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Mardi Gras Festival – The Origin, Beeds, and Food

by Rocky Murasingh on July 5, 2024

The largest craziest loudest celebration attended by thousands of tourists every year Mardi Gras is beyond just drinks and music. The festival has a history of centuries and is deeply rooted in religious sentiment. The Carnival and Mardi Gras day, also called Shrove Tuesday, are all about partying and food before the Lent begins.

Mardi Gras Traditions food is a vital aspect of the entire occasion. Of course, it’s a great way to enter 40 days of Lent’s fasting.

What is the Mardi Gras Festival?

Mardi Gras is a religious event that counts in family gatherings as well. But, that does limit the ways to unleash your inner devil. Cause’ Mardi Gras is among the biggest party fests in the world.

The Mardi Gras lasts until Lent starts. As we all know, sacrificing favorite drinks and foods going to last for 40-long-days during Lent, till Easter; why not eat, drink, dance, and get a little naughty before fasting periods?

Besides, all those drinks and music, when they say, “Women flash their breasts to get Beads.” Something might have pinched your mind.

What is the fuss about and where did it start?

The Mardi Gras is believed to have started sometime back in the 1830s in New Orleans. The parades begin on the 12th night of Christmas and end on Fat Tuesday which is originally called Mardi Gras Day.

The period of the Parades is officially called carnival. In 1872, the Carnival King called Rex was invented by an org. of businessmen. Since then, Rex has been leading the parade route.

Mardi Gras Beads – The Throws

Mardi Gras Beads, used as Mardi Gras Throws have rooted deep into the tradition since way long back. Beads are not the only thing used for Mardi Gras souvenirs though, but are one of the prime attractions in the very event, we can say that fairly.

Among many items for Mardi Gras decors and souvenirs, Beads have been used widely in Mardi Gras Parades thus making it popularized. Mardi Gras Parades on Bourbon Street or on French Fat Tuesday, Beads have become an essential element of the entire event, and it brings a story to tell.

Earlier, during the parade sugar coated almonds are thrown to the crowds by the Rex.

The almonds were way too costly to simply waste on the crowds’ throw, so they invented comparatively cheaper throw for the parades. Glass beads fabricated necklaces were then tossed by the Krewes replacing almonds. The beads made an immense sensation to the crowds and the event itself instantly.

It is also said that the usage of beads came to the idea when a Santa Claus-like dressed-up man used beads to decorate his costume, and then some of the tourists started to follow this getup and decorated their costumes with beads.

Since the trend of using the Mardi Gras Beads, by 1900, over a million tourists visited New Orleans intending to participate in the Carnival and celebrate Mardi Gras Day and got their necks holding beads.

Over time, a variety of new Mardi Gras throws have been tossed to the parade crowds as such toys, plastic cups, doubloons, figurines, Frisbees, etc. The Zulu crew also practiced throwing coconuts alongside beads to the crowds. Nevertheless, Mardi Gras Beads has been holding the most thrown trinkets to date.

Beads made of glass tend to be harmful to crowds and are replaced by plastic beads made with various colors, sizes, and shapes. The combination of colors used in beads also has a traditional touch. The colors are Gold, Green, and Purple where gold symbolizes Power, Green signifies Faith, and Purple represents Justice.

Best Mardi Gras Traditions Food You Shouldn’t Miss

Adding to your excitement, Mardi Gras brings some traditional food that makes the celebration really fun. There are no boundaries to consuming your desired world-class food at the event. Regardless, some of the best Mardi Gras food items are considered a must-try if you wish to feel the fest sensation truly.

We have enlisted what you should not miss on the Mardi Gras food list for festive dining.

# King Cakes

When it comes to Mardi Gras traditional food, King Cakes is the core of attraction for an obvious cause. It appears with twinkling colorful sugar on the Danish dough-made surface. The color used in the cake also follows the tradition of Mardi Gras colors that are Gold, Green, and Purple representing the same meaning as in beads.

The cake also sparks your excitement with an additional feature in it. A baby-shaped tiny plastic toy is hidden inside the cake which signifies Baby Jesus. Whoever gets the slice of cake with the baby Jesus is believed to possess good luck.

# Crawfish

Crawfish and Lousiana have a relation of centuries old. Dated back to 1755, since then Crawfish has been in the food tradition of Louisiana. History says, that back then, Acadians who are the origins of Canada’s seashores sought an alternative to seafood when they relocated to the state. They found the crawfish a better match.

Over the years, Acadians turned into Cajus; however, crawfish already have made an immense place on the dining table. Today, the crawfish has become one of the most consumed Mardi Gras traditional food.

# Jambalaya

If you’re familiar with Spanish paella and like it, this one will drive you to starve. In New Orleans, Jambalaya is regarded as modern paella which is brought to the state by Spanish descendents. The only difference in it from the original Spanish paella is that saffron is missing from the ingredient.

