Tamil Nadu has some of the most well worshipped `Hindu temples in India. I am not visiting all of the famous ones, but will visit the best. First up we are heading to Thanjavur to see the Brihadishwara Temple. The landscape is lovely – Tamil Nadu is a lush farmscape of rice farms and luminous […]
Inspiring Devotion in India (5) – Chola temples, Gopurams, Pondicherry and Mahabs Read More »
Meandering around Mysore The journey to Mysore was not an easy one. There is a direct train from Hospet (near Hampi) to Mysore, but it sold out four months ago (or at least tickets in any class I wanted to sit in had sold out four months ago). So I ended up taking a night
Increasing the spice levels in India (4) – Mysore, Madurai and the Chettinadu Read More »
On the long road to Hampi My next target for the trip was to get down to Hampi from Aurangabad. By road it was a mere 620 km, but even google suggested it was a 13 hour drive, 2-3 hours more driving time if you detoured at the 5 good sites on the way.
Indulging in India (3) – Hampi, Bijapur, Aihole, Pattadakal Read More »
Stopping over in Sanchi Stupa Driving in rural India is a sensory assault. Every driver and rider has their hand on the horn about 70% of the time. Every cow has priority on the road (including large herds of sleeping ones), and it also is sensible to avoid hitting the dogs, monkeys, and bullocks as they
Inching around India (2) – Sanchi, Bhopal and the Ellora and Ajanta caves Read More »
It has been 27 years since I backpacked around the mighty democracy of India. It was my first foray into the third world and while it was tough as hell (food poisoning, groping, filthy hotels, corrupt officials, crazy road accidents and witnessing horrendous poverty) it was also mind bendingly fantastic. India kickstarted my enduring desire
Idling in India (1) – Bodhgaya, Varanasi, Khajuraho Read More »
This is the second part of the blog on the Upper Mustang Trek….., Stages 1 through 4 are covered in the previous post. Mooching around Lo Manthang town Wandering around Lo Manthang is divine. There are no cars, a few motorbikes, a lot of cows and some very friendly locals. There are more shops
More mooching in the Upper Mustang (Part 2) – Lo Manthang back to Muktinath Read More »
I haven’t hiked in Nepal for over 20 years, so it was high time I went back. The Mustang is a special part of Nepal, a high desert with a Tibetan history. It was restricted to tourists until the 1990s, and even now you have to pay a permit for a minimum of two people
Meandering around the Upper Mustang – (1) Kagbeni to Lo Manthang Read More »
Steph and I had a lovely pre covid tradition of trying to increase his country count by having a monthly date weekend in a new European country. Our favourite visits were those where we could experience the dual culinary delights of a Michelin starred dinner of local cuisine AND an exceptional hot dog van. (Highlights
Date weekend in Krakow Read More »
Enjoying hiking is all about weather, planning and flexibility. On Monday when I checked the forecast for my Thursday hiking trip to the Picos de Europa in Northern Spain, I was surprised to find a forecast for minus 5 temperatures and snow. Um, no thanks. I cancelled my flights (got a voucher), cancelled my fully
Cross country in Crete Read More »
I was well overdue a visit to the Dolomites, and a friend and I attempted to do most of the Alta Via 1 over four days (although my buddy has a proper job so had to bail on me for the last day and a half). Day 1 – Lago di Braies to Rifugio Fanes
Fastpacking the Alta Via Read More »