India (December, 2016) – Often in difficult times; we seek moments of serendipity, we passively search for answers, we actively complicate matters. With the year's end upon us; I sit here trying to sum it up with an image, in a thought, in some sense of meaning... 

A song starts to play; a moment of serenity washes over me, and like a flash Namchi comes to mind. I remember to just Breathe!

India (December, 2016) – The Dhamek Stupa is chronicled as the spot where Buddha gave his first sermon after harvesting enlightenment. We circled around the 28m diameter stone stupa base; engulfed in photo-making, sidelined in finding the Eightfold path leading to nirvana. 

I suspect obtaining samādhi with camera in hand and intrigue in mind, is a life long process.

Türkiye (November, 2019) – A year ago; I was awestruck by multi-level arches in repetition, a magnificent collection of massive glass globed chandeliers, a large domed cupola, Byzantium era frescos and large painted Ottoman Empire script. It never occurred to me that a museum title would be revoked for religious purposes, but back in July the Turkish government reconverted the Aya Sofia from a museum to a space of worship.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – Standing under one of the original cupolas dating back towards the end of the 12th century, my mind kept thinking back to the quote "we may say most aptly that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves".  

My mind's eye fixated in an ultra stimulated state by patterns; mosaic tile, suzani embroidery, ikat fabrics, the simplicity of the domed space in many ways took my breath away. 

Canada (November, 2020) – In a world emerced in a second wave pandemic; back into panic, into lockdown, uncertainty, curb-side pick-ups and minimal social interaction. Back into fragility; into inner thoughts, solitude, into a world of fantasy.

 

India (December, 2016) – As we departed from Manikarnika ghat; a sense of calm and reflection overcame us. Our boat motored away from the haze and melancholy; adapting ourselves for what turned into the grand crusade for jetimas's special paan, if nothing else it was an amusing exploit after a rather serious affair. 

 

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – Amazingly; a year ago my feet were solidly planted in Central Asia, my mind is still racing from sensory overload. 

As the light dwindled down for the day, we sprinted through the last of the beautiful portals. In Samarkand; Mirzo Ulug Beg's architectural legacy is a 15th century madrasa at the monumental Registan square. Described in it's heyday as one of the best universities of the Muslim Orient, and although the lecture halls no longer echo discourse, it still feels like a place of learning.

Madagascar (March, 2010) – As we gathered ourselves, still vibrating from the ensemble of characters we had just met. Whilst back on the our hired barge; our final views remain the lingering troupe who welcomed us the previous day. Blissed out in fantasy; we prepared ourselves onwards floating eastwards down the Tsiribihina for promised viewings of endemic flora and fauna including the enigmatic lemur.

Mexico (October, 2017) – Bewildered in another world semblance of fantasy, we wandered around dazed by delightful encounters. Celebrating Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca is magically memorable, each year the reveries of that brief interlude comes streaming back. I've come to adopt the occasion to reminisce about those long past.

India (December, 2016) –  We spent a few hours driving the desert roads from Jaipur day-tripping to explore a beautiful but bedraggled Indian palace. On our way back from a majestic wander around the empty Mughal era compound, I had the car stop at the side of the road to explore a mirage of white. The carvers, their garments, their tools, the stones, everything in site was blanketed in white dust from the chiseled stone sculptures being born from skilled hands. 

Canada (June, 2019) – On the last Sunday of June a yearly event miraculously appears just outside my front door. My favourite past-time is people watching from my front steps. It's a colourful celebratory feeling as we all unite to appreciate freedom and pride. 

Canada (June, 2019) – With summer's end, it is apparent that the usual summer spectacles will reconvene at a later date. Farewell pandemic summer; summer of uncertainty, summer of hibernation, sunny summer of corona. 

