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　　The Hawar Islands, an archipelago of desert islands, are a popular destination for nature lovers and beachgoers in Bahrain. Located in the Gulf of Bahrain near Qatar's coast, the islands are known for their pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters. With the exception of Jinan Island, which is small, uninhabited, and administered by Qatar, Bahrain owns all the...

　　My earliest memories of food include hazy flashes of birthday parties where a homemade feast was shared with friends and family. Every anniversary, birthday and celebration would involve copious amounts of food being prepared from scratch at home seasoned with laughter. 　　When I started living on my own in college, the one thing that always pricked was that I usually...

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　　Termed as one of the most mystical places in the world by Steve Martin in the 1991 film L.A. Story, the Tree of Life in Bahrain is a solitary and ancient tree that stands solo in the middle of the barren Arabian desert. Surrounded by nothing but a sea of sand, this prosopis cineraria tree is believed to have been...

　　How strange, I mused, that postcards and souvenirs often depict the desert with images of isolation and vastness—camel trains trudging across endless sands, with nothing but the occasional cactus to break the monotony. Yet here I was, in Oman, covering the 100 km from Salalah airport to Mirbat in the Dhofar region on a swanky highway in just 55 minutes....

　　Telangana is home to one UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ramappa Temple. Recently, another location from the state has been included on the tentative list: the Megalithic Menhirs Site, which is believed to date back over 3,500 years. On February 11, the central government submitted a dossier regarding the menhirs to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. “The Mudumal menhirs represent...

　　Meghalaya is widely celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty, characterised by living root bridges, expansive lush green valleys, enchanting hills, spectacular waterfalls, and crystal-clear lakes. This northeastern Indian state has become a magnet for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike, as it offers a diverse landscape that is rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage. 　　One of the state's standout features...

　　You, from Pakistan? asked a vendor from across the pizza counter in broken English. I was a little bewildered, a little amused and a bit too quick to retort, Noo!! I am from India. 　　Soon after landing at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, we picked up a self-driven rental car and drove to our hotel by seven in the evening. However,...

　　There is an ongoing mission to promote and revive local Goan cuisines. With North Indian staples like dal tadka and butter chicken looming large over the coastal food culture of the state, even the state government has instructed beach shacks to offer traditional fare like Goan fish curry instead of abominations of no clear provenance like gobhi manchurian. 　　While many...