With Ama Adhe and students at Art Refuge, Dharamsala, India 2006

1. Finding myself swarmed with love by two tiny girls on my first day as a volunteer with Art Refuge in Dharamsala
2. Watching the spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling, and marveling at the beauty of nature
3. Going on a camel safari to the Thar Desert outside Jaisalmer, and sleeping on the sand dunes
4. Walking with 10 million pilgrims into Haridwar for the annual Kumbh Mela ritual bath in the Ganga River – the world’s largest spiritual gathering
5. Whale watching on the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
6. Immersing myself in the hot springs on Vancouver Island, an ocean boat ride from Tofino, and noticing that the veil is very thin at this sacred place
7. Falling in love in Delhi and visiting some of the city’s most iconic sites together – Qutab Minar, Raj Ghat, Humayun’s Tomb and Lodhi Garden
8. Taking an early morning boat ride on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, and stopping to barter at the floating market
9. Seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time and feeling the sublime beauty of that eternal landmark
10. Standing at the tip of India, where three oceans meet – and seeing if I could discern the three different colours of the water

This post has been entered into the Grantourismo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition.

Aarti (evening ceremony) during Kumbh Mela Festival in Haridwar, India, 2010

The Kumbh Mela Festival in India

“No,” said the khaki-clad policeman. “You don’t have the right pass.” It took me a moment to grasp that I was not going to be able to join my colleagues on the media platform. The spectacle of hundreds of naga sadhus parading into the centre of Haridwar, India was the pinnacle of the Kumbh Mela, the largest spiritual gathering on earth, and I wanted to see it

That morning, I rose before dawn and walked 13 kilometres into Haridwar with a group from the ashram to take a dip in the Ganges River. It was the most auspicious moment to bathe during the festival, and millions of devotees were streaming into the city to take part.

After bathing, I separating from my ashram group to join my journalism colleagues on the platform. When I was turned away, I was stunned. The sun was climbing in the sky, I didn’t know the route back and the city was completely closed and packed with pilgrims.

Buoyed by the intense devotional energy, I somehow found the winding route back to the ashram. Arriving, I felt exhilarated and realized I would never be the same.

That morning, I discovered the truth and power of ritual. It’s not about the achievement. It’s about how a peak experience can change our idea of who we are and what we are capable of. Which is a lot to get out of a long walk on a hot day in north India.

This post has been entered into the Grantourismo and HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition.