01 Jan

A trip to Bolivia – Part 1

A trip to Bolivia – Part 1

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Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. We left our hotel early morning around 7.30am since it as a long way to Lake Titicaca. We went by road for about an hour and then by boat for half an hour. We traveled again by road to the small island of Copacabana.

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Wanderings in South Goa.

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You are really spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants in Goa. Besides the beach shacks, where you can sit on the sands and gaze out at the sea, sipping on a drink, while waiting an hour or two for your meal to arrive, there are many restaurants inland which also serve excellent food at very reasonable rates. There is a fusion of East and West, Portugese and Indian, meat and vegetables, which makes Goan cuisine unique. Coconut is used liberally, along with other Indian spices in the cooking. ‘Fish curry rice’ is the most common food and available virtually in every restaurant. The different types of seafood on offer in Goa includes pomfret, kingfish, ladyfish, mackerel, tuna, shark, crab, prawn, lobster, squid and mussels. Chicken, pork, mutton and beef dishes are also on offer at all the restaurants, cooked in the popular Goan flavours such as vindaloo, balchao, recheado, xhacuti and caldin.
We had already planned that we would include at least one meal out at a shack or restaurant in our daily sight-seeing itinerary. One precaution we always took was to carry our own drinking water if we did not want to order a drink, or pay for a bottle of branded mineral water.

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Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 6 тАУ Chiang Mai

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We also spend some time in a fantastic session called тАШChat with MonksтАЩ. This particular wat, which is also a training facility for the young monks, offers tourists an opportunity to interact informally with the monks. There is a common area where the tourist group is met by one of the waiting monks. You can sit with him and discuss anything related to Monks/ Buddhism/ Thailand or any other topic of interest. Well, to answer the тАШwhyтАЩ of it тАУ such interactions enable the monks to practise spoken English as also widening their knowledge base and the tourists, of course gather valuable insight.

A good & handy source of drinking water is the vending machines placed at common areas. Though bottled water is available across Thailand costing B15 – B30 or more depending on when and where you buy them; these vending machines (working on coin system) offer you potable water @ B1 (one bhat) for a litre.

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A memorable trip on bike to rediscover myself in the foothills of Himalayas – Part I

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Life is full of joy and sorrow, happiness and disappointments, ups and down and Life can also throw unexpected surprises тАУ I was taught in my school and I am also┬аexplaining the meaning to┬аmy son now. But, at that point of time those are only “THE WORDS” for me and nothing else. Remember тАШ3 IdiotsтАЩ тАУ тАЬJab dost fail ho to dukh hota hai, lekin jab dost top kare to aur bhi dukh hota haiтАЭ

What else would you do in my place, when the requester is the CEO of your Company? Do you have any other option? I know some who might still have some other options, but fortunately or unfortunately, I am not so impulsive in nature and the other option to fly – was an unthinkable proposition for me that time.

I have a great respect for Mr. Ram S. Ramasundar, the then CEO of Electrolux India, who is like a God Father for me, I had no other option but to say “Yes Sir, I will”.

It was already 11 in the morning and I had an i-ticket. I asked permission to go to the counter to cancel the ticket, to get 50% refund for the cancellation. Who says money doesn’t matter.

“Do one thing, prepare a voucher – it will be reimbursed fully from accounts, I will approve the same.” So, one of my worry had been taken care of…but what about the disappointments.

From a very beautiful morning, all of a sudden it became one of the worst day for me. With a heavy heart, I called up home to inform that I won’t be able to come. Durga Puja was over by the time I hang up the phone for me, as well as for them, even before the first sound of Dhak.

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Pune to South Goa Road Trip

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At 12.30 pm we crossed over into Karnataka, and paid another toll. Immediately we could sense that we were in a different state. The traffic was much less in Karnataka as compared to the heavy traffic right upto Kolhapur in Maharashtra. The scenery was better, with undulating hills in the distance. There were flowering bushes in the road divider which made the drive more pleasant, and lay-byes with public utilities at regular intervals along the highway.

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рд╡рд╛рдЯрд░рдЯрди рдиреЗрд╢рдирд▓ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдФрд░ рдпреБ.рдПрд╕. рдмреЛрд░реНрдбрд░ (рднрд╛рдЧ реи)

