48 hours in Ahmedabad/ Things you cannot afford to miss

It’s been really a while since I last updated my blog. Everyone has ups and downs in their life and so did I.  There’s so much I need to update you guys with. While I was going through a different phase of life, it still didn’t stop me from travelling. I have finally finished my masters and can’t wait to upload and share some more content from all this time I have been travelling. Currently, it’s raining where I live and I can’t get a better frame of mind to write this post because all I can see is trees, my coffee and the peace for which a guy like me literally craves living in a loud metropolitan city.  That’s the update about life.

It’s finally time to write about what I came here for. Ahmedabad, the rich history, delicious food, amazingly beautiful handicrafts and a lot of places to hangout, this city is not less than a metro city.  I wish my stay for more than 48 hours here because no matter how much I travelled here for the past 48 hours, I still know there was so much I could explore and so much to do in this city.

Here’s my pick for the top 5 things you can do when visiting Ahmedabad.

1. Sabarmati Ashram

I arrived in Ahmedabad during the afternoon so without wasting anymore time I headed straight to Sabarmati Ashram. It is located in the Sabarmati suburb  of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, four miles from the town hall. This was one of the residences of Mahatma Gandhi who lived there for about twelve years along with his wife Kasturba Gandhi. The Sabarmati ashram receives about 700,000 visitors a year. It is open to visitors every day of the year from 08:00 to 19:00. I would suggest you to go there during the daytime if you’re not a big fan of the huge crowd. Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. In recognition of the significant influence that this march had on the Indian independence movement, the Indian government has established the ashram as a national monument.

The mandatory picture which needs to be shared.

2. Akshardham Temple

If you’re in Ahmedabad and you’re not visiting this temple, then you’re really missing out on something. No matter what time you go here, you can’t avoid the crowd. It’s always busy but when you go inside the temple you forget about everything because it’s really breathtaking. For those of you having a car or bike, it wouldn’t be much of a problem as there is ample parking space. Akshardham is majestic, intricately carved stone structure which stands amid sprawling gardens set in a 23-acre plot at Gandhinagar (Gandhinagar district). It is built in 6000 tonnes of pink sandstone and not a bit of steel has been used. The temple is 108 ft in height, 240 ft in length and 131 ft in width. A point worth noting is that this modern monument to Hinduism was built as per the injunctions of Vastu Shastra. The monument enshrining the seven foot high, gold-leafed Murti (idol) of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the complex.

3. Laser Water Show

Yep, that’s right. I wasn’t really sure when I heard this term either. Like how are you going to create a show out of just water using a laser? Well, it turned out to be a whole new different story. I could not believe the kind of electric atmosphere that was created during the whole show. They do this by using some kind of technology and I was dumbstruck by the fact that such a kind of show exists but they never advertised it much. Yes, the show happened in the Akshardham Temple. Photography was not allowed inside so I was forced to leave my camera bag outside sadly. As the show kept happening and kept surprising I had just one thing going on in my mind, ” I wish I had my camera, I wish I had my camera” but then again it’s for security purposes so I completely respect that. I will still be sharing a picture of it with you guys just to give you a glimpse of what I experienced.

Courtesy: Akshardham Temple.

4.  Manek Chowk- Where Food is Life

Manek Chowk was a place suggested by some local to me when I was in my Uber. So Manek Chowk is an outdoor food market by night, and a busy square lined with jewellery shops by day. Once the shops close for the day, hawkers set up shop and lay our tables and chairs. The market is usually very crowded, you’re expected to share tables (that’s how it works – community living), and it is also brightly lit up. To put it shortly, a meal at Manekchowk is a pleasant assault on your senses. There are three consecutive marketplaces at the same place one by one. When you stand here you are overawed by a sense of history. You can see the erstwhile Stock Exchange ( the second oldest and one of the most active in India) at the beginning of the market. At another end, you can see the tomb of King Ahmed Shah (the founder of this walled city) and the tomb of his Queen. At the stroke of 11 pm, music wafts from the tower at the tomb’s entrance. For 600 years, musicians from one single family have been performing here in honour of this dead King! You can take a night walking tour of old Ahmedabad which includes a trip to Manek Chowk. ( I took a conducted walking tour arranged by The House of MG and it is great value for money). Or you can directly go to this place late at night, on your own. It is absolutely safe even late at night.

