tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134793252024-03-18T14:40:43.975+05:30the Neeraj Norms...Travel, Experiences, Short Stories and More...Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-63785531815314674702024-03-15T14:45:00.003+05:302024-03-15T14:45:32.487+05:30Goel Ganga Developments: Used Unfair Sales Practices #GangaSerio <h2 class="hP" data-legacy-thread-id="18e3cf6463825c96" data-thread-perm-id="thread-a:r-2420232871878551456|msg-a:r-2418580384366900032" jsname="r4nke" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1f1f1f; display: inline; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; word-break: break-word;" tabindex="-1">Ganga Serio Delayed Possession: Call for slient Anshan from Home Buyers on 31st March</h2><div><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Google Sans, Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Google Sans, Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;">Open letter to Goel Ganga Developments Management - </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Google Sans, Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aawRKiwltGJ8J6WMUAcwhrvY5Bizpud8XW5_jpO-o1sk2ZyzYwFV8GVI0Ua6MzmVq2-XMQo1PgCn-kZdzAgvGBy6trbO61bS-VXMX074eH_z2lmdpsLJJSlHmB2DBVGxp0b-_iYuM74474Gc6t05L7p0E0lF2vOZg_GNTLSPmI8Q06TnZvC9QA/s413/Ganga-Serio-Pune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="413" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aawRKiwltGJ8J6WMUAcwhrvY5Bizpud8XW5_jpO-o1sk2ZyzYwFV8GVI0Ua6MzmVq2-XMQo1PgCn-kZdzAgvGBy6trbO61bS-VXMX074eH_z2lmdpsLJJSlHmB2DBVGxp0b-_iYuM74474Gc6t05L7p0E0lF2vOZg_GNTLSPmI8Q06TnZvC9QA/w620-h240/Ganga-Serio-Pune.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hi Gunjan/Anurag,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is with regards to the handover of our flat in the project “GANGA SERIO E F BUILDING”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is to bring to your kind attention that we have been continually and consistently misdirected by your team with regards to the possession of our flat at the said project. <b>Let me remind your honour that the possession date as per our mutual agreement is June 2024 is approaching in the next 3 months, while most of the older buyers have this date breached</b>. However, the primary reason of buying the property with Goel Ganga Developments (GGD) was it’s brand value and adherence to its commitment – apparently, this now seems very fragile. The same experience of betrayal prevails with hundreds of other home buyers in the GANGA SERIO E F BUILDING project.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">With a deep sense of pain, after misdirecting commitments from your sales team for a handover in Dec 2022, followed by our meetings dated 21<sup>st</sup> Jul 2023 with Chandrabhan Singh Ranawat, Zonal Head – East/West/South Pune, further on 9<sup>th</sup> Feb 2024 and 9<sup>th</sup> Mar 2024 with Mr. Swaransingh Gyansingh Sohal, Partner/Project technical director for a final possession in Mar 2024 or any commitments on possession date from your team now seems grim. Apparently, this confirms usage of unfair sales practices by GGD team. The frustration amongst the home buyers of this project has crossed its limits and such reticence from the GGD Management is adding fuel to the misery. Please understand us. With every breached commitment, we are left more heart broken than before.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">We are still confident that the project is handed over soon however, further delay will compel us to demonstrate a silent “Anshan” with appropriate local media coverage – this is of course needless with your kind co-operation and support.</span></b></p><span class="J-J5-Ji" jsname="SjW3R" style="align-items: center; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline-flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; min-height: 28px; position: relative; vertical-align: bottom;"><div aria-checked="false" aria-label="Not important" class="pG" data-is-important="false" data-tooltip-align="b,l" data-tooltip-contained="true" data-tooltip-delay="1500" jsaction="mouseenter:Oh6g9b; mouseleave:Oh6g9b;click:KjsqPd; keydown:mAamLc;" jscontroller="sggJRd" jsname="FaKNoe" role="switch" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; width: 20px;" tabindex="0"></div></span></div>Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-77732957978088369772022-05-05T14:40:00.023+05:302022-05-05T15:11:53.718+05:30Powerful Leadership Lessons from the "Missing Plate"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent); font-weight: var(--artdeco-reset-typography-font-weight-bold); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">O</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">nce while on a business trip, I was invited by a customer delegate for dinner at an Indian restaurant somewhere in the</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);"> </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; font-style: var(--artdeco-reset-typography-font-style-italic); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);">San Francisco, Bay Area</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">. The restaurant was managed and served by a sole waitress and the place was sparingly crowded. We were directed towards a table for four as we entered the restaurant. While the customer delegate and the other two inmates in our group took their seats, I rushed into the washroom for a quick one. When I returned to the table, it was noticed that the waitress had served only three plates on to the table. I took my seat. While the other two inmates started discussing the details on the menu, Indian savories and their preferences, the customer delegate looked uncomfortable. I unknowingly gauged the reason behind his discomfort as we learnt that the waitress was now busy attending other guests. It was obvious that the missing plate on the table was making him uncomfortable.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-IRSg8U72URsAn1QjCUOPaiVEYCAReQM1JlXUogN9FWf6r6Jj54AfC7DKkYl0ccMOTc4H1PISp64Tianbs4-1wgqKg5Ks5GoXVO7AVHo0meX969YmgFrAh_uFfJ6VgsAgnGaZwRRO2rvdJrz4OPluwSBM9KiDlQGyYReftPM4bCCp9F5Bs4/s960/neerajshinde.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-IRSg8U72URsAn1QjCUOPaiVEYCAReQM1JlXUogN9FWf6r6Jj54AfC7DKkYl0ccMOTc4H1PISp64Tianbs4-1wgqKg5Ks5GoXVO7AVHo0meX969YmgFrAh_uFfJ6VgsAgnGaZwRRO2rvdJrz4OPluwSBM9KiDlQGyYReftPM4bCCp9F5Bs4/w320-h193/neerajshinde.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A silly picture I took outside my Hotel in the USA</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The next moment I found myself engrossed in conversations with the other inmates while the customer delegate stepped off the table, probably for a quick wash, I thought. When he returned, he was carrying a plate in his hand. It was not too difficult for me to realize that he had walked into the kitchen and grabbed a plate for me. While I expressed my dismay to him for his kind little gesture for me, he ignored it and joined us in rejoicing our experiences at the Golden Gate bridge from the earlier part of that evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif;">This humble act of him left a big mark on my mind and imparted several strong learnings of leadership. While the debate of whether Leaders are born or made continues, this incident has taught me that there is a much more human angle to it.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent);"><b>Lesson 1: Leaders Respect</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">Respect is a powerful value. Respect is something we show when we treat each other right. In the above case, the customer delegate was our project sponsor and could have waited for the waitress to attend us. He could have called her and requested for the missing plate on the table. The customer delegate did notice that she was busy with other guests and hence, decided to take a small step to fix the situation he did not find worthy enough to live with.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent);"><b>Lesson 2: Living the change through collaboration</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">It was evident that the delegate was disturbed by the situation. Taking that extra step to walk into the kitchen and interacting for a fresh plate is a great example of collaboration that we see in Agile environments. The outcome was a faster time to value and a greater user satisfaction. Modern leaders do not order, they act.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent);"><b>Lesson 3: Imparting an Even Stronger Message</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">A message is strongly delivered through silent gestures and not through words. In a broader sense, the customer delegate was accountable for the successful delivery of the upcoming project – the reason for me being with him. He tersely demonstrated this by making me feel special by taking good care of me. Caring for one another is infectious and is a vital tool to make people feel responsible.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--artdeco-reset-base-font-size-hundred-percent);"><b>Lesson 4: Being Humble yet Effective</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">While in several Asian countries, the job of a waiter is not considered that respectable. Ones willingness to take up that task strongly advocates the effectiveness of servant leadership. While working in a team, being cross functional and self-organized promises the team’s velocity and predictability. Being cross functional makes the team member more effective and valuable for the team.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">In most of the cases, leadership merely needs a compassionate heart, willingness to act and living up the change one wishes to see. Success is just a byproduct of such an act.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">In our day to day life, a leader’s role is filled with several choices. A leader could escalate, request the missing plate, order it or opt to place it himself to bring in that human touch and effectiveness to meet larger goals.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: var(--font-size-large);">So what's your take with that missing plate?</span></p>Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-88415908051287426132016-09-17T22:15:00.004+05:302016-09-17T22:24:49.713+05:30The Beaches, The Forts and the One Day Trip @ Alibaug, Raigad, Maharashtra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOnEdCsZyyg/V91xaHLmiQI/AAAAAAAAGkY/IR2eJmtaQ_s6oO5qdOgzMB6lpnpCP8--ACLcB/s1600/alibaug_fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOnEdCsZyyg/V91xaHLmiQI/AAAAAAAAGkY/IR2eJmtaQ_s6oO5qdOgzMB6lpnpCP8--ACLcB/s640/alibaug_fort.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beautiful view of the fort from Alibaug Beach</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alibaug (Alibag) is a famous beach destination in close
proximity to Mumbai and Pune. It is merely 145 kms. from Pune and 30 kms. from
South Mumbai via. Sea route and 114 kms. by road. There are several beaches in
and around Alibaug; Alibaug beach, Thal Beach, Varsoli Beach, Akshi Beach,
Nagaon Beach, Kashid Beach, Korlai Beach to name a few. Beautiful Sea, a Fort
that gets surrounded by sea water, a few temples and a lot of fun. Alibaug is
the ideal place for a one day return trip. Alibaug is 145 kms away from Pune
and 30km to the south of Mumbai. There are some stunning beaches here along
with forts and temples! The Kolaba/Kulaba fort lies 2 kms inside the sea.
Kulaba fort gets surrounded by sea water at the time of tide. There are the Uma
Maheshwar and Balaji temples in Alibaug too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alibaug was developed in 17th Century by Sarkhel Kanhoji
Aangre the naval chief of King Shivaji’s Kingdom. Bene Israelite Ali was a rich
man in the city and owned many plantations of mangoes, coconuts in his gardens.
So the local people called the place Alicha bagh (Gardens of Ali) which became
in due course, Alibaug. <span style="background: white; font-size: 9.5pt;">Alibaug is the seat of District Administration of
Raigad (formerly Kolaba) district since 1852. The name Kolaba is attributed to
a Sea Fort Kolaba built by Shivaji the great Maratha Ruler, in 1680 to fight
the mighty naval prowess of the Siddis’ (Abyssenians) of Janjira and the
British of Mumbai. Kolaba fort is famous for many battles, between Siddis and
Kanhoji Angre, the British and the Portugese.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Korlai Beach</b>: It
is a quiet serene beach with alternate white and black sands, along a serene
stretch of the Arabian coastline, adjacent to a village of Korlai Creole
Portuguese speaking Indians. Just across the bridge, to the right there is
Korlai fort within the sea and attached to the mainland by a narrow land strip
through the Korlai fort through the Korlai Village. It is supposed to have been
built by the Portuguese in 1521. The main gate has an inscription which means
‘no entry without a fight’. The fort has seven gates, a sweet water well, a
church in disuse, a Hindu temple and a Lighthouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can easily plan for additional excursions because of the
proximity of beaches and forts from Korlai. The beautiful beach of Kashid is
only 12.5 km from Korlai while the famous sea fort of Janjira is 30 km to the
south of Korlai, near Murud. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary is roughly 70 km away,
towards Panvel. White water rafting on the river Kundalika is another major
attraction. Visiting the Korlai fort today was a remarkable experience. The
fort looks devoid of maintenance and gave deserted looks. However, the view from
the fort was spectacular and offered a divine view of the sea and the shore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Korlai Fort is a Nizamshahi-Portuguese fortification and was
built on a rocky ridge, ‘O Morro de Chaul’. In its heyday, the fort protected
the Revdanda Creek while also guarding its age-old companion Revdanda Fort on
the opposite side of the Kundalika River. Though the fort owes its origin
primarily to the Ahmednagar Sultanate, vestiges of the Portuguese occupation
are manifested in the distinct dialect of the Korlai villages’ inhabitants
which is Portuguese Creole. The fort had eight bastions and four entrances.
Inside, the architectural arrangement was unique with the fortification being
compartmentalized into eight quarters of irregular size, each with its own
arched entrance built in European style with steps and equipped with guns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LUzq_KW5p4U/V91xts4G2KI/AAAAAAAAGkc/l3P3DtfWARgQ4vPIe_8EyQBHr45KAQHlgCLcB/s1600/alibaug_korlai_fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LUzq_KW5p4U/V91xts4G2KI/AAAAAAAAGkc/l3P3DtfWARgQ4vPIe_8EyQBHr45KAQHlgCLcB/s640/alibaug_korlai_fort.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Magnificient View from the Korlai Fort</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p> </o:p>The highest portion of the fort had the residence of the
captain, ammunition stores, storages, and a chapel. This chapel, dedicated to
Our Lady of Good Voyages, administered by Franciscans in 1636, consisted of an
altar made of stone and mortar with the nave being covered by a straw-thatched
roof and walls made of bamboo mats and palm leaves. In a later period, the
whole chapel was turned into a magnificent stone-arched building showing
typical characteristics of Province of the North religious structures. Mass was
performed in the chapel on every Sunday and holiday. The chapel became the
major landmark of Morro.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Korlai village is at a distance of 25 kms from Alibaug.
State transport buses and private six-seater rickshaws regularly run from
Alibag to Korlai. A good motorable road from Alibaug en route to Murud takes a
visitor to Korlai, where the fort still stands in its full majesty because the
remains have been well preserved. Visitors can climb up to the fort in about 20
minutes via steps from two sides - the east and the west. The western approach
starts from a modern lighthouse. The eastern approach has a good view of the
river Kundalika and the Revdanda Fort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mandawa</b>: It is
situated about 20 km north of Alibaug. The catamaran/ferry services are
available from Mumbai to the Mandawa jetty. Many Bollywood celebrities own
bungalows here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kaneshwar Mandir</b>:
It is situated about 17 km away from Alibaug to Karlekhind – Chondi road.13 km
from Alibaug in Northeast direction is this very famous Shiv temple on a 900
ft. high hill. It is a 5000 ft. long climb on well paved stairs, which takes
around one hour. Landmarks along the route are tombs of MohanGiri and Balgiri,
Nagoba Rest, Jambhali Plateau, God’s stair, Gaymandi etc. It comprises various
small temples of Sri Paleshwar, Sri Hanuman, Sri Balram Krishna and Lord Shiv.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Kashid Beach</b>: It
is 36 km away from Alibaug, on the Alibag-Murud highway, also this beach is
possibly one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the region with
almost ‘white’ sand. There are many cottages and resorts available ranging from
around RS:1500 to RS:20,000. Prakruti resort is the luxury and the costliest of
all. One can find water sports facility and number of small shops for snacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6nSGgtOIQ8/V91x8l4CElI/AAAAAAAAGkg/pvs-YflJeP8eVLKwattpxovvLgWi7lyUQCLcB/s1600/alibaug_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6nSGgtOIQ8/V91x8l4CElI/AAAAAAAAGkg/pvs-YflJeP8eVLKwattpxovvLgWi7lyUQCLcB/s640/alibaug_beach.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alibaug Beach</span></b></td></tr>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-10669433774688542692016-09-17T00:43:00.000+05:302016-09-17T00:46:21.459+05:30The Everlasting Impression of the Elephant Show in Pattaya, Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vlKKV8g40M4/V9xD1wRkN1I/AAAAAAAAGj0/govvPtjTeWUYyRRPlPTlOXCGrP9birosgCLcB/s1600/10635755_10152362345191571_309414130672076427_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vlKKV8g40M4/V9xD1wRkN1I/AAAAAAAAGj0/govvPtjTeWUYyRRPlPTlOXCGrP9birosgCLcB/s640/10635755_10152362345191571_309414130672076427_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Elephant Show at Pattaya, Thailand: Beauty and the Beast</b></td></tr>
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The elephant show at the <i>Noong Nooch</i> Village was a
spectacular experience while at Pattaya. Our rendezvous with these mighty
creatures at this show really made us believe that elephants are not any less
brainy and skillful than human beings. The show started with a bang as a trail
of elephants walked in the arena all arranged in a systematic queue arranged by
ascending order of their sizes. It was such a great fun to watch how their
sizes went up from the baby elephant to the mightiest one. Each of the elephant was holding the
tail of his predecessor by his truck. That was a warm welcome to the huge crowd
which had gathered to enjoy this beautiful show.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It is quite common to watch elephants in circuses performing
usual but marvelous skills like throwing a ball, batting, riding a bicycle and
bowing down at the crowd. These elephants were pretty much acquainted with
these usual skills. What really caught my attention was that some of these
elephants were real state of the art Painters. They were so skillful in gently holding
the paint brushes in their trunks and placing them artistically on the paper.
The paintings were truly remarkable. Such paintings would otherwise be
difficult for most of the men and women around. These brainy elephants managed
to complete the painting the T-shirts with oil paint so efficiently that the
owners of the show we easily able to make some money out of these
elephant-painted T-shirts. The was a corner beside the show arena where they
sold these T-shirts at premium rates. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rF330nKIjkE/VIf-kJKzVNI/AAAAAAAAGAo/Hr-U8FvHjQ81ws8sBQOTvsMuM0_WjOjKACPcB/s1600/Elephant_show_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rF330nKIjkE/VIf-kJKzVNI/AAAAAAAAGAo/Hr-U8FvHjQ81ws8sBQOTvsMuM0_WjOjKACPcB/s640/Elephant_show_wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Warm Welcome by the Elephants</b></td></tr>
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</o:p></div>
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Another thrilling part of the show was asking the volunteers
amongst the crowd to lay on the ground and few of these elephants enacting to
crush them up. Well, this really does not sound funny but this rather blew up
my mind. Interestingly, there were few crazy volunteers who came forward and
bravely laid down with full faith and confidence on these super mighty animals.
It was real scary to watch them walking over the human volunteers,
intermittently holding their one leg up over the chest of the volunteer. These
elephants were smart enough to play the game, ensuring none of their guests get
injured, rather getting killed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This show left an everlasting impression on my mind about
this species of mammals. Elephants indeed are thoughtful animals. Lord Ganesha
is hence idolized not only in India but also across Thailand and other parts of
Asia and the world. The elephant god stands as an epitome of wisdom and
knowledge. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-43604540340037882602016-09-14T01:29:00.002+05:302016-09-14T01:36:20.760+05:30'Pani-Puri' and the Visit to Mauritius<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jfj3GRPaBM/V9hZzg6w6oI/AAAAAAAAGjY/bAz_ll0YKccnRNSEqK45K9DwjoHhKIikgCLcB/s1600/20130929_105912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jfj3GRPaBM/V9hZzg6w6oI/AAAAAAAAGjY/bAz_ll0YKccnRNSEqK45K9DwjoHhKIikgCLcB/s640/20130929_105912.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was not too difficult for me to establish a friendly
relationship with Asim, my chauffeur during my business visits to Mauritius. With
his honest and friendly nature, it was too easy for me to mingle with him in
conversations which helped me to explore the new country, its culture, places,
landmarks and his personal life too. He was a man who was born in Mauritius,
stayed for his entire life on this island and humbly stated, “I have never ever traveled
outside Mauritius”. He lived with his wife and a two year old daughter who
shared similar past. It was a wonderful experience for me to get to know his
family during one of my visits to this island. The family spoke the local
language Creole. French is widely spoken across Mauritius for official and
casual purposes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I got to know more about Asim and his family when they
joined us during our sightseeing tour one fine Sunday morning. Just like most
of the other Mauritian locals, the couple were a great fan of the Bollywood
movies. More importantly, Salmaan Khan. Asim’s wife proudly flaunted her
experiences when she publicly kissed the actor while he was on a shoot in Mauritius.
It was then when I complimented Asim for being such an open hearted husband.
Why should I feel bad about she kissing Salmaan, he said as he reiterated that
he himself is Salmaan’s greatest fan. This couple indeed depicted the
simplicity and innocence of an unadulterated human mind living on a beautiful
island. Movies was one of the biggest topic amongst the family even at home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the questions which Asim asked me during most of our
conversations really touched me. “How does it look in India?”, he asked as he
stared at me for a satisfying answer in return. I was unable to understand his
question in the first shot. “Does everything in India seem the way it seems in
Mauritius?”, he asked as he clarified his earlier question. Well, it took a bit
of time and explanation for me to make him realize that Indian cities are bigger
than Port Louis and more polluted and corrupted than his innocent mind.
