St. Anne church is a hidden gem in the quiet Olaulim village. We found it while riding around Pomburpa village, during our stay at the Loja. In the evening, churchgoers gather here for mass. The rest of the day, the Church stands quietly. Witnessing life passing by for the last 266 years or so. The gentle sway of trees, the white of the church, and the slightly overgrown and abandoned feel of the garden in front of it … something wild and peaceful. Saint Anne was the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. She is the patron of housewives, women in labor, cabinet makers and miners. Her emblem is a door (I tried…
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Awesome Two-Week Itinerary for Vietnam
I have always wanted to visit South East Asia, and when we finally planned a 2-week trip this year my husband immediately said: “Let’s do Vietnam.” Anthony Bourdain’s enticing depiction of Vietnamese cuisine drew him to the country. For me, it was a book, called Saigon which had been on our bookshelves since I could read. When I grew up, and finally read the book, it took me to a place both familiar and exotic. The maps were pulled up on our laptops and we started planning our journey. Vietnam is a thin narrow strip of land, like Kerala – so it made sense to do a cross-country trip. We chose…
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Cantonment Railway Station – An Illustrated Travel Story
Urban Sketching At Cantonment Railway Station Last weekend, our Urban Sketchers meet was at the Cantonment Railway Station, Bangalore (BNC). While most of us were geared up to sketch amidst the bustle and chaos of a typical Indian railway station, what we found was a place of astonishing stillness. The arched walls and green rooftops look as though they simply stood still and refused to move to make way for Bengaluru! A group of Railways employees was conducting a Swachh Bharat survey. They asked us a few questions and moved on to complete their round of the station. A train with a vivid red engine stood by the platform the entire time…
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Food Trails in Hanoi Old Quarter
As we hit the streets of Hanoi Old Quarter, it was like entering a magical world. Being Indian, we found the noise and chaos quite familiar and non-threatening. Tiny food vendors on the pavements, the fragrance from each corner, the array of small seats with locals munching on sunflower seeds and sipping never-ending cups of ice tea created an atmosphere quite unique. Some of the roads were packed with backpacker abodes. Millions of things and lives coexist on these tiny lanes, enjoying the coexistence, enjoying the cacophony. Food is an integral part of Vietnam travel. In Hanoi, like all other Vietnam cities, there are very few billboards. What catches…
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Glimpses of Odisha Through Craft Conversations
A Different Kind of Raja & Eid Celebration Bhubaneswar is still waiting for a respite from the grueling heat. Monsoon has still not hit the city, this year. And the Raja festival fell during a hot and humid week. However, excited townsfolk beat the heat celebrating at restaurants, fairs, Ekamra Haat, and other event venues. three-day festival where young women take a break from household work to play games and enjoy some time off. A slightly different kind of celebration, coinciding with Raja and Eid, was the two days long Craft Conversation held on 16th and 17th June at Kala Bhumi – Odisha Crafts Museum. It introduced the city to…
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Hampiness – Beyond the Ruins
Heritage Trails in Hampi An overnight drive from Bangalore, Hampi is a heritage town in Karnataka, India. About 600 years ago, it was among the richest places in the world, ruled by the powerful Vijayanagara Empire. This city is situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River. It is identified with Pampa, a princess who performed tapasya for Lord Shiva. Pleased, he married her and took the name Pampapati. The Vijayanagara Empire was built around the Shiva temple, Virupaksha. My first glimpse was of a granite boulder-strewn landscape, in shades of grey, pink, ocher, and light blue. All around were ridges and hills (huge rock piles) dotted with ancient monuments. Places…
