Travel going off track

Too timid to try this? Get over it. Jump out of a plane, navigate the rapids and snorkel with sharks in adventure sports heaven, Australia

I prepare for every eventuality when travelling. I arrive at the airport before the counter opens and I know where the emergency parachute is. I took a leap of faith by choosing an itinerary with scary sports in Queensland, a state recently hit by natural disasters. But no other place allowed one to swim in the Great Barrier Reef, zip through rainforests and hug koalas. I travelled to Brisbane and was relieved to see no hint of calamity. A smooth plane ride to Cairns and I was ready for action.

Skydiving
I was terrified. My instructor dismissively said, "Almost nobody dies, worst case scenario, people break a leg or two." Seeking no more reassurance, I climbed into the aircraft. He sensed my fear that hadn't exactly abated and said, "Thanks for trusting me since I've only been doing this for three months." He grinned as the colour drained from my face. Then he confessed that he's been in business for a decade.

We were 14,000 feet in the air and I watched the others on my plane fly away, one at a time. It seemed surreal until it was my turn. I reluctantly moved towards the open door. It was seven degrees and my feet were dangling out of the plane. Now, my resolve faded, but before I could react, we were flying. It's a 60-second free-fall and I forgot everything the instructional video taught. Random thoughts entered my head such as - I put down my Mumbai number for emergencies. But they won't make long distance calls, will they!

I wanted to scream but I'd lost my voice. Finally the chute snapped open, and next I saw fields several 100 feet below. My first words finally surfaced, "Oh s***, this is great!" We landed and the rush and exhilaration had me weak in the knees. Minutes later, I got back up thinking that after this I can do anything. Until the next adventure strikes!

Where: The Australian Skydive Company, Cairns.
Cost: AUD 299

White-water rafting
I am not a strong swimmer. Ok, I'll be honest - I am embarrassing to be around in water. I flap frantically and simultaneously panic while trying to keep my head above the surface. Yet I was readying to raft the Barron River. To make things worse, it was only after our raft, carrying six, got cruising that our guide, Taka, warned about recent crocodile sightings. Taka reassured us saying, "Since it's not lunchtime, you should be fine."

His words made my grip firmer as the first rapid struck in full force and then another. Having maneuvered holes and eddies, miraculously, we made it to shore without losing anyone.

Where: Raging Thunder, Cairns.
Cost: AUD 133

Snorkelling
I moved from Cairns to Port Douglas for my biggest challenge - water-sports. Since this was the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO heritage and the only living thing visible from space, I had to do this.

Our cruise liner, Poseidon, parked itself in the middle of the ocean, where the instructors warned us of the dangers - strong waves, jelly fish that could have you writhing in pain. We were also a danger to each other, thanks to our flippers that could 'rip flesh apart'. We were told that every situation could be brought under control right here on the liner - meds to numb pain, fight stings and our instructors could also 'stitch us up'. The brave still decided to dive, whilst I stuck to snorkelling. I donned a stinger suit and a wet suit over it for buoyancy (an extra aid for non-swimmers). For added safety, I was given a noodle and a guide - Jason.

I was swimming above the unspoilt Agincourt Ribbon Reefs. The world below was in full technicolour - yellow Clown Anemonefish (Nemo), purple Anthias and many more. A passing shark made an appearance but thankfully after I was safely onboard.
Where: Poseidon, Port Douglas
Cost: Snorkelling - AUD 190

All terrain vehicle
How tough could it be to ride a quad bike after all I've survived? Ironically, I failed at this task. Within minutes, I banged into a tree. Yet my instructor remained patient. That is until I rammed into him full speed. I apologised but he simply said, "It's okay. Indians make the worst drivers." I wanted to prove him wrong, but I managed to do the exact opposite and got stuck in a ditch. For the rest of the ride, it was double-seat for me. In my defence, it was a heavy-duty bike and I am a tiny Indian woman!

My instructor was in charge but he was smooth and made me feel that I was the one in control. We drove through mucky swamps, dirt flying everywhere; maneuvered around tight spots, and waded through gigantic puddles. Covered in filth, sweaty and smelly, I survived the ride.

Where: Blazing Saddles.
Cost: AUD 125

Hot air ballooning
There were eleven of us huddled in a wicker basket. Any sudden moves had everybody feeling it. But I took solace thinking that our pilot Steve had our back. Almost on cue he announced, "I don't really have control over this thing. I can just take it up and down, real fast!" He wasn't entirely joking. A balloon doesn't come with multiple controls. It was blazing blowtorches and expert navigation that kept us going.

