Guano Sighting

This last weekend was a pretty busy one. So much so that I actually forgot to call my mom--eek! Saturday we had a grand opening of our new office space. I had to attend that and it threw my schedule all off. Fortunately Sunday I got to relax. I had gotten notification of a group going to the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, just before Mysore City. (4 km from Srirangapatna) This info was forwarded to me by my wife who is out of station at the moment. I replied and said I was interested in going along, and would they let me know of any carpooling plans etc. In the mean time I arranged for Manju to come in on Sunday and drive if necessary.

Well Sunday came along, and I hadn't heard back, despite a followup. So, I thought, well, I'll just go to the park and be there at the time they plan to meet. If I recognize them, I'll join in, otherwise, I'll just see what comes. Well as it happens, I was there just about 15 mins early, and I waited for about 1/2 hour, checking out the map of the park, putting on sunscreen, adjusting the settings on my camera, etc. I didn't see anyone come in that I recognized. So I took off, and wandered the park by myself, well sort of.

The accessible part of the park basically runs along the river for maybe a little more than a Kilometer. I first took the path to the left (not sure if this is down or up river as the current was truly undetectable), and down past the islands where most of the birds nest. There was a nice raised viewing platform along the way, unfortunately the bamboo had grown across in front of it so the view from the ground was better. There were a lot of people there, obviously one group was a well prepared bunch of photograpers. They had serious lenses, tripods etc. There were also many families and couples just out for a nice picnic and afternoon in nature. I even saw something scandalous, there was one couple who were kissing behind the bamboo along the river.

Then I took the boat tour. Now these boats are all row boats, and can hold about 20 people. I was lucky being an only traveler, I got the bench behind the oarsman, well really in front, but we were all looking backwards. So I had lots of ability to turn around and focus my camera wherever I wanted without hitting someone, or having to dodge someone's head. We spent a leisurely 30 minutes on the water going around three islands, which had different birds on them, plus some other animals like crocodiles, and bats. It is also possible to rent private boats, like this well prepared gentleman did. I didn't feel the need, but might do so if I had a small group, or really wanted to do some serious photography as he did.

After the boat tour, I had a simple lunch. I had brought sandwiches, so I sat along the river and just enjoyed the location, weather, and quiet time. Then I went home. Manju did say he had seen a couple of expat drivers he knows, but I don't know if that was the group I was supposed to join. Their loss, if it was. I had fun anyways.





More pictures.

Back in the routine

Well, we've been back in Bangalore for 3 weeks now. It's been pretty quiet, especially with Cindy staying back in CA for her mom. I must say it has been hard to be here when she is there having to deal with a sick parent, but life has to go on too.

Weekends haven't been very exciting. Last weekend I did get out for a walk. This weekend I just stayed home and managed to finish one book about Julius Caesar. Now I'm on to the third one in the series. Yesterday our housekeeper brought her little 3 year old girl with her. The preschool was closed. I had a lot of fun playing with her, reading to her, and watching her imitate her mother. When Lalitha was cooking, her daughter had to get up and make chapatis too. It was really cute.

On another note, I have been seeing this sight for a few months now. I think it is really ironic where this restaurant is built. The Stayfit place was there first and before it was a grocery store above, but then this fall MacDonalds opened up above. Stayfit sells exercise equipment. I find it ironic every time I drive by (which is daily, as it is on the main road here).

Out Walking

I decided it was such a lovely day today I had to get out for a walk. It must have been about 30c--that's 86F for those of you in the US. It was a bit warm in the sun, but in the shade, just balmy and lovely. I chose to go to the same park where I had been before with Isha, but took a slightly different route. This time I went a bit more through the neighborhoods as opposed to on the main roads. On the way there, I got a number of stares. Obviously people weren't entirely comfortable with my being there. I also got a lot of smiles from people when I smiled at them and did the head bobble thing.

Once in the park, I sat and enjoyed the warm weather from a shady bench. What struck me was how few people were enjoying this beautiful park in the 'middle' of Bangalore. Most of the benches were empty. There were a few couples and families that came strolling by, but not many. Maybe it was because it was still the hot part of the day, but certainly it wasn't uncomfortable. I did wander around to the more tree covered parts of the park, mostly on the north side, and found this is where there were several couples sitting on park benches in the shade. This is not a common sight in Bangalore, but it seems the parks are one place couples can get away for a bit of 'privacy'. I also saw several groups of young people where it was pretty obvious there were some interested couples who were being chaperoned by others, usually brothers or sisters I would guess by age.

