Go India!

India...so vast, so much to see and so much to do! 

That's one of the first things that comes to my mind, plus a visual explosion of bright colours. I do believe that I am very fortunate to be able to see a part of this country. 

My first stop was in Goa. We stayed at Zuri, a beautiful, quiet and very welcoming hotel. Everything around was sparkles, impeccable. Without doubt, Zuri was one of the best hotels in the area.

The hotel has several pools, an immense coconut garden, recreation areas for about every game you could name it. Fantastic view over the Ocean and a beach how I've never seen before.

I think Goa was the only place where I could see the sky on the wet sand, with a clarity that was almost unnatural.

This golden beach was bigger than your eyes could cover. Just imagine for a second that you are laid on this soft sand beach, with almost no one around you. It's quite...all wat you could hear and see is the ocean and the sky...and they seem to melt into each other. This is something to die for.

Zuri hotel or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1698fQmjqcA

After few days of exploring the surroundings, we went to a waterfall near Varca. Again, I was speechless. 

We drive a 4x4 for a while and then walk into jungle hart. The sun was getting thru the trees leafs and the time seem to have stopped for now. Aroun is a different world, a world that is much better than the madness that we live in the big cities.

I look around and I could spot little monkeys staring at us. In front, at only few meters away is one of the nicest waterfalls in India.

We descend slowly thru the magnificens rocks that surround the area. A beautiful noise of the water falling is in the background and I just can't get enough of what's around me. 

Still a bit dazzled of what I've seen, I get into the little lake formed at the bottom of the waterfall. 

The water is slightly cold and and that's helping me to come back to my usual awareness. So...I'm not dreaming, this place really exist and I'm here enjoying it. Thanks God for places like this, thanks God for India.

This are part of why I love this country. The natural beauty is amazing, people are so friendly and peaceful.You have to see it. At least once in life, go India.

I'm not a hypocrite, I've seen good and bad and I will tell you about this too, but overall it's worth it and you will see the life with different eyes after being here.

In my next post I will continue my journey to Mumbai and I will tell you about amazing experiences I've been thru.

Good night my blog friends, I hope you are all sound and safe.

Travel tips for India

Here are some travel tips that I would recommend if you go to India.

Check your immunisation requirements, start few months prior your departure.
Obtain your visa.
Print all relevant documents (flight tickets, hotel reservation, travel insurance).
Plan a budget and order your currency. Even if you can withdraw money over there with your card, is better if you have some small amount of rupee with you.
If you accomplice all this, congratulation! You can start packing the suitcase.
India is usually a very hot country, please don't forget your sunscreen protection.
Because most of the visitors encounter problems with drinking water, is better if you don't use the tap. Drink bottled water or take chemist pills to purify/filter water.
Small antibacterial tubes are very handy, specially if you are on the go.
Make sure that you call your phone provider and check roaming tariffs, you don't want to have a surprise.
Get your camera for all those special things that you want to treasure.
Some insect repellent will help you relax.
Bargain for  everything, in India is always room to negotiate.
Enjoy the indian culinary paradise and try to see as much as you can.
Amazing food in India or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvVWPVUlhT4

Be careful, some India regions are alcohol free. The alcohol consume could be prosecuted (example - Gujarat).
I don't recommend car renting, driving rules are not followed and  most of the cars are not well maintained.

Make sure you have the contacts of your Embassy in India and leave your travelling details to a next to kin person, back home.

India

Dear reader...

today I feel that I miss India. 

When I left the country, in 2010, I always knew that I want to go back. Reason? I love India. I love it all, with colours and smells, with highs and lows, with delicious food and fantastic dancers. Here I've seen people totally devoted to their spirituality, I've seen more smiles then back home in Europe and I've learned some important lessons that I should always be grateful for.

My journey here start with Goa, Mumbai and ending with Gujarat. 

Things that I've seen have shaped myself and made me realise that I was blind to many other things in the past. 

So, at least once in life, you have to see India. You will understand and see life different after that.

