Confluence

If you’re looking to take a vacation, check out the Ladakh Confluence, August 28-31, 2009. We’re super excited about the line-up at this open-aired music festival, set against Leh’s spectacular landscape, which will showcase an international group of stellar musicians as diverse as Talvin Singh (table), Rahul Sharma (santoor), Bauchklang and Rajasthan Roots. A ton of people are going from Mumbai, so check out the Facebook group to find travel buddies for the ride up there, etc.

For a shorter getaway, consider white water rafting on the Kundalika. It’s only 140 km out of the city (it took us about three hours to get there from Marine Drive), and affords some really awesome views. Rapids on the Kundalika, which is fed by the Mulshi dam, are pretty tame, but will keep you entertained for a couple of hours. We used Nature Trails (Rs 1,250 per person), but there are a couple of companies that offer the same service. Go in a big group (each raft carries upto nine people) and remember to pack towels and a change of clothes, because you're guaranteed to get drenched!

Happy Vacationing!

Secret Scouters