Mexico (November, 2017) – We peregrinated into a the gathering of indigenous tribes, most in full regalia. The ceremony started with traditional smoke blessings and beating drums in honour of the ancestors. As the light dimmed over Plaza de la Danza, the gathering grew thunderous whilst dancing late into the night.  The evening lingered with tunas sorbet to gather my pulsating heart.

Canada (September, 2020) – Immersed in a wonderland of painted projections; animation and sound to match the mood, was a bewitching experience. Given my brief studies of European paintings from my years at art school, many of the painted images were already ingrained in my memory. However standing fixed in the middle of the installation; felt more like standing inside a cinematic version of the post-impressionist paintings themselves. Abracadabra! 

India (January, 2003) – My thoughts wandered between nostalgia and reality, on that particular trip to Kolkata. Still gripped in a rather out of body state; I spent much of my time in quiet contemplation and repose from mesmerizing month, further east on the world map. From the bedroom window, I was often distracted from happenings of the construction next door.

Cambodia (December, 2002) – We hired a tuk-tuk to schlepp us around the temples for the day. Upon arrival at Ankor Thom; our autoist hopped up an elevated banyan root mound to join the posse in serenading the enlightened wayfarers. It was a lively interlude before entering the majestic overgrown ceremonious site.

Canada (September, 2016) – It's that time again; when the winds and light change, when shadows casts intricate dancing patterns. When the hints of winter starts its countdown, a time when normally I start to wanderlust about the next adventure, but this season seems more a reflection on the cityscape around me. Then again who knows, there's a change in the winds... 

 

France (July, 2010) – I spend part of the summer skirting around the country side, exploring luscious gardens, church ruins and old castles. While peregrinating; I found myself down in a dungeons hole, it's usage exclusively obvious by the large arched stone stove and chimney. As I wandered back up towards the exit; a curious little creature stood standing precariously guarded at the top of the stairs.  

England (July, 2013) – We headed to Camden for our last excursion in London before returning to the regular programmed sojourn with the ancestors. The market was swarming; my companion giants, jousted our way through crowds while window-shopping and gormandizing on street eats. It was a nice way to end the rapid;  jam-packed, hazardous foray.

 

Morocco (September, 2014) – There is something exhilarating that happens within, when you finally arrive in a place which had long since held fantastical reveries and wanderlust. It took a few days to find our way through the medina; whirling around the labyrinthine of passageways and obscure corridors, discovering hidden gems. 

 

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – It wasn't until our last few days in Tashkent that we discovered an obscure restaurant where the locals convene. Given our lack of the language, instead of menus the server guided us to the goodies percolating in monstrous size kazans at the entry of the massive food hall. We pointed to the items we wished to try, which seems like the perfect way to try new things. From our vantage point inside the restaurant I admired the setting sun casting light through the shashlik stand outside. Avoiding the thought that our food was being doused with cigarette smoke, instead we revelled in the moment, grateful for months adventure.

Canada (April, 2016) – Often its the seemingly uneventful days that enlighten the sense with surprise interludes in secret places, sometimes its just the way the light dances shadows on the hard city scape.

India (December, 2016) – Leaping about the 17th century city ruins was an imposing amount of wild monkey's bordering both sides of the passageway. Worshippers at Bhangarh Fort offer donations of roti and bananas to the massive refuge of furry rascals. Having no food to share, I had a rather heart thumping scolding from a hangry langur. Our welcome relief came from a curious gatekeeper and cold water in her copper lota. We tempered our nerves for a brief moment before entering the haunted site.

Madagascar (March, 2010) – I wandered through the small factory, watching as the large squad processed tobacco leaves for cigarettes. Milling about the massive horde of freshly dried leaves was the equivalent of the water cooler gang, their offspring playing about with remnants of factory parts and scrap foliage. It was a visible space which included preschool teachings; haphazard chalk doodles evident on the workshop window shutters. 

