A very happy new year to all!
Portmanteau is back, and as we dust ourselves off the remnants of the previous year, it's important to remember what great things the world still has in store for us. Our feature this month is about surprising revelations that have occurred in the ancient annals of Egypt. We also write about what goes into the perfect noodle and why the Chinese are obsessed with it, so much so that noodle schools are a way of life in China.
Creating sustainable projects via tourism may not be everyone's idea of luxury, but the Soneva project has taught us all the contrary. A salute to Sonu and Eva's efforts!
Pakistan may not be the first destination that springs to mind when we think of travel, but the Swat Valley in Pakistan is certainly worth remembering. And we felt it's finally time that someone addressed the monolith in the room...
Finally, we have an inspired collection of music from the isles of Iceland to inspire you to travel up north along with a collection of sports-oriented movies to bring out the athlete in you.
We hope you enjoy the eleventh edition of Portmanteau. As always, suggestions and stories from our readers are most welcome.
Sharing the mutual love for travel!
Ashish
A deep dive into a story that's arcane, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous!
The New Discoveries In Egypt
We've all heard tell of the great treasures among the pyramids of Giza. But little did we know how much was left to be found.
Strange structures around the world made us laugh, then wonder.
An urban myth, a prank, or something else?
Travel isn't always first class.
A collection of sports movies new and old to get everyone's blood rushing and instill a spirit of activeness this new year.
Using statistics to win games. Who would have thought that this combination works?
Starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, Moneyball is a powerful sports drama revolving around the world of basketball. When Pitt, a struggling baseball manager, is at a crossroads as to how to bring his team (the Oakland Athletics) to boot, he chances upon an Ivy League-educated nerd (Hill) who suggests giving the numbers a try instead of going purely by the gut.
What follows is a real-life miracle for the Athletics as they go from winning nought in the division series to nearly all the games in the beginning, and eventually winning the title.
Moneyball is a soulful movie with an impeccable background score to boot, that will certainly appeal to hardcore movie buffs and sports fans.
If you've been following Portmanteau for a while now, you know that motorsports are one of our passions. Rush is one of the most well-written movies representing the genre ever written.
Following the story of the stalwarts of F1, Niki Lauda and James Hunt, Rush is a fast-paced sports drama flick. The story follows the origins of the drivers and their upbringing as well as their pace on the track, and the eventual rivalry between Lauda, the ever precise, stone-cold Austrian, and Hunt, the flamboyant but fast Englishman.
With a score from Hans Zimmer that some might consider legendary and a cast with the likes of Chris Hemsworth and Olivia Wilde, Rush is the best movie to watch if you're considering getting into Motorsports.
Can chess be considered a sport? We certainly think so. While it might not train the muscles, it trains the mind to a great extent.
The Queen's Gambit tells the tale of Beth Harmon, an orphaned chess prodigy who struggles to manage her winning streak while also battling a serious problem with drugs and alcohol dependency. In a world set in 1950s America where the word of the male was the word of the house, Beth defies odds and stereotypes and proves that women are as smart, if not smarter, than the average male.
A movie about chess might not seem very riveting, but we suggest you give this one a try. Netflix has certainly ensured it never gets boring.
The Northwestern Frontier of Pakistan hides a beautiful secret, probably one of the most beautiful in the world.
A land of ancient stories of the Buddha and Hinduism nestled amidst roaring streams and wide valleys. The Swat region of Pakistan was once a stronghold for civilization. Briefly, it was an area of unrest. Today, while being much more accessible, the probability of visiting Swat for an Indian is under doubt.
Don't listen to the writers. Only Indiana Jones can be Indiana Jones. Save your bones!
Lanzhou Lamian and the Noodle Schools Of Lanzhou.
The city of Lanzhou in China has some notable achievements. On the banks of the Huang He, this city is a major transportation hub owing to its Silk Route links. Today, it is host to several educational institutions and heavy industries.
We bring to you an inspired collection from the Hotel Ranga of Iceland. A mix of rock, indie and more ethereal sounds from Icelandic artists you know and ones you'll want to know.
Puzzles to get your neurons firing.
How a luxury escape can certainly be a sustainable one.
In the times of present, the need to preserve our planet for our offspring and beyond has never been more essential.
While one would imagine that helping conserve the planet through tourism is at best a difficult prospect,
two trailblazers took it upon themselves to prove the world wrong. And prove it they did.
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