Everything else looks the same, the sun, the cars, the buildings, the trees and
the sky too, I tried to explain him in better words. I invited him to India and
offered him to stay at my place if he ever planned to visit. But, it seemed
like a dream to him, a dream of which a poor chauffeur like him was unsure of
its realization. “Yes, I will”, he mumbled. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That Sunday, when I was about to get dropped at the Guest
House where I was resided, I heard Asim’s wife and Asim murmuring something amongst
themselves. I was about to travel back to India the other day and Asim was
pretty much aware that I was scheduled to travel back to Port Louis a week
later. Probably, he had shared this information with his wife too. I realized
that there was something Asim’s wife was trying to instruct him on. When I
interrogated, Asim opened up. “Can you please get Pani-Puri for us from India?”,
he asked hesitantly. We have watched Bollywood actresses craving for it in the
movies. We really wonder how it really tastes there in India. I was flabbergasted
by their simplicity. Spontaneously I promised them that I will bring it next
week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Carrying a bunch of Pani-Puri without breaking them in the
check-in baggage was quite a challenge. I was not sure if carrying a water
bottle filled with the sweet and spicy Pani (water) was a good idea. I must
thank my smart wife who suggested me to carry the water concentrate which gave
the same effect. It was too difficult for me to resist carrying a few other
Indian sweets which would really amaze Asim and his wife. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was such a wonderful feeling when I handed over the
Pani-puri to Asim during my next visit to Port Louis. He was very much amazed
to see me keeping my promise. “My wife will be very happy to taste this!”, he
spoke as he was overwhelmed. When I started back to India after the business
visit was over, Asim came to drop me at the airport. This time he was with his
wife and little daughter. Initially, I thought that they were just along but
later Asim clarified that they had been with him to accompany me to the
airport. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Hi, Good Uncle”, said the three year old as she smiled at
me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“<i>Aapki wajah se mera barson ka Pani-Puri khane ka sapna poora
hua</i>”, Asim’s wife said as she thanked me from the bottom of her heart. I had
never imagined that eating Pani-Puri, for someone in Mauritius, would be such a
big dream. I was mesmerized by the impact I had unknowingly left on their
minds. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“We have come just to see you off to the airport and we are
not sure if we could ever meet you again”,
Asim’s wife said as she handed over a soft toy to me. “This is for your little baby!”,
she said. I accepted the gift after she insisted. I left the island for one
last time with a very heavy heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwNcSWXzL0Q/V9haCk3QQgI/AAAAAAAAGjc/3syoH8tR5VYryLlYIm7fU7l-vanlQ-HOgCLcB/s1600/20130929_143702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwNcSWXzL0Q/V9haCk3QQgI/AAAAAAAAGjc/3syoH8tR5VYryLlYIm7fU7l-vanlQ-HOgCLcB/s640/20130929_143702.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Asim and his family</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtKOAwkSXAA/V9haRm6GjdI/AAAAAAAAGjg/yic-ISMesKMF03NuPitB5BYOkClRQgd3gCLcB/s1600/20130929_143433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtKOAwkSXAA/V9haRm6GjdI/AAAAAAAAGjg/yic-ISMesKMF03NuPitB5BYOkClRQgd3gCLcB/s640/20130929_143433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>A Majestic View from the Alexandra Falls Viewpoint</b></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
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</div>
Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-81735414423991607672016-09-12T17:24:00.003+05:302016-09-12T18:22:58.552+05:30Experiencing the Reign of the Peshwa Rulers at Modern Pune, Maharashtra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzjQ8ggRfck/V9aZGzkvGaI/AAAAAAAAGiE/MIrbrNgTGYsixd6AfufBx8z4RfjeEQ1LQCLcB/s1600/20120825_175055-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzjQ8ggRfck/V9aZGzkvGaI/AAAAAAAAGiE/MIrbrNgTGYsixd6AfufBx8z4RfjeEQ1LQCLcB/s640/20120825_175055-edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">The fortified palace of Shaniwar Wada that once stood strong is today just a remains</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This travel experience of mine will only suit to those travelers
who prefer walking across the busy streets, exploring the feelings amongst the messy
Pune localities and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">across </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the chaotic city traffic. Certainly, walking is the best option
when it comes to travelling along the over crowded city streets and randomly
moving traffic. Amongst the busy urban chaos, lies the proud and magnificent </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. It was the fifth day of September, a holiday and the first day of
the Ganesh festival here at Pune. I headed from Hadapsar with a Rs. 20/- bus ticket
to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) bus station. I had been an occasional traveler
of the Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) buses but today’s journey was different.
The difference as I could make out on the streets which were filled with Lord Ganesh
processions and local bands dressed in <i>Puneri </i>attire, noisy yet filled with
devotion and fun. The local city buses are most of the times overcrowded and
not neatly maintained. This makes the journey more dis-comfortable especially if
you board a crowded bus. Ensure that you board a bus where you could grab a
seat and remain seated until your destination arrives. Another reason why I
prefer travelling through these city buses is to avoid the pain of driving your
own vehicle amongst the city traffic and more importantly, outsourcing the pain
of finding the parking space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9a8hpDrzO0/V9aWdiI_EdI/AAAAAAAAGhw/IPSNFzMQIFk3xR3ry-HdAO03yzuyhAvoACLcB/s1600/20120825_180804-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9a8hpDrzO0/V9aWdiI_EdI/AAAAAAAAGhw/IPSNFzMQIFk3xR3ry-HdAO03yzuyhAvoACLcB/s640/20120825_180804-edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The pathway from within the palace to the fortified wall which even today stands firm </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, built in 1732 CE is one of the greatest
identity of modern Pune which embarks the glorious past of the Peshwas, the rulers
of the Maratha empire in 18<sup>th</sup> century. The monument today stands
still despite the trauma it has suffered in the past. <span style="background: white;">The palace was constructed by Bajirao I in the 1730. One of
the buildings in the <i>Shaniwar Wada</i> was 7 storied. There is a story told about
why this place was chosen for the construction. The <i>Thorale </i>(Elder) Bajirao once
saw a rabbit chasing a dog at this place. Inspired from this </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white;">was
built, a place which would never see defeat. It used to be the headquarters of
the Peshwas and it symbolizes Pune's culture even today. Looking at the
construction one understands how the structure was built giving highest priority
to the security. The main entrance is known as '<i>Delhi Darwaja</i>', others have
named like <i>Ganesh</i>, <i>Mastani</i>, <i>Jambhal</i>, <i>Khidki</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">There is a statue of Bajijrao I riding a horse in front of Shaniwar <i>Wada</i>. This statue is prominently seen from the main street as well. Inside the </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">, one can see the <i>Ganesh
Mahal</i>, <i>Rang Mahal</i>, <i>Aarsa </i>(Mirror) Mahal, <i>Hasti Dant</i> (Elephant Tusk) <i>Mahal</i>,
<i>Diwan Khana</i>, Fountains. Currently renovated and also have a light & music
show. The main part left is <i>Nagarkhana </i>which gives glorious inside view.
This is an expansive palace with its impressive fountains and gardens. The
palace was the seat of the Peshwa power which was later destroyed by a fire in
1828. Today’s remains of this great monument are the walls that fortified this
palace, with their sturdy doors, studded with spikes for added protection.
Nearby is a street where the Peshwas unleashed elephants to trample dissidents
to death.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">This palace is
today managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and the tourist visiting
hours are between 8 am to 5 pm. I had visited the </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">earlier at an
entry fee of Rs. 5/- but now the visit fees have been increased to Rs. 15/- and
that made my total spend for the day to Rs. 35/-. Kids below the age of fourteen are allowed free of cost.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The visit to the historic </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada </i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">brought be closer to the era of the Peshwas. Reading through information scribbled about the palace, it really brought be closer to these historic men and women. I spent some time at the Mastani Darwaza (door) which was the door meant for the beautiful second wife of the Bajirao Peshwa I. My thoughts wandered and imaginations went on and on. It was a divine feeling to experience standing on the land where these rulers of the past once stood and stayed. </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qb0tS2u7wxs/V9aXIpkH-sI/AAAAAAAAGh4/YV1AWbEHKGM56dgTh4ORUldgqm2nRcaogCLcB/s1600/20120825_175938-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qb0tS2u7wxs/V9aXIpkH-sI/AAAAAAAAGh4/YV1AWbEHKGM56dgTh4ORUldgqm2nRcaogCLcB/s640/20120825_175938-edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View of the Bajirao I Statue from the Delhi Darwaza depicting the glorious history of the Peshwas</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opposite to the </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada</i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, there stands the <i>Lal Mahal</i> which is worth a visit too. At a two minute walking distance from </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada</i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, there is this famous Ganesh Temple - <i>Dagdu Sheth Halwaai</i> Temple which was buzzing with bands, crackers and horns of the passing vehicles. But this temple never ceases to provide peace to every devotee, every passer by. After this closer look into the history of the Peshwas, I decided to head towards the deeper dive and decided to walk towards the Parvati, hill temple. I headed towards the Bajirao Road which starts from the </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shaniwar Wada</i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and ends at the <i>Saras Baug</i> (Saras Garden). The Peshwas and developed several gardens across the city of Pune and the Saras Baug is one of the prominent ones. While walking on the Bajirao Road, I decided to grab a quick sugarcane juice at the <i>Shanipar </i>joint. I ordered a one large glass of sugarcane juice costing Rs. 20/- which was enough to provide me enough glucose to rejuvenate me to walk a few more miles. Then I headed towards the <i>Tulsi baug</i>, off the Bajirao Road which is a place known for one of the famous Ganesha in Pune and busy shops for ladies and kids. The whole atmosphere was filled with the devotion towards this Great God of Knowledge and the remover of all obstacles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later, I spent some time at the Saras Baug. Watching the fish inside the beautiful pond in this garden is a very serene experience. There is a beautiful Ganesh temple right in the center of the garden. Beside the temple there is a small museum which has a beautiful collection of various antique Ganesh Idols. This museum has no entry fee. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reaching the top of the Parvati Temple from <i>Saras Baug</i> was a bit tiring experience. I managed to reach the Parvati temple without a halt which gave me a sense of accomplishment but really made me feel hungry. To my amazement there was a small canteen on the top of the Parvati temple which came to my rescue. I grabbed a couple of Wada Paav (famous Indian Burger - Rs. 12 each) and a bottle of water - Rs. 20/- which made my spending for the day to Rs. 99/-</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Besides the Parvati temple, there is a beautiful Peshwa Museum. This palace where this museum is built in was originally built by <i>Shrimant </i>Peshwa in 1795 CE. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Part
of the same has been converted into Peshwa Museum.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Being a lover of antiques and being a numismatist myself, I visit this museum every time I visit Parvati temple. It is a great collection of Peshwa Paintings, old coins, weapons, toys, clothes, utensils and documents. The entry fee to this museum is presently, Rs. 10/- per adult. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Near the museum is situated the Samadhi Sthaan of Shrimant
Nanasaheb Peshwa, who died here due to the intense grief experienced by him
when his son Vishwasrao</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">and elder
brother Bhausaheb lost their lives in the historic war of Panipat. </span><span style="background: white;">The Peshwa Museum has been built using part of the Peshwa's
Mansion, using many old carved wooden pieces and displays a collection of items
belonging to the Peshwa Era. The museum contains paintings of all Peshwas, Maratha
Sardars, their family members along with the arms, articles and coins which
were in use in Peshwa era. The entire palace of Sardar Bhuskute of Burahanpur
(M.P.) has been installed in the museum. The rare collection is displayed in
the museum and hence treated to be the most important museum connected with the
history of Pune and Peshwa Raj.</span> Samadhi
Sthan of Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa is now renovated and converted into sabha
mandap where the paintings relating to various battles fought by Marathas are on
display. Some of the beautiful paintings of Peshwas are also displayed in the
hall. </span></div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-29945134559428307482016-09-12T12:24:00.000+05:302016-09-12T16:43:28.635+05:30The Majestic Matheran, Raigad Is a Perfect Weekend Destination<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Majestic View from the Alexander Point in Matheran</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In city life we stay & travel in cement jungle. We can not experience true nature and its love. We always think for go to outstation to relax, to stay from busy & hectic life. But it’s not always possible to get away from city within two-three days of time. Where Matheran is really such amazing place where nature is playing active role with you and where you can enjoy every breath with nature within in the weekend time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Matheran</span> is a most famous and coolest Hill Station situated in Karjat Tahsil, Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. Matheran is the smallest hill station of India. It is located on the range of Western Ghats at height of 800 m (2625 Feet) above sea level. The name Matheran means either ‘Forest on Top’ or ‘Woodland overhead’. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Matheran is located around 90 km from Mumbai, 120 km from Pune and about 320 km from Surat. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Matheran is awesome place for to spend weekend. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNkTOBwBNMQ/V9aLi2yNsCI/AAAAAAAAGhY/X0M5E-a_VFAWQdKPuK-DdRM3tpjlooPtQCLcB/s1600/back_to_home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNkTOBwBNMQ/V9aLi2yNsCI/AAAAAAAAGhY/X0M5E-a_VFAWQdKPuK-DdRM3tpjlooPtQCLcB/s640/back_to_home.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A local Matheran Villager heading back home</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Matheran as a Hill Station was discovered by a British, Mr. Huge Mallet, the then Collector of Thane, in 1850.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Matheran is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. It is one of the few places in the world where vehicles are not allowed, which makes the place different from others. Matheran takes you over a hundred years back in time when there were no vehicles. Because of vehicles being banned in Matheran, the place is quite peaceful despite the thousands of lakhs coming to visit throughout the year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">There are lots of lookout points that provide spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Matheran has a reasonably dense forest cover.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorma Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town. From this point, the view of sunset and sunrise is breathtaking. The Louisa Point offers crystal clear view of the Prabal Fort. The other points are the One Tree Hill Point, Hart Point, Monkey Point, Porcupine Point, Rambgh Point, and more.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><br />
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Matheran was discovered by Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Thane district in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay laid the foundations of the development as a future hill station. The British developed Matheran as a popular resort to beat the summer heat in the region.</div>
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Matheran is connected to the town of Neral which lies at the base of the hills. A tar road connects Neral to Dasturi Naka which is 9 km (5.8 miles) from Matheran. In order to maintain Matheran's uniqueness,no vehicles are allowed beyond this point. The other mode of transport is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway, which links the town to Neral. Neral also has a broad gauge station which is on the busy Mumbai-Pune route. Neral is well connected by railway line with Karjat being the nearest Junction. The Matheran Hill Railway was built in 1907 by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy and covers a distance of 20 km (12.4 miles), over large swathes of forest territory. The Matheran hill railway had been inspected by UNESCO world heritage site officials in the last week of October 2009. The official declaration of its status as UNESCO world heritage site like other hill railways of India like Kalka-Shimla, Darjeeling hill railway & Nilgiri mountain railway will be declared by July 2010. The railway officials are very hopeful of getting the UNESCO world heritage status from the views expressed by the inspecting officials. The heritage status will boost the tourist activities in the area.</div>
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In the floods of July 2005, around 70% of the railway lines were damaged and did not reopen until April 2007 after repairs at a cost of Rs 2-2.5 crore.</div>
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Matheran has been declared an ecosensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry and can be called a Health Sanatorium in itself. The only form of automobile allowed in Matheran is an ambulance operated by the Municipality. No private automobiles are allowed. Within Matheran transport facilities available are horses and hand-pulled rickshaws.</div>
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Matheran is one of the popular getaway for people from Mumbai and Pune, it is a quiet hill station located on the Sahyadri range. Matheran, Meaning 'forest on top', was discovered in 1850, by a district collector of Thane, Hugh Poyntz Malet, and the foundations for its development was laid down by Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Mumbai. Matheran has been listed by the Union Environment Ministry as an eco-sensitive region and is connected to the closest town of Neral by a narrow gauge railway, operating since 1907. As no vehicles are allowed in Matheran, one has to drive up to Dasturi Point, 11 km ahead of Matheran, from where you could reach the main bazaar either by foot or on pony.</div>
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Matheran lies in an elevated region, enjoys a cooler and less humid climate which makes it popular during the summer months. Temperatures range from 32 °C (90 °F) to 16 °C (61 °F). Matheran has a huge number of medicinal plants and herbs. The town also has a large monkey population, including Bonnet Macaques and Hanuman Langurs. The nearby Lake Charlotte is the main source of Matheran's drinking water.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">Languages spoken include Marathi, Hindi, and English. There are a lot of Parsi bungalows. Beautiful old British-style architecture is preserved in Matheran. The roads are not metalled and are made of red laterite earth. There are many "points" (viewpoints) in Matheran which give a panoramic view of the plains below. On clear nights, the lights of Mumbai are claimed to be visible.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"></span><br />
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-17989786944804455932016-02-14T15:54:00.000+05:302016-02-14T15:54:02.812+05:30The Baal Dhamaal Experience Made Me A Better Parent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Sunday of January 10, 2016 was a big day for me and the school students of the
various Government Schools of Pune who participated in the unique event called “<i>Baal
Dhamaal</i>” organized by the Indian Sponsorship Committee (ISC). The committee has
been arranging this event for several years for now. My participation as
volunteer in this event has taught me newer lessons of Humanity and a better
sense of Parenting our kids. With nearly 650 kids participating from the age
groups ranging from six to fourteen years, the event seemed like a herculean task
without the support of the Volunteers who volunteered from several Corporates
in Pune viz. Zensar Technologies, AXA, Tech Mahindra and Symbiosis . This was
my first activity being a Zensar volunteer and as an active member of our
Corporate Social Responsibility team. Undoubtedly, after this day long event I
walked away as a different, changed and a very improved person. What a way to
start the year!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Zensar has been consistently providing financial and
volunteer support to ISC for several years in order to arrange and execute this
event. This year we had been looking after the kids of 9 and 11 years of age
group. Specifically, I was looking after the 11 years group right since their
buses off-boarded them at the venue, the <i>Loyola School Grounds, Pashan</i>. Almost
all of these kids hailed from the economical weaker sections of the Society.
Their parents toiled hard under the sun as laborers at the brick building
workshops. The fact these poor parents managed to send their children to School
was a great thing in itself. I was informed that during the past few years, these
School kids participated in the <i>Baal Dhamaal</i> event, played games without footwear
or shoes. This year, the main sponsor of the event had sponsored Sport Shoes
for all the kids which was one of the best gifts a Corporate can donate in the
context. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inaugural Briefing at the Baal Dhamaal 2016</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Getting these kids off from their buses, after a long tiring
journey from their respective schools was a very soothing experience. I noticed
that most of the kids were not trained enough to tie a proper knot to their
Shoe laces. A majority of these kids seemed like they had been wearing Sport
Shoes for the very first time in their life. It was a touchy experience. After
we welcomed the kids and their Class teachers in the every bus that reported to
the ground, we provided them with brief instructions to ensure that they do not
step on each others’ shoes. Verifying and tying knots on the shoes of these
little ones was another great experience. This kind of volunteering really made
us build a chemistry amongst these kids. Such an exhilarating welcome really
made the kids harmonious with us - the Zensar Volunteers.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Zensar Volunteers for Baal Dhamaal 2016</b></td></tr>
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After the breakfast and inaugural speech, the kids were
really excited to exibit their spirit of Sportsmanship with the games that we
had arranged for them. The day continued on the sunny playground and we managed
to conclude the toughtest task for the day – finalizing the list of winners.
