Preface to 'A Journey Through India'

The snow-covered peaks of the highest mountains on Earth shone from the right side window of Air India flight 252. From this height it was impossible to tell where Nepal ended and India began. But this thought faded from mind as I allowed the awe-inspiring sight of the Himalayas to lure me into a trance. The sudden appearance of a smiling flight attendant snapped me back to reality. "Your customs form, sir." I briefly squinted down at the tiny print on the paper in my hands and returned my gaze to the porthole. Soon the rugged landscape I left behind in Kathmandu would fade into memory and be replaced with something altogether different.

A Little Gypsy Jazz in India

Hampi, India, is best known for being the site of scores of ancient temples that are set among a surreal landscape of boulder-strewn hills.  It's a popular place to hang out on the backpacker trail.  Somehow, every roaming musician seems to end up at the same place in Hampi: The Tipi.  Incredible jam sessions take place on a nightly basis at this gathering spot.  While staying at the Tipi I had the good fortune to meet Rafael, a young French guitarist who shared my love of Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz.  This is a little clip of us playing the jazz standard "Minor Swing" by Django himself!

Dusk falls in Pushkar

Pushkar, in the state of Rajasthan, India, is a sacred town for Hindus.  It's also a popular spot for foreign tourists, an oasis far removed from the stress and hassle of city life.  Hindu legend has it that here in Pushkar a drama played out between lord Brahma, creator of the universe, and his two consorts.  This picture was taken from a hill topped with a temple dedicated to one of these dueling Goddesses, Gayatri, while the hill in the distance holds a temple to her nemesis Savitri.  The great Thar desert beckons in the distance.

Faces of Nepal

If you're looking to visit a country with friendly people, look no farther than Nepal.  Warm smiles and open hearts are easy to come by over here.  It's also a great place to capture some memorable portraits. Locals who spotted a camera around my neck often yelled out the request "one photo!" when I passed by.  Due to this welcoming attitude, I was able to snap dozens of portraits while in Nepal.  Click on the link below to view some of my favorites!

Click here to see the photos!

The Nepali Bus Survival Guide

Ready for adventure? If you've come all the way to Nepal, then chances are the answer is yes. The lure of the highest mountains on Earth draws huge numbers of thrill-seeking travelers to this small mountainous land. But you don't need to climb Everest if excitement is what you're after. Just hop on a local bus. Challenging topography has played a big part in hampering the creation of roads and other infrastructure in this rugged country. In fact, the latest UN report cites Nepal as the second-least developed nation on Earth outside of Africa. So, expect some harrowing journeys that might leave you questioning why you ever left home. But you didn't come here to be comfortable, did you? With this in mind, I've compiled the following list of tips for surviving a long ride on a Nepali bus. Let the adventure begin...

Back to School

The sight of smiling schoolchildren has the power to warm the heart of anyone, anywhere. Even if the young ones are strangers from a strange land, it's hard not to hope that they are receiving a quality, well-rounded education in a productive learning environment. In the developed nations of the West, our relatively strong public school systems have allowed many of us to almost take this as a given. But in my travels I've come to appreciate that most people in the world cannot take a solid education for granted. Nothing in my travels brought this reality closer to home than a visit to Shree Saraswoti Kunja Primary School, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal.