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TRAVELOGUE NAIVASHA! You never walk alone, you walk with animals By Taskin Rahman

http://www.thedailystar.net/lifestyle/naivasha-3522

NAIVASHA is a popular tourist destination in Kenya. Attractions include Hell's Gate National Park (the main locations for Lion King, including Pride Rock and the Gorge, are modelled after the park), a small town in Nakuru county. The topography is amazing -- breath-taking views, more giraffes on the road sides than dogs here in Dhaka. I really want to go back as I write this.

Getting there You can go either through Mumbai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok or Dubai and I would recommend that you fly Etihad as the connections are best with Etihad. The cost would be around 1800 dollars and the stopover at Abu Dhabi is about an hour each way. You can rent cabs or rent cars from the airport. Take a taxi and go straight to your hotel in Naivasha. The drive is absolutely amazing as you will go over the clouds and meet giraffes and zebras on your way. You should not act surprised as the driver might think you are new here and may want to charge extra.

Places to Stay The hotels of this unique city are in the form of cottages and can be quite expensive. Rooms range from 100 dollars to 650 dollars for high-end hotels. A good hotel in a good location is probably Kongoni Lodge which is about 300 dollars per night but is absolutely picture perfect. The lodge has a beautiful swimming pool and there are about three attractions nearby -- Lake Nakuru National Park, Hells Gate and Crescent Island Game Park.

Food Talk Kenyan food is not the best in the world and you might be somewhat disappointed if you are an Asian and used to spices as most Kenyan food is somewhat flat and boiled. However, coffee makes up for the flat food. The best coffee that I've had and the aroma is incomparable.

Nairobi Java House - Java House is a chain and I stopped by at a few of them, one of them in Nakuru town. I tried the Malindi Macchiato and loved it -- it had all the amazing spices on top of the deliciously brewed espresso and milk. I also tried their cappuccino and that was probably the best one I have had “ever”. If you are visiting Java house, do buy some of their splendid Kenyan and Ethiopian coffee. They will grind it for you as you like or as your coffee maker would support.

Carnivore - Probably the most famous restaurant in Kenya. You have the option of eating from a fixed menu for around 17-23 dollars or the all-you-can-eat Viva Brazil Style for 33 dollars. The cuts of meat are brought round to your table where a selection of sauces and a bowl of salad is placed. A red and green flag system operates to inform waiters whether you have enough food currently or not. The waiter will tell you which sauce goes with what type of meat. The atmosphere is enchanting with an al fresco as well as a large indoor area. The food is exquisite and goes perfectly with the atmosphere and you can get crocodile, ostrich and any edible animal you can imagine. A sign on the table informs you that contrary to popular belief the meat you are eating is not from wild animals as this has been against the law for some years now. The restaurant is between the city centre and the main international airport.

Kongoni Lodge Restaurant - This is where I had most of my meals. The restaurant has awesome views and average food. Their lambs are good but beef and chicken is average. The coffee is pretty first-class and their French fries are really tasty.

Things to do Crescent Island Among the resident birds are African fish eagles, ospreys, lily-trotters, black crakes and a variety of herons. Hippos also live in the lake. A number of mammals can be seen grazing in the surrounding lake environs such as zebras, impalas, buffaloes, giraffes, Kongonis and, at night, hippos. A short boat trip from the mainland out into Lake Naivasha gives you access to the unique Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary. There is also a possibility of access by road, passing through the "Horse Riding Complex" -- a wide variety of wildlife, birdlife and flora lives quite freely out there and as there are no predators to be found, quite happily as well. Spend some time wandering around at your own pace and enjoy the peace and quiet, broken only by the sounds of the Island's wild inhabitants.

Lake Nakuru National Park Lake Nakuru is a shallow, strongly alkaline lake set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding wood and grassland. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest. Home to about 1.5 million flamingos plus 450 other species of birds; fauna includes Thompson's and Grant's gazelle, the rare long-eared leaf-nosed bat, colobus monkey, rock hyrax, hippo, leopard, lion, white and black rhino, waterbuck, impala, gazelle, striped hyena, bat-eared fox, wild cat, reedbuck and golden cat. Restocked mammals include the lion, black and white rhino and the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. This park officially has the highest number of rhinos in Kenya.

Hell's Gate As the guide said, scenes of Lion King were inspired from here. Known for beautiful landscapes rather than the huge array of wildlife, I was initially struck by the beauty of the cliff formations leading us into “Hell”. The limestone cliffs of various shades of red, yellow, white and black have been shaped by nature's hand over thousands of years with glaciers, wind and rain slowly shaping the rocks as they now look. Abundance of zebras, Masai giraffes was there and except the rhino, all big five were to be found. This is the only game park in the world where you can bike.

Shopping I went right after the West Gate incident and that was their best mall. I have been to a couple of small malls but when in Kenya, you should buy some Dorman's or Java Coffee. They are excellent. Also, you will find lots of “Masai like” crafts such as dolls and masks which are interesting to buy. If you are interested in sheep or cattle skin, you can get them for 30 dollars from roadsides -- they are pretty cool too.

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This quote from a child of about six years of age near Tsango lake is a spectacular way to explain what we felt throughout the trip. He said “Mum, you told me I could never touch the clouds, but that’s what I’ve been doing all day”

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, would easily be one of the cleanliest cities you will come across in India. Highly organised and beautifully maintained, it is the Switzerland of the east. Clouds play at your balcony. Tourists are of paramount importance; hence rules such as fixed cab fares have been enforced in order to prevent visitors from being cheated.

The city resembles the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu. Devoid of large stores, this place is a nice break from typical city lives. Still, the city is a fascinating place to spend a few nights. The winding side alleys hide some unexpected gems, and the main street (MG Marg) is pedestrian-friendly and a pleasant place to take a stroll.

