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3/31/2006 The Day AfterWow. Wow. Wow.
All I can say is Wow. The last two days of Wedding celebrations was so much fun. I will definitely write more soon. But for now, I just wanted to let you know that everything went great. Raj and Pari are now happily married and the both families have had so much fun over the past couple days. Weddings truly are great times for the entire family to get together and being here in India has really been special. Especially because my mom and dad are both the babies in their families so this is their first wedding and now they are mother and father-in laws! I am getting teased left right and centre about me being next but for now, I am just soaking it all in. Can't wait to show you all the pictures.
Speaking of pics, I've updated a couple albums (the Mount Abu/Udaipur album) and added some new ones going until March 24 (stuff from Mumbai and Pune). 3/29/2006 Wedding Prep in PuneIt's about noon on Wednesday March 29. Tomorrow is Raj and Pari's wedding. All the planning. All the time spent preparing. And now, the big day is almost here. I can't believe that the big celebration is already tomorrow. It is gonna be so much fun! I think it's gonna be tough to just sit back and soak it all in. But, we'll do the best we can. I think we'll be smiling all day.
And the other crazy thing is that my time in India is almost over. I'll be leaving in less than a week. And then my Australia/New Zealand expedition begins. India has definitely flown by. I think I might need to come back sooner rather than later cause there is just so much to see/do here. And I've been meeting so many great people.
Raj and Pari arrived last Saturday and since they got here, it's been a mix of family outings, eating, shopping, eating, a little sleep, eating and more shopping. So many clothes, jewelery, etc to buy for the next couple days. I've picked up some nice kurtas and we are still looking for a couple sherwanis. Pari, her mom and my mom have all gotten some really nice saris as well. On Saturday night, the Gokhale side (my dad's brothers and sisters and all their family) had a big "Kelvaan" for us. Basically, it's an engagement party/pooja where the whole family comes together to celebrate. The food was fantastic and it was just so great to be with so much family. There were close to 40 people there and all the kids, grandkids were running around - just a blast. After, we hit the nightlife of Mumbai. Found a couple lounges/dance clubs and had a really fun evening. It was just like partying back home except it was primarily hindi music but it was just so fun and the vibe was great.
We are here in Pune now and this is where all the wedding celebrations will be going on. Pune is still quite Marathi so it's good cause I can communicate with shop keepers or rickshaw drivers (although they can tell I'm not a local as soon as I speak). Pari has almost all of her family here in Pune so there are tonnes of people to hang out with and they have all been so nice and hospitable. In Pune, there are tonnes of students cause there are a few universities here. Thus, there are lots of coffee shops, cafes and nice restaurants. I actually had pizza the other day (from Pizza Hut). It was almost like back home except they didn't use as much sauce so it was quite dry. Last night, Raj, Pari, Nav and I went to some place called Not Just Jazz by the Bay. It was a cheesy TGIF-style place with a Karaoke bar - definitely very entertaining.
Unfortunately, I have gotten sick over the past couple days. Have a sore throat and a slight cough. I am gonna try to rest up this afternoon cause tonight and tomorrow are gonna be quite busy. The other crappy thing is that my camera is slightly broken. It accidentally fell a couple weeks ago. I can still take all my pictures but the toggle switch to go from photo mode to movie mode to display mode is busted. So, I can't take movies or view my pictures after they have been taken. I am gonna try to get this fixed but I'm getting the run around here in India so I might wait until Sydney. We'll see how it goes. I do need to upload a bunch of photos soon though. I owe you guys plenty of snaps.
