Hidden Tourist Spots of India (Guest Article by Natasha Dogre)

07 Monday May 2012

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India has aroused the fascination of westerners since ancient times. So great was the ancient lore of that then mysterious land, that Alexander the Great nearly broke his army in his attempt to follow in the footsteps of Hercules. Lucky for the Indophiles of today, there is no need to cross deserts or brave the stormy oceans. 

However, the very accessibility that modern travel provides makes it ever more difficult for the traveler to seek the “real” India, that is, one as yet unspoilt and not flooded with legions of other foreign tourists. Fortunately for the traveler seeking a unique experience, India is a big enough place that many areas have escaped the notice of the herd.

For example, the Lakshadweep islands, formerly known as the Laccadives, are India’s own hidden tropical island paradise. With 16 coral atolls, these islands offer stunning natural beaches, excellent weather year round, except of course during the monsoon months, when any kind of outdoor activity is to be avoided. Since tourism has been promoted there, the usual tropical seaside diversions of diving, and yachting are all to found in abundance. While there is a steady crowd of visitors to the islands, the tourist volume is nothing compared to similar Asian destinations like Phuket in Thailand! Since Lakshwadeep is very close to Kerala, there are various resorts in Kumarakom Kerala that offer tours to Lakshwadeep.

If sandy beaches are not your thing, then a visit to the Ladakh region of Kashmir in the Himalayas offers a truly unforgettable journey. Nestled high up in the Himalayas with a typical altitude of over 10,000 feet, this region is perfect for nature lovers, outdoorsmen, and cultural visitors alike. Despite efforts to attract visitors, the entire Kashmir region is shunned by most visitors, due to the simmering conflict over the area with Pakistan and China. This lack of visitors, as well as the fact that the closed borders between the disputing nations makes regular trade impossible, adds to the impression of a lace frozen in time. In many villages, the only indication that we are living in modern times is the inevitable Indian Army garrison. The Ladakh region is, unlike the rest of Kashmir, predominantly inhabited by Buddhists. The picturesque mountainsides are dotted with thousand year old Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Such a rugged and beautiful region was already popular with westerners in the days of the Raj. Under British colonial rule, most British officers spent their entire yearly leave time hiking the trail from Srinagar to the Himalayan foothills, where the magnificent sight of K2, the second highest mountain on earth can be seen. A network of stations that grew along this route to provide a variety of sporting activities still exist today, and it can still be traveled, although due to the unstable situation in western Kashmir, it is best to take the route through relatively tranquil Ladakh.

 

Natasha Dogre first visited India in 2003, and has been living in India for the last 6 years. She teaches yoga and works in travel for The Paul, a 5 star hotel in Bangalore. You can reach her on Natasha.dogre@gmail(dot)com to know more.

Want to make a quick buck in Kenya? Get yourself some hats!

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Australia, Daniel Brace, Kenya, Travel

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As regular readers and indeed those of you who have read my book will know, I am the proud owner of a rather stylish big leather hat. The Big Leather Hat and I have been companions for over a decade now, staying together through thick and thin, through triumphs and tribulations. I have come to consider the Big Leather Hat to be as much a companion as an accessory. At first we struggled to get along, the Big Leather Hat petulantly refusing to cooperate with me in matters of both fashion and more importantly money.

I’ll start by talking about the fashion aspect. It is difficult to carry off a hat as outrageously fashionable as the Big Leather Hat clearly is. Even the seasoned traveller would do well to remember the following;

This is how you see yourself when wearing it

 

And this is how the rest of the world sees you

The second problem to bear in mind is that before you have fully cemented your relationship with your hat, it will try everything it can to bankrupt you. You may not notice at first but that hat you are so proud of is sitting atop your swede literally shouting “more money than sense” at the locals. There is nothing you can do about this, and it will continue for months until you can find a way to stop looking like a line dancer when you wear it.

Okay, so maybe line dancing isn’t that bad after all.

The other thing you will need to do is make sure you wear it regularly. I don’t mean twice a year when you go to the beach, strumming your acoustic guitar in the hope that appearing bohemian will help you to meet women. (Something that I would never do of course.) No. I mean every day. This will mean that firstly, the hat will mould to the shape of your head, meaning that it will look slightly less like you are in fancy dress. The other thing that will happen is that the hat will get damaged. This sucks at first and will annoy you, but the more the sun bleaches the felt, the more it gets battered and squashed and the more times your “hilarious” mates spill their lager on it while graphically re-enacting scenes from Brokeback Mountain, the more character it will take on.

