Travel

We were at a housewarming party. Standing with me was a Dutch lady, a French gentleman, an American lady and our British host for the evening. 
Our Brit friend has been making the most of his time here, going out into the city, meeting new people, celebrating the festivals and generally having a good time. He seems to take everything in his stride, and not get into the ponderous nitty-gritties of what happened and why. Probably a good attitude to have when oceans apart from home in a country radically different to your own. He was telling us about the Ram lila celebrations he witnessed during Dussehra and how the cops let him into the VIP arena without a pass because he was a foreigner. It had been an experience he wouldn't forget.
At this point the Dutch lady took off about Indians, and how bad her experience has been here, how everyone says one thing and does another, how everyone oggles at her, language is a problem, everyone is so inefficient, and you get the picture. She put her hand into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone, saying 'Does this happen to you when you order pizza?' The text message she showed me read 'Hello mam. I took yr ordr. How r u njoying? Will u like 2 spk?' Domino's seemed to be changing their service style. I told her this had never happened to me or anyone I knew, but she wasn't really listening. She was already narrating other harrowing incidents to the American lady, who by this time was rather tipsy, and started telling me not to have children for another 5 years. I don't think she absorbed (or cared for) the full magnitude of Dutch angst that was being vented. The Frenchman happily offered everyone wine every ten minutes, and contributed to the discussion in delightful French-accented expletives and admiring gasps that ze pizzah man try thees.
Looking around I realized that one's experience of travel really is so closely intertwined with one's personality. No matter where you go or what you do, if you're wired a certain way your experience is bound to be affected by it. There are some who come to India willing to immerse themselves fully into the madness and chaos of it, letting the good experiences stay with them and the bad ones fade away such that later when they recall them it is with humour. There are others who vow never to return to this land of crazies. Either way, I imagine India to be as much of a shock to the senses as Europe is to mine. I cannot judge - we are everything the Dutch lady said. But, there is so much more to the country that someone like her will never grasp, that our friend the Brit will enjoy and laugh about and take back to England. 
How we travel - it says so much more about us than we think.

The Travelling Gin Co.

Sometimes people surprise you with their ideas. Sometimes they surprise you with how easy and fun they make those ideas look. Sometimes you feel a little (or a lot) envious that you didn't think of it. Perhaps like me, you wish you had more access to said idea. 

Meet Edward Godden and Joseph Lewis who established The Travelling Gin Co. in 2011.

The whole premise of the company is that it's a portable bar for gin cocktails set up in a bicycle.

They can handle small and large orders, and fit in 'the smallest and largest of spaces'.

Best of all, if you see them in the street, you could just ask them to make you a G&T.

Can you imagine seeing this parked ahead of you? Joy!

This is how they roll.

So clever. Definitely calls for a  . . . wait, is that beer they're drinking?

So look out for a bicycle with a black banner next time you're in London. Those lucky English.

She Drove Horrendously, She Cried, She Conquered

Sometimes when you talk the talk, life makes you walk the talk too. I’d been talking about trying to be more compassionate, trying to see the other point of view, but nothing made me test my theory like this morning.
On my way to work, as I took a turn, a car came and banged into mine from the back. It was a lady trying to beat me to the turn. I heard a loud thump and a sickening scrape of metal. The lady driving looked at me blankly and then sped off ahead. Enraged, and not in the mood to be spending money un-denting my car (again), I took off after her. She knew what I was doing because she was trying everything to dodge me.
After much negotiating of traffic and surly expressions, I finally caught up with her at a red light. Jumping out of my car I ran up to her window, all set to make her pay for her bad driving skills. She rolled down the window with the same blank expression, and then proceeded to act like she had no idea about what had happened. Had she hit my car? Really? But when?
I wasn’t buying it. I told her everything that was wrong with her driving, and was in the middle of explaining how difficult it is to keep getting my car fixed when she started crying. Big, loud, teary crying. The traffic started moving around us. I wanted to hurry things up, but the way in which she was howling made me feel bad. Maybe she was a new driver? Maybe she was going through a bad patch? Crap. Why did she start crying? I decided that I would try and be more compassionate, and just let it go. I told her to be more careful, and that I didn’t want any money. I just wanted her to be more aware of the other cars on the road. She nodded, and apologized.
I got back into my car and drove to work, feeling very sorry for myself. Upon reaching, the first thing I did was check the damage. No dent or scratch. Nothing? I looked again. Not a scratch. I guess the powers-that-be were encouraging my efforts at being a better person. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

