Darjeeling Spark

Darjeeling is amazing set in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. The oncoming monsoon season brings with it great rain and, sometimes, lightning storms. I snapped this pic on one such night.…

Asian Attitudes on Foreigners

China, I thought, preferred to keep visitors out; many Southeast Asian countries invited foreigners in, with ambiguous wink and smile; Japan smilingly greeted visitors at the door and appeared to admit them without ever really doing

…

Darjeeling: Queen of the Hills

The one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse of the rest of the world combined.

-Mark Twain on his 1st visit in 1896

…

Tongba: Himalayan Beer

Tongba is the traditional and indigenous drink of the Limbu people of eastern Nepal. To Limbus, Tongba is analogous to what vodka is to Russians, wine to French, Guinness to Irish and saké to Japanese.

-Wikipedia

…

Baba Srinath

Back when I first visited Nepal in 2006, I met a local villager named Ram. You can see Ram and his house in Episode 2 of the video series I created about that trip.

On that trip and after my …

Death and Life of Buddha

With my Indian visa quickly expiring, I decided to take heed and depart Benares. Off to Nepal I head for a refresh of both my visa and head in the crisp mountains.

I entered the train station to await my …

Sitar Lessons

When staying for an extended time in Varanasi, what to do…. Observe Hindu cremation rights? Check. Wash in the Ganga? Check. Listen to the Dalai Lama lecture? Check.

Since it is India, if I were to …

Kumbh Mela in Allahabad

When I jumped a train and rode three hours out of Varanasi to Allahabad, I knew I was going to a very large Hindu religious festival. Little did I know it would be one of the largest gatherings …

Munna House

A week into Varanasi I packed up and moved to where I intended to stay in the first place. I met two well-trodden travelers in Dharamsala who refer to Varanasi as their home since they have spent so much time …

The Dalai Lama in Sarnath

Photo by tiengdankeu

My timing was perfect to arrive in Varanasi because just 13 kilometers away in peaceful Sarnath, the Dalai Lama arrived to give lectures from January 8 to 14, 2009 at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan …