Tag: writing
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Discovering Mindfulness in Madagascar’s Countryside
Discover inner peace in Madagascar’s quiet highlands, where rolling hills and red earth paths offer profound solitude away from city noise. A personal journey of self-discovery in rural Madagascar’s understated countryside.
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Why Investing in Experiences is Priceless
The Moment I Almost Didn’t Click “Book Now” My cursor hovered over the button for a solid five minutes. The total at the bottom of the screen kept staring back at me, unblinking: three months in Madagascar, comprehensive itinerary from Antsirabe to Toliara, internal flights, guides, accommodations – the number was eye-watering. I’d just wrapped…
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Discovering True Relaxation: Lessons from My Grandfather
A retiring UN official discovers the difference between managing stress and actually relaxing after 30 years in international diplomacy. Lessons from the Seychelles on finding peace.
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What I Love About the Place I Live
A Madagascar-based professional shares why island life beats city living, from lemur interruptions to cyclone innovations. At dawn, while I was preparing for meditation, my colleague Asina calls out. An unidentified creature, resembling a hybrid of a tiny lemur and a rat, materialized on the veranda of the bungalow. We had rented it for the…
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Discovering Adventure: My Tsingy de Bemaraha Experience
Last week at Tsingy de Bemaraha in Madagascar, I discovered something unexpected about myself. I actually enjoy being scared or was it the adventure that I enjoyed.
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The Joy of Writing: Connecting Thoughts and People
What do you enjoy most about writing? Some years ago someone asked me this question over coffee, and I found myself stumbling over the answer. This wasn’t because I don’t love writing. It was because isolating what I love most felt like trying to pick a favorite star. It is a combinations of things that…
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The One Travel Habit That Brings Me Joy: How Mindful Discovery Transforms Every Journey
I don’t rush when I travel anymore. Used to sprint between tourist spots, checking boxes off itineraries like a completion fanatic. But something shifted after too many trips where I remembered the monuments but forgot the moments. Now I have one rule: find something worth noticing and actually notice it.
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The Power of Authentic Friendships in Professional Life
Discover why authenticity trumps all other friendship qualities through personal stories from island life to international conference rooms.
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What I’m Really Curious About After 30 Years of International Work
Don’t wait until you’re shaking in a conference room to realize that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential for doing the work that matters.
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Rethinking Development Strategies: Lessons from Mananjary
Sometimes the most important development lessons aren’t found in best practice guides or evaluation reports. Sometimes they’re found in a wooden canoe on a quiet canal. They involve learning to read the currents instead of fighting against them.
L J Padayachy 