7 Cities That Prove That Life (And Travel) Is Better In Colour
Black-and-white may be classic, but it can also feel dull and uninteresting. Imagine if your neighbourhood was stripped of all colours - would not everything feel so lifeless? On the other hand, colours are powerful - their vibrancy adds happiness and life to anything or any place. Showcasing colours with open arms, here are some beautiful cities around the world that are well-known for being "extra" when it comes to painting the town red... and even blue, pink, and yellow! A colourful city feels magical and joyful. If you love travelling and seeing new places, you must visit at least one, if not all, of these vibrant cities around the world.
Here Are 7 Colourful Cities Around The World To Visit:
1. Havana, Cub
Havana is full of old vintage cars, colourful architectural gems, and streets from the Colonial period and beyond. American cars from the 1940s and 1950s can still be spotted on the streets in gorgeous pop colours like lime, fuchsia, and shiny blue. You will find art and music everywhere you go. Even the streets of Havana are filled with local models dressed in colourful, quirky outfits, who happily pose for tourists for a tip.
2. Jodhpur, India
Jodhpur in Rajasthan is also called the 'Blue City'. According to legend, it was the Brahmin residents who first started painting their houses blue, to distinguish their homes. Blue is also considered an auspicious colour. Scientifically, it is believed that copper salt compounds added to the whitewash while painting the houses helped repel termites and turned blue under certain conditions. The best way to admire the city is to get a bird's eye view of all the beautiful blue houses from the iconic Mehrangarh Fort.
3. St. John's, Canada
St. John's, Newfoundland is the most colourful city in Canada, thanks to the colourful Jellybean Row Houses of downtown. They got this name for being every colour of actual edible jellybeans. While strolling along the streets, you can witness huge Victorian houses in shades of blue, red, yellow, pink, orange, and so on. It almost feels like entering a fairytale world.
4. Guanajuato, Mexico
Guanajuato is one of the most vibrant cities in Mexico and is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city boasts its Baroque and colonial architecture with layers of colourful homes. It is also a safe and welcoming city for tourists. If you are a foodie, you will be impressed by the incredibly delicious Mexican food in Guanajuato.
5. Nassau, Bahamas
Here is another bright and vibrant city you must add to your travel list, especially if you are travelling to the Bahamas. Here you will find neat and beautiful rows of houses in pastel shades of pink, green, orange, yellow, and more. The natural beauty with lots of greenery and vibrant flowers further enhances the charm of this colourful city.
6. Jaipur, India
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is famously known as the 'Pink City'. In 1876, the entire city was painted a terracotta pink to welcome the Prince of Wales, and this tradition has continued, symbolising hospitality. The historical palaces, forts and bustling bazaars are all adorned in this distinctive hue, offering a truly unique visual experience. Visitors can admire the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace, and the Amer Fort, all bathed in shades of pink.
7. Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa
Photo Credit: Pexels
Nestled at the foot of Signal Hill, the historic neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap in Cape Town is famed for its distinctive, brightly coloured homes and cobbled streets. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, its vibrant hues are believed to have originated when residents were finally allowed to own their homes and painted them in joyful, expressive colours to celebrate their freedom. This unique area is rich in history and culture, making it a truly photogenic and memorable stop.
Found these cities fascinating? Check out 9 of the most beautiful villages in the world that look straight out of a fairytale.
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India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Inside America's Long Tieng: The Most Secret Nerve Centre Of A Covert CIA Operation
Far from tourist trails and modern highways in Laos lies a forgotten piece of Cold War history. A cracked airstrip cuts through the green hills of Long Tieng, a village that, five decades ago, was ground zero for a covert U.S. operation that ran parallel to the Vietnam War. Today, Long Tieng, according to CNN, looks like any other rural settlement in Southeast Asia. A few guesthouses, basic shops and farming plots line the road. Children ride scooters across what used to be a military runway. Most residents work the land. Few of them have ever flown on a plane. Even fewer realise that this valley was once considered 'the most secret place on Earth'. From the early 1960s to 1975, Long Tieng served as the headquarters of a clandestine war effort backed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The goal was to block the spread of communism across Southeast Asia, specifically in Laos, where American forces were officially barred from operating under international agreements. The CIA partnered with the Hmong ethnic minority, led by General Vang Pao, to build a paramilitary base in the village. The site rapidly grew into a military hub. At its peak, over 30,000 people, including Hmong fighters, their families, Thai soldiers, American agents and CIA-linked pilots, lived and worked here. Roughly 4,500 feet long, the CNN report says, the airstrip handled up to 900 take-offs and landings each day. Supplies such as ammunition, food and fuel were flown in by aircraft operated by Air America, a CIA-owned airline. Smaller planes then distributed these resources to remote outposts across the region. Pilots known as 'Ravens' operated from the site as well. These U.S. Air Force personnel flew low-level missions to identify targets and direct bombing runs. Many of them worked in civilian clothing under diplomatic cover, blurring the line between soldier and spy. Despite its size and significance, the report suggests, Long Tieng remained unknown to much of the outside world. Even U.S. troops fighting in neighboring Vietnam were unaware of the base. Secrecy was absolute. After the U.S. withdrew in 1975 and the Pathet Lao took power, Long Tieng emptied out almost overnight. Thousands of Hmong were displaced. The site was abandoned. What remains now are skeletal buildings, overgrown runways and rusting equipment. Many of the bunkers and hangars have collapsed. Today, reaching