I haven't posted Hong Kong yet, but I should. Just haven't had the time. I had to post this though. I noticed a new sign in our office building. I'm wondering if this is Halloween related, if they're afraid of some bad juju, or what?
Friday, October 29, 2010
Halloween ??
I haven't posted Hong Kong yet, but I should. Just haven't had the time. I had to post this though. I noticed a new sign in our office building. I'm wondering if this is Halloween related, if they're afraid of some bad juju, or what?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Kerala Boat Races
We had a fun and interesting trip last weekend. Cindy had gotten a notice about some pretty famous boat races in Kerala coming on Independence Day weekend, so I got in touch with a travel agent and said- book us there. Get us to the boat races, and find us something to do for another day. So he did. We didn't really know what we were getting into when we decided to go, and still didn't know much more than we were getting on a plane to Cochin, and then staying on a houseboat, then seeing the races.
Let's start of with the Houseboat. We arrived in Cochin and met our driver for the weekend. He started off down the highway from the airport and after about an hour, he turned down some narrow lane, which endded us up at the houseboat docks. Here we were afforded a welcome drink (tender coconut of course) and after a couple of formalities we were off. There were two guys on board who did the sailing and the cooking and everything else.
We motored around the narrower waterways. Obviously meeting and following other houseboats. 
It was a great time to relax and just enjoy the slow pace of life there on the backwaters. We did also get to see a few sights along the way. 
We saw a couple of the boats being prepared for the races and people going about their daily lives, 
like this two waiting for the water bus.
We ate way too much on the boat. They served us a late lunch, snacks, dinner, and then breakfast the next morning. We moored along side of a waterway overnight and slept to the gently rocking movement of the boat. But it was truely gentle, almost imperceptible.
We arrived at the race venue at about 9:30 in the morning. We had been told by the travel agent to get there early. And the driver was in a hurry to get us there early too. I guess he had his instructions. The place was completely empty. Slowly we started to see things happen.
There were practice runs. And some failed practice runs. 
This team managed to sink their boat, not once, not twice, but 3 times. I don't know if they ever actually raced in the competition. The gunwhales were so low to the water they would tip a bit and just swamp the boat.
In a while we started seeing a lot of floating advertisements.
Some were blatant ads, others brought a bit of religion or entertainment along with them.
We didn't understand till after we arrived there that no food would be served there and we had to bring something, so off I went with the driver. This was probably the only downside to the trip. He took me to a hotel, which didn't offer any Indian Snacks, only chicken sandwiches. They turned out to be pretty bad. Usually we stay away from the western food as we find the chefs don't really know how to prepare it, and it isn't so good. Oh well.
The races started about 3, after President Patil showed up by helicopter/boat. We had fun and then got tired after a few hours and left about the same time that she did. A couple of us got good sunburns, despite the fact we were under cover all day. We went back to Cochin for a night, and then home the next day. A quick trip but fun. More pictures here. And here are a few fun pictures from the races themselves. Note that the guys in front are sitting on a narrow prow, with their feet held in place. The bigger boats have several people in the middle counting time and cheering the team on. And then there are several in the back who are steering, or paddling along with very exaggerated full circle strokes.
Some of the teams were obviously well sponsored and all wore jerseys etc advertising their sponsorship. Others were just a group of locals.
All in all it was a real party atmosphere.
As you can see from this boat which was moored next to the viewing stand just opposite from us. Even the police seemed to enjoy it.
Let's start of with the Houseboat. We arrived in Cochin and met our driver for the weekend. He started off down the highway from the airport and after about an hour, he turned down some narrow lane, which endded us up at the houseboat docks. Here we were afforded a welcome drink (tender coconut of course) and after a couple of formalities we were off. There were two guys on board who did the sailing and the cooking and everything else.
We motored around the narrower waterways. Obviously meeting and following other houseboats. It was a great time to relax and just enjoy the slow pace of life there on the backwaters. We did also get to see a few sights along the way. We saw a couple of the boats being prepared for the races and people going about their daily lives, like this two waiting for the water bus.We ate way too much on the boat. They served us a late lunch, snacks, dinner, and then breakfast the next morning. We moored along side of a waterway overnight and slept to the gently rocking movement of the boat. But it was truely gentle, almost imperceptible.
