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vas-happenin-team · 4 years ago

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my personal thoughts and experiences from Unus Annus, be warned this is long...

i apologize now if this is messy I am trying to get my thoughts in order so this is probably going to be ramble-y... One Year. There is so much that can change in one year and so many opportunities that pass us by and almost just as many regrets. And I am so glad I didn't let Unus Annus pass me by, even though it almost did. When i think of the past year I can't say that this was the year that I hope for but I definitely think this was the year I needed A a former friend of mine (who is a a HUGE Markiplier fan) tried to show me Unus Annus back in December. I think they showed me a couple videos but the one that stood out to me was the Escape Room video (probably for the fact that I was high, and thought Eef was very cute and very funny, but that's besides the point). I enjoyed the videos they showed me but a never really got into the channel and didn't watch anymore Unus Annus videos with them. I regret not watching more with them. At the time I knew who Markiplier was, I had watch his FNAF videos when I was younger and was subscribed. But I had no idea who Mark Fischbach as a person. And I had no idea who Crankgameplays or who Ethan Nestor was. I wasn't emotionally invested with them so I didn't really watch. A few months went by I was no longer in speaking terms with the friends who showed me the channel, the pandemic hit, I graduated college, i moved back home, i was unemployed, and incredibly lost. With graduating in May and being home all the time I spent more time on youtube. I don't remember how, but I ended back on Unus Annus again. And by July I was hooked. Not only did I began binge watching Unus Annus but I was also subscribed to Ethan, watched both his and mark’s videos, and become part of the different communities. As I am reflecting back on this time I can see how the message of Unus Annus, and by extension Mark and Ethan, started to influence me and help me for the better. Cause I was, and still am, struggling with my mental health. While I don't want to give them all the credit, the idea of only having so much time and questioning myself on whether or not I wanted to be a passive on looker in my own life, lead me to discover just how unhappy i was. I decided to therapy and getting the help I needed. And while I am still not 100% and that the reminder that life is slipping us by and I feel like I wasting it still stresses me out and causes me anxiety. I have to remind myself that I am making progress, and while this isn't ideal, this is the best I can do at the moment. It also helps looking at both Ethan and Mark. Mark, who was around my current age, when he decided he was going to make something of himself, reminds me that it is never too late to give yourself a happy life. And Ethan, only a year older than me, is living his out his dreams currently, but that took him 8 years to get here. Ethan, who has a very similar personality to me (in fact i think our myer-briggs is the same) also reminds me that I don't have to hide the loud and silly parts of my personality and that I can find people who will accept the different parts of me and want to help me succeed. One of my favorite aspects of the show would be where they would say "Memento Mori. We will see you tomorrow." I think liked that so much because it was a concrete promise in a year of unpredictability. Because I knew for certain, that no matter what happened, I would see them tomorrow. And while we might no longer see them tomorrow when the channel ends. It still feels like a promise, because even with the channel gone, the world still turns and there is a still a tomorrow. A tomorrow where Ethan and Mark still upload on their channels. A tomorrow, even as time marches on, we will remember Unus Annus and how much it had an impact on our lives. Because one thing is for sure, we aren't all the same people we were a year before. We grew and changed and Unus Annus helped shaped a year of our lives. So while we won’t not be able to "see them tomorrow" in the future. The impact of the channel will be seen in the future by the millions of people that it had an impact on. Even in this last few months I have seen some positive changes in my own life. While I am normally a lurker in the different fandoms I am a part of. I stepped out of my comfort zone and started to interact and create more for the Unus Annus community than I had before. And I did this because of the idea of "why not, we only have a limited time" and I wanted to make my mark. While I still struggle to interact with other blogs outside a random response or anon message, I was still able to find some people in this fandom to follow and appreciate. Thank you to @johanna7290 , @heistshenanigans , @lady-raziel , @tiny-crecher , simpgameplays and so many more blogs who helped make my experience in this community even better by not just taking any moment for granted, and really made the most of this year. Thank you as well to the blogs who have interacted with me on posts, sent anons, or even followed me. Thank you to the artist, the writers, the meme maker, the gif creators, the video editor, and the theorists for making this year even more unforgettable.

Finally to Ethan ( @crankgameplays), Mark (@markiplier), Amy, Evan, and all the editors and guests of the channel, thank you. Thank you for giving me something to look forward to everyday. Thank you for making something so full of love, humor, and friendship. Thank you for the laughs and the good times in a year where they were hard to come by. Thank you for the hidden codes and lore that kept us all on our toes. Thank you for challenging yourselves to go further beyond, and encouraging us to do the same. Thank you for introducing me to a community full of hilarious, smart, and caring individuals. Thank you guys for being authentic to yourselves. Thank you for all the memories. Thank you for all the merch. Thank you for giving us a year. Unus Annus Memento Mori ~Lexi

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shahir-usmani · 3 years ago

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Makran: The Grand Canyon of Pakistan

Makran is the coastal region of Baluchistan, Pakistan. The diversity in landscape is prominent especially in the Hingol National Park region of Makran, which is the largest National Park of Pakistan. It is full of mesmerizing rock formations, beautiful beaches, and mud volcanoes.

If you ever live in the largest city of Pakistan, or arguably “the largest in the world” which is Karachi, you will not have access to lush green mountains or waterfalls as portrayed in the usual travel diaries about Pakistan. In most cases, urban centers have access to other forms of entertainment to keep the balance like Dubai. Attractions such as theme parks, preserved natural lands, man-made nature parks, or clean beaches.

Unfortunately due to being the most diversified city in Pakistan, Karachi has been the center of conflict for many claimant, which ultimately overshadowed the importance of extracurriculars and non formal activities. Nature falls into the least of the bothers for those in power. It is proven during the recent floods that Karachi’s natural habitat has been obliterated. Illegal constructions also played a big part in destroying the ecological system of Karachi.

Ultimately this is the definition of a Graveyard for Nature Lovers

So, what should a Karachi’s Nature Boy do to satisfy the urge? What should you do if you are sick of outdoor food, farmhouses, and overcrowded polluted beaches? Where to find those beautiful destinations having mountains, sceneries, vast landscapes, clean beaches, and wilderness to fill up the appetite?

The answer is; A drive through the Makran Coastal Belt.

This is what I have been doing for the last 15 years and in quite recent years at least three times a year. Fortunately I have been working with some global YouTube Travelogue Creators as their Video Editor. So when I took my trip this time, I filmed it with the intention of creating a story as I have learned during my editing experiences. I have also created English subtitles as I narrated the story in Urdu. You can check out the video below if you prefer watching rather than continue the read.

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The Journey

The first major stop that you will make during your journey from Karachi towards Hingol National Park, Makran is Kund Malir Beach. It is located approximately 250 km west of Karachi. Depending on the season when you are driving through the Makran Coastal Highway, you will experience sand storms and low visibility reminding us of the powers of nature as you start the journey on the Makran Coastal Highway towards Kund Malir Beach.

The most unique thing about Kund Malir Beach is that it is located near Buzi Pass Mountain range. Just at the beginning of Buzi Mountain Range there is a newly built viewing platform that provides scenic views of the Kund Malir beach, a heaven for photography lovers.

Continuing on to the Makran Coastal Highway towards the Buzi Top you will witness some of the most strangest rock formations which are similar to the Grand Canyon Arizona in the United States. There is a unique experience of its own at the Buzi Pass at different times of the day and seasons. If you are there on a dark night with clear skies, it would be some of the most astonishing stargazing experience. The night sky looks like a dome instead of a roof. When you look towards the ocean from the top, the vast star formations just dips into the dark ocean. On a night with bright moonlight the ocean and rock formations looks just dazzling with moonlight reflecting off the ocean and mountains. Being a frequent visitor, I am fortunate enough to witness all the seasons and times.

Princess of Hope

In Buzi Pass you will come across Princess of Hope which was named by Angelina Jolie during her visit to Pakistan in 2004.

Natural Rock Formations Depicting an Ancient Civilization

The rock formations depicts the remains of an ancient civilization but it is hard to believe that these formations were result of erosions through the ocean winds. Continuing on to there will be some amazing views of the ocean and mountains.

Hingol National Park

Just before the Kund Malir beach, there is a gate towards Hingol National Park. It is largest nation park in Pakistan. There are many animal species that are found there including Persian leopard, Ibex, Marsh crocodile, and Houbara bustard.

Temple of Hinglaj Mata

Hinglaj temple is located approximately 12 km inside the national park when entered from the Makran Coastal Highway. The road to the temple follows the Hingol River. There are some of the most beautiful landscapes with the combination of mountains and river. The temple is surrounded by huge cliffs with a stream of water flowing beneath.

Don’t forget to check this montage I made during my recent trip

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Subscribe to my YouTube channel and Follow me on my Instagram as well for more of my travel stuff.

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bhavnasblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Kedarnath Trek

My first proper introduction to Kedarnath was post the tragedy that struck it in 2013.

I was roped in by Wizcraft and Entertainment Production House to do a live charity show for Star Plus to collect funds to help for relief and rescue.

From learning about Kedarnath to having the privilege of inviting the first man who flew the helicopter to give an overview of the extent of damage caused to being in constant touch with NIMS until they built the new trek route – Kedarnath became a part of me!

It was finally in 2017 that I finally decided to embark on the journey myself.

Mumbai to Dehradun by flight and then a hired car to take us to Sonprayag – the base of the trek, was a simple plan.

The drive from the airport with the usual traffic jam at Rishikesh was pleasant until the sun set.

Before that the driver had taken the route into Badrinath and only after an hour of driving on the road did we realize that we were on the wrong route.

Treading back to the point where we had to take a right, we saw quite a few landslides and rescue operations at work simultaneously.

The night drive into Sonprayag was anything but pleasant.

The roads were bad because in the month of July, the monsoon had set in and the nightfall wasn’t helping much.

The saving grace was the hotel which happened to be one of the best in the small town.

Except of course for flies!

The deluxe room had a lovely balcony but one couldn’t open the door, because that would be an invitation to hundreds of flies, which would then not leave the room.

The next morning we took the hotel car and went to the market wherein there is the government office which makes your biometric pass, mandatory if you are traveling to Kedarnath.

The small little office had no electricity for a half hour. But once the power came on, it didn’t take even 30 seconds to get the biometric pass made.

Not really knowing how the 18 kilometers would be, the next morning, we tried our best of calling all the helicopter carriers asking them if they had seats available. We were out of luck.

Trekking was the only option and a little reluctant at first, we decided to go for it.

The hotel car dropped us at the same spot like the day before where we were pounced upon by guides.

The first one sounded reasonable and decent enough and we agreed to go with him. Little did we know that he was only an agent and would hand us over to others.

From Sonprayag the walk of about a kilometer and a half with a running stream on the right are the first steps towards heaven.

With excess shooting luggage on our backs, it would be a difficult trek but we were by now raring to go.

A shared car from there takes you the next 5 kilometers to Gaurikund.

For a mere 20 rupees per passenger, we were at the Gaurikund parking lot in less than ten minutes.

Before we could alight from the car, rain was greeting us.

Thankfully having read a lot about the place, we were ready with our ponchos. No, not raincoats! Ponchos. Which are more ideal for mountain trekking and when you have luggage on your back.

The flight of stairs from Gaurikund were heavy and the rain stalled us for almost an hour.

Sitting at a local chai stall, I started chatting up the locals asking them their personal experiences of the 2013 tragedy.

They all had stories to tell of loss, of faith, and most importantly of things returning to normalcy.

Within no time, our guide who had earlier been racing up and down because he couldn’t manage to find boys, and had gotten into an ugly squabble, finally appeared with two teenagers who were supposed to accompany us the rest of the way.

The guide’s job was done and he put us on our mules and wished us luck.

I remember literally crying as it had been years that I had ridden a horse. A luxury which I had experienced growing up because back in the day, Juhu beach was allowed to have horses and camels.

This terrain was difficult and the mule wasn’t a huge, sturdy one. Unlike a horse!

There was no turning back now. The only way was the way forward.

Chanting Om Namah Shivay, I went from screaming everytime the mule climbed a step to enjoying the scenery around in no time.

The first stop was Bhimbali where we alighted the mule after almost an hour.

The mule had sips of water and we had some light snacks before setting on the journey once again.

I remember looking at the road signs and thinking to myself, we are never going to make it to the top.

You never really get used to the motion of the mule because the trek route is not a steady one. At times there is a climb, or a downhill or steps, it is like being on a roller coaster for hours on end.

The most important tip of the day was to pack light and carry only bare minimum essentials, but we were stuck with carrying all our shoot equipment and that loaded on our backs was making each step difficult.

It would even maybe easier to walk all the way if you are not carrying too much luggage.

I have to admit that looking at much older men and women who were walking it up slowly and steadily, it did put me to shame more than once during the entire journey.

NIM has done a wonderful job of building sheds to protect people from the random mountain rains and pit stops for mules to feed and drink and also places to sit.

On the way the guide pointed to Rambara which used to be an entire village enroute to Kedarnath which was washed away in the 2013 flashfloods and the site was scary.

No remnants of the place now were visible.

A little after Lancholi, the second pit stop, where some people halt the night before trekking the next day to Kedarnath, comes a point where the path is covered with snow and it is very likely for even the mule to slip and fall.

We decided to get off the mule just before that point and walk it from there on for a bit.

The wet ponchos and the cold breeze were making it difficult to walk on the upwards slope and we found ourselves stopping after every 15 to 20 steps.

After about an hour of walking, we found our mules and our guides lazing and decided to hop back on.

There are several places on the trek route, where there are no railings and one is constantly under the fear of the mule going astray and jumping into the valley.

I must’ve given my mule a scare a couple of times with all the screaming.

Having started at 10 am on the mule from Gaurikund about 3:30 in the afternoon was when we finally reached the point till where the mules are allowed.

It was a 2 kilometer walk even past this point.

We were lucky to have been approached by Ganesh whose job was to hunt for guests to rent out rooms to.

He offered to carry our luggage as we slowly made our way to the top.

This is the toughest part of the trek because after 5 to 6 hours on a muleback, every part of your body is literally aching and with not adequate oxygen at that high above the sea level, it is a task to walk for 2 kms.

But the first moment you lay your eyes on the Kedarnath temple with its magnificient backdrop, every pain, every ache, every difficulty is forgotten in an instant.

Trekking to Kedarnath once in your lifetime is highly recommended.

More about tips in the next blog.

To watch the trek video, click here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUwTsyAH6RA

#kedarnath #uttararakhandtourism #ChaarDhaam

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reading-time · 3 years ago

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Sanmao’s “Stories of the Sahara”, 《撒哈拉的故事》，素人渔夫 Amateur fishing man, Tâm Anh translated.

Once on Sunday, Jose was at company for over-time work, whole day not home.

　　I, to pass the time, took out all the money Jose has earnt during this year from March till now, counted carefully, noted down on a blank sheet of paper, awaiting him to come back.

　To the evening, Jose was home, I placed the note paper in front of him, saying: “You see, during this half a year we have earnt, sum up, this so much money.”

　　He took a glance on the calculation I did, very glad, saying: “Hard to imagine, we have earnt this so much money; enduring the hard days in the desert, it worths our efforts.”

　　“Let’s eat out today, anyway we have this much money.” He joyfully proposed.

　　I knew he wanted to take me to dine at the National Hotel, very quickly I changed clothes to go out with him; this kind of reality was once upon a time.

