Ponto de Vista

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”>