Let me tell you a bit about Goa. 
In my perspective, I wish this place will never change - I've seen a Goa with infinite beaches, where you could see the sky image in the wet powder sand, when the warm ocean will send his arms around.

Most of the landscape is breathtaking and a surrounding sensation of peace is always present.

Goa beach, visit India! or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li3SyZBDNWQ

What I did find most amazing is simple, the people. 

Under faces and appearances that don't show a easy life, I was greeted with the most warm smile that I ever seen.

In this mad, busy World, we often forget that one of the most powerful way to create bridges between people and cultures - is to smile. But I will get this in detail later on, when I will tell you about my temple experience.

Our transfer from airport was the beginning of adventure...even if sounds a bit crazy,  I wouldn't change nothing.

Now...here people are driving very fast for the road conditions they have and for the usual poor maintained cars. This won't stop them, not even slow them. The whole India is moving and they're moving fast.                      

Tomorrow I will tell you more about Zuri and Goa and how a child that asked for nothing, but offered everything.

Bye for now...bed time, dream time :-)

Sicily - Aeolian Islands

   I already started to tell you about my traveling in Sicily, so I better finish the story...it's a beautiful story, about a volcanic chain that attracts a lot of attention.

After few nights in Palermo, we booked a train that will take us to Milazzo. From here, we get a speedboat and reach our destination, Vulcano, in aproximativ 90 minutes.
The entire journey between  Palermo to Vulcano was nearly 5 hours, but was very pleasant. Sunny day, first class train and a lot of hopes to discover a new place - the Aeolians. 
I remember a sensation of happiness soon as I stepped on Vulcano Island. I could hear the sea giggling in the background and the sky was like a paint from storybooks, perfect blue decorated with cotton white clouds.
You could definitely remark a pronounced smell of sulf. Soft steam was rising here and there from the ground, sign that the giant is only sleeping. Few steps in front of me, a mud pond is bubbling healing energy. The mountains around looks so well. 
I stopped for few minutes and basically I couldn't take my eyes from what was around me. So detached from the busy world that we live in, so peaceful undisturbed. 
Why I didn't knew about this place before? 
How come this place exist here, in the heart of Tyrrhenian Sea and not many people talk about?

Aeolian wonderful islands. or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6feJ1yU-h0

Happy with the view, I start walking to my friends holiday cottage. This will be my home for the next ten days or so.

After few turns on narrowed streets that are almost covered with beautiful colored flowers, I arrive to my idyllic holiday home. 

Painted all in white, with old style wood blinds from outside, the cottage appearance could make you dream to Andersen gingerbread house. Simple, clean and very important for me - with a lot of character. 
This was a traditional house, even the furniture and the decorations could make you see times that are long gone. Outside, in the large garden, between palm trees and cactus plants, are some amazing deep purple flowers that spread iris like aroma everywhere. 
We had a nice shadowed terrace and an outside kitchen as well. I was delighted.
I could have stayed into a fancy hotel or a modern villa, but that wouldn't impressed me as much as this simple house.
Over the next few days we explored the Island. I enjoyed the warm sea water, that looks like a natural jacuzzi because of the volcanic activity. I climbed the mountains to see and treasure as much as I could. 
From the top of Lentia, I could look over the islands and even get a glimpse on the eternal Etna.