“We want best-quality red wine, seafood soup, beef-steak for me, four helpings of prawns for my wife, ice-cream cake as deserts, also four helpings, thank you!” Jose said to the waiter.

　　“Lucky, today I have not eaten any the whole day, now we should have a big meal.” I whispered to Jose.

　　National Hotel was one under the organization of the Spanish Government; the dining hall was decorated very nicely like an Arabic royal palace, with very local ambiance, very comfortable soft lights, customers were not many; in here the atmosphere was fresh, no smell of dirt, knife and fork are kept clean to snow-like shining, table cloth was well ironed, soft music sound was like stream water flowing. I was sitting there, almost forgot we were in the desert, but seemed going back to our good old days.

　　After a while, foods were served, on a nice silver plate, a large row of fried prawns lined with green lettuce, glass filled with dark red wine.

　　“Ah! The blue bird of happiness is coming!” I exclaimed in excitement, looking at the dish.

　　“So delicious, from now on we should come here more often!” Jose sounded very generous that evening, like a tycoon.

　　Living in the desert for a certain time, it makes people learn a good thing: any little real-life enjoyment can bring about exceedingly heart-felt satisfaction and make people fly high. In other words, we take our senses more serious than our head.

　　Dinner finished, spent on it a fortune, we were very happy walking home, that evening I was a very happy person.

　　The following day, we of course ate at home; on the dinner plate there was one baked potato cake, one bread, a pot of water.

　　“We’ll share, wait I divide, this cake, you eat 2/3, I take 1/3.”

　　I was one hand sharing the potato cake, the other hand placing the bread in whole in the bowl for Jose, made it look quite full.

　　“It’s very delicious, I have added onion, let’s eat!” I started to eat.

　　Jose, like a tiger, ate up his cake in a wink, then he stood up heading to the kitchen.

　　“There’s no more, today let’s have just these.” I immediately stopped him.

　 “What’s wrong today?” He did not understand, looked at me.

　　“You look on this!” I passed on to him to see another calculating note.

　　“This is the sum-up of our expenses in recent half a year, yesterday’s calculation was of income, today’s calculation is of expenses.” I patted on his shoulder, explained.

　　“This much, we have spent this much? All has been spent!” He yelled.

　 “Yes.” I nodded.

　　“You see, on the note paper it is written clearly.”

　　Jose grabbed the note paper reading the cash flow I have done ——“tomato 60 kuai per kilogram, melon 220, pork half a kilogram 300——"

　　“How come you bought such expensive food, we could eat less a little bit——” He was reading the note and talking to himself.

　　Till he read to ——“car maintenance 15,000 kuai, gasoline half year 24,000——” his voice was louder; he picked himself up.

　　“You don’t need to panic! Half a year we ran 16,000 km, you calculate to see, doesn’t it need to cost this much money on gasoline.”

　　“So, money we have earnt we have spent all, there’s no gain out of this hardship.” Jose looked very annoyed, his looks was like he was on a stage.

　　“Actually we did not waste any, clothes expense was none in the past half a year; expenses were all on eating out with friends, making photographs, long distance travelling; these have eaten up our money.”

　　“All right, starting from today, single friends we do not invite to dinner, photographs only do black and white, travelling also no more, this whole area of desert we have been through how many times.” Jose announced with very much determination.

　　This poor townlet, mentioning cinema there’s only one both dirty and broken, a little bit of bustle also not have, magazines received to hands are mainly outdated, television on average is broadcast two or three times a month, on which images are as terrible as ghosts, home alone people do not dare to watch, power-cut water-cut are as common as daily meal, like to take a walk around then whole day there is strong sandy wind blowing.

　　Days passed by here, except for Sahara people who take it at ease, Europeans most are alcoholism, husband and wife fighting, single persons commit suicide, very common, all these drama are caused by this life in the desert. Only us, can be considered as people who understand 'the art of living', hard days still we can endure, our living still can be considered as not too bad.

　　I was keeping quiet listened to Jose while he was making announcement on plan of expense cut. Then, I started to warn him: “This too economical, you are not afraid three months later we would either become crazy or commit suicide?”　

Jose forced a smile: “Indeed, during holidays if we do not go out, we would be living sad to death.”　

“Think about this, we do not go to Algeria that direction, travel inland no more; we go to the seaside. Why not take advantage of the over 1,000 km coastline here; we should go there to explore.”

　　“Go to the seaside, travel through the desert a round trip gasoline also costs a lot.”

“Let’s go catch fish then, we do salted fish sun-dried, we can save money on food, also can lower money spent on gasoline.” My strength has always been solid, talking about playing, I never lose heart.

　　The following weekend, we carried tent, walked along the seaside to research nearly 100 km rock shore; at night we set up tent sleeping on the edge of the cliff.

　　Rock shore with no sand beach has a lot of good things, using ropes to hang on the edge of cliff was very convenient; when the tide had withdrawn, on the rock revealed barnacles, in between of the holes there were crabs, in the pool there were octopus, barred snake eel, trouts as-big-as-a-plate, also thousands of black seashells growing on the stone, we could recognize they were a kind of mussels, also fatty kelp which can be dried to make an ingredients for soup, driftwood could become a modern sculpture, little stones taken home put onto cardboard would become paintings. On this vast area of seaside, there was nobody around, was still intact and wealthy of resources.

　　“This is King Solomon's Treasure, we get rich now!” I jumped up and down on the shining rocks, yelling, so excited.

　　“This big pile of stones is for you, you collect quickly, tide has withdrawn.” Jose threw to me a bucket, a pair of gloves, a knife; he also put on diving suit, was about to dive into the sea to catch big fish.

　　Not up to one hour later, my bucket was filled up with mussels and barnacles, also 16 red colored big crab sized as big as small washing-basin; the bucket became so heavy, I used rocks to make a blocked jail, temporarily locked them inside. Kelps I collected a big pile.

　　When Jose went ashore, around his waist there was a string of up to 10 big fishes, light pink-colored ones.

　　“You see, not enough hands to catch, there are a lot.” Only at this moment I learnt the taste of being a greedy person.

　　Jose saw my big crab, again went to catch, got nearly 20 black-grey little crabs. He said: “The small one is called Nicholas, compared to big ones they are more delicious.”

　　The tide was gradually rising; we retreated to under the cliff, scraped off fish scales, washed the fish belly, full a big bag. I took trousers off, two trouser legs made a knot, poured all the crabs in, the bucket was also fastened on the rope, that way we climbed up the cliff. That weekend going out on exploration for the first time, could be considered as return with full load.

　　On the way home, I urged Jose: “Quick, quick, we drive back then call colleagues in the single dormitory to come for dinner.”

“You do not do salted fish?” Jose asked.

　　“The first time doesn’t count, we invite friends, they normally also did not eat well.”

　　Hearing that, Jose was very happy; before arriving home even went to buy a case of beer, half a dozen of wine to invite friends.

　　Later, for several weekends, colleagues also wanted to come along to catch fish. We were very delighted, bought 10 kg beef, 5 Chinese cabbages, made 10 more quiche, also brought along an ice-box, a charcoal furnace, 5 big buckets, 6 pairs of gloves, also bought a case of coke, a carton of milk. Several cars were mighty on the road, running up and down along the coastline; at night we set up tents, ate grilled beef, talking, had a great time together; the plan of expense-cut was lost on the way.

In our little family, no one manages money. Money, we put in the pockets of a Chinese cotton jacket, who needs then go to take. Bills, if we remember to note down, then write on any piece of paper at hands, throw into a candy pot.

　　Went out to the seaside not many several times, the jacket pockets has become empty, candy pot has filled up with little by little pieces of paper slip. “Again, nothing left, really fast!” I held the jacket talked to myself.

　　“Initially going out to the seaside was to catch fish making salted fish to save money on food, wasn’t it? Result, even more spending.” Jose was puzzled scratching his head.

　　“Friendship is also priceless wealth.” I could only use these words to console him.　

“Next week, we will simply go catch fish to sell.” Jose again determined.

　　“That’s right, fish we can eat so we can also sell! So smart, I did not think of it!” I jumped up, patted on Jose's head.

　　“Just need to earn enough to balance the expense we spent on playing, that would be good already.” Jose is not a greedy ambitious person.

　“Good, sell fish, next week we sell fish.” I was thinking big, hoping this time gain a fortune.

　　That Saturday early morning 4:30, we got on our car in the dark, set off on the road when it was freezingly cold outside, our teeth were trembling; raising our flag of high craftmanship, boldness, well knowing of the way, we firmly drove in the dark desert.

　　8 o’clock past in the morning, the sun has just arisen for a while, already we have arrived at the cliff; behind us an endless, mysterious, and quiet desert; in front of us stormy waves and cracked shore, the immense ocean and scattered rocks; blue sky was without a cloud, seabirds in flock flied to flied back, here and now a few bird voice, made it filled with even more emptiness and solitary all around.

　　Upturned the collar of my jacket, widen my shoulders, I looked up giving out a breath, kept this posture stood still.

　　“What are you thinking about?” Jose asked.

　　“How about you?” I also asked.

　　“I am imagining some realms depicted in ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ that book."

　　Jose is a clear and bright spirit; this moment, this scenery, thinking of that book perfectly matches him.

　　“How about you?” He again asked.

　　“I am imagining, I was that one crazily in love with a handsome crippled military officer, I was about to go for a walk with him on this plateau, surroundings us was beautiful heather flowers everywhere, the wind was blowing in my hair, he was enthusiastically gazing at me—— romantic, again dramatic time!” I lamented.

　　Talking, again I closed my eyes, held myself in my own arms, sighed with satisfaction.

　　“You're playing today is ‘Ryan’s daughter’?” Jose asked.

“Your guess is right. All right, now start to work.”

　　I clapped my hands, walked out pulling the rope, ready to climb down the cliff. Through these some wild imagination, getting down to work could get some excitement: this has been the way I came up with to adjust the dry boring life.

　　“Sanmao, today work seriously, you need to give good hands.” Jose was in earnest.

　　We were standing on the rocky edge; Jose went down diving; each time he caught a fish, rose up, he threw it to the waterside; I quickly came up to collect, kneed on the rock, I used a knife to scrape fish scales, washed fish belly, cleaned it up, then put the fish into a plastic bag.

　　Scraped two or three very big fish, my hands were already scratched bleeding, dip into sea water oddly hurtful.

　　Jose was under water floating sinking, continuously threw fish up onto shore; I worked recklessly, placed the well-cleaned fish lined up neatly in the bag.

　　“Earning money is not easy!” I shook my head talking to myself, knees started to swell red.

　　After quite a while, Jose just then arose to shore; I quickly brought him the milk to drink. He closed his eyes, lying on the rock, face was pale white.

　　“How many we've caught?” He asked.

　　“30 more, very big, about 60, 70 kilograms.”

　　“Catch no more, almost tired to death.” He again closed his eyes.

　　I poured the milk, saying: “We, like this, could be called amateur fishing people.

　　“Fish is meat, Sanmao.”

　　“What I am saying is not about meat and vegetable. Previously, in Paris there was a group of people, weekdays they go to work, weekends painting, they called themselves amateur painters. We, on weekends go catch fish, therefore called amateur fishing man, also not bad!”

　　“You are so fancy, catching fish you could also come up with some new title.” Jose was not very interested though.

　　Enough of rest, we took it in three rounds, carried the whole pile of fish, as big as a little mountain, up to the cliff; put them inside car back space, topped up with ice from the icebox. Looking at the desert under blazing sun shining, this more than 200 km road driving back, again was another hard trip; strange it was, this time not yet having much of fun, body was also exhausted.

Car soon arrived in the townlet, I softly begged Jose: “All on you, let me get a little sleep before we go out to sell fish, please! So tired already!"

　 “Can’t. Fish could get stink. You go home to rest, I will sell. “ Jose said.

　　“Go to sell then we go together, I keep up a bit then get better now.” I just rather said.

　　Car passed by castle-like boundering walls of the National Hotel, I suddenly got an idea, loudly called ——“Stop——"

　　Jose stopped the car; I barefoot got off, turned my head to look inside the gate.　

“Hello, hello, ——” I softly called to Antonio at the counter.

　 “Ah, Sanmao!” He greeted loudly.

　 “Shuzzz, do not shout, where’s the back door?” I softly asked him.

　“Back door? Why do you want to go back door?”

　　I have not yet explained, right at that time the hotel manager was walking by, I was so scared hiding myself behind a pillar; he turned his head looking, I could simply sneak out get back on our car parking outside.　

“Can’t! I can’t sell, so embarrassed.” My face was straight.　

“I go.” Jose slammed car door, strode into the hotel. Good Jose, really has a style.　

“Hello, Sir, manager.” He took out his hands towards the manager to greet; the manager came to him; I hid myself behind Jose’s back.　

“We have fresh fish, do you want to buy?” Jose sound plainly, face also not blush, I think there’s a bit pretending.

　　“What, you want to sell fish?” The manager stared at us, worn-out trousers, face revealing a lot of hardship, as if we were humiliating him.

　　“Want to sell fish you go side door, talk to the person in charge of the kitchen——” He pointed to the side door, sounded quite intimidating.

　　I immediately shyed a long way back, recklessly pulled Jose to get out, told him: “You see, he looked down on us, we go to another place to sell; later if there’s any party we still have to see the face of this manager——”

　“This manager is a dickhead; no need to be afraid. Go, we go to the kitchen.”

　　Kitchen people all gathered up to look at us, seems very odd. “How much a kilogram?” finally there’s a buyer.

　　We glanced at one another, did not know what to say.

　　“Uhm, 50 kuai per kilogram.” Jose called a price.

　　“Yes, yes, 50 kuai.” I hastily added.

“OK, I take 10 fish, we go to scale to see how much it weighs.” The person-in-charge was very gentle.

　　We were very glad, flying-like ran to the car, chose 10 big fish for him.

　 “This bill, after date 15th, you can take it to our accounting office to claim your money.　

“You do not pay in cash?” We asked.

　 “We are a public agency, you understand understand please!” The person-in-charge shook our hands.

　We took the bill for selling the first batch of fish, worth over 1,000 kuai, looked then looked, then very carefully I put it into my trousers' pocket.

　　“OK, now we go to Sisters 'Hotel.” Jose said.

　　This 'Sisters' Hotel' is Sahara renowned place; they often provide meals to workers, at night selling wine, upstairs there are rooms for rent. From outside look very glamorous, inside all day playing popular music, lights are green coloured only; often there are groups of gorgeous white women doing business inside.

　　Road construction workers from Spain, once get salary paid, often go to Sisters’ Hotel to play, get drunken then be thrown out; salary of a month of hard work, more than half is spent to these women’s pocket.

　　To the hotel door, I told Jose: “You go inside, I wait outside.” Waited almost 20 minutes, not seen Jose came out.

　　I carried one fish, also walked in; right in time I saw, behind the counter, a sexy 'sister' was feeling Jose’s face; Jose- like a leather-head bird- was standing. I strode to, fiercely straight face shouted to the woman: “Buy fish or not, 500 kuai per kilogram.” Also I put the fish carried in hand heavily slammed on the bar counter, made a loud bang.

　　“How come wildly raise the price; your husband has just said 50 kuai per kilogram.”

　　I stared at her; thought to myself: you dare to touch Jose’s face again, I'd increase price to 5,000 kuai per kilogram.

