Jaipur ladies brighten the streetscape. Photo: Anna Griswold

Cultures worldwide nurture their folk art traditions, but in the 21^st century there are few places where the traditional arts burst out of the workshop and bustle so confidently down the street as in the Indian region of Rajasthan.

Fabrics dyed in dazzling shades of red, pink, yellow and green, and embroidered, tie-dyed, and block printed are everyday wear, as are gold, silver and gem-encrusted jewelry.  The going is smooth in footwear called “jootis,” fashioned of embroidered camel hide, and entwined turbans in crimson, saffron, and mustard protect from the sun and dust of the desert.

Upon building his new capital, Jaipur, in the early 18^th century, the Rajput maharaja Jai Singh and his architect laid out the city in rectangular sectors with each specializing in a particular handicraft.  Jai Singh was a devoted patron of the arts and science and, in addition to commissioning the construction of magnificent palaces and the world’s largest stone-sculpted observatory, encouraged artisans to settle in Jaipur through tax incentives.

Today the bazaars and workshops of Old Jaipur remain virtually intact within its crenellated walls, providing the strolling visitor a chance to observe skilled craftsmen at work.  Need I say that the shopping is incredible, not only for textiles, apparel and jewelry, but also pottery, tiles, miniature paintings, puppets, sandalwood carving, brassware, enamelwork, and handmade paper!

Our 22-day Epic India trip this fall includes nine days in Rajasthan, including the Pink City of Jaipur, the Blue City of Jodhpur, and festivities of the Pushkar Camel Fair.  Join us, and your color palette will never be the same!

Rajasthani puppets for sale. Photo: Anna Griswold

For nearly ten years I worked full- and part-time in the adventure travel industry, with five of those years devoted specifically to itinerary development, marketing, and copy writing for tours in Asia. I was fortunate to visit Nepal, Korea, and Thailand during this time, and am still enchanted by the memory of people I met and the experiences I had on those trips.

Among these journeys, trekking through the Nepal Himalaya was certainly the highlight for me, an inveterate hiker and lover of all mountain ranges.  Along with the spectacular trails and gracious locals, I was introduced to Buddhism, which has become an important spiritual quest for me.

While I look forward to my next trip to Asia, I walk the mountain and desert trails near my home in Salt Lake City, Utah.  My daily routine

includes T’ai Chi and yoga, and I also attend classes and other events at our local Tibetan Buddhist temple.   I have become a connoisseur of good teas, a reader of Asian history and travel literature, of Eastern philosophy and spirituality, a contemplator of thankas and mandalas.

The Asia Insider blog will now feature posts twice a week, with Mandy Bartok focusing on the Far East and Southeast Asia, and my contributions covering the Himalaya, India and Mongolia.  We hope to inform, entertain, and inspire!

