Election viewed from Afar

Watching the American election from India was amazing. Trying to get news with a 13 1/2 hour time difference with constant power outages at an internet cafe was crazy in itself.

What stands out the most is the number of people, from countries all over the world, that have approached to congratulate me on the election. People from all over Europe and Asia have expressed happiness for me. In the past when we traveled here we would often respond when asked that we were from Canada, just to avoid negativity about our politics. It feels really different now to be out in the world as an American without shame.

A week later, India is still talking about it. Obama makes front page news here every day.

Vivian

Electricity, Part ll

The other thing I need to say about the electricity her in India, is that the logic behind it all seems to take different circuits, pun intended. The voltage here is 220, compared to our 110, so everything I bring from the US must have not only an adapter for the plug end (a two to three flat prong for a two round pin plug) but a voltage regulator as well lest I blow it up! Everything else here is applied in the closest most unsightly at times places. It is common to see extension cords overloaded or running outside and up a flight of stairs for some reason. It's for something... My apartment is no different. I have halogen bulbs sticking out of the walls, and in this picture you can see behind me the only covered light- IN THE SHOWER ! Yes, I need to see those hard to reach areas, but it isn't even enough light to shave by in the mirror 4 feet away. Incidently, that red light in the panel behind me indicates that the power is on and my hot water heater is warming up. That's it, white & to the left. You can see the plug with the white attachment and black cord running practically through my shower stream. To turn it off, I must flip the switch right under the red light, which sparks a bit sometimes. If I do this quickly while standing in the pool of water, I may only get shocked a bit. I hope to write again soon-

--- aeryk ---

Monkey Attack!

One thing I love about India is the amount of entertainment one can receive without ever leaving home. Yesterday for example... After yoga, just as Aeryk and I were sitting down for a little rest, snarls and squeals called us to the window. A troupe of monkeys were laying siege to the house, swinging off the coconut trees and on to our balconies and roof to steal the vegetables growing on the roof garden. Our landlady's dog Ruby was incenced, barking and running up and down the stairs trying to catch them. They growled and laughed at her, making their way back to the trees vegetables in paw. This continued all day, as long as the good food lasted, these monkeys had moved into the neighborhood.

A little later in the day, I was called to the window again by a very festive drumming procession. In this case I was witnessing an Indian funeral procession. I hope when I die my friends will send me off so well. The deceased sits enthroned in a portable pavilion of flowers, carried all around the neighborhood so that all can know about the passing. Men drumming take the lead, then the deceased, then more family and friends, and if one is well loved, lots of weeping women.

Every day in India there are sounds and rituals. At five every morning there is the Islamic call to prayer to enjoy with my coffee. There is wondrous drumming daily at the Ganapati (Ganesha) Temple in view from my roof. And as the monkeys demonstrate, even if you try to hang back or lie low, the action in India comes right to your door.

Vivian

Electricity

There have been many advances in technology worldwide, India herself is quickly becoming a world superpower and celebrates the recent triumph of the lunar module encircling the moon as I write this. There is internet, landed and wireless, in almost every home that can afford it. Cell phones are seen on everyone but us. Despite this edge over our Earthly constraints, Mysore cannot get it together enough to figure out the power issue. The problems stem elsewhere, actually. Bangalore is currently in a bidding war with local power outlets and is reportedly letting the public know on Nov 13th, how screwed it will be on Nov 14th. We have currently been without power for a few hours each day, but it has increased to 12 hours without power in some areas. This us usually no big deal, but for us it means limited enjoyment of internet and other electric amenities. No stereo, no fan, no lights at night...we are running out of candles! Right now I am at Rishi's after having lunch outside at Anu's (where there is light) because the 'net-cafe' part has no backup generator. Two nights ago, I got up to turn down the stereo, when I realized that it wasn't on, that there had been music coming from down the street. At the end of the block was some sort of presentation/celebration being set-up. I took a look at the scene, being a fellow techie, and marveled at the grand scale of their low-budget hi-fi low-down on the throw-down. This roughly translates to "Wow. They sure get away with a lot here." They had set up a 3ft stage about 30 ft square, complete with a panel's table and eight chairs for dignitaries. Always a must for the outdoor ceremony in India: the metal podium. Heavy and hot. I flashed on Quai-Chang-Cain receiving his tiger and dragon scars lifting HIS hot, hot bowl of metal in the ever popular TV series, Kung Fu. Maybe you can also see behind the ice cream vendor the stack of hi-fi units. I think they used CD's and dual cassette action for this party. For five hours they pounded the airwaves with traditional adult contemporary music, and by that I mean the stuff your aunt would play if she were here. It's like Perry Como meets Carol Channing presenting a 50's Dharma Duel to the Death. Once in a while they would toss in a Bollywood hit, but again, it's like from the seventies, or something. A little side note on that ice cream vendor--- he goes around the neighborhood banging on a stick yelling, 'Ice Cream!' If they found out we have musical trucks running around, they would be soooo jealous. Back at the show, the speaker stacks are precariously placed on tables, eight to a set, all plugged in with freshly stripped and taped cables, one power cord running across the road with no cover. I guess the cattle know to lift their hooves. The sound is supplemented down the street for blocks with military surplus style metal speakers, like in M*A*S*H*. The Temple was lit up to match the drive in. Chairs were set for 100, and all this RIGHT ON THE ROAD! Yeah! these people can party! There was some announcing, a few live hits sung by kids, and more music until 11pm. In the morning everything was gone as if it never happened. Speaking of power, Rajini our hostess tells us our time is up. I must share the limited electricity.