　　Jose pushed me out of the hotel, softly said: “You really know how to cause trouble; I almost had all the fish sold to her.”

　　“Not buy then leave it, you sell fish or sell yourself? Even let her touch your face.” I raised my hands up to hit Jose, he knew he was on the wrong side, hold his head and let me hit.

　　Calmed down, again I rushed into the hotel taking back that fish we had left on the bar counter.

　　The sun was high on the sky; we were under the heat, hungry, and thirsty, also exhausted, also angry with one another; I was about to think of throwing away all the fish, only was speechless.

　“Do you remember Pug at the Sahara army group kitchen? “I asked Jose.

　“You are thinking of selling to the army group?”

“Yes.”

　Jose did not say a word, drove towards Sahara army group’s camp site; not arrived at the army living quarter yet, we saw Pug right at that time was walking on the road.

“Pug.” I loudly called out to him.

“Do you want to buy fresh fish?” I was so much hopeful, asked.

　“Fish, where?” He asked.

“Inside our car, there are more than 20.”

　Pug stared at me, shook his head strongly. “Sanmao, more than 3,000 persons in this army group, eat your more than 20 fish, enough?” He rejected.

“This is not necessarily; you first take to cook to see! Jesus’ 5 cakes, 2 fish, were enough to feed his more than 5,000 persons; how do you say?” I again asked him.

　　“Let me tell you, you go to post office front door to sell; over there most people passing by.” Pug showed us a way out. Of course, our selling target is Europeans; Sahara people do not eat fish.

So we again went to the stationery shop, bought a black board, a few pieces of chalk, again to an acquainted grocery we borrowed a scale.　　

On the black board, we drewn a jumping red fish, again wrote "Fresh fish for sale, 50 kuai per kilogram.”

　 When we drove to the post office front door, already 5 o’clock in the afternoon; air-mails, air-packages were arriving; a large crowd of people was there opening their mail-box, very much bustling. We stopped the car, put the black board in front of car window, car back door was opened up. Completed with these, face already blushed quite a lot; we ran to the sidewalk across the street to sit down, not even dare to look at walking people on the street.

　　A crowd of people one group to another walked by; no one stopped to buy fish. Sitting there for a while, Jose said to me: “Sanmao, didn’t you say we are amateur people? Amateurs don’t have to live by selling spare-time stuff!”

　 “Go home?” Really I also ran out of energy.

　　Right at that time, a colleague of Jose walked by, saw us he came to greet: “Ah! Out for fresh air?”

　　“No.” Jose shyly stood up.

　　“Are selling fish.” I pointed to our car on opposite side across the road.

　　This colleague was a single, also a rough-and-ready kind person. He walked out taking a look at the black board, again looked at car back space, got the situation, immediately he walked back, grasped us both across the street to the opposite site.

　　“Selling fish ah, you need to calling out to sell! You two are shy like this do not work. Come, come, I'll help you.” This colleague in passing hands pulled a fish out, held it in his hand, yelled at high pitch: “Yu——yo, sell fresh fish yo! 75 kuai per kilogram yo ——aiyo——fish ah!” He even took his own initiative raised the price.

　　The crowd was attracted by his yelling, immediately gathered up around; we overjoyed at the turn of our selling: more than 20 fish was a little thing, just after a while all were sold out.

　　We were sitting on the ground counting money, more than 3,000 kuai; then again looked around for Jose’s colleague; he has already walked far away with a grin.

“Jose, we should remember to thank him!” I told Jose.

　　Back to home, we were already exhausted. After a shower, I was in a towel yukata to the kitchen boiled a wok, put in a pack of noddle.

　　“Eat this?” Jose was unhappily.

　　“Just let's eat something. I'm almost exhausted to death.” I in fact did not even want to eat any.　

“From early morning working that hard till now, you only gave me noddle, not eat.” He was mad, put on clothes to go out.

　　“Where are you going?” I shouted.

　　“I go eating out.” He said firmly, sound as hard as cement.

　　I could only also change clothes, chased him up, together we went out; the so-called eating out, of course could only be one place to go—— restaurant at the National Hotel.

　　At the restaurant, I whispered to Jose: “This world there’s only you this kind of person. Order the least expensive dish, do you hear me?”

　　Right at that moment, one of Jose’s bosses was clapping hands walking over, loudly he called out: “What a coincidence! What a coincidence! I am having no companion for dinner tonight; we three persons together then.” He by himself was talking and taking a seat.

　　“I heard today kitchen has fresh fish; how do you think, we take three fish to taste, this kind of fresh fish, not often seen around here in the desert.” He was again by himself talking.

　　The boss, accustomed to being a boss, forgot that he should also look at other people's face. Not a word to us yet, he said to the waitress: “Salad, 3 fish, wine, now, deserts later.”

　　The person-on-duty in the dining hall was exactly the one at noon in the kitchen buying fish from us; he was accidentally walking by our table, seeing Jose and I we were eating the fish we sold which now were served on dish at 20 times more of the price; his jaw dropped, like he was looking at two crazy people.

　　After the dinner, we and Jose’s boss competed for the bill, result Jose won, used up the money from selling fish at the post office front door to pay, only left some change money. Just then I sensed, these fish no matter was sold at 50 or 75 kuai per kilogram, was still sold at such a loss; we, after all, were in the desert.

　　The following day early morning, we overslept till late. I got up making some coffee, washing clothes; Jose was still on bed, saying to me: “Lucky, still we have that bill at the National Hotel we can collect; otherwise yesterday a whole day was miserable enough; gasoline cost we also had to offset, not to mention so much tireness and hard work.”

　“You're saying the bill——that bill——”

　I screamed, rushed to the bathroom, washing machine had already closed; out of the load covered up with soap foam, I took out my trousers, put my hands in the pockets to feel the inside——that bill has already been soaked with water, become soft and white a little heap; want to put them together also could not anymore.

　　“Jose, the last fish has also slipped away! We again will have to eat potato cake then.” I sat on the stone steps of the bathroom, crying and laughing out.

[ End of story ]

Image below: Home-grown new bloom. Photographed by Tâm Anh, on 13 August 2021.

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until-the-there-is-back-again · 7 years ago

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Home grown alligator, see you later: A year in South Korea

I still can’t believe that I’ve been here for a year. I can remember riding a bus in Cambodia next to a girl who was telling me about her experiences teaching in South Korea. When I told her I didn’t see myself ever staying in South Korea more than a year, she replied, “I thought so too, but suddenly I had been there for three years. Korea time is a real thing.” And yeah, she was right. I thought after a year I would be done with South Korea, thinking it would be lots of time to see and do many different things. But I am not even close. And even after having decided to extend my contract, I know I’m still not going to see and do it all.

Teaching is a hard, long process, and when the weekend rolls along, I am really only interested in sleeping and catching up on reading. But the sun has been shining more and the air has been (mostly) good, so I have been feeling a bit more adventurous.

The city where I’m living isn’t far from Seoul, so it’s easy to hop on the subway and explore for a few hours. The first place I ever visited in Seoul was Hongdae, which is considered the young, hip district. There is a university nearby, so many of the students who need to fulfill performance credits can be found singing, dancing and even doing magic shows on the streets. There is a long street full of shops, bars and restaurants. It is entertaining enough to just walk along and try to see everything. Hongdae Station is a big subway station too, so most often trips to Seoul involve a pass through Hongdae.

[Hongdae, Seoul, South Korea]

Another area of Seoul I like is Itaweon. Itaweon is the foreigner district of Seoul, mostly due to the presence of a US military base, and it elicits a mixed response from people; some like it, while others have a hatred of it that burns like the fires of hell (that is a direct quote from an Itaweon-hater). But for me, Itaweon is home to two of my favourite things: books and poutine. There are two great bookstores, Itaweon Foreign Bookstore and WhatTheBook. To the dismay of my future self who will have to again pack my life into two suitcases, I have added more books to my collection. And located between the two bookstores is a little poutine shop called Oh!Poutine. Going to one bookstore, then stopping for a bite to eat before heading to the other bookstore makes for a pretty enjoyable afternoon.

Another personal favourite is the Cheonggyecheon stream. This is a 10 km long artificial stream in downtown Seoul. During the celebrations for Buddha’s birthday in May, the stream was strung with glowing lanterns. Recently, in the weeks before an upcoming election, it was covered by posters of the various candidates. Every time I’ve seen the stream, its something new. People stroll along it or sit and soak their feet in the water. There is art work handing in an alcove under one of the bridges, and there is a small waterfall where the stream begins.

Seoul has something for everyone. And between the shopping, all the neat cafes, and different events and festivals, I don’t know if it would be possible to get tired of the city. Early in April, a group of us went to Yeuido to take in the cherry blossoms. In the Yeuido park, there is a long street lined with cherry trees that are 30 to 40 years old. The day wasn’t the best weather wise, but the flowers were gorgeous in a soft, gentle way. We wandered along the streets, watched a bit of the performances and just took in the day.

To me, that day was a real marker of the end of winter. Ever since, I have noticed the beautiful greens of the trees, the vibrant colours of the flowers. It didn’t seem gradual, like it always did at home. It was grey and then all at once, the country woke up.

One challenge in South Korea is the air quality. In recent years, the air pollution here has gotten worse. More and more people are donning face masks and there are apps that alert you to poor air quality. At the time of writing this, the air quality index here is 105 (which is unhealthy for sensitive groups) and the AQI in my hometown is 40 (well within the good range). I’ve never had to think about if the air I was breathing was clean or not and it took me a while to realize just how much the air can affect you. I’m actually just getting over a sinus infection that the doctor related to the yellow dust in the air. I’ve never been opposed to rain per se, but now I look forward to rainy days with an almost religious zeal, since it means the air the following day or two will be good.

Other than the air, there isn’t much to perturb me here in South Korea. Even the language barrier isn’t too much of an issue. I have been trying (and failing) to study the language. I can say hello, goodbye, thank you, yes and no. But most Korean’s don’t really expect foreigners to speak or understand Korean. Most people here have at least the basics of English (at least as much Korean as I have) and with pictures and gestures, it’s usually possible to express your meaning. In restaurants and markets, pointing and throwing up your fingers gets the job done. The subways, buses and taxis are straight forward (with the use of apps) and even then most of the transit signs have English on them. Even going to the doctor and the dentist has proven to be relatively easy. It definitely helps that my Korean coworkers are absolute gems who are willing to help me by writing out notes in Korean and translating messages or mail.

I’ve had some pretty neat experiences this past year. I went to the Olympics in February, walked around the Royal Palace, explored Seoul with a best friend, tried deep fried milk, drank coffee at a flower cafe, filled up on street food, watched a lantern parade in honour of Buddha’s birthday, drank rice wine (makgeolli) at an all-you-can-drink restaurant and gone to a Korean wedding. And the area where I’m living is considered a relatively new city, so it is growing as more and more businesses are opening. I think it would take me many years to just try all the cafes in this area. There are three movie theatres, two giant grocery stores, a spa, karaoke rooms, bars, a canal and a big park that surrounds a lake.

(Photo on the bottom left is my face as I almost dropped all of the fried milk onto the street. In hindsight, I should have just let it fall. Fried milk is... not good.)

Simply put, South Korea is proving to be a pretty charming place to spend almost two years of my life.

#seoul #south korea #travel #travel writing

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iremembernumbersonly · 4 years ago

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Kutch Trip Report 2021

2800 km in 9 days that is Kutch trip 2021 for us. Started as only 4 persons while planning, it took off with 8 persons in two cars one Renault Duster and the other Honda Jazz. It was to be Noel, Commander, me and Meera Madam from the Spiti Team. But overhearing our conversation, my younger son said I will also come. Navin from Delhi opted to join, then my son said let’s go in our car. That gave us some leverage. Anandhi my wife said I will also come. Biren and Madhavi joined from Vadodara. Unfortunately, Navin could not join due to Covid. Hence, it was 8 persons in two cars. I insisted on RT-PCR due to Covid so that there should not be any hiccups when we cross the state border either way, which was agreed upon.

Everything started rolling in, a group was formed to share the ideas, places to see, etc. Few meetings took place in virtually. It was loosely decided to have a 9 day trip. Of which first 5 days were planned and booked. Rest of the bookings, it was agreed to go as it comes. The plan which was agreed upon went like this.

Kevadia, Ahmedabad, Patan, Dasada, Dhordo, Bhuj/Nakhatrana, Lakhpat, Narayan Sarovar, Mandvi, Vadodara and Dandi. Biren insisted on staying with him on last day at Vadodara.

A week before D-day, it was finalised with a halt at Kevadia, stay in outskirts of Vadodara, pass Ahmedabad to Patan, and 2 night halts at Dasada, 2 night homestay at Chobari. That was upto 1st morning. At Chobari, Ramji Meriya, the owner of Nature Zone referred us to Jugal Tiwari the owner of Centre for Desert and Ocean at Nakhatrana.

Off went we 3 from Kalyan west on 24.2.2021, picked up Meera Madam from Kalyan east in the early morning and proceeded to meet the other group at Khaman junction on the highway. Noel and Commander started from Powai and reached there.

Day-1

Kevadia

After breakfast at Hotel Ahura, went to Kevadiya via Navsari-Rajpipla and reached Statue of Unity. We reached via Kevadiya railway station road and Noel reached the other way. Parked our cars at Valley of Flowers car parking. You can walk to the nearest gate also. Plenty of buses run for visitors to reach the gate, of course free of cost at frequent interval. As we have booked the tickets online, we showed the booking in our mobile and went inside. There are two types of tickets one for the gallery and the other to go in lift upto a certain level inside the statue to see the view from above. You may require atleast 3-4 hours to see around. Evening sunset near the dam and light show on the statue after sunset are additional attractions. Then we went to Vadodara outskirts and stayed in Hotel Apple Grand. (a nice hotel on the highway)

The 182-metre (600 feet aprox.) statue is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the architect of independent India. The colossal monument towers over River Narmada and overlooks the vast surrounds and the river basin and the sprawling Sardar Sarovar dam. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is the third highest concrete dam (163 metres) in India after Bhakra (226 metres) in Himachal Pradesh and Lakhwar (192 metres) in Uttar Pradesh. A Light and Sound show using laser technology projected on the Statue of Unity takes place every evening except Monday. For further details about the Statue of Unity click here

Day-2

Biren and Madhavi joined us in the morning. At breakfast, we decided to skip Sabarmati as going in Ahmedabad would delay our journey. Instead we went to Adalaj Stepwell.

Adalaj Stepwell

The flamboyant 15th-century stepwell, with intricate carvings on the pillars that support the five storeys are mostly intact; the beams work as pit stops for pigeons flying in and out and the structure still leaves jaws dropped for swarms of people. The step-well represents the Indo-Islamic fusion architecture that percolated through the many stepwells of the period. The opening in the ceilings above the landing allows light and air to enter the octagonal well, but direct sunlight never touches the steps except at noon. It is said that the temperature inside the well is six degrees cooler than outside. The stepwell has three entrances. The stairs lead to an underground storey, which has an octagonal opening on top. The walls are covered in ornamental carvings with mythological and village scenes. You can read about it more here

Rani-ki-vav, Patan

Next stop was Patan, the world heritage site of Rani-ki-Vav. This is one of the oldest and finest stepwells in Gujarat and is remarkably preserved. Steps lead down through multiple levels with lines of carved pillars and more than 800 sculptures, mostly on Vishnu-avatar themes, as well as striking geometric patterns. The stepwell is made in the form of an inverted temple. It showcases superior craftsmanship of the era, and the unique Maru-Gurjara architectural style. The stepwell was built in 1063 by Rani Udayamati of the Chaulukya Dynasty to commemorate her husband, Bhimdev I. The stepwell was commissioned in 1063 and was completed after 20 years. Archeologists Henry Cousens and James Burgess visited it in 1890s when it was completely buried under silt and only the shaft and few pillars were visible. The stepwell was rediscovered in 1940s, and the Archeological Survey of India restored it in 1980s. The stepwell has been listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites since 2014. Read more here

Sun Temple, Modhera

The guide we hired here told us to go to Modhera also. So we went to Modhera before the close of the site for the day. Modhera is an ideal destination for being away from the hustle-bustle of city life for a day. The unruffled peaceful landscape and the majestically welcoming temple complex will ensure to take you away from the mundane routines of daily. As you enter the historical complex, you first come across the magnificent kund known as the Ramakund, built in rectangular shape containing 108 shrines to various gods and demi-gods. There are three main shrines positioned on the three sides of the kund, dedicated to Ganesh and Vishnu and an image of Lord Shiva dancing the ‘tandav’ facing the temple of the sun which covers the fourth side. The twelve representations carved on the pillars represent the sun according to the twelve months. The statue of the sun god no longer exists. More about here

Reached Rann Riders, Dasada, Little Rann of Kutch in the night. During the night you can miss the sign board, while reaching advised to go slow so that you can take a proper turn to reach the resort. We met Cyclist Brajesh Sharma who was going live on YouTube from the Nature Zone. He is on All India Tour on cycle to create awareness about dangers of using plastic in general and single use plastic in particular. He regularly interacts with the schools, colleges on his tour which he started a year back. Follow him here

Day-3

Little Rann of Kutch

Morning after breakfast, went for the dry land safari in the Wild Ass Sanctuary and wet land safari in the evening. Being the world’s only natural habitat for wild ass, the sanctuary of course draws people to watch these magnificent creatures. However, the sanctuary harbours a large variety of bird population. The Rann was a shallow part of the Gulf of Kutch earlier. It is formed through the process of siltation of marine estuary. During monsoon, the Rann becomes a vast shallow sheet of water which dries up by October, November. Flamingos, Pelicans, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis and Painted Storks etc were seen by us. We saw Brahminy Duck, Sandgrouse, etc. also.

Day-4

Left for Dholavira for Harappan Excavation another UNESCO World Heritage site. This was the highlight of the trip. As all you know, every such trip has a highlight and a place worth visiting, a lifetime achievement. Dholavira was one such place. You are reminded of the advance techniques used by people more than 4500 years ago. You will not believe until you see such place. Personally, I feel what you are taught in schools about history is nothing when you visit such places and hear from government guides.

Dholavira

Dholavira is the most remarkable excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan culture, dating back to 4500 years ago. What Dholavira offers you, in the intense environment that comes with being surrounded by the Great Rann of Kutch, is a unique insight into the pioneering Harappan mind, with one of the world’s earliest and best planned water conservation systems and what might be the world’s first signboards, written in ancient Indus script.

The excavation also tells the story of the 7 stages of the civilization, from development to maturity to decay, the last of which hints at a strange piece of history, with more questions than answers. After the peak of the civilization Dholavira was temporarily abandoned, after which it seems that the settlers returned with a markedly de-urbanized culture. There are hints that they willingly chose to simplify their lives, rather than try to ride the collapse of their once glorified civilization. Here, on the ruins, you will have a chance to contemplate what progress and civilization mean and what, if anything, is truly permanent.

Dholavira, known locally as Kotada (large fort), sprawls over 100 hectares of semi-arid land at the north-west corner of the island of Khadir. It is one of the islands in the Great Rann of Kutch that remain above the flood-plains in months when the rest of the desert is submerged by the monsoon. Dholavira has two seasonal nallahs, or streams: Mansar in the north, and Manhar in the south. The journey to Dholavira itself is beautiful, taking you through the saline desert plains of the Great Rann, where you can spot wildlife such as chinkara, nilgai, flamingos and other bird life.

The site was unearthed by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1967, but has been systematically excavated only since 1990. It has a museum where all the artefacts are on display. Visit this website for more information.

Chobari

We started for Chobari, Nature Zone, our final stop of the day. The google map shows the wrong route at the last leg. But follow your instincts and go, as the people nearby are helpful. Ashwath drove through a village and people guided properly. When in the map it was showing the homestay is just across, I told him just take a turn instead of going ahead. Just then, I noticed a board showing the way. So, we went first, as the other car followed the google map and was helped by Ramji by sending a person to show the way. It is very difficult in the night and if you are new in these areas.

Meriya Nature Zone is a homestay and bookings can be made through personal contacts. It is yet to be on internet. The homestay is very good with basic amenities. As mobile network is available, no worries about internet connection. Ekal Rann is nearby and the full moon with Rann in background is something to be experienced. For bird lovers, the homestay itself is a heaven as Maharashtra’s state bird Yellow footed Green Pigeon, peacock, red vented bulbul, kingfisher, Domicile’s crane, etc are plenty. Just outside the homestay, there is a water body, where lot of coots, cormorants, ducks, shag, etc can be seen.

Day-5

Ekal Rann

Noel and others went for nearby bird watching where hordes of peacock, common cranes, calves feeding takes place and came back. The other group enjoyed the bird watching and village experience chitchatting under the tree in the homestay. As we have not decided about our further stay at Nakhatrana/Bhuj, Ramji Meriya suggested us Jugal Tiwari at Nakhatrana. We finalised the stay at Nakhatrana, Centre for Desert and Ocean (CEDO) for two nights. In the evening we went to Ekal Rann for sunset and full moon. We saw flamingos and cranes in thousands. The slushy road in between leads to Dholavira but only when it dries. Ramji was telling that due to excessive rains this year, it has not dried up. He also remembered his pioneering effort of bike rally from Ekal to Dholavira and back.

Day-6

Bhuj

After breakfast, we started off to Bhuj, and straight went to Aina Mahal but unfortunately, we reached around 12.30 pm. It is closed between 11.45 am and 3.00 pm. Then, Noel suggested to go to his friend’s hotel (Hotel Annapurna, near Bhid Gate). We thought of getting our RT-PCR done and enquired with Gor and Jugal Tiwari and agreed to do it in Bhuj before proceeding further to Mandvi and then to Nakhatrana. Bhagat lab, Bhuj does the RT-PCR in Bhuj.

Mandvi Beach

We then went to Mandvi beach and spent time. There must be some other point where seagull, spoon bill etc, are plenty. The beach point is very crowded with camel ride, boat ride, joy ride etc. and bustling with lot of people. We were wondering where this corona went?

Reached Moti-Virani village, where CEDO is situated and here came to know about Jugal Tiwari is ex. BNHS person. He was also pleasantly surprised to know about us being BNHS members. The booking at CEDO is through internet only and some times through contacts known to him. In our case Ramji Meriya. No bookings on go and knock.

Day-7

Lakhpat, Narayan Sarovar

Mata-no-Madh, Ashapura Temple

After breakfast, we started for Lakhpat the fort town. On our way we stopped at the Mata-No-Madh Ashapura Temple. This shrine is steeped in antiquity as far as its origin is concerned. Today there is no trace of any ancient records or writings which give any indications of the beginning of worship at this shrine. One fact firmly stands out that this deity was very much there in 9th century AD when the Samma clan of Rajputs from Sindh first entered western, or more correctly, north-western Kutch. They were followed in the later centuries by more families or this clan which eventually established them in the region and one of their line got control of the whole state of Kutch in the beginning of the 16th century. Then we went to Siyot Caves. It is a small Buddhist cave as the name suggests. From Siyot to Lakhpat, the road after passing a village was only bushes and mud road. Though the google map shows it as Siyot-Lakhpat Road, it is a challenge to drive on this road which joins the Gaduli-Lakhpat Road at the end.

Lakhpat

Lakhpat Fort with a walled fort, was an important coastal trade node in the 18th century. At the mouth of the Kori creek, the large fort walls still offer testimony to a short but glorious past. One can climb the fort rampart, the only remaining structure of the fort, and look over at the placid sea. This spot is particularly stunning at sunset. Within the fort walls, also lies a 16th century gurdwara. It is believed that Guru Nanak stopped here twice during his second (1506–1513) and fourth (1519–1521) missionary journey called Udasis. The gurdwara is a soothing spot for travellers. The soft hymns play constantly in the background, as travellers visit the ancient Sikh place of worship to see relics like wooden footwear, palkhi (palanquin), manuscripts and markings of two important heads of Udasi sect. We had prasad at the Gurudwara Langar.

More than 200 years old, the fort is named after Rao Lakha, who ruled in Sindh about the middle of the thirteenth century. It fell to ruins through the century, as trade depleted, and the people in the town migrated to fairer pastures.

Narayan Sarovar

Narayan Sarovar Temple has great spiritual significance. This is one of the 5 holy lakes of Hinduism, along with Mansarovar in Tibet, Pampa in Karnataka, Bhuvaneshwar in Orissa and Pushkar in Rajasthan, and is considered a coveted place for a holy dip. The origin of Narayan Sarovar dates back to the Puranas. It is said that there was a drought in the region, and Lord Vishnu appeared in response to ardent prayers by sages. When he touched the land with his toe, a lake was immediately created, alleviating the locals from their misery. An adjoining temple built by the wife of Maharao Desalji features shrines of Shri Trikamraiji, Laxminarayan, Govardhannathji, Dwarkanath, Adinarayan, Ranchodraiji and Laxmiji. Madhavi was excited to know about Vallabhacharya, who had baithak at this place. She interacted with the pujari of the temple to know more about it.

A short drive from here, the Koteshwar Mahadev Temple is a grand sandstone structure that overlooks a marshy sea. Shrines dedicated to Shiva and Ganesha are the highlights here. Koteshwar Temple, at a place where the immensity of dry land meets the incomprehensible vastness of the sea. It is the last outpost of human construction and the temple at the westernmost limit of India. The story of Koteshwar begins with Ravana, who won a boon from Lord Shiva for an outstanding display of piety. This boon was the gift of a Shiva linga of great spiritual power, but which Ravana, in his arrogant haste, accidentally dropped and it fell to earth at Koteshwar. To punish Ravana for his carelessness, the linga turned into a thousand identical copies (some versions of the story say ten thousand, some a million; suffice to say it was quite a lot.) Unable to distinguish the original, Ravana grabbed one and departed, leaving the original one here, around which Koteshwar Temple was built. Visitors can see the temple, walk along the beach and on a clear night, even see the glow of light from Karachi, Pakistan, on the north-western horizon. One more observation was that the flag is so long that it touches almost the sides. Never seen temple flag so long.

On our way back, we were looking for the tropic of cancer line which we could not find while going. To our delight, we found the board but the markings on the road is not at all visible may be due to asphalting of roads and ignorance of the contractor who laid the road.

We skipped going to Nirona village for award winning rogan artistes, bell makers, Lacquer works due to paucity of time.

Day-8

We started after our breakfast for Vadodara. Wait. Jugal Tiwari wanted to show us his fossil collections which was spellbound. He explained patiently and offered his help those students for their academic purpose. He also showed us the bell works and rogan art which he sells to guests as promotion of cultural appreciation. After exchanging pleasantries, we left for Biren’s house. The drive was a long one. We took a different route in which the road was not at all good as compared to arterial roads. Hence, we reached Vadodara at least 30-40 minutes after they reached. Noel went to his daughter in law’s place. We had a on the go Vadodara darshan in Biren’s vehicle. Meera Madam revisited her student days. We purchased some sweets and savouries for our contacts and colleagues in Mumbai. Else you will be stuck for response for it will be like Returned and had dinner at Biren’s house.

Day-9

Left early around 7 am. Biren dropped Commander and Meera at the designated spot to meet Noel. Transferred the luggages accordingly. Off we went to Dandi.

Dandi

The 'National Salt Satyagraha Memorial', Dandi, is conceived as an experiential journey recreating the spirit and the energy of the 1930 Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi and 80 of his fellow Satyagrahis, taking the visitors to the Monument step-by-step in order to visualize and understand the history of the historic Salt March and the methodology of Satyagraha, which finally led to India’s Independence. As Noel asked us to visit his factory at Vasai, off we went from Dandi to Vasai. We reached first and was waiting who joined after half an hour. Noel showed us his factory and his award-winning instruments. We said good-bye with lot of memories of the fascinating trip. Dropped Meera Madam at her place and returned to Kalyan west at sunset.

Note:

In view of Corona, we followed the safe procedure like wearing mask always when stepping out, in car, etc.

Did RT-PCR for each person for crossing the state border even though there was no check.

Thanks to Noel and Ashwath our excellent drivers. Commander for a brief change drove a portion of the trip.

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wecityguidecom · 5 years ago

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Upper and Lower Duden Waterfalls of Antalya

Well, everyone loves Antalya but have you ever visited Upper or Lower Duden Waterfall located within the heart of the city? Yeah, probably you did not! Duden Waterfalls are part of the natural beauty of the Antalya and they are almost located in the city centre. That means you can easily visit them in a very short period of time. But first, let me tell you, they are not like the Niagara Falls but worth to see :) Most of the people who are living in Antalya enjoy the joy of the Duden Waterfalls almost every day. Duden Waterfalls located on the two different points over the Duden Stream. Upper Duden Waterfall is located on the northeast part of the city centre, Dudenbasi district (Mahalle) and the Lower Duden Waterfall is located on the south of the Antalya International Airport where the Duden Stream meets with the Mediterranean Sea. There is around 16 km between these two waterfalls. You can start with the upper and end it with the lower.

Upper Duden Waterfall

It is located in Varsak District within the boundaries of Kepez. Upper Duden Water is also mentioned as Iskender Waterfall on a couple of other sources because of the history of the region. The source of the waterfall comes from karst springs located very close to the 30th km of the Antalya-Burdur roads 28th km. The regions are the Pinarbasi and Kirkgozler. This stream disappears in the subalpine sinkhole for around 15 km and came to the surface once more at the end of the Varsak region and then it will deep to the underground again. Actually it is quite a good route to track if you are a good tracker. And finally, Upper Duden Waterfall is the place that this stream comes to the surface once on a beautiful and relaxing point! Even on the driest days, the water flow reaches to the 10 cubic meter that reaches to the waterfall. The maximum flow rate is around 90 to 100 cubic meters per second. This stream also feeds the Kepez hydroelectric power plant which produces a high amount of electricity. Upper Duden Waterfall is open for visiting every day between 08.00 to 19.00 during the summer season and 08.00 to 18.00 during the winter season. The address of the Upper Duden Waterfall is the Düdenbaşı Mahallesi 21. Cadde Kepez/Antalya. You can check its location from this link.

Are you looking for a peaceful and relaxing place? (Source)

Lower Duden Waterfall

As I told you above you can start the day at the Upper Duden Waterfall and end it on the Lower Duden Waterfall. However, if you start the day early you can end the at the Karpuzkaldiran Beach where is very close to the Lower Duden. Lower Duden Waterfall is around 8 km away from the Antalya city centre. There is also Duden Park very next to the waterfall where you can chill, enjoy, eat, drink and watch the panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. The address of the Upper Duden Waterfall is the Çağlayan, Lara Lara Caddesi No: 457, 07230 Muratpaşa/Antalya. You can check its location from this link.

