Ben visited me in Montreal twice. Once in the winter and once in the spring or summer or maybe it was still the winter since it snowed...I don't know which.
Here is the montage created by Ben himself.
More frequent updates now?
WATCH
Friday, May 14, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, November 20, 2009
Back from India
Back in the great white north.
I received a lovely email from Beneration S.
He put together an edit from the summer.
WATCH
I received a lovely email from Beneration S.
He put together an edit from the summer.
WATCH
Friday, October 30, 2009
i got pretty tight last night.
i don't remember going home.
i went to fairlawn hotel. a popular courtyard restaurant for having a beer. it was full of ex-pats.
an australian couple sat with me. not because they saw that i was alone. but because there was nowhere else to sit. we drank and had a good time. chris and anne. nice couple. chris is studying phsio and anne is a journalist. the bar closed and they went back to their hotel. we planned to meet the next morning for some exploring of calcutta.
i went to the sunset bar. i met an indian man who is a writer and owns a publishing company. he was drunk. he bought me a drink. i thanked him and went back to my hostel.
i struggled to wake up.
the hostel is japan. i don't understand it. full of japanese people. nicest of people.
i finished off my peanut butter and bread i bought in kodaikanal for breakfast.
i met chris and anne and we took off into the insanity of calcutta.
we took a cab to mother theresa's house. saw her room and her tomb.
we hopped on a tram. just for the sake of riding a tram in india. a ramshackle piece of steel that somehow moves. we took it to the end of the line.
we jumped into a rickshaw and went to a street thinking it was the one we wanted to go to. it wasn't. we asked around how to get to where we wanted to go.
we took the metro. it's amazing to see in the midst of all this chaos and decaying there is a metro. and in really fine condition. it was unreal. so simple and easy.
we took the metro to central station to BBD Bagh(a government/parliament area of the city). we wandered around staring up at all the old grand colonial buildings. superb.
we took a bus back to chowringhee(area where we are staying). we ate at blue sky cafe. i said goodbye to chris and anne. we planned to meet later for a drink.
i went to the post office to mail a postcard.
i had to walk through new market. very hectic market. hecklers and touts galore.
"you want hash" "cheapest saari" "what looking for?" "yes, helicopter toy" "good marijuana" "see my shop" "good smoke?" "young girl? hussy?" etc.
i just want to mail a goddamn postcard.
i saw the warm glowing lights of a bakery. kathleen's confectionery. the best cakes and pastries i have laid eyes upon. and the taste was even better. i filled up on some puffs. then fit in some cake. delicious. thanks kathleen.
i don't remember going home.
i went to fairlawn hotel. a popular courtyard restaurant for having a beer. it was full of ex-pats.
an australian couple sat with me. not because they saw that i was alone. but because there was nowhere else to sit. we drank and had a good time. chris and anne. nice couple. chris is studying phsio and anne is a journalist. the bar closed and they went back to their hotel. we planned to meet the next morning for some exploring of calcutta.
i went to the sunset bar. i met an indian man who is a writer and owns a publishing company. he was drunk. he bought me a drink. i thanked him and went back to my hostel.
i struggled to wake up.
the hostel is japan. i don't understand it. full of japanese people. nicest of people.
i finished off my peanut butter and bread i bought in kodaikanal for breakfast.
i met chris and anne and we took off into the insanity of calcutta.
we took a cab to mother theresa's house. saw her room and her tomb.
we hopped on a tram. just for the sake of riding a tram in india. a ramshackle piece of steel that somehow moves. we took it to the end of the line.
we jumped into a rickshaw and went to a street thinking it was the one we wanted to go to. it wasn't. we asked around how to get to where we wanted to go.
we took the metro. it's amazing to see in the midst of all this chaos and decaying there is a metro. and in really fine condition. it was unreal. so simple and easy.
we took the metro to central station to BBD Bagh(a government/parliament area of the city). we wandered around staring up at all the old grand colonial buildings. superb.
we took a bus back to chowringhee(area where we are staying). we ate at blue sky cafe. i said goodbye to chris and anne. we planned to meet later for a drink.
i went to the post office to mail a postcard.
i had to walk through new market. very hectic market. hecklers and touts galore.
"you want hash" "cheapest saari" "what looking for?" "yes, helicopter toy" "good marijuana" "see my shop" "good smoke?" "young girl? hussy?" etc.
i just want to mail a goddamn postcard.
i saw the warm glowing lights of a bakery. kathleen's confectionery. the best cakes and pastries i have laid eyes upon. and the taste was even better. i filled up on some puffs. then fit in some cake. delicious. thanks kathleen.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
i took an auto to the train station to sort my train ticket out. what a nightmare!
i went to the foreign reservation office on the 1st floor. i told him my situation. that i was on the waiting list for a train to Calcutta the next day and wanted to check if it was worth cancelling and getting a different train. he handed me a sheet and said "cancel". he walked over to his friend and started chatting.
he didn't answer my question or in no way was this helping. he didn't even give me a pen. my temper flared. what the fuck, was what i was thinking but said,
"CAN I GET SOME HELP!?"
they both looked at me in shock and the man came back over.
"you didn't even give me a pen."
he gave me a pen. i explained to him in a little more detail of what i wanted to know.
he was a little more understanding. he told me of an earlier train the next day that was available and he even cancelled my previous train for me.
"great, put me on it".
he told me to pay him 1700rs. i showed him that i wanted to pay with a photocopy of a credit card. he wrote down window #47 on second floor. i proceeded there. the lady said i couldn't use a photocopy here and would have to go all the way up to the 9th floor to the IRCTC office. i took the elevator up. i went in and told them i needed to pay for this train with this photocopy of a credit card. she said they didn't handle booking. FUCK.
"what do you mean? i was specifically told to come here." i tried to say calmly.
she told me to go to the foreign reservation office on the first floor.
i lost it. i won't go into detail of what i yelled.
i said to hell with it to the useless train station.
i took an auto back to the guesthouse. i took matters into my own hands and booked the train on the internet. simple as that. easy.
i went off in search of a new camera. i found a place that were going to bring me a Nikon FE2 at around 5pm for me to check out. sure.
i decided to go see Spencer Plaza. an Indian shopping centre/mall. i took an auto there. the mall was huge. 4 floors of mazes and secret passages. a labyrinth of shops and restaurants. lots of foreigners whom i assumed lived in Chennai with their parents working abroad. they weren't tourists. they spoke like the type of people that would spend time in mall's all day like the one's in Canada.
i wandered around. i don't know what i was looking for. nothing perhaps. nike, reebok, levi's, converse and adidas stores. book shops. optometrists. foodcourt.
i hate to admit it but i ate at subway. i had to try it. it was the same setup as any other subway just indian style sandwiches and also classic western ones.
in had the chicken tikka sub on italian herbs and cheese. toasted. all the fixings.
it wasn't bad.
i went into this 3 floor department store. there was so many things i wanted to buy. so many good presents. but i restrained myself.
i left and started walking back to the guesthouse. it was dark i stopped at a few eyewear shops. tried on some sunglasses and some frames. i figured i could splurge on things the day before i leave.
i came across a glowing sign that said bar. like an angel. it seduced me.
the bar was called submarine. i sat at a table in the dark. it was more of a club. there were lasers and loud music. no one danced though. the drink menu has a stripper on the front. i looked around for a stage, thinking it was strip club. it obviously wasn't. what was i thinking. there wasn't even a single woman to be seen. i drank 3 super strong Kingfishers and ate the snacks(cucumber, cornflakes and masala peanuts).
no need for dinner. i got drunk. on the tv they were playing Anaconda 3 or something. i shouldn't of drank so much since i had to get up early for the train. i looked at my watch and it was only 7.
i went to the camera shop and they had the camera for me. it was in excellent condition. they were asking like 12,000rs(200$) for it though! screw that.
there had to be some cameras in Calcutta, i thought.
i went back to my room and fell asleep.
the man knocked on my door at 7am like i asked him to.
it was raining out. i had a cold shower and ate a peanut butter sandwich.
i took a rickshaw to the train station that i despised so much. but this time was more pleasant. i went to the platform of which my train was already there. i found my name on a list that directed me to my compartment. i went inside and found my seat.
i decided to treat myself with 2AC since the duration of the trip was 28 hours.. very spacious and comfortable.
the train ride was great. sat with 2 Punjabi men. was was older and one was younger. they were partners. international businessmen or something. they were just in China and Singapore. also sat with another man who referred to me as "Canada friend".
i did the usual things one might do on a long train journey.
the guy that called me "Canada friend" smuggled a bottle of whiskey on board.
we drank in our compartment and shared snacks. they told vulgar jokes.
we all passed out.
woke up early in the morning.
i didn't have a cigarette for 36 hours, i realized. the train stopped for a bit and i hopped off for my fix.
a baby was wrapped in a saari hanging from a tree with a woman swinging it back and forth.
the train started moving and i hopped back on.
we arrived in Calcutta at 12pm. i went to the prepaid taxi stand and told them where i wanted to go(Sudder st.) i got in the cab and off we drove to Sudder st. i told him the salvation army was where i wanted to go to exactly. he told me that it was no longer there. stupid lonely planet book.
Calcutta is another planet.
i went to the foreign reservation office on the 1st floor. i told him my situation. that i was on the waiting list for a train to Calcutta the next day and wanted to check if it was worth cancelling and getting a different train. he handed me a sheet and said "cancel". he walked over to his friend and started chatting.
he didn't answer my question or in no way was this helping. he didn't even give me a pen. my temper flared. what the fuck, was what i was thinking but said,
"CAN I GET SOME HELP!?"
they both looked at me in shock and the man came back over.
"you didn't even give me a pen."
he gave me a pen. i explained to him in a little more detail of what i wanted to know.
he was a little more understanding. he told me of an earlier train the next day that was available and he even cancelled my previous train for me.
"great, put me on it".
he told me to pay him 1700rs. i showed him that i wanted to pay with a photocopy of a credit card. he wrote down window #47 on second floor. i proceeded there. the lady said i couldn't use a photocopy here and would have to go all the way up to the 9th floor to the IRCTC office. i took the elevator up. i went in and told them i needed to pay for this train with this photocopy of a credit card. she said they didn't handle booking. FUCK.