The city sleeps by 9pm mostly, except for a few pubs which are open till 11pm. Food-wise, there are quite a few places for vegetarians to eat since it is mostly dominated by Buddhist culture.

The easiest way to get to Gangtok is to take a Shyamoli bus to Shiliguri which costs about Tk.3000. From Shiliguri you can either go to Darjeeling for a few days or straight to Gangtok. A hired SUV would cost Rs.2000.

Sky Navigators also arrange flights to Kolkata and from Kolkata to Bagdogra airport in case you want to fly.

Places to go in Gangtok Rumtek is a famous monastery, especially among the Tibetan Buddhists, and is situated near Gangtok. Originally called the Dharma Chakra Centre, it includes a beautiful shrine temple and a monastery for the monks.

The 16th Karmapa built the monastery. The place came into existence in the Buddhist pilgrimage map, especially after Chinese habitation in Tibet and subsequent relocations of some Tibetan religious gurus to Sikkim.

Nathula Pass, located at a distance of 56 kilometres from Gangtok, is a pass on the Indo-Chinese border. Serving as a trade link between India and China, this park once also served as the main access for Sikkim-Tibet trade. Popularly known as the Silk Route, this pass is at an elevation of 14,450 feet and is rich in diverse flora and fauna.

The Nathula Pass is divided into terms ‘Nathu’ and ‘La’, which mean ‘listening ears’ and ‘pass’ respectively.

The trade route was closed down in 1961, as a result of the war between India and China. However, in 2006, trade between the two countries resumed after conciliation. Passing the Tsomgo Lake on its way, this pass is one of the highest serviceable roads in India. Covered with snow for most parts of the year, a special permit is required to visit this pass.

Tsomgo/Tsongo Lake is 38 km from Gangtok and takes about two and a half hours to reach by a hired car. The word Tsomgo in Bhutia language means ‘source of the lake’. The lake is about one kilometre long, 50 feet deep, oval in shape and is situated at an altitude of 3780 meters. It remains frozen throughout the winter up to April’s end.

Snowfall is also common in this area even during the summer months. The Tsomgo Lake is considered extremely sacred by the local people. The place is a haven for bird lovers with large numbers of Blue Whistling Thrush, Redstarts and Forktails around. Night life/ Party scene Nightlife starts quite early in Gangtok. Sometimes as early as 5pm. Life is quite laid back at these north eastern hills where life starts late and finishes early.

X’cape This is Gangtok’s leading and popular nightclub, playing its beats from 4pm till midnight. Here you will come across a young and enthusiastic crowd grooving their way on the dance floor. The entry fee is Rs.400 per person. The club is open from 7.30pm to 11.30pm from Thursday to Sunday.

Lounge 31a Stylish and trendy, this place offers a great ambience. Located four storeys high, the majestic glass architecture offers Zen aesthetics and beautiful sunset views. Being one of the famed night clubs, it offers everything from hookahs to mocktails and from Indian to International cuisines.

Situated near the city’s main highway, this place is known for its warm and cosy ambience. It features an intimate sitting area on the first floor and a lounge on the mezzanine floor. There is no entry fee for this club. It’s open from 10am to 11pm.

Places to stay The Elgin Hotels is a wonderful place to stay and costs around Rs.3200 per night. I would suggest staying in a good hotel because this city is not known for its night life for which you would spend quite a long time in the hotel. Hotel Tibet and Hotel Delamere are also within this range.

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Koh Tao – The Turtle Island By Taskin Rahman | www.twitter.com/taskinr

  Koh Tao is one of the most sought after destination for scuba diving in the world. A small island of less than 1500 inhabitants, a turtle like shape and pristine waters makes an island you want to wander in. It used to be home to thousands of Sea Turtles however these have mostly moved on to other islands now.

Initially the island was uninhabited, with only the occasional fisherman from the neighbouring islands, looking for shelter in a storm or just resting before continuing on his journey.

Koh Tao is less developed than Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20s backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification. For the past few years, there has been an age increase with many of the visitors that first visited the island over ten years ago who are now returning with their families

  Getting There

The best and easiest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao is the bus to Chumphon and then the ferry to Koh Tao. You can book all of this for 2000 THB both ways through Lomprayah ferries. The bus from Bangkok is an air con VIP bus and takes about 8 hours and takes you directly to the jetty to get the Lomprayah high speed catamaran to Koh Tao.

The train is more comfortable with sleeper cars but is usually off time.

Lomprayah Cataramarans are the best mode of transport to Koh Tao as it takes 1.5 hours while Songsern- the other option takes about 5 hrs. Lomprayah costs 600 THB each way.

Places to Stay

It is a tricky decision. Having experienced a bad hotel, I can say that this is probably the most important decision you will take for the entire trip of Koh Tao.

You can try AC Resort which is brilliant with wooden rooms, air-conditioned, hot water supply, wi-fi and pool and is priced between 1500 THB to 3000 THB. The entrance is particularly best as you entered it through a cave. The rooms are within 20 meters of the beach. Contact  Number 077456197. This is on the Sairee Beach.

Koh Tao Montra Resort, is a great place to stay, right by the ferry and you can take a short taxi ride to Sairee should you please. You can get a standard room from around 3400 THB and enjoy the huge pool, resort surroundings and beach front dining.

Ranging between 1200 THB to 600 THB are the rooms at Ban’s Diving Resort which is also on the Sairee Beach. Contact number 077 467 077. This one is really close the beach and there is also a 7eleven close to it.

Honeymoon couples can try Ao Muang Resort where rooms are priced at 2700 THB and enjoy the serene scenery and quietness of the Mango Bay. There is not much night life but its worth as the stunning white sand and shades of blue water will please you day in and day out.

Food Talk

All the restaurants on the beach offer fresh sea food curries or BBQ’s with rice or different potato variations. However, some of the restaurants are slightly better.

