Recycled Art

These sculptures on display at the local art school are made from spare parts. Most of them look like they use components from the prolific auto rickshaws the line the streets here in India. Gears, chains, springs, sprockets, pistons and pedals are welded together to make these expressive characters and shapes.

Click the images to see larger versions. See if you can make out their individual components!

Vodafone 3G

So, I finally got 3G access on my phone.

Not great, but better than before!

850 rupees a  month for 6 gigs of data. That is around $17.

Edit: Okay... things just got cool. I am using the HP Veer as a WiFi hotspot, sharing my new speedy (heh) plan  with my laptop. I'm surfing along, reading the web when a phone call comes in. I pick the phone off the Touchstone charger and start talking. While on the phone, I check some information online using the laptop. The 3G works flawlessly, as does the phone call.

I didn't realize all of this until I was done with the call. Instinctively I went back to re-start my hotspot, and found it was still running. Everything was seamless, as it should be. I can make and receive calls, while continuing to stream data through my phone.

So sweet!

Banana Leaf

Today, I ate my lunch off of a banana leaf.

The leaf is large and green. You are supposed to place it horizontally in front of you, with the stem to your right, and rinse it lightly with water. Food is then placed on the leaf like a plate. There is an order and place for various types of food. I don't know all the details, but from what I gathered, sweet foods go close to you while salty and spicy foods are placed farther away.

The banana leaf is much larger than a regular plate, so you can really load it up with good eats. A huge pile of rice usually dominates the center, on which you pour various sauces, gravies and chutney. Then you mash it all together with your fingers using your right hand, and try to get the food into your mouth. It takes a little getting used to as you can probably imagine. The rice becomes a bit runny with juices causing the whole affair to become a bit of a strange shoveling action.

The sensation that I should constantly be cleaning off my hand, wiping it on a napkin or running to rinse it off, is powerful! I've been so programmed to be a 'neat' eater that eating saucy rice triggers all kinds of alarm bells in my head. Even compared to typical finger-food in the US, there is something quite different about this experience. I somehow feel like I'm offending others at the table, despite the fact that they are eating the same way. One more step on overcoming small fears... the fear of not upholding the proper social graces.

The best parts of using a banana leaf as a plate are that it is completely biodegradable and there are no dishes to wash!

Why aren't there any photos? Did you miss the part where I was busy eating with my hands?

Cowpresso

As much as I like the tea, or filtered coffee, there is something comforting about a shot of espresso.

I found a little boulangerie across the street from the startup company at which I've been spending some time. They have baguettes and espresso. Quite nice!

On the way to work, I pass a number of interesting sights and smells. While quite common here, seeing cows wandering the city streets in the US would be seen as an oddity.

Coconut De-Husking

I spent the afternoon with some wonderful people who taught me how to de-husk a coconut. They have their own coconut tree in the yard, which is around 30 years old. Every so many months, they have a gentleman come by to pick the coconuts from the tree. He climbs the tree for around 70 rupees, less than $1.50. If he picks 1 coconut, it is 70 rupees. If he picks 40 coconuts... 70 rupees.

Growing up in a temperate zone, I'm not accustomed to coconuts. I've seen the ones we get in the grocery store in the USA, brown with three dark spots not unlike a bowling ball. Here in India, I've seen big green ones from which you can drink coconut water, and simply assumed they were a different type of coconut that the ones to which I was accustomed.

As it turns out, the big green coconuts and the small brown coconuts are the same. When they are green and large, they are unripe. Once they ripen, they turn brown like the one in the video. They can then be pulled apart, revealing the bowling-ball-like center... the part of the coconut of which I am familiar.

Now, I am sure there are other types of coconuts, but it is remarkable how many little thing there are to learn about the world

Thanksgiving in India

Managed to put together a nice little Thanksgiving dinner with a friend here. Deviled eggs, corn pudding, mashed potatoes and turkey slices. The biscuits were a no-go, but everything else came out tasting shockingly close to home.

Internet over Phone

One of the down-sides of being in India is dealing with the layers of stupid when it comes to getting basic things done. For instance, I've been trying for a week to get 3G access turned on for my phone. Every step of the way there are huge hurdles and hoops, red tape galore.

If you call customer service from your phone, you have to navigate the horrific voicemail system. Once you reach the 'end', you are not connected to a customer care representative. Instead, you are presented with a message informing you that speaking with a customer care representative will cost you!

Let me get this straight. I am calling the phone company to GIVE THEM MONEY! I want to PAY THEM for 3G access. And they make men PAY in order to PAY?

This offends all my sensibilities.

Atop it all. I STILL do not have 3G access on my phone. I've lodged complaints, waited on hold, stood in a line (queue) at the store, and I'm still stuck on some kind of smoke-signal speed.

So right now/ I am using my phone tethered using whatever crummy speed is default... and probably paying through the nose for it.

Ouch. This hurts.

Between Boxes

I've come to India looking for some kind of change, to grab life by the horns and wrestle it to the ground under my own terms. Things are much better than expected.

In the 10 days or so since I've been here, I've been so pleasantly busy. I've gotten an apartment and met with some amazing people. I've reconnected with friends and coworkers and even have fulfilling work to do. I've eaten wonderful food at every turn, and been treated with the best level of hospitality one could hope for. My prospects look good for finding permanent employment here doing something different and exciting. It feels as if India is ripe with opportunity.

The greatest part of my trip has to be the conversations. I'm finding such stimulating ideas, challenging concepts and world-shaking revelations that it is difficult to express. So many of the restrictions we have around us are merely nothing more than constructs in the mind. Freeing oneself from these walls, from the little illusionary confines of 'security' and 'safety' is uncomfortable and liberating.