3/22/2006 Life back in Mumbai and PuneBeen back in Mumbai and Pune for the last 6 days. My parents arrived last Thursday and ever since they got here, it's been non-stop action, primarily all shopping related and visiting relatives. In Mumbai, we are staying at my cousin's old flat which has proved to be very good because it's our own space and we can come and go as we please without disrupting others schedules. All is great except those stinken locks on the door. I am getting better at it but wow, the first few times it took like 10 minutes to get inside The highlight of my parents arrival last week has to be when my mom went to see her mom (aaji). My mom has four older brothers so she is the baby of the family and the only girl. So, I'm sure there is a special connection b/w her and my grandmother. Seeing the smile/joy on aaji's face was just magic. I got some great pics that I'll upload when I get a chance. Another great highlight from last week was that my dad was a celebrity. My uncle arranged for my dad do be interviewed for a television show last week. It's a Marathi show called "Sanvad" on ETV and the host is a gentlemen named Raju Parulekar. The interview was all about the Marathi literary magazine Ekata that my dad started over 25 years ago. We joke that it's basically like his 3rd child because the time/energy he pours into it but he really loves it and is really good at it. The interview went very well and it was nice to see him get the recognition he deserves for all of his HARD WORK for our community. I think my mom also needs to be awknowledged for her work on the magazine too because every 3 months, in addition to her regular job and housework, she spends a lot of time on the magazine too. It is getting HOTTER and HOTTER here in India by the day. Today was about 37 or 38 degrees. It's interesting though because the heat in Mumbai and Pune is quite different. In Mumbai, you just move an inch and you sweat a bucket. In Pune, you don't sweat. It's like a perpetual sauna. I actually think I prefer the heat in Pune because although it's like an oven, its definitely not as humid (mainly cause we aren't near any body of water). Pune has gotten very cosmopolitan. Several IT and Software companies are propping up here and construction is always going on. There are new roads and buildings (office, commercial and residential). The problem however (that I hear from many people who used to live here) is that it is getting TOO congested now. There are a lot of new students that have come to Pune from all over India and now it is getting way too crowded (like Mumbai). Marathi is becoming less and less the major language and Hindi is on the rise. Traffic is just a whole different discussion on it's own ;o) There are also tonnes of restaurants in Pune with excellent food. Speaking of food, I think I mentioned in my last post that I am getting kinda sick of Indian food. Well, it's official now. I am definitely craving some sushi, thai green curry, pizza or Johnny's Hamburgers. We'll see what I can do about this... I LOVE Indian food but just not every day, twice a day (for lunch and dinner) if you know what I'm saying... I saw a Hindi movie with my cousin Last week. We watched Taxi 9211. A pretty good movie. I would have enjoyed it so much more if I knew Hindi or if there were English subtitles. I definitely got the general understanding of the movie but what I missed were all of the local jokes/references that were said in Hindi. So the whole theatre was laughing and I was just sitting there. Overall though, I enjoyed it so when you get a chance to see it, you should check it out. Next on the list is Rang De Basanti - apparently a must see so I'll let you know. 3/16/2006 Jaipur - the pink jewel of RajasthanThe last couple days in Jaipur were great. Jaipur is Rajasthan's capital so as a result, it is the cultural, business and entertainment hub. There is a lot to see and do there and some amazing sites to check out as well. Birla Temple (a mixture of Hindu, Jain and Muslim architecture) is very beautiful. And the Amber Fort (and City Palace) are sites to behold, so grand in size and stature. Jantar Mantar is an observatory that explains astrological situations and it also helps us tell the date/time. Unfortunately, it was overcast and raining that day so we couldn't see or experience everything the way we wanted to. I took the overnight train from Jaipur last night and arrived back here in Mumbai this morning at 8:00 am. I was sitting in First Class on this train because there were no more seats in two-tier AC. Sharing my bunk was a 62 year old "career traveller" named Yanni. He was a Greek gentleman, very soft spoken but quite funny. He has been to EVERY continent (except Antarctica) and has been to India 27 out of the last 30 years. I asked him what keeps him coming back to India and he couldn't really pinpoint one thing. Instead, he said it was just the "feeling" he gets when he's in India. There is a certain spiritual feeling he gets from the people and the way of life here. He was a very interesting man and just such a free spirit. Totally enjoying life and now that he's getting older, he gets tired easily and needs to take more rest so he travels first class and flies when he can because it's much more comfortable. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention. In addition to Yanni. I had another roomate on the train last night - a mouse. Some other people saw him too so I think he must have been scurrying around the entire train. Anyway, I was all paranoid when I went to bed but in the end, I fell asleep just fine (listening to a little Kanye and Jack Johnson on the iPod) Before I go, I must tell you about the most fun I had yesterday. Yesterday was Holi. Check out the link to find out more. This was my first time every celebrating Holi with all the colours and the full experience. It was such a blast! I was in the right city for it too but unfortunately, I didn't have enough time because otherwise, I would have loved to go to the main city centre to see all the people (locals and foreigners) getting in on the action (and join in myself). Apperantly the people out in the crowds and streets don't use good colour though (they are full of chemicals and can permanently stain or cause damage) so you have to be careul when participating in big crowds or with strangers. Happy Holi Everyone! 3/12/2006 ups and downs from Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Ajmer and PushkarThe last few days of the tour have improved. On Saturday, a few of us decided to split off from the tour for the day and hired our own private car to take us around Udaipur for a few hours. We got to take a lake cruise which was really nice and saw the Lake Palace up close. We also went to Jag Mandir where some famous people have had their wedding ceremonies. Quite a lavish set up! I was (of course) getting teased that I should have my wedding here some day (and of course all my tour comrades expect to be invited) ;o) On Saturday, I also did A LOT of shopping - got all sorts of cool stuff including some amazing art. We visited this art college that specializes in Rajasthani folk art and is all hand made. The pieces were really beautiful - definitely more than what I thought I would pay (but definitely less than what I would pay if I had bought that in North America - as is almost everything here. Our taxi driver was pretty good - told us a lot, got us to try some local Udaipur delicacies. It was quite amusing though cause every place he took us - he definitely knew the people who worked there (and I'm sure got some sort of a commission).
