Father Michael V.C. (Vincentian Congregation) He presided over the week-long retreat that I attended in Chalakudy (Kerala), at the Divine Retreat Centre - the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world with a capacity of tens of thousands. I arrived late after giving up the first day for the wedding. It was a foolish sacrifice that meant I got there at midnight on Sunday. But I had a good week nonetheless. Father Michael is a very charismatic priest, only in ...

Manu (Unien - Little Brother) It took 4 buses to go inter-state to reach Manathavady, on the edge of the Kerala district of Wayanad and a fifth to get to the capital of the region, Kalpetta though I was told there was a direct bus originally. Lesson to learn: never trust someone's knowledge of the bus timetable. Either the bus doesn't exist or the timings are irrelevant here! Still, the journey between the two picturesque regions of Coorg and Wayanad was itself...

Father Charles Onto Coorg finally. The Tibetan Golden Temple in Kushalnagar was my first stop. Exquisite. There, I met Pempa Tshering, a monk who almost convinced me to stay the night and participate in meditation there. He showed me some of the ways of praying in Buddhism, using wheels built into the walls that circle the back area of the temple grounds. Large spinning wheels were also in various buildings for people to spin while in meditation and a long cir...

Father William At the bus station in Bangalore, I was in two minds about my next journey. On the one hand, I was drawn to the tranquility of Coorg, an area recommended to be by Arunima and Nishant for its natural beauty. On the other, I was seduced by the promise of Dasara (Dussehra) in Mysore, a Hindu festival that was THE festival of South India. Dasara draws a huge crowd of thousands annually. I decided to let providence take charge. It led me to a bus head...

Tanvi I was worried about my first overnight train journey alone, going from Mumbai to Bangalore, but when I was introduced to Tanvi, her kind, sincere face instantly calmed by nerves. She too was unused to the lone journey and I found myself bonding with her instantly. She was innocent, open and generous. I admired her warmness to everyone. Before eating anything, she would offer her food to those around. She engages in conversation with anyone and has an unr...