"what do you mean? i was specifically told to come here." i tried to say calmly.
she told me to go to the foreign reservation office on the first floor.
i lost it. i won't go into detail of what i yelled.
i said to hell with it to the useless train station.
i took an auto back to the guesthouse. i took matters into my own hands and booked the train on the internet. simple as that. easy.
i went off in search of a new camera. i found a place that were going to bring me a Nikon FE2 at around 5pm for me to check out. sure.
i decided to go see Spencer Plaza. an Indian shopping centre/mall. i took an auto there. the mall was huge. 4 floors of mazes and secret passages. a labyrinth of shops and restaurants. lots of foreigners whom i assumed lived in Chennai with their parents working abroad. they weren't tourists. they spoke like the type of people that would spend time in mall's all day like the one's in Canada.
i wandered around. i don't know what i was looking for. nothing perhaps. nike, reebok, levi's, converse and adidas stores. book shops. optometrists. foodcourt.
i hate to admit it but i ate at subway. i had to try it. it was the same setup as any other subway just indian style sandwiches and also classic western ones.
in had the chicken tikka sub on italian herbs and cheese. toasted. all the fixings.
it wasn't bad.
i went into this 3 floor department store. there was so many things i wanted to buy. so many good presents. but i restrained myself.
i left and started walking back to the guesthouse. it was dark i stopped at a few eyewear shops. tried on some sunglasses and some frames. i figured i could splurge on things the day before i leave.
i came across a glowing sign that said bar. like an angel. it seduced me.
the bar was called submarine. i sat at a table in the dark. it was more of a club. there were lasers and loud music. no one danced though. the drink menu has a stripper on the front. i looked around for a stage, thinking it was strip club. it obviously wasn't. what was i thinking. there wasn't even a single woman to be seen. i drank 3 super strong Kingfishers and ate the snacks(cucumber, cornflakes and masala peanuts).
no need for dinner. i got drunk. on the tv they were playing Anaconda 3 or something. i shouldn't of drank so much since i had to get up early for the train. i looked at my watch and it was only 7.
i went to the camera shop and they had the camera for me. it was in excellent condition. they were asking like 12,000rs(200$) for it though! screw that.
there had to be some cameras in Calcutta, i thought.
i went back to my room and fell asleep.
the man knocked on my door at 7am like i asked him to.
it was raining out. i had a cold shower and ate a peanut butter sandwich.
i took a rickshaw to the train station that i despised so much. but this time was more pleasant. i went to the platform of which my train was already there. i found my name on a list that directed me to my compartment. i went inside and found my seat.
i decided to treat myself with 2AC since the duration of the trip was 28 hours.. very spacious and comfortable.
the train ride was great. sat with 2 Punjabi men. was was older and one was younger. they were partners. international businessmen or something. they were just in China and Singapore. also sat with another man who referred to me as "Canada friend".
i did the usual things one might do on a long train journey.
the guy that called me "Canada friend" smuggled a bottle of whiskey on board.
we drank in our compartment and shared snacks. they told vulgar jokes.
we all passed out.
woke up early in the morning.
i didn't have a cigarette for 36 hours, i realized. the train stopped for a bit and i hopped off for my fix.
a baby was wrapped in a saari hanging from a tree with a woman swinging it back and forth.
the train started moving and i hopped back on.
we arrived in Calcutta at 12pm. i went to the prepaid taxi stand and told them where i wanted to go(Sudder st.) i got in the cab and off we drove to Sudder st. i told him the salvation army was where i wanted to go to exactly. he told me that it was no longer there. stupid lonely planet book.
Calcutta is another planet.
Monday, October 26, 2009
the bus ride to Chennai was nice. fancy tourist bus with a flatscreen tv. the seats reclined. there was a foot rest. what luxury! watched two Tamil films.
the first one was about this arrogant guy coming from America to India. his family was very rich. he was promiscuous and liked the bachelor life which was portrayed in song and dance, bollywood style. then there was this girl who came from a poor family and needed money to help her family. the parents agreed upon having an arranged marriage between the two of them. they were forced married. he made her sign something at the marriage that said like she was only to be with him for a year or something. no one else knew about this. they married and she actually fell in love with him. he was still being his usual self. he got in a car accident and almost died. the wife nursed him back to health through a song and dance montage of course. after he was better he showed her the agreement she signed and she left. he was really rude!
then he lived his daily life and noticed things were different. all the things the wife did were absent. his good coffee in the morning. wiping his gym equipment off. tucking him in at night. and he realised how wonderful she was. how she nursed him back to health and genuinely cared for him. he realized her loved her. so he went after her. but she was too heart broken and wouldn't take him back even through all his persistence. he tried and tried. she cried and cried.
she became pregnant with his baby and still wouldn't take him back.
one day some robbers broke into his house and stabbed him in the stomach. she came to see him and tell him off and she didn't want to see him again. but she found him dying. then she slipped on a rug and fell on her pregnant stomach. she started having the baby. the guy got up bleeding from the stomach and carried her to the car and drove her to the hospital. in the meantime he was dying. she had a healthy baby and he lived. she realized how much he loved her for what he did. his devotion in saving her and the babies life. they lived happily ever after.
so melodramatic! i think that's what it was about. i think i'm off in some parts.
i fell in and out of sleep in the second one. the main woman character wasn't attractive. the guy was handsome.
i snacked on my health food items. then fell asleep. it got really hot as soon as we left the mountains. i was sweating and started getting claustrophobic. we stopped in a town to let more people on and it heightened my panicking or whatever it was. so i told them i needed off for like 2 minutes. had a breather and felt better. got back on the bus and slept more. woke up at 7am. arrived in Chennai at the bus stop. rickshaw drivers swarmed me with their homing devices. i got a little aggressive.
didn't know where i was exactly...
the bus terminal was renamed since 1996...shit.
i just asked for a bus to Egmore (an area in Chennai).
hopped on a bus and took me to Egmore train station.
i looked in my lonely planet for a place to stay. i decided on Broadlands. it said it was the best budget place in chennai. rooms were spotless.
i hailed for a rickshaw. asked how much to go there. he said 120rs. i laughed and bargained him down to 50rs. we drove to the area and he stopped saying he didn't know where the hostel was. he said i had to pay him 100rs if i wanted to go further. what a prick! i got very angry and yelled at him in my most fiercest tone. i think it worked. he drove me there and i paid my 50rs. i really can't stand rickshaw drivers. so frustrating.
i walked into Broadlands. apparently a lot can change in 13 years. A LOT.
the place was a dump. i was showed the room for 200rs. the cheapest one of course.
i don't think the room was used in 13 years to be honest. there was a thick layer of dust covering everything. the paint from the walls eroded onto bed and pillow. spiders designed their webs on every piece of furniture.
fuck it. i couldn't be bothered to search for another place.
i took out my loaf of bread, peanut butter and banana. had a PB+B sandwich.
then cut up a mango with my newly acquired knife.
Chennai is hideous. smells of piss, it's muggy and very congested.
the first one was about this arrogant guy coming from America to India. his family was very rich. he was promiscuous and liked the bachelor life which was portrayed in song and dance, bollywood style. then there was this girl who came from a poor family and needed money to help her family. the parents agreed upon having an arranged marriage between the two of them. they were forced married. he made her sign something at the marriage that said like she was only to be with him for a year or something. no one else knew about this. they married and she actually fell in love with him. he was still being his usual self. he got in a car accident and almost died. the wife nursed him back to health through a song and dance montage of course. after he was better he showed her the agreement she signed and she left. he was really rude!
then he lived his daily life and noticed things were different. all the things the wife did were absent. his good coffee in the morning. wiping his gym equipment off. tucking him in at night. and he realised how wonderful she was. how she nursed him back to health and genuinely cared for him. he realized her loved her. so he went after her. but she was too heart broken and wouldn't take him back even through all his persistence. he tried and tried. she cried and cried.
she became pregnant with his baby and still wouldn't take him back.
one day some robbers broke into his house and stabbed him in the stomach. she came to see him and tell him off and she didn't want to see him again. but she found him dying. then she slipped on a rug and fell on her pregnant stomach. she started having the baby. the guy got up bleeding from the stomach and carried her to the car and drove her to the hospital. in the meantime he was dying. she had a healthy baby and he lived. she realized how much he loved her for what he did. his devotion in saving her and the babies life. they lived happily ever after.
so melodramatic! i think that's what it was about. i think i'm off in some parts.
i fell in and out of sleep in the second one. the main woman character wasn't attractive. the guy was handsome.
i snacked on my health food items. then fell asleep. it got really hot as soon as we left the mountains. i was sweating and started getting claustrophobic. we stopped in a town to let more people on and it heightened my panicking or whatever it was. so i told them i needed off for like 2 minutes. had a breather and felt better. got back on the bus and slept more. woke up at 7am. arrived in Chennai at the bus stop. rickshaw drivers swarmed me with their homing devices. i got a little aggressive.
didn't know where i was exactly...
the bus terminal was renamed since 1996...shit.
i just asked for a bus to Egmore (an area in Chennai).
hopped on a bus and took me to Egmore train station.
i looked in my lonely planet for a place to stay. i decided on Broadlands. it said it was the best budget place in chennai. rooms were spotless.
i hailed for a rickshaw. asked how much to go there. he said 120rs. i laughed and bargained him down to 50rs. we drove to the area and he stopped saying he didn't know where the hostel was. he said i had to pay him 100rs if i wanted to go further. what a prick! i got very angry and yelled at him in my most fiercest tone. i think it worked. he drove me there and i paid my 50rs. i really can't stand rickshaw drivers. so frustrating.
i walked into Broadlands. apparently a lot can change in 13 years. A LOT.
the place was a dump. i was showed the room for 200rs. the cheapest one of course.
i don't think the room was used in 13 years to be honest. there was a thick layer of dust covering everything. the paint from the walls eroded onto bed and pillow. spiders designed their webs on every piece of furniture.
fuck it. i couldn't be bothered to search for another place.
i took out my loaf of bread, peanut butter and banana. had a PB+B sandwich.
then cut up a mango with my newly acquired knife.
