tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642349060666866412024-03-04T22:57:04.867-08:00Footloose and Fancy freeSt. Augustine once said that the World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. I'm just a voracious reader.Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-24226249794824513852011-11-11T03:43:00.000-08:002011-11-11T03:43:05.441-08:00We've moved!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dear Fellow travellers,<br />
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Footloose and Fancy free will now be posting in a new space. All the posts from this blog have been imported along with your comments and have been tagged under 'Footloose and Fancy free' for your reading pleasure.<br />
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Please head <u><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2011/11/eat-travel-live.html">here</a></u> with your packed backpacks or your comfortable armchair for new journeys and destinations.<br />
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See you soon! </div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-86963052791492089152011-08-31T02:00:00.000-07:002011-08-31T02:00:24.701-07:00Destinations are over-rated<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yes, it's been a long while. And I have now become accustomed to apologizing for my absence. And for those readers who did not notice my comeback <a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/">here</a> or <a href="http://missus-of-spices.blogspot.com/">here</a>, the reason why I was away - was the launch of my debut novel, <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/books/9380349329">'Coming Up On The Show... The travails of a news trainee.'</a> The <a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2011/06/coming-up-on-show-travails-of-news.html">readers have received it well</a> and it secured a spot on the<a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-i-am-like-malyali-overseas-worker.html"> Landmark Bestsellers</a> list as well. So anyway, that's why the travel blog has been languishing.<br />
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Plus the rains lashing the Philippines have not exactly been conducive to travel either. Many a weekend plan was disposed off after the rain gods played spoil sport time and time again. This last weekend though, me and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tandooricheckin/show/">the husband</a> decided to go on that elusive road trip, come rain or shine. Yes, we had Typhoon Mina hanging over our heads and most parts of the country had a Signal 1, 2 or 3 hoisted over it. But sometimes even drives in the rain can be totally worth it as this trip proved.<br />
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We were off to La Union - around 4 - 5 hours away from Manila by road. It is a surfers destination and as both of us had never been on a board before, we knew that this weekend would be all about seeing and absorbing.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like this woman here who has decided that the soft sand is where she would be rather than slamming her rib-cage into a hard board as she attempted to ride the waves </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This man gave us some nail-biting moments. As the waves rose up and down and he struggled to keep his balance, we kept wondering, 'Will he? Won't he?'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there were the pros. You can see from his confident stride that he's the kind who is defeated by no wave! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally after three rain-drenched days at the beach, where we overdosed on languid swimming in the resort pool and the best of hospitality, it was time to drive home. The six-hour drive back was full of sights like these. Through a rain-spattered windshield we saw people braving the rains to get on with their lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And noticed that rain does not stop the faithful either as they pile into trikes and jeepneys to head in the direction of church spires and pulpits on a rainy Sunday afternoon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QYeneevH6b44fUTE_rO_dnnKIgxw2RzYhLdI4C8basHZoNLuqfsuvY456lt0c-uOHMnKIbEjWeveBDaJQ16hY8t85kiR_f_Y4wW0GAn2dQGVX5DWXQrvqf-XmLi0IetRxocuut19D6Q/s1600/DSCN7404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QYeneevH6b44fUTE_rO_dnnKIgxw2RzYhLdI4C8basHZoNLuqfsuvY456lt0c-uOHMnKIbEjWeveBDaJQ16hY8t85kiR_f_Y4wW0GAn2dQGVX5DWXQrvqf-XmLi0IetRxocuut19D6Q/s400/DSCN7404.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And then of course there are the sights like these. A smiling ladybug trundling down a country road as it always has for years. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If the journey is this good, it makes you think that destinations are over-rated. What say?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-6435807693180987312011-04-07T16:31:00.000-07:002011-04-07T16:44:09.939-07:00Wake. Walk. Wonder: A Travel Photography Exhibit<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">You have read my travel articles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">But they would be nothing without the images that accompanied them and it's high time that the photographs got to tell their own story.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">You are invited to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Wake. Walk. Wonder: A Travel Photography Exhibit </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-weight: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-weight: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPvwujo_7h4LKsI-RGwvTaf7DpXYedI9sJeteKsOrqp0uhIs8-2YvmuaQQuIB3Z68CuP25SXrQ7WWhPOoUkvuUxLZ9pvZ4iQ6s2lYqUbxLKTcNLAxYRI0Uxv3RNcfTH9dj08Z35sIQFM/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592990536735152546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">With photographs from Guatemala, China, Philippines and more- you are invited for some high-flying armchair travelling thanks to Sagar Rajgopal's camera.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Where: Chola Sheraton Hotel, Chennai</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">When: April 17th - April 18th, 11 a.m - 5 p.m</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">I hope to see you there! </span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">P.S You can RSVP <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159725957422022">here</a> as well</span></span></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-29343459288339677782011-03-09T01:00:00.000-08:002011-03-09T01:11:33.271-08:00Cobwebs on the backpack<div style="text-align: left;">And on the blog as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been busy setting up <a href="http://www.firstfeatherconsultants.com/">FIRST FEATHER CONSULTANTS</a>, a firm that helps individuals start something new in the creative or business space and the only travelling that I've been doing is the day-dreaming kind!</div><div><br /></div><div>For more on First Feather please head over to <a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2011/03/mysterious-absence-of-pink-spotty-and.html">SIMPLY SPEAKING</a> where you can read the full story! And writers make sure you head across, as FIRST FEATHER is currently looking for submissions for an e-Book on persons of note. All details on Simply Speaking.</div><div><br /></div><div>And if this has intrigued you, do join us on Facebook via the badge you see on your right! </div><div><br /></div><div>Show us some love just as the fine folks at Your Story.in, a site affiliated to CNBC's Young Turks has been doing! :) </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDF3c_69SyOg0o-PbzxrbcZoOIIu74I9fu16GTU70iMsAu7qUGmL2rTP8r1mlZJAgmZy-QuiYPBpaCEvXx6TuSlM7HKHskA_yydDE0FMTf7jTjI8TqqNJGffDAglKUkC_kweTepQuF6lQ/s400/First+Feather+on+Your+story+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582004260374531282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLuwL_EogdmPY1TAgbhfFNOIOcX-iBkuBX9ZzW9Wd5iBH96B67Gnmqd7PnKfMNut4C_gNZQYG3e97bBLu6UD-Et8dqdaT_yCjbf633t34w_197-RQ-rcrqvv9ieELxjt8EIc7cXIq15s/s400/First+Feather+Womens+day.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582004253738654802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 233px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>But yes, nothing can keep my restless feet bound by the computer for so long! So I will be back with a travel post soon! :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Till then, here's to dreams of conquering new destinations and adding the First Feathers to our travel caps ! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-89208453005631455912011-01-27T00:21:00.000-08:002011-01-27T01:26:41.000-08:00On why Apo island is a wondrous place<div style="text-align: left;">Traversing open seas to get there make you feel like the sea explorers of yore.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiHaEL3tlMHx1T7ypSkx-dr7lScGVrPGFFaaZwVAs9d0MPF-XganehUTD1v-1Et7T8A7O9-b2PlUPpxFfWR9qqieEylfiLhFS4X5YY2xVsmNuGlGWdDqW876ItTG0ubUFI4qDMk6zmGo/s1600/DSCN6560.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiHaEL3tlMHx1T7ypSkx-dr7lScGVrPGFFaaZwVAs9d0MPF-XganehUTD1v-1Et7T8A7O9-b2PlUPpxFfWR9qqieEylfiLhFS4X5YY2xVsmNuGlGWdDqW876ItTG0ubUFI4qDMk6zmGo/s320/DSCN6560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566778710452593314" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">There’s nothing like the sound of the waves to wash all that city-bred fatigue away<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT1lYGy-IbAEgXBKyWhDUMfUH33aMu39aQ3YtabaR6DI0flNzifhY21SAAENXPdSMDCZBwDoJvx4AjvjwqRFDR1RGurTFoXN7x7gttCtLwfaTKIlXNe5ALBj1IXPoroiGYNVU6lvhOH4/s320/DSCN6570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566779464715935170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Massive rock formations in the middle of the ocean demonstrate what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdO13BCCrRaLgzlxbOt9MZDhNJ_RH2aBtDrN7VZ4eZrd9eXhyyoNU-ImVJnyVMmB2x7mecZZgBkq3xD4PT6500Jf9wklXQNc3QZKM2qAiYmDFgXJOE56_Y8dvFCuRXVREAnJj0HBr_nI/s320/DSCN6572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566783642200022226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Rooms with a view in a place where electricity comes for but few hours every evening and no running water make you think about those things that you often take for granted<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLjY2-VmzjCKqPqs4FQBKMZDf0fWNF1VNNaXMJ32JWzFaSDD4dAxkzlvXjWmCvbGlwRAWAX9X7pd1uWGmfhwLBjBQ4ecGSekou3IUaYY8tRHPIiPJx0rLgdaxtCHAo40uGQOBx8-xFw0/s320/DSCN6587.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566783649183188898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">Stunning coves make you believe that you’re truly on a secret island<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLyLVDFs9N9nm68J9zcjMqyub2NRKxsvp8TR5piGsOzrvb7LLa5HQ7XF6qCrXqdWYvW8s-JeW2twGs4_owTmm4MpthKQ6E9sK1EE5_dEnLFOL1Sy3lPmhgy2_ni87vfkN_55YJwNn0JE/s320/DSCN6607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566783656072254946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">Grounded ships that make you feel happy to be marooned<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHUMbBJIRR5sNgHLTTKH6dx1j2nD_QWZPK5wQhpy_d7qTdZqxHkW2E0mJg1Oh3uphbVhW4wk3ywhk06h8Sojk-Q4qw49zSkKQ7nwMcnw0zsFMeXmlUn-ZNlg_RmSLHt7XbT8JVOkx95Q/s320/DSCN6769.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566788742893296930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">Happy dogs that tell the tales of truly everlasting friendship<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42fxSo7jOCK2bkVHUdhUGOUjv9GCXfSbl5uo4iOakbti6FN7JSEPnvkIQPrTZUUcrP2uutUTmKXXuMQSZgkxjpZAp61XP7XzpVsAlA569M_HDjeJ7LtK8bITLMMzOn3qF2lFx_KA5rVY/s320/DSCN6741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566783668580972306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">Sunsets that show you what those writers meant by sun-kissed waters<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutcIC5wzvaFXLSyyDEcD0GdaLIEv1RwZcnWNy0llcQclMiGM3bS_Uo_iHcjmNUuvqHDJ1wCInGNmhqXYlumBMisa7PTu7K6ybRSgj9AYNeNUSAx8ko5mUqUbHJz0Zl5Pzdxkw9VWfwOc/s320/DSCN6688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566783661140396978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">And colours that no photo-editing software can improve on<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WipJq2EvNsmax-RbSK8q7e8wmzsHJu8pMviFn-5GvD_3nXRDKws_TBNVp4DMy6gX8THrPajcZrZJHJ70-FwBCiaUqzqvNKKkSnkz0DpFDStGVAbLnePzRDRqPPiNIRkzmvf4QPUAm_s/s320/DSCN6805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566788729927973570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">And the people who are just happy to be with themselves and stare at the restless sea</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSxa_FmGPuCZ9eoS57kLP8Wszc1MfHTK7AmACEBYu7hdZexGHopg-JAxZvBNGuD65bE2OEGh1j5yptYu5tCBKTh500Z-1Z2OiH9P8hRIIpWGcjKxFF5YdJ2rqQMzuondSM16nQDE4XyY/s320/DSCN6771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566788736470213426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div> <!