Stories
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Scaling a rock to see another rock
It provides a cost advantage that is hard to resist. It is tougher to scale. And offers you a spectacular 360° view of the surroundings down below and further afield. If you haven’t scaled Pidurangala Rock, then let this be your motivation to do so the next time you visit Sri Lanka. The views of the countryside from the top of Pidurangala Around 46km from Kandy is a town that that has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Besides being among the best examples of ancient urban planning, it also has a rock towering at close to 200m called Sigiriya Rock Fortress, or Lion’s Rock. One of…
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One of those days
Tired of walking around? Had an overdose of culture? Need a break on a break? When traveling, there are some days when you’d rather not do anything. That’s when you should head to the nearest bar or restaurant, preferably with fantastic views. Enjoy views with a laos beer. Once you’ve found your spot, sit back, settle down, raise your legs, and soak in the atmosphere. As minutes turn to hours, you’ll see families untying their boats anchored to another, starting the motor, and gently heading into the sunset. Or a haze of smoke slowly descent down and envelopes the river and hills in the background. Envelop yourself with the sights…
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In praise of train travel
What’s it about long-distance train journeys that brings out the little child in me. A sense of happiness each time I take my seat, listening to the train as it whistles past towns and the countryside. Hurtling through tunnels or racing with the setting sun. There is something that is magical and wonderful about train travel, letting me be the little kid that I always will be. Whizzing through a tunnel between Mostar and Sarajevo Hours spent watching from a window or door of a moving train, as scene after scene unfold. Striking up conversations with complete strangers as they get in at different stations, heading to places near and…
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Reflections
Perhaps people watching is a glorified lack of activity. Boredom too. And an absolute invasion of privacy. But… I’d like to think that each time I travel, I’m looking at things and people while going from place to place. Nothing wrong with those who look. But the simple joys of sitting in a cafe, sipping on your favorite chilled beverage in the afternoon, and watching the world go by. It’s a different state of being and am not sure if that chilled beverage has anything to do with it. Reflections on a sunny, relaxed afternoon, somewhere in Riga. One sunny afternoon in Riga Latvia, having had enough of walking on…
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People watching
“I know what boys like I know what guys want I know what boys like I’ve got what boys like” The Waitresses On a wet evening, a few summers ago, a brief shower had me scampering for shelter on one of the streets in Downtown Manhattan. Once safely protected from the elements, it gave me ample time to soak in the atmosphere and do what I like to do – people watch. As people scurried to wherever they had to get to, there was this one guy who liked what he saw. As he went by her, he turned around one more time. Just confirming. I guess. Like this…
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Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder
When you’re traveling to a new place, there’s as much sightseeing you want to do in a day. At some point, you’d give those tired legs of yours a break and park yourself somewhere. It has its perks, believe me. Yup, discovering and savoring the local brew is one of those perks and joys of traveling. Chilled or at room temperature. In a mug or straight from the bottle. At a roadside joint, a local pub, or an outdoor café… it doesn’t matter. It’s a chance to mingle with the crowd and do as they do. Sit back, stretch those weary legs, watch as life goes by, and appreciate what…
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Go against the flow
There’s always one amongst us all. The one who does the exact opposite of what’s expected. The backbencher. The loner. The rebel. The one who breaks the rules because they’re meant to be broken. The one who veers to the left and thinks it’s right while everybody else is wrong because they are right. Right. There’s one amongst us all. And there’s a bit of that person in all of us. Right, Happy Hour, I say. Cheers to all! Like this post or want to read it later? Pin me.
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The extra passenger
Like this fella taking a free ride, standing on the back bumper of a taxi heading into Shillong. The driver didn’t seem to mind unless he wasn’t aware of his presence. Nor were the passengers concerned. There’s something universal about traveling like this, getting from place to place, without actually paying for your trip. Am sure we’ve all done it at least once. Sometime. Somewhere. Surely. 😉 Like this post or want to read it later? Pin me.
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Conversations by the canal
There’s nothing more enjoyable than having a conversation with a good friend or two, however banal the topic may be. Never mind the hordes of wide-eyed tourists, like myself, sailing by in gondolas, clicking snaps like this, so we can post them on social media later. 😇 Like this post or want to read it later? Pin me.
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And then, there are days…
Days when you don’t necessarily want to talk, you still crave company. Days when it’s okay to sit around, doing nothing. Days when spending an hour with each other is more satisfying than just whiling away a few hours. Those are days. Like this post or want to read it later? Pin me.
