10 latest experiences http://www.hereorthere.com/members/praram en-us In the backdrop of the picturesque Alps lies Munich- a throbbing, laidback city that continues to preserve its past, and abhors the glass and steel structures that define most cities. Its also the eighth best city in the world for its living standards. Located in the southern province of Bavaria, Munich offers the charms of a small town, with the cultural richness of a capital city. Every year, millions of tourists come visiting to Munich, for the famous Oktoberfest. The festival lasts for two weeks, during which time over 6 million visitors enjoy beer and take park in the festivities. Prior to the festival, the Oktoberfest Parade gives an interesting insight into the glorious cultural past of Munich. Colorfully dressed peasants, children alongwith impressive floats walk through the town. It was on one such visit to Munich, that I fell in love with the city and the culture. Marienplatz is the central square, with its monumental Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall). The Glockenspiel loca... Munich, Germany praram Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:06:05 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/praram/experience/592 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/592 Copenhagen. The land of the Vikings. When I landed there, it seemed anything but historical. A city of Renaissance castles, it is synonymous today for color, rhythm and its uber cool attitude. Thanks to its new breed of architects, the city is abuzz with daring architecture and full of creative energy. Its not just all about sleek cobbled streets, a driver-less automated metro system, and an ubiquitous Nordic sense of style. Theres much more to it. I reached there by train on a cold morning at the Copenhagen Central Station. Outside the station, all I could see were snow-swept streets covered with slush. I trudged through the snow-swept streets away from the city centre, across Tivoli Gardens, for about four kms. At the end of it, I came across the Dan Youth Hostel, located next to the Bella Centre and Field's- the biggest shopping mall in Scandinavia located at Ørestad. The Hostel is a renovated army barrack, and provides cheap accomodation. Travelling by the city met... Copenhagen, Denmark praram Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:53:28 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/praram/experience/590 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/590 Traveling is all about going to places unseen, or unheard of. Sometimes, its wonderful to discover a new place for oneself, rather than just follow the mundane touristy path. This is one such journey. Oh yes, its a life-changing journey to a small village in Kerala, India. A perfect village to rejuvenate oneself in the midst of nature and a wonderful historical past. The best way to reach Puthocode is to fly to Coimbatore. Puthocode is two hours away on the National Highway. The other airport is Kochi, from where it takes almost three hours to reach Puthucode. The village is located 6 km west of Vadakkencherry on the Palakkad-Thrissur stretch of the National Highway 47. At the centre of Puthucode is the Annapoorneswari Temple,dedicated to Goddess Annapoorneswari. Translated in English, the name of Goddess means "Feeding one & all". The Annapoorneswari Temple is believed to be one of the 108 Durga temples established by Lord Parasurama. In ancient times, the village was home to ... Puthucode, kerala, india, India praram Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:26:29 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/praram/experience/587 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/587 A beautiful river. Some fishermen. Birds in the sky. Small forts on the mountains. A whiff of the fresh morning air. Sun on my face. Eyelids half-open, I catch the quickly fading details as the train gathers speed again. On the other side of the Rhine, I can see an ICE train winding its way on a six-hour journey to Munich. 7.30 am. Another hour to go before I reach Koblenz, and thirty more minutes later, Cologne. Its pitch dark now. Yet another tunnel. Ten minutes later, another breathtaking view of the Rhine Valley. I wonder aloud of why so many forts were built so close to each other. 8.00 am The train driver announces a delay of twenty-seven minutes, and regrets profusely. The announcement was barely audible, so I missed out on the details. Arggh! I shift uneasily in my seat. A old couple eye me from the other end of the almost empty coach. A sense of fear. Excitement. Perhaps, plain curiosity. At Koblenz, two energetic and excited young kids enter the coach with their hass... Köln, Germany praram Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:25:30 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/praram/experience/586 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/586 The flight from Delhi to Hyderabad was full of businessmen- tie and collared, all around me. I could make out only two families- seemingly going on a holiday. India's Silicon Valley- Eh ja! An hour later, I looked out at the twinkling lights of Hyderabad. The drive from the Airport to the city centre took forty minutes, the traffic moving at a snails pace. The city is more than 400 years old, and looked really hassled by the recent IT influx. Traffic snarls everywhere, and a I-dont-care attitude on view everywhere. But, wait a minute. This former princely state of Nizam has much to offer for the business traveller as well as the backpacker. The city is built on a trade of pearls, gold, steel, fabric and, above all, diamonds. The Nizams were the royal family that ruled Hyderabad for much of its history. They left behind a legacy that has a wonderful mix of old and new architecture. Arriving at the Taj Deccan Hotel, I decided to venture out for a dinner at Paradise restaurant. I... Hyderābād, India praram Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:38:24 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/praram/experience/584 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/584