At night, we returned to the resort only to find a "private party" so to speak going on. Some local pharmaceutical company had rented out the space for a party for all of their workers. It was quite rowdy with all these girls dancing to Bollywood songs and the guys getting drunker and drunker. I was told that this was banned in Mumbai. It's something called a Dance Bar and I guess would be similar to a strip club back home. Only difference is that no clothes come off (but I think the men try to solicite the ladies/girls after and througout the night...) All of the aunties/uncles were quite disgusted with what was going on. I was just laughing histerically at the guys who continually went on the stage to dance with the girls cause they were really funny.
Yesterday, I saw Chittaurgarh (it's an old city enclosed by a fort). The history and stories were amazing. I've got some great pics as well. There was a victory tower (9 stories high) that I climbed in the dark. Also, there were tonnes of wild monkeys running around which was kinda cool. We got to wear traditional Rajasthani clothes as well so that added to the experience. At night, we arrived in Ajmer - a very religious city for Muslims. We went to a mosque at night (which is one of the holiest Muslim pilgrimmages in the world outside of Mecca). It was quite a site (so many people) but the poverty was really disheartening. Especially the kids. We were warned before going to leave all valuables (wallets, phones, cameras, etc) at the hotel because there is a lot of theft that goes on. Also, so many beggars and people looking for anything. It's so hard to say no to these people - you just have to ignore them but sometimes, they are so persistant - it is unbelievable. One girl was running along our horse drawn cart for close to 3 or 4 minutes - finally someone found some money to give her. I wish I could help them all but there are just too many so what can you do. Once you give to one (unless it's discreet), you will be hounded by all.
Right now, I am in Pushkar - a very holi place for Hindus. There is a Lake here with holy properties. I just did darshan here and received blessings. It was quite a cool experience and at first, I was definitely feeling like it was quite genuine. The guide who was taking me around then (I think) coerced me into giving more donation than I should have also some for him and his family. The more I think about it - I question out loud if what he was doing/saying was legit or not. Perhaps I shouldn't be such a skeptic... I also know that I am a lot more fotunate than most of these people so in the end, if I end up giving them more than I should - it's probably okay. It's just the principle because I'd rather it go to people who need it more than others...
Off to Jaipur now - more site seeing, shopping (and sleeping on the bus) awaits.
3/11/2006 and the tour takes a turn...Hi everyone. I am sitting here in Udaipur on a Saturday afternoon. It's VERY HOT today. Definitely the hottest it's been so far. Actually, the last few days in Rajasthan were very cool and at night, it felt almost like Toronto. It's also rained for the past couple days on and off throughout the evening. The tour itself isn't going as well anymore. Mainly, it's because the organizers are quite lazy and not really up for doing anything "over the top" to make the experience that much more memorable. I had my reservations about going on a tour in the first place and now, they've been confirmed. I guess finding the right tour is better too. One more geared towards my age group and my type of tourism/adventure. We have wasted almost 2 full days in transit now not "seeing or doing" anything. So a 9 day/8 night tour is actually more like a 6 day "site-seeing" tour with a bunch of other wasted time. The food quality has also not been as great over the past few days. I'm not sick or anything so that is good (knock on wood) but let's hope everything stays that way. Also, the hotel we are staying at here in Udaipur is SO FAR from the city (40 minute drive) and it runs on solar energy so the power isn't great and often goes out. There is little hot water for showers as well. The only advantage of being so far out and having lots of space is that it is more "resort-like" and has lots of space so there is a vollyball court, squash court, ping pong table and we even played cricket the other day. The adults on this tour are still constantly teasing me about my Marathi and all the wedding jokes. It's amusing but can get tiresome after a while.
