Vast Blue Skies

Nature’s Symphony in Matheran A serene, unpolluted, eco-sensitive “popular” hill station near Mumbai. Unbelievable! This was my reaction when my husband told me all about the tiniest hill station in the country and Asia’s only pedestrian hill station. Matheran. Surfing the internet for more information on this favorite holiday destination for tourists from all over the world got me interested in this “Forest on Top” located at an altitude of 800m above sea level. I learned that all fuel-driven vehicles, except for emergency vehicles, are banned from this little town. This is its USP. Horses, ponies and hand-pulled carts are the only means of transport. The architecture is typically colonial and civilization and economics haven’t mutilated the old world charm which is present everywhere. Thank God for that!! Eager to experience all this and since there was an upcoming extended weekend, we decided on spending it at this quaint place. It’s quite easy to get there actually as Matheran is ...

I happened to chance upon this exciting travel magazine - INTERNATIONAL LIVING and decided to share it with you here while you have stopped by to visit. They have all the answers for all travellers with itchy feet and exploration in their blood. They haven't forgotten the seasoned traveller either who will certainly find what they might have missed earlier ... However, I won't keep you away from this exciting world of travel, discovery, living in exciting and exotic places..... HAPPY JOURNEY ... BON VOYAGE amigos..... INTERNATIONAL LIVING has been called the 'ultimate travel magazine.' It's that...and more. It's a magazine for anyone who wants to broaden his or her horizons, visit foreign countries, make overseas investments, and save money. Yes, save money. INTERNATIONAL LIVING will tell you: how you can pay for your travel expenses (and then some) to many places simply by shopping for bargains - about retirement havens where you can stretch your money beyond...

KODAIKANAL Picture courtesy of - http://www.flowersofindia.net/ KODAIKANAL is a beautiful place is in Tamil Nadu, situated on Palani hills at an altitude of 210om. It is one of the most popular hill resorts in India, a charming hill station. near Madurai. The beauty of the ideal hill station lies in its woods , lovely lake and bracing air. It is approachable from Ooty/Coonoor which takes 7 hrs via road. From Coimbatore it takes 3 1/2 hrs via road. Peculiar to this region is a unique shrub, named as Kurinji which is found in KodaiKanal. This shrub has light, purple-blue coloured flowers , it flowers in every 12 years. It will flower next in 2016. Hope many of us are lucky enough to witness this. picture courtesy - http://travel.paintedstork.com/blog/2006/11/photo-essay-flowers-galore-kurinjis.html Kodaikanal is the best place to stay during the hot summers, and to avoid the heat and haze of plains. This place also provides an opportunity to hike in the quiet shola forests. When to Visi...

COO N OOR & O O T Y This is the Coimbatore - Metupalaiyam - Coonoor - Ooty circuit. I haven't been there yet but the beauty of Coonoor and Ooty has capitivated me from what I have read about them. These 2 beautiful hill stations are topmost of my list of places to visit next. One has to first go to Coimbatore and then move onwards to Metupalaiyam (located at the foot of the Nilgiri hills) which is the popular entry point for the toy train journey and road route to Ooty via Coonoor . You can get to Metupalaiyam directly by train from Chennai. Mumbai doesn't have a direct train service to M. It takes 1 hour to by road from Coimbatore to Metupalaiyam. It takes 3 1/2 hours by road from Coimbatore to Ooty. If you need to stopover at Coimbatore enroute to Ooty, there are several hotels available. COIMBATORE Hotels - 1) Aiba Regency – Tariff Rs 495 - 1600. http://www.hotelaibaregency.com/Contactus.html 28A, Geetha Hall, Opp. Railway Station, - 0422 - 2303737, 2303747 ...

Quite recently, I was in Kolkata erstwhile Calcutta where I have spent the majority of my life. It still remains the same even after 5 years .. laidback with a firm resolve to evolve and grow, especially in the retail and financial sphere. The streets are the same, the citizens are the same (friendly, calm, fun-loving, easygoing, cultural). Even the shops are the same in the very same place where they have always been. The transport is still chaotic. The buses have changed their colour but not the system of operation.. I personally prefer the movement of BEST buses in Bombay. One way in, one way out. The changes which I observed were the flyover near the museum, south Kolkata has a spanking new mall with top brands - South City Mall near Golf Green area. What will never change are the sweet shops at every nook and corner selling delicious Bengali sweets at an absurdly low price. New Market (officially called Hogg Market) remains the same except for the underground parking area which h...

C H E N N A I – I am back from a week long and fabulous trip to Chennai. Actually the trip was mainly planned out as we (my hubby and I) had some work at the University of Madras which was successfully completed. Thanks to your good wishes. The campus has a lovely, subsidized canteen which serves tea for Rs 3, fresh fruit juices for Rs 15, onion/masala dosa for Rs 12, South Indian snacks, veg cutlets, samosas etc. For information on Train timings - http://indian-railways.rediff.com/index.php SIGHT-SEEING - The Marina Beach is bang opposite the University (in Chepauk) which was quite crowded even on a sunny afternoon on a weekday. The sea is lovely. There are stalls leading up to the beach and little fruit salad stalls selling a mixture of pineapple, papaya, watermelon for Rs 10 (in various preferable combinations.) Marina Beach is at a distance of 6 kms (15 mins) from Chennai Central. Auto rickshaws will quote Rs 50 to take you there. If you are lucky you might get a chap who will a...

M A T H E R A N all about Matheran .... The tiniest, unique, pollution free hill station set in state of Maharashtra is an idyllic weekend getaway, popular for its scenic beauty and laid back pace which eludes peace and calm. Time seems to stand still in this part of Maharashtra. Literally meaning "Mother Forest" or "Forest on Top", what makes this quaint place unique is that excluding emergency vehicles, all other vehicles are banned here. Within the vicinity of the town, ponies and man-pulled rickshaws are the only modes of transport. Many people prefer to travel on foot, enjoying the beauty on the way. A favourite holiday destination for tourists from all parts of the world. One sees a lot of vibrant colours of nature here. The most predominant are the red soil roads and green forests . There is a fabulous garden to spend time with nature, situated in the heart of this little town with colourful benches and plants and trees and lots of monkeys !!! Matheran wa...