A 5.3 kg Sol (Spotted Murrel) was hooked by our resident fishing guide Andy, in the gullies below Basunti.
Normally, all fish of this size are returned, as they are breeding stock.
As this fish, however, was hooked so deep, we had no choice but to eat it…
Basunti yoga retreat, India
October 17-24th, 2013
It was 10 weeks since departing Sydney and my journey was coming to an end (rapidly!) I had just one last week left to immerse myself in yoga, find peace and prepare myself for the return to reality and I am so so grateful that I had […]
Before traveling to India we weren’t quite sure what our volunteer roles would be at Basunti but we soon settled into a gentle routine. Before the guests arrived we took the opportunity to get to know the place and the lovely Basunti team. We dug up beds of ginger and potatoes ready for the groups […]
One thing that always surprises me about my everyday life is how disconnected I am from nature. I am disconnected in big ways: we are wreaking havoc on the planet. I am also disconnected in smaller but important way: I work in the arts and value aesthetics but during a recent drive I was […]
This hornet (wasp?) has taken to building its mud house, on the main veranda next to the dartboard. The whole structure consists of about twelve separate cells, which the Hornet then packed with caterpillars, that she had stung and paralysed. She then laid one egg in each cell before closing it up and moving […]
The Java Plum Tree, which was grown from a seed. This was flicked into a bed six years ago, when Raju and Rajinder were having tea and eating Jamuns. Jamun is the local name for the fruit and the tree this year is producing huge quantities. The fruit looks and is about the same […]
Bindis is the local name for Okra, a bed of which I planted about three months ago. This is now almost two metres high and has been cropping almost continuously for the last six weeks. I have tried every possible way of cooking them, baked, stuffed, fried, steamed and sautéed in various sauces. The […]
The first of the Monsoon rains arrived at Basunti about ten days ago and since then it has been fairly consistent. Two to three days of hot and sticky weather, then a torrential downpour, accompanied by the usual spectacular sound and light show. This is nothing compared to what is happening in The Gharwal […]
As culturally diverse as the subcontinent is large, India’s northern realms offer stunning photographic opportunities for beginners and seasoned shooters alike. Join us in this very special photography exploration of the varied cultures, landscapes and cityscapes which together make this unspoiled region of India so unique.
Designed for beginners and experienced photographers alike, this […]
Throughout my stay at Basunti, there was to be one jewel in the ever so sparkly crown which I was truly looking forward to like a child waiting for Christmas Day. It was the trip to a distant Indian village, named Barot, which we were told by David was completely off the tourist map, […]
