Travel Solo ... Planning !

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 10/9/2012 4:04:00 AM

'It is a strong urge to get out of this busy work world and just wander around like a vagabond ... I am planning it next summer ... will take some time out of my own life for myself and enjoy ... I always enjoyed the hindi song by Shaan ... Tanhaan dil tanhaan safar dhundhe tujhe phir kiyon nazaar ... ... ... manzil nayee hai anjana hai carvan ... chalna akele hai yahaan ... (hehehe ... word to word meaning goes like this : lonely heart and lonely journey, but still why my eyes searc(...)'

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My New Blog!

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/25/2012 4:22:00 AM

'Dear Readers!I have a new blog now. All the latest stories will be published at Scrapbook- A Travel Blog. It is a complete new site. If you want to be notified on new stories please change/add the follow URL. Thank you!  Cheers,Kusum'

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End fo Scrapbook Vol-1

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/23/2012 7:00:00 PM

'Well, with the completion of my 365 Series and Backpacking India Part-I, I am ending Scrapbook Vol-1. It has been a long journey blogging and appreciate your support by loyally following, reading and sharing your thoughts on my articles. Scrapbook will be still available for readers and copyrights remain the same. I will not be updating it anymore. I am starting a new blog, Scrapbook- A Travel Blog with new looks, new series and new stories! Please welcome my new blog with same (...)'

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366. Dhuandhar Falls near Jabalpur

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/23/2012 7:30:00 AM

'Today with this post I am completing in my 365 series. The year 2012 is a leap year, hence 366 days and an extra post :)One travel picture per day! Yey- I have done it! It was not an easy job when I was traveling. I scheduled some posts and for few other I took time, thought over to finish ... To end the series I thought of posting something that is dear to me. I selected this picture for several reasons ... I have been fascinated by rivers ... I love waterfalls ...Jabalpur is (...)'

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365. Sea Ranch Chapel - A totally different architecture!

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/22/2012 4:30:00 AM

'For a chapel isn't the architecture little away from what we have seen? I was camping at Salt Point State Park located on the northern California coast in spring 2009. I was totally bored of the meetup group I was with. When I thought I cannot take any more of nonsense, I drove ... I drove north and found this little known beautiful place.Sea Ranch chapel is located in Sea Ranch, a coastal settlement. It is just a small prayer hall with beautiful stain-glass windows. The roof seems (...)'

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364. Nagakanya ... Sun Temple in Gwalior

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/21/2012 7:53:00 AM

'Konark is synonymous with Sun Temple! At least it was for me until recently. I havene't visited Konark yet but will do so soon. During recent backpacking trip to Madhya Pardesh I visited a couple of Sun temples in Ujjain and then in Gwalior. The both experiences were unforgettable for different reasons, neglect and grandeur respectively.The Sun Temple is one of the popular tourist attractions in Gwalior. Also known as Vivswana Mandir, the architecture of which is inspired by the leg(...)'

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363. Apotropaic symbols in Udaipur temple

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/20/2012 7:30:00 AM

'As the beautiful images of gods and goddesses ornate the temple walls and exteriors, apotropaic symbols also are important part of Hindu temple architecture. During my 45 days visit to Madhya Pradesh I happened to visit some of the exquisite temples.The beauty of the sculptures that decorated the walls, pillars and ceilings was astonishing! And in the corners there were the apotropaic symbols to ward off evil eye. In the picture, is the apotropaic symbol on the ceiling of Neelakathe(...)'

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362. Khajuraho Tribal Art Museum

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/19/2012 7:30:00 AM

'As we all know that Khajuraho is a popular tourist destination. It is also a tribal art and cultural center. Apart from the archaeological museum Khajuraho is home for tribal art museum. The place is very much worth a visit. The colorful tribal art and artifacts are on display. One can even buy the paintings. They are mainly made for the foreigners. Also, per my observation, the visitors were mainly (only?) foreigners :)In the picture is a man playing Dhol at the entrance of (...)'

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361. Intricate jali work- Jaigarh Fort

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/18/2012 7:30:00 AM

'The jali work (stone lattice) in Indian forts and palaces are known for their intricacy and beauty. When we look out from inside the considerably dark fort the light and shadow play transforms this jali into some beautiful art!The function of these jali panels on windows were many ... ventilation, light and cover for royal women are few to mention. The jali work seems exquisite from inside because the darkness of the interior highlights the intricacy of the work. From outside the in(...)'

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360. California coast ... A walk on ocean-side

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/17/2012 7:30:00 AM

'Being a cancerian I love water bodies! Be it a forest stream, lake, river or a ocean ... the sound of flowing water gets to me! The music of flowing water gives me immense peace! Once I trekked the Karnataka coast ... on the soft sandy beaches, high rocky cliffs, and the forests ... the sound of the ocean was always with me. Standing on the wet beach where the waves kiss the feet is something that rejuvenates me. Watching the waves crashing the shore is one of the favorite time-pass(...)'

