To feast at weddings, rub charas, and be festive with the Hindu gods. [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] Monthly Mood: ’Tis The Season [su_spacer size=”20″] New content… new About page old about page made into a post: About Vivian Alive TBT: Diwali Delights [su_spacer size=”40″] Happy 11 11(: After seven shaves last year, my hair turns… Read More


Celebrating today’s Diwali with ghee lamps floating on the Rishikesh Ganges and old writing from Diwali 2020. [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] Diwali Delights Day 1010 14 November 2020 Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India My first Diwali injects me with an unexpected shot of nostalgia. The Hindu holiday is a blend of the Halloweens and Independence… Read More


“Finally,” I thought to myself, “back on track with Monthly Moods out on the 11th.” How foolish I was. October 11th would have me living India instead of writing about it. Life creates the content. I just edit. [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] Monthly Mood: Good Company Comes In All Shapes [su_spacer size=”25″] New content: Falling… Read More


Everything makes me smile. Somehow I have my doubts that it would make you, the reader, smile, but I catch myself smiling to myself about the thick spider that dwells in my toilet paper roll with its monolithic size and very visible pincers. [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] This delayed post regards the events between August… Read More


[su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”30″] [su_spacer size=”30″] July saw many a coconut-cream extraction. [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”30″] [su_spacer size=”30″] Artistic release before departing Dharamshala. Samples of basil cashew cream cheese (it’s raw! it’s vegan!) prove to be a hell of a crowd pleaser. Thank you Anastasia for the feather earring <3 [su_spacer… Read More


Once upon a time a Punjabi boy visited Manikaran, a holy hamlet of India that was especially venerated by followers of Sikhism. When the boy was hungry he found a local tea stall. He bit into the steamy, crispy layers of a stuffed flatbread and his life was transformed forevermore. [su_spacer size=”30″] [su_spacer size=”25″] Love… Read More


A much needed trip update on the self-growth and life lessons of 189 days spent in COVID-19 lockdown. [su_spacer size=”30″] [su_spacer size=”30″] When COVID-19 had international borders sealed shut and I committed myself to India, I surrendered all notions of having plans. I opted to not go back to my birth country and instead chose… Read More