Top 3 - Must dos in Langkawi Islands in Malaysia

You have not one but over an archipelago of 100 islands to choose from when you visit Langkawi. However if you are a traveller in a hurry, then ensure that you have at least experienced these interesting experiences.

Photo Credit - Andy Lawson, Flickr .

1. The Cable Car
Take the cable car up the mountains and rainforests to get some outstanding panoramic views of the islands. As you go up the ropeway, from the foothills of Gunung Machinchang, taking in the scenery, you can see cascading waterfalls surrounded by jungles . Atop is a curved pedestrian bridge called the Skybridge, almost 125 metres long . If you are the adventurous type, you can even trek up here.

2. Pulau Payar Marine Park
Go underwater to get a glimpse of Malaysia�s ancient marine life . The life under the sea will dazzle you with all the colours in this marine park. You can go snorkelling here as this is one of the best diving site. The park centre is a great way to get oriented here. There are reefs built here, some are manmade built with old boats and tyres. If you are not into diving, then there are several hiking trails around as well.

3.Crocodile Farm
Want to see a live version of Man versus the Wild, then visit the Crocodile Farm to see a confrontation of humans and crocodiles here.  All these crocodiles and of course, the men are however well trained . Walk around the farm and you can see a sea of crocodiles being fed. Besides various species, you can also see baby crocodiles in a pool of their own

What are your recommendations for Langkawi ?

Five reasons to visit Hong Kong and Macau

Think Hong Kong and Macau and the images that flash in your mind are the glittering lights of an expansive skyline, the lure of the casinos , never ending shopping markets, laser shows  and tourist attractions like Disneyland and Oceanworld.

However I was in for a surprise when I visited these island states. I had imagined a bustling dynamic financial capital with all the trappings of a modern city. And yet, as I walked around it, I discovered a quaint town with clusters of islands and peninsulas, retaining a charm of its own. The city-state as it is often referred to, was a perfect m�lange of the east and west, a pot pourri of tourist attractions and hidden spots and would often transform itself into small fishing villages with floating markets .

There are many reasons why one would visit these two Chinese territories , but here are my recommendations

1.Tian Tan Buddha statue in Lantau Island .

Nestled in one of the most beautiful and largest islands of Hong Kong is a 34 metres tall Big Buddha in bronze, smiling at the vast landscape around the island. A cable car ride above the seas take you towards the Ngong Ping Plateau of the Lantau Island , where you can get a glimpse of the Buddha from the sky. Climbing more than 260 steps to reach the statue may be an uphill task, but it is worth the effort .It is also believed to house one of the relics of Gautama Buddha. The century old Po Lin Monastery located near the statue is dedicated to the three forms of Buddha � the present, the past and the future.

However the island itself is a showstopper. Ringed in by mountains, it is located at the mouth of the Pearl River and was once part of the ancient trade routes . Colonised by both the Portuguese and the British, Tai Han Shan as it was earlier known as was once the haunt of pirates and is today filled with forts and fishing villages.

2. Stanley Market

The montage of shops selling souvenirs, paintings, artifacts, silks and all sorts of curios in tiny lanes of this historic town lure many tourists here .But there is more to Stanley than just its markets . The beaches here are bustling with water sports and  the entire waterfront is dotted with restaurants and bars. Walk around the town and you would hear stories of war or local legends of pirates .

My personal favourite is the quiet 18^th century temple , believed to be the oldest temple in Hong Kong, dedicated to Tin Hau , the Queen of Heaven  and the Goddess of the Sea. While the official board outside the temple says that it is built by �the sea faring people of Stanley  � locals tell you that it is attributed to a notorious pirate, Cheung Po Tsai . As you enter the temple, you notice a rather unusual display � a glass frame mounted with the skin of a dead tiger . A small note says that the tiger was shot by an Indian policeman, Mr. Rur Singh  in front of Stanley Police Station way back in 1942.

3.The Victorial Peak

Taking a tram right up to the Peak of  Hong Kong is a great way of exploring the heights of the island. The funicular tramway that started way back in the 19^th century goes all the way up 1200 feet and very often you would find the skyscrapers leaning against you as you journey uphill. The distance is about a kilometer and a half as it climbs up 45* from Central District to The Peak. From the Peak Tower Sky Terrace, you can see a 360*  view of Hong Kong - the glittering skyline, the harbour lights , the mountains and the plateaus . I personally prefer the night view to the day, but then nothing stops you from going there twice.

The Peak itself is filled with historic tales and it was believed to be a 19^th century signaling post for cargo ships that entered the port. The rich and famous who lived there used to be carried uphill through sedan chairs and palanquins until the tramway opened up in the 19^thcentury. It is today a tourist attraction with shops, restaurants , galleries and museums vying for space.