With all the energy these kids brought up on the table, it was a very difficult
task to choose only a few winners. But, this is what the spirit of
Sportsmanship is all about, isn’t it? The kids had a great learning and their
faces were filled with delight which spoke it all.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drenched in the same color</b></td></tr>
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After the lunch and prize distribution ceremony, it was hard
to bid a good bye to these awesome little kids. A few of these kids managed to
build up a very special bonding with me and several other volunteers. I am sure
they would remember me for a few days as an “Uncle” who served me food, a “Sir”
who took us to the toilet and brought us back to the group or as that “someone”
who tied up their shoe lace. Whether or not these kids would remember me, I am
sure to remember this act of humanity for the rest of my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-79684215939872164602015-05-28T12:06:00.000+05:302016-09-12T12:23:50.054+05:30Delhi's Street Food | Parathe Wali Gali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The North Indian Food has been an identity of India for ages and nothing can beat the taste of Delhi's street food. Delhi's <i>Parathe Wali Gali</i> viz. Delhi's Paratha Avenue in Chandani Chowk has been serving hungry food loving souls for decades or probably centuries. This place is situated right besides the Gurudwara Sisganj Sahib in Delhi. I traveled explicitly to this place from the New Delhi Railway Station by a local taxi. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Parathe Wali Gali</b></td></tr>
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A Paratha is essentially made of whole wheat flour and traditionally stuffed with vegetables like Potatoes, Paneer (a milk product), Vegetables viz. Raddish, Methi etc. Apart from the traditional flavors of Parathas, in modern days, there are more than 20 varieties of Parathas available here. The prominent ones being the Kaju (Cashew) Paratha, Chilli Paratha and Papad Paratha. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7T5YuRVfzc/VWapZO0Q5XI/AAAAAAAAGYM/DarFm-yTJas/s1600/Cashew%2BParatha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7T5YuRVfzc/VWapZO0Q5XI/AAAAAAAAGYM/DarFm-yTJas/s640/Cashew%2BParatha.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Kaju (Cashew) Paratha</b></td></tr>
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Parathas are traditionally served with sabji (vegetable curry) or curd (yogurt). Other servings accompanied with Parathas may include sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney, mixed vegetable pickle, paneer and potato curry, potato and fenugreek curry, and a sauteed mash of sweet pumpkin. The curry essentially consists of vegetables such as muttar (green peas), Aaloo (potatoes) and so on. The banana chutney which was served to us added to our amazement. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6wS7VF728o/VWau3JkCQMI/AAAAAAAAGYo/3Ksv-fcFla4/s1600/paratha%2Bsabji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6wS7VF728o/VWau3JkCQMI/AAAAAAAAGYo/3Ksv-fcFla4/s640/paratha%2Bsabji.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curries Accompanying The Parathas</b></td></tr>
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Kulchas, a type of leavened bread are similar to Parathas but the main ingredient in it being Maida (fine wheat flour). In the state of Punjab it is also known as Amritsari Naan. The Parathe Wali Gali served us a delicious dish of butter filled Kulchas with Boondi Raita (Yogurd Dish) and Curries.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81MuuxUaK60/VWa1LAZJ6nI/AAAAAAAAGZE/5OHe_AzGD3w/s1600/kulcha%2Bsabji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81MuuxUaK60/VWa1LAZJ6nI/AAAAAAAAGZE/5OHe_AzGD3w/s640/kulcha%2Bsabji.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Kulcha Dish with Boondi Raita, Choley Sabji and Paneer Curry</b></td></tr>
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Although the place is known for Parathas, it was amazing to see several other delicacies served here. The Raj Kachori is something that really caught my attention. The mouth watering huge Kachori looking like the famous Pani Puri (Golgappa) but had a huge diameter. It was stuffed with traditional chat ingredients, curd, sabji, slices of potatoes, sweet sauce etc. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-45ldQZNqpEY/VWauG4mYRrI/AAAAAAAAGYg/E0zMq6osDFs/s1600/raj%2Bkachori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-45ldQZNqpEY/VWauG4mYRrI/AAAAAAAAGYg/E0zMq6osDFs/s640/raj%2Bkachori.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Raj Kachori</b></td></tr>
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Rabri was another notable dish I really enjoyed at the Parathe Wali Gali. This dish made from milk is not for the calorie cautious or a weak hearted. Rabri is a famous North Indian sweet dish made with dahi / curd (yogurt), flour, and a combination of bajra floor. Flour of Pearl millet (Bajri) is mixed with buttermilk to make a thick sauce which is kept in the sun to ferment. After about 3 to 4 hours, it is cooked by boiling until the flour is cooked properly.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sCSTk2j8mHY/VWawa9iSWqI/AAAAAAAAGY0/Yyqbqlt2C2I/s1600/rabri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sCSTk2j8mHY/VWawa9iSWqI/AAAAAAAAGY0/Yyqbqlt2C2I/s640/rabri.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rabri</b></td></tr>
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The Parathe Wali Gali has been well-known for serving old traditional vegetarian food since long. Some of the shops here are as old as a couple of centuries. The owners of these shops are mainly <i>Brahmins </i>by caste and do not use Onion and Garlic in the food they prepare and sell. This may be an added motivation to Jain families who prefer a confined and very picky vegetarian food. </div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com1New Delhi, Delhi, India28.6139391 77.20902120000005228.1680166 76.563574200000048 29.059861599999998 77.854468200000056tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-17009860168365535512015-05-27T13:24:00.001+05:302016-09-12T15:58:21.362+05:30Grand Himalayan Adventure At The Bagini Glacier, Uttarakhand, India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is a thin line of separation between adventure and craziness and a real vagabond and a good trekker knows this limit. The thrill lies in knowing this boundary yet attempting to test one’s limits thereby redefining this line of separation resulting in expansion of one’s adventurous space. Our trek to the Bagini Glacier in the Uttarakhand region of India was indeed one such experience. The summit was hosted by <a href="http://www.grandadventuresindia.com/">Grand Adventures India</a> in May 2015 and was led by Rajender Singh (Raju), the Managing Director of Grand Adventures India. The 12 day event was an amalgam of fun, adventure and wilderness.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ui9fRFJ40UA/VWSX__XaC1I/AAAAAAAAGXk/DjUjCny69yE/s1600/04%2Btowards%2Bbagini%2Bglacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ui9fRFJ40UA/VWSX__XaC1I/AAAAAAAAGXk/DjUjCny69yE/s640/04%2Btowards%2Bbagini%2Bglacier.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><b>Towards The Bagini Glacier With Mr. Rajender Singh</b></td></tr>
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The Bagini Glacier trek was approximately 8 day event which included travel from Haridwar to Jyotirmath (lately Joshimath), Joshimath to Bagini Glacier via. halts/camps at Jumma, Ruing and Dronagiri villages and back to Haridwar via Joshimath. The 12 day of expedition includes rail travel from Mumbai to Haridwar via. New Delhi. There are several rail and road options available to reach Haridwar from New Delhi and back. Several trek organizers provide packages from Haridwar to Haridwar. Our decision to trek with the ever enthusiastic team of Grand Adventures led by Raju undoubtedly turned out to be the best decision. Our excursion team included a team of 8 novice trekkers, 2 cooks, 4 helpers and 6 mules to carry our material and supplies. </div>
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<b>Journey from Haridwar to Jyotirmath (Joshimath), Uttarakhand</b></div>
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Although the journey towards Haridwar was a long and tiring one, the mesmerizing view of the mountains and the curvy roads kept us awake and alert. This 9 hour journey made us realize that we were actually traversing through the land chosen by the Gods. We felt the sense of accomplishment as we crossed each milestone of our this journey viz. Rushikesh, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Karnaprayag, Devprayag, Pipalkoti etc. Watching several small teams queuing for river rafting at the river in Rushikesh was a beautiful experience. All these small towns were well established across the river flowing down from the various Himalayan peaks and we were quite aware of the fact that reaching Joshimath would be just the beginning of our adventurous climb of the Gadvaal Himalayan ranges.</div>
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Jyotirmath got it’s modern name viz. Joshimath from the Indian Army men. This is the last town where you could buy supplies and equipments needed for your trek. Joshimath is believed to be amongst the 4 major maths (institutions of religious teachings) established by Adi Shankaracharya. During my course of stay at Joshimath, I visited the Jyotirmath and witnessed that sanctity of the Kalpavriksha (Immortal Tree) where Adi Shankaracharya is believed to achieve enlightenment. The math today is a home for few Sadhus who take care of an ancient Shankaracharya seat with a deer skin on it. We met one of the Sadhus who encouraged us to donate something for the ashram. Later, we also had a chance to visit the Lord Narsimha temple which is just a 10 minutes walk from the Jyotirmath.</div>
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We reached Joshimath early evening and rested at the Birla Guest House, inaugurated by the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1960. The place was one of its kind with a majestic view of the snow capped mountains and various species of flowers waiting to welcome every visitor of the place. After almost 10 hour of our journey, a place like Birla Guest house was all that we longed for to have a hot water bath and a good night’s sleep.</div>
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<b>Joshimath to Ruing Village (via. Jumma)</b></div>
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The very next day was the first day of our trek and we started early morning at 7 o’ clock after a quick breakfast and a clean bath. We knew that this would be the only proper bath we could have for another 6 days. The earlier night we spend few hours in buying small yet crucial things that we would need for our trek at Joshimath. The most crucial amongst them was a battery operated torch. We were about to reach a place which was not trespassed by the urban dirt – the place that lacked even basic amenities like electricity.<br />
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Joshimath to Jumma village is approx. 45 kms. travel by road. We took a couple of gypsy vehicles that carried our food supplies, clothes, tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipments. I am grateful to our 6 mules who selflessly accompanied us all throught our trek. Their owners, however charged us Rs. 200/- per day for each extra bag. The road to reach Jumma is well built by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) except a few patches that may need some repairs. After reaching Jumma, each one of us got equipped with their shoes, walking sticks and much required high spirits and will power.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajjAMj2w1ow/VWSTPI9JudI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/bqkfydGGkZw/s1600/01%2Bjumma%2Bbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajjAMj2w1ow/VWSTPI9JudI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/bqkfydGGkZw/s640/01%2Bjumma%2Bbridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Towards Ruing Village: Crossing the Iron Bridge at Jumma Village</b></td></tr>
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The journey from Jumma to Ruing village begins by crossing a big metallic bridge built across the river Bhagirathi (Ganga). The sheer view of this bridge was so adventurous that it was enough to give us a glimpse of the kind of time we were going to have in the next few days. The winds blowing across the bridge was so powerful that it could have easily swept away a toddler if he had attempted to cross it. With much effort and calmness of mind, each one of us was successful to cross this bridge which marked our first accomplishment.</div>
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<b>Camping At The Ruing</b><br />
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Jumma bridge adventure was just the beginning and reaching Ruing village was a 3 kms. trek – a steady climb over the mountain offering serene view of the mountains over the horizons. It was 11 o’ clock in the morning and the walk was rather sweaty but was enough to warm up our bodies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56xYn4IebUI/VWST1j7xszI/AAAAAAAAGWY/4babmzkOLms/s1600/02%2Bruing%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56xYn4IebUI/VWST1j7xszI/AAAAAAAAGWY/4babmzkOLms/s640/02%2Bruing%2Bview.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Breathtaking View from the Ruing Village Camp</b></td></tr>
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Reaching Ruing was one of the memorable experiences we had. Although Ruing was our first camp site, it was the most beautiful places we camped right in the heart of the snow capped mountains, on lush green lawns.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bUf3ShAnV4M/VWST9wisPoI/AAAAAAAAGWg/vLPkbbxf2hE/s1600/02%2BRuing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bUf3ShAnV4M/VWST9wisPoI/AAAAAAAAGWg/vLPkbbxf2hE/s640/02%2BRuing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At Ruing: Is That Just a Ray Of Light Or The God Himself!</b></td></tr>
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We had never expected such a beautiful plain grass land to camp amidst the mountains. The glorious view of Mother Nature, the mountains, the sky wide open and the coniferous trees and the cool breeze blowing from the Himalayas was enough to make us fall in love with Ruing.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHJIItiJ4-U/VWSU47qdWaI/AAAAAAAAGWo/XheIt87bh94/s1600/03%2Bruing%2Bkids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHJIItiJ4-U/VWSU47qdWaI/AAAAAAAAGWo/XheIt87bh94/s640/03%2Bruing%2Bkids.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>With The Local Kids Of The Ruing Village</b></td></tr>
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<b>Ruing To Dronagiri Village - 11,800 feet</b><br />
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The next day we got up early and headed towards Dronagiri. The mountain of Dronagiri has a Hindu mythological significance. It is believed that Lord Hanumana, in search of a herb called Sanjeevini Booti, chop lifted the Dronagiri mountain in order to save the life of Lord Laxmana. It is believed that this act of Hanumana was not welcome by the then villagers of Dronagiri and that they even do not pronounce his name after this ancient event. I personally had a word with a couple of Dronagiri villagers and learnt that they have a firm belief in Hanumana and they are not happy with his act. The villagers showed me a cliff they all venerate till date as a mark of respect to Dronagiri Mountain. Although the mountain is far off from the actual village, this cliff which is venerated is an epitome of the Dronagiri Mountain. The actual Dronagiri Mountain is covered by snow since ages and the snow it is wearing dates back to centuries. After a careful glare of the Dronagiri Mountain, it was rather difficult to figure out which part of the mountain was actually chopped off by the Monkey God Hanumana. Amidst such mythological beliefs, most modern people find it interesting to hear such stories and get entertained.</div>
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Moving ahead from Dronagiri was another 9 kms. of trekking experience. It was Day 2 of our excursion and we were exhausted after we reached the village of Dronagiri. This trek spanned every aspect of trekking we had every imagined. Walking through rain forests, waterfalls amidst the Mountains, crossing the deepest valleys, crossing risky landslides on the Mountains, walking over uneven and slippery pavements was very much common by now.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eFlR7kGJujA/VWSY_oKPLDI/AAAAAAAAGX0/e2loer0KcxY/s1600/landslide%2Bat%2Bdronagiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eFlR7kGJujA/VWSY_oKPLDI/AAAAAAAAGX0/e2loer0KcxY/s640/landslide%2Bat%2Bdronagiri.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Most Challenging Patch (landslide) At Dronagiri</b></td></tr>
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The riskiest part of the 9 kms. long trek was the patch with landslide. Any uncalculated step would have landed us more than 200 feet down the valley. This patch was landslide prone and any daily attempts by the Public Works Department (PWD) proved futile to fix the path. This was a real challenge esp. for a first time trekker. The fact that there was no other option than to cross the patch gave the push to each one of us. The sense of accomplishment and grand feeling of achievement after overcoming this hurdle cannot be penned down literally.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aw9UgDuzCxg/VWSVjwC3MmI/AAAAAAAAGW0/ecijdiL4woo/s1600/03%2Btowards%2Bdronagiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aw9UgDuzCxg/VWSVjwC3MmI/AAAAAAAAGW0/ecijdiL4woo/s640/03%2Btowards%2Bdronagiri.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Sense of Accomplishment Engulfed Us As We Headed Towards Dronagiri</b></td></tr>
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I could feel the agony and ecstasy on my wife Priya’s face after She successfully completed this hurdle. Being a first time trekker, She certainly deserved due appreciation.</div>
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<b>Camping At The Dronagiri - 11,844 feet</b></div>
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Temperature dropped steeply as we moved and gradually climbed our way. Our next camp was Dronagiri. In the month of May, when the rest of the country is quibbling over the soaring heat, we had started adjusting our bodies with the temperature falls and high altitude sickness.</div>
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The village of Dronagiri seemed like a deserted village. It was a home for approximately 50-60 families but most of them had left the village to other places. The villagers here stayed for 6 months of the year and after the onset of the rainy season they stay at other places in Chamoli District.</div>
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“What under the sun makes you feel come here?”, I was interrogated by a curious villager.</div>
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She stated that Dronagiri was her in-laws place and that She had no choice than to stay in the village. The village lacked basic amenities of power supply, transportation, medical facilities and good schools. It is tough to build these facilities over a Mountain this high. I was speechless and was not able to answer her question. Probably, it was an irony that people who enjoy all such amenities feel like visiting such remote places in the name of camping. I was intrigued by the simplicity of the people living here and their generosity when they offered us tea and rice. It was so tough to get food supplies here and a good trekker would never want to steal away their supplies, I thought. The villagers here grew food esp. <i>Rajma </i>and Potatoes for themselves. Step farming was a common mechanism and most of the farmers grew food for themselves and the surplus, if any was sold away. We unanimously found the villagers here to be very friendly and sincere. Thankfully, the urban corruption was far away from their minds and souls.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXWVcGBRreE/VWSVlTAVdiI/AAAAAAAAGW8/ALL37gbVtXo/s1600/03%2Bdronagiri%2Bvillagers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXWVcGBRreE/VWSVlTAVdiI/AAAAAAAAGW8/ALL37gbVtXo/s640/03%2Bdronagiri%2Bvillagers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><b>The Dronagiri Villagers I Spoke With!</b></td></tr>
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We were tired to the extent of falling dead after we reached the Dronagiri camp. A two hour afternoon sleep was much needed to rejuvenate us back in action for the next day adventure. It was end of Day 3 of our camping and the journey was enthralling so far. Nights were very chilly; our lips had already started cracking and our skins had begun tanning.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULYt2dHqs3Q/VWSWdjxvufI/AAAAAAAAGXE/JxGbC5L8JvQ/s1600/03%2Bview%2Bback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULYt2dHqs3Q/VWSWdjxvufI/AAAAAAAAGXE/JxGbC5L8JvQ/s640/03%2Bview%2Bback.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Majestic View Of The Valley On The Way From Dronagiri To Bagini </b></td></tr>
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<b>Dronagiri To Bagini Glacier Base Camp </b><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">–
14,800 feet</span></b></div>
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The Bagini Glacier Base Camp was our final camp destination. We reached here from Dronagiri the very next morning after a 5 hour long trek. The Bagini camp was right in the middle of the river Bhagirathi (Ganga). </div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MrM-u-6dWcM/VWSRxjUUAMI/AAAAAAAAGWE/ks6lnIAVMxI/s1600/the%2Bteam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MrM-u-6dWcM/VWSRxjUUAMI/AAAAAAAAGWE/ks6lnIAVMxI/s640/the%2Bteam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><b>The Bagini Glacier Excursion Team</b></td></tr>
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The atmosphere here was filled with beautiful flowers, limestone deposits on the river bed and a majestic view of the snow capped mountains all around us. The beautiful glimpses of the wild deer added to the treat from the nature. The high altitude sickness had vanished by now and the cool breeze blowing from the Glacier was enchanting our minds. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMJYdqJKOXI/VWSX6IiZFBI/AAAAAAAAGXY/P5eo_sbKDqw/s1600/05%2Bbagini%2Bglacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMJYdqJKOXI/VWSX6IiZFBI/AAAAAAAAGXY/P5eo_sbKDqw/s640/05%2Bbagini%2Bglacier.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><b>The Bagini Glacier</b></td></tr>
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We camped at the Bagini Base Camp for 2 nights. The second day, we trekked towards the Bagini Glacier. It was summer time and the Glacier was constantly melting down to offer it’s pure water to the river downstream. Rainy season was fast approaching and it was time for the snow to get replenished. We witnessed the snowfall over the Mountain peaks intermittently. The weather changed drastically as we headed towards the Mountain Glacier. Climbing such a risky glacier was no child’s play. It is just then when a true adventurer has to spot the thin line between the thrill and the craze. The craze may lead a true mountaineer to the Summit and may also lead him below an Avalanche buried for years.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gflka1wPkk/VWSX_T3ch9I/AAAAAAAAGXg/XVM220kjgSs/s1600/05%2Bbagini%2Bglacier%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gflka1wPkk/VWSX_T3ch9I/AAAAAAAAGXg/XVM220kjgSs/s640/05%2Bbagini%2Bglacier%2Bview.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking Back: Success Is The Time To Review Our Past Mistakes</b></td></tr>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com3Uttarakhand, India30.066753 79.0192996999999226.550804499999998 73.855725699999923 33.5827015 84.182873699999917tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-59050045568576016452015-02-26T13:17:00.002+05:302016-09-12T16:06:25.315+05:30On The Road Towards The Aru Valley, Kashmir<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="text-align: justify;">Imagine when a Mom asks her little child to close his eyes
and think of a fantasy world where nature flaunts it’s best imaginable view to
you. Walking down the meadows of the Aru Valley at Jammu and Kashmir was
exactly such an experience in this real world. A Vision as clear as a block of
crystal, you could almost see everything in high definition almost until the
horizon. The decision of visiting the Aru Valley was one of the best decisions
we have made during our trip to Pahalgam last year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plhTu0JsTmM/VO7OxjA2cFI/AAAAAAAAGSU/OmyJjnhDdd8/s1600/The%2BAru%2BValley%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plhTu0JsTmM/VO7OxjA2cFI/AAAAAAAAGSU/OmyJjnhDdd8/s1600/The%2BAru%2BValley%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Moment of Joy At The Aru Valley</b></td></tr>
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We started off early in the morning after a remarkable visit
to the Betaab Valley and Chandanwadi which took around 4 hours for us. We had
almost entire day to spend at Pahalgam. Hence, Instead of spending time at the
hotel, we decided to head up to the Aru Valley. Every single inch of the distance
we travelled to reach the Aru valley was photogenic and the landscapes that
passed by almost took our breath away every single moment. The snowcapped
mountains and the cool breeze was enchanting our minds and soul. Certainly, it
is not an usual experience in India to see clear river waters flowing through
the mountains beside the roads you are travelling on.</div>
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On our way towards the valley, we came across a wild life
sanctuary and a short glimpse of the spotted deer gave us an opportunity to
click our cameras. I wished that we could halt at every single meter of
distance to capture the gorgeous beauty of the mother nature of Kashmir! The hilly
roads were quite twisted and curved; quite enough to induce motion sickness for
few of us. But, the scenic beauty itself was quite enough for us to forget
every inconvenience that could have caused for us to reach the Aru Valley. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRrTcszS9h0/VO7POlsU5YI/AAAAAAAAGSc/IEqeH_bmPQQ/s1600/The%2BAru%2BValley%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRrTcszS9h0/VO7POlsU5YI/AAAAAAAAGSc/IEqeH_bmPQQ/s1600/The%2BAru%2BValley%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Beautiful View Of The Aru Valley</b></td></tr>
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Ponies waiting for tourists and local kids and men playing
cricket amidst the beautiful mountains was a typical experience of the Aru
Valley. I feel too powerless a writer devoid of words to describe the ultimate
view I had after reaching there. Heaven on Earth, as someone has aptly tried to
express this feeling is what I could like to second.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-31552471312237816552014-12-17T12:28:00.001+05:302016-09-12T12:33:16.744+05:30The Talking Caves Of Lenyadri, Maharashtra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As old as a mountain – the simile seems so apt after one visits the ancient caves of Lenyadri. In the local language of Marathi, <i>Leni </i>means Caves and <i>Adri </i>in Sanskrit means a Mountain or a Rock. For past centuries, there are several Hindu myths and stories about these mysterious caves which date around the 1st century to 3rd century AD. However, the origin of these mountain caves relate to Buddhism. It was around 2500 years from now when <i>Buddha Shakyamuni</i> the originator of Buddhism gave his teachings to the masses. The human society then was very different from the one we see now. People truly cultivated themselves in religion and meditated for days and months. Several cultivators went to the mountains and carved caves where they cultivated for months. In fact, there are several such caves in certain corners of the world which are even today not trespassed and unknown to modern men.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdLKboNoZz0/VJEm9eJXQNI/AAAAAAAAGDk/1K7uWIfXpz0/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdLKboNoZz0/VJEm9eJXQNI/AAAAAAAAGDk/1K7uWIfXpz0/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Lenyadri Group of Caves</b></td></tr>
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The town of <i>Junnar </i>in Pune District of Indian State of Maharashtra is enriched by a series of hills on all sides. These hills consist of numerous Buddhist rock-cut caves. This is the largest number of caves at one place in the whole country, numbering over 200, spread over these hills All the caves belongs to the Hinayana (Theravada) phase of Buddhism They are date-able from mid 3rd century B.C. to late 3rd century AD. The <i>Junnar </i>cave complex is divided into various groups according to their locations in various hills, like <i>Tulaja </i>caves, <i>Manmodi </i>which is further divided into <i>Bhimashankar</i>, <i>Amba-Ambika</i> and <i>Bhuta Linga</i> - this name is derived from <i>Buddha Lena</i>, <i>Shivaneri </i>and <i>Ganesh</i> caves.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k8RwNP0J9xE/VJEnbFnFWuI/AAAAAAAAGDs/26vEBTGn6b4/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k8RwNP0J9xE/VJEnbFnFWuI/AAAAAAAAGDs/26vEBTGn6b4/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Octagonal Pillars of the Caves</b></td></tr>
