PONDICHERRY - INDIA’S FRENCH CONNECTION

India’s French connection is very visible in Pondicherry - It has a rich French heritage as mirrored in its colonial buildings and in its cuisine. Restaurants offer a rich variety of food ranging from French to Indian, Creole, Vietnamese and Continental. Pondicherry is a shoppers delight for world-class leather, fashion, pottery, handmade paper and aromatics.

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Rarely in the hustle and bustle of today's busy world of travel will you find the sincerity of welcome that I found during my first visit to Taiwan.

I went there expecting a nation of commerce and progress and found instead a place of well-preserved Chinese culture and genuine friendliness.

VARANASI - THE CITY OF NIRVANA

By Deepti Bhagat

Varanasi (Benaras), situated in Uttar Pradesh, on the holy Ganges is Shiva’s city. It has been in existence for over 2500 years making it the oldest living city in the world. Even Mark Twain called it : “older than history, older than tradition older even than legend”. Its famous “ghats” (pavilions) lie mostly on the west bank of the river. So experience the sunrise from a bajra (boat) on the river. Watches the city come to life with people bathing in hundreds in the river to cleanse themselves of all their sins (as per legend). Others wait and pray on the river bank invoking Shiva who untied his topnot to send the Ganges to earth in aid of thirsting humanity. It is said that Varanasi is where the Ganges, makes a loop turning north (Uttarvahini) paying obeisance to Lord Shiva one last time, before flowing south into the sea.

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I thought my recent trip to Cambodia was going to be something of a coup amongst my globe-trotting clique. How wrong I was!

Ever since the final pockets of Khmer Rouge activity were dissolved in the mid '90s, tourists began returning to Cambodia.

Lured primarily by the romantic grandeur of Angkor Wat, it seems everyone wants a piece of Cambodia these days. Tourist numbers are climbing exponentially as jaded holidaymakers shun the well-worn traps in favour of Cambodia's relatively uncharted territory.