About two hours north of Jodhpur, the roads are unkempt, bumpy and uneven. We are on our way to the Thar desert in Rajasthan, India to ride camels.
Read MoreStories about finding your heart and soul around the world.
Filtering by Tag: Hindu
The luxurious palaces of Mehrangarh Fort overlooking Jodhpur, India.
Visiting Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India
Long term travel may sound glorious, but in practice, it can be hard.
Read More
The Ellora Caves of India
Sightseeing certainly has its limits. But when you're in the middle of India and you don't know if you'll ever return, no matter how hungry or tired, you see the sights that are there to be seen.
Today on the blog, I'm picking back up in India—where I last left off in the story of our extended vagabond journey around the world.
Read More
Virupaksha temple sits at the end of one of the main thoroughfares in Hampi, India
Welcome to Hampi, India
I can't knock the feeling that as a child, I was cheated in my education of the history of the world.
Read More
Holy men sitting by the Ganges river in Varanasi
How to find something to believe in: the search for a guru in India
Searching for a guru is trendy in India, especially if you're a Westerner. I've begun to theorize that this eternal quest is driven by what is lacking back home in the West––a culture with belief in something more meaningful than the self.
India is the perfect place to visit, then, because spirituality is so omnipresent in a non-preachy sort of way. I should have known of its importance months prior to arrival, simply from the visa application. Halfway down the form I was required to check a box indicating my religious affiliation. For the record, agnostic and atheist weren't even listed as options.
Read More
Watching the sun set from beneath palm trees at a peaceful yoga ashram in Kerala, India
Meditation, culture, & yoga: Ashram life in Southern India
My foot is asleep. No, I take that back. My entire leg is asleep. A numb tingling sensation that reminds me of childhood gymnastics shoots upwards through my body. I have been sitting cross-legged in silent meditation, wrapped in the darkness of early morning for satsang (sanskrit for in the company of the "highest truth") since 6:00AM. Given my current inability to feel my legs, I'm not sure things are quite so enlightening right now.
Read More
Colorful empty offering platters found at a temple near Ubud
Spirit, ritual & dance in Bali
Part of the reason I find Bali so beautiful, besides the typical appeal of all things tropical (daily fresh mangos anyone?), is that the Balinese practice of Hinduism permeates almost all aspects of life.
Bali is an anomaly in Indonesia since the island remains almost entirely Hindu in a predominantly Muslim country. Their practice of religious ritual has such beautiful manifestations and follows a rich, artistic tradition. I see it everywhere. From the countless temples to the small backyard shrines, every house or building has a sacred structure designed to honor the many spirits of the island. That even includes gas stations and 7-11s!
Read More