I am a creature of habit. On every visit to Goa, I follow a similar routine. First I commune with our kuldevata at the Shanteri Kamakshi Ramnath Devasthan in Ponda, then I may get a cup of Chai or two at the local canteen. Perhaps visit the nearby Mahalakshmi Devasthan and the Mangeshi Devasthan; and after aarti and a quick lunch, I head over to the Madgaon Train Station to catch the 2:30 Verna-Mangalore local train to Kumta. If I arrive early, I amble around the stalls and watch people – they appear meditative in their idleness. And take one more look at the Mario murals. [Read more...]
Break at a Marathi Village
During our AstaVinayak (Eight Sacred Ganapati Temples) tour, we stopped at a roadside eatery in rural Maharashtra. After a simple meal (roti & sabzi for us; curd (yogurt) and rice for Meera), I sauntered over to a village square. [Read more...]

London Heathrow Terminal 5. Also here.
Monks at Baudhanath Stupa, Nepal
At the Baudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal:
In a world full of temptation, these novices maintain their inner peace and walk the path of dharma
Next on the Kailash Manasarovar Travelogue: Kids at the Baudhanath Stupa
To start at the beginning: Rendevous with Sagarmatha (Everest)
Monks at the Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal

(click for larger versions on Arun Eyes)
In an ancient stone portico (bhojan mandap) outside the Pashupatinath Temple (Kathmandu, Nepal), several sanyasinis (female monks) were resting and enjoying meals. Here donors arrange free meals for monks and the needy. Loved the colors.
[Read more...]
School Girls at Daulatabad Fort, Deogiri
These pics continue from my previous Daulatabad Post. I loved them so much, they had to get their own post! You can see larger versions of these on my new, photo-blog Arun Eyes … This Beautiful Life just to showcase my favorite pics. Go!
Gaggle of school girls dashing up the entryway to the Daulatabad Fort at Deogiri.
[Read more...]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum, Mumbai
During travels to Mumbai, I often bring Meera to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum), a few minutes walk from our house. Meera enjoys chasing butterflies in the gardens and running around the spacious interiors.
She is invariably awed by the stone sculptures of cows, horses or lions, and loves the Natural History wing. She gets to see animals (stuffed) she only has seen in pictures. She loves the ducks (badak), parrots (popat), turtles (her favorite) and the huge whale hanging from the ceiling. Wild animals scare her. Safely tucked between my legs, she points and whispers, bhalu ( bears), rhinoson (rhinoceros), tigherrr, lion and cheetah. Love taking her there. [Read more...]






Marathoner, Professor, Author, Citizen Journalist, Fitness Nut, Foodie, Meera's father, Hindu, Scientist, Photographer.