Varkala Beach (in photos) and route to Trivandrum, Alappuzha

Varkala Beach in Kerala is famous for Vipasyana (meditation) and North cliff side is best for that.




Kallambalam is a town on NH66 from where one has to exit the National Highway and drive a little more than 12 kms to reach Varkala Beach.
Varkala Beach to Padmanabha Swamy Temple Trivandrun = 52 kms.
Varkala Beach to Alappuzha Beach = 119 kms.

Driving to Alleppey in Kerala is rejuvenation for mind and body

A true IndianRoadie doesn't need to be convinced by anybody that driving to Kerala, India is a big rejuvenation for the mind and body.
S(he) wouldn't want Alleppey to be left out of the itinerary under any circumstances.
The joys of driving to Alleppey is compounded with two #IndianRoadiePreferredHotel s' in place and eagerly awaiting our arrival.
Photo credit: Emily (@eggsmiley on IG) in 2017.
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India is a representation of everything beautiful that one can crave to see around the world.
Traveling by road is the best, safest & most economical option for wanderlust expatriates to get the true essence of India.
Who are the expatriates visiting India and willing to be my car travel buddy?
As a corporate marketing strategist and visiting faculty at b-schools pan-India, I gather out of the box marketing inspirations while driving around this huge and fascinating country with expatriate travel buddies in my own VW car.
Let's drive entire India or a part of it (and even Nepal) together in my own car absolutely hassle free and as travel buddies in total safety, comfort, flexibility and affordable cost.
I am all ears. Please revert to roadieglobal@gmail.com or WhatsApp +91 82408 49300.
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IndianRoadie, GlobalRoadie, ShetravelsIndia, BackpackingIndiaOnRoad,
ShetravelsFriendly

Moss covered stone statues in Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple in Kyoto (Japan) is located on a hill off the tourist path.
Inside the temple are more than 1200 moss covered stone statues representing the disciples of Buddha.

Content & photo credit: @miss.abroad on Instagram.

Buddha head entwined in roots of tree in Thailand

One of the highlights of today's bike tour at Wat Phra Mahathat through Ayutthaya, Thailand.
This is probably one of the most photographed places in Thailand! Nobody knows for certain how the Buddha head became entwined in the roots of this tree.

Content & photo credit: @miss.abroad on Instagram.

Cool idea for creating awareness for breast cancer in New Zealand

It looks odd at first... but then, it turns out to be a pretty cool idea!
At some point between 1998 and 1999, passers-by began to attach bras to this rural fence in Cardrona, New Zealand. Nowadays it's there to create awareness for breast cancer with a quote "while you are here enjoying this beautiful scenery, take a moment to make a contribution to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation".

Content & photo credit: @miss.abroad on Instagram.

Sabrina Horel feels there's no place like the west coast of America

"Always love coming home to the sunshine I haven't seen in months. Growing up in California, I always dreamt of going as far east as I could to NYC even Maine. I couldn't understood why people say to go west. After traveling the entire country in a year and a half, I get it. There's no place like the west coast from the mountains to the beaches, desert, and everything in between. No matter how far I wander, I'm proud this will always be my home." - Sabrina Horel, who claims to be a California hippie wandxring in a VW bus.

Sabrina Horel & her husband drove 55,000 miles, 43 states in the US, 7 in Canada, and 16 months later

55,000 miles, 43 states in the US, 7 in Canada, and 16 months later, Sabrina Horel and her husband did it!!!

The couple are back to where it all started. It was a beautiful journey to watch this dream come alive. she remembers talking on Skype when they started dating long distance in 2013. They dreamt of having a VW someday and doing exactly this. It felt like such a silly dream at the time. It wasn't easy and there were moments when they wanted to give up and turn around. Now, she is glad that they didn't.

(Source: @wandxrbus, @sabrinahorel on IG on 2017-11-10)

Kummatti festival at Kunissery in Palakkad district, Kerala, India

Kummatti is a festival of colour, fun and light at Pookulangara Bhagawathy Temple in the small, quaint and simple village of #Kunissery, #Palakkad district, #Kerala, #India.

Elephants’ parade with percussion music, votif art forms.

