Thailand (January, 2003) – After a rather uneventful train ride; the adventure started by negotiating a rickshaw driver to cart us around the historical ruins of Ayutthaya. We roamed from temples to monasteries, and stopped to observe various size and shaped buddhas – including an ancient buddha head enveloped in the roots of a banyan tree. I marvelled at the weathered history; the dilapidated stones and the overgrown trees in the former Siamese capital.

India (December, 2016) – Just before exiting Enchey Monastery, I passed a group of novice monks laughing and leaping about. It took me a few moments to realize I had stumbled upon an intense small pebble battle; opposing sides launching tiny eroded pieces of ancestral under-earth at one another. It finally occurred to me that these mini crimson robed children, were indeed just being kids. I watched for a few minutes before waving and hustling back down the steep incline to meet the motoring vehicle.

Cambodia (December, 2002) – Our boat for hire, deposited us for lunch at a small floating village situated along Tonlé Sap Lake. We scrambled up a series of rather precarious wooden ladders into a well weathered stilted hut. Perched above; we devoured the sounds and the sights of daily life, as animation drifted by.

Madagascar (March, 2010) – The train deposited all passengers in Tolonguina; a remote village in the middle of the cloud forest, for the night. After a brief encounter with the mafia and a quick bite of local stew, we hiked up several kms to a paradise surrounded by clouds. We spent the evening bewildered by the panoramic view, almost impervious to the buzz and bites of elephantine insects vying for tourist blood.

India (May, 2017) – We ventured into Kolkata's Mullick Ghat in search of flowers for rather auspicious occasion. Rambling around between monstrous piles of marigolds, jasmine, lotus flowers and leaves of all shapes and sizes. Curious, I wandered past the market, up towards one of the derelict temples sitting along the ghat in hopes of catching a shot of Howarah bridge. Instead I stumbled upon a rather sweet surprise; enveloped in bright yellow and orange, she sat there cradling her infant.

France (May, 2012) – Paris for me evokes memories of nostalgia; loving memories of childhood adventures, culinary epiphanies, art and history lessons... Liberté, liberté cheri!

India (January, 2017) – The along the shores of Mother Ganga lies a series of ghats. At Babu ghat in Kolkata; one always find a myriad of food and chai vendors, barbers, kushti masseurs and an array of priests with altars. For a few dollars; I started the day feeling blessed.