Horseshoe Bend
An obscure sign in the middle of nowhere on Route 89 in Page, AZ beckons tourists to the Horseshoe Bend overlook parking lot. A small board at the parking lot (which perfectly echoes my philosophy on nature hikes) signals the…
Hampi diaries
On our journey home to the U.S., I was trying to reflect on why Hampi really tugged at my heartstrings. The spectacular ruins that unfold wherever you go instill a sense of awe at the erstwhile Vijayanagara kingdom’s powerful &…
Sri Lankan cultural triangle
Often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka has been known by various other names in its history. Ancient Indians termed it ‘Tambapanni‘. The ancient Greeks referred to it as ‘Tabropane‘ (probably a rough translation of…
Watkins Glen
Located in the Watkins Glen Village in the Finger Lakes region in North West New York, Watkins Glen State Park is a photographers dream with myriad waterfalls created by the Glen Creek stream cutting through rock. The gorge is over…
Ancient Athens
Athens ranks among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and is a must-do for all history aficionados. It still retains quite a few splendid monuments from the Greek Classical era, the Roman era and Ottoman times. The Parthenon…
Chand Baori Step Well
The Chand Baori step well was built by King Chanda of the Nikumbha Dynasty in the 9th century A.D. It’s over 100 feet deep, and has 3500 steps arranged in perfect symmetry. It is one of the largest step wells…
Valladolid Cenotes
There’s something magical looking up from a cave with pristine turquoise blue water, & your feet in the water getting a free fish pedicure. There are 6000+ such cenotes that dot the Yucatan peninsula. Cenotes (pronounced Say-No-Tay), derived from Mayan…
Sunset at Coba
Coba appealed to our aesthetic sense for multiple reasons. Dilapidated Mayan ruins that are still climbable, the view from atop the 137 feet Nohuch Mul pyramid is simply spectacular. A sunset here is a special moment – the remarkable golden…
Pastels of Campeche
Campeche City was high on our bucket list in our recent visit to Merida, Mexico. Our plan had us staying three nights in an old colonial mansion in Merida to explore the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and other nearby attractions.…