What the Cyclone Didn’t Wash Away
Sri Lanka – Three months after Cyclone Ditwa, I set off to see a waterfall from Instagram, with its suspended bridge. Both were gone. But with Samee and his wife, my disappointment turned into a human odyssey: a Hindu kovil, an animist sanctuary, planting trees, and the mist of Riverstan. Sri Lanka, rising again.
A Journey to the Lisu (2023)
Two days with the Lisu people taught me to forget what I knew and watch with fresh eyes. A strict ethical orientation made me a better tourist through ethical immersion. From tangerine farms to Akipu Café, we learned not only to observe but also to support the local economy. It was a journey uphill, full of joy and mindful travel.
Bhutan – White Scarves and Closed Doors
Bhutan welcomed me with white scarves and open arms—then reminded me I’d always be an outsider. A week of curry, cracked skin, and frozen mornings, between generosity and sudden rejection. More than a journey, a lesson in contrasts.
Bhutan – Clinging to the Mountain, Clinging to My Dream: The Tiger’s Nest
Teaching in Thimphu in 2013, I spent months fighting for permission to hike Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest. The reward: two breathless hours on switchbacks, prayer flags snapping overhead, and a legend involving a flying tigress. At 3,120 meters, faith stops being a metaphor.
The Tattooed Women of Chin State
In Myanmar’s Chin State (2011 and 2017), I met the last tattooed-faced women. Between river villages and hilltop towns, I encountered friendly, funny elders who had turned their once-feared tattoos into a source of pride.
Cheraw: The Bamboo Dance of the Mizo
Discover the Cheraw, the traditional Bamboo Dance of the Mizo people, through its history, symbolism, and cultural significance. Based on my journey to Chin State, Myanmar, in 2019, this article explores a fascinating living tradition shared across the highlands of India and Myanmar, illustrated with photographs and videos.
Riding Into Chin Country
Chin Hills in Myanmar: a land of raw beauty and steep, rocky climbs. Alone on a motorbike, climbing into Myanmar’s Chin Hills, I was scared, though I’d never admit it then. Between churches perched on ridges, a quiet temple under the stars, and beers shared with the customs officer, fear slowly turned into something else. Ride along, all the way…
Fur and Stillness: My Unexpected Panda Encounter
I went to Chengdu to see giant pandas. I came back thinking about a russet ghost I never actually saw — and about everything that hides in plain sight when you’re not looking for it.
Sri Lanka 2002 : The Call of the East
In 2002, a trip to Sri Lanka changed everything. Between sanitized hotels and authentic encounters, I discovered my love for Asia: crowded trains, hidden temples, and resilient humanity. This journey awakened in me the call for immersive travel, far from mass tourism. Today, I still live in Asia.
Faith through women’s eye
A chair needs four legs; faith needs all voices. Today, we walked with women who’ve kept ancient traditions alive—Theravāda bhikkhunīs, Catholic nuns, and Hindu swaminis—carrying wisdom as old as their paths. Their message was clear: spirituality isn’t gendered. It’s balanced. As the Kularnava Tantra teaches, ‘Without Shakti, Shiva cannot even stir.’
Bhikkhunī – Fully Ordained Female Monk
This text recounts my encounter with the bhikkhunīs, fully ordained Buddhist women. Combining personal narrative, ancient history, and contemporary realities in Thailand, it describes their origins at the time of the Buddha, their disappearance, and their modern revival, as well as the struggle of figures like Dhammananda for the recognition of nuns.
The Interfaith Pilgrimage of Wat Ket
On September 13, 60 participants—students and faculty from Payap University and local community members—walked through Chiang Mai’s Wat Ket neighborhood. This interfaith pilgrimage brought together temples, churches, mosques, and shrines, creating a day of shared learning, dialogue, and spiritual connection.
A trishaw in Sagaing
Sagaing, the once-forgotten former capital of Myanmar, is now a peaceful town, home to nearly two thousand monks and nuns. But that’s not the story I want to tell you. Instead, I’d like to share a travel anecdote — a personal journey across these sacred hills, drawn from three visits through time. And while you may escape a history lesson,…
In the Footsteps of Queen Malika in MaeAi
Born in 1588, the Year of the Dragon, Malika was the daughter of the King and Queen of Fang. Heir to a kingdom in turmoil, she ruled over the region that now bears her name. In her citadel, inhabited primarily by women, she trained and led an army of brave warrior women who defended the city against invaders.
A Monk Ordination
On January 5, 2025, I am invited to attend a Buddhist monk ordination. I have witnessed ordinations before, but this is the first time I will be participating from start to finish as an invited guest, rather than just a passing spectator. It is a great honor for me. Dr. Kenneth, a professor at Payap University’s Peacebuilding faculty, is one…
The Chiang Mai Pilgrimage: An Interfaith Walk
On the morning of January 8, 2025, the air is crisp in Chiang Mai. We gather in front of the Gymkhana Club. One by one, the participants arrive—former students, teachers, and members of local communities—all ready to embark on this unique walk. The idea is simple: to connect different places of worship on foot, creating a symbolic link between these…
The artisans of monk bowls
Let’s explore the alleyways of old Bangkok, where the artisan community of Ban Bat resides. In this neighborhood, artisans uphold a centuries-old tradition by handcrafting the iconic monk bowls. These bowls, utilized by Buddhist monks to receive food offerings, embody the elegance of traditional craftsmanship in Bangkok. The Morning Alms Walk with Monks Every morning, at sunrise in Thailand, a…
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