Chillies and cricket from the centre of the earth
April is a hot time to visit Mumbai but Ramanand, my guide, showed me that Mumbaikers like their lives to be hot on the inside too. We wandered through Lalbag Masala Gully where I was surprised to see groups of ladies sitting in the shade with sacks laid out in front of them, piled high with red hot chillies. Some piles were large and Ram said this would […]
The tribal state of Orissa
Days after Cyclone Phailin struck the east coast of India and in particular Orissa/Odisha , we arrived in the area.
We arrived into Vishakhapatnam early in the morning and prepared for our journey into the Wednesday weekly tribal market of the Gadabba and Kondh tribes.
Through low cloud and torrential rain we were still able to appreciate some wonderful verdant countryside, the mountain ranges looming on the […]
Escape to … NEPAL
A childhood ambition to collect a Kathmandu stamp in my passport drew me to Nepal this year. The thrill began on my Delhi flight when I first caught sight of the jagged outline of the snow – capped Himalaya on the horizon. As we descended, deepvalleys with roads zig zagging up their sides, terraced, golden harvested paddy fields and multicoloured, flat topped buildings of Kathmandu […]
ESCAPE… Did you know?
The national flag of Nepal is the only non – quadrilateral national flag in the world. Red represents the colour of the rhododendron, the national flower and the blue border represents peace. The sun and moon inside originally had human faces but they were deleted when the modern flag was introduced in 1962.
ESCAPE … Watch the sun rise overlooking the Annapurna Himalaya
Some experiences last forever in the memory and visiting Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara, a few hours drive west of Kathmandu, is one of them. The weather had been mixed and low clouds hung heavy over Phewa Tal, the lake in front of Fishtail Lodge where I was staying. At 5.30am there was already quite a crowd at the viewing point (I later discovered quieter […]
ESCAPE TO… Dwarika’s Hotel
Dwarika’s Hotel is a wonderful Kathmandu institution www.dwarikas.com
The owner has, over the years, salvaged thousands of woodcarvings and traditional Newari artefacts from condemned buildings to create this beautiful, romantic hotel. Each bedroom is unique, with colourful furnishings and plenty of space. At night the brick paved courtyards are lit by twinkling butter lamps and delicious traditional Nepali food is served in the Krishnarpan Restaurant. I recommend […]
