Where Have We Sailed in the Last 17 Years?
We’ve just completed 17 years of cruising and travelling the world aboard our sailboat. It’s been an adventure full of surprises!
Where Have We Sailed in the Last 17 Years? Read Post »
india
Nazar’s widow is struggling, can you help?
Nazar was Millie’s best friend ever, and our dear friend in India. He died far too young and his widow, Zakeena, is now struggling.
Nazar’s widow is struggling, can you help? Read Post »
Would you like to buy my son?
Our 200th episode comes out today! It’s a retrospective of our time aboard Esper but includes some of our travel experiences off the boat too. It makes for some fun viewing so we hope you enjoy it. In this video
Would you like to buy my son? Read Post »
FTB People: Nazar 72
“I Nazar seven two. Maybe you want diesel? Maybe wash boat?” With a sideways, rolling nod, he proffered a flimsy business card. Maybe, I thought, taking it from him. His anxious expression relaxed, and a brief smile smoothed his shiny face.
FTB People: Nazar 72 Read Post »
Not One But Two Top Ten Images
I was pretty stoked to have two of my three submitted images selected in the MyWanderlust Top Ten Photography Competition (titled ‘Weather’). One was of the Kanchenchunga Massif, taken in Darjeeling, the other you’ve probably seen already of the two school girls walking through monsoon puddles.
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From India To The Maldives
Saying goodbye to friends is hard enough. Saying goodbye to friends we’ll probably never see again had me choked. It caught me by surprise but as I hugged Gladwin, my Indian brother, I was lost for words and my eyes welled up. The pontoon at Kochi marina was a hotch-potch of our close friends, our Indian ‘family’ and the marina staff. They all waved us off as Esper slipped her lines and it was at that moment it struck me exactly how much I would miss India. Surely a passage to the Maldives was just the tonic we needed. If only!
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The Complete Guide For Liveaboards In South India
Everything you ever wanted to know about living aboard in south India, including visas, checking in and our, Kochi Marina and resources around Cochin town. Includes a Google map for reference.
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Good Days, Bad Days – It’s All Relative
Boat ownership is a mix of ups and downs. Today was a really crappy day for us but rather than getting depressed about it we should look to others and their small victories. Take Gladwin, for example, our Indian friend who couldn’t swim. Check out this inspirational video clip when life throws you those little obstacles…
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Black Dog – A Real Indian Scotch Whisky?
One frustrating aspect of living in India is the lack of decent booze. Rum is in abundance, but it can be quite sweet; wine is available with just three labels worth talking about, but their flavour does not justify the price; and as for the whisky… The only way I can describe Indian whisky is ‘caramalised fire-water’.
Black Dog – A Real Indian Scotch Whisky? Read Post »
Can I have a case, please? Wine tasting in Cochin
Ever been to a wine tasting in India? Did you know that “terroir” is a term that has no English translation? It is like the fifth element, and is that “je ne c’est quoi” produced by the environment in which the vine grows: the fungus that grows in the soil, the insects which crawl in the soil, the strength of the sun and the amount of rainfall. They all affect the taste of the wine in your glass. Apparently.
Can I have a case, please? Wine tasting in Cochin Read Post »
Rogan Art – The Kathri Suma Family of Gujarat
The Kathri Suma family of Gujarat is the only family using this technique of cloth decoration. It is unique to this one village. In this clip you’ll see my photographs and some video of the family at work. The black scarf at the end of the clip is a present we bought for a friend who helped out organising my photography courses. Thank you, Karen!
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Winner of The Guardian’s Monthly Travel Photography Competition
My Christmas came early this year. I’m chuffed to announce that I won October’s Guardian ‘Been There’ travel photography competition! The theme was ‘Weather’ and I submitted an image of school girls splashing their way through a monsoon puddle.
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Portrait of a Blacksmith
Portrait of a Blacksmith – taken in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
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Blue City Back Streets
[Jodhpur, Rajasthan] In this week’s podcast we’re going to get lost in the back streets of Jodhpur town itself. There are plenty of sounds to take in here, with the noise of market traders selling their wares. But first, a refreshing drink…
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Blue City Fort
The Mehrangarh Fort, one of the lagest forts in India, sits over 120meters above the city, surrounded by huge thick walls. Inside are a number of palaces and courtyards, the foundations of which date back to 1459, although most of what we see today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh – 1638 to 1678. Entry to the fort is through a series of seven gates, again built and installed over different periods. These have been offset so as to avoid being charged at by armoured elephants.