Maqtoob; Volume 4

Maqtoob;

Anthony

Bourdain (feature)

Cover Story

Mini Hikes, Maximum Travel

Trip Calendar 2019

Kanchenjunga!!

Contents...

#factination

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Contents...

- When September Ends

- Mini Hikes, Maximum Travel (Cover Story)

- A Relentless Champion

-Woh dekh! Kanchenjunga - Trip Calendar 2019

- Factination

Editorial

rohan@maqtoobtravelogue.com

karanlakhe@maqtoobtravelogue.com

amitendu@maqtoobtravelogue.com

Our magazine Maqtoob; features real life stories of people who have visited or moved to a different land far-away from home. It’ll talk about how the place has moulded them. It could be a life changing experience, could be something which has taught them a thing or two about themselves. It could be them falling in love at a place away from home. An emo- tional roller coaster, with added flavours in the form of different individualistic tales.

We all have gone places, we all will be going more. Be it solo, with friends, with our loved ones. The beauty is that each time we travel, we unwrap something new, something unique about ourselves. And it leaves us with a mesmerising afterthought.

Most of us have a social media account where we put up the best pictures from that destination and write down something related or something we felt at that place, on that very moment. But that emo- tion, that connection is limited within ourself or a few closed ones we share with.

Now, how about I let you talk about your personal experience at that place, a platform where you can pour your entire heart out. How about we keep aside the destina- tion for once.

And let you talk about the journey, YOUR JOURNEY.

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When September ends....

-Shamik Banerjee

What does a Scuba Diving Instructor do up in the mountains when the leaves start to turn yellow and the winds turn icy at night? I mean, don’t our kinds like the sun sand and warm weather of the tropics? To properly answer that, I must go back to the beginning, almost 15 years ago when I started travelling. Himalayas always fascinated me, I mean who doesn’t get fascinated by them! The tallest mountains spread across 5 countries and with stories encompassing the divine and human spheres. A motorcycle allowed me the freedom to travel these mountains and travel I did for a decade, well, as much as the office leaves would permit at a stretch. A change in profession took me away from the North a few years ago and my journey with the oceans started.

Though in the backburner, the thought of riding across the Himalayas never quite went away.

Sometime in 2018 that thought started to get a stronger hold and when an oppurtunity turned up for a month in mountains, I simply had to go.

Chapter 1 - Dustbowl to Divinity (almost)

A month in the Himalayas, that too in October, when the leaves turn golden and the azure skies turn into cloudless starry nights.

Cherry on the cake was when a friend kindly provided his motorcycle and another friend decided to join the trip as a pillion rider.

We started the ride from Delhi as

usual, however unlike my previous rides of yore, this time I didn’t want to ride long distances in a single day, specially, with an inexperienced pillion rider on board. A relaxed ride to Chandigarh was the plan for the day. Relaxed is a rhetorical word here, one can be never be relaxed while riding a motorcycle on Indian highways. The dust, the pollution, the honking, suicidal driving

to be a complete success. Taj Chandigarh is a fabulous place for the traveler to rest with a generous bit of luxury thrown in for good measure. A good nights' sleep meant we started fresh next morning, counting kilometers before we start the climb through the Himalayan foothills.

We rode through the plains of Punjab, paid a visit to the holy Sikh shrine of Anandpur Sahib on

manners of cars and trucks, dogs who love crossing the road for no good reason (none come to mind honestly), cows who take their nap on the highway, all these ensure your senses are fully alert all the time. A couple of pit stops always help and we covered the distance of 250 odd kilometers to Chandigarh in less than 6 hours.

The evening was spent scouring Chandigarh markets for street food and that venture turned out

the way. Generous amounts of pit stops ensured we weren’t too tired and some photos were clicked too.

The feeling of being one with the ride while you lean in and throttle out of corners hits the sweet spot for every biker and doing this after so long meant the grin inside the helmet hardly went away.

Of course, it took me a few corners to get into the hang of things again.

We reached our destination for the next few days, McLeodganj just before sunset. Hosting us was Krishna from The Unmad located in Upper Bhagsu. True appreciation for this little homestay came

tuks, tourists and Buddhist temples, The Unmad is nestled amongst trees, chirping birds, calming view of the valley and blessed with the mountain winds.

