Magyar....Budapest.....Hungary......

Hungary located in Central Europe came to organized power during the 9th century. A country famous for paprika, Dobos Hungarian sponge cake, music, folk dances, spas etc.  First time I visited Hungary in 2003 and  later in 2014.  Budapest changed from a cultural city to a high tech city in 2014. The Lion's Bridge, the palace and the museums remain the same. It was poignant to see the Shoes on the Danube Bank in memory of the Jews killed in the holocaust.  In 2003, there were only few Indian restaurants. Now, Budapest has all types of cuisine served by the Restaurants. The best ones are the cafes and eateries along the banks of the Danube River. The best paprika krumpli can be found here. I ordered the vegetarian version with potatos.  The liberty square and the monuments remind the struggles of Hungary during the World War II and the Hungarian revolution in 1956. 

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Mermaid.....Danish......Copenhagen....

Denmark reminds me of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid".  I have to admit that I like Danish cheese also. In 2018, decided to visit this country again as a tourist. Last time I visited it was a business trip and hardly had time to visit the castles. This time a much-awaited vacation and stayed in the Marriott Copenhagen. 

The Baltic Sea breeze was soothing. the sail boats, trawlers, the ships and the usual harbor hustle bustle were perfect setting to visit the Viking Museum. After the museum visit, we headed to see the iconic Mermaid.  The little mermaid is a bronze statue set up on a rock in the harbor facing the Langelinie promenade. Edvard Eriksen sculpted the statue. The sad look of the Mermaid or I could be imagining that she looked sad. 

The next day visited the Kronborg Castle popularly called as the Hamlet's castle immortalized by the English bard Shakespeare!  It was about an hours' drive from Copenhagen winding thru the farms and the coast. The guide narrated the history of the castle from 1400's, the fires that engulfed, rebuild, Swedish control and how Danish took it back etc.. etc.. 

Enjoyed a nice lunch in the city of Elsinore with a veggie wrap and the famous Danish Havarti cheese.  The concierge in the hotel recommended VeVe a Michelin starred restaurant near the promenade for dinner. The best in the menu is the special Danish Cake Lagkage. The stars in the sky were competing with the modern lights in the harbor and the promenade. I was thinking about Hans Christian Andersen and the fairy tales I read when I was in kindergarten. 

PEACE ON EARTH

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Seoul.......38th Parallel.........DMZ.....

In June 2019 boarded the flight to Hong Kong  enroute to Seoul. After a stopover, took a flight to Seoul. The airport is far from the city. The chauffeur from the Marriott welcomed me and gave a small pamphlet on the city attractions.

Korea’s history dates back to 12th century BCE with the Joseon dynasty and another prominent Jin state I the 3rd BCE. The Dutch named it Manchuria for Korea and some provinces of the.northernmost China. The pattern of European powers conquering and dividing the ancient kingdoms of Asia continued along with the inter dynasty clashes between the Han dynasty from China and Korea. Finally in 1945, the country was divided into North. Korea and South Korea at the 38th parallel.

“Welcome to the Gangnam district and the Marriott”!, the concierge welcomed me with a big smile. I must have of dozed off while reading the history.
Next morning, my guide took me to see the infamous tunnels, DMZ, and Dorasan the last train station at the border. The poignant history of families divided between the two countries reminded me of the Berlin Wall. Hopefully, one day the sense of humanity prevails that will wash away all the petty feelings of differences. 

Near DMZ one can find the signs of land mines. The yonder Mount Kumpang looked beautiful reminding that nature does not divide or discriminate people.

Our guide gave us the precautionary warnings and the strict guidelines when passing thru the demilitarized zone. We passed the strict passport control process and also received the stamp for our DMZ visit.

The Dorasan train station was opened jointly by the then American president George W. Bush with a good intention that a day will come when North and South Korea will be connected by rail. There is a good contingent of American military personnel at the base supporting S. Korea to control its borders. The wish list is endless to see peace in this part of the World. We all boarded the bus to go back to the city.

                                                              PEACE ON EARTH
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Zambia....Zimbabwe....Mosi-oa-Tunya.....