We were flying above the Atherton tablelands -- fruit orchards, eucalyptus trees, and other feats of nature. Finally when we landed, we cleaned up our mess. That's right, we helped pack the balloon. And it was no easy task. In fact, it takes 10 strong men and three women to get the job done.

Where: Raging Thunder, Cairns. Cost: AUD 225 (approx)

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The Gen Z gets click happy

Your digital camera today has a story to tell! For many youngsters studying on the campus enjoying indulging in photography has emerged the best medium of self-expression during the vacation.

Nothing captures the essence of a moment more perfectly than a camera and youngsters in the city are enjoying this. The pictures then find their way to social networking sites or blogs.

Photography being a unique medium, experts feel that not always do you need a professional degree for it. It depends on the perception and how you view a particular object. The young today enjoy taking pictures of anything that catches their fancy and are simply loving doing that. And it is quite an affordable hobby, say many.

Disha Kalolia, a design student says, "I like photography as I can capture people's emotions. It leaves a trail of fond memories for a lifetime!"

But what has caused this sudden spurt of youngsters being involved in the world of photography? People no longer have to worry about that one bad picture in the film, or the skills required in the post-production process, say the young. Digital cameras have made it very easy for people to click hundreds of pictures without bothering about getting a bad picture. It is all about shooting random things, not worrying about perfection or production quality. Psychology graduate Hiral Makwana says, "Today, photography has become easy compared to earlier days. Camera is available at your desired budget. SLR cameras have become a style statement for people to own and are easier to use then the video cameras."

Ketan Modi, Pictographer, who also teaches photography, feels, "Youngsters aged 18-25 are pursuing it as a hobby. Previously, people considered photography as a costly profession which required a lot of skills. Gen Z is more passionate about the latest equipments rather than the artistic side of photography."

Like every beginner, they begin with nature photography, birthday parties, farewell parties and get togethers. These pictures also make great items for gifts as photo frames, mugs, T-shirts, calendars and scrapbooks. Sohel Mojanidar, an engineer, says, "A photograph creates memories. That is why the minute you say 'picture', it brings a smile on someone's face!"

With various photography contests offering a lucrative platform for the young to showcase their talent, the Gen Z is only indulging in capturing the pixels.

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Solo on the road...

This summer the traveller's frat is making sure they pack their mascara and LBD, with their keds and other travel togs.

Say hello to women biz head honchos, homemakers and more — all of whom are high on life, higher on wanderlust and who will do anything to take out time to jet-set to the places on their wishlist. You'll find them anywhere from the plains of Machhu Pichhu, to skiing in the Alps, sailing off the Gold Coast or taking a cruise by the exotic Nile. "It's true," says Yogi Shah who takes travellers on trips around the world with his Backpacker Co. "At least 65 per cent of travellers today are single women. They ask for girl guides, stay on 'women only' floors and have a blast!"

So, what gives?
The idea for these ladies seems to be to 'get out and travel when you want'! While 27-year-old actor Ira Dubey's waiting to jet set off on a November-December Greece getaway with her pals, actor and single girl Shahana Goswami recently went to live la vida loca in Spain! "The place is known for its good-looking men, tantalising food and breathtaking landscape...I loved my getaway," she says.

Sumitra Senapaty, who presents the concept of single girl travelling with her club WOW (Women On Wanderlust), says more women are finding it increasingly convenient to travel this way. Since the inception of her travel club, she's brought together at least 10,000 women. "The requests to see more places just keep growing," she declares.

Globe-trotting safari
If the destinations are hot, the itineraries are hotter and planners like Senapaty make sure the ladies have a blast minus their families and better halves. Advertising professional Rishika Kumar, 30, wanted to bask by the piazzas in Italy. "I was a history student too, so I wanted to visit and last December, I did so alone. Maybe I'll do Greece this year," she muses.

The list of to-dos is a versatile one, so planners like Shah actually build cooking and wine-tasting sessions into women travel trips. Consultant Komal Lath reveals how her recent travel agenda was "insane". She says, "My school friend and I planned a girl trip because we find backpacking fun and needed time to explore on our own. We took off to France, Monaco and Italy and just enjoyed things on our time. I'd like to go do this again."

Top 5 women-friendly destinations
- Vancouver
- Istanbul
- Hanoi
- Singapore
- Austin

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Shiny, happy people

For an Indian tourist seeking a summer holiday escape, the neighboring landlocked kingdom of Bhutan -- nestled in the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas -- assures easy accessibility to happiness.