Chennai is hideous. smells of piss, it's muggy and very congested.
still in kodaikanal. this update will be brief as the last days are hazy.
not last night but the night before i went to the bar at the Carlton. the most expensive hotel in town. the bar was ritzy. it had a fireplace and stone walls. like a chalet.
i drank a few kingfishers. had a few shots of whiskey. enjoyed the complimentary chips, peanuts, vegetables and pappadam's. stayed until close then stumbled back up the hill to bed.
yesterday, my day started late. i went on a 10km trek to dolphin nose rocks. walked through the forest in the clouds. they were thick. i couldn't see too far in front of me. it was eerie. passed small waterfalls. finally made it to the rock and it wasn't very interesting. quite dull, really. it was tough walking on loose rocks and large skeleton like roots going up hill. i had to stop every 10 minutes to catch my breath. i want to walk forward without having to walking backward.
i walked back to the hostel and relaxed for a few hours.
i went into town. there was a bustling farmer's market happening. i tried to work my way through the yelling, the people, the smells, the colours. each sensation dragging me in or pushing me away. vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, knick knacks, electronics, clothes and a cow. i went for dinner. i don't remember much from that day. i got drunk at the Carlton again.
this morning i packed my things up. viviek spoke to me. he apologized for his aggressiveness that one day. he told me he had a lot of negative energy inside him because in his previous life he was evil. and he is being punished in this present life by Him. so all he can do in this life is try to see the light and pray for a good afterlife.
he said some other strange things i didn't quite understand. i shook is hand and hoped for him all the best.
i checked out and went for lunch. i had an egg sandwich and homemade pizza from pastry corner. it was delicious. i went to the eco-nut. an organic natural health shop. i don't really care for such things but i bought some organic peanut butter, health balls, some spice and a loaf of bread for my bus ride tonight.
i leave for chennai in 5 hours.
not last night but the night before i went to the bar at the Carlton. the most expensive hotel in town. the bar was ritzy. it had a fireplace and stone walls. like a chalet.
i drank a few kingfishers. had a few shots of whiskey. enjoyed the complimentary chips, peanuts, vegetables and pappadam's. stayed until close then stumbled back up the hill to bed.
yesterday, my day started late. i went on a 10km trek to dolphin nose rocks. walked through the forest in the clouds. they were thick. i couldn't see too far in front of me. it was eerie. passed small waterfalls. finally made it to the rock and it wasn't very interesting. quite dull, really. it was tough walking on loose rocks and large skeleton like roots going up hill. i had to stop every 10 minutes to catch my breath. i want to walk forward without having to walking backward.
i walked back to the hostel and relaxed for a few hours.
i went into town. there was a bustling farmer's market happening. i tried to work my way through the yelling, the people, the smells, the colours. each sensation dragging me in or pushing me away. vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, knick knacks, electronics, clothes and a cow. i went for dinner. i don't remember much from that day. i got drunk at the Carlton again.
this morning i packed my things up. viviek spoke to me. he apologized for his aggressiveness that one day. he told me he had a lot of negative energy inside him because in his previous life he was evil. and he is being punished in this present life by Him. so all he can do in this life is try to see the light and pray for a good afterlife.
he said some other strange things i didn't quite understand. i shook is hand and hoped for him all the best.
i checked out and went for lunch. i had an egg sandwich and homemade pizza from pastry corner. it was delicious. i went to the eco-nut. an organic natural health shop. i don't really care for such things but i bought some organic peanut butter, health balls, some spice and a loaf of bread for my bus ride tonight.
i leave for chennai in 5 hours.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
my laundry dried nicely. they had a nice mountain fresh scent to them. a natural mountain fresh fragrance...not like Tide would advertise on their detergent.
i had an icy cold shower and layered up in my new sweater. i actually needed to wear socks, underwear, t-shirt, long sleeve, sweater and a toque...it was that cold.
i went into the town market area and browsed about. i went into an antique shop and played an old organ. the shop had the same distinct smell as any antique shop would.
i walked and walked more up and down the steep roads. i ate an early dinner at Fay's Fast Food. they only served burgers. i had a veggie burger and sprite.
i wandered about some more. not feeling entirely satisfied from my early dinner i stopped at Hilltops Cafe and had a doughnut and coffee.
i decided that was enough for the day. there isn't much to do here at night.
i walked back to my room and laid in bed.
i finally talked to the other person in the room. his name is Viviek. he's originally from New Delhi but has lived in Australia, USA and Canada. he's older. he's been staying at this hostel for 3 and half months. just alone, for the peace and quiet. his accent is strange. at times you can hear a strong Australian accent with a dash of Indian and vice versa.
i went to sleep on my top bunk with a pillow that reads 'goodnight'.
yesterday was casual and peaceful. shanti shanti.
in the morning i think i offended Viviek somehow. i don't recall what our conversation was. but i think he misunderstood me in someway. he said 'no one in this universe can play with this mind' angrily to me.
i was dumbfounded and walked to my bed confused pretending to arrange my things.
it was extremely awkward and we haven't spoken since. talk about an elephant in the room.
i went for breakfast at Hilltop Cafe. i made my way down to the lake. i rented a bicycle. another Hercules, great. i rode around the lake. it was really pretty when cars weren't speeding by you, honking. a bunch of villas were tucked away in the forest with extravagant gardens.
i bombed some hills thinking at any moment the bicycle would crumble underneath me. the breaks were barely existent.
i dropped the bike off where i got it and started walking back up the mountain to my room. on the way i stopped for dinner at a little Tibetan restaurant. i sat there feeling a chill. a familiar feeling of the start of becoming ill. i ordered lemon tea, hot and sour soup and veg momos. really good. the Tibetan server is soft spoken and polite. a timid kindness like that of an abused dog or something. i finished up and headed to my room. i made another stop at a book store. i finished my short stories book by Dave Eggers which i swapped in Mumbai for my portable Steinbeck book with an Englishman.
i bought Anna Karenina by Tolstoy.
i smoked my clove cigarette before bed. i can't stand them.
i read in bad until i fell asleep.
today has been another relaxing day.
there was a possibility of going on a mountain trek at 8:30am but my stomach would not let me do so. it told me to stay in bed. i felt lethargic. i didn't want to do anything except stay close to my room and read.
i felt a little better and went for breakfast in the town. i ate at Potluck cafe. a little place on a terrace with a window to order your food and 3 tables.
across from me there was large signs with bible verses. they are allover the town.
2 doors down from me was a pet store. there was a sad looking puppy outside in a cage. on top of his cage was a cage of pigeons. and on top of that some budgies. inside the shop was a bunch of fish. most were floating on the surface.
i walked back to my room.
i passed Viviek on his usual stoop.
i have been noticing Viviek's routine.
he sleeps with his knees up.
every morning he picks a flower that has fallen from the bush and brings it inside.
all day and all night he sits on steps in front of a restaurant at a main junction in the town. i pass him many times throughout the day. he just sits with his headphones in watching things.
i relaxed outside my room reading and using the toilet often. a British man checked into a room next to mine. he said he wasn't feeling well either. he showed me some pills to get from the chemist.
i went back into town and sat by the lake. a boy sat next to me and asked me where i came from. i said Canada.
i bought some oranges and went back to my room. i slept for a bit. i finished my new roll of toilet paper.
i had an icy cold shower and layered up in my new sweater. i actually needed to wear socks, underwear, t-shirt, long sleeve, sweater and a toque...it was that cold.
i went into the town market area and browsed about. i went into an antique shop and played an old organ. the shop had the same distinct smell as any antique shop would.
i walked and walked more up and down the steep roads. i ate an early dinner at Fay's Fast Food. they only served burgers. i had a veggie burger and sprite.
i wandered about some more. not feeling entirely satisfied from my early dinner i stopped at Hilltops Cafe and had a doughnut and coffee.
i decided that was enough for the day. there isn't much to do here at night.
i walked back to my room and laid in bed.
i finally talked to the other person in the room. his name is Viviek. he's originally from New Delhi but has lived in Australia, USA and Canada. he's older. he's been staying at this hostel for 3 and half months. just alone, for the peace and quiet. his accent is strange. at times you can hear a strong Australian accent with a dash of Indian and vice versa.
i went to sleep on my top bunk with a pillow that reads 'goodnight'.
yesterday was casual and peaceful. shanti shanti.
in the morning i think i offended Viviek somehow. i don't recall what our conversation was. but i think he misunderstood me in someway. he said 'no one in this universe can play with this mind' angrily to me.
i was dumbfounded and walked to my bed confused pretending to arrange my things.
it was extremely awkward and we haven't spoken since. talk about an elephant in the room.
i went for breakfast at Hilltop Cafe. i made my way down to the lake. i rented a bicycle. another Hercules, great. i rode around the lake. it was really pretty when cars weren't speeding by you, honking. a bunch of villas were tucked away in the forest with extravagant gardens.
i bombed some hills thinking at any moment the bicycle would crumble underneath me. the breaks were barely existent.
i dropped the bike off where i got it and started walking back up the mountain to my room. on the way i stopped for dinner at a little Tibetan restaurant. i sat there feeling a chill. a familiar feeling of the start of becoming ill. i ordered lemon tea, hot and sour soup and veg momos. really good. the Tibetan server is soft spoken and polite. a timid kindness like that of an abused dog or something. i finished up and headed to my room. i made another stop at a book store. i finished my short stories book by Dave Eggers which i swapped in Mumbai for my portable Steinbeck book with an Englishman.
i bought Anna Karenina by Tolstoy.
i smoked my clove cigarette before bed. i can't stand them.
i read in bad until i fell asleep.
today has been another relaxing day.
there was a possibility of going on a mountain trek at 8:30am but my stomach would not let me do so. it told me to stay in bed. i felt lethargic. i didn't want to do anything except stay close to my room and read.
i felt a little better and went for breakfast in the town. i ate at Potluck cafe. a little place on a terrace with a window to order your food and 3 tables.
across from me there was large signs with bible verses. they are allover the town.
