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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Seoul breathes at a frightening pace. It’s not difficult to lose yourself or your breath, here. Towering slabs of mortar and glass, dominate a jagged skyline, often competing — for a spot of grey. Following a Darwinian model of survival, primitive structures are quick to be razed, to be equally quickly replaced, by monsters of…
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It’s interesting to see how cultures, across the world, mimic one another, in a bid to keep what-should-be-kept-out — outside. Fortress walls have proven to be a common feature of almost every citadel, fort, or palace complex we’ve visited. From the sandstone citadel walls of Rajasthan to the ginormous, ‘Great Wall of China‘; protecting territory,…
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I admire photographers. They’re not very different from magicians, often conjuring illusions of imaginary worlds — blurring the fine lines of reality. And if the camera, was invented a few centuries earlier, it would be interesting to see how would they have fared against thinkers and painters of that time. “One person’s craziness is another…
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It’s been more than a week since the blossoms have faded into oblivion. The weather is slowly and steadily getting warmer. Every once in a while, the weather gods have a little fun at our expense and send in a splash of rain. Back home, we have distinct seasons. When its hot — it will…
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When did our love affair with cherry blossoms begin? I think, it would have to be sometime after visiting Japan — post koyo (autumn leaves). Ever since, we’ve desperately wanted to revisit Japan during sakura (cherry blossoms). Things never really worked out. Oddly enough, we kept dreaming and hoping — without truly believing. And here’s…
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So, what do you’ll eat? Regardless of whom I spoke to, this question found itself appearing by the third line — in every conversation. And I do find that very odd. To tell you the truth, no matter where you travel in the world today, unless you choose to stay away from civilization in a remote…
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The past few months haven’t been easy. Much of the chaos could be accounted to the new changes in our lives. Given a choice, I will try to avoid change and probably run miles away. And this I find it hard to understand. I’m someone who gets bored easily and needs to do something new…
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How do you spend the last few hours in Rome? Should you set on a monument hopping tour, binge on Gelatos, or sit in a cafe and let time slip away? It’s a tough choice. But when the weather is perfect — you might want to let your feet — carry you wherever they might…
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