5 Podcasts You Need to Hear

Want to know how to make traffic more fun? Listen to a great podcast. Here are five of my favourites. There are so many incredible ones out there, and on so many different themes, that there's definitely something for everyone. These five are a great introduction to the podcast world which, by the way, is seriously addictive.

Other People with Brad Listi is a podcast hosted by Brad Listi, the founder of The Nervous Breakdown, an online culture and literary magazine. He brings on interesting guests from the literary world and talks to them about pretty much everything. It’s a good show for anyone interested in books or hearing famous writers talk about their work and lives. The latest episode features Cheryl Strayed.

Hosted by Kurt Anderson, this award winning show is a guide to what’s hip and happening in the world of arts and culture. Featuring artists, movie stars, writers, dancers, anyone who’s making the news, this podcast always has intelligent conversation and something to give. This week’s show focuses on Comic Con 2012.

The JV Club is hosted by Janet Varney, a comedienne and writer who brings on exciting, intersting women to talk about their teenage years and what their lives were like growing up. This is a relatively new podcast on The Nerdist, but I’ve loved every episode. The first guest on this show was Christina Hendricks!

The Crush is the perfect show if you like knowing all things wine, but hate the pretentiousness. Hosted by lovely and extremely knowledgeable ladies Whitney and Christina, this is one of my favourite podcasts because it’s informative while remaining chatty and fresh.

The Joy the Baker Podcast is a silly, funny and irreverant look at the crazy lives and foodie loves of two very popular food bloggers, Joy Wilson and Tracy Benjamin. This is a great podcast if you feel like listening to something that will cheer you up and take your mind off things. 

Happy listening and have a great drive home today. Here comes the weekend!

Hong Kong on My Mind

Hong Kong is such a breathtaking city. It's a mix of cultures and people, traditional Chinese homes and magnificent skyscrapers, the beautiful architectural skyline against blue water and green hills, Peking duck pancakes and tofu burgers. You can have the typical city-holiday here, or even a deeper, quieter, more introspective one. The energy draws you in and leaves you feeling revived. I rarely want to go back to the same place twice, but with Hong Kong, despite having been there a couple of times I'll still always look forward to my 'next trip'.

Someone recently asked me to list what they should do on a short trip to the island, and I thought these were fun options, in no particular order. In case you're headed there this summer (lucky you) perhaps this will be helpful.

Victoria Peak

Take the historical peak tram up to Victoria peak, the highest point in Hong Kong. It has stunning views and the journey itself makes up for the pricey ticket.

http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/home.asp

Stanley Market 

This is a higher end flea-market with clothes, art, bags etc.

It's great fun to walk around. There are lots of nice cafes and a boardwalk. You can dog-watch here.

http://www.hk-stanley-market.com/

Lan Kwai Fong and Soho

For boutique stores and tons of restaurants, bars.

Great place for lunch/dinner out. LKF is also known for its nightlife, clubs etc. Crazytown.

China Tee Club

Old-world, colonial style lunch place. Must go for a meal. Thoroughly charming.

http://www.chinateeclub.com.hk/

Shanghai Tang

Right next door to China Tee Club. Gorgeous flagship store, with Chinese influenced clothes. Just the store is worth a visit!

http://www.shanghaitang.com/

Luk Yu Tea House

Best dim sum in Hong Kong - one of the oldest and most popular places for dim sum.