USA (February, 2018) – We spent part of the afternoon exploring The Broad; wandering between oversized Koons sculptures and whimsical Basquiat's, Lichtenstein's and Warhol's to name a few. The highlight felt like a nanosecond; inside one of the Kusama infinity installations, alone locked in a mirrored box full of string lights. It certainly marvelled the senses. After our curious carousal, I hopped across the street to admire one of Gehry's architectural wonders.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – It was our last evening and it felt like a pending fear of missing out loomed over us as we doubled back through the Itchan Kala. Our rather friendly carpet merchant drove us back to our hotel through an unexplored gate, the raging vehicle rumbling over cobblestone. Almost miraculously a series of rather long standing (some bits no longer standing) Sufi tombs appeared, embedded into the fortified walls surrounding the original 5th century fortress city. 

India (December, 2016) – After lunch we were invited into the family compound; as I sauntered around surveying the scenery, I discovered the matriarch feeding her youngest. Unaware my companions had left to circle around the fields and loiter around with the neighbours. It became evident; I was the only one she felt comfortable enough with to share in her nurturing glory.

India (May, 2017) – We had meandered around Baboo Ghat a number of times; eventually becoming familiar with the kushti masseurs holding court under the bridge. Being female I was unable to arrange a massage for myself, but unbeknownst to my cousin we set him up for an oiled up acrobatic adventure.

Madagascar (March, 2010) – Seeing that we were on the first train in weeks, it was clear the natural jungle had begun reclaiming the tracks and passageway of the FCE – Jungle Express. It was a breathtakingly thrilling sight; as we passed deeper and deeper into the wilds of Madagascar. Visions of majestic scenery; rolling rocks, jagged cliffs, waterfalls and a number of hillside villages (Ampitambe and further east into Ranomena). 

Türkiye (November, 2019) – The light cascading through the windows add to the magical sensations one feels inside the Aya Sophia. Up on the second level I paraded around from one end to the other; struck by the little details.

India (December 2016) – I met my cousin at Kalighat, we rambled around through the temple grounds offering respect for the ancestors. The evenings delight was our puchka stall marathon-hop; we sampled from several stalls, before hitting a sweet shop on our evening walk around town.

Cambodia (December, 2002) – We loaded ourselves into a hollowed out log, that had some semblance of a canoe. Unable to speak with the captain we floated quietly, while he navigated the mangroves of Tonle Sap lake. At some point our captain started to sing a tune; which I instantly recognized from my grandmother, it occurred to me he might speak some French. Naturally he spent the rest of the mangroves tour, giving us names of fauna and flora in my mother tongue, I relayed what I could to the rest of the contingent.

India (March, 1998) – After the hectic chaos of Agra, I found myself in Khajuraho. I spent a few days kicking in the back of a rickshaw; roving around to the various temple ruins. The highlight of the foray was my encounter with a fossilized specimen wearing bottleneck glasses and an notorious ability for divination.

Morocco (September, 2014) – Roaming the medina; one shares the cobblestone passageways with a multitude of merchants hawking life's staples: food, pottery, apparel, carpets. Within the confines of the walled city cars are prohibited entry; and as such all goods are transported by carts, most hauled by lively beasts.

Morocco (September, 2014) – Marrakech offered a surreal culinary experience; we spent the week indulging on amazing fresh fruits and unusual spices, lots of tajines, several pastilla, and an evening of gluttonous shashlik. My only disappointment was my own expectation due to a childhood Disney fantasy; Baloo's melodic lyrics describing the bare necessity of life. Prickly Pears while intoxicatingly beautiful, failed to deliver on taste.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – We walked past a rather intriguing facade several times, but failed to realize the magic inside. After several days and building curiosity, we finally found ourselves inside the Gilamar Carpet Museum. While the aging structure showed signs of generational restoration; as we looked up towards the cupola, evidence of the former mosque was apparent. While I have a rather profound love of carpets, I was drawn to the reinvented geometry adorning the ceiling.

