Unbelievable natural wonders

From the Turkmenistan's Door to Hell to Norway's Northern Lights, these scenes are to be witnessed to be believed.
It isn't very difficult to forget the enormity (and the beauty) of our planet.
Russia's Lake Baikal, the Paria Canyon of Arizona and Utah, the Giant's Causeway of Northern Ireland and the Angel Falls of Venezuela are just few of the hundreds of natural wonders in this world are humbling reminders of our place in this world and just how little we've seen of it.
Read on and be amazed!

Great Blue Hole
We start out with the Great Blue Hole is an underwater sinkhole, a vertical cave so to say, located just off the coast of Belize City, the Central American country of Belize, The Great Blue Hole stretches some 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep.
Believed to have been formed during episodes of glaciation at a time when sea levels were low, the Great Blue Hole was made famous by the French naval officer and explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world way back in 1971.

Derweze Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

The Derweze Gas Crater quite simply has to be the most unreal phenomenon in this world.
Located in Turkmenistan, Derweze is a village about 260 km north from Ashgabat, the country's capital in an area rich in natural gas.
In 1971, Soviet geologists looking for oil happened to accidentally tap into a cavern of natural gas that caused the ground to collapse, taking with it the entire drilling rig!
To prevent discharge of poisonous methane gas in the atmosphere, the good Soviet folks decided to burn it off… and set fire to it.
The idea was that it would use up all the gas in a few days and would all be okay.
It has been over 40 years since but the 'Door to Hell' continues to stand testimony to the genius of the Soviet geologists.
Even though the cause of this strange sight (that can be seen from miles away on a clear dark night) is manmade, the fact that it's survived this long makes it no less a natural wonder than any of the ones listed here.
The 'Door to Hell' is about 230 feet wide and some 66 feet deep.

Angel Falls, Venezuela

In the Native American Pemon language, Venezuela's Angel Falls are called Kerepakupai Vena or the 'waterfall of the deepest place'.
The picture you see above shows a direct plunge of over 2,648 feet making it the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall.
Dropping over the edge of the Auyantepui Mountain in the Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Angel Falls are one of Venezuela's top tourist attractions.
Reaching the Falls however isn't very easy since they're located in an isolated forest. The most recommended route to take is a flight from Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolívar to Canaima camp followed by a river trip to the base of these falls.
The trips are conducted between June to December when the rivers are deep enough for the curiaras or canoes that the guides use.

 

The Grand Prismatic Spring, USA

The largest hot spring in the US and the third largest in the world, the Grand Prismatic Spring, located in Yellowstone National Park is better known for its unique colour that matches the rainbow dispersion -- red, orange, yellow, green and blue.
About 300 feet wide, the first records of the spring's discovery date back to 1839.
The secret behind its striking colours are because of pigmented bacteria that are part of the microbial mats, which grow around the edges of the spring.
These mats themselves derive their colour from the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids as well as the water temperature which helps breed different bacteria at different times.
Thus the colours of these mats also vary from season to season -- ranging from orange to red in the summer and shades of green in the winters.
The very centre of the pool is sterile thanks to the high temperature and is therefore blue in a way that few other water bodies can be.

Northern Lights, Norway

There is probably nothing more humbling than witnessing a splendid light show in the sky.
The Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights are an astronomical phenomenon caused when large quantities of particles thrown out of the sun during solar explosions collide with the earth's magnetic shield and are led towards a circle around the magnetic North Pole interacting with the atmosphere.
What you see in the picture above is a result of this unique natural phenomenon (and takes place about 100 km above our heads) and is best witnessed from autumn to mid-April after which it gets too bright to see.

Shilin Stone Forest, China

Located in the Yunnan Province in China, the Stone Forest or Shilin is essentially a collection of limestone formation.
Spread across 350 sq km, the stone needles are some 270 million years old and spring from the ground and look like petrified trees lending the illusion of a stone forest.
According to legends, the forest was a beautiful girl who turned herself into a stone in the forest after she was forbidden from marrying the man of her choice.