The bike remained parked for the

next morning however, when one realizes how serene the surroundings were. Away from the tuk-

next few days as we walked around the surrounding mountain villages and gorged on some deli-

cious food. If that was not enough, a plan for a hike to Triund was hatched and implemented with unusual urgency. A brisk pace ensured we reached the saddle shaped ridge located at an altitude of 2700 meters above sea level in less than four hours.

The Dhauladhar Mountains stand across Triund as eternal sentinels of this beautiful mountain camping ground. Tents and sleeping bags were easily arranged from a local and we bunked in after watching a gorgeous sunset turning the white Dhauladhars from fiery red to pink. The weather turned sour later in the night as it so often does in Himalayas.

Dawn brought gusts of winds where the tents seemed like they will either buckle or fly away.

And soon it started snowing.

Thankfully, it didnt last more than a couple of hours and we came out of our tents wandering across fresh snow as the sun took its sweet time to come out of the now dispersing clouds. A reminder that I was well and truly back in the Himalayas.

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Chapter 2 - A Leap of Faith

tor. We arranged ours with the good people at Zostel and one morning we were promptly picked up and driven up a narrow winding beaten down road to Billing. The instructions were really short and to the point, once you are properly secured, run off a cliff in the Himalayas. Sounds

mensely popular place amongst the paragliders of the world having hosted the Paragliding World Championship a few years ago.

Surrounded by beautiful looking tea gardens, the tea is however mediocre at best, and protected by the Dhauladhars, we were instantly in love with this place. Zostel Bir is where we bunked and this property like many other Zostels I have stayed elsewhere keeps true to the tradition of being fairly priced with a clean, safe and friendly environment.

The highlight of Bir is of course a little drive up to the take off point of Billing and a tandem jump with your instruc-

quite simple, right? And so it is, basically keep running till there is thin air under your feet and the rising thermal streams soar you high in the mountain sky. The

We rode out of Mcleodganj soon after our return from Triund and headed to the little town of Bir. Imagine a cute, colourful and picturesque mountain town and Bir would fit right in. Located in Kangra Valley, Bir is also an im-

Snowclad Mountains for company and golden eagles below, this is one rush of adrenaline which I would definitely come back for. The feeling is hard to describe however human penchant to defy gravity or slow down its effects temporarily is coded to our DNAs I guess. The wind keeps buzzing you at that altitude and thankfully we took our jackets to avoid freezing our wits off! It lasted for about 20 minutes and guided by my instructor I did probably a copybook landing. Palms all sweaty, the spine a bit chilly and an ear to ear grin, very similar to after you have ridden a fast motorcycle actually fast for the first time.

We spent a few more days in Bir, soaking in the autumn sun, drinking the mediocre tea and watching paragliders from all over the world against the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas trying to perfect their skills. As my English friends would often say, "could have been worse", we were however about to make it a notch better. ....to be continued.

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Anthony Bourdain (25 June 1956 - 8 June 2018)

A Relentless Champion!

- Kanika Narang

lived out much of his life in front of the camera, but there’s so much we don’t know about him, so much his friends and family have shared about him.

A brilliant, magnificent, simple human being, who left behind for each of us a way to live life. Anthony Bourdain, a well known professional chef, author, lover of travel and all things food, was a fierce, cool guy, who looked just about like any other ordinary

It was an oyster that he tasted in New Jersey one time, that got to

man, but had a mysterious little world within him. The Man didn’t grow up wanting to be a chef, in fact, back in his childhood he dreamt of being a comic book artist for he drew quite well, but life seemed to have planned things differently for him.

World’s most famous chef and television personality; he has

his awareness his interest in food.

After finishing his high school and partly studying at college and then dropping out, he then set out to work at a seafood restaurant, to get into this world to then move to graduating from The Culinary Institute of America. Even his family was taken a back at this career switch, as he never was

into food as a child, or never let out even minutely his interest in the field.

But it was never just one thing for this man, he liked to keep his different passions fired up and kindle each in its time. Over the years he paved his way through different kitchen ranks and in 1998 made it to Execute Chef at Brasserie Les Halles. Some years ago, he set out to start writing and decided to come out with his first novel, which was published in the year 1995, Bone in the Throat, one of the finest murder mystery novels. And well, this wasn’t the end, Gone Bamboo and Bobby Gold, soon followed.