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Mentioned as '<i>Kapichita</i>' i.e. beloved of the monkeys in the inscriptions, the Lenyadri group is also known as '<i>Sulaiman Hill</i>' or '<i>Ganesh Pahad</i>'. This is one of the major groups at <i>Junnar</i>. There are nearly 40 caves in this group, out of which the main group of 30 caves is located in a line and are numbered from East to West, all facing South and overlooking the valley of river <i>Kukadi</i>. Out of these 30 caves, the caves 6 and 14 are the '<i>Chaityagrihas</i>' (Prayer Hall) and the remaining are the '<i>Viharas</i>' (residences of the monks) of which cave 7 is the largest. The rest of the caves are small residential caves for the monks that have two or three cells. They range in date from 1st century A.D. to 3rd century A.D. Cave 6 is the main <i>Chaityagrihas </i>in this group. It consists of a pillared veranda and an upsidal hall divided into three parts by two rows of pillars. The Stupa representing <i>Gautam Buddha</i>, is at the end of the hall. The ceiling has vaulted shape. A donator inscription, date-able to 2nd century A.D. is carved on the back wall of the veranda above the doorway. It records the donation of the <i>Chaityagriha </i>by <i>Sulasadatta</i>, son of a Goldsmith from Kalyan. Cave 7 is a huge <i>Vihara </i>and the largest cave at <i>Junnar</i>. This <i>Vihara </i>consist of a large hall with the cells on three sides. Entry is provided by a central door from a pillared veranda which is approached by a flight of steps. There are 20 cells in total with varying dimensions. Two central cells in the back wall have been converted into one at a later date and at present a Ganesh image is worshiped. Cave 14 is also a <i>Chaityagriha</i>, but with a flat roof and rectangular hall. It also has a pillared veranda and the inscription of the donor carved in the veranda. The inscription mentions that it was donation by a devotee '<i>Anand</i>' who was the son of <i>Tapasa </i>and grandson of <i>Kapila</i>. This cave can also be dated to 2nd century A.D.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kc0G1O1vYYw/VJEn6tb5QgI/AAAAAAAAGD0/NyQL5f07YvY/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kc0G1O1vYYw/VJEn6tb5QgI/AAAAAAAAGD0/NyQL5f07YvY/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Way Towards the Caves of Lenyadri</b></td></tr>
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There are more than 30 prominent caves at Lenyadri that are carved with different architectures. Most of the pillars form an octagonal design and are a wonder to watch. Today, the entire hill is governed by the Archaeological Survey of India and the place esp. the cave no. 7 has been transformed into a Ganesha temple. There are several stories in Hindu mythology about the birth of the Hindu Lord Ganesha who was supposed to be born to Parvati (<i>Girija</i>), the wife of Lord Shiva. Hindus believe that Lord Ganesha was born to <i>Girija </i>who herself is believed to be a daughter of the mountain. Lord Ganesha as per Hindu mythology is known by several names based on his many reincarnations. His reincarnation in Lenyadri is popularly known as the <i>Girijatmaja </i>i.e. Born to <i>Girija</i>. There are prominently 8 such reincarnations of Lord Ganesha recognized by the <i>Ashta Vinayaka</i> i.e. Eight <i>Ganeshas</i>. The <i>Girijatmaja </i>temple at Lenyadri is one of the 8 <i>Ashtavinayakas</i>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWudPLPp2eI/VJEoSd09fZI/AAAAAAAAGD8/4LAsMw9qZxs/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWudPLPp2eI/VJEoSd09fZI/AAAAAAAAGD8/4LAsMw9qZxs/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Breathtaking View from the Lenyadri Cave 7</b></td></tr>
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Today, the caves continue to amaze every visitor visiting it. Knowing all the secrets of History, the Lenyadri hill looks so mysterious when one looks at it from the foothills. The caves, right at the center of the mountain look so much like windows on an aircraft or of that of a huge ship. I really wonder, how hardworking ancient men were. They had an amazing sense of architecture and dedication towards what they did. Although, the footsteps towards the caves seem to have been built lately, the Buddhist cultivators are believed to climb the mountain using a rope and cut down these ropes after they reach the cave until they reached enlightenment or failed and died of starvation or a disease. </div>
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The way to reach to the caves is a bit tiring and may be tiring for people with heart diseases and old men and women. As you continue your climb uphill, have a moment to turn back and observe the scenic view of the other mountains at the horizon. The view is much more beautiful if you visit the place sometime in August or September. I just can’t forget the greenery all around during my recent visit this year to this place. Cave no. 7 is well maintained and devotees of Lord Ganesha turn up here everyday. During the two days viz. Lord Ganesha Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi, festivals are observed at Lenyadri. These are the two days when devotees turn up at Lenyadri in large numbers. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AL5JT1V9BDY/VJEpNnMhCkI/AAAAAAAAGEM/E2CP7Ix25S0/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AL5JT1V9BDY/VJEpNnMhCkI/AAAAAAAAGEM/E2CP7Ix25S0/s1600/Lenyadri%2BCaves01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hearing the Caves Talk at Lenyadri</b></td></tr>
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Throughout the course of history, several rulers including the Muslim and Hindu rulers have governed this land. Every ruler had his own vested interest and perspective towards these icons of history. Hence, there may be even more stories about these caves that may be a result of someone’s political interest. In such a scenario, I would like to go by the facts I see. The mighty hill of Lenyadri stands upright there as if screaming to tell me something un-understood. I could hear these caves talking. Something that can be only heard if we could just have a fresh outlook towards the universe around us.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-17344012230840675692014-12-16T21:50:00.000+05:302016-09-12T15:57:49.688+05:30That Was The First Snowfall At Schaumburg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I reached the United States land for the very first time in July this year, I always wanted to experience the snow. Unfortunately, I was planned to leave for India in August and it seemed that my wish will be unfulfilled. In Chicago, it usually snows in mid November or early December. To my amazement, I was destined to visit the USA again in October. This time I was planning to stay in Schaumburg, Illinois until mid November only. It was a too close call for me to expect the snow during my this stint. </div>
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The winters in Chicago are extreme and last year the temperatures had dropped tremendously. It is an irony that this place transforms into a beautiful paradise in summers and turns into a cold hell in December-January timeframe. As November began, there was a steep drop in the temperatures. And by this time the weather in Chicago was too much to bear for a person like me who had been accustomed to living in a warm, comfy climate. For the past couple of weeks I was living under a temperature that was good enough to harden water. As a matter of fact, the water in the lake outside my hotel had stopped waving. But it was yet to solidify and it would take lesser than 10 degree Celsius for it to turn into ice completely. I knew this won't be so soon. Every day the weather was different. In fact it was such an amazing thing to experience a bright sunny day in the afternoon when you knew it was completely cloudy and cold in the morning. I had started to believe why Americans are so keen to know about weather forecasts. A bad weather could affect your day and plans for the week. I had too started following the weather predictions very closely and it really made me happy to know that the weekends are clear and sunny. I never longed for a sunny day so much ever while in India. Ironically, my reactions to a bright sunny day in India are just the opposite.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9omuTZyT70/VJBbRmtgOwI/AAAAAAAAGDU/h6dEqLf22us/s1600/chicago_snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9omuTZyT70/VJBbRmtgOwI/AAAAAAAAGDU/h6dEqLf22us/s1600/chicago_snow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Experiencing the first snowfall in Chicago</b></td></tr>
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Well, I knew that I was returning back to India the next week and a sunny day was no more a matter of my interest here in Chicago. It was my last day in Chicago and I was all set to travel back the following night. I had gone through the weekly predictions and knew that it was just going to be another cold day. While I was engaged into a discussion with my co-workers, something dragged my attention. </div>
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"It is too dusty today", I said.</div>
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My co-workers pondered at the statement I just made. They stared at me for a moment as if waiting for an explanation. And soon the moment of silence broke into a laughter as they clarified that it was snow.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-48847079875646088142014-12-10T13:45:00.000+05:302016-09-12T15:59:11.272+05:30All That You Could Experience In Pattaya, Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">On my quest to travel the world, Thailand was always on my priority list for too long. But this time things were actually executed as planned and our 6 days excursion to this Historic Kingdom of Joy has left a permanent mark on our minds. I am so excited to pen down every minute detail of our tour to Pattaya and Bangkok hoping that my travel experiences will benefit other travelers seeking guidance towards Thailand Tourism. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">I traveled to Thailand with my wife and three year old. I hope my experiences will also benefit travelers planning a trip to Thailand with their families and kids.</span></div>
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<b>Setting The Expectations Right</b></div>
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Thailand has been a land of awesome culture and Sea food. Most part of the Thai culture seems to be inspired from the Indian culture. But the most intriguing part is the Thai food. We had been a huge fan of Thai food and experiencing Thai cuisines in its very place of origin was one of the greatest expectations of our trip. If you are a Veggie, you will find several Indian restaurants and vegetarian Thai food options as well. But I feel, it is not really worth it to try Indian food in a country known for renowned Thai Sea food in the World.</div>
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Pattaya and Bangkok has lots of hookers around and you will find many single men looking around for girls which may be annoying for families. Well, while alone on the street, I remember a local taxi driver in Pattaya asking me for a ride and later offering me some ‘Honey’ (a common term for prostitutes in Thailand). I have also noticed several local Thai girls giving company to tourists around the world in restaurants and bars. This is just normal all over Thailand.</div>
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If you truly want to explore some good attractions in Thailand, carry enough money. It is a requirement to carry a minimum of THB 10,000 per person and THB 20,000 per family while you enter Thailand. However, the extent of expenditure really depends on your willingness to spend. Few attractions in Pattaya and Bangkok are expensive and if your tour operator does not cover these, ensure that you carry enough cash.</div>
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Shopping in Bangkok is not really that Great. I happened to visit several major malls viz. the Asiatique, MBK and Indra Market and did not really find shopping appealing in Bangkok. If you are an Indian resident from a Metropolitan city like Mumbai, you will find stuff in India cheaper, offering varied options and more affordable. This applies to clothes, garments, souvenirs and electronics too. I would strongly suggest that one should buy electronic goods from your home country as there are hardly any shops who would offer International warranties on electronic items. Bargaining happens at several shops and malls so the final price is left to your negotiation skills. </div>
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<b>Planning Your Thailand Trip</b></div>
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If it is your first International trip it is very obvious for you to be worried of several travel related stuff which primarily includes, Visa, Immigration Procedures, Air Travel, Currency Requirements, Hotels etc. In addition to this, there are many other things that concerns a first time traveler to Thailand viz. What to see and what not to see. Obviously, Thailand has been one of the most commercialized travel destinations in the World for long and one may feel that it is not worth to spend your hard earned money on attractions that do not matter to you or are not worth visiting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Av1Hxkeh9hM/VIf73hYa6TI/AAAAAAAAGAI/f_ZdGhIVxKU/s1600/pattaya%2Bbeach%2B2_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Av1Hxkeh9hM/VIf73hYa6TI/AAAAAAAAGAI/f_ZdGhIVxKU/s1600/pattaya%2Bbeach%2B2_wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View of the Pattaya Beach from a Speed Boat</b></td></tr>
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Thailand charges THB 1000 (Thai <i>Bhat</i>) for Visa on Arrival to individuals with Indian Passports. Only Thai currency is accepted at the Visa counter at the airport. The same fees is also charged to children. We landed at the <i>Suvarnabhumi </i>International Airport in Bangkok early in the morning. Note that the Thailand time is 1.5 hours ahead of India so set your clock accordingly. You will not really need Thai currency until you land in Thailand. I tried to exchange currency in India a week before however, did not find the exchange rate up to the mark. The exchange rate provided by the bank exchanges at Bangkok airport is a bit better than you will get in India. However, I will strongly advise you to exchange very limited money at the airport for your Visa needs because exchange rates within Pattaya and other cities are the best you can get. This way you could get better value for your hard earned money. </div>
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Visa on Arrival and Immigration Procedures at Bangkok are simple but may be time consuming depending on the crowd. There is an option of express checkout at a premium of THB 200 per person to expedite the process. You will need to fill up a Visa on Arrival form, paste one recent photograph with white background, have a copy of your return ticket ready and get the documents verified by the document verification personnel. Post verification, the Verification Officer will hand you over a token number which will be used by the Immigration Officer to grant you the Visa. </div>
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Hotels in Pattaya and Bangkok are very busy and it is always advisable to book your rooms in advance to avoid last minute chaos. Most of the hotels in Thailand follow the International timings for check-in and check-out viz. check-in time at 2:00 PM and check-out time 12:00 noon. Hotels may charge additional fees if you fail to check-out on time hence, ensure that you check-out before time. Also, before check-in, if you reach early you can plan to keep the luggage at the reception until 2:00 PM and plan to roam around the hotel and explore the nearby shops. This is a good way of killing the frustration of waiting for your room until 2:00 PM at the boring hotel lobbies.</div>
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<b>Reaching Pattaya from Bangkok Airport</b></div>
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A road trip to Pattaya is fairly easy from the <i>Survarnabhumi </i>Airport. There are several tour operators right at the arrival counters at the airport. There is a good cafeteria near the arrival gate 10 that serves good Thai food at a good price. Do not miss the spicy Tom Yum Soup at this place. We took a comfortable bus ride from the airport which lasted for around 2 hours. It is mandatory to fasten your seat belts in the bus as there are strict laws of the land over seat belt usage. </div>
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Pattaya is highly commercialized city. We had our hotel just 5 min walk from the beach and just few seconds to several Thai and Indian restaurants. What we needed in Thailand was right in front of us! Most restaurants, souvenir shops, bars, Thai massage parlors operate round the clock. Pattaya has a beautiful night life and the entire city is filled with tourists and local shops serving the tourists. On our first evening in Pattaya, we visited the beach but were not really impressed by its looks and cleanliness. The sea water seemed just like that of the Arabian sea. There were some water sports activities being carried out at the beach but there were no fixed rates.</div>
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A young coconut at the beach that will cost you THB 40 is really worth trying as you enjoy the beautiful evening in Pattaya. </div>
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<b><i>Ko Lan</i> Experience in Pattaya</b></div>
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<i>Ko Lan</i> or the Coral Islands was a fantastic experience. Just 7 kms. from the city by a speedboat, I must say that if you are in Pattaya, you have not really visited it until you have visited the <i>Ko Lan</i> beach. The next morning, we started from the Pattaya Beach by a speed boat towards <i>Ko Lan</i>. On our way towards this beautiful island, we had a stopover to enjoy some unplanned adventure activities viz. para sailing and underwater sea walk.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9R6UQitsX-c/VIf67RK1Z6I/AAAAAAAAGAA/WAxPmVsp190/s1600/Ko%2BLarn_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9R6UQitsX-c/VIf67RK1Z6I/AAAAAAAAGAA/WAxPmVsp190/s1600/Ko%2BLarn_wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Ko Lan (Coral Island) 7 kms by Speed Boat from Pattaya</b></td></tr>
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Awesome, awesome and awesome was the only word I murmured while the parachute pulled me over from the platform right towards the sky. I felt the weightlessness of my body as I observed my feet hanging in the air. The tiny speed boat continued to pull me over as it directed my parachute. I was flying like a bird yet without wings. This experience was out of the world, literally. I was almost left with several minutes of hangover even after the parachute safely landed me back on the platform. This was indeed worth the THB 400 spent.</div>
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The Coral sea water is full of sea fishes and watching them for 20 long minutes for THB 1200 was an additional great experience. You could actually watch the fish coming around you and observe the coral sea bed. However, most of our fellow tourists did not find it worth the money spent. You may do the underwater diving if it really interests you.<br />
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After an adventurous spell of the adrenaline rush, we headed back by our speed boat towards the <i>Ko Lan</i> beach. Wow! Is the exclamation most of us had after we witnessed the clear blue waters of the coral sea. I stood almost speechless as the beautiful morning sun showered its rays over the beautiful water that glittered like the blue topaz gemstone. This was the perfect time to bask in the beauty of the coral waters and fill up your camera memories with some divine pictures. There are several eateries serving fresh sea food on the Island too. If you decide to swim in the sea, there are also paid restroom services available which is why you will also find them clean.</div>
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The entire <i>Ko Lan</i> visit including the adventure activities is more than half a day excursion from the Pattaya city. It would be a great idea to end up your weary day with a soothing Thai foot massage. Most of the local Thai massage parlors offer head and foot massages for around THB 200.</div>
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<b><i>Nong Nooch</i> Village Visit</b></div>
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The <i>Nong Nooch</i> village is mainly known for its Thai cultural show, the Elephant show and beautifully maintained gardens. There are several tour operators which arrange your pick up and drop to hotel for THB 700 per person. The village is located around 20 kms from the Pattaya city and will take around 45 min -1 hour depending upon the traffic situation. The services of the local tour operator will generally be included in this package. There is a morning 8:30 AM pick up and afternoon 1:30 PM pickup option available. We opted for the afternoon option as we just wanted to laze around in the morning hours the very next day.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pu4YK3PcIPU/VIf-GP8FLEI/AAAAAAAAGAU/u-rf30tfeNA/s1600/Nong%2BNooch_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pu4YK3PcIPU/VIf-GP8FLEI/AAAAAAAAGAU/u-rf30tfeNA/s1600/Nong%2BNooch_wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thai Garden @ Nong Nooch Village</b></td></tr>
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After we reached the village, we walked around 300 meters through the neatly constructed skywalk over beautifully constructed gardens towards the car show. There were several supercars on display that gave us the opportunity to click some beautiful pictures with these wonder machines. Soon after spending few minutes at the car museum, we opted to take a site seeing tour and hoped on an open trolley. The trolley ride costs THB 100 per person for a 30 min ride through the gardens. It is advisable to get into this trolley ride if you do not really want to follow the map and save time figuring out stuff all by yourself. </div>
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Ensure that you reach the Thai cultural show on time. It was very much crowded on the day we were in Nong Nooch. There are some magnificent Thai Art and cultural performances which includes, the Thai dances and Thai Kick Boxing. The show features artists with beautiful costumes depicting the Thai culture, sword fighting and mesmerizing Thai music.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_5MgGG33Ic/VIf-TJzKHsI/AAAAAAAAGAc/UvungjP_8eg/s1600/thai_cultural_show_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_5MgGG33Ic/VIf-TJzKHsI/AAAAAAAAGAc/UvungjP_8eg/s1600/thai_cultural_show_wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Glimpse of The Thai Cultural Show @ Nong Nooch</b></td></tr>
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Immediately after Cultural show, the next big was the Elephant show. Frankly, I never believed that Elephants were such Intelligent animals until I witnessed the Elephant show. In fact, this show is something I will permanently remember in my life. The show began with elephants arranged by their sizes walking in a row; holding each other by their trunks and tails seemingly welcoming the crowd. What happened later drove the crowd crazy. Elephants riding a bicycle, another shooting at the balloons, another of an artist genre literally engaged in creating beautiful paintings, a few other dancing in style by nodding their heads and shaking their butts.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rF330nKIjkE/VIf-kJKzVNI/AAAAAAAAGAk/JHHLXR7ith0/s1600/Elephant_show_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rF330nKIjkE/VIf-kJKzVNI/AAAAAAAAGAk/JHHLXR7ith0/s1600/Elephant_show_wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Elephant Show @ Nong Nooch</b></td></tr>
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Wow! That was a show that would last for a lifetime. Few spectators also fed bananas to these mighty intelligent animals. Few adventurous ladies like my wife also posed with these elephants lifting them in their trunks – one lifting her and the other touching her head as if blessing her. These elephants continued to amaze us all and there seemed no end to it. This was one of the best animal shows I had witnessed until that very moment.</div>
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<b>Adieu to Pattaya</b></div>
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Although, this would be the most difficult thing to do, if you have additional free time in Pattaya, you may go for a walk at the walking street. This is mainly a place filled with hookers, however, you will find some interesting street shows that will keep you entertained. There are some skillful beggars on the streets who will try to impress you with their artistic skills. This is certainly worth a visit. If you are interested in shopping, I would not really recommended you to do shopping in Pattaya since you will find the rates here 10-15% higher than in Bangkok. The reason being everything in Pattaya gets shipped from Bangkok.</div>
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Lastly, while in Pattaya, I had a very grim observation that most of the local shop owners and other locals were not very friendly with tourists, some of these were rather rude to tourists. It was not a good sight to see several other Asian (most of these Indians) sex-hungry males desperately looking for girls. Pattaya is a city with a great package and it has almost everything that a travelling tourist may be looking for. But dignity and a great character is something what money can't buy.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com4Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, Thailand12.9276082 100.8770812999999912.6799492 100.55435779999999 13.1752672 101.19980479999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-41964381744691738492014-11-19T20:13:00.000+05:302016-09-12T15:58:48.873+05:30Living In QATAR - An Honest Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Qatar, as I
remember is a place populated with money hungry or needy expats. Certainly,
what really could motivate a migrant worker or a senior working professional
live in a climate of scorching heat, a Muslim culture devoid of humane freedom
and a land that does not treat it’s visitors with dignity. Money free of tax or a better job role? Although, Qatar does
not have anything of it’s own, even the food, groceries and clothes are
imported from other countries viz. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, China
etc. And this is not only limited to the goods and merchandises but also to the
work force who opt to travel to Qatar from these countries in the sheer hope of
making their lives better.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoRoGUXwaFA/VGyq3a622SI/AAAAAAAAF-U/9qtEzQM9wV0/s1600/Desert%2BQatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoRoGUXwaFA/VGyq3a622SI/AAAAAAAAF-U/9qtEzQM9wV0/s1600/Desert%2BQatar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Daily Lifestyle in Doha<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Doha is the only
major city in Qatar and a majority of the country’s population is that of
expats. Qataris form a small population and enjoy the apex position in the
Qatari society. Qatar does not provide citizenship to people of other
nationalities despite their decades of stay in the country. I have noticed that
most of the top positions in the local Qatari organizations are acquired by
local men and women. English may not be always the official language at work
and you may many a times encounter several Qatari co-workers speaking in Arabic
language. Qataris are relaxed people and overall work culture is slow. Do not
get bothered too much if work is not moving fast or simple decisions take
unusually long time. This is the way work happens in this satisfied, rich
country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Life of an
average migrant worker in Qatar is boring. If you are single, living in Doha,
be prepared for this boredom as neither the climate nor the places outside are
that appealing. Expat population is quite high in Doha and you could very well
make friends easily here since there are many more expats like you getting
bored to death. Walking around the Doha Corniche in the evening may be relaxing
but being a single Asian male, I had some bad experiences of being ill-treated
by a Qatari guard around Corniche. Well, do not necessarily take this as a
humiliation since this is quite common in Qatar as there are several places in
the city where single bachelors alone or in groups cannot roam around esp. on
Fridays. Most Qatari men can legally marry up to four women and most commonly do
not like anyone of them being ogled by other men. Hence, most of the places in
Doha are reserved only for families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">A daily life
of a migrant construction worker is pathetic in Doha. They are often exploited,
overworked and most of the times enslaved by their employers. I have tried
communicating with few of these workers and have seen their homes which brought
nothing but sympathy in my mind. An average construction worker often stays in
Qatar for several years saving money and sending it to their families. For most
of such families, their man slogging in Qatar is the sole means of bread and
butter yet unsure when he could return home. These construction workers work in
extreme and adverse climatic conditions and often die every day yet unnoticed.
