TRAVEL SPECIAL 2019:.... A Holiday Guide

TRAVEL SPECIAL 2019: A Holiday Guide

Make plans to explore new horizons and try new experiences

A New Year brings a list of new resolutions. This year, welcome dynamic change and development, be it international travel trends, or travelling to places that are exotic, rare and unexplored. The last few years have seen a shift when it comes to travel trends. With growing awareness and a need to give back to the community and environment, Indian travellers are waking up to the trend of ‘Voluntourism’. Besides, travel plans that support local cultures, homegrown establishments or staying in eco-friendly hotels are popular choices. On those lines, this page features a compilation of destinations that make for a must visit in 2019. Matera, Itlay is titled the Capital of Culture for 2019 and this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall. 

SWING AT THE EDGE OF A STRATOVOLCANO

Region: Banos, Ecuador

Swings in the playground enticed us as children. Banos in Ecuador let’s us relive this simple joy. Amidst the misty folds of the Ecuadorian Andes sits a tree house which serves as a seismic monitoring station. A sturdy swing, attached to this structure that sits at the edge of the valley lets you enjoy an uninterrupted view of the emerald valley’s patchwork fields. As you swing from a height of approximately 2,600 m, you are left admiring the crater of Tungurahua, a wildly active stratovolcano below. The landscape and the adrenaline-packed activity has earned it the name title of ‘the swing at the edge of the world.’ It is only after you’ve caught a glimpse of the landscape that you will find this title is absolutely justified. Banos, in Ecuador sits at the foothills of mountains is still to catch up with the boom of tourism. It is fairly underrated when it comes to its offerings with regard to nature and adventure. Apart from the swing, which is a 20 minute drive from Banos, you can also enjoy rafting, ziplining, rappelling, bungee jumping and more inside its jungle landscape.

CELEBRATE 30 YEARS SINCE THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL

Region: Berlin, Germany

The year 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The iconic landmark of history pays an artistic ode to a dark chapter of German history. The East Side Gallery, the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall features murals painted by artists from over 20 countries. The most famous piece of art on this hinterland wall is the depiction titled ‘Fraternal Kiss.’ The art work depicts a kiss between ex Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and the former East Germany’s SED Party Chairman Erich Honecker—a brazen political remark of that era. The wall, an art connoisseur’s delight, serves as an open art gallery, which showcases bold, progressive messages through the medium of art. During the anniversary in the first week of November, numerous events and exhibitions are taking place in Berlin. You can also explore the lively nightlife of Berlin along Friedrichshain which is a lined with a variety of pubs, bars, clubs and warehouses turned into cafes some of which have stood through those dark years of Berlin’s history.

WALK ON WATER OR ENJOY THE DAKAR RALLY

Region: Uyuni, Bolivia

Bolivia's salt flats or Salar de Uyuni are the largest of its kind in the world and considered as one of the most remarkable vistas in South America. Stretching across 10,582 sq km of the Altiplano, it is the world's largest salt flat, left behind by prehistoric lakes evaporated long ago. A thick crust of salt is what remains at the site, resulting in an all-white quilted, polygonal pattern. During the first or second week of January, Uyuni plays host to Dakar Rally. A fleet of motorbikes, cars, buggies, quads and trucks race along a spectacular 5,000km route that winds from Lima around the south of Peru before returning to the country's capital. At certain times of the year, the water from the nearby lakes overflows over the flats, forming a thin layer of water transforms the flats into a stunning reflection of the sky. You can walk across the water-lined flats lending an illusion of walking on water.

A DAY IN THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE

Region: Matera, Italy

Matera, an Italian city, is elected as the Capital of Culture for 2019 by the European Union. A new city is picked each year to showcase the cultural richness of the continent. The destination, for a period of a year, hosts a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension. Located in the region of Basilicata in southern Italy, Matera, is best known for its extensive cave-dwelling districts. The ‘Sassi’ as these districts are popularly called are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning backdrop of stairways and narrow lanes, cave-houses carved out of the rock, rock churches with beautiful frescoes and elegant buildings that allows you to take a step back in time. Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it dates back to the Paleolithic period, and it remains a spectacular vision of the past with a special undiscovered air. Many of the caves have been transformed into stylish hotels and restaurants; however, you can still explore uninhabited grottos on the edge of town. Visit the Rupestrian Churches Park, Sassi di Matera (the historical centre), Casa Noha (museum) and Cripta del Peccato Originale (ancient ruin). In addition, taste some of the traditional cuisine of Southern Italy and the Matera bread. As part of the European Capital of Culture initiative, the cityscape will witness residents and visitors construct a giant scene made from cardboard boxes, evoking an annual tradition of creating a papier-mâché tribute to the city’s patron saint.

Compiled by Shireen Kanchwala
ETPTR 10JAN19

FUN FACTS

The Bolivian salt flats when covered in very clear water, makes it the largest natural mirror in the world. NASA also tends to use this mirror landscape to figure out the positioning of their satellites.