Last but not the least, this city has so much to offer that I feel short of words to express. Without creating any hopes or destroying others, I would suggest visit and experience all of this yourself! Go visit Ahmedabad! ❤️

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A day of travel, food and spirituality in Amritsar (India)

Given the ardent traveller that I am, the fact that I hadn’t really been travelling since quite some time was constantly bugging me. My schedule ahead was too tight for me to take a break and think of travelling to some place, though. That’s when an idea struck me. We booked “Shatabdi” train to Amritsar for almost 1.5 day. And so it was planned that we would book a cab from Delhi and leave early morning for Amritsar and return back to the capital the next day.  Situated in Punjab, Amritsar is one of the most frequented cities in India. We included The Golden Temple, Jallian Wala Bagh and the Wagah Border in our itinerary. We had heard that the journey from Delhi to Amritsar by train is very pleasant as you come across several beautiful fields and landscapes. So, excitement levels were sky high.

India Pakistan Border

Finally, it was at 2:30 pm that we reached Amritsar.We were quite hungry by now and wanted to eat something before venturing out to explore the city. We learned from the local people that there are some excellent eating joints.  After having a scrumptious lunch, we headed for the Wagah Border which is some 30 kms from Amritsar. The retreat ceremony occurs at 5:00 pm every evening and we wanted to make it in time for it. We reached the place around 4:00 pm and found a decent place to sit in order to witness the ceremony, even though there was a huge crowd already waiting in line. The atmosphere there was electric and waves of heavy patriotism could be sensed from both sides of the border.

Gates

Tomorrow morning, we decided to head to the very famous temple “Golden Temple”.  The serenity and the beauty of the Golden Temple is mesmerising. People often compare visiting this temple to visiting the Taj and I can guarantee that it is equally spectacular, probably even more so. Continuous chants, the stillness of the water, the thousands of people providing service for nothing in return, and the ornate beauty of the Temple itself all adds up to make a visit here really and truly special. I would recommend also signing up and helping to cook in the Langar. The temple itself has a long line to enter no matter what time of the day you visit.

The Shinning Temple Of India

We were very hungry and craved for some Punjabi parathas. We found a dhaba called “Bhravan da dhaba” and had excellent aalo parathas. We still had around two hours with us. We went to the local market and shopped around.

Best Meal In Amritsar

But really, the main reason you should visit the city of Amritsar is the Golden Temple. Right from the langar and the volunteers to the ghee laden prasad, everything will touch your heart. Unlike many other religious places in India, Golden Temple is untouched by commercialism. The Golden Temple is what a religious place should ideally be. It gave us a holy experience to the fullest.

Taste Of France In India: Puducherry

 

Mornings.

I’m absolutely delighted to share all the experiences of my trip. I was in Puducherry last week and all I could think in my mind was that how much fun would it be to tell you everything in each and every detail. Pondicherry has been a French colony up till 1954, and the French have left bistro’s, French street names, French food, French looking police uniforms and an entire area of chic colonial houses.

Architectural Work.

I had been waiting for this trip for a longtime. Booking everything  3 months before even the trip begins and having that much patience is not something everyone has. I don’t have that patience. Really. Reaching Puducherry gives you a sense of peace because it’s really different from the place you live. You just get to see all kinds of people. People riding bicycles, selling tea-pots, doing yoga near the beach. Architecture in Pondicherry is very classic and gives you feel of French culture. French quarter/colony is also majorly divided in two parts, grey-white building area which belongs to Aurobindo Asharam and yellow colored building having French Architecture influence. After spending good time in French colony, I decided to have lunch in Le Café. Before entering into this Café,  I had gone through many reviews and searched about its history and background. I paid for a cup of coffee and sandwiches and enjoyed eating in the outer sea-side table, in company of rising and falling sea waves and rejuvenating cool breeze.  Le Café is a 24 hour restaurant so you are always welcome to come and enjoy the sea breeze. They serve really good sandwiches and their grilled chicken sandwich is a must try.

