FunderfulWorld

Travel blog of an Indian family

[Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India] Exploring Heritage on a Train Journey

The tracks to Shimla The start of our summer vacation in Himachal Pradesh: Plane to Delhi, train to Chandigarh, and it was now time for a train (special one, though) to Shimla. Off we headed from a hotel in Chandigarh to Kalka station. The auto zoomed (a bit shakily) on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway toward Kalka, often overtaken by flashy cars. We held on tight until our route turned off the highway and onto the narrower road to Kalka.

[Himachal Pradesh, India] A Cool Summer in Himachal Pradesh

On a previous vacation, we had fallen in love with the mountains and forests of Uttarakhand. So when summer came calling again, an escape to the Himalayas was the first idea that crossed my mind. This time around, B and I voted for Himachal Pradesh, and Junior readily gave his stamp of approval. The call of the mountains. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India. After much thought (grey cells in action!), research (Google at our command!

[Vengurla, Maharashtra, India] The Beautiful Beaches of the Konkan Coast: Vengurla

View from Fort Tiracol. Tiracol, Goa, India. From atop a hillock, we gazed at the shimmering waters of the Arabian Sea below. To the left, the Terekhol (Tiracol) river (hidden from our view) proceeded to its rendezvous with the sea. And beyond the river, in the distance, lay a clean sandy stretch of beach. We squinted our eyes and thought we saw a couple of tourists ambling along in the sand.

[Tarkarli, Maharashtra, India] The Beautiful Beaches of the Konkan Coast: Tranquil Tarkarli

The long stretch of sand is (almost) as flat as a pancake. Small waves crash in the distance and leisurely withdraw from the shore. Beige-colored crabs scurry along, visible one moment, out of sight the next. A couple of starfish lie still on the shore. Dozens of hungry plovers dig feverishly into the sand to find their meal. High up in the sky, a sea eagle flies home victoriously, with a struggling serpent held firmly in its talons.

[New Hampshire, USA] A Family Vacation in the Granite State

“Live free or die,” they said out loud. To the left, to the right, in front, and behind. We had entered New Hampshire. The tall conifers, the winding roads, and the licence plates that made a clear point: “Live free or die.” Tales of mountains and forests. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire, USA. Our vacation in the New England region had brought us to the granite state, New Hampshire. The land of the White Mountains, green forests, and blue rivers and lakes.

[Maine, USA] Of Nature Trails, Narrow-Gauge Trains, and a Spectacular Coastline

Les Petits Enfants du siècle, by Christiane Rochefort

aladybird August 21, 2011 La Lecture (French books) Comments

A long walk

aladybird August 19, 2011 Reflections Comments

Coffee for the Conversational Soul

aladybird July 22, 2011 Reflections Comments

Missed you

aladybird July 13, 2011 Reflections Comments

Coffee Blooms in Yercaud

aladybird July 08, 2011 Asia , India , TheTravelBug Comments

La Gloire de Mon Père by Marcel Pagnol

A delightful narrative about the events that unfold during a summer of the author’s childhood. With beautiful descriptions of the French countryside, hilarious narration of complicated situations that the family finds itself in and an excellent account of the complex emotions in a family, particularly between the father and son, this is a fun-filled book. I love Marcel Pagnol’s writing style in this book. Simple and yet, so wonderfully descriptive, it brings to the fore, lovely childhood memories.

aladybird May 13, 2011 La Lecture (French books) Comments

French Lessons, by Alice Kaplan

The author takes the reader along on her journey of self-discovery as she determines her identity, her passion for the beautiful French language and her world encompassing everything French. I loved reading this book, and would highly recommend it to all Francophiles. From the immense joy of pronoucing the ‘r’ correctly to the travails of her research efforts, the author has described events in her life, in a very honest and refreshing way.

aladybird March 31, 2011 Bookworm (English books) Comments

Odisha(Orissa), an artist’s haven

Our long-planned trip to Odisha or Orissa, finally materialized in January 2011. The weather was perfect, the destination was charming. During the taxi ride from Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneshwar, to our hotel, we remained rivetted to the windows. In this city, arts and crafts emporia abound, beautiful sculptures adorn lawns and small gardens, vibrant paintings cover walls, bridges, flyovers. A veritable artist’s haven. The next day, we were ready to set out and explore the state.

aladybird February 10, 2011 Asia , India , TheTravelBug Comments

Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) in Gujarat

The colourful kite festival, delicious jalebis & ‘undhiyu’, vibrant bandhani, bustling markets, the grandeur of Akshardham… – this year, we celebrated Makar Sankranti in Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar. Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) in Gujarat is a delightful experience! The markets are abuzz with activity, flooded with kites of various hues and sizes. Families gather on terraces – some ready for intense competition, others enjoying a leisurely experience. The winds are perfect, the music is loud, the skies are dotted with high-flying kites, the mood is festive: a vibrant celebration, indeed.