The Most Beautiful Beaches Gallery

Imagine a vast expanse of pristine blue, with waves tenderly lapping the rocks on the shore...

Yes! Today, it's going to be a breathtaking countdown of the top 10 best beaches in the world, along with dazzling photography from all over the world!

X. Palolem Beach, Goa, India

Yess...what better than to start with home? Goa's most remote yet posh beach, it is a favourite for people looking for peace and quiet in hermit huts. By far the cleanest beach in India, its crystal blue waters attracted the makers of the Bourne Supremacy. When in need of an exotic foreign beach, they zeroed in on Palolem, and Matt Damon was heard saying that it was one of his favourite shooting locations in the Bourne trilogy.

IX. Fiji Islands Beaches

This tiny set of islands, most well known for its Spring Water and Mineral Water also boasts of some of the world's THE best beaches. While most beaches are similar in their soft, white sand, Fiji also offers a remarkable number of activities on its shores, the most memorable being snorkeling with colourful turtles and Fiji's Blue Devil Fish.

VIII. The Dead Sea Shore, Jordan

The majesty of this beach lies not in its sandy shores, but the very essence of death that hangs around it. While normally, beaches have salt content of 3-4%, the Dead Sea is 30% salt, enough to kill all traces of life underwater. Bathing would not be a very good idea as even a tiny drop of water entering your eye would cause unimaginable pain. Taking in its grim beauty would be the best thing you can do while walking on its salty shores, or reading this blog.

VII. Olu Deniz, Turkey

Olu Deniz is the perfect mix of everything - a touch of serenity, a dash of glamour, with boating activities thrown in. A must-visit for beach lovers.

VI.  White Haven Beach, USA

V. Kakula Beach, Malta

IV. Zakinthos Beach, Greece

III. Cypriot Beaches, Cyprus

TOP 2 COMING UP!

India - the Land of Kitsch

India is THE BEST PLACE FOR ART LOVERS ON THE PLANET! Seriously, turn your head any way round, and spot art. What do you think attracts foreign visitors to India despite the sickness, dirt, poverty, crime, heat..la di da, la di da? It's not the happy poor, it's kitschy art. In bazaars, religion, dressing up, you name it. 

Here you notice the fine ART of henna work. Pretty, isn't it?

Our ancient structures have the kind of detail which would have taken years to build, and that we still can't replicate today. It's not just the instantly identifiable outer structures of monuments, its the work hidden away in nooks that only a sharp eye can spot and a dexterous hand can photograph. For example,

A lattice window at Humayun's Tomb

Some forgotten window at the Taj.

An ill-cared for window at the Red Fort

In every direction, you see colour as you. We may be deviating from our objective of being a traveller's blog here, but these observations are from experiences from past journeys. Imagine a scene of panoramic majesty, with the Himalayas looming high in front of you. And blowing in the wind are several thousands of Buddhist prayer flags...the scene takes my breath away. If this isn't beauty, what is?

Now, let's talk of kitsch of another kind. One which is intended to be art. Like the beautiful inlay work of the Mughals and Rajasthani Maharajahs. Or the ancient scriptures of Buddhism...each a jewel, not just in its teachings, but in its visual splendour. Want to see?

A Pillar at the Junagarh Fort at Dungarpur

Wah! Taj

And we all know, that women are a more colourful sex, and everything pertaining to them is vivid and bright. And when women are mentioned, could jewellery be far behind? Look at some of the gems (figuratively!) we sw at bazaars.

A horde of junk jewellery!

This article was meant to be more a visual treat than a literary object. Before signing of, I would like to quote our dear Principal: "If there is a God, He lives in India.."

Patratu Valley, Jharkhand

Dedication to a Friend...the Blue City

And lo...


Welcome to THE most beautiful city in Rajasthan...a city unique for its love for the colour blue. As I spent time with a friend today, I thought about dedicating this first post to her. The reason? Her blog was blue, all her saved images were blue, her glasses were blue, her t-shirt was blue. Needless to say, she loves blue. And so does the fabled city of Jodhpur.

As you look down from the Mehrangarh fort, the first question that pops to your mind is-how did these guys decide on one colour for the entire city? Here in Delhi you have neighbors squabbling over what colour they want to paint the exterior of their DDA flats with. In the scorching heat of Rajasthan, the blueness provides a strange relief... 

 

Though there isn't much to really see in Jodhpur, barring Mehrangarh Fort's exquisite interiors, you get lot of souvenirs-the best ones being the photographs you click. There's a kind of serenity, a peace, an ethereal quality about this lesser-visited city of Rajasthan. Strongly recommended for those with a love for blue.

 

Btw, did I mention Jodhpur is blue...? ;P