Shopping in a War Zone

Turquoise Mountain Foundation Compound Kabul Afghanistan 6:58 a.m. A quiet dawn here in the compound. The sun is back after a day or two of rain—somehow the cold here seeps quickly into one’s bones, even now that it’s already well into springtime. I hear the winters here are harsh, partly because with the little woodstoves often…

Landing in Kabul

Turquoise Mountain Foundation Compound Kabul Afghanistan 6:30 a.m. OK, a few too many thoughts rollicking around my noggin as I awaken here on my first morning in Afghanistan. In no particular order: First, the obvious: we arrived safely on the Afghan national airline, Ariana (a/k/a “Scariana”), no worries. All is well.

A Week in Radhe Radhe Land

A few scattered thoughts looking back on a week spent in Vrindavan, the sacred land of Lord Krishna’s youthful exploits. We are now back in Delhi, at the Abracadabra Guest House complete with A/C, half-decent electricity (supplemented by our new maha Voltage Stabilizer and power strip!), finishing up work and regrouping for departure soon for…

To Afghanistan

Abracadabra GH, Delhi After all the thinking and weighing and wondering and absorbing global concern about it, it’s time: we are going to Afghanistan today. The taxi to Indira Gandhi International Airport arrives in about half an hour, so this’ll be a quick note.

Free Tibet ~ Beijing Out of Lhasa

Delhi 9:30 p.m. Arrived last night back in Delhi. The street just outside my little guest house here in downtown Delhi is, same as last year, ripe with street protests about all manner of social ills. Today’s vibrant protest reflects what has, here in India, been the top story on the front pages of every national…