Side Effects of Religion
With the world slowly going crazy and the use of religion as a platform to justify it all, it is natural that there are discussions everywhere on this provocative subject. … Continue reading
What’s in a Name!
I did not realise the complexity of our naming system until I came across the extremely simple – and therefore confusing – naming system used for naming children in Bali, … 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
Motif & Meaning – Caravans & Herders
More textiles, more meaning! Here are some created by a Bishnoi group from Rajasthan India. These motifs that tell us about their lives through their portrayal of the cultural elements … 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
Guest Post – Memories of Swat – Kohistan Valley
Steve Wallace is a Textile Collector living in Australia and has kindly shared his memories of a visit to the Swat Valley three decades ago through this note. Photos are … 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
Vietnam Diaries
So close yet so far! Vietnam being just a short flight away – there is the feeling that I can go there anytime. And as a result I put it … 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
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
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
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
Myanmar Diaries
A few notes on the culture & art of Myanmar (Burma) experienced first-hand.
The Narakasura Festival, Goa
[A post from 2010 on the occasion of Diwali & Narakasur] Goa. Narakasur. Pre-Diwali. A unique folk festival that I noticed for the first time in 2004 then became more … Continue reading
The Honey Trappers
* WARNING Several Graphic Images* Goa is one of the regions that is blessed with fertile forests. And a result of (or perhaps cause of) this is the large variety … Continue reading
Mumbai – Bombay Diaries
Born, brought up & lived life in the most spirited, most diverse city in the world. A few glimpses of my love for the city can be seen through the … Continue reading
Rajasthan Diaries
The caravan stops again. At Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and the surrounding desert villages! Sand dunes, an abandoned village, mesmerising architecture, a surprising desert-turned-fertile landscape, warm people, and finally an unforgettable meeting … Continue reading
Okinawa Ryukyu Diaries
A walk through a traditional Ryukyu Village, Okinawa, Japan Grace of a Ryukyu Weaver, Okinawa Dancing to the Drums of Ryukyu Traditional Sugar Mill, Ryukyu Okinawa
Lifestyle & Beliefs of the Dard Aryan Ethnic Group of Ladakh
“It happens when it happens” Time is not a rare commodity and leisure is a luxury that all enjoy. ‘It happens when it happens’. No hurry. No time crunch. No … Continue reading
The Magnificent 11th Century Lamayuru Monastery – A photoessay
The Monastery Student Monks doing their laundry. And finally an invitation to lunch of Rajam & Rice with the student monks! Food for the Soul, Food for the … Continue reading
