Gokarna: Meditation at Om
In between Goa and Udupi (the “city” that Manipal is a part of), lies Gokarna. Though we could have spent weeks exploring the different beaches in Goa, we decided to check out somewhere new on our way home…and chose to stop in Gokarna. We arrived via train on Monday afternoon and not knowing very much about the … Continue reading
Goa: Chillin’ in a Fridge
This past Diwali weekend we had Monday off, so we figured the best thing to do would be go on an Adventure! We managed to take a mini-vacation before our finals really kicked into gear! Goa pulls 12% of the tourists to India, especially international tourists. Goa may seem like a city, but it is … Continue reading
St. Mary’s Islands: A Geological Wonder
Last Sunday I took a trip with some friends to the Saint Mary’s Islands (known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar) off the coast of Malpe Beach. We caught a boat leaving from the beach for Rs. 150 round-trip and ambled around the island for an hour, before heading back. According to folk legend, it was here … Continue reading
Varkala: Paradise by the Arabian Sea
After spending a great day in Fort Kochi we were on our way down the coast of Kerala to Varkala. We were staying at Akhil Beach Resort…and it was gorgeous and even had a pool!! There were so many tourists in Varkala I was able to wear a bikini bathing suit for my first time in India! … Continue reading
Fort Kochi (Cochin): A Town Thriving on Tourism
Eight hours after our departure from Ooty, after a train and a bus ride, we found ourselves in Fort Kochi (the Indian name change was effective in 1996). We arrived at sunset and were able to catch a quick glimpse of the town. We stayed at Fort House Hotel, which looked like a beautiful beautiful … Continue reading
Hampi: The Ruins of Old and New
After taking the overnight train to Hopset, and a quick bus ride later, we found ourselves in the small temple town of Hampi – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An ancient town – many changes have occurred in Hampi in just the past few years. Most notably the vibrant “Hampi Bazaar” is nearly gone. Indians … Continue reading
Kudremukh National Park: Kingdom of Clouds
While Kudremukh literally means “horse’s face” – and there is a hillside that looks vaguely like a horse, another blogger called it a Kingdom of Clouds, and that is really the best way to describe it. We were supposed to go to a tea plantation this past weekend, but due to a scheduling error we … Continue reading
Namma Bhoomi: A Small NGO with Big Plans
Last weekend we went to the NGO Namma Bhoomi. Literally meaning “Our Land,” this small organization in Karnataka is doing big things for the employment prospects of hundreds in the state. Based on education and offering equal opportunities for boys and girls, this NGO teaches “life skills” in addition to academic courses to boys and … Continue reading
Manipal: Happy Onam!
Two weeks ago there was an Onam Celebration on campus, there were a variety of activities going on to celebrate culture – as Onam is traditionally the new year’s celebration in Kerala. I found all of this out, while walking to the library and encountering this on the ground. It was so beautiful that I … Continue reading
Mysore: City of Palaces
Well, this past weekend most of the girls in our group (7 of 9) all took a spontaneous trip to Mysore. Now, when I usually say “spontaneous” or “impromptu” I mean that it was about 3 pm on Friday when we had a group “planning session.” Here we decided to take a trip that coming … Continue reading