24 hour café.

I spend rest of the evening on Promenade road. This road is closed for vehicle from 6.30 PM to 7.30 AM. Local and travelers can enjoy the walk along seashore in evening as well as in early morning. A lot of food stalls are available but we didn’t try much. I saw French War Memorial which is close to Gandhi statue. It is very simple and beautiful war memorial for French soldiers who laid down their lives, for their country during the First World War. It looks more beautiful at night. Unfortunately entry is restricted. For Dinner I went to famous pizza restaurant Café Xtasy. They have around 74 types of pizza considering veg and non-veg items. Sizes of pizzas are also larger than what you get in brand pizza chain. Our day 1 ends with delicious dinner.

Looks Like Marine Drive

The Next Day, I shortlisted some places to visit. Pondicherry’s other claim to fame is its connection with Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa, deferentially known as the Mother, who evolved a new system of spiritual thought here. The grey-and-white building of the Aurobindo Ashram houses the duo’s samadhi. Inside, the atmosphere is quiet, orderly and reverential. If you’re intrigued, Auroville, the utopian, self-contained township founded by the Mother to promote ‘human unity,’ and now home to an international community of followers, is a short drive away. In sharp contrast to the pristine order of Aurobindo Ashram, the Manakula Vinagayar Temple across the road is full of colour and chaos. The only temple in the French Quarter, it is dedicated to Ganesha, and built in the typical Dravidian style of architecture with a towering gopuram (gateway) embellished with colourful carvings.  Photography is prohibited in that ashram. Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) was an Indian nationalist and freedom fighter, a poet, philosopher and yogi. In 1926 he founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which he led together which his French wife, called the Mother. Today, the ashram is a large institution, providing many charitable benefits to the area including free medical facilities. The main thing in the ashram is a complete method of Yoga, developed by Sri Aurobindo. It claims that this method of yoga would transform human nature to divine life.

No Pictures Except Just This Board.

My next destination was Nehru Street, a place where you get all the local stuff of Puducherry. This turns out to be a very inviting shopping area (together with Mission Street and MG Road) which can only be described as a blend of Indian bazaar meets western style stalls and neon-lit shops. It’s crowded with people and the all colours of attractive fabrics and clothes, scents and noises are overwhelming. It’s lovely to walk around and it’s wise to bring only a certain amount of money. Otherwise you’ll spend too much, that’s for sure, it all looks absolutely beautiful! I honestly had to buy a loaf of bread, butter,tomatoes and a cucumber. There are times when the buffet dinner in your hotel is so expensive that you feel like it’s just better to buy something from a supermarket.  Last but not the least, to make the most of my 2nd day I decided to head to Paradise beach. Puducherry Beaches are unique in its beauty and have lots of people strolling on the corridors and pavements on the beach almost throughout the years. It’s one of the most cleanest beaches in Puducherry. There is boat ride available. The cost per head is INR 200. The beach is really well maintained and it won’t leave you disappointed. I honestly found Paradise beach to be better than all other beaches. Some of other amazing beaches in Puducherry are Auroville Beach, Serenity Beach, Quiet Beach, Reppo Beach.

Yellow And Green Bananas.