They say his real success came through in the year 2000, when he released his New York times best selling book, Kitchen Confidential :Adevntures in the Culinary World, mixing up his love for writing and cooking, this one had to be brilliant and so it was, loved by all. There was no stopping here either, he did what he loved, produced and hosted shows, wrote, shared 1000’s of meals with people all around the world and never stopped creating.

In 2001, he came out with a second bestseller, A Cook’s Tour, which soon turned into a television show, which too, was a great success.

What his friends, co workers and the customers loved most about him though, was that he never spoke like he had some sort of

power, he was very generous and kind to the world and that made him an exceptional human being.

Friendly, professional, fighting his own demons and very optimistic about the opportunities life got his way. There came a time, when he didn’t even need to do anything, but he still did, because he viewed things differently and did whatever was needed.

He was very well travelled, he had been to different parts of the world, had meals with many people from different cultures, different backgrounds, and learnt so much through travel and that could be seen and felt in the way he talked, walked and lived. He also loved Scuba a lot, it was his only time of no tv, no mic, no

questions, no talking, a time of being just another man, viewing life passing by.

His love for travel and food combines into a beautiful combination and in 2005 the show that made him most famous, ‘Anthony Bourdain :No Reservations’ premiered on the Travel Channel and thrived through 2012. Soon enough he switched to CNN in 2013 with ‘Anthony Bourdain : Parts Unknown’. His

great love for cuisine and people, took him places, geographically and virtually, he ended up being

the executive producer, judge and mentor on the ABC cooking competition show, The Taste.

What kept the man going, was the company he was surrounded by and his attitude towards life, as heard from one of his close friends on how he’d told her once that one can enter a bar and think - ‘this is going to be awesome, or think that tonight’s gonna suck’, and how that really would make a difference.

This one time, he was at his restaurant and he saw a woman come over everyday but stand outside, and stare through the glass, this went on for a while and then he went out over to her and asked her out of curiosity why she never stepped in, to which she told him she couldn’t afford a meal at his restaurant.

And Tony was like, come on in, I’m going to feed you tonight then! It’s these little things that he spoke, and was a believer of, his values and his way of living, that people all over, still remember him for.

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All this aside, his career continued to move up, he continued to publish books, and went on cooking, sharing meals and love. In 2007, Bourdain and his wife Ottavia, became parents to their daughter Ariane. They separated ami-

even better was that even as a parent, he never pushed her or pressured her for anything, but had a very open attitude where he wished for her to do anything that she loved and everything that made her happy, and that’s a beautiful

cably in 2016, but made a loving family while they did. They trained in jiu-jitsu together and there were times when their daughter would come up and enact to entire song ‘Call me Maybe’ and you could see in his eyes, the love for her, and how he thought of her as perfect in every way and that was truly beautiful. What made this

way to parent the children.

Long before, in one conversation, he happened to mention that he has a dream project, to open the Boudain Market at Pier 57 in New York City, a giant food hall with dozens of vendors celebrating street food from cultures around the world. What a great way to

bring about different cultures together and celebrate food in all its glory and all its forms.

It came as a shock to people, the news of him being found dead in a hotel room, and even more of a shock that it was not a plane crash, or a heart attack, but a suicidal death. He was immensely loved by the lot, for he was as he was on screen, as offscreen with no facades and no time for people who were not open to new ideas an experiences.

His death hit people all over the world, for the number of lives he had affected during his living years. From an Obama, to a street vendor, every one mourned this loss. It was exceptionally hard for the people he worked with, who had become friends over the years, to accept this. They always felt that he was very good at being a person. And as his good friend put it - it’s lonelier without him in the world.

“Nothing unexpected and wonderful is going to happen if you have

an itinerary in Paris filled with the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.�

- Anthony Bourdain

*Pictures courtesy - Internet

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Woh dekh! Kanchenjunga - Rohan Kumar Debbarma Trekking in North India and trekking in the North East of India are two sides of a coin.

Trekking in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh felt monotonous, until I decided why not explore a land nearby home. I was flying home for my birthday; when I decided why not gift myself some days of trekking. North east was the least I had explored.

