Tag: night bazaar

Summer Destinations for this season

Meenakshi Shankar

Summer’s drawing to an end throwing caution to the wind …heading off to exotic  getaways, sojourns to surprise your beloved or simply treating your senses to an virgin island or a rain forest; heading out to discover a man made wonder – it’s a whole new world of Wandering.

If you still haven’t been able to get away, here are some destinations that don’t take too much planning (because the visa is on arrival).

1.  Fiji beckons both the thrill seeker and romantic traveler.

The reefs and cobalt blue waters  of the island created a surreal backdrop for Tom Hanks’ Cast Away and Brooke Shields’ The Blue Lagoon.

Must do:

1) The World-class windsurfing
2) Lazing around long languid beaches
3) Idyllic kayaking in a pocket-sized paradise

2. Cambodia’s Angkor Wat  attracts many Wanderers to the  Buddhist land of smile.

Must do:

1) Revel in the mystical glory of Angkor Wat
2) Relax in the sleepy seaside town of Kampot
3) Trek to the nearby Bokor National Park
4) Take an elephant ride in the jungles of Mondulkiri Province
5) Ogle the Mekong dolphins at Kratie

3. Laos: Head out to the country if you are seeking for a refreshingly simple and relaxed sort of languid riverfront life.

The country beckons the Wanderer who is seeking for a bit of nature and adventure.

Must do:

1) Head out to the sleepy river archipelago with rare dolphins & mighty Mekong rapids.

2) For the thrill seekers: Kayaking, rafting, rock-climbing and biking are available.

4. Seychelles: To romance and to rejuvenate.

The picture-book beaches lined by palms and marked by wonderful granite outcropping is a place to reconnect with your loved one.

Must do:

1) Snorkeling

2) Watching the tropical reef, with its eerie purples and oranges, yellows and iridescent blues, the fat clams with serrated teeth, the not-so-little reef sharks huddling under the rocks, and the wonder of the sea turtles, or the rays, surging through the water like Concorde jets.

5. Nepal beckons the Wanderer who is seeking for ‘blissful escapism’

Must do:

1) Trek through mountains and the jungles.

2) Go river rafting – the country is a river runner’s paradise .

6. Mauritius: Secluded coves, white sand, glorious sunsets, champagne by the seaside…

Must do:

1)Experience the absolute height of resort luxuries – from underwater restaurants to over water villas.

7.  Maldives: Romantic getaway never seemed better.

 

Must do:

1) Dive, surf, and sail among the coral islands.

2) Indulge in exceptional spa treatments from indigenous sand scrubs to three-hour tantric couples treatment.

8. Sri Lanka: If exotic is on your agenda – the lush emerald landscapes and turquoise Indian Ocean promises to hold you bewitched in its magnificent beauty.

Must do:

1) The ruined palaces of the kings of Kandy Experience life in the verdant tea plantations

2) Step back in time and explore the exquisite Buddhist temples.

9 . Indonesia: The volcanic lakes of the Sumatra is a must on your agenda.

Must do:

1) The sublime snorkeling and pristine coral gardens in history’s fabled Spice Islands. Jet setting off to Bali where the pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerizing dance performances and ribbons of beaches beckon you.

10. Hong Kong: To experience the never say sleep city!

Must do:

1) Sample the shredded jellyfish

2) Join in the dawn tai chi.

3) Watch the sun rise from a remote mountain peak

4) Hike surf-beaten beaches and explore deserted islands.

11.  Macau: The Las Vegas of the East

Must Do

1) Gamble the night away.

2) Discover the forms which form a colorful palette of pastels shades soothing and calming, away from the buzz of everyday living.

3) Explore the cobbled back streets, baroque churches, stone fortresses, Art Deco buildings and restful parks and gardens

12. Thailand: The ‘destination’ for venturesome paradise seekers.

Must do:

1) Get and sport a tan on the virginal beaches.

2) Head out for some fabulous massage—the legitimate kind.

3) Tour the local market.

4) Go diving with mighty whale sharks in the coral fringed islands.

Morocco Marrakesh Market: A treat to the senses

Just off Marrakesh central square – Djemaa el-Fna – lies some of the most enticing souks in Morocco. The immense market is home to food vendors, storytellers, musicians, tattoo artists and snake charmers…and the list goes on.

Fascinating, spell binding, alluring – and the list of adjectives could go on if we were to describe the Marrakesh Market – where the exotic world of snake charmers, musicians and riot of colors and cacophony of sounds bring the market alive and enticing enough to take a day out and revel in the magic of it.

Its ancient history revolves around desert caravans and pirates; its low red buildings are framed by the snow covered High Atlas mountains. The square around, which the city is centered is easily the most alluring of any African market.

It is so easy to get lost in the shrouded alleyways, which leads us into a darker, narrower lane that snakes into a twisty clutch of passageways, each nudging us in directions we can neither predict nor resist. But then, at the end these labyrinthine byways all funnel back to the main square – eventually.

And in your journey through the sights, smell and sound of the souks…you chance upon its very soul which pulls you back into its fold. Enveloping you in its magic and transporting you into a world like none seen before.

Amid the dense souks, you’ll find objects to sate every sense. Monkey trainers, snake charmers, henna artists,, carpets for the feet, candies for the tongue and scores of potent spices for the nose, people standing over huge boiling cauldrons dyeing wool whilst their neighbours measure out spices on old lead scales. Music acting as a layer to the souk…and over cups of sugary mint tea, with chat of family and country bartering and haggling seals the deal.

Whilst you go to the square at different times of the day, and you’ll keep seeing it reborn. At times, storytellers spin tales. At others, the food stalls dominate the scene, packed with everything from dried fruits, nuts and orange juice to gleaming rows of calf brains.

The flavor of the market is it’s salesmen – aggressive, pushing everything from rugs to perfume, with prices “just for you, my friend.” With the  happy cacophony of sounds – honks, braying of the donkey, the blaring music which keeps the shopper enthralled – it is a world of havoc – captivating havoc…

For a flavor of culinary heritage. Four-course meals are common here, the freshest salads, and meat platters ladled over fine bowls of couscous in the steaming tagines.

A must taste: Pastilla, a meat or vegetable pie with powdered sugar on its crust. There’s also fresh bread here to rival anything from Italy or France.

The mechoui sellers’s delicious slow-cooked lamb flavoured with cumin and salt is not to be missed.
Stalls selling aromatic bunches of mint compete with colourful displays of ras al hanout, a popular spice blend, and jars of preserved olives and red peppers.

Visiting the bazaar
 Thumb rule: If you decide to buy, the name of the game is to haggle. Offer about a third of the original price presented to you. You may as well make yourself comfortable as negotiations can take hours and be prepared to drink numerous cups of sweet mint tea in the process. It may also be possible to swap things, if you have designers T-shirts or trainers for example that you are prepared to give up.

The most interesting time to visit the souks is in the early hours of 5 – 8am, or late afternoon around 4-5pm when local traders can be seen bargaining for goods. Most stalls are closed in the evenings, although a few stay open till 7 or 8pm. It’s also worth noting that some souks are closed on Fridays, the holy day.