Upendra Swami

Negombo, I remember

Upendra SwamiApril 29, 20191408 Views5

It was painful to watch the aftermath of carnage at St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo. For that matter, heart pained for Sri Lanka as a whole. No innocent people need to die this way anywhere in the world. This bloodshed takes us nowhere but to more bloodshed. It has to end. Period! I felt a connect to Negombo as soon as I heard about the incident. I spent my first night at Negombo on my first trip to Sri Lanka exactly ten years back in 2009. So, my first impressions for this beautiful island nation came from Negombo. It was a also the starting point of a memorable almost a week long road trip of the island nation. Also read: An orphanage for the mighty at Pinnawala Saint Stephen's Church at Negombo which was consecrated in 1880, when Britishers ruled the island nation. Church is ...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Ten things not to be missed while in Munnar

Upendra SwamiApril 24, 20191816 Views1

It’s getting hotter day by day. No, I am certainly not talking about the election heat, but I am literally talking about the weather. A few days earlier, I was talking to a friend in Thiruvanathapuram, and he said that it is getting difficult to venture out during the day. So, while rest of the Kerala might be reeling under heat and it would not be wise to advice going there, until the monsoon touches the state late next month; but a part of Kerala is still enjoyable and worth going. With polling for general elections over in the state and it will now be waiting anxiously for the counting day exactly a month later, in the meanwhile, you can certainly plan a trip to Munnar. Elephant peak as seen from Munnar town Munnar is one of the favourite destinations in Kerala for tourists from ...

India

Weaving a life in exile!

Upendra SwamiApril 14, 20191432 Views0

It’s tough to kickstart the life at a new place, suddenly uprooted from your home and doomed to live rest of your lives in exile. Tibetans have faced this almost 55 years ago and they continue to weave a better life at their new homes in India. Search of Tibetan souvenirs to be taken back home took us to Tibetan Handicraft Society premises located on one end of the main market in Mcleodganj. We had to wait for a while as the manager was away for a work. The collection at the centre was very attractive. While others were busy in their purchases, I went towards a modest workshop adjacent to store, where a few women were busy weaving carpets. Tibetan Handicraft Society was established in 1963 at Mcleodganj near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh to provide work and income for Tibet...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Aren’t you preparing for a trip to Leh already!

Upendra SwamiApril 7, 20191220 Views4

Beauty of trip to Ladakh is that each time you go, you have entirely a new experience waiting for you, even if you are going to same place in same weather or a different one in different weather. You can always expect something unexplored, Its also because, you just can't experience the whole diversity of this amazing place in one trip. You need many-many trips for this. The desert with white snow, green poplars and Indus river! View on outskirts of Leh. Window to the peace... nature! Saucer at the roof top! View of Leh valley surrounded by Himalayan ranges. Way to leh! Read: Reaching climax- On the top of the Manali-Leh route So, this is the time when you need to put your plans for this years Ladakh trip in place and start preparations. An extraordinary place like Ladakh c...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Its spring time and lower Himalayas are laden with beauty!

Upendra SwamiMarch 31, 20192825 Views6

I have always felt that spring is the best time to go to hills, specially in the lower Himalayan region. And, that's not just for adventure trips, but also for the leisure trips to hill stations. It's about weather, it's about brightness, it's about colours, it's about nature and its about views. Everything in abundance. It gives such a jovial feeling when you are here during this time. As soon as the winter freeze gives way to the some warmth, the new life comes out of the earth. The whiteness of winter turns colourful with all types of flowers. Peach blossoms are this region's answer to Cherry Blossoms in East Asia during most this time. Peach blossoms turn the surroundings pink in the spring time. Although it's not so as of now, I think that it won't be too long when pe...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Guns and colours at Holi of valour in Menar

Upendra SwamiMarch 22, 20195368 Views3

So, you would have enjoyed the Holi of colours the previous day, but another part of India is today celebrating Holi in its unique way. I have often referred to Menar near Udaipur as a Bird’s village. But I have also always mentioned that this particular village has a very unique history. So, when rest of the north India, celebrates Holi with colours, this tiny village celebrates Holi with its gunshots. Its Holi not of myth but a history of courage, a daring win. Also read: Morning lights at Menar - The birds village Going by the Indian caste structure, Menar is known as a village of Brahmins. But interestingly in Mewar region brahmins of Menar (surnamed as Menarias) are also referred to as Brahma Kshatriyas, and history has big role in naming them so. On the third day of Holi...

