Wagah border

I didn’t know that we have a ‘Berlin Wall of Asia’, here, in this part of the continent till I tried to google Wagah border. Not a very cheerful comparison since the Berlin Wall is a closed chapter in history now. A political and historical icon, this ceremonial border, however, continues to attract thousands of visitors from both sides to witness the popular flag lowering ceremony, everyday, at dusk.

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An hour long journey from Amritsar, the drive to Wagah border is picturesque enough to behold many sights and shivers. To me, going to the border meant getting closer to a divided history.

Once you walk past the many security check points; convoluted buildings, barriers and roads mark both sides of the border. The Swarna Jayanthi gate, which is the entry gate of the outpost, commands the magnificent scenery of verdant landscapes. The ceremony starts thirty minutes before the sunset. As a prelude to the ceremony, public address systems on both sides play the most resounding patriotic songs. The BSF jawans encourage women and children to hold the national flag and sprint towards the gates. And what follows next is unimaginable. Women and children dance to the scores of not just patriotic songs but latest Bollywood tracks too. Expect an adrenalin rush and the mood to be palpable. In an electric ambience, the national pride swells with a frenzied people cheering on their country’s soldiers through the squashing parade of their ritual giant-bug. At Wagah Border, the evening with the Retreat ceremony is very colorful and charming. The changing of guards, pageantry and the pomp grabs a large gathering which makes an appealing spectacle. The soldiers are more than 7ft tall if you count the huge fan-shaped headdresses they waggle at each other like peacocks; just inches apart either side of the India-Pakistan border. For 45 minutes every sunset they high kick, stamp, speed march and shout their way through a choreographed routine that ends in the lowering of both flags and the slamming of the border gates. Expect the ride back from Wagah to be silent and reflective as the mind resonates to the melody of the songs like Ae mere pyaare watan tujhpe dil kurbaan!

Watch out: You will be refrained from carrying mobiles, bags and other valuables inside the gates. Leave them in a locker outside the gate or in your car.

How to get there: You can take a taxi or bus to reach Wagah border, which is around 30 kms Amritsar.

Bako National Park, Kuching

When was the last time I did something for the first time? Answer: When I took a jungle trek at the Bako National Park in Kuching. Just 37 kms by road from Kuching, Bako can be easily visited in a day. The park can be reached by a 20-minute boat ride from Kampung Bako.

The journey takes you past beautiful nipah palms, coconut plantations and mangrove swamps. What captures your attention at Bako is the way nature has delightfully combined spectacular landscape of steep coastline cliffs, weather-eroded rock formations and wave-beaten sea stacks with abundant flora and fauna, and wildlife. 

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Not only is Bako compact, it's easy to explore. A system of 16 colour-coded walking trails offers full day jungle hikes to gentle strolls. The circular Lintang trail passes through all of Bako's vegetation types from dipterocarp forest, scrub-like padang, swamp forest, mangroves and delicate cliff vegetation. The Telok Delima and Telok Paku trails are the best vantage. The park is a treasure chest of flora and fauna. With its rainforest abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, exotic plant life, secluded beaches and trekking trails, Bako offers visitors an excellent introduction to the rainforests of Borneo.

Coming from a bustling city like Mumbai to the quietude of Bako, I was thrilled at the wide range of vegetation including the varieties of pitcher plants and wild orchids. The proboscis monkey, only found in Borneo, may be the star of the wildlife show but it has a supporting cast of long tailed macaque monkeys, usually patrolling the park headquarters, silvered leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and squirrels. Bird watchers are spoiled for choice. More than 150 species have been recorded at Bako, including some rare varieties. The wildlife is most active around dusk and dawn, so an overnight stay is recommended if you want to get as many snapshots of the park's inhabitants as possible. Swimming, beach combing at low tide and sunset watching are popular activities along the sandy bays of the Park.

The best time to visit the park is from April through September. It is not advisable to go there during the months of October until March as the sea gets rough due to the monsoon and access to the park may not be possible.

Tip: Many of the trails have long sections without any shade, so make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.

Cameron Highlands

Colonial England has forever left its mark on the Cameron Highlands, three and a half hours drive from Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Walks through lovely little villages, visits to the butterfly, strawberry, honey bee farms and sprawling tea plantations or meals at the delightful Tudor-styled country inns, are all pleasurable and relaxing activities to be experienced here.

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From strawberry farms to tea plantations and butterfly parks to the mossy forest, Cameron Highlands has it all.  You can't really visit the Highlands and not go to a tea plantation...well, ok you could, but it'd be a bit like going to Agra and not seeing the Taj Mahal. Our visit to the Boh Tea Plantation centre was a gastronomic trip back to colonial times when tigers and leopards roamed free and tea was always served in the best British tradition. The tea plantations here carpet the surrounding valleys in a fine layer of yellow green tea leaves, and most of them are open to tourists and visitors to purchase tea bags and watch the workers there plucking tea as well as enjoy a simmering hot cup of tea with scones.

Being a primarily agricultural domain, you can get to see an abundance of vegetables and fruits farms here. As the leading producer of flowers and tea in Malaysia, Cameron Highlands occupies you with a lovely sight of extraordinary flowers that you won’t see flourishing elsewhere in Malaysia.

