There's nothing more intellectually satisfying than travelling across the globe on road. Global Roadie is a collection of fascinating worldwide road travel photos, stories and support information with special emphasis on road travel in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan from my own travel experiences and also curated from various sources. Due credit for contents and photos in the form of mentions are awarded to deserving persons and/ or entities. Please check www.facebook.com/GlobalRoadie
Saturday, 29 April 2017
Nikki Misurelli is biking the world solo because her ex-boyfriend said that it was too risky
You might not think that by the time you’re 30, you’d have slept by the roadside in a tunnel in Italy, sold all your belongings, and maxed out your Facebook friend limit, but Nikki Misurelli has done all that. She’s also motorcycled 17,500 miles across the world – and if that’s not enough, she’s done all that alone.
Ever since she passed her driving test, Misurelli used her modest Honda CBR600RR to nip to the supermarket and drive around town back home in Alaska. Then in September 2016, her boyfriend-as-was got the idea for the trip of a lifetime.
"He said he wanted to motorcycle all the way from Alaska down to Argentina," Misurelli told The Independent. “I asked him if I could go with him but he said no, that it was a 'guys only' trip. 'It’s too dangerous and intense,' he said. 'You probably couldn’t handle it'.
"So we broke up and I went by myself."
Since then - when she covered 12,000 miles from Alaska to Panama - Misurelli has barely stopped. On her sports bike (she's made it into an "adventure bike" by adding dual sports tyres), not only has she ridden the west coast of the Americas and spent time in Central America, but last month she finished a 5,500 mile journey over the other side of the pond. She ticked off Italy, Spain, France, Gibraltar, Portugal, Austria and Slovenia, and even nipped over to Morocco.
Much like van-dwellers, a predominantly American group of people who choose to live in vans, Misurelli doesn’t have a job, a house, or even a permanent base to live.
"A lot of people just assume I’m rich," she says. "But it’s not true. I have no house and barely any possessions. I pulled all my retirement money and sold almost all of my belongings. It’s amazing how little we actually need in life." In between trips, she works part-time; on the road, she carries a tent, hammock, sleeping bag and a few clothes. It also helps that she doesn’t have many outgoings: she never plans ahead, but sleeps wherever she can, whether that’s a hostel, tent, or sofa. In Italy, she once slept in a highway tunnel.
"I did some camping in the mountains but it was really cold – it was pouring down and I wanted somewhere warm, with no wind or rain," she tells The Independent. "I didn’t feel like socialising or finding an Airbnb so I just decided to go for it." She wasn’t nervous, she says – she’s rarely nervous, in fact – because "bad things can happen anywhere in the world, but there are more good people than bad." She never feels alone, she says because even a chat with someone in a petrol station gets her mood up.
Next on the agenda is a work stint – Australia or America, she says, to do anything that allows her flexibility (in the past she’s waitressed and done construction work). Within six months, she’ll be back on the road – ideally in the Middle East, she says, or possibly North Africa.
Misurelli does see herself as an ambassador – “I want women around the world to get out there and get travelling,” she says – but ultimately, roadtripping is something she needs for herself. Even if it’s not the easiest lifestyle. "If you want something enough, you can make it work," she says. "That’s how I feel about travel."
Source: Independent.co.uk dated April 12, 2017.
Thursday, 27 April 2017
Old Havana in Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal
Havana, Cuba
The Old Havana, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, is full of narrow streets, restaurants, bars, plazas, hotels and museums. It received intense revitalization work and today is colorful, full of street performers, live music, craft fairs and of course, lots of history. It is common to be approached by restaurants touts, but its better to search in applications and specialized sites.
Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal approves these:
Esto No Es Un Cafe - Good for a relaxed lunch;
Paladar Los Mercaderes - Must book at night.
Both come with a great Mojito.
