In Nilgiri mountain range of South India reside a number of traditional tribal communities. The Irula, Paniyam, Kota and Badaga people are some of the many tribal groups that inhabit the area, among whom the Toda community is the most remarkable.
In the panchayat town of Thiruparakundram, one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan the celebrations of the Thaipusam festival are afoot.
One of the many attractions in India are the festivals. One cannot come to India and not be a spectator or involved in some type of festivity.
First impressions are very important. To describe my first impressions of India I will use three words; dirty, noisy, smelly. Such a description hardly lends itself to an appealing image. But as usual with first impressions, they can often be misleading.
Editor: Catherine McMasterHead of editorial redesign: Catherine McMaster Writer: Catherine McMaster
Babbo Natale* is not seated in an eccentric grotto. He’s not surrounded by glorious, svelte elves handing out candy. He’s not fat or loveably pudgy. He doesn’t even bellow ‘ho ho ho’.
I am sitting at the watered won British-Lebanese chain restaurant Comptoir Libanais. It’s one of the better chain restaurants that Britons favour, as it actually has some individuality flavour.
Living abroad, the prospect of heading home for a sabbatical is joyous. Yet, when you live on the other side of the world from your hometown there’s something quite anxiety-ridden about journeying back for a once-a-year trip (for that’s what money and time can only afford). Existing and prospering away from your home is unnatural. It’s not normal to suddenly…
Living in a foreign city is exciting, pulsating, saturating, taxing and exhausting.
I’ve lived in two.
Milan; Fashion. Economy. Italian glitterati jet-flying set. The original seat of fascism. Imposing architecture. WWII. The Last Supper.