Recent content by Drifter

I would also be interested to know what people can suggest regarding festivals. There's nothing more exhilarating than being in among the swirl of positivity that comes from a crowd of people all focused on celebrating one thing.

I am generally quite open-minded when it comes to food, however dried banana chips I simply cannot stand. I think the problem for me is the texture, it just makes me shudder! Perhaps it's just the way they're made here - maybe other countries do them better, I don't know.

I really admire the handiwork and beautiful designs of traditional clothing such as the sari and would love to experience this (and contribute to the local economy) by purchasing and wearing it myself while travelling there. Would this be considered disrespectful, as I am obviously not Indian...

That is so fascinating and not something which had ever occurred to me. I feel that I must go off and read all about it! It's quite frustrating really that there are so many historical issues about which we can never know the full truth, unless some sort of archaeological proof were to be...

I agree Mindy - the desert is certainly an experience you can't find on just any holiday. To many of us it's as unusual as going to another planet! I suppose a person's preference must be influenced by where they grew up to a certain extent. For example, a person who's always lived in...

What do you most like to eat them with? I'm quite boring in that regard - although I'll eat pretty much any flavour combination, I tend to only put them onto poppadoms or plain crackers.

Falafel originated in the Middle East - possibly Egypt but nobody really knows for sure, as Israel and Palestine also claim it as one of their national dishes. As with most things, it has gradually spread worldwide - in the future I wonder whether there will ever be any genuine regionality when...

How heartbreaking to read the terrible experience this family went through - as if losing their mother in such tragic circumstances wasn't bad enough, to have to struggle to arrange her cremation is just awful. I was in tears when I read the part where they describe seeing her body.

I am by no means an expert in theology, but I recall reading something about an apostle in India. I just did a spot of research and it appears that the apostle Thomas preached in many areas, eventually meeting his end in a place called Calamene and being buried there. What I can't discover is...

Oh I adore a good chutney! I went through a phase of making as many different kinds as I could think up and giving them as gifts, they're so versatile that there's usually a flavour to suit even the pickiest eater.

You're not wrong - people do love a beach! I can't spend too long in that kind of environment myself though, I'm not sure why - perhaps because of the denser tourist population. I will freely admit that I am happiest spending time on my own so I'm always drawn to the more remote areas. Has...

I would agree with you Aja that deliberately seeking and selecting a travel companion is not instinctive, it would almost feel like some sort of TV show audition! For me, travel should arise naturally when the opportunity occurs, so I would think that the best times would be those that happen...

I am always a little dubious about wildlife tourism - although it can appear that the animals are cared for (or alternatively, are allowed to roam completely naturally), there is always some doubt in my mind that having an unnatural amount of human interaction cannot be good for them, even if it...

I notice that this section of the regional forums has the fewest discussions, which made me wonder - does Central India have less to offer the traveller? What would the highlights of this region be?

I seem to be in the minority in that I far prefer to travel alone! While I understand that travelling with friends could be fun, I would personally find it stifling having to make arrangements that work for everyone. Maybe I'm just something of a hermit, but I could not give up the freedom of...