On my walk through the park I said hello to one elderly gentleman, and he stopped me to ask where he was from. When I told him I was from California, he immediately started telling me about his nephew, Vivek, who was top of his class and was working in CA now. His nephew is very spiritual, and went to Iscon with him several times. When I asked what city his nephew lives in, he couldn't tell me, nor what company, but he did tell me his nephew is a Chemical engineer. I almost felt like he thougth I should know his nephew. Then he proceeded to tell me that his nephew's brother, vikram, also was in California for a temporary assignment. After all of this he bid me a good day, telling me he would remember me often.

Then as I walked back through the neighborhood, I wondered if I would get a different reaction from people if I took of my sunglasses. So I did. I got a more pleasant reaction from most, and I presume it was that and not because it was my second walk down the same roads. Could have been the latter though I guess. Then I was stopped by an Auto driver. I was concerned he was going to hassle me to take a ride, but he just asked where I was from--California, USA-- and then he introduced himself and his friend, asked where I lived and when I pointed over the drainage ditch and in the neighborhood, he bid me farewell.

So I had two more very friendly and pleasant interactions with total strangers today, something I would never expect to happen in Silicon Valley.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

For those of you with a tarnished Aura, this place may be able to help you. It can be found in Mountain View near 85...

Christmas in California

It is kind of strange to go back to someplace you grew up, but haven't been to in a while. We were back in the SF Bay area for the first time in a year. The weather was lovely, though a bit colder than we're used to in Bangalore by now. But fortunately the weather cooperated mostly and we didn't end up with much rain.

It was a bitter-sweet visit. It was really wonderful to see my sister, my mother and my nephews, as well as our children who don't live with us. It was also great to just get to slow down and relax (well as much as one can during christmas time). But it was also the beginning of Smitty's chemo treatment, and that put a real damper on the festivities. Her health really suffered from the treatment and she's still dealing with it.

I was struck by the colors though. Somehow you get used to the colors where you are living and don't really realize how they may be so different from somewhere else. What I really noticed was the difference in shades of Green. Somehow in Bangalore though there's a lot of dust and smog, the greens are still brighter and fuller. Those in northern California are much greyer. As you can see in this photo taken while I was on a walk at "the ponds" near San Rafael with my mother and sister remembering my Father. He used to lead bird walks here every Thursday morning. And there is still a group of people who go every week and they call themselves the Bruce memorial Thursday walkers or something like that. They get to see birds like this Great Blue Heron every week. We didn't see any white pelicans this week, but we did see the river otters who have moved in to the ponds and a variety of water birds that seem to be there year round.

I guess this is one of the biggest things I miss not living in the Bay Area. It is so easy to get out into the open and see the beauty of nature.



I like this photo despite the power lines in the back, because it shows the old and new power generation (yes those are solar panels at the bottom), and yet is beautiful in its own way.



And finally, yet another example of the local green color in the wonderful winter sunlight.



Happy New Year!

Giving Thanks

In my memories, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of getting together with family and friends, eating too much, telling stories, laughing a lot and playing games like ping pong, board games, and of course the "blackboard game". This year was very different, but better than last year. Last year, I think we just stayed home and it was pretty much like any other day. This year we went out to dinner at Sunny's with some friends here in Bangalore. It was a very nice celebration and we did have some good laughs, but still not the same as getting together with family.

But Thanksgiving is also about giving thanks. And I have a lot to give thanks for. The whole family is healthy, and doing relatively well. Those of us in India have a tremendous opportunity to see things we otherwise wouldn't. And those 'at home' in CA can come to visit us here if they wish. As frustrated and sometimes homesick as I get around holidays etc, I still really love being here in India. And I love the new experiences all the time.

The last couple of weekends have offered a couple of new experiences. First we went to a village about 100K outside of Bangalore. It took several hours to get there, partially because we had to cross through Bangalore before exiting the city.

It was organized by Rachel-the wife of someone I work with. She's very interested in animals, and supporting good animal care. The reason we went to this village, Mittur, is because one of the families that lives there is supporting a charity which promotes good animal care, adopting stray dogs, etc. This village has done a lot for the local dogs, and we went to show appreciation and to see a bit of village life. When we arrived, we were immediately welcomed by the local children with a welcoming ceremony. Then we traipsed up to the local high school. We got to sit through the standard welcome at the school, where we saw the local officials speaking (this same family had donated the school building a couple of years ago), and then some of the children did various skits, dances, or music. This was the most fun part for me during this part of the day.

