Places of touring Interest and our rich experiences

[bingleguy]

Paaps(sp akka) is the best hubber i have ever seen thanks to her new threads and ideas

//digr
pal idukku idam kidaithaalum
pal udaikkum padiyaana pala thread kalai uruvakkum sirpi engal shakthi devikku ........ jay jay jay :P

[Shakthiprabha.]

Paaps(sp akka) is the best hubber i have ever seen thanks to her new threads and ideas

//digr
pal idukku idam kidaithaalum
pal udaikkum padiyaana pala thread kalai uruvakkum sirpi engal shakthi devikku ........ jay jay jay :P

This thread was suggested by ganesh(mgb) :P
So lemme pass on all my credits.

[sudha india]

Hey this is a nice place to talk about your trips (also to perumai adichufy)

I just came back from Goa (official visit).
sure, you would have all visited Goa to see the beautiful beaches, to have a relaxed holiday and for many other reasons.

Let me say, this was my first visit to goa and did not have any such fun......... (en soga kathai vendam inge...)

As a part of my program we visited a place called SPICE PLANTATION. This is just a vast garden like place with many many trees, herbs, plants. Unlike the colourful gardens, this place is purely dedicated to various spices. Will just share the highlights.

- We saw all the spices on the plant, like cardamom, cinnamon, clove, beetalnut, cashew, chilli, curry leaves, Jathikkai, jathipathiri, lemon grass, and many other trees. (Padhi marandhu pochu)

- There was one hybrid tree and when we crushed the leaves we could smell garam masala. the guide explained that it was a masala mix and the leaves had the quality and flavour of all the spices of garam masala

- A guy demonstrated climbing a tall PAKKU MARAM and jumped from one tree to another. This is how they harvest all the nuts and was told that he jumps from tree to tree to save time and labour of getting up and down.

- We were explained how FENI was prepared from the cashew fruits.

- The guide who was a young girl made the tour more interesting by adding a punch to all her explanations. One of the interesting explantion was about the Jathikkai which has a different power, apart from flavouring dishes. It seems this is used in viagara too, and her punch was - Jathikkai - secret of Indian population.

- There were many elephants roaming and a funny sight was to see foreigners bathing the elephants with water and brush, just to take photographs (after paying some hundreds)

- Finally she poured a small bowl full of water on the back of everyone (inside the shirt) saying this is a best way to feel fresh when you are tired. You can also try.

- everyone was welcomed into this plantation with flower showers and garland, and our WHITE colleagues never removed the garland till they were dry.

In short, this is really a wonderful place to visit when in Goa. This is maintained by a particular family (hereditory) and they run this for rare information and ofcourse as business. You also get food cooked in mud pot and cultivated in organic way.

They explain the value and the medicinal quality of every spice / herb and see you off with a pack of all spices, feni and lemon tea. Believe me, this place is full of information and a must see for all those who love gardening, greenary and nature.

Sorry if I have bored you with this place. I can also bore you people with lots of info about Andaman - Port blair if you like.

[dev]

Of all the places I have visited so far, Langkawi, munnar, belur-Halibed are on the top 3... Detailed report aprom eluthuren...

[madhu]

Most beautiful and holy place.. Sathuragiri..

[Designer]

1. Taj Mahal, Agra - the inimitable poem in white marble.

http://bulgar.no-ip.info/downloads/s...a,%20India.jpg

How to get there - http://www.tourindia.com/htm/agra.htm


2. Qutab Minar, South Delhi - the highest stone tower in India - tourists are not allowed above the 1st level, as some persons committed suicide by jumping from higher levels years ago - even at the 1st level the parapets were modified to prevent anyone from trying similar attempts. A special mention must be mentioned of the Iron pillar situated in the Qutub Minar complex : some people believe that if one can entwine one's hands around the pillar, whatever one wishes will happen, or I think, if lovers can both do this, their love will become a success. This aspect had also been depicted in 'Cheeni Kum' - Amitabh wants to marry Tabu, so he goes to the iron pillar in Qutab Minar and holds it with his hands touching each other on the back. His wish comes true and Paresh Rawal allows Tabu to marry Amitabh.

