BLUE IS EVERYWHERE....

While looking for the windows from Alentejo in Portugal, I came across from stunning doors and windows in Spain and Morocco.

Especially when I was surfing in Pinterist, I came across this city in Morocco which is painted in different shades of Blue. It is Chefchaouen.

Again the pictures I chose from Pinterist are worth sharing. I definitely have to travel to Morocco one day and to this beautiful town of Chefchaouen.

                                                                                                      

 

                                                    

 

BLUE WINDOWS OF PORTUGAL

Yet again more blue.

Today while I was doing some research work for my house renovation, I googled for the windows in Alentejo. To my surprise most of them are blue.

I can't stop sharing the beautiful windows here. Is it I like blue a lot or I blue crosses my road in purpose, he eh...

PORTUGAL LOVE FOR MY MOM !

Perhaps, it is for the first time I share here in my blog that I am renovating my parental house.

I did and still doing a lot of research on how to give a lift to my house which is easily 50 years old. 

I am trying my best to give a fresh look keeping the old intact. I kept the old furnitures and also bought some new. Demolished all unwanted shelves. The concept is vintage to relate to my mother's taste and also my choice of life ;)

Sooner or later towards the 70% completion I realised that my house has some looks from Portugal. A country which is close to my heart. I had two friends from Portugal, Jorge and Luis visiting my house and they could relate it to the looks of an old Portuguese houses. I heard it and immediately was on the 9th cloud. May be this house is the expression of my love for Portugal. All those good memories I carried from Portugal from the May-June of 2012 can be seen in my house.

Again the colour blue has dominance in the entire renovation. 

KEEP CALM AND STAY BLUE!!

Picture is from google search

It all started when I heard often that blue is my lucky colour. The astrologer, the nurse of my mother, the girl who rents our house, the cook in our house, my sister etc. They all say it, i.e Blue is my lucky colour. I must wear a blue colour t-shirt when I go for an important work. India is a country where 99.9 % of people believe in Astrology.

So today when I opened to check my wardrobe then all I found is blue. No wonder blue is my lucky colour. Some times you not aware and still you have what is good for you.

No wonder I like denims, no wonder I have some 100s of blue tshirt, often the theme of my bed room is blue. No wonder I love beach. No wonder I love the blue blue sky. Blue always catch my eyes between my travel.

So blue is not only my lucky colour but it is also my favourite.

Stay tuned for more blue :)

51 countries in Europe and its Capitals

The continent of Europe has always been my fascination.
There are total of 48 countries in Europe and I would love to go visit their capital cities.
I have visited some of them already in 2012 and would love to visit again.

Here is the grand list below :

Countries in Europe and its Capitals I want to visit. 

1. Iceland - Reykjavik
2. Norway - Oslo
3. Sweden - Stockholm
4. Finland - Helsinki
5. Denmark - Copenhagen
6. Latvia - Riga
7. Estonia - Talinn
8. Lithuania - Vilnius
9. Russian Federation - Moscow
10. Belarus - Minsk
11. Poland - Warsaw
12. Serbia - Belgrade
13. Ukraine - Kiev
14. Moldova - Chisinau
15. Hungary - Budapest
16. Slovakia - Bratislava
17. Czech Rep - Prague
18. Romania - Bucharest
19. Croatia - Zagreb
20. Bosnia & Herzegovina - Sarajevo
21. Bulgaria - Sofia
22. Macedonia - Skopja
23. Albania - Tirane
24. Greece - Athens
25. Turkey - Ankara
26. Cyprus - Nikosia
27. Armenia - Yerevan
28. Georgia - Tbilisi
29. Azerbaijan - Baku
30. Malta - Valletta
31. Italy - Rome
32. Vatican - Vatican city
33. San Marino - San Marino
34. Slovenia - Ljubljana
35. Austria - Vienna
36. Liechtenstein - Vaduz
37. Germany - Berlin
38. Luxembourg - Luxembourg
39. Belgium - Brussels
40. Netherlands - Amsterdam
41. Switzerland - Bern
42. Monaco - Monaco
43. France - Paris
44. Andorra - Andorra
45. Spain - Madrid
46. Portugal - Lisbon
47. United Kingdom - London
48. Ireland - Dublin
49. Montenegro - Podgorica
50. Kazakkstan - Astana
51. Kosovo - Pristina

Feel free to comment the cities you have been or your most favourite European city.

