BootsnAll Travel Network



What my blog is about

This is a place to tell people about your blog - a short description for the folks who don't know how cool you are. If you do not want to use it, you can uncheck the 'Enabled' box under 'Blog Options' - 'Blog Intro' in your admin pages.

Reddy is ready…

May 12th, 2004

My name is Madhu (well at least one of them..) and am off to SouthEast Asia and India starting May 23rd 2004. Finally, I gathered all the courage I had and made the first step towards this journey by quitting my job. It was a pretty sudden decision don’t really know what finally “did it” for me… though the idea of doing something like this has been festering for a long long time.

Why am I going travelling? Always wanted to do something like this and slowly i saw the possibilities of making this happen. I hope travel will bring out the “true” me and I will finally have to deal with her. I did’nt want to look back and say “I wish I had done that” so that’s why am doing it.

So far the plan is to hit Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before heading to India to get pampered and live like a princess for couple of months with my folks there. Why Asia? and Why these countries? Well I have always been fascinated with Cambodia since I took a class about the country, its people and history in college and idea of seeing the sunrise over Angkor will keep me going. Am not expecting anything…so that what ever comes my way I will enjoy it.

So far have no concrete plans…but the rough outline is to head to BKK..stay few days..head south and hit the beaches before heading north to Chiang Mai and then crossing into Laos by the slow boat..then to Angkor and finally if time permits hit the Dragon’s Bay in Vietnam. But plans may change..when I know you all will too.

Keep in touch..email is still the same mreddy10@yahoo.com

Cheers!

Tags:

Chocolate martini’s

May 18th, 2004

Here I thought I was the faithful kind and would never stray from “The Captain”.

Party 1.jpg

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Atta, Akka and Kakka

May 18th, 2004

So, here I am with my little cousin and her two lovely brats!…I say that with love.
Am really ( I mean really) scared of the older one ..ahhhh she is only 4 but rules the house with a iron hand. I thought I had a way with kids but all it took was one look and I was asking for permission before I helped myself to a fish stick. I don’t think I have behaved this well since my first day at school.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Picikin…

May 26th, 2004

So here I am..finally in Bangkok. Have to say the first hassle free journey, there has never been a time when I have not encountered some problem or another. This trip was a breeze…maybe because I spent a very relaxing day with my freinds Dav, Tania and their cousins which put me in the right set of mind. It was all because of Picikin….

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Little India…Big Bangkok

May 27th, 2004

Bangkok can be daunting at a first glance but look closer at this city and you will see that Idiot’s guide to bangkok will never make it to the top 10 list. This city is geared towards the tourist..its pretty easy to get around and in a day or two you get the hang of it..but it will take a lifetime to “discover” this city and one should not even attempt to do so in the few days we make ourselves at home here. Bangkok does get a bad rap and I have to say so far I have had a very pleasant time here.Inspite of the scam stories you will encounter people who are gentle, kind and very helpful. But its hard to judge when is friendly a step close to a scam. Having read about the tourist scams i thought i was prepared for anything but I did encounter my fair share and inspite being on guard..I slipped.

Map of Thailand th-map.gif

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

The Monkey Mind….

June 12th, 2004

Chaiya…a small town south of Bangkok is a place which gets quite a number of “farang’s” who are interested in learning meditation and I was about to become one of them. Coming out of the non descriptive station I was met by fellow insight seekers who had that look on their face..do we know where we are going? Do you have you been here before…ah too many questions. An instant bond was created and of course the most common questions where…what’s your name and where are you from? Now, I finally figured out that I was going to be called by my nickname on this trip so..Madhu it was…now where you are from has started to become a little bit more complicated…so I say originally from India but living in SF. Then invariably these experienced travellers go where in India are you from? and then I have to say oh! I was born in the south and was raised in Delhi and Goa and then a whole chapter of travelling in India starts…these people have been everywhere and have to say I feel a bit annoyed about their experience..in a nice way…no more envy! (its bad for you). The identity crisis was begining to surface…but 10 days of silent retreat I was hoping some of these questions can be answered..who are you? and where are you going? but I think a life is not enough for these. I came away with 3 things….strive with patience, live in the present moment and try to live a moderate “middle” life without extremes. These are buddhist philosophies but mine with a twist of lime.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

The Hangover…..

June 15th, 2004

The strangest day after the retreat was the 11th day when we broke our silence. The previous night I had panic attacks about coming back into the “real world”. I’m pretty sure that prisoners being let out feel a same sense of anxiety and feel the desire to practise the good they learned. As soon we broke the silence we could’nt hear anymore…we were talking for the sake of talking. I did’nt know anybody except Anna and Claudia who I had met in Chaiya the day before the retreat. All the others where faces with smiles…few with some voices as we heard a few in the talk and tell session the previous night. Now I could put real names to “Julia Roberts smile”, “The guy with one sock on his foot”, “the girl with the hairy legs”, so on and so forth.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

From Chiang Mai…

June 16th, 2004

Just wanted to let those of you who worry know I reached Chiang Mai safe and sound. I met a few interesting people since last night…a older Indian couple from New Delhi. I of course had to impress them with my Hindi and then I was talking this girl from New York who turns out to be a member of the the Boots network as well…waow..what a small world. I have read her blog and seen her messages on the boards. She seemed to remember my name as well and it seemed silly that a whole morning went by till we got to some serious travel talk and thus to Boots. Its strange that I have not been alone at all..I never believed when people said you will meet people on the road. I guess my past experience was not a backpackers one but I was hopping hotels than guesthouses.

The plan is to chill, learn some Thai Cooking and eat some as well. Mango and Sticky Rice..here I come..oh my mouth is watering just thinking of the tastes am going to have..sound like little Miss Piggy but what the hell..you only live once. Nothing more to report right now except..Chiang Mai is a mini Bangkok but more compact..but still daunting to some extent…but am doing fine and dandy thank you!

Tags:

Mangoes and Tamarind with a kick or two…

June 20th, 2004

So its been couple of days since I have been in Chiang Mai and have to say its a shoppers paradise but really not the place I’am in a mood for right now. BUT still its a nice place to hang out, get some great food and just wander around. My quest for the perfect “Mango and Sticky Rice” still continues…I came close though when I made my own… its all about the Mango in the end but my cooking teacher “Yui” might disagree and say its how well the rice is cooked as well. So, finally I took Thai cooking classes and I have to say to that I was actually nervous the first day…Me… “Miss Know It All” had to shut up and listen and learn..no wonder I was a bit nervous.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

A Slice of Pai…

June 22nd, 2004

So finally I made the move from Chiang Mai…my last day there was pretty eventful as I was given an oppurtunity to practise my detachment from worldly things. So I went to get my laundry and the lady there kept saying..am so sorry..am so sorry…and am first thought was she forgot to do my laundry..but I soon figured out that she burned my trousers…that too my fav kind..which had insect repellant woven in the fibers. I was so sad to see that as I really loved them…they were perfect..the zip off shorts were knee length ..usually only men’s pants are that lenght…women’s shorter and in this country modesty is appreciated. I was upset for a second but then asked her to repair the pants so that I could at least wear them capri’s. Detachment from wordly things was hard to practice..in principle it sounds great but to put it to use is hard. After feeling guilty for feeling so lousy for a pair of pants I left with the rest of my laundry…of course she did’nt charge me..FREE Laundry service.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: