BUILDING BRIDGES...

I have always loved bridges: I even have a wish-list of bridges to visit! What attracts me?... Maybe building bridges seems to have a metaphorical significance, denoting hope and overcoming obstacles. My pick of the best bridges that I have visited so far and the bridges that I still have to cross off my wish list... 1. Ponte Vecchio, Florence. This is the oldest of Florence’s six bridges and was built in 1345 from a unique design where there...

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FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME: UNDER-RATED DESTINATION: SRI LANKA

FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME: UNDER-RATED DESTINATION: SRI LANKA: "I am often asked: what is the most under-rated destination that you have been to. My reply would be Sri Lanka with its stellar combination o.....

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UNDER-RATED DESTINATION: SRI LANKA

I am often asked: what is the most under-rated destination that you have been to. My reply would be Sri Lanka with its stellar combination of World Heritage sites, wildlife, history, rich culture, terrific hotels, friendly people and a friendlier currency. Over the last two years I have made several trips to this neighbouring country and would love to go back to explore the rest. My top SL experiences have been: 1. Pachyderm time at the Pinnewala...

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OF MEMORIES AND KEEPSAKES....

When you travel, you always are tempted to buy some souvenirs, as gifts or as reminders of your wonderful time. Memories after all stay with you forever, and sometimes the tinkle of a wind-chime or a glance at a small keepsake unlocks a flood of delicious memories. Of course the ideal way to travel would be to take nothing but photographs and leave only footprintsJ but, we are human and want some tangible reminders of wondrous moments… Here’s my...

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GO BACK IN TIME WITH A SKANSEN!

 When we were in Poland some months back, we had the opportunity to visit a wonderful Skansen just outside Krakow. ‘Skansen’ is a Scandinavian word for an open air ethnographic museum, something like the superb Dakshinachitra in Chennai. (If you haven’t seen this one, do put it on your list of things to see in Chennai!) Simply speaking, a Skansen is an open air museum which offers a look into traditional folk culture and architecture and...

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GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LIFE

Life is a multitude of experiences and most of us may only experience a very small percentage of the whole gamut that is possible. How does one swing out and do many things, challenge one self and work with all parts of the brain. How does one make the journey interesting, challenging and fun-filled?  GAMES PEOPLE PLAY!       Engage the brain with Sudoku, cross words, puzzles, quiz and brain teasers. Play games like scrabble or Cluedo. Learn some classic card-games. Doing this on a continuous basis even...

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IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, AGAIN!

I was in Bangkok last week, one of my most favourite cities in the world. The traffic was horrendous, seemed even worse than before but it was great to see this city filled with culture, colour and gentle people again. The gutted malls like the Central World are back on their feet and there’s peace, at least for now. We stayed at the Amari Watergate which is slap bang in the heart of the city and has the fascinating Platinum Fashion mall...

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A WHOLE NEW WORLD

An outing to the local library used to be the high point of my childhood years. I have always loved to read. Anything was fair game. I have read old issues of the National Geographic, Woman and Home, Little lulu and Mandrake comics, even the backs of cereal boxes!  My childhood was spent curled up with Enid Blytons and in my imagination I have lived in ‘The Secret Island’ which remains my favourite book of all times. Surviving on an island, building a home, making meals out of almost nothing…this was the stuff that dreams were made of! Equally...

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