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Touristy Frankfurt – What to See

It is quite often that we touchdown at Frankfurt only to take-off to another destinations because we don’t know what to see in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is perhaps in the middle of the world and offers connectivity to many other parts of the world. It is so much a hub of air travel that I often say jokingly that if you lose your luggage anywhere in the world on an international flight, it will somehow find its way to Frankfurt!

Things to do Frankfurt Itinerary
Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station

We had heard many a people say

Top 12 things to do in West Sumatra

There is more to Indonesia than just Jakarta, Bali and Komodo! There are islands and islands and there are diverse cultures but united by a country, Indonesia. West Sumatra, third largest of the ten provinces of Sumatra, the largest Island of Indonesia is also known as the land of Minangkabau.

west sumatra clock tower bukit-tinggi

In ancient times Sumatra (Sumatera) was called Swarna Dwipa, Sanskrit for Island of Gold and sometimes Swarna Bhumi (Land of Gold), owing to the fact that there were a lot of gold deposits in this region. Later it was called Samudra Pasai, a kingdom in North of the Island. Again, a Sanskrit word where Samudra means Sea.

Sharjah in Pictures

Sharjah is the third largest Emirate in the UAE both in terms of size and population. It would not be out of place to call this the cultural capital of the UAE. It is said that Sharjah has been continuously inhabited for 5000 years. Ok.. We will hold the history for another day 🙂
For now here are a few pictures to demonstrate the diversity in such a small region.

Things to do and see in Sharjah
Al Noor Masjid, one of the most impressive mosques of Sharjah during Sharjah Light Festival 2017

Zenfone 3S MAX goes to Philippines

The timing was perfect! Nisha and I were going to beautiful destinations and the latest ASUS Zenfone landed literally on our laps.  A quick look at the features of recently launched Zenfone 3s Max made me sit up excitedly. There were major changes in OS, Camera and battery too.

ASUS Zenfone 3S Max
Just before touchdown at Manila. Auto mode, 1/1862s, ISO 111

I was planning to visit Manila, first, to

Royal Delights at Narendra Bhawan

We had entered Bikaner a few minutes earlier and after negotiating a few intricate twists and turns, reached Narendra Bhawan, a palace turned into a hotel. The driver, dressed in ethnic outfit was quite a pro and took about 5 hours from Jaipur to Bikaner including a lunch and a tea break.

Narendra Bhawan, palace, Royalty, Bikaner , Rajasthan
Narendra Bhawan Palace Hotel View from outside. See the coloured glasses, which is in keeping with the traditional design.

Marhaba, Air Arabia

Air Arabia, the low-cost airline from Sharjah, has been around for a decade or so. The objective was to provide affordable flights, for the frequent visitors and people working here from over 100 cities of 34 African, Asian and also European countries. There are flights from 14 cities in India! The entire fleet of 30+ aircrafts are A320-200s and the insides are quite cheerful and comfortable.

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa's first and largest Low Cost Carrier (LCC)
Close View of A320 Air Arabia

A basic return flight from Mumbai to Sharjah currently costs

A five star inn in Jaipur City Centre

It was the boxing-day and we could see that Christmas mood was still there at the Holiday Inn Jaipur. There was a 10 foot Christmas tree at the main door itself announcing proudly that it was still Christmas season. On entering we found an atrium as high as the building itself, all of seven storeys and from the top was a bunch of green string-lights arranged in a conical form giving a feeling of a 100-foot Christmas tree and below were several reindeer pulling their cart containing one of the biggest gingerbread house we had seen.

Holiday Inn 22 Godam Circle City Centre Jaipur
Holiday Inn Atrium and Reindeers pulling the Gingerbread house

Located around 5km from both railway station and the old Jaipur city, Holiday inn

Naropa Festival 2016

Naropa & His legacy

A thousand years ago, a child was born named Naropada (Tibetan name Naropa) who grew to be an excellent scholar at Nalanda but left his materialistic world and his family to the path of enlightenment. At the age of forty he met his Guru Talopa and the next twelve years were the most introspective and spiritual learning period for him that led his attaining enlightenment.

Naropa Festival 2016, Naro Palace, Hemis Monastery
Fully decorated Naro Palace, the venue for the Naropa Festival 2016 and also where the six bone ornaments were in public display

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