10 Oct

Go Goa Gone !

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Places to eat:
Viva Panjim: The best Goan food ever. Period
Brittos: Amazing desserts.
Nick’s Place: Baga
Curlies: Anjuna: Sea food wood fired pizza, Hookah’s and Grilled Fish.
Suaza Loboz: Calangute: Good sea and Goan food.
Infantaria: Baga: For breakfast. Sandwitches and Pan cakes are worth the money spent.
A small desi joint just before Baga beach: For breakfast of stuffed paratha’s, masala omellete and tea/coffee.
Food court near calangute: For 24*7 Multicuisine food. Not bad, not good.

Places to Visit/Things to do:
Beaches:
Baga for a touristy feel, and watersports. Watersports are quite affordable here, and you can get a package deal of Parasailing, Jet ski, bumper, banana rides for rougly Rs 12-1500 per person.
Mandrem: For calm, quite and relaxation.
Curlies: Tip, go post lunch as by evening theres a lot of rush which everyone might not like.
Arambol/Ashwem: For a firang goan feel.

Places:
Old Goa: Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old portuguese colonies.
Chapora/Dil Chahta hai Fort.
Any of the casinos in Panjim.
LPK @Candolim or Club Cubana @Arpora for discs.
Manchester United Cafe @Baga if you are into sports and follow the team.

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Doing nothing in Fagu, beyond Shimla

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I must tell you readers about Fagu-which is 23km away from Shimla (and 3km from Kufree) is a great place for doing nothing and morning walks among apple and potato fields. Fagu is ,situated on the Hindustan Tibet Road at a height of about 2500 mts. We drove through Chhotta Shimla,and other crowed parts on to the road to Wildflower Hall and Kufri, stopping on the way to enjoy the fantastic views. You go thro the Victory Tunnel to CHHOTA SHIMLA- part of Kannaur Shimla, through Sanjauli,,cross another tunnel, through wooded forest toward KUFRI which is about 19 km from Shimla ,thro KUFRI by-pass and Fagu is 3km from Kufri on the Hindustan -Tibet road. It took us about 90 minutes, in our Skoda to reach the hotel of HP Tourism — Peach Blossom. Its a small village with only few small typical shops selling essential, nothing else. But the place is dotted with Apple gardens, terraced fields, potato fields etc . There was another group of People from Mumbai–all senior citizens, enjoying the place. We went down the hill though the apple gardens and fields. you can literally walk for hours- surrounded by Himalyan range so close,you could almost touch it. We were lucky that during our stay from 3rd April to 5th April, it became very very cold and we could see fresh snow falling on the peaks, and the whole area was totally covered by low clouds for hours.

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घुमक्कड़ की दिल्ली : तीन मूर्ति भवन

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तारामंडल के बीचो-बीच एक विशेष प्रकार के प्रोजेक्टर ने धीरे-धीरे क्रियाशील होकर गोलाकार छत रुपी परदे को अपने प्रकाश से ढक दिया. आकाशगंगा, तारामंडल, ग्रह-नक्षत्र आदि ब्रह्मांडीय आकृतियों ने प्रकट होकर तारामंडल की छत को वास्तविक आकाश के रूप में परिवर्तित कर दिया. ब्रह्मांडीय खगोल की क्रियाओं जैसे ब्रह्माण्ड की उत्पत्ति, तारों के बनने नष्ट होने की प्रक्रिया, आकाशगंगा का बनना, ग्रह नक्षत्र, सौर परिवार के ग्रहों के आपसी सम्बन्ध और उनकी गति, भ्रमण, परिक्रमा आदि अनेक जानकारियों को बिखेरता हुआ तारामंडल का शो प्रगति पर था. ब्रह्माण्ड के नक्षत्र, आकाशगंगा, सौर परिवार और ग्रहों आदि को अच्छी प्रकार से समझने हेतु तारामंडल विशेष उपयोगी है.

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केदारनाथ यात्रा 2014 – गुप्तकाशी से सोनप्रयाग – भाग 2