Long Tieng is still difficult. The journey from Vientiane takes more than eight hours. Roads are unpaved, narrow and often blocked by landslides or mining trucks. Communication is limited, and phone signals are unreliable in the mountains. Despite its history, the site sees very few visitors. A handful of local tour operators organise occasional trips, but there are no museums, no signs and no official preservation efforts. General Vang Pao's former headquarters still stands. A plain two-story house, now empty, with a 'no entry without permission' sign posted in English. Visitors who make it inside find little more than a wooden desk, artillery shells stacked in a corner and a view of the now-silent airstrip. The legacy of the conflict continues to affect Laos. According to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), roughly 80 million unexploded submunitions remain scattered across the countryside. Villagers in the Long Tieng area still avoid walking off known trails for fear of triggering dormant explosives. Since 1995, the United States has invested nearly $400 million to support weapons clearance programs in Laos. Still, progress is slow, and fears about future funding cuts continue to raise concerns. For many in Long Tieng, life has returned to a quiet rhythm. Children play where warplanes once launched. Farmers plant rice on land that once held military barracks. But for those who know the history, the scars remain visible and buried. The war may have ended 50 years ago, but its echoes still shape this hidden valley.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Post Pahalgam attack, anti-terror squad deployed for 1st time at Valley of Flowers
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It's getting harder and pricier to fly with your pet
Flying with your pet this summer? Better brush up on confusing rules and higher fees. Oh, and have a plan B ready in case things go awry at the airport. Christina and Michael Kutzner spent hours boning up on the regulations so she could travel with her mother's dog from Las Vegas to Detroit in first class in April. They called Delta, tested different pet carriers, scoured online forums about in-cabin pet travel and more. It wasn't enough. The 20-pound dog was turned away at the airport for being too tall for an under-the-seat pet carrier. Christina and her mom had to buy expensive, last-minute tickets on American for the next day. Christina Kutzner and her mother were told that Kona was too tall for their pet carrier. They also had to get a new crate so Kona, a Shiba Inu, could fly in cargo. (Delta no longer takes pets in cargo except for certain active military or State Department employees.) And they had to fly into Chicago instead of Detroit and rent a car. It was, they say, an expensive lesson. 'We just want to make sure that people are aware there's not a lot of good information out there,'' Michael Kutzner says. Traveling with pets has never been simple. And it has become more difficult and expensive since U.S. airlines, with the support of the Transportation Department, banned emotional-support animals in 2021 after a surge in incidents. The only animals allowed in the cabin now are service animals with proper documentation and small pets in approved carriers that fit under a seat. The list of rules and regulations to bring your cat or small dog on the plane reads like the fine print on a basic economy ticket. It's even worse if you're traveling internationally. Figuring out whether that carry-on bag will pass muster in the airline bag-sizer is a cinch compared with whether your pet carrier and its beloved occupant will be cleared to fly with you. Airlines have robust pet sections on their websites but deciphering them isn't always easy, especially for newbies. Delta's website, for example, states that in-cabin pets must be 'small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel with the ability to move around without touching or sticking out from the sides." American's says only that the pets must be 'small enough to fit comfortably inside the closed/zipped carrier." The rules keep changing, too. Alaska Airlines last week said it would no longer allow passengers to book a separate seat for their pet. It was the last U.S. airline to offer the option of buying a second seat for a dog crate. It was popular with owners of medium-size dogs too big to fit under the seat. Other airlines that let you buy a second seat for a pet don't let you put the carrier on the seat. Thanks to Signature Pet Transport, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen named Rooney was delivered from his breeder to his new family. Supporters have filed a petition to reverse the decision. The airline also decreased the eligible carrier size for under-seat pets and said it would no longer take birds and rabbits beginning next year. (Alaska says it and other changes are designed to align its policies with those of merger partner Hawaiian Airlines.) Another challenge for travelers: Pet fees can now cost more than your plane ticket. A friend texted me last week lamenting the $300 price tag to bring her dog on a United flight from Denver to South Dakota. Her own ticket cost $209. American and United raised their domestic pet fees to $150 one way last year. Delta, which previously charged $95, joined the $150 club in April. JetBlue and Southwest charge $125 each way, Alaska $100. Cargo prices are higher. 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Then there are the differences between a 20-pound French bulldog and a 20-pound Italian greyhound when it comes to fitting into a regulation-size carrier. The short, compact bulldog won't occupy much space, he says, but the greyhound has longer legs and probably won't make the airlines' cut, says Diaz who also breeds dogs and shows them. Diaz offers the following tips to reduce the chance of problems at the airport. Long before the day of travel, make sure the dog fits in the carrier and is comfortable. Practice, practice, take a chance if you think the dog is on the bubble sizewise. (Google any airline's pet policy and one of the related searches is always 'How strict is this airline?")Print out or bookmark the airline's policies and bring them with you. Airline employee understanding and enforcement of the complex rules can vary from flight to flight, airport to have a backup plan. The Kutzners story had a happy ending on American, but they wished they had received better directions from Delta throughout the process. Delta apologized for any miscommunication and says its pet policies are designed for 'safety and comfort throughout all aspects of flight." Write to Dawn Gilbertson at
