INDIA | Monday, 15 Aug 2016 | Views [709]
Long before we actually reach Chennai settlements have become more tightly knit until forming a town, which somehow becomes a city scarcely separated by the airport. It seems inconceivable that there is space for runways and terminal buildings, but suddenly ... Read more >
Tags: airport hotel, ashok tree, celebrations, chennai, cookery classes, food, sunbathing
INDIA | Friday, 12 Aug 2016 | Views [746]
It's only about 110kms to Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry) but as most of the road from Tiruvannamalai is not highway, it takes around three hours. From the main Chennai road, the toll national highway is a pleasure. I muse whether NH66 could ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, bay of bengal, churches, colonialism, french, pondicherry, pondy, puducherry, tamil
INDIA | Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016 | Views [625]
One evening not long after we arrived we ventured out for a stroll down the road. We hadn't got very far when we were invited to a nearby house. A light day bed frame was hastily produced and we were invited to sit outside and converse with the women ... Read more >
Tags: ashrams, ayurvedic massage, cave, enlightenment road, hammocks, shiva, vibhuti, womens handicrafts, yoga
INDIA | Sunday, 7 Aug 2016 | Views [643]
On the days we don't go out, we spend time with the children, teaching a little as well as playing. There is always something going on. The builders have finished the fourth classroom and the toilets are almost complete, amongst several other projects ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, beauty, charity, friends, henna, kindness, tamil, teaching
INDIA | Friday, 5 Aug 2016 | Views [934]
The time has come to step outside of what feels comfortable. Life in the retreat is a very sanitised version of what lies outside, but we're pretty comfortable with that. However, We came to see India and are not going to do that unless we get the local ... Read more >
Tags: ashrams, cow dung, initiation, masala chai, retreat, shopping, templesl
INDIA | Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016 | Views [686]
It's business as usual today following the festivities of yesterday's holiday. School is back in session, and so are the full complement of builders, site workers and the labourers in the adjoining fields berhind us.
Breakfast consists of ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, india, school, sita devi school, teaching abroad, tiruvannamalai, yoga
INDIA | Tuesday, 2 Aug 2016 | Views [702]
It is already hot and humid by the time we are welcomed into the thoughtfully designed grounds of The Ashok Tree shortly after 9.30am. Looking round the circular layout to our left we see the small school with three operational classrooms at present, ... Read more >
Tags: ashok tree, food, india, medicine garden, retreat, school, yoga
INDIA | Tuesday, 2 Aug 2016 | Photo Gallery
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INDIA | Monday, 1 Aug 2016 | Views [817]
The drive from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai (Tiru) takes about three hours which passes in a hazy state of excitement, jet lag and sensory-overload. Tamil Nadu province is full of vivid colours, abject poverty, beautiful green countryside, piles of rotting ... Read more >
Tags: culture shock, first impressionsi, india, tamil nadu, tiruvannamalai
INDIA | Monday, 1 Aug 2016 | Photo Gallery
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INDIA | Sunday, 31 Jul 2016 | Views [734]
I haven't always wanted to go to India and I'm not even sure when I first thought that I did. I think the real desire probably started when I decided not to include it in my 2013 itinerary, both due to cost and that it is never somewhere I relished ... Read more >
Tags: india, tamil nadu
UNITED KINGDOM | Monday, 18 Jul 2016 | Views [645]
I read somewhere that there is a rivalry between the islands of Guernsey and Jersey. The former being home to ‘old money’, while the latter to the ‘new money’. It would be impossible to make a judgement on this during our short ... Read more >
Tags: alderney, bicycles, channel islands, corbiere, jersey, lighthouse, pearls, petit trein, sailing
UNITED KINGDOM | Sunday, 17 Jul 2016 | Views [598]
A wistful sigh escapes as I gaze at photos of sunny islands and sparkling blue seas. The Sailing Meet-up group has my full attention and it’s not long before I have joined, and signed up for a week-long sailing trip to, and around The Channel ... Read more >
Tags: alderney, bavaria sy, channel islands, guernsey, herm, jersey, rough sea, sailing
UNITED KINGDOM | Sunday, 17 Jul 2016 | Photo Gallery
A sailing trip to, and around, The Channel Islands
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UNITED KINGDOM | Saturday, 16 Jul 2016 | Views [628]
I have read many blogs about adventures on the road in far flung destinations, but remarkably few about what comes next. The coming home. With 360 days of travel now one year behind me, I thought it time to reflect on my experience of how travelling ... Read more >
Tags: benefits of travelling, direction, life changing, masters degree, mentors, starting again, tesol, travel bug
MOROCCO | Monday, 10 Mar 2014 | Photo Gallery
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MOROCCO | Monday, 10 Mar 2014 | Views [2301]
Technically my one year of travelling is up, however since the original 360 days of adventure was reduced to 348 days, I feel justified that, after an 8 week hiatus back in a damp and grey England, the time has come to complete the original mission.... Read more >
Tags: arabic, architecture, marrakech, medina, souks, spices, tagines
UNITED KINGDOM | Tuesday, 21 Jan 2014 | Views [1029] | Comments [2]
I'm trying to remember that person who set out to follow her dream over fifty weeks ago. The one who decided that if you were not happy with your life, it made sense to do something about it by getting rid of unwanted encumbrances and make a fresh ... Read more >
Tags: backpacking, blogs, career break, gap year, travelling, useful items
THAILAND | Friday, 10 Jan 2014 | Views [1758]
Six months ago I arrived in Bangkok to a culture for which I had no yardstick, no previous point of reference and for which I was unprepared. Arriving in The Land of Smiles to find none, and in fact finding more a feeling of hostility towards 'just another ... Read more >
Tags: backpacking, bali, cambodia, healing, journey, penang, singapore, thailand, travelling, vietnam
KENYA | Monday, 6 Jan 2014 | Views [1024]
After months of hot, humid weather, the evening and early morning chill of Nairobi is quite a surprise. Sitting on the terrace of my friend's home in the suburb of Langata, I have had to find an extra top to keep warm. The morning sun is steadily climbing ... Read more >
Tags: conservation, gameparks, holiday, insecurity, kenya, nairobi, safari, stunning beaches, westgate, wildlife
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