Monthly Archives: February 2007

  2500 years ago, the newly enlightened Siddhartha Gautama met up with a few of his ascetic friends who were shocked that he had given up self-denial as a means to transcend the human experience. Ascetism had been an unquestioned … Continue reading →

Every time I think I’ve seen enough of India, someplace or something comes along that reminds me why I like this country. It is full of surprises. I went to Varanasi in a very blase’ mood, counting the days till … Continue reading →

I’ve had a couple of miserable travel days in the last week, but they have been worth it. A 12 hour combination train and two bus rides got me from Bhopal to Khajuharo. Khajuharo was the capital of an Indian … Continue reading →

After killing hundreds of thousands in conquering Kalinga in the 3rd century BC, Emporor Ashoka foresook violence, embraced Buddhism, and built many temples. The grandest complex was at Sanchi. There are a couple of intact stupas, which are just monuments … Continue reading →

I took the 32 hour train, two nights and one day, to Bhopal because I wanted to go to Sanchi, where there is temple complex built by the first great king of much of India, Ashoka, in the 3rd-2nd centuries … Continue reading →

   I went through Tranjavur (Tanjure) and Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) on my way to Madurai. There are nice temples in those places, and it broke up what would have been another grueling all day government bus ride. Also, I caught a … Continue reading →

 I could eat a horse, but alas Pondicherry is not Paris. I didn’t see horse on any of the menus. But they do have quite good western food. The coq au vin at Rendesvous was good, along with the mashed … Continue reading →

Most people come to the Andamans to go to Havelock Island. That’s tourist central, such as it is. There are about, I’d say, 200 tourists there, mostly stretched out along a main, one lane blacktop road on the east side of … Continue reading →