Iceland is a country with a population of just about 320,000. And there has been little immigration over the years. This means there is not as much genetic diversity as on larger land masses. Go back a few generations and most Icelanders will find they are related to each other – almost everyone is distantly...
Doesn’t most of the stress of life come from loneliness, low social interaction and lack of a support system? And maybe exercise?The Icelanders have figured a fun way way of handling all of these – “Sundlaugs”“Sundlaugs” are geothermally heated public pools across Iceland. There are 120+ of them with each town having one. The New...
Folklore has it that once in Iceland, there lived a woman named Katla who was known to wear a special trouser and run like the wind! Katla’s skill had helped a lot of people and she was renowned far and wide. However, Katla also had a mean temper. Once when a shepherd needed to round...
Ravana - A relook at the legendary King of Lanka How well do you know the Asura-king of Lanka – Ravana? How well do we know this vilified-demon king whose effigy is burnt every year with much fanfare during the Ram-Lila celebrations across northern India?Here are 9 things that you may not know about him –...
While traveling in Cambodia, the first thing one experience is its history with a chequered past, a deep sense of spirituality, ancient mysteries and deep rooted traditions. The powerful Angkor Empire which ruled most of South East Asia from the 9th to the 14th century, its grandeur and ambition can still be glimpsed and felt...
This lesser known country, with popular neighbours like Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam is indeed a hidden treasure. While such a country creates intrigue in terms of just the novelty factor, Laos can be called an Also country which also has great culture, also have a scenic beauty, also has a pristine nature, also is a...
This was my fifth visit to Sri Lanka. On all my earlier visits, I had been wowed by the sea, the mountains, the food and the people- not necessarily in that order. So when I was to travel to the island for a couple of weeks, I wasn’t exactly jumping in...
For people staying in the Floating villages on the Tonle Sap river, the entire livelihood and life revolves around the fish. Catching fish is simple – The water level drops and the Tonlé Sap river carries away thousands of fish. The fishermen simply keep dipping in and lifting away cone-shaped nets into the water… from...
If you want to lay a road, build a house, or construct a dam in Iceland, there’s one influential group you have to clear it with first – Elves, the ‘hidden people’, the Huldufolk. Legend has it that they are similar to humans, and wear 17th century clothing, tend to livestock, pick berries, and even go...