A few days back, from our porch on the second floor, Nina drew my attention to the scattered bright red specks that had suddenly appeared at places among the lush green foliage, along the far end of the perimeter of our garden in Vientiane. Till…
It was our last morning in Vientiane, before we moved on to a new continent (Africa), after a break in India. We were flying out that evening. One of the most beautiful places in the world with wonderful people to match, Laos boasts of a…
It was early in the morning. I pulled Minnie and Nina out of bed and took them to the organic market in the shadows of the ancient That Luang stupa. The morning was bright, sparkling, crisp and cool. The bi-weekly morning market (Saturdays and Wednesdays)…
Given the agro-climatic conditions in Laos – i.e. temperature, humidity, abundant sunshine and fertile soil, everything in this land grows in profusion. Everywhere you look it is green, with every possible shade of the colour visible to the discerning eye. Even within the urban landscape…
Last week I went to Northern Laos – to the remote mountainous Sayabouri Province to see our work. I flew to Luang Prabang (the ancient capital of Laos and now a UNESCO heritage site) and from there took the four-hour mountain road journey, made particularly…
Luang Prabang, Laos The ancient capital of Laos – Luang Prabang is situated towards the north of the country. The region, like Sayabouri that I described in detail an earlier post is mountainous, with the Mekong and its numerous tributaries meandering along the mountains, deep…
In October 2012, I was in India for a couple of weeks on my annual leave. The dramatic events that unfolded over this period and spanning two continents is what I shall relate in a series of write-up. Part I: Mind over matter – from…
Shantiniketan, West Bengal 21st – 27th January 2012 My eight year old daughter Madhura (Minnie) and I spent the first phase of our very exclusive and exciting Father-Daughter holiday in India, at Shantiniketan. We flew to Kolkata from Vientiane, (via Bangkok) late in the night…
Foot lose and at large in India My eight year old daughter Madhura (Minnie) and I spent fifteen days traversing India on our very exclusive and exciting Father-Daughter holiday. It was a no holds barred trip – we ate where we wanted and what we…
Trip to the Golconda Fort, Hyderabad: December 2011 Minnie and I had an amazing tour of the Golconda fort on the 31st of December as a part of our exclusive Father – Daughter trip of India. It was a cool, crisp winter day, with an…
