Like most Indian families in London, when we were growing up, our annual holiday consisted of a day trip to the seaside in a coach. About thirty families descended on Margate or Clacton-on-sea with our homemade curries. That was all we could afford. We really had baaji on the beach. After my first summer job … Continue reading / view photos Remembering my first time in Amsterdam
Category: Travel
India itinerary
When in India, I used an app to track where I went. This was primarily for geotagging my camera photos but it gave me a map showing everywhere I went to and how far I travelled. The total distance was about 12,000km. That’s roughly the equivalent of going from John O’Groats to Land’s End ten … Continue reading India itinerary
Cherry blossom
Cherry blossom trees in Japan, yes, but also in Birmingham 😊
Goodbye India
Paradoxically, I leave India not because I’m tired of travelling but because I could stay in India for a long time! Having started off being afraid of travelling in India, I’ve become comfortable here. Over time, I’ve found a way to move around with relative ease and comfort, whether it’s by air, train, coach, local … Continue reading / view photos Goodbye India
Mumbai airport
If you’re wondering why I’ve posted so many times today, it’s because I have a 9-hour wait between flights! I’ve taken the opportunity to bring posts up to date. For my final day in Mumbai (and India), I walked around looking at the colonial-era and art deco architecture, and finished off in the bustling Crawford … Continue reading / view photos Mumbai airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
The CSMVS, as it’s known, is a museum of the history of India as seen via art, archeology and natural history. It also has exhibits from around the world. It’s a sort of combination between the British Museum and the Natural History Museum in London. My main reason for visiting it was to get some … Continue reading / view photos Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
This curious museum tells the story of India’s people throughout the ages. It animates past lives and living by creating miniature scenes with models, as well as by using more conventional means such as paintings and artefacts from the time. View photos Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
Khotachi Wadi
Khotachi Wadi is a heritage village in Mumbai. I decided to walk around the small, quiet alleyways of this small enclave from the 18th century in Mumbai after I’d seen the new Mumbai of high rises. Children and adults played cricket on the streets, as every day life continued around them. They didn’t seem to … Continue reading / view photos Khotachi Wadi
Golden Temple, Amritsar
It was a highlight to have been at the Golden Temple complex. There was an incredible calm atmosphere there. Helene and I were humbled by the experience of Sikhs happy to open their most holy monument and personal spiritual experience to all. To add to that, Sikh temples (gurdwaras) provide free food to people of … Continue reading / view photos Golden Temple, Amritsar
India Pakistan Border, Wagah, Attari
Every day, at the border post between Attari and Wagah, there’s a ceremony to lower national flags and formally close the border between India and Pakistan for the night. To watch what should be a sombre affair, both sides provide seating. The Indian side has a stadium now, with a new tier being built. As … Continue reading / view photos India Pakistan Border, Wagah, Attari