March
Photo Contest Winner: The March issue's photo
was taken in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. Mary
Slater, who specializes in travel within Peru, Ecuador
and Brazil at Tropical
Nature Travel had easily pegged the spot.
Where Was This Photo Taken?
Photo
Gil Mull
If you think you recognize this famous formation, or would like
to submit a photo for a future contest send an email to info@xola
consulting.com.
The first person to answer correctly earns bragging rights AND
will enjoy seeing his/her name in print in our next issue.
4226 18th St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20011
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In this issue we're hooking our friends up with
our best contact in India. Figuring out where to go and what to
do on a trip to India can be slightly paralyzing, and having a
personal contact there can make all the difference. So, in this
issue of Off the Radar we offer up our best contact
and provide some information on the southern Indian state of Kerala,
because it has a little bit of everything - mountains, beaches,
wildlife.
In Kerala you'll find everything from high mountains
and nature parks to beautiful beaches, palm trees and wonderful
ocean swimming. We recommend building a few days into your itinerary
for an ayurvedic treatment - although ayurvedic practices can
found in many places throughout India, Kerala is the place where
ayurvedic education continues in its classical form, and remains
the best place to experience it. Contact our dear friend Dr.
Vinoy Vighneswar, an
ayurvedic doctor
in the beach
town of Kovalam and you won't be disappointed.
As a Kerala-trained ayurvedic doctor, Dr.
Vinoy is highly regarded and has traveled the world at the request
of patients who ask to see him in their home country. At his
clinic Dr. Vinoy will design an ayurvedic treatment program
specifically for you. Over the course of a few days, you will
be treated in his rustic, unassuming "treatment" rooms,
(some of which he and some friends helped built himself) receiving
some combination of oil treatments and massage. I was skeptical,
not believing myself to have any real "needs," but having
spent some time with Dr. Vinoy, I'm a believer. Reach him is by
email at: drvighneswar@yahoo.com.
In addition to ayurveda, Dr. Vinoy also turned
out to be an excellent contact for us in identifying people to
guide our friends through the Kerala backwaters, an intricate
network of canals beautifully navigated by long, country boats.
Hire a car and driver to take you to beautiful spots the Western
Ghats.
There are endless hiking alternatives. Check out the Thekkady-
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
This sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978 and remains
a wonderful place for hiking and wildlife viewing - herds of elephant
and sambar, gaur and wild pigs wander down to the lakeside and
can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. |
