Observations, Thoughts and Stories as they form in the mind! Book Reviews, Art, Travelogue, Economy and Society
The visit to Milford Sound was mesmerizing. Its landscapes featured sharp peaks, snow-covered mountains, dense rain forests, and dramatic waterfalls. The torrential rains added to the beauty with the waterfalls in full spate. We entered a long tunnel that cut through the mountains to more dramatic waterfalls. These were temporary falls as they are only … Continue reading Milford Sound: Mesmerising Fjord in New Zealand
New Zealand is called ‘The Shaky Isles’. Mãori legend tells how Maui used the jawbone of his ancestor baited with blood from his nose as a fish hook to pull up the North Island. New Zealand literally did rise from the sea millions of years ago when it was part of the landmass of the … Continue reading The Shaky Isles: Geothermal Volcanic Valleys, New Zealand
Our tour program in Rotorua, New Zealand posted ‘Duck Tour City and Lakes’. I thought how ridiculous, who wants to go on a Duck Tour? But we went along. We arrived at the pickup point and saw this truck that said ‘World War II Landing Craft’. It took me sometime to realize that this truck can run on land and water.
In New Zealand the people are inclusive and truly believe in sustainable living. When introducing yourself, first introduce the land, the mountain, and the river. Only then you introduce yourself! Rotorua, New Zealand! Amazing town with geothermal activity below the ground. Steam coming out of the ground. But I am getting carried away. The scenic … Continue reading Exploring Rotorua: Waitomo Caves and Geothermal Te Puia
Kadiya Dhro, the Grand Canyon of India, situated in the desert district of Kutch, is an unique experience with its rugged natural beauty,
The Banni grasslands in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India, hides many treasures, such as Dholavira, an excavation of a city of the Harappan civilisation. Dholavira was configured as a well-planned city. It had an amazing system of water storage.
"Byzantine Empire” was the name given in the 16th c. to describe the Roman Empire from the 4th century onwards. It was a multinational and, at least at the beginning, a multireligious state. It was in the middle Byzantine period during the 11th and 12th centuries when the most significant churches were built in Athens.
Ayasofya is a most spectacular grand mosque in Istanbul. It is way more impressive and much older than the Blue Mosque, Istanbul, which was built between 1609-1616 commissioned by Ottoman ruler Sultan Ahmed I. In the early 3rd and 4th century, Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire. The first Roman Emperor to give freedom to … Continue reading Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya, Turkey: A Chequered History
Cappadocia’s surreal landscape was sculpted over millions of years by volcanic eruptions and erosion. It is a spectacle of towering rock formations, whimsically dubbed “fairy chimneys," dominate the horizon, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that is captivating. And seeing it from the air in a balloon was a dream! We woke up at 3.45 am to … Continue reading Cappadocia: Hot Air Balloon Flight at Sunrise
We visited the Sabar tribals in Purulia district, West Bengal. The visit was colourful as the entire region was celebrating the Tishu Festival, the last day of the Makar Sankranti harvest festival in the month of Paush.
Is it possible to fly directly from Ahmedabad to London on Air India and Etihad? Read about our adventurous flight to London, direct but hopping airlines!
Unni-Verse 