Moving Continents

Dear Diary, I’ve consciously let you rest a while this last year. Most of my life between your pages has been my ruminations on travel, with a short detour through my attempt at sustainability and its intersection with travel and home. Needless to say, there has been nothing on these fronts in this once-in-a-lifetime (I…

The New Normal?

What do you say about travel at a time like this? There’s nothing appropriate to say, is there? There’s a lot to say about home, though. Only, I don’t know where to start. Maybe I’ll start with how both travel and home are slowly merging into different ideas these last three years? In 2017, I…

A Month Of Memories In U.S.A.

Third stop on the sabbatical: United States Of America A people and places pilgrimage O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? – THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, USA NATIONAL ANTHEM I didn’t know what to expect from this trip, I really didn’t. All…

Ola Espana!

Second stop on the sabbatical: Spain Soon after we got married, B and decided that our fifth anniversary should be celebrated someplace nice, keeping the exact place open to evolving tastes and interests. As we hit that milestone last year, we unanimously picked Europe, and almost unanimously chose southern Spain. The architectural and cultural clash…

Chocolates, Cheese and Cities in Switzerland

First stop on the sabbatical: Switzerland Have you ever heard of a trip to Switzerland without visiting the Alps? Well, welcome to one! Europe to me has always meant history and art ensconced deceptively in either a sleepy old village or a glitzy world city, and the towering Alps that cuts across eight countries. I’ve…

Of Transitions And Travel

Five years ago, I took my first two month sabbatical when I moved countries, jobs and phase of life all at the same time. It felt luscious, light and liberating. I was looking forward more than looking back, optimistic more than pessimistic, excited more than nervous. Ah, youth. In the five years since, I’ve grown…

A Different Kind Of Journey

I think I can finally say it out loud here, my travel tastes are changing.  We’re mid-way into a four day long weekend and all I did was look forward to try out cycling in town, host family and do a few things together with B now that he’s finally home a bit from his…

The Kase Of The Kyoto Konfusion

Ok, I have finally met my match in misplaced expectations. Maybe it was because of very last minute prep for this trip, or maybe it is finally a spotlight on how my travel tastes are changing, I know not. But Kyoto left me very, very konfused.  Every since I heard of a Japanese temple town…

Relax, Reflect, Revive – Phuket

“Wonder how these stars look like right now”, B said, as he gazed up at the night sky. It startled me like nothing had in a while. “You’re right”, I agreed. Nothing is really as it seems, I thought. We were sprawled out on an empty rooftop bar, perfect psychedelic music thumping softly from a…

Two Years in Singapore

Be a tourist in your own life. Note your private landmarks, your important historical sights, your favourite spots. -  Found in Gretchen Rubin’s “Moments Of Happiness” It’s been two years in Singapore today! What an interesting time it has been. For once, not in terms of the place and the travel and the externalities, like…