2 doors down from me was a pet store. there was a sad looking puppy outside in a cage. on top of his cage was a cage of pigeons. and on top of that some budgies. inside the shop was a bunch of fish. most were floating on the surface.
i walked back to my room.
i passed Viviek on his usual stoop.
i have been noticing Viviek's routine.
he sleeps with his knees up.
every morning he picks a flower that has fallen from the bush and brings it inside.
all day and all night he sits on steps in front of a restaurant at a main junction in the town. i pass him many times throughout the day. he just sits with his headphones in watching things.
i relaxed outside my room reading and using the toilet often. a British man checked into a room next to mine. he said he wasn't feeling well either. he showed me some pills to get from the chemist.
i went back into town and sat by the lake. a boy sat next to me and asked me where i came from. i said Canada.
i bought some oranges and went back to my room. i slept for a bit. i finished my new roll of toilet paper.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
i'm in kodaikanal now.
it was the most intense and excruciating travel day yet.
i asked the tourist information centre how i had to go about getting to kodaikanal. i had to get a bus to theni. bus from theni to vathalagudu. bus from vathalagudu to kodaikanal. three buses. i went to the bus station in munnar. i hopped on the bus that went to theni. we took off. it was 1pm. i had no idea where theni was our how far it was, or had any idea where any of the places i had to go to were and how long the trip would take. the landscape just keeps getting better. this was the best bus ride by far. driving on the rolling hills covered in tea fields. i really can't explain how amazing it was.
i have troubles sitting for long periods of time. i don't have enough meat on my ass. i sit on my bony butt. after the first half hour of sitting, the most uncomfortable pain settles in. it's torturous. i can't seem to fins a spot to make the pain go away. it also doesn't help when the bus is packed and your squished between large indian men.
i kept trying to adjust myself but it didn't work. it was hard to watch the beautiful scenery go by when your distracted by this pain.
we arrived in theni 4 hours later(5pm). from the theni bust stand i instantly left on a bus to vathalagudu. the bus was paced again. so uncomfortable on the plastic seats. sliding side to side with every sharp turn. the bus took an hour to vathalagudu. arrived at the bus station(6pm). i asked around when and what bus went to kodaikanal. it left at 7:30 from platform 1. okay, i could finally take a breather. i went looking for a restaurant to sit down in. there was nothing. i followed the signs that said bar. the bar was dark and dingy. rats scurried across the floor picking up the scraps of food. they didn't offer food. only free snacks if you ordered a beer. i drank two large kingfishers. the snacks were chick peas in some spice sauce and rice krispie things. it was good.
i got on to the bus to kodai. it was a dvd bus. fuck. they played indian music at full blast. the bus was packed. the ailse was full with people standing. i was sweating profusely. i wanted to vomit. we were stationery waiting to leave. we finally left an hour later(8:30pm). the normal route to kodai was closed off because of an accdient that usually takes 3 hours. we took an alternative route that would take 5 hours. christ. 5 hours of hell on this bus. the road was very narrow. we kept stopping and reversing to let cars go by on the tight corners. it was awful. a drunk guy was at my feet and wouldn't leave me alone. drunk indian people are very grabby an touchy. he kept shaking my hand and trying to crush it. he also rubbed my legs and would constantly try to steal my lighter. i was getting really annoyed. i kept pushing his hands away. i pretended to sleep and he left me alone.
i don't know if i slept. i certainly tried. the bust ride went quite quick actually.
no more fucking buses.
we arrived in kodai(2am). the bus stand was empty. no one was around. it was freezing. 5 degrees or something. i had no idea where i was going. some guy from the bus told me to come with him in a jeep. what the hell. the driver and others were drunk. i asked to go to greenland youth hostel. they took me there. i said thank you and got out.
they got out and surrounded me and tried to make me pay 100 rupees. they weren't even a taxi. they said nothing about having to pay. they drove me 1 minute away. i could of easily walked. we argued. i thought one guy was going to try and swing at me. i told them to let me go to the reception so i could talk with someone who spoke better english. i explained my situation. i ended up only paying 50 rupees.
i hate that they think they can take advantage of foreigners like that.
i checked in to the dormitory. we walked down the steps. the man told me to shh and be quiet. there was a bison to the left. he said walk slow. he said they are very dangerous. i was too tired and angry to notice my surroundings. i climbed through a window and into a room with three, three tiered bunk beds. there was one person sleeping. i passed out. with three blankets on top of me in my clothes.
i woke up the next day and went outside. it was incredible. possibly one of the nicest views i've seen. just footsteps from my stonelodge hostel. a beautiful garden that smelt of roses. it's hard to justify through words how amazing it was.
i was above the clouds. the clouds were suspended on top of mountains in the distance. this is what i've needed. no more busing and traveling. just escaping and relaxing in then mountains.
it was warm. the climate here is so nice. 15-20 during the day. 5-10 at night. it's perfect. i set off on foot into town. i bought two sweaters, a toque and some laundry powder.
i went back to the hostel and did my laundry outside in a bucket. my two green and blue shirts i bought in hospet bled. they bleached all my white clothes blue. it looks like i tie-dyed them all blue. great. i hung my clothes to dry on a railing and sat there reading a book until everything was dry. a gust would come every so often and blow my clothes off. i kept hanging them back up.
i sat until 4pm. the clouds would swoosh up. like smoke from a chimney.
i had a cold shower and went into town for dinner.
it was the most intense and excruciating travel day yet.
i asked the tourist information centre how i had to go about getting to kodaikanal. i had to get a bus to theni. bus from theni to vathalagudu. bus from vathalagudu to kodaikanal. three buses. i went to the bus station in munnar. i hopped on the bus that went to theni. we took off. it was 1pm. i had no idea where theni was our how far it was, or had any idea where any of the places i had to go to were and how long the trip would take. the landscape just keeps getting better. this was the best bus ride by far. driving on the rolling hills covered in tea fields. i really can't explain how amazing it was.
i have troubles sitting for long periods of time. i don't have enough meat on my ass. i sit on my bony butt. after the first half hour of sitting, the most uncomfortable pain settles in. it's torturous. i can't seem to fins a spot to make the pain go away. it also doesn't help when the bus is packed and your squished between large indian men.
i kept trying to adjust myself but it didn't work. it was hard to watch the beautiful scenery go by when your distracted by this pain.
we arrived in theni 4 hours later(5pm). from the theni bust stand i instantly left on a bus to vathalagudu. the bus was paced again. so uncomfortable on the plastic seats. sliding side to side with every sharp turn. the bus took an hour to vathalagudu. arrived at the bus station(6pm). i asked around when and what bus went to kodaikanal. it left at 7:30 from platform 1. okay, i could finally take a breather. i went looking for a restaurant to sit down in. there was nothing. i followed the signs that said bar. the bar was dark and dingy. rats scurried across the floor picking up the scraps of food. they didn't offer food. only free snacks if you ordered a beer. i drank two large kingfishers. the snacks were chick peas in some spice sauce and rice krispie things. it was good.
i got on to the bus to kodai. it was a dvd bus. fuck. they played indian music at full blast. the bus was packed. the ailse was full with people standing. i was sweating profusely. i wanted to vomit. we were stationery waiting to leave. we finally left an hour later(8:30pm). the normal route to kodai was closed off because of an accdient that usually takes 3 hours. we took an alternative route that would take 5 hours. christ. 5 hours of hell on this bus. the road was very narrow. we kept stopping and reversing to let cars go by on the tight corners. it was awful. a drunk guy was at my feet and wouldn't leave me alone. drunk indian people are very grabby an touchy. he kept shaking my hand and trying to crush it. he also rubbed my legs and would constantly try to steal my lighter. i was getting really annoyed. i kept pushing his hands away. i pretended to sleep and he left me alone.
i don't know if i slept. i certainly tried. the bust ride went quite quick actually.
no more fucking buses.
we arrived in kodai(2am). the bus stand was empty. no one was around. it was freezing. 5 degrees or something. i had no idea where i was going. some guy from the bus told me to come with him in a jeep. what the hell. the driver and others were drunk. i asked to go to greenland youth hostel. they took me there. i said thank you and got out.
they got out and surrounded me and tried to make me pay 100 rupees. they weren't even a taxi. they said nothing about having to pay. they drove me 1 minute away. i could of easily walked. we argued. i thought one guy was going to try and swing at me. i told them to let me go to the reception so i could talk with someone who spoke better english. i explained my situation. i ended up only paying 50 rupees.
i hate that they think they can take advantage of foreigners like that.
i checked in to the dormitory. we walked down the steps. the man told me to shh and be quiet. there was a bison to the left. he said walk slow. he said they are very dangerous. i was too tired and angry to notice my surroundings. i climbed through a window and into a room with three, three tiered bunk beds. there was one person sleeping. i passed out. with three blankets on top of me in my clothes.
i woke up the next day and went outside. it was incredible. possibly one of the nicest views i've seen. just footsteps from my stonelodge hostel. a beautiful garden that smelt of roses. it's hard to justify through words how amazing it was.
i was above the clouds. the clouds were suspended on top of mountains in the distance. this is what i've needed. no more busing and traveling. just escaping and relaxing in then mountains.
it was warm. the climate here is so nice. 15-20 during the day. 5-10 at night. it's perfect. i set off on foot into town. i bought two sweaters, a toque and some laundry powder.
i went back to the hostel and did my laundry outside in a bucket. my two green and blue shirts i bought in hospet bled. they bleached all my white clothes blue. it looks like i tie-dyed them all blue. great. i hung my clothes to dry on a railing and sat there reading a book until everything was dry. a gust would come every so often and blow my clothes off. i kept hanging them back up.
i sat until 4pm. the clouds would swoosh up. like smoke from a chimney.
i had a cold shower and went into town for dinner.
Monday, October 19, 2009
yesterday i left Kochin. so long and farewell. the little town that raped my money.
i ate at an indian place for breakfast. had potato curry and parota(like nan bread). i couldn't eat it. it wasn't breakfast.
i hopped on a rickshaw and went to the bust stand. a one legged man helped me which bus i need to get on. i hopped on the bus to Alaphuzza(Aleppey). drove 2 hours. arrived in Aleppey. a busy little city. tonnes of marketplace for it's small size. and a nice canal running through the middle of it. i went to a juice bar to escape the heat. drank some pineapple juice and then a lemon juice. i found a place to stay for the night. at a bamboo treefort place. my favourite place i've stayed so far. reallyn neat. only 250 rupees(5$) a night. i dropped my bag off there and walked to the beach. so far. walked along the beach. the sand was white but the water had hundreds of dead floating fish. the beach was empty except for the ice cream vendors. i went to a little field and watched kids play cricket and watched women paracticing driving scooters.
i went to an indian coffee house. they're a chain restaurant here. they are nice. had a little refreshment. went back to the beach and met some local indian guys who were 'professional' frisbee players. we played frisbee for like 4 hours on the beach. it was a lot of fun. they were really good. walked back towards my treefort.
a man slowly drove by on a motorcycle and stopped ahead of me. i walked upto him. i thought he was going to ask if i wanted a ride back. he shook my hand and when we let go he grazed my penis. i thought nothing of it because it was dark and maybe he couldn't judge our distance. he spoke some dialect of Indian i didn't understand. i responded yes and no to the questions i thought suitable. he then grabbed my crotch and said "homosex?". i flinched back, pushing his hand anway. i said "no, thank you" smiled awkwardly and walked away. i came back to my room and had a shower. feeling disgusting from sweating and rolling around in the sand. and also from a hand grabbing my manhood. i slept. the mosquito net did wonders.
