Ecotourism in India

Links/References:
Eco India
Indian Nature Tours

Eco tourism is the responsible travel to the natural areas that preserves the environment, conserves the endangered species as well as sustains the well being of the local people. Eco tourism has provided a viable economic alternative to exploitation of the environment.

India, with its continent distributed to the border of the cool Bhutan/Himalayan, and down to the tropical Bangladeshi border, it's rich in its nature and ecological aspect spreads throughout a unique geographical position made it a popular destination for ecological conscious tourists.

Some of the most popular destinations are listed as below.

- Coorg - Himalayas - Garhwal - Goa - Kerala - Kodaikanal

- Ladakh - Manali - Munnar - Rishikesh - Sikkim - Shimla

- Thenmala - Uttaranchal - Almora - Kullu - Mussorie - Nainital

National Parks in India.
- Bandhavgarh National Park
- Kanha National Park
- Corbett National Park
- Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary
- Periyar National Park
- Kaziranga NationalPark

As we all know, Yoga is a form of meditation originated from the Hindu culture in India. Thus, thousands of foreigners from all over the globe travel to India for a short term Yoga meditation trips by spending their time in Ashrams (Hindu temples), guided by a Guru/teacher. This could be found depicted in Elizabeth Gilbert's travel diary/autobiography - Eat, Pray, Love. Below are some eco-tourism related activities.

- Ayurveda
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- White Water Rafting
- Camping
- Yoga
- Eco Treks

- Jeep Safari
- Camel Safari
- Elephant Safari
- Canoeing
- Meditation

3 Vocabularies:
(1) Sanctuary - A sacred place, such as a church, temple, or mosque or a place where one is safe from outside harm.
(2) Poachers - A person who illegally hunts game, fish, etc., on someone else's property
(3) Denuding - To divest of covering; make bare.

Mumbai aka. Bombay

The Gateway to Mumbai

Reference: Wikipedia

Mumbai, one of the largest city in India, also happens to be the capital city of the said country. It's is your typical metropolitan city with high technologies, skyscrapers as well as fashionable people thronging the incredible busy streets and heavy traffic.

Despite that, what makes the city stand out is the peppering of Indian traditional culture to the city; no where else in the world would you find a city with people wearing traditional saris, gorgeous temples and mosque in the mix with sky high office buildings etc.

Like any other metropolitan city (think New York), it has a darker side to the city as well. Mumbai house one of the largest slums in Asia, a village known as Dharavi. This reflects the gap between the capable and the poor which still plagues the Indian society.

Vocabulary:
Metropolitan - A large, highly developed, highly populated fast growing city.
Slum - Thickly populated, run-down, squalid part of a city, inhabited by poor people.
Indigenous - Originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country/ native.

Sari सरि

Source: Wikipedia

Sari is a form of Indian clothing exclusive to women. With an origin tracing back to when Buddhism first founded (Indus Valley Civilization) it's basically a 7-9 meter piece of hand woven silk cloth wrap around the body in various style. The draping styles and designs have their own minor difference and own personalities according to their origin and continents, some are more colorful and some are more revealing than most. This is usually paired with a blouse called Choli or Ravika, and most Indian women will adorn themselves with colorful bangles and earrings as well as various jeweleries.

Vocabularies:
(a) Subcontinent - A large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent
(b) Sultry - Characterized by or arousing passion
(c) Petticoat - A form of women's underwear, worn under skirts

Popular Music Group The PussyCat Dolls wearing Saris.

Chennai சென்னை aka. Madras மெட்ராஸ்

Raganathan Street, a popular street market in Chennai.

Sources & References:
Primary Reference - Wikipedia: Chennai
WikiTravel: Chennai
World66: Chennai
Lonely Planet: Chennai

Compared to Mumbai/Bombay and Bengaluru/Bangalore, one wouldn't take much notice of Chennai. The fourth largest city of India, it's a city constantly clog with ridiculously heavy traffic jams, smog, and the incredibly hot weather (as one Chennalite put it, even movie stars are not as hot as the weather), it is one of the prominent economical state of India with the city being the largest software and hardware exports of India.

With an estimated population of 7.5 million, the city boast a rich musical, theater and art background and not to mention the gorgeous Hindu temples. Chennai also house most of the biggest Indian movie production companies, and churns out about 150 movie stars every year, sort of like the eastern Hollywood. With the released of the internationally acclaimed movie Slumdog Millionaire, composer A.R. Rahman and director Danny Boyle single-handedly propelled Chennai to international fame by winning 2 Oscars.

On the travel attractions front, Chennai house the second longest seashore in the world called Marina Beach. Aside from that, you could also drop by various centuries old temple, or better known as Ashram around the city, as well as the popular night markets such as Ranganathan Street or Pondy Bazaar.

