theOrangeMango

Although famous for its mountains (especially the big one), Nepal often lives in the shadow of India when it comes to culture. However, driving through the narrow roads of Kathmandu, its clear that this place is as different from India as chocolate cake is from cheese cake. People look different and talk different (though the food tastes the same). Kathmandu is a boiling pot of cultures and this Country, less than 1/20th the size of India, boasts of 120 native languages. Kathmandu Valley is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its beautiful and historically significant temples. Since the Buddha was born in Southern Nepal, many temples are ... [Click to Continue]

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Having quit my job to start a backpackers hostel (check it out and give us a like), let me tell you that getting into the backpacking business is less glamorous than what it appears. However, a job is only as fun as you allow it to be. You’re the boss and your job involves hanging out with interesting people on holiday. Life is a holiday (except when the toilet’s broken). Let me break down this process to give you a glimpse into what goes into the making of a backpackers hostel.. 1. Take the plunge There isn’t a bachelors of backpacking (yet) and starting a backpackers hostel requires no eduction. ... [Click to Continue]

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Exactly one year ago, I set out from my little rabbit hole to explore the World and find out what exactly was my role in this complicated World. A year later, I’ve learnt a great many lessons from amazing places and people alike. Allow me to talk you through my journey over the past year. The Beginning (Mar 31, 2011) My last day as an employee of a corporate sweatshop. I’ve been handsomely rewarded for my time but that’s the problem. I’ve grown too comfortable with my life to even question whether this fat paycheck, a new computer, another exorbitant dinner is what I wanted from my life and my ... [Click to Continue]

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1. The Mountain Seen the movie Invictus? In one scene, a plane arrives is arriving in town with the full view of Table Mountain in the background. That’s when I knew I wanted to go to Cape Town – and I did not know one other thing about the place. The city takes it entire character from the Table Mountain in the backdrop. The view of the City centre, aptly called City Bowl, as seen from the top of the Table Mountain is breathtaking with the ocean on the other end. Take a cable car ride up to the top of this 1000 metre high mountain first thing. Not only ... [Click to Continue]

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Ethiopia is a land with many unique faces – Life – One of the oldest sites of human existence with the remains of Lucy, our oldest ancestor, being excavated here. Religion – Ethiopia was the first empire to adopt Christianity as a state religion and is also home to the oldest Muslim settlement in Africa. Culture – The Country with the most number of World Heritage Sites in Africa. Ethiopia has also probably shaped the World’s culture because of one major contribution – coffee But you already know all this. To get a glimpse into the beliefs, culture and history of Ethiopia, it’s necessary to journey to a tiny little ... [Click to Continue]

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If you’ve ever been on a road trip, you know exactly what Uncle Waldo was talking about. Life is a journey, not a destination – Ralph Waldo Emerson The wind in your hair, the sun on your shoulder, amazing music on the stereo; road trips are the stuff of legends. However, if you do mess up your planning, road trips could so easily morph into the worst part of your holiday. For instance, here’s my personal list of top 3 road trip fails Stuck in the mud for 3 hours in the middle of a lion/hyena infested national park because no one brought any rope to tow us out Hours ... [Click to Continue]

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Living in Jakarta can be overwhelming at times. Exotic bars, glamorous malls, fancy cars and world-class restaurants, all surrounded by horrendous traffic and abject poverty. A 2-hour drive away, Taman Safari offers a great chance to escape from the craziness of Jakarta and enter a strange man-made animal world. Taman translates to park in Bahasa Indonesia (the National language). Welcome to Safari Park As the name suggests, Taman Safari begins with a safari. However, this is no ordinary safari. Strangely enough, it starts off with the purchase of a few kilos of carrots and bananas. An elephant induced traffic jam leaves you with no doubt as to what the carrots ... [Click to Continue]

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When faced with a beach, we realize how insignificant we, as individuals, are compared to nature. This evokes emotions of awe, which in turn leads to a trivialization of our anxieties followed by a deep reflection on how we fit into the big picture. In other words, what is the meaning of life? Beaches are powerful escapes from the ordinary and if you feel like you need a break, it just might be time for another beach holiday. Having grown up along the beautiful beaches of Goa, allow me guide you through a selection of what possibly are the best beaches in Goa and the World (the latter claim is ... [Click to Continue]

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At 5,895m Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa. Attempting to climb this gentle giant was ludicrous until a hundred years ago although even now, it’s still pure lunacy. A common misconception is that Kilimanjaro consists of 1 peak when in reality it’s a 2-peak mountain. Kibo is the taller volcano peak that has been immortalized by every African picture book out there. Mawenzi is the virtually unknown second peak of Kilimanjaro. Due to its jagged form, climbing Mawenzi is not as easy as Kibo (and not as photogenic). Day 1: Nairobi to Marangu Mount Kilimanjaro is also the tallest freestanding mountain in the World. What this means is ... [Click to Continue]

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Malacca is a tiny seaside town in Malaysia that was a simple fishing village before it was converted to a port due to its accessibility from the Straits of Malacca. This was in the 1400s. Along came the Portuguese in 1509, having set sail from Goa, to stamp their dominance on the Asian trade route by conquering Malacca. That however, didn’t last for long because the Dutch forged an alliance with a Malay Sultanate and ousted the Portuguese after a long 6-month siege. 150 years passed before the Dutch eventually handed over this colony to the British. Malaysia (along with Malacca) finally declared independence from the British in 1957. Mainly ... [Click to Continue]

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