 The dream to visit Victoria falls and to see the Zambezi River started when I read about David Livingstone's journey in search of the falls.  My brother and sister were equally excited as travel warriors!  Planned to visit the falls during the July 4^th holidays in 2018. We took a flight direct to the Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe.  Our journey to the heart of Southern Africa took us to the majestic lands of Zimbabwe and Zambia—a region where nature reigns supreme, and the mighty Zambezi River carves through deep gorges, creating one of the most breathtaking wonders of the world: Victoria Falls.

The Smoke That Thunders

Locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “The Smoke That Thunders”, Victoria Falls is a spectacular sight that defies description. We had the rare treat of experiencing the Falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides. From Zimbabwe, the view is panoramic—an unbroken curtain of water plunging into the gorge below, sending up mist that drenches and delights. Zambia offers a more intimate, immersive perspective, especially when walking along the Knife Edge Bridge, where the spray feels like rain and the roar of the Falls vibrates through your body.

To cross into Zambia from Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe, we walked across the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge, which spans the Zambezi River. This historic bridge not only connects the two countries but also offers a stunning mid-air vantage point of the Falls and the gorge. The brief walk, filled with mist and rainbows, was one of the most memorable border crossings we’ve ever experienced, leading us into Livingstone, Zambia for another incredible perspective of the natural wonder.

Zambezi River Cruise

A highlight of our trip was the serene yet exhilarating Zambezi River sunset cruise. As the boat gently glided along the river’s wide expanse, we were treated to scenes straight out of a nature documentary—hippos grunting in the water, crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks, and elephants meandering along the shore. The golden hues of the African sunset painted the river in brilliant oranges and purples, making for a surreal and peaceful end to the day.

 Elephant Safari and Walking with Lions

 Our days were filled with extraordinary encounters. One unforgettable morning was spent on an elephant-back safari, gently swaying through the bush on these majestic giants as we observed wildlife in its natural habitat. Even more remarkable was the opportunity to walk with lions. Under expert supervision, we walked alongside young lions, observing their strength and grace. It was humbling and awe-inspiring—a memory we’ll cherish forever.

Stay at Elephant Hills Resort

Our base was the beautiful Elephant Hills Resort, perched above the Zambezi River with lush greenery and sweeping views. The hospitality was exceptional, and the food was a true culinary fusion. As vegetarians, we were delighted to find a rich mix of ethnic African vegetables—flavorful stews, pumpkin leaves, and okra—served alongside Indian-style curries, rice dishes, and fresh chapatis. Every meal was a celebration of taste and culture.

Our Wonderful Guide, Brighton

A special mention must go to our guide, Brighton, whose knowledge, warmth, and professionalism enriched every moment of our journey. He not only navigated logistics seamlessly but also shared stories, local customs, and wildlife insights that deepened our appreciation for the region. His passion for his homeland was contagious and made our trip all the more meaningful.

From the thunderous power of Victoria Falls to the quiet majesty of the Zambezi at sunset, from unforgettable wildlife interactions to warm hospitality and flavorful cuisine, our trip to Zimbabwe and Zambia was an adventure for the soul. We left with hearts full of gratitude and minds filled with awe, already dreaming of returning to this magical part of Africa. I think pictures speak better than my words. Let me stop here and later will write about the visit to the national parks in Botswana.

 

I think pictures speak better than my words. Let me stop here and later will write about the encounter with lions and the visit to the national parks in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

                   PEACE ON EARTH

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Gandhi…. King……Mandela….

January brings the memory of great souls like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.  King followed the footsteps of Gandhi invoked the nonviolent civil rights moment in the USA which resulted in removing the segregation completely from the southern states. Nelson Mandela fought to remove apartheid following the nonviolent principles of Gandhi.   2018 is the birth centenary year for Mandela.
My travels in 2018 culminated in S. Africa. Landed in Johannesburg in December.  It was great to pay homage to Mandela by visiting his house in Soweto. The house where he grew up is now a museum well maintained by the Mandela foundation.  

