Road Trip Vignettes - Banyan tree and Tulsi Vrindavan

We just stopped seeing this. 

The setting was lovely. This was during our trip to Dudhsagar and Goa in August last year. As we left the hotel in Siolim and started for Morjim beach, the driver asked us whether we would like to see a big banyan tree nearby. He said this was the largest tree in Goa. We were curious as we have seen one of the largest Banyan trees in the world in Bangalore. 

When we arrived at the spot, the tree was big but nowhere in comparison to the one in Bangalore. What caught our eye was a small Tulsi Vrindavan or the place where Tulsi, the holy basil is grown. There was no tulsi plant but the colourful Vrindavan was a lovely contrast to the grey backdrop of the aerial roots of Banyan. The small Vrindavan was a contrast to the huge tree.

Around the roots were the holy white threads. 

Brinda clicked the picture for the keeps. Here it is.

Have you noticed unusual vignettes during your travel?

If you want to explore unusual Goa, you may look at the following post in this blog

12 Things to do in Goa you haven't done before!

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Monday Images - Magnificent vistas of White Continent!

Monday Images. Every weekend, we share some brilliant Images from fellow travellers from different parts of the world. We have liked them. Hope you will too.

Antarctica aka White Continent.

Very few of us get a chance to visit the icy world.

We can at least savour the beauty of it through the eyes of some fellow travellers who were lucky enough to go there. Donna Hampshire is one of them.

We loved her beautiful pictures of the continent. It is your turn now. Here are few brilliant pictures shot by her.

Please spare a moment to take a look at her other pictures of white continent here. It will definitely make your Monday lovely!

Awesome Antarctica

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Back of the Blog - Sundays are meant to be in Sunday Bazaar!

Surprised with title of this post?

Instead of asking you to laze around on the bed and drink a good cup of coffee with newspaper in hand, why are we suggesting you to go to Sunday bazaar? Because, if you are curious and looking for an experience of street shopping, this is the place to be in Bangalore. We are not sure of other places - we understand that Hyderabad also has one and Delhi has Sunday Book bazaar - but you should make a point to visit Sunday bazaar in Bangalore. 

My first experience of Sunday Bazaar or "Gujari" - as it used to be called in good old days - was accompanying my dad on Sunday mornings to the old city of Bangalore. It was to buy second hand stuff. On Sundays, when the regular shops are closed, another market springs to life where you can buy anything. 

This is what we would suggest you to do this Sunday if you are in Bangalore. Get up lazily, have your cup of coffee with a diet of your favourite newspaper. Then take out your vehicle or better pick up an auto rickshaw and head to Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan in Balepet for a brunch around 10 AM. Finish brunch of excellent Masale Dose and Rave Bisi Bele Bath and then take a leisurely walk towards BVK Iyengar road. 

Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan (Photo Courtesy - http://indianbazaars.blogspot.in/)

Once you reach BVK Iyengar road, its lanes and bye lanes, you will be surprised with the number of temporary stalls on the footpath selling anything from old LP records to latest cell phones. You are now in Sunday Bazaar. Bangalore's own Chor Bazaar replica of Mumbai.

The uniqueness of Sunday Bazaar is it is never stagnant. You will always find something interesting if you have an eye for the curious.  Anything sells here. Bolts to blankets, from soles to software, from loo bowls to washing machines, name it and you will find it at the Sunday Bazaar.

Dumbbells for Sale (Photo Courtesy - Subbarayan Prasanna)

It all started as a market for secondhand goods. It continues to be one. But of late, you will see brand new items jostling for space with old on the streets.  As you walk along the lanes and bye lines, you will be surprised to see items you had never thought of.  Old coins, old books, binoculars, old cameras, radios, LP records and antique stuff......if you have patience to look around and check you will be surprised with list.  Home décor items, tools and equipments, mixer-grinders, washing machines, television sets, music systems, DVD players, refrigerators, garments, blankets, gym equipments, pen-drives, imported watches. List is endless.

Yes, you need to bargain for the prices. The traders are also aware of this. So it is the question of who has better bargaining skills. 

It is a good place to pick up stuff of yester years. Also good for human watching, to see the energy of people who throng every Sunday to buy items at cheaper cost. We go there once in a while to pick up some knick knacks or an antique lock or an old camera. We have never come back disappointed. 

Post Script - This is not like a leisurely shopping you experience in Malls in an air conditioned atmosphere. You will not get branded items here. Wear a cap and sunglasses. Carry bottles of water. The complete area of Old Bangalore will be like a huge market. It is up to you to explore. Based on your patience and time!

Please take a look at this nice Photo Essay on Sunday Bazaar by Subbarayan Prasanna 

Sunday Bazaar on BVK Iyengar Road

Have you had similar Bazaar experience? Do share it.

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Skywatch Friday - Sunset at Orchha

Orchha is a small village in the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. It still remain non descript but for the Betwa river, the charming palace, fort, chattris and temples

My first association with Orchha was when i was posted in Jhansi while serving in the army 25 year back. This used to be our place for weekend trips on our bicycles.

During our grand road trip of Central India in 2011, we stopped over for a night at Orchha. This wasn't planned and was a last minute change. I had told Brinda on the charms of Orchha, especially its mesmerising sunset. Thus, our endeavour was to reach Orchha well in time to catch the glorious moment.

Driving from Lucknow, we reached Orchha around 4 PM. Going straight to the Palace - it closes by 5 PM - we were able to appreciate lovely architectural sense of Bundelkhand kings. We kept a tab on our watch and as we neared the sun set time, we moved to the vantage point on the bridge over Betwa river.

