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The red junglefowl
Entrance to the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. Truth be told, I am not a garden person. Stepping into one to gaze at flowers isn’t my cup of tea. I’d rather be up to mischief somewhere else. Unless, of course, I am dragged to one. Which was “sweetly” the case here. They seem to be casual in the presence of humans, though don’t get too close. Turns out the 163-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens, or simply the Gardens, is one of three gardens, and the only tropical garden to feature on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Now, sucker that I am for anything with a World Heritage stamp on it, if this isn’t…
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Red Cube
Is it a cube? Or just a distorted installation stretched to give it an illusion of a cube? The red cube is designed by Isamu Noguchi, and installed in 1968. Either way, this iconic Red Cube, on 140 Broadway Manhattan balances itself quite well on one corner while another stretches upwards, rising to 24 feet. Designed by Isamu Noguchi, it was installed in 1968 and has been drawing curious crowds since. Painted in red, its main feature is a cylindrical hole. It’s made of steel and cast in aluminum. Painted in red, and balancing itself on one corner, its main feature is a cylindrical hole that runs upwards through the…
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Mahatobhaara Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple
It is the main temple in Puttur, around 50 km from Mangalore, Karnataka. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. And is, after Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the only temple to have a cremation ground opposite it. This is the Mahatobhaara Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple. The sun setting over Mahalingeshwara Temple, and Puttur. According to popular legend, three wise old men, ardent devotees of Shiva, were traveling through Southern India, carrying a Shivling from Kshetra of Kashi. View of the temple ground. While they were in Puttur, under the patronage of the King of Banga, they set aside the Shivling on the ground to offer their prayers. Once done with their prayers, they…
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The Rialto Bridge
It is the oldest bridge that spans the Grand Canal of Venice. And no trip to this city is complete without walking on the majestic ‘Ponte di Rialto’ or Rialto Bridge. A view of Venice. It has been immortalized by artists like Canaletto. And for all you Shakespeare buffs, it even finds a mention in The Merchant of Venice, when Shylock asks, “What news on the Rialto?” It is the oldest bridge that spans the Grand Canal of Venice. While the bridge we see now had been around since 1591, the original pontoon bridge came up as early as 1173. Since then, it suffered damage in a fire and collapsed…
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Wongwian Yai Station
The idea was to try and get to Maeklong railway market, about 80 odd km southwest of Bangkok. While I’m sure everyone knows what it’s famous for, what nobody tells you is that there’s just one train from Wongwian Yai station that takes you directly to this station – the Maeklong Railway Line at an unearthly hour of 6:45 am. Of course, we never made it on time. This is Bangkok, after all. The local train to Mah Chai station. Instead, like good travelers who expected things to fall into place, we reached the station late that morning, and on enquiring, figured some trains take us to Maha Chai station.…
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The Bridge of Sighs
Popular myth suggests it was the last view of Venice that convicts would see before they were led to their dungeons. The Bridge of Sighs is the only covered limestone bridge in Venice. However much one may wish for it to be true, in some weird sort of way, it isn’t. It is actually from the pen of Lord Bryon, who, perhaps high on Laudanum, let his imagination run wild while writing ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ and decided to interpret the Italian ‘Ponte dei sospiri’ to suit his purpose. And thus the quote, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace, and prison on each hand.” Thankfully, the…
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The People’s House
Years ago, in 1971 to be precise, when Nicolae Ceausescu embarked on a tour of East Asia, one of the countries on his itinerary was North Korea. Of course, where else could he go? It is the heaviest building in the world, sinking by a few millimeters each year. And so impressed was he with the scale of the government buildings and mass adulation that the North Koreans showered on their revered leader, that megalomaniac that he was, decided to head back to Bucharest and implement these policies for the betterment of the Romanians. He started with Project Bucharest – which intended to develop Bucharest on the lines of Pyongyang…
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Enter the dragon
He is Ljubljana’s most famous mythical resident and is celebrated everywhere. The dragon – Ljubljana’s most famous resident. However, to understand his relevance to the city, we must go back to a legend we have all grown up with, involving a certain Jason and the Argonauts, and their quest to steal the Golden Fleece from the Aeetes, King of the Black Sea. He not only managed to steal the fleece by slaying a dragon protecting it, but also the heart of the king’s daughter, Medea, who very wisely decided to flee with him rather than face the wrath of her dad. They say when a maiden walks on the bridge,…
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Cell # 205
Many years ago, my travel friend and I, on a quick tour of Europe with Contiki, landed in Lucerne late in the evening. And as the whole aim of traveling with Contiki was for a unique experience, our accommodation for that night sure lived up to the whole ‘unique experience’ feel. Inside Cell # 205 Barabas Jail Hotel was an actual prison in the heart of Lucerne. It was purpose-built in 1862 and was a functioning prison until it was decommissioned in 1998. It had 60 cells, including five for women. Before that, convicts were usually rounded up and locked away in monasteries or towers. When the authorities closed the…
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Tantallon Castle
If your idea of an ideal castle is one with sheer cliffs and unparalleled views of the sea, then you are in luck. The castle offers sheer cliffs and unparalleled views of the sea. Tantallon Castle is about an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. Strategically located high on a cliff outside the town of North Berwick, it overlooks Scotland’s east coastline. Like many across Scotland, this castle would be attacked many times. It was originally built somewhere in the 1930s by William, 1st Earl of Douglas, and would, for much of its use, remain in the hands of his descendants. Despite being in a state of ruin, the castle has remained…
