In India, a sadhu is a man who chooses to renounce himself from society in order to follow a spiritual path that will allow him to eventually become free from the cycle of death and rebirth. This sadhu will have already achieved kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives) and dharma (duty). However, he must first achieve Read More…
India
Medical Tourism, Stem Cells and U.S. Policy
More than a year ago, I wrote about having visited my friend, Amy, in Delhi while she was there receiving stem cell treatment for a long-misdiagnosed case of Lyme disease. Amy writes about her recovery in extensive detail at Healthcarehacks. By the time I saw her, Amy had already been receiving treatment for just over Read More…
Photo of the Day: Woman with Henna, India
In India, brides have henna applied to their hands and feet prior to being married. Henna is a sort of temporary tattoo that lasts just a few weeks. It’s painstakingly applied and can be a lucrative business for a talented henna artist. In a country where jobs are hard to find, and even more difficult Read More…
Varanasi Video
I’ve been playing around with iMovie for, oh, about 11 months now. I had taken some video while I was in India in early 2008 and also in Bhutan. Finally, utilizing a little downtime over the holidays, I put together this little montage of Varanasi. This is in preparation for the India tour that I’m Read More…
Photo of the Day: Varanasi Saris
I was working on a short video (coming soon…) on Varanasi and in doing so I was looking for some photos of the area. I came across this one and thought it would be the perfect start for 2009 for DeliciousBaby’s Photo Friday. This photo is of saris that are being left out to dry Read More…
Traveling to India – 5 Tips for What to Wear
(Looking for a tour to India? Join a women-only tour to either North India or South India with Wanderlust and Lipstick.) I regularly get asked for my suggestions on what to wear in India. GREAT question gals! Despite the revealing clothes worn by Bollywood hotties like Aishwarya Rai, India is a socially conservative country. As Read More…
Tips for Enjoying Delhi
After an amazingly relaxing week in Varakala (a little TOO relaxing, I might add), I shot back up to Delhi via a JetLite flight. I was a bit concerned about an airline that calls itself “lite”, but, despite the fact that it departed a couple of hours late, I found it to be quite comfortable. Read More…
Reality Travel – Solo in India
OK – so I wrote the Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo. I didn’t say solo travel is always easy – as I was reminded part way through my India journey. I had been in Varkala for just a day. I wasn’t feeling well though I had checked myself into a reasonably comfortable hotel Read More…
Darjeeling
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 outstanding tea and view Read More…
Varanasi & the Ganga: Photos
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 on the river, waiting for the day’s tourists. Happy Travels!