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-43068509523810474822010-12-08T03:38:00.000-08:002010-12-08T03:49:58.384-08:00More from the Passport<div style="text-align: left;">Dear fellow travellers,</div><div><br /><div>It's been a busy month and I've been dying to tell you about my week in Beijing. </div><div>But the old adage of man proposing and higher forces disposing has been holding true. So while you wait, I thought I'll leave you with a piece from <a href="http://the-wishing-chair.blogspot.com/2010/10/passport.html">Passport</a>, my travel column in the <a href="http://www.robinage.com/">RobinAge</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This one's about Fort Kochi in Kerala.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR3zXqTaanLYupOr3io5yMEsjH_YPbxUBNIzqLGx0__bQ8rHwgTGV_e8e_-LLxp2MFEVP83hTyJE7l_0daVtx8GuhJABIJFFUDh6Rs_UuPO-UdBy0hRO-ts8nWwyhEAgeJpoWFl3FjWo/s400/Kochi+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548276503275037378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Make sure that those budding travelers at home take a look at it. </div><div><br /></div><div>So till next time, here's to exploring new lands and lots of adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-58209336249456399582010-11-03T08:37:00.000-07:002010-11-03T09:28:03.109-07:00Dispatches from Siem Reap - VI<div style="text-align: left;">The last day in Siem Reap is spent in wondering...</div><div><br /></div><div>We wonder how time sped past so fast.</div><div><br /></div><div>We wonder whether we can slow down time this last day, so that we can get to see maybe one wonder more.</div><div><br /></div><div>We wonder whether the elephants will still be ferrying excited travellers around the Angkor complex, the next time we visit.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj091BNcfAw3-zBWIqGPvghBFwxPk4TP5ObdqHWbcEJYXWI33-_AlNcwWBm7cRyPUe_Gf8zgjD4G0KDvrAeQpjVGP1lyeUnPJSY9XRv46zy0OgxTpK5Bhhzg93p8Ag0QrWoVF2XxV1uJZ8/s400/DSCN5297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535352031818329426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We wonder whether this artist's work will be displayed with pride and fond memories in a house half-way across the world.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVxCVzUA1Okbp5rwiPHs7AsG70GncAmFUfemd-2h4VSm3AgmGUbT-hKBlVMGyFUSQ4eLEKoprzogUxHZcpKerQz7fGH-pCADpOtfXeA2eoo3fffoeql106LzAwKdME_GSQenKExHCcko/s400/DSCN5325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535352446498328434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We wonder what the King who declared all the images of Buddha at Preah Khan to be changed to hermits, had been thinking.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dnYOZcVr0mw1zY4lzQ-PnSWA7v658Xc_spMegTYcJabAwXI6f8tYG45lZESFbFz-NwMkgx1DterpcFXok7FOQMPUi6qWkc9M9LODpDYHIFkQmCE0Bbjc1ODtO_7eFa5hEhSfs9Hnqvw/s400/DSCN5339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535353213142465186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We wonder whether this Apsara peeks out from behind the wall that hides her, at nights.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2ydRGJyh3xLMHST8BqV7qU5UKhp_kEoSoALZ7gPi2CJZ7bvVkH-0ekaR1XY0-n5NctNf59_4u2Ohrpo8O0NJp-2kd7m5wtYnTgsgNAI71Wsz_wUyoHq7SdC5p55b7WKqrq6WtCADK7k/s400/DSCN5349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535354538279912146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We wonder what this two-storeyed columned building must have been used for in it's hey day</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2m-l3k48FhkwDpIPgvOtDfzG2Aem0DiR4VmBbD8rfUGR5UGjVs6c5AZZx1GwrJW_ORQQhCgfSZ1nXI-9xymevjq6DURdzc0-C9GHLmGsQiiKM7IQ7q-zcouLLSsInvTdrQ-7JdYMv6M/s400/DSCN5373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535354547184423106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We wonder how long will it take till we see interesting road signs like these again.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq9OKkbaTg2CKCcJ-AmcCVsXnfYi-RMRGTKsDGz-QatBvEyuVvMvzc24OQHBo2izvMfuFTRyGUhF4nW3ro4yYltbF42_dINmK-kUUC0ZtR2Jig-Xzab0vP5JlYbI0YEuozvIkXRyNmg4/s400/DSCN5451.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535356137063977282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We wonder whether the restoration will ever cease to be and become only conservation.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ck7YYs1csh0nzimnZdnqHYNlaymFbmoo5E0o7delKb5xLOAgIVHilrhTrzFMvzMf0U1pUcxMni6DG9a-2Tt7hyphenhyphenqFKSMA0FD0HCEKiSCWi75VfBFSHP8LYDLIWg-hHkh5RVtgSLxV1pQ/s400/DSCN5521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359362872819698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We wonder whether any other ascent up has ever been so fulfilling.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56LhjOgxBTGYxw_UDUkifKmrOyidsw15yim7R-PxN6u-u3fJ6Kw013tQhrQ6ewMGtl9_pxFJyDk8vTjcvVuTzQ_KZdofY0LcF_LIC1WdG6FNUUf3fZ9PMe9_WvMIWZBmjMpaMs70TgJw/s400/DSCN5567.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359366103170210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We wonder whether it will be long, much too long, before we feast our eyes on this spectacular and humbling monument again.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCFvxOrhjkVpqOHuc-6_uhNuq5lS4sK1LQAaGS1bD4lHpiu8jDMRmaVDpdJj0A9MM1xrGPv2Ey4NfPd4YrnDv7Sns9zKhrFWJM_PxqoT3h5KDAoX-iPcxmvvaB2oSRmDOJEfxLyCLPUc/s400/DSCN5610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359370869106050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div> </div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-80795916320648615742010-11-02T00:42:00.000-07:002010-11-02T07:53:05.756-07:00Dispatches from Siem Reap - V<div style="text-align: left;">Every traveller yearns to carry a lit bit of their trip back home, where they can look at it and remember those experiences that will stay with them forever.</div><div><br /></div><div>We do it in the form of photographs that will keep the stone lamppost by the Wat Bo bridge near the Siem Reap river virtually intact forever</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswg6DBe5XPl723s2xNf9HYdnONJKZqTIqM7O3ROCsi0ctZdG4nZZWbjB3wC9JvOEWE-yXJ-6rUYRqsPDULyz8hhyphenhyphenzswr5F6Rr2RzMrFwoii9wzdFAtkOJT0RrYBX-JNxJGwWc-C2SvEM/s320/DSCN5291.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534856094094582226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By buying little pieces that represent Siem Reap, from it's colourful Bazaar</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqoLlNU6N1l41X7UJ3eLnbPtWwNtdAZnM8R_42yOTKu92tQdZxZb8hc2AR17J2Ku6AJ62b3JqKGDoJbiGSeVZuPpzwa8P8GPxXhs78J4P5nht0WhFs2FVaKh_eXAdFXxDz5DypF3ynEs/s320/DSCN5270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534856740402556338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And then sometimes we do it by picking up the recipes that will help us recreate the flavours that had added to our Khmerian experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's the delectable Pat Prik Gang or Pork in chilli sauce with long beans</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-jGr7u2SjOhF4xHXtTZmlnE6FjzqIzRVYuzdNjE19xNAd9ZHbWPHwbyxCzMh9_i-h8T-Qf-jqN1yLxynJ0pPYT4Zb1K8ZiczZ4HtIM8nGb1VHQfGZBEvfpUHPb1K753jv45swTIzr4w/s320/DSCN4452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534858436724395074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>The comforting Soup Psut or mushroom soup with minced chicken</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTILx5Ys-fz6JKMez8XeNfu9rw2wkb8tpsHjdMMuggYZRJIK-mnU8B8TTY0PXGeygr4eeZ5flrAUsC7CmEf6uJbtqgHLCOJNHOzRFnxxZiTU1FR07NvL4-4ilx8BF02ho0pAPvYy1av0/s320/DSCN4453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534858441579413138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>The 'makes your tongue explode in a riot of sensations' Lok Lak or Fried beef with red sauce served with a fried egg</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPH163KnlDe1IW1IcMdqYZ0YF_CZsRmWptqYspdqzzEUYvIibfqPkHVZTdKLPj1blf2SplZMSJJBdoGGUYy2MosxPOmFwlFzhRES6ybisD-lDDvQ9phidHMw6t7NG4amNiOERoHYZc5A/s320/DSCN4592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534859339985055666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div>The deep fried minced pork with ginger, onions, beans and red bell pepper that got polished off within minutes of getting ordered </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWkVhrqvGiCVU8usbGOvFUHoAagn1X3oc6daDtJbsLYVXFmTNLztyYKx1NxGWKn_DtcWa2j9sDaBAXMYVgxskDLhRyauKLa_lZjpYxOg-92U3eMjYhfF04BRf2y1qrIFxLW55bgnQR_Y/s320/DSCN4802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534860613322631666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>The flavourful Fried rice that could give fried rice from around the world a run for it's money</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeBIOwmhO1fmGGW7R3j46TjjAx4HgFKp10JNqkYUN_xJZ-5UfLaPMy0FeeKUnz9ebzcxpfu6XFMYsKO5JwyVX4SBDd-rWJZ-W0aDZCx9V9B1MCpVlqfAmVPUDprDV6KJh6dPloZTqPuo/s320/DSCN4803.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534864448548888450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>And the pork marinated and then cooked in Khmerian spices</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h0FIWwvmK527Ta0nUzUnG0WxMSFMbse1gGv69iGku2rVyT0EJAgfMDrdVWF8ekx5fWxd40WYeKQKXk_0x083CyDOYJmiJyE4xU8n2kyFVi-c1y8rMooRXxe1AdOgTYtMuqZrjJ0pZj8/s320/DSCN5288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534864456511587666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>What they say about Siem Reap is true, one visit is not just not enough to take in all the temples and monuments, but also sample all that it has to offer elsewhere as well.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-905159623854365642010-11-01T08:56:00.001-07:002010-11-01T09:41:14.093-07:00Dispatches from Siem Reap - IV<div style="text-align: left;">Cambodia is not just a land of temples, but it's one of expressions...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpf3PrKmFW5t7VPq_0blM0ggpml0DFgZQw5UCMc7vrSJ9kGitqMR98G8VLJPDeH3DMvDLRsqqkVv5p-Z8QosAK-fTXFIIcuRYRS7i3902gOoRiKcr_QuUA6jf_PU8LBPkZ_9Cp8Emlb4/s320/DSCN4776.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534613293878284866" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>Expressions....</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtNHbwjsezod6AnBhUtvDdl4nxiBhthYqaPh4P0tzsG5IUdgHFKimk6pkV2Pq_Be9YeDmYRiMtou_lOBqT9sBnVOBpWfsvMIUPfGISgg7OXs6kpxpi2cecPdfa6Xt0d5hx6jM6I8fnsk/s320/DSCN4777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534615876944361778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>And then some more....</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNzz8RixHnldWnckIGUtFQHciXFa37DQ1gAOGKmvGgvRrRpyZRe8Oxi4VDJyEiXPdoqr-K3sUQrfEmOgmRp5ueL-HrU1lPGxTxYhLAafchKR55w2WC0wExjCe3iA303PGkrG9tIiCVAk/s320/DSCN4785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534615889467153186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>No wonder why they have so many dances, expressing their many moods.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's the shyness of a just-married couple...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ht7TPSMgbOY8hF1qocPM3nGWg6radiD1yvxpVUNrJSkVrItIno-9qw9288MTDbe4T02kTeNEh2vsJDnqm4CjbOVV0_OqQKIe73XS4UFBthdnafamKOL6JUvlNKM0AqqmDbirtpM1Mss/s320/DSCN4713.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534613290407614642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>There's the 'Daiii' of a Hanuman ready to protect the Apsaras</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDALT-xjHCjyPDL7rjhUil_VQVmXWp6Lw5OLNhszxEyRji7NHXokrUsUGcUiJze3KnfSXnAIuxGqkzrjV9b-fHp0f830irj7wZvIVJjY5Jz1DbpTVRjxboMyPHarG5p-KXdk1OiQcCsD0/s320/DSCN4821.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534615892608753426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>There's the surprise of an Asura who's been attacked by Hanuman</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHqUvl8R0iSGw2JkDnweCzsedaQQBwa_Vjmd-csxSVoApro7olZurLnyicLuS1KuDNypAf9wNe54X_5VCZwXr4Y3dCQKMQ6EhfzE7Yy7jeW56guxRbmGcelXSmZH2qAnY49ndNLvb-sE/s320/DSCN4824.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534615900942007314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>There's the tight-lipped and alluring smile of the Apsara</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmZqFrjo3TZyXOExXGExRfjiWtCy6wdCpILXdWYT2clwSsm-t1vPtR58Gp7Ed5eeMLQXF5xAsg7wgaCLb8TnosBUfdNp4mKNvFYAmPq0oyRc25QIrmehPj98YFMHC4E2gP90CGfein14/s320/DSCN4844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534615911420679682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The irritation of the farmer's wife at the village toddy seller</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTzxfJtCMmP8lhp_oCkvNcQsuG0VvJK-mYrmbLVdyBCgL6bPnxKfqVdc9opmnakV3JxLXSxH_VYh6c9fWS6Gb5VbwYOEl_k8R7OzJyuV2tGlRbzec1WE1zAI4sVQNaquFkvBViM1ugNc/s320/DSCN4869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534619065152834114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The exuberance of a couple in love</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSZqDIOfgc0U41uTcMrq7aM5ZahdjBvaEt59W-7rI76kD9SRqfsAM6osFDSVJoyEjR_o4chRWNtE3q_RIasCExO86HNWh8J7RGJ1335abBv1Qi7pQOOzgSJ9-Rwh7C_3TRmQR7HAOZFY/s320/DSCN4885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534619073644168754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The playfulness of a Chinese origin dragon</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZUrafFg5Hbts2OWaQqjAMwyxOwV8Giwj8DxAArCupPoGZvo5E5vewSuIaNplOv88ETw_TgX84wAjOaLVQOUo50IKs1kRsE-PP-AJ1Iqcg4sNpuAutFS8Ha3Po-SEOeM-pIK3lnwbEC0/s320/DSCN4939.