Sleepless in Tokyo

It’s midnight. All the lights are out. The ones in the office building bang opposite our apartment, in Seoul, are still burning bright. Burning the midnight oil takes a whole new meaning in Asia. My dad would always wonder: what is it that you can achieve in the wee hours of the morning that you…

Read More

The Face behind the Mask

“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.…

Read More

Lost in Exile

We started the day huffing up the steep winding slope. After breakfast, we headed towards Temple Complex. Plastered on the wall opposite, were posters of the Tibetan uprising and the resistance movement. It’s not the best way to start the morning. Disturbing images of tortured or missing Tibetans dominated the posters. Understandably, no effort was spared in hiding the…

Read More

Freedom is not Free

When a significant power chooses to take over another culture; physically as well as geographically, freedom of thought is the first to be lost. Although, our knowledge of the Indian freedom struggle relies heavily on school text books, or stories of the aftermath (partition) that followed or movies; ‘colonialism‘ has never really been a pretty word. I’m glad we’re born after 1947.…

Read More

A Day in the Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is one of the top historic sights to visit in Beijing. It wouldn’t take much – to guess why – Emperors chose it to unwind in its tranquil gardens. After three days of back-to-back walking (including the Great Wall Hike), we decided to slow down the pace and experience a bit of tranquillity…

Read More

People around the World – America

It’s our fifth and final day of the 5-day monochrome photo challenge. We started our theme, ‘People around the World’, from the far east (India) and will end it today in the west(America). A big thank you to L, from seeingthrough35mm, for inviting us to participate in this challenge.  Here are some snippets of Basil’s solo…

Read More

People around the World – Belgium

 Mysterious L, from seeingthrough35mm, invited us to take on a 5-day monochrome photo-challenge. It’s our fourth day and thinking of a post everyday has proven to be quite a challenge. Fortunately, our theme, ‘People around the World’ has kept my interest from waning.    People have always interested us. Especially, those who are content in the mundane. Besides, there…

Read More

People Around the World – Japan

It’s our second day of the 5-day monochrome photo challenge. Continuing with our theme – People around the World, we’re going to re-visit Japan today. Manga, sushi, bamboo groves, and gigantic wooden temples; seriously, what’s there not to love about Japan? Japanese kids are truly adorable. Especially, if you’re doing the green circuit between Nara and Kyoto; there’d be plenty bouncing kids to…

Read More