Uganda

Entebbe is the international airport in Uganda but the national capital is Kampala, just 50 km away from Entebbe. Drive from Entebbe to Kampala is smooth, overlooking the grand lake. What a big lake! This lake connects to many countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.

North west part of Uganda is famous for Mountain Guerillas. Southern part of Uganda has several Chimpanjee parks and other national parks. Some of the most beutiful places include Lake Tinganyika, Lumbumbashi etc.

Ugandan people are largely english speaking and it is a safer place. Oh! so many Indians in Uganda, I cant beleive, there are so many Indian joints, "Udupi" hotel near Casino Simba, "Nawab", "4 Points", "Mum's Kitchen" so on and so forth. Imagine a negro waitress walking upto me in a restaurent, recommending "Sambar Idly" instead of a Sandwitch!!

Uganda is on the equator and the climate is just fine. I stayed in Hotel Equatorial.

FM radio is very popular in Uganda. People just turn FM radio on, once they are in the car.

Ugandan ladies like any other African ladies are overweight and in the contrary men are very fit. When I asked about this, I got he reply that it is a status symbol among ladies to be fat. obesity is identified with wealth and happiness. Strange !!Of course at a cost. Hypertension, Cholesterol and Diabetes.

My freinds, Charles and Dr Francis are quite hospitable.

Bhargav

MALAWI

After a short stop over in Lusaka Zambia, I landed up in Malawi. How many of us know about this country? Strangely, I was not aware of that country couple of year ago. This land locked country is surrounded by Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Zambia is just on the northern part of Kalahari desert. Malawi has 33% water 66% land. A big lake is just more than a show piece with several holiday resorts running through its border. Luangwa National Park is in the north of Malawi and Muchinga mountains is in the west of Malawi.

What is famous in Malawi? Besdies Coffee, Tea etc, the most important thing according to me is the "Macademia Nut". This is unique. I brought almost 2 kgs and distributed locally. Sorry folks next time I will bring more!

Malawi currency is Kwacha and 1450 Kwachas makes one US Dollar. Though the population in Malawi is just around 2 mio, there are some really good Indian restaurents in Lilongwe, capital of Malawi. "Delhi Durbar" is in the posh Presidential area. "Blue Ginger" is another joint situated in the embassy area.

Stayed at Hotel Crossroads, central part of Lilongwe. I recommend this hotel for a comfortable stay, just for $ 100 USD per day. Visit the Radhakrishna temple in a sprawling area bang in the central part of Lilongwe.

Bhargav

Nile River from Sudan

The magnificent Nile river takes giant strides when it passes through Khartoum, Sudan. I stayed in Hotel Green Village and the only thing I loved was the Nile river. Khartoum, capital of Sudan is no better than Vizianagram. However, the biggest asset that the people have is- Livestock. Both in Sudan and Ethiopia, the total cattle population could be more than 50 mio. Southern Sudan hit by the Darfur crisis, otherwise it is as good as any Islamic nation. "Little Asia" and "Little India" are the two Indian Restaurents in Khartoum worth visiting.

Bhargav

Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro, 19800 ft height, snow peak mountain along the Tanzania-Kenya border surrounded by several national parks such as the famous Sarengetti, Maniara etc. I took snaps of the snow peak from aircraft, since clouds were disturbing me from the ground view.

Best way to go there is to board a Kenya airways flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro or Dar-es-Salam to Kilimanjaro by Precision Air.

Bhargav

Ethiopia

Coffee-"Sangam" a good Indian restaurent-simple people. I am told that above 30% of the people in Addis Ababa are HIV positive. I stand corrected and wish that this figure is wrong. Poverty and malnourishment and people flocking from villages to cities are just common.

It is risky to get out of the hotel after 6 PM. Ethiopian Cultural restaurent is a big let down.

Bhargav

CONTINENT BORDER

Ottoman palace and Asia- Europe Border

Saudi Arabia

This is a country where you get free car servicing and free tissue papers boxes in Petrol filling stations. 1 litre of water is 10 times costlier than petrol. Go to Biriyani street in Riyadh or the Avadh restaurent for some great Indian delicacies. "Foodruckers" is also a great Amrican joint for junkies.

Are you aware that there are 500 varieties of dates grown in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Incredible taste.

Travelling in a "S" class Mercedes in the desert with no sight of any hamlet was a great experience.

Bhargav

DANCE TO THE TUNE OF SAMBA

Remember Vengaboys ?

Brazil...la.la.la.la.la.la.la.la. O' Brazil.............
Rio-de-Janiero- People dont have clothes. Oops..Lots of business opportunity to sell clothes. Got me wrong........Its fashion !!!!!!!!
Whether it is Copacabana, the virgin beach or the Redenter Christ, people throng all over Rio. Rio-Greatest tourist attraction for all beach lovers. Even Rio organises beach football. Football crazy country!
Football, Samba dance, Cheese balls, and high spirits. Its all in Brazil.

Bhargav

PAKISTAN

I am probably / arguably the only person in my khaandaan to be in Pakistan. Before arriving at Pakistan, I was under the influence of three myths.
1. "RAM" is a bad word in Pakistan.
To my disbelief, I came to know that the name "Lahore" is derived from "Lava" son of Lord Rama. In the middle of the city and even in the Museum this is clearly mentioned and people have no qualms to talk about it.
2. I found more burkhas in Hyderabad than in Lahore. Girls are freely moving in the country and even in the late night I saw them coming to restaurents without parenteral help. There are even all women restaurents!!!
3. What would you do if you are a shop keeper in Vizag and some one stepped into your shop introducing himself as a Pakistani? Mixed feeling! Strange! I thought so exactly the same way when I was in the Anarkalai Market at Lahore. To my utter surprise, when they knew that I am from India, one shopkeeper offered me 1 shirt free on purchase of 3 shirts!