And it's not just because of the lack of a need for a visa, the acceptance of the Indian rupee as legal tender and the forthcoming discounts at shops in Paro and Thimphu. But the sheer tranquility offered by the rich biodiversity hotspot (home to 770 bird species and 5,400 species of plants) helps to gain mental equilibrium. The ecoregion, dotted with chortens, dzongs, monasteries and lhakhangs, really lives up to the international acclaim for its high gross national happiness.

India shining
For a country whose roads are built by the Indian contract labor, whose royal military service is trained by the Indian army, that which relies on the Indian Airforce for air assistance and whose national dish of Ema datschi is cooked in hugely imported Indian cheese, the Bhutanese warmth for Indians is palpable. An incident at a handicraft shop in Thimphu speaks for itself. One Indian tourist, part of Doe's Eco Tours, inquired into the seemingly Indian designs on the Bhutanese Kira (national dress). "Bharat se bahut kuch lete hain... Indian beer aur Indian TV serial, dono bahut acche hain..." said the shop owner taking a small break from the Ekta Kapoor fare on his small screen.

In fact, every shop has an overt dual charge system, the inexpensive slot for Indians and the high-end rates for Americans or Europeans (paying 200$ tariff per day).

A courteous culture
Generally speaking, the Bhutanese are mild-mannered and soft-spoken. The Buddhist religious influence also reflects in their day-today conduct of life. The pace of life is relaxed and retains peculiar old world innocence. Petty thieving, pick pocketing, cheating, bribery are the vices that have not yet touched the local Bhutan population (670,000). Tourist guides do not demand exorbitant tips, hotel staff does not mislead and no driver honks on the road, however bad the jam. Incidentally, Thimphu is the only world capital with no traffic signals. The traffic policeman in the main square is therefore a sight to watch. Another sight that epitomises Bhutan's quiet is its only international airport at Paro. It is built on a plot (smaller than Shivaji Park) located in the deep Paro valley, surrounded by peaks as high as 18,000 feet. It is considered one of the world's most enigmatic airports as flights at Paro are allowed only under visual meteorological conditions and are restricted to daylight hours.

The Bhutanese identity
The Bhutanese law requires all Bhutanese citizens to wear the national dress in public areas and as formal wear - that is the kneelength robe for men (gho) and the ankle-length keera for women. Social status and ranking determine the texture, colors, and embellishments that go with the garments. Multiple-coloured scarves and shawls are also barometers of social standing. For Indians, the Bhutanese culture, cuisine, music and couture seems an extension of India's North-Eastern states. The keera, for instance, goes very close to the unstitched robes draped by Khasi, Garo and Jaintia women in Meghalaya. Parts of Paro can easily pass off as those in Shillong or Aizwal. However, for those unexposed to the oriental cultures, Bhutan's physical features stand out as plain exotic, specially elements like the flying phallus symbols hung on house doors that signify fertility. As Doreen D'Sa, regularly operating Bhutan tours over last ten years, remarks, "Bhutan is pristine and unlike other harried holiday spots. And yet it is only in the last five years that Indians have put Bhutan on their tourist map. Usually, the Japanese and the Europeans and of course, the Americans chose Bhutan." In 2010, over 27,196 tourists world visited Bhutan.

A role model in conservation
The Bhutanese respect for nature translates in effective efforts twoards ecological conservation. The kingdom has protected over 65 percent of the land area under forest cover. It has designated more than a quarter of its territory as national parks, reserves and other protected areas. Their effort to protect its national animal - Takin - is also exemplary. The love for its botanical reserves is seen in the prompt upkeep of an amazing variety of magnolias, rhododendrons, the primulus, the blue poppies and other epiphytic orchids. Bhutan is a naturalist's delight.

Bhutan cares for its history too, as is evident in the Paro Museum, the National Library and the Folk Heritage Museum, Thimphu. Bhutan's philatelic collection impressively traces the history of India-Bhutan relations. The stamps of Mahatma Gandhi are telling.

The must-sees
There are many must-sees in Bhutan, specially the less-visited Central Bhutan's Bumthang valley. But for those restricting themselves to Western Bhutan, two places of worship stand out vividly: the Punakha dzong and the Taktsang monastery. The Punakha Dzong, built at the confluence of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers in 1637, has been damaged by four fires, an earthquake, and flood water. But the Dzong has been fully restored to its original glory and has a compelling presence. Before Thimphu, Punakha was the capital of Bhutan.

