OldyGoldy

Taj Garden Resort, Kumarakam, Kerala, the southern state of India was the place where my son and wife went for a short Koenymoon after their marriage.
This resort was occupied by Prime Minister of India Mr Bajpai in 2002!
The photos of this place sent by him was superb. Right at the bank of a beatiful lake with green vegetation and inside lagoons, with a bird sanctuary nearby, this is the best place for unwinding yourself not only for honeymoon. It also has the traditional Ayurveda center for treatment of for body massage and rejuvination.
The stay is attractive with additional traditional lighting and dance perfromance in the evenings and sunset cruise and above all excellent food! Dont miss it
See http://www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/Taj%20Garden%20Retreat%2CKUMARAKOM/ and book for your next vacation!!

Pictures of “Taj Garden Resort- Kumarakam, Kerala” :

Set amidst the mountains of the Western Ghats at the border of Tamil Nadu, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 777 sq km out of which 360 sq km forms the core area. The park is one of the most renowned and famous sanctuaries in entire south India and can also be termed as the pride of Kerala.

Pictures of “A day and night at Periyar Wildlife Forest” :

This is Vazhoor also called 17th Mile (from Kottayam). This is a permanent hill station camp for me even though it is at footthills of great climb to the mountains. And the lady of the house, my wife's mother, aged 83, stays in the house alone but in full command. She is protected by 3 dogs at 3 corners of the house compound and a boy who stays in the outer rooms! She manages the rubber estate, with the parafernalia of tappers, maids and local leaders, some constructions as required and all houshold works still as a home maker at this age!
The moment I reach here for a 2days stay, twice a year, is get out into the vast acres of rubber plantation, intermingled with old trees of countryside and natural streams and wild flowers and all sorts of fruit trees with chirping of birds with their nests and huge stretches of pineapple plants and plantain, mangoes, cashews, and creeperlike pepper, vanila, jackfruit trees, cashew, coconuts etc This time I went with my grandchildren with their father into the estate walking up and down on the hilly area! Have a look of the great place!

Pictures of “Vazhoor, My wife's ancestral home” :

Zurich was an attractive city in Switzerland which I visited many times- This was in 1985. The Museum had many interesting exhibits.

Pictures of “Zuriche Museum” :

My visit to Madrid was around 1995. I found Madrid much different from other parts- You can see more families with children in public places. People are more casual and the glorious history of spain evident in pieces at many places. The best example was Sol, meaning center of earth. Yes Spain really was the major power before 1688 in Europe and in the world! I enjoyed my stay here even though short. I felt more free compared to more formal places like Germany

Pictures of “Madrid, Sol” :

Beautiful manmade flower garden with a special area of tropical flowers in a humidified and warmer artificial tropical forest! Great! It is in Constance, Germany just across Switzerland from where we crossed by ferry- also an enjoyable ride! Fortunately I had a German Visa! As my many travels, this was also long back- in 1997 I think!

Pictures of “Mainau park, Germany” :

The best Cruize Dinner I ever had was 23 years back during a Sydney Harbour Cruize with an illustrious company of some of the great scientists when we had a conferance there!. My 1st and last visit so far (I intent to go again soon!). The old pictures speaks for itself and it may be better today. (The corniche was under construction at that time!)

Pictures of “Sydney Harbour Cruize” :

Dubai is a city of skyscrapers. The tallest one , burg Dubai is under construction. It will be about 800 M tall when completed!
Have some views of the city and the sky scrapers.
And make a trip. Dubai is a 'must see city'!

Pictures of “A city of Skyscrapers, Dubai” :

Videos of “A city of Skyscrapers, Dubai” :

A good place to spend a weekend among wild animals in the forests

Pictures of “Nagarhole Wildlife park, Karnataka” :

Videos of “Nagarhole Wildlife park, Karnataka” :

Schedule:

Aug 01 2008

Sep 30 2008

Where:

Kerala- Boat Races Alappuzha Kerala, India Itinerary

Snake Boat (Chundan Vallam) races in Kerala is a fantastic spectacle, with about 140 rowers and singers in each Vallam, racing in competition with rhythemic songs and spectators on both sides of the river or lakes shouting and singing and dancing . Snake boats (Chundan Vallam) are ancient war and festival boats of Kerala (The southern Indian State on West Cost). Constructed according to specifications taken from the Sthapathya Veda, an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats, these boats are about 100 to 138 ft in length, with the rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft. and a long tapering front portion. It resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide. It is completely made of exotic woods without a single nail!
The boat race season starts in August, during the famous Onam Festival season in Kerala starting with harvest season after the mansoon rains.
The Kerala boat races have become an international tourist attraction with even a women's team from Europe participating in the race every year (in a smaller boat variety)
I am putting some videos and photos courtsey http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/places/tourism/boat-race/ since I dont have my own videos now (I am from my home state for a long time now!)
For more tourist attractions of Kerala (India) please visit http://www.keralatourism.org/

Pictures of “Snake Boat Race, Kerala” :

Videos of “Snake Boat Race, Kerala” :

Can you believe- You can do skating in the desert of UAE- that too round the year which is not possibe even in Europe!
See the photos and Video, it you dont believe it!

Pictures of “Dubai, Ice Skating In Desert” :

I got hooked to this site, nomao.com ! So I made this trip to Dubai last week mainly to add Dubai to my spot list of 'Great Cities'. Dubai is a city where SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT !! Already the tallest building in the world (0.8km high) is nearing completion (See the attached photos) and another one above 1 km high is under planning. We stayed in a Hotel (Carlton Towers- I recommend it to anyone!) right at the bank of Dubai creek at Diera, the center of the city! Even though it was only for 3 days, it was a fantastic experience and we will be back there soon! (It was a miss that I didn't visit Dubai till now in spite of working in Middle east (Saudi) for 10 years!)

Pictures of “Dubai Creek, Dubai” :

Videos of “Dubai Creek, Dubai” :

Guestline hotel on Hosur Road, and me- we have a relation of more than 16 yrs! It was our club, hotel, restaurent and winding place when I worked nearby! Even now we spend a day every year whenever whenever we go there on vacation (at least twice a yr!) This is away from the city crowd, a 3 or 4 star convenience, great garden and pool, good company with holiday crowds and great food. Dont miss it if you happen to visit Bangalore, the Silicone valley of the east and an airconditioned city!

Pictures of “Guestline Hotel, Bangalore” :

Videos of “Guestline Hotel, Bangalore” :

An old German City from 9th-century it is typcal German city to visit. Hamburg has some unique sites, including landmark St. Michael's Church and museums, The FIshmarketm Townhall. Reeperbahn is Hamburg's notorious nightlife center. My trip from South of Germany by road along the the Bank of Rhine river to Hamburg with my German Friend and return by train in 1985, my first trip was very impressive!

Pictures of “Hamburg- Rathaus” :

SanFrancisco is one of the most popular and most cosmopolitan City of USA. You will not get bored for a minute here!

Pictures of “Sanfransico- Bay Area tour.” :