award function. But once that was done, Vivan extended his stay as he wanted to experience and explore the city. "My work was over before the start of the weekend, so I decided to stay and have a vacation of my own," says Vivan.
A big time shopahholic, Vivan made the most of his vacation as he shopped for not just himself, but also for his wife. "I love shopping… And fortunately for me, my vacation coincided with the sale season," grins Vivan. "They had this odd little Square in the middle of the city with several brands. I picked up a lot of things for my wife who was in India at that moment. And the funny thing is that because of the time difference between Canada and India, I used to call her at around 4 in the morning… She loves all these brands… So I'd ask her for the right size and more. And she'd be telling me all of this while being half asleep (laughs)."
Vivan calls himself a "foodie at heart". Hence, not a surprise that he made it a point to try as many restaurants, bars and cafes as he could while his stay there. "I wanted to check out all the cafes and restaurants. There were some lovely, quaint little Indian restaurants alongside the streets in Toronto. I was eating at different places and experimenting with the food — local and continental — as I was kind of bored of the staple burgers and pastas."
And how could he miss the famous Niagara Falls! "Though I'm not much into sightseeing, Niagara Falls was one place that I couldn't have not visited… it was gorgeous. Simply splendid!" he asserts.
He was much fascinated, and little surprised by the fact that he ran into so many Indians in Toronto. "It is so endearing to see so many of your brethrens in a foreign land. And the best part is that they are so warm and cordial that they help you feel comfortable… be it on a bus, in the mall, or on the streets." Clearly, Vivan, in his first trip to Canada, was totally enamoured by the place and can still not stop ruminating the magnificence of it.

Going Macau! Entrepreneur Sammeer Sheth recently came back with happy memories from a family trip to Hong Kong Disneyland and Macau

Usually for our vacation we always end up exploring a new country in Europe. However, this time our three-year-old, Shenaya, decided our holiday destination! This was to be her first trip abroad, so she was very clear that she wanted to go to Disneyland. Since the Disneyland in LA, California and Paris would involve long hours of air travel, we decided to go to Hong Kong.
However, before that, the first stop was Macau, at the Venetian Resort. It's is not just a gambler's paradise as is the general impression. Our day used to start with a swim at the majestic pools with cool cabanas for some RnR. Then of course, are the famous gondola rides through the canals of the Venetian. There are acrobatic dancers and other performances throughout the day at St Marks Square. The latest attraction is the Ice World which has beautiful ice sculptures ranging from Eiffel tower, Big Ben to ruins of St Paul and other sculptures of Chinese heritage. You can also shop galore here. Blackjack, being my favorite game, I ended up spending a good amount of time at the tables getting some me time.
Our next stop was the Disneyland Hotel. The minute one steps into the hotel, one is transported to one's childhood. My daughter's joy knew no bounds when the next morning we went to a special breakfast where characters from Disney like Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, etc were present to regale the kids with their antics. Needless to add, the breakfast was a long-drawn affair as the kids just could not have enough of their favorite characters. The Disneyland, which is divided into tomorrow-land, adventure-land and fantasy-land is any kid's paradise. One of the highlights is the illumination of the castle and the ensuing fireworks which are spectacular. Also, entertaining is the Disney parade which has floats with all Disney's popular characters. It was a herculean task to get my daughter out of Disneyland at the end.
Our final stop was in Hong Kong City where we chose to stay at the harbor, which offered beautiful views of the Kowloon waterfront and the Hong Kong skyline from its suites. One of the highest points here called The Peak is accessible by a funicular called Peak Tram. The ride to the peak is so steep that the buildings you pass seem like they are leaning. The peak offers majestic views of the skyline, the world famous Victoria Harbor and of Kowloon amongst other scenic places. The Madame Tussads museum of Hong Kong is also located here and one of the latest attractions here is called Scream where you are made to walk through a pitch-dark area and have scary characters brushing past you.
No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to Ocean Park. It consists of a dolphin breeding center, a panda habitat among other animals. We also had an experience of the city's rocking nightlife when we visited the famous Lang-Kwai-Fong area. Pacific Place and Ocean Terminal are two of the best shopping malls you must take a tour of when you are in Hong Kong. Needless to say, our trip was highly enjoyable and we can't wait to go back a second run.

Cities on your clothes Fashion designers are now taking inspiration from various cities, while holidaying there, and are dedicating entire ranges of collections to them

Travelling was perhaps never so much productive for most fashion designers as it has become of late. We see a slew of designers who have recently gone for vacations to several places and have ended up constructing a whole line of fashion clothings dedicated to the city.

