Ponto de Vista

Throwback to four years ago. Google helpfully told me that Istanbul is where Sunanda and I were on this day in 2012. This is the inside of the Yeni Cami at Eminönü … (more…)

Funny stuff in Kreutzberg

Grumpy cat had a message, I was reminded that I cannot wait for the Ab Fab movie, and in dry German fashion, a witty name for a minimalist coffee shop – all in the Kreutzberg area of fun restaurants and a gazillion coffee shops that all smelled good and all seemed full even on a Monday afternoon.

#Berlin #absolutelyfabulous #grumpycat #cafe #street #blog Shared via Instagram http://ift.tt/2ci3VEO and IFFT

A touch of #Portugal in Siolim, Goa – we're in a 350 year old heritage house. There are two rectangular step wells on the property, blooming plants, massage, yoga, Blackie the dog + two turtles. The swimming pool is gorgeous and there's high tea to look forward to. I can't wait to unwind. It's been a long, busy month and I've been racing against the clock with work, launching a new podcast (episode 2 is out today @LSDcast) and then the Goa project #tgp2016, where I was co-managing a track on interactive media. Today is the first day I've had time to breathe! #blog #travel #Heritage #relax #goa

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Feb 20, 2016 at 11:35pm PST

But, first a nap.

Oh, and all the rooms are named after places, our room is Damão, the Portuguese name for Daman.
#blog #travel #Heritage #relax #goa Shared via Instagram http://ift.tt/1oTPQle and IFFT

Sigiriya – mom and mausi and their dodgy knees made it to the top. I, of course, made it to the top — *and halfway up and down* TWICE! Now we're stepified (@achla mausi's joke) Clockwise from the right – the narrow gangway and spiral staircase to see cave painting that I can't understand how the monks reached, plus the mirror wall; the view from the top of the path we came up; us at the pinnacle with the ruins behind us. #blog

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Feb 10, 2016 at 8:22pm PST

Sigiriya. Monastery turned fortress/palace turned monastery –1,200 stairs of which I did several twice (don’t ask) and I have to wonder, how athletic were the monks and courtiers who did this multiple times a day? Or did they just lower baskets down for their groceries? Then I end up wondering about how they found footholds to paint these beautiful (very non-celibate) pictures on the sheer rock face.

Clockwise from the right:
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My aunt and my mother at the Jetavana stupa in Anuradhapura earlier today. We saw … 6 giant stupas today. And now we're stupa-fied! This is the largest in Ceylon, and *maybe* the world, according to the information on site. I don't know what it takes to be sure, but hopefully they'll find out soon? The suspense must be killing them! Okay, I'm tired. I'll stop with the lame jokes. Anyway, it's interesting how different these are in form and size from Sanchi. The old city of Anuradhapura is massive and beautiful. I wanted to plant myself among the verdant overrun ruins and nap. Or read. Or both. #blog

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Feb 8, 2016 at 7:11am PST

Photos from Hathikucchi, one of the four earliest/main Buddhist sites in the country dating back to the 3rd century BCE. We had the entire site to ourselves as we wandered through the ruins and climbed steep rock-hewn stairs. It was stunningly pretty, totally clean, and so quiet save the call of cicadas, the buzzing of a swarm of bees near one of sites (suspended above us in formation, holding steady, you could almost believe they were motionless), and the hoop-hoop cry of coppersmiths somewhere in the foliage. Oh and monkeys and kingfishers, pheasants, turtles, skinks, puppies, and kitties. The site covers more than 300 acres and obviously we couldn't see all the remains, but of did see inscriptions, fragmented stupas, viharas, and niches in the rock caves. No signage all all, but well worth the visit. #trees #nature #SriLanka #wanderlust #travel #beauty #blog

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Feb 7, 2016 at 5:05am PST

With this, Jetwing hotel in Negombo has won #BestHotel EVER in my book. They not only encourage you to pet the #strays but also feed them (away from the bars/restaurants). YES! There are several friendly doggies and kitties around and this official creed of kindness has totally floored me. We need more love in this crazy world, what a lovely place to start. The dogs and cats are cared for by the Dog Star Foundation. Sigh. #Animals #amazing #compassion #beautiful #dogstarred #blog

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Feb 2, 2016 at 6:32am PST

#Animals #amazing #compassion #beautiful #dogstarred #blog | February 02, 2016 at 08:02PM”>

“Yes, I’m up. I am. I’m awake. Really.”
I worked really late last night and the kitties patiently kept me company. Tigger in his usual spot, sprawled on my desk, some part of him behind the screen, Zizi napping in my closet. Or so I thought.
When I finished, Tigger struggled to snap out of his snoozey state; he sat up even, but kept falling back asleep.
Meanwhile, Zizi had not been wasting time napping. She had assiduously shredded all the toilet paper in my bathroom. She likes to perch on the toilet seat lid, balancing on her one hind leg and her tail, and use her front paws to shred maniacally.
Looking mega sheepish, the culprit darted away and hid under the sofa, so I didn’t get a photo of her in action. I did laugh as much as I was annoyed with her.
I thought I’d spare you the view of the loo. Let’s just say it looks like a sci fi film set. There is toilet paper in three rooms. I let it be, she can play with it, but the loo is now totally out of bounds to her. Grr.
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Wheels, doors, toilets. Also sheds filled with: pantry hot plates, wheel shavings, trolleys of bolts, sleeper mattresses, and scrap — at the Central Railways Mechanical Workshop. 26 acres of machines, 7,000 mechanics and engineers. All in the heart of Mumbai. Who knew? @brokentoilets #blog

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Dec 31, 2015 at 1:29am PST

I spent an afternoon poking around the sheds with the engineers while researching a story on the Indian Railways’ mandate to switch from the very unsanitary drop-chute toilets we inherited from the British to zero-waste bio-toilets. It was totally fascinating. I was fully enthralled by all the various maintenance sections and tasks — rakes on elevated tracks, being painted, welded, shunted. All very cool.

And everyone at the Central Railways was delightful. I’ve never dealt with a branch of the government so efficient and eager to help. I’ve come away not only equipped with more respect and understanding for what they do (and how uphill a task it is to cater to our great unwashed junta) but also impressed with the engineers and the CPRO. Ask me about my contrasting *other* experience to really get why I’m so floored. 😉

@brokentoilets #blog Shared via Instagram http://ift.tt/1kvrkEk and IFFT

Today I went into offices at the gorgeous Victoria Terminus (CST) station for the first time. The jali screens on the window, the glowing laterite walls, the curving balustrades…awe-inspiring. I wish I'd had more time. The gargoyles are so cool. Oh, and I took the central line for the first time 😑😇 #blog

A post shared by chhavi sachdev (@chhavi_sachdev) on Dec 30, 2015 at 11:30pm PST