Varanasi is India at its extreme: most colourful, exotic, exciting, spiritual and chaotic. Located in the middle range of Ganges in Northern India, it is the most spiritual city in India and the oldest in Inida if not in the whole world. Mark Twin remarked "Varanasi" is older than history, older than tradition, older even… Continue reading life and death in Varanasi

I found Mumbai fascinating. It’s a city of extremes: it’s the country’s economic powerhouse with an emerging and increasingly sophisticated middle class; it boasts a vibrant art and literary scene and some stunning colonial buildings (with their fading elegance). It is also plagued by badly congested traffic, diseases and shocking poverty. In fact, half of… Continue reading Mumbai – a city of extremes

The second day in Delhi turned out even better. I spent a few happy hours shopping at market full of beautiful and colourful shawls, handicrafts and textiles. Usually, shopping isn’t my favorite activity. But when it comes to buy lovely, exotic and of course, affordable handicrafts, I become a compulsive shopper. In the early evening,… Continue reading My Second Day in Delhi – my two dinners

There’s something special about the first days in a new city. Like first love. Your senses are highlighted, you mind alive in anticipation and your heart soaring. I just enjoyed my first two days here, full of interesting little twists and turns. On day one, my task was to sort out my travel arrangement to… Continue reading my first day in New Delhi

Police Violence Against Working Girls By Zhang Lijia During one recent afternoon, ten “working girls” gathered at the office of an NGO (Non-Government Organization) in a northern Chinese city, one of the few in the country that has dedicated itself to female sex workers. I took part as an advisor to the organization. The girls,… Continue reading police violence against the working girls in China, published in South China Morning Post, 13 Dec. 2012