National Geograhic has some amazing pictures taken this week of the northern lights… take a look!
Photo Friday: Solar flares spark beautiful green Auroras
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Travel Deal of the Week: The perfect honeymoon at a Private Island in the Caribbean
The perfect luxury vacation without the hefty price tag! Enjoy 4 nights in a secluded private island in Belize at Hatchet Caye.
LivingSocial is offering a deal for 4 night all inclusive stay for 2 at Hatchet Caye, starting at $1597. This includes all meals (but not alcohol), a free transfer from Belize International airport AND a day of snorkeling / sailing (your choice).
Why Hatchet Caye: Did you not see the picture?? If you still need some convincing, let me try and help. It has only 8 cabanas so a max. of 16 people at any given point of time, so be prepared to get treated like royalty! AT night, they have special lights that attract eagle rays, so take a stroll at midnight to see these giant, beautiful creatures gliding under the moon light. And,I have to add… no block out dates around thanksgiving / christmas / new year year, so if you hurry, you could have the perfect tan that’s the envy of everyone around you.
If you want a longer vacation, combine this with a 4 day stay in the jungle for the perfect blend of adventure & relaxation!
Travel Deal of the Week: Island hopping in Greece
If you’re looking for a getaway in the next couple of months and want some sun & sea but want to do something other than just lie on a beach, try spending a week on a yacht on the Aegean sea! Yes… it is as exotic as it sounds, and no – going on a yacht doesn’t have to blow the bank. GAdventures is offering a 40% discount on their Greek Islands Sailing adventure in September & October. At $840 per person for 8 days, it is a steal! If you have a few more days to spare, spend it in Athens and you’re sure to come back with a truckload of memories that will stay with you forever.
Why Greece: Why not!! The Greek Islands have everything I can think of in a vacation – Cities that mix the old with the modern, archaeological sights, pristine beaches and good food for vegetarians. And it’s a great time to take advantage of that exchange rate and indulge!
Why now: September & October are the shoulder months in Greece, the perfect time of year to beat the crowds & the heat… and yet, the weather is still warm & the water still inviting.
So I say this to all you couch travelers out there, get off your chair, dip into your savings and go!
Here are the details – http://www.gadventures.com/trips/greek-islands-sailing-adventure-mykonos-to-athens/GVMA/2012/?ref=productpage
Last minute weekend getaway – Cherry blossom festival!
If you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway – Think Washington D.C. and the cherry blossom festival. There is a really small window of time where these gorgeous trees are in peak bloom, and it’s right now! It’s a dream come true for any photographer – perfect weather, beautiful scenery and tons of character.
The annual cherry blossom festival has great events all weekend and my favorites include the Blossom Kite Festival, performances at the Sylvan theater and the blossom secrets walking tour. If you’re up for it, you could try the 5k Run/walk or if you’d rather soak in Japanese culture, enjoy demonstrations of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Top 5 Places to see in the Sacred Valley (besides Machu Picchu!)
Everyone visits Peru to view the sunrise at Machu Picchu. Well, I admit… it is a sight to see and definitely a must do, being one of the 7 wonders of the world and all! 🙂 But, there are many amazing places to visits and things to do in Sacred Valley besides Machu Picchu. A couple of them took my breath away and even made me reconsider Machu Picchu as the #1 site in the area! So when you’re planning your trip, don’t miss these spectacular sights in the sacred valley. Here’s the countdown…
5. Salineras & Agricultural Terraces of Moray
Salineras (aka Salinas) – These Incan salt mines are an incredible site to see. These 3000+ salt pans are carved into the side of a mountain, all irrigated by a single salt water spring on top. Since it was dry season, we got to see it at it’s peak, in shades of white & brown.
Moray – Moray comes from “Aymoray” meaning maize harvest, and these ruins have more to do with potatoes than aliens 🙂 These experimental agricultural terraces are located close to Salinas, and can be combined in a day trip from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. Shaped like an amphitheatre, these cluster of 3 terraces were used by the Incas to study agricultural patterns in different seasons. Each level has it’s own micro-climate and irrigation channels to control water flow to different crops and were used to determine which crops were best suited for the ever changing climate in the area.
4. Sacsayhuaman
These ruins are located just north of Cusco, and are perfect for a day trip. You can walk there, take buses / scheduled tours from Cusco, or hire a taxi and do it on your own. Some consider it to be a temple for the sun god, while others claim it’s a fortress. Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, and Sacsayhuaman is at the head of the Puma. The zigzag shape of the ruins resemble the jaw & teeth of the puma. The three-tiered ruins have a lot of stories behind it, so you may want to hire a local guide to walk you through it all. Since it’s at a higher altitude than the city, you get spectacular views of Cusco city from here, and a good sunset spot.
2. Pisac market & ruins
Pisac is famous for it’s sunday market, with local artisans showcasing their talent, and there’s also a section for local produce that is great to walk around. The Pisaq ruins are located about 20 mins from the market, and if you’re willing to do the trail, offers some spectacular views of mountains and showcases the sheer magnificence of Incan architecture – you’ll walk through tunnels in the mountains, steep steps carved in the stone and ledges that are barely a few inches deep while looking down at magnificent agricultural terraces.
