Manali is predominantly cold throughout the year. It snows during winters. Skiing is a must if you visit this place. You will have a trainer to help you go about. Another sport that you can try is paragliding. This may seem a little scary, but passing through clouds and feeling the cold winds against your face is the most amazing experience anyone can ever have. There are a lot of other adventurous activities one can do in Manali, like rock climbing, trekking. (Be well equipped and always keep a first -aid kit)

Rohtang pass is the ideal place for trekkers. The pass is open from the month of May to October. It is a gateway to Leh valley just as Zojila pass is a gateway to Ladakh. It is not as high as the Himalayan range, but it has its own dangers and blizzards that can give you the adrenaline rush you need.

Why is it referred to as the valley of gods? There are numerous temples and shrines in and around Manali. The Beas kund,an igloo shaped temple, the Hidimba temple, an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi and Maa Sharvari temple. There are various Buddhist monasteries spread out from old Manali to new Manali.

Visit Manali and have the closest encounter with God and nature.

Bali has been a tourist attraction since the 1970s. The island of Bali has a fantastic tourist infrastructure, with big resorts, international hotels and restaurants, yet also offers the chance to get away from it all in its mountainous interior and traditional villages.

Bali’s Magnetic Sights!

1) Kuta Beach & Lovina Beach

Kuta Beach is the most popular beach and the main attraction on the island of Bali. It is mainly famous for its fine sands and the buzzing nightlife. Kuta also has one of the most vibrant shopping scenes as well as an exotic range of hotels and restaurants to cover your stay.

Lovina Beach is the place to come if you want to explore the Bali’s best coral reefs and is known as the perfect spot for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The waters of Lovina give you an exotic view of wild dolphins leaping wide. 

2) Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot is located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar in Bali. The temple is situated on a large offshore rock which has been shaped over the years by the ocean tide.

The Tanah Lot temple has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders.

3) Surfers Land

Bali has some excellent surfing attractions, with water conditions suitable for beginners and intermediate level surfers. The most popular breaks are in the south of the island in Kuta and around Nusa Dua. Kuta is good for beginners and also has the allure of the day and nightlife, while experienced surfers should head for Bukit Peninsula in the southwest.

4) Bali Barat National Park

Surrounding parts of the north coast and the dense forest in south, the Bali Barat National Park is laden with animals and wildlife attractions, and is best visited at the end of the dry season, around August to December. It features the Bali starling, one of the world’s rarest birds, leopards, Javan buffalo and barking deer. When trekking in the Bali Barat National Park, you will need to pay for a tour guide who can lead you to the best spots in the morning. 

5) Kintamani

Kintamani is an out of the way historical city in Bali’s mountainous region and was the main city here 1,000 years ago. It lies amid fantastic scenery and features the island’s largest lake nearby, which sits inside a volcanic crater. In addition, there are quiet beaches as well as hot springs.

6) Gitgit Waterfalls

Located 10 kms to the south of Singaraja, the Gitgit Waterfalls are not far from the main road. A spectacular 40 meters of crystal-clear water rushing headlong into a seemingly bottomless pool tempts visitors with a tantalizing refreshing swim. 

I remember visiting Goa as a child – making sand castles on the shore and salivating on some delicious Goan muscles. Fifteen years later, I visited Goa again. I still made little sand castles on the shore and salivated much more on some Goan cuisine (with a glass of chilled beer!).

This time though I went prepared, determined to explore Goa. I armed myself with a map and a Konkani -speaking husband (which I figured out is a huge advantage), I ventured into the unknown. Basilica of BomJesus was our first halt. This is one of the oldest churches in Goa, as well as in India. It contains the body of St. Francis Xavier who died on December 2, 1552. His body still remains, miraculously, intact.

Basilica of BomJesus

The second halt – Fort Tiracol. If the urge to escape to the ends of the earth ever strikes you, visit this little piece of paradise called Fort Tiracol. The fort was originally built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the Raja of Sawantwadi, in the 17^th century. The site chosen was a hillock on the Northern (right) bank of the river, which gave a commanding view of the Arabian Sea. Now the fort has been converted into a hotel, the Terekhol Fort Heritage. Spectacular in every sense of the word. A perfect escape from the maddening crowd!!!

The third halt – Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. This highly rejuvenating bird sanctuary holds dear to me because of its scenic and serene atmosphere. The area is rich with mangrove vegetation. A large number of birds and migratory flocks are also attracted to this sanctuary. The lazy waves lapping against the shore, the chirping sounds of many foreign birds – all have a soothing healing effect to the mind, body and soul.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

My fourth halt – Baga Beach at 1am, feels nothing less than heaven!

Me and the hubby decided to pull a peaceful stroll along the beach. No back-to-back meetings, no hectic work schedules but the caressing night breeze and the glittering moonlight for company. Just then, right there, I suddenly discovered that Goa is more than just parties, booze and the alien crowd.  Try walking along the beaches of Goa on a moonlit night and listen the waves whispering – you’ll know why.

I visited Goa to refresh my otherwise stressed mind but I left Goa feeling alive and with a promise to visit at least once, every year!