Okay, so maybe sometimes I deserve the Brokeback Mountain jokes.

To illustrate my point, the face below has so little character that it makes me feel physically sick if I look at it for more than a few seconds.

On the other hand, a “lived in” face can tell a story without having to use any words at all.

The same rules apply to hats.

The people of Kenya have always been famous for their discerning taste in headgear, and so I wasn’t surprised to be complimented numerous times on the fine Big Leather Hat which I sported while over there. Had I realised just how taken with the hat the people of Kenya were going to be, I would have brought a couple of hundred of them with me. Several times a day, people would try to buy it from me but after 10 years I couldn’t bring myself to part with it. Had I had the foresight to bring a box of them I could have made a small fortune in Kenya rather than just spending one.

The down side for the Kenyan however, is that he see’s me and the Big Leather Hat after 10 years together, looking every inch the Great White Hunter, dancing the lion dance with the Masai warriors.

Rewind 10 years and I look like this

I rest my case.

 

Daniel Brace is a freelance travel writer and author of Going Somewhere – An Australian Adventure available now in paperback or as an e-book. He has travelled extensively in Asia, Oceania, Polynesia and East Africa and is available for freelance writing and public speaking events.

A Big Thank You To All Who Have Read My Book

13 Monday Feb 2012

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As regular readers will know, I have written a book. You may also have noticed that I have used this website as a not-so-subtle way of drawing attention to this fact. I have tried to intersperse this self promotion with some interesting and hopefully funny articles which I am the first to admit, I have neglected to do recently.

I am pleased to say that I have sold more than a few copies and even more pleasingly it has received some excellent reviews, in particular this one from Waterstones.

Anyway, having been despicably apathetic towards the continuation of my blog you will (hopefully) be pleased to hear that there is a veritable glut of new and thoroughly hilarious content waiting to be added over the course of the next couple of weeks not to mention the second part of Going Somewhere – An Australian Adventure which I am hoping to release in November.

Anyway, bye for now and thank you all for reading my book (and of course buying it!)

Daniel Brace is a freelance travel writer and author of Going Somewhere – An Australian Adventure available now in paperback or as an e-book. He has travelled extensively in Asia, Oceania, Polynesia and East Africa and is available for freelance writing and public speaking events.

Snow continues to be the same

06 Monday Feb 2012

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THIS year’s snow is the same as last year’s, it has been confirmed. Children have realised the plastic tray they have had for years combines well with snow and gravity But scientists say they do not know if the latest snow is the same as the snow from 2010 because no-one can remember. Professor Henry Brubaker, from the Institute for Studies, said: “This is what makes it so difficult to cope and plan ahead. Because the records only go back 12 months we can never be entirely sure what properties snow will have. “Like last time, this snow is very, very cold – almost as if it’s frozen – and incredibly white. “We also know from last year that snow is difficult to drive on. We think this is because of its whiteness. We did some tests and driving on talcum powder is also quite tricky, especially if you mix it with olive oil.” He added: “But to really understand it, we need to know more about historic snow, so we’re desperately trying to find someone who can remember what snow was like in 2010. One man from Derbyshire phoned-in to say that he thinks it was blue and tasted like meat.” The department of transport has already given up on this year’s snow but is hoping that, like last year’s, it will eventually disappear. A spokesman said: “If only we knew why it disappeared then we might be able to work out why it arrives in the first place.” The department will begin planning for next year’s snow as soon as it has decided what properties it is likely to have. The spokesman added: “We’ve been bombarded with ideas so we’re just going to pick one out of a tombola. I’ve suggested it will be invisible but will smell like a freshly waxed saddle.”

The Essential Guide to Packing For a Long Walk (guest post by Sophie Kelly)

30 Monday Jan 2012

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Last year, I completed the Malhamdale Meander which is a 23-mile walk in the Yorkshire Dales. It was pretty gruelling, especially since I’d only started training for it about a month beforehand and had never walked over 10-miles all in one go before then. I completed it though, but not without some serious hiking faux-pas, one of the biggest of which was that I’d forgotten to pack a map. You’d think this would be common sense, but not for me. So, in order to save any prospective hikers and long distance walkers from similar disasters, here’s my essential guide to packing for a long walk:

Get a hydration pack
One of my main problems when completing the Malhamdale Meander was that I didn’t take enough water with me. I only took a two litre bottle and managed to finish it within the first two hours and then had to wait another two before I got the chance to refill it. This made the first stretch of my walk pretty un-enjoyable – hiking up the biggest hill (I’m tempted to call it a mountain) I’ve ever seen with an intensely dry mouth isn’t an experience I’d ever like to relive.

