In my nine months backpacking across India I have lived on a relatively small budget of between Rs 1,000 – 1,500 per day ($20-$30). Its not insanely cheap for India, but coming from my very comfortable middle class existence in
How India Turned Me Into a Feminist
I have a confession to make, I am a feminist. Nine months travelling through India has turned me into a feminist and this is me coming out of the closet. I have always considered myself to be egalitarian, striving for
Cultural Misfits: Where do I fit in?
I am learning Hindi and have found the experience particularly challenging given the rather diverse cultural history I come from ( something I have discussed a bit previously here). My grandparents were born in India, my parents in East Africa
Guruvayur and Thrissur: How do you prove you are Hindu?
How do you prove what religion you were raised to someone you just met? A Christian can wear a cross, although anyone could do this relatively easily. A Muslim woman can wear a Hijab, but not all do. A Jewish
The Anticipation of Banking in India
One of the fundamentals of living somewhere is the need for a functioning bank account. I should know; I spent four years of my life creating a business helping people migrating to Australia open bank accounts. This business opened accounts
Varanasi: Is there any hope for India?
Distressed. Helpless. Filthy. Nauseous. This is how I felt in Varanasi, one of the holiest and most revered places in India. Wandering along the ghats, I observed the rituals. A man placed a cup in the Ganges, pulled it out
Decoding the Indian man
As a single, hetereosexual woman, its only natural that I spend some time observing the opposite sex as I go through my travels. Whilst I am not looking for a long-term relationship per se, I do enjoy the company of
5 Things India Does Well
Whilst I have moved to India permanently, it has only been two months and I am still a foreigner in this country. For a foreigner India is a land of contradictions, frustrations and challenges. She is also a country that
Is #Shimla leading the way for #India?
Today I arrived in Shimla. Shimla is in Himachal Pradesh. It is an old British hill station, and is now a bustling town. I didn’t quite know what to expect when I landed here. I was hoping for hills, greenery
Raksha Bandhan… My Day
This weekend was Raksha Bandhan. It is a festival where a sister ties a Rakhi (which is like a wristband made from coloured thread and beads), around her brother’s wrist. This is to wish him prosperity. In return, her brother