Chandigarh is called India's cleanest and greenest city. But interestingly not through any result of its own policies and plans, but rather through that of a French architect. Le Corbusier was given a dream commission - design a city from scratch! What city planner or architect would not jump at the chance to start with a clean slate and design the perfect city? The result of his design and thoughts and philosophies is Chandigarh. The city has big broad bouleva...

The toy train from Shimla to Kalka is considered by many to be one of two of the world's most scenic and spectacular journeys by train anywhere in the world. Since we were here, and were heading to Chandigarh down on the plain, and a bus was not an option, train it was! It is truly impressive; especially when you consider the specs and stats. The train line was first proposed in 1847, but only completed in 1903. It has 103 tunnels, innumerable bridges and viad...

Another early morning and another early bus down to Mandi. Fast and into the mist in the valleys below. What a way to begin your day! Bags off the one bus and onto the top of another but with a roadside cup of masala chai and vegetable samoosas (I never had one that was not good. A highly recommended pieces of Indian bus station or roadside stop cuisine!) in between. Over mountains, into valleys and around the twists and turns we go and Shimla slowly materialis...

After enjoying ourselves, as well has having our hearts ripped out in the Tibetan Museum, in MG we decided that we may need a little pre-Nepal trekking conditioning after the previous day's little stroll to the Dal Lake just above MG. Ok, make that a little more than just a bit of conditioning! But to get there, we needed to get on another India state bus; and to get to the bus station we needed to take a taxi to get there. Since the bus was leaving at 0600, we ...

Here is a little quiz.....just to get those brain cells moving. Just a little mental exercise to get those juices flowing! Come on! Step 1, 2, 3, 4........kick those BC's into shape! Step 1, 2, 3, 4....... Where is Tibet? How big is Tibet? When was it invaded? What was given as the reason for the necessary "liberation" of Tibet by China? What is happening in Tibet now? Are the Chinese doing all the beneficial things they say they are? What do you car...