It is said that work must stop if the temperatures rise beyond 50 degree Celsius
but authorities never declare such things to meet their deadlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I observed
that Non-Muslim Women have a better freedom of clothing in cities like Doha.
However, it still needs to be remembered that Qatar is still a part of the
Middle East and women are expected to cover their knees and shoulders while in
public. Men are expected to avoid a prolonged eye contact with a woman and
maintain sufficient distance while communicating with women at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Places to Visit in Qatar</span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvrdepdGwhY/VGyrHZqJxcI/AAAAAAAAF-c/Z8k-JAnH3G8/s1600/Fanar%2BDoha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvrdepdGwhY/VGyrHZqJxcI/AAAAAAAAF-c/Z8k-JAnH3G8/s1600/Fanar%2BDoha.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fanar - Qatar Islamic Cultural Center</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">There are merely
a handful of places you can visit in Doha. The best time to go out in Qatar is
between November and March since the climate is rather favorable during this
period. Between April and October, the place remains as hot as hell. People who
have never visited the middle east regions just can’t imagine the kind of
extremity of the temperature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">There are
several Islamic cultural centers in Qatar and even people of other religions
and beliefs are encouraged to visit these places. I would rather encourage you
to visit the Fanar, which is Qatar’s Islamic Cultural Center spreading awareness
about Qatar’s culture to Non-Arab population. The Fanar is an iconic structure
of Qatar with a beautiful Arabic architecture. There are also some Arabic
language courses available in case it is a matter of someone’s interest.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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The Dukhan beach,
around 60 kms. from Doha is the most visited picnic spot among the locals and
expats alike. It is by far the best hangout I have found in Qatar. The Dukhan
beach is an ideal place to have a barbeque party for families. I have even
observed few European ladies bathing in the sea water in bikini here. That is
something way beyond the social taboos but how far a culturally different woman
wait to break free in such a wicked country? The sea water however, has considerable
levels of salt content which will not let you drown for sure. But beware, you
may have problems if the water enters your eyes causing irritation and
discomfort. The Dukhan beach is a very good place to enjoy water sports.
Several rich locals own their own speed boats and other water sport equipment. These
may also be rented for a ride.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxyR0S4aYDU/VGysN7Vf-yI/AAAAAAAAF-0/mN3ELzpY3F4/s1600/Dukhan%2BBeach%2BQatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxyR0S4aYDU/VGysN7Vf-yI/AAAAAAAAF-0/mN3ELzpY3F4/s1600/Dukhan%2BBeach%2BQatar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dukhan Beach, Qatar</b></td></tr>
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The Pearl
Qatar is a well-constructed place in Qatar and is a good place for a weekend
visit. It is a home for several International brands the prominent being the
Ferrari showroom just at the entrance gate of the Pearl Qatar. It is also said
that other nationalities can own their property at the Pearl Qatar however
these are too expensive. Visitors can enjoy cruise rides and some adventure
water sports at the Pearl Qatar. The view of the Doha skyline offered by the
Pearl is just as beautiful as that seen from the Corniche. While in Qatar the
Pearl is a place just too good to miss.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_9qt1Cro7I/VGywPN2CBxI/AAAAAAAAF_A/SNQHkGtieY4/s1600/Doha%2BCorniche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_9qt1Cro7I/VGywPN2CBxI/AAAAAAAAF_A/SNQHkGtieY4/s1600/Doha%2BCorniche.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Doha Skyline as seen from the Corniche</b></td></tr>
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Souq Waqif
is the shopping destination of Doha. Souq literally translates to a market and
Souq Waqif translates to a Standing market. It is at a 10 min walking distance
from the Fanar and also from the Corniche. Shopping enthusiasts could enjoy shopping
traditional garments, spices, handicrafts, perfumes and souvenirs at the Souq. Astonishingly,
I also found live animals and birds including lizards, owls, eagles, tortoises
etc. for sale at the Souq. The Souq also offers premium range of Hukka bars and
I found many locals and expats hooked up smoking at these parlors. In the
evenings, you may get a change to enjoy a traditional Arabic folk dance at the
Souq. Within the Souq, there is also a small exhibition of paintings depicting
the glorious Arabic culture. The shopkeepers are friendly and will be
interested in providing information about products they sell. However, this
place may be restricted for single men at times esp. on Fridays which is
supposed to be a family day in Doha.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96MGzyY10Go/VGyryEJYY9I/AAAAAAAAF-s/eyLOTskhi5E/s1600/Sand%2BDunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96MGzyY10Go/VGyryEJYY9I/AAAAAAAAF-s/eyLOTskhi5E/s1600/Sand%2BDunes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Breathtaking View Of The Sea & The Sand from a Sand Dune</b></td></tr>
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A Half or
Full day Desert Safari towards the south of Qatar along the Saudi Arabia border
will also come to your rescue if you are craving for a much needed break from
the mundane life at Qatar. There are quite a few tourist companies who offer a
pick up and drop to and fro the Desert Safari. If you are a group of 4-5
members, you can hire a Land Cruiser or a similar vehicle and get drenched into
the wilderness of the white desert along the salty blue sea. Watch the
experienced driver inflating the tyres of the Land Cruiser and driving you
along the edges of the sand dunes to take away the *hit away from your *ss.
This is by far my best experience of being in Qatar. During sunset, the deep
blue sea looks breathtakingly beautiful from the sand dunes. During winter
days, the desert almost turns into a cold hell. There are packages available
for an overnight stay in the desert tents which is an experience in itself.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Accommodation in Qatar<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most of the
migrant workers in Qatar live single for a simple reason that it is not so easy
to get a Visa for a family. I have recently noticed that for some reason, Qatar
has started rejecting Visa for female workers. Moreover, the cost of accommodation
in Doha is very high. Most expats in Qatar share accommodation and live in a
poor and unhygienic conditions. However, In case you are a senior executive
hired by a local Company in Qatar, arranging visa for the family becomes
easier. Most of the apartments and condominiums are owned by local agencies or
a local Qatari who could charge huge rent for a decent accommodation. Nearly,
all places in the country look the same hence, it is worthless to search a
locality where you could find your home. I would suggest you could opt a place
to live near your office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Food and Grocery Options<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Since 90% of
the food and groceries are imported, you would find the same food options that
you had in your home country but with a much higher price. There are several
high rated food brands and joints in Doha along with local small Malabari restaurants
mostly owned by Indians (Keralites) and Nepalis. Sometimes, it may become
difficult to find a Vegetarian option in these restaurants. Chicken, Pork and
Beef based food items are abundantly available. Khabus and Hamus (Arabic breads)
are the cheapest subsidized food options available for the poor. However, they
are tasteless and cannot be taken as a daily food option. Most commonly, there
are several Filipino and Indian restaurants serving good food all over Doha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The municipal
water supply is good however, drinking water needs to be purchased which may
cost you QAR 8 to 10 for a bottle of 5 liters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Transportation and Communication<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">With fuel
being dirt cheap in the country, owning a car becomes inevitable for another
good reason that Public transportation is still in the state of infancy. There
are local buses plying in Doha but their frequency cannot be trusted much. Locals
and some expats are much fond of cars and tend to spend much on speedy, high
end machines on the roads. When it comes to roads, these are the most unsafe
places in the country. I have noticed that most locals drive like maniacs
almost unbothered of pedestrians walking or crossing the streets. This, just explains
their disregard for human life and a boastful attitude of possessing great
wealth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Speaking on
cellular phones is very expensive and a single phone call for a minute could
cost half a Qatari Riyal. A little study on highly expensive telecommunication
industry gave me an answer that the sector like several other sectors is
dominated by the King of Qatar and it is him who decides the price you pay for
speaking to your loved ones. Broadband Internet services rates are also higher
than normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Education in Qatar<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I believe
that it is a good sign that middle eastern countries like Qatar is giving more
emphasis on quality education. There are several Public and Private
institutions providing good education to the children. However, the Public
Schools and Colleges are confined to Arabic curriculum. Private schools and
colleges have American or British curriculum in studies. Qatar encourages hiring
of qualified teachers and educationalists in its quest to impart good education
to its people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well, with
all those mixed experiences of observing the life of an average expat in Qatar,
I conclude that human life is certainly much more than craving for money. The
State of Qatar is one of the richest countries due to its enormous natural
wealth of oil reserves. Its GDP will remain strong for several decades to come; which is nothing but easy money for sure. Qatar is still totally dependent on
other countries for its simple daily needs and I am sure given the adverse
climate it will always continue to. It must learn to recognize humanity above materialistic wealth and religious beliefs.</span></div>
</div>
Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-82259147330824043112014-11-18T19:46:00.000+05:302016-09-12T16:02:52.538+05:30The Transit Tours Of Hong Kong, China<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hong Kong has been attracting transiting tourist for quite a
while now. The most crucial question a transiting tourist at Hong Kong will ask is what
to visit and what to skip? Well, it really depends upon the amount of time you
have in hand for your connecting flight. In case you have a very small layover
approximately 2-4 hours, I would never suggest you to go out of the airport. In
such a scenario, you can always visit several shops at the airport itself. I
would strongly suggest that you can plan to visit places outside the airport
only if you have more than 4-5 hours of layover time. In my case, I had a long
layover of around 11 hours which was quite enough for me to visit quite a few
places in the town. In case you land at the Hong Kong airport in the early
morning, you stand a good chance to avoid the crazy rush of city. In my
opinion, with such a good layover time, one must not think of skipping the Hong
Kong Downtown and the Peak. Trust me, even if you skip any other places at Hong
Kong, you won’t regret it much.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YZkPT9DwZRo/VGtMFFnaDPI/AAAAAAAAF8w/UDJIITwcM-Q/s1600/Hong%2BKong%2BThe%2BPeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YZkPT9DwZRo/VGtMFFnaDPI/AAAAAAAAF8w/UDJIITwcM-Q/s1600/Hong%2BKong%2BThe%2BPeak.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Majestic View of Hong Kong Sky from The Peak</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Frankly, as far as my recent travel experiences goes, <i><b>the
Peak</b></i> is what I would recommend to visit for all transiting tourists. Another
close option I could suggest is the Big Buddha on the Lantau Island which is
however, an almost half day tour from the Tung Chung Cable car station. I had a
glimpse of the Big Buddha which is situated on a mountain peak on the Lantau
Island from the aircraft during my landing at the Hong Kong airport. But, to
observe the large Buddha Statue, you really need to focus on the mountains.
There is a stream of cable cars continually moving towards the Big Buddha
statue which is also prominently visible from the airport.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Exploring the Hong Kong City</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I reached Hong Kong early morning at 5:30 AM and soon after
the immigration check, I bought a round trip Airport Express ticket costing HKD
180. The Airport Express is the quickest mode of transport towards the Hong
Kong Central Station and the journey hardly takes 25 minutes. The frequency of
the Airport Express Trains is also quite good which assures a nominal waiting
time. The journey in the train is very luxurious and speedy. I enjoyed the
comfort of a speedy transport through the mountains, the flyovers and the
bridges built over the sea. It also provided glimpses of the huge skyscrapers
built on either side of the railways. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After reaching the Hong Kong Central station, we boarded a
taxi from the train station towards the hotel which costed me additional HKD 35.
The taxi driver may charge you HKD 5 additionally for each luggage bag. I would
recommend to get this thing sorted with him prior to boarding the taxi. In
case, you do not have any luggage with you, I would recommend you to walk
towards the Peak Tram station which is merely 20 min by walk from the Hong Kong
Central Station. Taxis in Hong Kong are too expensive and are avoidable if you
are prepared to walk on the streets to gather an extra fun and adventure. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hotels in Hong Kong are very expensive too. Overall, I
observed that the entire city has been facing a land crunch. Numerous multistoried
buildings are just a result of severe fight for land for settlement. You could
end up paying almost USD 100 for a hotel room sized that of a bathroom in the
city center. In case, you have a really long layover or if your flight is on
the next day, I would suggest booking a hotel in advance but be ready to spend
more for less.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nC7fLrnsIpA/VGtMlPM4z2I/AAAAAAAAF84/w7oc1gPBqhg/s1600/Peak_Tram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nC7fLrnsIpA/VGtMlPM4z2I/AAAAAAAAF84/w7oc1gPBqhg/s1600/Peak_Tram.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Historic Peak Tram</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Peak tram is the best way to reach the Peak Tower. It will
cost you HKD 40 just for the tram ride. An additional HKD 40 on the same
ticket, will give you access to the Peak terrace which will offer you a magnificent
360 degree view of the Hong Kong City. I would strongly suggest you to go for
the HDK 80 ticket as missing the Peak terrace is something not worth it. The
journey through the Peak tram is historic one. The tram has a glorious history
starting back from the year 1888. Over the years, there have been few changes
in its way of operations; however, there have been absolutely no change in the
thrill and the fun riding it. The tram could scare you with a tilt of as good
as 27 degrees with the horizontal as you experience the skyscrapers almost leaning
towards you. Although the Peak Tram journey could last for about 10-15 minutes
towards the Peak Tower and back, I can assure you that it will remain evergreen
in your mind for the rest of your life after you leave the place.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q7ZPhu758uU/VG_6UBppqvI/AAAAAAAAF_g/YC_mShp5Iq0/s1600/Peak%2BTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q7ZPhu758uU/VG_6UBppqvI/AAAAAAAAF_g/YC_mShp5Iq0/s1600/Peak%2BTower.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Peak Tower</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck</b></div>
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The Effiel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York, the Skytree in Tokyo – every world city has an iconic observation deck. In Hong Kong, it is “sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck”, located in the city’s tallest building, ICC. From this harbor-front vantage point some 393 meters above sea level, you can enjoy incredible day and night Victoria Harbor views, and a stunning 360-degree panorama of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Terrirories. “sky100” offers you an unparalleled viewing experience, from the hustle and bustle of this international city to its visionary urban planning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_i4VG-zM36Y/VGtNJf3Z20I/AAAAAAAAF9E/mLvEKW52ui8/s1600/Peak%2BTram%2BView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_i4VG-zM36Y/VGtNJf3Z20I/AAAAAAAAF9E/mLvEKW52ui8/s1600/Peak%2BTram%2BView.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>View from the <span style="text-align: justify;">sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Peak tower is an architectural wonder and it has
experienced several changes in its structure for the past few years. It is a
place for entertainment, shops and eateries. Food is expensive at the Peak. A
single bottle of water will cost HKD 12. </div>
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</div>
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<b>Madame Tussauds Hong Kong<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There is a wax museum located in the tower at an additional cost. You may plan to visit it if time permits and if it is a matter of your interest to take pictures with wax models of several renowned personalities. But above all, the terrace view of the Peak tower is unparalled and something which you will cherish lifelong. As the one and only celebrity-inspired attraction in Hong Kong, you can meet over 100 A-Listers from around the World in one place at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. Not only can fans get up close with their idols and snap pictures, they can also interact with these celebrities and iconic personalities as they step into each of the specially designed exhibition sets. The new expansion “Fantasy Kingdom” brings more excitement to the star-studded journey with the Super Heroes, Children’s Favorites and Chinese Legendary figures.</div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_xu1e8fYI5g/VGtOxL6aTbI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/T1UHMs4bcNo/s1600/Madame%2BTussaude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_xu1e8fYI5g/VGtOxL6aTbI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/T1UHMs4bcNo/s1600/Madame%2BTussaude.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Madame Tussauds @ The Peak</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Located on The Peak, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong is only eight minutes away from the city centre when visiting by the Peak Tram.</div>
<br />
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Many people think Hong Kong is only cosmopolitan city with
its high-rise apartment blocks and busy roads. However, this is not the case.
The New Territories, which lie between the Kowloon hills and the boundary which
Mainland China, is an enormously diverse suburban area full of contrasts, a
blend of traditional customs and modern ideas, of natural beauty and man-made
achievements.</div>
<br /></div>
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More than a century ago, this area was entirely rural. Small
villages and farming fields dotted the landscape, home to people who farmed
rice, tea and other crops. Today, the area still abounds in rural beauty. Yet
modern developments have made its mark. Sophisticated new towns exist alongside
peaceful woodland. “The Land Between” is the land bridging the motherland in China
and the city centre of Hong Kong. It stands both as a gentle reminder of Hong
Kong’s past as well as hopes for closer relationship with the motherland in the
years to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvqC63zoB4c/VGtSWQIJFSI/AAAAAAAAF98/A6_nitMmfLM/s1600/Airport%2BExpress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvqC63zoB4c/VGtSWQIJFSI/AAAAAAAAF98/A6_nitMmfLM/s1600/Airport%2BExpress.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Spectacular View from the Airport Express on the way towards Hong Kong Central MTR</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The land between tour visits the Yuen Yuen Institute where
you can see the significance of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist contributions
to society. Then it’s out into the countryside, going up the Tai Mo Shan, Hong
Kong’s highest mountain. The bus drives past banana plantation, village hamlets
and the surroundings of the Tai Mo Shan Country Park. A photo stop is made at
the Tai Mo Shan lookout point where you can enjoy panoramic view of the harbor and
the industrial / residential town of Tsuen Wan to the south. If the weather is unfavourable,
the tour stops at the mountain’s lower lookout point for a view of Shek Kong
Valley. The tour continues down the mountain and onto the wooded valley of Lam
Tsuen and Fanling. You will visit <i>Fanling
Walled Village</i> and walk past the old village wall with gun holes in it and
a family ancestral hall where ancestor worship continues to be practised. The
village belongs to the Pang family, one of the five great clans of the New
Territories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then it’s time to head to the boundary with Mainland China by
driving on Luk Keng Road. A photo stop will be made at Luk Keng Road lookout
point to see natural surroundings of Starling Inlet, and the boundary town of
Sha Tau Kok on Mainland, just across the Inlet. Next is a trip through the
Plover Cove Country Park. The view is dominated by the water of Plover Cove
Reservoir on one side and the massive ranges of Pat Sin Lang Range Country Park
on the other. A photo stop is made at Bride’s Pool Falls, which has a
constantly flowing waterfall year round. It is a popular place for outdoor BBQ
parties in the cooler months.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<b>Hong Kong Heritage
Tour</b></div>
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Hidden away among high-rise apartment towers and busy
highways, the past lives on in the New Territories – a living museum shaped by
the rise and development of the so called five great clans of Hong Kong (the
Tang, Hau, Pang, Liu and Man). Taking in historic sites around the New
Territories, the Heritage Tour brings to life the customs and cultures of these
clans and provides a fascinating glimpse of Hong Kong’s rich heritage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tai Fu Mandarin’s Mansion / Fan Tin Village</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Located in San Tin, Tai Fu Tai is an opulent stately
residence built in 1865 by a senior Man clan member who was bestowed the title
of Tai Fu (mandarin) by the Qing emperor. The extravagantly designed interior
boasts three courtyards and is a striking example of how high-ranking officials
once lived. The visit also includes a short walk into Fan Tin Village, the
village where Man clan members live. Many of the village houses still retain their
historic architecture, bearing testimony to the historical and social
developments of the area.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall / Lo Wai Walled
Village</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Lung Yeuk Tau in Fanling is home to the Tangs, one of
the five indigenous clans of Hong Kong. Visit the 16<sup>th</sup> century Tang
Chung Ling Ancestral Hall, which honors the Tang lineage, including a Sung
dynasty princess and her husband. The exquisitely decorated three-hall building
is still used for annual rituals and festival celebrations. The structure was
declared a protected monument in 1997. A photo stop will be made at the nearby
Lo Wai Walled Village, the first walled village built by the Tang clan. The
site was also declared a monument in 1997. However, the Walled Village is a
private property and visits can be organized only by invitation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Man Mo Temple / Tai Po Market</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Dedicated to the deities Man (literature) and Mo
(Martial Arts), the Man Mo temple in Tai Po was built in the style of a central
walled compound to emphasize seclusion. Its construction in 1892 marked the
founding of Tai Po New Market. Within the temple walls more than a century ago,
defiant villagers chase to oppose Britain’s 99-year lease of the New
Territories, sparking a five-day “war” that failed to avert the area falling
under British control.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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In the Lam Tseun Valley, the two famous banyan trees
are a favourite with local villagers who come to burn joss sticks and incense
papers hoping their wishes will come true. During Chinese New Year, many Hong
Kong people make a pilgrimage to this spot to make a pilgrimage to this spot to
make their Chinese New Year wishes. Participate in this tradition and your wish
may come true.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Lantau Island
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Whether you are interested in aerial, land or water
activities, Lantau has just the right thing to offer – the idyllic fishing
village, the renowned Big Buddha, the rare Chinese White Dolphins, local
culture and heritage, thrilling water sports. Ngong Ping 360 is where you start
your Sky-Land-Sea Lantau adventure.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QsL5k-PruM/VGtReMRSSqI/AAAAAAAAF9s/b_kuBtCI6FY/s1600/Tian_Tan_Big_Buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QsL5k-PruM/VGtReMRSSqI/AAAAAAAAF9s/b_kuBtCI6FY/s1600/Tian_Tan_Big_Buddha.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Big Buddha at the Lantau Island</b></td></tr>
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<i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ngong Ping Cable Car</i></div>
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Kick start your Sky-Land-Sea Lantau adventure with a
25-minute, 5.7 km cable car ride. Enjoy the stunning landscapes of Lantau
Island, and the warm welcomes from the Big Buddha and Ngong Ping Village.
