Picture © Rohan A Singh
Friday, December 27, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
An Evening to Rock - Dance India Dance S-4 and Indiblogger Meet
'O Traveler, why do you walk to seek an insight into a culture's soul,
when you can simply sit and observe the way they dance'
when you can simply sit and observe the way they dance'
Dance is a rythmic form of movement (to the sound of music) which can depict a past event, emotions, social interaction e.t.c. in a spiritual or performance setting. It is an intrinsic part of the culture of India. There are numerous types of Dance Forms in India with some of the most well known being Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Kathakali e.t.c. Each of these dance forms provide an insight into the culture and history of India.
But along with time dance forms have also modernized themselves to reflect the present times. Many modern dance forms have come forward like Ballet, Blues, Break Dancing e.t.c. apart from the folk and classical dance forms which continue to be appreciated worldwide.
With the onset of Television, dance (in all its forms) has also got its own share of spotlight and one of the biggest shows in India which promotes Dance like anything is DANCE INDIA DANCE (which is now in its fourth season). It comes on Zee TV, one of the most premier TV channels in India. This time Dance India Dance is coming with a new panel of judges namely Mudassar Khan, Shruti Merchant and Feroz Khan who will lend a new dimension to ‘Dance India Dance’ and drive the country towards creating a new dance movement!
Indiblogger and Dance India Dance (alongwith its three judges) are coming together to organise an evening of fun, frolic and blogging at The Oberoi, New Delhi on October the 23rd.
I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friday, October 18, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Meeting Jodi Ettenburg
It was a humid Sunday, the 13th of October, when I met Jodi Ettenburg and her mum. While I was wary as to how the day would be - I am a certified introvert (which often comes across to some people as arrogance) - I was bubbling with elation over the fact that I was going to meet, in the real, a genuine Global Traveler.
Jodi Ettenburg (Left) and her Mum (Centre). We got caught in steady rain while walking in the lanes of Chitli Qabar and took shelter in the shop of this generous person.
Jodi Ettenburg is a Global Traveler who has been around the world multiple times and writes on her blog legalnomads.com apart from going round the world as a speaker in conferences.
We (Me, Ace Photographer Subir Dey, Jodi and her Mum) met and, as it had been pre-decided, traveled around Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). What followed through was one of the most memorable times i had. As it turned out Jodi's mum was a historian and was completely tuned in to what I told her about the history of Old Delhi (The grandeur of Chandni Chowk and its Bazaars, the massacre by the armies of Nadir Shah in 1739, the capture of Delhi by Lord Lake in 1803, the procession of Bahadur Shah Zafar on the Chandni Chowk and his proclamation as the Emperor of India in 1857 and much more) and its rulers.
People brazening out the rain
Conversing with Global Traveler Jodi was a revelation as I asked her about her 'Trans-Siberian Railway experience', 'Her views over Humanity' e.t.c. Due to paucity of time I couldn't know more of her views about our world and its people and heritage. I also realized that no matter from which part of the world a travel blogger hails from, their insecurities remain the same.
But, all in all, it was a delightful experience for Traveler Rohan when he met Global Traveler Jodi and her historian Mum along with Ace Photographer Subir Dey.
Sky View of the Chandni Chowk (You can figure it out from the row of Traffic Lights, beyond the clock, extending till the Red Fort)
Friday, October 11, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
POTW #51 - The Jaipur Column (Rashtrapati Bhawan) (Foundation Stone Laid in 1911 A.D.)
Picture © Rohan A Singh
The Jaipur Column bears this inscription -
'In thought faith
In word wisdom
In deed courage
In life service
So may India be great.'
In word wisdom
In deed courage
In life service
So may India be great.'
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Shopping in 2030 A.D.
Pic Source - Indiblogger
Shopping for products has come a long way since the dawn of civilization. Earlier, a person had to go from shop to shop to buy the products of his choice. Then came the concept of departmental stores and after it the concept of malls. Each of these concepts have been popular during their own times. Then came ebay which revolutionized the way we shopped. No one 20 years back would have believed that we the customers could have bought stuff while sitting at our homes but it did happen.
The way we shopped has change a lot over the last 15 years thanks to ebay and i am sure that in the coming 15 years or so it is going to see a world of change as compared to now as well. Shopping is no longer a hectic chore it used to be some years ago. Who can forget the days when we went to the nearest mall on a Sunday with a shopping list in our hand, carrying all the packages around the mall and then head back home ? I can't ! Thanks to ebay i can easily sit on the internet and shop or auction for anything I want to, pay online and have all the packages delivered at home.
Pic Source - Indiblogger
The basics of shopping have always been the same. They were the same 15 years ago, they are the same today and will remain the same in the future as well ! The basics, as per me, being - Getting the best deal in the market, buying products which are relevant to us, buying products which catch the attention of our social circle and buying products which are the latest in technology.
I feel that shopping in the year 2030 would cover the basic expectations of shoppers (which I mentioned above) in a much better manner, be more personalized and up to the point. For the ones who would be looking at it - it would be a more satisfying social experience than before.
