Not that diary

It is a strange feeling indeed to be an Indian (of sorts) in Southeast Asia. Years ago, in smoke-filled pubs of London, it felt perfectly logical to have the Goodness Gracious Me -inspired argument that only one outcome was acceptable: ‘We did it first in India’. Fortunately, the pubs became smoke-free, and I could spend an evening without needing an instant dry-clean for my coat or a deep-cleansing hair wash after each visit. I digress, as usual. This time, as I traverse around Bangkok, I have been filled a growing realisation that indeed, many ideas, beliefs and practices did emerge first in India. Equal is the wonder at how delicately they got assimilated in the local culture and acquired a uniqueness that can only be described in this trite but useful phrase- same same but different . Lest you await the hackneyed confession ‘I truly found myself’ (and there are many ways of finding oneself in Bangkok!), let me assure you there has been no such miraculous moment of discovery for me....

On a cold January morning, by the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, I ushered in 2024 with my family. Back in Delhi, the smog showed little sign of receding. Through the smoky and dust-hued sky, we occasionally witnessed shards of sunlight, a reminder that our planet's bright star has not abandoned us just yet. Fortunately for me, a new adventure awaited. Before the month was over, I had landed about 3000 km east of India in Thailand. Upon alighting from the plane, my jacket was promptly stuffed at the bottom of the suitcase. Within 24 hours I was hitting the shops to buy t-shirts. Because, as everyone knows, you can never have enough t-shirts in a hot and humid country. Over the last few months I have been serenading my social circle with a Whats App-based photo journal. It is finally time to do the proper thing, which is to pen down my experiences for immortality (or till robots take over the earth). I had been to Bangkok several times before as a tourist. H...

My first international trip in 2022 was a short visit to Singapore. Rather fortuitously, the SG government relaxed entry restrictions just as I was getting itchy feet.  Back in 2007, I had spent a long weekend in SG, enroute to Australia and NZ. On that visit, my friends I and A very kindly took me to the most popular landmarks and districts. I also wandered on my own in this easy-to-navigate city-country. More than a decade later, I decided to explore SG under the expert guidance of native Singaporeans who pointed me to lesser-known nooks and corners. On arrival I captured this aerial view below.  Nope, this is not the invasion scene from Troy. It is, in fact, the approach to Changi airport. These shipping lines move goods between some of the largest ports in the world. It is very likely that the jacket you are wearing or the phone you are using arrived via a transfer at SG. Before writing a post on the fascinating cultural mix in Singapore, I start with food, which...

A handful of cities across the world have stood the test of time. London is one of them. The swarming cities in parts of Asia and dare I say, the 'Global South', seem to morph into new beings at the blink of an eye. London, however, displays an underlying constancy even as subtle changes creep up every few months. In the autumn of 2021, some things had decidedly changed. Yet in many places it seemed as if time had stood still, at least for now. I share below a set of photos that show both sides of the city. Some venues are easily recognisable iconic locations. Other places are more personal - they represent shared memories and leave a door open for 'yet-to-be-made' memories. Let's start with new things on the block. In late 2021, a significant chunk of the global population had been vaccinated, lockdowns were a thing of the past and outdoor group exercise was in fashion. This is a scene from an outdoor fitness class on the bank of River Thames, not far from Southwar...

 2020 and 2021. Yes, it was a truly awful period. Much has been written and will continue be written about the surreal, haunting and painful time that much of humanity experienced. For that very reason, this post is about finding joys, appreciation and even a small thrill in activities we earlier took for granted. The time has come to wipe off the cyber cobwebs and bring my blog to life again. What better way to do that than take the reader on a walk through one of my favourite cities - London. Shortly after my 2nd jab, I took my first flight out and landed in London in the autumn of 2021. Quick alert - there will be a lot of post-covid 'firsts' in this post and the ones to follow. I felt an inexplicable feeling of novelty in taking a flight and then a taxi, walking in a familiar neighbourhood, watching people hurry back from from work, meeting people I hadn't seen for 18 months. More than ever before I felt fortunate to be able to do this. In that period of re-discovery, I...

Bruges is exactly what it says on the tin. A picture-perfect town in the north-west of Belgium with cobbled streets, lively squares and gently flowing canals. Displaying a rich history going back to the Vikings, it is a superb example of how cities live through growth cycles, rising and falling with time as the world around them changes. Bruges is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here then is a city designed for people to amble through aimlessly and soak in the sights. Whilst that was exactly my plan, my senses (read nose and eyes) had other ideas. It felt as if every street I turned into led to a chocolate shop or bakery till I found myself sniffing my way through town, admiring the charming shopfronts and stopping occasionally to indulge in some yumlicious flavours. The city of Bruges historically lay on several European trade routes. Its chocolate heritage  reflects the same diversity. Words alone cannot do justice. The first two photos below are the Flemi...