(Photo and text: Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal - @travellingwithus on Instagram)
Havana tour in an old car by Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal during their travel to Cuba
Havana, Cuba
A city tour in an old car is among the most popular tours in Havana. The options are varied and to choose one to enjoy the three hours is a difficult task. There are many colors, models, convertible or not. Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal got one convertible Chevrolet almost 100% original, which is very rare here. The driver took them to every place and to a neighborhood called Miramar. It looked like Beverly Hills.
There are many forms of transport in Havana. The best of them is on foot. However, considering the distance or if you prefer, there are four taxi options: traditional taxis, tricycles (photo), the fun coco taxis and the famous old taxis (photo). We have experienced all and we liked better the last two. Regardless of the option, negotiate the value. There is no taxi meters and some drivers can charge double.
(Photo and text: Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal - @travellingwithus on Instagram)
'Floridita' is among the best bars in Havana, says Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal during their Cuba visit
Havana, Cuba
Floridita is among the best bars in Havana for many reasons. A bit touristic, but unmissable. It offers the best Daiquiri, Piña Colada and Mojito in the region. From 5pm on, it usually invites local bands to play, which makes it more fun.
Other places that also caught our attention:
Sloppy Joe's - For a snack and a good drink with comfort;
La Guarida - The best night restaurant with a charming bar on the rooftop.
(Photo and text: Lucas Lessa & Kelly Vidal - @travellingwithus on Instagram)
Sunday, 23 April 2017
Marakkesh in Morocco visited by @virbc1 (on Instagram)
Photo: @virbc1 on Instagram.
Marakkesh, Morocco.
Marrakesh, a former imperial city in western Morocco, is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens.
The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque.
10 secluded beaches in Philippines for 'skinny dipping'
A secluded beach in Philippines.
Photo: @doyoutravel on Instagram.
What is skinny dipping? Simply put, it’s the act of swimming naked. Although Philippines is generally a conservative country, it has many islands that are remote, hidden and even uninhabited.
The following beaches and islands are worth a try for fulfillment of your fantasy:
1. Nakabuang Beach, Sabtang, Batanes.
Ride a plane to Basco, Batanes then take a faluwa or boat from Ivana port. The waters can be rough at times so make sure to go when the weather is calm.
2. Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte.
The easiest and fastest way to go to Calaguas is via plane to Naga City. Then take a van going to Daet for about two hours. Alight in Paracle where you can hire boats to Calaguas Islands. You can also ride a bus or van from Manila to Naga City but it will take you about eight to nine hours.
3. Tinago Cove, Caramoan, Camarines Sur.
The way to Caramoan is similar to Calaguas. The jump off point is Naga City. From Naga, you can take a bus to Caramoan where you can find boats for hire. On our trip, we managed to take our car with us from Tacloban City to Caramoan. Just make sure to have a map with you.
4. Bitaog Beach, Palumbanes Island, Catanduanes.
The fastest way to Virac is via plane from Manila. Then you’ll have to take a bus ride for five hours to Caramoran. Go to Baybay port and then hire a boat to take you to Palumbanes.
5. Marilima Beach, Virac, Catanduanes.
From Virac, Marilima Beach is just a tricycle ride away.
6. Sibang Cove, Calayan, Cagayan Valley.
There are many ways to go to Sibang Cove. From Manila, you can take a bus to Claveria, Aparri or Sta. Ana. From those places, you can ride boats to Calayan and request that you be taken to Sibang Cove.
7. Sumilon Island, Oslob, Cebu.
Visitors to Sumilon usually come after whale-watching in Oslob. From Cebu City, take a van or ride an Oslob-bound bus at Cebu South Bus Terminal. Ask the driver or conductor to drop you off at the Sumilon jump off point. Then hire a boat to take you to Sumilon Island.
8. Nagaja Beach, Hernani, Eastern Samar.
The best way to go to Hernani is from Tacloban City. Travel time is about two to three hours. From the town, you can hire a tricycle to take you to Barangay Nagaja. The beach is quite secluded but locals would know how to get there.
