Coming to America

Today, I veer off my favorite travel and dining topics to dwell on this great country.

When I came to the U.S many years ago from India, most things were not a culture shock - KF.C, McDonalds, etc were equally familiar sights in India:) People are always surprised when they hear that! But my second day here, I saw something that left quite an impression on me. My aunt and I were driving to a local clothing store (Kohls) when I noticed that an ambulance someways behind us had switched on its lights and siren. Immediately, my aunt pulled to the side and so did all the other cars. I sat there amazed at this respect and consideration for human life. To this day, this sight still amazes me - I hope the people of this great country continue to be such considerate and warm spirited.

Travel and Dining

Travel and Dining

So I was on the New York Times the other day, when this article on coffee drinkers and machines captured my attention - How did Coffee become such a major status symbol. I am sure the day will come (or maybe it is already here), when folks at a dinner table will insist on XYZ aged coffee vs another just the way we categorize ports or other fine liquors.

I am not sure if this trend is a wrong one, just blown away at the level of control we need to exercise in life - as life gets more and more complicated and messy, the only things an individual can truly control are minor things like the type of coffee or the amount of foam on top. Anyway, if you are a coffee connoisseur, here is a great site for you - http://intelligentsiacoffee.com/store

Himalayas is among destinations of 2006

The New York Times (www.nytimes.com) last weekend had the 2006 travel sections - while most of the selections are predictable (Croatia, etc), I was excited that Kerala and the Himalayas are part of that list.

I wonder what has propelled would be mass consumer travel destinations - some of it is driven by the outsourcing phenomenon. People have finally realized that India is not all City Of Joy.

For those who would like to explore beyond Kerala and Rajasthan, here is my must do list:

1. Architecture of Tamil Nadu - the monuments and temples built here are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

2. Kashmir - It may be war torn and not stroller friendly always, but go for the people of this amazing state. They have amazing spirit and remain some of the friendliest despite all the strife and challenges. Their hospitality is unsurpassed.

3. The North East - The "Seven Sisters" of India are the North Eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya,Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland (http://www.northeastofindia.com/). They offer unparalleled scenic beauty and for the outdoor traveler many great hikes. If you have been planning to do Bhutan, first give this a try - the same scenery at much lower cost!

4. Last but not the least -The Rann of Kutch. Marshy, desert land with fantastic history and hardy people. More real than Rajasthan, not as Touristy and just as beautiful (http://rann-of-kutch.fae.sk/)

What do you think? Am I missing any obvious "hidden gems?"

Kerala highlights - God's own country lives upto its hype

After having lurked on travel sites and forums like Flyer Talk for many years, I am finally inspired to blog thanks to my trip to Kerala. It is a picture out of paradise. The food is exceptional - for all those who are tired of the same old red sauce indian food, come try South Indian food. Taste the fresh coconut, the chile and the seafood -life is worth living after a meal at any of the places we visited.

Here are a couple of links if you decide to visit Kerala. I highly recommend the Casino group - If you have never been to India, start with them. They delivered an authentice experience without having to rough it.http://www.cghearth.com/

You also have the option of staying in a homestay if you would like to experience how regular folks live. I highly recommend looking at the i-escape website for their recommended homestays. I used their recommendations in Kerala and Spain and have not gone wrong so far.http://www.i-escape.com/home.php

I am going to post pictures on this site in a couple of days, so come back:)