Wayfarer’s Journal

  When I heard this name for the first time, I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams that this could be a beautiful flower species near the Himalayas, that in full bloom in myriad colours and varieties could make anyone mesmerized. This time my trip to the North east was to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in Sikkim with 8 other like minded women who were also on a trekking spree as me. It's quite an offbeat destination and therefore doesn't have a lot of tourist/commercial activities. Barsey shares border with Nepal and is home to an exquisite flora and several endangered species of animals like the elusive Red Panda, Himalayan Brown Bear, Yellow Throated Marten, Musk Deer and lots of birds. It’s a perfect place for those seeking solitude, a connection with nature and some adventure. Spring is a perfect time to visit Sikkim with the clear mountain views and abundant pink blossoms. The next trekking season commences in October and runs up to December. But there won’t be rhodo...

  My balcony gives a bird’s eye view of the playing area in the apartment complex. On a lazy evening as I stood there with a hot cup of tea watching the kids, my eyes hooked at a small girl, of may be 7 years, who was trying to grab the football from the small Messies there. She was quick and could easily dribble past them, manoeuvring it to the goal post. The upset boys immediately made her the goal keeper and nailed her to the post. You could sense her disappointment as the ball seldom reached her, and whenever it did, she displayed a good defense. For sure she may not have a full grasp of inequality in our society, but she already recognized that playing with boys is hard and they treat you as an invisible entity if you challenge their pride in the game!! I hope this makes her more resilient in the years to come. When my boy was back home boasting about his brace and bicycle shots, I asked him about it and saw that it made him a bit uncomfortable and gave me a cold shoulder. He ...

  So it was Leh this time…..as in the last travel, it was with and a wonderful guide and a group of enchanting ladies ….some known others not….actually I had been loaded with work since I landed back from what u can call ‘’Heaven’’ on earth….that’s what I would like to call Leh….. but some of my cousins and friends have been pestering me to pen down something about this trip…..and here we go…. As I called it Heaven on earth I would like to tell u all that, surprisingly, when I shared the pics with others, some said its lovely and some said it looked dry and repeating kind topography…but I would say that the road trip we took on that terrain had been the best I ever had….i think we all have a notion that green appeals the eyes and it’s the best….I can bet that the snow laden barren brown mountains with blue sky in the background and turquoise water bodies in between can be calming and soothing not only to eyes but to the soul as well!! My trip to Ladakh had been much awaited one. Fi...

  Just back after a refreshing, rejuvenating weeklong trip to Bhutan. The highpoint of the trip was that I was travelling alone for the first time, without friends, partner, relatives or anyone I am close to. Having toured alone to many places for official needs where I have always found time to explore the native life, this experience had been tremendously unlike them as I ventured out with strangers!! a bunch of 20 women of varying age groups, whom I had never seen or known before; who would never have crossed my path hadn’t I decided to take this up. A solo travel had been in my mind for a long time, to be precise, sometime after I started taking up small extended week end trips with college buddies, when I shifted to Bangalore. Finally, when I zeroed in the place that I had to visit, I was a bit apprehensive about travelling alone. To be honest, safety was not my concern at all, as I was quite confident that I could keep myself well and sound, but wasn’t sure whether I could ...