We arrived at the race venue at about 9:30 in the morning. We had been told by the travel agent to get there early. And the driver was in a hurry to get us there early too. I guess he had his instructions. The place was completely empty. Slowly we started to see things happen.
There were practice runs. And some failed practice runs. This team managed to sink their boat, not once, not twice, but 3 times. I don't know if they ever actually raced in the competition. The gunwhales were so low to the water they would tip a bit and just swamp the boat.In a while we started seeing a lot of floating advertisements.
Some were blatant ads, others brought a bit of religion or entertainment along with them.We didn't understand till after we arrived there that no food would be served there and we had to bring something, so off I went with the driver. This was probably the only downside to the trip. He took me to a hotel, which didn't offer any Indian Snacks, only chicken sandwiches. They turned out to be pretty bad. Usually we stay away from the western food as we find the chefs don't really know how to prepare it, and it isn't so good. Oh well.
The races started about 3, after President Patil showed up by helicopter/boat. We had fun and then got tired after a few hours and left about the same time that she did. A couple of us got good sunburns, despite the fact we were under cover all day. We went back to Cochin for a night, and then home the next day. A quick trip but fun. More pictures here. And here are a few fun pictures from the races themselves. Note that the guys in front are sitting on a narrow prow, with their feet held in place. The bigger boats have several people in the middle counting time and cheering the team on. And then there are several in the back who are steering, or paddling along with very exaggerated full circle strokes.
Some of the teams were obviously well sponsored and all wore jerseys etc advertising their sponsorship. Others were just a group of locals.
All in all it was a real party atmosphere.
As you can see from this boat which was moored next to the viewing stand just opposite from us. Even the police seemed to enjoy it.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
In hot water
It's amazing how adaptable we really are. Now I have to give some background to the story, otherwise all of those of you reading this from the US and Europe won't understand. We just recently shifted (moved) from one house to another here in Bangalore. Prior to that house, we lived in a serviced apt for 2 weeks when we arrived in Bangalore a couple of years ago. Neither the serviced apt, nor the house had hot water in the kitchen (unless you heated it on the stove). The house had a beautiful kitchen, and had a hot and cold water tap in the sink. I asked how come there was no hot water and I was told "that's the way it is sir, one for corporation and one for borewell".
To explain. That house got corporation water, which was stored in a sump, and then pumped to the tanks on the roof when the tanks got empty. There is water delivery only every other day or so, thus most houses are this way. The same is the case in our current place. We get water 3x/week. The previous house also had a borewell, in case the corporation water didn't come. Seemed to make sense.
So anyways, we moved into the new house at the beginning of June. Promptly Cindy left, then Maya a bit later, and I stayed on another 2 weeks. Then I came back first from the US, and they followed me by a week.
Now, I don't often do the dishes, as the housekeeper complains if I do them because it is "her job". But occasionally I do, usually on a Saturday evening, or Sunday because she doesn't work on Sundays. I was running the water while doing the dishes to clean up after dinner. Much to my surprise the water got hot all of a sudden. Well not really hot, but warmer than lukewarm. We only have solar heat for the water and since there has been a serious cloud cover the last few weeks, the water isn't overly hot. But hot enough to notice while washing dishes. So there you have it, all of a sudden I was in hot water--so to speak. Totally surprised. 3 years ago I would have been upset if there wasn't hot water in the kitchen for the dishes, now I'm pleasantly surprised. It's amazing the little things that can make one happy...
To explain. That house got corporation water, which was stored in a sump, and then pumped to the tanks on the roof when the tanks got empty. There is water delivery only every other day or so, thus most houses are this way. The same is the case in our current place. We get water 3x/week. The previous house also had a borewell, in case the corporation water didn't come. Seemed to make sense.