The trek to Taktsang is a spiritual experience in itself. The monastery is located 10 kms to the north of Paro and hangs on a rugged precipitous cliff about 900 metres (3,000 ft) above the valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche, the father of the Bhutanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism, arrived in Paro Valley more than a millennium ago on the back of a legendary tigress. He meditated for three months in a cave where a monastery was later built and called Taktsang Lhakhang or Tiger's Nest.

Visitors to Paro reach the monastery by ascending either on foot (around 3000 ft) or on horseback for about three hours to Tiger's Nest. The clear view of Mount Jhomolhari is a once-in-a-lifetime gain of the trek.

But more than reaching the top, it is the trek that is spiritually electrifying... a personal victory.

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Jatinga, where birds commit suicide?

 The tranquillity of Jatinga, a scenic village nestling among the Borail Hills range, is shattered every night by a disturbing occurrence - the 'mass suicide' of hundreds of birds.

Locals have been witnessing the eerie phenomenon from September to November for the last couple of years. As the sun sets, hundreds of birds descend on the village and fly full speed towards buildings and trees, crashing to their deaths. The repeated episodes are confined to a 1.5 km strip of the village.

With lush greenery and plentiful freshwater, Jatinga, the headquarters of the Dima Hasao district, some eight kilometres from here, is a resting place for many migratory birds. Haflong is 350 km from Guwahati.

Birds that have been sighted here over the years include the kingfisher, Indian pitta, green breasted pitta, green pigeon, black drongo, racket tailed drongo, whistling ducks, spotted doves, emerald doves, and grey heron.

But come September, and the locals brace for the ghastly sight.

Is it really suicide, or something else?

"It is not a suicide, to be precise. But the fact remains that birds are attracted by light and fly towards any object with a light source. This phenomenon still puzzles bird specialists," said Anwaruddin Choudhury, a well-known ornithologist in Assam, on the sidelines of the First International Jatinga Festival here.

B. Brahma, conservator of forests, Hills Circle, Haflong, also echoes the view.

"From past and present observations and experiences, it can be said that birds don't commit suicide," Brahma said.

The 'suicide', however, is just a part of the mystery. The more baffling question is why birds fly after sunset at all, as reserach shows that most birds are diurnal, that is, active only during the day.

The late Salim Ali, the country's pre-eminent ornithologist, too was struck by this oddity.

"The most puzzling thing to me about this phenomenon is that so many species of diurnal resident birds should be on the move when, by definition, they should be fast asleep. The problem deserves a deeper scientific study from various angels," he had written.

The 'avian harakiri', as the locals call it, has in fact shaped the region's history.

Jatinga was originally inhabited by the Zeme Nagas, who came across the bird phenomenon while guarding their paddy fields on a moonless, dark night. Frightened, the Nagas sold the land to Jaintias and left the place way back in 1905.

Jaintias, the new inhabitants of Jatinga, also witnessed the phenomenon but interpreted it as a gift from the gods.

"The phenomenon has generated tremendous interest in wildlife circles across the world and has made Jatinga world famous," Brahma said.

The earliest reference to this phenomenon was made by E.P. Gee, a British tea planter in his book "Wild Life of India" in 1957.

The Zoological Survey of India had sent a team to visit the place in 1977. Later, leading ornithologists from Europe, the US and Japan too studied the mystery.

However, no case of migratory birds plunging to their deaths has been recorded yet.

Some bird specialists attribute the phenomenon to the electro-magnetic forces of Jatinga, which is surrounded by geographical faultlines all round. But no conclusive evidence has emerged till now.

The deaths, though perplexing, are not mourned. Locals are quick to trap the birds using bamboo sticks, which are then consumed with relish.

Gopal Sainshai, a local resident, said in an Interview, "Over the years, the number of birds coming here has not decreased. I have seen many such birds."

Those desiring a first-hand experience of the phenomenon can visit Haflong - with Silchar (110 km) and Guwahati (350 km) being the two nearest airports. If travelling by train, board a broad gauge train from Guwahati till Lumding, from where another meter-gauge train will take you to Haflong.

The route from Lumding to Haflong passes through many tunnels and it is an exciting journey somewhat resembling the Kalka-Shimla track. By road, it takes around 10-11 hours as you have to negotiate bumpy roads.

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The different strokes of Down Under

 Australia has not been perceived as the model for multiculturalism lately, but the Vietnamese festival celebrating the turn of the season on the Lunar New Year tells a different story

Sassy, energetic, good-looking and game for anything - if Melbourne was in the dating game this is how her profile would read.