Our partner in Pakistan hosted a all vegetarian dinner in our honour. Pakistan is an eye opener for me and how incredibly similar to India! This is also the greatest example of how politicians can divide people and inject hatred.

Bhargav

TURKISH DELIGHT

It is a magnificent place. Istanbul is full of life. You can kill your time walking around Takshin square- my favourite place in Istanbul. Ask for "Ayran" and you will get butter milk. Sleek lanes reminds me of old Europe and the ottoman empire. New highways are for the most modern Cars. A drive to Ankara is a refreshing experience. Covered 400 kms journey from Istanbul to Ankara in just 3 hours and 20 minutes. Anatalya is another magnificent place on earth overlooking mediterranian sea. Wanna watch waterfall falling in front of you and you behind it? Anatalya offers the most exhilirating experience. People are warm and hospitable, though they cant speak English. Turkish economy is also very strong. 1 USD fetches only 1.25 Turkish Liras (YTL). I stood on the border of two countries, but standing on the border of two continents has been the most thrilling experience. I saw the Asia-Europe border in Istanbul. Mediterranians are different breed. Dont forget Nizam of Hyderabad married to a Turkish girl only.

Bhargav

DUBAI

Dubai is like a mirage for me. Buildings are just made up of steel and glass on a desert giving a wonderful sight. Hotel in the middle of a sea! Unbelievable !!
I enjoyed dining at Sarvana Bhavan, Kamat Hotel and Vaishnav Bhojanalaya. Mumbai Chowpaty Hotel is definitely a good Indian fast food joint.
Can you believe that you can actually do ice skiing in UAE! Its just drive a couple of kms away on the way to Abu Dhabi from Dubai.
Dubai is one place I think will last for ever even if all the oil wells go dry.
Visited my cousin Sunita and her family.

Bhargav

Red Salute

Friends,

I would like to remember Moscow as a place with roads that are unusually wide, metro train that is a kilometer under ground, railway / metro station looks like a palace, Kremlin actually painted red, Uri Gagarin a local hero and People who don't understand English but knows Raj Kapoor, Amitabh and Shah Rukh.

Amazing!!!!!!!!

Bhargav

Mermaid in Scandinavia

Oh.. Europe. Its so relaxing.
I checked from my Hotel reception about the famous spots in Copenhagen. Mermaid.. Of Course.. pat came the answer.
I was excited to see the mermaid and planned to just take the desereted road for a walk. I bought one ice cream for company just to feel how ice cream can give kick when the climate is cold.
I cant beleive that I could actually see a mermaid.
Finally, I could see the mermaid.
Aghast...
Its shockingly small and not well maintained.

There are couple of Indian Restaurents in Copenhagen. BINDIA- Food is OK, but you have to shell out 20 DKK over and above your food bill, if you are buying any drink. Now, I would say that is absolute loot. There is also Indian Taj Restaurent, which is very good and is situated near Tivoli Gardens.


Bhargav

Giant Pyramids- Man made wonder

I was awestruck for a while and could not believe myself that I was standing in front of Giant Pyramids made of approximately 2.5 million boulders or limestones with 6'x4'x5' dimensions, brought from a distant 80 km quarry. It was rolled on wooden logs and all this happened nearly 4500 years ago. Amazing!!

Thanks to natural disasters, first pyramid constructed in Giza is now 9 feet smaller since its construction. Authorities have erected a pole on top of it for the benefit of the visitors to assess the actual height. All these pyramids are on the West of Nile. In ancient Egypt, people used to believe that anything that rises in the East will go down in the west and again rise from the East, like the "Sun". Sun in ancient Egypt was called as "God Ra". Similarly they felt that their beloved king will rise from the east one day if he is buried properly in the west.

Today there are three pyramids in Giza and a Sphinx. They beleive that Sphinx was quite a perfect depiction of character, who has the body of a Lion and mind of a human being.

I was also amazed to see 10 mummies in the museum in downtown and can not beleive that even the hair of the mummies are still preserved perfectly. What a marvellous display of technology to keep ancient things for centuries.

Nile river cruise is a perfect getaway for travellers.

Bhargav

Mongolia

In my wildest of dreams, I never had imagined that I could land up in Mongolia. Mongolians are a very daring community and during Chenggis Khaan period, they invaded most parts of Europe, China , India etc. I was told that most of the Sumo wrestlers are from Mongolia. I was surprised. Can you imagine that for 2.5 million human population in Mongolia there are almost 2.7 million horses. Almost a horse per person ! Ancient warriors in Mongolia used horses to fight wars. Mongolia has a unique culture, but I could hardly see anything on religion. Some people say that they are buddhists. May be ! But I haven't come across one pagoda or a buddhist monk during my stay. Disintegration of Russian Union had a lot of impact on Mongolia.

To my surprise I found lot of Indian restaurants in UlaanBatar, Mongolia. Taj Mahal is one of them. Even Los Bandidos is also good.

Being a land locked country, they depend a lot on China / Korea for imports through sea route. Commodities are quite expensive.

I travelled Ulaan Batar during February and it was quite cold. Temperatures was -25 degrees and even to stand outside for couple of minutes was just killing. However, a young Mongol could jolly well play in a field covered fully with snow.

Small circular tent houses are often found in the country side and people stay there. In the centre of the tent house, there is a chimney and tea is continously boiled there. They have a unique dress and it helps them mount on a horse easily and even protect the toughest winter.

Mongols normally eat Meat of Cattle and Sheep. I am surprised that not many eat Pork or Chicken. No wonder the Pig population is about 0.2 million while cattle and sheep put together are about 17 million. Tasted horse milk and curd made of horse milk. Yaaak!!

People are very hospitable and hard working. I loved that place.

Bhargav