Category Archives: Moving on….

Audio Journey of a Neo Pilgrim

Posted on August 20, 2013 by subincontinentia

Click on the photo…

Posted in Kashi, Rose Apple Island | Tagged audio, Benares, Bodhgaya, Inda, journal, pilgrimage, radio, River Ganges, sound, travel, Varanasi | Leave a comment

Funeral crasher

Posted on March 30, 2013 by subincontinentia

“Do you have a camera?” The question–barked more than asked –came from a lanky young man in an Orioles baseball cap and a tee-shirt with the words ‘Hot Lover’ splashed across the front. I’d been aimlessly wandering the back streets … Continue reading →

Posted in epoche, Kashi | Tagged cremation ghats, female traveler, funeral, funeral ghats, India, journal travel writing, kashi, saddhu, solo traveler, travel, Varanasi | Leave a comment

A touch of the Irish

Posted on March 19, 2013 by subincontinentia

“May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out.” Irish saying I don’t like Guinness and have a healthy fear of leprechauns, but nevertheless I joined the 29th St. Patrick’s Day Parade … Continue reading →

Posted in epoche, Moving on.... | Tagged Birmingham, Guinness, humour, Ireland, Irish, journal, parade, St. Patrick's Day, travel | Leave a comment

The touching

Posted on January 7, 2013 by subincontinentia

Sunil and I wander down to his boat and sit on the undulating water, watching the day unfurl. A man descends the ghat steps, a small monkey grins at us from his shoulder. Sunil notices where my interest is going. … Continue reading →

Posted in Kashi, Moving on...., Rose Apple Island | Tagged adventure, Asia, burning ghats, cremation, Dom, ghat, India, journal, kashi, Meer Ghat, monkey, River Ganges, travel, travel writing, untouchable, Varanasi, writing | Leave a comment

Tales from the time mandala

Posted on January 6, 2013 by subincontinentia

The ghats of Varanasi are the arms of the Ganges, supporting the devout as they wash away their sins or burn the bodies of those past sinning. Of all these sets of stone steps that lead to the water’s edge, … Continue reading →

Posted in Kashi, Moving on...., Rose Apple Island | Tagged adventure, Asia, Ganges river, ghat, Hindu, Hinduism, India, journal, kashi, mandala, Meer Ghat, mystery, time, travel, travel writing, Varanasi | 1 Comment

Rakesh and the seventh stone

Posted on December 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

‘In the arms of Mother Ganga, To sleep the sleep of the stainless once more.’ Rakesh grew weary of fishing for customers, his line coming up empty each time. It was getting dark now, and the lights along the ghats … Continue reading →

Posted in Kashi, Moving on.... | Tagged adventure, Asia, cobra, fable, fairytale, fiction, Ganges, India, kashi, magical realism, myth, short story, spirituality, story, travel, Varanasi | 4 Comments

Fire on the water, Christmas on the Ganga

Posted on December 28, 2012 by subincontinentia

Rakesh found some tape from somewhere, and we set about decorating the boat. We hung coloured streamers and strings of marigolds from wire stretched across bamboo poles, finished off with a pink and silver paper star. Huddled in our coats … Continue reading →

Posted in Kashi, Rose Apple Island | Tagged adventure, Asia, boatride, budget, Christmas, female traveler, Ganges, India, journal, solo traveler, travel, Varanasi | Leave a comment

Double-sided drum

Posted on November 21, 2012 by subincontinentia

This morning my bicycle rickshaw passed a goat dressed in a turquoise sweater. “Perfectly natural,” said Alice, “since it is rather chilly.” These days, a damp, bone-chilling fog fills Bodhgaya in the early hours, burns off for a few hours … Continue reading →

Posted in Moving on...., Rose Apple Island | Tagged Asia, Bihar, Bodhgaya, Buddhist, budget, humour, India, Mahabodhi, monks, Monlam, pilgrimage, spirituality, temple, Tibetan Buddhism, travel | Leave a comment

The same son

Posted on November 19, 2012 by subincontinentia

It’s not easy to find out how someone died in India. You invariably receive the most meager explanation. Sometimes simply a body part. “Stomach,” or “Heart” or “Liver.” So, when I asked Sunil how Rakesh’s father died, he didn’t feel … Continue reading →

Posted in Kashi, Rose Apple Island | Tagged adventure, Asia, Brahmin, budget, burning ghats, death, funeral, Ganges, Hinduism, India, journal, kashi, ritual, spirituality, tourist, travel, Varanasi | 4 Comments

The bucket bath….millions do it, so can you!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by subincontinentia

A LESSON FOR NON-INDIANS IN 20 EASY STEPS. YOU WILL NEED: 1 ten litre plastic bucket at 225 INR (or 300 depending on whether you or your Indian friend buys it) 1 plastic jug at 50 INR (or 100 depending … Continue reading →

Posted in Moving on...., Rose Apple Island | Tagged adventure, Asia, bucket bath, budget, humour, India, travel | 2 Comments