i leave for Kollam on the backwater trip tomorrow.
the backwater trip was alright. although, wasn't as scenic as i expected. the boat had other travellers. a couple from Japan(the guy could of been david suzuki's son), a couple from France, a couple from the UK, a guy from Japan and a man from Korea. it was still enjoyable watching the land go by. little villages and huts tucked away in the banana and cashew plantations. mango trees hanging over the water. women washing clothes in the ghats. children running up to the shore to wave to us. men fishing from little canoes. large boats transporting goods. other tourist housboats. more of bamboo yachts.
the French couple recognised me from Hampi. they said we ate at the same restaurant one night. i remembered. we played cards with the boat guide. it was some Indian card game. i was awful at it in the beginning because i wasn't sure how to play. then i got the hang of it and won most games.
we stopped for lunch at a little strip of land with a restaurant. it was a typical thali meal. thali is like a meal/combo plate. with rice, chapati, dal, vegetables and chili peppers. it was served on a banana leaf. purely for the tourist novelty. the british couple complained about eating with their hands. they ate with both hands which in India is not proper. your right hand is your eating hand and your left hand is your dirty hand. it's the hand you use when finished using the toilet. they don't use toilet paper.
we were rushed to eat our lunch. we hopped on the boat and kept moving.
i sat on the top and fried in the sun. my right arm is darker than my left.
we motored through a strip of Chinese fishing nets. we passed under bridges.
we skipped our afternoon tea stop because our schedule was running late.
i played more cards. we eventually reached Kollam.
it was 7:00pm when we arrived. i got a rickshaw with the French couple to a hotel the boat guide suggested for us.
it was by the beach and you could hear the waves were big.
the double rooms were superb. clean and had a tv. my room was a single with no pillows, no tv and crickets crawling on the walls.
i ate dinner with the French couple, Xavier and Emilie. Xavier has a biology degree but is a bartender. Emilie is a nurse and also works as a bartender. they work in the Alps during the winter and on the beach during the summer. they are traveling around the world for a year.
i said goodnight to them and went to bed with the crickets.
this day was a travel day. i had breakfast with Xavier and Emilie, at our hotel.
i checked out the beach. it was nothing special. the surf was big but broke very close to shore. i went back to hotel and looked at the map of Kerala. i decided where i wanted to go today. Munnar. i had to take a train to Kottayam and then catch a bus to Munnar. i was told this route was possible, so i tried. i went to the train station with Xav and Em. they wanted to book at ticket to Madurai. i got my train ticket to Kottayam. it left in one hour. good timing.
we went for a beer at a bar across from the train station before i had to get my train.
the bar was dark. too dark. we sat at a table and couldn't see eachother's faces. we each got a large kingfisher.
i said goodbye to them and jumped on the train.
it was my first experience with second class, or 'cattle class' some call it, and it was my last. the seats were full. it was elbows to elbows. i stood with my backpack on for an hour and a half with everyone staring at with a 'what the hell is he doing in this compartment' look. i couldn't see the stations we were stopping at so i had to ask everytime we stopped. i asked a new person each time because i didn't want to be a nuisance to the same person.
a beggar woman came aboard and played songs with two flat rocks. she sang aswell.
the songs sounded sad. it felt like they were of sorrow. it made me feel sad. the has a beautiful voice. i gave her 5 rupees.
i reached Kottayam and barged my way through the people and off the train.
i walked to a bus station and was told it wasn't possible to get to Munnar from this station. i took a rickshaw to another station and they said the bus to Munnar would be leaving in an hour. good timing. i went to a bakery and ate some assorted pastry puffs. egg, potato and onion. i jumped on the bus and we were off.
the bus ride was amazing. driving through rolling hills and dipping into valleys swallowed by forest. swerving and weaving around the tight narrow curves in the road. it turned into night and we reached a hault. a line of vehicles backed up for a kilometer. a car had fallen off the road and into the river. the passengers all survived but had to be taken to the hospital. two weeks ago the same thing happened and two people drowned.
the police, ambulance and firefighters zoomed by and things started moving again after waiting for an hour.
the rest of the bus ride was incredible. we climbed and climbed up and up the mountain. the air was getting colder. we were in the clouds. a steep valley dropped next to us and another hill rose from it. the fog and the mist made from the clouds looked magical.
we arrived in the town of Munnar. it was 10pm. i was in shorts and a t-shirt. i stepped off the bus and i was cold for the first time in India. i could see my breath.
everything was closed. i had no clue the layout of the town. Munnar wasn't in my lonely planet. i walked into the market where i could see signs for hotels and tourist homes. i tried several but they were full. it was the high season. i went to use the internet to look for a cheap place to stay. it didn't help. all the places that came up were high end resort hotels. i walked around more. freezing. i eventually found a hole in the wall. literally. they gave me a little room wuith no bathroom. just a bed. it was expensive but i needed a place to rest. the man was nice.
a group of indians were in the room next door partying. they told me to join them. they gave me a glass of rum water and an orange. they were all really drunk. they each took turns taking pictures of me with them. i said goodnight and went to bed. about an hour later i heard a knock. one of the Indian guys was at my door. i opened my door and he pushed his way in. he asked if i was staying alone. i said yes. he sat on my bed and asked if i liked sex. i said no. i told him to leave because i wanted to go to bed. he asked if i wanted sex. i again said no and was getting a little tempermental. i tried to lift him up. but he fell over. the man that owned the place came out and kicked him out of my room. thank you nice man. his name is Joseph.
i went to bed and had a nice sleep with the cold air.
i ate at an indian place for breakfast. had potato curry and parota(like nan bread). i couldn't eat it. it wasn't breakfast.
i hopped on a rickshaw and went to the bust stand. a one legged man helped me which bus i need to get on. i hopped on the bus to Alaphuzza(Aleppey). drove 2 hours. arrived in Aleppey. a busy little city. tonnes of marketplace for it's small size. and a nice canal running through the middle of it. i went to a juice bar to escape the heat. drank some pineapple juice and then a lemon juice. i found a place to stay for the night. at a bamboo treefort place. my favourite place i've stayed so far. reallyn neat. only 250 rupees(5$) a night. i dropped my bag off there and walked to the beach. so far. walked along the beach. the sand was white but the water had hundreds of dead floating fish. the beach was empty except for the ice cream vendors. i went to a little field and watched kids play cricket and watched women paracticing driving scooters.
i went to an indian coffee house. they're a chain restaurant here. they are nice. had a little refreshment. went back to the beach and met some local indian guys who were 'professional' frisbee players. we played frisbee for like 4 hours on the beach. it was a lot of fun. they were really good. walked back towards my treefort.
a man slowly drove by on a motorcycle and stopped ahead of me. i walked upto him. i thought he was going to ask if i wanted a ride back. he shook my hand and when we let go he grazed my penis. i thought nothing of it because it was dark and maybe he couldn't judge our distance. he spoke some dialect of Indian i didn't understand. i responded yes and no to the questions i thought suitable. he then grabbed my crotch and said "homosex?". i flinched back, pushing his hand anway. i said "no, thank you" smiled awkwardly and walked away. i came back to my room and had a shower. feeling disgusting from sweating and rolling around in the sand. and also from a hand grabbing my manhood. i slept. the mosquito net did wonders.
i leave for Kollam on the backwater trip tomorrow.
the backwater trip was alright. although, wasn't as scenic as i expected. the boat had other travellers. a couple from Japan(the guy could of been david suzuki's son), a couple from France, a couple from the UK, a guy from Japan and a man from Korea. it was still enjoyable watching the land go by. little villages and huts tucked away in the banana and cashew plantations. mango trees hanging over the water. women washing clothes in the ghats. children running up to the shore to wave to us. men fishing from little canoes. large boats transporting goods. other tourist housboats. more of bamboo yachts.
the French couple recognised me from Hampi. they said we ate at the same restaurant one night. i remembered. we played cards with the boat guide. it was some Indian card game. i was awful at it in the beginning because i wasn't sure how to play. then i got the hang of it and won most games.
we stopped for lunch at a little strip of land with a restaurant. it was a typical thali meal. thali is like a meal/combo plate. with rice, chapati, dal, vegetables and chili peppers. it was served on a banana leaf. purely for the tourist novelty. the british couple complained about eating with their hands. they ate with both hands which in India is not proper. your right hand is your eating hand and your left hand is your dirty hand. it's the hand you use when finished using the toilet. they don't use toilet paper.
we were rushed to eat our lunch. we hopped on the boat and kept moving.
i sat on the top and fried in the sun. my right arm is darker than my left.
we motored through a strip of Chinese fishing nets. we passed under bridges.
we skipped our afternoon tea stop because our schedule was running late.
i played more cards. we eventually reached Kollam.
it was 7:00pm when we arrived. i got a rickshaw with the French couple to a hotel the boat guide suggested for us.
it was by the beach and you could hear the waves were big.
the double rooms were superb. clean and had a tv. my room was a single with no pillows, no tv and crickets crawling on the walls.
i ate dinner with the French couple, Xavier and Emilie. Xavier has a biology degree but is a bartender. Emilie is a nurse and also works as a bartender. they work in the Alps during the winter and on the beach during the summer. they are traveling around the world for a year.
i said goodnight to them and went to bed with the crickets.
this day was a travel day. i had breakfast with Xavier and Emilie, at our hotel.
i checked out the beach. it was nothing special. the surf was big but broke very close to shore. i went back to hotel and looked at the map of Kerala. i decided where i wanted to go today. Munnar. i had to take a train to Kottayam and then catch a bus to Munnar. i was told this route was possible, so i tried. i went to the train station with Xav and Em. they wanted to book at ticket to Madurai. i got my train ticket to Kottayam. it left in one hour. good timing.
we went for a beer at a bar across from the train station before i had to get my train.
the bar was dark. too dark. we sat at a table and couldn't see eachother's faces. we each got a large kingfisher.
i said goodbye to them and jumped on the train.
it was my first experience with second class, or 'cattle class' some call it, and it was my last. the seats were full. it was elbows to elbows. i stood with my backpack on for an hour and a half with everyone staring at with a 'what the hell is he doing in this compartment' look. i couldn't see the stations we were stopping at so i had to ask everytime we stopped. i asked a new person each time because i didn't want to be a nuisance to the same person.