Must get there early as the 'regulars' take up all the tables . . . and they don't leave very fast either.

http://www.bigwhiteguy.com/baskets/ttd/lukyu.php

Temple Street Night Market/Ladies Market

Junky stuff and fake designer things etc. Lots of haggling skills needed. There are some nice things too, but you have to look very carefully. 

Po Lin Monastery on Lan Tau Island

The tallest statue of Buddha in the world and a very pretty, peaceful monastery. You need to get to Lan Tau island by ferry, which is also a fun excercise and very accessible.

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/outlying-giant-buddha.html

High Tea at the Peninsula

Elaborate, 'iconic' high tea in one of the oldest hotels in Hong Kong. Their cabs are still Rolls Royces!

http://www.peninsula.com/Hong_Kong/en/Dining/default.aspx#/Hong_Kong/en/Dining/The_Lobby/

Pacific Mall and IFC Mall

Hugs malls, lots of shopping. IFC mall's rooftop very popular for eating out.

http://www.pacificplace.com.hk/en/
http://www.ifc.com.hk/en/mall/movie.jsp

Chartering a Traditional Duk-Ling

Take a ride on an old junk (boat) at the harbour, which starts journey at the public pier or central pier 9.

Brunch at The Press Room

The who's who joint for brunch. Very understated and hip. Incredible food.

http://www.thepressroom.com.hk/

Symphony of Lights Show

Happens every evening near at Victoria Harbour, free for all. Very nice.

http://www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/

Architecture Walk of Hong Kong

Really worth it if you're into buildings and design etc. Discover why so many buildings lack a 13th floor.

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/things-to-do/images/architecture-walk.pdf

Bon voyage!

Paths Are Made by Walking

Nipun Mehta, founder of ServiceSpace, was 2012's Baccalaureate speaker at the University of Pennsylvania. His speech was met with standing ovation. I found it most inspiring, and can safely say that it's worth 15 minutes of your day.


Thank you to my distinguished friends, President Amy Gutmann, Provost Vincent Price and Rev. Charles Howard for inviting me to share a few reflections on this joyous occasion. It is an honor and privilege to
congratulate you - UPenn’s class of 2012.Right now each one of you is sitting on the runway of life primed for take off. You are some of the world's most gifted, elite, and driven college graduates – and you are
undeniably ready to fly. So what I’m about to say next may sound a bit crazy. I want to urge you, not to fly, but to – walk. Four years ago, you walked into this marvelous laboratory of higher learning. Today, heads held high, you walk to receive your diplomas. Tomorrow, you will walk into a world of infinite possibilities. But walking, in our high-speed world, has unfortunately fallen out of favor. The word “pedestrian” itself is used to describe something ordinary and commonplace. Yet, walking with intention has deep roots. Australia's aboriginal youth go on walkabouts as a rite of passage; Native American tribes conduct vision quests in the wilderness; in Europe, for centuries, people have walked the Camino de Santiago, which spans the breadth of Spain. Such pilgrims place one foot firmly in front of the other, to fall in step with the rhythms of the universe and the cadence of their own hearts. Back in 2005, six months into our marriage, my wife and I decided to “step it up” ourselves and go on a walking pilgrimage. At the peak of our efforts with Service Space, we wondered if we had the capacity to put aside our worldly success and seek higher truths. Have you ever thought of something and then just known that it had to happen? It was one of those things. So we sold all our major belongings, and bought a one-way ticket to India. Our plan was to head to Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram, since he had always been an inspiration to us, and then walk South. Between the two of us, we budgeted a dollar a day, mostly for incidentals - which meant that for our survival we had to depend utterly on the kindness of strangers. We ate whatever food was offered and slept wherever place was offered. Now, I do have to say, such ideas come with a warning: do not try this at home, because your partner might not exactly welcome this kind of honeymoon. For us, this walk was a pilgrimage - and our goal was simply to be in a space larger than our egos, and to allow that compassion to guide us in unscripted acts of service along the way. Stripped entirely of our comfort zone and accustomed identities, could we still “keep it real”? That was our challenge.We ended up walking 1000 kilometers over three months. In that period, we encountered the very best and the very worst of human nature -  not just in others, but also within ourselves. Soon after we ended the pilgrimage, my uncle casually popped the million dollar question at the dinner table: "So, Nipun, what did you learn from this walk?" I didn't know where to begin. But quite spontaneously, an acronym W-A-L-K came to mind, which encompassed the key lessons we had learned, and continue to relearn, even to this day. As you start the next phase of your journey, I want to share those nuggets with the hope that it might illuminate your path in some small way too.


