The Thekkady tribal dance performance takes place in a small auditorium, not far from the Periyar Reserve bus stand, across from the Bamboo Grove. I walk into a dusty darkened room, with a few rows of wooden chairs. The door is open, and people are either fanning themselves or swatting at mosquitoes, or in someContinue reading “Learnings from the Mannan Tribe”
Category Archives: Thoughts on Life & Writing
Wilderness Fever Dreams
I arrive at the ecotourism office just before 1:30 pm, much to the chagrin of my driver, who makes it clear that he disapproves of my sightseeing priorities. It has been a bumpy morning for us, as I have taken to ignoring his destination suggestions. A short while later he tells me that the twoContinue reading “Wilderness Fever Dreams”
Lessons Learned
I’m turning 37 tomorrow – 37! God I don’t feel it…but sure enough it’s here and I am ready for it. With each new year comes the opportunity for new perspectives and improvement, especially when you’re born close to the beginning of the year.
Letters to the Dead
I thought that when I saw your funeral pyre, I’d finally believe that you’re gone. But as I watched the logs of wood turn black and white, start to crack and finally, core charred, collapse into dust – mingling with your ashes, as I watched the flames liquefying the air above, or the fresh logsContinue reading “Letters to the Dead”
A Few Thoughts on Gratitude
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. – Randy Pausch These words came from this absolutely beautiful book I am reading called The Last Lecture, written by the late Carnegie Mellon Professor before losing his battle to Pancreatic cancer in 2008. I’ve probably written about this before, butContinue reading “A Few Thoughts on Gratitude”
A Rant On Boundaries
Those of you who know me, know I have a knack for meeting very strange people, and a large collection of funny stories to show for it. This week however, things reached a new level for me. Three incidents have occurred in the last four days – all unrelated – and now I just wantContinue reading “A Rant On Boundaries”
An Open Letter to the Parents in My Life
A few years back, during Game of Thrones season, I made the mistake of posting on a friends Facebook wall that I could not watch that weeks episode because I was sleep deprived. Another girl who went to high school with us immediately commented something to the extent of “why are you sleep deprived Mira?Continue reading “An Open Letter to the Parents in My Life”
Confessions of a Vagabond
My alarm goes off at 4:30 am. My hand slaps towards my phone as if it is an actual clock, finally managing to silence it, if only momentarily. As a precaution I have set an alarm at 4:25, 4:35 and 4:40 lest my body goes on strike and I miss my flight (which has happened).Continue reading “Confessions of a Vagabond”
Wanting It All
Now and then I pace my place I can’t retrace how I got here I cheat the light to check my face It’s slightly harder than last year And all at once it gets hard to take It gets hard to fake what I won’t be Cause one of these days I’ll be born andContinue reading “Wanting It All”
Memories of the Big Move
Exactly a year ago today, I was up till 4am Eastern Standard Time, battling two bursting suitcases. I was yanking out random clothing and possessions, discarding a few items at random and re-stuffing the baggage, till finally both weighed less than 23 kilograms. I collapsed into an exhausted sleep, dreams of logistics, unsold furniture, pendingContinue reading “Memories of the Big Move”