Lung Pae is situated in the mountains. With a 180 degree panoramic view of the pristine waters and is highly recommended for lunch. They offer a wide variety of fish steaks and grills. I would recommend the Salmon Steak or the Mackerel Steak. Prices range under 500 THB per meal without wines. They offer free pick up and drop.

Porto Bello offers great Mediterranean and sea food options. Raviolis are particularly good and something one should definitely order.

Beside there is a pan-cake stall which sells basically parathas with either tuna fish mix or nutella and strawberries. This unique food seller is from Cox’s Bazaar and has been in Koh Tao since the early 90s.

Particularly the mussels in Koh Tao are absolutely fresh and amazing taste. Just ask them to BBQ it or put them in creamy pasta sauce and cook it.

  Things to Do

Snorkeling

Koh Tao is surrounded by large rock formations covered with stunning colorful coral reefs with an abundance of marine life that starts just a few meters offshore. The most popular way to combine snorkeling and sightseeing is one of the “around island” boat trips. You will find parrotfish, angel fish, trigger fish and blue spotted rays at most of the sites. You can also get a private trip by hiring a long tail boat which costs about 3000 THB for 8 hours and can accommodate up to 9 person.

Scuba

Have you ever considered there is a whole other world within our reach? With scuba diving explore the weightlessness while experiencing stunning visual display of the under water world. Bans Diving School is one of the most popular one in the world located at Sairee Beach. To experience what it feels like to breathe underwater, half day discover scuba diving course is a great option. A certified instructor will supervise you all the way. Costs about 3000 THB and is worth every penny of it.

Beach Hopping By Long Tail Boats

You can beach hop by hiring a long tail boat. It is probably the most scenic way to commute and will give you the feel of Columbus as you will explore new beaches and bays almost every half an hour. Try going to Mango Bay, Freedom Beach and Tanote Bay. The trip to Koh Nan Yuang is something to cherish. The trip is 300 THB return and your driver will entertain you with hilarious charades along the way. Crystal clear blue and blue green waters and stunning white sand makes it worthy enough for a space in your memory for life.

Biking, Trekking & Cliff Jumping

You can bike almost everywhere in Koh Tao but for the more adventure seeker try the Tanote, Reservoice, Koh Tao Wind Turbine and for the very hard core – Laem Thian.

Tanote Bay and Laem Thian offers cliff jumping opportunities with heights varying from 10 feet to 42 feet. After the jump you’ll have to swim a bit to get to the shore.

  Way Back

You will inevitably fall short of time in Thailand or any other island in Thailand. One quick suggestion would be to take a massage at the beach side reflexology centres and enjoying the sunset with that. The massage puts you in trance, you c

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A Lot Like Paradise – Koh Nang Yuan

The teeny-weeny island of Koh Nang Yuan is one of my top recommendations to those heading to Koh Tao, Pha-Ngan or Samui. Three little drops connected by a long sandbar make Koh Nan Yuang. It’s a place where post-card dreams are made: unique topography, blindingly white sand beaches, shades of blue sea, and shores teeming with fish and coral.

Due to its tiny footprint, Koh Nang Yuan is the perfect size for a nights stay. Technically you can stay at the Nang Yuan Resort but it’s fairly pricey and seems to cater mainly to Asian tourists. However, you would get to wake up to totally abandoned beaches before the day-trippers have arrived.

Getting There

Koh Nang Yuan is about 20 mins journey from Sairee Beach, Koh Tao by a long tail boat and about an hour’s journey by a catamaran from Samui or Pha Ngan. There are advertised speed boat times and mega-catamaran Lomprayah offers a package day trip, but the cheapest and easiest option is to charter a longtailfrom Koh Tao. At any time of day you can head to the beach and find a boat driver looking for customers. If it’s a particularly busy day, head to Lotus Bar which functions as a bit of a boat-taxi stand during the day. The cost is 200 Baht roundtrip. You must settle on a return time with your driver. At first I was suspicious of paying up front and felt I would be left on the island but they always come back! Alternatively, if you have a Thai phone you can ask them to swap numbers so you can call when you would like to go back to Koh Tao.

Entrance

  Koh Nang Yuan is a national park and to set your foot here, a 100 TBH fee has to be given. I wouldn’t mind paying twice as it’s gorgeous! Nang Yuan also requests that you bring no plastic onto the island. Everything on Nang Yuan is served in reusable glass bottles.

What to Do

The Beach

Without a doubt- this is the main attraction. Moments after arrival, we are in awe of how crazily gorgeous its beaches were.

Depending on the day, the season, the tides and your luck, the beach can be a tiny ribbon on sand slammed with sunbathing bodies, or a wide, deserted stretch

of paradise. Amazingly, it remains beautiful either way.

  Snorkeling

There’s really no need for exaggeration- Koh Nang Yuan simply is one of the best snorkeling spots in Thailand. The shallow reefs surrounding the island are lined with intricate soft and hard corals as well as schools of colorful parrotfish and shy angelfish. Shelter from the islands means the water is calm and clear. You will often see dive boats surrounding Nang Yuan to visit the popular dive sites of Twin Peak and Japanese Gardens, which lie just off the island and are shallow enough for snorkelers. Gear can be rented in the Koh Nang Yuan Resort’s Dive Shop, or of course you are free to bring your own.

  Viewpoint

Another very popular activity at Koh Nang Yuan is taking the 10-15 minute hike up to the viewpoint of the three islands’ highest peak.

Despite its short distance, the path can get steep and in the heat of day might seem pretty tricky! But the view from the top, a vista that graces postcards across the country, is one of the most beautiful I have ever laid eyes on.

By hiking to the viewpoint at the end of the day right before heading back to the boat you are more likely to have a lovely abandoned beach in your photos. Not to mention, it will be cooler, and photos of yourself will be less embarrassingly sweaty.