Being from one of the eight sisters, I thought, I should start somewhere and I wanted it to be the Goecha la Trek, in Sikkim.

The treks in the northern belt have sort of a pristine ambience; landslides and hailstorms are an obstacle sometimes. But the levels of irritation are low. On the other hand, the rain forests of North East welcome you with 18 hours of continuous pouring making it a mud bath as you walk and camp. To make it more inconvenient, there are the uninvited leeches which join the party. You won’t even realise that they are feasting on your blood like free booze.

This whole ‘experience’ is what I gifted myself, this time. I wanted to undergo all this and expose myself to the leeches for 8 whole days. But there was something more to it, the gift you always expect because you want to work for it, a gift which makes you go that extra mile. It’s more of an earning than unwrapping.

The name Kanchenjunga is

enough to paint your imaginative canvas and the idea of getting to see it right in-front, can skyrocket your levels of excitement.

Then, there is this common catch phrase nothing comes easy. In order to ogle at Kanchenjunga, you have to walk.

Mountains define us, sometimes defy us. The Goecha La Summit which possesses one of the beautiful and breathtaking backdrops in the world, made me realise that mountains aren’t just a natural skyscraper, they are timeless, eerie and a formidable force.

They are the witnesses to so many legends and myths, which spark so many corners of our imagination. Not to mention, all the peaks and summits have been the haunts of deities in the entire Himalayas belt.

Kanchenjunga, consumes a section of your imagination where it collides with your pre ordered canvas of imagination with the reality. The harsh weather and the ominous cliffs do a reality check on why you are from the mortal section of the world. Being able to grasp the hook up between this mighty peak and the skies is possible, only at this very place.

A trip, trek or a visit to anywhere in the Himalayas is enough to realise how borders fade away, how a narrow path disappears into another country without an immigration point, how manmade rules and regulations fade

away in the cradle of nature. A stroll to the mountains is sufficient to show us how it should be, how we are meant to be, how nature wants us to be.

As a traveller, for me, travelling is an escape. An escape from the chaotic clutter of urban life. A trip or a trek is the actual definition of a ‘switched off phone’.

There are no made up excuses here. But the truth is, in order to carry out frequent trips and getaways; one has to spend a fair time in the concrete forest. No woods, no woods. I can recall the traffic of thoughts that came across when I got the first glimpse of the Kanchenjunga. I was a client and nature is pitching me its ideas at a boardroom, and what a backdrop this boardroom had. Unless, you actually go and witness this, one cannot feel the underlying divinity of nature’s path.

Once you reach the summit, an arduous look reflects on you. But once you settle in and bask in the sight, there is a sense of ease and calmness which steadily gets injected in your veins. Irrespective of whether, you are a regular or seasonal, here, in the mountains.

The painting you see, or the way you feel, is mutual.

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Mini Hikes, Maximum Travel; - Tara Alexander

A solo weekend of high desert mini-hikes might be a journey that tackles to-do lists or stretches the soul. Short trips and short hikes, like all travels, have the ability to change our lives.

Travelers, especially when budgeting time and/or money, can live without travel when other aspects of life take priority.

It had been months since I’d taken a proper holiday. With a new job after a year and a half of traveling, I was refocused on my career. The trouble was, in spite of several enticing projects, I was lacking a sense of accomplishment – and gaining anxiety – because it felt like too few of them were being completed.

To-do lists have a way of growing like that, especially in business. But no one likes drowning in disappointment of undone tasks. I also felt detached from the travels that I love but had needed to sideline.

One long, spring season weekend, I was able to complete two major “to-dos” AND get the rest of my list (and life!) in order by taking a solo road trip in Colorado and Utah. The trip was packed with short hikes that helped me get back on track and see the light.

Travelers, especially when budgeting time and/or money, embrace opportunities where others may not.

I needed to travel halfway across Colorado to present an informational session for work. It happened that the other parties involved needed to schedule the session at the end of the week. Instead of immediately returning east to Denver, I could – at my own expense, of course – continue west to Utah.

This would give me the chance to visit three more U.S. National Parks (Arches, Canyonlands and Mesa Verde) and two more National Monuments (Canyons of the Ancients and Hovenweep).

Three days is fast for such an itinerary, but it was the best I could do. In addition to completing the work session, "getting back to travel" was on my to-do list for the year.

Travelers, especially when budgeting time and/or money, recognize the value of an annual Parks Pass when traveling around the U.S. Roughly two park visits cover the up-front cost of an annual pass.

The parks have amenities like restrooms, staff, signed trails, potable water, parking and interpretive centers. This is especially helpful for a solo traveler in the wide and wild western U.S. I bought that year’s Annual Pass on my way into Arches National

Park. People may wait hours to follow the car-in, car-out preservation procedures during high season. A short line is a perk of visiting in the colder months. But there were still several other visitors making their way around the park.

Arches, and many national parks, are designed for auto-touring.

There are pullouts or parking lots at viewpoints and trailheads.

Here, several short hikes lead to views of eroded rock formations that cannot be seen from the main road. There are over 2,000 arches in the park.

The 3 miles/4.8 km hike to Delicate Arch was most particular.

The famed arch deserves every drop of attention it garners. At 60 feet tall, the National Park Service calls it "the largest free-standing arch in the park" due to the amount of light that passes through.

Imagine if humans were meas-

ured by the amount of light we let shine!

Yet, it was neither the arch nor the hike that moved me the most.

What took me to my knees was cresting a hill at sunset, near the end of the hike. I kind of wish I was exaggerating when I say it took me to my knees, because I looked ridiculous to the dozens of other people around. But that's really what happened -- carefully, as I was kneeling on sandstone.

I absolutely had to get a little closer to the earth as the last of the day's light danced upon it.

And I cried because it was Just.

So. Beautiful. With the pace of our busy lives and intrusions of ego, it is important to give ourselves such moments of peace, purity and nature’s power. We can find these every day, anywhere, technically. But there’s something about travel that seems to make them more accessible.

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I let go of a lot in that moment of kneeling to a sunset in a national park. And afterward, I was able to let a lot more of life in.

Some hikers and travelers are all about the long haul. But some trips just aren't like that. By taking a lot of short hikes instead of one long one, I was able to visit all those places in one weekend.

And by taking a long weekend trip instead of a week-long trip, I made achievements on my professional and personal to-do lists.

When I returned to my Denver office on Monday morning, I felt revived, even though it was ac-

tive weekend. I felt as revived and alive, in fact, as on my very first day at the job. The change of scenery reignited my passion for all lands, not only the green forest or white-capped mountains but the reddened desert too.

And the change of pace reminded me that we all achieve at our own speed. But there is a valuable momentum that comes with completion. Like one short hike quickly leads to the next at a national park, one short trip can quickly lead to the next.

Within the next few months, I fit in more long weekends away. I

visited national parks in four more states. Also in that time, I found an additional job that eventually led to work nationwide.

By the next year, I had even translated my love of the desert to a job taking care of it. I spent a season as a park ranger in the high desert of northeastern California and Nevada.

None of those experiences were on my to-do list, necessarily. But the energy to make them happen came from making just one trip that special spring weekend in the Utah desert.

Travelers, especially when budgeting time and/or money, know that it doesn’t have to be a long trip to be a life-changing one.

Certainly, traveling for an extended period of time is an experience like no other. For example, I spent almost-three months backpacking solo around Europe. But I was a traveler before I did that, because being a traveler is more about state of mind than length of trip. Three months, three weeks, three days...

Even three seconds can change your life. Just ask anyone who’s been assaulted or in a car accident.

We know how quickly a human's course may be reset or even severed. Why then, can’t a three-day trip be long enough to change it for the better?

Some people may feel like since they don’t have the time for a long trip, they might as well not travel at all. It's easy to set aside vacations for the to-dos of daily life. But the sense of accomplishment from completing a short solo trip might be just what it takes to set you up for many more journeys.

Travelers or not, we are all budgeting time and resources. Even the mightiest arch will crumble someday. Today’s grains of sand may be the future’s mightiest arch. So go ahead and add, "Take a long weekend away alone" to your to-do list.

See how far it crossing it off can take you.

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The Calendar you need !

- Kanika Narang

To travel is to grow, to travel is to break boundaries, to travel is to live, to travel really means a different things to different people. Whether its cutting something off a bucket list, breaking free from fears, learning about another culture, or just stepping out of our houses and diving into another place so much so that you call it home.

