Think of Umrao Jaan's ada, the mellifluous strains of a thumri, the tender succulence of a kakori kebab. And now think of the cry for the country's freedom, made from by Begum Hazrat Mahal. That is the essence of Lucknow. Sunny Singh takes you on an insider's tour of this enchanting city that mixes delicacy and decorum with political intrigue and warfare in equal measures!

Just about three hours of leisurely driving from Johannesburg is the world of Groot Marico, known even to most South Africans from the humorous short stories of noted Afrikaner writer Herman Charles Bosman. Accompany Sunny Singh on a weekend visit to a game farm there.

...most intriguing talismans of an older world still originate from its bewildering maze: the attar that smells of soil drenched by the monsoon's first rains; the wood-and-lacquer sindoor holders that are presented to every new bride; the Kashi silk cloth that feels like a second skin; and the whimsical, brightly coloured wood and clay toys, with a magic that no Mattel or Lego can hope to match.