Skywatch Friday-- Fire in the sky

There I was, sitting in my favorite seat, eyes shining bright and glued to the window.. When we were checking in, my friend wanted an aisle seat, preferably in the 1st few rows, but I wanted a window seat which was available only beyond the 30th row. He gave me a look that said "really?" but I persisted and we finally got our seats done, 34th row. I got my window and he got his aisle..hehe... It was going to be a nice long 2hour 45min flight from Chennai to Delhi. And then we had about half hour in the flight before we resumed our next leg of the journey to Punjab, the land of the Golden temple... 

And the reason I wanted a window seat was just so I could stare out the window at the changing colours of the sky. I have shared few pictures before, but I know I shall never run out of them.. :)

Here are the various hues and the drama that the skies put on for us during our flight... 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Sun Surf Sand Spa and more in Seminyak Bali

One of the countries i have always been fascinated by is Bali. There are so many friends who have been here and keep talking about how beautiful the place is. Apart from all the lovely sights to see, and activities, this one couple who went there for their Honeymoon mentioned this place called Seminyak which is apparently the shopping hub and spa capital of Bali. You can get here from Kuta or Legion, both of which are a short drive away. 

It is famous for the high end places, restaurants and shopping arenas.It is also home to some of the finest restaurants and bars. There is a certain sense of eliteness and sophistication here. Not to forget the amazing beach which is fairly quiet and serene.  It is one of the few places that has gone through a transformation that is so visible and so impressive. 

The must see places in Seminyak according to my friends are the Seminyak Beach and Petitenget Beach. Endless stretches of beautiful beach going as far as the eye can see. Oh let us not forget the accomodation options in Seminyak. There are a few quaint comfortable Seminyak Bali villas that you should stay at when visiting this part of the world. make sure to plan your day out such that you can catch the sunrise or sunset from the beaches. Ideal for nature and photography enthusiasts, the place also offers quitee a few other sight seeing venues and adventure activities.   

Remember I mentioned Spa, so this friend of mine went on and on about the two spas she visited. One was the Jari Menari spa and other is Glo. Offering a wide range of services, these spas she says relaxes the body mind and soul, ideal options to unwind when on a holiday. She also managed to do bungee jumping at AJ Hackett Bungy. the best in the world, run by the famous New Zealand based AJ Hackett group. Oh how can I not mention some of the goodies they brought back for me from Bali.. :-)) 

Well, now that I know where to stay and what to do, am quite eager to plan a visit.. 

Skywatch Friday.. Qutb Minar, Delhi

I was randomly sorting through the folders in my HDD when I came upon a folder titled Images and I spotted quite a few taken during my earlier trips across the country. And then there was this folder within it that contained some pictures shot during a visit to Delhi few years ago with mom and sis. I remember on evening we headed to the Qutb minar and my uncle had promised to join us later for dinner. We got out of the car and my sis exclaimed " ma, that is a tall tower, what is that?" 

The Qutab Minar I discovered is 73 mts high  and is a tower of victory. It was built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak right after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five floors or storeys, each one distinctly marked through a projecting balcony. The tower tapers from a 15 mt diameter at the bottom to a mere  2.5 mt at the top. When you stand below the tower and look up, you can only see 3/4th of it, to see it all you either have to step back or lie down at a distance :) 

The first three floors are made of red sandstone; but the 4th and 5th made of marble and sandstone. As I walked around, I noticed the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque near the base of the tower. I overheard a guide tell a group of people that this is the 1st mosque to have been built in India.  I read an inscription that said the building was built with material obtained from demolishing '27 Hindu temples'.

At a distance I noticed a crowd of people around what looked like an iron pole. Upon closer inspection I learnt that it was a 7 mt high iron pillar. It is said that if you can wrap your hands around the pole, whatever you wish for will come true.. What the heck, we tried it as well.  

The one mystery around this place is why the Qutb Minar was built. Some say it is to display the victory and beginning of Muslim rule in India, but there are others who speak differently. Either ways, it is a beautiful place to visit, especially on a cool winter evening.  I could hear my mom screaming my name, we then headed to a small cafe nearby.

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Cyprus Escapes

Was talking to a friend who had just returned from a whirlwind trip around the world, well to most parts o it and she mentioned Cyprus was the one place that held her captive. She had spent nearly a month travelling and couldnt stop raving about how beautiful and romantic Cyprus was... it beat Paris hands down she says!! 

Experience the charm and romance of Cyprus, a land steeped in myth and history. Visit the site where Aphrodite the great goddess of love was said to emerge from the sea, and stroll hand in hand along its many beautiful golden beaches. It's fair to say that on a holiday to Cyprus you'll fall in love with this fascinating place.

There are some great places to stay in Cyprus. If you’re looking for peaceful bays and pretty fishing villages visit the west coast, whereas if you’re more of a party goer wanting the best of both worlds, the relaxing beach life by day and lively bars by night, head to the east.

Ayia Napa

Hit the town and party the night away, then chill out by day on a glorious sun drenched beach on a fun filled summer holiday in Ayia Napa. There’s more to discover in Ayia Napa than just bars and clubs - the town has a well-retained history with a Venetian monastery and harbour. What's more, the beaches are some of the best in Cyprus with a great choice of watersports on offer too.

Paphos

The original old Roman capital, a place steeped in history and on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, Paphos makes for a charming stay with its beautiful harbour lined with restaurants. Visit one of the archeological sites like the mysterious Tomb of The Kings and get a glimpse of the ancient world. Enjoying an average of 11 hours of sunshine each day during the summer months and having some fantastic beaches, Paphos is the perfect holiday choice for families.

Larnaca

A place where beach lovers can kick back and relax on the endless white sands, and those interested in the history and culture can gain an insight. The Greek Orthodox Church of Lazarus is well worth a visit. Larnaca is the place for all types of holidaymakers, the 400-berth Marina makes it a favorite for those wanting to sail and the palm-lined harbour, with its wealth of shops, cafes and bars - some with superb sea views, make this a fantastic destination for all.