Lovely was to travel to Tashkent from Bukhara on a modern fast train, almost 600 km in about 4hrs. Tashkent; capital of Uzbekistan rebuilt after 1966 earthquake by Soviets, is a blend of modern and Soviet-era architecture with wide roads and good parks.
By Som P. Pudasaini Jan 26, 2020
Passage Through Turkey
By Som P. Pudasaini Jan 06, 2020
Gyaneshwar temple complex, only few hundred meters north of the Gyaneshwar Chouk, houses the famous Shivalinga, Gyaneshwar Mahadev, also known as Parasnath and the Ananda Bhairav, a fearsome manifestation of Shiva ever ready to help the innocents and scare the tainted
By Som P. Pudasaini Mar 29, 2019
According to Ramayan, Hanuman had to enter Patal Lok to rescue Rama and Lakshmana as Ahiravan had tricked them to go there to help Ravan win the war against Ram. Ahiravana was hidden in Patal in five lamps placed in 5 directions and could be killed only by extinguishing all the lamps at once which Hanuma accomplished by taking the Panchamukha form.
By Som P. Pudasaini Mar 04, 2019
Choosing the serene and lush green Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort on the west bank of the Chao Phraya with enchanting outdoor pool and sumptuous breakfast enabled us to enjoy the river and see many landmarks and markets by using tourist boats.
By Som P. Pudasaini Feb 10, 2019
The Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the country's oldest Buddhists monuments located on a small island near the southeastern shore of West Lake, holds the ashes of important monks and is linked to the mainland by a small causeway. With ever chanting monks and devotees, it was worth a quick visit to enjoy serenity and smell of the fragrance of lit incenses.
By Som P. Pudasaini Jan 26, 2019
A speedboat tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta through the Saigon River, including its canals, with a dozen tourists, was both educational and interesting. It was a nice way to observe settlements, life and culture while enjoying a water ride without traffic jams or being cramped in a vehicle. A light breakfast was served soon after boarding the speedboat around 8.30 am with bottled cold water and cut tropical fruits in perpetual supply. A constant two-way flow of people and goods in small and big boats kept one’s attention on the daily dynamics of life around the mighty river.
By Som P. Pudasaini Jan 12, 2019