Paria Canyon of Arizona and Utah, USA

Popularly known as The Wave, the picture you see is of a sandstone rock formation located in the Paria Canyon near the Arizona-Utah border in the USA
Controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (or BLM), The Wave requires a permit to access it with only 20 permits being granted every day. Of these ten are available by an online lottery system held four months before the date of the proposed trek and the other ten 24 hours before.
During the peak season -- April, May, September and October -- there are hundreds queuing up for the permit.
The reason for the restricted access is to avoid erosion and if you do get to see it, it's probably a matter of luck.
Even so, it isn't such a bad idea to visit the 'Second Wave' that isn't very far off as well as the rest of the Coyote Buttes of which The Wave is a part.

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

About 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that are a result of an ancient volcanic eruption form this unique landscape that was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a National Nature Reserve by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland in 1987.
The tallest columns are about 39 feet high while the lava that has been solidified in the cliffs tends to be about 92 feet thick.
While science has provided us with answers of its origin, there are several legends that offer far more interesting stories.
The most popular of them involves an Irish giant called Finn McCool (really how cool is that name!). According to the story, the causeway is just the remains of a bridge that McCool had built connecting Ireland to Scotland.

Cano Cristales River, Colombia

Often called the River of Five Colours or the Liquid Rainbow, Colombia's Cano Cristales River is a sight to behold.
The five colours include blue, green, yellow, black and more so the red of a particular kind of riverweed that grows on its bed.
It is advisable to visit the Cano Cristales between July and December since that is when the riverweed blossoms fully.

Lake Baikal, Russia

Located in Southern Suberia, Lake Baikal is believed to be the oldest lake on earth estimated to date back to over 25 million years.
Even though it is only the seventh largest -- it has a surface area of 31,722 sq km -- in the world, Lake Baikal holds 20 per cent of the planet's unfrozen surface freshwater supply.
It is also home to over 1700 species of plants and animals, over 66 per cent of which can't be found anywhere else.

Needless to say, Lake Baikal is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site having been declared one in 1996.

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India's best street foods!

India's best street foods!

Street food is one of many aspects that defines India as a country. Sean Sequeira finds that travelling for food can be nourishing for both body and mind. Find out more in this Indian street food travel guide.

The founders of vada pav -- Mumbai
Ashok Vada Pav is a roadside stall near Kirti College in Mumbai which is definitely the best place to go for vada pav. They sell the snack hot, with a tasty chutney and additional fried crumbs which makes it a delicous nibble that definitely deserves a thumbs up.
Also good for vada pav: Anand Vada Pav near Mithibai College and Aram Milk Bar opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai.
Worth knowing: Ashok Vada Pav is supposedly the first makers of the vada pav in Mumbai. They claim the dish originated to serve office workers who were always on the go.

The old city dosa -- Bangalore
Vidyarthi Bhavan at Basavanagudi in Bangalore is a reminder of the old city since the metro changed around it but the eatery remained the same. The dosa is hailed for its secret ingredients and being consistently delicious over the decades.
Also good for dosa: Central Tiffin Room (also known as CTR or Shri Sagar) at Malleshwaram and Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) at Lal Bagh Road in Bangalore.
Worth knowing: A mayor of London once visited Vidyarthi Bhavan and was so impressed by the quality of the dosa that he invited them to open a branch in London.

The paneer-rich chole bhature – Delhi

Sita Ram Diwan Chand at Paharganj in Delhi is known to serve the best chole bhature the Indian stomach can find. The bhatura is stuffed with paneer to give it a unique taste while the chole is spiced to perfection.
It is no wonder that people throng from all over the country to stand at their tables (no seating space).
Also good for chole bhature: Baba Nagpal Corner at Lajpat Nagar IV and Chache di Hatti at Kamla Nagar in New Delhi.
Worth knowing: Sita Ram Diwan Chand is a favourite among Delhiites for the aloo sabzi and pickle served along with the chole bhature. Many people skip meals to enjoy two servings here.

