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  • Posted on October 25, 2008

Startling Angkorwat at Cambodia !

I happen to read something interesting when I was as young as 9 year old or so. The largest, biggest ‘Hindu Temple’ is nowhere in India, but it is in Cambodia. Thus seed planted inside my mind to see that place.

When the adventure team Raj, me, Nikki and Jyo  decided to venture out to explore – South East Asia’s famous nook & corner Angkorwat of Cambodia, it was the moment of dream realization to view and touch mega stricture I’ve heard about in childhood :)

It all began from October 2008 to November 2008.  The most thrilling adventure, experience of a life time was about to begin with heavy backpacks and enough money to survive a month long south east asia backpacking, we started off from our own Volvo to Bangalore International Airport :).

It was a marathon Airport to Airport, nation to nation hopping memorable travel I’ve ever done ! The trail was – Bangalore to Singapore to Bangkok to Patong to Angkorwat of Cambodia ! The amazing journey criss-crossing  Ocean and land.

Our first stop-over after Singapore was Bangkok. We shot some amazing photos in Thailand Palace, the water channel boat ride, etc. From there we rode to Patong;

A long train journey from Patong to the very borders of Cambodia. The journey was between evergreen Thai villages.   This suppose to be the most beautiful train journey of the trip. What a sight it was !  A long train traversing between green cladded tiny villages.  Friendly people, lonely houses,  kids playing in verandas, neatly pressed uniform tucked teens, with their innocent smile and cuteness. I absolutely loved that journey.

I always wanted to see how the ambiance of  Thai movie – My Girl (Fan chan) might be. The tiny village landscapes, amazingly simple houses, friendly people, small and lonely train stations were dream to remember now ! I felt I roamed around in the sets of Fan chan movie !

We reached a small village called Aranyaprathet; I was debating with Raj, this must be a once upon a time, Aranya pradesh or something :). In as usual Raj gave ‘I know’ looks. Which was not that convincing. We suppose to enter Cambodia through -Aranyaprathet in the borders of Thailand.

From there we took a small auto tuk-tuk to Cambodia border & got our passport sealed and visa stamper made us cough-up extra bit as we were Indians(that was the  explanation !).

It was a long-long car drive to City of Angkor. Next one week was amazing experience to feel ‘Hindu Culture’ so deeply bonded into fore corner Angkorwat temple town.

Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world’s largest religious building !

There we realized that, It is not only the  biggest ‘Hindu Temple’ it’s also world’s largest religious building. The discovery of this mammoth temple history is too adventurous and thrilling ! Angkor in Cambodia is a city of Hindu temple architecture in midst of deep forest land.

We reached early in the morning. It was the sight to watch and wait for ! There was already a big crowd of tourists from all over the world to catch the majestic glimpse of world famous sun rise in the backdrop of mammoth Angkor Wat temple.

The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “City Temple”. Once regarded as a barren land; now farmers are finding it diffciult to do agriculture as kings of that era, has made finest irrigation and cleverly planned water bodies are lushly filled.  Angkor Wat lies 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap.

Angkor was a massive city, although today much is lost. But the great temple remains more or less intact, and many other temples and buildings bear witness to the glories of that civilization. Angkor became powerful during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the 12th century. Angkor Wat began as partly a temple to Vishnu as well as a place of worship for Mahayana Buddhists.

Given its size, and the carefully crafted consistency of design, the temple of Angkor should not be compared to other structures like the Aztec buildings of South America, the Acropolis of Athens, the Taj Mahal of India or the Gothic churches of Europe. We must remember that Angkor Wat is original and unique. There is no other building like it anywhere in the world. It is a part of the cultural heritage of all mankind and it remains a very special place.

Angkorwat temple town is sadly called as ‘ruins of Angkorwat’. The master piece temple architecture’s are slowly getting ruined due to elapsing times.  UNESCO does a restoration work with the partnership of various nations like India, Japan & European nations.

One of the most intact piece of work inside Angkorwat temple is apsaras.  You got to see it to adore it ! Due to the benevolent efforts of German Apsara Conservation Project, devatas (or apsaras) and other bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat look more lively and cute !

The Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII.  The Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.[2] The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes.

Tha Phrom, the temple totally maintained by Indian archeologists. This is also featured in Lara Craft’s ‘Tomb Rider’ movie. Tha Phrom has the trees growing out of temple walls.This is pretty famous photo I’ve seen in many places.

