MAD Travel Diaries

Ganesh Utsav Celebration, Trinidad and Tobago

August 31, 2014

For the average traveler, Hindu festival celebrations are usually associated with India only. But the reality isthat they are also celebrated wherever there are pockets of Hindus around the world too.Trinidad & Tobago is no exception as the population is almost 40% Indian, of which at least half is Hindu. Ganesh Utsav (or Ganesh Chaturthi) is currently being celebrated this time of year in the Hindu calendar. It is a festival in honour of the god Ganeshawho is…

Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, August 18, 2014: Beautiful Delftware

August 17, 2014

True Delftware comes only from the city of Delft in the Netherlands. It is denoted by beautiful skillfully hand painted blue and white pottery. Delftware was created when the Dutch became acquainted with porcelain from China in the…

Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, Aug. 4, 2014: MURAL DE LA PREHISTORIA – Viñales, Cuba

August 3, 2014

Viñales is an absolutely beautiful town in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba. Its most prized stop on the tourist route is debatable though. The Mural de la Prehistoria (Prehistoric Mural) is a massive mural painted in…

Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, July 21, 2014: Mád Synagogue

July 20, 2014

There is a beautiful synagogue in Mád, a village near Tokaj in Eastern Hungary, that is not as popular as it should be amongst visitors. Today it is a Holocaust memorial and represents rare Hungarian synagogue architecture;…

Visiting Lesser Known Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

July 2, 2014

A memorable visit to beautiful Kaieteur Falls.

Chhimi Lhakhang-Temple of fertility – Bhutan

June 29, 2014

Chhimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility) is situated in the Punakha region of Bhutan. According to legend, when Drukpa Kunley visited Bhutan, a demoness called Loro Duem resided at the Dochula pass.

Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, June 23, 2014: Maracas Beach on a hot day, Trinidad

June 23, 2014

Maracas Beach is considered the jewel in the crown of Trinidad’s many beaches. Unlike many of the northern beaches of Trinidad, Maracas Beach is protected

Maracas Beach on a hot day, Trinidad

June 23, 2014

Maracas Beach is considered the jewel in the crown of Trinidad’s many beaches. Unlike many of the northern beaches of Trinidad, Maracas Beach is protected by a deep bay and is even more picturesque by the backdrop of mountains. It is on the…

Praan Prathistaa Ceremony – A Legacy for Granny

June 17, 2014

Granny’s wish for her 80th birthday was to have a Hindu deity brought from India and placed in one of her favourite temples in town as her legacy. Read about the adventure.