April 2019 – VAGABOND IMAGES

Glimpses from the International Dance Day

Upendra SwamiApril 30, 20199 Views2

It was International Dance Day yesterday and from various events organised to mark the day, I had chance to witness one at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. It was a wonderful event to mark the landmark day. This day not just makes you celebrate the spirit of dance but also helps you learn new developments in performing arts and know about new artists. I had tried to be regular at such events for some years now. Artists from different dance forms together for a performance on International Dance Day In 1982 the Dance Committee of International Theatre Institute (ITI) founded International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on the 29th April. This was the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet. The intention of the International Dance Day Mes...

International

Negombo, I remember

Upendra SwamiApril 29, 201917 Views5

It was painful to watch the aftermath of carnage at St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo. For that matter, heart pained for Sri Lanka as a whole. No innocent people need to die this way anywhere in the world. This bloodshed takes us nowhere but to more bloodshed. It has to end. Period! I felt a connect to Negombo as soon as I heard about the incident. I spent my first night at Negombo on my first trip to Sri Lanka exactly ten years back in 2009. So, my first impressions for this beautiful island nation came from Negombo. It was a also the starting point of a memorable almost a week long road trip of the island nation. Also read: An orphanage for the mighty at Pinnawala Saint Stephen's Church at Negombo which was consecrated in 1880, when Britishers ruled the island nation. Church is ...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Ten things not to be missed while in Munnar

Upendra SwamiApril 24, 201921 Views1

It’s getting hotter day by day. No, I am certainly not talking about the election heat, but I am literally talking about the weather. A few days earlier, I was talking to a friend in Thiruvanathapuram, and he said that it is getting difficult to venture out during the day. So, while rest of the Kerala might be reeling under heat and it would not be wise to advice going there, until the monsoon touches the state late next month; but a part of Kerala is still enjoyable and worth going. With polling for general elections over in the state and it will now be waiting anxiously for the counting day exactly a month later, in the meanwhile, you can certainly plan a trip to Munnar. Elephant peak as seen from Munnar town Munnar is one of the favourite destinations in Kerala for tourists from ...

India

Weaving a life in exile!

Upendra SwamiApril 14, 201917 Views0

It’s tough to kickstart the life at a new place, suddenly uprooted from your home and doomed to live rest of your lives in exile. Tibetans have faced this almost 55 years ago and they continue to weave a better life at their new homes in India. Search of Tibetan souvenirs to be taken back home took us to Tibetan Handicraft Society premises located on one end of the main market in Mcleodganj. We had to wait for a while as the manager was away for a work. The collection at the centre was very attractive. While others were busy in their purchases, I went towards a modest workshop adjacent to store, where a few women were busy weaving carpets. Tibetan Handicraft Society was established in 1963 at Mcleodganj near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh to provide work and income for Tibet...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Aren’t you preparing for a trip to Leh already!

Upendra SwamiApril 7, 20198 Views4

Beauty of trip to Ladakh is that each time you go, you have entirely a new experience waiting for you, even if you are going to same place in same weather or a different one in different weather. You can always expect something unexplored, Its also because, you just can't experience the whole diversity of this amazing place in one trip. You need many-many trips for this. The desert with white snow, green poplars and Indus river! View on outskirts of Leh. Window to the peace... nature! Saucer at the roof top! View of Leh valley surrounded by Himalayan ranges. Way to leh! Read: Reaching climax- On the top of the Manali-Leh route So, this is the time when you need to put your plans for this years Ladakh trip in place and start preparations. An extraordinary place like Ladakh c...