The Gunung Brinchang trail takes you to the summit of the highest peak in the Highlands. While it is an adventurous trail, more suitable for the fit who enjoy a challenging climb, the peak of Mount Brinchang boasts a spectacular view of the surrounding undulating hills of the Highlands on a clear day. Towards the peak itself, the middle of the trail passes through the fairy-like mossy forest, a rare upper mountain forest area that due to its structure and appearance is sometimes referred to as the elfin or dwarf forest.

Strawberry farms can be found almost everywhere in Cameron Highlands and all are open for visitors making them one of the top tourist attractions. The farms offer locally grown strawberries and home- made strawberry jams or tarts at a reasonable price.

You can visit the Highlands at any time of the year. The weather in Cameron Highlands is cool throughout the year so make sure to carry some woollens to stay warm.

How to get there: The only way to get Cameron Highlands is by road.

Dhanaulti, Uttaranchal

Set amidst thick virgin forests of deodars, oaks and rhododendrons, Dhanaulti is sleepy hamlet surrounded by green meadows, towering trees, and breathtaking views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. 

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Dhanaulti, a woody paradise about 30 kms from Mussoorie, made me forget where I am. Caressed by a bracing mountain zephyr, this hill station is just ideal for long walks up shady slopes or a quiet tête-à-tête amidst grassy glens. On entering Dhanaulti, the whispers of tall deodars greet you, as do the shouts of the dozen or so ‘ponywalas’ urging you to enjoy the sights on horseback. Considering that the numerous narrow winding tracks befit only the nimble footed this is an option I definitely recommend you to take at your own risk! The passage, at a height of 7,000 feet, offers an unending vista of snow-capped peaks in the north and moody rivers flowing though green valleys to the south. The most popular attraction here is the Eco Park. You didn’t really have to go running up mountains and paddle down the forests. If all you want to do is relax, and unwind or complete your bestseller, then just do it here. The gentle breeze and twitter of birds will keep you good company. Apple orchards can be seen in abundance and if you are lucky enough you can spot a langur or two or maybe a mountain goat on the hilly slopes.  The peace that enveloped me that evening comes only when the mind is at ease and the soul, tranquil. At Dhanaulti, this comes easily. 

Best time of the year:
Dhanaulti is a great destination at any time of the year, but avoid the monsoons. You are likely to get marooned because of a landslide or broken road at that time of year! The summer temperatures range from 31° C to 7.5° C and winter temperatures hover between 7° C and 1° C

How to reach:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun (85Kms) Taxis are available from the Airport. The nearest railhead is Dehradun (68 Kms), which is well connected by roads. Take the Tehri bypass from Mussoorie and drive down the Mussoorie – Chamba road.

Lake Tahoe, California

Split down the middle by the California and Nevada border, Lake Tahoe boasts of over 300 days of warm sunshine, 396 inches of annual snowfall, 18 world-class ski and snowboarding resorts, incredible golf courses,  fantastic hotels and casinos, and of course, beautiful blue Lake Tahoe itself. The skiing and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe is arguably the 'Best in the West'!  Beautiful sunshine, deep powder, long groomed runs all make Lake Tahoe and its many world class ski resorts a very special place to ski! Tahoe is also a very popular wedding and honeymoon destination, namely on Valentine's Day.

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My first glimpse of Lake Tahoe is one I’ll never forget; crystal blue waters, perfect sandy beaches surrounded by a spectacular alpine forest. What secrets does this view hold? It was time to discover all Lake Tahoe has to offer. The first part of the adventure was simply getting there! The 2.4-mile ride up the mountainside in the Gondola left me fascinated. The second part of the adventure was the park itself, complete with snow tubing, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and a 25-foot rock climbing wall! And since I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to skiing, I tried snow tubing. There's nothing better than gliding down a slope on a tube, feeling the cold spray of snow in your face! In the tubing area, tubes and riders are transported by tow lift to the top of the hill. Tubing is located mid-mountain just above the Gondola. Nothing beats racing family and friends down the hill in a gigantic doughnut.

The best time to visit Tahoe Lake depends most from what you want. If you don't want to ski, then the best time to visit Lake Tahoe is summer, when the margins of Tahoe Lake become great beach centers and temperatures don't freeze. September and October (and mid-Spring) are also very good months, without big crowds. These are also the cheapest months for accommodation. But if you want to ski, then November through May are the best months.

Watch out:

for the winter storms that can dump massive amounts of snow on the roads leading to Lake Tahoe, making car chains a pre-requisite.  

 Getting there:

During the ski season, the drive to Lake Tahoe can turn into a never-ending, slogging crawl. Taking a bus is one way you can relax and let someone else deal with it. The nearest commercial airports are Sacramento (about 2 hours away) and Reno, NV (30 minutes away).

You may often hear people speak of North or South Lake Tahoe. North Lake Tahoe lies mostly in California, and is best accessed via I-80 to CA 267.  South Lake Tahoe is the larger area, with more hotels and restaurants. It's partly in each state, with gambling casinos concentrated on the Nevada side of the border