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Ladakh - Planning The Trip

Over 2000 Km by road, in around 10 days. Stunning landscapes, wonderful people. That sums up our Ladakh trip. But how did it actually work? How did we make it happen? Read on to find out!  Leh, the capital of Ladakh , is accessible by air and road. Flying into Leh is the easiest, and time-saving option, while the road is the time consuming one, but with the added advantage of driving past some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country. Each option has much to recommend it, and we chose the road for just one reason – altitude sickness. Altitude sickness was one of my biggest concerns, since I suffer from motion-sickness. Yes, I do travel a lot, but that is despite my condition, and, over the years, have learnt how to handle it. I struggled with it when we visited Nathu-La in Sikkim, and wondered if I would be able to manage a week at the even higher altitudes that we would encounter in Ladakh. This was the reason we stuck to a basic plan, of only 9 days in Ladakh, thoug...

Faces in the Crowd - Shell Seller

He Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore .. yes I know its only a modified version of the tongue twister, but I couldn't resist it! We saw him outside the St. Francis Church in Kochi. Yes, there were women around too, selling their wares, but I clicked this chap and his stall, simply because I liked the way he had organised it! Besides, he let his display as well as his wares, speak for themselves, because he didn't hound us! Or maybe he just realized that I wasn't interested in buying anything, just clicking away!

Nalknad Palace, Coorg - A Story of Royal Love!

The car came to a halt, and all I could see ahead was a small, local school. “Where is the palace?” I asked and the driver pointed to a compound wall on the left. I had been expecting an impressive structure, fit for kings. After all, this was once the retreat for the royal family of Coorg! The surroundings were impressive enough, situated as it was amidst forests, quite dense even today, but the school was all that was visible from where we had alighted, and I decided to hold on to my thoughts till I actually saw the palace!

The saga of my really long summer vacation!

It was a summer vacation with a difference. .... it rained wherever we went! Yes, we traveled across three of the southern states, but the rains seemed to follow us, making sure we enjoyed the weather, as much as we did the sights! Let me show you some glimpses of our memorable vacation, through photographs - not of the sights, but the moments!  Fog, mist and rain! We didn't expect to see sights like this in peak summer!

Snake art in Coorg

Nestled amidst the Western Ghats , filled with coffee estates and dense forests, Coorg is home to snakes of many kinds. I honestly don't know what I would do if I faced one in the wild, but on this trip, we had a different encounter with the slithering reptiles.... Through depictions in art! 

On Tipu's trail - Six Sights in Srirangapatna

He was called ‘The Tiger of Mysore’ , but it is Srirangapatna that stands a silent witness to his exploits. The town might be named for the reclining Lord, Sri Ranganatha, but it is Tipu Sultan, who made this small town his capital and the focal point of his multiple wars against the British, who is most remembered here. All over the town are scattered reminders of those momentous years, when the town and its fort bore the brunt of the British might, and survived, over and over again, till it finally fell, with its bravest king. Tipu’s life began near Bangalore, and took him across Southern India in his bid for freedom, and following his trail is not an easy task. However, a walk through Srirangapatna allows us to follow his footsteps to a small extent. Join me as I try to follow his trail, visiting 6 monuments connected to his memory.

Skywatch Friday - Sunset at Virajpet, Coorg

I am at Coorg now , enjoying a much needed break, taking a long overdue vacation with both Shankar and Samhith. It was a wonderful day, filled with the kind of stuff that makes our day! A lovely morning spent in peace, watching birds, then a bit of heritage at the Nalknad Palace, and an afternoon spent on the plantation,walking around, spotting spiders, and finally kiddo trying a bit of adventure sports. What better way to end the day than with such a beautiful sunset!  For more beautiful skies from around the world, visit the Skywatch Page .

Hello from Coorg!

Good morning from Coorg! We arrived here yesterday, expecting the sharp summer heat, but were welcomed by rains instead!