4.The A-Ma temple at Macau

As you take the ferry to Macau from Hong Kong, the casinos are the first to beckon you. However , a visit to old Macau is highly recommended. The 15^thcentury A-Ma temple which lent its name to Macau, built high up on a cliff is a wonderful way to begin your journey . Dedicated to the Goddess of the Seafarers and Fishermen, Matsu or Mazu, the shrine offers you beautiful views of the sea and its just peaceful to sit here and watch the ships go by..

When the Portuguese landed here, they had no idea about the fishing hamlet. Locals told them the place was called �MaaGok� referring to the A-Ma temple and the name remains till date. The temple is rather huge with several pavilions and halls  and is filled with lores and legends .

5. The Ruins of St Paul�s

You do not go to Macau looking for a bit of Europe there. But then, old Macau which was once a Portuguese colony is rather reminiscent of the early 16^thcentury. The World UNESCO site - Historic Centre of Macau includes the imposing Ruins of St Paul. A college and a cathedral was built here in the 16^thcentury and was later destroyed by a fire .

The imposing fa�ade with intricate carvings is a fusion of Jesuit and Oriental art, such as the sculpture of a woman stepping on a seven headed hydra ,described in Chinese as a dragon. One can climb the staircase leading to the top of fa�ade to see more images carved on it. While many tourists still throw coins from top for luck, several flock to the Senado Square and the Fortress located close by.

This story was published in Rediff  last week. Most of my travel updates are on Facebook and it would be wonderful to see you there . Click here to follow me on my travels

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Asia through my eyes - Drummers in India and Puppets in Bali

Posted on May 2, in my 365 project as a part of India through my eyes - Drummers on a beat

India is filled with Gods, temples , festivals and legends . Here is a temple festival which happens on my street every year in Bangalore . The local performers were waiting for the temple festival to begin as they were practicing their beat .. 

Posted today in my 365project as part of Asia through my eyes series


Colour and Asia go hand in hand - whether it is India or Indonesia, the colours attract people . In a small market in Bali, these puppets were for sale . Being a sucker for souvenirs , I was tempted to pick a pair, but I finally decided to take this photograph and retain this as my souvenir. 

Asia through my eyes - Lanterns in Hong Kong

I have been doing the 365 project since February 2011  and trying hard to organise and showcase some of the photographs that I had taken from around the world. I had a theme in May called India through my eyes and in June, I decided to look at Asia through my eyes . Do let me know what you think about my perspective

I am always fascinated by Chinese Lanterns ever since I visited Singapore in 2000 during the Lantern Festival . So , when I was in Hong Kong recently, I found them extremely fascinating . Loved the way these depicted people and their walks of life too..The sheer colour and workmanship is amazing too 

Kerala-Chellanam

I was in Chellanam , a village near Cochin last week talking to some locals who make vanji or the local country boats. I need to thank Gopinath from Blue Yonder who put me onto his colleague Prakash who told me about this place...I recorded about 5 mins of conversations, which are largely in Malayalam. Although I can follow a bit of the  language, its very difficult to translate every word of the dialogue..I am writing my column on Chellanam and this small scale industry for The Metro Plus , The Hindu and will share the same with you once its published

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Deepavali Bonanza

Ive been in for a lot of surprises this year and another one greeted me today. I had been out the entire day and was rather tired when I finally got back home about a couple of hours ago. A parcel had landed in the afternoon for me and the cover mentioned it was from Singapore Tourism. When I opened it, I found a box of chocolates with a Deepavali greeting card waiting for me. A few months ago, STB had invited me to cover their Youth Olympic Games and now, they were kind enough to remember me and send me this gift. Thanks STB...Im happy to share this gift virtually with all my readers .

A quick update on some other interesting meets and activities happenning around me . I met blogger Deepak aka magic eye a few weeks ago in Bangalore and lo, he posts on a Bangalore darshan. Sikkim trip organised by Club Mahindra for the bloggers ( I help them with the editorial for CLAY - their blog ) also led me to meet some very interesting bloggers and friends .

 I was briefly away in Madras and got back yesterday and received a Nokia N8 mobile for review. The interesting bit was that I got to participate in Bangalore Urban Spree" where we photographed the vibrant spirit of Bangalore on our mobile  and shared it on twitter and other social media tools. I still have the N8 for review and I met some cool tech bloggers as well yesterday while we all binged on pizzas, courtesy Bloggers Mind, who organised the events. 