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पता चला कि सिर्फ ब्लड प्रेशर की जाँच हो रही है। मेरा नंबर आया डॉक्टर ने मेरे BP की जाँच की तो मशीन ने 110/140 दिखाया। डॉक्टर ने कहा इस इसाब से तुम आगे यात्रा पर नहीं जा सकते। मैंने मायूस होकर डॉक्टर से बोला इतनी दूर से वापस जाने के लिए नहीं आया हूँ। उसने कहा टेंशन मत ले यार। मैंने फिर से बोला कि अकेले ही ड्राइव करके आया हूँ इतनी दूर क्या यह वजह हो सकती है वो हँसने लगा बोला तुम थोड़ी देर बैठ जाओ 30 मिनट बाद फिर से आना। मुझे टेंशन हो गई थी मैं बाहर गया और सुट्टे पर सुट्टा लगाने लगा। 30 मिनट बाद फिर से मैं जाँच के लिए गया तब भी मशीन ने 110/140 ही दिखाया। डॉक्टर बोला भाई ये तो गड़बड़ है मैं अनुमति नहीं दे सकता। आखिर मे डॉक्टर ने मेरा शुगर की जाँच की शुगर 135 निकली। शुगर ठीक थी। उसने जाँच केंद्र बंद करने से पहले 6 बार मेरे BP की जाँच की थी पर मायूसी के अलावा कुछ हाथ नहीं लगा। उन्होंने अपना सामान समेटा और चल दिए। डॉक्टर के एक सहयोगी ने मुझ से पुछा गुसाईं जी आप तो पहाड़ी ही हो तो ये क्या चक्कर है। मैंने बोला मैं तो समय-समय पर रक्त दान भी करता रहता हूँ कभी भी मुझे दिक्कत नहीं आई क्यूँकि रक्त लेने से पहले भी हमेशा BP की जाँच होती है तभी मैंने उसको बोला आज मैंने सुबह से सिगरेट बहुत पी ली है। वो एक दम से चौंक कर बोला भाई यही तो दिक्कत है यही कारण है कि BP ठीक नहीं है। उसने बोला अब और सिगरेट मत पीना और खाना खाकर सो जाना। मैंने खाना मे दाल, रोटी, सब्ज़ी, सलाद लिया और अगली सुबह पाँच बजे का अलार्म लगा कर सो गया।

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Try Chivla Beach this summer – a weekend getaway from Goa

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There are plenty of fish & sea-food options with prices same as what I mentioned earlier. To give you an idea of prices, we had a Surmayee [King-Fish] Thali for 250/- (medium size rawa fried piece of Kingfish, Kingfish Curry with Chapati and Rice], a ‘Kalwa Thali’ at 280/- (One portion of Kalwa Masala, one small rawa fried Crab, Kalwa Curry with Chapati and Rice].

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प्रताप गढ़ फार्म , झज्झर

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आप का तो निश्चित है कि सुबह वाली गलती नही दोहराएंगे, मगर बच्चे तो अपने मन की मर्जी के मालिक ठहरे, अत: उन्होंने उस मेन्यु को चुना जो उत्तर भारतीय शादियो में बहु-प्रचलित भी है और हिट भी | चाऊमिन के भारतीय संस्करण से लेकर दाल मक्खनी और शाही पनीर तक, मगर अपने राम ने तो निश्चित किया है, हम तो आज जीमेंगे उस खाने पर, जिसका स्वाद हम शहरी जिन्दगी की इस अंधी भागदौड़ में कहीं पीछे छोड़ चुके हैं, और यदि चाहें भी तो हमारी आज की डिज़ाइनर रसोइयाँ में न तो देसी चूल्हे के लिये कहीं कोई प्रावधान हो
सकता है और न ही हमारी आज की शरीके-हयात उन्हें बना सकती हैं| सो, चूल्हे की हल्की आँच पर सिकी मकई और बाजरे की देसी घी में तरबतर रोटी, साथ में लहसुन की चटनी और बनाने वाली हमारे गाँव देहात की ही कोई ग्रहणी, न कि कोई व्यवसायिक कारीगर, जैसा कि आप आजकल की शादियों में या फ़ूड फेस्टिवल में पाते हैं | वहाँ आप ऐसा खाना पा तो सकते हैं पर वो होता रस विहीन ही है, ये हमारा व्यक्तिगत अनुभव है कि जब तक खाने में अन्नपूर्णा के हाथ न लगें हों आपको तृप्ति नही हो सकती | जी भर इसके रसावादन के बाद मीठे के शौकीनों के लिये बाजरे की खिचड़ी बूरा उकेर कर और साथ में गर्म गर्म ढूध जलेबी | ऐसा खाना वास्तव में आपके केवल पेट को नही वरन आत्मा तक को भी तृप्त कर देता है | भले ही इस जगह के आस-पास की महिलायें चार पैसे कमाने और अपने परिवार को कुछ आर्थिक सहयोग प्रदान करने के लिये इस फार्म में रोज़गार पा लेती हैं मगर इसका सबसे बड़ा सकारात्मक पक्ष ये है कि यूँ लगता है कोई आपकी परिचित ही आपको प्रेम से बैठा कर खिला रही है, आपके किसी भी गुण का उपयोग कहीं भी हो आखिर काम तो काम है और हमारे जैसे और भी जो इस देशी खाने के शौक़ीन हैं, पूरी मोहब्बत और खलूस के साथ खा रहे हैं | आप को सबसे अच्छा यह देख कर लगता है कि नौजवान पीढ़ी के जो लडके-लडकियाँ भी यहाँ आये वो इन महिलायों को पूरे सम्मान के साथ आँटी-आँटी कह कर बुलाते रहे और थैन्कू थैन्कू कर जाने से पहले फोटो खिंचवाना न भूलते…. आखिरकार परम्पराएँ भी कोई चीज़ हैं…. That is why I love my India!!!

