An Expedition

How many times have you been to Calcutta. It reminded me of the city - the movie - City of Joy. As i watched the movie i could see the lanes of calcutta running before my eyes The Lindsay Street, the Victoria Memorial, the Rabindra Badi, the Church near the Birla Planitorium.....the list is long. Calcutta begins itself with the steps of Horse Tapping, then it moves to the local EMU - the lifeline of Calcutta people and then the last - the Metro. I still remember the Metro Station Senior Engineer telling me how it was in the beginning when Metro came. Slongans of - ETA CHOLBE NA - IT WON'T WORK - was all around; and see these days - same people, same place - people can't live without the Metro. So do cities change? Calcutta is a slow city, I say this as when i was back in the city after a couple of years, i could remember even the small galis - the narrow lanes, with the names chucked on them. The same banner painted in red saying - Welcome to Calcutta, the same wooden buses -...

It seemed a long while as I was outside the Ghoom Station. It looked like a Toy Station, the first time I saw it from outside. It was morning, 5 O clock – there was mist and fog. Stark fluorescent lamps lights with yellow lights covered the entire station. A strange feeling filled my mind. The Driver told us, “ It opens at 10: 00 a.m”. The next time I was standing there, number of voices were filling the area. The silence had broken and i could clearly hear the dripping voice of the rain drops. It was a cloudy day but we didn't expected the rains – the only good thing about it was that it was drizzly. Carrying my trekkers bag I strolled towards the Railway Line – it was small; unusually tiny – meter gauze – nothing more than a Toy Trains Path – but then I suddenly realized that it was a Toy Train I was here for. Small, mystic and charming. I should be beautiful - indeed. Breaking the silence of the Station, from quite a distance I could see the Engine – it was cute –...

A visit to Australia wouldn't be complete without seeing the National Capiatl. Designed by American Architect Walter Birley Griffin, Canberra, the National Capital Of Australia is a city which enjoys the benefits of a metropolitan Center with all the natural beaty in the world. Approximately 30 minutes by air form Sydney, or three hours by road, its easy to reach. There are numerous places to see in Canberra - High Court of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, National Archives of Australia, National Library of Australia, Old Parliament House, National Portrait Gallery and the Parliament House. Experience the country's Film and Sound Heritage at Screen Sound Australia. be at the Australian Institute of Sport, around 10 minutes from the city and enjoy the scenario there. But thats not all, the Australians are pretty enthusiastic about Nightlife. Be there at ICBM in Civic or at Insomnia - the most popular bar cum nightclubs in Canberra. And then theres Jac...

It lies in the heart of India – Madhya Pradesh, this World Heritage Site with its giant gate facing all the centuries coming by. It is one of the oldest Stupas in India. It can be easily reached from Raisen . There is also a meandering stone stairway for a quite hilltop walk. The dome of the Stupa symbolises the presence of Bhuddism in India from a long period of time. It is the largest site of Bhuddist remains in India. Originally, the stupas were built over the relics of Bhuddha. Later on King Ashoka ( 273 – 236 BC) built 84,000 stupas of which Sanhi Stupas are the best known. These stupas are built with brick and then covered with plaster. In Sanchi King Ashoka built a stupa and erected a pillar. Aftter Mayuras, Sanchi continued to flourish when Ashokas brick stupa received a casing of stone and a blaustrade. In addition four gateways or toranas were added during the reign of the Satavahanas in the 1st century BC. Afte...

Considered to be the World Heritage site it is one of the most visited places from worldover. Also known as Konditya, its the main attractions of Orissa. It houses a colossal chariot of the Sun God, Surya, with twelve pairs of exquisitively carved wheels, drawn by seven galloping horses. Konark is a small village in Puri district of Orissa which can be easily reached by Bhuvneshwar (65kms) and Puri (35 kms). Buit in 1278 CE by the legendary King Narsimha is also known as the Black Pagoda. The legend has it that Samba, the son of the Lord Krishna and his wife Jambavati entered the bathing chamber of Lord Krishnas wifes without permission and was thus cursed by the Lord Krishna with leprosy. It was decreed that he would be relieved from the curse by worshiping the Lord Sun in the north east of Puri. After twelve years of severe penance he was relieved. In gratitude he built a temple in honor of the Lord Surya. Built in the form of Ratha – the Chariot – is the one which opened the reins ...

Australia Tour Sydney Its a happening metropolis and so are the walks here. Some of the best places to see are the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the National Zoo . Then there is the Hamilton Beach and RESORT to chill out at. From Sydney land on to Melbourne , another happening stop. Its a place where you shop, shop and shop. Eat, drink and be merry is the mantra here. Around 30,000 bars, lounges and resturants are established here which go on lightening late in the wee hours. Coper Pedy is another happening place though not so exciting as compared to Sydney.Well, the temperatures here are so high that everything is underground- hotels, resturants, houses, churches, hospitals – just anything you can think of. Be here only if you can tolerate the high temperatures. Anyways its a good place to be in with its culture, warm people and beautiful underground structures. Uluru is the next destination if you want to see the dot paintings (of Aboriginals) being made. Other w...

Wayanad - Heaven in South India Its another place and we followed it to the Vythiri Resort. Spread over 50 acres, the resort is perched on two slopes of a mountain, with the natural beauty of a stream struggling by. A magnificent bridge connects the two sides of the resort and its a lovely walk on this bride(especially if its raining). Its an interesting place as electricity is sparingly used here and solar waters are usd to heat the water. Television is a taboo, even the cutlery is made up of coconut shells. Welcome to a land of NO MANS LAND. Wayanad - a place out of the world where life still imbibes on the ages old method of living. Take time out from your cottage to track down the mud tracks, a path filled with red colored flowers from the Erythrina Indica tree and the ludh green forest greenery. Reach out for the coffee plantations, with trees laden with red berries of all hues. And then land into the Nilgiri Biosphe...