Earlier this week, an Airbus 350-1000ULR set the world record for the longest ever flight by a commercial aircraft by being airborne for 24 hours and 24 minutes and covering a distance of 23,075 kms, flying from Melbourne to Toulouse. According to the flight tracking provider Flightradar24.com, the trip was the second most-tracked flight on … Continue reading Project Sunrise
The last stop of the trip was Paris. As this was my second visit to the city, I can now conclude that Paris is undoubtedly one of the greatest cities of the world. The urban infrastructure, heritage structures, Haussmannian boulevards and the exceptional food make the place vibrant in a remarkable sense. The number of … Continue reading Paris Notes
I knew Lyon was the gastronomical capital of France. But after landing there, I also learnt that in addition to being the location from where Caeser launched his campaign against the Gauls, it was also the nerve center of the Resistance movement during the Nazi occupation of France. One reason for this was also its … Continue reading Lyon Notes
It was only when I landed in Venice did I actually understand what Venice was. Unless you see the real thing, its actually quite complex to fathom how a city can be built on a marshy lagoon and thrive as a Republic for more than 800 years until the short man from France came and … Continue reading Venice Notes
I was happy to walk through the city that gave us the phenomenon called the Florentine Miracle. Brunelleschi’s dome is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the city and no amount of awe-struck staring at the Duomo felt sufficient. I wonder if it was the contrast between the white exterior and the brownish-red dome. The Uffizi Gallery, … Continue reading Florence Notes
The 70-minute train journey from Rome provided some impressive views of the Apennines. (Few of us realize that Italy is a mountainous country with the Alps dominating the north and the Apennines running through the axis.) The region was also the area where some of the most ferocious campaigns during WWII were fought including Monte … Continue reading Naples Notes
Despite living in Delhi since 2009, there are still numerous historic sites, monuments and museums that I’m yet to visit. So even before landing in Rome – a city with an equally illustrious historical pedigree – I was wise enough to realize that 3 days in the city would just give me a fleeting glimpse … Continue reading Rome Notes
I spent 24 hours in Imphal. And in that brief window, gained a glimpse into the complex, fractured society of Manipur, thanks to the company of an erudite and deeply informed local resident. Manipur has always been a tinderbox due to its ethnic composition. The Meiteis, Kukis, Nagas and the Muslims form the main ethnic … Continue reading Imphal Notes
I visited the Muthappan temple in Parassinikkadavu, Kannur for the first time yesterday. While I’ve seen mice, cows, monkeys, eagles and peacocks as guardians to deities, it was the first time I encountered a dog at the entrance to the sanctum. Dogs chilling around the temple Dogs guarding the main sanctum of Muthappan The Muthappan … Continue reading Parassinikkadavu Muthappan
During the Christmas break, I spent three days visiting Kerala’s most celebrated tourist destination – Munnar. The place lives up to its reputation for natural beauty. Contrary to my expectations, the ‘concrete jungle’ that I was bracing for was largely absent for most of the trip. But the tragedy was to see how rudimentary most … Continue reading Munnar Notes
