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Streets of Tehran on the evening of December 21st appeared more dense with cars than other days. This was special day for Iranians – Yalda: a day in a year where night is the longest. All Iranians like every year celebrated this night by eating watermelons, special Iranian sweets (Gaz) and chatting with families and friends either at home or outside but celebrations were muted with no music or laughter from youngsters. This represent today’s Iran. A city and country where a younger generation is at cross roads with people who govern the country. It is as much similar when teenagers wish to rebel against “do’s and don’ts” imposed by elders but have no means or courage to do. And so are Iranians - they suffer in silence with a small measure of subjugation and fear with a hope that US would do something to liberate them but without any devastation as that of Iraq. My second visit to Tehran gave me this opportunity to understand the psyche of young Iranians and also admire wonderful landsc...

Muscat has been my place of residence over six years from 92-97. After coming back to Dubai in 02, I had an opportunity to visit Muscat twice. This gave me chance to see changing face of Muscat in last 6 years. Most noticeable difference is at the border of Oman and UAE. Immigration post is now housed in new building with stained glass interiors, granite tiles, and water fountain in the middle. First impression of the country is often formed by Immigration and Customs. Oman made sure that even visitors by road get their first glimpse of this orderly country. Earlier, border post was crowded by Oman residents who were keen to flee to Dubai for shopping. It is heartening to see the opposite. Road from border post to Muscat city is a dual carriage expressway without any major deviations. The road is in as much immaculate condition as it was. This area is known as Batinah coast and is most prosperous and populous part of Oman The road is lined up with farmhouses on both sides and if one we...

This is my fourth visit to Cairo in current year and I am still unable to feel the pulse of this country. Geographically being part of Africa, culturally part of Middle Eastern and economically similar to India makes Egypt and in particular Cairo an interesting place to visit. Often story of Cairo begins and ends with Pyramid. I didn’t find Pyramid that glamorous on first visit. Perhaps I was overburdened with great expectations. My image of Pyramid was that of being in the middle of desert in hostile environment with an ambience and opulence as that of movie “sphinx”. It is incongruous to see this magnificent creation of man at stones throw from brick-laid stacked up houses, crowded street with loads of vehicles. But this is what it is. Pyramids are in Giza and Giza is part of Cairo. You can practically make a visit to Pyramid every day. A mere look at Pyramids doesn’t give the magnitude of human endeavor till you hear story of thousands of laborers bringing unchisseled rocks over riv...

I often wondered what it must be like being in 16th century and talking a walk on Chaandni Chowk amidst backdrop of Red Fort, Jama Masjid and being part of the Islamic milieu. I got this chance when I visited San’a–Yemen last week. Old San’a city takes you backward travel of many centuries. Just take out automobiles, mobile phones, electric gadgets and you have in front of you a piece of history. Not many people would know that San'a is one of the first sites of human settlement and still inhabited in every inch. Now UN has now taken over the old city under its patronage with no owner allowed to neither make any modifications nor sales transactions. This old city is walled from outside has tarred road embankment from all sides. This turn into canal during heavy downpour. Old ancient city is the attraction for all tourists. The gate to the city is known Bab Al-Yemen. The houses inside the sof the old city are several stories high with nicely ornamented from the outside.They all line...

Masai Mara: Animal Kingdom of Africa Discovery and Animal Planet TV channels have done their best to bridge the gap between human beings and animal kingdom. So when I had weekend at my disposal during my business trip to Kenya- there would have been nothing better choice than African Safari at Masai Mara. Masai – a fiercely cow worshipping tribe and Mara –a place on the border of Kenya and Tanzania make it Masai Mara. Travel from Nairobi would take around 5 hours but for me being in Nakuru- a place where flamingos descend in thousands from far away place—made me travel for another 1 hour. I started my Journey from Nakuru at 2.00 pm and by the time we reached Mara it was past 9.00 pm. Journey takes through Rift valley and some of the villages inhabited by Masai. The gradual transition from Urban Masai to Rural ones is evident as one enters the Mara. Masai with their lean, tall figure wrapped around with crimson red clothing and a wooden stick in hand, walking past dirt road is ubiquitou...

I did write about my china experience but felt I didn’t do justice with ‘Great Wall’ that deserved special mention. This regret was resolved when I read an article by 80-year-old woman in Emirates flight magazine. It made me write this. First, Emirates offer free Beijing for ticket to Dubai- Shanghai, so do ask for free add on if you are on business trip to Shanghai. Once you are in Beijing, you must keep one day exclusively for Great wall. One misconception I must clear. Since my childhood I was taught about Great Wall is the only man made monument visible from moon with naked eyes. This is no true –but now in understand that due to materials used it is not even visible from earth orbit. However it can be imaged through radar imaging. Anyway, it doesn’t take any importance of its opulence and magnificence of this grandeur engineering project mankind has ever undertaken. Can a wall barely height of 8 meters and width of 6 meters be such spectacle? Yes it does, when you add length of 5,...

Having been to Nice, Limmasol, Athens, Alexandria, I had fairly good idea of what to expect in Beirut being another Mediterranean city. The sunny weather, azure foaming sea, breeze and moderate temperature was guaranteed but beyond that I was not sure what to expect when I arrived from Damascus by road. I took a Volvo taxi – cost US$65.00 from Damascus to Beirut. As you cross the border, you are immediately greeted by hoards of advertising boards something which is conspicuous by its absence in Syria. As you speed through road flanked by newly constructed villas with signboards of “bar &rest”, one feels tinge of Goa. The red soil is in abundance but coconut trees are missing. The road to Beirut goes through few mountains and one encounters sudden change in climate with dew soaked dark clouds breezing past you making surrounding lush green with temp dipping below 10 degree. But as you are ready to savor the beauty of this hilly resort, the descend starts and you start reaching towar...