It's funny - whenever I see other foreigners on this trip, I have the inclination to speak with them and find out what they are doing, what they've seen etc. I've run into 3 different people now --- Megumi (a Japanese girl), Simon (an English guy) and Kristina (a Kiwi girl). All of them recently quit/left their jobs to travel. Megumi is especially interesting because she has been to India 6 times (she's my age). Ever since seeing a Bollywood movie about 10 years ago, she became VERY interested in the Indian culture and wanted to experience it first hand. She's done most of her traveling solo as well which is quite interesting and courageous.
I wonder to myself if India on a whole has changed much since I last visited 4 years ago. It's weird cause I really don't think it has. Although I was telling my cousin that I thought there were actually less homeless people in Mumbai this time around (but maybe that's just cause the Municipality is pushing them out of direct view back into the slums or something). Whenever I do/see anything "western" or "foreign" - whether it's an internet cafe, listening to my ipod or watching a movie - I tend to forget where iIam. Then, I get back outside and I see the real India and remember that among all these Western luxuries lies the crazyness of this country. I have tried to take pics of many of these observations but sometimes, a picture just isn't possible. So instead, the memories will last inside and I'll have to share the stories.
This "sticky" keyboard is getting annoying. I'll try to write more later (but Internet is scarse right now).
3/8/2006 from the foothills of Rajasthan...I'm sitting in an Internet cafe in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. This place is definitely a welcome change from life in Mumbai. I arrived yesterday (after taking an overnight train on Monday). The two places totally contrast each other from the standpoint of crowds, cleanliness and climate. There are no where near the same amount of people here as there are in Mumbai (but this is also a very small community). As a result of less crowding, it is generally cleaner. But where cleanliness also makes a difference is in the air. Walking around here (especially since it's a hill station), you can immediately tell that the climate is much cooler. Actually, it was about +5 in the evening last night and I needed long sleeves and turned off the fan. The days aren't nearly as exhausting as Mumbai cause the sun just isn't as bright. All that said, the rest of this "Rajasthan adventure" takes me to other areas that are a lot warmer and more desert-like so we'll see what they have to offer...
So, this tour started off with a bang. As I mentioned earlier, I am touring with a group called Kesari Tours. It's a Marathi tour group that organizes tours for people to go all around the world. It's come highly recommended and the timing seemed to work perfectly with my schedule. This time of year is a busy for most families though because most high school kids are just finishing up their exams so most can't take time off.
So, guess who is on the tour with me??? Yep - pretty much ALL retirees. Basically there are 50, 60 and 70 year old's on this tour, myself and ONE other guy who is 22 (Sumeet). We found each other yesterday and were immediately best friends. It's kinda the odd couple though cause he only speaks Hindi and Marathi and I only speak English and some Marathi. Needless to say, my Marathi is improving hour by hour and he's also helping me not get swindled by the shop keepers and other hawkers.
The rest of the tour group is an odd-ball collection of various Marathi adults (most of which are from Mumbai). It turns out that 5 of them went to my mom's grade school in Dadar, Mumbai and after looking at pics on my digital camera, a couple of them recognize her - what a small world. I liken this group of adults to a lot of my Marathi aunties and uncles back in Toronto. (For those not familiar with the Marathi community in Toronto, we are quite close and most families have a lot of "family friends" who are basically aunts/uncles because most of our parents' brothers and sisters are still in India). All of the auties and uncles on the tour have taken a real liking towards Sumeet and I. Possibly because we are like their kids and also I'm sure cause they are just caring and jovial people. Anyway, they are all teasing us all the time about finding us wives (a traditional Indian past time for adults when they are around people who are 25+ and not married). Needless to say, it has been quite entertaining and a barrel of laughs so far. Have any of you seen Bend it Like Beckham? (if not, you must rent it!!!). For those that have - do you know the ladies in Punjabi suits and running shoes that Parminder Nagra's character always pictures on the soccer field? Well, those are the same type of ladies that I am touring around Rajasthan with.
