Happy 2007!!

Wow, so like this decade is like coming near to an end and stuff.

I liked all the answers given for the riddle! One of the answers given was the right one. The closer objects come to the speed of light the slower time goes for that object, hence it's impossible to reach the speed of light (time is no longer having any effect on such an object). And since light travels at the speed of light, it is not aging at all at that speed. Hence light is timeless, and thus ageless. Or is my logic flawed?

Sunsets are forever young... or something.




Firework showered palm tree

The sun also sets

Another Sunset!




Dressed up for Xmas






Fishermen drag in the giant net. Sometimes unaware tourists wind up in the catch...


And now we have reached the part of the blog where you have to answer a riddle: What comes and goes from existence all the time but is all the time ageless?

A bird in the bush is better than a cardigan in the corset

I actually haven't looked into this assertion to any extensive degree so I can't really be sure of its virisimilitude, but I reckon its true enough.

Well, after finally overcoming a horrendous hacking cough I've been sick last few days with something of the flu. Nothing major, but a bit of a doohickey in the holiday.

Still in Kerala. The beach is beautiful. The water is beautifuler.

sunset on Kerala

Nori can't believe she's holding a live snake in her hand. Her Hindi teacher finds it harmlessly amusing.


The fish is as fresh as it can be but I still haven't tried it. Very expensive. Some dishes are as much as US$8!


Quick! Let's go grab ourselves some farty towels and lie on the beach and get all smelly before going for a swim!


Nori with Farooq, our new Keralan friend.


Well well well, aren't we just fashionably famous looking!


Farooq alongside the famous Alfred von Tripitz

A new record?

Well, I think I may have just set a precedent for number of things lost in one day. Yesterday I lost my debit card in the ATM machine, my room key in the ocean, my moped key I have no idea where and for 24 hours I thought $150 cash had gone to some very lucky local from being lost or stolen until I finally remembered I had put it under my mattress. I blame it on the sun. The sun in Kerala is proper summer hot. Nori and I are in the deep south of India near the southern tip in a small tourist beach town. We were very lucky to get seats on the overnight train from Bangalore to Kerala as our tickets were wait listed which basically means we can go on the train but all the seats are taken and we'll prolly end up sleeping on the floor. As we're trying to decide to risk it or not the train starts to move and we jump aboard. We still don't know how those sleeper seats came available. The only thing we can think of is that perhaps some very nice Indians relinquished their seats to us. I'm continually amazed by how nice people are in the south.



This is how I felt after losing half my valuables:


It actually didn't translate to much financial loss. Losing the bank card costs me $0, the room key was given to me by Marcus from the Buddhist retreat so that's $0; the moped key was US$4.45 (200 rupees); and realizing I hadn't lost $150? Priceless.



The palm trees everywhere lend to the laid back atmosphere. We rented mopeds and went to a wildlife sanctuary where we saw lions. Two locals with mini machetes told us they'd show us where the lions were. After about five minutes or so following them into the wilderness Nori thought they were going to take us to their leader and torture us ala Pirates of the Carribean and then eat us for dinner. Then she thought they were gonna feed us to the lions. But she eventually warmed up to them when they proved to be very friendly. I was a little nervous too but they seemed very friendly so I didn't really give it much thought that they might try to mug us or so.





I never realized how beautiful big animals are. Giraffes, lions and tigers oh my! We saw tigers at the zoo in Mysore. I didn't post pictures because it broke our hearts to see how confined their cages were. But I thought one of the lions in the sanctuary liked me. He kept looking at me all friendly but I wasn't about to put my hand through the fence to pet him. In fact, I was told to keep back from the fence. It was hard to imagine them budging from their lazing around to lunge at us though. They didn't look like they'd hurt a fly.


These lions had plenty of room to roam around but I think they preferred to lying around.


weee! swings are fun!


mmmm... the ocean, so delightful. The water is perfect.


This beachtown resort at night


Hmm... what could this be...?

Southern Hospitatlity

Well, some of you may remember a posting of the same title on my New Zealand blog. Varun from Bangalore whom I met up north in Leh in the beginning of my trip was very generous and, like the woman mentioned in the New Zealand blog posting of the same title, surprised us with the extent of his hospitality. Picking us up at the airport was the least of his generosity. Thanks again Varun! Hope the slogan wins you that guitar! By the way, I think there's something in the side pocket of your briefcase.



Compared to other cities we've seen in India so far, Bangalore is very clean. And bikes seem to be a favorite for transport.


A bird of prey in Bangalore


I find that life in the south is a bit more chilled out and relaxed. But if you should forget it, there are street signs to remind you.

After walking around the city and spending quality time with Varun and his friends at a true rock music bar, Nori and I take a train three hours south to the amicable town of Mysore.


Nori and I get escorted like royalty to a giant palace for less than $1. If you want to know about the palace Nori can tell you a bit about it.






We then went to the zoo and there was a big slide and I got to be a kid again. You can see I was a little apprehensive as I was sliding down.


I don't know why Nori's laughing, she's about to be run over by two oxen. Silly girl.


Nori and I never realized Giraffes were such pretty animals until we saw them up close and personal.


Rhino goes in search of food after a roll in the mud.


"Why don't you come down here and tell that to my face funny boy."

What, I just wanted to know who your hair stylist was.

King Cobra just kept rising and rising straight up out of the grass about 3 or 4 feet!


Four lazy crocodiles


Four lazy birds

Tomorrow four fat crocodiles?

Bonus photo

Sick but leaving

Well, Nori and I are both sick. I've had a cold off and on the past week or two and last night it decided to kick into high gear right before we're supposed to be leaving! Bronchial yellow flegm fun. I just hope it's not pneumonia (I don't think so)



But, we both agreed to push on ahead with the travel plans anyway because we are short on time and there's lots to be seen and done yet! Really looking forward to the south. A whole new experience awaits!

We leave Sunday night to Delhi and then watch James Bond or some other American movie in Delhi -- have to say I could use some American movie culture right about now. And I hear the new Bond movie is a good one. Then on Tuesday afternoon we fly to Bangalore way in the south. Nori got the inside scoop on cheap air tickets so we are able to save some time by flying. Then we'll spend a day or two with the Bangalore boys I met in Leh way up north and then it's off to Kerala! I'm told not to miss the very southern tip of India but not sure if we'll be able to swing that. Then Goa for the beautiful beaches and nightlife and if we have time Rajistan. Well, that's a rough outline of our tentative plan.

To recap: Bangalore -> Kerala -> Goa -> (Rajistan?)

Leaving Varanasi. Going to Bangalore

Well, looks like Nori and I will be leaving Varanasi in a couple days to Bangalore. Not much else to report.

The ride back from the post office. Perhaps it's best to just walk.


Riding the rickshaw


A family business


Fortunately the worst a rickshaw driver can do is rip me off on a ride I don't need versus a carpet and fifty shawls I don't need.

Nori panee pouri

Hah! Very kind of you guys to offer but I'd feel a little weird accepting money for the blog. But I'll take your offer as a great compliment to the blog, even if pictures of Nori are perhaps the main attraction.

Well, I suppose I shouldn't hold off on those pictures any longer. Cruel joke I know. :)









cows hanging out on the ghat.


Where I live. Across from the Haifa Restaurant.


Rickshaw wallas playing a Parcheesi like game. I rode one of their bicycle rickshaws this morning just to see what it was like. Was pretty easy and the rickshaw driver who I was giving a ride was very impressed by my driving through the crowded streets.




Nori rockin the batmitton court. At her house there is a proper court setup with lights.