How to Go to the Duden Waterfalls?

If you have your own car or rented o one just enter the address I wrote above to GPS and drive directly to one of the waterfalls. If you are looking for public transport option luckily you have one. You can use the Antray T3 line to go to the Upper Duden Waterfall. The tram stop is not very next to the entrance of the waterfall but it is very close to it. You need to get off at the Selale tram station and it is located on the Suleyman Demirel Avenue. From the Selale tram station, you just need to walk around a kilometre. You can check this link for the route. Trams in Antalya operates between 06.00 to 01.00 during the with short interval on rush-hours. The easiest way to go to the Lower Duden Waterfall is to the tram once from the Selale Station. After getting in an Antray T3 tram line you need to get off at the Yesilirmak station, 8 stops later. When get off from the tram go to this bus stop. From here get in the FL82 Bus Line and get off at this stop. Welcome to the Duden Park and Waterfall! Enjoy! Please your insights and suggestions about the Upper and Lower Duden Waterfalls to improve the content and quality of this content. Also, feel free to ask questions about the waterfalls or using public transport to go to them. You can read more about places in Turkey from the WeCityGuide | Turkey section. Read the full article

#DudenWaterfalls #LowerDuden #UpperDuden

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2wheelrubbertramp · 7 years ago

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Poco A Poco

I’ve reached a personal milestone : this will be my first blog entirely written on the keyboard of my “smart phone”. So grab your seats, and hold on kids : 2 Wheel Rubber Tramp is back ! This newest installment comes to you from the back roads and crowded highways of Colombia and Ecuador, where I’ll be cycling for two months. Now, before we start I would like to make an Honorable Mention to the great people and nation of Cuba, where I did a 1,000 mile, one month bike tour of in 2016, but neglected it horribly on this blog. My apologies. The nation and people are amazing and their friendliness, generosity, and strength in dealing with continuing to exist after 60 years of crippling sanctions and low-level war from the US is hearthwarming. Now,onto South Amerika. This entry of my rubber tramping adventures begins in Bogota, Colombia - the capital city - 8 million people living 8,000 feet up on top of the Andes Cordillera Oriental range. Bogota is a city constantly on the move : in the street and on the sidewalks. If you want to move, then you must follow the maze of humans winding through each other. Before I began my ride, I’d wanted to spend a few days in Bogota. I’d booked a bed at at Chocolate Hostel in the Candaleria neighborhood of the city. A bit of a stereotype, as it’s where many gringos land when they come to the city. However, it’s also in the center of the city and the oldest and most beautiful part of Bogota. I immediately did not regret it. I spent 5 days in Bogota, walking from one end of the city to the other for 8 or 10 hours a day. My favorite thing to do in large foreign cities is simply to walk, take photos, visit museums, and learn about where I am. I am a life time student of history , culture and political movements. These things and the natural beauty of our planet earth are the passions that have driven me to see the world all these years, preferably slowly and by two wheels. I visited several museums in Bogota : the Military Museum (Museo Militar), which did an excellent job of not mentioning a single war crime committed by the army during the last 30 years of the Drug War; the Gold Museum (Museo De Oro)- I’m not a fan of gold. I don’t get excited by gold. It’s a shinny metal to me, that’s it. But the Gold Museum was much more than that. It tied the history of gold in Colombia to indigenous cultures and ceremonies and the art of hand-making gold pieces,and jewelry by indigenous cultures. Last was the National Museum (Museo Nacional) , which also had several exhibits on indigenous cultures in Colombia and their contributions to modern Colombia. One of the things I enjoy doing when I travel is learn as much about the culture I’m in while I’m there so I read as much as possible about them and visit historical landmarks and museums. Cuba was no different. I’m a history nerd. I’m also a nerd about seeing the world through a perspective and lens is not Western or Colonialist, so I appreciated that these museums showed that perspective. In my daily walks around Bogota I tried to get a feel for the city. The aguacate sellers with their speakers on repetitive blast, the hundreds of displaced homeless wanderers and beggars sleeping on sidewalks and hustling spare change, old Colombian men gathered in circles shouting above the traffic. The traffic, the endless and ongoing traffic and the the thousands bicyclists who maneuvered through it. Bogota has hundreds of miles of bike paths and the most bikers I’d seen outside of a Western country. And better bikes than any city I’d been to in Asia. There was the wealthy side of the city in the north that was talked about in the guidebooks, with it’s expensive shopping malls and dance clubs, yet no mention of the millions living in crumbling poverty in the neglected south side of the city. Everyone had a hustle - and many hustled on the street - selling jewelry, karaoke, gum. Whatever put food in their mouths. Always people on the street. Things I wanted to happen in Bogota before I left , didn’t . I wanted to see some live music but it seemed like all the shows were north, 80 blocks away. I wanted to stock up on Cumbia vinyl but shipping it home cost half my plane ticket. I know - first world problems in the ‘developing world’. I left Bogota on a high note : Ciclovia Day - each Sunday when major streets are blocked to traffic and thousands of families come out onto the streets on bikes, roller skates, skateboards and on foot. I followed the trail on one of the bike paths that led me out of the city, my cargo biked loaded with too much food and too many bike parts. 8,000 feet up I began my decent down the Occidental range of the Andes, through suburbia and factorylandia, stopped for lunch in the first town outside Bogota - Fakatativa and by nightfall I’d found a forgetful hotel in the town of Alban. Next morning I woke at 5am ready to get off this mountain. I knew there’d be another. And another after that. Fuck, all of Colombia was mountains where I was and I’d decided a long time ago I hated biking over mountains yet here I was, 8,000 feet and going down. But every biker knows - what goes down, must come up. So for now, I was just enjoying the beauty and the view on Day 1 of the ride. From up here you could see across the valley, cut through by the Magdalena River and my future: the long haul up the Andes Cordilleria Central range. 13,000 feet up peaked with volcanos in the Los Nevados National Park coming in at 17,000 feet. Snow capped and feeding 37 rivers . That’s what I’d be facing in the days to come. Day 2 was also merciful : coming down out of the Occidentals into the town of Cambao I road another 50 kms (30 miles) of flat, tree-lined road. I found a spot for the night in Armero at a gas station that doubled as a hotel. On the map, it’s labeled “Armero Tragedy” and later I was to find out why: 20+ years previously one of the volcanos in Los Nevados erupted, killing 20,000 people in Armero. All that was left now was this gas station at a crossroads and the now ghost town of Armero half a mile away. From Armero I rode to Mariquita. And from there it started to hurt. Only my 3rd day of riding, and I was to begin an ascent that took me took me 50 miles uphill into the Andes Cordilleria Central range , cresting at 4,000 meters (13,100ft). I loaded up on some tamales before the climb but it wasn’t much help. The traffic was rough- two lane mountains roads with an unending stream of semis, buses, motorbikes,and diesel fumes. I was already having to walk before the end of the day, I found it so hard to breathe. I hadn’t done a bike trip this hard in 2 years, since Cuba, and so I was still acclimating, and not doing it very well. By nightfall, I’d gone only ten miles up. There were no hotels up here so I just posted up in front of someone’s home on the side of the road. There was no bushwacking to be had : the hills were too steep so I had no woods to go into so I was stuck on the side of the road, exposed to traffic and fumes. The family who’s home I put my tent in front of was nice enough to pro-active give me permission. The man there had been on crutches for 9 years and still didn’t know what was wrong with him ! ugh. And it was a hard night : a pouring rain soaked me inside the tent and a never ending parade of headlights, horns, and air pollution kept me on edge. Many of the families who live on this road sleep within feet of this every night. There is no quiet. I never heard silence for more than 30 seconds while on this stretch. I can’t imagine what spending your life living next to a freeway does to your psyche. Day 4 : the view is spectacular. I can see miles and miles down the length of the Andes. Forested mountain sides with cloud banks blowing in around me. Shacks made of tar paper and wood hanging on the sides of cliffs, and families with two cows and several chickens. Colombian rural poverty. For some, this well paved road only brought more noise and danger. Every has a dog and every dog chases you as you pass by. The air is so thin I can only go 100 meters at a time before I feel like I’m going to have a hear attack and have to rest. Poco a poco - little by little, I keep telling myself. The beauty of these mountains makes up for the fact that it takes me an hour to go half a mile. I just can’t do it, but have no choice. I have to rest every 3 minutes, the air is so thin. Periodically, there’ll be a home that sells cheese and instant coffee and bananas and I’ll stop and catch my breath. Everyone gives me the thumbs up - they know I’m crazy. But all these fools coming from Bogota take the night bus and miss the unending miracles of these mountains so I count my suffering as the trade-off for this rare treat. That said, when I arrive in the small , regional town of Fresno I hunt around for a bus that will take me and the bike. I still have 84 kms (50 mi.) to my endpoint: the city of Manizales, and don’t believe my lungs can take it. But all the buses are too small and so I have two options left : ditch the bike and end this bike tour 5 days in or sick it up and keep going - Poco a poco. I go with poco a poco. I start each day at 5am. The sun sets at 5pm, so I have a solid 12 hours of daylight to get as far as I can. On a flat road, I could do 80 miles a day but up here at 10 or 12,000 ft I’m clocking in 25 miles on a good day. As far as humans go - everyone is generous and helpful and encourage me along the way. No one tries to stop or discourage me. I’m not the first Crazy Gringo on this mountain top. I just wish they wouldn’t constantly try to murder me out of neglect with their blocks of metal on wheels. That’s all. I spend another wet night behind a guard rail. My books are getting wet, most of my clothes, the tent. It’s a mad house. I pray for 430am when the sun starts to peak out and I can crawl my cold, wet as out of the tent. Day 5 and I’m still in paradise. Cloud banks drift in and out through out the day. Cows,hang by hoofs on the sides of bright green slopes. I can’t stop staring. The fact that this is actually three different mountain ranges - the Occidental, Central and Oriental Andes that stretch for 4,500 miles - the longest mountain range in the world. It’s as long as NYC to Los Angeles and then LA to Houston. So I’m really just absolutely nothing up here. I’m completely insignificant and matter not at all. That’s just how incredible this one tiny part of the planet called Earth we live on is. Ya know, for some perspective. And by the end of the 5th day, I’d finally made it to that 13,100 foot point, which meant the entire next day was my sweet , sweet reward of 20 miles of pure, raw freedom. AKA in biker language : All. Down. Hill.

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bigyack-com · 5 years ago

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India’s biggest detention camp nears completion - india news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim in a speech on December 22 that no detention camps existed in India whipped up a bit of a political storm in New Delhi, triggering allegations and counter-allegations by the ruling dispensation and the opposition.Oblivious to the political back and forth, workers are trying to finish the construction of India’s biggest detention centre in Assam. Spread over 25 bighas, the detention centre, being constructed at a cost of Rs 46 crores, is located at Matia in Goalpara, 129 km from Guwahati, and will be able to house 3,000 inmates. “We were to finish construction this month, but due to suspension of work during monsoon, we got delayed. My concern is to get the raw materials on time to finish construction soon,” said Mukesh Basumatary, one of the senior workers at the site.Modi’s statement at a Delhi rally came in the context of the debate currently underway over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which seeks to fast-track grant of Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis and Jains from the Muslim-majority countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Modi said “the Congress, its friends, and some urban Naxals are spreading rumours that all Muslims will be sent to detention centres”.In Matia, Basumatary, who belongs to Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, and his team are erecting housing quarters at the detention centre, which will have 15 four-storey structures, each able to house 200 inmates.Work on the detention centre started in December. Besides the housing quarters, the facility, which is surrounded by 20-22 feet high boundary walls, will contain a staff quarters, hospital, school, an office complex, kitchen and dining and community space.In another part of the compound, Mohammed Rafiq and his team are busy giving finishing touches to a toilet complex. There are six toilet blocks, each has 15 toilets and an equal number of bathrooms. To cater to the construction workers and the steady stream of visitors to the facility, a couple of makeshift tea shops have sprung up nearby. Local residents are hopeful that the facility will generate employment for them.“Since the centre has been constructed close to our village, we expect that the fourth-grade jobs would go to our youth,” said Bipul Kalita, a local resident.According to state government officials who didn’t want to be quoted, construction of most of the housing quarters would be over by March; inmates of other detention centres in the state would be shifted here initially.Plans are underway to construct 10 such detention centres in Assam, where an exercise to update the National Register of Citizens this year excluded over 1.9 million people — 6% of the state’s population. The Other CentresBesides the one under construction, Assam has six other detention centres (at Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Silchar), set up inside district jails between 2009 and 2015 on the direction of the Gauhati high court to house those declared foreigners by the 100 foreigners tribunals (FTs) in the state—till they are deported or released.“Detention centres were set up under order of the Gauhati HC. The Prime Minister is correct when he says that the central government hasn’t constructed any detention centre,” said senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier this week.Congress leader and former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi agrees that the detention centres inside jails were set up under HC orders during his tenure, but says Modi lied about construction of new detention centres.“In 2018, Narendra Modi government at Centre sanctioned ~46 crore for constructing the largest detention centre at Matia in Goalpara district. Suddenly he says there is no detention centre,” said Gogoi on Friday.As per government records, from 1985 (when the Assam Accord was signed) till October 2019, nearly 129,000 people have been declared foreigners by FTs. Around 73,000 of them have gone missing and have not been deported or kept in detention.According to Assam government records, until November 2019, a total of 988 people were lodged in the six detention centres. While 957 of them were declared foreigners, 31 were children lodged along with their mothers. Since 2016 until October 2019, 28 detainees have died.Inmates of these centres are those who were marked D-voters (doubtful voters without proof of citizenship) in electoral rolls and those suspected to be foreigners by the state police. These people have to approach FTs to prove citizenship, failing which they are sent to detention centres.Though 1.9 million people didn’t find their names in the final NRC, they are not being kept in detention centres. They would have to approach FTs to prove citizenship, and might be kept in detention centres if they fail. Assam is setting up 200 more FTs, in addition to the existing 100.“At present there are 366 inmates in Goalpara district jail. Of them 184 are those who have been declared foreigners by FTs and are lodged in a different section. Since a Supreme Court order allowed conditional bail to ‘declared foreigners’ who have been lodged for over three years, we released 56 detainees,” said AR Phukan, jail superintendent.Life inside a detention centreLife in a detention camp isn’t easy. Mohammad Sanaullah, a retired Army veteran who spent 11 days inside one earlier this year before getting bail, agrees.Sanaullah, who had served the Indian Army for 30 years before retiring in 2017, was declared a non-citizen by an FT on May 23 and sent to the detention camp five days later. The 52-year-old was released after he was granted interim bail by the Gauhati HC.“Nearly 40-45 people are crammed inside one room. We had to sleep on the floor, the food was inedible and the toilets were dirty. Mornings started with one roti and stale tea without milk or sugar, for lunch there used to be stale rice, watery dal and one subzi and a similar routine was followed for dinner,” he said.“When family members come to visit, we had to talk to them from inside an iron grill while they stayed 5-6 feet away behind a fence. It was my fate that I had to spend time in detention despite being an Indian,” he said.In January, the Union home ministry issued a manual for detention centres stating that living standards inside should be in consonance with “human dignity”. It stipulated that rooms should be airy, well-lit and hygienic and equipped with water, electricity and communication facilities.It called for open spaces for detainees to move around, detention of family members in one facility, and special attention to the needs of women, nursing mothers and transgenders.“We have tried to improve facilities in our detention centre. Two months ago all inmates were moved to a newly constructed building. The quality of food has improved and we haven’t witnessed hunger strikes in recent months. The SC order to give conditional bail to those who have spent three years has also given hope to those lodged,” said Goalpara district jail superintendent Phukan.While life is tough for those lodged inside detention centres, their family members also have to go through difficult times. Kabita Kalita Mondal who travelled all the way from Guwahati to Goalpara on Friday along with her 10-year-old daughter to meet her husband Mrinal, who was lodged inside, says “We have no idea how my husband ended up here. My life has been shattered.”Hailing from West Bengal, Mondal, was running a grocery shop in Guwahati when his name figured as a D-voter. Following a trial, he was declared a foreigner and sent to Goalpara detention centre in August this year. Read the full article

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travel200899 · 6 years ago

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Sitting in our cozy accommodation back in Nordagota which seems more and more like home, I am going over the gazillion of pictures I have taken of this beautiful, by far the least touched by tourists, vacation destination of our choice. The view from the window is that of the towering green hill, where the farmer limps over with his bucket of feed to entice the sheep to come close to him. His border collie isn’t allowed in, so he circles around the thin metal wire fence till he gets gestured over to either come in, or go around the fence, to round up the stubborn set of sheep. I will miss waking up to this but the memories have all been recorded in the tiny sandisk.