Ziplining

Last but clearly not least is Koh Nang Yuan’s newest attraction: ziplining! The course consists of two lines that go between the islands…. the world’s first inter-island zipline!

The whole course takes about an hour and costs 1,000 baht, making it totally do-able during a Koh Nang Yuan day trip. There’s really nothing like it!

Food Talk

There is just one restaurant and food is definitely not the main attraction here. You can take a boat and lunch at restaurants on Koh Tao and be back to deserted beaches.

It’s a good idea to order Thai food at the resort restaurant. They have good chicken and seafood dishes that go perfectly well with fried or steamed rice. Burgers and steaks can be bad.

  If you’re coming to Koh Tao, I know it’s hard to resist the urge to spend every day there, given that its probably one of the farthest islands from the mainland but do take this as an opportunity to visit Koh Nan Yuang and you will be able the share the experience with so many.

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The teeny-weeny island of Koh Nang Yuan is one of my top recommendations to those heading to Koh Tao, Pha-Ngan or Samui, Thailand. Three little islets connected by a long sandbar makes Koh Nan Yuang. It's a place where postcard dreams are made -- unique scenery, blindingly white sand beaches, shades of blue sea, and shores teeming with fish and coral.

Koh Nang Yuan is the perfect size for a night's stay. Technically you can stay at the Nang Yuan Resort but it's fairly pricey and seems to cater mainly to Asian tourists. However, you would get to wake up to totally abandoned beaches before the day-trippers have arrived.

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A small island of less than 1500 inhabitants, a turtle-like shape and pristine waters make Koh Tao a place you want to wander in

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The largest open market in the world

Bangkok is famous for both its chaotic open markets and an overwhelming array of shopping malls catering to consumers looking for replicas to originals. However, on its miles of gleaming upscale shopping malls -- a beacon of the future -- one can find the much-desired originals.

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Koh Tao – The Turtle Island

Koh Tao is one of the most sought after destination for scuba diving in the world. A small island of less than 1500 inhabitants, a turtle like shape and pristine waters makes an island you want to wander in. It used to be home to thousands of Sea Turtles however these have mostly moved on to other islands now. Initially the island was uninhabited, with only the occasional fisherman from the neighbouring islands, looking for shelter in a storm or just resting before continuing on his journey. Koh Tao is less developed than Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20s backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification. For the past few years, there has been an age increase with many of the visitors that first visited the island over ten years ago who are now returning with their families

Getting There

The best and easiest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao is the bus to Chumphon and then the ferry to Koh Tao. You can book all of this for 2000 THB both ways through Lomprayah ferries. The bus from Bangkok is an air con VIP bus and takes about 8 hours and takes you directly to the jetty to get the Lomprayah high speed catamaran to Koh Tao.

The train is more comfortable with sleeper cars but is usually off time. Lomprayah Cataramarans are the best mode of transport to Koh Tao as it takes 1.5 hours while Songsern- the other option takes about 5 hrs. Lomprayah costs 600 THB each way.

High Speed Catamaran

Places to Stay

It is a tricky decision. Having experienced a bad hotel, I can say that this is probably the most important decision you will take for the entire trip of Koh Tao. You can try AC Resort which is brilliant with wooden rooms, air-conditioned, hot water supply, wi-fi and pool and is priced between 1500 THB to 3000 THB. The entrance is particularly best as you entered it through a cave. The rooms are within 20 meters of the beach. Contact Number 077456197.This is on the Sairee Beach.

Entrance of the AC Resort

Koh Tao Montra Resort, is a great place to stay, right by the ferry and you can take a short taxi ride to Sairee should you please. You can get a standard room from around 3400 THB and enjoy the huge pool, resort surroundings and beach front dining.

Ranging between 1200 THB to 600 THB are the rooms at Ban’s Diving Resort which is also on the Sairee Beach. Contact number 077 467 077. This one is really close the beach and there is also a 7eleven close to it.

Honeymoon couples can try Ao Muang Resort where rooms are priced at 2700 THB and enjoy the serene scenery and quietness of the Mango Bay. There is not much night life but its worth as the stunning white sand and shades of blue water will please you day in and day out.

Food Talk

Thai Staple - Rice with Seafood in Basil Leaf

All the restaurants on the beach offer fresh sea food curries or BBQ’s with rice or different potato variations. However, some of the restaurants are slightly better.

Lung Pae is situated in the mountains. With a 180 degree panoramic view of the pristine waters and is highly recommended for lunch. They offer a wide variety of fish steaks and grills. I would recommend the Salmon Steak or the Mackerel Steak. Prices range under 500 THB per meal without wines. They offer free pick up and drop.

Porto Bello offers great Mediterranean and sea food options. Raviolis are particularly good and something one should definitely order.

Beside there is a pan-cake stall which sells basically parathas with either tuna fish mix or nutella and strawberries. This unique food seller is from Cox’s Bazaar and has been in Koh Tao since the early 90s.

Particularly the mussels in Koh Tao are absolutely fresh and amazing taste. Just ask them to BBQ it or put them in creamy pasta sauce and cook it.

Things to Do

Snorkeling

Koh Tao is surrounded by large rock formations covered with stunning colorful coral reefs with an abundance of marine life that starts just a few meters offshore. The most popular way to combine snorkeling and sightseeing is one of the “around island” boat trips. You will find parrotfish, angel fish, trigger fish and blue spotted rays at most of the sites. You can also get a private trip by hiring a long tail boat which costs about 3000 THB for 8 hours and can accommodate up to 9 person.

