Travels and thoughts

Bali was our holiday destination this year, made sweeter by the fact that my last vacation had been a year ago, in Malaysia. Living in India often feels festive year-round, but this trip promised a slower, more reflective escape. Our inspiration came from a close friend, Ramnath, who had lived in Indonesia and explored its islands extensively. His advice was simple and spot-on: skip the crowded tourist hubs and stay in Ubud. Located about two hours from Denpasar airport, Ubud welcomed us at dusk. After a quick refresh, we walked into town for dinner at Sun Sun Restaurant, known for its home-style food. That first meal quietly set the tone for the trip—light, healthy, and unhurried. As we wandered through Ubud’s narrow streets, with scooters zipping past, I felt an unexpected sense of familiarity. It reminded me of small towns in India, but without the noise—calm, chaotic, and charming all at once. On Day 1, we explored Ubud on a two-wheeler, starting with the Saraswati Palace. Also kn...

Monsoon Travels in India After making a thickly regional accented English announcement typical of Indian railway announcers, warning the hapless and hopeful traveling public, of the imminent arrival of our famed 12133 down train, the announcer at the station, crackling with static, lapsed into a meditative silence. After a full 10 minutes since her staccato cry, we continue to be swarmed by flies reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. Our daughter Shruthi,  covers her twitching nose and walks away peering into the distance if she could spot the train. Physical movement also counters the still monsoon air and keeps the flies at bay. We debate if we should abandon the journey altogether or brave it for the Buckets List and keep the rendezvous with Udupi Krishna. This was a planned trip after much deliberation to experience the Konkan railway during monsoon. But the jump to what Shashi Tharoor called cattle class, from the lap of luxury at Cidade de Goa to the Madgaon...