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359. Spotted Deer in Pench Naional Park

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/16/2012 7:30:00 AM

'Well, during my Madhya Pradesh trip I did a lot of wildlife viewing! Madhya Pradesh being the home for major tiger reserves in India it was feat to the eyes ... to watch a tiger and other animals in their natural habitat!My visit to Pench National Park was fantastic! I stayed there in Kipling Resort, went for jeep safari every evening and morning. Its such an experience to recognize the warning calls from the deer, monkeys. Then wait and watch for tigers.The place is bustling with w(...)'

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358. Chhaang: The Tibetan beer

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/15/2012 7:30:00 AM

'I have posted similar picture of chhaang earlier in Food-series. It was one of the exotic beverage and so I want to include it in 365 :)The picture was taken at a restaurant in Pelling, West Sikkim. Chhaang is popular in eastern Himalayas. Semi-fermented millet seeds are served adding warm water in a bamboo container with a long bamboo straw.Interesting huh?Leave a comment to share your experience trying some exotic food :)'

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Backpacking in India: End of first chapter!

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/14/2012 7:30:00 AM

'I started in September 2011 from Gujarat-Vadodara ... Visited Rajasthan- Jaipur, Delhi,  Uttar Pradesh- Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Punjab-Amritsar, Himachal Pradesh- Dharmashala, Manali, Naggar, Kullu, Shimla, West Bengal- Siliguri, Darjeeling, Sikkim- Namchi, Pelling, Gangtok, Meghalaya- Shillong, Cherrapunji, Assam- Guwahaty ... and the back to Karnataka- Bangalore in November ... I had plans of visiting Nepal and Bhutan. Unfortunately, I had to cut short my trip due to s(...)'

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357. River Bramhaputra and the Duck

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/14/2012 7:30:00 AM

'The mighty River Bramhaputra is known by quite a few names as it flows through different regions of different countries ... Originates in south-western Tibet at Mount Kailash, flows along Himalayan gorges where it is known as Yarlung-Tsangpo ... takes a big bend around Mt Namcha Barwa to enter Arunachal Pradesh of India where it is known as Dihang ... then through Assam as Bramhaputra ... crosses the boundary to enter Bangladesh as Jamuna ... empties into Bay of Bengal!Interesting t(...)'

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356. A Mom in Hampi

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/13/2012 7:30:00 AM

'Today is Mother's Day! Last year when I wished my Mom on this day ... she said ... that I have exchanged the roles! I have become the mother and I am treating her like my daughter! That was the best compliment I ever got in my life! And I chose this picture for today from my trip to favorite Hampi.I closed my eyes, replayed my visit to Chakrateertha, an adjacent village of Hampi. The river Tungabhadra and the banks, caves, boulders and the carvings ... Kodandarama Temple ... the tea(...)'

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355. Fabric cut work at Albert Hall

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/12/2012 7:30:00 AM

'I took this picture at Albert Hall museum in Jaipur. The intricate fabric cut work was on display along with many other lace catalogs.'

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354. Beautiful carving: Somnath of East, Udaipur

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/11/2012 7:30:00 AM

'Udaipur ... people assume it is the city in Rajasthan. But, in India there are many Udaipurs :) One of them, which I am talking about, is Udaipur in Madhya Pradesh! A village which is home for a magnificent temple referred to as "Somnath of east".I took many modes of ground transport to reach this place, it was worth the pain. I asked a street side vendor for the directions. He said right there! I walked behind that wall and stood dumbstruck! The beauty and majesticity of this Shiva(...)'

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353. Chicago Millennium Park

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/10/2012 7:30:00 AM

'Chicago Millennium Park is one of the attractions in Chicago and a mist visit place. There are so many interesting structures for you to see! Jay Pritzker Pavilion is the center stage and a bandshell. Place for music series and performing art events. Actually a part of Grant Park which is in turn part of Chicago Millennium Park :) In the picture is the seating arrangement in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. The red color attracts!'

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352. Tribal Village in Vindhya range ...

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/9/2012 7:10:00 AM

'I was roaming around in Mandu in late January ... the weather was dry hot and everything around was brown. Sparsely populated with bigger trees the landscape wasn't very friendly for walking around in the afternoon. The nights were very cold though, I must say. I have heard that the landscape is mesmerizing during monsoon.Mandu being popular as Celebration in stone, is also popular for the love story of Rani Roopmati and Baz Bahadur. Well, I went to see Rani Roopmati's pavilion. It (...)'

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351. Why do people feed monkeys?

Author : Kusum      Blog : Scrapbook      Date : 5/8/2012 7:30:00 AM

'In India we have seen monkeys near temples. They are notorious, rowdy and demanding! They snatch away anything that attracts them. Once, a monkey grabbed my Ralph Lauren sunglasses. Least the monkey would know how much they costed me, monkey bit the glasses few times, broke and threw them after realizing it is not a food item.During my visit to Chitrakoot I had a tough time. The macaques constantly bothered me. My salwar is torn in few places because monkeys were pulling and hanging(...)'

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