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534619088748492770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The slinky seductiveness of a snake</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO58HwG_2-lP-xlAh-JNy1M-mxUGUy0caEwv9gK81uB92l6ekKQetQkkLU_6NTWkwCIdiP0QoYkT9DAa87aGohvCFRT7s0NnR8lch8OhD7ArTS6yO48gGqSxs0nLjQV2Lk_QSZlo_SV8/s320/DSCN5006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534619094078772594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The delicate tip-toedness of a peacock</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIctpcbDx24s0j_yHJeaHz1iLdHGEgyj3brFYSKAbm5HWujuYf-p_7h_8AUgXkHT1QQEcEeQiO51l2ZZmG-dAt1nO67gonX131V30-R9CPO-NypEsgCyVgK1LwSEoGdsfwCve9fIkNcEE/s320/DSCN5020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534619098166707346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The self-assuredness of three potential suitors</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsvK-QBZW7SzELjgCr_irXVjBmUQ7NG4dAgWMW7JxI2Yoi4Dz7fXLz7CbrGsM5rmxjl8VKsNrWdAF_UL4vX_A480N3J6o0bGWTLTIGzrm-as6G56rkxIcrS0glXJp7fN3PmBHqkkLVUQ/s320/DSCN5051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534621642556483122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>The valour of a Khmer warrior in the making</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReL6l-yGcu7DGc6K8xS9UFF1yyYVi0gG-FwOkAewzkVSmw3fWDMrxqK2gwGoET0eM-43eh5sAX8QNHsexaZxGo2FAjXX3peZjsaNXr2L9fUYqLaVnzffDnyN8_X5zzZ4ZMVdJ9aT5XpA/s320/DSCN5141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534621649058248754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>The spirit of dancing open-heartedly no matter what the occasion ...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITDJolU9Ovqis5Ta6RQYbgfi06upNtUnZ9nEgvVC2WgNAEBUEQplOiTYd6a0t2L7jRnt5z8qqAdF6Xd_2QCpgpUQEosrpESAk5xLjJJ1f-tozCSjnPvjfBDnIASCAUaGvfGjwRAKyjVw/s320/DSCN5256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534621655955646978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Cambodia is truly the land of expressions, the land where a smile can cut right through the self-constructed tower of Babel that the foreign traveller brings along. </div></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-20141824225762038492010-10-31T07:58:00.000-07:002010-10-31T08:43:34.495-07:00Dispatches from Siem Reap - III<div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes it's not just the architecture of Siem Reap that catches your eyes...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Granted that it will be tough to find a better etched pink sandstone building than Bantey Shrei, the temple said to be built by women...<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPr7YtVpiU0N834NJg6WmfK4pU9Ne9qoHCeugpQLjQ4WJgZOgfabmwGFnWmMFZtfWnohntv7nUpRMghh1mK70G3_z-WVC9KuUHzq2ktJQ440GQDxkPp_v-BaXb26_dTyt8FvRtNCLI24/s320/DSCN4490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534228725158092802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div>But it's also tough to tear your eyes away from these two, that rest lightly on their heritage.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qAQdjeRw6lntl4pseCxh9ckvLfUvAkEoUqJKGEI-EAuVu-CAzPxUq0bnbbDKPvBHwOdN0xJljLiAVVRP42Do7vFHmg9UXjHuykEgZS6sKwhYlWs3RidiOGJ6hasosVl5Tu93kNSm5yM/s320/DSCN4474.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534229906227883666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>There are also those occasions when you trek up the most arduous of jungle paths...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMj2nfAi6jfFFblQnYobU_F8T2NstFaCSSS3i6wwgX93-rJPUJsdx0EMY4a2F_cEus1_xNPA0ZL7U0B8PUjnhNnXovRRIrV6cc9as2CvM05ublU4StSgg1Z_JFT6FDofcvvrDjZKGBSo/s320/DSCN4533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534230829705769922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>to get a glimpse of that engraving hidden away in a river bed.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9dGWpx8J0lASmvStshFGF6XloZpo6DFHeVYeIIp_yblpkINVXGUAUkCAE-6G0jVDk1AZs_TZuHCNgLuVGps8bTuhkEqVjkOshYGbGPBz1BOHPJln-flpV_hKdBXXXBczERcfxWdwGKM/s320/DSCN4545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534231760664525954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>You ride on past the most interesting of road signs...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1T39A2Yw7sc9hyphenhyphenf7Ju7pxxIU5sufvlD4jkGoRybyjZJBkWFq7bUx_svHJxLkSQy0NmxjF06szDuOgp5Mx3-stI7hAKf4qLgPM3wDNK2Ez5Z-kY8uaxeN-f3fC_qh-vi0AS8hTSWFW00/s320/DSCN4568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534232280323384642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>To reach the most isolated of temples...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zzs43aOZqNBPtdbIOUaLMRmYaGOOMPYPi3DfF8HzQhPXAsPeOYPxHyaU0qb_2tdeSqabBzVXD53VrNr2bXEDzVXcjvWf6UUIru2LYATOi8jpGUgFNWzyB-Z19XJPFMIPO4cIoJ_RdYo/s320/DSCN4577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534233756296223458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>only to find smiles that engage and intrigue you more than the gods and goddesses etched on the walls.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4RK29x40j0SPWZVnbbS2Qzos_uowOyx77iD_sSwmRdXn78FaAg_iLRpk1_N1A2oR5ral_OCrfoaiQHgdHJqWjH4Py5MWvGRhyf59RZC-VE-OOu8PpqhytXfZ001FcWlIz-caHj4TVPk/s320/DSCN4591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534234906658524962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes it's 'what's not in the guidebooks', that show you the spirit of a town, something that we hope to see a little more of in the coming days.</div><div><br /></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-36323453897950846842010-10-30T09:17:00.000-07:002010-10-30T09:45:20.796-07:00Dispatches from Siem Reap - II<div style="text-align: left;">It's been a day of jumping out of bed at 4 am, sitting in a Tuk-Tuk that rattles your bones and wrapping shawls tightly around to shake off the piercing morning chill.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Then on to getting Passes with bleary eyed and wide smiling faces and on through the broad roads, only to see a shadow of the great wall, across the black moat that surrounds the ancient monument.</div><div>Stumbling on the ancient causeway, we make our way through darkened entrances where no Agarbati can fully mask the mustiness left behind by creatures of the night.</div><div><br /></div><div>As one, we move with travellers who've come from across the world, to see that <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=444585687750&set=a.444585637750.243499.248979302750&pid=5795724&id=248979302750">age old spectacle of the rising sun as it lights up the Angkor Wat</a>, one of those monuments that leave even the most arrogant of the human race humbled.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E1DDzY_SrFxzkUGXIJhdi6cDiz1WbAeD9jhELhhJcPnT5LBLK5AMaCa0KoNKXj5NEwv0563hQZXtalWG8hL0uLinbXXl04srzgsBBFdrhX2zkJni2_bWLII4jiTbmA62ccAP3RFee40/s320/DSCN4242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533876143919827170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Fingertips tracing ancient scripts and with heads bowed down to deities that are centuries old, we tread softly through corridors that tell us tales of bygone eras. Overwhelmed, we walk a few metres away, trying to comprehend, how the first Non-Khmer who saw it's Gopuras rise through the dense forest must have reacted.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGAKz2y6WjdwdYmvx-p_i53J5smZm5uinnhG17HaW5xJS6fnVAzcw2hGWNtxWfX-f0QRRnk6tf0IU9hbASuKlSANNDEHKYgj8W9DaSbpU6hzTB4qiWujXfmN8Go2von2LrQDwvLcY2ho/s320/DSCN4353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533878244237636370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Faces look down on us, following our footsteps, a knowing smile in place as we pick our way through the mazes and the spirit of balanced chaos that abounds at Bayon.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKQviskbB6mQ2Qv4iPkFiBJzjH2Fhwtd9teK5fEYxiwQG2uLXlg0bCAwlQylDs2Rdq9NRppoNjOmUkJr2LQcSS2nt3XpjqdfizsKrd7_uhpExLQyoKFOppkhegAQVdGeRyKRtyIa-uQA/s320/DSCN4396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533878923681849314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>Skilled artisans and benevolent kings as those master builders of yore might have been, at the end, we are forced to accept that it's always Mother Nature who has the final word.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayOYszkc4GQn1snKiv1fTaIhA2XnkYf6qeNOnwlLsmW1W3pwtkcASS6fVW1uiSO-5JIMmV8Tfq_hNUsYGrPnZfQITL_QtYmffH50BBnsxjAm_TTKqvbCsZeZ5Ia5vOAsHk5Dpje09FA8/s320/DSCN4447.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533880139306398050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Tomorrow will be a new day, with much more to see...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-49965504310489240982010-10-29T06:23:00.001-07:002010-10-29T06:35:46.462-07:00Dispatches from Siem Reap I<div style="text-align: justify;">Landed in the Kingdom of smiles. A quick run through the museum later, me and Amma are calling it a day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After all, tomorrow we need to be up before the crack of dawn to see it break over the Angkor Wat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anticipation and excitement and the hope that it will be as awe-inspiring as <a href="http://the-wishing-chair.blogspot.com/2009/11/backpacking-in-city-of-spires-and.html">last time</a> are creating butterflies flit away on a manic trip within my stomach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There will be more on what the experience was like in tomorrow's dispatch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But till then I'll leave you with the two things that we'll arm ourselves with as we wait for that sunrise.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeYsZY4wonG1m3pMK-NcueR2EGFGGVGkNDJmn1faQOAlJAwQP0u-eDP9ZmZKOkz6wg4MYZZ28oUo3RTDrldShBTY-UuxdJlns8uEvyu_Irzp3ds3-xAA5af9EY3YOqlBdM02a1ifv0FA/s320/DSCN4216.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533460017573057458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>You all know what I'll be dreaming of tonight.</div><div> </div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-12053804442905972010-10-25T06:45:00.000-07:002010-10-25T07:00:18.433-07:00Passport!<div>Hello fellow travellers,</div><div>It's been a while yes, but to know why the travel blog's been languishing head to <a href="http://www.shwetaganeshkumar.com/">www.shwetaganeshkumar.com.</a></div><div>Not an excuse, but I've been chained to the desk, putting finishing touches on my first book and travelling has not been an option. Sigh!</div><div>But I've managed to try and spread the need to get out there and see the world through a new column in <a href="http://www.robinage.com/">RobinAge</a></div><div>Passport is a travel column for children and here goes some of the articles that have been featured so far.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxqnsXLt8HXbCPAy5gxNsA_gEBRRxjrYgCEwmzfW7v2Q-2o3sDphd2S5Ea8sLCn_5LAbm5rQ6PMwI19n-OCFH3so0EZmBkdgjtq7f_sPpRG9x8fcMqRDvCGoTEId9A4wEFeNk9ibb_VQ/s1600/Hampi+JPEG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxqnsXLt8HXbCPAy5gxNsA_gEBRRxjrYgCEwmzfW7v2Q-2o3sDphd2S5Ea8sLCn_5LAbm5rQ6PMwI19n-OCFH3so0EZmBkdgjtq7f_sPpRG9x8fcMqRDvCGoTEId9A4wEFeNk9ibb_VQ/s320/Hampi+JPEG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531982234114763506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR56CbfCxWIgN6B7p146nvo_1PIbKx8QYUxEX31Q1qms93Yj1XgPIYybuNWhScVy9JHaF1y9DCgkHO3ajpVK1WBROgm7tfBAlr-upACDk8KFBL40Ev1VHeUmYuEvhxk8B3LqcEZA_Yvw/s1600/Donsol+JPEG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR56CbfCxWIgN6B7p146nvo_1PIbKx8QYUxEX31Q1qms93Yj1XgPIYybuNWhScVy9JHaF1y9DCgkHO3ajpVK1WBROgm7tfBAlr-upACDk8KFBL40Ev1VHeUmYuEvhxk8B3LqcEZA_Yvw/s320/Donsol+JPEG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531982230453164834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY028lu3bhRZN-2EU8Ot5gF7QXhEdX6yavsHrlzajU1XGsM51PJ0OmXJ3cTfX-4yvDVPLZN6whaQWaytvs4QpQtmzt40aeoMtLjzMcUPh8RAXdZfF_D-ZQV57Be3BHsAiHWahJM72rrbk/s1600/Siem+Reap+JPEG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY028lu3bhRZN-2EU8Ot5gF7QXhEdX6yavsHrlzajU1XGsM51PJ0OmXJ3cTfX-4yvDVPLZN6whaQWaytvs4QpQtmzt40aeoMtLjzMcUPh8RAXdZfF_D-ZQV57Be3BHsAiHWahJM72rrbk/s320/Siem+Reap+JPEG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531982222181650690" /></a><br /><div>So if you are intrepid travellers who have children of your own or have nephews and nieces that you would like to nudge in the direction, you know which paper to pick up for them.</div><div><br /></div><div>On another note, there are quite a lot of travel stories coming your way this November.</div><div>For starters watch out for my dispatches from Siem Reap that starts this Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Till then stay safe and remember to dream of a new destination tonight!