The favourite pyaz kachori -- Jaipur
Rawat Mishthan Bhandar in Sindhi Camp at Jaipur is very well known for its pyaz kachori. In fact, someone jokingly stated that the eatery could suffice on the sales of its pyaz kachori alone.
The kachori is crispy and the stuffing is rich and heavy which makes it a typical Rajasthani-style snack.
Also good for pyaz kachori: Janta Sweet Home at Nai Sadak in Jaipur.
Worth knowing: Rawat Mishthan Bhandar is a highly rated sweet home. Apart from the pyaz kachori, their mawa kachori is quite reputed for a sweet snack and their own version of the traditional Rajasthani ghevar is also quite famous.

The original kathi roll -- Kolkata
Nizam's Restaurant in New Market Area of Kolkata is undoubtedly the best kathi roll you can find in the city. The kitchen of this restaurant was the birthplace of the kathi roll in the 1930s.
The parathas are fried with egg, lathered with delicous sauces and then rolled up with sauteed vegetables and well cooked meat.
Also good for kathi rolls: Hot Kathi Roll on Park Street and Zeeshan on Sarat Bose Road in Kolkata.
Worth knowing: The snack was made to serve British officers who asked for a wrap so as to not touch the meat with their hands. The name stuck after bamboo sticks called kathis were used to cook the meat.

The heritage kebab -- Lucknow
Tunday Kebabi on Naaz Cinema Road in Aminabad, Lucknow is famous for being one of the best kebab eateries in the world because of its special family recipe that has been passed down over generations for over 100 years.
The secret recipe makes sure the kebabs are perfectly cooked and the taste is always delicious because it is considered a family heirloom.
Also good for kebabs: The restaurants Dastarkhwan and Naushijaan in Hazratganj of Lucknow
Worth knowing: Tunday Kebabi was originally started over a hundred years ago and has been run by the same family through the years. The descendants of the original owner decided to break away and form their own chain of restaurants called Grandsons of Tunday Kebabi, while still using the original family recipe.

TOP 10: Best cities to travel to in 2014

TOP 10: Best cities to travel to in 2014

Where are you heading to in 2014? Is it Paris, New York or London? 

Lonely Planet, the definitive travel guide and magazine, has released its annual list of 2014's list of Best Cities to Travel.

If you haven't as yet made up your mind, keep clicking to explore!

Lonely Planet's list of cities to travel to in the coming year is out. The travel guide and magazine drew upon its experts to put together a list of cities that will inspire your travel in 2014.

We start with:

10. Auckland, New Zealand

There is a reason why Auckland is home to one third of New Zealand's population. Besides being the largest city in the country, it is also one of the most cosmopolitan in nature and hosts several cultural events all year round.

Situated on two harbours -- Manukau and Waitemata -- Auckland is also known as the City of Sails thanks to the prominent sailing culture.

Auckland is built on a series of dormant volcanoes with one of them being just a few miles away from the city's centre.

Lonely Planet lists Auckland at number 10 at the Best in Travel list of 2014.

9. Adelaide, Australia

The fifth largest city in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, Adelaide holds the distinction of never being a convict settlement unlike Australia's other state capitals.

Located among the wine regions of Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale, Adelaide also boasts of a fabulous nightlife, fine dining options and several art events besides swimmer-friendly beaches and great architecture.

Lonely Planet calls Adelaide the 'perfect host city' having 'accumulated some of Australia's most popular sporting and arts events, including the cultural tour de force of the Adelaide Festival, the Adelaide Fringe Festival and WOMADelaide'.

Adelaide is number nine on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel list.

8. Chicago, USA

The third largest city in the USA, Chicago has a thriving jazz and blues culture as well as an improv comedy scene that launched the careers of greats such as Bill Murray and Tina Fey among others.