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рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдХреА рд╕реБрдмрд╣ рдмрд╣реБрдд рдЦреВрдмрд╕реВрд░рдд рдереА. рд╣рд┐рд░рдг рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рджреЛ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдгреА рдШреВрдо рд░рд╣реЗ рдереЗ. рд╕реБрдмрд╣ рдЙрда рдХрд░ рдПрдХ рдЪрдХреНрдХрд░ рдЧрд╛рдВрд╡ рдХрд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ. рдПрдХ рджреБрдХрд╛рди рдЦреБрд▓реА рджреЗрдЦ рдХрд░ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдХрд╛рдлреА рд▓реЗрдиреЗ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ, рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдЦрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдПрдХ рдкреЗрд╕реНрдЯреНрд░реА рд▓реЗ рд▓реЗрддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ. рдпрд╣ рджреБрдХрд╛рди рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди рдмреЗрдЪ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛. рдХрд╛рдлреА, рдмреНрд░реЗрдб рдЪреЛрдХрд▓реЗрдЯ, рдФрд░ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди. рдкреЗрдЯреНрд░реЛрд▓ рдкрдореНрдк рднреА рдЗрд╕ рджреБрдХрд╛рди рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдХрд╛ рд╣реА рдерд╛. рд╕рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рд╕рд╛рдЗрдХрд▓ рднреА рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпреЗ рдкрд░ рджреЗ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛. рдПрдХ рд╕рд╛рдЗрдХрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдШрдВрдЯреЗ рдХрд╛ рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпрд╛ резреж рдбреЙрд▓рд░, рдФрд░ рд╣реЗрд▓реНрдордЯ рдХреЗ резреж рдбреЙрд▓рд░ рдЕрд▓рдЧ рд╕реЗ. рд╕рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рдореЛрдЯрд░ рдмрд╛рдЗрдХ рднреА рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдереЗ.

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A visit to Jallianwala Bagh, Golden Temple & Wagha Border

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Today India is a vibrant Nation. However, we tend to take many things for granted. In our normal day to day, routine life we hardly remember them who sacrificed their life to free our motherland. On our 66th years of Independence, let’s make a resolution to make India beautiful and fight against terrorism, anti-social elements, corruptions…each one of us can make a difference.

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Mesmerizing Canadian Rockies

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Relentless rain and flash-flooding kept us pretty much house-arrested for the first couple of days, after which, the sun shone. And, all of a sudden the wide ranges of Canadian Rockies appeared at the west horizon of the city of Calgary. The gloomy city is all set for a bright and warm weekend. We set out for Banff in my sistersтАЩ car on Saturday morning.

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рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рд░рдВрдЧ, рджреЗрдЦрд┐рдпреЗ рдореЗрд░реЗ рд╕рдВрдЧ…..

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рд╡реИрд╕реЗ рддреЛ рдЖрдП рджрд┐рди рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рди рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХрд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рдЖрдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рд╣реА рд░рд╣рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╣реА рд╢рд╣рд░ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рд╡рдЬрд╣ рд╕реЗ…

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Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 5 тАУ Bang Saen to Kampaeng Phet

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We had plans of visiting heritage sites and local night market, but lassitude takes over as soon as we arrive. After strolling around the neighbourhood, spying on local shops and outlets, we are back to the guest house.
There are number of cosy sit-outs within the house. In the evening, guests have gathered here to relax and chat-up. Soon I connect up with Bill, an Austrian from Vienna and Shoo, a Thai traveller. Yes, they tell, they are also travelling across Thailand. While exchanging notes I discover that both of them (though travelling separately) are very special Ghumakkars. Bill (actually Bills, a couple) has arrived here Cycling all the way from AUSTRIA! Well, the story goes like this. They are avid cyclists. They have covered large parts of the globe cycling. Bill roughly cycles for an year in one go! By end of the year long loop, he is back in Vienna to earn his livelihood. After earning for about 6-8 months, he is again out for the next trip. He tells us that he does not own a car and has a very small house in Vienna. He works just to make enough money for the next trip. Same is the story of his partner. She is from the same place and they share the same passion. They are 6 months into the current trip and plan to cycle north to China and then through Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe to Vienna. Their belongings, typical for cyclists, comprise of two rucksacks (strapped to either side of the carrier) and a sleeping bag cum tenting equipment.

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рджреЗрд╣рд░рд╛рджреВрди рдХреБрдЫ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдХреБрдЫ рдЕрдирдЬрд╛рдирд╛

