June 2008 ~ Travel In Home

A Happy Birthday in Arles

Yesterday I celebrated my birthday with a trip to Arles, in which I got to see ancient Roman tombs and other good stuff in a museum followed by Romanesque sculptures on a cathedral. Then we had a nice outdoor dinner back in Aigues-Mortes. Perfect! My favorite exhibit in the museum, an Early Christian sarcophagus from around 330[...]

by Jour ~ Monday, June 30, 2008 0 comments

She is part of the Coorg trail too

We stopped at a Dargha enroute to Bhagamandala and it was closed as well..We were planning to leave, but this lady held us back. My friend Kamalee was quite enamored by her that she requested me to take this picture . She posed for us willingly, but our questions remained unanswered[...]

by Jour ~ Sunday, June 29, 2008 0 comments

Post card from Coorg

One of my favourite pictures from my Coorg album. The roads are like this - empty, quiet and serene. The lone busstand looks pictureque,except that I hardly see buses or people waiting for buses. Sometimes roads like these lead to coffee plantations or open fie[...]

by Jour ~ Sunday, June 29, 2008 0 comments

The Camargue

Greetings from the Camargue, a region of ultra-flat wetlands south of Arles known for white horses, black bulls, cowboys, flamingos, salt and rice. And wine, of course, as with everywhere in France. We are still in Provence, but on its western edge. It is approximately a gazillion degrees outside but we are beginning to adapt. A[...]

by Jour ~ Saturday, June 28, 2008 0 comments

Coorg Diaries - Day two(part one)

Our journey into Coorg's heritage took us on a spiritual quest - atop mountains, inside forests and coffee estates and by the river side. Day two was packed. On agenda were the two Iguthappa temples , Chinnathappa temple, the abode of Panagalammai , a visit to a Dargha , Bhagamandala[...]

by Jour ~ Friday, June 27, 2008 0 comments

And back on the trail

A sudden assignment took me to Javagal in Hassan district and thereafter to Coorg yet again and I am now back, finished with the article and the pictures..We are working on a special on homestays and discussing the merits of homestays wrt resorts. While I do think both offer unique experiences[...]

by Jour ~ Thursday, June 26, 2008 0 comments

In the Manner of Grace Kelly or Similar*

*This is a movie/book quote. Can you name it?This evening we took a fantastic drive to Monaco along The Corniches, the winding roads seen often in movies (including at least one Bond!) and where poor Princess Grace died in a car accident. There are three Corniches, each one higher up the cliff than the last. We drove to Monaco on[...]

by Jour ~ Wednesday, June 25, 2008 0 comments

Nice, Continued

The good times are continuing here in Nice. We did end up going to the beach late afternoon yesterday and it was absolutely glorious! Sorry there are no pictures, but we didn't want to leave our cameras unattended on the beach while swimming. Nice's beaches aren't sandy but made of large, smooth, rounded rocks. It can be a little[...]

by Jour ~ Tuesday, June 24, 2008 0 comments

Nice is Definitely Nicer

Greetings from the French Riviera! We are very happy in Nice and so glad we changed our plans. Our hotel room is spacious and stylish with functioning air conditioning, and the ocean is as beautiful as we remember. It is still very hot, but that's always more bearable at the beach!Our arrival in Nice yesterday coincided with the[...]

by Jour ~ Monday, June 23, 2008 0 comments

A Week in Provence

This not-terribly-clever title is a reference to Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence, a funny narrative of an Englishman's adventures buying a house and living in Provence. I recommend it as good light summer reading if you haven't read it already.This post comes to you from behind the window at top right, in the city of Aix-en-Provence.Happy[...]

by Jour ~ Sunday, June 22, 2008 0 comments

Coorg Diaries -interrupted

Thank you for your patience for travelling with me on the Coorg trail. This trip to Coorg has been different from the earlier trips that Ive done to this region as I was on a historic and spiritual quest. I have to interrupt this trail as I am travelling again this weekend and I will[...]

by Jour ~ Thursday, June 19, 2008 0 comments

Ah, Sunny Provence

Greetings again from Provence, where it is finally, actually, hot! Too hot, really. We got good and sunburned yesterday and the temperature reached the 90s this afternoon.This is our last night based in Orange and the last few days have been busy ones. As soon as the rain stopped we got out on the road, exploring the countryside[...]

by Jour ~ Thursday, June 19, 2008 0 comments

Le Puy and Orange

Partway through the long drive described in the last post we stopped in Le Puy en Velay, which is the largest city in a fairly remote and mountainous area. Every route out of the city goes over a pass of 1000m (3280ft) or higher, so it's pretty isolated in the winter. It is built on several volcanic formations and makes an interesting[...]

by Jour ~ Tuesday, June 17, 2008 0 comments

Coorg Diaries -Day one (continued)

It was the lunch hour and we were the only ones around . We heard stories and folk lore about how Coorg got its name. The river Cauvery originates here at Talacauvery and is worshipped by the locals and hence the name “Kodava “ which means blessed by mother Cauvery. Kod means give and[...]