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103-A, Synergy, Besides Vodafone House, Prahladnagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India | +91 98250 74549
MUSIC DOES KNOW
No boundaries
Our beautiful country, India is vibrant with its varied cultures , ethnicity and lifestyle. It is amazing to see and experience such vibrancy in so many dierent aspects of life; from language to food, from clothing to rituals; from festivals to work pattern; from music to art forms live in such harmony together. Though on closer look one may nd there are some similarities which are found in the language and dance styles amongst the states which are neighbors eg : Rajashthan , Gujarat and Maharashtra have same roots in language, the taste of food is somewhat similar while their music consists of some heavy and varied types of drums or nagada or tabla's – all of the same percussion group of musical instruments
The Barnawa Jageer is a part of the Barmer village located in the western part of Rajasthan,some 100km from Jodhpur. This village is famous for its Rajasthani folk music and has become one of the most attractive places for tourists to visit. The community plays folk music and is called the Langha community. According to their traditions, they were Rajputs.They are said to have originated from Sindh district and have settled in this village. There are more than 500 houses and this community is one of full time musicians who have been playing music since 14 to 15 generations. The artists in this community consist of people from all age groups. When one visit's this place you can feel the essence of originality and traditional touch to it. This community plays music for patrons, also known as their Sangh Rakshak and in return they take care of their food and livelihoods. Their music is loved by world and they are invited to perform in many countries. Their passports are lled with more than 50 to 60 countries stamps!! Is it not envious? Well, we leave you with that thought; concluding with this remark: Music does knows no boundaries
Peeyush Dungarwal inrootsmusic@gmail.com
India Environment Festival (IEF) marks the beginning of India's 1st community-dedicated multi-disciplinary annual 'festival of environment' that takes place at the World Heritage City – Ahmedabad. Kicked off with a successful rst edition in 2017, IEF is envisioned to be the largest annual national platform to trigger a positive interest amongst people towards the environment through celebration, fascination and love. “Unless we truly love someone, we'll neither feel its beauty nor be protective – the same stands true for our environment. IEF will make you fall in love with the world around you; conservation and protection will then follow.” says Prakshal Mehta, Director- India Environment Festival. With 20 different activities, more than 10,000 people including visitors, students, teachers, experts and ecoentrepreneurs celebrated the 1st edition of IEF on the theme - “BEING WASTE POSITIVE”. The 2nd edition of IEF, a three days long celebration will be hosted in Ahmedabad from 16-18 February 2018 on the theme of “I AM WATER”. IEF will be undertaking several activities for participants to experience importance of water in different ways through lens of science, art, craft, music, design, fun and learning. The activities include: 1.Hara Pitara: Exclusive and holistic green market for better living and healthy planet. Come and nd greener choices for your family in form of organic Food and Clothing, recycled/up-cycled Products, green & clean technology, eco-tourism, locally-made crafts, natural health products, animal services & much more. 2.I am Water Tour: Explore the Heritage City of Ahmedabad to know traditional water conservation practices. The tour will include Heritage walk on water conservation Adalaj Step-well exposure visit Nalsarovar Wetland Exposure & Birdwatching. 3.Blue-some Campus Campaign: Empowering students & teachers at educational campuses to go water positive with I am WATER Toolkit. 4.Earth-keepers Meet: Budding eco-entrepreneurs and students will get an insight into the industry tricks and tips to better channelize their products and services! The meet will be led by experts who have already established themselves in the sustainability industry! 5.Meet Mr. Sonam Wangchuk – The water man from mountains will share his inspiring story behind water conservation in cold desert of Ladakh at IEF'18. 6.Dog Adoption Show: A adoption programme curated by expert to give a better life to abandoned dogs 7.Paint Me Blue Competition: We were always fascinated by the drawing competition in the movie Taare Zameen Par! With AGE NO BAR, come and express your love for environment through brush! 8.Eco-tainment: Have green fun at IEF with music and plays. 9.World Water Gallery & Exhibits: Visit festival to discover some amazing water conservation practices being followed across the world and waste-art installations on I am Water. Take back the best learning for your home/school/college/office. 10.Other activities: Talks, workshops and competitions on I am WATER. You can also write to us on indiaenvfest@gmail.com or give us a call on 7600024088 to get in touch!
invitation
USE THE FREE ENTRY PASS ATTACHED BELOW TO EXPERIENCE IEF'18. HAPPY INDIA ENVIRONMENT FESTIVAL TO YOU! SEE YOU ON THE GREENER SIDE!