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-12496762570148621932010-05-24T05:36:00.000-07:002010-05-24T05:36:24.446-07:00Close encounters of the Massive kind<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgKDaXa434a6iSdqNgs5NMESerr1U9g-AMXKJJ-tELO88P18hg-8m2BxOErRGI4c0G3PkASdyOg1-U91Zx_m_KeyTPEo6ZlUb7zL3AUxIZ8lJvDl-OoWejVcUHMlQi_n8YkcEk5U_gIA/s1600/Donsol+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgKDaXa434a6iSdqNgs5NMESerr1U9g-AMXKJJ-tELO88P18hg-8m2BxOErRGI4c0G3PkASdyOg1-U91Zx_m_KeyTPEo6ZlUb7zL3AUxIZ8lJvDl-OoWejVcUHMlQi_n8YkcEk5U_gIA/s400/Donsol+FB.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you read of lands that live under the shadows of smoking volcanoes and those that have seas inhabited by massive sea creatures, you might dismiss it as figments of a writer’s fertile imagination. But before you do that, I would suggest making a visit to Legaspi and Donsol in the Philippines. Here, there are sights beyond your comprehension, even after seeing them. Read that as the active volcano Mount Mayon, and the whale sharks that swim in the seas during the months of December to May.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My husband and I had wanted to explore the region for a long time now. We had even made the twelve hour long bus-ride to Donsol for a much awaited encounter with the whale sharks. Yet a Tsunami alert had banned us from the waters and we had returned disappointed. This time, we had caught a last minute flight in from Manila and had our fingers firmly crossed.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We started by hiring an All Terrain Vehicle or an ATV to follow Mount Mayon’s 2006 lava trail. The humongous tires ground pebbles firmly into the volcanic ash and made its way through streams up the trail. Driving through what was once a river and now a grey wasteland we reached a dead end, a 60 feet high wall of volcanic rocks. We clambered up loose sand, holding onto rocks and emerged to see the tops of coconut trees. We were standing on a sea of rocks that extended all the way to the crater. From July to October 2006, Mount Mayon had spewed fiery lava that had burnt all that stood in its path, which was mainly, the coconut farms in the area. It had slowly cooled down till this sea of rocks had been formed, as a memorial of sorts.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yet, there is no sadder testament to the destruction that Mount Mayon has wreaked than the Cagsawa ruins that stand forlornly in the town. Seeing an ancient church tower that is the sole reminder of an entire town that was engulfed by an 1814 eruption of the volcano is indeed a sobering sight.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, we had no time to dwell on past misfortunes as we made our way down a winding road to Donsol. This sleepy fishing town has now been dubbed the Whale Shark capital of the world. We quickly registered at the Whale Shark interaction centre for the next day and were herded into the AV room to watch a video on the ‘Butandings’ as the whale sharks are called here. The video talked about how the whale sharks were the biggest fish in the world and that they grew up to forty feet or more and lived up to 150 years. It ensured us that there was no reason for alarm as these gentle giants only fed on plankton. That last part was reassuring to say the least.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To calm my nerves, we decided to head out on the ‘Burning bush’ tour. This is the very imaginative yet apt name given to the firefly river cruise here. We settled down in a canoe to be slowly rowed up Donsol River that is lined on both sides by mangroves. As we looked on, certain trees lit up as if adorned by fairy lights. “Fireflies” our boatman told us in a hushed voice, as we watched entire trees flicker radiantly in the darkness.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next morning, we were back at the Butanding interaction centre at 6:30 am. Within half an hour, our boat had left the shore. Thrilled on finally getting out there, my husband and I quietened down to listen to our Butanding guide’s instructions. We would be taken around twenty minutes into the ocean. There was a whale shark spotter who would stand in front and instruct the boat on when to halt. By then we had to wear our snorkelling mask and fins, and sit on the edge of the boat. As soon as the guide yelled ‘Go’, we would jump into the water and swim behind him. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we neared the waters where the Butandings were said to flock, the spotter took his place. My heart was pounding uncontrollably. Suddenly he gestured with his hand and the boat’s motor was abruptly killed. “Ready, Go!” our guide called out. Before we knew it, we were jumping behind our guide into the open sea. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We jumped into the cold green water and swam after the guide. As soon as I reached near him, he held my hand and said with urgency, “Look Ma’am! Look!” I instantly plunged my head into the sea. I could see nothing but murky water, when suddenly out of nowhere a huge head emerged. It was as wide as a double bed and was a dark grey adorned with a pattern of criss-crossing dots in shades of white and blue. It was my first encounter with a Butanding and it was swimming directly towards me. I panicked and jerked my head out of the water. Despite the video and photographs I had seen, nothing had prepared me for the sheer size of what was indisputably the biggest fish in the world. I wrenched my mask off, took in a deep gasp of air and then put it back on, to peer into the water again. To my astonishment the Butanding was still majestically swimming below me, swishing its forty feet long body gracefully as it dove to deeper waters.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We swam back to the boat only to make many more jumps through out the interaction. We ended up seeing nine Butandings in the course of an hour. We were very lucky our guide told us. I agreed with him wholeheartedly. But not just because of the number of whale sharks we saw, but because we had gotten the opportunity to intermingle with these magnificent creatures that taught you a thing or two about perspective. After all, once you’ve encountered a century old massive sea creature, you can no longer have illusions about the grandness of the human race.</span></span><!--EndFragment--> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;">New Indian Express, May'10</span>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-24152418333421558292010-05-04T00:19:00.000-07:002010-05-04T00:19:56.596-07:00A Javanese Sojourn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRcVYLd1mzxIRjYf4mJWPNm2aLOfpFOZPtLlNocW4eB4ZoRuYiejIS3ye8qznR2RVDBtgXJ3988fkUakIiqx-3dSqsT99igDNnYCIg3kBtupBL1hvz_TJHnQwKPEqlVsJ12otTHkt-HI/s1600/Yogya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRcVYLd1mzxIRjYf4mJWPNm2aLOfpFOZPtLlNocW4eB4ZoRuYiejIS3ye8qznR2RVDBtgXJ3988fkUakIiqx-3dSqsT99igDNnYCIg3kBtupBL1hvz_TJHnQwKPEqlVsJ12otTHkt-HI/s320/Yogya.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We are Javanese first and everything else after that!” our guide proudly told us as she led us to the Javanese cottage where my husband and I would be staying in Yogyakarta. We were in Indonesia for a week and were all set to explore this region in Central Java. Stepping into the house with a black oxide floor and a thatched roof, replete with wooden beds covered by mosquito nets, Java did not seem all that different from rural India. Yet, we soon realized that the sort of religious harmony that exists here is something that our country is yet to achieve. And everything we saw during the course of our travels only reinforced that.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Flourishing under the shadow of the active volcano Mount Merapi, Yogyakarta or Yogya, is what many would call Indonesia’s soul, the culture capital of sorts. We had six days and therefore no time to waste. Determined to experience the town as the locals did, we set out on a walking tour with our guide. Before starting the actual tour though, we spent an agonizing ten minutes attempting to cross the road while Yogyakarta’s manic and trademark traffic rushed on. That adventure behind us, we followed our guide into an alley that turned out to be a peaceful residential colony. We walked past grandparents sunning themselves in their patios as their toddler grandchildren stumbled and crawled away. Our guide had a smile and a greeting for every person we met. They returned the greeting, not only to her but also to us, teaching us that a smile goes a long way in these parts. We made our way to the Alun-Alun or the South Square and then walked down a cobblestone path, to the back door of the Kraton or the Sultan’s palace. This was not our destination for the day though. We walked on to a small shack just beyond the back gate. There, hanging from the walls and casually left on a worktable were the famed Indonesian puppets in various stages of formation. As we looked at the Krishnas and Hanumans and other characters of the great epics, the puppet maker told us that his family had been creating them for seven generations. With the white paint coming from the crushed horns of the Caribou and the black from the volcanic ashes of Mount Merapi, a ‘Walang Kulit’ puppet as they are called is all Yogya.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">As is the Kraton, that we visited the next day, armed with the mandatory palace guide who dutifully pointed out the artefacts and the Sultan’s family tree. Yet what caught my eye were the ‘offerings’ that the Sultan had left at odd corners of the vast palace. Freshly plucked flowers placed on a cut banana leaf were something I would have expected in a Hindu temple, but certainly not in a Muslim ruler’s residence. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">A stroll through Yogya’s traditional bird market later, we were ready for the sights that travellers come to Yogya for. The temples of yore! Ever ready to take us to our destination, our guide and her friend revved up their bikes and whisked us away to the ninth century Prambanan temple complex. Standing proudly erect, apparently unaware of the small town that grew around it, we caught our first glimpses of Prambanan while waiting for the signal at the junction. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">The temple complex was badly damaged by the May 2006 earthquake that affected Yogyakarta severely. Though the site got a lot of immediate attention due to its status as Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple and a UNESCO world heritage site, today a lot of the smaller complexes are nothing more than a pile of ancient debris. Rising above the calamity though, is Candi Sewu the 8<sup>th</sup> century Buddhist temple that is within the complex grounds. Despite the yellow lines that warn the tourist of the ongoing restoration, the stone monument is still stunning. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">As the sun started to make it’s descent we made our way through manicured lawns to the central shrines that are dedicated to the Trimurti or the Creator, Destroyer and the Preserver trio from Hindu mythology. The Vishnu and Brahma shrines flank the Shiva shrine on either side. Covered from the top to the bottom with intricate relief work, the Prambanan complex is awe-inspiring, as the busloads of school children swarming the area would testify. The sight of the three central spires bathed in the fiery rays of the setting sun is one that will be etched in our memory forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">The next day we drove through congested highways that were lined by paddy fields and streams to Borobudur, home to the world’s largest Buddhist monument. We were told that the best time to view it was at sunrise. And so we spent the rest of the day gorging on scrumptious Javanese street food. From Ayam Goreng Kalasan and delicious Padang food, it took a superhuman effort to tear ourselves away from the eateries and head to our hotel. After all, we had a sunrise tryst with destiny to wake up to.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">At four thirty in the morning, we were herded along with a handful of tourists to the base of the massive monument that rises to a height of 400 feet. Armed with flashlights, we stumbled up the narrow stone stairs and thresholds to the top and found ourselves nooks to view the sunrise from. As the sun’s rays cut through the pitch-black night, we feasted our eyes on what Borbudur was famous for - the perforated stupas. As Borobudur awoke, we peered into the one of the stupas only to gaze upon one of the 504 statues of Buddha on Borobudur. Making our way down, taking our time through each level that told the story of the pilgrim’s ascent to heaven we were overwhelmed at the artistry of those ancient creators.