Forget modern medicines for now. The diverse and ancient cultures of Asia have grappled with the needs of romance for as long as they have existed, and have come up with plenty of traditional remedies, aids and supplements to increase vigor and verve. Even if you eco-conscious types remove the options that threaten the endangered species list like rhino horns, deer antlers, bird’s nest soup, and tiger genitalia, there are still plenty of alternative aphrodisiacs that can improve your love life.

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Posted in China, Food, India, Philippines, Thailand |

Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a city known for its interesting blends of opposites. On the one hand you’ll find wealth and creative beauty while on the other you’ll be faced with political unrest and the cries of the destitute.

Once the home of Mother Teresa the city of Kolkata played a vital role in the development of India as it stands today. The capital of West Bengal, Kolkata is full of vibrant, intellectual, and friendly people. Kolkata’s citizens have been the backbone of the city for hundreds of years - a city that continues to grow with each passing day.

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Posted in India |

The mighty river Ganga which is also known as the River Ganges is greatly revered in all of India. I recently had a chance to witness this reverence first hand as I visited two holy towns Haridwar and Rishikesh both of which are located in the foothills of the Himalayas through which this mighty river flows on its way towards the plains. Much of India’s rich civilization and culture has in fact developed along the banks of this great river as a result of which the river is worshiped and held in high esteem by the Hindu population of India.

The Ganga which is responsible for the fertility of nearly forty percent of India’s agricultural land begins its journey in the higher Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh at the Gangotri glacier which is a vast expanse of ice situated 14000 feet above sea level. This glacier is the source of the River Bhagirathi which continues to join the River Alaknanda whose waters are formed from the melting ice of several Himalayan peaks like the Nanda Devi, the Kamet and the  Trishul to form the River Ganga at the town of Devprayag. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in India, Things to do |

“Dim dawn behind the tamerisks — the sky is saffron-yellow –
As the women in the village grind the corn,
And the parrots seek the riverside, each calling to his fellow
That the Day, the staring Easter Day is born.”

So begins Rudyard Kipling’s “Christmas in India“, a poem which exalts the glories of Jesus’s birth in the subcontinent. Indeed, Christmas is a national holiday in India, despite the larger population of Hindu and Muslims in the country. December 25th is also known as Bada Din (the big day) since this day marks the start of the period when each day lengthens compared to previous days. Each state in the sub-continent of India celebrate Christmas in its own unique way.

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Posted in Events, India |

The Fall is a 2006 independent movie by director Tarsem Singh which features picturesque locales and colorfully dressed characters. It is about a patient who weaves a tale about a masked bandit and his group in order to entertain a little girl in the same hospital. The amazing thing about the movie is its use of natural settings all over the world in 18 countries, as opposed to the heavy use of computer-generated imagery in mainstream films.

For those who’ve seen the movie and wish to visit its fanciful locales or just wish to learn the history of each site, keep on reading. For those who haven’t, check out this trailer:

Video Courtesy of roadside07

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Posted in Attractions, India |

For a Christian holiday, Christmas gets surprising attention in a continent dominated by Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. For some countries, it is an after-effect of centuries of Western colonialism and Christian missionary work. For others, the commercial aspects of gift-giving and festivities encourage department stores and markets to dress up for the holidays. Still others see it as a romantic season, a time for couples and lovers to share intimate moments together.

Whatever the reason, Christmas is still celebrated the world over, and nowhere is this fact more proven than in the following major Asian cities.

Tokyo, Japan - less than 1% of Japan’s population are Christians, and December 25 is not a national holiday here. Christmas is seen more as a commercial season, a time for romance between couples and for corporations to deck their offices in lights. December is also a time for oseibo (end-of-the-year gift exchanges between companies) and boukenkai (”forget the year”) parties, and Christmas-themed parties tend to get mixed in with the celebrations.

