Through the eyes of Pramod
I will never understand Varanasi, this ancient city of spirituality, holiness and all things that are human. But I feel as though I’ve been given a glimpse of what this […]
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A Glimpse of Holiness in the Himalayas
They came in minivans, lorries and motorbikes. Some piled into the back of pick-up trucks. Some crammed into Hyundais and Suzukis, clutching prayer beads or Tibetan prayer wheels. Some walked […]
» Read moreI am I Said
The first time I went to Australia was in July 1966 to meet my father’s family. Last Thursday I came back for the second time – to rediscover the family I had lost touch with for 47 years. And to meet relatives I didn’t know existed. It was the cu…
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Nghiep’s wisdom: a banquet for the psyche
When I speak with my friend Nghiep about life’s priorities – family, friends, love, living well and achieving happiness – it’s like a fledgling monk talking to a Zen master. A high school golfer seeking putting tips from Tiger Woods. Or a culinary…
» Read moreIn Cambodia, a lonely man finds a bride
An American guy and his British wife are playing slot machines at a casino in Phnom Penh on a Saturday night. A maintenance worker from Rhode Island named Don sits down at the machine next to them, asks for help in figuring out how to play, and st…
» Read moreFootprints in the sand – a VIA retrospective
The longtail boat slices through the inky waters of the Kampot River as a full moon silhouettes palm trees which line the shores, a lunar eclipse taking a bite of the brilliant orb at about seven o’clock on the dial. I lie on my back in the boat’s…
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