Riding on Asia’s longest bi-cable ropeway, you will enjoy the blues and greens
of Tung Chung, North Lantau and the South China Sea. If you opt for a Crystal
Cabin, you will experience an uncluttered bird’s eye view through the cabin’s
novel glass bottom. Private cabin services are also available to have a privacy
for couples and families.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2 <i>Ngong Ping Village</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Disembarking from your cable cars, you will arrive at
Ngong Ping Village – a 1.5 hectare culturally themed marketplace. In addition
to offering visitors with unique shopping and dining experience. You can also
enjoy the three main attractions of Ngong Ping Village – the multisensory “Stage
360” and “Motion 360”, as well as the enlightening “Walking with Buddha”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <i>
</i></span><!--[endif]--><i>Completing the Lantau Experience</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Venture out to the other parts of Lantau Island by
taking a bus at Ngong Ping’s Public Transport Interchange located conveniently
right next to Ngong Ping Village. Discover culture, heritage, nature, native
wildlife, fresh seafood, local delicacy and more hidden gems of the island. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Big Bus Tours in Hong
Kong</b></div>
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The Big Bus Tours offers you the best possible sightseeing
experience to visitors and tourists. Their speciality includes a 24 or 48 hour
ticket, hop-on and hop-off facility, 4 routes with more than 20 breakpoints,
fun and entertaining commentary, complimentary rewards booklet and free
earphone and tickets to major attraction. You can explore Hong Kong’s famous
landmarks; from the high rise skyline of Central, buzzing Nathan Road to world
famous Stanley Market. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skoMh8ucEKk/VGtRydPq0RI/AAAAAAAAF90/ngQn4auvQiE/s1600/Hong%2BKong%2BStreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skoMh8ucEKk/VGtRydPq0RI/AAAAAAAAF90/ngQn4auvQiE/s1600/Hong%2BKong%2BStreet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Busy Street at the Hong Kong Downtown</b></td></tr>
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If you are for more than a day in Hong Kong, Big Bus is the
best way to discover all that Hong Kong has to offer at affordable price.</div>
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<b>Hong Kong Wetland
Park<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Opened in 2006, Hong Kong Wetland Park consists of a
60-hectare wetland reserve area which embraces freshwater marsh, streams,
mangroves, farmlands, fishponds, reedbeds, butterfly garden, floating boardwalk
and three bird hides. Visitors will explore various wetland animals and plants,
and understand the importance of balanced ecosystem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By demonstrating the best practices in energy saving and
sustainability, the Visitor Centre has won many international architectural awards. Three themed galleries showcase the biodiversity of the wetland
ecosystem, cultural development and wetland conservation. Visitors will learn
from different perspectives through the exhibits, movies and interactive games
too. The wetland park tickets can also be booked online and is operational
between 10:00 am to 5:00 pm except on Tuesdays.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spring and summer times are the best seasons for watching
butterflies, dragonflies and flowers in Hong Kong Wetland Park. Apart from the
beautiful butterflies, spectacular plants such as Common Melastoma, Fortune’s
Cape Jasmine, Lidded Cleistocalyx, Water-lily and Indian Lotus are also major
attractions. During autumn and winter time, thousands of migratory birds
including endangered species like Black-faced Spoonbills take shelter in the
park. The three bird hides and Viewing Gallery are equipped with telescopes for
visitors to watch birds. The prime time for bird watching is from November to
March.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Park regularly
organizes special campaigns to introduce wildlife, such as the annual “Bird
Watching Festival” every winter. Guided activities of various themes are held
every day in the park. Yuen Long where this Park is located has numerous famous
natural or cultural attractions, such as Tsim Bei Tsui, Kam Tin Tree House,
Ping Shan Heritage Trail etc. You can also take a 10-minute taxi ride to Lau
Fau Shan, a renowned seafood centre, for delicious seafood and souvenirs. Yuen
Long town centre is also a great place for Chinese and International cuisine.<br />
<br />
<b>How are the locals of Hong Kong City?</b><br />
<br />
While in Hong Kong Central, I interacted with several local people in the City. I found that language is a major barrier in communication among-st the local population. Keeping the language issue aside, I also found them to be indifferent to questions asked by tourists. In face, I found many of them simply nodding a 'No' even before I asked them for directions. Is this an attitude problem? I am not really sure but several local people of Hong Kong are not friendly at all. Most of them are too much engrossed within themselves so much so that they often behave indifferently or sometimes with a whim of anger.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSmcyWKggjA/VGtPU8YTyJI/AAAAAAAAF9Y/v2Il1bKQkhs/s1600/I%2BLove%2BYou%2BPeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSmcyWKggjA/VGtPU8YTyJI/AAAAAAAAF9Y/v2Il1bKQkhs/s1600/I%2BLove%2BYou%2BPeak.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I Love You The Peak</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the contrary, when I was asking my way back to the Hong Kong Airport Express Station to a local person, an old Filipino lady interrupted us and offered a help with guiding me with directions. Another non-local couple spent almost 10 minutes speaking to me advising me with places and markets I could visit around the area. They also suggested me of some Do's and Don'ts while visiting the local markets. Undoubtedly, you can expect a good helping hand from the fellow tourists while in Hong Kong rather than the locals. While interacting with fellow friendly tourists, you would never know if they would be instantly ready to capture a lovely picture with you too ;-)</div>
</div>
Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-31374185564133160862014-11-06T01:26:00.000+05:302016-09-12T22:33:06.675+05:30Top 10 Experiences In the United States<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Many of my close friends and acquaintances have been asking me about my experiences in the United States right after my first visit to this nation of Prosperity. More than the travel experience, I would like to emphasize on my people and cultural experiences in this post which I believe has left a significant impact on my mind esp. after my consecutive visits to the country. There are several great things that America should undoubtedly be proud of which includes their infrastructure, broad open freeways, ease of luxury, quality of lifestyle, their minimum wages practice and a broad open mindset to treat every individual with dignity. There are several things that I found intriguing while in the USA some of which I would like to pen down along with some other things for which I can only pity the Americans. Let us start with few good things first.</div>
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<b>Treating Individuals with Dignity and Respect</b></div>
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No wonder the United States has strict laws in this matter and it is just not fair to mistreat your co-worker, individuals providing you household services, family member including a toddler or a random person on the street. Treating each other with respect irrespective of his/her creed, race or origin of birth or position at work is something taught to the American kids right since the tender age at schools. Unlike India, an average worker’s lifestyle is much more uplifted than his Indian counterpart. There is almost no discrimination of work in the United States. At work, you may have a top designation or a better job role but when it comes to treating individuals, it is always with dignity. At a workplace, every individual contribution is valued and respect for individuals is a major factor for a better productivity at a workplace. When it comes to Indians working at an American workplace, well, it really hurts for me to say that Indian Managers are the ones spoiling this culture. There seems to be a long way for them to get out of the Superiority complex given that at a workplace there is just a Senior-Junior relationship that prevails. </div>
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<b>Random Greetings</b></div>
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All these days I have been accepting random greets from strangers while at the workplace or while walking down the streets. This was unusual for an Indian like me where I have been seeing people in my country staring at strangers continually until he remains in the range of the visual contact yet reluctant to offer a smile. That is something me, being an Indian would like to be ashamed of. I am sure that Indians would try to evade this in the pretext of cultural differences but to all such guardians of Indian culture, I would just like to ask if it really costs to greet a random person you come across? Believe me, I had been away, lonely on the other part of the globe yet such gestures helped me pacify my loneliness and made me realize that I am not away from home. If we could just stop comparing ourselves with others and overcome our jealous mindsets, I am sure this is not that difficult. Today, we are so much engrossed with our self-centeredness that we easily label a person greeting you as crazy or an overfriendly weirdo. Something worth giving a thought!</div>
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<b>The Road Belongs to Pedestrians First</b></div>
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I have never felt so privileged to walk on the street before. If you are a pedestrian, you will be treated like a God in the United States. No wonder, that there are strict laws and penalties if you hit a pedestrian or a construction worker which may go up to USD 10,000/- and imprisonment. Right since my childhood days, I have been taught to look over the right and the left before crossing a road. On the contrary, I have seen cars and trucks stopping several yards away to give me a way while crossing the street. Moreover, cars stop compulsorily at the STOP signs even though there are absolutely no pedestrians crossing the roads. I was really amazed to see the Zebra crossing rules really adhered and put to practice. Most of the times, I felt embarrassed to make so many vehicles halt on the roads just for me. Wish I could explain them that I am not used to such a royal treatment on the streets. What a regard for human life! Well, if not something to learn from, this is something of which most of the Middle East and Asian countries should be ashamed of. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsksUyErRNE/VFqAS8QQa0I/AAAAAAAAF8Y/dDxM8S4tmN4/s1600/pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsksUyErRNE/VFqAS8QQa0I/AAAAAAAAF8Y/dDxM8S4tmN4/s1600/pic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Millennium Park @ Chicago Downtown</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Feels like a Valued Citizen</b></div>
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No land on this planet is free of Crime but Certainly, being an American feels like a privilege when it comes to regard for human life. While in India, we keep on hearing victims dying of abuses, yet ignored by the authorities until it grabs a certain threshold of attention or attains a certain level of pressure on the authorities. Just call up the 911 helpline and boom there is a troop of Cops to escort you. Well, I did not have a practical experience of it but I really adore their readiness. Apart from this, the liberty of thoughts, liberty of beliefs and the freedom of life free of discrimination makes it one of the best countries to live in.</div>
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<b>Mom does not know where to ask her Son to Eat</b></div>
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American food is the worst food in the world. Nonetheless, the Americans are fond of food, with numerous food joints, fast food chains and eatery options, what they are left behind with is a body loaded with extraneous fat craving for some more. When it comes to food, it is sad and true that Americans do not know what to eat. Most of them run behind Italian burgers, pastas, macaroni and salads. Pork, becon and Ham are their favorite ingredients in almost every food item which often makes the food rich in fat content. Given that an average American leads such a luxurious way of life, does he really need to follow such a fat rich diet? It is truly said that diseases like the Diabetes, Obesity, High blood pressure and Hypertension are the diseases of the Rich. There are always good nutritious food options available which Americans can learn to cook on their own and eat. Of course, giving up their conventional food habits will not happen in a day, rather it needs to be cultivated. I seriously believe that, the United States needs a food revolution. </div>
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<b>Sex Just Happens in the US</b></div>
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While in most of the Asian countries, pre-marital or extra marital sex is considered a Sin, most of the Americans including the teenagers believe that Sex just happens. Now, what is that supposed to mean is something that I would like to leave up to you. For instance, I had been to the Water Tower Place, a prominent Mall at the Michigan Avenue in the Chicago Downtown with a co-worker friend, and happened to come across this lady managing a shop. This friend of mine was quite a talkative person and was in no time engaged in a conversation with the lady. After a brief spell of a friendly conversation, they ended up with this topic of having fun this weekend. Well, I was quite sure where this conversation would have landed up my friend in a situation which his fiancé would never like. Sex just happens is the conception and it is an integral part of friendship and a relationship is what most Americans believe. Of course, the United States is a free country and so are the sexual preferences and sexual whims. </div>
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<b>Americans can buy Almost Anything </b></div>
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The American Dream is prosperity and with prosperity comes the continual desire to make human life easier and more convenient each day. Keeping this in mind, sellers and manufacturers can encash any of their weird ideas to penetrate into the American market. It could be anything like an automated floor mopping broom, a lipstick that also serves as a lip balm, onion peeler or an egg smasher. They are so used to technology that it is almost impossible to imagine daily life without machines. No matter what is sold, you will find a buyer for virtually anything and everything. </div>
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<b>It is a Culturally Poor Country</b></div>
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Americans are the most confused people when it comes to their culture and matters of heritage. They have some weird festivals like Halloween for which they spend Billions of Dollars on evil decoration materials, vampire or a zombie costume and makeups. They believe that this is a tribute to their ancestors who are turned into ghosts and regard it as a matter of celebration. I have seen people shopping like crazy for Halloween. When it comes to shopping how can I miss describing the festival of Black Friday or the so called Thanksgiving when several almost kill each other to get the best deal at Walmart and Best Buy outlets. I wonder why this is called Thanksgiving and not Sorrygiving in it’s true sense. </div>
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<b>It’s just the United States and Rest of the World</b></div>
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I remember how one of our American Onsite Project Manager landed himself in trouble at the airport after he was made realize by the authorities that he actually needed a Business Visa to travel to India. All these years, he had never been outside the United States and had been travelling all throughout the United States only. In fact, this is a common mentality built due to ignorance amongst a majority of the Americans who truly believe that it is just the USA and rest of the World. Being born in the most powerful country in the world does that give them this privilege? America may be a free country but you would still need a Visa to fly to other countries. Alas! We hardly care is what most of the Americans think about it.</div>
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<b>Nothing is sold less than a Dollar but Pennies are all Over</b></div>
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Pennies or a Cent coins are found abundantly almost all over the United States in ample quantities. They are in every car, office cubicle and most of the times lying orphan on the streets. No matter you like to carry them or not, if you do a cash payment at a store you will get a handful of them in return. Weather you opt to throw them away or collect them is left up to you. Many think that it is almost worthless but they are still abundant in circulation and there is almost no dispute I have found in the United States over change.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3ciytW-H-o/V9bfkYzMaNI/AAAAAAAAGjI/F8YOaiAE1fUGN-HigS5ZVqiY-cDPeKaTQCLcB/s1600/20140726_225841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3ciytW-H-o/V9bfkYzMaNI/AAAAAAAAGjI/F8YOaiAE1fUGN-HigS5ZVqiY-cDPeKaTQCLcB/s640/20140726_225841.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lake Shore at the Chicago</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The United States has been a Prosperous Nation for several years and I believe that, strict implementation of policies, adherence to the laws, dedication towards the national affairs, harmonious attitude towards the state property, ethics and respect towards it’s citizens are few of the driving factors towards the success of the Country. If I were an American citizen, I would have happily paid my 30 percent taxes as I would be sure that this money will actually return back to me in the form of better freeways, free quality education for my kids and improved infrastructure and transportation facilities. It is only after a democratic government could build such a trust, the citizens would feel motivated to work towards a Nation of Prosperity.</div>
</div>
Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-15397399243187411022014-10-18T18:21:00.000+05:302014-10-18T18:38:20.223+05:30Anatomy Of The Morning Phenomena<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN">Travelling between the time zones is by far the best experience an
international traveler can get. It is quite easy for a curious traveler like me
to get boggled with the several amazing natural phenomena one could happen to
experience during your journey between two far away places on the planet earth.
We often have been listening since our childhood days about the shape and size
of earth, the sun being a stationary in space and the moon being a satellite of
the earth which keeps on orbiting around the earth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jJzLNEsHZiY/VEJg7iy1JoI/AAAAAAAAF74/L__zg5EsSas/s1600/20141011_201404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jJzLNEsHZiY/VEJg7iy1JoI/AAAAAAAAF74/L__zg5EsSas/s1600/20141011_201404.jpg" height="390" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>That Amazing Moment When Night Transforms into a Day</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXDhjghQ1xk/VEJhyrCyzcI/AAAAAAAAF8I/aPrkOsEI3OI/s1600/20141011_200047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXDhjghQ1xk/VEJhyrCyzcI/AAAAAAAAF8I/aPrkOsEI3OI/s1600/20141011_200047.jpg" height="640" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Day Far far Away</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">While many of the travelers are struggling to grab a power nap to battle
their jetlags, how many of us really bother to open the airplane window and
bother to observe the beautiful experiences out there in the sky wide open?
Probably, quite a few of us. I often get amazed by the fact as to how different
places on earth observe day and night at the same time.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">There are often times when I have been stupidly calling my friends and
family members to verify if there is really a daylight out there in India while
I am located far off from home. How could some place of earth observe such a
hot, sunny afternoon when at the same time some other place on the same planet
experiences a pitch dark black night which seems like it never observed a day
before. I know we take facts for granted and I know that the earth is like a
big ball and the sun is like a big electric bulb in dark space. But, observing
this happening in it’s live environment is an amazing experience, all thanks to
the technology of the recent times.</span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN">Amazing experience observing the night transforming
into a day</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">From the surface of the earth, it is quite an experience observing the dark
night sky gradually turning lighter and lighter until it turns into a sky with
broad daylight. And we have been observing this phenomenon since we were a
child - the earth rotates around it’s own axis causing day and night. Nights
turning into days and days turning into nights is quite a daily experience but
have you wondered how it would feel like observing both the day and the night
at the same time. Yes, it is this exact moment when your airplane reached to a
point travelling through a dark night and you are able to see the first ray of
light at the horizons while you realize you are still in the dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An Airplane Piercing Into A Day</b></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN">Gradually, as you move forward, this ray of light becomes brighter and
brighter transforming almost everything around you into a beautiful aura of
colors. That is what we call a beautiful morning. Experiencing this from a
30,000 feet above the surface is quite an experience.</span></div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-67686365979864866922014-09-30T18:16:00.002+05:302016-09-12T12:43:34.083+05:3010 Best Things To Do @ Hyderabad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Call it the Land of Biryani, the land of the Nawabs or in recent days the High Tech City, Hyderabad always has the same aroma, the same uniqueness to offer no matter at what point in time in history you have been to the place. Undoubtedly, this city has not lost it’s charisma all these decades or probably centuries. Although, the City has witnessed a great deal of modernization in terms of the Information Technology Industry, but the very essence of the Old City of Hyderabad seems to remain the same. And, the very feel of this City has not deviated with respect to all the best things it has been promising for several years to offer to the tourists and visitors. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Charminar</b></td></tr>
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I had been visiting Hyderabad for business reasons and recently spent a whole week trying out several usual things tourists do at Hyderabad City and also some offbeat things that really makes your tour in the City remarkable. After all those days spent at Hyderabad, here are the top 10 best things to do while spending your time in the City. </div>
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<b>10. Feel the Old City at the Charminar</b></div>
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You haven’t really visited Hyderabad if you fail to visit the Old City and the Charminar. Decades after decades, generations after generations, this place has seen absolutely no change. And, that is the specialty of the Charminar area. The Archaeological Survey of India has been maintaining this monument and charges a nominal fee of INR 5 for Indians. Buying this ticket will provide you access to enter the monument building and climb upstairs for a spectacular view of the busy Hyderabad street. Beware of the pick pockets since this area is rather known for this. The Charminar is always a busy place and there are numerous stalls, hawkers and street food sellers surrounding the main street. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An Amazing View of the Market from Charminar</b></td></tr>
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This is a good place to shop bangles and pearl ornaments. However, you really need to know an authentic shop selling pearls and other valuables. There was a coin seller selling old coins right in front of the Charminar which was a center of my interest. There were also other small shops selling clothes, sunglasses, fancy ornaments and China products. It is quite obvious to find an over-friendly localite who would pretend to be a guide and would take you for a ride. You may hire him at your own risk. For all other things you want to know about the Charminar, I recommend the Internet! :-)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Complete View of the Charminar</b></td></tr>
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<b>9. Experience the Serenity, Peace and a Gorgeous City View from the Birla Temple</b></div>
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Built with fresh white marble all around, the Birla Mandir is one of the most serene places to be. It’s proximity from the famous Hussain Sagar lake and the soothing view of the Hyderabad City makes it my one of the favorite places. Cameras and cell phones are not allowed inside the temple and this was a matter of my disgust. Nevertheless, the majestic view is better experienced than captured in a picture. One can easily spend an hour or two at the temple and if you happen to fall in love like me with the ambiance you may spend an entire day all by yourself. At the temple foothills, there are some interesting shops exhibiting several religious books and statues. I remember buying a cutest Ganesha Idol from this shop which I have treasured at home. A few minutes from the temple is Birla Planetarium which is worth a visit. </div>
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<b>8. Try the Awesome Biryani and Haleem at Café Bahar</b></div>
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You won’t believe me but during our recent one week visit to Hyderabad, we have been eating Biryani almost every day at different restaurants and local joints. This was one of the best attempts one could have made to review the various Biryanis available in the City. We tried and reviewed almost every famous Biryani centers including but not limited to the Paradise Restaurant near Prasad’s Multiplex, Shadab’s, Bawarchi’s and Café Bahar. It was just that we happened to come across this awesomest Biryani at Café Bahar at Begumpeth on our last day of the tour. I am not too supportive to several people I come across who adore and overhype the Paradise chain of restaurants for Biryanis, rather I would like to stick and go with my personal experience and by far the Café Bahar Biryani was the best ever I had in Hyderabad. I welcome other thoughts but until I could prove myself wrong with a better Biryani outlet, I would keep on recommending Café Bahar. Needless to mention that this is not a paid post and I do not get any perks for writing such a positive review about this business. The next time you visit Hyderabad, just try them.</div>
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Haleem is quite famous dish in Hyderabad and is made out of meat or chicken or beef by crushing down the flesh into granular pieces. It is a very healthy and heavy snack or rather a complete meal. It is abundantly available all across Hyderabad City esp. during the month of Ramadan. I have seen Haleem stalls on the streets which I would not recommend if you are new to the City. It is better to have it at a decent restaurant where I am sure it is more hygienic and enjoyable. </div>
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<b>7. Visit the Chowmahalla Palace</b></div>
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This is a huge ancient neatly maintained palace of the Nizams. We came across several rooms in the palace which are now transformed into exhibition rooms displaying several old artifacts of the Nizams which includes the clothes, weapons, furniture and even the vintage cars. I remember one room was dedicated to the Sarees of varied kinds which is a must see for Indian women who are fond of this traditional Indian attire. The Palace has a beautiful pond right at the entrance which clearly exhibited the prosperity and royal lives of the Kings of Nizams. The palace also displayed pictures of several generation of Nizams who have been associated with the Palace and the city of Hyderabad. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Interior View of the Chowmahalla Palace</b></td></tr>
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With such a large historical heritage present at just one place, the Chowmahalla Palace is just too good to miss.</div>
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<b>6. Enjoy an Auto-Rickshaw Ride</b></div>