You should come and visit me. I'd love to discuss all this and more with you over a hot cup of chai.

No Time for Toys

I brought a bunch of cool toys with me to India, tech gadgets that I thought without which I couldn't live. I brought a projector for watching movies on the wall. I brought some new excellent games for my computer, and some wireless controllers with which to play them. I brought a sweet little set of speakers for listening to music and having mini-parties. I also brought my eReader to catch up on my backlog of books, and a sweet tablet for communicating and reading comics. Don't forget the camera and associated gear; mini tripod, lens cleaner and remote for snapping self-pics.

I haven't used any of it yet.

Instead, I rely solely on my phone... which does not even have Internet access. I use it to capture pictures, take notes, add reminders, schedule meetings, for offline GPS maps, oh... and I even use it to make calls.

On second thought, I have used my 3DS. In the evenings if I'm not sleepy, I play some Super Mario 3D Land and marvel at how inventive and fun it is! seriously, this game is magic.

November Sky

November sky. No clouds. No cold. No snow.

And a palm tree.

Leaving My Place

Here is a short video of the outside of my apartment. There is a tiny little stairway in between the buildings that leads from my place on the 2nd floor, to the back of a beauty salon on the 1st floor, and eventually along the side of my landlord's place on the ground floor.

My Place

It isn't much, and it isn't much to look at... but it is more comfortable than one might expect.

Bit of Commute

Don't you love it when...

You get an auto driver who takes you where you want to go, uses the meter, and doesn't argue... the first time!

South Indian Filtered Coffee

I may have just discovered my new favorite drink. South Indian filtered coffee is a milky coffee containing rich yet subtle undertones. It is strong, but not bitter like espresso. I can't think of a more plesant way to combat the effects of jet lag than sipping this coffee form a metal cup.

The Ants Cafe

One of my favorite spots to get an omelette and coffee has moved. I walked there for lunch today while on errands, and was heartbroken to find the place shuttered and closed.

Upon closer inspection, I come to find that The Ants Cafe wasn't closed for good... it simply moved across the street to a nicer building!

Spinach Frittata Omelet Spinach, corn, cheese, onion, sun dried tomatoes 

Dinner: Nov 19

Went to the local canteen for dinner tonight. Got a Masala Dosa and tea. Oh my, this is tasty and affordable!

Masala dosa is a large, flat piece of rice bread and comes stuffed with a filling of potatoes, fried with onions and spices.

Like many Indian dishes, dosa is eaten with your hands. Simply tear off a bit of bread and use it to grab a bit of the potato filling. Dip it into one of the tasty sauces, and shove it in your mouth for a delicious burst of flavor.

Good dosa should be slightly crisp and slightly soft, providing a savory blend of textures to enjoy.

The dosa was 25 rupees and tea is 10. In US, we are talking about a total of less than a dollar for the entire meal. 

Embracing Vulnerabilities

"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy -- the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light."   

- Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection.

Thanks to Cecile for sending me this quote. It really succinctly sums up many of my recent feelings and thoughts.


Fear is the source of so many of blocks we have inside us. Fear is the root of shame, embarrassment, and doubt. These blocks prevent us from focusing our willpower, our energies.

Lots of people talk about 'energies' as if they are some form of mystic voodoo or magical special effect in a movie. Yet these energies are not strange or inaccessible. They aren't some form of rare arcane art that are only accessible by mystics and gurus. This energy is simply your willpower, and it is immensely powerful.

Removing these blocks allows us to focus our willpower in whatever direction we wish. Like a laser cutting through obstacles, our will can be bent upon objectives. These little blocks and fears add up, preventing us from accomplishing things. The self-doubt, apprehension and nervousness are all things that prevent us from harnessing our own true potential, from focusing our energies on the universe in order to bring change.

Shatter your own blocks, abolish your fears, and whole new horizons open for you.

Terra Firma

Landed in India, safe and sound. Man oh man, this is a long trip. Each time I make it, I find ways to be more efficient. Next time I travel, I think I can reduce the weight of my carry-on even more. Keep it light folks, even if you are on a one-way trip to the other side of the planet!

It is funny how quickly India feels like Home.

Everything from the bustling streets, to the taste of the food resonates with me. I'm not sure what to expect, or where this adventure will take me. My goal it so set up some kind of life, to make it in a new place, yet I didn't exactly realize how many tiny moving parts are needed to make a well-oiled machine of life. For instance, getting an apartment involves much more than simply having a place to stay. Once I find an apartment, I'll need a ton of other things. Some of them are obvious, like silverware and plates. Others are less obvious for someone coming from America. Most apartments don't come with an oven, and tenants need to bring their own gas canister for the stove. That isn't something I had considered.

I can recommend the idli from Mr. Idli. They are super-yummy with flavorful sambar and quite affordable... an important point if you are on a budget like me!

Head out on the highway

Yeah, darling Gonna make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once and Explode into space

Weekend in Magical NYC

Spent the weekend in New York city and came to the realization that I could be quite happy there. I love the man-made canyons of skyscrapers, the bustling activity, and the deep sense of pride and ownership that New Yorkers have in their city. It is as if all New Yorkers believe they live in a magical place, a city of lights and wonder. This collective belief manifests itself about them, making the city a truly magical place. They are sharing a dream of a city, and by dreaming together, they make it a reality.

Learning to Fly

I'm about to embark on a new adventure, taking me to the other side of the world.

I'm starting a new life in India.

T -8 Days