Adalaj ni Vav or Adalaj stepwell was the first place we visited after landing in Ahmedabad the previous evening. We were staying in a Heritage house in old town and were advised to hire an auto to take us places to see in Ahmedabad.
I had heard about its magnificent carving but did not know it has a very interesting story behind it as well!
My instant reaction on seeing it was a “Wow” instead of Vav.

Adalaj stepwell or ‘Vav‘ or or ‘Vaav’ as it is locally called, is

The symbol of Madrid
When I saw this statue in Plaza de Sol, Madrid, I was told that this statue is The Symbol of Madrid. A tree and a bear? I was intrigued enough to find out the story behind it.

Bear and the Madroño tree.
The official symbol of Madrid is a bear rearing up on its hind legs and feasting on berries of a tree. Sometimes it is

An architectural treat that is Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad.
I could see an architecturally pleasing heritage building right across the Jalan Raja when I visited the independence square, a.k.a. Merdeka Square. That day I didn’t have much time to explore it, so I had promised myself another day to go there again. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building or as it is called in Malay Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad is on one side of the Merdeka Square. Obviously you cannot miss it at all.

The shining copper dome of the building. …

From the Little India Night Market I could see the well lit Dataran Merdeka or the Independence Square, on the other side of Jalan Tun Perak.
It was late and I wanted to visit the place during the day time. Next morning I made a beeline for the Independence Square. The Dataran Merdeka (or Merdeka Square) is the old colonial heart of Kuala Lumpur.
It was here, the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan Flag was hoisted on August 31, 1957. (It was still called Malaya those days). A …

Continuing with my souvenir series, today I have for you the little kid who ought to do it in the toilet but is found pee-ing in everybody’s plain view.

Manekken Pis, as he is famously known, is synonymous

Covering my head, bare feet I crossed the Threshold after dipping my unshod feet in flowing water meant for washing feet before entering the temple premises. The moment I was inside, I felt I had entered a different world. The chanting of hymns, the calming atmosphere and the sheer presence of spirituality took me into a trance.

It was afternoon; the sun was in the mood of flaunting its capability of burning everybody before it can call it a day in three hours time.
I was at the

Big Buddha in Thailand
Sitting on top of the Nakkerd Hills, a 45 meter gigantic statue of Buddha invites people from far away places. Phuket’s Big Buddha, as it is fondly known, is one of the island’s most important and revered landmarks. The views from the top of the hill which lies between Chalong and Kata bay are breathtaking.
There is an interesting story behind choosing this spot for making this statue which I will tell you some other time.
Known among Thais as the Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha in full, …