1. Hike the Himalayas in the shadow of Mt Everest
2. Watch the sunrise from the peak of Japan’s Mt Fuji
3. Come face to face with an orangutan in Borneo
4. Walk along the Great Wall, one of the world’s most impressive fortifications
5. Ponder the vagaries of war at Panmunjom, Korea
6. Spend a night on the serene waters of Halong Bay, Vietnam
7. Take the Star Ferry across Hong Kong Bay at sunset
8. Breathe in the sights, sounds and smells of Pushkar’s annual camel fair
9. Spend a night out on the steppes in a Mongolian ger
10. Ride the newly-connected rails overland from Beijing to Tibet
11. Eat your way around Singapore’s diverse neighborhoods
12. Marvel at the artistry of the temples at Angkor Wat
13. Join a sunrise tai chi session along The Bund in Shanghai
14. Share a kiss at the Taj Mahal, the ultimate monument to love
15. Chow down on dumplings in Taipei
16. Tour the DMZ in Vietnam with an army veteran
17. Stretch out on a sunny beach in Thailand
18. Engage in retail therapy in Kuala Lumpur’s shopping districts
19. Taste the freshest fish at Tokyo’s Tsukiji market
20. Tap into your spiritual side in a Bhutanese temple
21. Cruise the backwaters of Kerala, India
22. Take time for tea in Seoul’s classic teahouses
23. Peer into the depths of China’s Tiger Leaping Gorge
24. Catch a Bollywood flick in Mumbai
25. Sign up for a cooking class … anywhere!
26. Ride an elephant in Nepal’s Royal Chitwan National Park
27. Marvel at the view from Taipei 101, the world’s second tallest building
28. Admire the craftmanship of the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, China
29. Glimpse a geisha in the willow-lined streets of Gion, Kyoto
30. Savor high tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong
31. Catch the misty sunrise over the Ganges in Varanasi, India
32. Ride a horse across the empty Mongolian steppes
33. Go back to school at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore
34. Soak with snow monkeys at an outdoor onsen in Japan
35. Float down the Irawaddy River to Bagan, Burma’s land of 5000 pagodas
36. Walk the remarkably preserved city walls of Pingyao, China
37. Test the strength of your tastebuds on Korea’s fiery cuisine
38. Discover the pirate legacy of Melaka, Malaysia
39. Shop for silks in the charming riverside town of Hoi An, Vietnam
40. Explore India’s famed “Pink City” of Jaipur
41. Brush up on your chopstick skills at a kaiseki (high class) dinner in Japan
42. Make friends with Thailand’s hilltribes on a multi-day trek
43. Explore the underground river in Palawan, Philippines, one of the world’s newest natural wonders
44. Catch one of Bhutan’s colorful festivals
45. Feast on Peking duck in a Beijing hutong
46. Join Hindu pilgrims at Nepal’s holy Pashupatinath Temple
47. Trek through the deserts of Rajasthan on camel-back
48. Cheer on wrestlers and archers at Mongolia’s Nadaam Festival
49. Be buried alive – well almost – in the volcanic sands of Beppu, Japan
50. Explore the watery world of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
51. Chill out on Jeju Island, Korea’s vacation hotspot
52. Bear witness to Cambodia’s troubled history at the Killing Fields
53. Ride a century-old tram to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong
54. Participate in a ceremony at a traditional Sarawak longhouse
55. Cycle the karst-studded landscapes of Guilin, China
56. Tread in the footsteps of Genghis Khan in the ancient Mongolian capital of Karakorum.
57. Sip a Singapore sling in its original home, the historic bar of Raffles Hotel
58. Kayak the iridescent waters of the Gulf of Thailand
59. Celebrate the luminous festival of Diwali in India
60. Watch weavers at work in the villages of Laos
61. Wander the streets of the fortress city of Suwon, Korea
62. Bike the neon-green rice paddies of Mai Chau, Vietnam
63. Trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary in mountainous Nepal
64. Catch a few rays on the quiet sands of Sihanoukville, Cambodia
65. Ride the Central-Midlevels escalator up the slopes of Hong Kong Island
66. Spread a picnic under Japan’s sakura branches in the spring
67. Hail a trishaw for a atmospheric ride through old Georgetown in Penang
68. Escape the masses on a boat ride through the canals of Tonli, China
69. Ooh and ahh over New Year’s fireworks from one of Singapore’s sky bars
70. Trace the path of WWII history while riding Thailand’s Death Railway
71. Marvel at the fortress of Trongsa, Bhutan
72. Witness the birth of democracy in the streets of Burma’s cities
73. Snorkel the crystalline waters of Boracay in the Philippines
74. Track tigers in India’s Kanha National Park
75. Explore the vastness of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert
76. Whip up your own kimchi in a Korean kitchen
77. Eat your way through Hanoi’s up and coming food scene
78. Blaze a trail through Taiwan’s stunning Taroko Gorge
79. Stroll along the colonial-era riverfront of Battammbang, Cambodia
80. Savor a spicy curry meal in Kolkatta, India
81. Stumble upon a free martial arts demo in the hometown of Jack Chan, Hong Kong
82. Whiz from winter snows to volcanic landscapes on Japan’s bullet train
83. Watch a kitemaker at work in Kelantan, Malaysia
84. Feel the weight of history in the 9,999 rooms of Beijing’s Forbidden City
85. Ride a colorful jeepney through the streets of Manila
86. Sharpen your night vision at the Singapore Zoo’s Night Safari
87. Cycle among the stupas of Thailand’s ancient capital, Ayutthaya
88. Admire the architectural feat of the rice terraces in Banaue, the Philippines
89. Wander the streets of Mandalay, ancient capital of the Burmese royal family
90. Dive the coral-reefs off the coast of Okinawa, Japan
91. Dodge a mass of motor scooters in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
92. Cruise the waters of Phewa Tal, Nepal
93. Attend an opera in Hong Kong
94. Be amazed by larger-than-life snow sculptures at the annual Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan
95. Get up close and personal with an impressive array of avian life at Kuala Lumpur’s Bird Park
96. Watch cormorant fishing on the rivers of southeast China
97. Explore hidden gardens in Hue, Vietnam
98. Shop for the perfect sari at the frenetic markets of Delhi, India
99. Stop off at a stilt village in the middle of Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia
100. Make a new friend, taste a new food and experience a new outlook on life

How many of these can you check off you “life list”? What have we missed that YOU would have added? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

1. Lingering Garden, China – Considered to be one of China’s top four gardens, this six acre oasis in the watery city of Suzhou is a delightful escape from the pressing hordes. Wander the shady bamboo groves, marvel over the half mile long carved calligraphy hall or catch a performance of guqin, a traditional Chinese music style featuring a seven-stringed instrument.
2. Biwon Garden, Korea - Tucked away on the grounds of the Chandeok Palace, the Biwon Garden (biwon means “secret”) can only be visited on a guided tour. Originally constructed for the women of the royal family, it became a popular escape for Korea’s rulers themselves, thirteen of whom lived at Chandeok Palace over the course of three centuries.
   

