Travel for me is like looking at life in a place through binoculars. You see everything close enough, yet you have a certain objective distance from it.
It has its pros and cons. You get to see only what you want to see, and the first impression is usually the one that sticks with you.
And that happens both ways. The way we judge a place and the people there – vice versa, the way the people there judge us.
Tag: travel
Looking for a Different Holi Celebration in Mumbai? Try the Forest!
I closed my eyes and let the forest seep in.
The faraway sounds of the birds made its way to my ears, the gentle breeze danced around me, along with it came the earthy fragrance of some unknown tree. Thoughts settled and made some space for the calmness to fill in. It was a perfect moment, where I was one with nature and that translated into being one with myself.
Shojin Ryori in Kyoto: An Unforgettable Vegan Dining Experience
The burst of red, orange and yellow autumn hues is the first thing that caught my eyes at the Tenryu-ji temple premises. I had come to taste the Shojin ryori vegan cuisine, which was served at the Shigetsu restaurant inside the temple premises. But I got caught in the beauty of the Zen Garden around it. The autumn trees accompanied by a peaceful pond in front of it and the Arashiyama mountains standing tall behind it were picture-perfect from all sides.
Enchey Monastery: A Tranquil Escape in Gangtok
The chants by the monks trickled down from the main prayer hall, winding through the air, and reached me as an unseen welcome at the entrance of the 200-year-old monastery. I was at the Enchey monastery in Gangtok, which sits on a hilltop, a sacred place with stunning sights, surrounded by a soothing forest.
The humble vada pav
I had just completed a project which had taken me out of the country for a month and I was landing in Bombay close to around midnight. I got into the taxi with my luggage and after telling the taxi driver in which direction to head, I told him that he will have to first stop at any vada pav stall that would be open on the way. He turned and looked at me and gave me a smile and without any questions, he took me to one. I packed two hot vada pav and relished it in the back seat. I felt happy and content.
A bird’s eye view
I have always liked the view from the top. Be it on top of a hill which gives a beautiful panoramic view of the city or be it on top of the tallest building. The view from the top always gives a different meaning to that place. You see the entire landscape without any bias….
Borders
I have always been fascinated with borders, I mean a border between two countries. In my head, it was always something very dramatic. In my defence, I had heard a lot about Wagah border, the famous border between India and Pakistan which has a ceremony by the security forces which attracts a lot of tourists….
Do you see what I see?
Do you see what I see?… was the caption that came instantly to me, when I saw these three young student monks busy looking at the view through the binoculars. This was in Mandalay, where I had gone on top of a hill to get a panoramic view of the city. It was interesting to watch them…
The mountains are calling…
Something has changed between yesterday and today. Had you asked me yesterday if I was a beach person or a mountain person, I would have said that I am a beach person, without blinking an eye. But today I can hear a strong call, a call from the mountains. I have grown up in a…
The endless road
If you want to fall in love again, then fall in love with the endless road. I can promise you that it will never disappoint you. It will open up a world full of endless possibilities. You will feel delighted and bewildered like an innocent child. You will be surprised by the beauty that is…