Scuba

Have you ever considered there is a whole other world within our reach? With scuba diving explore the weightlessness while experiencing stunning visual display of the under water world. Bans Diving School is one of the most popular one in the world located at Sairee Beach. To experience what it feels like to breathe underwater, half day discover scuba diving course is a great option. A certified instructor will supervise you all the way. Costs about 3000 THB and is worth every penny of it.

Beach Hopping By Long Tail Boats

You can beach hop by hiring a long tail boat. It is probably the most scenic way to commute and will give you the feel of Columbus as you will explore new beaches and bays almost every half an hour. Try going to Mango Bay, Freedom Beach and Tanote Bay. The trip to Koh Nan Yuang is something to cherish. The trip is 300 THB return and your driver will entertain you with hilarious charades along the way. Crystal clear blue and blue green waters and stunning white sand makes it worthy enough for a space in your memory for life.

Biking, Trekking & Cliff Jumping You can bike almost everywhere in Koh Tao but for the more adventure seeker try the Tanote, Reservoire, Koh Tao Wind Turbine and for the very hard core – Laem Thian. Tanote Bay and Laem Thian offers cliff jumping opportunities with heights varying from 10 feet to 42 feet. After the jump you’ll have to swim a bit to get to the shore.

Tanote Bay

Way Back

You will inevitably fall short of time in Thailand or any other island in Thailand. One quick suggestion would be to take a massage at the beach side reflexology centres and enjoying the sunset with that. The massage puts you in trance, you can enjoy your island reflections is half sleep mode.

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Travel tales go to Bangkok with friends and lots of food. Covered by LifeStyle magazine

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Meeting the Khasi people

Carrying betel leaf at the "very natural" backpack

The Khasi are a tribal group of people living in the Khasi hills of Srimongol and Habiganj mostly while a vast majority live in the north east Indian estate of Meghalaya. Most of the people working as support staff at the tea estates in Sylhet division are generally Khasi people. Known as the worshippers of nature, but over the years Christian missionaries have been successful with this indigenous community by converting about 90% of the approximately 25 000 Khasis in Bangladesh says one of the headmen at Aliachara Khasia Punjee. As far as Khasi history goes, betel leaf farming has been their profession and till date it is still true. However, being the minority they are continuously being evicted from their homesteads for which they are losing land to tea estate owners and soon their identity will be at stake.

Betel Leaf Plantation

Khasi Children

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Bangkok Buzz

My favourite city – Bangkok

The city that began as a small trading centre and port community on the bank of Chao Phraya River some 200 years ago which now experiences about 10 million international tourists every year. Dazzling temples, sumptuous food, kind people, inexpensive lifestyle, beautiful coast line, cheap LED TV, variety of bags and shoes , drinks, treatment, drugs and sex – all adds to the traffic!

Getting There

Getting there is getting expensive by the day but is still in the affordable range. Thai Airways, Bangkok Air and Druk air has direct flights from Dhaka and range under  BDT 30 000 for a return trip.

If you do tickets pretty early you can get them for BDT  25000 and you will also save a day if you fly Bangkok Air as it flies at 3 00 am.

Thai Airport is a great time pass while waiting. Burger King triple whopper should be one of the targets on the way back besides chocolates and travel kits.

Places to Stay

Bangkok is a big city. Its important where you want to stay. Sukumvit is probably the most popular destination and the area is awake with red bull all night. Hotels like Le Fenix and President Palace are there which are in the 2000-4000 Baht per day. This area including Nana is also infamous for sex play as there is no shortage of sex workers on the streets.

Another area of preference is  Rakhamhaeng where you can rent studio apartments or Bangkok Interplace hotel whichever one suits your requirements. They are quite economical as  costs are slightly under 1000 Baht per day. This is home to almost 10 000 students and as a result has got small pubs and bars, great massage places, coffees, authentic thai food which ranges under 50 baht per meal. This area also has a lot of fancy hair salons as most young students and thais prefer loud hair dos. It’s a good idea to take a hair cut once/if you are here.

Food Talk

Ramkhanhaeng is a great place to taste authentic thai food. Most of the waiters don’t even speak thai so you will have to order from the picture menu. There are about 50 odd small shops which sell healthy, delicious but somewhat limited in portion size. Things to try here are sea food fried rice (pronounced sea foo fry ry), dishes with squid, chicken in green curry and sea food in red curry. Flavours last for about a couple of hours. They are quite wallet friendly as all meals are under 70 Baht.

Fuji is a must dine in restaurant at Bangkok. You will find Fuji at MBK and many other places as it’s a chain. Salmon steak and Unagi are among the things to try. The second dish is quite out of the world and is pretty much an unforgettable experience as you would have tough time keep you eyes open. Its very much like a sushi with eel and some cheese.

Outback is a popular steak house and recommended menu would be salmon steak with aussie fries.

Mister donut is a small donut shop available almost on all shopping malls and has probably the best doughnut in Thailand. I prefer it a lot more than even Dunkin Donuts. Their chocolaty donuts are a great treat as well as energizers to walk for shopping.

Sukhumvit Soi 3, close to Nana, has some of the best Lebanese, Arab, Indian and Bangla cuisine in all of Bangkok. Nefertiti is one of the oldest hot spots there. As the name suggests already, Nefertiti serves delicious Egyptian and Lebanese food. A must try are their kebabs and lamb khepsa.

If you want to try the best shwarma in Thailand, you should go the shop which is just opposite of the infamous Grace Hotel.

Gulliver’s is also another popular destination for tourists and their food is pretty good too.

If you are partying till late and hungry after that, 7 Eleven is there with a great steak burger and serving time is less than 2 minutes besides they have good sausages and other foods which you can microwave. Their collection is pretty good.

Foodland is also a 24 hr shop and will make any food you want, infront of you as long as you can explain what you want. American fried rice set is very good. They have a great collection of cake mixes, chocolates and cooking items which you can also buy from there.