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Finally with a deep sigh of farewell, it was time to head home. But not without a Batik painting ensconced safely in my bag as a piece of Yogyakarta that would always remain with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span id="goog_2131880161"></span><span id="goog_2131880162"></span>---</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">May 2010, New Indian Express</div>Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-41367434056282448102010-03-21T06:13:00.000-07:002010-03-25T05:20:43.873-07:00Traipsing through the playground of the gods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc1kdHXyFIN8eugn4anrYwu1KmFlLs0UShHPHCEFwCdpx3JUNvVy1I-6K2-2Fonox1qVNqWC2whjVXlOKFgDMYWkqSDcedvSIq2vsvxqHQhRvubBlm1xXX9_eWlDDeWEiJsL1_32Qk4o/s1600/pulag+fb.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc1kdHXyFIN8eugn4anrYwu1KmFlLs0UShHPHCEFwCdpx3JUNvVy1I-6K2-2Fonox1qVNqWC2whjVXlOKFgDMYWkqSDcedvSIq2vsvxqHQhRvubBlm1xXX9_eWlDDeWEiJsL1_32Qk4o/s320/pulag+fb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452545045554098818" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">‘Remember before you do anything on the mountain, you need to ask our ancestors’ permission! For you are on the land, that is their home in their afterlife.’<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">These were the surreal words that welcomed us, as we stood shivering more from anticipation than cold, at the foothills of Mount Pulag. The mountain is famous as the third highest in the Philippines and held in sacred esteem by the indigenous tribes like the Ibaloi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They believe, that this is where their native Gods live, rest and frolic thereby giving it the nickname of the “playground of the Gods”. The tribes also believe that the mountain is the final resting place for their souls. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">We had travelled a sometimes winding, sometimes bumpy road all the way to the sleepy town of Benguet, where Mount Pulag is located. It was at the Department of Environment and Natural resources here, that we had been given a crash course on the mystique that surrounded the mountain. We had been expecting a difficult climb up to the almost ten thousand feet high summit, but now the air of mystery that surrounded it, made it all the more intriguing. Were we ready for it? A quick gulp of the pine-fresh mountain air and we knew we were.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Backpack strapped on and armed with a stout stick that I found at the beginning of the trail, I put my best foot forward. Our destination for the day was Campsite two, at the grasslands near the summit. At almost six and a half kilometres away, the trek up was certainly no walk in the park as my climbing group and me soon found out. The reddish-brown sandy trail wove its way through vegetable patches on one side and sheer drops overlooking lush valleys on the other. On and on we trudged, the occasional cold mountain breeze momentarily lightening the weight on our shoulders. As our steps grew heavier, the trail path grew narrower, till we reached a point where there was only space to keep one foot at a time, and that too sideways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Trying to ignore the feeling that our lungs were going to explode, we focussed on the sights on the way up to distract us. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Monstrous trees that seemed to be growing out of nowhere, bowing their heads over the path and weirdly shaped moss that would not have looked out of place on the ocean floor, bordered the trail. I peered through the gnarly trunks and the leaves of varying sizes and different shades of green, to catch a glimpse of Mount Pulag’s famed fauna. Yet neither a cloud rat nor a deer scurried past. Undeterred and with the promises of many a sight ahead, I hoisted my backpack a little higher and hiked on. Stumbling on slippery pebbles and stepping over natural springs that flowed over onto the path, onward we climbed, till we suddenly emerged into a clearing. People were already pitching their tents and there were collective sighs of relief. There, looming in the distance and looking over the proceedings below, was the summit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To me, the peak looked forbidding and inviting at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Now however it was time to throw down those backpacks and give our cramping muscles a much-needed break. It was half-past four in the evening and temperatures were already dipping fast. Pulling on our warm clothes, we explored the grasslands, snapping pictures of the mountain bathed in the soft orangeish- golden hue of the setting sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I settled down in my tent, with the moonlight streaming in, images of tribal ancestors drifted in to my mind. Firmly pushing them out, I curled up to sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">We were woken up at the almost unearthly hour of three in the morning. Teeth chattering in reaction to the sub-zero temperatures, despite the layers that I was wrapped in, I took my place in the long line that was ready for ‘Mission Summit Assault.’ We were told that it would take a little more than an hour and that it was to be single-file all the way. Though moonlight illuminated our path, our headlamps and torches helped quite a bit too as we half-trekked and half-stumbled our way up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And then somehow we had made it over the treacherously steep paths and we were standing on the summit. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Tired and half-numbed from the cold we looked at the hills that lay below. From just beyond it, a sliver of orange was cutting through the darkness in a straight line. The horizon was coming alive in front of our eyes. As the light spread across the skies, the clouds also rolled in, forming waves that covered the lower reaches of Mount Pulag from our view. We were witnessing the ‘Sea of clouds’ phenomenon that melted the pains of the trek away. We watched nature in all her glory, with the full moon continuing to look over the peak as the sun made its way up too. As the sunlight fell on the curves of the hills removing shadow after shadow, it was almost like the hills were stretching and shaking off their sleep. It was a silent group that made its way downhill after soaking up the sights at the summit. Nature does have a way of leaving even the most talkative of souls speechless.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Back at the campsite, the group was now taking its time to pack and wrap up. It was time to trek down, but no one seemed to want to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mount Pulag had cast its spell over us. As everyone dawdled over his or her tasks, a sudden mist crept over the site, bringing a mild shower with it. And then stretching across the grasslands was a rainbow. I cannot imagine a more perfect ending to the adventure we had embarked on. As I peered at the summit standing proud as a background to the rainbow, I could not help but wonder whether this meant that the Gods of Pulag were smiling down at us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">New Indian Express, March 2010</p> </div> <!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-65630432078712516152010-02-14T01:48:00.000-08:002010-02-14T01:53:05.673-08:00A taste of Island Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZkwiWmkwaNq-A98gqgXTR4MBWzW5jLOgNlAepPr1citkodM1V7hEaLBf_1wXuaG15Q2TmPJRNcQxKA2KaF87AZ28N-DLTuVbAm-fakOET58A3ako_D0f8ftQNvNd39pWI3_0FmoyLgY/s1600-h/Bolinao+final.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZkwiWmkwaNq-A98gqgXTR4MBWzW5jLOgNlAepPr1citkodM1V7hEaLBf_1wXuaG15Q2TmPJRNcQxKA2KaF87AZ28N-DLTuVbAm-fakOET58A3ako_D0f8ftQNvNd39pWI3_0FmoyLgY/s400/Bolinao+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438034895107192930" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ or rather when in the Philippines, holiday like the Filipinos do. This was our mission statement as my husband and I drove down some of the best roads in the country to one of the tips of the western coast of the Philippines. Our destination was the renowned virgin beaches of Bolinao that boasted of powdery white sand, lucid waters and a stunning coral reef. Though we had visited many beaches in the Philippines that claimed the same, this would be different. We planned to experience it, just as the locals do. As we parked our car in the beach facing resort we were to stay in, we realized that this was the perfect setting to do just that. Wooden huts with thatched roofs perched on reinforced stilts, overlooking the beach. And a jolly air about it that promised fun in the days to come.</div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">We started off by sinking our teeth into the grilled island style chicken that was made on order, in the absence of a fixed menu. “We don’t believe in menus. You don’t have menus at home do you?” the resort owner Carol told us, already having taken us under her maternal wing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We nodded our agreement as we tucked in the sumptuous fare. Next on the agenda, was working it off with a walk on the beach. In Bolinao, this means trekking to where the waves are. The waves break around a kilometre away from the shore, because of the coral reef formation in the area. We walked through thick patches of sea grass, picking our way through sharp corals, taking care not to step on hermit crabs and the poisonous sea snakes that were slinking through the waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sidestepping the sea urchins that were lurking around limestone rocks, we finally faced the majesty of the waves of the South China Sea. As the salty sea water sprayed all around us, refreshing us beyond any spa treatment it became quite clear why beaches are an integral part of any Filipino holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">As we walked back to the shore, the sun was dissolving in shades of orange into the sky and we caught the first strains of high notes drifting from the resort. A bunch of holidayers were indulging in what was affectionately referred to as a national obsession – ‘Karaoke’. We watched as families sat under cabanas, a microphone in hand singing along to tunes made familiar through the ages. They sang sometimes high-pitched and sometimes out of tune. And though the singing was rarely of the highest quality, what was touching was the passion that came through song after song. It was that, which got us hooked, first with a slow tapping of our feet and later on by joining in. We then understood why travellers say that it is impossible to find a sulky looking Filipino, for after all, anyone who sings with his family, will surely always be smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Being a nation of more than 7’100 islands, ‘Bangkas’ or native canoes are an integral part of the islander’s life here. Almost all families on the coast own boats. And our next step was to head to the vibrantly blue ‘Jo-Anne’ the resort owner’s motorized Bangka, to explore what was known as one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines, the Balingasay River. The sun beating down on us, we crouched under a weather beaten umbrella for a bit as the boatmen insisted that, that was what the locals do. But we put it aside to brave the harsh rays, to take in the sights that the river offered us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Broad with sparkling clear waters, it was lined by mangroves and bamboo and coconut trees that swept the surface. With only the gentle put putting of the Bangka’s motor as background, we watched the locals’ row their way through their daily business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With kingfishers dotting the tree branches and the occasional glimpse of translucent fishes swimming alongside the boat, it was easy to see why many people gave up the city life in favour of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we had ventured out at noon, the river was at low tide and the boatman had to turn the Bangka back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yet the shore was not what he had in mind for us. Onward he steered the Bangka, till our little boat hit the rippling waters of the sea. Zigzagging amidst fishing dinghies he anchored a few metres away from a sparsely populated beach. He jumped out and waded into the clear waters only to show us a pool with a sandy bottom in the middle of the reef. “Natural swimming pool Ma’am Sir,” he said beaming, indicating that we too should join the boisterous and bronze tanned native children in the waters. We dived into the sea to the accompaniment of peals of laughter from the children at seeing the foreigners join them in their watery playground. A happy hour of splashing about and the discovery of a starfish later, we were on our way back waving at our newfound friends till the waves hid them from view.