Guide

Ghumakkar Guide – San Francisco, California

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Fisherman’s Wharf is a true blue tourist joint, often called by many as a ‘tourist trap’ but I have always liked the energy at this place. To start with, spend some time at Ghirardelli square where the original factory used to be, and don’t forget to have those free samples of the world-famous chocolate. On a cold weather day, you would find a huge fire-place in open and you can have a relaxing coffee or hot chocolate to give you a good company. Once done, head all the way to Pier 39 and watch the “Sea Lions” on those old wooden decks. One can keep gazing at these big creatures for ever. Sample some fresh breads at Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe. Follow this with two rounds of the whole place and you would be amazed by the sheer color and vibrance, from the souvenir shops to street performances, to museums, the rides and swings, to food kiosks and of course a lot of tourists. On a good day, one can easily spend an entire evening at the Fisherman’s Wharf. And finally when you have nothing else left to explore then head to Alcatraz.

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The Gol Gumbaz

A Deccan Odyssey

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On the final day we visited the Tunga Bhadra dam in Hospet which is a multi-purpose dam for irrigation and electricity generation. The dam which was completed in 1953 is a source of prosperity for farmers in Koppal and Raichur Districts.

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Jeddah: Discovering a mega-city

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Jeddah has cityscapes on a large scale. Not for this city the narrow crowded bylanes of Mumbai; here, every street is built on a grand scale. Most streets (barring streets in old Jeddah and inside residential areas) are at least 8-10 lanes in width, with broad footpaths. There are bridges and under-passes, service roads on the side, and so on, in addition to the main thoroughfare. During most visits, in spite of using Google Maps and Navigation, I ended up getting on to the wrong ramp, or driving past a turn or missing a U-turn and having to drive an extra 5-10 kms to get back to where I wished to go.

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Majestic Ladakh : Kargil to Fotu La

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The monastery is placed at the centre top of a brown mountain cliff and appears as if suspended in the middle of it. A narrow road with many steps will take you inside to this wonderful cave monastery. This monastery has many elegant frescoes. This is one of the old Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh region.

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