Barbados - A Dream in my Bucket List

Nature is always an underrated beauty. There is more thrill in travelling to explore nature, culture and customs, than just travelling to places to try out cuisines and shopping around. Barbados is a dream destination for all nature lovers. With tide pools, cliffs, coral reefs, underground lakes and caves, coral rocks and beaches with palm trees the island stands as one of the most sought after travel inspiration destinations across the world. The land is an unspoilt haven for many creatures and houses some of the indigenous flora and fauna.

Barbados is an island country in southeastern Caribbean Sea, covering an area of 432 square kilometres. English is the official language of the country. Barbados has tropical monsoon climate round the year with mild breeze. The period from June to November witnesses rain in the entire climate.

The playful waves and pink sand makes the Crane Beach one among the top beaches of the world. The gentle breeze that sways the coconut grooves also adds to it beauty. The beach is famous for Boogie boarding and body surfing. The beach has always been a favourite for honeymooners. The Crane Beach Resort, located near the beach ensures great stay for the visitors and also ensures every possible comfort to the visitors.

Bathsheba is a rugged beach towards the eastern coast. At Bathsheba beach, large rock formations stand in the beach giving the view of picturesque beauty. These rocks are broken rock formations from the ancient coral reef. The pools of Bathsheba are carved in inshore coral reefs. Visitors sit in them with a drink and enjoy the enriching experience of the natural whirlpool created in them.

Oistins Bay Garden is a small fishing town towards the south coast. Different vendors have different cooking style. They have wide range of fish and meat which is prepared in front of the customers. People take their seat in informal setting and enjoy their food while enjoying music. During weekends, late night visits general keep the customers waiting for long time as the queue gets longer. Art and craft items like jewellery, pottery, wood carvings, pottery, clothing and accessories are also available for sale at the beach.

Bajan Bus is one of the historic treasures of this island country. The bus gives the tourists a tour around the scenic beauty, the life of locals and sights of some of the photogenic places. The bus takes around 30 passengers on shared basis or rent. The bus stops for a rum punch and buffet lunch.

Andromeda Botanic Gardens houses several flowering plants and tropical plants. The garden houses, humming birds, resident monkeys and over six hundred different variety of plants. The garden is a delight for horticulturists. There is also a cafe and a place nearby to buy crafts.

The Atlantis Submarine tour is a forty minute journey to 150 feet below the sea level and allows visitors to the sea the sea bed as a playground. The journey leaves the visitors enthralled by the view of amazing coral formations and sea life. The co-pilot shares different information and adventures about the sea life.

Barbados Earthwork Pottery is located near St. Thomas and it manufactures some of the attractive and usable pottery in the finest class. Dinnerware and serving pieces come in 150 shapes and 36 patterns. The entry is free but the aesthetic tempts almost every visitor to buy a gift or a dinner piece. This Caribbean pottery place is a must visit.

Barbados is the birthplace of oldest distilled spirit – rum. Mount Gay Distillery, founded in 1703 is believed to be the oldest manufacturer of rum. Rum has been the essence of Caribbean culture and Barbados rum is considered to be the best rum in the world. There are several recipes of rum across Barbados and each the uniqueness of each recipe adds a better experience of self-exploration.

The nightlife at this island is also highly appreciated. There are plenty of places to grab a cocktail, dance, play arcade games or even set out on a dinner cruise. There are plenty of festivals happening all throughout the year where crowd from all around the year drop in.

A visit to this island will definitely prove to be more than awesome. The experience here starts with a gentle smile, goes on with inquisitiveness, builds more delight with every different facet of the island and leaves everyone with an urge to visit again. The narrows roads and colourful lives give a wonderful experience of Caribbean culture exploration.

This post is submitted for Lufthansa's #TheBlindList contest.  So pack your bags and #SayYesToTheWorld.

Rise against fear

As a child I always feared to speak in front of the crowd. I had a fear of being broken down or been insulted. I never figured out how this fear developed within me. It was perhaps because of the fear of confronting people in their eyes. I never dared to face the crowd. It was also not like I tried and I was insulted.

The fear remained until college days. I never stood up to speak anything. I stayed away from the crowd. I never thought of fighting the fear within me.

It was the day of my technical seminar in my college. I had prepared a very good presentation on driverless cars. It was a trending topic and my effort had made the presentation a remarkable one. I was to give the presentation in front of my friends and the Head of the Department. I was not at all prepared with my presentation. I had a good hold on English and an adequate stock of vocabulary; but still I was not prepared. All I lacked was the confidence in me. I thought to skip it, which no one had ever done it history. I was broken inside. I could not gather the stamina inside to stand up and face everyone and elaborate everything that I had jolted in the slides. I took a few minutes for myself. I sat down and asked myself that was I a loser that I was having thoughts of quitting and giving up. I sat alone and recalled a few incidents from my childhood. I recalled the incident when I assisted my father in confronting robbers in a train and finally we achieved victory over them. I also recalled incidents of my days in scouts and guides. I recalled incidents of my philanthropy and blood donations which saved two lives at different odd situations. I fought against many odds. I didn't fail in them. I was not at all a loser. If I could have stood up against those I became pretty sure to have easily made through the seminar.

I stood up on my turn. I walked and took my stand. I prayed to Almighty for little help. I knew it was just for a few minutes and I would make through it. I spoke out in front of the sitting crowd. It was smooth and unimaginable. I couldn't imagine that it could have been that easy to speak in front of such a huge crowd. I spoke without any preparation and my presentation ultimately brought highest marks in my entire group. I nailed the presentation. It was easy and I finally made through it.

Today in my MBA, I am here giving presentations and speaking fearlessly and confidently.

