Mekong farmlad - In VietNam travel

Go through the lavish field and sluggish towns of the Mekong Delta on this four-day biking enterprise that takes you profound into the farming heart of the nation. Known as Vietnam's "rice bowl", the rich fluvial soil of the delta helps plentiful plantations and fields creating rice, coconuts, sugar stick and all way of fascinating foods grown from the ground vegetables...

Appreciate an one of a kind biking outing through the Mekong farmland, going through country terraces to find the neighborhood life and society. At 8:00 AM, your driver and aide will reach you at the lodging and drive you in the help van to the Mekong Delta. Toward the evening take a two hour bicycle ride through the lovely wide open to the Cai Mon District, where you will keep with it at a nearby agriculturist's home. Cai Mon is a residential area made popular by its plentiful nursery enclosures and foods grown from the ground plantations. In the late evening, join the family and help to get ready supper, figuring out how to cook delectable, neighborhood cooking. At night appreciate a mouth-watering, welcome dinner with family.

Related post: Vietnam travel deals

Begin your day the nearby way, waking right on time to visit the clamoring morning business sector. Come back to the home for breakfast then set out on an alternate day biking along the wonderful fluvial farmland, passing through nearby towns, under verdant plantations and navigating emerald-green rice paddies. Stop along the best approach to visit the well disposed nearby individuals and flavor a delightful lunch of bona fide food. Land in Can Tho City in the late evening and register with your lodging. Delight in whatever remains of the day free at your recreation.

Climb early and take a vessel to visit the Mekong's greatest drifting business. Here ranchers from everywhere throughout the district meet up to sell their crisp produce. This is an impeccable chance to example a portion of the new tropical apples and oranges developed along the Mekong. After the watercraft ride, you will set out on a going visit through the wonderful farmland on a biking course voted Vietnam's best in 2006. Use the evening unwinding by the pool and relishing the peacefulness of the Mekong's field and watch the dusk over the slowing down.

Eat at the inn then appreciate the morning at your relaxation. Leave from Can Tho around twelve, halting for lunch in transit and landing in Saigon toward the evening. Visit closes.

Bijoyeta Das | The Last Aryans (Al Jazeera)

Photo © Bijoyeta Das-Courtesy Al Jazeera

"Now we charge $5 from tourists to pose for photos and more to wear traditional clothes and a lot more if you want to shoot videos"- Thinely Aryan, a Brogpa.

The Brogpas (also known as Drogpas) live in Ladakh, as well as in India-administered Kashmir. They claim to be the last of the Aryans. Out of the 5 Brogpa villages in India, two have are open to foreign tourism.  The villages of Dha and Biama are entirely populated by last remaining remnants of the Dards who are considered as last race of Aryans confined to Indus Valley. The Dards practice an ancient pre-Buddhist religion known as Bon-Cho, and have remained in total isolation for over 2000 years until 1947. 

Al Jazeera In Pictures features a gallery of photographs of Brogpas by Bijoyeta Das.

While no one knows for certain if the Brogpas' claim of belonging to an Aryan race have any merit, and whether their origins are true, the tourism industry is endeavoring to capitalize on these claims, and bring tourists to the area. These villages are about 170 km from Leh, so it is a hardy tourist that goes there...but it seems that it's picking up.

According to entries in Wikipedia: In the 19th century, the speakers of the Indo-Persian or Indo-European languages came to be called the "Aryan race", to differentiate them from what came to be called the "Semitic race". By the late 19th century, the notions of an "Aryan race" became closely linked to Nordicism, which meant Northern European racial superiority over all other peoples. 

Bijoyeta Das is a journalist and photographer. She has reported from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, South Korea and USA and holds a masters degree in Journalism from Northeastern University, USA and a photojournalism postgraduate diploma from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

Trip to Spain. Spain and Me - We Together !

This is the conversation, I as BJ had one night with my magical travel companion (SS).

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan , but also believe."   - Anatole France

BJ : Dear SS! I have the Dream and the Belief to go to Spain.

SS : No worries, I have the Plan and the Act. With our magical companionship, we'll sew the beauty and   intrigue of Spain with the Sweet Memories and great fun !! All set BJ ?

BJ : Yippie !! Thanks a lot, SS for being here in India now. So how do we go about the lengthy process of   Booking Airline tickets, Hotels, Buses and renting a Car through various websites ?. The entire process       of working and re-working the budget every time is such a stress !

SS: Don't worry BJ, I'll manage All of them !

BJ: All !Are you sure ? ... Tickets, Hotels, Buses, Cars, everything?

SS: Yes BJ, All of them...

BJ: SS, I must say you are really powerful, holding so much in yourself. Awesome!