SHARING IS CARING # 18

This Sharing is caring is solemnly for the appetite to travel. Traveling is not easy for Indian travellers especially when it comes to visa processing.

This post share from www.triphobo.com by Sameer Kapoor comes as a delight as it shares the 30 countries Indians can have visa on arrival. Its interesting how one can go to these destinations without worrying about the Visa on arrival.

So just pack your bags and fly as 30 countries is not a small number to travel in one life

Many a times you would have avoided the idea of international travel from India for the fear of fulfilling all that documentation process for Visa. Rejoice! There are at least 30 countries that offer visa on arrival for the Indian citizens to enter. Well that would mean that you can simply decide to travel, purchase your tickets and bon voyage! Having access to these over 30 countries situates the Indian passport at number 76th in the world among the list of countries with highest number of visa free or visa on arrival destinations.

1. Bhutan

photo credit: kellie-Netherwoodmydestinationsunknown

Visit the kingdom of Bhutan and explore its insuperable heights with Visa on arrival. Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldives nationals can obtain a 14 days tourist visa at the port of entry on producing a valid passport with a minimum of 6 month validity.

2. Hong Kong

picture credit: dsphotographic

Explore Hong Kong, the country of skyscrapers and ancient traditions. Indian nationals can enter Hong Kong, with a valid travel document, for a period up to 14 days without a visa.

3. Macau

picture credit: risarodil.tumblr

Visit Macau, the ultimate destination for understanding the Chinese heritage. Being an Indian you can avail 30 days visa on arrival to enter this country.

4. Nepal

picture credit: abduzeedo

This neighbourhood country offers you the best views of pristine nature. Indian citizens may live and work freely in Nepal under the terms of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. 

5. Seychelles

photo credit: peartree

Visit this archipelago that is known for its beaches, coral reefs, diving, nature reserves and rare wildlife such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Indians can avail Visa on arrival for one month for this country.

6. South Korea (only Jeju island)

photo credit: lovethesepics

Jeju is a South Korean island in the Korea Strait that is known for its volcanic landscape full of craters and cavelike lava tubes. Only this island in South Korea provides visa on arrival for 30 days to Indian citizens.

7. Maldives

photo credit: thesuiteworld

Explore the underwater beauty and things to do in Maldives with visa on arrival facility. A free Maldives Tourist Visa which is valid for approximately ninety days is issued to Indian nationals on arriving at the airport in Maldives.

Check out Maldives itinerary 7 days

8. Haiti 

photo credit: rezmissions

Visit Haiti, a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. Indians can enter this country for 30 days with visa on arrival facility.

9. Jamaica

picture credit: brettlancephotography

Jamaica is well known for its beaches and all inclusive resorts. Enter this country for 30 days with visa on arrival facility.

10.  Dominica

picture credit: outpostmagazine

Discover the unspoilt beauty of Dominica with visa on arrival valid for 6 months for Indians.

11. Fiji

photo credit: tappednz

Visit Fiji, the ultimate destination for every beach bum. Being an Indian national, you can enter its boundaries with visa on arrival valid for 6 months.

12. Thailand

picture credit: waterpaperforcomputer

Today, you can also reach Thailand from India via road.   This country charges Visa fee of 1000 Thai Baht. Visa on Arrival has to be obtained at First point of Entry/Landing not the Final Destination.

13. Mauritius

picture credit: thesuiteworld

Visit the pristine beaches of Mauritius with Visa on arrival valid for 14 days for Indian nationals.

14. Indonesia

picture credit: dardennephotography

This archipelago that houses several natural wonders can be visited with visa on arrival valid for 30 days.

15. Micronesia

picture credit: d-vsl

You can visit this subregion of Oceania embellished with several islands with visa on arrival facility valid for 30 days.

16. Cape Verde

picture credit: joaoveracruz

Wonder at the beauty of this arrow shaped archipelago that can be entered by Indians with the facility of visa on arrival valid for 30 days.

17. Ecuador

picture credit: jettingaround

Visit the diverse landscape of Ecuador that encompasses Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galpagos Islands with visa on arrival facility for Indians valid for 14 days.