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Once on shore, we found ourselves with twenty minutes to head to the local sunset viewing deck. We raced our car up and down the part concrete and part dust roads to the Cape Bolinao lighthouse. Perched on a cliff overlooking the coast, this is the second tallest lighthouse in the country. Watching the sun, a huge sphere of glowing red and orange as it slowly descended into the sea, I was reminded of the sunset drawings I attempted as a child. The sight left me speechless. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">And suddenly it was time for the last dinner. We decided on Chicken adobo, a simple dish that is all Filipino, with a vinegar and soya sauce base and a dash of seasoning that plays to your senses. Uncomplicated but delicious! In a sense, the dish summed up the holiday for me, living the unfussy island lifestyle that was spiced up by finding joy in the simple daily things that you do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">New Indian Express, February 14, 2010</p> <!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-63416823258807129152009-11-18T06:31:00.000-08:002009-11-23T08:35:36.921-08:00Backpacking in the city of spires and smiles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WDGAGkFRGIYTYtxGV6ee0OnraYbW8TS5LJSKDtPFLYSyzcxvTP-ttpvEk3XLHXYqcheHYTs4dEKqOycZFTpa8nL-iL_1kv3bpvpBQqWoUJfGSE-MXvyoPV20GxyfVPV5S85-vlIcpEE/s1600/cambodia+final.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WDGAGkFRGIYTYtxGV6ee0OnraYbW8TS5LJSKDtPFLYSyzcxvTP-ttpvEk3XLHXYqcheHYTs4dEKqOycZFTpa8nL-iL_1kv3bpvpBQqWoUJfGSE-MXvyoPV20GxyfVPV5S85-vlIcpEE/s320/cambodia+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405451950685787394" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Trundling along in a tuk-tuk, along the straight roads of Siem Reap, my husband and I were excitedly soaking up the sights and sounds of Cambodia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our swollen backpacks were gently bumping up and down, as the charming half motorcycle-half wagon sped on its way to our destination. Past glistening rice fields and wooden houses we went, till we caught the sudden glimmer of water in the distance. We picked our way through the slightly muddy pathway to boat number 36 that was taking us to Kampong Phluk, one of the many floating villages that dotted Tonle Sap, the great lake of Siem Reap. Tonle Sap is the biggest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is also unique as the waters expand and decrease according to the seasons. As we rode the waves, our tuk-tuk driver turned guide told us that we were still more than forty minutes away from the actual lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our boat was traversing a portion of the waters that was actually a tarred road for eight months of the year. Amazed, we sat back and watched as the ‘floating village’ came into view. “Water dwellings” is what comes to mind as you see the group of houses perched atop eight-meter wooden stilts. Children row themselves to school waving and smiling widely as they pass. Babies precariously balanced on the topmost steps of their homes. Families going about their daily business as naturally as we do on land unmindful of the water that lay all around them. We halted at a local house for a snack and then watched the world drift by, as we waited for our boatwoman to arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The wait was well worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We followed her to her wooden canoe and balanced ourselves as she rowed to the mangrove forest through the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Half submerged, the branches brushing the water, the forest is silent except for the occasional crickets chirping and the throaty warbling of birds. We sit wordlessly soaking in the dreamlike environment. Siem Reap is already proving to be a lot more surreal than its reputation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">And nothing proved that to us more than watching dawn break over the biggest religious monument in the world, the Angkor Wat. Built in the early 12<sup>th</sup> century, the structure stands with four out of its original five towers standing proud. Adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and royal processions of past kings, walking through the temple is like taking a stroll back in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we walk up the steep stone steps and along the stone corridors, we stand in awe of the skill of the ancient Khmers and at the way in which their architecture has endured over the centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The feeling resurfaces at the early 13<sup>th</sup> century temple of Bayon that is known for its complex of face towers. With as many as thirty-seven towers soaring upward, each etched on all four sides with a face with an enigmatic smile, this temple is one of the most impressive of the temples in the Angkor complex. The faces look down on us as we explore the temple attempting to search for an Indian connection in the bas -reliefs. To me, the mysterious smiles on the faces seemed to be of those who had seen much transpire over the centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Nowhere in the town of Angkor do you feel as transported back to the past as you do at Ta Prohm. A popular tourist jaunt, since the temple was featured in the 2001 hit Tomb Raider, its best visited in the wee hours of the morning, when there is scarcely anyone around. Huge silk cotton trees and strangler figs have taken over the once magnificently carved temple. Roots thicker than trunks have ripped through stone roofs and grown over structures, forcing them to bow to nature’s far superior strength. It almost seems like nature is forcefully reclaiming the land that rightfully belonged to her. It’s an overwhelming sight that seems to be telling us, that no matter what man achieves there are always forces that are beyond his control.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">For those who are interested in symbolism and sculpture, Angkor Wat and the temples that lie across the four hundred square kilometre regions are treasure troves of knowledge. They say a lifetime is not enough to absorb all that the region has to offer. We had, but three days. While we attempted to give the must-see temples the attention it deserves, we also decided to explore a few temples that lay off the beaten path. Notable amongst them was Banteay Srei, a temple with sculptures so intricate and exquisite that female artisans were rumoured to have crafted them. We gaped at the sandstone carvings of mythological figures and a thought crossed my mind. Have we really progressed as much as we claim to in architecture and design? I am yet to see any modern building that matches up to what we saw at Angkor. Yet another site, Kbal Spean was entirely a series of religious motifs etched on either sides of the riverbank, where the water gushes past them, in the way it has over the centuries. The fact that the site is more than 2100 metres uphill, through a dense forest just added to the mystique of the region.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Temples, floating villages, abandoned ruins; we explored and absorbed all that Siem Reap has to offer. And yet I found it impossible to label Siem Reap either as the gateway town or as any thing else. To me, apart from the incredible sights, what stood out were the people. Welcoming the masses of travellers to their town with palms clasped together by their chest and a warm, genuine smile, they make you feel at home. No matter which part of the town we trudged to, the smiles were unwavering and unconditional. And while the sight of seeing the sun rise slowly over the Angkor Wat will remain one of my fondest memories of Siem Reap, so will the smiles of the Khmers.</span><!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-35866743108405741252009-10-07T10:09:00.000-07:002009-10-07T10:12:17.374-07:00Of underground expeditions and hiking in the clouds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cce-B7JdyKrqvx1O_ErAbmOf165EM36znQVybzVEZfgQZ0WRBXW6PcFhFCozdAWeI8Ti7Q6e14f3aqQh3VRR56sQ1tv6iD6up51bYrJpxEtmNj2fNKXg5ZTBmod5ywfipFF5cqZHiXk/s1600-h/Sagada+final.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cce-B7JdyKrqvx1O_ErAbmOf165EM36znQVybzVEZfgQZ0WRBXW6PcFhFCozdAWeI8Ti7Q6e14f3aqQh3VRR56sQ1tv6iD6up51bYrJpxEtmNj2fNKXg5ZTBmod5ywfipFF5cqZHiXk/s320/Sagada+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389906809985706594" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Each sharp bend in the winding mountain road was heightening our sense of anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our destination was Sagada, a must-go for adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies, located high up in the mountain province of the Philippines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The journey had taken us sixteen hours from Manila and the twelve of us who had been on the road were waiting to set foot onto the mountain township. Its not like the journey had been any less exciting though. Lining the long and winding road were the famed rice terraces that are centuries old. These terraces have the distinction of being on the UNESCO world heritage site list. Built by the Ifugao tribe for their own community, the terraces are a spectacular sight. For as far as we could see, the mountains around us had been carved into large rice fields that looked like massive amphitheatres. It was in awe-struck silence and with our eyes fixed on these man-made structures that we made our way up to the sleepy town of Sagada nestled in the Cordilleras mountain range.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Scarcely had we taken in the mild wintery feel and the cool mountain breeze, that it was time to head to yet another site Sagada was famous for. Its limestone caves that form a crisscrossing network deep underneath the mountain town. Our group was being taken on a cave connection adventure. This meant that we would be doing some hard-core spelunking to get to the tourist friendly Sumaguing cave that was known for its limestone formations. Our entry point was the lesser-known Lumiang cave. Once used as a burial cave, even today massive pinewood coffins mark the entrance and set the foreboding tone for the rest of the adventure. Local guides who led the way with Petromax lanterns accompanied our group in our descent to the bowels of the earth. “This cave is only 100 metres deep while Sumaguing is around 163 metres, ” the head guide told us in a hearty manner. Not sure whether the information was vital to my survival, with a slightly pounding heart, I took my first step into the depths of the clammy cave. And within a few minutes, I knew that there was no training or information that could have prepared me for this underground expedition.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Cold and moist to the touch, the cave is filled with narrow claustrophobic spaces that you have to squeeze through to move forward. Right hand clutching onto a rock above ones head, left in another crevice, right foot firmly placed on a largish rock while the left foot dangles in space looking for a foothold. As the hours went by our movements started to have a distinct rhythm, ‘Stumble, grasp, clutch and slide’. As we moved closer and closer to the second cave the terrain changed from rocky to muddy. Left with lone rocks to clutch onto, more and more of us found ourselves clambering up clay slopes, slipping and sliding all the way. With the help of ropes and the will power to see daylight again, and to the accompaniment of the shrill shrieks of the thousands of bats that inhabited the caves, we ploughed on. When suddenly, we stopped in our tracks to see the breathtaking sight that made it all worthwhile. This was Sagada’s underground river, the force that had shaped these limestone caves and the formations inside, over thousands of years. We had to wade through the bone-chilling, crystal clear waters to exit the caves. At the end of five and a half hours, it was a dirt and bat dropping encrusted group that emerged into the open air with shaky knees and scrapes galore. And yet what we had seen and experienced made all the aches and pains, pale in comparison.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The next day at the break of dawn, we trooped up Kiltepan viewpoint to catch the first sunrays touch Sagada. And true to its reputation, the sight of the sun breaking through the clouds and bathing Sagada in its mild orange hue was stunning. After watching Sagada wake up, we headed towards our next challenge, a one and a half hour trek to the biggest falls in the area Bomod-Ok. We hiked along rice terraces, across streams and through small village settlements. Even with the occasional stop on the way to take pictures, it was not long before the waterfalls came into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Cascading from a height of almost two hundred feet, we felt the cold spray from the falls temptingly dust our skin. It was all the invitation we needed to unload our backpacks and dive into the ice-cold waters. It was a thoroughly refreshed group that made their way back the mountainside to call it a day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">We all woke up with a twinge of sadness on the last day, as in a few hours it would be time to head back to Manila. But even then there was no time to dwell on it, as there were places to see and experience before we left. First stop was the St Mary’s Episcopal church the oldest in the mountain province. After a few moments of peaceful contemplation inside the calm, stone structure it was time to hike across the Cavalry hills to the Echo valley. Cupping our hands we shouted out syllable after syllable and waited for the valley to obligingly repeat our words. And then came the final destination, Sagada’s centuries old living tradition of the Hanging Coffins. Perched precariously on the Sagada’s limestone cliffs, these coffins dot the landscape, with the oldest coffin being centuries old, while the latest just a few weeks.