SS: Thanks BJ! So you want to go to Spain. Where do you want to Start from in Spain?

BJ: See, I want to cover Barcelona, Madrid and if possible, other cities and towns around them. Wait, I   know I will have to be more specific than that . And yes, I've got INR 1 lakh for this trip.

SS: No issues for further specifications. Not needed. Just enter Spain as destination and I'll take care of     the rest.

BJ: And Journey Dates ? I don't have them specifically on my mind too except that it has to be 2014!.

SS: My friend BJ, even that won't be a problem ! I'll get the best deals from the entire year !

BJ: SS, you know you are too good to be true. Can I Click (touch) you.

SS: Ok. Ok. That hurts, I Exist.

BJ:  Fine then.. Here we are.. No specific date, no specific City.

SS:  Rather... Assured Best Deals though, with complete flexibility! Isn't that Super BJ ?

BJ: Unbelievably Super !! I can choose the best fares from dates across the year and cheapest cities to land to ! That's  WOW ! Anyways SS let's move ahead. Lots of planning left.

SS: Yeah, Look I got a Return fare worth INR 38,218, Mumbai - Barcelona.

BJ:  Oh Great !! SS promise means delivery every time, all the time. Now that's awesome. Dates       from October 1-10, 2014 are perfectly suitable to me as well. Thanks for the awesome deal. Next let's       move to accommodation. Yippiee!! Now that's 'Skyscanner and I, on a trip around the world'.

SS:  Hey BJ, Hope you've made the best use of the research and information on my site under the           section 'Travel News and Features'. There is a lot of useful information and resources.

Skyscanner - The Benchmark travel reports

BJ:  No doubts! It's an excellent one stop place for all my Travel related insight.

SS: Great to know that you are following the info there. So what do your plan to during Spain visit?

BJ : SS, Look my visit spans for 9 days. I prefer to divide my time between Barcelona and Madrid. 

SS : So you mean to say, that you plan to base yourself in these cities and if time permits, go for day trips     around ?

BJ: That's right on the dart, SS. You are wise and really smart, otherwise. I'm planning to stay in             Barcelona for 6 days and another 3 days in Madrid.

SS: Well BJ, That's smart of you. I'd love to know more about your travel plans about the two cities in Spain.

BJ: SS here it goes:

Barcelona is a splendid city with a mix of ancient and modern characteristics. Madrid is unique and cosmopolitan at the same time. Madrid boasts of a lively artistic and cultural heritage with an envious night life. 

Barcelona has the best of both the worlds. It personifies every traveler's dream. Rich History, modern infrastructure, fabulous food, game for sports, lively outdoor markets and the heavenly serene beach. Barcelona is the modern ancient paradise. I'd love to walk across Las Remblas, as the array of the trees would hug me and allow me to meander and open-up in my own world. All my stress would fly with the swirling of the leaves. Then I'd like to enjoy the divine Spanish cuisine at La Boqueria for Escalivada or Mel-i-Mato. Then I'd like to happily relax along my camelot on the golden yellow sands of the Sant Sebastia beach and listen to the wheeze of the tales that the Mediterranean sea brings along. And who'd miss the Barcelona Stadia that stand with their grandeur from Olympics, 1992. SS, I'll just so wish to fold the map deep in my pocket and realize my inner happiness by getting lost in the old streets of Barcelona. Barri Goltic, Basilica La Seu are testimonies of the rich culture of Barcelona that complement the edifice of the modern art creations of Antono Gaudi of the likes of Casa Balto. Barcelona also figures amongst the most frequented cites in the world. In view of that, there is a lot to be learnt about different cultures, influences, thoughts etc. from my fellow travelers.That makes yet another reason to visit Barcelona.

Las Remblas

Sant Sebastia beach

La Boqueria

Nouveau Art - Modern art

Escalivada

Madrid on the other hand is a cosmopolitan city in a true scene, with a verve and a nerve that it's simply unparalleled. Several ethnicities merge as in a potshot of Madrid to frame the culture with a new definition. It's sporty, fisty, ethnic and modern. All at the same time. The arena of the Bull-Fighting can lend life to estrogens and rescale the very definition of adventure. The nights are even more exciting as the city boasts of a night-life that is best across the globe. Madrid's architecture is yet another reason to visit the city with Plaza Mayor, Palacio de Cebeles, Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace and the vertical gardens ornating the city's landscape. 

Apart from the enormous scope of spending time within the cities, there are a lot of options to go for Day tours from the city. At Barcelona, I'd love to go to Wine Tours near the city, 'Girona, Figures and Dali museum', hike across Pyrenes mountain, Girona and Costa Brava among umpteen other options.

