top of page

Soles of a Nomad
Search


The Realities of Travel and Poverty in India
The center of every India city is packed with energy . . . and people Introduction: A Hard Truth on the Road Before we came to India,...

Rand Blimes
May 207 min read


Visiting the Wagah Border Closing: Surreal Spectacle at the India-Pakistan Divide
At the India–Pakistan border near Amritsar, soldiers strut, flags fall, and the crowd roars. The Wagah border ceremony is part dance-off, part military ritual, and all surreal. What’s meant to stir national pride left me more contemplative than triumphant—because travel sometimes shows us how borders divide as much as they define.

Rand Blimes
May 195 min read


The Terrors of Travel and a Trip of Goats: Visiting Pangong Lake in Ladakh
Want to find your zen? Try riding shotgun on a Himalayan cliff road to Pangong Lake. You’ll breathe deeply, pray loudly, and maybe meet a herd of baby goats. This is travel in Ladakh at its wildest.

Rand Blimes
May 185 min read


Nuts and Bolts: Travel Tips for Visiting Varanasi
A guide to Varanasi, India’s sacred and chaotic masterpiece—complete with a sunrise boat ride, cremation ghats, lassi breaks, and one heavy-hitting river.

Rand Blimes
May 168 min read


A Confession at the Gates: Tips for Photographing the Taj Mahal
In a morally questionable sprint through the gates of the Taj Mahal, I left my family behind to chase the holy grail of travel photography: a crowd-free shot of India’s most iconic monument. This is my confession. And yes, the photos were worth it.

Rand Blimes
May 123 min read


Nuts and Bolts: Travel Tips for Visiting Madurai, India: Where a Bathroom Briefly Made My Wife Famous
A family travel guide to Madurai, India—temples, chaos, dosa, rooftop views, and a surprising brush with fame. Because travel.

Rand Blimes
May 88 min read


Arriving in Madurai, or How India Got Our Groove Back
From bureaucracy to breathtaking temples, our arrival in Madurai reminded us why we travel. One night in India, and we found our travel smile again.

Rand Blimes
May 75 min read
bottom of page