With holidays each month, traveling to far away lands, and embarking on another journey, is a blessing. Here’s a list of things to do and places to see for the coming year, to get you closer to you.

January

Ever had a vision of flying over dreamy landscapes, feeling like a bird up in the big blue sky every time someone asked ‘if you were an animal which one would you be?’

How wonderful would it be if that dream became reality. Well, almost!

The Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival takes place in the second week of January and what better way to kickstart the new year, re-living that childhood vision, sitting in a hot air balloon and soaring over some beautiful scenery. Just about an hour from Coimbatore is a town called Pollachi where the festival is held.

Once at Pollachi, you can also try Kayaking, hiking, or simply just sit enjoying a book in the midst of all the greenery.

February

You know how they say, there’s something special about walking in snow that no one has walked on before. And who wouldn’t agree that music with snow covered mountain tops as a backdrop would make it even better.

To experience a one of a kind winter season in kashmir, visit the Gulmarg Winter Fest which takes place in February. On this land of the fierce, you can set loose the adventure junkie in you and try snowboarding and snow cycling amongst other activities. There is a huge spread of food, from Tibetan to local Kashmiri cuisine, to keep those hunger pangs in check. Every fest is incomplete without musical tunes, and artists from all around are called to fill up that silence with their sweet melodies. And what better way to walk into the night, with music calming the soul.

March

What could be more magical than watching little baby turtles walk back into the sea!

The Velas Turtle festival takes place along the Konkan coast at Velas village in Ratnagiri every year in March. It’s the season when the Olive Ridley Turtles nesting takes place, and witnessing the hatchlings follow the moonlight and merging into the ocean is truly beautiful.

People come in hundreds, to watch the show. During the time of the festival, the villagers with open hearts and doors, allow the guests to experience the local life. The homestays cost about Rs 500 a night and are inclusive of three meals and lots of warmth. Living like a local, tasting the yum konkani food and watching that red carpet walk by baby turtles, that right there is magic packed in a weekend.

April

The echoing of the ‘sargam’ & the sound of the ‘tanpura’ breezing through the air.

The beats of that tabla that reaches the heart, slows time down and make us alive. The vibe at the Sankat Mochan Music festival is something that is refreshing and beautiful in its own way.

It’s a classical music festival that takes place at Varanasi every year during Hanuman Jayanti in the month of April.

Artists from all over are called to celebrate life at the Hanuman Temple and bless us with their melodious tunes. The festival stands out as it takes place in the sanctum of the temple, where the energy is pure and divinity flows through. The artists perform through the night, right until the morning aarti which makes it blissful and unique to be able to be a part of such a refreshing and meditative energy. If classical music calls out to you, then this festival will truly fill your heart.

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May

May is the month of the biggest and most awaited festival in the Land of the Buddhas, Sikkim. It’s the month of the famous ‘Saga Dawa’ festival, which focuses on celebrating life, thanking the lord for all that he has blessed us with and rejoicing within.

The festival takes place in monasteries, with a lot of enthusiasm on the 4th full moon of the year, which invariably falls in May this year. The Buddhists light butter lamps to celebrate Buddha’s enlightenment and pray for the strength to move forward on their journey. With a lot of joy and happiness, they perform and dive into the moment with music and dance. Towards the end, the devotees gather around and walk through the streets of the city, filling each corner with love and light. It’s such a pure energy to be around, soothing for the soul and a moment of growing, learning & unlearning that allows us to find the light within.

June

Sand dunes, monasteries, green oasis villages, mountains in shades of purple and a whole new culture, is waiting here for you to explore!

In the month of June, the beautiful Nubra Valley at Ladakh celebrates the ‘Silk Route Festival’ which is a two day vibrant festival, with archery, local dance performances, camel rides and beautiful Ladakhi women in traditional dresses. This festival started many years go to appreciate the Sand dunes and enjoy the beauty and the energy of the Lama Land. You will feel at home, miles away from home around the loving and friendly locals who will with all smiles and open hearts greet you and meet you.

July

‘Watching a flower in full bloom, opens the door within to let us know who we are’ is something that deeply resonates in the heart. And being in the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, walking around those perfumed beauties, truly makes for a great experience.