I recalled again how lucky I am to see this beauty and I feel more rich then when I first come here. 
On few occasions we had dinner or lunch at the restaurants around the island and the food was brilliant. Freshly cooked fish and sea fruits, soft bruschetta with herbs and balsamic dressing...magnifique. 
But, all those delicateses could not compete with the the aromas of sun ripened tomatoes, onions, fresh basil, mouth melting cheese and perfect sweet cherries. This where products from local family farms and they were just incomparable with anything else. 
On this dream holiday, I visit the Lipari Island too. Very clean and pretty, this is the biggest Aeolian island of all . With well maintained shops and visitor points, it's a pleasure  to see such a good combination of touristic and social life on the island. Small kids are running on very narrowed streets, under white clothing lines till an adult, usually an affectionate grandmother is calling them for treats. 
Outside, on the benches, some elderly gentleman and long life friends are playing backgammon and discuss on a loud, cheerful voice.
At midday, a clear bell noise will fill the air and people sights will often move to Cathedral. 
I left Lipari after few hours of exploration, by walk and by car. I'm so glad that I came here.
There will be many memories to treasure  and the Aeolians are just a wonder. I had an amazing couple of days here, it's sunset and I'm going back to the little gingerbread house. A glass of cold white wine on the terrace and the silent song of the garden it's what I need to be happy. 
It's late again and I'm getting tired, but over the next few days I will continue sharing my travel journey and my story.

Sicily - extraordinary different!

I've been many times in Sicily, about four times. I never felt that I've seen enough.
Somehow strange, I always feel that I have a strong connection with this place. Sicily is welcoming, it's tasty, it's full with frenzy sometime and blissfully quiet other times. I love to see the old style architecture, the glory and the combination of cultures.
From Palermo to Catania, to Agrigento, Etna or Eolian Islands...I love every experience that made me understand better that Sicily is so extraordinary different.
I will never forget the happy atmosphere in our friends house, when almost the whole family gathered to welcome us, to embrace us like we were part of them too.
The amazing dinners with divine cooked pasta, the breakfast with coffee and fresh baked croissants and the afternoons when we all enjoyed the most tasty pizza - this are all sweet memories in my heart. And of course, the evenings would just not be complete without an ice cream made in Heaven.
I think quite often about Sicily, I close my eyes and a tone of memories and sensations rush to my mind. The satin blue sky and the serpentine roads from where you could see an amazing crystal clear sea, the soft wind blowing my hair and the sound of waves embracing the land...I hope I'll never forget this.
I remember how lucky I felt every time I was walking on Palermo streets, either when I visited the central part with Teatro Massimo or when I went to see the big Cathedral or to see the fish market. So much colour and history and life.
My long life friends have been telling me on many occasions that they could simply not be able to live somewhere else.
I understand why.


There is a sense of freedom here, a cult of beauty and class. I've meet such a lovely people, mannered, educated, smart and with a fine humor. I admire them and the way they keep the family and friends together. I'm truly blessed to have such friends.
Now, let's go back on Sicily landscape, as it's so much more to say...my eyes close again and I see this young girl face expression when she arrives at Mount Etna. With all the peace that surround you, there it's still a feeling of unknown, of a history part that was not yet closed.
As the steam rise from the highest parts of the giant, you start realising the vast emptiness around. The black sand stone with reddish accents and the infinite sky seem to melt on each other.
On the way back, we stop to a small family run business to try honey, olive oil with homemade bread and sun dried tomatoes. There must be a secret of this amazing food and sure enough they know it in Italy.
Catania was a very nice surprise for me. With the same old style buildings, sculptures, churches and romantic narrowed streets, everybody around me seems to enjoy what this city has to offer.
I'm still overwhelmed with memories and there are still so much I wanted to tell you, but my hand keep falling from keyboard and my eyes start  closing. It's late in the nite, well passed  from midnight so I will go to bed dreaming at Sicily. On my next post I will continue with this amazing journey. Thank you for following my blog.

Welcome to my World!

Dear reader,

I always had a passion for traveling the World from one side to the other. One day, I hope I will be able to make this happen. 
In the mean time, I want to share my experiences with you.
I'm happy that you are reading this now, we have a long journey and a lot of stories to tell you. 
I want to send a projection of my travel experience and hopefully I will be able to help. 
On regular bases, I'm gonna tell you about countries I visited, about people, culture, food, music, traditions and other interesting things. 
Let's create a warm atmosphere and imagine that you have a friend that's telling you around the World stories. 
It will be amazing if you could leave me few notes about what you want to know, what was your experience. If we share the same passion for traveling, we have a lot to talk. Welcome to my World.