There’s this unfair stereotype that while India is crazy and frenetic, just emerging on the developed world, Sri Lanka always would remain one step behind. I have friends who enjoy (playfully, nothing too serious) stereotyping Sri Lanka’s “tagalong”, “little brother” status when compared to India’s greatness. However, one hour in Colombo will put that stereotype [...]
Archive for the ‘India’ Category
Sri Lanka vs. India
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011Nostalgia in Chennai
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011My last few hours in one of my favorite countries has been a riot. It seems fitting that India wouldn’t let me down. Stephanie and I booked a flight out from Chennai to Sri Lanka at 10am the next morning, while Karen was flying out of Chennai to Kochin around the same time. The hard [...]
South India in 2 days.
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011Madurai at night. Back on the road: literally hit the ground running. Before beginning, we treat ourselves to free access to Amex Platinum’s Lounge Stephanie, having no interest in seeing Madurai, stayed behind Mumbai an extra few hours while Karen and I headed to Madurai in the morning. After a stopover in Bangalore, we arrived [...]
Pondicherry/Pondichery/Punducherry/Puducherry
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011In an attempt to slow down, I decided to skip out on Calvin and Karen’s Madurai adventure. Instead, I took a flight yesterday to Chennai and then a bus to Pondicherry. Woke up in Pondicherry this morning to a blackout. With no internet and no way to contact Calvin and Karen, I did what anyone [...]
The Dharavi Slum
Sunday, July 17th, 2011Back when I toured the refugee camps of Palestine and Tibet, I pondered the difference between the use of the words “slum” and “refugee camp.” I was told today that in India, the official definition of “slum” is where the land is owned by the government, and the property is owned by the people. Dhobi [...]
A New POV
Saturday, July 16th, 2011As a tourist (or traveler, a term Calvin prefers), we enter each city, see its sights, eat at the restaurants, and try to form a impression. This view, while vast geographically, is inherently shallow. Furthermore, up to this point in my travels, it has somewhat unavoidable. I have spent only up to 3 days in [...]
Geometric Brilliance
Thursday, July 14th, 2011Before I get into what’s going on in Mumbai, I must give a recap from Jaipur. Although last year’s trip to Jaipur was pretty cursory, I think I made up for it this time. Take a look at this trailer for Tarsem’s “The Fall” and analyze it for a bit: No special effects; all of [...]
Mumbai Terrorist Attacks
Thursday, July 14th, 2011Yesterday’s bombings in Mumbai. 7/13/11. It’s all over the news in India. A series of bombs went off in 3 separate areas of the city last night during rush hour, 2 of which were in popular areas that foreigners (including myself) regularly would travel through. If we arrived in Mumbai one day earlier, this could [...]
The Beauty of Relevance
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011I am alone. The desert gales wash my naked chest, and my bare feet burrow into the heat of the earth. I bathe in breathing moonlight. For a moment I can see God moving over the face of the sands. And I see only the desert. I feel a slight night shiver. – At time [...]
