On the water: Cochin

Beautiful Things: Wayanad

lotus

matriarch

prayer room

tea plantation

Taste of Puerto Rico: Quenepa

What is a quenepa? A tropical fruit, found in Puerto Rico, also known as spanish lime. It grows on trees and looks like so:

Soft and juicy like a lychee, a bit stringy like a plum, and also slightly acidic like citrus. After you peel it, it looks like so:

Watch out for seeds and enjoy! (These were free from my work, so they tasted that much sweeter...)

Do-Re-Mi

Power is out. Again. Grrr... However, bored and in the dark, I have
been mindlessly skimming YouTube on my iphone and came across this
little gem that I wanted to share. Love love performance art/breaking
out in spontaneous song and dance. Enjoy and happy Friday!

A day in the life of Abbey Road

Isn't it great how an album cover from what, over 30 years ago, can still make people act silly all day long at this crosswalk? Have to love anything that gets people to take off their serious face and have a little fun. I want to go to there.

More Nandi Hills...

In the year 2000...

No one knows what the future will bring.

Ebony Magazine, 1985

Appreciate today, because tomorrow is a whole 'nother thing.

Have a great day, everyone!

Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

I don't have any actual pictures of us working, only photos of the cafes where we were working at (surveying market demand/ preferences for coffee). So I guess there's really no proof that I did anything of importance in India. You're just going to have to trust me then.

"Welcome to City Xerox, how may I assist you?"

"Um, we would like to make some copies."

"Ok, I can take care of that for you. Can I help you with any of your mobile servicing needs today?"

"No, we won't be requiring any servicing today."

"We also have STD's available, can I offer you a STD?"

"Really, just the copies will be fine. Thanks."

The Road to Nandi Hills

Outside of Bangalore, there is a 900-and-some year old temple on top of a hill. This area is called Nandi Hills. We went there.

Ganesha came along for the ride.

We saw cows. And monkeys. And rickshaws.

The monkeys were cute.

Neat.

It's Saturday! Go ahead, stay in bed all day. You've earned it.

Friday Fun

Watch this, it will make you smile. I promise.

Please sir, may I have some more? Bangalore.

Well, since you asked so nicely...

Dried fruits, betel nut (pan, pronounced "pa-an"), ginger, herbs and such...Some good, some yuck, all exotic and interesting to say the least. I wish I had photos of the food, such wonderful food. Indian cuisine is both intriguing and mysterious, yet warm and comforting; A so-spicy-it's-painful, your-mouth-will-thank-you experience. Mmmm, coconut chutney, baked yogurt, lentils, chickpeas, masala dosa, and naan, and chapatti, and the paneer, mmm, the paneer...

Around Bangalore

Bangalore, a booming, vibrant city to the south of India. And as I just learned, one of the world's largest call centers. Next time you call Customer Service, chances are you're talking to someone here.

Auto-rickshaws are everywhere...

In Memoriam

Today marks two years since the passing of my friend, Garfield, from St. Vincent.

You are still remembered.

You are still missed.

Travelling in Style

Nearly two days of travel later, we arrive in Mumbai.

After a traditional greeting, we enjoy complimentary champagne and chocolates,

I check out a bit of Indian TV (or rather, Star World, CNN, BBC, etc., etc....),

and enjoy Himalayan water (remembering to save some for brushing teeth, of course!).

Tao Tuesday

(Photo: Bangalore, India)

This is one of my favorite chapters from the Tao, reminding me that good and bad go hand in hand. The rough times will eventually pass, and their existence make the happier times that much sweeter. Good times are fleeting as well, so enjoy them in the moment. Be present. Be here now.

Two:

"Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.
All can know good as good only because there is evil.

Therefore having and not having arise together.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short contrast each other;
High and low rest upon each other;
Voice and sound harmonize each other;
Front and back follow one another.

Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking.
The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease,
Creating, yet not possessing,
Working, yet not taking credit.
Work is done, then forgotten.
Therefore it lasts forever."

[Lao Tsu]