Indian States Visited

1. Maharashtra
2. Gujarat
3. Rajasthan
4. West Bengal
5. Goa
6. Arunachal Pradesh
7. Uttar Pradesh
8. Himachal Pradesh
9. Jammu and Kashmir
10. Karnataka

LA Art and Sports scene

If you live in LA, here are some of the things one must experience to expose one's mind to new ideas and fresh thoughts:

• Visit Annenberg space for photography for delightful photo exhibitions
• Get membership to CA Science Center(CASC)
• Watch Pompeii exhibit at the CASC
• Watch true IMAX movies in IMAX theaters
• Everyone goes to Catalina but visit Channel islands for quieter natural experience. Snorkeling is must do here not so much for the fish and corals but for the thrill of hanging by a sharp cliff of secluded small island.
• Hammer museum is a little gem deserving more attention than it does.
• Drive by HW 210 E and 2 South on a crisp morning. Within 
• Jog by Santa Monica Beach.
• Go for Full Moon Hike in Pacific Palisades
• Full Moon Hike in Griffith Park
• Stroll on main street in Santa Monica for small cosy boutique stores - to find trinkets unimagined.
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Why Travel?

Our intention in traveling the world is simple: Understand the world without the prejudice applied by life -  authors we read, movies we watch, partly biased views of friend sand family. Exploration should not be limited to traveling to far flung places though. It should involve visiting new theaters and museums in your city or neighborhood. More importantly, it must include no name streets,a quiet park at the street corner, a children's soccer game in a community college. Doing any one is necessary but not sufficient condition to be considered explorer. People who travel also have biases, just that their biases are different from those of non-travelers. Being without prejudice is the most important journey of man. Traveling is but one potential medium toward that goal but not the only one. It must be adequately complemented by reading and engaging and learning from other people around us. Traveling smart is a balancing act. If you only visit a swanky resort in Cancun, you have hardly visited Mexico. In fact, you have not even experienced Yucatan which has a distinct identity, topography and history different from rest of Mexico. I was shocked to know that many Cancun visitors didn't even know the presence of abundant Cenotes. Cenotes (natural wells or underground water bodies with collapsed roof) are one of the most fantastic discoveries of my travel. Sure, we all want to relax in exotic infinity pools but it doesn't qualify as travel. You are just getting dropped from one lap of luxury into another. 

1) Walk or Jog your neighborhood: The surest way to embrace local lifestyle. People in middle and low income countries do spend much of their evening on the streets. Kids and Men playing soccer, doting moms huddled in friendly chat is a common sight. It also reveals local economic life. Fishermen carrying their catch to restaurants. People from small towns going for night shift to large resorts. These are some of the benefits of a aimless stroll in a foreign country.

Countries Visited

Here is a list of countries Chandni and I visited beginning 2012. 

Why? Our intention in traveling the world is simple: Understand the world without the prejudice applied by life -  authors we read, movies we watch, partly biased views of friend sand family. 

Which countries?

Our choice of countries is primarily driven by lower development index because people with recent struggle have more character and I love beauty with rough edges. Anything perfect has never enamored me. Some day, I will visit western Europe and enjoy its castles but that trip will be more to observe and experience the functioning of their democratic institutions than anything.

Where to stay?

Although we luxuriate in upscale resorts, most of our boarding is at unique hostels with singular style or boutique family owned hotels. 

People: 

We spend large amount of time chatting with locals - from bellboy and receptionist at hotels to vendors and street bumpkins (who is more likely an immigrant from rural land where a new dam or factory was being constructed) We prefer our own mode of transport even in supposedly dangerous driving conditions because it grants us access to hinterland and we don't believe it can get more dangerous than driving in our motherland (so far this has been true).

1. India: A Microcosm of the planet
2. Nepal: Montain Spirit
3. USA: Diverse man-made and natural wonders in equal proportions
4. Malaysia: Paragon of Islamic state allowing freedom of religion to non-muslims
5. Mexico: Underground rivers and cenotes
6. Costa Rica: Islands of landmass within sea of verdant forests
7. Peru: Perched on a pinnacle 
8. UAE-Dubai: Shortest journey from desert tents to skycrapers
9. Turkey: Amalgamated Eurasia
10. Jordan: Sculpted Desert
11. Thailand: Industrialized Tropical Paradise
12. Cambodia: India's ancient oversees territory
13. Tanzania: Where the wild feel at home
14. Guatemala: To see a simple beauty afflicted by imperial interference
15. El Salvador: A war ravaged beauty
16. Nicaragua: Its okay to make a left turn!
17. Jamaica: Carribbean Pearl
18. Belize: Big diversity in a small land mass
19. Greece: 

Hawaii - Nursing indigenous history in times of development assault

Hawaii is one of the few regions in the modern world where indigenous population is not annihilated and consequently their culture, although diminished, is alive and kicking. This has been possible partly because those who moved to Hawaii from mainland America (especially in the last couple of decades) did so for love of nature. They were preservationists at heart rather than single minded pursuers of development based happiness. Hawaii's political history and contentious past with America (as reflected in 19th century coup orchestrated by captains of american industry) is a stark reminder of how the forces that assume unfettered power lead to dictatorial oppressive dispositions. enough of social and political history.
here are some must - do activities to make your trip to this equatorial island fulfilling.