As an alternative, tomatoes are used for a decent color and flavor. Today, Jambalaya is so much adopted by Lousiana dwellers that you will find it in reputed restaurants, church fairs, family gatherings, and wedding occasions.

# Creole Cuisine

As long as you’re in NOLA, you will get this dish pretty much on all occasions and all types of dining menus. The origin of Creole is in New Orleans’ Lousiana itself. Over time, its recipe was adopted with a mixture of many spices derived from various regions including French, German, West African, Indian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Caribbean.

In NOLA, if you dine in any restaurant that serves Creole, you are supposed to get all the native food as such Jambalaya, Crawfish, Gumbo, etc. Adding to the menu, you can get rice, red beans, and more delicious dishes to celebrate Madri Gras with mouth. Above all, the mentioned best Madri Gras traditional foods are a must try.

Travel

Trip to Arunachal Pradesh – Itinerary to the ‘Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains’

by Rocky Murasingh on July 1, 2024

Arunachal Pradesh, also famed as The Land of Rising Sun is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations for its unique features. Arunachal has many splendid tourist places, aroused from the tropically profuse valleys of the Brahmaputra river and horizon to the Eastern Himalaya’s isolated grandeur.

Strung out alongside the flourishing valleys, swift and crystal rivers, misty mountain peaks, and sheer wild sanctuaries, it allures a picturesque adventure.

When you do the itinerary, make sure you ticked all the best places and things to do in Arunachal Pradesh in proper order. It will save a lot of time as well as reduce the expenses.

Knowing the right route to reach in the most suitable season beforehand will be an additional advantage of your trip as well.

Best Places to Visit in Arunachal Pradesh

Now, before you plan out your trip to the easternmost state of the country, it’s okay to be concerned about the way of communication with the locals. You will be glad to know that Arunachal is the only Northeastern state where most locals are comfortable in Hindi; also, is one of the two states in India where English is the only official language.

Whether you are traveling solo or in a squad, comfortable communication makes traveling a lot easier.

Now, picking up the best tourist places in Arunachal to hunt, we have handpicked the below spots among many.

Bhalukpong Monastery
Nameri National Park
Nuranang Waterfall
Tawang Monastery
Madhuri Lake
Bum La Pass Indo-China Border
Ziro Vallley (Ziro Music Festival)

Itinerary: Where When & How to Reach

The most convenient route for your Arunachal Trip Itinerary is the Tawang circuit. It may take approximately 7 days to cover most of the tourist places in Arunachal Pradesh.

While you visit most of the mentioned tourist destinations, here are the things to do in Arunachal Pradesh.

Day 1: From Guwahati to Nameri via Tezpur

From Guwahati, hire a car for the rest of the trip. The first destination to hunt is Nameri National Park. It’s around 3 hours ride from Guwahati. You may either choose to stay the night at Nameri Eco Camp or in Tezpur. Although, Tezpur will cost you a little cheaper for the night hold, Nameri on the other hand is more exciting.

The forest resort dwells in the lap of lush nature. Here you may comfort yourself in eco-friendly tents as well as cottage accommodations.

Day 2: Sightseeing and River Rafting in Nameri

They also organize Nameri River rafting alongside night camping. The Nameri National Park is also known for beautiful wild animals as such leopards, tigers, elephants, wild pigs, guars, etc.; and it’s a bird-watching paradise.

Day 3: Moving from Nameri to Bhalukpong

It takes only a 30-minute drive to reach Bhalukpong from Nameri. Bhalukpong is widely acclaimed for its archeological remains of Mahabharata fame Bana and his grandfather King Bhaluka. Its natural beauty at a height of 213 meters is accompanied by other hot spots like Orchid Centre, Hot Spring Bath, etc.

Only 5 km away from Bhalukpong, Tippi is Asia’s largest orchidarium with over 7000 various orchids. The Nyethidow festival which is held in March is also a great option to keep on your bucket list. Staying the night in Bhalukpong will provide you enough rest for you need to drive early the next morning to Dirang.

Day 4: Bhalukpong to Dirang

Distancing approximately 138 km, reaching Dirang from Bhalukpong takes up to 4.30 hours. In Dirang, the most exciting places to visit are the National Yak Research and Breeding Centre, Sangti Valley, Apple and Kiwi Orchards, Nuranang Waterfall, Paradise Lake, Jaswant Garh, you name it.

During the winter, Siberian black-necked storks visit the Sangti Valley. You will need an entire day additionally to visit most of these places in Dirang.

Day 5: Sightseeing in Dirang

Starting from Se La Pass, which is a 45 km drive from Dirang, is the World’s biggest motorable pass. While driving through the Se La Pass, witness the serene crystal-clear natural water of Paradise Lake. Just 12 km from the Se La Pass, there comes Nuranang where you can enjoy Trout fishing in its chilly water.