Tomorrow, it's off to Udaipur and then Ajmer followed by Jaipur. Along the way, I'll be seeing several amazing temples and palaces. I also hope to get some excellent photos because they people here are very colourful and lively.
3/5/2006 random thoughts from Mumbaiwell, i really don't know where to start. Mumbai is just such a crazy place. it's wonderful and full of life but wow - like i said in my last post, it is just sensory overload. the last couple of days have been loads of fun and VERY eventful.
i'll try to summarize the crazyness into some different categories:
but before i go there - i have to make one BIG note - i don't wanna discourage anyone from travelling here and checking it out. it really is a beautiful place and has so much to do and see. it's really like nothing else in the world in it's uniqueness.
food: since i've been in india - all i've been doing is EATING. everywhere i go, someone feeds me something. it's not polite if they don't offer you something when you come over and it's also not polite for me to say no. so, what does that mean? i eat all the time. usually it's good. sometimes it's very fried and very heavy but for the most part, i don't mind it. i am trying at all costs to avoid eating anything out and also am definitely avoiding water (other than boiled or bottled). i did try a little mcdonalds yesterday. funy enough, i remember telling people that i haven' eaton mcdonalds in toronto in years and that i would probably have it in India. Well, i proved myself right I guess. I had the McVeggie Burger (it's basically an aloo tikki patty with lettuce, mayo, etc). sorta tasty i guess. the fries and ice cream were virtually identical. i didn't go for the "maharaja mac" - maybe that's for next time.
traffic: i really don't know how to get into this one. i will try to take some movies on my digi cam but won't be able to upload them to this site. basically, it is just crowded on the roads at all times. monday to saturday (the working days) are definitely worse) but that being said, it really doesn't end. and there is no order to it. there is just a type of chaos. and it's funny cause i wouldn't say that it's organized but for some reason, it doesn't seem that disorganized either. i mean, people don't follow "lanes". on most roads, it's a free for all. and then you are fighting with just about everyone known to man on their mode of transportation (whether it's bicycle, moped, scooter, motorcycle, wheel barrow, car, truck, bus, anything really. everyone feels that the road is there's and they have the right of way. being a pedestration is just about the same. i think i j-walk quite a bit in toronto. here in india - there is no one that DOESN't j-walk. it's probably not even a term or concept here. because basically, when you wanna cross a road (even if it's something similar to the yonge or highway 7, you just go and you dodge cars like frogger and you do it. i asked my cousin today if he's ever seen anyone get their foot run over and he said nope. the train is a whole other story that is just poetry in motion. getting on/getting off/staying inside/ontop - it's just amazing. apparently one indian railway train going across the city can seat about 1500 people but on an average day during rush hour, they carry close to 5000. travelling in rickshaws/taxis is equally hilarious. just a sight to be hold i guess. i have ridden on the back of my cousins motorcycle again with no helmut and clutching the handle with one hand and a hankerchief to block dust/smog/exhaust in the other. it was yet again a crazy experience and totally brings new meaning to honking and creating space on the road. when you experience and see what drivers do here to create space and make themselves known on the road - it is just hilarious and very difficult to explain - just poetry in motion when you are watching it. in terms of poetry, i think it's more rap than sonnet however.
mosquitos: they like the foreign blood. i'm on malaria pills so not that scared but the nighttime can get very annoying...
communication: everyone. i mean EVERYONE has a cell phone. i was on the train yesterday. i saw a couple guys with no shirts and no sandals (barefoot) talking on cell phones. i just got mine today actually. i brought an old phone from london (thanks raj/pari). it's an old Nokia phone and when i brought it here, Nokia said it was locked and i would need the UK unlock codes to unlock it. that was a real piss off and i didn't know what to do. my cousin asked some of his buddies and one guy's brother was in a similar situation with his US phone. anyway, we went to see this "unofficial" guy in a shop and he did it for $150 rupees (about $5 cdn). i bought a SIM card this afternoon and now, my phone is activated. so anyone can call me or SMS me now. (the number is 00-91-989-295-7190).
tomorrow night, i'm off to Rajasthan for a 9 day tour looking at palaces and other amazing historical parts of india. it should be great. i am going with a tour group called Kesari tours and most of the tour will be in marathi so that should be interesting. actually, my marathi has been pretty good since i've been here. when i return on the 16th - my parents get in later that night. then the full-on family and wedding stuff starts. that will be VERY busy i'm sure.
