Word of The Year 2022 - Change

 Following some fellow bloggers and friends, I started this tradition of setting a word every year to focus on it. I did a very bad job in focusing on that word last year. I even forgot the word that I have set. It doesn't mean that I cannot try again! So, a post to set a word for the year 2022. :-)

Hope you all celebrated the new year! This year, we just moved to a new place and so, it's a lot of work packing and unpacking during the new year. We are excited to arrange our new home, settle into the new place, adjust to new weather, and make new friends. So, we are in the process of many changes.

Of course, this is the word I need to focus on this year. This came to my mind without much thinking.

Change is inevitable and sometimes, challenging as well. But, I believe change is good. Actually, my sentence should be "adapting to the change". Since it's a single word, setting it to CHANGE makes sense.

Here is to the new beginnings. Cheers and Happy New Year 2022. Hope this new year brings you all Love, Happiness, and Good Health. 

Until next time,

Things to do in LEH, LADAKH (India) - A guest post by Banbanjara Travels

It's my pleasure to have Rishi Shivhare write a guest post on my blog about things to do in Leh Ladakh.

Hope you will like this article!

THINGS TO DO IN LEH, LADAKH 

There are many must-visit places in the Leh Ladakh region. From ancient architecture, markets, and traces of Tibetan heritage, you will experience rare beauty and bliss. 

Take a look at the list of places you will love to visit. 

1.LEH PALACE 

The palace was built in the 19th century by King Sengge Namgyal. It is a 9 story royal palace of Leh blessed with some breathtaking views. You will love and enjoy the sights of snow-capped peaks, Stok Kangri looming up to the sky, and the serene Indus river. The palace also has a beautiful collection of artifacts of the time. You will also get to see various costumes, jewelry, religious scriptures, and remnants of the royal family. 

2. PANGONG LAKE 

The lake is nestled at an altitude of 14,270 feet above sea level. The crystal clear lake is about 134 kilometers long. 60% of the lake falls under China's territory. The scenic beauty of the tranquil lake is simply mesmerizing. As the lake displays seven shades of blue, the water certainly ensnares the traveler's mind. The towering peaks and the tough road leading to the lake is an experience of a lifetime you shouldn't miss. 

PC: https://pixabay.com/photos/lake-mountains-coast-fog-snow-5832067/

3. TSO MORIRI LAKE 

The Tso Moriri lake is located at an elevation of 15,000 feet above sea level. It is a popular freshwater lake in the Ladakh region. The environs of the water body are a splendid landscape offering a change from rough to lush green. The lake is fed by streams and springs that run about 7 kilometers wide and 19 kilometers long. The lake is home to 34 species of rare flora and fauna. You will be awestruck by the splendid view. 

4. SHANTI STUPA 

The Shanti Stupa was inaugurated by the Holy Dalai Lama in 1991. This is a beautiful Japanese structure located close to the town of Leh. The place is set at a height of about 4,200 feet above sea level. The white beauty enjoys splendid and magnificent views of the panorama of the looming snow-clad mountain peaks. The view of the sunrise and sunset from this place is all worth it. 

5. HEMIS MONASTERY 

This monastery has put the town of Hemis on the world map and made it popular. It is one of the richest and largest monasteries in India. You will be mesmerized to see the Tibetan-style architecture in the midst of the rugged environs. The Hemis Festival is the most popularly celebrated festival in this region. The monastery is also a house to many rare and exquisite Buddha, gold and silver Stupas, and Thangkas. 

6. ZANSKAR VALLEY 

The Zanskar Valley is blessed with picturesque natural beauty all along the way. The valley is inhabited by monks and is one of the places that will complete your tour. The Zanskar river flows along the valley and has lent its name to the place. You will love visiting this place if you are an adventure enthusiast. You will have numerous options of adrenaline-gushing activities to choose from river rafting to a frozen trek. 

