Oct 18, 2009 - Bodhgaya

A short 5 hour train ride from Varanasi took us to Bodhgaya, famous as the place where Buddha gained enlightenment 2500 years ago while meditating underneath a Bodhi tree. ... The town has only a small, permanent population (~30 thousand), but pilgrims from all Buddhist nations come here to study, pray and visit this spiritual place.A short 5 hour train ride from Varanasi took us to Bodhgaya, famous as the place where Buddha gained enlightenment 2500 years ago while meditating underneath a Bodhi tree. ... The town has only a small, permanent population (~30 thousand), but pilgrims from all Buddhist nations come here to study, pray and visit this spiritual place....

May 30, 2009 - High Court of Bihar at Patna

Drive to Patna from Allahabad was a pleasant and uneventful experience. ... Our stay in Patna was a power stay. ... After savouring on the famous litti-chokha of Patna and contradicting it with Smokin' Joe's Pizzas, we called it a day. ...

Mar 19, 2009 - Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is famous for being the place that the Buddha attained enlightenment. ... Bodh Gaya is in the state of Bihar, which has one the highest levels of poverty throughout all of India. ... It is evident everywhere and a good reminder for me as to how lucky I really am.Bodh Gaya is famous for being the place that the Buddha attained enlightenment. ... Bodh Gaya is in the state of Bihar, which has one the highest levels of poverty throughout all of India. ... It is evident everywhere and a good reminder for me as to how lucky I really am....

Jan 16, 2009 - Of Enlightment and Indian Families

This one goes in English due to my like of time, strengh, will and contempt to disgusting Internet cafes. Bodhgaya is a little town in the middle of nowhere and the only reason people ever goes there is because its important in Buhddism. ... THis is the place where Buhdda atainned enlightment more than 2500 years ago.This one goes in English due to my like of time, strengh, will and contempt to disgusting Internet cafes. Bodhgaya is a little town in the middle of nowhere and the only reason people ever goes there is because its important in Buhddism. ... THis is the place where Buhdda atainned enlightment more than 2500 years ago....

Jan 13, 2009 - Back to dusty, grimy, filthy Gaya

HIGHLIGHTS • Take a hit of 20USD to change my train ticket, ouch • Wander to the many hallowed monasteries • Topuched by a group of children • Back to delightful Gaya for the night • And Deepak DETAIL I finally manage to change my ticket but it’s not over yet, not until the fat lady sings (thank you JJ). ... Deepak arrives and we head back to Gaya which I am looking forward to so much. ... I take him for dinner, a nice restaurant in Indian terms and he breaks down.HIGHLIGHTS • Take a hit of 20USD to change my train ticket, ouch • Wander to the many hallowed monasteries • Topuched by a group of children • Back to delightful Gaya for the night • And Deepak DETAIL I finally manage to change my ticket but it’s not over yet, not until the fat lady sings (thank you JJ). ... Deepak arrives and we head back to Gaya which I am looking forward to so much. ... I take him for dinner, a nice restaurant in Indian terms and he breaks down....

Jan 11, 2009 - A rude awakening, nay - an enlightenment

So, almost two hours of wasted time and the line-up behind me is getting rowdy! Bugger it, I will go to Bodhgaya and pays some rip-off artist to book the train for me. ... I head back to the hotel, check out and take auto-rickshaw, about 13 kms to Bodhgaya. ... He’s what we call – a shyster! Anyway I make it after throwing a bunch off to downtown gaudy Bodhgaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment – what a zoo. ...

Jan 10, 2009 - Three buses, 12 hours and almost set upon by bandits!

And then to Patna and the question arises, “Do I stay or do I continue to Gaya”. ... One look at Patna is enough to turn Jesus off so I find the bus for Gaya. ... I had tried to tell her earlier that to get to Bodhgaya she had to go to Gaya first and then take a taxi but she wasn’t listening to me. ... We chat a bit and she asks me this and that and will we get to Gaya in time to get to Bodhgaya and I ask myself, “How the hell did you get this far lady”. ... We are about one km out of Gaya and we come to a traffic jam. ...

Apr 2, 2008 - Nalanda

However, our side trip to Nalanda helped me feel relatively young. ... Nalanda is the site of the world’s oldest University. ... Nalanda contained extensive libraries. ... This was my third visit to Nalanda and I was happy to see that the site has been upgraded extensively by the Archaeological Survey of India with funds provided by the Japanese. ... As we left Nalanda we were brought abruptly back into the 21st century, or perhaps it was really the 20th century still. ...

Apr 2, 2008 - Bodhgaya

There’s not much more to say about Bodhgaya since our arrival here on January 17th.There’s not much more to say about Bodhgaya since our arrival here on January 17th....

Mar 30, 2008 - Patna

We flew back to Patna on a flight that was routed through Ranchi. ... Our nephew Chetan flew this route in January and had to make the final leg on an overnight bus provided by the airline because the visibility in Patna did not allow flights to land. ... We looked forward to a relaxing week in Patna with Anil’s brother Arun and his wife Neena. ... Because they were used to getting up at 4:30am at the yoga centre, they continued to wake early and encouraged us to join Arun for his morning walk in the Patna zoological gardens. ... The strangest thing happened to me in Patna on the night of March 30th. ...

Jan 19, 2008 - Patna

After hugs all round, I commented on the fact that this was the first time, in all the years we have to come to India, that we have arrived in Patna first. ... We have usually flown into Mumbai or Delhi and it would sometimes be weeks before we reached Patna. ... It seems to be something we do whenever we come to Patna, maybe it's the good vibes of home that makes us so relaxed and sleepy. ... There are huge celebrations and a large parade in Delhi but even Patna had planned activities for its citizens. ...

Jan 18, 2008 - Bodhgaya, India

We were a little alarmed when we arrived at the Bangkok International Airport and found that our flight on Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) wasn't even listed on the departures board.We were a little alarmed when we arrived at the Bangkok International Airport and found that our flight on Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) wasn't even listed on the departures board....