Postcard: The Great Wall of India

Kumbalgarh, Rajasthan, India 21st December 2013 The Great Wall of India. Yes, you heard that right. India has its very own version of the great wall in Rajasthan. This thirty-six-kilometer-long wall surrounding the Kumbalgarh fort is the second longest continuous wall in the world after its more illustrious peer in China. But unlike the Chinese …

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Postcard: The Varkala Formation

Varkala, Kerala, India 26th January 2015 Originally a small temple town, the South Keralan town of Varkala is fast turning into a favourite backpacker hangout. And I would attribute this to what is called ‘the Varkala Formation’ – a steep red cliff rising adjacent to a small strip of beach having excellent views of the …

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Postcard: Idli with a Twist

Ramanagara, Karnataka, India 22nd February 2014 Idli is undoubtedly my favorite breakfast. This traditional South India cake made of rice batter is hugely popular not only in the South but many other parts of India. I was aware of many variations of the traditional circular Idli, but stopping at a restaurant on the Bangalore-Mysore highway …

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Postcard: Beware the Evil Eye

Kas, Turkey 7th October 2014 In India, we have an age-old superstition that if someone is envious of you, bad luck and misfortune will befall your friends and family unless you protect yourself from the ‘evil eye’ by following certain practices. Though superstitions are generally very culture-specific, I found it fascinating that the very same …

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Postcard: Norwegian Wood

Bergen, Norway 2nd September 2015 John Lennon might not have referenced ‘Norwegian Wood’ in a flattering way in the famous Beatles song, but you cannot help but admire the pretty little wooden houses that are seen in the Norwegian towns and countryside. In Bergen, there are many neighborhoods with traditional wooden houses and I actually got …

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Postcard: The Holy Elephant

11th March 2013 Hampi, Karnataka, India Animals have traditionally been accorded a special place in Hindu mythology as vehicles of gods or deities themselves. That is the reason some animals are considered sacred even today in Hindu culture. Apart from the ‘Holy Cow’ which is considered the most sacred of all animals, elephants are a …

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