Getting high can be fun too! Try the narrow Vertigo and its casual Moon Bar - inspire queasiness as you step onto the 61st-floor deck. Its strict dress code is surpassed by the highfalutin’ LeBua – not even knapsacks allowed. Sirocco places greater emphasis on the food, with an upscale Italian menu served against a backdrop of extraordinary views. The Sky Bar, a crowded cusp with glass rails overhanging a 65-storey drop, provides Bangkok’s coolest snapshot.

      Things to Do

  Blow your Baht - Shopping

Shopping in Bangkok is an experience to thrill and delight the most discerning of shoppers - whatever it is you're looking for. From the glinting chrome and soaring size of modern, air-conditioned malls, to the hustle and bustle of its famously buzzing street markets, Bangkok has all kinds of places to blow your baht. With everything from antiquities and the latest pair of trainers to designer jewellery available, Bangkok has an equally exhaustive, and potentially exhausting, variety of things to buy.

Siam Paragon (Nearest BTS: Siam)

Paragon is a shopping mall with few rivals in Southeast Asia when it comes to luxury goods. From a sporty yellow Mazeratti to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes straight from the set of Sex and the City, this up-market shopping and entertainment complex has got them all inside its 500,000 square metres of retail space

MBK (Nearest BTS National Stadium)

Mahboonkrongmore popularly known as MBK is the mother of all malls in Bangkok - especially for Indians and Bangladeshis. Eight floors packed with 2,000 shops that sell everything from clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture, mobile phones, electric appliances, cameras, stationery, DVDs and watches – original to replicas. MBK (launched in 1986) is a beehive of activity, especially on weekends, when half of Bangkok converges to shop for bargains

Pantip Plaza (Nearest BTS Chidlom)

The hub of all electronic counterfeits and originals - the entirety of Pantip Plaza is dedicated to computers, IT gadgets and cameras. Some of the camera shops carry hard-to-find lenses and accessories. Pantip’s main draw is the price and diversity of products available, although the quality is sometimes questionable, particularly with software and computer parts.

Besides, people with daddy’s plastic cards can go to Gaysorn and Emporium while the middle class will be a lot happier at Platinum Fashion Mall.

Chatuchak is probably the largest market in the world and is worth a visit. Its about 27 acres in size with over 15 000 stalls selling goods from different parts of Thailand.

Sight Seeing can be a tough task after so much shopping. MBK alone can take a couple of days. Few of the more interesting places especially if you have kids with you are the ocean world at Siam Paragon and Dusit Zoo. Besides, there are fantastic temples where you can take your facebook profile pictures and hang some on you wall as a token of tradition from Thailand.

River Cruise Visitors often regard boating as their most rewarding city experience, even though the ‘Venice of the East’ label barely applies any longer, since most Bangkok canals have been lost to road-building. Yet khlongs still thread through the Thonburi west bank and branch into the plantations of Nonthaburi, stretching on throughout Thailand’s Central Plains, connecting rivers, rice farms, towns, temples and floating markets

Drinks,  Drunks & Clubs

Route 66 is jumping up and down every night with a packed crowd. Very snazzy interiors, mega-decibel sound system, dazzling lights and screens and popular DJ’s like Budda & Run BKK on usual weekends. Songs last for 40 seconds maximum and about 5 bars in that place to liquidate your salary.

808 the club can proudly boast to having the biggest sound system in Bangkok. Split into two floors, the upstairs has a smoking bar and balcony which tends to be enjoyed by the crowd shy, while the first floor is literally shaking as a dance

Khao San Road has the character of old Bangkok but is populated with mostly Americans and Europeans - clubbing scene is pulsating, diverse and exhilarating. The entire strip boasts some of Bangkok's most electrified clubs and pubs, with a hip and truly international crowd to match. Discover a whole range of setups, from Lava's dungeon-like underground music lounge to Gazebo's rooftop shisha bar with live concerts.

Q Bar is dark and sleek and in Sukumvit. More than 50 different international Vodka  and Whiskey brands are served, 20 different brands of tequilas making it a booze connoisseur’s art galary. Don Pablo to Cuba – the full range of cigars are here as well.

Bed Supperclub is super cool – it clearly prides itself on being one of the world's leading design venues, the first nightlife port of call for many when they arrive in Bangkok – and it's easy to see why. Patrons can also have a massage from the in-house masseuse, a nice touch after filling up on the delicious food. Often frequented by lanky FTV and bollywood models.

Way Back

You will inevitably fall short of time in Thailand. One quick suggestion would be to do it if you have any doubt as long as it is buying tangible goods. Before packing your bag, it’s a good idea to take a relaxing massage and recharge yourself for a tough life back in Dhaka.

..and dont forget your burger king at the Suvarnabhumi airport

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Love Hate Cox's Bazaar

Love Hate  Cox's Bazar

Honestly, Cox's Bazar is more popular than Google in Bangladesh!

Known for its wide tanned sandy beach which stretches a mammoth unbroken 125 km in length and much wider than any famous Thai beaches. Known for its immense potential to be an international tourist hotspot, which is yet to be realised. Known because it's the most famous travel destination for Bangladeshis. Known, because all buses travel to Cox's Bazaar and no train reaches it. Known because it might well be the well-known bad example of ” how to develop a tourist place.”

Cox's Bazar is also known by the name "Panowa” and then "Palongkee" and finally Cox's Bazar after a market was named after Captain Hiram Cox (died 1799), an officer who served British India.

Getting there From Dhaka you can go there by almost any recognisable bus service. Green Line Scania is probably the most luxurious one which charges about Tk.2500 for a return trip. Other buses will be around the same price range or maybe lower.

The journey which should take no more than eight hours usually takes twice that.

Flying is ridiculously and quite insensibly expensive. Return fares are between Tk.12 000--14000.