The 'W' in WALK stands for 'Witness'
When you walk, you quite literally see more. Your field of vision is nearly 180 degrees, compared to 40 degrees when you’re traveling at 62mph. Higher speeds smudge our peripheral vision, whereas walking
actually broadens your canvas and dramatically shifts the objects of your attention. For instance, on our pilgrimage, we would notice the sunrise everyday, and how, at sunset, the birds would congregate for a
little party of their own. Instead of adding Facebook friends online, we were actually making friends in person, often over a cup of hot chai. Life around us came alive in a new way.A walking pace is the speed of community. Where high speeds facilitate separation, a slower pace gifts us an opportunity to commune. As we traversed rural India at the speed of a couple of miles per hour, it became clear how much we could learn simply by bearing witness to the villagers' way of life. Their entire mental model is different - the multiplication of wants is replaced by the basic fulfillment of human needs.When you are no longer preoccupied with asking for more and more stuff; then you just take what is given and give what is taken. Life is simple again. A farmer explained it to us this way: "You cannot make the clouds rain more, you cannot make the sun shine less. They are just nature's gifts - take it or leave it." When the things around you are seen as gifts, they are no longer a means to an end; they are the means and the end. And thus, a cow-herder will tend to his animals with the compassion of a father, a village woman will wait 3 hours for a delayed bus without a trace of anger, a child will spend countless hours fascinated by stars in the galaxy, and finding his place in the vast cosmos. So with today's modernized tools at your ready disposal, don’t let yourself zoom obliviously from point A to point B on the highways of life; try walking the back roads of the world, where you will witness a profoundly inextricable connection with all living things.


The 'A' in WALK stands for 'Accept'
When walking in this way, you place yourself in the palm of the universe, and face its realities head on. We walked at the peak of summer, in merciless temperatures hovering above 120 degrees. Sometimes we were hungry, exhausted and even frustrated. Our bodies ached for just that extra drink of water, a few more moments in the shade, or just that little spark of human kindness. Many times we received that extra bit, and our hearts would overflow with gratitude. But sometimes we were abruptly refused, and we had to cultivate the capacity to accept the gifts hidden in even the most challenging of moments.I remember one such day, when we approached a rest house along a barren highway. As heavy trucks whizzed past, we saw a sign,
announcing that guests were hosted at no charge. “Ah, our lucky day,” we thought in delight. I stepped inside eagerly. The man behind the desk looked up and asked sharply, “Are you here to see the temple?” A
simple yes from my lips would have instantly granted us a full meal and a room for the night. But it wouldn't have been the truth. So instead, I said, “Well, technically, no sir. We’re on a walking pilgrimage to become better people. But we would be glad to visit the temple.” Rather abruptly, he retorted: “Um, sorry, we can’t host you.” Something about his curt arrogance triggered a slew of negative emotions. I wanted to make a snide remark in return and slam the door on my way out. Instead, I held my raging ego in check. In that state
of physical and mental exhaustion, it felt like a Herculean task - but through the inner turmoil a voice surfaced within, telling me to accept the reality of this moment.There was a quiet metamorphosis in me. I humbly let go of my defenses, accepted my fate that day, and turned to leave without a murmur. Perhaps the man behind the counter sensed this shift in me, because he yelled out just then, “So what exactly are you doing again?” After my brief explanation he said, “Look, I can’t feed you or host you, because rules are rules. But
there are restrooms out in the back. You could sleep outside the male restroom and your wife can sleep outside the female restroom.” Though he was being kind, his offer felt like salt in my wounds. We had no
choice but to accept.That day we fasted and that night, we slept by the bathrooms. A small lie could’ve bought us an upgrade, but that would've been no pilgrimage. As I went to sleep with a wall separating
me from my wife, I had this beautiful, unbidden vision of a couple climbing to the top of a mountain from two different sides. Midway through this difficult ascent, as the man contemplated giving up, a small sparrow flew by with this counsel, “Don’t quit now, friend. Your wife is eager to see you at the top.” He kept climbing. A few days later, when the wife found herself on the brink of quitting, the little sparrow showed up with the same message. Step by step, their love sustained their journey all the way to the mountaintop. Visited by the timely grace of this vision, I shed a few grateful tears - and this story became a touchstone not only in our relationship, but many other noble friendships as well.So I encourage you to cultivate equanimity and accept whatever life tosses into your laps - when you do that, you will be blessed with the insight of an inner transformation that is yours to keep for all of time.


