Limestone forests and Mangrove trails encourage eco- tourism in Malaysia Langkawi. Elsie Gabriel Mangrove trails

Limestone forests and Mangrove trails encourage eco- tourism in Malaysia Langkawi. Elsie Gabriel

Amazing white sheets of sheer limestone hills surrounding forests on the slopes of north east Langkawi, is what makes your eco trail all worth it.No fuss.No glamour.No colour of money in the world can buy you beauty like this eco tourism.The Malay’s are proud of their natural beauty and work hard to preserve it.

We took a boat through the twists and turns of the Kilim river. Winding through the aerial walking roots of the Mangrove zones. Capturing colored kingfishers, eagles and often otters and dolphins were a theatrical treat. During a tour of the mangrove forest, you can part take of feeding the white headed eagles who dive in and show off their skills while picking out the fish that the boat man throws in.Appreciate the wonders of nature and its attributes towards the ecosystem on this Langkawi mangrove forest and eagle-watching tour in Tanjung Rhu. Simply soak in the kaleidoscope of fauna and flora in their natural habitat.We were so excited we took a swim, dived straight into a little cove hidden in Langkawi's mangrove forest in Tanjung Rhu.And every one followed suit.It was nature taking over.

After some local fish curry lunch we headed for a cable car ride above all the mangroves.Once you are up there you know that it is the mangroves that protect the country of Malaysian coast from flooding.It is the mangrove zone which provides rich sea food life.

Mangroves help the Malaysian coasts and are a blessing to the country.

· protect coastlines against erosive wave action and strong coastal winds, and serve as natural barriers against tsunamis and torrential storms.

· prevent salt water from intruding into rivers.

· retain, concentrate and recycle nutrients and remove toxicants through a natural filtering process.

· provide resources for coastal communities who depend on the plants for timber, fuel, food, medicinal herbs and other forest products.

· can be harvested sustainably for wood and other products,

· are an important breeding ground for many fishes, crabs, prawns and other marine animals, essential for sustaining a viable fishing industry. Malaysia's mangroves are more diverse than those in tropical Australia, the Red Sea, tropical Africa and the Americas. About 50% of fish landings on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia are associated with mangroves.

If you want to see more mangroves take the Langkawi Cable Car which will take you high above the Langkawi rainforest on Mount Mat Chinchang for the most spectacular views of the surrounding islands and sea. I was in awe and meditational mode once up in the sky looking down on Gods green creation. A total green umbrella of thick foliage canopy of trees. You also get to see the Oriental Village in Burau Bay up to the top of the island’s second highest peak, Gunung Machincang.You can join the eagles and other beautiful birds above the rain forests when air borne.

It’s an absolute must-do when you visit Langkawi and a great way to orientate yourself about the extensive stretch of mangroves. This cable car ride has the longest suspension between two stations in the world.The full family enjoyed the 360-degree panoramic views of the Langkawi islands, mainland Malaysia and Southern Thailand.Tourist buses and taxis are easily available outside your hotel to escort you to the cable car entrance sites.

With so many convenient modes of transport available today, visiting Langkawi has never been easier.  Ferries operate four routes to Langkawi from  Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis,Penang around the clock. On the other hand, Langkawi boasts an International Airport, located 20 km  away in Padang Matsirat, for locals and tourists.

There is nothing more precious than taking an eco tour of Mother Natures offering! This is a Mothers day tribute to our Planet Earth. Mother Earth gives, gives and only gives, wanting nothing back but preservation.

Visit the 275 years old Lamassu in Mumbai. Join Elsie Gabriel for the Mumbai Tourism first Series.

Visit the 275 years old Lamassu which guards the ancient fire temple,next time you are in Mumbai! Join Elsie Gabriel for the Ancient Mumbai Tourism first Series. Visiting the second oldest surviving Parsi fire temple at the Maneckji Navroji Sett Shenshai Agiary, which is located at Nariman Street, Fort, Mumbai,India took me back over 275 years in history, Amazing rock solid architecture with engravings that mesmerize you, transport you to way back to the times when the Parsi community established a rich heritage in India.

Maneckji Nowroji Seth Agiary is over 275 [or more ] years old, the agiary has magnificent architecture and is solid. It was built in 1733 by Maneckji, son of a great Parsi trader Rustam Manockji. It is said that the Maneckji Nowroji Seth fire temple is one of the best embellished fire temples in the city and symbolizes a period when the Parsi’s were flourishing.

It is located at the Perin Nariman Street, Fort to protect the fire temple. The ‘Lamassu’ were engraved in clay tablets, which were then buried under the door's threshold. They were often placed as a pair at the entrance of palaces. At the entrance of cities, they were sculpted in colossal size, and placed as a pair, one at each side of the door of the city, that generally had doors in the surrounding wall, each one looking towards one of the cardinal points.

 [All photographs copyright elsiegabriel.com]

It is said that a ‘Lamassu’ is an  Assyrian protective deity, often depicted with a bull or lion's body, with eagle's wings, and human's head. In some writings, it is portrayed to represent a female deity. A less frequently used name is ‘Shedu’ which refers to the male counterpart of a Lamassu. In art, Lamassu were depicted as Hybrids, winged Bulls or Lions with the bearded head of a human male.

Non Parsi’s are not allowed indoors.Today, it is said that there are 50 fire temples in Mumbai, 100 in the rest of India, and 27 in the rest of the world.

You can see the gigantic Lamassu only to guess that they symbolize protection and power. This is only one of the many Agiari's in Mumbai.Come join me on my journey to discovering ancient Mumbai, and you will not be disappointed.

