Blog: My Quintessential India Trip Dream

Whenever my father brings up my marriage matter, I tell him I will get married after I publish my second book and complete my India trip. I'm not sure if it's the marriage clause that jinxed my dreams, or vice versa; all three of my plans have been caught in the infinite loop of "wishing" … Continue reading Blog: My Quintessential India Trip Dream

Travel Diaries: The Simple Joys of Life – Waiting for a Stranger’s Bus

September 11, 2025 Finally, the last blog of an ultraeventful day at East Fort, spanning a long walk through Chalai Bazaar, exploring Gandhi Park, photographing Sreepadmanabhaswamy temple, and ticking off my childhood dream of watching a circus show. The day was still young, just half past three in the evening, and I had energy to … Continue reading Travel Diaries: The Simple Joys of Life – Waiting for a Stranger’s Bus

Travel Diaries – The Great Bombay Circus

After exploring the main tourist attractions of East Fort, such as Chalai Bazaar, Gandhi Park, Sreepadmanabhaswamy temple, and Methan Mani, I was on my way to Thampanoor when I noticed that the Great Bombay Circus had set up its tents at the Putharikandam Maithanam. Ignoring the groans of my thin adult wallet, with childlike glee, I bought a 250-rupee ticket for the 1 PM show and secured a middle-row seat inside the circus tent.

Travel Diaries: The Sreepadmanabhaswamy Temple, & Methan Mani.

You can read the first part of this blog here. After wolfing down my second breakfast, I walked out of the restaurant, caressing my imaginary pumped-up muscles and roaring mentally like a war hero, fully charged for the rest of my trip. Imagine Popeye, ready to take on the entire world, after gobbling down a … Continue reading Travel Diaries: The Sreepadmanabhaswamy Temple, & Methan Mani.

Book Review: Platform Ticket by Sangeetha Vallat

BUY THE BOOK Hours before pitching her first book, The Platform Ticket, a railway memoir, at Bangalore Literature Festival’s LitMart, Sangeetha Vallath had the good fortune to run into one of her favourite authors, Shashi Tharoor. A lifelong Tharoorji fan, she sought his blessings for the pitch. When he asked her to sell the book … Continue reading Book Review: Platform Ticket by Sangeetha Vallat

Blog: Yaanam’25 – Tenzin Tsundue’s Protests, Poetry, & Latest Book, Nang Nowhere To Call Home

You can read the first part of this blog here.  ‘Tibet is the preoccupation of my life from childhood; freedom of Tibet has always been my dream.’ - Tenzin Tsundue.  A Risky Journey to Tibet As I mentioned in my last blog, my friends and I were looking forward to Tenzin Tsundue’s session about his … Continue reading Blog: Yaanam’25 – Tenzin Tsundue’s Protests, Poetry, & Latest Book, Nang Nowhere To Call Home

പുസ്തകനിരൂപണം: ചിത്രശലഭങ്ങളെ വിട – ദിവ്യ വേലായുധൻ

BUY THE BOOK യാനം 2025 കേരളസർക്കാർ സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ വിനോദസഞ്ചാര സാധ്യതകളെ ലോകത്തിനു പരിചയപ്പെടുത്താനും, 25 കോടിയോളം രൂപ മുതൽമുടക്ക് വരുന്ന വികസനപദ്ധതികൾ ഈ മേഖലയിൽ പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കാനുമായി  വർക്കലയിലെ രംഗം കലാ കേന്ദ്രത്തിൽ ഒക്ടോബർ 17, 18, 19 തീയതികളിൽ  ഒരു സഞ്ചാര സാഹിത്യ ഫെസ്റ്റിവൽ സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി - യാനം 2025. ലോകമെമ്പാടും നിന്നുള്ള 48  സ്‌പീക്കർസിനൊപ്പം പരിപാടി കാണാനെത്തിയ 150ഓളം ഡെലിഗേറ്റസിൽ എനിക്കുമൊരു ഭാഗമാകാനായി. ഈ പരിപാടിയെകുറിച്ചു ഞാനെഴുതുന്ന ഒരു ബ്ലോഗ് സീരീസിലെ രണ്ടാമത്തെ കണ്ണിയാണ് … Continue reading പുസ്തകനിരൂപണം: ചിത്രശലഭങ്ങളെ വിട – ദിവ്യ വേലായുധൻ

Blog: Yaanam’25 – Travel, Resistance, and Tenzin Tsundue’s Tibet

Yaanam 2025 Recently, I attended Yaanam, a one-of-a-kind travel literature festival organised by Kerala Tourism in Varkala. The event brought together writers, journalists, photographers, musicians, chefs, content creators, and fellow travel enthusiasts from across the globe.  It was conceptualised and curated by Sabin Iqbal, a novelist, journalist, and literary curator native to Varkala. Along with … Continue reading Blog: Yaanam’25 – Travel, Resistance, and Tenzin Tsundue’s Tibet

Travel Diaries: A Bus Ride to East Fort & a Walk Through Chalai Bazaar

September 11, 2025, Thursday - Day 2, Exploring East Fort in Trivandrum After a good night’s sleep, morning walk, bath, and a light idli & coconut chutney(chammanthi) breakfast, I was raring for a long, adventurous day. Did I mention I made new friends? Yes, of course, my three hostel roommates, who were juniors working at … Continue reading Travel Diaries: A Bus Ride to East Fort & a Walk Through Chalai Bazaar

Travel Diaries: A Father and Mother Without a Child.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com September 10, 2025, Wednesday - Day 1, Moving to Trivandrum I bid a funny goodbye to my family before my brother dropped me off at Kollam Railway Station. My parents were like: “After exploring Trivandrum, come straight home. Don’t take any deviation to Goa or the Himalayas.” Well, in my … Continue reading Travel Diaries: A Father and Mother Without a Child.

Travel Diaries: 30 Days in Trivandrum – Chasing an Old Dream

Kazhakuttam railway station, Trivandrum. 📸 kidseye.jpg Thiruvananthapuram (or Trivandrum) is the capital of my home state, Kerala. If you’re a family member or close friend, you probably already know that I worked there for four years during my not-so-fulfilling IT days, before quitting the field altogether to pursue my love of literature and creative writing. … Continue reading Travel Diaries: 30 Days in Trivandrum – Chasing an Old Dream