We slowly walked over to the lakeside, holding two large bags filled with vegetables – zucchinis, carrots, potatoes, onions, and various herbs and leaves. The surrounding mountains welcomed us and we took a seat by the lake. I began washing the veggies in my bag and by the time I had finished, my friend Luana … More human-doing or human-being?
I had a realisation earlier this year that there are an infinite number of meaningful, exciting things to do. An infinite number of great projects to get involved with. And an infinite number of fantastic people to meet. Really, there is no end. But my time is limited. (This feels super obvious now, and probably … More saying no to others = saying yes to yourself
I was that kid who’s report card in school always read “talks too much”. From long conversations over the phone to spending the night chatting away under the stars, I have always loved sharing stories, connecting with others and utilising this wonderful ability of speech that we have been given. Yet earlier this year for … More what i learnt from 10 days of absolute silence
“why on earth would you swim with sharks?” “do you have life insurance?” “you’re nuts!” “how on earth can you let your daughter do such a thing?” Sharks after all are pretty dangerous creatures. From their multiple rows of sharp teeth, agile bodies that slice through the water to their extraordinary sense of smell – … More shark tales #1: who is the real victim?
Where has our love of our learning escaped to? Too often we find ourselves cramming knowledge in education institutions. Studying for the sake of passing exams. I feel completely guilty of this and if you asked me what I remember from lectures from my university days, I will struggle to recall much. India seems to … More education for a living or education for life?
Tucked in amongst a construction site in a rapidly developing suburb of Pune, you’ll find an interesting collection of people gathered. IT professionals, mechanics, builders, taxi drivers, teachers, parents, children, and grandparents too. People of various faiths. People from all walks of life. And at the heart of this group is a hardworking, cheerful, incredibly … More communi-tea building one cup at a time
“I can’t do this” “I don’t have the skills…or the experience” “Who am I to do this?” We probably all have these thoughts at some point. Perhaps they surface when confronted with new situations, at points of change or transition, or when faced with challenges in our daily lives. We are all capable of far more … More it’s all in our heads
I want to tell you about one of the newest friends I have made here in India: Chetan. Chetan stays in Vangani, a suburb just outside of the city of Mumbai. He is a young dad, and lives in a humble home with his wife Radha and super cute baby twins. He’s also a musician … More seeing with new eyes
Have you ever struggled with maintaining your mother tongue in a country where it is not spoken? I’ve been told that when I was young, I spoke Tamil fluently (all the slang too!) But since moving to New Zealand it slowly seemed to trickle away. This past month was the ultimate test though. Our latest travels … More until further notice, celebrate everything
I quickly wandered down the stairs into the gully. I could see Sajid just ahead but was quickly losing sight of him. The path was narrow and this place was teeming with life, and stuff! Children running around. People sitting on their door steps drinking chai. Pipes. Tarpaulins. Bags and bags of junk. Wood. And … More part time recycler, full time rockstar
