Rang Bhari Ekadashi & Holi at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Banaras
Ready to throw Abeer on the Shiva-Parvati Gauna Procession just as they enter the temple. Happy Holi ….. Shots of Rangbhari Ekadashi – the Gauna of … Continue reading
The Musician
Indian Classical Music has a special style called the Banaras Gharana that originated in this magical place. And most students in the city learn Hindustani classical music in some form … Continue reading
Live and Learn – Kite Flying
A chance question to some of the staff at the hotel – led to this plan. We saw some kites in the skies and I asked whether the boys knew … Continue reading
Ganga Arti – Banaras Diaries
The consciousness in Banaras is focussed on two events – Sunrise – when it is time to do the Sunrise Arti, and Sunset – when it is time to do … Continue reading
Life & Death & Thanatology
The first trip to Banaras in 2016 had a spiritual purpose: to immerse the ashes of my grandma in the Gangaji. Death brought me to Banaras the first time. And … Continue reading
Blessings of Banaras – 2019
Sometimes real life is so intense that I forget to leave its shadow on the internet in the form of posts on the blog or on facebook. And then on … Continue reading
Ruins of Ladakh
Over the 10+ road trips through several naalas of Ladakh, several ruins of old buildings would zip past my car at a height or at a distance that was two … Continue reading
Floods of Ladakh
The mighty force of the Himlayas – its mountains, its glaciers & snows and its rivers – can be imagined just by seeing the scale and magnitude of its being. … Continue reading
Chai
Chai Am talking of the good Indian boiled Chai – with the milk & sugar and water & tea leaves all boiled together for a long time. [Not to be … Continue reading
Goatherding with Gutthu – Travelogue
Gutthu sat on my lap staring into my eyes. Was there love? Was there bonding? Was this unbroken stream of photons resulting in any emotional bonding from his side? Would … Continue reading
Himalayan Glimpses
View from the aircraft flying over the Himalayas. Awakens a thousand desires to go into each of those valleys on foot and knowing I shall never be able to do … Continue reading
Art Connoiseurs – Have you registered yet?
On WOVENSOULS.com – the little gallery of antique art, we welcome art lovers of tribal and ethnic Asian art to sign up here. Twice or thrice a year I send … Continue reading
Art & Culture Conversations on a Cruiseship
Creating conversations on Asian Art & Culture onboard the ultra-Luxury Cruise Ship Silver Whisper as an in invited guest speaker through a series of 7 lectures over 17 days of … Continue reading
Textile Study Tour of Punjab
Preface on the minor notes about the textile study tour, Punjab, 2019
Sailing along the Mekong River Delta
On a hot summer’s day in a place called in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, we went out to see daily life and the floating markets. In a place connected … Continue reading
A Visit to The Golden Temple – Amritsar
One cannot go to Punjab and not go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar….A few photos
Architecture of Amritsar
What have these bricks seen? Set in the city of Amritsar, these buildings have seen strife and tragedy like few others have. The Jalianwala Baug massacre, the Partition, Operation Blue … Continue reading
Divine Caring
A street photo taken just outside the Golden Temple Complex, Amritsar 7am, Early February, Temperature 14 degrees Celsius No words needed.
