Great Wall Apart, China- A Modern Wonder

Get ready to fly away – somewhere nice! This is our travel special and the time to go anywhere in the world, in the months that follow.

I chose North Europe, for myself, for a reason. Took a flight to Frankfurt, and after a short break here, took a train ride to Brussels and then to Amsterdam, can’t tell you what a treat it was. Train travel in Europe is enchanting. The reason for selecting these cities was quite simply the fact that I had never been to these cities.

But the surprise element was Frankfurt. I have often been to Frankfurt since it’s such an airway hub but I always seemed to pass through, even if I was travelling elsewhere in Germany. This is the first time I spent a couple of nights there and saw how much it has to offer, especially in terms of food, markets and restaurants.

We also have Norway and The Maldives and China – varied enough to help you make your travel choices. China was a dark horse. Never could I have imagined the good time I had in Xiamen, the region just across from Taiwan, with its extraordinary Futian cuisine.

Apart from many interesting features in this issue, like Goa and its feni, the goodness of hemp, cookbook reviews, we have three special women going about their lives in such a single-minded, determined way. And I want to talk about them.

Starting with the young Anandita De. We have her as a columnist in Health-Wise where she gives an account of her holistic journey towards regaining her life. It’s a story of great fortitude, discipline and hard work. She has not just lost kilos and kilos but found mental peace and spiritual awakening in a manner unknown to her until now. And in no small measure the contribution towards her new way of living is made by Bijou – jewel of her life, the little Maltipoo, a total darling, who I love, too.

Next up is Harshita Narwekar in Celebrity Bites. A corporator of the D Ward in Bombay, she is a relentless worker, always in pursuit of opportunities to do better in her area of jurisdiction. She will go on inspections which are meaningful, walk the maze of streets in Fort, meet people, hear their grievances. She may look petite but is lion-hearted. A highly capable woman, who grasps every subject quickly, applying her expertise and knowledge to achieve positive results.

Last but not the least is our classy cover girl, Kaveri Ponnapa. This woman is miles apart from most women I know.

Elegance comes naturally to her; you see it in her poise, her demeanour, the saris she adorns. You hear it in the words she chooses to speak in, explain something or express herself, with clarity and simplicity. And she is devoted to all things Coorg, starting with its cuisine. A beautiful, stoic soul is how I think of her.

Before I end, and since this is a travel special, we have for you a beautiful vintage piece from Busybee when he was on a flight from Frankfurt to Washington. I urge you to read it. It’s brilliant.