The Valley of Flower is in full bloom from July onwards and brings people from across the globe closer to witness beauty in its purest sense.

Trekking in the Himalayas, through this botanical garden, with flowers in a riot of colors on one side, and snow clad mountains on the other. The botanical garden, although is not open to camping, the trek through it with jumping bridges over rivers, gushing water from the waterfalls, mountains all around is something that’s enough to take you in a trance. The landscape is breathtaking and is about right to make you pause and thank life for all that it really is.

August

As August roles in, the excitement fills in for ‘Sun, Sea, Sand and Surf’. The most awaited festival of the year that takes place in Covelong, Tamil Nadu brings artists of all kinds together in great harmony. The space is vibrant, with some of the great surfers, moving along the waves, by the beach, with a yoga shala for holistic healing and to breathe in love and music, to lighten the mind, body and soul.

The Covelong Surf, Yoga & Music festival creates for all a place where you can let yourself lose, enjoy the breeze, discover great art, meet interesting artists who have gazillion stories to share and let the water from the ocean make you feel alive in every sense. So as August knock on your door this year, get those sunglasses on and make your way to the coolest beach fest there is!

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September

Sleeping under the starry night, waking up to the sound of music, surrounded by the misty mountains, is what it’s like to be at the Ziro Music Festival in Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh which comes alive every year in September. It’s like being in another world, where the music rings soft and slow in the ears and fills up the heart. Independent artists come together with the freshest music there is to make this festival a great success. It really is one of the greatest outdoor festivals there is. With tents lined up next to one another, beautiful happy people dancing in joy, music that touches the soul, and stars up in the sky. I wouldn’t miss this for anything, and neither should you. Four days of harmonious tunes & cherished memories to take back, is what the fest is all about.

October

The lush green rolling hills, sweet breeze in the air, crystal clear waters and a natural rhythm that touches the soul makes the Dzukou valley, Nagaland’s secret paradise, a piece of heaven on earth.

Although it’s always a great time to visit this breathtaking valley, October makes it a tad bit special. It’s the month where the tourism departments along with the local Angami Tribe decide to host a lovely festival here, to keep up the cultural roots, to bring in people from all around and to celebrate life in between this magical land. The seven day festival is full of dance, music , food and lots of love and laughter. Camping in this blue green valley, surrounded by warmth and love is the perfect way to truly live and give our thanks to life.

November

November is the month of grand celebrations and cultural extravagance in the beautiful ancient town Hampi at Karnataka. The most awaited ‘Hampi Utsav’ is a large scale festival to celebrate culture, where the entire town is lit and happiness can be felt in every nook and corner. Witnessing this divine celebration is a pure delight. The three day festival is all about music, dance, puppet shows and firecrackers. The light and sound show which takes place on the banks of the river Tungabhadra is truly beautiful and worth watching. Hampi and it’s magnificent, unearthly landscapes and giant boulders have called out to tourists all around the world.

December

Walking through little alleys, with bright yellow walls and tinted windows, surrounded by a whole lot of cats, love and warmth, is just the perfect way to end the year.

The Kochi Muziris Biennale opens its doors in the month of December and with it Fort Kochi fills up with art fanatics from all around. With different venues across this colourful town and a huge number of creative heads working together, the beautiful installations and art works that are created are not just for art lovers, but anyone looking to find an escape from the regular.

Along with this beautiful exhibition, Kochi also celebrates the ‘Kochi Carnival’ towards the end of the month.

The little town that is known for its colourful and vibrant lifestyle, frenzies in its energy during this time and is decorated in confetti & lit up all night.

Surrounding you with art & culture and the loving sea in this coastal town Kochi, is a brilliant way to reflect on the passing year and to charge yourself for all the adventures that lie ahead.

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#factination 90 percent of U.S. bills carry traces of cocaine

Buzz Aldrin Was the First Man to Pee on the Moon The Mona Lisa was in Napoleon Bonaparte’s bedroom for a few years.

To tell a real diamond from a fake, you need to breathe on it: a fake one will become foggy, and a genuine one will stay clear.

The Spanish word “esposas” means both “handcuffs” and “wives.”

If you make ice cubes with tap water, they will be white; if you use boiled water, they will be transparent.

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