Let's holiday!

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Singapore - Sentosa

Previous blogs:

From Swissotel, we hopped on to the Metro, and reached VivoCity. VivoCity lures all shopaholics. Of course, I shopped! We had brunch at Marche Restaurant. Eating here is a unique experience, which makes you want to revisit. Absolutely fresh, delicious vegetables, fruits, dishes, and breads; can't stop hogging especially on a cloudy day. :-)

Marche Entrance

Giant Christmas Tree

Beautiful Spread for Brunch

From VivoCity, we took the mono rail to Sentosa. Well, I am sure everyone becomes a child when at Sentosa. When we visited the place, the Universal Studios was still under construction.

There are several activities that can keep you occupied at Sentosa. I am sure a day isn't sufficient to see the whole of Sentosa. We saw the butterfly and insect park, merlion, tiger tower, underwater world, and watched the rain too. What was absolute fun was the segway ride! We also loved feeding the birds. We missed the Song of the Sea show; sad. Well, that gives us one more reason to visit Singapore again, isn't it?

Under water

Birds in conversation!

Butterflies showcased

Ram's hand attracting the fish

Under the water

Sentosa is a exciting place. Ensure that you carry water and snacks just to keep your energy high. If you have elders or kids, please don't let them wander away; stay close. Take short breaks between activities; no point in straining yourself on a holiday!

Regards,
Asha

Saturday, 4 February 2012

Singapore - Clarke Quay and Boat Quay

The travelogue about Singapore is long due. With a little free time on hand, I am able to continue the log now. I started with:

Later in the day, we went to Little India for our lunch. Ouch, we got down one station prior to the Little India station, and walked a long distance to find Ananda Bhavan! We saw a slice of India - vegetable vendors, florists, and departmental stores. The Little India mosque is stunning. The Mariamma Temple was under renovation. We walked past the Mustafa centre, but didn't venture into it; kept it for another day. With a full stomach, we returned to our hotel.

Metro station

In the evening, we took a taxi to Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, and wow, did we love the place! That's THE place for the party goers. We had dinner at Boat Quay; it's interesting to watch the competition among the eateries to attract customers. Choice of food for vegetarians is kind of limited. Seeing live crabs, fish, lobsters, and prawns made me cringe. But it's a delight to a person who loves sea food.

At evening, the Singapore River and all the establishments long this river are absolutely stunning. Harry's Bar tempted the visitors with the live Jazz music. IndoChine is another world class restaurant. Don't forget to see the Extreme Swing or try it during the day. Ah, never miss the taste of Turkish ice cream! We loved it. Also, walk on the bridge, feel the air, count the lights, admire the street art, and soak the beauty of the night.

Next blog: Sentosa

Regards,

Asha

Friday, 3 February 2012

Bylakuppe - Jan 2012

On the Republic Day holiday, we were in a mood to drive out of town. Our inital plan was to stop at Kokrebellur, and then proceed towards Bylakuppe. But because we woke up late and started our journey late, we couldn't visit Kokarebellur; drove straight to Bylakuppe.

Bylakuppe is a Tibetian (refugee) settlement, and hosts the beautiful Golden Temple, SOS Village, Nunnery, etc. Bylakuppe is about 220 kilometers from Bangalore; takes about four and half hours to reach. The route includes the following places:

Bangalore - Kengeri - Bidadi - Ramanagara - Channapatna - Mandya - Hunsur - Bylakuppe

The traffic was crazy in the morning; many people driving out of town. We stopped at Bidadi for breakfast; the White and soft idlis were a delightful treat. As we continued our journey, the colorful wooden toys of Channapatna greeted us; next, the sugarcane and paddy fields of Mandya. The cranes sitting on the fields resembled small dots on a sheet of paper. I have always loved this part of Karnataka.

Thatte idli

Throughout the journey, we saw vendors selling tender coconut water. How could we resist the temptation of drink one or two tender coconuts? We also parceled two more for later use. About 2-3 kilometers to Bylakuppe, there is a Cafe Coffee Day; we stretched, relaxed, and ate our lunch. A few morsels of food inside our stomach, we were ready to drive on.