Land
Sea
Friends are our extended as well as our chosen family of our life on Earth. I, too have a friend with whom I have shared my life since I was a teenager. We both simply loved roaming around the streets of Ahmedabad as we shared the joy of having our own rst 2- wheeler's and together created those memories which both of us love to remember whenever we catch up. But back then, as little girls, we never dreamt of going on a holiday together. However, we did. As any other youngster Goa was always on top of the list since we always looked forward to get into our shorts, get some chilled beer, dance till our feet ached and drink till we start having the same adrenaline rush of teenage again. All this is Goa but the blue islands of Andaman had their own calling for us. Neither did we dance in any pub (as there were none due to limited availability of alcohol) nor did we get the adrenaline rush but we de nitely lost ourselves into the mesmerizing blue and green water of the island. The excitement of our trip started even before the plane landed at Port
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Blair airport. The aerial view of the islands from the aircraft was a sight neither of us had ever witnessed or even imagined! The theory of water being colourless seemed deceptive at that moment. We seemed transpor ted to an enchanting Universe. The white sand of the shore made the water look so pure and white while the corals in the middle turned the waters green which nally merged with the vast blue Indian Ocean. While still aboard the aircraft, we knew that we had made the right choice.
As the plane descended, we saw that the airport was small and within no time of landing, we were out of the airport and had found our driver Abhilash who also doubled up as our travel guide at Port Blair. Since our hotel was far, Abhilash suggested that we rst complete our sightseeing. He was a thorough gentleman, a native of Kerala whose grandparents had made Port Blair their home. We found him to be very professional as a driver and then learnt that he was about to leave Andaman's blue waters for life
in a cement and concrete jungle of Kolkata as an Indigo Airlines ground sta. It always amused me to see our civilisation choosing to abandon Mother Nature's bounty for supposedly greener pastures and end up being miserable though with fatter bank balances. The rst in the itinerary was Corbyn's Cove Beach which was a regular beach with lots of tourist and plenty of coconut trees but you can give it a miss if you are running out of time. Next wasthe Cellular Jail where the
most infamous Kalapani ki sazza was meted out to India's freedom ghters during the British regime. Though, we were no enthusiasts of history, architec turesor museums, the Cellular jail had a unique aura which told us that we should not skip this one. The structure is one of its kind with seven wings, at the centre of which a tower ser ved as the intersection and was used by guards to keep watch on the inmates. Each wing has three storeys consisting of prison cells. The front of one wing faced the backside of the next wing
gruesome story of the jail during its operational time and how people like Ve e r S ava r k a r h a d fo u g ht t h e Britishers without caring for their lives. Our day ended with the National Anthem and we proceeded towards our hotel with a better understanding of the situations which prevailed in Pre-Independence era of India. We had purposely chosen hotels that were far from the city. Our hotel in Port Blair was Wild Grass Resort- a good half an hour drive from the city into the wilderness. It is located very
near to Chidiyatapu beach which we visited the morning of our second day.Not many people visit this beach due to its distance from the main city nor do the tour operators include it in their regular itineraries making it very peaceful and a serene place. The only tourists on the beach were us at that time of the day, although few shermen were seen going about their jobs. The beach had white sand making the water almost transparent enough to see the small corals and sea shells below the water. We got our rst natural souvenirs from there.
serving its purpose of keeping the inmates of the prison in complete isolation. Out of everything, what struck us was the “Hanging Cell� of the jail where three prisoners were hanged at a time. Its vibes broughta chill down our spine with a terrifying feeling that no horror movie can give. We were witnessing the place that took the lives of so many of our countrymen that brought us the freedom that we take for granted today. At sun set, we witnessed the Light and Sound show that narrates the
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Our 3rd day was Havelock which is famous for its water activities. The private ferry, Macruzz, that that took us to Havelock from Port Blair was as comfortable as an aircraft with airconditioned cabins, comfortable seats and lots of delicacies to choose from, not to forget the Chicken puffs which were yummy. It was a good two hour sailing timewhich can be chosen for either enjoying the ocean view or to have a quick nice nap before we embarkedthe beautiful Havelock island.Our hotel was near to the Kalapathar beach which as the name suggested, had huge black rocks before Tsunami hit the Andaman Islands in 2004.Every beach you visit seemedto be better than the previous one but the best was the Radhanagar Beach which is rated as Asia's Best Beach and World No. 8 by Times Magazine. There are no words to describe Radhanagar beach nor can we capture its beauty in any camera. It should be simply experienced and admired.