So anyways, we moved into the new house at the beginning of June. Promptly Cindy left, then Maya a bit later, and I stayed on another 2 weeks. Then I came back first from the US, and they followed me by a week.
Now, I don't often do the dishes, as the housekeeper complains if I do them because it is "her job". But occasionally I do, usually on a Saturday evening, or Sunday because she doesn't work on Sundays. I was running the water while doing the dishes to clean up after dinner. Much to my surprise the water got hot all of a sudden. Well not really hot, but warmer than lukewarm. We only have solar heat for the water and since there has been a serious cloud cover the last few weeks, the water isn't overly hot. But hot enough to notice while washing dishes. So there you have it, all of a sudden I was in hot water--so to speak. Totally surprised. 3 years ago I would have been upset if there wasn't hot water in the kitchen for the dishes, now I'm pleasantly surprised. It's amazing the little things that can make one happy...
Monday, June 28, 2010
Birds 2010-06-273
I took a colleague to Mysore for the day, visited the Palace, and then the bird sanctuary. The boat ride was a trip... I didn't take many photos, but got a couple of the birds.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Kitchen Spider
I caught this spider in our kitchen. I just love the colors. It's too bad the camera didn't focus well at this range. Maybe I needed the flash, I don't know.
Home Alone
It's been a quiet couple of weeks. I've been at home alone. I spent most of last weekend cleaning up and organizing from the move. Got books unpacked, organized on bookshelves, clothes closet put in order etc. Not much exciting there. So I decided last sunday to go for a walk. It was late in the afternoon. I walked up 80 Ft. road across from Ramiah Hospital in RMV. I came across this house which had been cut in half.
The road was recently widened. We often drive by here on the way home, and I just liked seeing all of the colors open to the passers by. There are any number of smaller houses which have also been bisected further up the road on the opposite side. Sometimes I wonder if they had encroached on city property, or if they were 'condemned'. Did they get compensated for the loss of living space? Never know around here.
By the time I got close to home, it was already dark, and I tried out some night photography.
Didn't turn out too great, but still fun.
I'll have to try some more to see how I can get more of what I want.
Now I'm off to get my hair cut.
And then tomorrow I'm showing a colleague from Finland around Mysore. So, yet another palace visit, maybe go up the hills, and certainly try to see the bird park.
The road was recently widened. We often drive by here on the way home, and I just liked seeing all of the colors open to the passers by. There are any number of smaller houses which have also been bisected further up the road on the opposite side. Sometimes I wonder if they had encroached on city property, or if they were 'condemned'. Did they get compensated for the loss of living space? Never know around here.By the time I got close to home, it was already dark, and I tried out some night photography. Didn't turn out too great, but still fun. I'll have to try some more to see how I can get more of what I want.Now I'm off to get my hair cut.
And then tomorrow I'm showing a colleague from Finland around Mysore. So, yet another palace visit, maybe go up the hills, and certainly try to see the bird park.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Late nights, and leisurely mornings
I guess the weekend has been one for late nights out. Friday we went to Sundowners. They turned off all the lights in the bar at 11:30, but we left at about 12:15, certainly after the drinking curfew. Anyways, it was a very slow and lazy morning, but we got invited by Prakash and Ritu to go out for "retro music" which turned out to be music from the 50s and 60s at the Bangalore Golf Club. Very nice atmosphere and a very pleasant event. As things would have it, we left there just before midnight. On the way home we saw a beautiful moon. So both Cindy and I had the idea to go on the roof and try to get some interesting photos. Here are a couple I took.
And a couple of Cindy taking photos.
Also Cindy and I took a walk on Sunday morning and I got a couple more, just for fun. There were a number of couples obviously enjoying the relative privacy and quiet of the park.
And the good news is that we think we have a house lined up to shift into at the end of the month... Not far from where we live now. Hurrah!!
And a couple of Cindy taking photos.
Also Cindy and I took a walk on Sunday morning and I got a couple more, just for fun. There were a number of couples obviously enjoying the relative privacy and quiet of the park.
And the good news is that we think we have a house lined up to shift into at the end of the month... Not far from where we live now. Hurrah!!
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