Taken in May of 2016 in Zambia
This isn’t a good shot. It’s washed out and the composition is poor.
And yet, when I saw it I couldn’t help but imagine a dialogue between these two lionesses. If it triggers that reaction for you, it’s worth posting it.
We visited half a dozen countries (not including India) and about a dozen locales within India in 2016.
Here’s my top 5.
5.) Old Goa: Goa is usually a beachy destination, but when one goes before the rainy season is over, one spends a lot of time touring old churches. And Old Goa (Velha Goa) has some impressive and historic churches.
4.) Amritsar: First of all, there’s the food. Punjabi cuisine is legendary–as is Sikh hospitality. However, there’s also some beautiful sights and a unique feel to the place.
3.) Bai Tu Long: Most of our trip to Vietnam took place in 2015, but we rang in the New Year on a junk boat on Ha Long Bay’s next door neighbor.
2.) Chaminuka Game Reserve, Zambia: Our first trip to Africa was far too short, but we did get a taste of the continent.
1.) Naranag to Sonamarg Trek: This may seem like an odd choice–particularly for the number one slot–given that Kashmir was under curfew when we visited. I think that may have made the trek all the more enjoyable. Not only is rural Kashmir gorgeous, but it was mostly normal–excepting the daily military checkpoints to remind us that Pakistan and /or China could invade at any moment. We certainly had our share of travails before and after the trek (e.g. only being able to drive through the middle of the night and all shops being closed on occasion) but the trek itself was outstanding. Besides, troubled travels make for good stories.
New Year’s Day sunrise over Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam
JANUARY:
-Travel: returned from our December 2015 visit to Vietnam
-Began RYT300 (Int / Adv) yoga teacher training at Amrutha Bindu Yoga
Taken at Kesava Temple in Somanathapura with the RYT300 class
FEBRUARY:
– RYT300 course continued
Teaching yoga at Socare
Learning to cook Indian food at Manju’s Cooking School
MARCH:
-Completed the RYT300 course to obtain my RYT500 certification
The RYT300 Class at Fireflies Ashram to learn Shatkarma
APRIL:
-Traveled to Varkala and Amritsar
-Taught a two-week Kids Camp at a1000 Yoga, Kormangala
Lilla in Varkala, Kerala in early April
Lilla at the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), Amritsar
MAY:
-Travel: Thailand, Zambia, and Dubai
-Completed the Muay Thai 2 (Int.) at The Muay Thai Institute in Rangsit, Thailand
With MTI teachers and students after a successful fight by a German student (shirtless)
Zebra at the Chaminuka Game Reserve near Lusaka
Lilla and I amid the dunes in the UAE near Dubai
JUNE:
-Between travels and trainings, a quiet month in Bangalore
Back again with the kids at Socare
JULY:
-Travel: Kolkata and into Jammu & Kashmir for our August travels
I’m afraid you can’t jam more Kolkata (Calcutta) into a photo than this
AUGUST:
-Travel: Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar, Sonamarg, Great Lakes Trek, Leh, Nubra Valley, and Pangong Tso) and into Chennai for the beginning of my Vipassana Meditation course
Lilla (green hoodie) on our first night camp site on the Kashmiri Great Lakes trek
Lilla and Eeyore in Leh
Lilla and I at the (reputed) highest motorable pass in the world
SEPTEMBER:
-Travel: 2 trips to Chennai; the first for my 10-day Vipassana Mediation Course, and the second for a wedding
Chennai (Madras)
Lilla henna’d and bangled for the wedding
OCTOBER:
-Travel: rainy season in Goa
-Anniversary month (22 yrs.)
-Took the 5th level test at Kalari Academy but promptly threw my back out–an injury from which I’m still recovering (although it’s down to a mild leg tingle) [I wouldn’t mention it but I think I’m obligated to by the rules of year-end / Christmas letters to mention any health issues.]
Lilla in front of the Se Cathedral in Old Goa (Velha Goa)
NOVEMBER:
-Travel: Singapore
Lilla in front of the Marina Bay Sands
DECEMBER:
-Travel: We’ll be in Hungary (fingers crossed) in the latter half of the month
-Finished a draft of the novel. I don’t know what version this counts as, but it’s the only one so far even close to having an ending that I can tolerate.
-I’ll probably have read about 100 books by the end of the year.
Here’s a pic from another winter trip to Budapest:
Budapest a few years back
A more recent Budapest winter pic; this was our most recent winter visit-i.e. 2014
Taken in May of 2016 in Zambia
I took the photo above at Kalimba Reptile Park near Lusaka. In case, landscapes are too boring for you, here’s an alternate pic of a toothy crocodile.
Taken in May of 2016 in Zambia
Taken in May of 2016 at Kalimba Reptile Park in Zambia
Crocodiles like to sit around with their mouths hanging wide open and I think it’s high time someone let them know that it’s a bad habit. A person with his or her mouth hanging open automatically gets a 20 point deduction off their estimated IQ score. So if you see a crocodile with its mouth hanging open, I think that it’s your duty to let them know they look stupid.
I dare you.
Taken in May of 2016 at Kalimba Reptile Park near Lusaka
Taken in May of 2016 in Lusaka, Zambia
Tiger Riding for Beginners 