The next day was the most awaited as we were to do Scuba Diving. We opted for an early morning slot and it was conducted by professional divers from PADI. Scuba was a divine experience for us. Living amidst manmade concrete jungles and fastmoving auto-mobiles, we tend to ignore God's beautiful creations around us. Inside the crystal-clear water, there was nothing that could distract us from experiencing a magical world inhibited by colourful corals to shes of different size and shapes. Underwater life seems to have its own way of communication in a language not known to mankind. How I wished I could understand what that small little sh which came right in front of my face was trying to communicate. Well I took it is as “Hey Human! Don't you dare spoil my home like you always do with yours!” Come to Andaman and Nicobar Islands if you are seeking serenity. It will be fantastic if you have the company of a like-minded friend like I had with me. The islands have
restricted mobile network (only BSNL, Airtel and Vodafone operate there) and only small-scale industries like handicrafts and agriculture are promoted there. This keeps the island free from pollutionand one can experience real closeness to the nature which you will retain and cherish for a long time.The last day we came back to Port Blair and spent our time shopping souvenirs made from beautiful corals and shells of the marine life. After a handful of shopping, Abhilash dropped us back to the airport. We thanked him with a silent prayer that he may nd opportunities which will ful l him as well as serve his purposes. This trip was nothing like we had always wanted our rst trip to be. However, it was an experience that taught us to admire nature, strive to keep it pure so that we can hand over the same Mother Earth, if not better, to the next generation. As we were preparing to depart we felt an abundance of gratitude over owing our hearts towards Mother Nature for choosing the two of us to cherish a memory of a trip like we just had!
Lizma Thomas thomas@gmail.com
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Driven by his passion for newness, Jatin quit his job to eliminate the time factor from his travels. He has been traveling non stop since almost 6 months, which includes a 3,700 kms bike ride to the Himalayas, backpacking trip to Kerala hopping villages by the backwaters in Government jetties and a trekking trip to Mt Everest Base Camp! He calls himself a storyteller and records his journals at www.wanderingjatin.in. He lives by the philosophy of embracing randomness and unplanned travels and takes head on the challenges the road throws at him, good or bad. It makes more sense then when he engaged himself in push-up competitions and football with the local kids when caught up in a landslide in Himachal for hours. An outdoor enthusiast, he loves trekking and backpacking, however, he has special liking for biking, very obvious in the experience of over 70,000 kms that he carries. Notes from his diary he wrote while spending a night alone at a beach in his tent describe some of his reasons to travel: I travel to discover and face my inner fears, to discover myself, to unravel the mysteries myself, to know my limits, to gauge my strengths and of course to meet varied people, to see varied places, to experience varied seasons and winds, to live.
Aamchi
Shola hai, ya hai bijuria, dil ki bajaria, bambai nagaria. As Bappi Lahiri & Vishal Dadlani crooned these lines to highlight the craziness that Mumbai is engulfed in, I personally felt its time that I visited Bombay and so I did in the month of February 2017. It was not my rst time visit but it was only in this trip that I closely and very deeply encountered Bombay and especially Bandra!
I was attending a photography workshop scheduled on a Sunday noon in Bandra. Since it was a weekend I planned for a two-day trip & so for my stay, I decided to go through Couchsur ng (for those who don't know about it, it is a social platform wherein travelers around the world stay with locals and know the city's culture, food, history etc through the locals instead of staying in a hotel). And though I don't provide accommodation I take travelers around my city and that's how I actively participate in CS (couchsur ng). Even though I have hosted many travelers from around the world and stayed at a CS-er's (couchsurfer's) place for a few hours, this time however, it was a CS-er who would be hosting me at his home. It was my rst CS experience i.e. a full- edged stay over from Saturday morning to Monday morning. After sur ng through lot of CS-ers' pro les in the past two months in advance I nally got a con rmation from Mr. Naveen Soni who stays in Andheri with his family.