IndiaPhotogallery

मरु देश में होली के रंग aka Colours of Holi in Desert!

Upendra SwamiMarch 19, 20192032 Views2

होली के मौसम में जिक्र एक और अनूठी होली का। यह होली राजस्थान की है। यह है बीकानेर इलाके की तणी होली। होली में तणी को काटने की प्रथा को तकरीबन 300 साल पुराना बताया जाता है। हालांकि इसके बारे में ठीक-ठीक कहना मुश्किल है। पुराने लोग बताते हैं कि यह परंपरा रियासत काल से चली आ रही है। बताया जाता है कि इसका मकसद वहां के पुष्करणा समाज से जुड़े जोशी समुदाय के लोगों को होली की उत्सव में भागीदारी कराने से है। यहां यह मान्यता है कि होलिका जोशी समुदाय से थी इसलिए उन्हें होलिका के जल जाने का अफसोस रहता है। इसलिए इस समुदाय के लोग होली की स्थापना होने से लेकर होलिका दहन तक सब्जी में छोंक नहीं लगाते। न ही वे होलिका दहन देखने के लिए ही जाते हैं। Among many different colours of Holi in India, this one is from western end of the Rajasthan, from the heart of the That Desert. This is Tani Holi of Bi...

AdventureInternationalNews

Best of Classic Rock in the middle of desert

Upendra SwamiMarch 16, 20191035 Views0

Burning Man’s Israeli offshoot, Midburn is a special 5-day festival held in the Negev Desert around May – June every year. It is the second largest regional Burning Man after Africa Burns where, for 6 days, a temporary city is set up creating a platform for communal life style, creativity, art and self-expression. Unlike a typical music festival with big acts, one can camp in the desert that host parties and in the center of the playa are incredible art displays and a huge temple that is burned on the final night. This year, Midburn will be held between June 4 through 9, 2019. Midburn Festival. Photo: Niv Shafran This summer, Israel will also host some of the biggest names of Rock genre like Bon Jovi, Slash and Air Supply. Air Supply, the soft-rock duo of the 80s, Graham Russe...

AdventurePhotogallery

Menar again, for owls and vultures this time

Upendra SwamiMarch 11, 20193093 Views2

Menar seems to have find a place in my every winter trip to Udaipur. So, when I was in my hometown 'City of Lakes' once again this winter, I had already planned a morning of birding trip. Well, that all depended on birder friends to accompany as I am still quite unfamiliar with that region. So, though my to be companion backed out because of some other work, he managed to hand me over to another of his birder friend, a senior automobile executive. I later realised that Udaipur now has a culture of birding and photography trips every weekend- either solo, with friends or in groups. There are photography groups, birding groups with regular activities, sharing and learning, all with utmost sincerity. Awake and alert! The Short-eared Owl, or 'Shortie', is an unusual owl because it prefers...

InternationalNews

Brussels in “Geek” Mode this Spring

Upendra SwamiFebruary 26, 20191259 Views2

From March onwards, Brussels will be celebrating pop culture with a host of events and activities. From Comic Con Brussels to BIFFF and even the Brussels Games Festival, fans of the genre will be spoiled for choice. In coming days, Brussels will be putting on its finery and becoming the capital of pop culture. There’s no doubt that it has the necessary qualities — a quirky, festive and creative spirit. Brussels is bursting with enough events, game bars and escape games to delight geeks of all kinds. This year, the European capital is putting on a series of unmissable events for gamers and cosplayers. So let’s see, what all is in store for us. Anima, Brussels’s international animated film festival, is back with original shorts and feature-length films for young and old alike. ...