18. Guyana

picture credit: travellingcolors

Admire the beauty of the dense forests of Guyana with visa on arrival facility for Indians valid for 30 days.

19. Jordan

picture credit: thrillophilia

If the ancient monuments of Jordan captivate you, visit this historical country with visa on arrival facility for Indians valid for 2 weeks.

20. Laos

picture credit: canvas-of-light

Visit the stunning backwaters of Loas with visa on arrival for Indians valid for 30 days.

21. Saint Lucia

picture credit: travellandleisure

Saint Lucia is famous for its beaches and reef-diving sites, as well as its rain forested interior with waterfalls such as at Toraille. Visit this paradisiacal beauty with visa on arrival from India valid for 6 weeks.

22. Senegal

picture credit: photographyoffice

Visit this enamoring French Colonial heritage with visa on arrival facility from India valid for 30 days.

23. Trinidad and Tobago

photo credit: 4photos.net

Trinidad has always accommodated Indians since British Raj. Visit this twin island country off the northern edge of South America with Visa on arrival valid for 90 days.

24. Tuvalu

photo credit: granddixonphotography

This Polynesian island is home to beautiful underwater world. Visit this island with visa on arrival valid for 14 days.

25. Saint Kitts and Nevis

photo credit: 4photos.net

This two-island nation combines beaches with beauteous mountains.  Enter this West Indian country with visa on arrival facility.

26. Palau

photo credit: nineteenmonths

This pristine paradise can be visited easily with visa on arrival facility from India.

27. El Salvador

picture credit: tracycarolyn

From India, you can easily visit this Central American nation known for its Pacific Ocean beaches, surfing and mountainous landscape. Visa on arrival facility is available for a visit of 30 days.

28. Nauru

picture credit: wikipedia.org

This potato shaped country can be accessed from India with visa on arrival facility valid for 30 days stay.

29. Djibouti

photo credit: kiwicollection

Discover the volcanic formations and Red Sea beaches of Djibouti with Visa on arrival valid for 30 days

30. Guinea- Bissau

picture credit: pictures.traveladventures

Explore the natural beauty of this West African country with Visa on arrival valid for 90 days for Indians.

HOLY COWS!!

This blog is my travel diary and I prefer to share my travel world here. However time to time I also share what happening in my personal life too. 

Currently am back in Bhubaneswar after my trip in Cambodia and Thailand. 

But thanks to the Holy cows I had two accidents in a week.

1st one :  Driving in narrow streets of Puri and helping my friend for his wedding. I took a turn and suddenly two girls had to cross the road. I tried to take right and escape but for cows. I applied sudden Breakkkkkk ... But however it was too late. I got wounded.

2nd one : Driving in Bhubaneswar at 10 kmph. I was really slow on a steepy path. A bull was interested in a cow. The cow was not interested in the bull. May be for the bad perfume. Then the cow comes straight to me .... BAMMM!!

I fell down and my bike on me. I opened my eyes and I see the cow still running and the bull was after her.

PS : In India cows must be allowed in streets only when they have Driving License. 

WOW ! CALL IT GENEROSITY!!

The Hotel Rambutan in Siem Reap is very welcoming to me and my guests. The staff is always available to help. They are friendly and welcoming. The girl Sophany at the reception is very helpful.

We are at Siem Reap and the best way to start the tour is Sunrise at Angkor Wat temple. The sunrise was at 5:15 am. We had leave at 4:30 AM, get our ANGKOR NATIONAL PARK PASS and be at the pond side to see the sunrise.

 So when I spoke to Sophany at the reception for our breakfast, she offered to pack us breakfast at 4 am in the morning.

I was so amazed. Where in the world they offer to prepare your breakfast that early in the morning. Am sure very few. I will surely recommend Rambutan, Siem Reap to every one.

WOOOOOOWWWW!

SHARING IS CARING # 17

Sharing is caring. But sometimes its care for yourself. For example this post I share here is about Orissa. The Land I belong. The region in India where I was born. It feels great that I am from this part of India.

Its history, heritage and grandeur. The below are some facts enlisted by Mr Iswar Ch Mahapatra Jeeta in his Facebook account.

