Colosseum - Part Gore , Part Glory

Inch closer to the Colosseum and we had already started to have that amazing feeling of going back to emperor's era. One of the best preserved monument where the stories come alive as you start to walk.

Colosseum , being a top attraction and the representation of the Rome there is very little to be proud of this monument as its more of tragic,sacrifices and politics than glory

Colosseum was initially built for entertainment purpose where water was pumped into middle of stage to create a theatrical show and also gain public confidence, no doubt Romans were into politics way back.

Vantage view of the center stage

When Colosseum was converted as fight arena, atleast 1000 lives were killed including animals and humans during the opening day.

As this continued and the blood thirsty crowd enjoyed the show, its said that Romans drew lot of the animals to extinctions and large bears were one of them.

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Trap doors and space for the movement beneath the stage

During these time, Gladiator's were fighting for their lives and killing each others along with slaves and countless animals for public fun.

Underground passage beneath the stage , used for water movement and cleaning of all the blood shed

Beneath the stage thousands of slaves and animals lived in dark for years, cleaning the bloodshed. Few of the trap doors and underground passages are still visible from where the animals enter the stage to make the fight thrilling and amuse the crowd.

View of the Colosseum from Roman Forum

Below are few tips and information which will help to enjoy the visit

• Entire duration might take up to 3 to 4 hours based on queue and visiting season
• Start very early and avoid taxi as public transports are available to reach Colosseum and as the saying goes “Rome is best explored on foot”
• During the time of visit ensure to be very ahead of time as there is always a lengthy queue and do book the entry well in advance.
• Check the possibility of booking for underground tour , which is reopened to public and is very informative and worth it
• The very moment you are entering the boundary of the Colosseum there are people with Gladiator outfit who will be very friendly to take your photos and next thing you know is ending up paying tips so if you don't need avoid it, else enjoy the photos :)

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Fitness + Mobile :)

There are always interesting and new ideas around you and its gets doubled when you are travelling.
We are always on a look out for one and make sure not to miss an opportunity.

Below is one of the them which we found in city of Bordeaux France, in an train station.

Idea is very simple , if one wants to charge the mobile then do a Bicycle work out :) , How much you are fit based on that your mobile will be charged :)

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Matterhorn - Alps between Switzerland and Italy

Matterhorn - Second most highest peak in Zermatt, the border between Switzerland and Italy.

Was one of the unforgettable journey and experience of a life time.It was winter and the right season for the Swiss people to Ski and no doubt this is one the skiers paradise.

More exciting stories and experience to follow :)

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Venice Photo Walk - City on water

Vantage view of the city Venice , the one which will always leaves you speechless

View from Ponte ( bridge ) Rialto , local fish market and and food place for Venetians

Venice is filled with small bridges and narrow alleys , wonder in each corner

It was famous carnival time , with masks and trendy dress.

View from Dell Academia bridge

Gondola ride between the water steets

Famous Italian pastas with eye catching colors

View of an upper bridge connecting between the buildings , one of the common sights yet so fascinating

Bell tower view and reflection from the hotel where we stayed, all boats parked and covered

One boat per house is common , mode of the transport

Piazza San Marco , where the dance stage is being dismantled as the carnival is over

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Kuala Lumpur - With a different view

Always believed being a localite than a tourist will help to discover new places or more likely to  fall in love with a place much quicker.

With the same note , this trip to Kuala Lumpur we enjoyed the local food , majority of our commutes was in public transport and lived in a cozy condominium rather than a hotel.

Wonderful view from the condominium which we stayed for two days in Bukit Bintang locality.Closest to city center yet out of the main traffic

Was thrilled to experience the KLIA Express train, which is a direct train from Airport to City within 30 mins, where taxi will take easily 1 hour. There are also LRT & MRT train stations which will help to navigate between various locations with ease.

We found this far more comfortable than hiring a taxi , as there is no fixed fare.

Night life is vibrant in Kuala Lumpur. Walkable from the place is “Changkat Street” famous for pubs , restaurant and perfect for a night life.