Seoul, South Korea – South Korea recognizes Christmas as a public holiday, with 30% of the population being Christians. Even non-Christian Koreans engage in gift-giving, card-sending, and plastic tree-decorating at this time of year, and engaging lights beautify the City Hall area for people to enjoy. What’s surprising is the locals treat the season to be a romantic affair, much like Valentine’s Day.

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Posted in Asia, Events, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |

The tiny town of Pushkar located in the north western Indian state of Rajasthan becomes the cynosure of all eyes in the month of November each year when it hosts its popular camel and cattle fair  called the Pushkar Camel Fair which attracts visitors from all over the globe. The town of Pushkar  is located at the edge of the Thar Desert and is situated just 11 kms away from  the city of Ajmer which is another well established stop on the Rajasthan tour circuit. In fact when tourists choose the visit the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan, they often try and combine their trip with a visit to many other well known Rajasthani cities like Jaipur , Udaipur and Jodhpur which are famous for their many exquisite palaces and ancient royal grandeur.

The holy town of Pushkar

The picturesque town of Pushkar is set in a valley which is surrounded by hills and sand dunes and has in its midst a beautiful lake which has many legends associated with its creation. One such legend states that Lake Pushkar was created when the Hindu god Lord Brahma dropped a lotus flower during his quest to find a tranquil spot to perform a  religious ceremony. The spot where he dropped this lotus flower became the beautiful lake of Pushkar .Yet another legend tells the story of a battle between Lord Brahma and a demon called Vajra Nabha who had killed Lord Brahma’s children, the lord then used the lotus flower as a weapon to fell the demon and one of the petals fell in the valley to form the Lake Pushkar. The town of Pushkar is actually regarded to be an important pilgrimage spot for Hindus and the sacred Lake of Pushkar was at one time surrounded by nearly 500 temples though many of these temples were destroyed when North India came under the rule of the Muslim Mughals. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, India |

Whether its a zen trickle that soothes the soul or a spectacular gush that arcs in the air, fountains are a wonderful mix of nature and engineering that enchants everyone who witness its splendor. Some fountains rely on the latest technology to create more intricate dynamic sculptures while others are ancient contraptions that still operate to this very day. All of them rely on the notion that life’s basic necessity can be coaxed into becoming one of life’s source for enduring entertainment.

Taj Mahal Water Devices, Agra - the fountains surrounding this tomb for a beloved Indian princess is as astounding feat of irrigation engineering that continues to work after centuries of operation. To maintain and even pressure for all fountains, each were built with a copper pot between the feed pipe and the outlet. This ensures even pressure at all times. It takes 40 minutes to fly from New Delhi to Agra, after which rickshaws may take you to the Taj Mahal.

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Posted in Asia, Attractions, China, India, Korea, Macau, Singapore |

Some Asian delicacies are so one-of-a-kind, they are served only on special occasions. Some of these are made available as a culinary highlight of the festivities, while others are so culturally significant they are the very center of many celebrations.

Here are 7 eastern food fares that are served especially during Asian festivals.

Mooncake

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month every year in Chinese communities. It coincides with many harvest festivals which occur in Western societies. It is during this time that mooncakes, a sweet moon-shaped pastry dish made with sesame seeds, lotus seed paste, and salted duck eggs, are served and exchanged as gifts.

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Posted in Asia, Food, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan |

Thrill-seeking travelers would find no shortage of haunted places to visit around Asia. After all, a whole sub-genre of movies called Asian Horror wouldn’t be so popular if cultures across the continent didn’t have their own ghostly legends.

Here are nine places in Asia that are said to be haunted.

Old Changi Hospital – once a military hospital in Singapore before being closed down some years ago, this hospital is the most haunted spot in Asia’s most ghost-ridden city. The morgue is a particular hot spot for ghost sightings of the headless and feetless kind. Recently, plans have been drawn out to convert the area into a spa resort. Will it still maintain its most haunted status by then?

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Posted in Asia, Attractions, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |