Before we set out on our road trip through the Central Highlands of Vietnam, I was nervous about riding for the first time in a new country. It took me a while to get comfortable on the motorbike and let my eyes off the road to enjoy the scenic views. But after riding more than 1300 km through half of the country, I am convinced there is no better way to travel in Vietnam than on a motorbike! And the freedom of exploring a place riding on my own adds to the depth of my travel experiences.
Category: IN PICTURES
Photo Essays
Magical Myanmar – Instagrammed
Did you know the Burmese use tea leaves as a food ingredient? Other than brewing a tea, the leaves are fermented to make a special Burmese tea-leaf salad and its yum! Myanmar offered a varied set of experiences from historic temples to nature hikes in the hills and boat rides exploring life on a lake, but it was the delicious Burmese food, readily available salads (and avocado!) and the people who stole my heart!
Kumortuli: Where Goddesses are made
On the banks of Hooghly, in North Kolkata is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, older than the city and full of vibrant color and art, Kumortuli – the potter’s colony, where idols of Gods and Goddesses are made from scratch for the Hindu festival of Durga Puja. Various artists work on different stages of sculpting, painting & decorating the idol of Goddess Durga in the workshops here. Deeply engrossed in the making of the Goddess, they look meditative.
Eternal Varanasi
River Ganges is the soul of Varanasi. The Ganges rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and is the longest river of India as well as the second greatest river in the world by water discharge. In Hinduism, river Ganges is considered sacred and personified as goddess Ganga. A boat ride over river Ganges at sunrise is the best way to experience the ghats.
The Ramgarh Bungalows – Simple joys of Life
With a stunning view of the layered silhouetted mountains, the fragrance of fresh flowers in the air, birds chirping, morning dew, a cup of chai and dreams still lingering in my mind, I wake up to a beautiful morning! A holiday in the hills is bliss, but a one at Ramgarh Bungalows is just short…
Smiling faces of Ladakh
Mountains, monasteries, monks, memories…the magic of Ladakh! It’s difficult to take a bad photograph in a place like Ladakh. The light is so ethereal like in some dreams, and it’s not just the landscapes that are so hauntingly beautiful, but also the people of Ladakh who are always smiling 🙂 The smiles that tell the…
Go-Aaah! : Sunsets and Conversations
GOA is one of the most popular and peaceful states in India. Ranked on top for the best quality of life in India, Goa is renowned for beaches, parties, shopping, water sports, nature, history and food – a perfect travel destination for anyone! For me, it’s a place to relax and chill out with friends,…
Coorg: Nature trails and a home-stay experience
Coorg or Kodagu in Karnataka, is a hill station nestled in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, South India. A lush plantation wonderland infused with the intoxicating fragrance of coffee and spices, it’s a perfect get away from city life into the lap of nature. Much of Coorg is used for agriculture with coffee and pepper as the…
Heavenly Chitkul: The road ends here…
Chitkul is the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border in Baspa valley of Kinnaur, Himachal. The Indian road ends here. At an altitude of 3450 meters on the banks of Baspa River in the Himalayas, about 24 kms from Sangla is the remote and heavenly village of Chitkul. Heavenly not just for the breath-taking…
Kunzum La: A vantage point
Kunzum pass or Kunzum La, in Tibetan, at an altitude of 15,000 ft is one of India’s highest motor able mountain passes, in Himachal Pradesh. A mountain pass is a path connecting two mountains. It connects Lahaul to Spiti valley and has a 360-degree spectacular view of the Bara-Sigri glacier (the second longest glacier in…
Lahaul & Spiti : A sublime beauty
I’ve been mesmerised by the sublime beauty of the Himalayas since my first trip more than a decade ago! The sheer size of the gigantic mountains, the snake-like winding roads (sometimes just dirt-tracks) and the adventure of living in one of the most sparsely populated regions on earth is thrilling! Perspective gets skewed, as there…
Mt. Bromo : A volcanic vacation
One of the most awesome sunrises I saw was over the surreal, moon-like landscape of an active volcano – Mt. Bromo in East Java, near Surabaya, Indonesia. The name Bromo is from Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation. It belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park named after the two mountains, Mount…
Reminiscing Kedarnath
It’s heart wrenching to see the destruction and loss of life caused by the flash floods at Uttrakhand and Himachal recently. It’s sad to see the town of Kedarnath now, which is one of the most affected. Here’s a link to find missing people from Google people finder. Kedarnath in the Himalayas in Uttrakhand, at…
Enchanting streets of Pushkar
There is nothing like a walk on the street to experience the mood, culture and lifestyle of a place. And Pushkar is a town which is best seen on foot. It’s quite small and can be covered with in a few hours. The colorful little shops & cafes look fascinating against the backdrop of old buildings decorated with street art. The fresh…
Pushkar Instagrammed!
Pushkar is a visual treat for anyone interested in images of India. Specially during the Pushkar mela (festival) colours, textures & the mood are so unique and interesting that you wouldn’t want to stop taking pictures! Some images of Pushkar through the filters of Instagram. More of my Instagrams.
Timeless Pushkar in Color
Pushkar, a small peaceful lake city in Rajasthan, is one of the oldest existing cities in India. The colorful culture & vibrance is what got me interested in Pushkar and during the Pushkar fair there is a burst of color & activity all around, it’s a visual treat! I loved the place and found its…
Faces of India : a wider perspective
Continuing my earlier post, Faces of India, these are some images of the portraits with a wider field of view and ambience.
Flavours of India
We associate food with its particular fragrance and there is a special aroma in a mix of finely chopped fresh mint, coriander, crunchy green chillies, onions & tomatoes, sprinkled with fresh lime juice and black salt, which reminds me of the sweet, tangy, spicy & flavorful Chaats (savoury snack) we devoured on the streets, in India as kids. My trip to…
Bukit Brown Cemetery: A piece of Singapore’s history and heritage
In the midst of clean urban architecture and the beautifully maintained gardens of Singapore, one doesn’t expect to find any place that is totally wild, unkempt and peaceful. And yet such a place exists, right at the center of Singapore! Bukit Brown cemetery, in the heart of Singapore is an abandoned Chinese cemetery where the…
A morning walk in Little India, Singapore
Little India is a hub for the Indian community in Singapore. It’s one of the most interesting places for day & night photography in Singapore, and is best explored on foot. The narrow lanes are full of color and action all day, and the 24-hour Mustafa shopping complex keeps the streets busy at night. It’s usually quite…
Color Odyssey 