Now, coming to the not so exciting news - my travel calender for November , December looks bleak..so does 2011 as of now..I do wish there are more Deepavali Bonazas around..anybody out there who would like me to travel to some exotic place in return for some blog posts and tweets and updates on FB ? I hope someone out there is listening..:)

Bali - Towering sculptures

The first thing that strikes you about Bali is its art. Its the only island in Indonesia where Hinduism is predoninant and there are temples in every nook and corner and every house has a courtyard filled with temples. But what strikes you are the towering sculptures and statues on the road , inspired by Ramayana and Mahabharata. The giant , Ghatotkacha, is one of the first you would encounter when you step out of the airport. The other characters are Bheema, Karna among others. "Take a picture madam," said my taxi driver ," The roads are going to be widened soon and all these may be removed or destroyed." Sounds familiar, doesnt it !

To see more skies around the world, click here 

More markets in Hong kong

This is not one of those famous shopping markets in Hong Kong - but it was just another fish and fruit market near Times Square , close to Wan Chai . Walking distance from our hotel, we roamed around this area on our first day, familiarizing ourselves with the area.

Souvenir from Hong Kong - The Peeing Doll

This one is for all my readers.

Strolling around Stanley Market last week , I saw several souvenirs, but this one caught my eye - The Peeing Doll. I was taken in by the entire " manual " which clearly illustrated how to make the doll pee..I did not buy it, but I took permission to take a picture. In Hong Kong, most shopkeepers do not allow photos to be taken, but the lady here obliged as I had bought a few tea pots from her . 

Skywatch - The Big Buddha in Hong Kong

Greetings from Hong Kong...

For more beautiful skies around the world, click here

On the wall of an Indian restaurant in Kowloon

I understood the true meaning of  being "world famous " while looking at these posters in an Indian restaurant - Woodlands - Celebrity Rajinikanth is apparently big here too as tickets for Endhiran are sold here..Did I hear someone say Move over Bollywood  !

Hats off to Bali

Outside a temple in Bali ..

Chinese Lanterns in Kowloon

Ganesha in Bali - The Goa Gajah cave and more

Last night I had a dream - I dreamt that I was in Bali, journeying under water , looking for an ancient cave. The dream was very vivid - from the clothes I wore, to the colours of the sea, the forests , the waters and the wonderful old cave itself. I woke up , thinking I was in a world of fantasy and realised that the dream was triggered by the  many memories of  my Bali trip.I had just then downloaded 400 pics  and had uploaded a few of them in Facebook.

The memories brought back the rush of my first scuba diving experience , especially for a non swimmer like me .And the first ever monument I set foot in was the mystical Goa Gajah cave temple, built in the 11th century , but excavated only recently. I guess the dream was incepted by these two memories and the many emotions that resulted in seeing the pictures.

" Indian ? Are you a Hindu ? Im a Hindu too ?"This is a line that frequently opened all conversations and also ended in negotiations. We were at the  Goa Gajah temple , near Ubud where my driver mentioned that its a 11th century cave shrine dedicated to the Ganesha and the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva , all represented in the form of lingas.

I always thought " Goa " was pronounced like the state, Goa. Later my driver said it meant cave and its pronounced as " Guha" and " Gajah " is elephant. I told him that in many Indian languages - Guha means cave and gajah - elephant and ganesha was indeed the Elephant God of the Indian Hindus as well.

The excavated site has many interesting monuments - tanks, shrines, statues..and suddenly one old Indonesian walks up to me and says " See Buddha..see " ..Im not sure if he is referring to the diety Buddha as this was a Hindu site, but later I understand that he is actually pointing out to the faces carved on the rocks , which is believed to be a diety - Buddha or not, Im not sure though.

I saw quite a few depictions of Ganesha in Bali - the one I remember is a warrior like deity, like this statue that was atop a house. As we walked in and out of several temples in Bali, I was struck by the similarity and yet the difference..We hear a version of the gayatri mantra , while a local vendor tries hard to sell us the Om Nama Shivaya.

Bali Tourism is not just about caves and temples. There are performing arts, local cultural festivals besides adventure activities. If you are planning to drive around Bali like we did, I would suggest that you get yourself a map of Bali before heading out so that you can cover many sites on the way. 

Singapore in three days

Its tough to touch, feel and see any country in a few days , especially if you are a traveller like me. But if you are visiting Singapore as a tourist or on business and you have anything between a few hours to three days in hand, you can still get to experience the country based on your interests. There are no must sees - it just depends on what you want to see . 

For instance, while we were at Changi airport on transit, we decided to go over to the orchid garden and then an airport official recommended a visit to the butterfly park in Terminal 3.  A friend recommended that I go over to the Changi beach while the information desk asked me if I was interested in a free city tour . I find Changi one of the friendliest international airports and here, you can even get a foot massage for free or you could visit a spa after duty free shopping.

Even after my many visits to Singapore, I realize that I am yet to experience the country to the fullest. However there are certain places that I could recommend , including some of the tourist attractions. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I hope it will give you an idea to plan an itinerary . While some trips are best covered by a tour operator ,especially when you are running short of time , the better way is to arm yourself with a map and a train ticket .  

