every sunday as the sun comes up into the sky the sellers make their way to the intersection of roads that forms the haat, the bazaar. huge blue plastic bags and large gunny sacks are brought in on strong and able shoulders, seasoned with the passage of time and roughened by the weight of life. there are over-stuffed auto rickshaws and arguing van drivers to be dealt … Continue reading have you been to a village haat / bazaar / market?
This is Amruta. I met her more than three years ago while traveling across Maharashtra on a project for Getoff Ur Ass. I had spoken to her over the phone and she sounded welcoming, but I had no clue how she would be in person. I shouldn’t have even wondered! I got down from the State Transport Bus in a strange small town, took an autorickshaw to her house and … Continue reading #100womenproject – meet amruta
My latest article that was posted on Lonely Planet India’s website today. Check it out, and let me know what you think! The original link — It’s Navroz, let’s PARSI! August 18 is Parsi New Year and while the Parsis are celebrating with prayers and festivities, let us celebrate this wonderful community. Let’s get a little bit of ‘Parsi’ in each of us. Walk by a Parsi … Continue reading it’s navroz, let’s PARSI!
Coming your way are travel suggestions for LONG holiday weekends! 2014 has been a good year as far as long weekends go – of course, depending on the days your office choses as its 10 holidays of the year (since that’s how it works in India). August has two long weekends, one is from 15th – 17th and the other from 29th – 31st. The second one is only … Continue reading THIS is YOUR next holiday!
A farm 200 kms from Mumbai, built on land bought 23 years ago, in a tiny village that even State transport buses (at times) don’t pass by, that has more than 20 varieties of bananas and many other fruits, and two dogs and many more passing by! This is an experience that takes you back to the basics, and makes no pretensions about it. Situated … Continue reading hide-out, jhadpoli, maharastra – your home in a farmstay
august, 2009 – rural andhra pradesh near kurnool. it was a rural research study in andhra pradesh to understand awareness, malnutrition and the lives of village girls. the study meant it had to be conducted in a village off a town, X kms inside from the highway and many other criteria! having gotten through all of these obstacles, after traveling 2 hours from the nearby town of … Continue reading the girl in rural andhra pradesh
This is the age of smartphones, Instagram and constantly reporting where you are! The battery of a smartphone won’t last a day of your normal life at home, when you travel IT GETS EVEN WORSE! When I travel on work I am constantly documenting where I am and what I am seeing – that is what I do as a job, and the few occasions when I’ve … Continue reading Make your smartphone battery last longer while travelling!
I love solo travel, it has its ups! What I also think is that when you find that ideal travel partner, then solo travelling can be rather boring and sometimes actually lonely – despite the new experiences. At the end of the day, all I want is that other person to share it all with! This time it wasn’t just about travelling alone, but rather about working in … Continue reading your nails, my story
i walk by, wondering, thinking, wondering… approach, almost touch, peep into the holes on the sides, get shocked by the garbage, step back, almost touch again, step back. [hmmm] what are these two iron drums i say to myself? not wanting to leave, i wait there. maybe it’ll strike me? before minutes turn into hours, a man walks up to them. he looks, smiles knowingly, then … Continue reading Iron drums at Kochi beach front
yesterday we traversed through fort kochi but today let me zip you away to nagpur. if you want a continuous story.. errr… wrong place. i am fickle in all kinds of ways. and today i feel like telling you about this brilliant place we ‘discovered’ in nagpur. yeah, i can see you shaking your head at the word ‘discovered’. it is such an over-used and hazar-abused … Continue reading nagpur – the breakfast story
merry to go around 