Udaipur (top) and Maheka Mirpuri's collection inspired by the city in this pic

The latest example is Mumbai-based fashion designer Maheka Mirpuri who launched her line of women's wear, Aa'enah. The collection is inspired by the city of Udaipur (Rajasthan) — which, says Maheka, represents a great combination of history, chivalry, opulence, culture and arts. "I had gone to Udaipur in February for the opening of a temple. And since I was there I already I thought of checking out and exploring the much-talked about city," says Maheka, as she tries to capture in her collection the drama and romance, that epitomises the city of Udaipur, with voluminous ankle length kurtas in chiffons with pearls and Swarovski neckline; dreamy billowy kurtas with flowing fabric; asymmetric hemlines; chanderi net dupattas with gold trimmings; and knotted tulle dupattas.

"The city has royalty all around… the rich cultural feel is so palpable in the air. The whole heritage has so much to talk about… I was so spell bound by it," says an ecstatic Maheka, who picked up the fine nuances of the city from the several places that she explored — be it temples, the chants encrypted on the walls, the restaurants, or the street culture.
Ace designer Manish Malhotra is enthralled by Kashmir after his recent trip to the valley. And indeed he uses the Kashmiri embroidery and designs in his latest collection. "I didn't get much chance to explore the city but I did manage to check out all the handicraft works and the fabric stores. They were beautiful. My collection at the last fashion week was inspired by Kashmir. The Kashmiri borders, embroidery work, and, particularly the shawls, are just gorgeous."
Designer duo, sisters Ridhi and Sidhi Mapxencar launched their latest collection last month. Characterised by summery look and flowy fabrics, the collection is inspired by the city of Goa. Says Ridhi, "It's the first time that we've created a whole line of clothes taking Goa as the theme. We have used pastel colours like greens, peaches, and so on. The clothes therefore reflect the casual and boho feel of Goa."

How to avoid a 127 Hours situation When you go on that much-awaited trekking trip, make sure you follow a checklist so you can come back safe

For a hardcore traveller, the Oscar-nominated film 127 Hours could have been a lesson in travel tips. If you think about it, the film probably may have been made on that thought. It at least taught you never ever to go tripping without telling anyone! Recently however Concord-based Amos Wayne Richards, who broke his leg, crawled for four days across the Utah desert, after being inspired by the movie, which portrayed climber Aron Ralston who cut off his own arm to save himself after being trapped by a boulder in the same canyon. Richards, who was stranded in a desert without a mobile phone service, survived on only two protein bars and rain water before he got rescued by Canyonlands National Park Rangers. To avoid a similar situation, we give a few guidelines you might want to keep in mind before packing your trekking bags

l Inform somebody. It might feel adventurous to take off with telling a soul, but that's not the smartest thing to do! Let somebody be aware of whereabouts in case you're taking too much time to return home.
l Send copies of your itinerary to friends and family members. It will help in tracking you if any sort of mishap occurs.
l Get GPS now! Follow the map of the trekking course you're taking in order to avoid dangerous routes on the way.
l Please carry proper equipment and not fake ones. You already know what your trekking equipments would be. Still, carry ropes in abundance and, yes, a reliable Swiss Army Knife.
l Pack a network booster. In case of an emergency, you might want to call friends and family.
l Always stock up on extra dry foods, chocolates, protein bars and enough water.
l Lastly, as adventurous as you might want your trip to be and crave an adrenaline rush, try to skip dangerous hikes if alone. You know you want to come back home safe.

Lakshmi N Mittal bought a central London house for a staggering price of £70 million (about Rs 560 crore)

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In 2004, the chairman and CEO, of the LNM Group, Lakshmi N Mittal bought a central London house for a staggering price of £70 million (about Rs 560 crore). The UK-citizen and steel magnate's new house was then the world's most expensive house as per Guinness Book of Records. The 12-bedroom mansion located at the prestigious Kensington Palace Gardens has garage space for 20 cars. The Formula One racing boss, Bernie Ecclestone, who was the previous owner, had bought it for his wife three years ago. Mittal's house in Kensington, London is decorated with marble taken from the same quarry that supplied the Taj Mahal. The extravagant show of wealth has been referred to as the "Taj Mittal". The NRI owns three prime properties collectively worth £500 million on the "Billionaire's Row" at Kensington Palace Gardens.