This is how shopping would be in they year 2030 (as per me) -
1. People would use their thumb impression or retina display to log in - It would do away with the irritating problem of having to remember our passwords to log in to the site
2. Surfing for products would be done by Voice - Commands - By 2030, with the help of technological advances and a much advanced application, on smartphone or a laptop, shopping on the internet would be more voice-based and hence take us closer to over-the-counter experience than ever before !!
3. People could feed, into the ebay database, their weekly/monthly requirements for groceries/provisions and ebay would remind them of it every month - Putting it in simpler terms , in the future, the system would give reminder to customers that their product (they had ordered) has arrived or the time for them to buy their monthly provisions has come thus acting like their personal shopping assistant.
4. No payment would be done in cash. Electronic mediums like Paypal, Credit cards would be used, whose details would be kept in cloud storage - The time of paying through cash would be over in most parts of the world (which are connected with internet). Wallets would be phased out and shoppers would prefer to pay through the electronic medium.
5. For shopping of clothes there would be a measurement taker with which customers would feed into the computer what their current measurements are, what brands they like and what colours they prefer and shop for those clothes - Shoppers would keep with themselves measurement takers/ scanners which would take their measures from all angles (such an equipment does exist!). They would simply upload the measurements on ebay and the website would offer them garments which would fit them. ebay would also provide expert's opinions (to the shoppers) over which clothes to buy based on their measurements, skin colour, preferences e.t.c. All this from the comfort of their own homes !
6. People would talk to their friends online and talk to them about the clothes or products they are going to buy online - Girls prefer to shop with their friends. This kind of shopping experience would be replicated online with girls/guys discussing, on chat forums of ebay, the product they are going to buy and what options they have at hand.
7. There would be a 360 degree view and larger than life pictures of products (so great looking that you would want to lick them) and a simulated sample (of a mobile for example) which the shopper could try out before buying it - With time their would be cameras which would be able to provide better and clearer images, along with a 360 degree view, and create the interest in a prospective shopper's mind to buy the product. There would also be a simulated model which a shopper would use to get a feel of the product. This would eliminate the need for the shopper to go to a showroom to check out the product themselves
8. The shopping experience would be more personalized, would suggest new products to the people in an intuitive way - In the future the experience of shopping would become more easier than now. The product suggestions would be more personalized (and in sync with the shoppers personal likes/dislikes and requirements) and more intuitive in nature.
9. Shopping would be possible in all the major languages of the world
10. People would actually be able to try out outfits by ordering them at their place (if they end up buying something there would be no extra trial charge)
10. There will be a far better and prompt Grievance Redressal System
11. Everyone looks for discounts, they will continue to do so in the future as well. so regular customers would be given preferable discounts or credit points which they can accumulate for the future
13. There would be product hubs which would ensure speedy delivery and replacement of goods
14. People would be able to book for their products (for example a new smartphone, movie tickets) months in advance.
By the year 2030 people would be shopping from their offices and saving all the time of going to malls to scour for their required product. The scenario of shopping in 2030 would be completely different from what it is now, just like the current scenario of shopping is completely different from what it was 15 years ago !
Friday, September 6, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
World Photography Day Special !
It's been more than three years since I took up Travel Writing as a profession. My style of writing encapsulates a lot of pictures in it, that's also partially because I have a photographic memory. So on World Photography Day here is a compilation of some of my best and most popular pics -
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Being a World Traveler for me means that I have to be neutral and respect all destinations and cultures. But this lake (Guru Dongmar Lake) in the Himalayas can simply take my breathe away. This is one destination I can safely say that I am in Love with. And oh yes, it was by the banks of this lake that I had my Twilight moment, when I realised that I was a Traveler by heart, and took up Travel Writing as a profession.
These three species if seen in a usual setting would be fighting each other for territorial superiority, but such is the sense of peace at the Rumtek Monastery (one of the oldest in Asia) that it has embraced these beings as well
A zoomed in pic of the recently restored ceiling of Humayun's Tomb.. The design shows how much perfectionists the architects and designers of those times were.. in trying to create the perfect memorial for their departed king..
The founder of the Tughluq Dynasty, Ghiyath ud din Tughluq's Tomb (const. 1325 A.D.) is one of my most favourite mausoleum's in Delhi. I prefer it over the Humayun's Tomb (which is a World Heritage Site and also a crowded Tourist Trap). It is located in a secluded and therefore peaceful location and ironically is known as the Dar'ul Aman (The Abode of Peace)
Tughluqabad and Adilabad Forts (Const. 14th Century) along with Dar'ul Aman are my favourite spots in Delhi (and not the beautiful Qutb Minar, Humayun's Tomb and Red Fort). Reason being that these places are often secluded, allowing you to wander from the ancient pathways in peace. These places are not tourist traps. The only hitch about coming here is that the seclusion of this destination makes it a harbour for muggers. In this pic i have clicked the part of Tughluqabad which i haven't been to visit because I was warned (by the guards) to stay away due to the anti social elements
When the monsoon (alongwith its clouds) goes away, for a very brief period of time we can get a look of the clear blue sky in smoggy Delhi (a rare phenomenon). I clicked the recently restored Sunder Nursery (Const. 16th Cent.) against this backdrop
This pic of the little girl, who is the resident of the last Indian village (Thangu) before the Indo-China border in Sikkim starts is one of my favourite. It forms an integral part of my Slide Show as you might have noticed.