a beggar woman came aboard and played songs with two flat rocks. she sang aswell.
the songs sounded sad. it felt like they were of sorrow. it made me feel sad. the has a beautiful voice. i gave her 5 rupees.
i reached Kottayam and barged my way through the people and off the train.
i walked to a bus station and was told it wasn't possible to get to Munnar from this station. i took a rickshaw to another station and they said the bus to Munnar would be leaving in an hour. good timing. i went to a bakery and ate some assorted pastry puffs. egg, potato and onion. i jumped on the bus and we were off.
the bus ride was amazing. driving through rolling hills and dipping into valleys swallowed by forest. swerving and weaving around the tight narrow curves in the road. it turned into night and we reached a hault. a line of vehicles backed up for a kilometer. a car had fallen off the road and into the river. the passengers all survived but had to be taken to the hospital. two weeks ago the same thing happened and two people drowned.
the police, ambulance and firefighters zoomed by and things started moving again after waiting for an hour.
the rest of the bus ride was incredible. we climbed and climbed up and up the mountain. the air was getting colder. we were in the clouds. a steep valley dropped next to us and another hill rose from it. the fog and the mist made from the clouds looked magical.
we arrived in the town of Munnar. it was 10pm. i was in shorts and a t-shirt. i stepped off the bus and i was cold for the first time in India. i could see my breath.
everything was closed. i had no clue the layout of the town. Munnar wasn't in my lonely planet. i walked into the market where i could see signs for hotels and tourist homes. i tried several but they were full. it was the high season. i went to use the internet to look for a cheap place to stay. it didn't help. all the places that came up were high end resort hotels. i walked around more. freezing. i eventually found a hole in the wall. literally. they gave me a little room wuith no bathroom. just a bed. it was expensive but i needed a place to rest. the man was nice.
a group of indians were in the room next door partying. they told me to join them. they gave me a glass of rum water and an orange. they were all really drunk. they each took turns taking pictures of me with them. i said goodnight and went to bed. about an hour later i heard a knock. one of the Indian guys was at my door. i opened my door and he pushed his way in. he asked if i was staying alone. i said yes. he sat on my bed and asked if i liked sex. i said no. i told him to leave because i wanted to go to bed. he asked if i wanted sex. i again said no and was getting a little tempermental. i tried to lift him up. but he fell over. the man that owned the place came out and kicked him out of my room. thank you nice man. his name is Joseph.
i went to bed and had a nice sleep with the cold air.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
i had a nap in the afternoon. i slept until 6pm. it was dark when i woke up. i went to the balcony and joined the Israeli's. they told me about their day on the bollywood film set. it was some club scene they were shooting. it was too hot. the lights glaring down on them. the smoke machine constantly running. hundreds of sweaty Indians in one room. they said they were suffocating.
we went out for dinner at Oy's restaurant. there was a picture of Bob Marley on the wall and a picture of Jim Morrison. they played Bob Marley's greatest hits on repeat.
the service was terrible. the food was overpriced. i wasn't satisfied when i finished.
i left the restaurant while Karine, Rei and Amir drank coffee. i finally figured out their names. you can't ask their name again once they enunciated it to you several times and you still can't understand what they're saying.
i went to some restaurant and drank a Kingfisher. i drew a fisherman catching a fish off a wharf. i drank another. they told me they were closing. i asked for another Kingfisher for takeaway. they wrapped it up in newspaper for me. i put it in the basket of my bike and rode to the homestay.
we finished the day off in our usual spot on the balcony. the power went out. we lit candles. i blew my candle out and i said goodbye to them. they were leaving to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary early.
i went for breakfast at Kashi again. i shouldn't eat there. it reminds me of home though. it's a comfort thing. i had the breakfast. farmers omelet, whole wheat toast and watermelon. i wrote a poem there. although i don't know if you can call it that. i have no understanding of the fundamentals of poetry.
i left and walked around in circles. and in zig zags. i didn't know what to do with myself. i bought cigarettes called 'Paris'. i liked the pack. i went to my room and layed down. listened to music and watched the fan spin. my XA2 was fucking up. i tried fixing it. i think it's finished. their is power but the shutter won't release. i think i'll need to find a new film camera somewhere here. fuck the guys who stole my Leica.
i went for another walk around. i watched a TV commercial being filmed. i don't know what the hell for. for ice cream? for a bike? for some cookies? for a watch? you never know.
i went to cafe coffee day and watched a little bit of a movie. it didn't interest me.
i stopped by the St. Mary's School and watched the girls practice band.
i can hear them now. they are playing "when the saints go marching in".
we went out for dinner at Oy's restaurant. there was a picture of Bob Marley on the wall and a picture of Jim Morrison. they played Bob Marley's greatest hits on repeat.
the service was terrible. the food was overpriced. i wasn't satisfied when i finished.
i left the restaurant while Karine, Rei and Amir drank coffee. i finally figured out their names. you can't ask their name again once they enunciated it to you several times and you still can't understand what they're saying.
i went to some restaurant and drank a Kingfisher. i drew a fisherman catching a fish off a wharf. i drank another. they told me they were closing. i asked for another Kingfisher for takeaway. they wrapped it up in newspaper for me. i put it in the basket of my bike and rode to the homestay.
we finished the day off in our usual spot on the balcony. the power went out. we lit candles. i blew my candle out and i said goodbye to them. they were leaving to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary early.
i went for breakfast at Kashi again. i shouldn't eat there. it reminds me of home though. it's a comfort thing. i had the breakfast. farmers omelet, whole wheat toast and watermelon. i wrote a poem there. although i don't know if you can call it that. i have no understanding of the fundamentals of poetry.
i left and walked around in circles. and in zig zags. i didn't know what to do with myself. i bought cigarettes called 'Paris'. i liked the pack. i went to my room and layed down. listened to music and watched the fan spin. my XA2 was fucking up. i tried fixing it. i think it's finished. their is power but the shutter won't release. i think i'll need to find a new film camera somewhere here. fuck the guys who stole my Leica.
i went for another walk around. i watched a TV commercial being filmed. i don't know what the hell for. for ice cream? for a bike? for some cookies? for a watch? you never know.
i went to cafe coffee day and watched a little bit of a movie. it didn't interest me.
i stopped by the St. Mary's School and watched the girls practice band.
i can hear them now. they are playing "when the saints go marching in".
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
where did i leave off...
we were on the balcony in the late afternoon. another Israeli emerged from some room and onto the balcony. where are they coming from?
i don't recall his name. the three of us went for coffee. the clouds were lingering in the air. the sun was creating a golden glow through them. the entire sky was amber coloured.
cafe coffee day. some cafe franchise in India. i had an iced coffee. there was a TV and it was on showing HBO. the movie Stardust was playing. the music in the cafe was terrible as usual. unnecessarily loud and not suitable for a cafe in any way. the other two Israeli guys showed up. Ray and Emile. we all watched Stardust with english subtitles, disregarding the awful blaring music. it sort of droned out in my head and i could imagine Robert Deniro speaking.
we decided to go for dinner. all of us. we tried some fancy restaurant. i told them it was over my budget. some locals came upto us and tried selling these whirligig helicopter devices that you sling shot into the air. they have lights on them. 'very good working, yes' they said. 'special price i give you'. no thanks. we walk to a new restaurant. we pass these enormous trees. the trunks are gigantic. the diameter was about 15 feet. the branches flowed out like water shooting out of a blowhole from a whale.
we found a new restaurant and sat down. we ordered some beer. it was served in teapots. the menu was very limited. so we chugged our beer and moved onto a new place. we finally settled on a new restaurant. wine and beer it was called or something like that. it was expensive. i found the cheapest thing on the menu with the most to it. 'prawns noddle'. it was good. four Israeli's and a Canadian. they spoke Hebrew to each other. i just sat and listened, drinking my beer and eating.
from there we took off back to our homestay. we made a stop at the little snack shop and bought some cookies. we all sat on the balcony and smoked.
there were two slugs in my bathroom sink. i left them. in the morning they were gone.
i went for breakfast at Kashi. an art cafe. it reminded me of the kinds you would find in Canada. it was strange to be there. the gallery was in the front and the cage was in the back. paintings hanging on the walls. a tree growing in the corner of the dining area. little tables set up with single flowers. it was really nice.
the food was amazing. they have set meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...that change everyday. the breakfast was french toast with honey and fresh fruit. a mound of fresh fruit. papaya, pomegranate, pineapple, oranges, banana and coconut. so good. also the coffee came in a little french press.
at the end my stomach wasn't feeling well. it was my first time using the toilet Indian style. i won't go into it.
i went back to my room. i rented a bicycle. a purple bike with a basket on the front. i had no say in choosing. it had a nice feel to it. i biked around Fort Kochin, Kochin, Mattancherry and Jewtown. it's actually called Jewtown.
i cycled through the bustling streets. dodging oncoming rickshaws and elderly tourists making their way across the road. swerving around potholes and goats.
it felt like paperboy.
i had enough of that and decided it was about time for a shave.
i went into the first barbershop i saw. it was called 'new style salon'. i love the names for shops here. they're really humorous.
the barbershop consisted of one chair and a single mirror. the tools were all piled on a table in the corner. the fluorescent light on one wall wasn't working.
a man was sitting in his chair getting his haircut. the barber, a young man about 26, was using the most care. each cut was so precise and detailed, even on his cellphone. he put a lot of time and effort into his job. and he was an artist i must say. he finished up and it was my turn.
i asked for a shave but leave my moustache. he didn't say anything and started away, not sure if he knew what i meant. i went with it. he applied shaving cream with a brush. lathering it on. slapping my face with it. he brought out a switch blade. inserted a razor into it and began. i trusted the indian barber with holding a switch blade to my throat. he could kill me. right then and there. he was talking to his friend. which was making me nervous. not looking at his strokes. the blade was extremely sharp. the scraping sound itched my ear. my ginger beard came off so quickly and smoothly. he was a professional. i didn't need to worry. he's done this a thousand times. since he was six probably too. he trimmed my moustache for me. and tidied up the hair on the back of my neck.
he finished up and slapped my face around with some after shave. then talcum powder around my neck and it was done. 20 rupees. 50 cents.
i cycled back to the area i was staying in. i grabbed a late lunch. a mini chicken masala sub, samosa and mirinda. went back to homestay and sat on the balcony eating my lunch. school was out and the children were loud. skipping below me. holding hands and laughing. dressed in there blue and white checkered uniforms. a woman swept up leaves into piles and burned them.