With amazing beaches and several world-class museums as well as large parks and public art spaces, not to mention its world-class architecture, Chicago has enough to keep you occupied for weeks if not months.

7. Vancouver, Canada

One of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada, Vancouver is nestled between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Surrounded by natural beauty, Vancouver is also home to several film production studios earning it the nickname of Hollywood North.

Besides being consistently ranked as one of the top ten most liveable cities in the world, Vancouver has, what Lonely Planet describes as the big-city-look with a small-town-vibe.

"People live here because they love to run, bike, swim, ski and play. Boredom is not permitted here," Lonely Planet's website notes while ranking the city at number seven in its 2014 Best in Travel list.

6. Shanghai, China

For citizens of 45 countries, Shanghai recently expanded its visa-free transit quota to 72 hours. (Sadly India isn't on the list) Which means you can take a tour of the wonderful city even if you don't have a Chinese visa.

Home to one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world, Shanghai architecture boasts of an eclectic meeting of the West and the East.

While property prices in Shanghai have gone through the roof, Shanghai has steadily made itself a global city.

Its metro system has expanded from three lines to high-speed 16 lines and is the third-longest network in the world and it will soon be home to the tallest building in China when the 121-story Shanghai Tower will be complete.

Shanghai is number six on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel list.

5. Zurich, Switzerland

Rounding of the top five is Zurich.

The Swiss city may be best known for its banks and men in suits but the city is slowly earning reputation for its nightlife as the local government relaxes its rules about opening hours.

Zurich is also equally known for its efficient and safe public transport system and its envious location against a mountainous backdrop as it is for its exclusive fashion houses and fine dining restaurants.

4. Riga, Latvia

The capital city of Latvia, Riga is home to an extensive collection of German Art Nouveau architecture as well as about half of the country's population.

It also boasts of a lively nightlife and draws visitors to its old town once known as 'Paris of the East'.

Cosmopolitan, hip and happening, Riga is also seeing a mass restoration of many of its crumbling buildings and is the city to visit in 2014 according to the folks at Lonely Planet.

3. Cape Town, South Africa

Home to the world-famous table top mountain and the southern-most city of Africa, Cape Town is the second largest city of South Africa and has something to offer for everyone.

Take a cable car to the tabletop mountain or dive into shark-infested waters, sink your teeth into the continent's varied flavours or simply unwind along the beach.

Lonely Planet describes Cape Town, also known as The Mother City, as 'an old pro at capturing people's hearts'. We couldn't agree more.

2. Trinidad, Cuba

The Spanish colonial settlement of Cuba is often seen as an 'outdoor museum' that can keep history buffs occupied for hours on end.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinidad has managed to retain its old-world charm even though being a tourist hub has meant there are several hustlers who can be tad annoying.

Take a steam train ride to the sugarcane fields and visit the 19th century manor houses built during the sugar boom and their slave quarters or go picnicking to Ancon beach; hike up the Escambray mountains or learn to dance the salsa. Trinidad needn't just be a nerdy historical trip.

1. Paris, France

Often called the City of Love and the City of Light, Paris is more than just a collections of its famous monuments.

It's a city where art, culture, romance, history, fashion, literature and entertainment all come together to create a heady mix that's hard to ignore.

Whether you're strolling down the Champs-Elysees, taking in the colourful shops, or down a small boulevard admiring beautiful latticework balconies, you won't be spoilt for choice.

While most ensure they climb atop the Eiffel Tower for that much talked about view, we suggest you also climb the Arc De Triomphe in the evening for a panoramic view of the city you won't forget any time soon.

With all major roads leading here, soak up the feeling of being at the centre of it all. And even if you're not a foodie, try out some of the local fare -- Paris has 85 Michelin-starred restaurants vying for your attention.

If that's too much pressure, stop by a roadside stall selling crepes stuffed with Nutella and bananas, lip-smacking good.

No matter how cliched it sounds, you will fall in love with Paris and that's exactly why it is on every traveller's must-visit list.

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