Frontier trivia of the day:

By land mass, the biggest airport in the world is hosted by the oil-rich Saudi Arabia, the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which covers some 81 square miles, larger than some cities. This airport has four terminals, yet only three have ever been used. Denver International Airport takes 53 sq. miles.

This is me in Mumbai, India with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on the background. This was during our second tour to the Gateway of India, with Paul the driver. It was safe and peaceful then which I am so thankful. It is just so sad that the seaborne terrorist attack not just damaged the building, but killed almost two hundred people, poor clueless and so defenseless people and tourists in a strange land. I know just how it feels, but the terror and fear on that day and the reason of the attack is beyond comprehension.

Frontier trivia of the day:

The best rooms in the superior old wing of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel cost more than £250 per night, India’s best-known and best-loved hotel in the heart of its commercial and financial capital.

A photo of us at the Taj Mahal one chilly early morning in December last year. Our tour guide took this photo. It was a wonderful experience. Isn’t it lovely?

Frontier trivia of the day:

There are calligraphies everywhere in the Taj Mahal compounds. As we enter through the gate of the Taj, there is one that says, “O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you.”

Frontier trivia of the day:

As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world, followed by Luxembourg. (see note)

Namashtè! I just want to share these photos we took a while back. You see this man, he did not look like a beggar to me, but after all, we were strangers to the place. But our tour guide said that he collected money for the elephants, his elephants, or for the sake of the elephants, whatever it was. It was fine, we really were going for an elephant ride just for experience, which in the end, I found it so much fun. That day he had an elephant with him on the road carrying a load on its back. It was just one of those elephants we always see on the roads. What I like about this picture are his clothes and the silverware he’s carrying, and also his bag. Somehow I felt satisfied being able to capture them.

Frontier trivia of the day:

In India there are a total of 3,400 domesticated elephants owned by different groups, and 23,900 – 32,900 total elephants in the wild (eleaid.com)

There are many souvenirs to buy, and other products in India that they also export, and one of them are carpets. We stopped by one large store to see their products for sale. Most of that store’s displays were jewelry items, carved products and woven stuff. In one corner of the store I spotted this man weaving a carpet. It was beautiful. Such an intricate handwork, that it is so great seeing what he has woven thus far. Of course he must have very long patience.

Frontier trivia of the day:

The hand-knotted pile carpet probably originated in Central Asia. The importance of carpets in the culture of Turkmenistan is such that the national flag features a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs). (Wikipedia)

This was on our way out from the Taj Mahal. Children selling souvenirs. The girl was selling a pencil. I have had a load of souvenirs that time. It was a great time. It gave me the souvenir of the Taj not just in pictures but in my mind, forever.

Frontier trivia of the day:

Poor children in India begin working at a very young and tender age. Children are often exploited and deprived of their rights in India, and until further measures are taken in the matter of tackling the problem of child labour, many Indian children will continue to live in poverty. (indianchild.com)

That was where we stayed on my second time in Mumbai, in the lakeside chalet apartment. We had a very nice stay there in the apartment; the Marriott hotel compounds are lush with green and most of all, secured from the outside. There I met a fellow Filipina who has also been traveling with her husband. It was unexpected, and great. I took this picture during one of my tours yet again around Mumbai, the time when Madonna was there.

Frontier trivia of the day:

Some hotels have accommodation underwater, such as Utter Inn in Lake Mälaren, Sweden. Hydropolis, under construction in Dubai, will have suites on the bottom of the Persian Gulf, and Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida requires scuba diving to access its rooms. (Wikipedia)

It was rough. So rough! I was not expecting that hubby wanted me to ride a camel while we were there in Agra right after our Taj Mahal tour. Of course I grabbed the opportunity, for an experience, that I didn’t mind climbing up the uncomfortable camel’s back. The owner didn’t even put a decent covering there (he was as surprised as I was), but “I’m a cowboy” kumbaga. It was very funny and rough experience. All the people around in the streets were amused and laughing because I am sure my face was showing something funny when the camel started to get up. Camels can run up to 65 km/h (40 mph) in short bursts and sustain speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph), and I mean it. Those long slender legs walk so fast we were a good distance already in less than a minute. We paid 500 rupees for the ride, a rough 2 minute ride.

Frontier trivia of the day:

The kidneys and intestines of a camel are very efficient at retaining water (hence perfect in the desert). Urine comes out as a thick syrup, and their feces are so dry that they can fuel fires. (Wikipedia)

Safe and Secured. I’m up high here, you can not steal me. Who would dare?
There are many people who steal things, and don’t forgive even construction equipments, especially portable ones. So construction team end up securing and hanging the tools with the crane. They would have to struggle if they really want to steal the equipments. Worth the theft effort? This was taken during our trip to New Orleans during our swamp tour.

Frontier trivia of the day:

One of LoJack’s Guide to Theft Protection is to park equipment close together and in a circle if feasible, with smaller pieces in the center; chain small equipment to larger equipment