Thanks to Mountain Dew!! I have learned to rise against fear..

5 places I wish to visit

I don't want to settle in any narrow corner of the world and get confined to any territory. I want to travel the entire world.

Before I step ahead and travel the entire world, I am much eager to explore the place from where I belong - North-East India.

I am born in midst of extreme natural beauty. Greenery, Wildlife, Snow and overflowing rivers are the sites that I have always wanted to dwell across ever since a child. Five places I would like to explore as an amateur traveler are -

1. Sivasagar

Sivasagar is town located in Upper Assam, 360 Kilometers from Guwahati. Sivasagar was previously the capital of Ahom Kingdom. It is the home to many ancient heritages.

Devidol is the temple of Hindu Goddess Durga that has been standing tall for three centuries. The architecture speaks all about the Golden days of Assam History.

Sivadol is one of the tallest Shiva temple of the world. It was built about three centuries back. The center of attraction there mainly is the gigantic architecture and religious values. It has three temples built on the bank of Sivasagar Tank. All the three were built by Queen Ambika, wife of King Shiva Singha.

Kareng Ghar is a four storied building and arranged in gradually receding towers of which only two can be seen.The top floor has a dome like roof with a chamber. The groud floor has three west facing halls with a front and rear chamber. The palace is well secured by digging canals around the place and then building fort like walls around it.

Ranghar is a double storied royal pavilion of Ahom Kings with unique architectural features. It ias an unique amphitheater built by the Ahom Kings, which symbolizes the pride of Ahom Kingdom. It resembles the Roman Colosseum in the fact that Ahom Kings used this as a platform of enjoying sports.  

2. Teesta & Rangit River

The nearest town to access there two rivers is Kalimpong. White Water rafting has been one of my childhood wishes. Rivers for ages have been the arteries of communication and culture, today can be explored for sports and recreation. The spells of swift, intense encounters with foaming, roaring waters are punctuated by many more longer periods of gentle floating with opportunities to observe natural wonders along continuously varying canvas of the river banks. 

3. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam is one of the biodiversity hot spot. The scenic beauty includes a range of forested hills, alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen forests. The site provides critical and viable habitat for rare and endangered species including tiger, greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog, and Bengal florican. Manas has exceptional importance with the Indian sub-continents protected areas, as one of the most significant remaining natural areas in the region, where size able populations of large number of threatened species continue to survive.

4. Hornbill Festival

Hornbill festival is celebrated every year in between 1st to 10th December in Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is around 12 Kms from Kohima. The festival shows a melange of cultural display under one roof. All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival. The festival aims to protect the rich and varied culture of the state. The week long festival unites one and all in Nagaland and people enjoy the colorful performances, crafts, sports, food, games and ceremonies. Traditional arts include paintings, wood carvings and sculptures. Festival highlights include traditional Naga Morungs Exhibition and sale of arts and crafts, food stalls, Herbal Medicine stalls, flower shows and sales, Cultural Medley - songs and dances, fashion shows, Beauty Contest, Traditional Archery, Naga Wrestling, Indigenous games and musical concert.  

5. Mawlynnong Village

Mawlynnong Village in East Khasi Hills, also referred to as 'Gods Own Garden' , has won the acclaim of being the cleanest village in Asia in 2003. Mawlynnong is located 90 Kms from Shillong and 92 Kms from Cherapunjee. The onus to keep the village clean lies with every person residing in the village. Local cleaning the roads, picking up leaves and throwing garbage in the bin is a common sight. Bamboo garbage bins adorn every nook and corner of the village highlight the consciousness of cleanliness among the villagers. Cleanliness is an old tradition and a way of life for all villagers. The village gives an experience of walking on a live root bridge, 85 feet tall sky walk and a breath taking view of Bangladesh Border. Suprisingly the village has 100 percent literacy rate.

This is a post for Indispire Edition - 8 of Indiblogger. 

I submit this post today on the day of Assamese New Year.  

Stayfree day & night..

Those few nights won't be the same,

crying and curtailing down to pain,

discorded and frustrated alone in the house,

and isolated to stray away in misery,

Will someday these downpours of Orthodox surcease,

and our mother's be granted peace..

Menstruation marks the birth of womanhood in a girl and is called for some abrupt social and physical changes. The characteristics being devastating and  full of pain. The ancient Orthodox Indian culture made these few days of pain even more tiresome by isolating the lady to a corner in the house and with some superstitious belief that she turns to a untouchable withing this period. Today our society may laugh at such rubbish thought's but perhaps this was the phase our grand-mother's had to pass through. 

On a hand we are expecting the feminine society to stand at the same zenith with the masculine society in every sphere and on the other there is still an orthodox society that belief's in such thoughts.

Stayfree now builds this platform to let every woman stand on the same height as that of man. Stayfree let's every girl compete with the rest of the world. And why not? We belong to a land of brave women like Rani Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu and Durga Bhabi. Don't we see that same Sarojini Naidu inside ever girl born in this era? Yes we do.

Even during those day's of discomfort there's Stayfree that allows her to sleep in peace and wake up to stand brave in the rat race. Why should a girl postpone her success because of her menstrual cycle? 

Today she know,

that she won't be alone,

sad and stabbed to solitary,

and no mood offs or any tear,

when today she has a Stayfree,

to keep her forever happy..

I feel that there must be no restriction on expressing my view on this topic, just because I belong to the opposite gender. If I can desire for a woman to understand me, I can also step ahead and understand a woman.

Submitted for the Stayfree Blog Contest.

I express my gratitude to every fellow blogger who did stand up for such a noble cause. Happy Blogging Mates!!