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рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╣рдо рдкреНрд░рдХрд░реНрддрд┐ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдЬреВрдмрд╛ рдШреВрдЪреВрдкрд╛рдиреА рдпрд╛ рд░реЛрдмрд░реНрд╕ рдХреЗрд╡ рдХреА рдФрд░ рдЪрд▓ рдкрдбрд╝реЗ |рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдЧрд╛рдЗрдб рдФрд░ рдСрдЯреЛ рдЪрд╛рд▓рдХ рдиреЗ рдмрддрд╛рдпрд╛ рдЬрдм рдЖрдк рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдЬрд╛рдУрдЧреЗ рддреЛ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧреЗрдЧрд╛ рдХреА рдЖрдк рд╡рд╛рддреНрддрд╛рдиреБрдХреБрд▓рд┐рдд рд╕реБрд░рдВрдЧ рдореЗ рдЪрд▓ рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реИ |рдШреВрдЪреВрдкрд╛рдиреА, рджреЗрд╣рд░рд╛рджреВрди рд╕реЗ 8 рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рджреВрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрдкреБрд░ рд░реЛрдб рдкрд░ рдЕрдирд╛рд░рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдЧрд╛рдВрд╡ рд╕реЗ 1 рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рдХреА рдкреИрджрд▓ рджреВрд░реА рдкрд░ рд╕рд┐рдердд рд╣реИ |рдпрд╣ рдПрдХ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдХрд░реНрддрд┐рдХ рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдореЗ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдЖрдзрд╛ рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рддрдХ рдЖрдк рдЬрд╛ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИ|рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рдХреЗ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдЧреБрдкреНрдд рд╕реНрд░реЛрддреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╣ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ |рдпрдВрд╣рд╛ рдЯрд┐рдХреЗрдЯ рд▓реЗ рдХрд░ рд╣рдо рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдкрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рдХрд░ рдЧрдпреЗ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдбрд┐рд╕реНрдХрд╡рд░реА рдЪреИрдирд▓ рдХреЗ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдкреНрд░реЛрдЧреНрд░рд╛рдо рдореЗрдВ рд╢рд╛рдорд┐рд▓ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпреЗ рд╣реИ |рдХрдВрд╣реА рд╕реБрдВрджрд░ рдЭрд░рдирд╛ рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдХрдВрд╣реА рдКрдкрд░ рд╕реЗ рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рдХреА рджреАрд╡рд╛рд░ рдореЗ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреА рдмреЛрдЫрд╛рд░ рд╣реЛ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИ |рдХрднреА рдЖрдк рдХрдорд░ рддрдХ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдореЗ рдбреВрдм рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рд╣реА рдкрд▓ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдПрдХрджрдо рдЧрд╛рдпрдм рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ|рдореЗрд░реЗ рдирдЯрдЦрдЯ рдкреБрддреНрд░ рдиреЗ рдЗрд╕ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдХреЛ рдирд╛рдо рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧреБрдкрдЪреБрдк рдкрд╛рдиреА |

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рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рд╛рдбрд╝рд╛ – рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХрд╛ рдЖрдИрдирд╛

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рдХреГрд╖реНрдгрдкреБрд░рд╛ рдХреА рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ (Cenotaphs), рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рд╣реЛрд▓рдХрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рдВрд╢ рдХреЗ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡ рд╢рд╛рд╕рдХреЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕рдорд╛рдзрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рд╣реИрдВ. рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреА рдЦрд╛рди рдирджреА рдХреЗ рдХрд┐рдирд╛рд░реЗ рдкрд░ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддреБрдХрд▓рд╛ рдХреА рджреГрд╖реНрдЯрд┐ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдЙрддреНрдХреГрд╖реНрдЯ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдг рд╣реИрдВ. рд╕реИрдХрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рд╡рд░реНрд╖реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рд╡рд┐рджреНрдпрдорд╛рди рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рд╣реЛрд▓рдХрд░ рдорд░рд╛рдард╛ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рдВрд╢ рдХреЗ рдЧреМрд░рд╡рд╢рд╛рд▓реА рдИрддрд┐рд╣рд╛рд╕ рдХреА рджреНрдпреМрддрдХ рд╣реИрдВ. рдорд░рд╛рдард╛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддреБрдХрд▓рд╛ рд╢реИрд▓реА рдореЗрдВ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд▓реБрднрд╛рддреА рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рдЖрдордВрддреНрд░рд┐рдд рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реИрдВ. рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдорд╛рд▓рд╡рд╛ рдХреА рд╢рд╛рд╕рд┐рдХрд╛ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдиреА рдХреГрд╖реНрдгрд╛рдмрд╛рдИ, рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рддрдерд╛ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рд╢рд┐рд╡рд╛рдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рдХреА рд╕рдорд╛рдзрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдкрд░ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рдЗрдиреНрд╣реАрдВ рд╢рд╛рд╕рдХреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╕рдорд░реНрдкрд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ. рдЗрди рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рднрд╛рдЧреНрд░рд╣ рддрдерд╛ рдЧрд░реНрднрдЧреГрд╣ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЧрд░реНрднрдЧреГрд╣ рдореЗрдВ рдЗрди рд╢рд╛рд╕рдХреЛрдВ рдХреА рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЕрдм рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреВ рджреЗрд╡реА рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛рдУрдВ рдХреА рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рднреА рд╕реНрдерд╛рдкрд┐рдд рдХрд░ рджреА рдЧрдИ рд╣реИрдВ.

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