Asia – Page 2 – Travels With Tricia

A Golden Afternoon on India’s Elephanta Island

Wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of manic Mumbai, we boarded a boat at the city’s Gateway of India monument bound for Elephanta Island. The island’s former name Gharapuri (meaning ‘place of caves’) is fitting given Elephanta boasts numerous caves with elaborate Hindu and Buddhist carvings – considered to be some of the finest in India. They’reContinue reading “A Golden Afternoon on India’s Elephanta Island”

Monkey Business at Elephanta Island, India

Perhaps I should seek employment as a surveillance photographer as I found it amusing capturing the mischievous primates on film in Bali, Cambodia, and India. This cheeky monkey was spotted on Elephanta Island. To get there, we had to take a 50-minute boat ride from India Gate in Mumbai.

Photo du Jour: A Streetside Shave in Mumbai

A man applies shaving cream to a man’s face on a street in Mumbai, India.

Happy Holi! Celebrating the Festival of Colors in Goa

If you were in India today, chances are that you would now be sporting rainbow hues from head to toe, because today is Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi is a Hindu celebration that welcomes spring and bids farewell to winter. Originally, Holi commemorated successful harvests. As we prepared to take on streams of colorfulContinue reading “Happy Holi! Celebrating the Festival of Colors in Goa”

Photo du Jour: A Rice Paddy Panorama in Ubud, Bali

A rice farmer tends to his rice fields in Ubud, Bali.

If you’ve read Eat, Pray, Love, you’ll remember the Balinese city of Ubud, which is featured quite prominently in Elizabeth Gilbert’s book. We have just arrived to our new home away from home in Ubud, the Nirwa Homestay (affiliate link). The family run guest house is surrounded by a panorama of vibrant rice paddies. Our soundtrackContinue reading “Photo du Jour: A Rice Paddy Panorama in Ubud, Bali”

Photo du Jour: Monkey Business – Uluwatu, Bali

A macaque monkey sits on the grounds of Bali's Uluwatu Temple.

When they’re not spiriting away Uluwatu Temple visitors’ sunglasses, shoes and water bottles, the wild monkeys in Bali’s southwestern-most corner are preoccupied with personal-grooming rituals.

The Flora & Fauna of Jimbaran, Bali

A chicken walks past a Balinese temple's statues, in Jimbaran.

Bali delights not only because of its splendid architecture and welcoming people, but also through its amazing flora & fauna. From the roosters with no qualms about waking us at 5 o’clock in the morning, to record-size wasps and rats, we’re feeling quite connected with nature on this paradisiacal island. This post is dedicated to the beautifulContinue reading “The Flora & Fauna of Jimbaran, Bali”

Photo du Jour: Balinese Canang Sari Offerings to the Gods

On the island of Bali, religion is tightly intertwined with everyday life. Temples and religious celebrations are plentiful. Locals adorn their places of work, home entrances, and street intersections with offerings called canang sari. These banana leaf vessels are made on a daily basis and hold a large variety of items — everything from colorful flower petalsContinue reading “Photo du Jour: Balinese Canang Sari Offerings to the Gods”