Places to stay The hotel scene unfortunately has grown disproportionately; as a result not many hotels boast a sea view. Tall hotels that mushroomed at the edge of the beach have blocked the view for the rest. Architecturally what could have been a splendour is a mess.

Sea Crown has the best view. You can not only see the sea but also hear the roar of the waves crashing on the beach. For any fit person it's a 10-second run to the sandy beach. Service-wise the hotel needs to improve in all aspects. Budget-wise it would land in the over Tk. 2000 per night range in the off season.

Seagull is still a landmark but probably has lost the charm it once had. The toilets are too narrow and service is still way off from where it should be. Budget-wise it lands over the Tk. 3000 per night range in season.

Long beach is probably the best hotel with a great view of its swimming pool. Although it's just a mere consolation as there cannot be an alternative to a sea vista. Service is excellent and it delighted me as most people have a “green personality” which means they would say yes to almost everything. Most of the staff have been recruited locally and have that local accent. Even as an internal tourist I enjoyed it. Budget-wise it lands in the Tk. 3000 range in the off season.

Ocean Paradise is the newest. Structure-wise its very large and the view is very nice. Budget-wise it should be a little cheaper but lands in the Tk. 3000 range, which goes up to twice that in peak season. Aesthetics could have been a lot better given the investment that went with it.

You can find a hotel that will suit your budget in the off season very easily. Rooms for as little as Tk. 600 is pretty easy to get as long as budget is your only parameter.

Food talk Cox's has an interesting collection of food, which Bangladeshis generally love. Bhartas, fried fish, shutki and rice adds to the colours of Cox's

Jhaubon is a common and popular destination. Bhartas like chingri and taki and pomfret fry are great.

Nitol has bad ambiance but is unquestionably the best place to eat local food. They usually take a long time to serve but when the food arrives, it is delicious. You must try the crab curry which is out of the world. They have probably the best beef in Cox's bazar.

Niribili is very unlike what the name suggests. It's very crowded and has some brilliant lentils and rice. Add with it the most common fish which is the pomfret and you are ready to lie down in one of the beach chairs and take a lethargy tour.

Mermaid Café has the ambience of any international beach café but service-wise it can embarrass you. I must say that the waiters are very well-behaved but they take about 40 minutes to serve even the simplest lime juice.

Things to do  Aggmeda Khyang: a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The main sanctuary is posted on a series of round timber columns. It has a prayer chamber and an assembly hall along with a repository of large and small bronze Buddha images and a number of old manuscripts.

Ramu: about 10 kilometres from Cox's Bazar, is a village with a sizeable Buddhist population. The village is famous for its handicrafts and homemade cigars. There are monasteries, khyangs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. One of the most interesting parts of these temples is on the bank of the Baghkhali river. It houses not only interesting relics and Burmese handicrafts but also a large bronze statue of Buddha measuring thirteen feet high and resting on a six feet high pedestal. The wood carvings of this khyang are very delicate and refined. The village has a charm of its own. Weavers ply their trade in open workshops and craftsmen make handmade cigars in their pagoda-like houses.

Dulahazara Safari Park: This safari park is an extension of an animal sanctuary located along the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar road about 50 kilometres from Cox's Bazar town. The sanctuary itself protects a large number of wild elephants which are native to the area. In the safari park there are domesticated elephants which are available for a ride. Other animal attractions include lions, Bengal Tigers, crocodiles, bears, Chitals and lots of different types of birds and monkeys. It is a wonderful project to attract tourists.

Inani Beach: This is another magnificent place to see. Inani is full of stony beaches and it's calmness and serenity is enchanting.

Opinion The potential is far greater than has been realised. An amateurs' recommendation would be to plan it and plan it conservatively. We must not make another Dhaka in the world's longest beach by creating poorly-designed buildings which will not uphold the unique character of the place.

By Taskin Rahman Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

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Delhi - The City of Cities

Delhi’s foundation stone was laid on December 15, 1911 and the city was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. The new capital was chirtened “New Delhi” in 1927 and inaugurated by Lord Irwin in 1927. On December 12, 2011 Delhi celebrated 100 years of Capitalship. The difference between Delhi and New Delhi is quite blurry and is not explained anywhere to the extent that might clarify, however, Delhi is a city of cities. It is one of the major cities in the world and is quite expensive one as they say “People get upgraded to Delhi” The airport is nice but seems like an attempted copy of Changi, Singapore.

Getting There

The easiest way to get there is by Jetairways. The flight is less than 3 hours and they service is pretty good. The expense is about 30,000 Taka. You can bus it or train it too. The bus costs about 2000 Taka to get to Calcutta from where you have to catch the train which takes about 23 hours travel time. One way costs about 1600 Rupees.

Places to Stay

Delhi is a true muti-dimensional metropolitan city which presents the new and the old faces. It is a good idea to stay a couple of days at each of the sides as the vibe is wholly different. A very average room will cost you approximately 60 USD while there is not upper limit.

Food Talk

A vast variety of foods starting with the Mughal’s to Chinese. It’s a wise choice to eat mostly Mughal and Chinese as those were the best that I had. Karims Down a lane across from the Jama Masjid’s Gate 1, legendary Karim’s has been delighting Delhiites since 1913. The rich food will give you a good idea of the Mughal period. Try their biriyani and burrah. Pind Baluchi The Punjabi stopover – you will find quite a few in Delhi. Try the one in Nehru Place. It will engross you in flavours of the kebabs. They have a fantastic thick sweet and sour lassi and their aloo parathas is a must try. Saravana Tamil Saravana has a fast-food feel, but food is by no means junk: dosas, idlis and other southern specialities, accompanied by lovely fresh chutneys. Inventive sweets include cucumber-seed ladoos. Finish with a South Indian coffee. If you don’t arrive on time, you have to stand in a pretty long queue. Street Food Try Dilli-ki-Chaat – Delhi’s tangy local street food, such as chaat papdi (fried wafers loaded with potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and chilli) or golgappas (fried hollow dough filled with chickpeas and spicy potatoes), in Old Delhi.