3 Vocabularies:
(a) Agglomeration: A jumbled cluster or mass of varied parts.
(b) Consecrated: To make/declare sacred/honorable.
(c) Coast: Land next to sea aka. seashore.

One of the many beautiful temples in Chennai.

Busy traffic in a street in Chennai.

Marina Beach, the second longest coast in the world.

Aftermath of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami @ Marina Beach, one of the worst hit areas.

Indian Cuisine

Source & Reference:
Click Here!
Click Here!

Indian Cuisine is rich in flavor and the spiciness it imprints onto our tongues. Curry, for example, the national Indian cuisine and tandoori chicken is famous throughout the globe for their abundance in flavors and textures.

So why is a country with a scorching hot weather has spicy, sweat inducing food as their staple? Chili and turmeric, two of the main components of Curry is known for their health benefits such as regulating the blood flows and induce sweats to regulate the body heat. Back in the days, most Indians are farmers who have to work for long hours under the blazing sun, so curry will come in pretty helpful for they will sweat if they eat curry, and everyone knows that your body sweat to lower your body temperature.

Despite that, curry isn't the only food from India. The country has been deeply influences by neighboring countries with different cultures, therefore the cuisine and culinary styles differ by regions.

All in all, one thing that is fixed throughout the Indian cuisine is the generosity in the use of spice; curry alone consist of up to 20 different kinds of spices all blended together to an aromatic concoction. Different components also create a different kind of curry. There are the usual Chicken or seafood curry, and then there's daal curry, green curry etc, each with a different texture and a unique taste of its own. In fact, certain Indian cuisine, especially Curry is so popular that you can find all sorts of modified curries around the globe such as the chinese watery curry, the Japanese sweet curry and the Malaysian version.

3 Vocabularies
(a) Abundantly: Present in great quantity.
(b) Immense: Vast, very huge, a great amount
(c) Pickles: Vegetables (eg: cucumber, olives) preserved in vinegar and eaten as relish.

The Colorful Indian Feast

Banana Leaf Rice: Serve on a banana leaf to bring out the aromatic quality of the leaf and the Basmati Rice, along with a few selection of dishes and curries.

The variety of Spices used in Indian Cuisine

A buffet in a typical Indian Restaurant

Last but not least, a pot of delicious Chicken Curry cooked by yours truly! (Picture taken on July)

Taj Mahal ताज महल

Taj Mahal

Source: Click Here!

Taj Mahal, famous across the globe for its exceptional architectural beauty fusing Hindu, Persian and Muslim architectural styles, and the heart wrenching love story behind the origin of the construction lead it to be crown one of the eighth world wonders of the world.

Originally constructed under the supervision of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, planned as a tomb for his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away during labor. After 21 years of construction, the emperor was locked away under house arrest by his son. Legend has it that Emperor Shah Jahan were only able to reminiscence and wallow on his memory of his favorite wife through a tiny hole on a wall.

The building itself has some bloody myths as well, with some claiming that the Emperor had all the construction workers and those who were responsible for the building, architecture etc. either blinded or had their limbs (particularly the arms) dismembered to prevent them from making another replica.

Each year, millions of tourist visit the holy and wondrous site, with hundreds of thousands foreign tourist flocking in to the mystical building.

3 Vocabularies:
(a) Ascending: Moving upwards.
(b) Palatial: Befitting or suitable for a palace.
(c) Inventory: To catalog.

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Walkway beside the reflecting pool

Tomb of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

Deepavali aka. Diwali (The Celebration of Light)

Original Article: Click Here!
Other Reference: Click Here!

Deepavali, also known as Diwali or the Festival of Light, usually celebrated at around October or November, is the new year for Hindus. Legend has it that the demon Narakasuka, the King of Pradyoshapuram rule his kingdom with iron fist. Seeing his wickedness, Lord Krishna destroyed him and every year, the Hindus celebrate the day as Deepavali.

Rituals including an oil bath before dusk, and set out to the temple for prayers. Of course, guests who visits will be treated a wide variety of Indian delicacies such as Chicken Tandoori, curries, and all sorts of pastries including the delightful Badham Phirni.

The little lights which Hindus place around their house to ward off Evil on Deepavali.

3 Vocabularies:
(a.) Inauspicious: a bad omen.
(b.) Clad: covered/ wearing.
(c.) Prosperity: a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, esp. in financial respects; good fortune

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Coincidentally, this year's Deepavali will be on the 17th of October, meaning less than 5 days from today. Therefore,

Happy Deepavali
to all my Indian friends back in Malaysia!