The Happy Clappers

The Happy Clappers were aboard, or, as our cousins across the Tasman would call them, the Hippie Clippers. They were a happy bunch too, charismatic Christians from all over Indonesia, gathering in Jakarta to pray for the successful re-election of the current PM, Joko Widodo. There was, honestly, Happy. A lovely guy, very bright and […]

Rudd-anoia

Can erstwhile PM and full time nerd K Rudd be following us ? Is he in deep cover throughout SE Asia on some covert mission for the UN trying to scrape those last few votes together ? Certainly at one stage he seemed to be taking on the physical shape of Gareth-Gareth Evans, Australia’s other […]

Kolkata International Photography Festival

We’re very excited to be heading to the Kolkata International Photography Festival. En route, on Rash Bihari we meet this elegant lady and amicable priest. Bengalis love a great demo. But also stop to smell the flowers. A quick coffee. Then we plunge into the Museum, one of several campuses (or should it be campi […]

Calcutta Cinema & Cemetery

Through the shining streets we walked, down alleys and lanes. Did Kolkata disappoint ? What do you think ? We were pondering the big issues and contemplating tiffin. Came back to the muddy earth just briefly before our heads were plunged into the glittering Stars again in the shape of the fabulous Park Show House. […]

Just down the corner

But…somehow…like…TOTALLY around the bend. ‘

The hand that shook the hand…that shook the hand, (and other brushes with fame.)

Primitive customs, memories of skin cells and metaphysical degrees of separation collide when we consider the strange case of the man that shook the hand…that shook the hand. I know dear friend, for I AM that man. But don’t reach for your guns. Not just yet anyway. Most people collect stamps, coins, bottle tops, scalps, shrunken […]

Varanasi Alleys & Ghats

We have revisited Varanasi and come to the beginning of the end for this trip. For our retirement it’s just the end of the beginning and there could be no more magical place to contemplate these conundrums of time and space than Varanasi. This Holy City is the Hindu’s Jerusalem, Rome or Mecca. To a […]

The Indian Museum

We revisited the Indian Museum on Chowringhee, an amazing shrine to Civilisation, and passed these characters on our way down Sudder Street. The Indian Museum is one of the great museums of the world. A cathedral to culture and industry. Vast rooms, one upon another, each the size of ballrooms, pillared, plastered, soaring ceilings, doors […]

Délices d’Architecture: Galle Sri Lanka

Galle Fort is a beautiful UNESCO heritage listed town on the south-western coast of Sri Lanka, built first by the Portuguese and then fortified by the Dutch. (Those Dutch certainly knew how to build ramparts! These provide a spectacular passagiata as the sun sets, the lizards, crows, magpies and colourful tourists come out.) Galle features […]

Joyce Haskett

We have been quiet and will be for a while longer for our hearts lie with our beloved Mother, Joyce, who, after starring in our lives and shining light and love and laughter into the dark corners of many hundreds of other people’s lives has left us at the age of 93. The good may […]