India (December 2016) – I had the privilege of celebrating the right of passage for a "youngster into manhood". Brahmin men go through a ceremony for which they enter into priesthood permitting them to perform socio-religious rituals; including prayers, weddings, birth and death rites. We gathered together for both the religious declarations and to party late into the night.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – We drove through the desert of Karakalpakstan; from Muynak to Nukus. We saw a number of monumental sites including Chilpyk Kala, a 2200 year-old Zoroastrian Tower of Silence. While no longer in use as burial tomb, the site had a interesting feeling about it. I climbed up the rocky outcrop alone to find a 14 year old boy drawing in baking sun. Using pantomime and his notebook, he described the architecture of the structure we were standing on.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – Security is abundant at Registan square; each portal has a uniform guard or two. We hurried around as the light diminished, cascading light reflection on the exterior facade. Our last evening in Samarkand; we engaged in a little side hustle and gained late passage into the historical site. It was a lovely starry night.

India (December, 2016) – On our last day in Varanasi, we went for a walk along the ghats for our last gaze at the auspicious activity happening in and around mother ganga. We could hear the music from around the bend; instead of finding a musician, we discovered a snake charmer and his collection of cobras.

India (May, 2017) – It was super hot and sticky, but the family piled into the car and drove to meet a boat. For several hours under the scorching sun we drifted around the mangroves of the Sundarbunds in search of flora and fauna; deers, monkey's, alligators and course the bengal tiger. It was more of a fantasy; most of the squad spent the afternoon sleeping in shaded spots. Likely due to the fevered temperatures the animal sightings were sparse, the tigers far more elusive.

India (December, 2016) – Meandering through archaeological ruins of Sarnat was a welcome relief after several days in Varanasi. The gardens surrounding the Dharmek stupa imparted expressions of philosophy, theology, anthropology and a little romance.

Madagascar (March, 2010) – We arranged our itinerary to be in Amabalavao to experience the pandemonium of the Thursday Zebu market. Despite being immersed in chaotic exchange of cattle, merchants and veterinary injections - the visual bliss of Amabalavao is surrounding view of majestic skies and mountains.

India (December, 2016) – After climbing up the curious and complicated path to upper levels of the majestic Hawa Mahal, we took a few moments of repose while waiting to mount the maximal minaret for an orbital view of the city beyond the palace grounds.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – After inadvertently crashing a film set and taking selfies with al-Biruni, we motored along to Mir-I-Arab Madrasa. Fragments of its nostalgic past, evident in the 16th century architecture, we were not the ones who appreciated the ambience.

Madagascar (March, 2010) – I woke early, watching daybreak from my tent. But the sounds emanating from Berevo a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, called me to wander. As I walked between the houses and harvest; I gathered a following of shy but rather curious children, most of whom had never seen a female tourist. It was a mutual novelty, which I have yet to forget.

India (December 2016) – We drove the winding mountain roads up to Changu Lake, it was a harrowing drive through crumbling mountain roads. At an altitude of over 12,000 ft. the sacred lake is perched down in the valley between mountains peaks. We wandered around the lake by foot and again on-top a yak. Who knew that a yak could provide a more serene ride, than a 4 wheel vehicle?

India (February, 1998) – Being mobile at 5:00AM in Kolkata: illustrates an entirely different city. Calm and quiet, void of traffic and overall hullabaloo; we all shuffled into a rather decrepit bus. Packed like sardines, in our best attire we headed to one of several train stations in the city. Surrounded by family, I hopped the train to catch a wedding.

India (December, 2016) – High in the mountains; surrounded by panoramas of the Kanchenjunga, my only focus when arriving at the Lingdum Gompa was observing the ritual practices. The youngest disciples leaping, crimson robes fluttering about with the mountain winds.

Uzbekistan (November, 2019) – Roaming around the Registan in Samarkand, felt a little intimidating. Tiles in repetition, duplication – creating rhythmic, dynamic shapes. Dancing, whirling images in the minds eye. It overwhelmed the senses; it required a repeat visit.