I had started by penning down all the places we were visiting and what to see there, but then what are books for? Internet has all the available information at our fingertips, leaving little for us to actually discover. We walk around with Lonely Planet in our hands making sure that we don’t miss out on anything but in reality all we are doing is re-living someone else’s research and taking pictures of the same pictures we find in these books. I am guilty of doing the same. Of taking pictures but not really reading too much related to useful information, that would make me very smart. Let’s be real here!

Meeting the family hosting us and interacting with them and their 3 kids has been the highlight of my trip. Jon is a musician by trade and his lovely wife Elisabeth works as quality control in a fishing plant. Both Jon and Elisabeth are extremely knowledgeable in their respective trades and provided us with unforgettable conversations. This island still has that innocence which is non existent elsewhere on this planet. The trust is alive here. I hope it stays this way. Change is inevitable but this remote group of Islands have preserved it and am positive will continue to do so in the years to come. Fire Pro and his youtube channel will keep us informed regarding the happenings in this part of the world.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VylZ9jpOcIQ)

Flovin, the name of the creator of the youtube channel, is only 10 years of age but a gifted musician, like his dad. He can simply on hearing an instrument play tell what note it’s playing. He has two sisters ( twins) Sunneva and Elna. One of his sisters is a gifted fisherwoman like their mother. She is only 8 and can scoop up a fish with her bare hands right from the stream. Impressive! She also knows how to give a real good funeral to the departing souls.

Featuring – RIP Trout

There seems to be a job available for every kid here. They know the meaning of work and don’t shy away from the challenge. For eg, The Old School Cafe in Hvannasund.

This is a community run cafe and they are proud of it, as they should be. The cafe is actually the old school where a lot of locals and their parents studied. It goes back to 1932. A challenge was put forth to the community to come up with an idea for the now redundant school. All ideas were put through and the best idea won. That idea was to turn the school into a functioning cafe. There isn’t any formal advertisement except for an active facebook page, but you would need to know of this place to be able to stumble upon their facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/oldschoolhvannasund/ Address: 31 Sundsvegur, Hvannasund 740, Faroe Islands

The day we visited, a young girl, probably around 11, max 12, was taking care of the register and ringing in the orders. I got talking to Myrna, a working professional and also a volunteer at the cafe, who studied at this school, just like her mother. The kids during their summer holidays pitch in and are paid for their time. The Old school cafe hosts the same old blackboard from the years past, along with the map of the world, as old as the school. People from the village have their knit-ware displayed for sale. A great interest is shown in knowing how the visitors get to hear of the cafe.. in our case, since we like to probe into every remote bit we stumbled upon it simply by chance. Whoever their baker is, I have to say I have never tasted such delicious chocolate cake in my life, made perfect with the combination of Vanilla ice-cream. They had me raving!

Immigrating to the Faroes is easy for the people of the Nordic countries but more and more Asians are finding their way over to this remote part of the world which one would wonder, how it is possible? We met May in Torshavn. She runs the Matstovan Seven restaurant, on the road leading to Skansin. She has been living in the Faroe Islands for the last 10 years and is married to a Faroese man.

https://www.facebook.com/MatstovanSeven Address: 21 Yviri við Strond, Tórshavn 100, Faroe Islands

May is from the little town of Haikou. The food served her is delicious but besides that the welcome you get from May is warm, caring and friendly. She has not only adopted the Faroese way of life, language but her own sweet mannerism has probably been amplified 10 times over thanks to the place she calls home. She spoke of her grandmother who is known in her hometown of Haikou to make tea and food for the weary passerby’s. She had me at that. I need to go to China now.

We will call him PJ. The Mccafe, in Saltangará is run by a Bangladeshi gentleman who, like May is married to a Faroese national. PJ met his wife in the UK while studying there. He has been living in the Faroe Islands for the past 17 years and agrees that it is a very beautiful place to live in, people are very nice and humble and there is trust amongst them. His sister lives in Canada and so he had been to the city we live in. Like May, his mannerism was quite similar to how the Faroese people are. Extremely polite, hate saying no, you literally say no for them, and very very friendly.

https://www.facebook.com/saltangara/posts_to_page/ Address : 44 Heiðavegur, Saltangará 600, Faroe Islands

It’s amusing how this blog is supposed to be about the Faroe Islands, but people make a place memorable with the experience they leave you with. On the same token, we will never forget the encounter with the famous Angry Farmer of Saksun. Jon had warmed me of the angry farmer but we never thought we would get the chance to be on the receiving end of his wrath. He is infamous for it, and basks in that negative attention he gets for fighting for his ” lost” cause. In his defence, we were completely in the wrong by being on his land, but then how else could we have met him, spying from his bedroom window- that was at least 2 kms away, sneaking up on us in his battered red van, marching down in his bottle green wellies, with a purpose in mind?

Perfect depiction of the Angry farmer and US—-> the sheep

Faroe Islands you have shown us beauty in its real form, you have proven that heaven is a place on earth, the place as pure and rich in natural beauty and human beings as kind as you only ever hope for. All this is true. All this is real.

Visit Faroe Islands.

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Nothing like it : Faroe Islands Sitting in our cozy accommodation back in Nordagota which seems more and more like home, I am going over the gazillion of pictures I have taken of this beautiful, by far the least touched by tourists, vacation destination of our choice.

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microsstinatir-blog · 6 years ago

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Hiking the Greenstone Caples Track – a great alternative for the Routeburn Track

Welcome to this article about the Greenstone & Caples Track. If you have come to this article to read more about this amazing hike, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve written a complete hiking guide of the Greenstone Caples Track for you below and hope you’ll find it useful. I’ve hiked this trail in 2018 and a few weeks later I hiked The Routeburn Track for the second time in my life. Even though I have to admit that the Routeburn Track is stunning, the Greenstone Caples Track proved to be a worthy alternative for the Routeburn Track. It’s almost as scenic, much cheaper, way less crowded and well worth your time. So sit down, relax and enjoy my article below.

How I got to know about the Greenstone Caples Track

Ever since my first visit to New Zealand back in 2002 I knew I’d come back in the future. It took a while, but I returned in 2011 and again in 2018. The latter two trips were mostly dedicated to hiking New Zealand’s famous trails. In 2011 I mostly hiked The New Zealand Great Walks but on my most recent trip, I decided to get off the beaten path a bit more and explore some lesser known trails. I had already hiked The Routeburn Track and The Kepler Track back in 2011 and was now looking for some alternatives that would be less crowded but as scenic. A few years ago, a New Zealand friend of mine, who actually lives nearby my hometown in The Netherlands, pointed out to me that the Greenstone Caples Track is a great alternative to the famous Routeburn Track but less the crowds. I immediately wrote that down in my notebook with ‘hikes I want to make one day’ and knew that during my next trip to New Zealand, this one would be on the top of my hiking list, together with the Angelus Hut hike in Nelson Lakes National Park. This is how I found out about the Greenstone & Caples Tracks (which can in fact also be hiked separately) and when spending three months in New Zealand in 2018 I knew this was going to be my number 1 bucket list item. Planning a trip to New Zealand? Make sure to also read my complete travel guide for New Zealand here!

About the Greenstone Caples Track

If you wish to hike the full round, the Greenstone Caples Track is 4 days in length. Department of Conservation classifies it as an easier tramping track, meaning that it’s a generally well formed tack for comfortable overnight tramping/hiking trips. You cannot book the huts beforehand and need to purchase a Backcountry Hut Pass or Backcountry Hut Tickets beforehand, which you can do for example at the DOC Office in Queenstown. The DOC Huts on this track are serviced in summer months, have mattresses and running water. You’ll need to bring your own food, cooking material, sleeping bag and anything else you may need on this trip. As opposed to the Great Walks, stoves are not provided so you’ll need to carry those as well. The Greenstone Caples Track will take you through two valleys and is a loop walk, so you’ll eventually get back to the trailhead, unless you decide to combine this trail with the Routeburn Track. The trailhead is at Greenstone Road End, 86 kilometers from Queenstown. As I wanted to get an early start I decided to stay overnight in nearby Glenorchy which is about an hour from the Greenstone Road End. The trail is generally well marked and not too difficult. I solo-hiked it and found it rather easy compared to other mult-day hikes in New Zealand. There were some minor unbridged stream crossings along the way as well as some knee-deep mud sections, but nothing major to worry about.

How to get to the Greenstone Track

Before I’ll give you a detailed day to day description as well as alternative hikes, I’ll tell you more about how to get to the Greenstone and Caples Track. Most trampers will start this hike from the Greenstone Road End, along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. You can also start from the Howden Hut on the Routeburn Track, but more on that later at the alternative routes section. If you are driving, then it’s 86 kilometers from Queenstown or 35 kilometers from Glenorchy. From Queenstown it’s about a two hours drive, from Glenorchy one hour. The majority of the road past Glenorchy is on a gravel road and past Kinloch there will be various rivers to ford. If you have a rental vehicle, make sure to check whether you are insured for river crossings, most likely you won’t be though. While I drove it on the way over to the Greenstone Road End the crossings were okay, however on the way back it got a bit more trickier as it had been raining and the fords got wider and deeper. In case of heavy rain, the fords may become impassable. If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can use the service of a track transport operation service such as Info & Track who have organized transport all around Queenstown. I have not personally used them so cannot recommend them from my own experience, however they are advertised on the Greenstone Caples Track brochure by DOC.

In which direction should you hike the Greenstone & Caples Tracks?

Since the main track is a loop track, you can hike it either way. However, I ran into a guy who had hiked it before and he advised me to hike it anti-clockwise, so starting with the Caples Valley. This is the narrower one whereas the Greenstone Valley is wider. As I wanted to take advantage of the good weather I had, I decided to stick to his suggestion. The track is also described by DOC this way, however there is no need to walk it anti clock-wise. Below you will find a detailed day-to-day description of my hike!

Day 1: Greenstone Road end to Mid Caples Hut (2-3 hrs, 9 km)

Day one of the Greenstone Caples Track leads you along the Caples River. In this part of the valley you’ll find a lot of stock so don’t feel worried if you feel something is looking at you. After you’ve passed the confluence of the Greenstone and Caples Rivers, follow the Caples Track to your right. The trail will stick to the bush edge most of the time but in some parts, you’ll walk along with the cows in the grassy parts. Tip: do not forget to look behind you every now and then. The views of the mountains behind you are truly stunning and turned out to be some of the best views of the whole track. The walk to Mid-Caples Hut is relatively short (it took me about 3 hours, the mentioned 2 hours are rather fast I’d say) plus time for pictures. After the first two hours it became cloudy but luckily I had already enjoyed some amazing views. Just before you get to the hut, you’ll cross an incredibly scenic gorge with bright blue water. I decided to first drop my gear at the hut and head back to the gorge for pictures later, as I wanted to make sure I’d had a bed for the night. It actually turned out to be pretty quiet at the hut, there eventually were less than 10 people for the evening. Note: the location of the hut is incredibly scenic, however the sandflies are a pain. If you decide to head out after your arrival, cover your arms and legs and be prepared for a sandfly attack!

Day 2: Mid Caples to McKellar Hut (6-7 hrs, 22 km)

The only (somewhat) alpine section of the Greenstone Caples Track awaits you on day two, when you cross McKellar Saddle into the next valley. I started my day early as this is generally a rule when I hike solo without cell phone connection (read more here about tips for safe solo hiking as a female). The first section of today’s hike will take you through the forest and you’ll gradually climb up to McKellar Saddle. From here the views are stunning, I had overcast but I can imagine it’s even more beautiful on a clear day. As the saddle pretty much marks the half way point of day 2, I decided to grab lunch here. The majority of the walk on the saddle is on boardwalks in order to protect the fragile nature. The highest point is at 945 mts and after the saddle you’ll gradually walk down to the Greenstone Valley floor. Just before McKellar Lake you’ll get to a junction, from here you can hike to the Howden Hut on the Routeburn Track (more on that below) or McKellar Hut, the final destination for today. DOC describes the McKellar Hut as one hour away from the track junction, however it took me a little longer. Once again the views are amazing and the location of the hut is awesome.

Day 3: McKellar Hut to Greenstone Hut (6 – 7 hrs, 18 km)

You’ve now reached the Greenstone Valley which is much wider than the Caples Valley. The hike from McKellar Hut to Greenstone Hut is across the bottom of the valley and stunning all the way. There’s a few minor rivers to be crossed as well as an old landslide you’ll walk across. The Greenstone Hut is a 10 minute walk away from the track and is quite a but busier than the huts for the previous nights, since people who hike the Te Araroa Track (New Zealand’s long distance tramp) can also overnight here. I arrived at the Greenstone Hut mid afternoon and spent an awesome few hours enjoying the sunshine and overlooking the amazing views in the distance. Note that the hut was full well by the middle of the afternoon so arriving early is wise.

Day 4: Geenstone Hut to Greenstone Road end (3-5 hrs, 12 km)

I woke up after a rainy night and decided to quickly pack my bags and hike the final section of the Greenstone Caples Track. The first part of the hike was quite dry and led me through the forest most of the time. Slip Flat is a large open area and according to the track brochure, there should be an emergency bridge to cross the creek. The creek indeed turned out to be rather large so I decided to find the emergency bridge upstream. It seemed like there was a trail afterwards, but somehow I lost it and I got a bit confused. If you decide to go for the emergency bridge, my suggestion for you is to follow the creek back to the original track rather than trying to find your own way. There were many ‘sort of trails’ which I thought were right but eventually it took me quite a while to find the main trail back. I later realized they may have been stock tracks which confused me. The final part was rainy and wet and I decided to hike quickly back to my car, as I wanted to make sure to get out in case the rivers on the Greenstone Road would become impassable (I was a bit worried as I didn’t have vehicle with high clearance and there’s no cell phone connection in the area). If the weather would have been good, I’d have done the additional walk to Lake Rere but given the downpour, I figured it wouldn’t be worth it in the end. After I got back to my car I changed into a dry outfit and decided to hit the road in order to get the crossings over and done with. Two of them had become rather deep and I was glad I got through them okay.