Last day, I was heading towards Mahabalipuram to see Krishna’s Butter Ball. Yeah, you heard it right. Krishna’s Butterball is a curious tourist attraction in Mahabalipuram, a town about 60 km south of Chennai famous for its stone carvings. The “butterball” is a giant balancing rock, 5 meters in diameter, perched on a smooth slope, seemingly defying all laws of physics. In Hindu mythology Lord Krishna had an insatiable appetite for butter, and as a child, would often sneak a handful from his mother’s butter jar. Situated on a hill slope near the Ganesh Ratha this massive natural rock boulder is attributed to a bolus of butter the young Krishna would steal. The rock’s awkward position makes it quite popular with locals and tourists alike as it makes for an interesting backdrop for some whacky photographs. It’s a common sight to see visitors placing hands under the stone posing for pictures, which looks as though they are holding it up. The rock provides welcome shade if you dare to sit underneath it, and local kids have discovered that the slippery nearby hillside also makes a great natural slide. Mahabalipuram is an ancient historic town and was a bustling seaport during the time of Periplus (1st century CE) and Ptolemy (140 CE). Ancient Indian traders who went to countries of South East Asia sailed from the seaport of Mahabalipuram.

Just Won’t Move.

 

 

 

Kashmir- A Paradise On Earth

Can Probably call it Gold Lake.

A summer vacation is without doubt one of the most sought after breaks. Although April & May happen to be hottest months in the country, it is also that time during when school and colleges break for the summer. An ideal time for the entire family to head out on a planned vacation and without doubt, to a place that’s cooler in order to break free from the heat and stress of daily life.

Houseboats Parked.

A beautiful combination of lakes, valleys, & stunning gardens, Kashmir is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque locations in the country. It is famous not just amidst Indian’s but also foreigners. The summer months of June to October, December and January are an ideal time to pay this place a visit.

Over 15km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar’s jewel, a vast, mirror-flat sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the Pir Panjal mountains. Flotillas of gaily painted shikaras (gondola-like taxi boats) skiff around the lake, transporting goods to market, children to school and travellers from houseboat to shore. Most visitors to Srinagar stay out on Dal Lake in one of the delightful houseboats left behind from the Raj, but landlubbers can hire shikaras for tours around the lake, visiting floating gardens and the floating flower and vegetable market. It’s a colourful spectacle, but expect plenty of attention from souvenir vendors. Shikaras can be hired from boat stations all along the lakeshore and official rates are displayed on noticeboards. You can commission a shuttle from the Boulevard to your houseboat, and an hour paddling around the backwaters will cost a fee as well, either on shore or at your houseboat.

When you drive from Srinagar to Leh, Sonmarg is the last stop of Kashmir District. From here starts the territory of Ladakh. Situated at an altitude of 2743 m above sea level, Sonmarg is absolutely true to its name, which means ‘Meadow of Gold‘. The moment you enter Sonmarg, the first thing that you will notice will be the snow-covered mountain that forms the backdrop of the town. Covered with alpine trees from all sides, Sonmarg has few of the most loveliest flower collection in J & K. In winters though, the town is covered with snow giving it an altogether different charm of white. The town has become famous for the many excursion option that it offers, mainly short walks and trek routes to nearby stunning areas. The most famous trek is definitely the one that takes you to Amarnath caves. In fact Baltal which is just besides Sonmarg, is used as a base camp for starting the holy Amarnath yatra.  Sonamarg is situated at a distance of 84 kms from Srinagar, on the Srinagar-Ladakh Road. kashmirtourism.com operates regular buses as well as sightseeing buses during the season. The route passes through the picturesque town of Ganderbal (21 kms), Kangan (40 kms) and Gund of the Sindh Valley, before reaching the resort. Spectacular views of the Harmukh range dominate the horizon all along the route.

View From Taj Vivanta, Dal View.

Rome,Italy Part 2: Here is all you need to know.

