travel Archives

“Beta, Mask Pehno?”: How I Dodged the Coronavirus to Bali and Back

Paranoia was my co-passenger on the flight to Bali. We were handed small, yellow forms from the Indonesian Health Ministry to self-declare any symptoms. This caused me a fright, because as someone who passive smokes by calling Mumbai home, I’ve had a small cough for as long as I remember.

Sarvesh Talreja July 19, 2016

POV

What Lonely Planet Won’t Tell You About Visiting the Kumbh Mela

The grand procession of sadhus at the Kumbh Mela making their way to the banks of the holy Ganges for one of the shahi snans is a once-in-a-lifetime experience — note that attending twice may lead to serious emotional distress.

#VALUE! June 24, 2016

POV

“Where’s the WiFi?” Why City Folks Suck at the Art of Doing Nothing

Chaos works like Isabgol for my thoughts. I am wired to work; chasing deadlines gives me a high that no amount of fresh air from the Aravallis can. Sorry William Henry Davies, I don’t want to stand beneath the boughs (too many mosquitos there.) I’d rather stare at my phone screen than at sheep and cows.

Purba Ray June 19, 2016

Modern Family

Farewell, the Great Indian Family Vacation. It Will Not be Missed

Travel plans have done what TV could not – divide the Great Indian Middle Class Family. Our #wanderlust no longer accommodates the now-unfashionable image of three generations of our thepla-quaffing family, waving from a snowy background.

Chandrima Pal June 17, 2016

Coronavirus

Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai: How I Travelled to Vietnam Amid the Coronavirus Scare

A few months back, a vacation in Vietnam with my adult daughter seemed like the best idea ever. We were going to traverse the country on cheap flights, recharge ourselves with Vietnamese coffee, and come back with enough Instagrammable material. That was before the Coronavirus scare.

Purba Ray June 4, 2016

Culture

Nostalgia Express: When Train Journeys Were About VIP Suitcases & North-South Debates

Every summer vacation, we’d take the train; the journey would be a lesson in national integration. By the end of the journey, everyone knew everyone’s political leanings; debates would break out on whether Azhar was better than Sachin; or if the south was culturally richer than the north.

Godot May 29, 2016

Gender

How the Mumbai Local Liberated Women Like Me

Cities can be unforgiving spaces for young women who want to step out and make a life of their own. Given the circumstances Mumbai’s trains are heaven sent, for women like me.

Jagruti Verma May 24, 2016

POV

How Smartphones Killed the Art of Sitting at the Window Seat and Doing Nothing

Technology is a giant slayer of many things wonderful and one of them is the joy of sitting at the window seat. Where do we have the time to simply sit and stare amid the constant notifications and the lure of Netflix on your phone?

Hardik Rajgor May 20, 2016

POV

The Anatomy of an Indian Stampede

There have been stampedes in other parts of the world, but why does it feel like India is an especial victim along the route of this deathly juggernaut?

Hardik Rajgor May 16, 2016

Modern Family

Why Can’t Indian Families Let Us Adult In Peace?

When I turned 22, I believed that I would live away from home, revel in my financial independence, and travel across the world, no questions asked. However reality involves my grandparents implying I settle down while they are alive and my mother demanding to know the minutiae of my spendings.

Shreya Ramakrishnan April 1, 2016