25/02/2017. 6.00 am – Andheri West, Skylark 2012. I boarded the lift for 12th oor (never have I been to this height of a building!) and wondered if this was the correct place I have reached. As I rang the bell, the maid answered it with a lot of questions on her face. Then, Ms Veena Soni welcomed me in very warmly. Indeed, it was a thrilling experience for me; early in the morning I knocked at a stranger's door. A stranger at whose place I stayed for two nights and saw a small happy family.
8.00 am At the tea table, I & Mr. Naveen discussed about photography at length. It was very overwhelming as both of us got to know different perspectives on this art, as also I showed him my street photography which I got hooked to since 2011.
11.00 am I started off by checking out Crawford Market. It was very like our own Amdavad's Manekchowk so felt a bit bored I then hopped onto a taxi and went straight to Haji Ali. Finally, I had visited it and could tick it off my bucket list. Haji Ali was pending since long and it was fascinating to walk on an islet off the coast of Worli. On the way, there are a lot of local stalls and it was a visual treat to see the vendors, the shoppers, people indulging in Sel es and travellers like me enjoying the cool breeze. What also struck me was a gang of beggars who thronged the road leading to the Dargah. It was a photographer's delight to capture these scenes. As soon as I reached the holy shrine within 10 minutes I could have a beautiful darshan (women are allowed through a separate entry) and certainly this visit was very soothing to the soul! As I stepped outside the main shrine on to my left there was a group of qawwali singers singing choruses and a crowd had gathered to witness them. 66 | La Vida - The Travel Magazine
Around 3.00 p.m. I severely wanted glares (because I was wearing lens & I'd forgotten mine back Ahmedabad) so I hurriedly searched and shopped for an ultrachic pair of sunnies (which I regretfully misplaced it later) at Co l a b a C a u s e w a y M a r k e t a n d subsequently went to Leopold's café for a quick lunch. Later I reached Kala Goda (another destination off my list) where a fellow CS-er Mr. Javed Aman met me. He took me around Kala Goda and it was fabulous knowing about the city through his share of stories. After a little walk, we headed to Starbucks Café where I was treated to a sumptuous coffee by the CS-er (another stranger!! ) And yes nally star bucks too, off the list!
9.00 pm Following, we went for dinner at a popular Parsi restaurant but sadly due to lack of time and heavy rush we had to chuck and so instead I grabbed a Subway sandwich. I got late to board my local and plus I had no change for Rs 2000 note; so, kind Aman gave me money and said that I could transfer it through pay-tm wallet. Glad to know that he trusted me even though we met for few hours and I didn't break it too! :) It was a cool experience, the treat and talks by a localite whom you don't even know but that's the beauty of Couch sur ng!
26/02/17 4.00 am Next day, I woke up at 4.00 am and got ready to join Ms Veena Soni's event of amingo spotting at Sweri Jetty and a visit to nearby fort Sewri Fort. Sewri – is a neighborhood in South Mumbai, & it also includes a dock which is home to thousands of Flamingos and other rare bird species. These migratory birds migrate from as far as Siberia to Sewri via the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. This dock is mysteriously near oil re neries and industrial units. It was breath-taking scenery to see the ock of thousands of amingos, on a background of oil and petroleum factory silhouettes. Undeniably, a photographer's grati cation! Since I didn't own a telephoto macro lens I couldn't get a close picture of these pink beauties but what I could do was click the surrounding backdrops. But it was an incredible experience to see the amingos through spotting scope and know more about them through the naturalist. Next, we went to see Sewri Fort – which was built by the British in 1680 and it served as a watch tower, above an excavated hill overlooking the Bombay harbor. 67 | La Vida - The Travel Magazine
11.00 am For brunch, we halted at Café Madras at Matunga. It is one of the oldest café in Bombay. I ordered 'Nai (ghee) Roast Dose' and Filter Coffee, both of which were lip smacking. Our entire group was heading back at their respective return points and so I requested to be dropped back at Bandra. 12.30 pm Thus, I walked through the Bandra over bridge and I was super thrilled to see different street stories. Bandra is a very happening neighborhood of Bombay. It is alive always and most of the new ideas are rst tried here. I am always enthused to see and explore the inspirations that it is so full of. Whilst walking the over bridge I saw and captured amazing colors which the bustling Bandra boasted of. There were men working in lush green patches, there was a red colored galvanized tin house which looked vibrant with a white shirt hanging against its red backdrop and most of all; I saw two kids a brother – sister duo who were playing amidst the waste produced by a nearby textile mill. The kids had built a swing made from waste cloths and were just very happy in their play undisturbed by the toxic waste material that they were surrounded by. This aesthetic scene reminded me of the brother – sister characters in Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali.
3.00 pm At 3.00 pm I left for my photography workshop which was happening in Chapel Road. Again, this area is an art hub with world-famous graffiti and street art. There is a pot pourri of artworks created by artists from world over and hence they scream art motifs that are idiosyncratic, unusual, amusing, serious and wistful. These a r t wo r k s a re s p re a d o n wa l l s, windows, pipes, shop shutters and can be easily traced. There is a desi avour of Bolly wood too with Madhubala, Rajesh Khanna & Amitabh Bachchan's iconic scene from the lm Deewar painted to perfection. The workshop was fun with the mentors delivering k nowledge enhancing sessions. The chief mentor Ms. Sarita gave insights on my photography which further corrected my art. 5.30 pm After the workshop, I strolled towards Bandra bandstand. I grabbed a coffee & a brownie at Barista café and was simply lost in the scenic view of the Arabian Sea; facing right opposite to me!
7.30 pm Back home (Mr. Naveen's home) I repacked for my next day's departure. Later, I and Mr. Naveen discussed in detail about photography as I showed him my clicks during this trip. I asked him and Ms Veena to scribble about their CS encounter with me since it was their rst time experience and they gladly jotted few words for me in my journey journal (which is a part of my every journey since long). 9.00 pm Later i head out for dinner but Mr. Naveen's father (Dadaji) searched for a pamphlet and handed it to me. He said that it was a nearby restaurant's hand menu and I can order through phone and they will deliver it. This kind gesture of Dadaji touched my senses deeply. I was just a mehmaan at their house. But then too he was very compassionate in every way. Naveen's kids Medhansh & Prasidh were also adorable. I even had a brief stint with Mr. Naveen's nephew but sadly I don't know his name. He accompanied me to the restaurant to enquire about the delayed delivery of my order. We walked and on the way & we chit chatted. I got to know that he was pursuing MSc in computers. And again, I discussed about my photography work and the fact that I don't use Instagram. This amazed him.
1-30 pm Next, for lunch I headed to restaurant 145 at Hill Road. My school friends Pooja & Shachi were joining and we had planned a meet after ages. It was nostalgic meeting them amidst a hip environ, swanky interiors and great food. We had lots to share and chitchat. Pooja's little son was super adorable. 27/02/2017 11.00 am I hired a rickshaw which was taking me to the Mumbai Central Station after biding adieu to the Soni family. In the lift I was wondering if this was the beginning of a new journey for me. To me it felt as if an Amdavadi felt like saying Aamchi Mumbai !! 68 | La Vida - The Travel Magazine
Sshweta Rajeswari strydogallery@gmail.com
travel news 1) Indonesia eyes investments from the Indian market A) With a growing in ux of Indian tourists to Indonesia, the country is looking for investments from the Indian market. After the lunch of Garuda Indonesia ights between Mumbai and Jakarta in February, in April alone this year, they have recorded a 36% growth in arrivals from India which will augment further with Batik Air connecting Bali to Chennai.
2) 8.76 lakh foreign tourists visited India in October this year A) The Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Government of India recently announced that 8.76 lakh foreign tourists visited to India in October this year as compared to Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTAs) of 7.42 lakh in October 2016. The growth rate of FTAs in October 2017 over October 2016 has increased to 18.1%, compared to 8.6% in October 2016.
3) New Zealand introduces two new walking tracks A) New Zealand recently introduced two new networks of walking tracks to be known as short walks and day hikes. The new walking tracks will help in boosting the hiking sector in New Zealand. According to a research, New Zealand is known for its varied offering of walks to travelers around the globe and that people want to experience a wide range of these, particularly shorter style walks. 5) Africa- Seychelles eyes on attracting more Indian travellers A) To attract more travellers from India, the Seychelles Tourism Board India office organized a three-city road show in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai which are the top source markets for Seychelles Tourism in India. B) Seychelles Tourism chose a 'round robin' method across all the three cities, which also included pre-scheduled meetings with the local travel partner and agents. The interaction helped the visitors from Seychelles to showcase their travel products. It is for the rst time that STB has adopted such promotional activity for showcasing their products in India. C) The cities chosen contribute as the top performers for Seychelles and have shown great potential to rise further. The road shows saw the highest turnout of participants from Seychelles, representing DMCs, hotels, cruise company and airlines. 5) Indian Railways extends no service charge on e-tickets till March 2018 A) For the ease of rail passengers, the Ministry of Railways has decided to waive off service charges till March 2018. Hence, rail passengers will continue to enjoy service charge exemption on tickets booked online until March 2018. The government had waived service charges after demonetization in November last year to encourage digital modes of booking. 6) Demand for domestic air travel rises to 16% A)According to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Indian airlines achieved double gure domestic air traffic growth consecutively for the 36th month where demand for airlines rose to 16%. B) The rate of domestic travel raised to 7.6% in August 2017 as compared to previous year same period. The demand for international passenger demand also climbed to 7% compared to the same period last year. C) The global passenger traffic data for August indicated that demand climbed 7.2% as compared to August 2016.
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Don’t just be a
Tourist
“Having a few degrees, a job with high income, a small family, a house, and a car ; connotes to a well-settled person's life.” Teenagers say that it's a stereotype. My grandparents think that it's perfect. I ask my parents and they mention that only the lucky ones have it. A few more varieties I get is“Making money should be the ultimatum because in the end, that's what we all want; I'm speaking only the practical.” A few people say“There's nothing compared to love.” “Staying at one place and earning thousands just to buy stuff sounds like the biggest mistake of my life”, say a few more. Living in a cottage or a beach house with your family/friends, or simply v i s i t i n g a p l a ce w i t h p l a n n e d destinations for a few days, or a world tour- all imply travelling. 15 years back, it was not a trend. But today, travelling sounds a new approach to life or simply, fashion. Road trips, weather, shopping, food, people, history, geography, culture or simply life over there- not only the curiosity and the fun but going to a new place actually is pretty exciting. Seeing new was never boring. Having a new taste was never bad. And the ultimate thing which adds up is the people whom you are travelling with.
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Everyone has different ways and ideas of having a trip. The minimalistic planners (which can be commonly found more in teen travel) go mostly unplanned; can be called “gutsy” as they pleasure from taking risks since adventure is their rst preference in their fun list, while the second types of people can be termed as “goplanners” who love to have a sense of relief in whatever's perfectly planned! NO matter the kind of people you travel with, the de nite aspiration is ful llment; something the regular routine can never give. People say that schools do not p rov i d e a l l t h e e d u c at i o n t h e
challenges of life asks for. I t's reasonable to know that the best way to learn is to experience. Experience in a job or at a place- both matter. We all have created our world in our minds: have the perfect plan for our future, decided who/how our soul mate will/should be, or maybe even what color our future's kitchen's cabinets will be; and the truth is that the future is yet to come; and everyday when our thoughts change, so does our future. Moving out from your comfort zone to indulge into your curiosity is the best part of travelling, hence when that happens, you may see your new future there!
The world is full of wonderful things; you haven't seen them yet, don't ever give up on the chance of seeing them. The curiosity to explore as many places as possible and to tell breathtaking short stories to others like bedtime ones grandmothers narrate to their grandchildren. To inspire people why it's not only stimulating but why it also feeds your soul by exhilarating and electrifying incidents. To tell them that choosing travel buddies is like choosing your dress: shouldn't be expensive, but only comfortable! Travel not to just spend money on expensive hotels and see the famous destinations in a car. Travel just not for the sake of internet. Don't be a tourist, be a traveller. There is a dierence, yes; “a tourist sees what he has come to see, a traveller sees what he sees.â€?
Prachi Bohra prachi.bohra18@hlic.ahduni.edu.in
Hey reader! We all have seen Aladdin and have wished for a Genie for ourselves, who would ful ll all our wishes. Well, being a wishful traveler I always wished for my own Genie! And yeah I did get one in the form of LA VIDA THE TRAVEL CAFÉ!! La Vida The Travel CafÊ is a Genie for all travelers, explorers and adventure folks as there are his one wish which it ful lls: it gives travel opportunities galore and that too for FREE! I was overjoyed the second I set my eyes on my invitation from La Vida. That day on I waited for my earned trip to begin as I was extremely excited to meet the 56 individuals carrying their own stories of life and travel experiences. On the D-day I met few of the folk that I would soon be spending my next few days with. We exchanged gestures with hope to have fun in the upcoming adventure. The moment we reached our destination there was a new sense of happiness. The space was a perfect de nition of a farm, fresh crisp air, emerald green grasses, and trees that seemed to touch the big blue skies. What else would one want from a farm stay! The warm welcome by the host KP Champavat gave everyone a feeling of home. Later, he showed us around the farm. As a farm stay implies it gave us a new experience of cycling, a
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Jeep, and a tractor ride which was followed by a delicious, exotic Rajasthani lunch. We visited a nearby village school and had brief conversations with the kids. Afterwards we all had a small trek to Jawai dam which was lled with calm still water. It had a stunning picturesque sunset view with great streaks of tangy oranges a n d re d s w h i c h l o o k e d a s i f someone had painted the sky with a paintbrush. Even though the rooms were allotted, our band of travel enthusiasts opted for a night on the terrace under the open sky. It gave us an incredible experience of gazing at the stars, which looked as if someone had scattered pearls all over the sky. This was a scene that can only be viewed away from the raucous of the city.
Next day started with a melodious, enchanting alarm of the ock of birds chirping and a gorgeous sunrise. Later on we went to Ranakpur Jain Temple which was very beautiful and is known for its magni cence and importance to Jain culture. The temple is a cc l a i m e d wo r l d w i d e fo r i t s intricate architectural style which was followed by a piquant lunch of Dalbaati churma. Then it was time for the fun and adventure and we went to the waterfalls where we all had an amazing time as we swam around and laughed together, and watched as the great rushing water fell into the streams below. Then it started to rain!! There was a great murmuring of frogs and insects wandering about that made the night even more musical.
On our 3rd and last day when we all got a bit sentimental because the moment had arrived which we never wished to come, the time had come to depart from the special bond that had been developed, we then had a group- NO let me frame it as a family photograph because we not only had earned a trip ,but we had earned a family: "The La Vida Family"
Ammar Ansari ansari.ammar4@gmail.com
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Leh-Ladakh: The Land of Landscapes...
Hello Folks! India is a country of landscapes – plain land, plateau, hills, mountains, sea's and river's, and beautiful shades of sand. There are many undisputed destinations for travellers when it comes to this multi-cultural land of history: India But there is one destination which if someone is to choose as the only place to travel within India then it has to be undoubtedly : Leh !! It is a land of landscapes , scenic beauty , calm clear water, spiritual breath of air and humble folks , who are always ready to host . Now, before I start lling you with details and reasons to travel Leh , I would like to draw your attention to some ner points: Leh is a city and Ladakh is a province. So DO NOT look for Ladakh once you land in Leh! You must have seen all the memes on how Goa plans get canceled all the time. Trust me you haven't even started planning for Ladakh… I can't emphasize enough that if one is planning to go to Ladakh..... One SHOULD travel on Bullets, period! Now that I have made the points clear, I shall go on with my persuasion. I know youngsters want to go to Ladakh but don't get people who are excited enough to visit that place. So, if you are facing same issues, then you need to show this article to your friends. Ladakh is a place where you will nd an entirely different India. The culture, the cuisine, the language- all are very different then what you must have encountered. But all said and done, you will nd people who are sweet as sugar and may as well give you diabetes! How to reach Leh ? If you are a biker or a bike enthusiast, you can hire bullets of Royal En eld for the region or even drive to Leh via Delhi or Manali or Chandigarh. 74 | La Vida - The Travel Magazine
If you don't want to tire yourself out, then you can y directly from Delhi to Leh and rest for a day as your body would react to sudden altitude changes . What to do on arrival in Leh ? Leh is situated at an average elevation of 3500 meters. Don't plan to arrive at Leh and go right away to Nubra or Pangong. Since you could get seriously affected by AMS, which may lead to severe headache, nausea, restlessness, or even inability to walk or think, and ataxia which will ruin your vacation. Even the ttest of people are affected by acute mountain sickness. Rest for a day after your arrival, wander the lanes of Leh and visit places like Leh market, Shanti Stupa, Leh palace etc.