Note: When you go to Pisac, be prepared to spend the entire day and go loaded with water and food, the trek is tiring in the heat!
3. City tour of Cusco
Cusco is a great town to spend a couple of days in, soak in and experience the culture. With the narrow cobble stoned streets and friendly locals, it is the perfect place to just take your camera and go exploring – day or night. Don’t miss the temple of the sun, Plaza de Armas, and various churches & museums in this tiny town. And there are many restaurants that will give you a true flavour for the local cuisine. If you buy the tourist ticket (Boleto turistico), you can also see a dance performance showcasing the different tribal cultures. It is also the perfect place to do all your shopping (tough some people claim Pisac market is great, the prices here are much more reasonable.)
1. Ollantaytambo
This tiny village in the valley stole my heart! It is the home to a great fortress, and of special military importance for the Incas. You can spend almost a day walking around the fortress, the huge walls that protected the city from invaders. The large rock monoliths were quarried 15 km away and moved manually to it’s final resting place here. Apart from the fortress, I loved the village itself, that still preserves the Inca way of life – starting from the way the people dress, to the tools they use, and the irrigation water that runs along the road, still functional! For the adventurous at heart – there are many fun day trips you can try from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo – horse back riding through the valley, zip line and riding RTVs to name a few. If you haven’t arranged these ahead of time, make sure you bargain for a good rate!
Photo Friday: Hot Air Balloon ride over the Savannah
Taking a hot air balloon ride over Masai Mara has to be one of the best ways to comprehend the sheer size & the unending beauty of this natural reserve. The hot air balloons are so silent that the animals probably don’t realize you’re around. And the ride will definitely give you a new perspective on things! Here are some pictures that capture the beauty of this ride. Photos courtesy: Skyship Hot Air Balloon Company.
Golf anyone? Try it with the backdrop of the Himalayas!
If you dream of the green… this place is definitely for you! The Pahalgham golf course in Kashmir, India is probably one of the best kept secrets of the world. It’s almost like you have the entire course all to yourself, and when you’re surrounded by the lofty Himalayan mountain range, what more can you ask for? All the pictures are taken by Thryambak Chandilya, the official photographer of the trip! 🙂
Pahalgam Golf Course in the Kashmir Valley
The perfect day for a round of Golf!
An impossible Par 3!
That's where you have to hit it beyond the woods!
You just can't get enough of the view!
I hope this tempts you to make a trip!
Poetry at it’s prime – Suttum Vizhi by Bharathi
My favorite poem by Subrahmanya Bharathi… In the spirit of the Independence week 🙂 Bharathi compares India with a beautiful maiden and writes a love song about her beauty. My translation might be very inadequate so I link to another blog that has translated many of his poems.
Suttum vizhi chudar dhaan – kannamma, Sooriya chandiraro
Vatta kariya vizhi – kannammaa, Vaanak karumai kollo
Pattu karuneela pudavai, Padhitha nalvayiram
Natta nadunisiyil theriyum, Nakshathirangaladi
Solai malar oliyo – unadhu, Sundhara punnagai dhaan
Neela kadalalaye – unadhu, Nenjin alaigaladi
Kolak kuyil oasai – unadhu, Kuralin inimayadi
Vaalai kumariyadi kannaammaa, Maruvak kaadhal kondaen
Saathiram pesugiraai kannammaa, Saathiram yedhukkadi
Aathiram kondavarke kannammaa, Saathiram undoadi
Moothavar sammadhiyil vadhuvai, Muraigal pinbu seivom
Kaathiruppenoadi – idhu paar, Kannaththu muththam ondru
Witnessing the Great Migration in Masai Mara, Kenya
If you ever decide to do a safari trip to the great Savannah in Africa, make sure you go in January or July. Every year in July, close to half a million wildebeests (a type of wild cattle found in Africa) migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya… in search for greener pastures and closer to water during the dry season. Come December/January, they travel all the way back. Remarkable how this works like clockwork every year… I was fortunate enough to witness this a few years ago. It is a spectacular sight, and no pictures can do justice to this! Having said that, my post will not be complete without pics 🙂 Here are a few pictures from our trip courtesy Thryambak Chandilya (and I did add a few from the net to show the true nature of the migration) … all I can say is… Next time I intend to go with a better camera!!!
Wildebeests migrating from Serengeti to Masai Mara
Zebras also following suit
The sun shines down on Masai Mara
They look kind of odd... like a cross between horses, cows & goats!
Crossing the Mara river
Just so you get the sheer magnitude of this migration
Photo Friday: Sunrise in Machu Picchu
One of my favrite moments… well worth the 4 AM alarm… waiting in line for 1 hour from 5-6 AM, where there were already 200 + people ahead of us (yeah, some people are as crazy as me!) and the half hour bumpy bus ride up to Machu Picchu!
- The view from the watchman’s hut at 6:30 AM… eagerly waiting for the sun
As the first rays hit Huyana Picchu
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