lastly, it was great to see my grandmother (my mom's mom). she is about 85 years old and in decent health but her memory is fading. i think she recognized me but in any case, it's just really nice to see her and sit beside her and be there with her. 3/3/2006 live from Mumbai, IndiaI'm here in India. Arrived this afternoon at around 1:00 pm after my overnight journey from London. The flight was quite long and unfortunately, I didn't get much sleep. I did have a tv on the back of the seat in front of me so I was able to watch some movies, tv and play some games (only tetris actually). Overall, good but definitely could have used more rest. The "Low Fat, Low Cholesterol" meal option wasn't that good once again. I guess I'll know not to order that anymore. Other than getting your meal first - there are really no advantages.
Mumbai is just like I remember. BUSY. CROWDED. HOT. CONGESTED. You name it. But that is also the allure of this place. This afternoon, one of my cousins (Neelesh) picked me up from another cousins' (Dina) house and drove me on his motorcycle (2-wheeler as it's referred to here). The ride itself is normally 15 minutes but in Mumbai traffic, it was 45. And I had no helmut, was covering my face with a hankerchief cause of the pollution and holding on for dear life with the other one. What an experience - definitely a neat way to experience India first hand. I got to meet Neelesh's wife Shweta for the first time - she is very sweet. And of course, Dina's son (Aryan) and I played together this afternoon - he is so talkative and so much bigger than when I first met him...
For those of you that haven't been to this country - it is pretty much sensory overload for all 5 senses. I'd say that sight, smell and hearing are probably the most obvious. Touch you wanna avoid at most costs ;o) and Taste is mighty fine as long as you know where to eat.
Time for bed (it's past midnight) but I'm sure that because of my jetlag, I won't be sleeping for a bit.
More to come.. 3/2/2006 live from London, EnglandHi everyone, I arrived safely yesterday morning and now, I'm at my brother's flat in London. It's about 12:35 am on March 2 and I have been here since yesterday morning (arrived at around 8:30 am on Feb 28).
My flight over was pretty good although the plane was quite empty. And Air Canada - I've got one beef. I know you don't have the individual seat back tv's/entertainment centres yet but CAN YOU PLEASE CHOOSE SOME BETTER MOVIES??!!!?!?!!?! The Corpse Bride and Shakespeare in Love! What the heck is that??? I tried to sleep instead and I was especially full after my 2 dinners. 2 dinners you ask? Well, I ordered a special meal on this flight. I got the "low fat, low cholesterol" meal so I got served first. It was quite dry and not that tasty. When I finished my meal, the guy right next to me just got his so I was sitting there just smelling his food and I was still hungry. So I asked the flight attendant if they had any extra food and they did so they hooked me up. Mental note - if you want to ensure you get served first or at least get served warm food - make a special dietary request and then, you'll get your food first. I also listened to my new iPod a lot and decided that I really like it but man, it's gonna take some getting used to that whole click wheel concept to navigate around (and to control the volume)
It's been a great couple days in London. First off, it's been VERY SUNNY which has been great. I haven't seen a drop of rain. I told Raj and Pari before arriving that I would be bringing the sun with me. And I didn't lie! Yesterday, after a bit of an ordeal getting to Raj's flat from the airport (there were all these tube delays), I tried to sleep throughout the afternoon. By about 4:00 pm, Pari (my brother's fiance) arrived home from work and we chatted and got caught up. Raj got home around 6:00 and after chilling for a bit, we headed out for Al-Onaak, a Lebanese restaurant in their neighbourhood. The food was quite nice, especially the baba ganoush and the lamb kebab. After dinner, our friend Sonu arrived an we went to a bar in Oxford Circus to meet up with some of my Aussie friends and other Londoners. Sam, Kat, Lindsey, Tony and Clara came out. We went to this bar called Firevault which was really cool cause they sell Fireplaces by day and at night, there is a trendy restaurant and bar downstairs. Very cool decor and some really neat fireplaces and drinks... After that, the five of us that were remaining proceeded to head to Match Bar (also in Oxford Circus) where we had some good times. They had this one drink on the menu called the Breakfast Club which sounded GROSS. It had a couple shots of bourbon, an egg white, orange marmalade and other raunchy stuff. Tony volunteered to try it and the bartender was all excited to make it. He came back a few minutes later and apologized cause they were out of Orange Marmalade. So, Tony then gave the bartender free rain and said "You make whatever you want, just do gin or absinthe". The bartender was smiling a lot and left. We must have waited for nearly 10 minutes and he finally returned with what he called "The Strawberry Delicious". That drink was HUGE and quite tasty. The bartender was so pumped about it - it was great. Good on ya Tony for being such a great sport about it!
