Mystical Underwater in Maldives
It is a myth, usually uncontested, that mountaineers and seafarers are given to tall tales. The fact is that we are so far removed from their experience, that it all seems such gobbledegook Many years ago after my mountain expedition (Kanchenjunga), I discovered that even the quotidian snippet from the Base Camp seemed fanciful.
Maldives: A Paradise on the Brink
If the global temperature keep rising, this paradise would be lost forever. Maldives is the lowest lying country in the world (the average height is 1.8 meters above sea level). Scientists estimate that melting polar ice caps could raise the ocean level by about 2 meters by the end of this century. This would swallow Maldives whole making its inhabitants the world’s first environment refugees.
Ramche- A Pastoral Hideout in Nepal
I was accompanying a team of hardy Indian Army mountaineers who focused on their goal ; summiting Kanchenjunga peak, had little time for mountain romanticism. For them Ramche was just a convenient broad strip of land, perfect to land the helicopters on and to pitch tents and stock supplies for the expedition.
Zakopane: The Architectural Gem in the Tatras
The houses look complex with an overlay of pattern over pattern. What makes the Zakopane houses look so distinct are the roofs. They are steep, usually over 70 degrees or more and have gables jutting out of them at different levels. These roofs are made of shingles or galvanized iron but in the older houses , the roof and sometime the entire building is hewn of wood.
Lake Manyara National Park. Loveliest in Africa
Thankfully the only shooting allowed today in Manyara is through the camera. And despite the variety of wildlife available for ‘shooting’ and viewing, Lake Manyara lives under the shadow of its much popular neighbors; Serengeti and Ngorongoro.