Another important place to visit is the Apartheid Museum that chronicles the poignant history the fighters, supporters, gruesome details that is an eye opener to everyone and the future generation as how apartheid, segregation and discrimination are the three evils that humanity should avoid at any cost.

In Gandhi square there is a statue of young Gandhi as a barrister. This is a

unique statue with his barrister robes. The Gandhi museum keeps the history of the civil disobedience moment he started first in S. Africa.

Salute to these three great souls.

PEACE ON EARTH 

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Cape Town…. Cape of Good Hope…. Cape Agulhas….

Last time when I visited S. Africa in 2008 missed Cape Town. The stories I heard about the Table Mountain park, Cape and the wineries beckoned me to visit this beautiful town. Finally, in 2018 I could put a check against this in my bucket list!  Cape Town has a unique coast line and famous for the Natural reserve park in the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point and Cape Agulhas where the Atlantic and the Indian oceans meet. Cape Agulhas is the southernmost tip of the African continent.  Bartholomew Diaz, the Portuguese explorer first named the Cape as “Cape of Storms”. Vasco Da Gama came around the Cape of Good Hope and reached the west coast of India landing in Calicut in 1498.

Indeed, a long history of loot, wars, colonization of the African continent and setting up trading posts in India followed by the English, Dutch, Danish and the French who later colonized many countries in Africa and Asia. The Cape was witnessing all this and the ships crossing the southern tip of Africa ceased when Suez Canal was opened in 1869

From the Hilton City Centre, we drove along the coastal route and took a ferry to hop into the Seal island. Cape of Good Hope Natural reserve park is the best with the lush green trees and provide sanctuary to many birds and animals. The African Penguin whose ancestors must have migrated from the Antarctica have adapted to the warm weather of the African coast.

The vista from the Cape Agulhas is breathtaking. One can see the two different currents of the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean with distinct hues of blue. The clouds, rocks, wind, ocean and the sand take you to a World of awe and wonder. I felt like melting away into the nature leaving everything. The thought was pushed away when I looked at the light house. Oh! Yes, need to climb.....

PEACE ON EARTH

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Ambohimanga....Lemurs ….Madagascar…..

Need to catch up with all the travels done in 2018! Let me begin with Madagascar. Not the movie but the real country! The simplest way to reach Madagascar is from Johannesburg S. Africa.  The flight crossed the Indian ocean and the lush green forests and mountains are in sight when we landed at Antananviro.  Madagascar is the remnant of the ancient Gondwanaland and due its isolation its flora and fauna are unique.

We checked into the Carlton Hotel overlooking the lake and this is the only five-star hotel in Antananarivo the capital of Madagascar.  Though French is spoken widely, the hotel staff are conversant in English. Time to explore the Lemur sanctuary park. Lemurs are a separate species from monkeys are apes. It was interesting to see their antics.

Another must visit place is Ambohimanga a UNESCO World heritage site near Antananarivo.  The largest ethnic group Merina consider this as their spiritual and national identity.  Till the French colonized Madagascar and its surrounding islands by defeating the King Radama II.  Madagascar gained independence in 1958 and named as Malagasy republic.

An island with species nowhere to be found in the continental Africa, rain forests, spices, orchids mixture of ethnic groups makes this island an exotic location. Time to fly back to South Africa.

PEACE ON EARTH

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Santorini....Caldera.....Aegean.....

The blue domes looked like beautiful jellyfish from the air. The plane landed in the narrow runway next to the shores of the Aegean Sea.

OIA Village

 The island is part of the Cyclades and the volcanic caldera forms the island. The capital is Fira (Thira in Greek). A quaint town with abundance of wine and cheese. Water is scarce in the ancient houses situated on the cliff.

The village of Oia is the highlight of the visit. It is a breathtaking place perched on a cliff and the gorgeous sunset and sunrise makes it magical. I saw many brides and grooms happily posing on top of the caldera who come here from all parts of the World just to get married in this artistic ancient Aegean island. I am stopping here as the pictures are better than writing!

PEACE ON EARTH!

All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.