Varkala: Pilgrims to the Left, Tourists to the Right
Varkala in May, like Kovalam, is almost devoid of tourists . Those that are here fall pretty much into two categories. There are the leather-skinned old hands, eking out the last of the sunshine before heading to the mountains when the …
Vizhinjam: Little Village, Big Harbour
Vizhinjam is a village about 3km south of Kovalam beach. It is home to about 10,000 people, most of them involved in the fishing trade (with the poverty that that implies). On the northern side of the harbour is the …
Bazaar Road: Spices, Nuts and Tea
If you’re interested in spices, head to Bazaar Road in Kochi. Running from Fort Cochin to Mattancherry, this 1.5km stretch of road is where Kerala’s commodities come to be sold. The northern (Fort Cochin) end of the road is dominated …
Montmartre: Artists, Writers and Petrolheads
I didn’t think much of Moulin Rouge as a film, but I did like the depiction of Montmartre. Somehow, the idea of a village within Paris that was home to writers, painters, drinkers and artists seemed incurably romantic. And I’m …
Sunday in the Park
If it’s Sunday afternoon and you’re in Kolkata, there’s really only one place to be. That’s the Maidan, the big green expanse that stretches down from Eden Gardens to the Race Course, and across from the Hooghly river to the …