11 minute read
Terracotta Army
The story of the Terracotta Army had long captivated me and my family. After witnessing it in person, our collective interest around it has only deepened.
The army comprises figures of soldiers who were meant to defend and protect the emperor in the afterlife. It was thus “laid to rest” with the emperor in 210-209 BCE.
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Most interesting is the fact that the soldiers are not exactly alike. Their height and stature vary in accordance with their position and role. The detailing that has gone into creating something like this is truly mind-blowing. For context, the Terracotta Army carries 8,000 soldiers, 520 horses, and 130 chariots.
Needless to say, when we saw it, it was surreal and felt as though the magnanimity of it all was beyond our comprehension.
Terracotta Army, China
Named as 8th Wonder of the World
Terracotta Army, China
Named as 8th Wonder of the World
Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand
Anyone who has been to these three locations will tell you that they are an absolute treat. The truly amazing appeal of these places is that they work really well for both, the lonely traveler and a family. For the former, these locations are nothing short of cultural retreats. As far as families go, they are the perfect vacation spots. This doesn’t mean that if you go as a family, you won’t be experiencing these places for their culture. It simply means that even if you want to visit them on a solo trip, you will not miss having someone to share the experience with you. There’s simply too much to see, do, and eat. If traveling is an immersive experience, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand can easily claim their rightful spots in the top 10.
Singapore
Singapore is a lovely city-state that I had the chance to visit with my lovely wife Prabha. There is a lot to see and do, but before we get to that, let me tell you how taken we were by the city’s amazing infrastructure. While there are many cities and countries around the world that boast the same, this is something truly remarkable in terms of Singapore. If you’re wondering why I think so, well, it’s because Singapore became an independent entity fairly recently.
The state gained sovereign status in August of 1965, when it separated from Malaysia. This was spurred by deep-rooted economic differences and political opinion. As a result, rifts and tensions took hold which led to rioting in 1964.
Bearing all this is mind, it’s amazing to see all that Singapore has to offer. The streets are clean enough to eat off, everyone follows the rule of law, the malls are teeming with activity, and the state gets a lot of tourists every year.
In many ways, Singapore is home to people of many different cultures. It is said that no other spot anywhere in the world can claim to house as many races as are present in Singapore. This is precisely why the citystate is called the “Melting Pot of the East.” To further enlighten those who don’t know, the multitude of ethnicities that call Singapore home include Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Culture and cultural heritage are an integral facet of all that Singapore stands for. The city-state also has a number of expats from across the globe. It is due to this that Singapore come s together to celebrate a number of different yet equally beautiful traditions, events, and festivals each year.
Talking about the trip, we wanted to take in as much as we possibly could. Singapore has something for everyone, and so we tried to balance it out.
I will now share details about the places we visited. Gardens by the Bay was a spot enjoyed by all of us. It is a nature park spread out over about 250 acres! It is situated close to the Marina Reservoir. There are three waterfront gardens, and there’s also a Flower Dome that is the largest greenhouse in the whole world. The whole point of Gardens by the Bay was to introduce more greenery. It is extremely popular among tourists.
My favorite part was the Cloud Forest. In nature, cloud forests are a special kind of tropical or subtropical forest. They feature a low-hanging cloud cover and cool temperatures. There is a lot of humidity though. The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay aims to replicate the same environment. It was a lovely experience because we took the elevator to go up to Cloud Mountain. We stepped out into a refreshing atmosphere, and leisurely walked down a circular track that surrounded a waterfall. We were mesmerized by ferns and orchids, and other beautiful flora.
Hong Kong
We wanted to start our trip by taking the famous Star Ferry, which dates back to 1880. We went to Victoria Harbor, and had to pay a small sum to ride it. The harbor itself was teeming with all kinds of activity, and just being there was also an experience in and of itself. We were especially in awe of the sprouting cluster of skyscrapers that make up the city’s magnificent skyline. Looking at this against the vibrant green of the mountains was one of the most beautiful sights.
We were clearly obsessed with the views of the city because we also wanted to view the city skyline from Victoria Peak. Commonly referred to as simply The Peak, we took the tram to the very top. On the way there, we took in all the sights. We got a closer look at the towering skyscrapers, the harbor, and even the nearby islands.