If you really enjoy Jazz on a late evening , do ensure to check out a place called “No Black Tie”. Do make reservations to avoid disappointments during weekends.

Flower display at Local Market in china town

Genting is under construction until 2016 and currently taking a huge makeover with Fox Studios, so better avoid any plans. However this did not stop us from visiting, and the weather never disappointed us.

Photo was taken around 12:00 PM and not at 6:00 AM during the cable car journey towards Genting. Covered with mist

Lone cable car in sight, even though there are more than 20 ahead us

Its almost time for dinner. Marinis is one of the restaurant at 57th floor offering Italian cuisine and situated next to twin tower and perfect for special occasion dinner. This is the maximum up close and personal view one can get of the Twin Tower.

Closest view of  Petronas Twin Towers from Marines@57

Its time for you to add your experiences of Kuala Lumpur. Feel free to leave any queries/ suggestions/comments. 

As always love to hear your feedback.

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Bollywood Veggies - A Green Dot

Was in a search for a short day trip and simultaneously looking out for location which is out of ordinary. That's when i came across “Bollywood Veggies”. Set in the midst of lush green farms and no skyscrapers to be seen in the vicinity. Yes its in Singapore.

“Bollywood Veggies” located near Sungei Buloh Wetland is a restaurant surrounded with various in-house grown fruits , veggies along with a pond, butterfly park and abundance of place to relax.

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Takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the place, suggestion is to ramble around a bit and then walk few meters to find the place rather than just alighting in front of the restaurant by taxi or by any other mode of transport.

For us the best part was to walk in drizzling rain to reach the place :)

Surely worth a weekend and not to miss if you are looking something different to do in Singapore other than shopping or mall hopping.

Don’t let the name mislead you, for food options you will find both veg and non-veg. Few interesting and different healthy choices available.

If you have already been here or after visiting , don't forget to share your view and experience as comments. Do add if you have witnessed anything new :)

More details can be found in website http://bollywoodveggies.com/  or feel free to reach me any time for more details.

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24 Hours in Hanoi

Hanoi was last stop of our Vietnam travel and we had only 24 hours to explore this beautiful city before wrapping up .

Below are few of our experience and tips on what to do in Hanoi, if one has 24 hours

One of the choice is to stay in Old Quarter area which is the most busiest, oldest and vibrant locality situated in heart of Hanoi. There are plenty of affordable and yet clean accommodations available in old quarter.

If its Friday or Saturday you can visit night market. Nothing to worry if its not a weekend, as this place has got all you need. Local food , international cafes , clothing , bags and its all a walk away

If you are staying in Old Quarter locality then you won’t miss Hoan Kiem Lake , an iconic lake situated in the middle of Hanoi and minutes away from Old Quarter.

Do not miss the Vietnam coffee , trademark is it comes with personnel filter in each cup.  

Vietnam Coffee in Old Quarter

Eateries are not a problem in old quarter , From local delicacy to multinational cuisine are available. If you want to savor Indian food, suggestion is not to miss Namaste ( translates to welcome ) Vietnam

Our day started with early visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum , where Vietnam’s great freedom fighter Ho Chi Minh body is preserved till date. Amazing discipline and respect is maintained throughout the site

Next stop was “Temple of Literature” the first university of Vietnam , which will exhibit the importance of literature and studies shown in old age and introduction of Confucius the Chinese scholar.

Better to hire a guide who can help you to go around the museum and understand the history

 

Entrance to "Temple of Literature"

Confucius the Chinese scholar

Once students are graduated , as a symbol of respect they might celebrate
their graduation in Temple of Literature.
Initially we misunderstood for marriage celebrations :P

Vietnam traditional music played at the end of "Temple of Literature"

It was almost time to head back to the Hanoi Airport , wish we had more time to explore the city visit various war museums and lot of surprises city had to offer.

Even it was just 24 hours Hanoi left a lasting impression on us.

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