South East Asia trip |17 October 2008 to 05 November 2008.

  • Posted on October 10, 2008

Phi-Phi islands at Thailand

Phi Phi Island is Thailand’s island-superstar. It’s been in the movies. It’s the topic of conversation for travelers all over Thailand. For some, it’s the only reason to touch-down Phuket. Even with all the hype, it doesn’t disappoint.

Phi Phi’s beauty is a large chunk of the allure. The islands, when approached by boat, rise from the sea like a fortress. Sheer cliffs tower overhead, then give way to beach-fronted jungle. It’s love at first sight. With the sun reflecting off the turquoise water and palm trees swaying just beyond the sand, we stepped onto this tiny island that had been almost completely destroyed by the 2004 Tsunami.

In low season the ride can at times be a little rough but generally the traverse is smooth enough. Myself & Raj enjoyed sitting on facing of the ferry, getting drenched under hot sun’s showers !

Ferry ride from Phuket  to Phi-phi. The top deck of the ferry doubles as a sundeck, which is great for those who want to tan. It was a wonderful experience with and fellow firing travelers soaked in sunbath on the deck of the mini-ship. It is easy to reach these two luscious islands from Phuket, with boats on standby to take you over in less than an hour.

It’s an enchanting location just thirty miles east of Phuket. These islands went through a huge surge of visitors shortly after the release of Danny Boyle’s turn of the century blockbuster “The Beach.”

With all visitors arriving by ferry, Phi Phi has great beaches and popular diving and snorkeling spots. Much of the island is a protected marine reserve.

Raj, me, Nikhil & Jyothi stayed for 3 days at this amazing dream destination. Upon arrival we were expecting some car or some kind of motored vehicle to pick-up our luggage. Surprisingly, there are no wide roads or vehicles except pull-carts to move goods as it’s a small island clean without motored vehicles.

Thailand is a paradise for Non-Veggies. It has different and unique variety of food as it’s close to coastal & people largely hop on sea food. As a vegan, I controlled my urges to be on safer side with known fruits and allied juices :)

Nikki has some kind of penchant for trying new foods and cuisines without knowing its marvelous future benefits :) Here he is trying Pad Thai with immense gratitude to Thai food :). It’s a dish made of stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, fish sauce. We assumed he had prior experience with this dish, but we were wrong the moment we could not resist strong oyster/fish sause smell ! Here you can view the effect of it’s taste on his face :)

It’s not an easy going life for a vegan in Thailand :). I preferred something  tried, tested and tasted to ensure not to design a face what Nikki made up there :)

why-we-loved-this-place is for its attitude: few places on the planet are this laid-back. As an added bonus, Phi Phi is affordable. Destinations this beautiful are often reserved for those that can pay dearly. That’s not the case here; Phi Phi has something for every budget. You might be surprised – that perfect beachfront room costs less than you expect.

For 1,400 per night with Bath/Bungalow/ at Phi Phi Viewpoint Resort. Our Phi Phi Bungalows provide enviable comfort and privacy whilst offering the best beach front views on Phi Phi Don Island. All villas feature private balconies overlooking the spectacular turquoise ocean and the tropical garden surroundings of a natural Jungle.

These are some cute sculptures of miniature kids playing chess kind of game. spotted this in our villa garden.

We went on island hopping spree on our next day’s stay there. It’s an immensely amazing experience; stopping our boats and jumping into water doing snorkeling in crystal clear turquoise waters and playing with friendly fishes. Surprisingly, it’s so easy to snorkel in these waters ! Diving in Phi Phi is especially enjoyable as there are many coral reefs, bays and caverns to explore. All our dive sites are rich in exotic sea life. The waters are warm and visibility is generally good and there is a great variety of coral and an even greater variety of fish to see.

Ko Phi Phi Lei, once of those lovely island or stone wall we spotted while  hopping islands in phi-phi Andaman ocean :)

Bamboo Island is a small island. Long beach along the front from the head end of the island island After a rocky island in the sea at this beautiful green. A variety of coral spread a wide area. If viewed from a high angle to see that it’s a beautiful island looks like Egg Island.  Located on the east of the island. Easily observed from a buoy floating on the surrounding park can bring to each other.