Greenstone Caples Track Map and Brochure

You can pick up a copy of the Greenstone Caples Track Map and Brochure at the Queenstown DOC office. They will also be able to provide you will all necessary information regarding the track as well as potential closures etc. You don’t really need a topographical map as the track is well marked with orange poles and signs in some places. Other than losing the track for a moment after the emergency bridge, I found it rather easy to find. With the Routeburn Track becoming more and more popular, I heard this is becoming a more hiked alternative for the Routeburn Track as it doesn’t require advance reservations and staying at the huts is cheaper than the Great Walk Huts.

Routeburn Greenstone Track

It’s possible to combine the Greenstone track with a section of the Routeburn Track. If you wish to do so from the Greenstone Valley, my suggested itinerary would be: Day 1: Greenstone Road End – Greenstone Hut Day 2: Greenstone Hut – McKellar Hut Day 3. McKellar Hut – Howden Hut or onwards to The Divide Day 4: Howden Hut – Lake Mackenzie Hut (you can also combine day 3+4 into one long day) Day 5: Lake Mackenzie Hut – Routeburn Falls Hut Day 6: Routeburn Falls Hut – Routeburn Shelter Note that reservations for all huts on the Routeburn Track are required and need to be made well in advance. I hiked it in March 2018 and booked it in November 2018 and most of the spots were already booked up.

Lake Mackenzie on the Routeburn Track

Routeburn Caples Track

You may also combine the Routeburn Track with the Caples Track. In this case, my recommended route would be:

Day 1: Greenstone Road End – Mid Caples Hut Day 2: Mid Caples Hut – Howden Hut Day 3: Howden Hut – Mackenzie Hut Day 4: Mackenzie Hut – Routeburn Falls Hut Day 5: Routeburn Falls Hut – Routeburn Shelter If you wish to end at The Divide, you can overnight in Howden Hut and from there hike to The Divide. From here, you can catch a bus back to Queenstown or combine it with an excursion to Milford Sound like me and my friend did when we hiked the Routeburn Track.

Things to consider when hiking the Greenstone & Caples Track

As I mentioned, it’s a generally easy multi-day tramp if you are an experienced hiker and are physically fit. Do not forget to pack all I mentioned above as well as raingear, since you are hiking in one of the wettest parts of New Zealand. As it’s way less busy than The Great Walks, you may find yourself alone most of the time. At least, I did. If you’d like to hike in solitude, your best bet is to get up early before everyone else does. I only ran into a handful of people each day (maybe not even) and would just see other people at night in the huts. If you want to camp on the Greenstone Caples Track, you can do so at along the bush edge and 50 meters from the track. More information and rules for campers can be found on the track brochure.

What’s the weather on the Greenstone Caples Track

This part of New Zealand is among the wettest in the country, meaning that you will most likely get wet. Parts of it lead you through Fiordland National Park, which is known for it’s insane rainfall. During this same trip I also did the Routeburn Track and the Hump Ridge Track, both located in Fiordland National Park and I got soaked to the bone most of the time. I don’t want to discourage you, moreover be realistic. I had two days of sunshine, one day of overcast and one day of rain on the Greenstone Caples Track. Not a bad score if you ask me!

Conclusion and disclaimer

Looking back on this hike, I found it one of the highlights of my most recent trip to New Zealand. The track was incredible scenic, quiet and not too difficult. Yes, the Routeburn may be more famous, but looking back on it, I’d rather to this one again. Note that this blog contains affiliate links and that I may earn a small commission if you decide to buy or book anything through one of these links. This is of course at no extra cost to you.

The post Greenstone Caples Track: a great alternative for The Routeburn Track appeared first on we12travel.com.

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eat-travel-live-repeat · 4 years ago

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A Foodie’s Guide to Bir Billing – The Paragliding Capital of India

Bir is a town situated in the west of Joginder Nagar Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Now popular as the “Paragliding Capital of India“, Bir is likewise a prominent centre for ecotourism, spiritual studies and meditation. Bir is also home to a significant Tibetan refugee settlement with severable known Buddhist Monasteries . While Billing is the take off site for paragliding and Bir is where the landing site is; collectively it is referred to as “Bir Billing”.

In the past few years, Bir has become quite popular with the travellers, specially with those who are living the Digital Nomad Life. Popular hostel chains such as Zostel, The Hosteller, The Bunker etc have opened up properties in Bir, catering to the demand of the growing travellers, and likewise the Cafe culture has also grown and developed in the past 2-3 years.

A lot of creative minds, who chose to escape the city life and move to the mountains, have made Bir their home now! And the fact that there are direct buses plying between Bir and Delhi on a daily basis, has contributed significantly in the growth of tourism in the Paragliding Capital of India.

All these factors have made Bir Billing not only a popular Weekend Getaway destination, but also one of India’s growing Digital Nomad Hotspot.

I was fortunate to have spent around 2 weeks in March 2020 (Before Coronavirus aka COVID – 19 was declared an Pandemic by WHO), in Bir Billing, getting High on Himalayas, with a bunch of amazing people, and trying out different dishes to Eat in Bir Billing, on a daily basis, which helped compile this Bir Billing Food Guide, which mainly highlights what’s special to Eat in the different cafes and restaurants in Bir Billing.

These places have been listed in chronological order, with respect to their location, as you walk from Choughan Chowk towards Landing Site in Bir.

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Steamed and Fried Momos – Ram Bahadur Cafe

If you have a craving Momos, there’s no place better than Ram Bahadur Cafe !

This small ordinary looking food joint, holds a special place in the hearts of everyone who stays in Bir!

They have got Vegetable / Chicken / Mutton as a filling, which can be enjoyed either steamed, or fried. And my recommendation would be the Chicken Fried Momos, with spoonfuls of the yummy spicy chutney!

PS – Their momo chutney is to die for – just yummmm!

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Thukpa and Devil Momo’s – Nyingma Restaurant

Another few steps from Ram Bahadur Cafe towards Gandhi Chowk, and you’ll find Nyingma Hotel – a bright yellow structure, on the Left side of the road.

This will look like one expensive restaurant, because of the plush interiors, but trust me, the rates are pretty economical, and the food tastes yummy.

While the restaurant serves a variety of dishes, I found the Thukpa and the Devil Momos to be the highlights at Nyingma Restaurant. And Ginger Lemon Honey tea of course.

Unlike a lot of places, where the Thukpa turns out to be either bland, or too spicy, the Thukpa here is just perfectly balanced, and pretty heavy too!

Devil Momos are basically fried momos, tossed and served in a spicy garlic gravy.

If you are looking for a place where you can chat with your friends, while having some really sumptuous food, Nyingma Restaurant is the place to be!

TBH, I found this to be one of Bir Billings hidden gems, with respect to this Bir Billing Food Guide ! You will mostly find locals here, rather than the tourists and travellers!

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Hogging on Momos in Bir, be it fried, steamed or the devil momos, will forever remain one of my Most Memorable Experiences in the Himalayas.

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Home Cooked Food – Kuckie’s Cafe

Kuckie’s Cafe deserves a special mention in this Bir Billing Food Guide !

Why ? You may ask ?

Well, ask any one who has been staying in Bir for a while, where they go to when they crave some Home Cooked food, and the answer will be unanimous – Kuckie’s Cafe !

The food served by Kuckie Aunty is simple, but yummy, and not that heavy on the pocket. The moment you step in Kuckie’s Cafe, you’ll feel as if, you’ve entered the living room of your house, and having a few words with Aunty will make you feel at home.

Whether you are looking for a quiet place to read a book, or work, or simply have a conversation – Its very easy to find a spot for yourself at Kuckie’s Cafe.

BTW if you are looking for a place to volunteer, Aunty is always on the lookout for a helping hand.

Yummy Home Cooked Food

Ghar ka Khaana

Kuckie’s Cafe

Hot Chocolate – June16

The strategic location of June16 Cafe, makes it one of the most popular and frequented cafes in Bir Billing, where travellers can be seen throughout the day, sipping a hot beverage like hot chocolate or coffee chatting with other travellers, and Digital Nomads, engrossed in their work, while sipping some yummy Hot Chocolate, which is what I would recommend you to try out as well.

Hot Chocolate @ June 16 Cafe

Vada Pav and Cutting Chai – Bombay Local

If you are craving some authentic and yummy Maharashtrian street food, such as Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji, along with the famed Cutting Chai, Bombay Local is where you should go to.

The Vada Pav is economically priced at INR 40, and will definitely take you back to the streets of Mumbai or Pune.

Vada Pav @ Bombay Local

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Pasta’s and Fresh Green Salads – Paloma Vegan Bistro

Probably the only Cafe in Bir Billing, that caters only to Vegan Food.

Paloma Vegan Bistro serves some really delectable cakes, pastas and fresh salads, which you should definitely try.

Fresh Green Salad @ Paloma Vegan Bistro

Himachali Siddu – The Northern Cafe

The Northern Cafe is one of the best places to catch the famed sunsets of Bir, with a panoramic view of the landing site in front, and the mighty Himalayas on the back.

While the food is a bit pricey here, its one of the few restaurants and cafes in Bir Billing, where you can have the traditional Himachali Siddu. Also to try are the yummy pakoras, while enjoying the sunset.

Also, if you are a Digital Nomad, and are looking for a quiet place to work, I would highly recommend you to make The Northern Cafe, as your workspace during the day, when there aren’t that many travellers present.

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Mint Ice Tea – Musafir – The Traveller’s Cafe

If you are a traveler and are interested in the Indie Music scene, you might be aware about Musicathon Bir. Musafir Cafe is where it all started!

The Mint Ice Tea is sort of a legend, and I highly recommend you try it at Musafir – The Traveller’s Cafe, while enjoying the sunset, with soft Indie Music playing in the background.

If you are an artist, you are going to love the vibes at Musafir Cafe for sure.

I’ve also heard that their chicken curry is also quite sumptuous. So if you happen to stay here post sunset, you might want to check it out.

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South Indian Food – Avva’s Cafe

Strategically located beyond the Landing Site in Bir Billing, overlooking the green terraced fields, Avva’s Cafe, serves the best South Indian Food in Bir Billing. Period.

Yes, dining at Avva’s cafe, will be a bit heavy on the pocket, but the moment you’ll have your first bite, you’ll realise, that its worth every penny.

The idlis are going to melt in your mouth, the sambar is perfectly balanced and is neither too sweet nor too spicy, the coconut chutney is something that you’ll keep asking more and more, the dosas will be crisp with just the right amount of filling. And did I forget to tell that, you’ll get Rasam with kaala chana on the house.

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Avva’s Cafe has one of the Best views in Bir Billing, from where you can see the gliders fly in the sky, all day long.

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Bnoffee Pie – Silver Linings

Another quaint cafe, famous with artists, digital nomads and the local community is the Silver Lining Cafe, just opposite Avva’s Cafe.

What usually happens is that, travellers have a heavy meal at Avva’s Cafe, and then cross the road and make their way to Silver Lining Cafe, where they just chill, connect with other travellers, and enjoy their cup of coffee!

The Bnoffee Pie along with Coffee is what I’ll recommend you to try at Silver Lining.

Bnoffee Pie @ Silver Linings

Anything and Everything – Kaafila

Tucked in the bylanes of Chaughan village, amidst bright yellow fields with the backdrop of snow clad peaks is a quaint cafe named Kaafila – from the streets of Bombay that offers you a slice of Bombay in the mountains.

From the iconic Bombay wada pav to pav bhaji and other mouth watering delicacies of mumbai street food, Kaafila serves it all.

Occasionally, you can find artistic souls creating soothing music or just leaving their footprints behind by painting a part of them on their art wall. Also, on bright sunny days they bake amazing sweet treats too giving you a complete experience of a guilty food trip filled with tons of entertainment as you connect with fellow travellers!

They also host pizza and burger nights, live sports streaming nights, BBQ and bonfire nights and gaming nights where the community of travellers meets and interacts with each other.

Musafir Cafe as mentioned above in this Bir Billing Food Guide, was previously where Kaafila, is today.

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Vegetarian Thaali – Suryansh Bhojnalaya

This is the only place in this Bir Billing Food Guide, which is not near the landing site in Bir Billing, but on the highway from Bir to Palampur. Its 4 – 5 KM from the landing site, and the best way to go there is in a cab / your own vehicle if applicable.

The speciality of Suryansh Bhojnalaya serving only Vegetarian food is the Himachali Thaali and its pretty simple and straightforward affair. The food is sumptuous, healthy, and very economical.

One Thali for INR 150, is sufficient to feed two people, if they are not that hungry.

Himachali Thali @ Suryansh Bhojnalaya

Maggi and Chai – Multiple Places

This goes without saying, that the joy of having piping hot Maggi, while sipping Chai, is an experience thats synonymous with getting High on Himalayas.

Any any trip to the mountains is incomplete, if you haven’t sipped hot Chai, and slurped the Masala Maggi, while enjoying the view of the mighty Himalayas.

Getting Maggi and Chai in the mountains, is very easy, and can be found at multiple places through out Bir Billing, but the ones where you’ll have the best experience, are literally in the lap of the Mountains, away from the town.

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I hope you enjoyed going through this Bir Billing Food Blog, and found it as a useful Travel Resource for your Trip to Bir Billing. Don’t forget to Pin this Bir Billing Food Guide, for your future trip.

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What To Eat and Where to Eat in Bir Billing (Himachal Pradesh, India) | A Food Guide A Foodie's Guide to Bir Billing - The Paragliding Capital of India Bir is a town situated in the…

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vsplusonline · 5 years ago

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Boris Johnson ignores calls to fire advisor accused of breaking COVID-19 rules

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/boris-johnson-ignores-calls-to-fire-advisor-accused-of-breaking-covid-19-rules/

Boris Johnson ignores calls to fire advisor accused of breaking COVID-19 rules

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resisted calls on Saturday from opposition parties to sack senior adviser Dominic Cummings after he traveled 400 km (250 miles) to northern England while his wife showed COVID-19 symptoms.

Cummings, who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum, traveled to Durham in late March, when a strict lockdown was already in place.

READ MORE: Live updates: Coronavirus in Canada

Johnson’s office said Cummings made the journey to ensure his 4-year-old son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19 and there was a “high likelihood” that Cummings would himself become unwell.

“I behaved reasonably and legally,” Cummings told reporters outside his house after telling them to stay 2 meters apart in accordance with government guidelines.

Asked if he would consider his position, he said: “Obviously not.” He then chided reporters for being wrong about the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

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“You guys are probably all about as right about that as you were about Brexit: do you remember how right you all were about that?” Cummings said.

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Ministers voiced support for the senior adviser.

“I can tell you that the PM provides Mr Cummings with his full support,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told reporters, adding that he did not know when the prime minister found out about the journey.

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Downing Street said Cummings’ “actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines” and said the Guardian and the Mirror newspapers, which first reported the story, had made “false allegations.”

READ MORE: Boris Johnson says U.K. COVID-19 lockdown to remain; outlines minor ease of restrictions

“They are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April,” Downing Street said. “We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers.”

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In another, later report, the Daily Mirror said Cummings made a second trip from London during the lockdown and was spotted near Durham on April 19, days after returning to London from his first trip.

Cummings denied making a second trip to his family in Durham during the lockdown, describing the Mirror’s report as “totally false,” the Telegraph newspaper said late on Saturday.