   A pavilion in Korea's Biwon Garden

3. Saihoji Garden, Japan - Those who know of this emerald wonderland call it the Moss Garden. But don’t worry – there still aren’t that many people in the know. Attached the the Saihoji Temple, the garden can only be visited by request; even then, visitors must submit to a regimen of prayers, chants and copying sutras before they’re permitted to explore the space. The hassle is worth it, however, to be here on a rainy afternoon when dozens of shades of green glisten under the falling drops.
4. Kuching Orchid Garden, Malaysia – In a nation replete with tropical flora, the Kuching Orchid Garden in Sarawak stands out wth its display of 79,000 plants. Amongst the blooms, eagle-eyed visitors will be able to spot the Sarawak state flower, the Normah Orchid.
5. Shalamar Bagh, India – Built in 1616, the Shalamar Bagh (“garden of love”) was once the garden of the Mughal emperors. Today it serves as a public park, with shaded paths and waterside pavilions. Don’t miss the unique chini khanas, hollowed out spaces behind the garden’s waterfalls that once held oil lamps but now sport baskets of flowers. The colors of the petals are reflected delicately through the streaming water- romantic indeed.

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Varanasi. You’ve probably heard the name whispered before, whether in reverance or with an accompanying shudder. India’s well-known “city of death” evokes a host of reactions from those who have been but all can attest that it’s a place that makes a permanent impression.

Varanasi (Photo courtesy of Sacred Destinations)

For Hindus, Varanasi is the place to die, the golden ticket out of the perpetual cycle of death and rebirth. Take a final breath in Varanasi and you’ll receive the “royal” funeral treatment – bodies are wrapped in vibrant linens, dipped a final time in the sacred river of the Ganges and turned into fine ashes in any of the waterside crematoriums. As the ashes swirl away on the current of the Ganges, family – many of whom publically grieve at the ghats where the bodies are burned – can rest easy knowing that their beloved relative has achieved ultimate moksha, or liberation from reincarnation.

It’s hard to escape death in Varanasi, and the city has built a tourist trade of it. The ghats are mostly open to the public, and the morbid attraction of watching a body burn can draw quite a crowd. Funerals are large, commonplace and unavoidable – find yourself in the middle of one and it’s difficult not to get swept up in the emotion of both celebrating and mourning the passing of a life.

Yet despite its reputation, Varanasi is also a city of life. Markets teem with shop stalls and merchants, a cacophony of sound and color. Cows wander the alleys, secure in their status as revered beasts, and filch fruits and vegetables from unsuspecting vendors. Residents who have not yet taken their final swim in the river carry out the business of everyday life, the perfect corollary to the goings on at the ghats. And for those seeking further enlightenment, Varanasi is famed for its spiritual centers where yoga and meditation are practiced night and day. Perhaps that is what makes this Indian city the perfect destination to ponder the mysteries of life and ever-present death …

To witness the unique city of Varanasi for yourself, sign up for an Asia360 EPIC India tour.

The inaugural ferry crossing is a surprising move, considering the current strain in relations between Sri Lanka and the neighboring Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The route also links two cities that were previously not connected by boat – Tuticorin and the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. With prices considerably lower than corresponding air routes, the biweekly ferry will likely attract a wider swathe of the area’s population, along with adventurous overseas travelers.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Courtesy of Sri Lanka Tourism)

Once a jewel in the colonial crown of the British Empire, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) provided most of Victorian England with its famed Ceylon tea, cultivated on plantations in the nation’s steamy highlands. Those same plantations would later be seen as the root of Sri Lanka’s bitter civil conflict, as the British were known to encourage division between the islands Sinhalese and Tamil populations.

Though tensions will most likely fester for decades, Sri Lanka called an official end to their civil war in 2009 and the island is ripe for exploration. With the country still off most tourist radars – even for intrepid travelers – you won’t be jostling for the best views with thousands of other vacationers. What you will find, however, are eight UNESCO World Heritage sights, from an old Dutch fort to an ancient city perched high on a precipice. Leopards and elephants roam the nation’s nine national parks and pilgrims throng the many temples on holy days.

So next time you’re in the neighborhood – perhaps enjoying an Epic India adventure with Asia360° Travel Co.  - tack on a trip to Sri Lanka and welcome this little country back to the tourist circuit.

From describing 10 Perfect Days in India to Asian Fushion on Speed in Malaysia, this issue is packed with tons of useful (and maybe not-so-useful-but-very-entertaining) info about the mystery and magic with which the truly amazing, forever changing, multi-layered Asia is infused.

Check it out – it’s on newsstands right now.

This magnificent adventure departs on October 20, 2009, and we have a special last-minute offer we’d like to offer to you.  If you book by September 15, we’ll give you a $300 discount! 

We will take you through the streets of Delhi; the temples, palaces, and castles of Rajasthan; the revelry of the Pushkar Camel Fair; the glowing masterpiece of the Taj Mahal…By the end of this trip, you will have visited the City of Dawn, the Pink City, the Blue City, and the Golden City.  With names and places like these, who could pass up such an exquisite experience?

For more information, visit our website or call us today at 1-877-ASIA-360 and refer to this discount. 

Please note that this offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.