Then we got a tour of the village. This included a visit inside a local farmer's house. He raises silkworms. The house has to be kept dry, the mulberry leaves must be dry, and the sound of the worms munching is audible as soon as you walk into the rooms. They have two methods, one is large stacked trays, the other is more like large racks.

We also got a musical performance, as well as wandering through the rice paddies. Then we finished it all off with a rest period. During this time some of the local girls were wanting to see their photos on Cindy's camera, then she got them to sing a song for her, and she sang one for them. They sang a couple more after this. It was very interesting to see that when they were singing in English, then they were very animated and smiling. When they were singing in Kannada (or some other local language), they were almost droning, and their faces were almost blank. Odd, somehow, but interesting. The children were lovely and very friendly. And I got a lot more fun pictures.



Soma Vinyards:



The next weekend, we were invited with the OWC Wine Club to visit Soma Vineyards. We went for an evening barbecue-- some of the best steaks I've had here in India, and potluck salads and desserts. The Vineyard was absolutely beautiful in the late afternoon sun. We arrived a bit late as I had to go downtown to pick up plane tickets to the US. But we did get there around 5pm. When we arrived, we were served a welcome drink-fresh tender coconut juice-straight from the 'can'. We got a vineyard tour. They use an interesting way of managing the bugs, they have a lake with a bright light in it. The bugs are attracted to the light, which is by a sort of fountain, or spray of water, so the bugs get knocked into the water, and the fish eat them. Then the workers get to eat the fish, and the leftovers go to fertilize the vines again. There were very few mosquitoes during the evening, so I guess it works fairly well.

As it got dark, a bonfire was lit for us in the middle of the tables. We didn't need it for warmth as it was just the right temperature out to be out in shirtsleeves without getting cold, but it added a nice atmosphere. The best part was that we could see the stars, and there was no noise. The vineyards are about 1.5 hours drive outside of Bangalore. We also had a lovely chat, and lots of information from our host Raju. All in all, I think I have a lot to be thankful, and certainly enjoy being here in India--though I am missing my family now on the Thanksgiving weekend when I see the photos of them all around the table.

Vikings Ho

As an antidote to the warm balmy, slightly humid, sunny and slow paced Thai holiday, I went where it is just above freezing, dark, and rainy. Yes to Scandinavia. I spent a week in Finland (for work) and had to stay over a weekend. The only bonus was that there was a lot of color in the trees. This was in a park close to the office I walked through every day on the way to and from the train station. Most days it was wet and cold, although the day before I left it turned downright freezing.

Oh yes, the vikings--well since I was there for the weekend, I thought I should make something out of it. The weather forecast was for no rain, and even possible sun, on Saturday. So I decided friday to catch the boat to Sweden. It goes overnight--leaving at 5:30, and arriving about 9:30am in Stockholm. The boat ride wasn't much to speak of. The rooms are small, and I had decided to take a shared room to keep the cost down. There are 4 bunks with just enough room to walk between them, and a little toilet w/ shower. Not exciting. I had dinner and then went to the party lounge. There were a couple of acts, neither exceptionally good, but lots of alcohol being consumed by the passengers probably made them seem better than they were. Eventually I got tired of it and went to bed. Arriving in Stockholm was beautiful, but cold enough not to want to be on the outer deck. So some of the pictures are through the window.

I took a bus tour around the city. We stopped at the palace, the city hall, a couple of nice viewpoints, and the penultimate stop was at the historical museum. There was a line out the door when we arrived. The exhibit was fabulous, though much of it was not very well lit, and therefore hard to see. But it was pretty much empty of people. The line was for a local festival of bread. You gotta love a place that has a bread festival and allows selling lots of yummy bread in a museum. I would have bought some, except I had no real need for any and most of it would have gone bad. So I just tasted from the samples available.

Then we drove around an island which is mostly museums--6 or 7 if I remember right. The guide told us that Stockholm is about 1/3 built up, 1/3 parks, and 1/3 water. That seemed to be true and it was a nice light airy and green city. There is also art everywhere, indoors and out. In the old town there are many art galleries, and outside, sculptures and beautifully built buildings and gates and... I also happened on a market with stalls and stalls of mushrooms. I recognized the chanterelles, but not the others. I also think I found the narrowest street in town-not sure though. And I enjoyed the odd displays I came across during my wanderings around town. I would like to go back when the weather is better. Although it didn't rain on me the whole day, for which I was really happy. It was cold and somewhat bleak. I would love to explore the city more and visit the museums with more time.