9. Jagnaya Beach, Salcedo, Eastern Samar.
Travel time from Tacloban City to Salcedo takes about three to four hours by van. Then head to Barangay Jagnaya by tricycle or you can also take a hike to get there. You won’t get lost as locals are familiar with the area.
10. Mahaba Island, Cuatro Islas, Inopacan.
From Tacloban City, visitors will travel for about three hours. The dock for special boats is located near the municipal hall of Inopacan. Boatmen can offer a roundtrip package plus island hopping to all four islands. You can also take a boat from Ormoc City to Hindang and hire a boat from there.
The National Library, Kolkata, India
The National Library on the Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata is the largest library in India by volume and India's library of public record. It is under the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced in India. The library is situated on the scenic 30-acre (12 ha) Belvedere Estate in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is the largest in India with a collection in excess of 2.2 million books. Before independence, it was the official residence of Lt. Governor of Bengal.
The National Library of India collects book, periodicals, and titles in virtually all the Indian languages, with Hindi, Kashmiri, Punjab, Sindhi, Telugu, and Urdu. The Special Collections in the National Library of India house at least fifteen languages including "Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, etc with many rare works. The Hindi department has books that date back all the way to the nineteenth century and the first ever books printed in that language.
Interesting statistics about National Library:
Over 2,270,000 books,
Over 86,000 maps,
Over 3,200 manuscripts,
Over 45 kilometers of shelf space,
Reading rooms can accommodate over 550 people.
The Calcutta Public Library:
The history of the National Library began with the formation of the Calcutta Public Library in 1836.
That was a non-governmental institution and was run on a proprietary basis. People contributing ₹300 (US$4.60) in subscription became the proprietors. Prince Dwarkanath Tagore was the first proprietor of that Library. ₹ 300 at that time was a significant amount, so poor students and others were allowed free use of the library for some period of time.
Lord Metcalfe, the Governor General at that time, transferred 4,675 volumes from the library of the College of Fort William, Kolkata to the Calcutta Public Library. This and donations of books from individuals formed the nucleus of the library.
Both Indian and foreign books, especially British, were purchased for the library. Donations were regularly made by individuals as well as by the government.
The Calcutta Public Library had a unique position as the first public library in this part of the world. Such a well-organized and efficiently run library was rare even in Europe during the first half of the 19th century.
The Imperial Library:
The Imperial Library was formed in 1891 by combining a number of Secretariat libraries in Calcutta. Of those, the most important and interesting was the library of the Home Department, which contained many books formerly belonging to the library of East India College, Fort William and the library of the East India Board in London. But the use of the library was restricted to the superior officers of the Government.
Amalgamation of CPL and Imperial Library:
In 1903, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, the Viceroy of India, conceived the idea of opening a library for the use of the public.
He noticed both the libraries, viz. Imperial Library and Calcutta Public Library were under-utilized for the want of facilities or restrictions. He decided to amalgamate the rich collection of both of these libraries.
The new amalgamated library, called Imperial Library, was formally opened to the public on 30 January 1903 at Metcalfe Hall, Kolkata. Metcalfe Hall had earlier been the home of the Governor-General; Wellington, Cornwallis and Warren Hastings had lived in the building, and the last-named had fought a duel with a member of his governing committee on its grounds.
The Gazette of London reported, "It is intended that it should be a library of reference, a working place for students and a repository of material for the future historians of India, in which, so far as possible, every work written about India, at any time, can be seen and read."
Declaring the Imperial Library as the National Library:
Formal opening of the National Library was on 1 February 1953.
After the independence the Government of India changed the name of the Imperial Library as the National Library, and the collection was shifted from The Esplanade to the present Belvedere Estate. On 1 February 1953 the National Library was opened to the public.
Discovery of hidden chamber:
In 2010, the Ministry of Culture, the owner of the library, decided to get the library building restored by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). While taking stock of the library building, the conservation engineers discovered a previously unknown room. The ground-floor room, about 1000 sq. ft. in size, seems to have no opening of any kind.
