History’s Tribute To Freedom in the USA My first morning in Gettysburg began with the boom of thunder overhead, and the patter of rain on tent canvas. As I stuffed my belongings into the back of the car, I could see the fronts colliding across the sky; the forces of hot and cold engaged in … Continued
‘Where will you be at the end of your trip?’ ‘If everything goes as planned, I’ll be watching the sun set over glorious Palangan.’ These were my thoughts two days before heading to Iran. I had shared them with one of my closest friends. I knew that I had a long way to go and … Continued
For as long as i can remember, I have been an independent soul. My father, a fiercely independent man himself, always tried to instill the sense of independence from when I was little. He would explain the small things in life that made us independent – read your own books – it’s the biggest joy … Continued
I’ve always loved liminal places – hotel rooms, airport terminals… The generic in-betweenness of them is non-threatening, like a closed door that excuses you from worrying, because you can’t see what’s on the other side. Those in-between places liberate you from commitment to before and after. They are a kind of purgatory, a space to … Continued
My bones creaked and my body yelped in pain as I rolled over and reached for my phone, but instead of the ghostly display satisfying my desire to know the exact hour at all times of day and night, I found only an inanimate piece of plastic. I then remembered, with the aid of the … Continued
There are 762 curves on the highway between Chiang Mai and Pai, Thailand, according to the postcards and stickers plastering walls of tourist shops in the sleepy valley town. Minibuses service the area daily, but as every backpacker worth his baggy fisherman pants will tell you, the best way to enjoy these hills is on … Continued
When you are travelling to the North-East of India, you expect to be feasting your eyes on the snowcapped mountains, the sun rise and the greenery. You expect to wrap yourself in a stole while drinking that hot cup of coffee, bang in the middle of the month of June. You expect to visit all … Continued
The only time I feel free is when I am alone. But what does alone mean in this world? We can be on our own, yet our phone and computer lures us, tempting us with Facebook notifications, tweets, emails, and text messages. Despite most people needing solo time to recharge, we’ve become addicted to company. … Continued
In many traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures women are responsible for ensuring the honour of the family. Men’s passions are uncontrollable and wild, and all women are Eve, the temptress with the apple. He cannot help but succumb so a man is never held responsible for his sexual behaviour. The guilt is attributed the … Continued
From Relatives to Absolutes in India Let me get straight to the point: leaving one’s home is an absolutely essential element in order to ‘feel free’. Let me get straight to another point: the above sentence makes a presumption that you already have a home. The context of home, independence and freedom is not absolute, … Continued