As we entered Bylakuppe, we saw prayer flags, agricultural lands allocated to Tibetians, houses they occupy, small hotels (Kerala hotels!), and monks. Kerala hotels serving Tibetian food (along with native cuisine)! That's the beauty of India. We drove past the Nunnery, and headed start towards the Golden Temple or monastery.

There is no entrance fees to the monastery. Just remember that you are entering a sacred temple, and that you need to respect it and respect privacy of monks or people living there. The temple complex is kept clean; please do not dirty it. Most of the times, we tend to talk loudly due to our excitement; here, maintain silence. Let the Gods, murals, and architecture talk about themselves.

The temple door is painted Red and has handles made of brass. When you enter inside, you'll realize that that door was indeed a door to heaven. In front of you are idols of three gigantic gods - Guru Padmasambhava, Lord Buddha, and Buddha Amitayus. The Lord Buddha's idol is 60 ft. in height; whereas, the other idols are 58 ft. All idols are made of copper, plated with gold, and hence the name - Golden Temple.

Take your time to see and seep in the beauty of this colorful and divine place. I have a few photos for you.

Entrance

Bell

Tower

Brass door handle

The Lords

Goddess

Dalai Lama

Smaller

Dragon

Reflection of Lord Buddha on the floor

Mural

One of the pillars

Prayer Flags

Young monks

Offerings

On our way back, we had dinner at Kamat Lokaruchi. The roads were peaceful, and we reached home earlier than expected. Which place will I blog about next, you ask? I don't know yet. :-)

Regards,
Asha

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Bangalore - Madurai - Kodaikanal - Dec 2011

From Madurai, we headed towards Kodikanal, which is about 120 kilometers. For directions, see the route map. As we drove up the hills, the dam became more visible. The Rat Tail falls and the Cascade fall were thinner but beautiful. Fruits stalls welcomed us.

Both of us were familiar with Kodaikanal, and had visited it earlier. Therefore, we decided to relax and to minimize our sight-seeing activities. We stayed for four days at The Carlton Hotel. Loved the hotel and the service, and the view of the lake at different time of the day! We especially loved the evenings at the hotel, and the warmth from the tandoor or at the fire place.

It's easy to find a tourist spot - just follow any taxi or bus or jeep - or drive and stop at any place that has a crowd. A few tourist spots that we visited are:

Silver Cascade Falls: Welcomes you to Kodai. A fantastic feeling to watch the water cascade, during the rainy season.
Upper Lake View: From this spot, you can see the entire lake. Watch out for the photographers who climb a ladder (on the wall opposite to the watch tower) to click your photo!
Pine Forest: Walk down the pine range to the valley, and return. Avoid evenings and nights.
Pillar Rocks: Beware of monkeys. Exercise caution when leaning on the railings to get photos clicked. Usually, the mist covers these rocks. If you're lucky, you get to see the rocks completely.
Guna Caves: The authorities have barred people from entering the caves. Do not try to squeeze inside the caves and explore them. There have been incidents in which people have died.
Coaker's Walk: Enjoy a beautiful walk. Immerse in the beauty of the place. Watch the orchards and cultivation down in the valley. Early mornings or evenings are fun for a walk.
Kodai Lake: Most serene lake. Enjoy a walk, boat rides, bi-cycle rides, or horse rides. Now a days, you can see bisons near the lakes (on the hillocks surrounding the lakes).
Berijim Lake: This is a protected area; need to get permission from the Forest Department. Your hotel or travel agent can arrange for one, or you can yourself get one at the venue. Ensure that you reach the place by 2:00 P. M so that you get sufficient time to explore; the place closed by 4:00 P. M. Lonely drive to the lake. Watch out for trees that may have fallen and blocked the roads. Also, carry food.

One of the days that we stayed at Kodai, we randomly picked a road, and drove all the way. Saw exclusive bungalows, interesting landscapes, and got a beautiful view of the entire lake. The natives are helpful and a little shy. But if you can converse in Tamil, ah, that'll be a lively conversation!

I shall end this blog series with a few photos of Kodai. My next blog will be about yet another serene place.