</p> <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">To me, Sagada was a kaleidoscope of experiences that are mystical and overwhelming. And while we kept our faces to the window for the last glimpses of the township, I realized that what one of my fellow travelers had told me at the beginning of the trip was indeed true. “If this is your first visit here,” he had said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Be warned, for Sagada is addictive!” </p> </div> <!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-17710293198705096512009-09-04T15:14:00.001-07:002009-09-04T16:01:42.875-07:00Road trip to Camayan- A photo essay<div style="text-align: justify;">Clear skies and a sunny day after ages was what prompted us to hit the roads from Manila, on a Saturday morning in the direction of Subic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At a distance of around 150 kilometres, this is where some of the beaches that are closest to Manila are. Our destination was the Camayan beach resort, known for its beach front rooms and pristine beach. However the fun started way before we actually reached Camayaan. The less than two hour drive from Manila to Subic is via some of the best and scenic roads in the nation. The scenery ranges from the Lahar flow from the 1991 Mt Pinatubo eruption to the SCTEX highway itself that has been made by literally, cutting through mountains.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfrf0P3pEdJTvZPokgJ4d5LHOQVoo5VPRdq6iaJpJdduccNr5I1q2Nzw-yGz29sQ7MYQMrnW3GtTy-k04mbAQALB24h91zBQtoSODYXKgm8IWDxDcq4UFVK0tEpXIOru7Zu05JcI3j2k/s320/DSCN1011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377740931069041266" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfLXtJsdzSsrtLlzG5ajzxKKCHUNMSj2dx-9zdgyCTQ_naiMyzc0CCQSqHcQSDDcZ72sBWCykfuEztcVnQfsmWhysQQzM6hALn3BzLCypY5mG-M2rEv03jzenuBFhC5_9J0bJqk0i-CA/s1600-h/DSCN1020.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfLXtJsdzSsrtLlzG5ajzxKKCHUNMSj2dx-9zdgyCTQ_naiMyzc0CCQSqHcQSDDcZ72sBWCykfuEztcVnQfsmWhysQQzM6hALn3BzLCypY5mG-M2rEv03jzenuBFhC5_9J0bJqk0i-CA/s320/DSCN1020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377740938752412194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Though Subic is known for its free port, the place is not in any way limited by beaches alone. The abundant forests in the area have also led to a number of tree-top adventure parks as well as Jungle Safari parks. Though we were headed to the beach, I managed to click a few forest giants that seemed to be stepping out of their green abode, ‘a la talking trees of the Lord of the Rings Style’</p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiDW3A9jMRcfOwJHFz4ojqMcF6N3UISKaun4OcCrWkPyt0CkMhRb_u1C_2iDmSSIDrSYiMfZ_N3_maG-Dxk2DLT8clTPsRMtCRUvTLjMX2fFVuVP0I79UZMu0Z2nhaajnGvPBqBUkLkc/s1600-h/DSCN1096.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiDW3A9jMRcfOwJHFz4ojqMcF6N3UISKaun4OcCrWkPyt0CkMhRb_u1C_2iDmSSIDrSYiMfZ_N3_maG-Dxk2DLT8clTPsRMtCRUvTLjMX2fFVuVP0I79UZMu0Z2nhaajnGvPBqBUkLkc/s320/DSCN1096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377740954566176594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblzZ8Q7NsSye_6CVJgeV8xCIuf9hY9oxuRj_LNgJ6O7fMcz6ZhQUwnHftjDHLGBEFcFvNs2EZLnP9FarPOIsmTSyIAUg1fV4-BQK7ZccL2SNrIDs6zvzyAAAlQRwbYrUy1NEZiug7nrI/s1600-h/DSCN1090.JPG"><br /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Camayan wharf is at the end of this gorgeous, winding road. Huge mangroves that make up a natural sheltered path on the beach line the shore. The perfect place to relax after a swim. We also took our time on the shore clicking what seemed to be the strangest flowers that we saw strewn all around the sand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If any of you know what these flowers are called, do drop in a line. We’ve been unable to figure out so far.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_uFTkARtyQhgFlXnxuR3IFc8QgXDvpIgr6r4Nfe246e2lOU3wToD05FQR0WaVgjltpj4fzDkjny_LPvgyYohjriXdIGL4eG8mmnCrWnPYtOFFSjA02cXGRE98K67LfVraGFROpG42KQ/s1600-h/DSCN1085.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_uFTkARtyQhgFlXnxuR3IFc8QgXDvpIgr6r4Nfe246e2lOU3wToD05FQR0WaVgjltpj4fzDkjny_LPvgyYohjriXdIGL4eG8mmnCrWnPYtOFFSjA02cXGRE98K67LfVraGFROpG42KQ/s320/DSCN1085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377740967505682242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblzZ8Q7NsSye_6CVJgeV8xCIuf9hY9oxuRj_LNgJ6O7fMcz6ZhQUwnHftjDHLGBEFcFvNs2EZLnP9FarPOIsmTSyIAUg1fV4-BQK7ZccL2SNrIDs6zvzyAAAlQRwbYrUy1NEZiug7nrI/s1600-h/DSCN1090.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblzZ8Q7NsSye_6CVJgeV8xCIuf9hY9oxuRj_LNgJ6O7fMcz6ZhQUwnHftjDHLGBEFcFvNs2EZLnP9FarPOIsmTSyIAUg1fV4-BQK7ZccL2SNrIDs6zvzyAAAlQRwbYrUy1NEZiug7nrI/s320/DSCN1090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377740962329092674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> And what’s a better way to end a day on the beach than lapping up the sound of waves while enjoying some great food and cocktails on a tastefully lit restaurant on the seaside. All in all, Camayan is proof that you don’t have to go a long way from home for some rest and rejuvenation.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EDME1Alum5yQWzn6JZemLcLCWIxzJtRPSqdxMzsTCuQpgKtO1lkuO0h2gjl_EDst2i_-QgjiFQgMQpPmfEslbaqMt5-UcuCEXkEwveYaDW_gzlGhADvCWZsFQV9Ow8d-ssARFpaXMHw/s1600-h/DSCN1047.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EDME1Alum5yQWzn6JZemLcLCWIxzJtRPSqdxMzsTCuQpgKtO1lkuO0h2gjl_EDst2i_-QgjiFQgMQpPmfEslbaqMt5-UcuCEXkEwveYaDW_gzlGhADvCWZsFQV9Ow8d-ssARFpaXMHw/s320/DSCN1047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377742845627100210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGRC-Rj00VQGcRKZw1c2klh1JR9-FO_hD924TIzcXOrEtPiIeMRw7bvPo-C6x69f9SeDtA-0LDusQ6F9Lh8Vlos8lr_obtGyuH-Qu0ahLSNg1l-i5dYMcC8QAPH0RDTCWZ3K7xLUiQY4/s1600-h/DSCN1097.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGRC-Rj00VQGcRKZw1c2klh1JR9-FO_hD924TIzcXOrEtPiIeMRw7bvPo-C6x69f9SeDtA-0LDusQ6F9Lh8Vlos8lr_obtGyuH-Qu0ahLSNg1l-i5dYMcC8QAPH0RDTCWZ3K7xLUiQY4/s320/DSCN1097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377742855510278930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-7761241672574390292009-08-27T11:14:00.000-07:002009-08-27T11:30:29.340-07:00Manila – An old filigree with new threads<div style="text-align: justify;">The first thought that struck me as my cab rolled out of Manila airport, is just how normal Manila looks. For all the hype of being the capital of one of the most beautiful island nations in the world, Manila is far removed from the coconut tree lined, sandy beach you might be expecting. It is also not the shiny Southeast Asian city like glistening Hong Kong or spotless Singapore. Manila is just Manila.</div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Wide roads with the latest cars making way for the ubiquitous jeepneys…Skyscrapers with Mac Donald’s in the ground floor, next to single storied buildings with small eateries offering Inasal chicken and garlic rice. To the traveler, Manila is a city that is moving forward to embrace the future while the past still hangs around, as an old friend, you run into now and then.</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDXDaKj5JyY_jbLdQigAYLYWNnTv_pw_IttS7e_5ebpjdNkooV5Gd6SpAZGa6BxiD3M4lSgF0nmoNBgK0UgEAueMpy_Mv2MoHOgMmvdObONuQMlsyK6FkiuQNVic9WOyCJ2P-ixhJKuk/s200/jeepney.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374711046148419698" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Over the first few days, I roamed around getting to know the Philippines and its people. I realized that they really like malls here. There are roads that cut through these gigantic structures that are easily a few kilometers across with a different township on either side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve heard stories of mall goers who’ve forgotten where they parked their car and had to spend three hours looking for them in the vast parking areas. Mall’s are a serious part of soaking up Manila. And it’s O.K even if you’re not a big shopper. They are great places for some uncomplicated people watching as well. Malls are to Manila what parks and gardens are to us back home in India. They are places to catch up, to relax, and to have relaxed family lunches and all the walking around gives you some serious exercise as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">And exercise is vital, here of all places where different kinds of eateries are poised at every corner tempting you, as you stroll by. Manila is a veritable paradise for the foodie. From traditional Filipino cuisine to food stalls boasting of all sorts of fare from Spanish, Mexican, French, Japanese and every other country in the world, it’s hard to live in Manila without some yummy in your tummy…every day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">But the best of all are the people, the strangers who I’ve encountered here. I’ve traveled by the metro during the city’s weekday rush hour and never have I been jostled. I've caught Taxis without knowing a smattering of Tagalog and had long conversations with drivers about different cultures. From the security personnel asking to check your bag at the malls to the woman who just bought the last donut, all of them have a smile on their lips and a greeting. The day Manila convinced me that I can still afford to believe in the goodness of man, was the day me and my husband were stopped by a cop for a wrong turn, who then proceeded to apologize to me for having disturbed us on our drive! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Sometimes Manila reminds me a little of Delhi with its broad roads, Mumbai with its bay and Bangalore with its traffic jams. And then sometimes, I see the city for what it really is to someone who’s so far from her country, it’s a city that’s all heart and open arms.</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuoK9x3isOgQJ-irZtBUycKyI0LK6QCPGa9zhz7BPBmJc94TEmB1Zmv7WDF-vlJRUvLy5IpBDpJznXS4dfVPHbYgBni2DKRQKc90iSPC8w7s6FpKiUO5bZPJqRpunXdayDOTgF3Ljj94/s200/Manila+-+Ortigas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374711057122140242" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-42067142195650432932009-06-08T10:44:00.000-07:002009-07-24T17:00:22.368-07:00Freewheeling through India’s beach capital<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZowOf2ClRGScyrVTnXSIRYC9LSQZ7piqneVW-oBdSUIGBNuKXP1bHxiHIWrWndSqqNcxart80wJqhZNAuOeJvvICvJoV8GVJWVPvn904fcokuWThrgOORVp1RU09Ci9sm-5J3QlpTiw/s1600-h/Goa-final.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 258px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345015534655708610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZowOf2ClRGScyrVTnXSIRYC9LSQZ7piqneVW-oBdSUIGBNuKXP1bHxiHIWrWndSqqNcxart80wJqhZNAuOeJvvICvJoV8GVJWVPvn904fcokuWThrgOORVp1RU09Ci9sm-5J3QlpTiw/s320/Goa-final.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Sun, Sand and the sea are three very basic components that make for a fantastic summer vacation. And boasting of the best location for a holiday to soak up the sun while in the lap of the sea is Goa. The beach state has been on my must-go list for a while, but it was the potential expense that had me hesitating. Huge portions of the tiny state have been taken over by multi-starred hotel chains, rendering it a destination for foreigners with foreign exchange and NRI’s. However, the truth is that you neither need to be unusually rich or a green card holder to enjoy a holiday in Goa, as my cousin and me found out.<br />It was an uneventful beginning to a long weekend that led us to Goa on more of a whim than anything else. Jumping onto a second-class compartment, we found ourselves in Vasco station. The train journey in itself is scenic and you also get to see the Doodhsagar falls, which true to its name are milky cascades. Vasco station is a lot less crowded than Madgaon, which is the principal station. Yet it has its share of touts and crooks in the guise of unauthorized tourist guides and capricious cab drivers. Warned in advance by a Goan friend, we headed straight to the Vasco bus stand. Our destination was Panjim, home to Mandovi River and a tourist hub for those interested in the beaches of North Goa. The one and a half hour bus ride to Panjim is not anything to write home about in terms of exotic locales or scenic beauty. You might as well be riding on a bus in pretty much any suburb in any part of India. However, the one distinct impression that stays on is that of the constant smell of fish in varied forms. From fresh seafood to dried fish, the smell has enveloped the region and is part and parcel of the Goa experience, whether you decide to hike up to the forts or relax in the sun.