In the previous segment of my post I just gave a quick synopsis of Rome. Although I did promise you that I will give all the details of places that you should definately see when you travel to Rome. One of the things which I found interesting in Rome is that it has a really amazing culture and a aura. And of course, Italian food has always been one of my favourites. The Culture of Rome refers to the arts, high culture, language, religion, politics, libraries, cuisine, architecture and fashion in Rome, Italy. Rome is a lively mix of modern and ancient, tradition and cosmopolitan new entries. There are moments and places where you feel like you were really living in the Roman Empire, the Renaissance era or the Baroque period … only to be instantly taken back to the present day by a roaring scooter or the ubiquitous Smart car that successfully manages to ride through the city centre’s narrow roads.    So getting to the topic, these are the following places which are a must visit when you come to Rome :-

1. Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Trevi Fountain  is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. This place is one of the most popular destinations in Rome. Certainly the most famous and photographed fountain in Rome, legend has it that whoever throws a coin into the pond will return to Rome.

Spectacular Fountain.

2. Leaning Tower Of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa  is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its unintended tilt to one side. It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa’s Cathedral Square  after the Cathedral and the Baptistry. It’s interesting but the fact that it’s a “leaning tower” doesn’t makes it that much special I think. It’s still gonna be the same for me. The restaurants around it are very very expensive. It’s like you go to Mc Donalds and buy a burger or something, it’s gonna cost you so much. So be careful with the prices. If your budget allows you, it’s well and good and if it doesn’t “avoid it”.

City.

3. Colosseum

The Colosseum, also called the Flavian Ampitheater, is one of the great works of Roman engineering. In the 1st century AD, when it was built, it was the site of gladiator fights, mock sea battles, and other enactments. It had three stories of tiered seats and could hold 50,000 spectators. Large awnings shielded them from the sun. Underneath the floor were two levels of tunnels and cages, which were used to hold the gladiators and wild animals before the spectacles began. It’s breathtaking. It is a must for all the sight seeing lovers. As you enter the place, you’ll be amazed by it’s shape. It’s worth a shot. Don’t miss this place if you are in Italy.

Outer Crust Of Colosseum.

4. Vatican City

The Vatican needs no introduction. Vatican City State , is a sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares , and a population of around 840. This makes Vatican City the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population. There are some mind blowing churches and lot of things to explore in this place. The climate of Vatican City is not much different from Rome. It has has such great architectural buildings. The Museums are, usually, most crowded on Sa, M, the last Su of the mo, rainy days, and the days before or after a holiday. Dress code: no short shorts or bare shoulders. Telephone: +39 06 69884947. There are often lengthy queues from the entrance that stretch around the block in the early morning. Non-guided visitors should join the queue that is to the left as you are facing the entrance; the queue on the right is intended for guided group visitors.

5. Roma dal Cielo Terrazza delle Quadrighe

Love it or hate it (most locals are in the latter camp), the glacial white marble monument to Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza Venezia is the most central place in Rome for city views. Thanks to a special new glass elevator, visitors can now reach the uppermost terrace of the behemoth built from 1885 to 1911 to honor the first king of unified Italy. View from the top of the monument in memory of Vittorio Emmanuel in Piazza Venezia. When standing in front of the monument, turn to the right and there are stairs that lead you up to the elevator and for seven euros takes you to the roof of the monument. The roof has a great view of all Rome and its attractions. These are some important landmarks of Rome, I visited. I had such a great time with the locals over there. Everything from markets to food is just spectacular. So if you do intend to go to Rome, do prefer to visit these places. I have finally written my experiences and the places which I visited when I was in Rome, Italy. More posts on Europe coming up soon. Stay Updated.

Long Walks Of Italy: Rome,Part 1.

So I’ll be uploading some of the things about Rome in two different posts. I spent a little extra time in Rome so here’s all about this lovely city you need to know.

Italian Noodles and Pastas.

Rome is the capital of Italy and also of the Province of Rome and of the region of Lazio. With 2.7 million residents in 1,285.3 km (496.3 sq mi), it is also the country’s largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The urban area of Rome extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 3.8 million.Between 3.2 and 4.2 million people live in Rome metropolitan area.The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber within Lazio (Latium). Vatican City is an independent country within the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.