Beach clean and smooth cotton, it’s  a beautiful island is suitable for snorkeling.Bamboo Island has sandy beaches suitable for In addition to swimming beach tourism beaches and clean. Bamboo coral islands have to see with Bamboo coral islands spread to other patches.

With beautiful beaches adorning all of the islands, stunning natural beauty and a fair share of beautiful people basking in the sun, Phi Phi Islands are a great way to enjoy a holiday. If you enjoy water sports ranging from swimming and diving to kayaking and sailing then a holiday to Phi Phi Island is exactly what you need.

Nikki trying legs at water ski-ing :). This incident made my travel to phi-phi worth-while. Looking water skiers from may have made Nikki go upbeat with adrenalin rush. But when he got into water, he realized it’s not that easy to keep legs satrong (the boat rider’s version for ‘strong’) on the water as it’s not like skating :P

Fish and marine food is dirt-cheaper than water here :). Seaside venues selling the days catch of fish and snack on pancakes and organic fruit smoothies from the bamboo stalls.

Night shopping at phi-phi walking lanes: Shopping is possible on Phi Phi – plenty of souvenirs which can seem at first a nuisance to some, but you will find some hidden gems amongst them. Look out for silk clothing and locally handcrafted jewelry.

phi-phi

After dark the foreigners play beneath the stars. Phi Phi Don is surprisingly lively in the evenings, with many beach bars open until the wee hours – you could be chugging down exotic cocktails There are plenty of restaurants and bars on Phi Phi where a traveler can relax up and sip favorite coolers. I sat mesmerized as a fire dancer swirled fiery patterns around himself. Soon, people were dancing to reggae beats with the waves lapping at my feet and fire torches as my light. Staying at hillock kissed bungalow we could hear loud music playing at various beach-smooched parties.

The good news is that despite the influx of tourists, the islands of Phi Phi, Thailand are kept in immaculate condition and the overall picture is one of dramatic, unspoiled natural beauty. The islands of Phi Phi, Thailand are not called ‘paradise’ for no reason. This is a destination that will stay on your mind long after you have left for home.

Phi Phi 

[Excerpts]
  • Posted on March 28, 2008

Netrani Scuba diving at Murudeshwar, India

My travel partner, Raj asked me sometime in mid of march, ‘how about a scuba diving in Netrani island this month’ ? I was kinda skeptical initially & juggling with dual thoughts to go or not. By then: Raj booked scuba event in Netrani island.

I was seriously wondering – …with the beaches of coastal Karnataka…what kind of scuba we gonna do ?

Netrani Island is in Arabian sea & about 18 KM from the shores of Murudeshwara, Karnataka. The fact that this Island is isolated from mainland and people do not visit this place, the sea life is so colorful! It was treat to eyes and adventurous to explore scuba diving.

I call it a coincidence. Just the next day, I got a chance to watch hollywood flick ‘into the blue‘ in star movies. I couldn’t even loose a minute of concentration, as my favo babe – Jessica Alba flashing zingy figure in deep blue underwater. Movie is extensively shot in the beautiful and mesmerizing deep waters of Bahamas. This movie thrilled me with the imagination of scuba diving in sucha crystal clear underwater. I couldn’t resist the idea of scuba and instantly gave a call to Raj to make sure I am there in the scuba league.

Team of enthusiastic 30, in a delayed bus travel, unplanned breakfast stop over in rain-soaked Mudigere, lovely traverse in the beautiful green curves of Chickmagalur, hot-trenched Bantwal journey took us straight into swimming pool of dusky evening of Murudeshwar hotel. It was almost a drizzling twilight. Planned as a practice time for gonnabe scuba divers of next day. I was puzzled to see heaps of pipes running to and from big oxygen cylinders. It was a serious ‘scuba’ preparation…

The dusky dark evening, rarely twinkling lights, pool covered with green hillocks, drizzling chill air, slippery floor, and the lean & thin scuba instructors taught us the art of breathing & underwater surviving tactics. With lotta scuba gyan we made our way to not-so-great hotel which was allocated for us. It was a pitch black night when we logged into hotel room in Bhatkal to catch some sleep.