<br />My cousin and I had called up the Goan Tourism Department Corporation (GTDC) to check whether rooms were available in their Calangute hotel. Calangute beach was known as the hub for all things happening and fun in this side of Goa. Heading to Calangute, in a good old 1988 vintage ambassador, the GTDC person’s non-committal grunts were ringing in our ears. But the sights, sounds and smells on the way to Calangute, which showed off the vibrancy and the energy of the beach state kept our spirits high. The first glimpse of Calangute is a surprising one. After various twists and turns on a winding route, the road suddenly straightens out for half a kilometer or so. And at the end of the road, the beach suddenly rises up to meet the road, which stops a few meters shy of the sea, at a series of steps which head to the sand. The GTDC has been lucky enough to build a hotel right next to these steps facing the dark waters. We decided to bunk there for the trip as we were a couple of hours away from sunset and we wanted to be near enough the beach to catch our first sunset in Goa. Also a stone’s or rather shell’s throw away is Souza Lobos. One of the oldest eateries in the area, they not only serve mouth watering Goan cuisine but also boast of a traditional live Goan band. We chose to sit at a table outdoors, with our toes sinking into the sand, tucking into Chicken Vindaloo, with Konkani melodies and the crashing waves in the background.<br />The next day we were up early and rewarded by a near deserted beach with the water at just the right temperature for a dip. And the best way to get yourself dry is to take a walk along the shore. A brisk walk further down takes you to Baga, the tranquil extension of the beach, known for its fisherman’s village. Yet at night, the beach transforms into one of the liveliest night scenes around with popular hangouts like Tito’s and Mambo’s staying open till the wee hours of dawn.<br />Next on the agenda was roaming around the countryside Goan style. With neither the money nor inclination to pay overpriced cabs, we decided to hire a scooter, a service available in most stalls around Calangute. Zooming off to the nearby beaches of Anjuna, Vagator and Candolim are easiest, if one decides to take this mode of transport. This way we got to discover picturesque looking by lanes looking like postcards from Portugal and feel the sea breeze in our hair and sun beating down on us. It was like an actual slice of Goa as opposed to the sanitized guided tour.<br />A fort we came across by chance, on the road trip was Chapora. While it’s Fort Aguada which most Indian tourists head to believing it to be the fort immortalized by the Bollywood hit Dil Chahta Hai (2001), locals told us that it was Chapora which was actually the scene of all the action. Riding the scooter up an impossibly steep hill, with nothing vaguely touristy anywhere near, we reached Chapora’s foothills. Confronted by the prospect of a vertical trek up loose dusty stones and dry grass, it was only the dream of photographing ourselves as the stars did, that made us climb up. A fabulous view of the sunset over the waves of Vagator made the effort worthwhile.<br />At the end of our weekend it was a multitude of experiences that we took back from Goa. From flea Markets and English Breakfasts to clear and rocky waters and excited masses trying out banana boats and water scooters, there’s something for everyone in Goa. And no matter which part of the state you head to, you don’t need to be a millionaire to experience it.<br /><br />The New Indian Express, April, 2009Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-31172596813963201472009-06-08T10:25:00.000-07:002009-07-24T16:58:45.392-07:00Footloose in Palawan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjB9TQeNTMBQSn74uoVpWd5LOgZD-pAwiRrksXpF1Qp7hpvlzmakUR8CoB8KlhU-Otu0H-YEgdeyx80fITq9oc1I4SHEs2WEJPbOz_vDgQF50lPHYGd_Z-Av4wAdimxVZR-U2ylgUDwI0/s1600-h/Palawan+final.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345010165096899794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjB9TQeNTMBQSn74uoVpWd5LOgZD-pAwiRrksXpF1Qp7hpvlzmakUR8CoB8KlhU-Otu0H-YEgdeyx80fITq9oc1I4SHEs2WEJPbOz_vDgQF50lPHYGd_Z-Av4wAdimxVZR-U2ylgUDwI0/s320/Palawan+final.jpg" /></a><br />I confess! The only thing I knew about the Philippines or cared to read about for a very long time was about Imelda Marcos’s vast shoe collection. Little did I know that I had a very different kind of Filipino education in store for me in my future! So come circa 2009, finding myself in Manila, I realized that it was time to discover the nation for myself and perhaps uncover a few of its enigmatic islands. Now being a nation made up of 7,107 islands, it’s inevitable that the Philippines can boast of beaches of almost every kind. From those that seem to be hand crafted by the Creator for diving and snorkeling to surfers haven. Topping the tourist’s must-see list in the archipelago is Boracay. Yet the more I looked at travel information to the beach known for its powdery white sands and amazing water, the more I felt like heading to another lesser known destination- Palawan. Located in the south of the Philippines, Palawan was touted as a collection of 1,780 islands with exquisite beaches and foliage, which could be likened to Borneo rather than the Philippines. Two birds with one stone thought I. Next step book flight tickets and make reservations at Club Paradise, a private island eco-resort in Dimakya Island in Northern Palawan.<br />One of the hardest things of packing for my three nights and four days package tour at Palawan was how I had to voluntarily travel light. Now this gave my husband a lot of glee, as he certainly did not want to be the one lugging the bags around. And giving him this reason to smile was the flight that we had to catch. The Philippines airlines flight to Palawan only allows you to take ten kilograms per person. So swinging our negligible luggage and breezing past security, we finally boarded the quaint looking Bombardier turboprop to Palawan, which promised to take us there in little over an hour. Bagging the window seat certainly worked out in my favour, as flying out through the clouds looming over Manila I was treated to the first glimpse of Palawan. And what a promising one it was, as it was not only the turquoise waters and the white sand that we could see, but also the coral reefs bordering the isles.<br />One hour after photographs through the cubbyhole which aeroplanes call a window, we touched down at Busuanga airport, one of the airports in Palawan. Walking out of the charming wood paneled airport, our very tropically dressed (read that as orange shorts and a sky blue floral t-shirt) resort guide greeted us. He then promptly bundled us into a Jeepney to drop us to our ferry. Jeepneys, which are open-air oversized jeeps, are used quite a lot in Palawan, which does not have a lot of vehicular traffic, and therefore no tarmac roads. The ride to the ferry was eventful to say the least- dusty, punctuated with sudden bumps and passing by some of the most amazing grasslands with exotic trees and the occasional villager waving at us.<br />However nothing in any tourist brochure could have prepared us for the first look of the river we were supposed to cross to reach our island destination. Bordered by mangroves on both sides, looking out of the ferry was a surreal experience. An hour-long boat ride on the river and then on the high seas, suddenly the resort guide pointed out the speck in the distance that would be our home for the next three nights. With each bobbing motion of the boat, the anticipation and excitement rose a little bit higher. And finally we were there.<br />To the background of an island welcome song and the accompaniment of a fresh mango shake, we tiptoed along the narrow ramp of the boat and happily jumped onto the island.<br />Overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the spot, the first thing we decided to do was soak it up and that too literally. The waters surrounding the island are perfect for swimming and better still snorkeling. The area is known for its coral reefs and the resort made sure that we could enjoy them to the fullest by handing out free snorkeling gear. Call it voyeurism of a different kind if you want, but watching different kinds of vibrantly coloured reef fish swimming around their habitat, blissfully unaware of the humans around is quite thrilling.<br />However soaking in the warm waters aside, the island is also a great place for trekking. We even chanced upon a monitor lizard while hiking up to the highest point of the isle. Though it frightened the wits out of me, don’t worry the lizard as well as the fruit bats that are in abundance on the resort are not at all interested in the humans that tend to cross their path.<br />Located at the northern most tip of Palawan, Dimakya is also a great place to plan island hopping trips from as there are quite a few ones that you can explore while you are there. Yet according to me, the best way to enjoy Palawan is by pulling up a lounge chair and losing oneself in the stunning sunset you can see from here.<br />Time seems to stand still in this paradise at times, but for me it passed much too fast. And on the ferry ride back to traffic lights and zooming cars, all I could think of was the memories of being barefoot in paradise.<br /><br />The New Indian Express, March 2009Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364234906066686641.post-31995582213888389192009-06-08T10:18:00.001-07:002009-07-24T16:56:49.422-07:00In the company of fallen monuments<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpXLaUxjkVyC_688wtZhwf1ailXejA96GW6ppGOiwon75dqD4OVq1pit10fXV05jMZNz1H7sdbd3QHUfpX4TzRhlu29dmuJfOwqAGAAzz0z21EnnSmRHPJaHqlS7vI6tEBBx1dQsNtio/s1600-h/ag04$007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345008330938472162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpXLaUxjkVyC_688wtZhwf1ailXejA96GW6ppGOiwon75dqD4OVq1pit10fXV05jMZNz1H7sdbd3QHUfpX4TzRhlu29dmuJfOwqAGAAzz0z21EnnSmRHPJaHqlS7vI6tEBBx1dQsNtio/s200/ag04$007.jpg" /></a><br />As the car rolls down the approach road to the famed ruins of Hampi in Karnataka, an involuntary gulp of expectation arises. Set in a forbidding backdrop of boulders precariously perched on one another, Hampi is the seat of the 15th century Vijaynagara Empire, capital of the famous King Krishnadevaraya.<br /><br />The ruins wrought mainly in stone are scattered over 26 kms with the river Tungabhadra as a boundary in its North. Declared a world heritage site in 2002, this medieval city has also been identified as Kishkinda, the monkey kingdom mentioned in the Ramayana.<br /><br />The first stop in Hampi is always the Virupaksha temple, the only active place of worship in the ruins. The temple has a 120 feet tall tower and houses the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneshwari. Replete with carvings and ancient vegetable dye paintings, some parts of the temple are supposed to predate the Vijayanagara kingdom.<br /><br />Moving on, one can see the 9 ft monolithic structure of the Mustard Ganesha and the 6.7 m tall monolith of the Ugra Narasimha, which for many is the symbol of Hampi. These are but two of the many monuments, which fell prey to the swords of the invaders who finally felled the city.<br /><br />Driving on through the dusty terrain, one reaches the Hazari Rama temple, believed to be one of the finest specimens of South Indian temple architecture. As the name suggests, it boasts of 1000 exquisite stone carvings of scenes from the Ramayana.<br /><br />A pathway from the temple leads to the striking Mahanavami Dibba seated on which the royal family is said to have viewed the nine-day Dasera festival parades. The structure is a huge nine storied platform with carvings detailing the art of warfare inscribed on its walls.<br /><br />The next stop is the famed Lotus Mahal, a summer retreat made for the queens in a lotus flower like structure. A fusion of the Indo-Muslim styles, the monument has a unique air cooling system. Within the same grounds are the huge and elaborate Elephants stables which housed the king’s 11 elephants.<br /><br />Next is the most anticipated stop, the Vittala temple complex, known as one of the most splendid monuments of all times. A magnificent stone chariot with movable wheels in the temple complex is a shining example of Vijayanagara Architecture. Another testimony to the same is the Sangeeta Mandapa made of 56 finely carved stone pillars which emit different musical notes when struck.<br /><br />As one says farewell to the city there is awe and silent admiration for those ancient builders. Thanks to them, today, more than 500 years after it was silenced, Hampi is still a city with many stories to tell.<br /><br />Hindustan Times, June, 2005Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0