we were on the balcony in the late afternoon. another Israeli emerged from some room and onto the balcony. where are they coming from?
i don't recall his name. the three of us went for coffee. the clouds were lingering in the air. the sun was creating a golden glow through them. the entire sky was amber coloured.
cafe coffee day. some cafe franchise in India. i had an iced coffee. there was a TV and it was on showing HBO. the movie Stardust was playing. the music in the cafe was terrible as usual. unnecessarily loud and not suitable for a cafe in any way. the other two Israeli guys showed up. Ray and Emile. we all watched Stardust with english subtitles, disregarding the awful blaring music. it sort of droned out in my head and i could imagine Robert Deniro speaking.
we decided to go for dinner. all of us. we tried some fancy restaurant. i told them it was over my budget. some locals came upto us and tried selling these whirligig helicopter devices that you sling shot into the air. they have lights on them. 'very good working, yes' they said. 'special price i give you'. no thanks. we walk to a new restaurant. we pass these enormous trees. the trunks are gigantic. the diameter was about 15 feet. the branches flowed out like water shooting out of a blowhole from a whale.
we found a new restaurant and sat down. we ordered some beer. it was served in teapots. the menu was very limited. so we chugged our beer and moved onto a new place. we finally settled on a new restaurant. wine and beer it was called or something like that. it was expensive. i found the cheapest thing on the menu with the most to it. 'prawns noddle'. it was good. four Israeli's and a Canadian. they spoke Hebrew to each other. i just sat and listened, drinking my beer and eating.
from there we took off back to our homestay. we made a stop at the little snack shop and bought some cookies. we all sat on the balcony and smoked.
there were two slugs in my bathroom sink. i left them. in the morning they were gone.
i went for breakfast at Kashi. an art cafe. it reminded me of the kinds you would find in Canada. it was strange to be there. the gallery was in the front and the cage was in the back. paintings hanging on the walls. a tree growing in the corner of the dining area. little tables set up with single flowers. it was really nice.
the food was amazing. they have set meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...that change everyday. the breakfast was french toast with honey and fresh fruit. a mound of fresh fruit. papaya, pomegranate, pineapple, oranges, banana and coconut. so good. also the coffee came in a little french press.
at the end my stomach wasn't feeling well. it was my first time using the toilet Indian style. i won't go into it.
i went back to my room. i rented a bicycle. a purple bike with a basket on the front. i had no say in choosing. it had a nice feel to it. i biked around Fort Kochin, Kochin, Mattancherry and Jewtown. it's actually called Jewtown.
i cycled through the bustling streets. dodging oncoming rickshaws and elderly tourists making their way across the road. swerving around potholes and goats.
it felt like paperboy.
i had enough of that and decided it was about time for a shave.
i went into the first barbershop i saw. it was called 'new style salon'. i love the names for shops here. they're really humorous.
the barbershop consisted of one chair and a single mirror. the tools were all piled on a table in the corner. the fluorescent light on one wall wasn't working.
a man was sitting in his chair getting his haircut. the barber, a young man about 26, was using the most care. each cut was so precise and detailed, even on his cellphone. he put a lot of time and effort into his job. and he was an artist i must say. he finished up and it was my turn.
i asked for a shave but leave my moustache. he didn't say anything and started away, not sure if he knew what i meant. i went with it. he applied shaving cream with a brush. lathering it on. slapping my face with it. he brought out a switch blade. inserted a razor into it and began. i trusted the indian barber with holding a switch blade to my throat. he could kill me. right then and there. he was talking to his friend. which was making me nervous. not looking at his strokes. the blade was extremely sharp. the scraping sound itched my ear. my ginger beard came off so quickly and smoothly. he was a professional. i didn't need to worry. he's done this a thousand times. since he was six probably too. he trimmed my moustache for me. and tidied up the hair on the back of my neck.
he finished up and slapped my face around with some after shave. then talcum powder around my neck and it was done. 20 rupees. 50 cents.
i cycled back to the area i was staying in. i grabbed a late lunch. a mini chicken masala sub, samosa and mirinda. went back to homestay and sat on the balcony eating my lunch. school was out and the children were loud. skipping below me. holding hands and laughing. dressed in there blue and white checkered uniforms. a woman swept up leaves into piles and burned them.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
i had an early supper in Bangalore before catching my train. i felt i should treat myself with something maybe more expensive. i don't know what i was thinking. i ate at a place called ruby tuesday. named after the rolling stones song.it was a franchise mimicking TGIF or something in that sort. they had sports paraphernalia hanging on the walls. the music they played was "western". through the ears of an indian. awful. just terrible. and at a volume intolerable. dance, techno, rap, country, rock, all mashed into one big clusterfuck of noise. they call it a song.
the prices were outrageous for india. i was actually going to pay western prices. 6-8$ for appetizers. 10-20$ for mains. i started walking out. the server, dressed in all black and shirt tucked in, yelled to wait. he told me a lunch special. make your own salad at the salad bar. a pint of beer. and selection from a small main course menu. for 5$. i agreed. i made the best salad. ate my deep fried chicken burger and fries. lady gaga came on. i gulped my beer and paid. never again ruby tuesday.
i set out to get a rickshaw to catch my train. it was 4pm. my train was at 5pm. there was no rickshaws in sight. shit. i walked to the main road and found one. i asked to go to the train station. he said no. what? a rickshaw driver said no? that's the first time i've experienced such a thing. it was absurd. i walked around more. why were there no rickshaw drivers? i marched through the crowds of westernized indians. passed the KFC. past the mcdonalds. past the pizza hut. ignored the man trying to sell knockoff rayban's. pushed away the man trying to sell me a watch. i was on a mission. i would not miss another fucking train and be caught in this chaotic city.
a man came upto me and asked if i wanted a rickshaw. he took me to his rickshaw. i asked why there was no rickshaws. it was because they are on strike. just my luck. so i was skeptical about this guy taking me somewhere. he said 20 rupees and he'll take my to station but first i have to go see his handcraft shop. i told him no, i'm late for my train. he then asked where i was going and what train i was taking. i told him. he told me it was cancelled. fuck off. i cursed at him and walked away. i walked. sweating. aching. looking for a damn way to the train station. it was 4:30pm. i decided to walk the 4 km in half an hour. but still i had no clue what direction i needed to go. i got stressed. stopped a random man on a scooter to give me a lift. he didn't say anything and drove off. i was swearing. melting in the sun. my bones were repositioning themselves underneath my backpack straps. fuck. an indian man saw my frustration. he was getting the same train. he said it was too late to catch the train at the Bangalore Junction terminal. he told me to follow him. i trusted him. i didn't care anymore. lead me. carry me. show me the way. we walked a bit and caught a bus. the bus drove 10 minutes and we got off. we walked a little more to Bangalore Cant terminal. it was 5:15pm. i looked at the board. there was my train! coming in 15 minutes! thank you indian man. we got on the train and i
never saw him again.
i found my berth on the train. it was shared with 4 Thai people. in their late 40's i presumed. they spoke english really well. i was exhausted. i went inbetween the train cars and opened the door and sat down. smoked a cigarette and watched the land zoom by. the wind blowing in my face. the sun setting.
i climbed to my top bunk as usual and passed out.
we arrived in Kochin at 4:30am. the Thai people woke me up when we got in.
i walked to the front of the train station and sat down drinking my coffee from a street vendor. i planned my next move. i took a rickshaw to Fort Kochin. it was dark. there were no other vehicles except for the odd the rickshaw. we crossed over two bridges. i told him a homestay to go to. it was full. he brought me to one he knew. i knocked on the door and a little indian man came to the door. short grey hair and a grey stubbly beard. he brought me to a vancant room and said 300. i agreed. i fell asleep.
i woke up at 8am. the room was standard. double bed. fan. attached bathroom with shower and "western toilet". decent.
i went for breakfast. had an omelet, toast, chai and a banana lassi. i went back to my room and sat on the balcony. Kerala is the state. Kochin is a town. the south of india is completely different from the north. each being on the ends of the spectrum.
north is more conservative and mainly Hindi. south is more liberal and a majority of Christianity. it's more civilized here or something.
an israeli girl joined me on the balcony. we talked about places we've been. places to check out. two of her friends came out. also israeli. both guys. we sat around and chatted. smoked a joint.
i took a shower. my body had a layer of dirt caked on it. refreshing.
walked around Fort Kochin a little. saw the Santa Cruz Basilica. saw St. Francis Xavier church. saw the dutch cemetery. walked along the waterfront on a boardwalk. watched the indian's use the chinese fishing nets. i ate some lunch. 2 samosas, 1 banana, peanuts, water and an icecream. all for 40 rupees. like 90 cents. have to love street vendors.
kochin is a strange place. it's beautiful. all the houses are like little villas. nice balconies and gardens. it's very resorty. a lot of old foreigners. it's kind of a romantic place. but spoiled with rich tourists. high class restaurants and hotels.
it's really hot.
i walked back to my homestay. watched two cats fight. i relaxed on the baclcony some more with karine. the israeli girl. she did her army training. now she needed to get away from her country.
the prices were outrageous for india. i was actually going to pay western prices. 6-8$ for appetizers. 10-20$ for mains. i started walking out. the server, dressed in all black and shirt tucked in, yelled to wait. he told me a lunch special. make your own salad at the salad bar. a pint of beer. and selection from a small main course menu. for 5$. i agreed. i made the best salad. ate my deep fried chicken burger and fries. lady gaga came on. i gulped my beer and paid. never again ruby tuesday.
i set out to get a rickshaw to catch my train. it was 4pm. my train was at 5pm. there was no rickshaws in sight. shit. i walked to the main road and found one. i asked to go to the train station. he said no. what? a rickshaw driver said no? that's the first time i've experienced such a thing. it was absurd. i walked around more. why were there no rickshaw drivers? i marched through the crowds of westernized indians. passed the KFC. past the mcdonalds. past the pizza hut. ignored the man trying to sell knockoff rayban's. pushed away the man trying to sell me a watch. i was on a mission. i would not miss another fucking train and be caught in this chaotic city.
