Author Archives: Varya

Antarctic Vistas

Antarctica Final Days Our last outing in this beautiful white world is to Deception Island, one of the South Shetland Islands, a known stopping off place for whalers in their… Read more »

Whale Tales

Antarctica Days 8-9 What a superlative day!  In the morning, the ship stopped at Recess Cove and we headed out in zodiacs, fully suited for the cold.  We had 2 naturalists with… Read more »

Beauty and Whales

Antarctica Days 5-6 We just returned from our morning zodiac outing into Paradise Bay, the location of the Brown Argentinian research station.   Cold with a moving fog bank that obscured our… Read more »

Kumbh Mela Immersion

This Maha Kumbh Mela is the supreme example of both the power and the absurdity of some religious practices.  The amazing power of belief that will bring people together from… Read more »

Kumbh Mela Time

Every 12 years there is a gathering of the spiritual heads and devotees of various Hindu and related sects in India in Prayagraj, formerly called Allahabad.   And after 12… Read more »

Varanasi Today

I remember Varanasi clearly from 1965 and there is little resemblance today — except for the eternal Ganges river which is its heart and soul.   Urban sprawl has gulped… Read more »