7. KHARDUNG LA PASS

The KhardungLa pass is the highest motorable road in the world located at an altitude of 18,739 feet above sea level. The pass is situated in the Karakoram Range at the north of Leh. The KhardungLa pass is a popular tourist attraction because of its pristine air, scenic vistas, and the feeling that you are on top of the world. Before you sojourn the region, make preparations as it is a challenging pass. 

PC: https://pixabay.com/images/id-232730/

8. DISKIT MONASTERY 

The Diskit Monastery is located in the Diskit village of Nubra Valley. This dates back to the 14th century. This ancient monastery is home to a 106 feet tall statue of Maitreya Buddha in the prayer hall. The monastery will bustle with activities every February as the popular Dosmoche festival is celebrated. 

9. DRASS VALLEY 

Drass Valley is located in the heart of the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley is famous for all its natural hot springs that are blessed with medical benefits. The Valley is renowned to be the second coldest inhabited region in the world. You will love to visit the place as it strikes a perfect balance between the lush greens, soothing blues, and bold browns. 

10. ZOJI LA PASS 

The Zoji La Pass is a popular mountain pass lying between Ladakh and Kashmir. The pass is situated at an altitude of 11,575 feet above sea level. The spectacular views are heartwarming. You will fall in love with the place and cherish these memories for a lifetime. 

Make sure you visit the above-mentioned places and make beautiful memories. 

Pin it for later!

 

Author’s Biography

Rishi Shivhare, an MBA IT And MARKETING Graduate as well as pursuing Bachelors in  English Honours. is fond of reading books and magazines and writing articles, interacting with people, and is still learning every day. I am also interested in getting to know about new things, traveling and enjoying the scenic views, and cooking. I am presently involved in content writing work with Banbanjara Travels LLP and taking short-term courses on human resources. At times I also take interest in painting and drawing.

Until next time,

 

Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: Touch and Go

Author: Lisa Gardner

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Headline

Print length: 432 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb :

The perfect family. The perfect crime?

'Lisa Gardner always delivers heart-stopping suspense' Harlan Coben
'An amazing writer' Karin Slaughter

The addictive thriller from Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller Lisa Gardner, featuring Detective D.D. Warren.

Justin and Libby Denbe have it all: a beautiful daughter; a gorgeous house; a great marriage, admired by all.

Arriving at the crime scene of their home, investigator Tessa Leoni finds no witnesses, no ransom demands or motive - just a perfect little family, gone.

But Tessa knows that flawless fronts can hide the darkest secrets. Now, she must race against the clock to uncover the truth. Who would want to kidnap such a family? And how far would they be willing to go?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

The story is a perfect investigative thriller with many unexpected turns. This is a second book in the series of Tessa Leoni's investigations but can be read independently.

While the head of Denbe constructions - Justin Denbe and his family goes missing suddenly, Tessa is involved as a corporate investigator. Wyatt, a local Sheriff, and Nicole come together to solve this case. They interview all top-level employees from Denbe constructions and learn many corporate and personal secrets of the Denbe family.

The story takes many turns even after they get ransom notice from kidnappers.  Who are the kidnappers? What is their motive? to kill Denbe's family or something else? this forms the crux of the story.

What I liked is the mystery and unexpected turns and the sequence of events building up suspense. The characters are fine.

What I didn't like is the title of the book. It didn't feel very relevant and the book cover also doesn't feel apt. The suspense and turn of events are good, but the climax fell flat from my expectations. 

My Rating:

4/5

About the Author:

New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!

Readers are invited to enter the annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy" Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa's latest novel. People have nominated themselves, spouses, bosses. It's cheaper than therapy and twice as much fun! For more details, visit Lisa's website.

Lisa's latest novel BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, is available January 19, 2021. Meet Frankie Elkin, an everyday average woman who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. Her latest mission has brought her to Mattapan, Boston to find a missing Haitian teen. Eleven months later, Angelique Badeau's disappearance remains a mystery. What happened to the quiet, studious teen? Frankie learns quickly the dangers of asking too many questions, but that won't stop her from discovering the truth behind what happened BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.

Until next time,