--- Aeryk ---

Work Party, Part ll

Work Party, Part ll. So the street crew weren't done, as illustrated by these photos. They worked another part of Gokulam for a few days, then back to our street with a vengeance. The crew of 12 or so finished up filling on/stripping out potholes in preparation for the asphalt saturation to begin. The diesel engines roared to life at 4 a.m. and the ensuing mad dash to finish began. Steam rollers followed the dump-crew who shoveled out the mix. These guys are pro's in a tight corner. They double-parked, parallel-parked, drove backwards around palm trees... WAAAAAAY more than any of us ever had to do for our driver's license test! Then, with the street mostly blocked off (this is still India) they finished off, coating the street in a wonderland dusting of snowy-white sand which crunches under our sandals almost like snow. If you click on the pictures, they should come full screen. Look at all the cool machines! Savor the almost soft to the touch sands in the 'archway shot.' That arch is new, so new that they haven't painted it up in 70 colors or so. This is next to the street sweepers village, housing a different street crew. After the flury on our block, as the last picture shows, they revved up their engines and sped across the busy street to work alongside the Ganapati Temple for a few blocks, and I never saw them again.

--- Aeryk ---

The Vantage

Here is the view from our apartment. At the far end is the main road where the white and blue bus is whizzing by. Beyond it lay the Ganapati Temple in white, our source of bells and chanting nightly. Between here and there is the usual variety of side-street activity; scooters, pedestrians, auto-rickshaws waiting for customers, cars and motorcycles. As you may notice, the road is quite shoddy by our standards but fairly adequate by theirs. That was my impression until yesterday. Yesterday the street team came to work. This entailed 10-hour days of ten men squatting and sweeping or shoveling or pick-ax-ing or whatever need to be done with the road debris. I can see how the body can be predisposed for certain asana based on what movement life gives us in repetition. Around here, open hips are the norm. Almost everybody (of the working classes) is fit from a hard days work. After this hard day, I saw that there were indeed piles of rock at the sides of the street, but the potholes weren't filled in, nor were the bumps smoothed out. Maybe this is just the first phase or maybe this is all they do, spruce it up. Clean it bachelor-style. There was also the coconut fetcher who climbed up Shobha's trees to knock down the next harvest. No rope, just a good grip on the tree and machette. Both times, despite the deadly elements threatening the street, life went on and around the problem. Scooter riders barely looked up when the coconuts fell nearby with our landlady directing traffic in her own way. As the street crew worked, the main street was blocked off at one end by a few stones to remind people to slow down when swerving around a squatting sweeper. I'm soon off to run an errand, and I will be sure to look both ways before crossing the street.
--- aeryk ---

At home in Gokulam

Here I am, happy and warm in Mysore. This picture shows the stairs to my apartment, upstairs in a three part house. Our place is the closest to the roof so I can stand up in the coconut trees and watch everything going on in the neighborhood.

The prevailing theme of my first two weeks in India is change, changes around me and changes in me.
When we first arrived in Bangalore I thought for a moment I had come to the wrong India. The airport is brand new, fancy, and clean - so completely different from the bustling chaotic dingy airport I expected to see.

Much has changed in Gokulam since we were here last, 20 months ago. The pigs that used to own the streets have mysteriously disappeared, as have most of the street dogs, and street children. The neighborhood seems quieter and cleaner. That being said, we showed up right in the middle of Diwali festival -, several days of celebrating, mostly with loud firecrackers and mini explosions.

Other than obvious external changes, coming back is showing me how deeply I have changed in the last couple of years. I am so much more relaxed here than I remembered from before. Joining into the flow of India seems so natural. All the scents, even the unpleasant ones, have some nostalgic appeal, so everything I experience I am greeting with happiness. Sleep comes easily, the crazy night sounds just flow over and around me.

I know I told everyone I needed to return to India to study yoga. Now I am accepting the truth - I came to eat fruit!

Vivian