Everyone around me was using hydration packs, particularly useful for cyclists travelling long distances on their mountain bikes, which I’d thought I could do without but obviously couldn’t. If you haven’t heard of them before, they’re lightweight backpacks that come with an insert that you can fill with water. They’ve also got a handy drinking tube that you thread through the bag and clip to the shoulder, so it’s close to your mouth when you’re desperately thirsty.

Take a first aid kit
Halfway round the walk my friend started to get some horrific blisters, but none of us had thought to bring a first aid kit with us, so there weren’t any plasters in sight. The only thing we were able to source were a pair of scissors, so she resorted to cutting the backs of her hiking boots out so that they didn’t rub on her heels. This wasn’t ideal though, since they hadn’t exactly been cheap. It would have been much easier to pop a plaster on and soldier on.

Buy a raincoat
Now, when I say raincoat, I don’t mean the hulking great winter coat I took with me. The last thing you want when you’re hiking is a coat with a fleece lining – if you’ve any sense you’ll wear layers and one of them will be a fleece, but if your coat is too warm you’ll end up getting light headed from the heat. You also don’t want a heavy coat, as the hiking equipment, tents and supplies you may be carrying will create enough weight to contend with. Instead, take a lightweight waterproof raincoat or poncho, something that will protect you from the rain without making you feel like you’re going to faint.

Remember the snacks
Possibly my biggest mistake, other than forgetting a map, was that I didn’t take any snacks with me, or any actual food for that matter. When you’re hiking you need to keep yourself motivated and one of the best ways to do this is fill yourself up on high-energy snacks. Peanuts, chocolate, dried or fresh fruit and Kendal mint cake all work excellently.

So, whether you’re off on a quick hike along a national trail or are planning a day long slog up a nearby mountain, remember to pack your bag the night before and include all of these essentials.

Always Be Prepared: Packing Tips for Travel (Guest Post by J C Logan)

19 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in Amusing Anecdotes, Guest Writers, Travel

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It wasn’t until I stepped off the plane in Spain that I realized how much I had forgotten in an embarrassing, “DOH!” moment. Somehow I had managed to pack my bags with about 50 lbs. worth of stuff I didn’t need, like seven pairs of jeans, tennis shoes that weren’t even broken in yet, and horrendously heavy speakers (which actually seemed like a good idea as I packed my bag, imagining myself cooly nodding my head to sub-woofing jams with my arm around a Spanish senorita). To top it off, the wheel of my suitcase broke on the way to my hostel, so I was forced to carry a huge bag of stuff I didn’t need on my back. Spanish children glanced at the tortoise-like creature trudging down the sidewalk before giggling at my miserable state. Needless to say, the mix of shame and anger prompted my switch from pack rat, to the world’s greatest suitcase packer.

 

Though nowadays you can buy what you need if you forget it if you’re going to be traveling in urban areas, but here are a few helpful tips for packing everything you need and still keeping your bag light enough to carry easily for hopping on a jet charter, off a bus and a train, and in and out of a cab.

 

  • Illumination: if you’re doing any kind of hiking or rural travel, a headlamp will come in handy, if not and you’re staying in the city a small flashlight can be a life saver. Keep one no bigger than your finger on you at all times. You never know when you’ll need to check a map on a dark street or get into your toiletry bag at a hostel without waking your dorm mates.

  • Maps: Even if you’re traveling domestically and feel comfortable asking for directions, a good street map is a necessity. If you end up in a city you hadn’t planned on visiting, there are usually maps at visitor centers, bus/train/subway stations that not only outline the city, but also public transportation stops and routes. It can be fun getting lost, but it is also fun getting to your intended destination and making it back home again without walking in circles for hours.

  • Layers: Stable and predictable climates are rare and interior heating and air conditioning is common. Make sure that you carry the four important layers: light base, mid (sleeves), sweater/fleece and either light rain or heavy coat depending upon the region.

  • Swimsuit and Towel: The swimsuit is one of the most forgotten travel items, and it doesn’t matter where you’re traveling, there is probably a hot tub or swimming pool in the vicinity. Set travel plans to certain hotels may not require bringing a travel towel, but compact, sammy-like travel towels nearly always come in handy.

 

Don’t forget to bring appropriate footwear; walking shoes are always good to have on hand. My uncomfortable tennis shoes definitely didn’t last as I tiptoed awkwardly around Barcelona. Some of these tips may seem intuitive; however, I myself have forgotten these basics. Take this as a cautionary tale: always pack light and only take the essentials with you!