‘SACK CUMMINGS’

Opposition parties called for Johnson to sack Cummings and Labour called on the country’s most senior civil servant, Mark Sedwill, to open an investigation into the journey.

“The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for the prime minister’s most senior adviser,” Labour said.

2:03 Coronavirus outbreak: U.K. mandates 14-day quarantine for all arriving travellers

Coronavirus outbreak: U.K. mandates 14-day quarantine for all arriving travellers

Just a few days before Cummings’ journey, Johnson imposed a lockdown in the United Kingdom and asked people to stay at home. He said on March 23 that people “should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.”

Shortly after Johnson announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, Cummings sprinted out of Downing Street on March 27 and developed symptoms on the weekend of March 28-29.

Government guidelines say that those who have COVID-19 or suspect they have it should self-isolate for at least seven days along with their household and not leave their house for any reason.

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READ MORE: Trump goes golfing for 1st time since coronavirus was declared national emergency

The Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats called for Cummings to be sacked.

Other prominent figures have resigned after breaking lockdown rules.

Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson quit as a member of the government’s scientific advisory group after he was visited at home by his girlfriend. Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, stepped down after she was caught making two trips to her second home.

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dailykhaleej · 5 years ago

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Coronavirus: Over 750 take part in Dubai ‘Home Marathon’

Kifah Sbeitan collaborating in the house marathon Picture Credit score: Provided

Dubai: Dubai hosted its first-ever “Home Marathon” on Friday with over 750 participations from around the globe turning their houses right into a 42-km operating monitor.

The initiative was based by Foad Naser, a Jordanian resident in Dubai and founding father of the 5:30 Run membership.

Dubai Sports activities Council (DSC), in collaboration with Asics Center East supported the distinctive idea of a ‘Marathon at Home’, as part of its ‘Be Fit, Be Safe’ and #stayhome campaigns.

Occasion founder Foad Naser Picture Credit score: Provided

Naser, a civil engineer and health teacher, additionally participated, finishing 45-km between his lounge and bed room.

“The idea was to get people to participate even if they don’t complete the 42km,” he stated. “Many people wanted to try it out, they thought it would be impossible indoors. We had people running in balconies, up and down their stairs or around their bedroom. People were getting creative and the only rule was that it remains indoors.”

The distinctive occasion was streamed dwell on Instagram from Dubai Sports activities Councils’ account.

“We had participation from many countries, and everyone was running at home. We had runners from Saudi, Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan. There were even participations in the UK and the United States,” stated Naser.

Positivity and a way of neighborhood

Naser believes that whereas the bodily side was the driving power behind the initiative, there was additionally a psychological incentive.

“On the day of the run we didn’t read or hear anything about coronavirus, we were all caught up in the excitement of the marathon. All the messages on social media were positive that day. This was the most important thing for me,” he stated.

The initiative introduced many individuals collectively and Naser believes that it’s that sense of neighborhood that conjures up individuals to take part.

“I can open up a house exercise video and keep lively that means, however I’d be much more motivated if I used to be understanding or operating with individuals all around the globe. It’s that sense of neighborhood that conjures up us.

“Although there are a lot of challenges, there were some positives to a home marathon. The duration of the race was 10 hours from 8am to 6pm. The reason for that is that I wanted people to take their time and enjoy the experience. They could take breaks, eat and even nap or watch a movie before continuing. In a normal marathon it’s a struggle to even stop for a bathroom break,” he added.

Different runners reward the initiative

Participant Sara Elissa, a Palestinian resident in Dubai, had by no means accomplished a 42-km marathon earlier than.

Sara Elissa operating a 10-km race in Dubai Picture Credit score: Provided

“At first when I heard about it, I didn’t consider for a moment that I would participate. However, Foad really encouraged me to at least give it a shot. I started the marathon running from the living room to the kitchen, my family were kind enough to stay in their rooms while I ran,” she stated.

“The experience was mentally and physically exhausting but during my breaks I would receive endless support from people on Instagram, commenting on my marathon as I updated the progress,” added the 24-year-old. “During those breaks, I felt that I may give up, but those messages kept me going. I managed to complete the entire 42km which I’ve never done before. It taught me that if you have the will, you can do it.”

Fellow participant Kifah Sbeitan from Jordan stated she had run a number of marathons earlier than however nothing like this.

“Usually in most runs you have a route and a long distance where a person can speed up at their own pace and it’s much more comfortable. No matter how big your home is, there’s never enough space for a marathon. It was an amazing challenge and I would love to repeat it,” she stated.

Kifah Sbeitan being awarded a trophy by her two youngsters after the house marathon Picture Credit score: Provided

“Many individuals are away from their households and are experiencing some despair. This initiative primarily introduced individuals collectively and improved their psychological wellbeing. The motivation is extra psychological relatively than bodily in this marathon. It’s about how a lot we are able to adapt to the state of affairs we’re all in.

“My 12-year-old daughter also participated and ran around 5-km. We created a 50-metre route from the living room, through the kitchen and to the garden. I had to run this route 843 times to complete the 42km,” she added.

Future marathons

The founding father of this initiative, Naser stated, “We are still working on more challenges for people to participate in. We want to inspire people but also help them forget about coronavirus and all the negative news. On the day of our marathon people even forgot that they were staying home, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.” He provides, “We’re planning a new initiative in a week or two, where we aim to spread more positivity.”

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charllieeldridge · 5 years ago

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Beaches in Da Nang: The Complete Travel Guide

From exploring the bustling capital of Hanoi to visiting floating markets in the Mekong Delta, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Vietnam. Here you can cruise around the gorgeous Ha Long Bay in a junk boat and embark on a motorbike tour of the Central Highlands. In between all those epic adventures, you’ll need a place to chill out. That’s where the beaches in Da Nang come in.

Located conveniently right in the middle of Vietnam, the town of Da Nang and its beaches are a great place to visit.

Despite having a population of over one million, Da Nang lives in the shadows of its larger counterparts Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s third city is often overlooked by foreign travellers, who simply use Da Nang as a transit point to get to nearby Hoi An.

While it may lack the culture of Hanoi and the excitement of Ho Chi Minh, the beaches in Da Nang alone make this city well worth a stop. Located on the South China Sea and surrounded by mountains, this is a stunning place to visit.

If you’re planning on adding Da Nang to your Vietnam itinerary, read on for a look at the beaches in Da Nang, what to do there, where to eat, how to get there, and much more.

An Introduction to Da Nang

The city of Da Nang is basically a microcosm of the development of Vietnam as a whole. Da Nang has been developing at a breakneck speed in recent decades, and the “anything is possible” attitude is strong here.

Not too long ago, Da Nang beach was the landing point for the first batch of American soldiers arriving in 1965. During the war, there was a strategic air force base here used by the Americans and South Vietnamese. For the next decade, American troops came to relax on the city’s famous “China Beach.”

Da Nang saw its fair share of conflict during the war, which finally ended in 1975 when North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon. Much has changed since then, as Vietnam has transformed into one of the fastest-growing countries in the world.

This transformation is highly visible right here in Da Nang beach. The former air force base is now home to an international airport, connecting Da Nang to the world and bringing in a steady stream of visitors. Beachside shacks have been replaced by luxury resorts, which are sprouting up one after another.

While the American forces are long gone, their influence is clear. These days, you’re likely to see young Vietnamese snapping selfies with their iPhone at Starbucks or places like American Burger Grill. People in Da Nang are happy to look to the future rather than dwell on the past.

As with many other parts of Vietnam, Da Nang beach has developed rapidly in recent years. It’s a very popular holiday destination for travellers from other parts of Asia, and is quickly catching on with backpackers and digital nomads alike from other corners of the globe.

If you’re planning your trip in Vietnam and are looking for a place to enjoy some good old fashioned R&R, look no further. Da Nang beach is the perfect place to enjoy some sun and sand before moving on with your journey around Vietnam.

5 Best Beaches in Da Nang

There are actually several beaches in Da Nang, so let’s take a closer look at the 5 main areas:

1. North Da Nang Beach

North of downtown Da Nang, you’ll find a few nice beaches. Both Xuan Theiu (Red Beach) and Thanh Binh are picturesque beaches with white sand and clear blue water.

These beaches are less developed and don’t have as many facilities as others. This is the kind of beach where you relax with a good book and your own cooler filled with food and drinks. You can still find beach chairs for rent here and some restaurants, cafes, and bars just off the beach on the main road.

2. Son Tra Peninsula

The mountainous Son Tra Peninsula also goes by “Monkey Mountain,” a name given to it by American troops. With a rented scooter, you can enjoy some fantastic views and a bit of beach hopping around this hilly peninsula.

There are several different beaches on Song Tra, but unfortunately, some of them are private. For example, if you head to Bai Bac (North Beach) the security at the swanky Intercontinental Resort will shoo you away. At Bai Nam (South Beach), you can hang out if you eat at the Son Tra Resort & Spa.

Most travellers head to the Son Tra Peninsula to visit the Linh Ung Pagoda and the large statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Your best bet for a Da Nang beach on the peninsula is Tien Sa. Apart from a few fishermen, this beautiful stretch of beach is usually deserted.

3. South Da Nang Beach

South Da Nang beach actually starts just east of downtown across the Han River. There’s an impressive 30 km-long stretch of beach here, so you’ve got plenty of options!

From north to south, the beaches here are Pham Van Dong, My Khe, Bac My Anh, and Non Nuoc (China Beach). There’s really nothing to differentiate these beaches from one another as they all look the same. It’s one long stretch of sand between the peninsula all the way down to Hoi An.

Since My Khe is the closest to downtown, this is the busiest Da Nang beach. That being said, it’s usually completely empty during the day and only gets busy later in the afternoon. That’s because Da Nang is mostly popular with Asian tourists, most of whom want nothing to do with sunbathing.

4. Lang Co Beach

If you don’t mind traveling a bit, Lang Co is a great beach to visit. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get here from central Da Nang, so it sees far fewer visitors than the beaches that are right near downtown.

Many travelers combine a stop at Lang Co beach with a ride on the Hai Van pass or Bach Ma National Park. After a big day on a motorbike or walking in the mountains, this is the perfect place to relax for a while.

As it’s a fishing village, there’s plenty of delicious seafood being cooked up in Lang Co. There are also quite a few hotels out here as well, so you could even stay a night or two if you’re looking for a more relaxed vibe.

5. Cham Islands

Just a short boat trip away from the city, you’ll find the Cham Islands. This cluster of eight small islands includes the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, which is a great place for some snorkeling or scuba diving.

Most people just visit the Cham Islands on a day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An, but there are also homestays you can book or you can just camp out on the main Hon Lao island. It’s a whole new world after all the day-trippers have gone back to the city!

During the monsoon season (October to February), the islands become inaccessible due to poor conditions. Dive shops stop running trips during these months as well. Your best bet for visiting the Cham Islands is between June and August. You can get over there with a tour or just catch the public ferry if you want to stay awhile.

Things To Do in Da Nang

While many come to Da Nang for the beach, there’s a lot more going on in Vietnam’s third-largest city. In addition to beach hopping, you can check out the impressive Cham Museum. The museum is home to the largest collection of Cham art and sculptures in the world and is well worth a few hours.

Another popular thing to do is to visit the Marble Mountains. This cluster of five mountains is a short drive from downtown and is a really fun place to explore. Here you can check out Buddhist shrines and pagodas, visit a few caves, and hike to some stunning viewpoints.

As I mentioned in the section about Son Tra Peninsula, this is one of the best places to go in Da Nang for some outdoor adventure. It’s the perfect place to spend a day cruising a motorbike around, stopping along the way to take in the sights and the views.

The people of Da Nang are very proud of their bridges, and rightfully so. Of the nine bridges here, the most impressive is definitely the Dragon Bridge. As the name suggests, this 666-meter long bridge is in the shape of a dragon crossing the Han River. Every Saturday and Sunday night at 9PM the dragon comes alive and breathes fire and water, which is pretty freaking cool.

Getting to Da Nang

As the third biggest city overall and largest in Central Vietnam, Da Nang is a major transportation hub. The Da Nang International Airport recently opened a new terminal for international flights. There are several options for flights to and from cities across Vietnam and other parts of Asia.

It’s a quick 10-minute drive from the airport to downtown and another few minutes to Da Nang beach. Taxi drivers have a good reputation here and will use the meter, although they will tack on the small airport toll fee.

You can also travel to Da Nang by train, which is a great way to travel in Vietnam. Da Nang Station is at about the halfway point of the famous Reunification Line linking Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. For train times and more info, check out this article from Seat 61.

Of course, a bus is always an option as well. The hop-on, hop-off style of bus travel is very popular with backpackers in Vietnam as it’s super cheap and flexible.

Once you’re in the city, your best bet is renting your own wheels. Motorbike rentals are readily available and very affordable. Just be warned that this isn’t the place to learn how to ride! Traffic can be quite chaotic in Vietnamese cities, so be sure you’ve got travel insurance whether you’re experienced or not.

Where To Eat in Da Nang

You’re spoiled for choices when it comes to eating out in Da Nang. Of course, you’ve got plenty of options for cheap and tasty Vietnamese classics like pho or bahn mi. The international restaurant scene is flourishing here as well, meaning you can find cuisine from all over the world.

For local fare, one of the best places to go is the Han Market. Here you can get a filling lunch for a few bucks and pick up some souvenirs while you’re at it. Just be sure to bring your haggling skills!

The local specialty in Da Nang is mi quang — shrimp and pork noodles in a fragrant broth. A great place to try this local favorite is Mi Quang Ti. There are also a few excellent places to get bahn xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancake) around here, such as Quan Bahn Xeo Mien Trung.

If you’re ever unsure of where to eat in Da Nang, just take a walk up Nguyen Chi Thanh. There are tons of cafes and restaurants to choose from here and even more on the side streets. Whether you’re looking for some noodle soup, a burger, sushi, or pizza, you can find it here.

You can’t come to Da Nang beach and not eat some fresh seafood. There are lots of restaurants cooking up clams, oysters, shrimp, and fish steamed with lemongrass. One popular beachside option is Cua Bien Quan and there are several other seafood restaurants around here.

Best Time to Visit Da Nang

Da Nang enjoys mild temperatures for most of the year, ranging from 18°C (65°F) to 35°C (95°F). August is the hottest month of the year while January is the coldest.

The city has two seasons — rainy and dry. The rain generally starts up in September and lasts until March. Just because it’s rainy season doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Da Nang beach. Storms usually come in short bursts here, so just bring an umbrella and/or raincoat.

In April the rain begins to slow down, but it gets very hot and humid here by the end of summer. Not surprisingly, Da Nang beach sees an influx of visitors during the summer months. Expect to find crowds (but no deals) if you visit between June and August.

The best time of year to visit Da Nang beach is between February and April. It’s nice and dry and not too hot during this time. Days are sunny and warm – perfect for chilling on the beach – and evenings are nice and cool.

Ready for Da Nang?

As you can see, Da Nang really is a fantastic travel destination. It’s pretty awesome that you can spend your morning hiking up in the mountains and then spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach. Best of all, you get to enjoy delicious Vietnamese food and coffee along the way!

Hopefully, this post has shown you that Da Nang is much more than a transit hub. It’s well worth stopping here in between other hot spots like Hue and Hoi An. Chances are you’ll end up wanting to linger as you realize how much fun Vietnam’s third-largest city really is.

Have you been to Da Nang and have some great recommendations? Leave a comment and let us know!

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