Ranthambore Tiger Tale
Hoping to Spot a Tiger in Ranthambore Ranthambore National Park. There’s one reason people are here: hope of spotting a tiger in the wild. The park is one of the best spots to do so in India, and its accessibility makes it a popular choice. We were told it is currently home to about 30 […]
Jaipur: A New, Rosy Outlook in the Pink City
Rajasthan Arrival On the road leading to Jaipur we pass fields of bright yellow mustard. Bullock carts are replaced by camel carts. Some camels have intricate designs shaved into their fur, or brightly colored pom poms, streamers or bangles to make them more beautiful than the competition. Occasionally, desert girls peer from draped headscarves, revealing […]
Avoiding Aggravation in Agra
Forewarned and a little nervous, we arrived in Agra by train after dark. Stories of scams, being overcharged and harassed abound: gem scams, fake marble souvenirs, aggressive vendors, unscrupulous drivers who just want to take you to shops, hotels or restaurants where they get a commission. As much as we wanted to see the Taj […]
My Ever Changing Name
After traveling in Asia for the last 9 months I’ve come up with an observation. I’m not sure if I’m the only person who feels this way or if other travelers share my same bit of humor about it. Here it is. In countries that are not native English speaking there is a common rhythm […]
Erotic Khajuraho
The sun sets over the western group of temples casting an orange glow-path on the lake beside them. Night sets in with bats in tight groups darkening the sky as they head out for an evening hunt, followed by a chirping cricket chorus. Fires light the road’s edge and everything seems more calm as tourists […]
Varanasi: Living on the Edge…of the Ganga
Travel engages all five senses, sometimes six, and we experience destinations through all of them. Sight is obvious, but hear a certain drumbeat, and it reminds me of sitting around a campfire in Botswana. Smelling coconut and papaya always brings me back to a Caribbean beach. When I feel sweat running out of every pore, […]
Destination Delhi
Delhi is in your face, unapologetic and unforgiving. Culture shock was immediate, especially coming from shiny, happy Bangkok. Arriving by metro to New Delhi Station, we were still confident we’d easily navigate to the backpacker area and find a cheap hotel. Wrong! Emerging from the station we were hit with a blast of deep-frying street […]