The Olden Days – Right Here Right Now
Different places in the world are living in different time zones. And so even though it is not yet possible to do time travel, it is possible to revisit my … Continue reading
The Susegad Dogs of Goa
Susegad is an attitude Goa is known for. There is no exact translation – but it loosely means relaxed or carefree or don’t-worry-about-it or lazing or just-chill …. This attitude … Continue reading
An Eventful Walk – Goa
An evening in Goa – I went out to buy some dahi and stopped at the beach expecting to take a normal short uneventful walk. * There were fishermen and … Continue reading
A Place of Darkness – A place of Light
Come with me to this place – so dark that I stumbled a bit as my eyes took a few minutes to adjust. Seeking nothing, I went there during a … Continue reading
Connections
Cliff overlooking the fork on the Shyok River Valley. On the way to Yarma village that lay beyond the last mountain in the valley on the right. Sometimes there is … Continue reading
Legacy of a Past Life
This post is not about art or culture… Once upon a time I had a little venture called IQ Club. The idea came from working with my own kids and … Continue reading
An Extraordinary Feat
So at the top of Khardungla pass in a small cafe I saw this other solo traveller. Since two of us were the only ones there I asked about his … Continue reading
Himalayan Peaks – Journeys of the Soul
A few photos of some Himalayan Peaks taken over many journeys over the years. These spots evoke in me a great longing for journeys that I will never undertake …. … Continue reading
Walking on Water – The Zanskar Chadar
Come winter and the roads in the Himalayas are closed. But, as a way of compensation, the rivers freeze and create a path for those who must travel. Many villages … Continue reading
The one thing I’d like to abolish… Goodbyes
The one thing I’s like to abolish is the “Good-bye” or its milder form – “Farewell”. Friends leaving for other cities where their jobs take them and children leaving for … Continue reading
Inspirational People from the Himalayas
When people push themselves beyond the limits of normal human capability, it is always admirable. A few years ago I’d read about the kora or parikrama that Tibetans performed as … Continue reading
Nomads in the Himalayas
Found these photos taken in March 2016 in my folders – waiting silently for my attention. A sighting of a nomadic settlement – a split second decision to stop … Continue reading
Travel Plans
A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving (Lao Tzu) I long to evolve to this level of life! Maybe I will plan my next … Continue reading
My kind of Palace
After a long time I have been able to afford the time to take a little solo trip. And here I am in a charming palace sipping green tea! in … Continue reading
That Place
That unforgettable place … I cannot seem to get it out of my mind. It had no name. There is no village to note the location. I had no compass … Continue reading
Back into the Home & Hearth of the Himalayan Aryan People
October 2016 The kitchen is a very intimate space. It is where many facets of my habits, my work style, my skills, my character, my thinking are revealed. And so, … Continue reading
Living in the Lap of the Himalayas
Notes from a visit in 2016. This village is roughly 200 km away from the nearest airport. The Indus has created a gorge for itself over the centuries with two … Continue reading
A Walk in the Himalayas
A small video taking while walking along the Indus river in the Himalayas
The City of Benaras
“Yeh Benaras Hai” Literally it means “This is Banaras” but the tone included pride and an assurance – a way of saying “Don’t worry – it’s okay – this is … Continue reading
External Article: The World Nomad Games
Sounds like something I’d like to experience! External Link:
A Journey for the Bucket List
An addition to the Bucket List….
It appears that I might need a second or third life to accomplish it all!
Palace on the Ganga – Art in Architecture
Just pictures of a lovely place that has the atmosphere of serenity and quietude. The opulence is in the atmosphere created – rather than in its fixtures. … Continue reading
The Land of the Sufi
Istanbul – almost exactly a year ago, I spent almost every evening eating at a small place near Topkapi palace. It was an open air restaurant with a basic menu … Continue reading
I played with the Big Cats
Not art. Not Culture. Just a travel experience. One that has me craving for more. One that will feature on my list of answers when asked Q: “What did I … Continue reading
When Life Happens…
Sometimes life happens too fast. And there is hardly any time to keep up with reality -leave alone document it! No time to blog out the memories for a future-self … Continue reading
Waiting to Grow Old
A friend reminded me that at 50, we are the youngest of the old people. But I cannot wait to get to the next stage and become the oldest of … Continue reading
WHY I travel
A note on the ‘Why’ of travel – by a woman who lived a hundred years ago and traveled solo in those days [with servants]
The Kiss of a Komodo Dragon
The concepts of mythology was always one that could not explain itself. For, ideas like dragons and demons (and flying chariots) were always written off by the modern world as … Continue reading
Jewels of Serendipity
When I look at the whole picture of my life, I have no doubt that I am on the right side of the luck line. But in every segment of … Continue reading
Indonesian Archipelago Diaries
