When I traveled to Chile, hiking in Torres del Paine was something which I was really looking forward to. After spending a couple of days in Santiago, off I flew to Punta Arenas, way down south. Punta Arenas itself was a rather non-descript port town, but spent a good couple of days in Tierra del Fuego. I made my way to Puerto Natales, a short bus ride from Punta Arenas. It should be no surprise to you to know that…
I had been looking for an opportunity to get my scuba PADI open water certification for a while. After being unable to any diving in the Andaman islands earlier last year owing to constant rain and murky conditions, I was looking at Similan islands in Thailand. However, that never happened. Being in Bali opened up a plethora of diving options – from training and certifications to some world class recreational diving without having to invest the time with books and …
Home to the driest landscapes on earth, to the famed project ALMA, some of the highest salt plains, Atacama is an alluring destinations for those looking an offbeat travel experience. After having hiked in the wet and windy southern Patagonia, Atacama would be a welcome change. Hence, I left for Santiago de Atacama from Valparaiso. San Pedro – the heart of tourism in Atacama Much of the tourism in the Chilean Atacama is concentrated in the small town of San…
My travel to the far flung stretch of bizarrely shaped land of Chile started with its capital city. My vicarious introduction to the country was through a work of fiction – Bruce Chatwin’s In Patagonia. Santiago is far up north from the Patagonian region. With a lot of people being underwhelmed by Santiago de Chile, or simply ignoring the city, especially after having travelled to other more vibrant South American cities like Buenos Aires, Cuzco, La Paz and the likes,…
Traveling to Hampi is more than just a visit to an interesting new place: the timelessness of the place opens a door to a completely different world, a bygone era which still seems to be breathing life. It is hard to miss its pulse. As you approach Hampi by road, the landscape grows on you with every passing minute: boulders balancing on each other at impossible angles, the fresh countryside, the palm trees, and in the middle of these: a historic relic…