Getting Wild About Your Gap Year

18 Wednesday Jan 2012

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It can all too easily happen when you’re about to take a gap year or sabbatical. You have made the decision, notified everyone, obtained the appropriate approvals and that’s when it happens – you suddenly realise that you don’t know what to do with that precious time you’ve just freed up!

Couldn’t happen to me!

Yes, it could! The trouble is, whether you’re taking a gap year break between studies or a sabbatical, it is very easy to drift into a situation where you’ve a vague intention to ‘do something’ but just never seem to get around to finalising your plans. What then can happen is that you find yourself sitting around the house, spending a lot more time in the pub with friends and maybe spend a couple of weeks or so sitting on a beach somewhere. Blink twice and that special break has completely passed and you’re struggling to remember just where it all disappeared to.

A better way

Not everyone on a gap year or sabbatical necessarily wants to spend the whole time sitting on a beach or just travelling. Nice as that may be, it can become a bit ‘samey’. What more people are becoming attracted to is the idea of a break that includes some sort of objective, be it to learn some new skills or make a contribution to the environment – perhaps sometimes both. Such opportunities are now available through what are sometimes called wildlife conservation holidays. These are breaks that can vary from short to long duration and be based in any one of several countries around the world, though many such opportunities are found in India and South Africa.

What you’ll actually be doing varies and there will be a programme to fit your interests. For example, you may find yourself swimming alongside tiger sharks to survey their numbers and habits etc. Perhaps you’ll be inland in the bush, surveying the numbers of cubs of another species. Another option might include working to help reinstate ex-working elephants into a game park or maybe helping to prepare a new water hole for migrating animals. These are breaks with a difference that might mean your gap year or other break from routine, is really something that you’ll value and remember.

It’s experience and work

These types of conservation holidays do not just involve sitting in the back of a land rover and being ferried around from one photo opportunity to another, then rushing back for drinks on the veranda. These are active and participatory breaks where you’ll be involved in making a difference – and that may involve real work. Sometimes you’ll be involved in work that’ll bring out a little sweat and it may not all be ‘cutesy’ either. For example, measuring the size of dung balls might be an essential part of monitoring the heath of a group of animals. That’s certainly a different sort of gap year activity!

A culture

Of course, it’s not all about animals. Working in this way in places such as South Africa or India, means that you’ll see local people and a local way of life as people actually live it. Depending upon the project you’re working on, you may be working alongside local people that are also involved in the protection of the animals concerned. You also do not need to fear that you’ll be dropped off in wild country and simply left to fend for yourself. You’ll be working and travelling around under the supervision of expert guides and co-workers, who will know the locality and environment very well. Your safety is their paramount concern and they also know that you will be looking to learn and gain from the experience.

Not just for the young

The description ‘gap year’ may bring with it certain connotations of youth and school or university but these breaks are also designed for professional people taking a sabbatical or even those simply looking for a different way of spending their leisure time. There are opportunities available for people of all ages and fitness levels – you don’t need superhuman strength or powers of endurance! Accommodation and food is typically of good standard and you won’t have to worry too much about ‘roughing it’ if that’s not your scene.

So, if you like the sound of this sort of break, whether for a gap year or any other reason, why not find out more?

My 2012 New Years Resolutions And When I Will Break Them

01 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in Daniel Brace, Unconnected Ramblings

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I never really do the whole new years resolution thing. I don’t really like new years eve at all if I’m honest although this year was a pretty good one. Mainly because I didn’t get so drunk that new years day hit me like a battering ram to the face this time, which made nice change. The list below is a by no means definitive account of my new years resolutions and my guess as to how long they will last.

Wish me luck!

1. Give Up Smoking

Well I haven’t smoked yet today. That’s not unusual for me after a night on the town, though. I’ll give it until 5th January at which point I will become unbearable company and will light up to save myself from being murdered by somebody. If only cigarettes weren’t so damned moreish.

2. Drink Less

I love a drink as those of you who read this will undoubtedly know, but I’m sure a little less wouldn’t do me any harm, if only to save money. This one will last until February when I celebrate my birthday in the only way I know how, on a night out so awesome that it will erase itself from my memory entirely.

3. Go Somewhere New

Anywhere I haven’t been before. Somewhere exotic would be wonderful, but equally there are parts of my own country that I haven’t set foot in yet. In the case of Birmingham and Leeds I would like to keep it that way. I think I should be able to keep this one.

So those are my three new years resolutions and that’s enough writing for today. I’m off for a whiskey and a cigarette.

 

 

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