Key Chains.

Rome today is one of the most important tourist destinations of the world, due to the incalculable immensity of its archaeological and artistic treasures, as well as for the charm of its unique traditions, the beauty of its panoramic views, and the majesty of its magnificent “villas” (parks). Among the most significant resources are the many museums – Musei Capitolini, the Vatican Museums and the Galleria Borghese and others dedicated to modern and contemporary art – aqueducts, fountains, churches, palaces, historical buildings, the monuments and ruins of the Roman Forum, and the Catacombs. Rome is the third most visited city in the EU, after London and Paris, and receives an average of 7–10 million tourists a year, which sometimes doubles on holy years. The Colosseum (4 million tourists) and the Vatican Museums (4.2 million tourists) are the 39th and 37th (respectively) most visited places in the world, according to a recent study.

Mall.

Some points to keep in mind before visiting Rome :-

1. Prefer to visit Rome in August because the weather is much more great at that point of time.

2. Try to visit all the churches as Rome has some really beautiful churches.

3. Always carry a water bottle and umbrella because the weather can sometimes be brutal as well.

4. Plan everything well. Make sure you have planned your places to visit, reservation in hotel.

5. Try to talk with the locals of the city.

Cool T-Shirts.

So I’ll be updating my new post of Rome very soon with some amazing places which I had visited. Stay tuned for more updates.

Collect Memories,Not Things.

It’s been almost 3 weeks I haven’t updated my blog. So finally I had the time the to update my blog with another random post. I was having exams and it really is a difficult thing to maintain a blog. I used to think that people who write blogs, it’s pretty easy for them to maintain them. So I did realised that I was wrong when I opened my own travel blog and started posting stuff on it. But I’ll be more regular from now onwards,hopefully. I am just gonna write some very very random things today. Some about travel and I think some about life too. There are pro’s and con’s of everything in life. Nothing is ever gonna be perfect for you. Similarly, the same is the thing with travel. There are so many little things and every information has to be kept in mind. Sometimes people forget to carry their important stuff or even worse case, they misplace their things when they travel. Well, I think these things need to kept in mind and if there is any possible way to get back those things, then why not give it a try by calling that place where you stayed and inquiring about it.

Beach.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Well, I really liked this quote. There are some quotes which just touch you so instantly that you immediately decide it to write them down. There couldn’t be anymore better place to write than here. I always wanted to be born in a place peaceful,totally isolated and of course a place which has a good weather. But destiny has some other plans for me that I was born in a city, I think. Okay, I just realised that I totally diverted from the topic so let me come back to the point. Yes, pros and cons.

Pros:

1.Random Spontaneous Travel Keeps Your Life Thrilling- You are sitting in your home and weekend is fast approaching, suddenly I thought pops in your mind to spend the weekend in other town with family or friends. You make plans and pack your bags and just GO.

2.Discovering the traveller within you- Being a spontaneous travel isn’t easy but if you are the right kind of person who has lot of passion for travelling,then it’s really worth it.It’s the kind of travel that you tend to remember when you’re old and decrepit because it really has the potential to be totally amazing at the same time as being a total disaster.

Waterfall.

Cons:

1. Last minute plans make you miss things- Yes, that’s right. If you plan any random place at the last moment then there is chance to miss those things as you are completely unaware of that place.here have been a number of times on my travels when I’ve shown up in a new place and really wished I figured out what I was going to do instead of having to waste time on the ground making up my mind.

2.Travel Expenses– Of course, how can I even forget this point. It’s not the easiest thing to do when you are booking a flight or a train. But there is always time to see the rates and prices on other website too. You still have the time to check out different website and explore a lot of options.

Scenic View Of The Mountains.

 

 

Next Stop: Cheese And Clog Factory,Amsterdam

After leaving Brussels, I headed straight to Amsterdam which was a four hour drive. On the outskirts of Amsterdam, there is a very wonderful place called “Cheese and Clog Factory”. So this place is unique, yeah like actually actually UNIQUE. Now the question arises why?