Meaning of Kung Fu- Any of various Chinese martial arts, especially those forms in which sharp blows and kicks are applied to pressure points on the body of an opponent.

One stands for peace the other stands for self defense! But then what the hell, you cannot define these things to kids, so here they are, introducing to the world my cute little Kung Fu Lamas. In the land of Momos, Wy Wy noodles, Bhuddisht monasteries, they fought with each other in full glory, unaware of their teacher. It was the cutest sight, a rare one, something that made for an unusual souvenir to carry back from my North-East trip.

GUINEA-BISSAU: The big secret here is the Bijagos Archipelago, a series of islands with powder-white beaches dribbling away from the mainland. If only things were a bit less shooty, this could be the world’s next island-hopping hotspot.

BHUTAN: The clamour to go is generally from people who fall into one of two categories – those who like big Himalayan mountains and those who want to experience a culture that has survived pretty much isolated from the rest of the world.

KIRIBATI: Christmas Island got some publicity in 1999 when it was the first place in the world to welcome in the new millennium. It’s also renowned as one of the world’s best fishing and diving destinations.

These tips are written from a northern hemisphere perspective – many directions can be reversed for the southern hemisphere – eg, when the sun is at its highest in the southern hemisphere sky it’s due north. These tips are just for interest. Please navigate responsibly!

Sun

When the sun is at its highest in the sky, it is due south – in simple terms, the sun is south at lunchtime. Yet it doesn’t rise and set in the same place throughout the year. It rises in the northeast in midsummer and the southeast in midwinter. That’s a huge difference. It’s amazing how few people know that. It’s due to the north pole being tilted towards the sun in summer and away from it in winter.

Rocks

Even on a completely overcast day, the sun’s light and heat still reach us. As the sun comes from the south in the middle of the day, it will heat up one side of a large rock much more than the other. So even if you can’t tell where the sun is in the sky, you can deduce it by feeling a rock. The warmer side is likely to be the southern side.

Puddles

In nature, things get wet, then dry again, all the time. Yet not in an even way. In the middle of the day – when most of the drying is happening, remember – the sun is in the south. Anything on the northern side of something that casts a shadow – like a hedge – will stay wet longer.  So, puddles will be left along the northern side of a raised east-west path, while drying out on the southern side.

Trees

Wind direction is not random: there are patterns. In Britain, the prevailing wind comes from the southwest. So, the extremities of trees appear ‘combed’ from the southwest to the northeast. You can  see it clearest on trees at the top of hills in the countryside.

Satellite dishes

These point to geostationary satellites which stay over the same point on the Earth’s surface. In Britain, we have a dominant broadcasting company, so nearly all our dishes are pointing in the same direction. Depending on where you are, it will be between southeast and south-southeast.

Moon

When the moon is reasonably high in the sky, and it’s a crescent moon, if you join the two horns of the moon together and extend the line down to the horizon, you’ll be looking roughly south. It takes two seconds and, while it’s not as accurate as referring to the north star, if you’re really disorientated it is a big help.

1. In Asia, never touch any part of someone else’s body with your foot, which is considered the ‘lowest’ part of the body. If you accidentally do this, apologize by touching your hand to the person’s arm and then touching your own head. Don’t point at objects or people with your feet, don’t prop your feet on chairs or tables while sitting. – From the Lonely Planet Thailand travel guide (and other Asia guidebooks)

2. Also in Asia, refrain from touching people on the head or ruffling their hair. The head is spiritually the ‘highest’ part of the body. Don’t sit on pillows meant as headrests, as it is a variant on this taboo. – From the Lonely planet China travel guide

3. Shaking hands was introduced to Fiji in the 19th century by way of Tonga, and quickly became the established custom. An affectionate handshake can be very long, and may even last throughout an entire conversation. – From the Lonely Planet South Pacific Phrasebook

4. In Nepal, it’s bad manners to step over someone’s outstretched legs, so avoid doing that, and move your own legs when someone wants to pass. Also do not step over or sit on a monk’s cushions in or near a temple, even if no one is sitting on them.  Always walk around stupas and chortens (Tibetan-style stupas) in a clockwise direction. – From the Lonely Planet Nepal travel guide

5. In Japanese baths, called onsen, always wash first before entering the water. The water is considered fouled if someone does not do this, kind of like the American equivalent of peeing in a pool. Also, use a wash cloth to cover your private bits and pieces.  – From the Lonely Planet Japan travel guide.

If you have more of these feel free to add to the list.

Black Tea, lemonade and the works, this hangover has a different cure.

So here I am with a list of things to cure the sad feeling you have upon returning home from an inspiring trip, otherwise known as the back-home blues or a hangover minus the alcohol.

1. Click pictures, more pictures and even more pictures.
2. Collect postcards; mail it to yourself so that when you come back, there is something exciting waiting for you at home.
3. Promise yourself that you will revisit the place once again in your lifetime.
4. Put status updates on social networking websites; write blogs to document your memories forever.
5. Set your vacation pictures as your desktop wallpapers.