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Wagah border beating retreat ceremony

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Not sure if there’re any celebrations when the flags are hoisted in the morning. As we came out, a bunch of people had blocked the road and were protesting against something.

It was a memorable event to witness. A better seating and proper visitor management would have made it even great. To quote an example, world trade centre memorial in New York has an online pass system. Only specific number of people are let in every day at designated timing.

To conclude: Evening ceremony at Wagah is a must visit experience if you’re going to Punjab. If possible, get a  VIP pass. If that doesn’t work out, give the camera to women in your team- they will have better visibility and can take better pics. Water and refreshments are available inside, but when the ceremony is in progress you may not be able to walk out and buy something. Post ceremony you can refresh yourself. Photos, DVDs, souvenirs are all available for sale. Mobiles will NOT work in the border. So if your loved ones are separated from you because of gender or crowd, you need to have a meeting place pre-decided- like in front of the washroom or near the car etc, to avoid confusion and panic.

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Bhopal – Nagpur- Raipur – Road Trip Review

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We were on the Ring road, Nagpur at around 12.30 pm and after that we continued towards the NH 6/AH46. We decided to continue without taking hold due to traffic in the city. We just stopped to exchange of driver seat at the outer ring at the start of AH46 where the road sign shows that Raipur is now 275 kms ahead. So now I have the pilot seat in my hands. We continue towards the Raipur on the Nagpur- Durg- Raipur express way. The complete AH 46 is a 4 lane road, but with some traffic. After driving about 70 kms we reached Bhandara at about 2 pm and here we decided to take a halt and have lunch. We found a restaurant just on the highway and also a petrol pump besides it. So this is the best place to have a halt. After having a good lunch at Bhandara and having a tank full of my car, I continue ahead towards the Raipur. The road is excellent with lots of toll plaza in between we paid around Rs. 250 as a total toll from Weinganga Toll plaza to Raipur Toll plaza.

The road from Bhilai is with lots of traffic and from here I found the name expressway and paying toll as an injustice to the travelers.  But still after a lot of hustle and bustle we reached Pandri Raipur same day and we notice the time is 6.25 while entering the Raipur from Tatibandh Square and covered the distance from Tatibandh Square Raipur to Pandri Raipur (9.7 kms) takes 45 minutes and finally reached our hotel in pandri Raipur at 7.10 pm. Thanks to the congested and traffic with no traffic sense peoples of Raipur. Now I have to complete the official and the important tasks for which we have travelled Raipur.

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Road Journeys – Circulating the Kutch: Narayan Sarovar & Koteshwar Mahadev

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The road was throughout single, isolated, un-inhabited and sheer windy along the creek and amidst thick long thorny bushes, but well maintained, perhaps due to military access. Luckily, the longest ever 30 km road was negotiated skillfully and we reached Narayan Sarovar before it was too dark. Later realized that we have not happened to see any wild life in the entire stretch, not even a Chinnkara or any Great Indian Bustard for which the sanctuary is meant.

On enquiries, we were informed about availability of fuel in every 2nd shops there, but at a much higher price, almost double. Helplessly, I had to pay Rs. 500/- after a bargain for 5 litres of contaminated petrol.

For information, the only accommodations available at Narayan Sarovar are the nominally paid Dharamshalas and no eateries as well. Langars at the old Dharamshala however, serve the purpose. The only public conveyance is a bus that reaches late evening and leaves early in the morning, connecting Bhuj.

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A day in Ranthambore

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There is also a small pound near Ganesh temple. After visiting Ganesh temple, we visited Jain Temple. Since we all were hungry, we had “कचौड़ी with कढ़ी” from a street shop.

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Road Journeys – Circulating the Kutch: Lakhpat the “Ghost Town”

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Scrambling, through the ruined and eroded stairs we reached atop the bastion wall. The enthralling view of the vastness of salt marsh upto the horizon and far beyond the water body was captivating. It was extremely windy and felt like reaching in a different world. Keeping an eye on any unwanted intruders by the BSF must not be an easy task. On chatting with one posted there, it was revealed, every morning an equipped patrol party wanders in the knee deep marshes in search of fresh pug marks to keep away any intruders. Obviously, this must be the easiest way for the intruders.

It was almost sun down and my worries accrued, when informed about no petrol pumps prior to Naliya towards Narayan Sarovar and Dayapar towards Bhuj. The indicator was already towards empty, but there was a hope of getting fuel at Narayan Sarovar another 30 km on the isolated road along the creek. After clicking few more snaps of the Pir Ghaus Muhammed Tomb and Sayyed Pir Shah Dargah from above the fort we decided to reach Narayan Sarovar before it was dark.

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Days Out in Brahmaputra Valley – Nameri National Park

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“Moromi”, in Assamese means “a loved one”. She was looking at me with her pretty eyes. I could not move further. I felt like I was caught by her looks. First time ever, I felt for a deer like that. It was a love at first sight, if that exist at all. I came close to her, spread my hands for a hug and it was gracefully accepted by her.

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