I was fortunate to have arrived in Kerala just days before Amma, the hugging mother known for her seemingly limitless ability to hug anyone who’s willing to wait in line, left her ashram for an India and then world tour.
While I don’t consider myself a …
After the frenetic pace of Calcutta and the unusual pollution I experienced in Darjeeling, I was ecstatic to arrive in warm, clean, breezy, fresh-aired Varkala in the southern state of Kerala.
I realized that I had been moving quite quickly during the first half of my trip, with just a couple …
Though half of my time in Calcutta was spent at the Camera Hospital and catching up on sleep, I was able to take a rather long walk through a part of the city that was quite fascinating. It included the Howrah Bridge (at 700m long, it’s regarded as the world’s …
A shocking title, I know.
But this is what has been in the news nearly every day since I arrived in India.
It started with a gang “molestation” (the Indian term for groping and fondling) that happened to a couple of women outside of an upscale Mumbai hotel on New Year’s Day. …
After departing Darjeeling, I headed down to Calcutta for what I had hoped to be a couple of days of culinary experimentation. I had heard that the city is famous for its food - “the Paris of India” was how one friend put it.
In a strange confluence of bad luck …
I’m used to living in the shadow of an invisible mountain. Mount Rainier looms 90 miles from my home in Seattle and it’s more often than not clouded over, hidden from view as I peer out the picture windows of our living room.
When I came to Darjeeling, famous for its …
Baba - the self-proclaimed Holy Man is supposedly in the Guinness Book of Records for his length of hair tucked under his turban.
Saris lay out to dry along the Ganga.
A vendor’s boat sits …
From the relative quiet of Sarnath, I ventured on to Varanasi which sits along the Ganga River (Ganges). I shared an autorickshaw ride with two gals from Switzerland, Rachel and Simone, for the 30 minute ride. The three of us (!) sat in the two seater rickshaw, each of us …
What was a peaceful village on December 31st, turned into a streetfair on New Year’s Day in Sarnath.
Having (miraculously) discovered an internet cafe that has a speedy connection AND Photoshop, I took the opportunity to resize photos so that I could easily upload them to my blogs (otherwise, they take …
I’ve always known that one of the best parts of travel is meeting the locals. With the explosive growth of the internet, this has never been easier for travelers. I spent much of October traveling around the Pacific Northwest and West Coast on my book tour staying with hosts willing …
For Women Traveling to India
The definite guide for any WanderGal traveling to the subcontinent.
The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo
As seen in USA Today, Budget Travel Magazine, travelgirl Magazine, The Boston Globe and more. Read reviews...