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My opinion about Auto-Rickshaw drivers changes spontaneously when I think of the Auto-Rickshaw drivers of Hyderabad. How can I forget my unique experience with one of the Auto-Rickshaw drivers in Gacchibowli area in Hyderabad who simply offered me a lift. That was one of the cutest experience one could have with an Auto-Rickshaw driver ever in India. The rides here in Hyderabad are like a roll coaster ride. For a vehicle meant to carry a maximum of three passengers, there is always a space for three more. I have also traveled with eight other fellow passengers just to save money during the start of my career. I remember how we used to bargain with the drivers over a five rupee deal. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An Auto-rickshaw Ride</b></td></tr>
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Auto-Rickshaw journey is just a unique experience in Hyderabad and I really get nostalgic travelling in one. They are abundantly available and take you almost anywhere in the City. </div>
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<b>5. Experience the History at Golconda Fort and Kutub Shahi Tombs</b></div>
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The Golconda Fort and the Kutub Shashi Tombs are situated hardly a couple of kilometers away from each other. I have visited both these places twice – the first time in the year 2005 and the latest being in the year 2013. Like I always say, almost everything in Hyderabad remains the way it is irrespective of when you visit. The Kutub Shahi Tombs are a series of Mughal Tombs which imparts a strong message to humankind. It is said that these tombs were built by several Mughal emperors when they existed. The primary purpose of these tombs being built by them was to see their own graves during their own presence. In literal terms, these emperors built their own graves. Death is a reality of life just like life itself is. They strongly believed that man must remember his own death every single day of his life. Built several centuries back in time, these tombs stand straight today signifying the importance of remembering death just as we live and breathe. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the Several Kutub Shahi Tombs</b></td></tr>
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Forts always excite me and Golconda has been one of my favorite forts so far. After several years of glory, the Golconda stands straight amid-st several ruined walls. It is a sweaty experience to climb this fort and the best time to visit is in the early evenings. When it turns dark, there is a special light show arranged at the fort which narrates the glorious past of the Golconda for tourists. I happened to witness this light show in 2005 but did not wait until dark during the recent visit. I am not really sure if the light show still happens. Nonetheless, spending a peaceful time over the Golconda watching the beautiful view at the horizon is by far a rejuvenating experience.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A View from the Golconda Fort</b></td></tr>
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<b>4. Visit the Durgam Cheravu Lake near Madhapur</b></div>
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This is my favorite place in Hyderabad. Cheravu, as I learnt from my Andhra friend means a lake. This place is at it’s best ambience at evenings. With beautiful flower gardens and plantations all around this is a popular place among families and couples planning to start families. There is a small lake where one can also enjoy a boat ride which is one of the best experience in the evenings.</div>
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<b>3. Get Filmy at the Ramoji Film City</b></div>
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If you are a movie freak, I would definitely recommend you to visit Ramoji Film City once and experience the reality of the sets you often see in your favorite movies. They have several packages to suit different budgets. If you plan to stay overnight, accommodation can also be arranged in advance. I believe, this is how movie crew does when they plan a big banner project. But, for the tourists visiting Ramoji, they have enough things that will keep them entertained all around the day. Do not forget to bring your camera as you just cannot stop getting filmy at Ramoji. I really loved the Ramoji Tower which hosted a 4D movie experience of an earthquake. Airports, London street, Statue of Liberty, Hospitals, Railway stations or Meena Bazaar, you will find a replica of nearly everything at the Film City. There were several other rides that cannot be described in words, you would rather love to experience them all by yourself. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Ramoji Film City Entrance</b></td></tr>
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I was quite happy to see several sets and gardens in the same condition as they were seen in several Bollywood movies. A short one hour tour hosted by the Ramoji Film City was remarkable and I am sure all the visitors would cherish this tour and remember the facts publicly shared by the tour guide about the most famous movies shot at Ramoji which they had been watching for years.</div>
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<b>2. Board a Ferry to the Buddha Statue</b></div>
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Consecrated by the Dalai Lama the Buddha Statue standing right in the center of the Hussain Sagar Lake remains a new Identity of Hyderabad. There is a ferry service from the NTR Gardens to the statue. However, spending much time near the statue is prohibited since the same ferry will take you back to the starting point. Evenings are the best times to spend around the Hussain Sagar Lake. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Buddha Statue at the Hussain Sagar</b></td></tr>
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There are several places around this lake which will keep you busy and entertained. A drive around the necklace road is very nice experience. There are several things that will keep you busy at NTR Gardens including the light show which starts as soon as it gets dark.</div>
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<b>1. A Romantic Walk at the Hussain Sagar Lake at Night</b></div>
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The best time to visit the Hussain Sagar lake is in the late evenings and nothing could beat a romantic walk around it. Do I really need to explain about it any further!</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-13239564783265338602014-09-28T11:27:00.002+05:302016-09-12T12:33:52.564+05:30Enchanting Coorg and Mysore... @ North Karnataka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If a thought to sneak away from the city stress crosses your weary mind while in Bangalore, then you just cannot miss planning a quick weekend trip to places around Mysore and within the Coorg District of Karnataka. Yes, it is a long road trip and in order to cover the complete places, one needs to reserve at least two days. You can plan an overnight stay in Mysore so as to cover the city and the beautiful places around it which are definitely must visit places on your way to Coorg (Kodagu). The Bangalore-Mysore Highway is a speedy highway which at times may become prone to traffic due to weekend rush on Fridays and Mondays. But if you start early on a Saturday morning, you may cheat the city traffics. This road trip starts from Bangalore visiting Mysore via. a small town called Srirangapatna and then catching up with the Mysore-Coorg Highway. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mesmerizing Coorg</b></td></tr>
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Once you are in Coorg, you may also plan to visit the Madikeri which is the headquarters of the Coorg District and is a famous hill station too.</div>
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<b>Namdroling Monastery in the Bylakuppe town in Mysore</b></div>
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Bylakuppe is a small town in Mysore District around 96 kms. from Srirangapatna in Mandya District. It was rather unusual for me to experience a very different culture of this town which was unlike several other towns of South India. This town is inhabited by many Tibetans and it is believed that the population of Tibetans including the Monks and nuns are more than 70,000. For some reason, I get a very serene feeling when I look at the Tibetan Monks. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Tibetan Monastry on our way to Mysore</b></td></tr>
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We happened to visit the Namdroling Monastery which was an experience of a different kind. Inside the monastery, there are huge golden status of several Buddhas including the founder of Buddhism religion Buddha Shakyamuni, Buddha Padmasambhava and Buddha Amitayus. You can rest here staring at these statues which will bring divine peace to your mind. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><b>Buddha Amitayus</b></span></td></tr>
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Today, the Namdroling Monastery is a home for more than 6000 Tibetan Monks and is renowned as a center for the pure upholding of the teachings of the Buddha.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Tibetan kid in Bylakuppe</b></td></tr>
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<b>Krishnarajasagar Dam and Brindavan Gardens</b></div>
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The Dam is built across the Cauveri River and just beside the dam is the famous Brindavan Garden. It is too rare to miss these gardens on your way towards Mysore. With lush green tree and flower plantations all around, it is surely understood why this has been a hub for shooting several famous love songs of old Bollywood movies. There is a small fish aquarium built across the garden which has quite a different variety of fish on display. This attraction is has a nominal fee and school students visiting the Brindavan really enjoy them. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><b>The Krishnarajasagar Dam</b></span></td></tr>
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The Krishnarajasagar Dam is a beautiful and well constructed dam with a planned pathway for tourists visiting it. The mighty flow of the river can clearly be experienced from here and one can imagine how a river flows across several villages of South India quencing the thirst of severals on it's way.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Fountains at the Brindavan Garden</b></td></tr>
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<b>The Mysore Palace (Ambavilas Palace)</b></div>
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The famous Mysore Palace remains the greatest attraction in the city of Mysore. One can enjoy a short guided tour through the palace and enjoy a historic view of the paintings and architechture of the structure. The most amazing part of the architechture is that the entire palace is covered with electric bulbs which are all lit up during special occations for e.g. on the auspicious occation of the Dashera which commomorates the victory of the good over evil. The palace was the official residence and center of the Wodeyars who rules the princely state of Mysore from 1399 to 1950.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mysore Palace</b></td></tr>
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The palace houses several rooms of unique historic importances which are clearly written and displayed during the tour. Just outside the palace are several lion statues which will make you ponder and tempt you to pose some good pictures with them. Certainly, the Mysore Palace is worth a visit.</div>
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<b>Talakaveri and Brahmagiri Hills</b></div>
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Talakaveri is a small temple village in the Coorg District of Karnataka. This place has a good number of tourists visiting every day. This place is the origin of the River Cauvery which further flows through four different states of South India. We can drive all the way to the foothills of the temple. As a common scene across several major temples of India, there are small shops outside the temple where you can buy yourself quick snacks. On entering the temple you will come across a water kund (pond) where devotees wash their feet and hands after travelling through the narrow roads towards the village. There are two temples beside the holy water kund the first one of Lord Ganesha and the other of Lord Shiva. </div>
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The most beautiful part of the visit to Talakaveri is the climb towards the Brahmagiri Hills. Right beside the temple, there are footsteps which will take you to the highest peak of the Brahmagiri Hills which is nearly 1350 feet above the sea level. The scenic view one can observe from this peak is uncomparable to any other place on earth. It is believed that the seven great sages known as the Sapta Maharishis performed a great yagya right here. You can see the distant horizons from here and the clouds kissing the winds as it rushes through your hair. The view of several windmills on these mountains seem too beautiful to miss. I am sure that the pictures you capture from this place will be your best pictures in Coorg.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-49458714101067706152014-09-23T15:49:00.002+05:302016-09-12T16:00:07.777+05:30Walking On The Movie Streets @ Millennium Park, Chicago Downtown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Believe me, I just happened to visit the Chicago Downtown last month with almost no idea what the place had in store for me. Thanks to my American friend who initiated this weekend outing which was a much needed break from the mundane days spent at the hotel at Schaumburg, Illinois. This is just like what we have seen in the movies, I exclaimed as our car entered the busy street near the Chicago River Walk. This was the street which was featured in several of the Hollywood Blockbusters including The Dark Knight, Transformers and Home Alone. And yes, this was where Amir Khan drove his BMW bike in the Bollywood Blockbuster DHOOM 3. I had been a close observer of these movies for quite some time now but was never bothered about the location where these movies were shot. Having it all of a sudden before my eyes and getting told by someone about it was an unparalleled feeling. Of course, Chicago Downtown was better than how it looked in the Movies unlike several other locations featured in the movies which are nothing but sets mocking the original places. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>A Street at the Chicago Downtown as seen from the Millennium Park</b></td></tr>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Gate">Cloud Gate</a> a.k.a. the bean was one of the most beautiful pieces of Architecture at the Millennium Park. One cannot simply miss it’s polished surface reflecting the Chicago skyline and I am sure it has been featured in several movies. It was good to know that this famous structure was designed and developed by an India-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor. This was another reason for me to believe that most great things in the United States are masterminded by geniuses having Indian roots. It was a weekend and the Millennium Park was a crowded place with people from all age groups. There were several cultural activities happening around at the Park. We enjoyed a short musical performance by some of the Japanese school students that concluded our stint at the Park.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Cloud Gate @ Millennium Park</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">It was a superb experience to walk along the Michigan Lake which was just a road-crossing distance from the Millennium Park. Watching a couple of geese floating together on the blue surface of the lake was a soothing experience. It was just then we heard some noises of electric guitars getting tuned across the lake – a rock band getting themselves prepared for an evening concert. Wish we could attend it but there were better things to do than indulging in a concert which were quite common at my college. Our parking meter was on and frankly, driving along the streets of the Michigan Avenue was much more cheaper than spending more than double the amount on parking. The Lake Shore Drive was one coolest experience. Many a times, we almost go ourselves lost on the crossroads and had to rely on the GPS to get out of the loop. After a long drive on the gorgeous streets, we decided to try Chicago’s famous Deep Dish Pizza at the Gino’s East. It was my first time trying the Deep Dish version of the Pizza. We ordered the large one and waited for more than a couple of hours for us to be served. Hailing from a country where Pizzas are delivered in less than 30 minutes, it was rather unusual for me to wait for this long for a Pizza. But the outcome was worth the wait. Snap, snap, snap – that is what I did before getting a bite of this beautiful dish. We enjoyed it to the fullest and almost overate. It was just then when we realized why celebrities visited Gino’s East this often. No wonder why the restaurant owner showcased a huge list of movie stars and politicians including the President himself on the walls of the restaurant.</span><br />
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The movie world is a fictional world but places like the Chicago Downtown was a real experience for me and being there was no less than being in a Dreamworld.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-64996703590626232512014-09-22T17:55:00.001+05:302016-09-12T16:08:37.688+05:30The Himachal Experience At Manali And Shimla<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Soon after our mind boggling tour of Kashmir, in June 2014 we decided to have a grand family tour to the state of Himalayan wonderland – Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is one of the northernmost state in India and one of the major tourist destination cities are Shimla and Manali. Although it is generally freezing cold during the winter months, it was rather pleasant to be here in June when the rest of the States in the Country are witnessing early monsoon showers. </div>
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<b>The Journey towards Shimla</b></div>
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On Day 1 of our tour, we reached the New Delhi airport in the afternoon. The temperature in Delhi was already competing with that of the major cities in the middle east countries and I am quite sure that it was somewhere close to 50 degree Celsius. After a late lunch at the hotel, we planned to have a local sightseeing of the national capital. Delhi has it’s own charisma and visiting the major tourist attractions here is an affair of half a day. We had a quick visits to the famous Kutub Minar, the Bahai Lotus Temple, India Gate and the Indian Parliament. The very next morning, our journey to Shimla began. We chose to board a comfortable Volvo bus since the journey was a long one that lasted for nearly 10 hours. On our way to Shimla, we had a stopover at the historic Pinjore Gardens. It was quite neatly maintained and felt like an Oasis amidst the soaring heat. This was the last place where we saw plain land and ever since we started from Pinjore, it was all a mountainous road trip. The weather started to change gradually as we continued our uphill journey towards the State Capital, the city of Shimla. Summer had just ended but it was good to see greenery spread across the mountains that passed by. After a few hours of uphill climb, it started getting dark and even darker as we approached Shimla at around 8 PM in the evening. After such a long and tiring drive, there was not enough motivation left to have an evening walk on the streets of this beautiful destination. We left it all for the next day. After a good dinner at the hotel, we simply chose to squeeze ourselves inside the comfy quilts and put ourselves to charge up for the next day just as we plugged up our cell phones to the switches. </div>
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<b>Exploring Shimla</b></div>
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I had heard someone saying that the night sleep gets over early amongst the mountains and that was an apt experience for us. Despite a tiring journey last day, we woke up early and the present day was solely dedicated to admire the beauty of Shimla. It was a good idea to start with the tiring activities first and that brought us up to Kufri. June is that part of the year when you really would not find any snow in Shimla. We took up this rather optimistically since, absence of snow gave us a better view of the city. On our way towards Kufri, it was rather unusual for a metropolitan resident like me to see numerous houses built on top of sky rising mountains which leaped straight towards the deep valleys. Seeing these housing in so large numbers, felt like a huge honey bee comb trying to grab their hard earned honey inside. Certainly, with such natural beauty scattered all around, it must have been a privilege for the localities here to stay at a hill station. But, that is just a perspective of a stupid tourist like me, I thought. Living at such a place for ever has it’s own challenges. The mountainous roads gave us chills inside to see deep valleys just a few inches away from us. It was indeed a breathtaking experience. We came across several schools on our way – schools right inside a valley and children effortlessly climbing to their classrooms. This was something unusual for us to watch. Everything here is stuck to the mountains – schools, colleges, government buildings, temples, hotels, houses and private offices. This is the specialty of a hill station like Shimla.</div>
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Kufri was a 2 hour drive from Shimla and soon as we got down, we were encircled by a group of horse owners offering us their horses for a ride. At Kufri, the localities do not allow outside vehicles beyond a certain point where outsiders will be mandated to park their vehicles. In order to reach to the top, you need to hire a horse ride or if you are adventurous enough, you could opt to have a small trek. We hired few horses for INR 480/- per head and later realized that this was a better decision given the condition of the roads towards the Kufri temple. The horse ride was very enjoyable and was scary at times esp. when the horse climbed a sloppy mountain surface. The overall impression after reaching the Kufri point was not that great and soon we realized that the experience would have been much better in winters. It was rather dusty up there and snow was what we missed a lot at that very time. But, it was good to have a memorable horse ride here. Certainly, it is hard for us to imagine Kufri without the horses.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>A Local Himachal Girl on her way to School</b></td></tr>
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A couple of kilometers away from Kufri, we visited the Himalayan Zoo which claimed of having several wild animals and also advertising themselves to be worth a visit. However, to our dismay we did not encounter enough beasts that could entertain our 3 year old. After the Zoo, we had a quick lunch at a local restaurant at Kufri and headed back towards Shimla city. Our next destination was the Shimla Mall. Hold on; like you, the word ‘Mall’ did confuse me as well. If you were expecting something like a modern building just as we have in our metropolitan cities, then this place is not at all one like that. It is just a big market place and is the prime area to shop at Shimla. As I mentioned earlier, everything in Shimla resides on mountains, this market is a no exception to it and we had to wait for more than half an hour for a paid elevator which took us there in two different phases. I had never ever paid money to use an elevator nor waited for so long to board one; this was my first time doing so. Optionally, you can climb stairs to reach atop at the Mall. As soon as you reach up, you will come across the famous Shimla Church where you can spend some time if you wish. However, we got too much engrossed at the various shops at the Mall that we did not realize when it was dark. After enjoying some shopping, a little bit of street food and tea, we drove back to our hotels. It was a remarkable experience and it was hard to believe that it was our second night at Shimla. After such a weary day filled with some new memories, it was hard to bid an adieu to Shimla the very next morning.</div>
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<b>Nature getting better as we head up towards Manali </b></div>
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It was nearly a 60% hilly drive all the way towards Manali. If you have a motion sickness or a nausea, better to have a light breakfast as the roads from Shimla towards Manali will only get more curvy at the beginning of your Journey. I had this problem as a kid but hilly drives just stir away my stomach even today. A recent solution I have found out to this problem is to stare at the upcoming curve on the road and that is how you can get rid of the motion sickness. I am sure if it works for me, may be it may work for anyone else too. I was happy to see some straight roads approaching soon after a few hours that gave me a sigh of relief. We halted for lunch and most of us decided to have a bit heavy one after we learnt that the worst hilly roads were just over. That may sound funny but this was a practical problem with most tourists travelling on these roads. A dangerously magnificent view of the River Bias caught our attention soon as we were a few miles away from Kullu, a small town near Manali. The river was breathtakingly beautiful and dangerous at the same time since it had won a credibility of engulfing several teenagers just a week before our arrival. We could see the search operations by the Indian Army men still on at the Dam on the river. The River water although looked muddy at the start, but soon began changing it’s color as we headed upwards towards Manali. White water river rafting is one of the famous water sport being played by tourists visiting Manali and soon we started to realize why the water was called white. The weather began changing it’s course gradually and it soon started becoming colder and even more colder. All throughout our journey, the Beas waters continued giving us a good company. We enjoyed the human settlements across the River and amid the beautiful mountains. It was a long day long journey and the Sun was almost on it’s way to go down beyond these mountains. The Golden rays emitted by him gently kissed the white waters just like a lover kissing his beautiful girl and promising her to meet up soon the very next day. A flock of Himalayan sheep blocked our way at one of the crossroads which gave my camera a room to work and capture the scene permanently on the memory card. I looked at the Shepherd guiding them towards home with envy. Merely having a carefree look at them was so soothing, so relaxing. It was dark by the time we reached our hotel Manali. I had a casual look outside the hotel balcony. It was 10 PM and the night was captured by the silence of the mountains. I heard a distant noise which soon turned out to be a music; one that was the best I had ever heard in my life. It was a distant sound of the dangerously beautiful river Beas cutting the silence of the night. I held the beautiful hand of my wife who too joined in listening to the music produced by the River. Just then my eyes stuck upon something that caught my attending in the night sky. For a moment, it was hard to imagine what it was but the very next moment I took a guess. It must be the snow resting over the mountain peak. Priya, my wife did not buy that but was almost went by surprise the very next morning when She had a majestic view of the snowcapped mountain from the window; the first thing to see when she opened her eyes that day. This was the beginning of our most memorable moments at Manali.</div>
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<b>Adventures activities at Manali</b></div>
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Manali is a place known for trekkers, for people with a zest for adventures, climbing snowcapped mountains, indulging in water sports and for most of other things that would be on your 100 things to do before you die list. The next morning, we got ourselves busy with adventures such as, Zipline climbing, parasailing, river crossing and shooting. We chose a spot beside the River where there was a camp arranged by a local organizer that carried out these activities for tourists. River rafting was stopped due to the unfortunate incident the took place last week and authorities were on a lookout for anyone indulging in such dangerous activities. The River itself is so rough and to add to the difficulty is it’s uneven rocky bed which will not provide even a single chance to someone who unfortunately gets into it’s powerful current. Believe me, my intentions are not to scare my readers but rather to make them alert on the unpardonable nature of the River Beas. </div>
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After lunch we headed towards the Hadimba temple, a temple which was of a different kind. It looked like an ancient temple of the asur (Devil Goddess) Hadimba. It was rather unusual to see people venerating a Devil in so large numbers and to see people in large numbers forming queues outside the temple. Apparently, most of the local vehicles at Manali carried the name of the Devil Goddess. Localities had a deep belief in her. The temple surroundings were one with the best ambience a temple could have. With huge pine trees surrounding the temple, it is quite easy to imagine why not only Gods, but also Devils chose such places on Earth to relax, to meditate. Certainly, humans are no exception to it and so weren’t we. We spend few minutes admiring the temple architecture and rested at a rock in front of the temple for a few soothing moments. That was a much needed break after an adventurous day. But this was just a beginning of a great adventurous time we were going to have further in Manali. On our way back to our hotel, we also visited the Vashista Kund, a place where we found hot water springs amidst the cold weather of Manali.</div>