Cycling.

In the southwest of Amsterdam, in a pastoral landscape you can find the “Clara Maria Cheese and Clog Factory“, which is located in a 160 years old farm creating a very interesting experience and kind of a trip back into the past for its visitors.Every morning the farmer milks the happy Dutch cows and the fresh milk goes directly into a large bowl where the Gouda cheese will be made. After that many different herbs, like for example mustard seeds, Italian herbs, mild red chili pepper, cumin, ginger, garlic, black pepper and much more, are added.

Windmills.

Yep, as I went to that place it totally looked like a farm to me. Yeah, at least to me but I don’t know how the rest of the people feel about that. Like I saw cows at the barn. My mind was constantly wondering, what next am I gonna see? I entered inside the factory and I saw huge machines in which they make “Cheese and Clog”. The staff demonstrated us on how was “Cheese and Cog” made. The staff over there was so friendly and courteous. They knew some hindi too and they demonstrated everything in such a humorous way. I have managed to click some pictures but I have taken some pictures of outskirts of the place too.

Sliced Wooden Trees.

Most tourists coming to Netherlands have Amsterdam at the top of their list. Many have Amsterdam as the only thing on their list. True, there’s loads to see in Amsterdam, but there’s also plenty of attractions just outside the city. These hidden gems are often no more than an hour away and can easily be seen and enjoyed in a day. The visitors of the farm will get the chance to try all these different kinds of flavours and will learn about the process of making cheese. And of course, you can also buy the cheese you like the most in their shop.

Clog Making Machine.

Now the Dutch Shoes: On the Clara Maria Farm the traditional wodden shoes are made with authentic antique machines, there is no new technology involved! The material of these shoes conists of one thing: wood – nothing more (well.. painted sometimes). Clogs are mostly made out of the wood of poplar or willow trees, because it is sturdy and first of all easy to carve.. and important for the wearer: light on the feet. On the farm you can get your own clogs – a great souvenir – in many different colors, with pictures of the Dutch landscape or in simply plain.

Cheese.

 

Lamp.

So.. if you want to discover the 2 most popular things of the Netherlands.. visit the Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory!

Boating.

Address: Clara Maria Cheese & Clog Farm 
Bovenkerkerweg 106 
1188 XH Amstelveen

Open: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00

Sundays closed, except in April and May, then open from 9:00 to 17:00

France Day 1: Parc Astérix,Plailly.

Gates.

Oh YES YES YES ! I am finally posting some places which I visited when I was  France. I know,right… When I take the name of France the first thing which comes to anyone’s mind is Paris. But before Paris I went to this lovely place called “Parc Asterix” which is in Plailly, France.

Parc Astérix is a theme amusement park in France, based on the stories of Asterix (by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny). Situated approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of Paris, 32 km (20 mi) fromDisneyland Resort Paris and 20 km (12 mi) from the historic Château de Chantilly, in Plailly in the département of Oise, it opened in 1989. The park is operated by Compagnie des Alpes. It is especially well known for its large variety of roller coasters, and has begun incorporating rides and themes from historic cultures such as the Romans and the ancient Greeks.

Goudurix Roller Coaster

The Parc Asterix is much much interesting place! As you will enter this place you will notice very unique things about this place. Some people also say that Parc Astérix is better than Disney Land. Reason: Disneyland is too crowded and people have to stand in long lines and wait for their turn to come. Honestly I had no idea about this too. My iternary said it will be Parc Astérix so I fully prepared myself for some thrilling roller coaster rides and lot of amazing shows too. It was later that some people told me that it was good that you visited Parc Astérix instead of Disney Land. Disney Land maybe equally good too. It really depends on how people give their perspective. My tour guide told me about all this.  So I was telling you about Parc Astérix. And now I wonder why I started doing comparisons between both of them. Anyways yes yes, Parc Astérix