83 km away, Jaswant Garh War Memorial is also a must-visit. The place is built in memory of the brave soldier Veer Jaswant Singh who single-handedly held off Chinese soldiers for 72 hours long during the Sino-India War in 1962.

Day 6: Moving Dirang to Tawang

Once you are done in Dirang, take the wheel towards Tawang which is a 4 hr 19 min drive. Again, you are suggested to move early in the morning. In Tawang, the War Memorial: Built in memory of martyrs in the 1962 Sino-India war has names of more than 2400 martyred soldiers.

Tawang Monastery is another must-visit place in Arunachal Pradesh. It is the second largest Buddhist monastery in the entire Asia continent after Lhasa and is believed to be as old as over 400 years. In the Monastery, there stands an 8-meter-high statue of Buddha. This place is also full of priceless religious books, manuscripts, and thankas.

Day 7: Complete Sightseeing of Tawang

It’s impossible to hunt the entire tourist spots of Tawang on the day you reach there. Move out the next day to Bum La Pass which is 37 km away from Tawang. It’s situated above 16,500 ft above ocean level at the Indo-China border. This is the place where you witness snowfall throughout the entire year. It is said that the Dalai Lama used this pass to enter India from Tibet.

Sangetsar (Madhuri Lake) and P Tso Lake are some of the most popular holiday destinations while you are in Arunachal Pradesh. Surrounded by scenic natural beauty, these lakes are known for musk deer and snow pigeons.

Apart from all these hot destinations, Ziro is situated a little farther away and usually held during the Winter (September- December). The state’s biggest music festival was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

If your itinerary includes the event, make sure of proper query beforehand and plan accordingly.

Best Time to Visit in Arunachal Pradesh

April and October are suggested to be the best months to visit Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh is located at a high altitude; its weather remains pleasant throughout the year. Although it will be wise to avoid visiting during Summer and Monsoon.

Average Weather Conditions Throughout the Year:

March to June – Summer (Hot)
July to September – Monsoon (Rainfall)
October to February – Winter (Chill and Snowy)

Backpacking

Arunachal Pradesh is vast with difficult terrain, especially the road conditions are not so good. However, the largest among the seven sister states of Northeast India is worth a visit once in your lifetime. Despite having the lowest population density in the country, the government is making an effort to maintain its appeal to travel enthusiasts.

Travel

Places to Visit and Learn Local Traditions Around the World

by Rocky Murasingh on June 29, 2024

Tour and travel have various shades, some are about experiencing serene natural beauty or extreme adventure, and some are about exploring new places and living the local cultures or traditions. From picturesque historic sites and museums to local traditions and flavors, you will find many unique destinations to explore and have a lifetime experience.

If you are looking for the best places to visit and learn about local traditions around the world, we have compiled a list of 10 such destinations that offer unique glimpses into the culture and traditions of the locals.

10 Best Places to Visit and Learn Local Traditions around the world

Most of these destinations show how the local people live, their dress, what or where they eat, their overall way of life, etc. The more diverse the ethnicity of the locals, the deeper you need to dive to explore a certain place.

Your trip plan should include spots like large metropolitan areas, mountain areas, coastal areas, small towns farming areas, etc. Each kind of place contributes a unique flavor to the overall taste of a given culture.

01: Cusco

Andean Baroque and Incan Majesty co-exist in the stone streets of Cusco, embodied by the church of Santo Domino and the Qoriacancha situating along the Plaza de Armas. The high-altitude destination is referred to as a melting pot of Mestizo and Amerindian culture, a metaphor for both the ethnic locals blending as one.

You will find lively summer fests, extraordinary textiles, and the most fascinating archaeological wonders. Cusco is a great destination if your interests include historical tours, archaeological tours, art & history, and hiking tours.

02: Cuba

Cuba is an amazing destination for cultural exchange. It is a mixture of old-world tradition, architecture, and of-the-moment cultures. If you head out away from the capital city towards small towns like Trinidad, you will find more sights of Spanish colonial monuments and architecture.

Trinidad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From this spot, you can trip to the Valley of the Sugar Mills which was the center of Cuba’s sugar industry. Apart from experiencing the local cultures and traditions, in Cuba, you can enjoy the nightlife and tasteful bars after dark. The place is also great for outdoor activities, Art, and history.

03: Agra

Referred as a great testament of love, the Taj Mahal is one of a kind for a romantic holiday trip. Declared one of the 7 wonders of the world in 2007, the historical wonder was built by the grieving Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife Mumtaz. The Taj Mahal gathers over five million tourists in a year.