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<b>Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley</b></div>
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We started at 3:30 AM at dawn towards Rohtang. The Rohtang Pass is known for the most scenic views of the Himalayas in the entire state. It is filled with snow almost at any part of the year. This was our impression about Rohtang before we actually visited the place. It is really required to start the journey towards Rohtang from Manali this early as traffic is a huge problem to and fro. If you start this early, it is only then your timely reaching there can be assured in approximately 3 hours. However, there is absolutely no guarantee or any assurance on the time required to come back from Rohtang. This very fact alone added to the thrill of visiting Rohtang. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Selfie shot soon after we landed at Rohtang Valley</b></td></tr>
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We reached the Rohtang Valley in almost 3 hours. The beautiful early morning drive on the roads, seemed to have nearly no trespassers for ages. Of course, this turned out to be a joke when after the Sun got up, we saw these roads getting crowded with traffic. We rented out the snow jackets, caps and glasses on our way towards Rohtang and just when we got down from our vehicle, we realized that such thick jackets turned out to be incapable of handling the cold winds which continually attacked our faces. Our attempts to keep ourselves warm in this kind of weather turned futile every other moment that passed by. I wanna get inside our car, our 3 year old murmured. Well, it took us a few more minutes to adjust in this climate. Our bodies were shivering as in hell. For those very moments, we were only thinking of keeping ourselves in a better condition. It was only then when we realized how extremely difficult nature could be in a cold atmosphere. Soon we decided to walk towards the Sun in a hope to gather some warmth. Exposing our hands in the Sun gave us the confidence to walk around. After our bodies got settled at Rohtang, we were carried away by the beauty that almost killed us by it’s mere looks. India has such a variety of geographies. It has beaches, rainforests, deserts, snowcapped mountains – you just name it and it is there, I thought. It was so good to see people enjoying skiing and driving snow trucks. More interestingly, it was a surprise to see a small local restaurant operational up here which offered a variety of breakfasts. I never expected such a fully operational business at a difficult place like Rohtang. Attractions all around the world have been deeply commercialized lately and Rohtang was no exception to this. After spending a couple of hours in the valley, we recollected our chauffer’s words who insistently asked us to come back to the car early lest we may spend the rest of the day in the traffic. It was not easy to find our car and it took nearly 30 minutes searching for it. To add to the difficulty, cell phone signals do not work at Rohtang. Soon after we found our vehicle, we started towards the Solang Valley. We spent more than 3 hours later in the traffic and Ironically, this was the best time I have ever spent in a traffic jam. At every point on the road downhill where we got stuck up, it was another chance for a majestic view of the Himalayan snowcapped mountain ranges. Every time we stopped, our cameras did their jobs well. This was the best experience of all we had during our Himachal tour.</div>
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At Solang Valley, we got engaged in quick eateries and enjoyed the distant view of the snowcapped mountains. We were back out of the snow and each one of us very well realized the fact that the distant beautiful views were hard to sustain being so close to them. Certainly, beauty comes with thorns and our today’s experience well explained it. After all these days we had spent at Manali, there came another day to start a long journey back home. In order to have a rather comfortable journey, we decided to arrive at New Delhi after a night’s stay at Chandigarh. This provided us a breather and courage to cover a long Journey way back home. Himachal has been a memorable place and the memories will undoubtedly remain green in our minds for the rest of our lives.</div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com94tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-11702678036622243762014-09-21T11:13:00.002+05:302016-09-12T22:20:00.087+05:305 Awesomest Things To Do In Mauritius<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I always wanted to share my travel experiences on my recent couple of visits to Mauritius, a marvelous luxury holiday beach destination in Africa. Mauritius is an island just to the east of Madagascar. The capital city of Mauritius is Port Louis which is a commercial hub of the country. During my visit to the country, I stayed in Port Louis and was able to explore the characteristics of the city and the country culture in a broader sense.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">What Else Can I Do Lying Down On This Blissful Glass... Click!!!!</b></td></tr>
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A majority of the local population of Mauritius are North Indians who are descendants of the Bihari population that was smuggled as slaves by the Britishers during their rule over India. The local language of the country is Creole but French and Hindi are also widely spoken all across the country. The local language Creole is also spoken in other African countries viz. Rodrigues and Seychelles. It was an amazing experience for me to see Hindi speaking population speaking good French in large numbers.</div>
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Although Mauritius is a country filled with friendly local people, it is rather unsafe to roam at evenings esp. at the crowded city like Port Louis which is also a hub for several drug addicts. This post of mine is not really to scare you but rather to tell you about the 5 awesomest things to do here - something I experienced the most.</div>
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<b>1. Visit the Ganga Talaab</b>: Unlike a majority of the religious places in Indian cities and villages, where godliness is searched within poorly maintained and filthy temples, the Ganga Talaab in Mauritius was a rejuvenating experience. The cold and blissful climate at this lake was one of the best I have experienced at any of the Hindu religious places so far. The cleanliness maintained at the lake was quite intriguing. Right at the entrance of the temple area, I came across a huge Lord Shiva statue that stood straight up and was a center of attraction for the Devotees visiting the place. Apparently, there were many tourists visiting the place rather than the Devotees. During the festival of Mahashivratri, several Hindu Devotees turn up to Ganga Talaab to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>The Serene Ganga Talaab</b><br />
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<b>2. Basking in the Sun at the Beach</b>: Mauritius is an island country and it's coral beaches are one of the best in the World. I spent an entire weekend having a drive along the Mauritian coast. Two days are more than enough to cover the entire circumference of the country and cover all of the beaches. Almost all of the beaches were as clean as the beautiful blue skies seen above. Most of the beaches I came across seemed as if no mankind had ever adulterated the sanctity of them. Blue skies, Blue waters and Lush Green mangroves were the only two colors I saw during this weekend. I had a good time collecting some of the coral deposits, shells and pebbles to carry way back home on these beaches. I also bought a big conch for 250 Mauritian Rupees as a memory of these blissful beaches.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mauritian Blue</b></td></tr>
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<b>3. Try Street Food at Port Louis</b>: When I talk about street food at Mauritius, I mean try out the awesome Dholl Puri which is the most popular snack across the entire country. Mauritius is deeply inspired from the Indian culture. Most of the dishes here are also having Indian flavors in it and Dholl Puri is one amongst them. Essentially, the Puri is made up of maida (fine wheat floor) and Dholl is a mixture of beans, few other spices and fish or chicken curries that boil up into an awesome taste. A western equivalent to this local dish is a frankie but Dholl Puri has it's own identity and taste. There are other street foods available that are mainly bakery products which can be tried out. However, hygiene is a concern if you try out something at local food joints so better be precautions of what you choose to eat. Port Louis is quite busy city and there are also quite a few good restaurants which offer good Indian, Chinese and Mauritian food options. It was in Mauritius where I tried out a squid snack dish for the very first time in my Life. An average meal for two will cost around 500 Mauritian Rupees.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fish for Sale at a Mall in Mauritius</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Typical Street at Port Louis, Mauritius</b></td></tr>
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<b>4. Spend a Romantic Evening at the Le Caudan Waterfront</b>: The Waterfront Mall is a must visit when you are at Port Louis. This mall is surrounded by the sea from one side which gives an illusion that the entire place is floating on the water. This is a perfect place to spend romantic evenings. The only not so good thing about Mauritian shops I found is that everything closes down at 5 PM. But there are pubs, bars and casinos that will keep you entertained if you are really a night creature. The Waterfront offers a delightful option of Movies, Gaming zones, Casions, Restaurants and Coffee shops where you can laze around and spend hours chit chatting or simply enjoying the view of the blue waters.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Real Fun lies in the Journey and not the Destination!</b></td></tr>
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<b>5. Dive into the Sea at Blue Bay</b>: With the breathtakingly beautiful blue sky getting reflecting on to the sea water as you swim into it with roaring air planes flying closely right up on your head, the Blue Bay was quite a good experience. Unlike several other quite beaches I came across at Mauritius, this beach was one of the most crowded places at Mauritius and believed to be a safe place to swim and conclude a beautiful trip to Mauritius.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blue Is The Color of the Heavens</b></td></tr>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-79686878354454509592014-04-27T11:09:00.001+05:302017-02-26T12:27:04.026+05:30Kashmir - The Perfect Getaway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">K</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">ashmir was our most awaited holiday destination for a long time and it was only in November of 2013 when it turned into a reality. A Paradise as it is generally referred to; we were more than excited to experience the bliss and some great surprises it claimed to offer us. Winter had just begun and the temperatures in Mumbai had already started to drop. We knew it would be challenging as far as the weather conditions were concerned and this made us power pack our bags with lots and lots of body warmers, jackets and sweaters. Here we were all set to freak out our minds with the enchanting beauty of the only Paradise on the planet.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">We started at 11 AM in the morning to board a direct flight to Srinagar from Mumbai. The first two hours of the flight were pretty usual until we flew over the majestic snow capped mountains of the Himalayan ranges. It was the first time we experienced such a breath taking view from a commercial airplane. It was partly cloudy outside the flight on that sunny afternoon which initially made us hard to believe what we saw over the mountain peaks was actually snow. But soon enough all our doubts were clarified and our minds accepted this surprise as a reality. It was pretty cool and comfortable 21 degree Celsius inside the aircraft. However, we had no clues that our comfort was short-lived and that it would last only until the cabin crew had bid us a Good Bye.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial View of Kashmir</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">A chill of cold wave entered our ears as we landed on the Srinagar airport. Soon as we claimed our baggage we had them wide open to pull out our jackets, scarves and body warmers. It was 8 degree Celsius at the Srinagar airport. After a warm welcome from our trip organizers, we headed towards the beautiful Dal Lake which was a short 45 minutes ride from the airport. It was rather unusual for a Metropolitan person like me to see so many Indian Army soldiers appointed at every hundered meters distance. It was also unusual to see most of the roads sparingly crowded and most shops outside the airport closed down. This gave us and our fellow tourists an uncomfortable feeling about the city. However, soon after a conversation with our local chauffer and our tour guide, we learnt that the shops remain closed on Sundays. That was weird, we thought. Srinagar is a city of tourism. Tourists are the sole means of bread and butter for a majority of the localities in the city. They are pretty professional when it comes to handling tourists and of course, they hold some expectations in return. It’s better to plan your tour in advance in order to avoid last minute bargains.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">We reached the Ghat No. 12 at the famous Dal Lake where our own Shikara (boat) was waiting for us. The Shikara ride has a special significance due to it’s glamorization in Indian movies and their popular songs. Shikara is a narrow boat with a comfortable sitting arrangement, a small one will carry up to 5 persons including the driver. 1 hour of a Shikara ride charged us INR 400. The most interesting part of the Shikara ride was that the person riding us was a beautiful Kashmiri singer. “We are naturally like this. We do not need cosmetics unlike your movie stars”, I recollect his words and his pink-cheeked face that has remained green in my memory. We spent rest of the evening singing songs with him over the beautiful Lake enjoying it’s floral and scenic beauty. Having a cup of tea at a floating shop on the Lake in such a cold weather was an experience of it’s kind. We also visited a few garment shops at the Meena Bazaar - floating market over the lake but as the evening approached, the cold was almost unbearable. Soon it was dark and we checked in at our House Boat where our cook served us a sumptuous dinner. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dal Lake</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The next day we headed towards Gulmarg which is around 52 kms from Srinagar. It was almost a straight drive and took us around a couple of hours to reach. However, the later part of the drive was a twisted uphill drive towards Gulmarg. The famous Gondola ride through the snow capped mountains is the only attraction for most of the tourists visiting Gulmarg. It is one of the largest Gondolas in Asia. On our way, we rented snow jackets and gum boots that later proved our saviors. After lunch at our hotel, we started towards the Gondola ride. The ride is covered in two phases. It is not advisable for people with medical problems or heart ailments to visit the Phase 2 of the ride. During heavy snow fall or poor climatic conditions, Phase 2 remains closed for tourists. Tickets for the Gondola ride can be booked in advanced over the Internet or can be booked on the spot early in the morning. The Gondola car gave us a beautiful view of the pine trees wrapped with the snow. The 10 minutes ride to Phase 1 was remarkable and the experience was permanently captured in our memories. We reached Phase 1 and walked over the slippery snow bed. To our dismay, Phase 2 was closed down due to a heavy snowfall on the mountain. We had the liberty to hire the pony and enjoy skiing and other sports. Enjoying a Snicker Bar to kill the hunger after falling down a couple of times on the snow was unforgettable. We came down to our hotels before it was dark and spent the rest of the evening battling the ruthless cold.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aru Valley, Pehalgam</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">We started for Pahalgam the very next morning which was a long 6 hours drive via. Srinagar. Kashmir is known as the land of Chinaars due to the abundant plantation of the Chinaar trees all around the State. Driving through the roads, making a way ahead through these trees is a beautiful experience. Some Chinaar trees are so shady on the roads that one does not feel like moving ahead from it’s very own shady grace. On the way we had a stopover at the Saffron (Kesar) Gardens and had an opportunity to buy the real Saffron from the very source – the farms. As we headed towards Pahalgam, the wide open highway roads started becoming steeper until it made us realize why it must have got it’s name. The wide open green grazing lands between the valleys and the snow capped mountains across the roads were enchanting us. The Periodic view of the serene, peaceful grazing herds of wool coated sheep added to the beauty of the place. The innocent looks of the Kashmiri villagers looking at the tourists peeping out of the windows felt like they were welcoming us to their Paradise. We reached our hotel at Pahalgam late in the afternoon. After lunch, we spent the evening at the local Pahalgam Market.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The very next day was dedicated to explore the beauty of Pahalgam. The famous Betaab Valley was the first to visit. The valley has got it’s name from the famous Hindi Movie Betaab which was shot in this Valley in the early 1980s. Even after several decades, the place has maintained it’s sanctity and there is almost no change in it’s beauty or ambience. Personally, I find myself out of words to describe the charisma of the place and this valley is one of the best places I have ever experienced in my life till date. After spending an hour at the place, it was hard to bid an adieu. We headed towards Chandanwadi which is where the famous Amarnath Temple Journey starts. Amarnath Journey has a religious significance amongst the Hindus and Lord Shiva devotees. This journey of approximately 30 kms. through the snow starts from Chandanwadi and we had the privilege of stepping on the steps that headed towards the Temple. After spending some quiet moments, we headed towards the Aru Valley which is a few minutes drive through the breathtaking views of the mountains and lush green Valleys systematically designed and nurtured by Mother Nature. Aru Valley seemed like just another Nature’s marvel. This is why it is also known as the mini Switzerland, a destination that it’s best. Way back to our hotel in Pahalgam, we stopped over a few scenic locations to get our cameras in action just to realize that these spots were familiar to us and were already featured in many Indian movies and famous songs. The time we had spent at the hotel that evening was exhilarating and filled with numerous memories of the day – a holiday spent at it’s best.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mWEn08x6ZE/U1yXl0tGUzI/AAAAAAAAFvw/qFFNAfhq-mk/s1600/1526620_10151769147101571_1767402625_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mWEn08x6ZE/U1yXl0tGUzI/AAAAAAAAFvw/qFFNAfhq-mk/s1600/1526620_10151769147101571_1767402625_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betaab Valley, Pehalgam</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">We came back to Srinagar the next day which was around 95 kms. drive. On the way towards Srinagar, we halted at Bijbehara, the village of apple gardens surrounded by beautiful Chinaar trees. Plucking an apple and enjoying it’s sweetness as it quickly melted in my mouth was something I had never done before. Those were the freshest apples we ever ate. A few minutes before Srinagar, we also visited the Avantipura Temple just on the road towards the city. The ancient sculpture and craftsmanship of this Old Hindu Temple is indeed notable. At Srinagar we visited the Shankaracharya Temple which is located at the highest point in the city. Climbing the steps towards the Temple was a good exercise and also worth the view. It gave a spectacular glimpse of the Srinagar city beside the beautiful Dal Lake. The numerous stationery house boats on the Lake looked like a beautiful garland around the City. After a late lunch at our hotel, we visited the renowned Mughal Gardens and Chasmeshahi Garden. This is the second best way to spend an evening in Srinagar. The best still remains the Shikara ride on the Dal Lake.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Sonmarg is a few hours drive from Srinagar. Reaching there is another treat to the eyes and experiencing the snowy atmosphere in there is another. Sonmarg is probably the only tourist place in Kashmir where one can find snow at almost any part of the year. After we reached Sonmarg, we had the liberty to choose a pony ride or a local car. However, me and a fellow tourist decided to walk into the wilderness of the snow. This is something very adventurous and one of the most memorable thing I have done in the Paradise. When we returned back from the mountains, we had returned with two big balls of snow which were generously gifted to our spouses as a token of love. That was memorable too. After spending such a blissful time in the Paradise, we unanimously felt sad to leave the place. The white snow had by now became permanently green in our memories. We headed back to the Srinagar airport with a promise to visit Kashmir again.</span></div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13479325.post-73986590914755962292014-03-25T17:27:00.001+05:302015-02-26T12:03:10.730+05:30Life Is All About... Knowing Your Purpose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am sharing my most recent experiences with Falun Dafa in this post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduction to Dafa </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Fa is enormous and the most profound thing I have come
across in my life. I wholeheartedly thank our revered Master for this
pre-destined opportunity provided to me. The biggest hurdle I experience in my
cultivation practice is that I am surrounded by everyday people all around me. Way
back in the year 2011 when I was introduced by a friend to Falun Dafa, I
firstly ignored him. But he continued to introduce me to this Great Law wheel
and the principles of the Universe. This happened several times and the level
of resistance I had in listening to him came down steadily every time we spoke.
I knew that whatever I got to know from this friend was truth and something
that demanded a high level of character standard. There was some shortcoming
within me that was stopping me to open up. Today, I am enlightened to the fact
that this friend was a messenger of the Master. This is since our meeting was arranged
by the Master which was indeed pre-destined. What really worked well was this
friend’s dedication, sincerity in clarifying the truth and above all the genuineness
in his own cultivation practice. Today, I have realized that without putting
emphasis on our own cultivation practice, it is very hard to make everyday
people believe or get them introduced to Dafa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Early Days</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is not at all easy being a Dafa practitioner. Being in
this world of everyday people, it feels like a real test. When I am practicing
the meditation exercises or studying the Master’s lectures, I find myself
closer to the truth. I feel lighter and even more when I get involved into any
of the three things. Many a times, I get carried away by the worldly things
around me. This is a very difficult situation. When this happens, I feel
ashamed. I know that I am answerable to no one but myself. When I was new to
the practice, there were too many interferences encountered from outside. For
example, whenever I thought of performing the exercises at home, one of my
family members would bring up an issue which would make me disturbed. My spouse
would start an argument which would make reading the book very difficult. This
is just to name a few. In almost all of such situations, the first few minutes
were full of hurdles. But when I was successful in overcoming these hurdles,
things were very easy. If I could make it through the first ten minutes of
reading Zhuan Falun, I could reach into a different realm of thoughts. When I
continued reading further, I used to get the answers to all the problems. It
was then when I realized that all that happened was so paltry. I was able to
identify my own mistakes instantly. It helped me improve every single time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was introduced to the exercises first by few of the
practitioners at a Practice site near my home in Pune. It took me some time to understand
the implied meaning of the hand movements of the five exercises. It is a common
tendency of new practitioners to seek benefits in terms of mental peace, health
etc. and I was a no exception to it. But yes, I was very keen to understand the
principles behind the practice. That is when I started reading the book Zhuan
Falun. The first read took around three months and that was pretty casual. A
practitioner suggested me to go for a second read and interestingly this time
the book did not seen the same. I was not able to recollect if I had read the
same lines before. This pulled in my interest and I was able to understand the lines
even better. Every time I read Master’s lectures it took me in a different
realm of thought. It has an immense power to soothe any situation. The guiding
principle in all the teachings given by the Master is Truth, Compassion and
Benevolence. No other book has had such an effect on me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Soon after I started practicing the Fa regularly and
genuinely, there were significant changes in my home atmosphere. There were no
arguments at home anymore. I had improved and was continually progressing. My
spouse with whom I am sharing a karmic relationship had by now became my
strongest supporter. She almost always started telling me to exercise and read
the book when I had a free time. This was a drastically changed situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Agb5xj0SjEc/UzFt2G_J3yI/AAAAAAAAFuI/8xHADq3i9g4/s1600/20131115_115740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Agb5xj0SjEc/UzFt2G_J3yI/AAAAAAAAFuI/8xHADq3i9g4/s1600/20131115_115740.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cultivation is a
continuous process</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cultivation was never a piece of
cake several centuries back. Falun Dafa allows me to practice amongst the
everyday people. This not only allows me to possess worldly things such as,
wealth, material property, relationships etc. but isat the same time allows me to
improve in my cultivation which is by far the sole purpose of my life. I am
sure that no other practice today, can guide practitioners in such a way. The
Fa taught by the Master helps me ascend in my cultivation level. This is the
reason why I always get answers to my problems whenever I randomly open any
page and start reading Zhuan Falun. The book is truly a torch bearer in my
life. The answers I get from Dafa are supernatural and demand a very high level
of personal standard. Even an everyday person will accept that being truthful,
kind and tolerant is a good thing. Since an everyday person is filled with worldly
attachments, desires and ambitions he will ignore these fundamental
characteristics of the Universe. I understand that this is the source of all his
problems. Certainly, it is too difficult to change ones thinking overnight.
Dafa helps me do that steadily and continuously. Even when I am not practising,
I am practising. While at workplace or on the street, when I come across a
tricky or difficult situation, it is the Fa that I am recollect. The principles
I have been learning are from the heart and they are closely linked to my
conscience. This always happens spontaneously while I just need to treat myself
as a true practitioner. I am very sure that I can confront any tribulation or
situation by following some simple standards Master has set for the
practitioners. The principles of Falun Dafa are very transparent and open to
everyday people with an open mind and a willing heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I recollect Master’s words:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“As a matter of
fact, no matter how many more scriptures we publish, they are</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">merely
complementary materials to <i>Zhuan Falun</i>. Only <i>Zhuan Falun </i>can
truly</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">guide a person’s
cultivation. It contains inner meanings that go from the level of ordinary people
to incomparable heights. As long as you continue to cultivate,</span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Zhuan Falun </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">will always
guide your elevation in cultivation.”—Li Hongzhi</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No matter how many times I read the book I feel
like there is always something more that I have missed in my last read. Putting
the Dafa principles at work every single moment amongst everyday people is what
makes life challenging and helps me learn from my past mistakes. Being on such
a path of continuous improvement makes me feel like I am born newly every day I
wake up from sleep. </span></span></div>
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Neeraj Shindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319205659475486728noreply@blogger.com1