The 'L' in WALK stands for 'Love'
The more we learned from nature, and built a kind of inner resilience to external circumstances, the more we fell into our natural state - which was to be loving. In our dominant paradigm, Hollywood has insidiously co-opted the word, but the love I’m talking about here is the kind of love that only knows one thing - to give with no strings attached. Purely. Selflessly. Most of us believe that to give, we first need to have something to give. The trouble with that is, that when we are taking stock of what we have, we almost always make
accounting errors. Oscar Wilde once quipped, “Nowadays, people know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.” We have forgotten how to value things without a price tag. Hence, when we get to our
most abundant gifts -  like attention, insight, compassion - we confuse their worth because they’re, well, priceless.On our walking pilgrimage, we noticed that those who had the least were most readily equipped to honor the priceless. In urban cities, the people we encountered began with an unspoken wariness: “Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?” In the countryside, on the other hand, villagers almost always met us with an open-hearted curiosity launching straight in with: “Hey buddy, you don’t look local. What’s your story?” In the villages, your worth wasn't assessed by your business card, professional network or your salary. That innate simplicity allowed them to love life and cherish all its connections. Extremely poor villagers, who couldn’t even afford their own meals, would often borrow food from their neighbors to feed us. When we tried to refuse, they would simply explain: “To us, the guest is God. This is our offering to the divine in you that connects us to each other.” Now, how could one refuse that? Street vendors often gifted us vegetables; in a very touching moment, an arm-less fruit seller once insisted on giving us a slice of watermelon. Everyone, no matter how old, would be overjoyed to give us directions, even when they weren't fully sure of them. And I still remember the woman who generously gave us water when we were extremely thirsty - only to later discover that she had to walk 10 kilometers at 4AM to get that one bucket of water. These people knew how to give, not because they had a lot, but because they knew how to love life. They didn't need any credit or assurance that you would ever return to pay them back. Rather, they just trusted in the pay-it-forward circle of giving.When you come alive in this way, you'll realize that true generosity doesn’t start when you have some thing to give, but rather when there’s nothing in you that’s trying to take. So I hope that you will make all your precious moments an expression of loving life.