Hopping off the tram, we arrived at the Peak Galleria and Tower. It was brimming with shops and eateries. The observation deck was calling out to us, so we immediately went there first. Looking at the Peak from up there, we could see that it featured the most breathtaking scenery and trails. There were also other vantage points for us to explore and visit. We also found out that one trail, in particular, could lead us back down to the city! This entailed a mish-mash of the forest and a few roads. For those who want to visit this spot at night can even omit the tram ride and take a cab up to the top.
We also visited historic sites. First, we went to witness the 34-meter-tall statue of Big Buddha. For this, we went to Po Lin monastery. The statue was built in 1993, and only then did the area start getting foot traffic and tourists. Before that, it was secluded.
Given its overwhelming size, it wasn’t surprising for us to find out that the statue took more than a decade to build - 12 years to be exact. The views here were also a sight to behold, with the Big Buddha surrounded by lush greenery.
During our trip, we also paid a visit to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. We traveled to Sha Tin for the purpose. The monastery was a peaceful experience, and one that grounded us. The wonderful countryside was a sight for sore eyes. I found it interesting that it is located atop a hill. As was the case with the Big Buddha statue, this monastery entailed scaling a decent number of stairs that curve. We climbed close to 400 steps and found that this walking is actually part of the experience. Many golden statues were lining the stairs, and were more than a welcome attraction for us to view while ascending.
The statues were all different, and some exhibited funny expressions. When we reached the top, we saw an open square right outside the temple. Here, we saw even more statues and spent a fair bit of time taking pictures before entering the temple. Once inside, we saw more statues, smaller in size, and set against the walls. They were lined in such a way that they reached up to the ceiling. What’s most interesting about this monastery is that even though the name promises that it’s a site housing ten thousand Buddhas, it isn’t an actual monastery; there are no monks to be found. Moreover, there are more than ten thousand statues here. The temple was built not very long ago as you would assume, but rather in the 1950s. Even so, it is categorized as a site of historic value.
We took a leisurely walk through the park and discovered an aviary. This was a stretchedout area covered in netting. There were many species of birds flying about. It was such an immersive experience that I forgot for a second that I was in a park and not some kind of jungle or forest. We even went all the way up; from here, we got amazing views of birds perched on branches and nesting. Because there was plenty to do and see, we even paid a visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery. It is a Buddhist temple that was originally erected sometime in the 1930s. However, it was rebuilt in the nineties. Everything is made mostly of wood, which makes it all the more interesting to see in person. If that wasn’t enough, we even saw bonsai trees all around the Lotus Pond Garden.
We ended our trip to Hong Kong with a memorable hike. We had heard a lot about the Dragon’s Back Hike; it is hands down one of the most popular trails there. It was an amazing way to end this leg of our journey because we got to take in some more views. Upon hearing the words hike or trail, some people tend to think it’s going to be exhausting and that they’re perhaps not physically fit to attempt such activity. Let me tell you, though, that the Dragon’s Back Hike is not cumbersome at all.
Thailand
Many people think Thailand is famous only for its beaches. However, there are several locations within the country that have a lot of appeal for non-touristy travelers. Thailand is also one of those places that has something for everyone. If you’re the kind to spend the entire day on the beach, that’s fine. But if you want to find out how the locals live and eat, you can do that too.
We ventured off to the Phi Phi Islands. These islands have received worldwide acclaim, and for good reason. To get to the islands, we enjoyed an amazing speedboat ride which lasted almost an hour. Then we transferred to a ferry and before we knew it, we could see the beautiful islands we had heard so much about. There are two islands there - Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The former is more expansive by comparison, and witnesses lots of tourists flocking to it. It also invites visitors to partake in its vibrant and energetic night life. The Park is the second-largest in the country, and it is also among the most visited.
