A few years back, on women’s day, we boarded a plane to the Northeast of India. Deep down, I was happy, to escape the fuss that comes with the day. I’m not always good with keeping my thoughts in check and days like these are like old wounds. Midair, 30,000 ft above what was happening…
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The Lotus Lantern Festival (Buddha’s Birth Anniversary) is one of the most important festivals in Seoul. Streets are lined with gleaming lanterns, jubilation fills the air, and under the spotlight — performers emerge under the masks of ordinary people. This year, the buildup to the Lotus Lantern Festival, coincided with many other celebrations and commemorative…
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Urban development and green cover, often, have to compete with each other, in Seoul city. Although, hiking mountains might not top everyone’s weekend list; it’s always possible to find a patch of green, to take in fresh air and let the whir of city life — take a back seat. Abandoned railway tracks make for…
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“God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.” William Shakespeare Every time, I look around me, I find myself drowning under a sea of masks. Each, hiding more than it can reveal. Each, trying it’s best imitation of the one next to it. We’re taught to wear masks at an early age.…
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Summer brings in a new phase of festivities in Seoul and the rest of the country. From tea tasting at Boseong Green Tea Festival to elaborate reenactments of royal life; there’s a lot take in. It’s probably, a good time for tourists to visit with the weather being moderately warm; never mind an occasional shower.…
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Most of Seoul’s sidewalks are dwarfed by towering high rises. Fortunately, there still remain few spots in the city — dominated by red brick walls or painted graffiti. Not visible in plain sight, searching for these hidden gems, often involves climbing steep, curving alleys. While some of these might be listed as tourist hot spots, there…
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“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” Carl Sagan “If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.“ George Carlin Are we alone? Lost in this wide gaping hole of darkness — some might call the…
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On a warm Sunday afternoon, there were few tourists queuing to see Jongmyo Shrine. Entry was allowed on the condition: you must join a guided tour group. It was mildly annoying, especially, after a half day hike along the fortress wall at Bugaksan and a walk in Gwangjang Market. The tour (in the afternoon) was…
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Exactly six months back, we visited Dharamshala — the heart of Tibetan Buddhism. I wanted to clear my head, try meditation, and hopefully, end my extended sabbatical from writing. I, secretly, wondered if this could be ‘the mountain town‘ — we’re always talking about? Maybe, I could stay back and finally cut all the background…
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“It is impossible to escape the impression that people commonly use false standards of measurement — that they seek power, success and wealth for themselves and admire them in others, and that they underestimate what is of true value in life.” Sigmund Freud I don’t have any idols. Soon enough — they will let…
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