Archive for May, 2009
When Fatehpur Sikri Enthralled Me
Forts monuments and palaces of the bygone era intrigue me much. Whenever I visit a new placeespecially if it happens to be in Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh and DelhiI make it a point to visit its monuments and forts built by the former kings and warriors. So when I visited Agra in Uttar Pradesh I made it a point to visit Fatehpur Sikri the abandoned capital built by Akbar the great.
Fatehpur Sikri is only 40km from the Agra city. I was told that there are daily trains from the Agra Fort railway station to Fatehpur Sikri but I preferred to take a taxi from the Agra city and reached Fatehpur Sikri in about an hour. Had our taxi not been caught in traffic we would have reached Fatehpur Sikri much earlier.
I had much read about the places wonderful structures and monuments. And did Fatehpur Sikri disappoint me? No on the contrary it awestruck me completely! The political capital of Indias Mughal Empire under Akbar from 1571 to 1585 Fatehpur Sikri certainly proved to be an excellent place.
Akbars crowning architectural legacy the Fatehpur Sikri reflects the best of the Bengali and the Gujarati architectures. The walled city complex has several wonderful palaces and monuments including DiwaniAm DiwaniKhas Paanch Mahal Birbal Bhawan Jodha Bai Palace Mausoleum of Saleem Chisti Jama Masjid and Buland Darwaza.
Of all structures and monuments at the Fatehpur Sikri complex it was the massive Buland Darwaza that impressed me the most. Buland Darwazathe highest gateway in the worldwas built by Akbar to celebrate his victory over Gujarat. The Gate of Magnificence Buland Darwaza is a huge 175feet tall structure and is as impressive and masculine as the emperor who built it.
After visiting the complex I had a great lunch consisting of delicious paranthas with many layers at one of the eateries located in its vicinity. My taxi driver said that the paranthas of the place were as famous as the Fatehpur Sikri Complex. Though he may have exaggerated the paranthas were certainly gigantic pretty much like the mammoth fort complex of Fatehpur Sikri. They were so filling that after having them I did not have any food for the next 12 hours or so.
About the writer: The Grupo Mayan hotels are accommodations that provide worldclass amenities including enhanced security system for the protection safety of their guests. They are located in various prominent and frequently visited destinations in Mexico such as Acapulco Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. To know more of their other services visit http://www.grupomayantravelers.com.
What To Pack For Summer Camp
More than just a place to spend summer vacations summer camp is a fun place where a child can learn to be more independent create new friendships and develop new skills. Summer camps are also credited for fostering a sense of teamwork in children and teaching children how to appreciate nature and outdoor sports especially in a generation where fun usually means playing computer games or surfing the internet.
Summer camps usually last for two to four weeks depending on the camp activities. From choosing the perfect camp to packing your child’s gear for camp parents have a major role in ensuring a successful and memorable camp experience for their children. And as in most things in life preparation is key especially in packing your child’s gear. Here are some useful tips and pointers to remember before sending your kids to camp.
First step would be to create a packing list. Summer camps usually send a recommended list of packing essentials. Make sure that you include all the things on this official list in your kids’ gear. They are there for a reason.
Pack early. Start shopping for camp essentials as soon as you get the recommended list of things to bring from the camp. Procrastination won’t do you any good. Packing several days or even weeks if possible will help you avoid stressful last minute shopping trips. It will also save you the trouble of scrambling to find his/her favorite shirt and jammies at the last minute.
Don’t forget to pack appropriate medications. While most camps have clinics and first aid stations it is still very important to pack your child’s prescribed medications. It is also best practice to include the phone/contact number of the physician in case the prescription is lost and needs to be refilled by the camp staff.
Pack an extra pillow case. Despite reminders from camp staff that the facility has sufficient pillow cases it might be best to pack an extra pillow case. Most camp kids complain that pillows and cases provided by the camp are notoriously grungy. Also it is more hygienic for your kids to use their own pillow cases at the very least.
Pack an appropriate number of clothes keeping in mind the duration of the camp. In general laundry is done once a week in camps. Make sure that your child will have enough shirts jeans underwear pajamas and other clothing essentials even if laundry is done only once every week. There is no hard and fast rule for number of clothes to pack as the need and quantity would largely depend on the camp’s location but to be on the safe side this list might be helpful in planning your kids’ wardrobe:
Clothing 810 tshirts
56 pairs of shorts
34 sweatshirts
23 pairs of sweat pants
2 pairs of jeans
1 warm jacket
1 raincoat
35 swimsuits
12 pairs of underpants
12 pairs of socks
23 pairs of pajamas
1 sunhat
1 bathrobe
A list of miscellaneous stuff can include:
Flashlight and batteries
Bug repellent
Sunscreen
Laundry Bag
Rain gear
Baseball hat
Shower Pail
Toiletries
Stationary and postage stamps
Other quick reminders when packing:
- Mark everything each piece of clothing books toys with your child’s name
- Include a list of emergency phone numbers and email addresses
- Disposable flashlights will always come in handy regardless of camp location
- Pack several preaddressed postcards with postage so as to encourage your child to write
About the writer: Dov Shapiro is owner and codirector of Camp Chateaugay located on Adirondack Lakes in New York.
What To Look For In Camping Cookware
When shopping for camping cookware there are a few things that you want to take into consideration. By considering what kinds of food you will be cooking how much hiking if any you will be doing and how long you will be camping for you will be able to better judge what kinds of cookware to purchase.
Camping cookware can range from a single pot with a few pieces of silverware to many pots and pans and spatulas. Try to think about what kinds of food you will be cooking and pack as little supplies that you can get away with. This is especially true if you will be backpacking a lot. The last thing you want is to be carrying around an extra 30 pounds in cookware while hiking.
When it comes to the cookware material there is a plethora of choices to choose from. Each has its own perks as well as the disadvantages. For instance aluminum titanium and stainless steel sets are much lighter and easier to carry around for a hiking trip. However aluminum sets often come in nonstick varieties that can increase the price.
Metal sets tend to rust which makes it essential that the pan is dry before you store it. Cast iron sets are extremely durable and sturdy but because of this they tend to be heavier and harder to pack.
Pots and pans are only part of the camping cookware you will want to look into. You will also want to consider what kinds of utensils will be necessary to get the job done. Sometimes you can get away with the basic knife spoon and fork set. But other times you may need spatulas measuring cups tongs and so on. An easy way to save some money is to go with plastic silverware as it is reliable and light as well.
When shopping for your cookware look for folding utensils. This will make it much easier for storage space and allow you to have more utensils as well. When camping you want to have the least amount of stuff as possible so that storage and hiking is simple.
Another way that you can cut down on the amount of camping cookware you have is to get things done prior to leaving on your camping trip. By cutting up the vegetables and preparing the sauces you can eliminate extra utensils and containers that you otherwise would have needed to bring. It will also allow you to leave cutting boards spoons and knives back home.
The main thing you want to keep in mind when looking for camping cookware is how you can cut down on the amount needed. By planning ahead and looking for folding utensils you can save a lot of space. From there it is up to you to determine how much cookware you will need according to your trip.
About the writer: Danny Wright is the webmaster for MerchantLand.com .We can help you choose the right camping cookware for your next trip. Come checkout the wide variety of things we have available.