Coordinates: 10°38′20″N, 76°35′35″E

Festivals in Kerala are held according to the Malayalam calendar. In 2017, the Kummatti festival was held on 25th March.

The closest town from Kunissery is Alathur on NH544 and is about 7 km away.
Kochi to Palakkad via NH544 (i.e. via Aluva, Angamaly, Chalakady, Pudukad, Alathur, Kuzhalmannam) = 145 kms and takes about 3 hrs 30 mins by car.
Alathur to Palakkad via NH544 (i.e. via Kuzhalmannam) = 27 kms (30 mins).

Hostels and low budget decent hotels for backpackers in Varanasi, India

Hostels and low budget decent hotels for backpackers in Varanasi, India:

1) Stops Hostel.
2) Zostel.
3) Blox Hostel.
4) Granny's Inn
5) Palace on River (Rashmi Guest House) (www.palaceonriver.com).
6) Bunkedup Hostel (www.facebook.com/bunkeduphostelvaranasi).
7) Tiwari Lodge, B-1/243-A Road, Assi Ghat, Varanasi. Mobile: +91 94158 21033.
8) Shiva Ganga Lodge.

US Navy aircraft wreckage of 1973 in Solheimasandur's Black Sandy Beach in Iceland

White US Navy aircraft crashed 40 years (1973) ago in Solheimasandur's Black Sandy Beach in Iceland.
Wreckage never looked so surreal.
It's a 4 km one way trek to the wreckage site. The black sand beach a little beyond the site is amazing.
The site has been made even more famous by Bollywood, Hollywood movie shoots.
Thankfully everyone on the plane survived. Otherwise it would not be so cool posing in front of the wrecked airplane.
Try to visit in summer as you'll get over 20 hrs of day light. The photos were clicked at 10:30 pm.

Photo & content credit: @mdoutofoffice on IG.

Bubble-car "Isetta"

In the 1950s BMW teamed up with the Milan-based refrigerator company Iso SpA on this one, the bubble-car "Isetta".
This little car is soo cute!!

Road trip to Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa, near Bhubaneswar. Odisha, India

Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa (Buddhist Temple), off Bhubaneswar - Puri National Highway in the state of Odisha, India.
Dhauligiri is 7 Km from Bhubaneswar. The last 2 kms is a steep drive on a hillock.
The word 'shanti' in the name suggests peace. Since King Ashoka adopted the path of peace and tranquility and resorted to Buddhism, he laid the foundation of Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa at a place which is known for the end of Kalinga War. Here, one finds the edict of Lord Budddha which is visited by numerous Buddhist devotees.

Photos from Camille Toural's travel to Bali

Rice terrace at Tegalalang, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.


Rice terrace at Tegalalang, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.


Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.


Pula Tirta Empul, Tampaksiring, Indonesia.


Pura Ulun Danu Temple, Bedugul, Bali.


Kelinking Secret Point, Bali.


Nusa Penida, Bali.


Swimming with turtle at Gili Trawangan Island, Lombok.

Content credit: Camille Toural, Travel Blogger from Paris.
(@camille_trl on Instagram)

Fernhill Palace, Ooty, India

The first Fernhills bungalow was built in 1844 by Capt. F. Cotton. It changed hands over a period of time till mid-1860 when it was temporarily named Moonesami and served as one of Ooty's earliest country club. During the time of the British Raj, the English elite would flee the hot and muggy plains of the Madras Presidency and take sanctuary in the refreshing cool climes of Ooty, with its expanses of undulating hills and terraced tea gardens.

Fernhill Palace was the erstwhile summer residence of the Maharaja of Mysore. The palace resembles a Swiss Chalet. Its carved wooden bargeboards and ornamental cast iron give it that characteristic appearance. The palace grounds accentuate the alpine look of the place with its manicured gardens, firs and cedars. There is an interesting church like indoor badminton court on the grounds.

The Palace is spread out over 50 acres (200,000 m2) of green lawns, stylized gardens and dense woods with spectacular views of terraced tea gardens and lush verdant valleys.

Presently its a luxury hotel in Ooty named WelcomHeritage Ferrnhills Royale Palace.