At Madrid, I look forward to visit Toledo, El Escorial Monastery, Segovia etc. 

SS:  This itinerary indeed sounds exciting BJ. My best wishes to you. It seems we need to move on to the     next financial head, the stay at apartments/guest-houses.

BJ: Yeah SS, I'd love to stay in apartments/ guest-houses. The reason being with 3, 6-7, a 15 day time       frame we'd get the best deals in terms of price. Here we have divided time in 3 and 6-7 day frame         so that's a great idea. Plus if I wish to cook some-times there, I can save on my meals also.

SS: That's right. As we have planned your departure and arrival from the same city, Barcelona, it'd       also be interesting to rent a car, which you can pick and drop back at the airport !! Game ??

BJ: That's lovely SS. Save time and money, flexibility and driving across the rustic Spanish landscape     can be wonderful. That a fairy-tale trip. Thanks to Skyscannaer, I mean SS.

SS: So here are your best deals: Apartment for 6 days at Barcelona (Bed and Beach Barcelona                   Guesthouse) : INR 18,891. At Madrid (Hostal Commercial) for INR 5,571. That brings your total stay       cost at  INR 24,462.

Skyscanner - The Best deals on accommodations

Skyscanner - The Best deals on accommodations

BJ: That's too good . Can't wait for my car rentals !!!

SS: Here they are, BJ. A Volkswagon Polo for 9 days would cost us INR 14,488.

Skyscanner - The Best Car Deal

BJ: If I add a decent usage of 350 litres of gas @ .77 Euros/litre, I'd be in a need of 270 euros of fuel cost. That is INR 22680. That means all the heads clubbed together would sum up to INR 99,848. That's             amazing SS !!!! I never knew that travel could be so easy and economical. All credits to you             Skyscanner


BJ : All crredddiiiittttts to you skyscanner. Envelope??

Mom: BJ!! , BJ ??? what have you been murmuring last night? Anyways one envelope has been     delivered for you. It states: 'For your Spanish Trip, from your friend, Skyscanner'. 

BJ: Can't believe my dream has come true.

Mom: What ?

BJ: I've realized one thing today that Dreams come true, Mom. 

They come true with friends like Skyscanner.

PS: This post was written as a contest entry and did not receive any compensation in form of money or kind from any source.

Book Review: Wildebeest in a Rainstorm

One of the best things about extended travel is that it allows you to catch up on your back reading. That's just what I did while I was away, and I started with the latest book from Jon Bowermaster entitled Wildebeest in a Rainstorm: Profiles of Our Most Intriguing Adventurers, Conservationists, Shagbags and Wanderers.

The book is a collection of articles that Bowermaster has written over the past twenty years for magazines such as National Geographic Adventure and Outside profiling some of the top environmentalists, activists, and adventurers from around the globe. Peter Beard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Richard Branson, and George Schaller are just a few of the fascinating people in the book.

Wildebeest offers a perfect display of Bowermaster's writing style, which is, as always, excellent, even over these disparate articles written over the course of two decades about individuals who are all unique in their own right, but share some common characteristics, such as an adventurous spirit, focused determination, and a deep seeded concern with the well being of the planet on some level or another.

A perfect example of this is Peter Beard, an artist and activist, who spent much of his life in Africa, lured there at a young age by Karen Blixen's classic book Out of Africa. Beard is the subject of not just one, but two of the articles contained in Wildebeest, and he is also credited with the quote that gives the book its title. The first article is more of a profile of Beard's life working in a variety of countries on the continent sometimes as a hunter or doing wildlife research, and later taking photographs that would eventually make him famous. The second article follows a number of years later, when Bowermaster catches up with Beard in a New York hospital after a female elephant did its best to send Beard out of Africa permanently. Both stories are well done, and give you insights into Beard's character, which is both inspiring and sometimes tragic, at the same time.

One of the best elements of this book is that Jon happens to be friends with a number of the people that he had profiled. There is a casual familiarity in the way that he writes about them that makes it seem like we're joining him and a buddy as they go off on an adventure in the wilds of Nicaragua, Chile, or some other far flung place. Those friendships also put him in a unique position of understanding these men and women far better than just any writer who is sent off to cover a story.

It was also interesting to read some of the older articles and realize just how relevant they remain today, not only in the case of the particular person being profiled, but for the various causes or environmental issues that remain concerns years later. Bowermaster closes each of the chapters with a very brief update on what has become of the particular person as well, and there were times when I was reading that I couldn't help but look forward to those short follow-ups to find out how things have changed.

All in all, another good book to add to your bookshelf. It is a very quick and interesting read, and if you're like me, you'll be rushing to the Internet to see if you can find out more about these adventurers, and what has befallen them since Jon originally wrote their story.