In Bangkok, we went to the Grand Palace. If you’ve seen photos of it, trust me, it’s a completely different experience to witness this structure in the flesh. It is easily one of the most popular landmarks in the city. It was built in 1782 and served as the royal residence for the King. The war ministry, multiple state departments, and the country’s mint were all housed in this building at one point. Even today, the Grand Palace enjoys a lofty status in the hearts and minds of all the locals. It is a symbol as much as it is a structure, and given its history and deep ties with the country, it all makes perfect sense. The beautifully intricate artistry can be seen in the architecture of the Grand Palace.
We found out later that the islands have been a marine national park since 1982. It is due to this, we were further informed, that the area hasn’t seen much development. The idea is to have it be a safe spot to nurture wildlife and marine life. There are plenty of fish and coral in the region, some of which we witnessed first-hand, given the crystal-clear waters. The name Similan can be traced back to the word sembilan in Malay. It means nine, and refers to the cluster of nine islands that comprise Similan Islands.
Alaska
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I must say this was another trip we had all been dreaming of. The sole reason for this was that we wanted to witness the northern lights and glaciers in all their glory. We planned a trip lasting 12 days, and thought this would be more than enough to take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful state.
We landed in Anchorage, and had already booked a glacier cruise to see the pristine glaciers Alaska is known for. On the way, we were lucky enough to also witness whales and seals in action. On land, we could see mountain goats and bears.
Since we were already in Anchorage, we made our way to the Mat-Su valleys to witness the northern lights. We were aware that the display might not be as breathtaking as it is in the northern parts of Alaska, such as in Fairbanks.
Enthusiasts of the natural phenomenon discourage people from going South for the purpose, but we still wanted to try our luck. And guess what, we managed to see the beautiful lights up in the sky, dazzling with green, orange, and purple hues.
Mexico
For our next trip, we decided to stick closer to home. A trip to Mexico had been in the works for a long time simply because the vibrancy of the culture attracted me greatly. We were there a short while, but got to see some wonderful places and eat fantastic, flavorsome food.
We started by paying a visit to the famous resort town of Acapulco. After relaxing there for a few days, we had had enough of the tourist experience and were more than ready to visit places where we could get to see the “real” Mexico.
We went to Mexico City and visited the Plaza del Zócalo, which is the city square. We visited churches and museums, and had the best time exploring the city on foot. While walking, we could smell tantalizing aromas and were perpetually hungry. We had somewhat of a tough time getting around Mexico City as compared to Acapulco, seeing as the majority of people communicate in Spanish in the former. We also went to the Museo Frida Kahlo, which was a treat for the eyes. We were fascinated because, for those who don’t know, the museum was previously Frida Kahlo’s home. To be in the presence of such greatness was truly grounding.
Called Casa Azul, or the Blue House, it was packed with history and art by the famed artist. There was also a beautifully quaint seating area where one could sit and enjoy the sound of chirping birds. After seeing everything the city had to offer, we made our way to Chichén Itzá. It is an archeological site that was once home to the Mayans. El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulcan as it is widely known, is the biggest of all the pyramids there.
All in all, our trip to Mexico was all that we expected and more. Not only did we get to see city life, but we also got to immerse ourselves in nature. Mexico was a truly enriching experience, one that grounded us greatly. It made us realize how much we rely on English to get by, but that it’s not the only language in the world.
The differences in our culture, our language, and our faith provide us with ample opportunities to learn and grow.
Hawaii
Our trip to Hawaii was one of our most memorable ones. Hawaii truly has the most amazing beaches. We spent two weeks there and most of our time was spent sun soaking at the beach. We also went snorkeling.
Next, we visited the Hawaii Volcanos National Park. It was an 11-mile road trip and along the way we also stopped for some hiking. Getting to experience a live volcano is something I don’t think I could ever forget. From the trails, we could see the sulfur banks that reminded us of active caldera beneath our feet.
After this we visited the Hawaii tropical garden where we got to see more than 2000 species of plants and flowers. The atmosphere here was amazing, the air was so clean and full of oxygen that I felt instantly refreshed.
Perhaps what made the trip truly memorable were our friends who joined us a week into our trip. Everything is better with friends. It was a trip full of laughter and smiles, many jokes were shared, many tales told.
L to R: Mr. & Mrs. Doddamani, Mr. & Mrs. Kalmat, Mr. & Mrs. Dhake and Mr. & Mrs. Gole
Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