a man came upto me and asked if i wanted a rickshaw. he took me to his rickshaw. i asked why there was no rickshaws. it was because they are on strike. just my luck. so i was skeptical about this guy taking me somewhere. he said 20 rupees and he'll take my to station but first i have to go see his handcraft shop. i told him no, i'm late for my train. he then asked where i was going and what train i was taking. i told him. he told me it was cancelled. fuck off. i cursed at him and walked away. i walked. sweating. aching. looking for a damn way to the train station. it was 4:30pm. i decided to walk the 4 km in half an hour. but still i had no clue what direction i needed to go. i got stressed. stopped a random man on a scooter to give me a lift. he didn't say anything and drove off. i was swearing. melting in the sun. my bones were repositioning themselves underneath my backpack straps. fuck. an indian man saw my frustration. he was getting the same train. he said it was too late to catch the train at the Bangalore Junction terminal. he told me to follow him. i trusted him. i didn't care anymore. lead me. carry me. show me the way. we walked a bit and caught a bus. the bus drove 10 minutes and we got off. we walked a little more to Bangalore Cant terminal. it was 5:15pm. i looked at the board. there was my train! coming in 15 minutes! thank you indian man. we got on the train and i
never saw him again.
i found my berth on the train. it was shared with 4 Thai people. in their late 40's i presumed. they spoke english really well. i was exhausted. i went inbetween the train cars and opened the door and sat down. smoked a cigarette and watched the land zoom by. the wind blowing in my face. the sun setting.
i climbed to my top bunk as usual and passed out.
we arrived in Kochin at 4:30am. the Thai people woke me up when we got in.
i walked to the front of the train station and sat down drinking my coffee from a street vendor. i planned my next move. i took a rickshaw to Fort Kochin. it was dark. there were no other vehicles except for the odd the rickshaw. we crossed over two bridges. i told him a homestay to go to. it was full. he brought me to one he knew. i knocked on the door and a little indian man came to the door. short grey hair and a grey stubbly beard. he brought me to a vancant room and said 300. i agreed. i fell asleep.
i woke up at 8am. the room was standard. double bed. fan. attached bathroom with shower and "western toilet". decent.
i went for breakfast. had an omelet, toast, chai and a banana lassi. i went back to my room and sat on the balcony. Kerala is the state. Kochin is a town. the south of india is completely different from the north. each being on the ends of the spectrum.
north is more conservative and mainly Hindi. south is more liberal and a majority of Christianity. it's more civilized here or something.
an israeli girl joined me on the balcony. we talked about places we've been. places to check out. two of her friends came out. also israeli. both guys. we sat around and chatted. smoked a joint.
i took a shower. my body had a layer of dirt caked on it. refreshing.
walked around Fort Kochin a little. saw the Santa Cruz Basilica. saw St. Francis Xavier church. saw the dutch cemetery. walked along the waterfront on a boardwalk. watched the indian's use the chinese fishing nets. i ate some lunch. 2 samosas, 1 banana, peanuts, water and an icecream. all for 40 rupees. like 90 cents. have to love street vendors.
kochin is a strange place. it's beautiful. all the houses are like little villas. nice balconies and gardens. it's very resorty. a lot of old foreigners. it's kind of a romantic place. but spoiled with rich tourists. high class restaurants and hotels.
it's really hot.
i walked back to my homestay. watched two cats fight. i relaxed on the baclcony some more with karine. the israeli girl. she did her army training. now she needed to get away from her country.
Renovations
I'm changing this blog. I'm dedicating it to my travels in India.
I know it's already been halfway through my journey but people ask and ask what's going on and I get tired of typing to each person.
So let's begin...
i had a nice dinner in Hampi. cheese tomato sandwich with chips and salad. i dreaded going into my room and sleeping because of those fucking insects. i found a way to divert them by leaving the light in the bathroom on. take that shitheads.
i awoke at 8am and checked out. i ate breakfast at my usual place(Trishul Restaurant). had homemade meusli with bananas on top and chai. scrumptious. there was an american couple also occupying the restaurant. they talked about yoga. i wanted to throw my meusli at them.
i watched a man who was a foreigner. he was riding a motorcycle with a painting on his back. for some reason i thought it was unusual and guessed maybe what he was doing with it and why...
he saw the painting in a town he was in 4 days ago. north of where he was now. the painting caught his eye at an artists shop. he had to have it. he would take this painting everywhere with him. no matter how much of a burden it was to carry. he had to have it. it had to come back home to italy. that's where he's from. everyone that saw the painting complimented on it. how beautiful it was.
he wore his watch upside down. he said it was easier to tell time this way. or maybe time didn't matter to him. he just liked the novelty of wearing a watch. only the painting mattered to him. it would come home to italy with him.
i'm probably right.
i said my farewells to Hampi and caught the bus to Hospet.
in Hospet i did some shopping around. i needed some t-shirts and underwear since some of mine were stolen. i bought new batteries for my camera! success.
i walked to the train station. on my way i stopped for some chai and water at a street vendor. i fixed up my camera with the new batteries.
i kept walking and stopped at a bar/restaurant. there was six tables circling one table. they seated me in the centre table. like i was a freak so everyone around could stare at me. eat their meal and watch the show. but then i felt like i was the sun. they were the planets. revolving around me. the almighty sun.
the real sun however was not shining. there was thunder in the distance.
i drank 3 large Kingishers and was drunk at 2pm. i was bored and this was my idea of killing time.
i walked the rest of the way to the train station. 5 hours early. fuck.
i don't even remember what i did. it's all a haze. i remember children harassing me for a school pen. for chocolate. for cigarettes. for rupees. 'get lost!' i wanted to yell at them.
i'll skip to the train. i found my seat on the train and a big fat walrus man was sitting in my spot. he was trying to claim the lower bunk which i specifically reserved on the internet. he asked what seat number i was. i think you know, i thought, giving him a nasty look. maybe my nasty look wasn't nasty enough. he told me he was too much of a walrus to climb to the top bunk. i wanted to yell at him. but i was tired and cranky and needed to sleep. i climbed to the top and fell asleep.
arrived in Bangalore at 5:30am. moved like a sloth off the train. got on a local bus and went to MG road area. the popular area or something. i was so starving but nothing was open yet. i waited and waited. walked and walked. finally found the indian coffee house. i had 'scramld egg on bread' with coffee. the eggs(about 4 of them) were wet and the bread was underneath...soggy. i struggled eating it. i drank my coffee happily.
i passed KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Booster Juice. chuckled to myself every time i saw one. i walked for hours. visiting gardens. seeing large spectacular buildings. more gardens. more walking. tired of walking with my backpack. stopped every half hour to massage my shoulders. took a bus back to MG road area and here i am. soon to train to Kochi.
I know it's already been halfway through my journey but people ask and ask what's going on and I get tired of typing to each person.
So let's begin...
i had a nice dinner in Hampi. cheese tomato sandwich with chips and salad. i dreaded going into my room and sleeping because of those fucking insects. i found a way to divert them by leaving the light in the bathroom on. take that shitheads.
i awoke at 8am and checked out. i ate breakfast at my usual place(Trishul Restaurant). had homemade meusli with bananas on top and chai. scrumptious. there was an american couple also occupying the restaurant. they talked about yoga. i wanted to throw my meusli at them.
i watched a man who was a foreigner. he was riding a motorcycle with a painting on his back. for some reason i thought it was unusual and guessed maybe what he was doing with it and why...
he saw the painting in a town he was in 4 days ago. north of where he was now. the painting caught his eye at an artists shop. he had to have it. he would take this painting everywhere with him. no matter how much of a burden it was to carry. he had to have it. it had to come back home to italy. that's where he's from. everyone that saw the painting complimented on it. how beautiful it was.
he wore his watch upside down. he said it was easier to tell time this way. or maybe time didn't matter to him. he just liked the novelty of wearing a watch. only the painting mattered to him. it would come home to italy with him.
i'm probably right.
i said my farewells to Hampi and caught the bus to Hospet.
in Hospet i did some shopping around. i needed some t-shirts and underwear since some of mine were stolen. i bought new batteries for my camera! success.
i walked to the train station. on my way i stopped for some chai and water at a street vendor. i fixed up my camera with the new batteries.
i kept walking and stopped at a bar/restaurant. there was six tables circling one table. they seated me in the centre table. like i was a freak so everyone around could stare at me. eat their meal and watch the show. but then i felt like i was the sun. they were the planets. revolving around me. the almighty sun.
the real sun however was not shining. there was thunder in the distance.
i drank 3 large Kingishers and was drunk at 2pm. i was bored and this was my idea of killing time.
i walked the rest of the way to the train station. 5 hours early. fuck.
i don't even remember what i did. it's all a haze. i remember children harassing me for a school pen. for chocolate. for cigarettes. for rupees. 'get lost!' i wanted to yell at them.
i'll skip to the train. i found my seat on the train and a big fat walrus man was sitting in my spot. he was trying to claim the lower bunk which i specifically reserved on the internet. he asked what seat number i was. i think you know, i thought, giving him a nasty look. maybe my nasty look wasn't nasty enough. he told me he was too much of a walrus to climb to the top bunk. i wanted to yell at him. but i was tired and cranky and needed to sleep. i climbed to the top and fell asleep.
arrived in Bangalore at 5:30am. moved like a sloth off the train. got on a local bus and went to MG road area. the popular area or something. i was so starving but nothing was open yet. i waited and waited. walked and walked. finally found the indian coffee house. i had 'scramld egg on bread' with coffee. the eggs(about 4 of them) were wet and the bread was underneath...soggy. i struggled eating it. i drank my coffee happily.
i passed KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Booster Juice. chuckled to myself every time i saw one. i walked for hours. visiting gardens. seeing large spectacular buildings. more gardens. more walking. tired of walking with my backpack. stopped every half hour to massage my shoulders. took a bus back to MG road area and here i am. soon to train to Kochi.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
SB Sex Crime
Another yearly update.
This footage being released from the vault is from the SB in Park Vic during the Winter.
It will be missed.
Video features Sex Crime AKA cherry blast, KittyKat AKA tooTALLah and lifeofsi.
Park Montage coming soon?
WATCH
This footage being released from the vault is from the SB in Park Vic during the Winter.
It will be missed.
Video features Sex Crime AKA cherry blast, KittyKat AKA tooTALLah and lifeofsi.
Park Montage coming soon?
WATCH
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Some recent Ben stuff
Spring was here for a bit then decided to leave us.
Well, we made the most of it and skated a bunch in the warmer weather.
Here is some clips of Ben.
Youtube
Vimeo is better
Well, we made the most of it and skated a bunch in the warmer weather.
Here is some clips of Ben.
Youtube
Vimeo is better
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