Come with me and do the devil mask dance in Sri Lanka! Elsie Gabriel

Come with me and do the devil mask dance in Sri Lanka! Elsie Gabriel

 I loved the drama, the entertainment, historic ritual and of course the anthropology involved in the beautiful colorful ‘masks’ worn during the charade. Sri Lanka is fascinating. An island famous for its pristine beaches and wild life, you have to give in to the ancient cultural mythological stories when it comes to the history of ‘Masks’. Masks used in various dramatic rituals in Sri Lanka can be classified as demonic, animal-spirit and human figures. The significance and designs of mythological masks are associated with iconography of the folk religions of the historical period.

The Mask dance is said to have been a carefully crafted ritual with a history reaching far back into Sri Lanka’s pre-Buddhist past. The Lankans love their visual art and the ‘Mask’ is one highly coloured and revered piece of artifact used in religious ceremonies as well as entertainment. The masks are mainly made from a durable wood called ‘Kaduru’.  The wood is light and allows carvings to be made very easily.

 The ‘mask’ rules in most ceremonial and devotional performances. The use of masks in  rituals and ceremonies is a very ancient human practice across the world, although masks can also be worn for protection, in hunting, in sports, in feasts or in wars or simply used as ornamentation. Some ceremonial or decorative masks were not designed to be worn. Although the religious use of masks has waned, masks are used sometimes in drama therapy or psychotherapy.

If you ever go to Sri Lanka do not miss the ‘devil mask’ dancing which is generally performed with the motive of healing. These are also accompanied by drummers, to enhance the accompanying crazy steps and movements of dancers wearing the geometrically brightly coloured masks.

It is an extraordinary cultural phenomenon .Mask dancing and drama are mostly  attempts at invoking the supernatural. But the most elaborate masks are for drama. It is more like an opera, having a central theme and a series of episodes enacted by dances wearing masks of different sizes, culminating in the dramatic presentation of a story. 

Try and find a local Mask maker and see how well it is chiseled, crafted and painted. Each one is a master piece!

By hiding your face the mask allows you to play a totally different role, it gives you the liberty to assume another personality. It is symbolic and magical, anonymous and mysterious.Well when I danced the mask dance in Sri Lanka, I felt liberated; the mask did not hide my persona but accentuated my feeling s of freedom. 

Try one next time. 

Think of it, the Mardi
gras, the African cultures, South Indians and Chinese dragon mask dances all simply celebrate cultural well being!

The New Zealand experience. Elsie Gabriel .Beacon Holidays. Food Bloggers Association.

 Exploring the Kiwi Experience.

The New Zealand experience was brought alive on the APB cooking studio tables recently by Beacon Holidays in association with New Zealand Tourism and the Food Bloggers Association, India.
I walked into a room full of delightful aromas arising from Lamb mince pie,Lamb cutlets and Lam Kababs, all cooking in Kiwi style.

Heena Munshaw played the perfect host, dynamic and informative, Munshaw knows every spot on the globe on the back of her hand. You want to travel, just ask her, more than details she spins out passion for travelling with minute attraction and cultural habits of the destination. She has been there and done that. She is the traveling expert alright! Heena Munshaw is the Managing Director of Beacon Holidays, worldwide.

‘ There are ‘farm stays’ in New Zealand which let you soak in the culture of the farm and outdoors, “ says Heena, “ Fruits and vegetables growing in plenty with so much to share. People simple share their produce of nature at the farm gates in baskets where people passing by drop in ‘honour money’ whatever they feel for the produce they pick up. Natural fresh food is in plenty. It is a joy to see abundance of natural environment around.”
Being an avid traveler I had sold my soul to New Zealand already.
The New Zealand wines offered was generous, at the ‘Bloggers cook off ‘ which was got together by the Food Bloggers association. What a brilliant idea of getting all the bloggers together Sameer Malkani of FBAI, you did do justice to New Zealand.

Farmers in New Zealand cater to excellent world class lamb, beef and dairy. The grasslands are pure and meadows so organic, what more could one ask for? A piping-hot roast lamb is a kiwi staple surrounded by  fresh vegetables. As a nation surrounded by the sea, in New Zealand you can get spoilt with fresh seafood year-round, they say. Many exotic sea food dishes hence turn up at every gourmet table there.

New Zealanders also love their Pavlova.  And one of the contestants made the most perfect one.

A meringue dessert that’s topped with cream and fresh fruit, Pavlova is a permanent fixture at many family meals too.Almost everything has the delicious kiwifruit which is a small and furry green fruits.

The cooks that day made several lip smacking dishes like Lamb Kababs which stole the show that afternoon. The Lamb cutlets were very close behind , I must say the cutlets were paired with the most amazing Salsa-Mustard-Kiwi combo sauce which was a tantalizing delight flavouring the cutlets.

These dishes distinctly had a New Zealand style with a sweet twist which made the afternoon blissfully Kiwi.

The New Zealand summer sees many eat outdoors, often in a barbecue setting. Kiwi barbecues - featuring New Zealand beef, lamb and seafood - are a big part of the culture, and typify the laid-back nature of the New Zealand people.

Another style of all-year-round outdoor cooking is the traditional Maori hangi ,cooked underground on hot coals, usually prepared for special occasions. It includes a vegetable called the Kumara, along with chicken, pork, lamb, potatoes and other vegetables.

I want to go to New Zealand only to bring back tales of the smoky flavours of the' hangi ' cooked underground, which is delicious and an essential culinary experience while in New Zealand.

I gottya mouth watering didn’t I, well New Zealand it is!