And lastly, the 'K' in WALK stands for 'Know Thyself'
Sages have long informed us that when we serve others unconditionally, we shift from the me-to-the-we and connect more deeply with the other. That matrix of inter-connections allows for a profound quality of mental quietude. Like a still lake undisturbed by waves or ripples, we are then able to see clearly into who we are and how we can live in deep harmony with the environment around us.When one foot walks, the other rests. Doing and being have to be in balance.Our rational mind wants to rightfully ensure progress, but our intuitive mind also needs space for the emergent, unknown and unplanned to arise. Doing is certainly important, but when we aren't aware of our internal ecosystem, we get so vested in our plans and actions, that we don't notice the buildup of mental residue. Over time, that unconscious internal noise starts polluting our motivations, our ethics and our spirit. And so, it is critical to still the mind. A melody, after all, can only be created with the silence in between the notes.As we walked - witnessed, accepted, loved - our vision of the world indeed grew clearer. That clarity, paradoxically enough, blurred our previous distinctions between me versus we, inner transformation versus external impact, and selfishness versus selflessness. They were inextricably connected. When a poor farmer gave me a tomato as a parting gift, with tears rolling down his eyes, was I receiving or giving? When sat for hours in silent meditation, was the benefit solely mine or would it ripple out into the world? When I lifted the haystack off an old man's head and carried it for a kilometer, was I serving him or serving myself? Which is to say, don't just go through life - grow through life. It will be easy and tempting for you to arrive at reflexive answers - but make it a point, instead, to acknowledge mystery and welcome rich questions ... questions that nudge you towards a greater understanding of this world and your place in it.That’s W-A-L-K. And today, at this momentous milestone of your life, you came in walking and you will go out walking. As you walk on into a world that is increasingly aiming to move beyond the speed of thought, I hope you will each remember the importance of traveling at the speed of thoughtfulness. I hope that you will take time to witness our magnificent interconnections. That you will accept the beautiful gifts of life even when they aren't pretty, that you will practice loving selflessly and strive to know your deepest nature.
I want to close with a story about my great grandfather. He was a man of little wealth who still managed to give every single day of his life. Each morning, he had a ritual of going on a walk - and as he walked, he diligently fed the ant hills along his path with small pinches of wheat flour. Now that is an act of micro generosity so small that it might seem utterly negligible, in the grand scheme of the universe. How does it matter? It matters in that it changed him inside. And my great grandfather's goodness shaped the worldview of my grandparents who in turn influenced that of their children - my parents. Today those ants and the ant hills are gone, but my great grandpa’s spirit is very much embedded in all my actions and their future ripples. It is precisely these small, often invisible, acts of inner transformation that mold the stuff of our being, and bend the arc of our shared destiny. On your walk, today and always, I wish you the eyes to see the anthills and the heart to feed them with joy. May you be blessed. Change yourself, change the world.

Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace.org (formerly CharityFocus), an incubator of projects that works at the intersection of volunteerism, technology and gift-economy. What started as an experiment with four friends in the Silicon Valley has now grown to an global ecosystem of over 350,000 members that has delivered millions of dollars in service for free. Nipun has received many awards, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the President's Volunteer Service Award and Wavy Gravy's Humanitarian award. He is routinely invited to share his message of "giftivism" to wide ranging audiences, from inner city youth in Memphis to academics in London to international dignitaries at the United Nations. He serves on the advisory boards of the Seva Foundation, the Dalai Lama Foundation, and Greater Good Science Center.
In January 2005, Nipun and Guri, his wife of six months, put everything aside to embark on an open-ended, unscripted walking pilgrimage in India, to "use our hands to do random acts of kindness, our heads to profile inspiring people, and our hearts to cultivate truth." Living on a dollar a day, eating wherever food was offered, sleeping wherever a flat surface was found, the couple walked 1000 kilometers before ending up at a retreat center, where they meditated for three months. Today, both Nipun and Guri live in Berkeley and stay rooted in a practice of small acts of service. The journey continues. Nipun's mission statement in life now reads: Bring smiles in the world and stillness in my heart.