India is vastly known for its diverse culture, ethnicity, and geographical landscape. Ranging from the lap of the Himalayan mountain, Rajasthan’s dune of deserts, rich culture, and natural picturesque of the North-eastern region, to the plateaus of Western and Eastern Ghats, India is a complete pack of wonders for travel enthusiasts.

If your trip bucket list includes Agra, the other two must-visit destinations in Agra are Fatehpur Sikri and the sandstone Red Fort. Both these sites are also declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from all that, without a visit to the Taj Mahal your trip to India is incomplete.

04: Athens

Athen was once known for its tacky architecture, traffic, and smog, now it is reformed with the fortunes brought by the Summer Olympics 2004. For English-speaking tourists, its spotless streets and parks, new motorways, ultra-modern metro, and accessible airport with all the signs in English make the capital of Greece easily navigated.

If your trip includes visiting the nearby islands, Athens can be a home base for the trip. The sophisticated sites of Athens include many monoliths of Western history, ranging from the Temple of Olympian Zeus to the Acropolis, and also the precious treasures of the National Archaeological Museum.

Athens makes a great destination for archaeological tours, historical tours, and cultural tours, and also a great place for bars and nightlife.

05: Colombo

For most travelers, Colombo is referred to as the gateway to Sri Lanka. But it is more than just passing through the interesting and diverse city of Colombo. If you can take a train ride to the coastal area of Mount Lavinia, explore the beaches, or the Talangama Wetland, the trip will add the perfect place to get away from the bustling streets of Colombo.

While dwelling around the city, you will find various religious spots. St. Anthony’s Shrine is one of the holiest shrines in Sri Lanka, You can visit Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil which is built with different deities of Hindu religion, and over 100 years old Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque which is unique for its white and red striped decore.

Overall, Colombo is one of the best places to visit and learn local traditions for its rich art and history, cultural, and historical contribution. It is a great travel destination for safaris as well.

06: Tokyo

Pop culture collides with tradition in the streets of Tokyo. Here you can enthusiastically wander around the various ancient temples in the day, and sneak into a local karaoke bar for a rocking evening. You have to wake up early to witness the auctioning of lively fish at the Toyosu Market and enjoy a refreshing morning while walking beneath the cherry blossom trees alongside the Sumida River.

The picturesque East Garden of the Imperial Palace is open to tourists and is a great place to spend some peaceful moments. Not to forget the Edo-Tokyo Museum where you can brush up your interest in Japanese history. And food is one of the best parts of Japan’s lifestyle which you will miss if you don’t taste udon noodles, sushi, and Japanese sweet wagashi.

Tokyo is great for bars, city tours, cultural tours, and historical tours.

07: Singapore

Singapore is one of the few bustling cities in the world which is also among the safest and cleanest cities of its size. Before you visit Singapore, make sure that you pay attention to the local laws. Spitting or throwing a candy wrapper in the street might be a mere issue in your hometown, but in Singapore, you could end up paying a good penalty for the same.

Outdoor activities like shopping in superlative stops like Gargantuan Mall, enjoying in the beaches, and visiting historic sites can be included in the bucket list. Thian Hock Keng temple is a must-visit for a historical tour. Nightlife bars and walking tours are fascinating in Singapore,

08: Berlin

In the developing city of Berlin, the old structures of Mitte coexist gracefully with the Reichstag’s modern fashion. While you are in Berlin, some of the must-visit historic sites are Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, Potsdamer Platz, and the Brandenburg Gate. There are some great Zoos and Aquariums to refresh your mind apart from all the historical spots.

09: Prague

Prague is one of a kind when it comes to exploring places with rich cultures and traditions. With many extraordinary cultural and historic sites, Prague is a grand city and definitely, a must-visit once in life. The Prague Castle has always been overlooked the place since the 9th century. The cemetery and synagogues of the Jewish Quarter are must-visit sites for tourists who are into historical tours.

Prague City is an attractive destination for cultural and historical tours, while its theme parks and city tours are incomplete without nightlife activities. You will find late night cellar bars, amusing wine bars, and trendy bars to cherish your nights in Prague.

10: Edinburgh

The capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh is renowned for its culture, heritage, and festivals. You can walk around the city to visit world heritage sites, galleries, and museums of New Town and Old Town. You can enjoy the best Scottish-produced meals before you head out to join many sophisticated events like the Winter Fest of Music, Summer Festival of Culture, or the Festival of Ceilidhs and Lights. Edinburgh is one of the best places to visit and learn about local traditions around the world and for cultural tours and historical tours.

Summing Up

Most of the mentioned destinations show how the local people live and their history. While you are dwelling around these hot cultural and historical destinations, you will have the opportunity to get a glance at local cultures if you simply spend some time to get off the beaten path. For learning local traditions, always try to find your way into the neighborhoods off the main tourist spots; because it is more difficult when you are on a guided tour.