The proverbial city tour

Now, this is not something that I would recommend, but it has its advantages if you are on transit and have more than six hours to kill at Changi. You could ask the Information Centre to help you register on the tour which is free. You may need to clear immigration though ! If you are however a  tourist, with more time on hand and you are wondering where to start ,then go on one of the hop on- hop off tours. In three hours , you would get an introduction to Singapore. Most of these tours cover a bit of colonial Singapore, show you some of the monuments, drive through some key areas and also stop over at a few attractions. You could probably jot down the places and areas that you may want to come back again in leisure.

When I first went to Singapore, I did take up the tour and I found the Singapore National Museum interesting Another attraction was the Tiger Beer Brewery . If the bus stops at the Singapore flier, take a tour or do come back here to see the entire landscape of Singapore. Another place to see the skyscape of Singapore is the skywalk at Marina bay sands and that would cost you a bit. 

Little India and Chinatown
Some more museums I would recommend - The Peranakan Museum and the Asian Civilisation Museum, which I missed and is recommended by my friend Vijay, who stays in Singapore.If you are not really into museums and are more into real people and local flavour , then do visit Chinatown and Little India. Most buses take you on a tour to these places . I would recommend a leisurely trip to both these locales..Little India is a microcosm of Madras , but served rather in a Singaporean fashion with a splash of colour and life. Mustafa, the 24 hours mall  is a good place for bargains, but shop only if you have to. 

Chinatown can be both colourful and quiet. The oldest Hindu temple in Singapore is located here, but Im more interested in the alternative medicine practised by the Chinese. Walk over to the one of the pharmacies - sometimes you may even find restaurants serving you food , recommended by a doctor, based on your yin and yang . 


But all around Singapore, you would find a kaleidescope of temples, monasteries, churches , mosques - all quaint and colourful. Some of them are rather old and they tell you more about the cultural mosaic of this country. 

Walking around Singapore
If you enjoy walking and absorbing the sights and sounds of Singapore, then these areas should not be given a miss - the entire Marina promenade, Suntec City styled according to Feng Shui , Merlion Park, Orchard Road for the malls and shopping and Singapore River  for its cruises and  adventure sports - journalist Shweta who was with me was hell bent on trying reverse bungee jumping among other sports  I would also recommend a cruise - there are cruises from a few hours to small islands and cruises that sail to  neighbouring countries. Take your pick 

If you prefer nature walks, then there are many reservoirs and parks around Singapore - I went to the MacRitchie reservoir with Vijay's family and the trails here are wonderful. While this is one of Singapore's oldest reservoirs, there are quite a few around today . 

Singapore Zoo and Botanical garden
Talking about nature, the zoos and the botanical garden should be on everyone's itinerary. The gardens are massive and a visit to the Orchid garden is a must. This is a great place for birding as well. The Singapore zoo is one of the best zoos around and  do not miss the night safari. You can visit both of them on your own, but they are by no means close to each other. So you would need ample time for both. Try breakfast with the orangutans in the zoo . If you are into birding like me - jurong bird park should be on your itinerary. This will easily take about half a day of your time. Sungei Buloh Nature Park and Ubin Island are on my list as well for birding during my next trip.

Night life 
Singapore has a vibrant night life. My favourite is Clarke quay and the nightlife around the river. Chijmes is another option. Holland village,Demsey hill and Orchard Road are also great places to hang out.Try the gin based Singapore sling if you fancy a cocktail.  If you like to experiment with food, besides idlis and dosas in Little India, visit the hawker centres. There are quite a few of them - Lau Pa Sat is recommended by my guide. 

Sentosa island
A trip to Singapore is incomplete if you do not visit the famous Sentosa Island - which has several attractions . You could even stay here. Sentosa can be approached by land or water, but everyone prefers the cable car. The attractions are innumerable - from laser shows to underwater world. Casinos are available here in hotels if you like to try your luck Now, even Universal has opened here . The beaches are vibrant and a first timer will need at least a day out here. 

These are just some of the landmarks and attractions in Singapore.. While there are several package tours from India, I would recommend that you just book your hotel and flight and plan the sightseeing there.If you need more help in planning your itinerary , please drop in a line here and I am happy to customise it for you

A photofeature on the Youth Olympic Games, Singapore

My tryst with Singapore has always been filled with tourist attractions. But this time, I was lured to Singapore by a sporting event . Sitting in the stadium and listening to the cheers that reverberated through the stands, it was amazing to experience the energy out here. The opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games that saw more than 200 countries participating was just about to begin. My goodie bag was filled with trinkets that added to the light and sound of the event .The performances were vibrant and the stadium cheered as the athletes marched on. The Olympics anthem was sung, as the torch was brought in on a float . Fireworks galore, the entire Marina Bay was bathed in lights and music.