My Soul Car

My beloved aunt always tells me that no matter what car she drives, her ‘soul car’ will always be her old Zen. I never fully understood what she meant till I drove my present car for a few years. 
We've been together for almost five years now, and I'm completely in love with my car. I feel cocooned and safe whenever I sit in it. The seat feels like a hug, my legs reach the clutch and brake at the most comfortable angle, the AC cools to a temperature that suits me, the music system plays just how I like it and it cruises along most responsively. Even the horn is to my liking - not too loud and not too soft but enough to send a cyclist scurrying out of my way. My car knows what to do to make my drive better.
Imagine then, my remorse when someone drives her badly (it’s definitely a ‘her’), or if she gets a scratch, or worse, a dent. My heart breaks. Forget fighting with whoever damaged her, I’m just feeling awful that she’s in pain. I even apologize when hitting speed-bumps. No one is allowed to eat or drink when seated lest her cream-coloured seats get stained - I see how this could also be because I'm a neat freak, but anyway . . .
I think cars respond to their drivers, and as completely unscientific as it sounds, they understand when someone cares for them. How else do you explain cars with everything in perfect working condition refusing to start for a stranger (who happens to be a rash driver)? Or an old car that goes the extra mile without any petrol? It’s not magic and it has happened.
I’ve not always felt this strongly about my cars. In fact, I have never felt like this about a car. If I sound crazy, maybe you just haven’t found your soul car yet? When you do finally drive it, you’ll just know, and perhaps my inane ramblings will make sense.

Wander

www.pingszoo.com

Eating Out in Bali: Sari Organik

We had read/heard so much about Sari Organik in Ubud, Bali, that we assumed the locals would know where it was. Not the case. After much investigation, we were lead to a narrow pathway behind a house that apparently connected to rice fields and then told to 'follow the path'. Seeing other people (who looked like tourists) headed the same way we figured it was the right direction. Why else would they be traipsing through rice fields at lunchtime, right?

We blindly followed these umbrellas (and the smart people who carried them) 

down a lovely winding path. 

We walked through serene rice fields. 

You're always surprised by the landscapes in Ubud. They just never get old.

We walked past quite a few huts like these. None of them were Sari Organik.

After a long walk, we finally we came upon this delightful sight . . .

Sari Organik is known for the fantastic food they serve, all created from their own 

organically grown produce. ('Overflowing Basket' = a very good sign)

 This is the entry to the restaurant. There are green plants and flowers everywhere. 

You climb up into Sari Organik because it's built on stilts. Who knew? 

(I did, actually. That's why we came.)

And welcome to Sari Organik! You're here to eat a beautiful lunch on stilts under a canopy.

You'll have a glorious view of the rice fields as you enjoy your meal. Stay a while?

We got the perfect table. 

It was breezy, you could sit cross-legged and lean against big cushions, and this view.

We started with this refreshing ginger lemonade. It truly took the heat away.

The gentleman also seems pleased with our choice of drink.

I had a falafel patty with brown rice and grilled vegetables. It actually was as good as it looks. 
Light, crunchy vegetables, delicately flavoured rice and delicious falafel. Best part, it supported the local farmers. Score. Ignore my expression - I was probably regretting stomach space wasted on breakfast.

My husband got some sugarcane + lime juice and the day's special.

It happened to be green curry, brown rice, vegetables, crispy okra, and a bean patty.

We shared a raw papaya salad as well. No judgement, please.

Our view. Swoon. We gazed at this long after our meal was over.

Best way to spend an afternoon.

We had the perfect farewell too. This old guy came and sat on the steps to say bye.

Don't miss Sari Organik when you're in Ubud. 

It feels like a slice of Balinese life served up fresh with a side salad.

Things I Really Want to Say to Women on the Metro (but Can’t)

1. I do not need to hear the music from your cell phone. Please get earphones. Please.
2. If you’re going to be standing next to me for about an hour with your arm up, how about some deodorant?
3. There is no need to stare at my face. Look over my shoulder or out the window.
4. Black bras show through white tops. I promise.
5.         I can only ‘shift’ and ‘adjust’ so much. I ain’t no contortionist.
6. You do not need to shove me towards the door; even I’m dying to get out.

See you the next time my car is being repaired because my husband totally did not see the pile of bricks he reversed into. 

Armchair Traveller Goes to Europe

There is a certain charm in exploring a country through someone else’s words, but using your own imagination. Nothing beats the real deal, of course, but if you can’t travel it doesn’t hurt to get the most out of life’s lemons. 

Here are some fantastic books that have taken me all over Europe.

1. Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted – Annie Hawes

Annie Hawes and her sister leave grey, foggy London for the sun-drenched olive groves of Liguria in Italy. They buy a dilapidated old house with an olive grove and proceed to renovate it, slowly falling in love with their new home, the quirky locals, the divine food and the Italian way of life. I could not put this book down and read it constantly over three days. Annie Hawes has a hilarious way of describing people and situations, so that you feel like you’re right there with her in her favourite San Pietro bar, knocking back espressos as the ‘locals’ read their newspapers and discuss football. If you love coastal Italy and are missing it, or even if you’ve never been there, this is the perfect book.

2. A Year in Provence – Peter Mayle
Peter Mayle realizes a long-cherished dream and moves into a 200 year-old farmhouse at the base of the Luberon mountains along with his wife and two dogs. This memoir traces their first year in the farmhouse, dealing with the harsh weather and what it does to an old, rickety house as well as adventures in adapting to life in Provence. Mayle’s writing is poignant and telling, and always extremely funny. He paints les Provencals expertly, vividly describing their outlooks and personalities, and his stunning descriptions of the gastronomic feasts he enjoys (essential for the locals, and the only thing they agree on) are enough to make you drool.

3. Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe – Bill Bryson
This book was my introduction to the writing of Bill Bryson, and has rendered me a complete fan. In the book Bryson retraces a backpacking trip he did across Europe twenty years ago. Full of laugh-out-loud incidents and insightful, seethingly honest takes on various countries and people, this memoir has got a fair amount of criticism but I found it thoroughly charming. It’s well written, humourous, and detailed, which really is all one needs from travel writing.

4. A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway
While this isn’t exactly travel writing, this memoir from one of America’s greatest writers is brilliant and just as transportive. It describes Hemingway’s time in Paris as a newly married struggling writer. His portrayals of 1920s Paris, the circle of artists and writers he associated with (many of whom achieved great fame and success), and his recollections of the role the city played in his writing, make this a beautiful read for anyone interested in the charms of Paris. It is from this book that he is famously quoted saying ‘If you were lucky enough to be in Paris as a young man, it will stay with you forever, for Paris is a moveable feast . . .’

5. Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes – Elizabeth Bard
This title covers some of my favourite things: Paris, travelling, love stories and food. The book did not disappoint either. American journalist Bard falls in love with a Frenchman and proceeds to get married and make Paris her home. Peppered with recipes the author loves and her clear affection for France, the book also has some honest and sharp critiques of Parisian culture. Bard falls in love, learns to cook, is inspired by the ways of the French, and learns to live fully. It’s a light read but most enjoyable.

 So, don’t worry if you’re not (physically) going anywhere this summer - settle down with a drink and a good travel memoir, and you can be exactly where you want.

Orange County, Coorg

After my wedding, as with any other Indian wedding, my family needed a serious vacation. Months of dealing with caterers, decorators, printers and bridezilla people in general had left them rather frazzled but grateful that it was a once-in-a-lifetime affair.

Orange County to the rescue! 

A few hours drive from Mysore, Orange County is a gorgeous coffee plantation cum boutique resort. Its lush foliage and quiet charm  make you feel like you've reached another world - a world with genteel people, birdsong, sunsets, dewy air and absolutely beautiful coffee.

'Nature will provide for all your needs, but not for your greed.'


This was our cottage.

Pretty, winding paths walk you through the property. 

There are golf carts if you prefer being driven.

If you're lost, look to a tree for answers. Life rule.

This reading room is built on stilts! It has a stunning view of the plantation.

Let the breeze turn the pages of your book . . .

You read your book, the pretty lady will do her thing.

The adults-only (yay!) pool complete with bar and lifeguard.

Nothing beats a pool in the afternoon.

Besides a nap in a hammock.

The Ayurvedic massage centre - all traditional architecture and wooden roof and stunning.

I dream of sitting on this tiny veranda again with my morning coffee. It rejuvenated my family. Maybe you should take yours there too.