Traveling through active Volcanoes that spewed ash just 2 months ago! Ancient Temples & Prehistoric Dragons, Coral reef snorkelling (and a few lectures) beckon! The villages of Borobudur & Prambanan … Continue reading
Interesting Istanbul 2 – The Shoe Shine Men
Just outside the Topkapi Palace…. A shoe shine man with a glamorous set up! This was not just a scene of a service provider and a customer. It was a … Continue reading
Interesting Istanbul 1 – Artistic Locks
After hearing a story of my friend’s credit cards being stolen from the overhead compartment on a flight on one of the world’s best airlines, I have begun using locks … Continue reading
Who Knew! Forts of Maharashtra
Who knew that Maharashtra had over 75 forts!! Seventy Five!!! And who knew that there are nearly 200 groups that organise trekking & hiking day / overnight tours to … Continue reading
A Walk through the Grand Bazar of Istanbul
Too often as I stroll through a market and like something, I do not buy it right away – thinking that I will pick it up on the way back. … Continue reading
Lost & Found – An Ancient City in Northern Thailand
An experience from 8 years ago almost lost in my memory… revived through photos. In 1984, some ancient tablets were found at a site about 5km from Chiang Mai in … Continue reading
Intrigued by the Past – Cappadocia 1
The viewing is done, the guide’s explanation of possible theories has been heard and some basic material on the land formations and subsequent habitation has been read. But questions remain … Continue reading
Life begins at the End of your Comfort Zone…
This timely advice was given to me by my daughter when I was choosing a travel destination. The other options were 2 places near Singapore – Bagan & Bali. But … Continue reading
Caving in Halong Bay – First Adventure
Well ‘almost’. Caving is the recreational pastime of exploring wild generally non-commercial cave systems. The beautiful Halong Bay in Vietnam with its 2000 towering limestone islands and islets offered me … Continue reading
Strength to Nepal Earthquake Survivors
Love & strength to all Nepalis. 🙁 Memories from a few years ago. All these places are beautiful and it is sad that some of these did not survive. … Continue reading
The Charm of a Small Town – Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Until my ship sailed to Sihanoukville I did not even know that such a town existed. Cambodia is usually all about Angkor Wat and being the blind tourist that I … Continue reading
A Resting Place
Somewhere in Sikkim – a place of complete silence. What a desirable resting place that is! jm April 2015
Wealth of South Asia – Sun, Sea & Islands
Some phenomena, try as we might, cannot be conveyed in words. They can only be experienced. Try as I might I cannot convey the taste of Pani Puri with words. … Continue reading
Asia Travelogues Coming Soon
The Wealth of South Asia – Islands, Sun & Sea Vietnam: Caving in Vietnam Vietnam: Just what were you thinking? Guerilla Jungles & Tunnels Vietnam: The Tale of a Refugee … Continue reading
50 Shades of Blue
Not actually 50 … but many many shades of blue. This post has nothing to do with culture or art. But in my pursuit of these two aspects of life, … Continue reading
A Temple Lies Locked
Many temples are run by trusts. Trusts that are made up of people. Sometimes people disagree. And fight. And over time, with the addition of ego and the passage of … Continue reading
We all love a good story! – Street Photo – Lambani Gypsies
We all love a good story! We all love some details of other lives. This inherent trait of humans across cultures is probably one of the biggest advantages of the … Continue reading
Transport in the Olden Days
I have not travelled in ANY of these! Or even SEEN any in use! 1. A hand-pushed Rickshaw 2. A rough Palkhi 3. A Palkhi 4. A Bullock with wheels? … Continue reading
Going Solo Again
Another speaking assignment – another fantastic cruise ship and a whole lot of new places waiting to be seen! A month ago I was in the Andaman Seas – stopping … Continue reading
Ideology of a Nomadic Life
The general belief is that a nomadic life is a forced choice but on the contrary it is a preferred way of life. Read more…
A Walk through Penang
Well – not exactly a walk! I rode through Penang in a cycle rickshaw. Driven around by the most entertaining & the most spirited driver I have ever met – … Continue reading
Shedding Draupadi’s Sari before the Ocean
Yes – these are the true colors of the ocean in Phi Phi island, near Phuket Thailand. Yes I am extremely fortunate to have seen such waters several times in … Continue reading
At the homes of Rabaris
A few pictures taken with majestic Rabari women & men in their own homes, over the years. Attending a Welcome or Swagat at a wedding in the homes of welcoming … Continue reading
Gypsy Nomad Herder Women of Rajasthan
The job of herding is done by women in many of the tribes in Rajasthan. Where are the men? jm Aug 2013
A night-out with the Nomads of Changthang
Dreamt of spending time with nomads for a long time. To experience their minimalistic lives, to observe the mental strength with which they embraced the harshness of nature, to … Continue reading
Invitation to a Lambani Gypsy Tribal Wedding
A Lambani Gypsy family. A Village in Karnataka, India. May 8th 2011. An arranged marriage. This is an account of a gypsy tribal wedding in a tiny village that had … Continue reading
A Cup of Tea with Nomads of Kutch
This trip in early 2006 marked the start of my solo travelling life. A novice solo traveller a bit nervous, but as usual serendipity helped me along….. Armed with … Continue reading