• Snorkeling
• Diving
• Skydiving
• Ziplining
• Watch volcanic activity
• Stay at a ocean front resort in Maui or any island for that matter
• Shopping in Waikiki - I love the idea of modern amenities in the midst of pristine natural beauty. Waikiki is one such location. Many cultural and historical sites are not too far from here.

Alaska - Paradise on earth

Alaska, a remote piece of american land with checkered history is beauty to behold. For people making their first trip before being Senior citizens, please skip the cruise idea and fly into Alaska in order to experience the hinterland and not just the edges.

Must do activities in Alaska:

• Ride the train in first class from Seward to Anchorage for some of the most breathtaking views. It is like gliding through alpine meadows, crisp blue lakes etc. I do not recommend first class for luxury but for the sheer opportunity of viewing through semi-dome glass roof and a special observation deck.
• One must spend a lazy day walking down the single main street in Seward to get a fleeting experience of an idyllic country life. Warning: You may want to settle down here and never return to the other world.
• Take a cruise in Kenai Fjords NP and no one will blame you for hallucinating being part of Lord of The Rings.
• White water rafting in glacial water. You will special dry suits for this activity
• Hike/Bike through Denali NP
• Grab coffee perched at the top of the hill bang at the entrance to Denali NP and chit-chat with tourists and workers from different nationalities as you watch the sun go down over Denali
• Ice-climbing in any of the remote glaciers
• Helicopter ride atop Mt Mckinley
• Definitely spend time to understand Alaskan history of Russian influence, otter trade, Seward's folly and resistance to absorption as an american state. This will make the rest of the action more relevant and enable appreciation of local behaviors etc

Costa Rica - An egalitarian society that is modern yet old-school

The most striking thing about Costa Rica is not that it is a egalitarian society but that it is so because colonizers left it alone; Yes, you read it right. Precisely because our so called development model and civilized people did not touch it, it is setting a fine model today. Colonizers did not find any natural resources on this strip of land and the population was too thinly spread for exploitation of cheap labor. Here are some noteworthy things about this tiny nation -

• Produces >90% electricity with renewable resources
• Aims to be 100% carbon neutral by 2021
• Abolished military since 1949 - Yes, that school of thought is alive and kicking although our ideas of fake machismo may not allow space for it
• Best human development record in the Latin region
• Least inequality among Central and South American countries 
• Extremely high literacy rate

Costa Rica is a land of surging rivers, growling volcanoes and rich jungles. It is a mecca for adventure junkies. You cannot drive 5 Kms (yes, they are ahead of america in adopting science; they follow the more accurate metric system) without facing a billboard welcoming you to jump into a deep gorge or climbing a volcanic peak.

Recommended activities:

1. Bungee Jumping in Monteverde, Costa Rica - Lush green views from one of the tallest Bungee platforms in the world
2. Whitewater Rafting on Pacuare river, Costa Rica
3. Surfing in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
4. Waterfall Rappeling in the canyons of La Fortuna, Arenal, Costa Rica
5. Ziplining in Monteverde, Costa Rica - Some of the fastest and longest zip lines in the world
6. Kayaking in Mangrove forest among Monkeys and Constrictor Boas in Costa Rica

Recommended spots:

• Lake Arenal
• La Fortuna
• Monteverde - This will remind Indians (the ones Columbus did not find - Thank God for that stroke of good luck for us) of Nainital etc
• Tamarindo - Surfing, surfing and more surfing
• Manuel Antonio - Although on the beach, this is more suitable for relaxed observation from your luxury suite than any adventure

Most touching experience: Growing up in non-cosmopolitan India, I remember experiencing little acts that made us a community from a bunch of individuals. An experience I sorely miss in USA and more recently, even back home in Mumbais and Delhis of our new world. However, Costa Rica is a warm experience. An instant throwback to bygone era. People are generally happy and the nature of work (working the farm and tourism) makes them more social than individualistic. They make enough to afford to care but not so much to be ignorant and vain. In short, life is more or less in a sweet spot and I got to experience a touching example of that. After I was returning whitewashed from my fresh surfing lesson, I noticed by knees were bloody so Chandni took me to a small store to buy bandage etc. The lady initially directed us to some piece of cotton but when she saw my knee, she took matters in her own hands. From some nook, she pulled a tray with first aid kit, personally gave instructions to Chandni to clean up the would and apply disinfectant etc. In my typical social instinct, pulled out my wallet but she categorically refused any colones and immediately went back to attending other customers. The point I am making is that although this appears this is how the world should operate. That there should be some things sacred. Out of reach for arguments of efficiency, value addition blah blah bla. I am so corrupted by this new system of paying off that I wanted to buy something from the store to thank the lady but mercifuly Chandni dissuaded me and preserved the beauty of that kind act as a loving memory.