This morning, I got up kinda late (but who cares cause I'm unemployed and on vacation). My brother did a little work in the morning and then had decided to take the rest of the day off. We had an excellent day and thanks to his amazing suggestion, I got to see a lot of London. Raj has a Vespa scooter and we rode around all afternoon checking out different sites around the city. Again, the weather was gorgeous and sunny so it made it perfect. The only problem was that when you're on a scooter, it gets considerably colder cause of the wind. We had some fish and chips in Notting Hill for lunch. They were pretty good (apparently one of the top 10 in London). I'm not quite sure about that though. After lunch, we rode up to the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasdon which was absolutely fantastic. I'm really glad that Raj brought me here cause I hadn't seen it during my previous 2 trips to London the last couple of years. Unfortunately, we missed darshan by about 45 minutes but we still got to see some of the deities and also got to see the incredible stone work, wood work and especially the Haveli architecture. I also learned about an amazing movie called Mystic India. Apparently, it's an IMAX film and I just missed it in London (at South Kensington). It's playing in Mumbai and in Sydney so I should be able to see it at some point during this trip. Otherwise, maybe it'll come to Toronto in the summer. After the temple, we drove back into the city and met Pari for some drinks at a neat coffee shop near her school. When we left the coffee shop, it started to snow!!! (okay, so maybe I brought this from Canada along with the beautiful sun) It was the perfect "first snowfall of winter" kinda snow - it was really beautiful. So many people (including me of course) were taking pics of the falling snow. Since London is such a cosmopolitan city, there are probably tonnes of people that have never seen it so I think they were quite excited today.
For dinner, Raj made spaghetti with meatballs, Pari made a salad and I made tuna cakes (but used yogurt instead of mayo) so they were definitely healthier (but just not solid enough). Rajs' coworker Salo came by and so did Sonu. It was a fun night just chilling out, eating, drinking and watching the England - Uruguay friendly match that England one with a late goal during injury time - definitely a last minute win!
London is a funny place. One thing I've noticed is that it is quite transient here. So many people come and go so often. I was asking my Australian friends who've been here anywhere from 2 - 4 years. All of them are sure they won't stay here forever and most seem to think that 4 or 5 is enough. Raj's friends even feel the same way. It's so cosmopolitan and there is so much to do but I guess it just doesn't have the long term appeal to many people. Maybe with all the constant moving around, people just find it hard to establish and maintain solid relationships with people. The cost of living in this city is absurd too and for students or people with entry level jobs, it is very difficult to save up or survive because rent, food, etc just adds up. Another observation is that there is a bar/pub or restaurant everywhere you turn in this city. On the scooter today, we went through a lot of old neighbourhoods and all I kept seeing were different restaurants (and all were from various parts of the world). It's a fun and exciting city and I love coming to visit. Just don't know if I could live here full time.
I reckon that it's time for bed as I've got a full day of bumming around to accomplish tomorrow before my flight to Mumbai leaves at 9:30 pm. Oh yeah, did I mention that it's about 37 - 39 degrees celcius right now in Mumbai??? Man, I am going to sweat my butt off.
Night all. life changing?(originally posted on February 27 at 1:00 pm)
Well, in about 4 hours, I am leaving my house to head to the airport for a trip that many are calling "one of a lifetime". I will be gone until July 13 so in total, that is 137 days (I had to total it up for travel insurance purposes).
I was up till 4 am last night and I'm still doing stuff. Man, so many last minute things that I left too late - my fault of course. And that new iPod Nano is amazing but wow, that was a bit of a LONG process to load it up. I even had to call Apple Tech support - man I'm a loser.
Stay tuned for several updates and I hope I'll be able to figure out how to upload photos to this site too.
Thanks for all the well wishes from everyone. It really means a lot and definitely - thanks for coming out to Sage last week for my party. That was a blast. And, here are some pics from that night.
Until we meet again... |
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