What one can do post the day of rest? Post the day of rest one can leave for the hall of fame (an Indian Army Museum), Magnetic hill (which is on the way) and Sangam Point for river rafting. Now here's the thing about river rafting at Sangam point- it isn't dangerous but will surely give you Goosebumps. The water would be freezing cold but riding on waves which are lled with ice chilling water has its own charm. It's a once in a lifetime experience. Your boat guide would also have a Go-Pro cam attached to his helmet and if paid some extra money, he would even make you a mini movie of your entire ride!
Why is Leh considered difficult ? Difficulty starts when you leave for Nubra valley and to reach Nubra valley you need to conquer the reknowned pass: Khardung La Pass. There is an organization names : BRO (Border Roads Organisation)who has worked pretty hard to give us amazing roads in the toughest regions of Ladakh but as they say “Nobody, NOBODY messes with Mother Nature”! 80% roads in this region are outstandingly amazing but then there are landslides, hailstorms and acts of Gods which nobody has answers to, not even our very own BRO! The real adventure or the off-road fun starts when you leave Leh and travel its nearby places. After reaching Nubra valley you can spend your night under the stars in any of the campsites and next day you can leave for Turtuk. For me, Turtuk was the highlight of my entire Ladakh Trip. Turtuk is a beautiful village near Nubra Valley of Leh district that lies on the banks of the Shyok river and boasts of greenery, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the region. The abundance of ora in this region, especially the apricot trees, exists because it lies at a lower altitude as compared to the rest of Nubra Valley.
Turtuk has remained unexplored for so long because tourists were rst granted permission to visit it just 2 years ago. A small history lesson helps explain the reason behind this: Turtuk was part of Baltistan and then became a part of Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. It was after the war of 1971 that India reclaimed this region once again and since its proximity to the LOC in Kashmir, the prevalent tensions between the two countries prevented any possibility of tourists in the area. Now, however, people are nally permitted to visit this beautiful place which also happens to be the Northern-most village in India and the only place in the country where the Balti culture is still prevalent. The people of Turtuk are extremely hospitable and love interacting with visitors. You can stay in one of the home-stays in the village or one of the few camping sites around it and trust
me in case you don't nd ANY place to stay; localites will happily invite you to their place! Turtuk is one of the last unexplored places in Leh-Ladakh and is undoubtedly the best place to go if you want to escape the tourist crowd and witness a sight which is still unseen ! After visiting Turtuk (which I fondly call Mini Kashmir), you will have to head back to Leh and from there you can leave for THE ICONIC PANGONG LAKE via the Chang-la pass (World's third highest motorable road). Amidst all the exploration, do not forget to interact with the locals and trying the local cuisines, take a pit stop wherever you nd a river owing. Ladakh is raw and rustic yet beautiful and picturesque.
75 | La Vida - The Travel Magazine
So before you pack your bags for the trip or at least plan to visit this Land of Landscapes, let me give you some tips which might be useful for you – Explore Ladakh on bikes if possible; otherwise they do have cars available for you. Every corner of this place could be wallpaper on your pc, and that is why you might want to capture everything. STOP with that thought, right there! You have to put your gadgets aside and let the mountains (which are ages old) unleash their magic. If you really want Wanderlust; here's your chance for it. Respect the road and the road will respect you back. Do not get irty with your turns. INTERACT with the locals, I can't emphasize enough on this The best time to visit Ladakh is from May-September and you should plan your trips well in advance because Ladakh trips tend to get expensive and when I say expensive, I mean iPhone expensive! Carry 2-3 jackets, body lotion, sunscreen, if riding by bikes, you SHOULD have waterproof gloves and body suit. Illnesses like altitude mountain sickness, or AMS, vertigo are quite common here. Carry medicines like Diamox, Dexamethasone, Aspirin or Disprin to combat this problem. There is an unsaid, unmentioned bro code amongst the bikers in the valley, do honour that. Always, ALWAYS help a stranger when you can. All said and done, I hope you get a chance to visit this place which takes your breath away (pun intended). Take your vehicle and go wild (not literally, though!). Wander as much as you can, take pictures (but not much because you need to enjoy as well!) and make memories. You will come across mountain ranges that are spread through kilometres and
are ages old. You will also get a chance to see many army camps spread throughout the region and most importantly would get to savour nger licking maggi at highest of junctions. One trip to Ladakh will surely give you stories worth lifetime, so make sure you have one!
Altaf Shaikh altafshaikh_05@yahoo.com
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