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ODISHA YOU NEVER KNEW:

• Odisha is very ancient & the oldest rocks (from Mayurbhanj) date back to 3 billion years (Our planet is believed to be 4.5 billion years old)

• Chandragupta Maurya was hesitant for 60 long years to attack Kalinga (old name of Odisha) as the Kalinga army of 60,000 managed to annihilate one lakh enemy soldiers, a quarter of the empire’s army.

• Over 62 distinct tribal groups live in Odisha, each one with its own culture and traditions different from the other

• At Puri Jagannath temple kitchen, 7 pots are kept one on top of another and cooked on firewood. In this process the contents in the top pot get cooked first & then the bottom one.

•Jagannath temple is one among char dham considered in India.
The Jagannath temple kitchen is reputed to be the largest kitchen in the world, with 400 cooks working around 200 hearths to feed over 10,000 people each day.

• The quantity of cooked food inside the Temple remains same for the entire year. But that same quantity of prasadam can feed few thousand people & 20 lakh people, Still it won’t get wasted.

• Odisha became the first state in the country to launch special drives to register migrant labourers working in different states

• Odisha became the first state to enact the Lokayukta Bill law after the central act was passed in Parliament.

• Rasagolla, famous sweet originated in Odisha

• The Chandipur Beach is a hide and seek beach of Odisha that appears and disappears with every high and low tide to approximately 5 kms

• Bhubaneswar, the capital city was the home of over 600 magnificent temples in medieval times. It is called the “temple city” of India. The only city in the world with such highest number of temples inside

• World’s highest electrified track ( at a height of 7.45 metres for running of Double Stack Container (DSC) goods trains ) is situated at Odisha in Jakhapura-Daitari section. Constructed by East Coast Railway of Odisha. Second to this is in China is 6.6 metre and 7.1 metre in USA.

• A 23-feet giant Estuarine crocodile in Odisha has been crowned the world’s largest.

• Largest Brackish Water Lagoon. Chilka lake in Odisha, the largest water body in Asia, has an area of 916 sq km now. It used to be 1, 165 sq km.

• Odisha is popular for having 3 mass nesting beaches of rare Olive Ridley Sea Turtles including world’s largest nesting ground of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Lepidochelys Olivacea. Largest wetland of Asia (Chilika) now designated as a Ramsar site in Orissa.

• Hirakud Dam, the fourth largest in the world, is situated at Sambalpur Western Odisha.

• Odisha hosts the largest arribada, the turtle nesting ground, in the world.

• Odisha – highest producer of hematite ore. Odisha has 25% of Hematite ore of India.

• World’s largest egg, with approximate dimension of 13 inches and width of 9.5 inches is of the gigantic herbivorous flightless elephant bird (zoologically termed as Aepyornis maximus) that lived last till 1650 AD, is preserved at Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar.

• The dress designer of Michelle Obama, in their visit to India, was none other than an Odia.

• Konark temple, built in 13th century, has 12 pair of wheels (24 wheels representing 24 hours) which are uniquely designed and has scientific significance. One can calculate the precise time of the day by just looking at the shadow cast by these 8 spokes signifying prahars (3 hour period).

• The Leaning Temple of Huma, situated near Sambalpur in India is the only leaning temple in the world

• Hirakud Dam, the longest earthen dam in the world and the largest artificial lake of Asia is situated at Hirakud near Sambalpur

• The Sambalpuri sari is made from fabric woven on a hand-loom and is one of the most popular throughout India. This became popular when late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi started wearing.

• Wheeler Island, south of Chandipur in Odisha is a place where most of missiles of India are tested such as Akash missile, Agni missile, Prithvi Missile of only some of them.

• India Surf festival, a festival organised by like-minded people who combine surfing, yoga, and nature is observed Ramchandi beach, near Puri in Odisha. It is one of the unique festival observed in India.

• Shanti Stupa at Dhauligiri is a place where the great king, Ashoka laid the foundation when he witnessed the darkest side of Kalinga war after seeing the river Daya turning red due to bloodbath and became the propagator of peace.

• According to mythology, Mahabharata was written by Lord Ganesha in a place called Vedvyas in Rourkela, which is named after Vedavyasa who was dictating to Lord Ganesha.

• Rourkela Steel Plant is the first ever integrated steel plant under public sector which came into existence in 1954 – 55.

