WE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW INDIA’S WEST COAST southward until we reached the beach town of Varkala, beloved throughout Kerala and much of India for its blond beaches and dramatic cliffs which face the Arabian sea. The narrow, red dirt path that stretches out along the cliff face is overflowing with seafood restaurants, ayurvedic spas, small resorts and shops. Although well touristed, Varkala has a sophisticated feel to it, with flowy resort dresses outnumbering hippie pants and a far less stinky crowd. The air while we were there, however, was thick and unmoving, leaving a residue of slick sweat on our bodies at all times. Even jumping in the sea did not provide much relief – as soon as I exited the water the droplets on my skin began to instantly transform into sweat, leaving me even ... read more

WAYANAD HAS THE MAKINGS OF SOMETHING truly wonderful. It has misty peaks, miles of tea plantations, tall, lanky palm trees, and gushing waterfalls – it is absolutely bursting with vegetation. It is also home to a large wildlife preserve that hosts elephants living in the wild, exotic birds, and numerous other species. Despite all of this, it only has rudimentary tourist infrastructure making it difficult and expensive to visit. Travis and I decided to visit anyway as we couldn’t resist the temptation of glimpsing elephants in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, thousands of other Indian families had the same idea. Many of them had decided to spend their month long holiday in between Christmas and New Years in this peaceful outdoor retreat, which had the effect of eliminating any trace of... read more

SEVEN HOURS LATER WE CLIMBED OFF the overnight train into another unfamiliar world. It is a testament to how long we have been travelling that we are no longer frazzled by the process of arriving in a strange city at an ungodly hour, haggling over a price of a rickshaw and barreling off in the chosen vehicle down some dark, foreign alley in search of a hotel. It is precisely these experiences that make me realize how much faith in the world and in humanity traveling requires. In these first moments in a new city you are like an infant - lost, helpless and completely dependent on others to help you. Somehow though, it always works out. The state of Rajasthan is one of the oldest developed regions of India. It has an incredibly rich history ... read more

FROM VARANASI WE BOARDED A TRAIN WEST in the direction of India’s pride and joy, the most famous symbol of this immense land, the Taj Mahal. This first experiment of using the large and complicated Indian rail system was essentially…a train wreck. We were completely clueless as to how the several tiered ticketing system worked. Just before midnight we climbed aboard the sleeper car, which in the eerie darkness resembled a scene out of a science fiction movie. The steel metal bars and blue berths were overflowing with unfamiliar faces and huge black eyes that peered out of the darkness at me. Of course, they were just the outward expression of inquiring minds but at the time they seemed intense and unkind. We had booked our rail tickets online but not having access to a printer, ... read more

CHAPAGAON IS THE CHEERIEST, prettiest, most lovable little village in all of Nepal (or at least I think so). Although we were only there 7 days it will always have a place in my heart. I have been wanting to volunteer abroad for as long as I can remember and I finally got the opportunity to do so at the Jyotidaya Co-operative School in Chapagaon. The village is located in the Lilipur district of Kathmandu valley and although its very close to Kathmandu it is a world apart. While Kathmandu is dusty and polluted and filled with trash and beeping horns; Chapagoan is green and verdant - filled with rice and mustard fields, cobblestone roads, and a Himalaya lined backdrop. We arrived there on the Nov. 18th after spending a couple of days in Thamel recuperating ... read more