Navratri is a Hindu festival that means 9 nights and is a celebration of the Goddess Durga as Autumn begins (at least in very simplistic terms). For me growing up in Australia, Navratri was the time of year we gathered
Pictorial Post: Orchha
Orchha is a lovely little town in Madhya Pradesh. It is tiny, with the main drag comprising only a few shops at a cross-road. At one corner of the town is the Betwa river with crystal clear water flowing alongside
Pictorial Post: Gwalior
Gwalior is one of the towns that not many tourists go through. This makes it a fantastic town to visit. It is quiet, the locals all go about their business, not too disturbed by the strange looking woman walking around.
Haridwar: The Reality of a Holy Land
Haridwar is one of the holiest cities in India (for Hindus). It is where Lord Vishnu dropped “Amrit”, holy nectar, and left his footprint on the banks of the Ganges. Millions of pilgrims come here each year to bathe at
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
My own personal yoga ashram
I have been in Rishikesh for 11 days now. For someone who is used to the buzz of backpacking and exploring a new place every few days, 11 days is a long time to stay somewhere, and I still have
Pictorial Post: The Golden Temple of Amritsar
I have seen many temples and monuments in my life from various religious denominations, but none come anywhere near the ethereal beauty of Amritsar’s Golden Temple. This temple hosts upwards of 60,000 people a day, yet still remains a place
Pictorial Post: Dharamsala
Dharamsala is the home place of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet in Exile. It’s a town of contradiction. On one hand it is peaceful and calm. It must be the only place in India where people apologise if
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
Are women really impure in the eyes of god?
In my last post (here) I talked about how the temple is the centre of the community in India. However I have now found myself banned from entering. Yes, banned from the temple….. what terrible faux pas did I make