BBQ weather
I arrived in Melbourne from Mumbai last weekend and while I had left our city when it was going through what some would cheerily call winter, Melbourne was preening under blue skies and a toasty summer. I am fortunate to have an old friend Yazad, who is now a chef in Melbourne, and as soon as he picked me up from the airport, he declared that there was no argument that it was barbeque weather.

Even though I was walking the plank over an ocean of sleep due to the five-and-a-half hour time difference and jetlag, Melbourne's infectious vibrancy served as a dose of energy drink. We dropped my bags, walked to the Prahran market (where you get supreme meats) and bought cuts of loin steaks, tenderloin and special butcher sausages flavoured with sage and chilly.

The resulting barbeque was delicious - it had to be, since it was prepared by a chef who is passionate about his food and reputation. But since it was summer, daylight outlived the food and we headed out to the Belgian Beer Cafe Blue Stone on St Kilda Road in the suburb or Prahran. If I could shut out the twangy Aussie accent that was bouncing about boisterously, I could have very well felt like I was in Belgium, every Belgian beer that I love and cherish like Leffe, Brugse Zot, Hoegaarden and St Feuillien were there on tap.

Welcoming the lunar new year
The next morning, rested and refreshed with body clock synchronised to Victoria's time zone, we headed out to Victoria Street in t h e s u b - u r b o f Abbotsford. Here the Vietnamese community of Melbourne was celebrating the onset of the Lunar New Year. This festival marks the onset of spring and is the most important in Vietnamese culture. Even though Melbourne was now well into summer, north of the equator in Vietnam it would soon be the onset of spring. I asked one stall owner why the festival was celebrated earlier than its actual date, and he replied, "Have you been to Melbourne in autumn? It is so cold that no one would attend." Since Melbourne is way down south, the onset of spring in Vietnam means the beginning of autumn here.

Show time
But I couldn't really be bothered with all this geography and timetables. There were concerts, parades and handicraft stores. Even if you were to go there and not buy anything, you'd enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of traditional Vietnamese culture. On sale were little cuddly dragon soft toys, authentic Chinese umbrellas and Vietnamese hats, the kind that farmers wear while working paddy fields in Vietnam. You could also buy a fierce and scowling Chinese kite, the kind that would definitely give any bird that flew past it a mild cardiac arrest. Chilled coconut water was available in lovely symmetrically cut coconuts to beat the heat.

There were two stages set up and on one of them the famous Vietnamese style concert the Mung Xuan Tan Mao was in progress. This involves huge effigies of animals swaying to rhythmic tune. On another stage, karaoke was in full swing. Halfway through the festival, a brass band paraded through the street belting out a stomping march.

What made the festival exciting were its various food stalls. Pho - the famous Vietnamese noodle soup was being cooked on high pressure gas stoves, its aroma lassoing hungry crowds. Grilled beef in vine leaves is another awesomely tasty snack that will make you want to settle down in Saigon. On Victoria Street, you could buy a skewer of it and munch on it as you walked. There were fried squids with a delicious tangy sauce, fish ball with laksa sauce and quail with spicy sauce. And steamed corn served hot and buttered and batter fried pork on skewers served with sweet and spicy sauce. The servings were cheap and small, so we could sample everything. Walking down Victoria Street was akin to taking a culinary stroll through Vietnam.

Finally...
The festival was more of a foodies' fiesta than traditional celebrations, but a festival's ultimate goal is to bring in happiness and the Lunar Festival at Victoria Street did that in huge measure. Soon it will be time to celebrate the Chinese New Year and today (Feb 6), Melbourne's China Town on Russell Street will be the place to be as Melbourne's Chinese community will bring in the Year of the Rabbit with drums, firecrackers, music, singing and of course, food. I wish I was there for that too!

Getting there
- Qantas flies from Mumbai to Melbourne via Singapore.
- Melbourne's tram system is very simple to use. You could also go short distances on the cycle.

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Snow being cleared for Amarnath pilgrimage

"Work to clear snow from the two tracks leading to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be completed before the pilgrimage starts June 29," officials said.

"There are tonnes of snow all along the routes. It is quite a difficult task this time," an official of the Public Works Department attached with the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board told.

The board manages the pilgrimage to the shrine located at a height of 3,888 metres above sea level in south Kashmir.

"We are hopeful that by June 25, everything will be in place," board chief executive officer R.K. Goyal said in a statement Sunday.

He added that the pilgrimage will start June 29 and conclude Aug 13.

Nearly 200,000 devotees have registered for the pilgrimage. More than half a million people visited the shrine last year.

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