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Category: Asia

Hiking the Great Lakes Trail – Kashmir, India

Hiking the Great Lakes Trail – Kashmir, India

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It so occurred that during a sluggish evening I was browsing pictures from Chitral and Swat regions of Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; what I saw was shimmering lakes, jaw-dropping meadows and an alpine landscape that made me jump out of my chair. My awe and wonder was to skyrocket as I saw more pictures from the region. A bit of foraging to dig up some trust-worthy writing from the obscurity of internet reveals that hikers have been frequenting the routes that I had…

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Tall jungle-covered cliffs of Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

Tall jungle-covered cliffs of Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

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After a few years of putting off going to Thailand owing to its popularity with the western backpackers, I finally took the plunge. When I made the trip with my parents this year, I was pleasantly surprised that it was still possible to find a quiet corner without being too overwhelmed. We landed in Phuket during the very busy last few days of the year. Immigration in Bangkok was a nightmare. Phuket had nice celebrations at the Patong and some…

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Monks entering Takao-san to prepare for the new year ceremony
Hatsumōde: an auspicious beginning in Japan

Hatsumōde: an auspicious beginning in Japan

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Japan had always held a special allure for me. The sakura and the spring season, the melancholic autumn, the poignant Haikus – these were some of the clichés I had in my mind while imagining my travels in Japan. Having read a lot of Murakami had played it’s own role. However, what I was most intrigued about was how symbolic the start of a new year is for the Japanese people. The desire to purify and embark on a new…

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Participants of the lantern festival swinging and swaying after the culmination of the parade at Jogyesa temple
The colourful lotus lantern festival in Seoul

The colourful lotus lantern festival in Seoul

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I am always on the lookout for interesting festivals during my travels, and luckily my trip to Seoul coincided with the lotus lantern festival. Commemorating the birth of Buddha, it is one of Seoul’s landmark festivals, and perhaps the most colourful one too. Thousands of people take to the streets to participate in the festival.  The main attraction of the event is a 2 hour parade starting from Dongdemun gate and culminating at Jogyesa temple. I planned to be there…

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A pleasant Balinese village of White Herons
A pleasant Balinese village of White Herons

A pleasant Balinese village of White Herons

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About 20 kms odd from the wellness hub of Ubud in Bali lies the small village of Petulu. Ubud makes a great base for exploring the beautiful countryside set in the central foothills of Bali – the ever smiling people, the relaxed lifestyle, the spirituality which lingers in most parts of Bali. I hired a scooter from Ubud to escape from the scores of people who arrive in Ubud and never seem to leave. That is when I chanced upon…

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