Varanasi: Beyond words
“Older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.†That is how…
The Oldest City: Varanasi
A cold, pre-dawn train – the Doon Express – carries us from Gaya to the Cantonment Station in Varanasi, where we steel ourselves for…
Sunrise in Bodhgaya
On the last two mornings of our meditation retreat, Tay and I broke the rules and met each other at 6:00 a.m. on the…
Traveling Mindfully: Root Institute, Bodhgaya
The name of the course is “Yoga and Meditation: Journey to Awareness,” and it is exactly what we were looking for, but did not…
While my sitar gently weeps
I never did get to hear Sarmishtha play her sitar.
Map: Darjeeling to Delhi
Since we orginally opted for a domestic flight from Delhi to Calcutta (back in August), our current westbound journey by rail and bus completes…
Rick Steves Belize Interview Available Online
I learned that my radio interview with Rick Steves is available for download (click on “Belize”) while sitting in the Om Restaurant in Bodhgaya,…
More Swastika Peace Symbols
I’ve already explained the significance of the swastika in Buddhist and Hindu culture, and, during my four months in India, I’ve continued to see…
“Think Smart. Travel Slow.”
That’s the motto of Planeta.com, the Global Journal of Practical Ecotourism. This superb site is an astounding treasure chest of practical information for exploring…
Tuning Out and Tuning In: The Root Institute for Wisdom Culture
The last Buddhist teaching I received was in Kalimpong, in the tiny “Road to Lhasa” eatery, whose Tibetan owner, Ola, espoused the Buddha’s teachings…