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travelogue – that aching gap – south India
I couldn’t stop grinning. The terrain strange, wild, beautiful. Giant granite boulders heaped inexplicably among green plantations and meandering rivers. … For the complete travelogue & photos jump...
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travelogue – Gandhi – India
Gandhi’s “Village of Service” ashram is in Sevagram, the very heart of India. We were greeted warmly by Rambhau. Smiling, he handed us the daily schedule … For the complete travelogue & photos jump...
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travelogue – Vinoba – India
“I am a man who belongs to another world than this, one that may seem very strange. For I claim that I am moved by love. That I feel it all the time.” – Vinoba Bhave Who is this crank? Naipaul called...
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travelogue – the story of my experiments with truth – India
… “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” is Gandhi’s autobiography. A tale simply told. Gandhi was a normal boy, a little rebellious. He stole money, smoked, ate meat — then repented, submitting a...
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travelogue – there is no God and mccharles is Her prophet – India
Nehru called India “a madhouse of religions”. “Spiritual tourists” like me are certain we will discover secrets here in a country where we can’t even find the train station. This is the land of saints...
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travelogue – some concerns – India
From Subject: McCharles I beg your forgiveness if I am overstepping my slight acquaintanceship with your Mr. McCharles, but having just scanned his most recent email from India, I’m somewhat disturbed....
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travelogue – India Cheap and Best!
A puffed-up poet named Charles March Blackride wrote to challenge the “comprehensivity of my India reportage”, and my sanity. He may have a point. A couple of weeks Quit, the bubbling vat of my India...
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photos – Jain festival, India
BBC is my favourite photo site. Check their excellent 3-minute audio slideshow of an Indian religious festival held only every 12 years. The world’s tallest monolith statue is annointed with tumeric,...
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book – Scream And Run Naked
The perfect book for Rick McCharles? An author friend strongly recommended Scream And Run Naked – Lessons from a Neurotic’s Journey to Nepal by Alison Arnold. It’s on the top of my “to read” list.
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best picture – Slumdog Millionaire
Of all movie recommendations for 2008, the first I downloaded was Slumdog Millionaire. From Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting …, comes the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the...
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Rishikesh Adventure Sports
For centuries a Holy city, Rishikesh, India is today branding itself as an outdoor Adventure Sports centre. Especially for white water rafting. The Ganges here offers medium to rough rapids rated class...
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arriving Kathmandu Oct 30th
Flight is booked. My 5th visit, this time I’m going to stay in the World Heritage site of Bhaktapur outside of the city. Trying to avoid the KathmanFlu this time. Goal is the new Manaslu Circuit trek....
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visiting Mussoorie
Tourist town on a ridge. Mussoorie: … This hill station, situated in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, is also known as the Queen of the Hills. … Being at an average altitude of 1,880...
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worshipping monkeys
Hanuman is a Hindu deity, who was an ardent devotee of Rama according to the Hindu legends. He is a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and its various versions. … Hanuman participated in...
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train out of Dehradun, India
My train ticket wallah delivered my ticket to the hotel. It’s complicated to purchase a train ticket yourself in India. Delivery fee $1.60. I caught the 5:10am Shatabdi 2nd Class non-AC Dehradun to...
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Bhaktapur is wonderful
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a 55-window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of...
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India hates tourists
You still need a visa in ADVANCE to visit India. Getting one is a pain. I spent hours in a Kafkaesque office in Calgary, trying to get the paperwork right. WHEN is India going to improve the process...
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The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga
Not great, despite prizes and rave reviews. The White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the 40th Man Booker Prize in the same year. The...
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India STILL hates tourists
I’m in Nepal. Visa on arrival. No hassles. Nepal loves tourists. India still requires a visa in advance for Canadians, a stupid and time consuming process from the days of the Raj. Though...
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