• Odisha state museum is one of the world famous museum for having a wide collection of manuscripts of which Abhinava Gita Govinda dates back to 1496 but the text can date back to 2nd century.

• Puri Temple is the only Dhama(pilgrimage) in India where Folk, Shaiva, Sakta, Vaishnaba cult of worship is done.

• DHAMRA is one of the deepest port of India after Gujurat port

SHARING IS CARING # 16

This Sharing is caring is about a journey. Journey of love. A bicycle that brings 2 persons together.

A guy from my very own Orissa traveling to Sweden by bi-cycle for the love his life. 

I am very proud and overwhelmed as I share this post from www.indiatimes.com. A story of Satyanarayan Patri.

A  man guy meets a rich girl. They fall in love. Girl goes back to her country. Boy promises to make it big and visit her. Time passes but he struggles to make both ends meet. He decides to fulfill his promise - picks up a cycle and sets on a journey across 8 countries to meet the love of his life!

No, this isn't the story of an upcoming Bollywood movie. Although it pretty much qualifies to be one! This is the story of Dr. Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia from India and Charlotte Von Schedvin from Sweden and it has all the elements of a Bollywood blockbuster - emotion, drama and lots of love.

An epic saga of romance, PK proves that when love is determined, it pushes all boundaries.

Born in 1949 into a poor weaver family of Odisha, Dhenkanal who were considered untouchables, PK was a gifted artist. However, the family didn't have enough money to finance his education. He would often find himself at the receiving end of insult due to the dreaded caste system. Later In 1971, he joined College of Art in New Delhi and gained popularity for making portraits.

In 1975, 19-year-old Charlotte Von Sledvin, a student in London, heard about him and traveled all the way to India to get her portrait made. As the stars had conspired, during the course of making the portrait, he was possessed by her beauty and she, with his sheer simplicity. Love had set in.

Charlotte took the Indian name Charulata and they both married following traditional rituals.

When it was time for Charlotte to leave, she asked her husband to come along, however, PK was still a student and wanted to finish his studies. When she offered to send air tickets later, he refused saying he would come to meet her on his own. After she left, the two kept in touch through letters.

PK's love-filled heart had made the promise, but the reality of having no money to fulfill it stared PK in the eyes. But he was not one to give up. He sold all his belongings and bought a second-hand bicycle. Carrying all his paints and brushes along, he did the unthinkable.

He set out on a voyage to the Far West with a hope to reunite with his love. This was back in 1978.

He reached Amritsar from New Delhi before entering Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria and Denmark. His cycle broke down many times on the way and he even had to go on without food for days. But nothing could break his will.

After 4 months and 3 weeks of back-breaking journey, he finally reached Gothenburg, Sweden.

Those were the days when not many countries required visa for travelling.
Upon reaching, he was questioned by Swedish immigration officers who were amazed to see a man who had come from India riding a bicycle. PK told them the reason behind his visit and produced photographs of his marriage with Charlotte.
Authorities were surprised and did not believe that someone of royal blood from Europe would marry a poor Indian.

The sudden revelation made even PK skeptical whether his lady love would accept him or not.

When Charlotte learned about the man from India who cycled all the way for around 5 months, she drove to Gothenburg and received her husband with unbridled happiness. Her parents accepted Pradyumna as a part of their family by breaking a royal tradition that prohibited non-white people from residing with the nobles.

After 40 years of marriage, Dr PK Mahanandia serves as the Odiya Cultural Ambassador of India to Sweden and lives with his wife Charlotte and 2 children in Sweden. His village, that once shunned him as an untouchable, now gives a thundering welcome every time he makes a visit.

Pradyumna is well known in Sweden as an artist and is working as an Adviser, Art and Culture, under the Swedish Government. Swedish Government in honour of their love has made films to document this immortal love of the century. His paintings have been exhibited in major cities of the world and have found places in the prestigious UNICEF greeting cards. On 4 January 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree (Degree of Honoris Causa) from Utkal University of Culture (UUC) in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha state, India. He was also designated as the Oriya Cultural ambassador to Sweden by the Government of Odisha.[5] Renowned Bollywood film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is planning to make a film on the love story of PK Mahanandia and Charlotte