It’s October. A chill is creeping into the autumn air and scarlet leaves the colour of blood blow from skeletal trees in a final, desperate flight - beautiful, but dead! How’s that for setting the tone for this post?
Read moreDRACULA: MAN OR MYTH?
A TALE OF TWO CITIES: BUDA & PEST
Aaah, Budapest! The Grande Dame of Central Europe, Pearl of the Danube and blissful end of our 1,100 km cycling odyssey from Warsaw - through Poland, Slovakia and into Hungary...
Read moreMOST AUSPICIOUS HAPPY ENDINGS
We made it! All sixteen of us on Dave’s Best Quality South India Bicycle Adventure - from the Bay of Bengal to Fort Kochin on the Arabian Sea!
First, about the people. Not once during the entire trip did I feel threatened or at risk...
Read moreHOT CYCLING & COLD MASSAGES
Warmest of greetings from the middle of Southern India...
And I do mean warm! We have been cycling in temperatures of 32 to 34 degrees at close to 100% humidity. I didn't realize my body could produce that much sweat. And this is winter in India!
Read moreA SPIRITUAL SMORGASBORD
No question! From shrines and temples to sacred sites, and devotional festivals, spirituality (together with family) lie at the heart of society in India. The people love nothing better than gathering to celebrate auspicious occasions...
Read moreSTITCH ART & HULA HOOPS
What is “stitch art” you might ask?
It is making art with a sewing machine and one of our fellow cyclists is the brilliantly creative, young Brit, Harriet Riddell, a textile performance artist.
Read moreCURRY & SPICE AND A WHOLE LOTTA RICE!
A carnival of flavours, the cuisine of India is dhal-iciously diverse, with culinary creations being regionally quite distinct.
Clearly, we're riding through the Land of Spices!
Read moreTRAFFIC MAYHEM & NEAR-DEATH BY TUK-TUK
Honking horns, throbbing traffic and the crush of the streets. It’s a shock to the senses. The only word I can think to describe the traffic in India is pandemonium.
Read more“WELCUM TO INDIA, MADAM!”
“A most happy Pongal,” insert famous head wobble (an ambiguous gesture that can mean yes, maybe or I have no idea)."Welcum to India, Madam!"
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