A street stall selling costume jewellery Guwahati, Assam, India 2017 ***
Tag: Travel
The nemesis of my sole
Heel gobbler. Lace snapper. Tongue cracker. In the stony, dusty backstreets of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, shoes took one … More
The Apple Seller and His Fruit-net Hat
The apple seller and his fruit-net hat. Ganeshguri market, Guwahati, Assam, India. 2017 https://www.facebook.com/bloggingaway/
Feeling down: the 6th Week Blip
Six weeks in to my volunteering placement in Rwanda I felt down. I had hit what psychologists call the ‘6th … More
A weekend in the rural beauty of Rwanda
One Friday after work, I took a bus from Kigali till I reached a sleepy village called Gahini beside a … More
A Festering Malice: the Grenade Attack
What kind of person would throw a grenade at a cemetery? What must happen in a person’s mind for them … More
Photos of our walk in York
Last weekend we visited York a quaint walled city in northern England, full olde worlde charm, cobbled streets filled with … More
The Day When Time Slowed Down
Einstein said that the faster you travel, the more time slows down. In fact, if you travel at the speed … More
Leisure pursuits: tennis, jogging and painful stomach-flattening (please do not try this at home)
I settled in to the small bungalow. My social life revolved around a good circle of colleagues and friends , my work … More
Paris in the sun
Last month, I made my 7th visit to Paris. Here’s a few of our photos from our weekend in that … More
The Spotless City
How could a city in a developing country be so completely litter-free? From the airport taxi, the streets of Kigali, … More
Politicians and Popstars
Over the years the Kigali Genocide Memorial has been visited by countless celebrities and dignitaries; Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Natalie … More
My friends, the survivors
I settled in to my role as an adviser at the Kigali Genocide Memorial – I got a desk, there was … More
The Chatter of the Raindrops
Continuing the series Letters from the Heart of Africa. My first few nights in Rwanda brought me shallow, dreamless sleeps; … More
Kivu: The Shimmering Lake in the Shadow of the Volcano
In the very heart of Africa, between Rwanda and D.R. Congo, is a silvery, majestic lake framed by breezy palms … More
Stolen socks and missing underpants
One morning I phoned my friend Thierry. “Someone’s stolen my clothes.” “I can lend you clothes,” he said. Thierry was … More
Help! I’m a businessman going to work in an NGO in Africa
One of my life goals was to volunteer in Africa but I was never quite sure if my career path … More
The thrill of the motorbike taxis in the hilly heart of Africa
The fastest, most exhilarating way to get round Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is on motorbike taxis, which go by … More
Getting to work, Rwanda style
Whoever first coined the term ‘the Dark Continent’ to describe Africa was either wearing very powerful sunglasses, or was nocturnal. … More
A letter from the heart of Africa: settling in fine
Dear friends, I made it, I’m here, in Kigali, Rwanda, writing to you from the hilly heart of a distant … More
The flight to Rwanda and getting rid of the contraband
After a short layover in Nairobi airport, the great African plains appeared below us, followed by Lake Victoria, its shoreline … More
Letters from the Heart of Africa
A few years ago I volunteered in Rwanda. This serialised post is based on letters and emails sent home to … More
Peter and the soup confusion
Peter, my Rwandan housemate, is a man of many talents – he’s my gym training buddy, my security guard, a … More
Life of Pi – a journey to the Indian Coffee House in Pondicherry
Have you ever been so enchanted by a book that you had to visit its setting? I made that journey to Pondicherry after reading Life of Pi and eventually met its author Yann Martel.
Jodhpur: In the shadow of the clock tower
We’re in the desert in the middle of the dry season and we got a rainstorm. Someone knew the British … More
Goa: Sunsets, mopeds, bribing cops and other beach activities
I think I may have unwittingly bribed a cop. We’re on small country lane in Goa in search of a … More
Hints of Holi: after India’s festival of colours, the powdered dyes linger on
Days after Holi, India’s festival of colours, the powdered dyes linger on in tiny cracks, on walls, on doors, paving … More
Karisimbi – Snow in the Heart of Africa
It was magical to break through the clouds on the second day and see snow in the heart of Africa. … More
A view of Everest
We were so lucky to see them that spring morning – it is perhaps one of the most awe inspiring … More
Flying to India via Moscow in 1978
We’re going to India for Christmas. I’m seven. I get dressed in shorts and sandals. Five hours later we walk … More
Hey Loons 