The ASI archaeologists tried to search the first floor area (that forms the ceiling of the room) for a trap door, but found nothing. Since the building is of historical and cultural importance, ASI has decided to bore a hole through the wall instead of breaking it. There are speculations about the room being a punishment room used by Warren Hastings and other British officials, or a place to store treasure.
In 2011, the researchers announced that the room was filled entirely with mud, probably in an effort to stabilize the building.
Brick Lane, in London's east end is a must visit for great curry
Once a down-trodden part of the city, Whitechapel in east end of London has now become super trendy with its art galleries, small artisan shops, markets and array of social enterprises nearby - all just a stone's throw from the heart of London's financial centre.
Most of all, what's most lovable is the diversity and multi-cultured nature of London, which makes the city what it is. Around here the street signs are also in Bengali.
There's a large Bengali population since the 1960s in this part of London, which is right beside the London docklands.
This part of London is the best place to pop in for a curry!!
Bengalis operated 'Tayyabs', just off Brick Lane offers great curry dishes.
(Photo & content credit: @soultravelblog on Instagram)
P.S: @soultravelblog visited London's east end during her stay at @qbiclondon, a boutique green hotel.
Friday, 14 April 2017
A day's drive to Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar, Karnataka which boasts of the tallest Shivalinga in Asia
The Kotilingeshwara Temple lies in a very small village named Kammasandra in the Kolar district. The temple is extremely famous because of the largest and the tallest Shivalinga present in Asia. More than 2 lac devotees visit this temple every year.
Maha Shivaratri is a special occasion and a large number of devotees make it a point to be there on this auspicious day. The temple can be easily reached from the gold fields of Kolar.
Kotilingeshwara. Image courtesy Mithila
The Shivalinga is 33 mts tall. It has an accompanying Basava statue which is 11 mts tall and is surrounded by a large number of Shivalingas spread across the area. The project involves an establishment of one crore shivalingas hence it is named Kotilingeshwara and currently, there are about a hundred lakh shivalingas.
Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy pponnada
Quick Facts about Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
The best time to visit: between July and January.Address: Kodilingam Temple Road, Ghattakamadenahalli, Kolar-563121 (Map)Timings: 6:00 AM- 9:00PMEntry Fee: INR 20 per personCamera Fee: INR 100 per cameraParking Charges: INR 30Linga Installation Fee: Starts from INR 6,000
Panoramic View of Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Visurao4all
History of Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
This temple has been constructed by Swami Sambha Shiva Murthy in the year 1980. The first linga was installed in 1980 and since then there have been many lingas present in the temple. There is also a huge and tall Nandi installed beside the linga. The Nandi is 11 mt tall and sits over a huge platform.
Within the premises of the temple, there are about eleven other temples for different deities. The first of them includes the temple of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Lord Maheshwara temples. This is followed by a temple of Lord Kotilingeshwara.
Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Pponnada
The temples include Goddess Annapoorneshwari Temple, Goddess Karumaari Amma Temple, Lord Venkataramani Swamy Temple, Lord Panduranga Swamy Temple, Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana Temple, Lord Panchamukha Ganapathy Temple, Lord Anjaneya Temple, and finally Goddess Kannika Parameshwari Temple.
The Government has declared this temple as a tourist spot so that hundreds of tourists from across the World can come and pay their respects to the largest Linga in Asia. Two flower trees, named one Nagalinga and Cannon Ball are located here, and many unmarried women pray for a blessed and happy married life.
Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Pponnada
Poojas at Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
Daily poojas are performed at all the installed Shivalingas by the priests every day. The pooja is carried out with music and drums and all the priests recite mantras as well as pour water on the lingas.
The devotees can also offer special poojas by installing the lingas. These lingas can be installed on any day chosen by the devotees in their names. Regular poojas will be carried out and offered to all the lingas installed.
Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Pponnada
Facilities at Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
There are rest houses constructed for devotees in the temple premises. In addition, free mass marriages are performed here every year. This is carried out by priests with drums, music and chants. Currently, there are around twenty weddings performed every week. There is also a meditation hall built for devotees who wish to meditate in peace.
Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Mithila
How to Reach Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar
By Road
If you want to reach the temple by road, you need to head through Kolar. Kolar is at a distance of 2.5 hours from Bangalore. Kotilingeshwara Temple is a day's drive from Bangalore and back.
Harley-Davidson from Mumbai meets a ship of the desert in near Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
It was near Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India where a Harley-Davidson from Mumbai, almost 1200 kms away crossed paths with a ship of the desert, viz. camel.
India is one country where one gets to see a $160K LandRover Evoque sharing a highway with a $40K Harley or Indian and with camel carts strolling past at easy pace. It's a country of mixed demographic profile. Come to India. Do a 'backpacking India on road' and also 'be my car travel buddy in India'.
Photo courtesy: Bharat De.
PanchaMukha (five-faced) Hanuman Temple is 2 kms from Rameshwaram temple in Tamilnadu, India
PanchaMukha (five-faced) Hanuman Temple is 2 kms from Rameshwaram temple in the state of Tamilnadu, India.
Here Hanuman is dressed with vermilion. The temple also has deities of Rama, Sita and Hanuman which were originally at Dhanushkodi but were brought to the temple site after the killer cyclone in 1964. A few floating of the stones called 'Sethu Bandanam' supposedly for building the ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka are carefully preserved in the temple.
By worshipping PanchaMukha Anjaneyar, one can get rid of enemies with the help of Narashima Mukha, overcome all types of Dosha with the help of Garuda, get all types of wealth with Varaha; and get Gnana with Hayagriva.
At this temple, there is an oil-fired lamp next to lord Ram which has been kept burning for over three decades. Panchamuga Anjaneyar’s huge idol is open to the sky without any canopy on top. It is believed that the 700 years old temple at Dhanushkodi, was also destroyed during the cyclone in 1964 and some of the 'moorthams' (idols) were brought here.
Temple timings: 6:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand visited by Manee (anniewanderer on IG)
Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand.
Photo: @anniewanderer on Instagram.
The Sukhothai Historical Park covers the ruins of Sukhothai, literally "Dawn of Happiness", capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, in what is now Northern Thailand.
The Sukhothai Historical Park ruins are one of Thailand’s most impressive World Heritage Sites. The park includes the remains of 21 historical sites and four large ponds within the old walls, with an additional 70 sites within a 5km radius. The ruins are divided into five zones; the central, northern and western zones have a separate 100B admission fee.
Prada store in Marfa, West Texas visited by Yulia Dyukova
This is Yulia Dyukova in the small town of Marfa in West Texas. Every year Marfa is flooded by thousands of fashionistas traveling here with one goal – to take a picture in front of Prada store.
The shop is located right in the middle of Texan desert with nothing around but occasional cars passing and tumbleweeds rolling on the road. Prada was created as a land art project. Although the doors of the store are always closed, you can peek through the window and see real Prada shoes and bags from the fall/winter 2005 collection, selected by Miuccia Prada herself.
Prada boutique, though, is not the only strange thing you can find in Marfa.
Read about the rest in her blog http://www.thefoodiemiles.com.
Yulia Dyukova (@thefoodiemiles on Instagram) is a Russian food and travel blogger who found home first in Sri Lanka for 3 years, then in Brazil for a year and is currently based in Austin, Texas. She is the kind of person who starts a research of the new country by googling “what to eat in…” instead of “what to visit in…” Yulia is a self-proclaimed “food nerd” who will spend hours reading on the origins of pecan pie before trying it and who doesn’t consider waiting in line of 50 people to get a cronut a waste of time. She finds it hard to keep her delicious findings to herself and that is the reason why her blog exists.