Antalya, Turkey (8th October 2014) In Turkey, cats are everywhere. The Turkish fascination for cats becomes apparent particularly in the cities where they are omnipresent. Whether you are wandering the cobble-stoned streets of Istanbul or taking in the sights of the magnificent mosques of Sultanahmet, whether you are exploring the old town of Antalya or …
Alleppey, Kerala, India (28th January 2015) Going around the backwaters of Alleppey provides a fascinating sneak peek into the different facets of local Keralan life. One such example was when I saw a man dipping into the water repeatedly and emerging after a few moments. I thought he was taking a bath or probably swimming. …
Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, India (15th August 2014)Hinduism as a religion is a very attractive lure for many foreigners visiting India. More often than not belonging to a monotheistic faith themselves, they marvel at the hundreds of gods that Hindus worship. As I was walking near the Shravanabelagola temple in Karnataka, I noticed these idols of Hindu …
San Francisco, USA (1st June 2014) If you have ever been to San Francisco, you will know that the trams are much more than a means of transportation in the city. In fact, the cable car running in some parts of the downtown is as much an iconic attraction as the Golden Gate Bridge is. …
Paris, France (21st September 2008) No river captures the essence of a city like the river Seine does. The river is the lifeline of Paris, and also it’s most beautiful attraction. It is no wonder that the city developed around this huge water body and most of the major sights in the city are located …
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India (25th December 2013) As we were strolling through the by lanes of desert town Jaisalmer, some soothing Rajasthani folk tunes wafted out from nearby, something which we had heard in other parts of Rajasthan also. We found the source of music to be a middle-aged turbaned man, presumably from the desert, playing …
Over the Himalayas, India (3rd September 2011) As I boarded the Delhi flight from Leh after an eventful week in Ladakh, I prayed to the Gods for clear skies for the next couple of hours. This particular flight, which flies over the vast Himalayan range, is famous for its breathtaking views of the mountains, provided …
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia (22nd April 2011) While Bali’s beaches are one facet of the amazing island, the center of the island offers quite contrasting sceneries. As we were coming back from the Goa Gajah temple near Ubud, our driver stopped at a spot in Tegalalang village which was surrounded by lush green paddy fields. Standing …
Berlin, Germany (19th November 2008) One of the most pivotal moments in modern European history was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, when East and West Germany got reunited with people from both sides breaking the wall and ending decades of separation. Almost two decades after the event, I still found graffiti strewn …
Chinatown, Singapore (26th September 2009) As I walk through Singapore’s Chinatown, I couldn't resist stopping by this shop which had all types of traditional wall scrolls displayed with lovely Chinese calligraphy. I just love calligraphy, an art which transforms the written word itself into an image with an aesthetic value. Whether it is cursive and …
Chinatown, Singapore (26th September 2009) I have never been to China, but I have had ample glimpses of that country in cities such as New York, Paris, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Yes, I am talking about the ubiquitous Chinatown, the ethnic enclave of Chinese people which is present in every big city spread across the …
Gulmarg, Kashmir, India (25th January 2009) January is one of the best months for skiing in India. But it is also a one of the trickiest months as there is always the risk of heavy snowfall ruining your plans. When we visited Gulmarg, a popular skiing destination in Kashmir, the weather was luckily perfect …
The Wandering Buddha 