101 Things to Do - Miscellaneous

THINGS TO DO

Miscellaneous

10	11	23	35	43	46	56	60	61	75

76	83	92	97	86

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Learn Yoga :

Yoga is a system of exercises for physical and mental well-being. It was developed about five thousand years ago. It combines stylized poses with deep breathing and meditation. The term Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning to 'join together'. The ultimate aim in yoga is to unite the human soul with the universal spirit.

There are great opportunities to learn yoga and make it a part of your everyday living.

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11	Watch an Indian film :
Be it the Oscars or the friendly neighbourhood theatre in our country, Indian movies have made a mark in the world. When in India, it will be a good idea to hop into a movie-theatre and experience an exciting array of drama, emotion and dance & music. You will not only be thoroughly entertained but you may also find enough inspiration to make a flick of your own.

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23	Read the classifilds :
Check out the Sunday newspapers in India and you will find amusing reading under "Matrimonials". The advertisements give an idea of the social milieu and society in the country.

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35	Bargain your way :
When in cities like Delhi or Mumbai visit the local markets like Janpath in Delhi or the Fashion Street in Mumbai. Here you will find an amazing variety of clothes and junk jewellery but the real fun of it is bargaining with the shopkeepers. Not only will you take home a lot of goodies at throwaway prices but you will also enjoy the experience.

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43	Walk the Bazaars :
Walking the narrow winding streets of bazaars is in itself a novel experience. The bazaars are certainly not the mall. Put aside any notions of peace and quiet and jump into the thick of it. Chandni Chowk, in Old Delhi, has all kinds of shops, from gold and silver to hardware. If you get lost, just hail an auto rickshaw, they'll take you where you want to go.

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Buy a camel :

If you are in the market for a camel, you will have no problem finding one at the Pushkar Camel Fair at bargain prices! The focus is on buying and selling camels; about 30,000 of the snarling beasts trade hands during the week. There is also plenty of camel racing and camel polo. And since this is a trading fair, there is a wide range of handicrafts, bangles, embroidery, and brassware available. It is a calibre of mayhem that can only happen in India - an assault of colour, laughter, and energy topped with a healthy dose of spirituality. Acrobats, Jugglers, snake charmers, mystics, and fire-eaters round out the scene.

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Museum of utensils :

A unique culinary experience awaits visitors on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where visitors can savour authentic Gujarati village cuisine, before wandering throught he grounds to see a museum devoted to Indian utensils.
Utensils have been placed in a simple structure set around an open courtyard. Collected from all over India, the endeavour is to demonstrate the purity of form and shape in these objects of utility. The pot to store water in, utensils to cook and serve in, spoons, rolling pins, a huge vessel in which buttermilk was churned, each objects is beautifully conceived and created to prove that beauty lies in the simple objects of everyday use. The museum celebrates the simple but perfectly designed objects of everyday use.

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Where washermen of Mumbai meet :

Visit Asia’s largest open-air laundry in Mumbai. Here hundreds of washermen wash clothes and leave them out in the sun to dry. This Dhobi Ghat could not be further removed in spirit from the manicured lawns of the Mahalaxmi Rececourse, although it is only a few hundred yards away. This is where much of Mumbai’s launcry is donw, by hand in concrete sinks and dried by the sun, as it has been for generations.

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Lunch anyone :

A sight exclusive to Mumbai is its legendary dabbawallahs, an army of staff that supplies lunch boxes to Mumbaiites. To see them in action drop by Mumbai’s Churchgate Station or the suburban section of Chhatrapati Shivaji Station (also known as Victoria Terminus) between 11 a.m. and 12 noon on any working day.
This unique system work a little like the Internet. Each lunch container has a code which directs its routing. The simple colour-coded instructions determine not only packet routing but packet prioritization as lunches transfer from train to bicycle to foot. Thousands of lunch boxes are delivered everyday.

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The Fish Business :

Take a tour to Kolkata's fish markets and see the numerous varieties of fish from the lively koi (climbing perch), the wriggling catfish family of tangra, magur, shingi and the pink-bellied Indian butter fish, the pabda. Among the larger fish, are rui (rohu) and bhetki, weigh upto eight kilograms. Baskets of pink and silvery ilish (hilsa) match the shine on the glistening blade of the fishmonger.
Top this with a true Bengali meal of fish curry and rice.

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76	Get a pair of shoes made :
Chinatown in Kolkata buzzes with activity the year round. It has rows of shoe stores and shoe makers, where you can get a pair of shoes designed at an amazingly reasonable cost.

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83	A Wig industry blooms :
On an average, daily, tens of thousands of pilgrims offer their hair at Tirumala, in fulfillment of their vows. The tonsuring centers are busy day and night through the year. Over 200 tonnes of hair are collected every year, wigs are made and exported.

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86	Collections of an eccentric nawab :
Hyderabad's most famous museum is the Salar Jung Museum, a personal collection which features priceless treasures and whimsical objects side by side. A visit to this museum is a must.

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All oil massage in Kerala :

Ayurvedic massages may have tongue-twisting names, but have close-to guaranteed remedies for many ailments. A synchronized massage uses traditional herbal oils as masseurs knead the body. The effect of this is obvious as the body relieves itself of excess fluids. An unusual feeling of wellness is experienced with Sirodhara, as medicated oil is poured in an even stream onto the forehead, said to pacify and revitalize the mind and body.

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97	India's French connection :
A quaint enclave in Tamil Nadu, 120 kms from Chennai is Pondicherry, once a possession of the French. It joined the Republic of India in 1960. The town is home to the acclaimed philosopher Shri Aurobindo. The Aurobindo ashram is a must for those visiting the region. The French will find it particularly charming as the homes, culture and cuisine are distinctly French.