Set amidst fields of rice & corn, the iconic red Vietnamese flag dominates the stunning karst landscape at Lung Cu peak that marks Vietnam’s northern boundary with the Yunnan province of China. Untouched by mass tourism with only Home-stays for accommodation, Lung Cu, located in the remote Dong Van district of Ha Giang province, is the northernmost point of Vietnam.
Category: South Asia
Motorcycle Diaries: The extraordinary Karst landscape of North Vietnam
Panoramic views of jagged green Karst Mountains jutting out endlessly till the horizon, winding roads lined with wildflowers passing through small towns & villages surrounded by terraced paddy and cornfields, it was an enchanting world floating in the mist, weathered by monsoons soaked in rain.
Thai Fusion food at Wok Pagoda
I am not sure if it’s the love for seafood or the sea-view that lures me to Thailand from Singapore every few months, but it sure is great pigging out on all the mouth-watering Thai food with a view of the gorgeous blue sea, and the beaches are for real! 😉
Riding through the Central Highlands of Vietnam
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.
Motorcycle Diaries: Offbeat Vietnam
Starting from bustling Ho Chi Minh City in the South to riding through the Vietnamese countryside with gorgeous landscapes of the Central highlands and paddy fields, rivers and emerald lakes, cruising through the misty cloud covered hills at Hai Van pass to the historic UNESCO cities of Hoi An & Hue in Central Vietnam, with excellent roads & amenities, delicious flavorful food, fresh Ca-Phe (coffee) and friendly Vietnamese people, it was an awesome experience to ride through half of Vietnam and experience the local way of life. The thrill of riding a motorbike and the freedom of going anywhere, was a dream realized… leaving me with yet another reverie, of the higher mountains of North Vietnam!
Rustic Kalaw, Myanmar
Surrounded by the misty blue Shan hills, Kalaw is a great place to relax, enjoy the view, other than cycling around exploring the town, to nearby monasteries, pagodas & the market. With beautiful views of the surrounding hills, it’s quite rewarding to spend time at the Buddhist monastery and see the daily life of young Buddhist monks who call it home.
Lotus weavers of Inle Lake, Myanmar
The most exceptional thing about the Intha people is the magic they weave with lotus fibers – Lotus textiles! A Buddhist symbol for purity the lotus flower is sacred in Buddhism and the textiles were first made for a Buddhist monk’s robe.
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!
Blue Magic: Butterfly Pea flower Kheer
This post is to celebrate a decade of travelling and blogging; a visual treat for your eyes and taste buds, a creation inspired by my love for travel, food and photography – Blue Kheer – a sweet rice pudding from India! The beautiful blue color is from the petals of a Southeast Asian – Butterfly Pea Flower.
Cooking for the soul
Cooking was not one of my favorite things to do, but eating authentic Thai food and watching it get cooked in front of me & plated in a matter of minutes, has changed that. The aroma and freshness of Thai food is both exhilarating and comforting to my senses! So this time in Phuket, while…
Baan Rim Pa – Phuket’s finest in Royal Thai Cuisine
Dining by the sea is one of my favorites. The sound of waves and the rustling leaves from the trees make soothing music and the moist air is so refreshing. All of this with delicious Thai food is almost sinful! Thailand has some amazing restaurants with delicious food and stunning views. The people are warm,…
Breakfast all day!
I wish I could eat breakfast all day! 🙂 A few of my breakfast favourites… Masala Chai or freshly brewed coffee… And some light dessert 🙂 Talking about breakfast, the Singapore Zoo is the only place in the world where one can have a jungle breakfast with Orang utans! 🙂 More information on Jungle breakfast…
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…
Weekly photo challenge: The golden hour
The most positive & reflective moments that I’ve spent with myself have been watching the beautiful hues of the sky as the sun sets or the early morning light – the golden hour. Some of the pictures from this hour of the day, when the light is most dramatic & moody, for the Weekly photo challenge:…
Dolce Vita: It’s a sweet life!
Singapore is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines from all over the world, and it’s exciting as there are new places to eat & drink almost every week! In hot and humid Singapore, there is nothing better than a chilled drink any time of the day, or even better, a cocktail made of fresh…
Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern
For the Weekly photo challenge : Pattern
Weekly Photo Challenge : Color
This week’s photo challenge is on COLOR. I love color and enjoy playing with it in my daily work, life & therapy. My interest in color brought about the name of my blog, Color odyssey – my adventures & experiences with color. I hope you enjoy this vibrant journey through MY lens 🙂 Colors of…
Food Photography : Chocolate
After shots of coffee and some fruits in my product food photography series, I decided to photograph chocolate, as it’s one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world. So for all you chocolate lovers out there 🙂 The hand-made chocolate bars ( which are heavenly) are from the famous Italian pasticceria Brunetti from…
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 day at Sea
My first day in Singapore was spent at sea, as my friends had arranged for a yacht cruise around the Singapore waters. It was a memorable day and the idea of living at sea enchanted me. I haven’t got the opportunity to do that yet, but recently got a chance to visit K on his ship,…
Color Odyssey 