Jena is a small city with a magnificent past in the former East Germany, being a traditional centre for literary get-togethers, scientific research and philosophical contemplation. I readily accepted an invitation from the Department

Savour a delicious slice of raw mango coated with red chili and salt as your eyes feast on the huge monoliths and monuments at Mahabalipuram, the venue of the 2021 Zone Institute. Located 60 km from Chennai, the beach town on the

It emerged from the ocean mists nearly 500  years ago, a lush Asian isle covered in

As I sit confined to the home, with a few intermittent visits to the office, and definitely, or may I say indefinitely, bound to Chennai, and India, for some time to come, memories come flooding in of travel to exotic places and fun-filled experiences, not to mention

Ancient history has always fascinated me though I’m not a student of history. I learnt in high school the lacklustre history of India under the British and its parallel American history; both deterrents to proceed further. But my attention was captured in junior school by the thin

A few years ago we were invited to Taiwan, a place we did not know much about. There were some official meetings, but we had some extra time to see some of the northern areas during our 4-day stay there. Our hosts, the Taiwan Sporting Goods Manufacturers

In the aftermath of a rain, you might catch a mesmerising rainbow! But make no pre-bookings — hotels, ferry rides or watersports. Because at Andamans, everything depends on the rains. There could be last-minute cancellations,” my husband and I were warned by a friend while we were

Can I take a photo?” I ask a gypsy man Ranga selling bead necklaces on the Promenade Beach in Pondicherry. Pat comes his response: “How much you give me?” In awe over  his ‘English’ response I smile and say “I buy a necklace from

Imagine coming across an article titled “How to stay safe in Colombia”, with the preamble running thus: “Cartagena (the beautiful port city of Colombia) has been the focus of a crackdown by the authorities on sex tourism and attacks against foreigners”, when you are planning a trip

At 11,562 ft above sea level, a duff pair of lungs gasps for breath. It requires pails of oxygen. Not squawks of instructions. But at Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rimpoche Airport, warnings arrive before the bags tumble on to the carousel. Rest for at least 24 hours. Do

Walking through Hamburg’s main train station on our first day in the city, my husband, Anton, spots a man sitting in a tiny bar enjoying a beer and a smoke. His peculiar garb — black corduroy jacket, vest and bell-bottom pants, along with a battered top hat