6 February 2010, mid-afternoon
You can drink water out of the tap here. That’s how we roll in Toronto. I think it’ll take a few days to get back into the swing of things. Shima is passed out. I’m pretty tired, but am trying to stay up as best I can. Carvill and Mezan are supposed to be coming by shortly with sandwiches from the Stockyards. That’s a good way to start a weak of meat.
Update the Next Morning: Shima and I walked to Starving Artist for an early brunch. It’s strange being back. Toronto has never felt more sparse. The roads are wide and empty. There aren’t people everywhere you look. I’m the only brown person on the street. No one has a moustache. We crossed the road with ease. We got to walk on real sidewalks. The air is clean. There isn’t garbage on the ground. The weather is brisk. Brunch was good.
[2] Life
5 February 2010, terribly early in the morning
We’ve been back in Chennai the last few days. This time around we’ve really explored Pondy Bazaar, the area we are staying. To say it’s hectic would be an understatement. We fly out in a few hours. The flight is at 5:00AM, and we have to be at the airport at 2:00AM. We travel for more or less 24 hours when you add it all up. I think it’s going to suck. India was fun.
Life
31 January 2010, late at night
We have one more day in Bangalore. My parents are visiting some family friends. Shima and her dad are taking naps. I’m surfing on the Internet, something I haven’t been able to do in ages. While we were here Apple announced a giant iPod Touch, and JD Salinger died. I’ve snapped several rolls of film, which will hopefully survive the flight back to Canada. I’ve taken a ton of photos with my digital camera, some better than others. There is almost too much to see here. India continues to astonish.
Life
29 January 2010, terribly early in the morning
Alive and well in Bangalore. Have been for the past few days. It looks like I probably had heat stroke, since once I arrived in the cooler Karnataka state I started to feel much better. Who knows. Bangalore is nuts. Busier than Chennai, with unbelievable traffic. People who can’t shut up about a ‘war on cars’ in Toronto need to come here and see what too many cars does to a city. It’s an absolute mess. Attended a wedding. It was hype. Going to Mysore tomorrow. Was in Puttaparthi the day before. Then back to Chennai to close out the trip.
Life
24 January 2010, terribly early in the morning
Cross your fingers that I’m not totally wrecked tomorrow. Kerela would have been more fun if not for the … sickness. Today I did manage to leave the house, and saw an elephant, so it’s not a total wash.
[1] Life
21 January 2010, early evening
We spent the first 3 days of our trip in Chenna, formally Madras. The city is absolutely insane. There are people all over the place, and cars and motorbikes and auto-rickshaws everywhere you look. The place is pretty dirty. I guess it’s hard to keep a city like that clean without some serious infrastructure spending. The food is good: hot and mostly vegetarian. I don’t know how people don’t get ulcers here. You go for breakfast and get fried bread (poori) to eat with some hot curries. That seems like a bit much so early in the morning. Driving here is incredible. There are basically no lanes, people just drive where they can fit. Everyone uses their horn to signal they are near by. At first I thought people were being ridiculous, but it’s clear there is a method to all the madness. At around 6-7 you start hearing all the car horns, and it’s non-stop till late at night. In Kerela now. And we have to head out.
Life
16 January 2010, early afternoon
I always tell myself that the next time I travel i’ll find someone to post links and other such things here while i’m away. Yet again, I haven’t done that — next time. Shima and I are leaving for South India in a few hours. We get to enjoy a 14 hour flight to Abu Dhabi, and a 4 hour flight to Madras. (Oh dear God.) We’ll be back in 3 weeks.
I really don’t know what to expect with this trip. I have been to South India before, but it was almost 20 years ago now. I can’t say I liked that trip at all. I suspect the country has changed a fair bit since then. I most certainly have.
I’ll probably update the site when I can. See you!
[2] Life