The South Block (part of the Secretariat Building Const. in the 1910s) is the nerve center of the administrative functioning of India. Many ministers along with their official departments sit here. I was trying to photograph this building which is a symbol of power against the blue sky when a car passed and this was the result. I clicked this picked from the camera of Mr Subir (whom i refer to as Dada)
This priest gave me my first lesson over photography techniques and etiquette's by yelling over me in a crowded bazaar because I snapped a pic of his !
It has been one of my dreams to capture the incredible and fragile Shore Temple (Const 700-725 A.D.) in my camera and when I did, I felt one of the luckiest persons in the world.
This self pic of mine with the Guru Dongmar Lake (one of the highest in the world) in the backdrop, in a way, defines me and my style of travel i.e. visiting places which are less frequented by travelers.. Taking the Path Rarely Taken..
Friday, August 16, 2013
Board the Escape Express from Lonely Planet Station, this August !
Escape Express
Pic Courtesy - Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet India has launched ‘Escape Express’. This wonderful and racy contest will take you on a virtual journey to exciting destinations around New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The contest starts from Delhi, would quiz you about your favourite travel haunts and award you miles on every right answer you give. The journey then moves onto the cities of Mumbai, Bengaluru and ends with users sharing their ‘Escape Diary’ of memorable trips.
It is needless to say that I would be traveling in the Escape Express myself. Escape Express started chugging on 1 August 2013 and will continue on its journey till 31 August 2013.
Apart from getting the virtual thrill of traveling to different destinations around some of the biggest cities in India, the winners would also get a chance to win plenty of thrilling prizes. The first prize is the winner’s choice of either an Apple 16GB iPad with Retina Display and Wi-Fi Cellular (4th Generation) or a Nikon DSLR camera.
The second prize is an Apple 16GB iPad Mini with Wi-Fi. Best of next ten entries will win gift vouchers from a luggage company. But that’s not all, Escape Express also has dozens of other exciting prizes to be won under various categories.
This is one train ride you cannot miss !
Friday, August 9, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Glimpses of a Monsoon Downpour in New Delhi
This post has got to one of the uniquest post i have ever done because I had to travel only a few yards to feel the full power of a Monsoon downpour.. Monsoons are seasonal rains which strike the subcontinent between the months of June-September.. They help sustaining life in the subcontinent by irrigating agricultural lands and filling up the reservoirs (for drinking water).. But when this life sustaining downpour actually comes down.. Everything comes to a stand still !!
Monsoon at its best in New Delhi.. It rained 123 mm in 6 hours this day..
As per the MET department this was the heaviest rainfall in New Delhi
in the last 10 years receiving 123mm of rain in 6 hours.. So, when the
heavens open up in a city which is usually known for it's dry weather
all living beings (unused to the downpour) take cover or stand
helplessly in it.. Getting drenched..
This post sheds light over animals and how they cope up with rains when the heavens open up-
This herd of cows did not have any place to seek cover so they stood still, like statues, getting drenched in the rain..
This cow got lucky as it found some shelter under an un-occupied house..
Another cow, standing a bit away from its herd, getting drenched
I was unable to take pics of street dogs who were crouched under cars and the earthworms who were walking on the pavements due to the rains.. I was also shocked to observe the final journey of a departed soul which passed.. as the rain was happening..
FACT:- This was the heaviest rainfall in New Delhi in 10 years..
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Friday, July 19, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
The Delhi Travel Massive - 2013
The banner of Delhi Travel Massive 2013
Image Courtesy - SoDelhi
Image Courtesy - SoDelhi
Faizan Patel and Doulos Jose (Right)
Many well known personalities on the New Delhi travel, photography and blogging circuit were there which included Doulos Jose, Subir Dey, Asif Dehlvi (owner of Delhi by Foot), Vikramjeet Singh Rooprai (Ace Historian), Mr Passey amongst others.. (It goes without saying that the team of Vikramjeet, Asif, Subir, Mr Passey won the travel contest and took home vouchers worth Rs 5000). I had wonderful travel conversing with traveler Abhinav and many other like minded folks over all things travel..
Vikramjeet Singh Rooprai (Left) and Asif Dehlvi
Banner of Delhi Travel Massive against the backdrop of Tughluq period mosque and seminary (14th Cent)
Travel Massive is a wonderful initiative where the people from the
Travel fraternity (across the spectrum) get together and exchange notes
over everything related to Travel.. The team of SoDelhi and all the
sponsors deserve a word of gratitude for making this wonderful travel
event take place.. The venue was Smoke House Deli, Hauz Khas..
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