There were many attractions and shows which I saw including:

• Tonnerre de Zeus, a wooden roller coaster
• Goudurix, a large steel multi-looping coaster.
• Oxygénarium, a Spinning Rapids : large, twisting water slide with round inflatable dinghies.
• Transdémonium, a ghost train filled with special effects.
• La Trace du Hourra, a 900m bobsled roller coaster, with cars that reach 80 km/h.
• La Galère, a swinging ship.
• Menhir express, a Menhir-themed log flume ride with a 13m high final drop.
• Grand splatch, Shoot-the-Chutes.
• Romus et Rapidus, a river rafting ride.
• OzIris, an inverted roller coaster.
• Le Défi de César, a mad house.

Creative Food Sculptures

There were very fancy restaurants which I really liked. Yes, I know every thing was written was in Français. It was a bit difficult to understand each and every word written in a completely different language I am really not familiar with. But now, I know French ever since I came from my Europe Trip, I decided to learn this magical language. After I took so many rides, I decided to go and have something to eat.  As I entered the restaurant, again the same problem occurred. No captions in English were given for the food item, which was one of the drawbacks of that place. But okay, I still managed to order a pizza somehow. The guy who served the pizza came to me and said “Bon Appitite” which means have a good meal. I was satifised by their ambience and actually pretty happy too because their pizza was different, yet it tasted very delicious to me. Parc Astérix is very well designed and as you enter the place, you will have a map in your hand which will guide you to all the places you want to go in Parc Astérix.

Wooden Gates.

Overall, the place was interesting as it had all sorts of rides and shows. I saw one show called “Dolphin Show” and it was kind of show I had never ever seen before. At that very moment I fell in love with Dolphins. They were so well trained and the best part came when they took their high jumps and I grabbed the opportunity to click pictures of that incredible show.

Dolphin Show.

The main gate ticket allows access to all the shows and attractions for the day (except for skill games and video games).

	Adult Gaul (12 years and up)	Young Gaul (3 years to 11 years included)
Full price	€44	€33
Season ticket (Paradiloisirs Pass)	€99	€99

PanoraMix.

I am very excited about all the posts of France because France was the place I enjoyed the most even if I didn’t knew the language. So Parc Astérix is a pretty cool place to visit and to enjoy with your friends. The dispute between Parc Astérix and Disneyland continues as I still have no idea which place is much better. I don’t want to get into long debates about that anyway. I had a nice time there and I recommend people to visit this place because it has everything which an amusement park should really have.

I’m not lost, I’m just exploring.

Sunset.

One always has the curiosity to explore the new place when going to a new place. There are so many freaking question which come to your mind when you go to a new place like what to people do there,which language do they speak, food, local culture and lot of things you are willing to know about them.

Mountains.

Well, today I’m not posting about particular place or any experiences about my Europe trip. I was taking metro in the morning to go to my university when I actually saw this very attractive phrase “I’m not Lost, I’m just exploring”. I thought I should write this as my next topic on my blog. Always posting things about a particular place can also bore my readers sometimes which I don’t want. I want to do random posts as well like I am doing today and writing what I really want to, I meant not about that particular place.

Geneva.

That’s why I have some very very random pictures which I will post in my blog very soon as I complete my writing. I have always wanted to explore the world, meet people from different countries. But apart from that, one also needs to have a particular budget to travel and explore places. It’s just necessary to manage your expenses in order to plan your travel. As a student, I always worry that my expenses should not go out of my hand because if it does, it will become difficult for me to travel and explore places. I don’t’ know why I find mountains better than cities. Maybe because there is peace, one can easily breathe there and weather is always great.

Roads.

 

But there is no place in the world which can ever be perfect.. It has some drawbacks too like it’s difficult to set up a business there and there are many other problems which come over there. I living in a metropolitan city can just imagine how living in mountain areas would be like. One never knows what the reality is exactly like.

 

 

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