Next morning, our life jacket wrapped gang was waiting for the boats to pick us up in the temple beach of Murudeshwar. For the first time I was traveling for so long on the ocean. Gradually muddy water of the shore transformed into crystal clear turquoise blue water as moved towards the island. It was cool realize; were moving inside the Arabian sea and 18 km away Netrani island was seeming in the same shape since we’ve started. It was an awesome journey; vested with the great feeling of being nowhere.

Finally, in less than hour of boating we landed (rather, stranded) near the famed Netrani island. Raj & me were ready with the cam tripod and super zoom lens to clinch shutterbug thirst, but sadly, there was no beach as guessed in that island. It’s a mammoth rock peeping out of the vast water mass. Boats were anchored right besides the island on the water. Ditto into-the-blue movie types.

What I call a heavenly day kicked off with few of us wrapped in a life jacket, dived into sea water. Wow ! floating on salty and crystal water snorkeling looking into deep sea, was out of the world experience. Two scuba experts started scuba diving with 3 of us each. Not bad, Indian Arabian sea is a vast pool of underwater beauty with lotta cute and colorful fishes & wonderful reef inside. I managed to spot beautiful variety of never-seen-before fishes, blue and yellow lined fishes, variety coral reefs, beautiful but odd shaped stones etc., After my scuba dive, spent long hours floating on the water looking at cloudy sky. Felt like ‘if there’s anything called – nirvana, this is it’.

I was wondering about the scuba technique of controlling breathing with oxygen cylinder and waving fins attached to feet, which makes you float and swim underwater even if you don’t know swimming. It was certainly a godly experience to see exhaled air creating randomly shaped bubbles going up in lovely designs under clear waters of ocean. Never knew the scuba dive in Netrani takes one to sucha lovely destination under the ocean.

While coming back in the evening, it started slowly drizzling followed by heavy downpour. I enjoyed every bit of it sitting on fore tip of the boat. A mild weather, shadowy and dusky light, no sign of any boats as long as one can see on the ocean. A solitude married to creamy weather. I was drenching for hours till we reach the shore. My mood was humming…

Rain Clouds in the sky, I don’t know why
They make me blue, when I’m thinking of you
Maybe they want to cry, As I walk on by
Hiding my tears, in a world of good byes

Rain drops and dance, strange kind of romance
I don’t know why whether to cry out loud, But I’m feeling fine
Watch the rythm of the rain falling down

…Indian Rain from Colonial Cousins. It was Wow !

In the evening, we few of us went to Murudeshwar temple and took darshana of Lord shiva. Ironically aatma linga in the temple is so-tiny compared to the mammoth shiva statue evoked behind the temple by a business tycoon. Towering idol of Lord Shiva believed to be the tallest in Asia.

It was a long journey way back to Bangalore, a long night melted with mast dance and masti of Nishant for a Kannada HMT remix ! He could make anyone & everyone rocking with his well timed wits, mannerisms and puns. Finally for his sansani entertainment speed he was named as -aajtak ;D

  • Posted on October 25, 2007

Grand Canyon, Arizona.

This should be one of the memorable road trip I did with my apartment friends of SunnyVale. It was a nice outing on the long weekend. Hopping casinos at Vegas trip, striking the list of most-wanted shows to be attended, some mega-dazzling parties, mega shopping, visiting my close friend working for Gold’s gym, doing rounds to nice photographer Peter Lik’s gallery at Venetian. Ensured, I checked all those list items.

Finally, I fulfilled my long cherished three wishes in this trip. One to stay in Luxor for a day :) and another one being long drive to Grand Canyon. For years I imagined how it might be look down from birds-eye-view of Grand Canyon. Third, The helicopter ride was like a thunder bolt experience inside canyons with roaring sound. Half of my trip savings were rightfully used on Casinos and helicopter rides :)

when I first saw horseshoe’s photos few years back, I thought it may not offer that great fun. But, honestly it took a while for me to lay a foot on it. It’s amazingly designed simple invention to scare any one the core. Even for the iron-hearted it gives a second of daring challenge :) to set a foot on it. I some how don’t understand why don’t they allow users to carry camera. May be for the fear of Japanese photo taking abilities of some users :). Going to extreme angles while taking photo may lead to self-suicide :)

Horseshoe – It surely an architecture miracle, I must say. Equally a foresighted business thought to mint money :D. Some construction was still going on when I was there. It certainly an amazing experience to take a few minutes of walk. I particularly enjoyed bus rides from one location to another red Indians villages on Grand Canyon.