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Monisha Rajesh

@monisharajesh.bsky.social

Author of Around the World in 80 Trains, Around India in 80 Trains and Epic Journeys Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train published in August

893 Followers  |  222 Following  |  141 Posts  |  Joined: 16.11.2024
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Posts by Monisha Rajesh (@monisharajesh.bsky.social)

Preview
'An Iranian missile landed on him': Sky News speaks to son of expat who died in United Arab Emirates Saleh Ahmed, 55, was delivering drinking water when he was fatally struck by debris after a missile attack on the first day of the war. His son tells Sky News he does not believe his father knew the c...

Victims in our countries seldom get profiled and humanised in Western media. This is a portrait of a life cut short. What a tragedy.

"Saleh Ahmed (55) lived in the UAE as an expat for 25 years, sending under Β£500 per month in earnings to Bangladesh for his wife and four children."

07.03.2026 13:00 β€” πŸ‘ 465    πŸ” 244    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 4
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The asymmetry of the value placed on human life is so striking. Israel has a goal to recover 40-year-old remains; to do so, it invades a sovereign country, and the lives of 26 Lebanese are an afterthought. Their names not even worth printing in the New York Times.

07.03.2026 14:15 β€” πŸ‘ 5283    πŸ” 1803    πŸ’¬ 78    πŸ“Œ 63
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Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.

Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.

01.02.2026 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 67319    πŸ” 16100    πŸ’¬ 2571    πŸ“Œ 1828

I fear my tipping point into madness is "Thus is un-American" posts in response to ICE terrorizing immigrants. I beg you to open Wikipedia (I would say a book but let's start small) and read up on The Trail of Tears, Fugitive Slave Catchers, Japanese internment, Indian Boarding schools & Jim Crow

22.01.2026 12:48 β€” πŸ‘ 4655    πŸ” 1285    πŸ’¬ 206    πŸ“Œ 273
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Start the week with me on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s podcast Spinning Plates - talking trains and travel with kids!
sophieellisbextor.komi.io/podcast/8150...

19.01.2026 09:23 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Lovely! Thanks so much for choosing them.

18.01.2026 22:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade Sadiq Khan says β€˜public health’ approach has made the capital one of the safest cities in the western world London’s murder rate has dropped to its lowest in more than a decade with police in the capital and the mayor saying it is now one of the safest cities in the western world. The figures come as those on the radical right criticise the city for having a crime problem, hoping to gain politically from such claims being believed. Continue reading...

London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade

12.01.2026 06:12 β€” πŸ‘ 431    πŸ” 140    πŸ’¬ 23    πŸ“Œ 58

Bruised but at least the kids are thrilled with the video 😫

11.01.2026 18:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

There’s CCTV footage of me slipping on the icy stairs down to our garden last week while taking the dog out and falling flat on my back. Hideous pain and I also yelled the same. I hope you’re not bruised tomorrow!

11.01.2026 18:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

An absolute pleasure. Thank you for choosing Around the World x

11.01.2026 12:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ah what a lovely message to read. Thank you so much, and lovely to hear you’re taking a few more trains journeys because of it

01.01.2026 01:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes on both accounts! And a happy new year to you Joel

01.01.2026 01:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The staff are wonderful. I really felt for them when I did the trip and I so hope they figure out a long-term solution because the pricing is so off-putting for most people I spoke to.

30.12.2025 08:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ah lovely! And lucky you, god I wish I’d slept on that train. Such a fancy room to waste…

30.12.2025 00:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Moonlight Express! Hope he enjoys it.

28.12.2025 12:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Wonderful! I hope you enjoy the armchair travels. Merry Christmas, Geoff.

26.12.2025 12:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I took my kids to Lapland on the Santa Claus Express – but would the big man deliver? If meeting Santa Claus is on your children’s wishlist, this trip on a festive sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with reindeer and huskies thrown in, is Christmas with jingle bells on

Sleigh rides, sleeper trains and reindeer stew. Here’s my final piece for the year on Finland’s Santa Claus Express!

www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

20.12.2025 09:58 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: David Walliams dropped by publisher over inappropriate behaviour towards women Telegraph investigation into best-selling children’s author uncovers claims that he β€˜harassed’ junior female employees at Harper Collins

Every time there's a breaking story about a celeb's treatment of women, everyone in the book world asks, "Is it finally Walliams?" Well, it finally is.

19.12.2025 16:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3329    πŸ” 769    πŸ’¬ 132    πŸ“Œ 152

It’s cool. I’m fully aware that people like you like to pretend racism wasn’t a huge part of what happened. Because it makes you feel a lot smugger and pleased with yourselves.

17.12.2025 20:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I have absolutely no interest in your opinions. πŸ‘πŸ½

17.12.2025 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The voice chosen for Chimene Suleyman was appalling, and one that sounds nothing like her with deep bias from Radio 4’s producers.

17.12.2025 13:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I would be careful about saying I β€œled a crusade”. You have also neatly omitted Philip Pullman likening us to Isis and the Taliban for critiquing a book that led to endless media abuse and personal racist abuse to us. Your facts are not facts.

17.12.2025 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

And I didn’t know you were here on BlueSky! Thank you so much. If youβ€˜d like any signed copies then my lovely local indie @qpbooks.bsky.social has plenty and will let me know if you’d like one with a dedication too.

14.12.2025 10:24 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Having appeared on it three times, I can 100% confirm that @robinince.bsky.social *IS* the #InfiniteMonkeyCage.

Without him, it doesn’t even exist as a concept πŸ€·πŸΎβ€β™‚οΈ

13.12.2025 14:16 β€” πŸ‘ 82    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

America 250 is going to be unbearable, unless it is celebrated in the only sincere and meaningful way: by a revolution overthrowing tyranny

13.12.2025 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 114    πŸ” 24    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰ Thrilled to be shortlisted for the @stanfordstravel.bsky.social Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award. And in such fine company. Thank you to Stanfords for being such a champion of travel writing. πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

11.12.2025 09:29 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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These Dreamy New Night Trains Take You Straight to the Ski Slopes From the Alps to the Arctic Circle, these new and revived sleeper trains are making it easier than ever to chase powder, adventure, and even the northern lights this winter

I had so much fun writing this piece on sleeper trains and winter night trains in particular. Ever heard of the Doğu Express in Türkiye? If not, then read on.
www.outsideonline.com/adventure-tr...

10.12.2025 10:21 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Also β€œfewer” calories. Sorry that is stressing me out as much as the concept of this. I ate twice the amount when I was breastfeeding. It’s the time to do it!

08.12.2025 17:36 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

LOL! Didn’t notice. I misspell words all the time on social media

07.12.2025 12:50 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0