As the sun went down in the horizon behind the silhouettes of the chattris, we clicked crazy and played around with exposures. It was a mindblowing experience which you can see below.

Don't miss visiting Orchha when you plan your trip to Khajuraho. We will follow up with a detailed post on the place in this blog. Stay tuned.

Glossary

Chattri - Cenotaph

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Food Safari - Bahadura Laddu and Ghevar of Gwalior

We visited Gwalior in August 2006. It was the month of Shravan. The Teej festival was round the corner and the sweet shops were selling a delicate sweet which looked like thick papad from a distance. 

Curious as ever, we asked as to what it was and we were told that it was "Ghevar", a sweet made for Teej and Raksha Bandhan. It was yummy and we relished it thoroughly. Bansal Petha Bhandar in Gwalior is a famous shop known for Petha, a sweet made out of ash gourd. But during the month of Shravan, the shop makes delicately tasteful ghevar which is made of ghee, maida and jaggery.

Our gourmet curiosity meant that we explore the other culinary treats of Gwalior. Normally, the first thing we always do when we arrive at a place is to ask locals about local delicacy, the best restaurant and sweet shop in the city. We did the same here too and our next stop  at "Bahadura Sweets" famous for its "Bahadura Laddus" named after the late Bahadur Prasad Sharma the founder of the sweet shop. 

An iconic shop founded 80 years ago, the laddus are made out of boondi which is cooked on coal. Tiny drops of chick pea batter drop into the hot ghee and are taken out with a large perforated spoon, called jhara,when fully fried. The boondi is then immersed in sugar syrup and later rolled into laddus. It should be eaten hot and in the shop.

After eating the laddus don't miss savouring crispy kachoris with tangy chutney in Bahadura Sweets. It is yummy!

Gwalior like other cities in Madhya Pradesh is a gourmet paradise. Whether it is Suleiman chai with Kebab buns in Bhopal or Dahi Vada and Ghamandi Lassi in Indore, Bhang laced Thandai in Ujjain, Kachoris in Rau near Indore, Jalebis in Jabalpur you love travelling in Madhya Pradesh if you love local cuisine.

Next time when you visit Gwalior and finish visiting the magnificent fort, dont forget to have a feast at these sweet shops. Forget dieting while in Gwalior!

If you are a gourmet like us, don't miss reading the following posts in this blog.

Back of the blog - A Checklist for Gourmets on travel in India

Food Streets of Indore

In search of Suleimani chai in Bhopal

Momos in Mirik!

Food Safari in India

Glossary 

Shravan - The month in Hindu calendar in which many festivals occur. Generally in the month of Augsust.

Teej Festival - A Hindu festival. It is observed by women for wellness of their husband.

Raksha Bandhan - A Hindu festival. It is observed by women for wellness of their brothers.

Laddu - A ball-shaped sweet made of flour and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe.

Kachori - A spicy and fried snack popular in North India and pakistan. Eaten with or without chutney

Chai - Indian tea

Dahi Vada - Lentil Fritters dipped in Yogurt & smeared with spices

Lassi - Sweet Yogurt, Indian style!

Bhang - A preparation from the leaves and flowers (buds) of the female cannabis plant, consumed as a beverage in the Indian Subcontinent.

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Monday Images - Spring Splendours!

Monday Images. Every weekend, we share some brilliant Images from fellow travellers from different parts of the world. We have liked them. Hope you will too.

Tomorrow, 1st April is celebrated as "Ugadi" in the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India. Our best to wishes to all readers on this auspicious day.

Ugadi means "New beginning" or "Beginning of a new era" or Simply "Beginning of the new year " in the Hindu lunar calendar.

Ugadi also signifies the arrival of spring in India. Spring is a nice time to be in India. The barren trees are looking beautiful with new twigs. Trees like Jacaranda, Flame of the forest, Cassia, Gliricidia, Copper pod, Red silk cotton, Queens flower, Tree of Gold bloom profusely painting the landscape in vivid colours. Thanks to our tree loving planners of yester years, Bangalore especially is blessed with these lovely flowering trees.

The herald of spring is best seen in a forest. We were driving on Charmadi ghat in March last year. We could see the different hues of colours in the forest The colourful new foliage of  trees presented us a with a picture postcard!. 

The forest from a distance

The close up of the forest shows different colours

A nice road flanked by rejuvenated trees in BR Hills

Golden shower tree in full glow

We will leave you with some stunning images of Spring.......

Melange of colours! (Photo Courtesy - Rene Rodriguez )

Spring colours in Himalayas, Nirmand, Himachal Pradesh, India ( Photo Courtesy - Ashwani Kaul )

Spring colours near Kullu, India -  Photo Courtesy - East Med Wanderer)

Stunning colours (Photo Courtesy - Ron Gielgens)

Spring in England ( Photo Courtesy - Lorenzo G )

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Skywatch Friday - London Bridge, Melbourne

In March 2008, I went to Melbourne for a Month on business. Whenever i tease Poorna on his trip to New york and London, he will remind me of Melbourne!

Melbourne is a cute little city which does not have the hustle bustle of Sydney. This is a typical Aussie city. Laid-back. Fun loving. Easy going.

On one of the weekends, we went on a trip to see Seven Apostles and drive on the Great Ocean road. The weather was perfect. We also happened to go on a helicopter ride over the ocean. 

The view of London bridge from the sky was just fabulous! Originally a natural archway and tunnel in an offshore rock formation, however, it collapsed in 1990 and became a bridge without a middle.

When you travel to Australia, don't miss visiting Melbourne and to go on a drive on the Great Ocean road to see the bridge and Seven Apostles.

You may also click on the link below for other posts in "Skywatch Friday" series

Skywatch Friday

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