Things to Do

Red Fort Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. The Red is a 17th century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the walled city of Old Delhi that served as the residence of the Mughal Emperors. It also served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, when Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British Indian government. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.[1] It covers a total area of about 254.67 acres. Humayun’s Tomb The tom combines Persian style with local craftsmanship, and is surrounded by the fiercely symmetrical Mughal gardens: take a stroll here at dusk. This is my personal favourite Qawwali Hear qawwalis sung at dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya; religious songs resounding at around sunset at one of Islam’s holiest tombs. Lotus Temple The religious epicenter of the Bahai’s, an oasis in the desert and an architectural icon. Lodi Gardens Wander around Lodhi Gardens on a Sunday afternoon, the perfect place for people watching. Hauz Khas Discover the district of Hauz Khas, with its crumbling Mughal tombs and tempting art, antique and fashion boutiques.

Shopping

Shop middle-class Delhiite-style at laid-back Khan Market, browsing its bookshops and hanging out for a chat at Café Turtle, fuelled by coffee and gooey cake. Find yourself the lost in the streets of Lajpatnagar and buy Indian wear for women. There are also an array of Indian culture in cotton at FabIndia. Try the designer outlets in Saket Mall or at GK1 and GK2.

Drinks & Drunks

There is not shortage of clubs in Delhi but all of them are with a 5 star hotel. If you like rock music you can try Some Place Else at The Park and is usually flocked by young executive and final year students. CJ’s at Le Meridian and Djinn at Hyatt are good places to party too. Its got dance floor and a good collection of local and international liquor and liqueur.

[taskinr-blog]

Delhi - The City of Cities

Published @ http://www.thedailystar.net/lifestyle/2012/05/05/page03.htm

Delhi’s foundation stone was laid on December 15, 1911 and the city was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. The new capital was chirtened “New Delhi” in 1927 and inaugurated by Lord Irwin in 1927. On December 12, 2011 Delhi celebrated 100 years of Capitalship. The difference between Delhi and New Delhi is quite blurry and is not explained anywhere to the extent that might clarify, however, Delhi is a city of cities. It is one of the major cities in the world and is quite expensive one as they say “People get upgraded to Delhi” The airport is nice but seems like an attempted copy of Changi, Singapore.

Getting There

The easiest way to get there is by Jetairways. The flight is less than 3 hours and they service is pretty good. The expense is about 30,000 Taka. You can bus it or train it too. The bus costs about 2000 Taka to get to Calcutta from where you have to catch the train which takes about 23 hours travel time. One way costs about 1600 Rupees.

Places to Stay

Delhi is a true muti-dimensional metropolitan city which presents the new and the old faces. It is a good idea to stay a couple of days at each of the sides as the vibe is wholly different. A very average room will cost you approximately 60 USD while there is not upper limit.

Food Talk

A vast variety of foods starting with the Mughal’s to Chinese. It’s a wise choice to eat mostly Mughal and Chinese as those were the best that I had. Karims Down a lane across from the Jama Masjid’s Gate 1, legendary Karim’s has been delighting Delhiites since 1913. The rich food will give you a good idea of the Mughal period. Try their biriyani and burrah. Pind Baluchi The Punjabi stopover – you will find quite a few in Delhi. Try the one in Nehru Place. It will engross you in flavours of the kebabs. They have a fantastic thick sweet and sour lassi and their aloo parathas is a must try. Saravana Tamil Saravana has a fast-food feel, but food is by no means junk: dosas, idlis and other southern specialities, accompanied by lovely fresh chutneys. Inventive sweets include cucumber-seed ladoos. Finish with a South Indian coffee. If you don’t arrive on time, you have to stand in a pretty long queue. Street Food Try Dilli-ki-Chaat – Delhi’s tangy local street food, such as chaat papdi (fried wafers loaded with potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and chilli) or golgappas (fried hollow dough filled with chickpeas and spicy potatoes), in Old Delhi.

Things to Do

Red Fort Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. The Red is a 17th century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the walled city of Old Delhi that served as the residence of the Mughal Emperors. It also served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, when Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British Indian government. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.[1] It covers a total area of about 254.67 acres. Humayun’s Tomb The tom combines Persian style with local craftsmanship, and is surrounded by the fiercely symmetrical Mughal gardens: take a stroll here at dusk. This is my personal favourite Qawwali Hear qawwalis sung at dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya; religious songs resounding at around sunset at one of Islam’s holiest tombs. Lotus Temple The religious epicenter of the Bahai’s, an oasis in the desert and an architectural icon. Lodi Gardens Wander around Lodhi Gardens on a Sunday afternoon, the perfect place for people watching. Hauz Khas Discover the district of Hauz Khas, with its crumbling Mughal tombs and tempting art, antique and fashion boutiques.

Shopping

Shop middle-class Delhiite-style at laid-back Khan Market, browsing its bookshops and hanging out for a chat at Café Turtle, fuelled by coffee and gooey cake. Find yourself the lost in the streets of Lajpatnagar and buy Indian wear for women. There are also an array of Indian culture in cotton at FabIndia. Try the designer outlets in Saket Mall or at GK1 and GK2.

Drinks & Drunks

There is not shortage of clubs in Delhi but all of them are with a 5 star hotel. If you like rock music you can try Some Place Else at The Park and is usually flocked by young executive and final year students. CJ’s at Le Meridian and Djinn at Hyatt are good places to party too. Its got dance floor and a good collection of local and international liquor and liqueur.

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[taskinr-blog]

Tales from an old city not quite in the far east but not really too far away from there. Interesting places, things to do etc

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