http://galenfrysinger.us/india/delhi211.jpg

http://www.traveladventures.org/cont...bminar09.shtml


3. Belur-Halibed : Exquisite ancient temples showcasing beautiful & intricate sculptures & carvings.

http://www.pbase.com/rlankenau/belur__halebid

How to get there - http://www.surfindia.com/travel/karn...ebid-info.html

4. Kovalam Beach Resort (now The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach), near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - the resort is built on the side of a slope, and one enters it at the top of the hill, and the various floors are arranged in descending order down the slope - so when the lift starts at the top, it's on '0' or 'G', and as the numbers increase, it actully goes down the slope. The then pristine beach near the resort is enclosed by a small bay, and was not that crowded if one wanted to go for a swim years ago - I heard that it's quite commercialised now.

http://www.theleela.com/hotel-kovala...o-gallery.html

http://www.kerala-tourism-india.com/...lam-beach.html

How to get there - http://beaches.south-india-tour-pack...lam-beach.html


5. Varkala's 2000 Year Old Shrine of Lord Vishnu on the seashore, Kerala : the diety's pose (Janardhana Swarmy) is as if he's about to drink the water in the palm of his hand (I think part of 'Sandhyavadhanam' - the ritual performed by Brahmins) - it's said that over a period of centuries, the hand has been gradually rising upwards each year, and when the diety finally drinks the water, Maha Pralaya (Total dissolution of the Universe) will occur !

http://www.globosapiens.net/travel-i...kala-2150.html

http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-l1...ia_photos.html

http://www.holidayiq.com/destination...-Overview.html


How to get there :

By Road - Varkala is 54 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km from Kollam. Varkala is 90 minutes away on the bus and a pleasant convenient place to stop for a night or more or an afternoon when travelling between Alappuzha or Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.

By Rail - The railway station is 3 kms from the beach.

[Anoushka]

I think one place I would want to visit again and again (or settle in if possible) is Andamans. Port Blair is well connected from Madras and Calcutta by Air & sea. Went there years ago when the crowds were less, am not sure if it is still the same!

http://www.indiatravelogue.com/trav/trav22.html

Another place that has taken my breath away is Thun in Switzerland. Not Zurich, not Geneva, not even Bern, I think Thun is absolutely beautiful, serene and breathtaking! Interlaken is close second and then Bern! Would love a job in Switzerland anytime! Thun is less than an hour's journey from Bern on the way to Interlaken and is well connected by train.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thun

The third place on my list is Salzburg in Austria of "The Sound of Music" fame. Less known fact about Salzburg -Mozart was born here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salzburg

[sudha india]

I fully agree with Anoushka.
Was infact, lucky to visit the places mentioned by Anu and no doubt they are absolutely beautiful. (Thun )

Want to share some nice spots in Port Blair.

The small city is just like any town in Tamilnadu with many speaking tamil, but with less people.

There are many beaches, with clear water and clean sand.

The cellular jail is another spot (now a tourist spot) worth mentioning. The building is built in such a way that you dont know who is jailed in the next cell. We were told that two brothers were in the same prison for 7 years not knowing his brother is also in the same place.

One of my naughty colleague locked the cell when I went in just to see and took photos of me behind bars. (am sure some will feel happy and sad when reading this )

Statues depict the punishments given there, and another painful thing is that they were given clothes made of Jute. (Just a towel like cloth made of jute, to be tied around the waist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_Jail
http://greatbong.net/2006/01/26/a-le...cellular-jail/

We can also see the gallows where freedom fighters were hanged. (Pathale there is something happening inside the stomatch)

The other places of interest are the Coral island, Ross island where you can go snorkling to see the very beautiful and colourful lives under water.

Many of us picked up beautiful corals from the sea shore and everything was confiscated during check-in at the airport.

In short this is a must place for both sight seeing and experience.

[Shakthiprabha.]

Anyone been to CONCENTRATION camps in germany?

Can u share exp or photos or pics.

and tell us more bout it

[Arthi]

One of my naughty colleague locked the cell when I went in just to see and took photos of me behind bars. (am sure some will feel happy and sad when reading this )

how do u want me to react???
b4 knowing the reaction y so for u too