'My heart will go on....*', 'paper, paper', woof, bark, beep beep, 'London bridge is falling down...*', honk beep, Kannada this, hindi this... These are just some of the sounds we hear on an ongoing basis it is incredible. These sounds are of the 8 million people living around Bangalore and it is relentless. It starts early in the morning and does not stop until well after 11pm. Amazingly, it actually DOES stop. Often I wake in the night (toilet break) and am amazed at how peaceful it is outside. Not one sound.
The past couple of days have been a mish mash of emotions between us both. As previously mentioned, we had a great weekend with the Bangalore Queer Film Festival, but 'came down' a little afterwards. We have just been on each other's laps these past couple of days and it has driven us mad. But, all is okay as we both talk about it and acknowledge that we both feel the same.
It is the emotion of being somewhere so foreign and unlike anything you have been exposed to before. I feel like I am just missing a home. A place where we can close off from the outside and be in our own cocoon. A kitchen! Oh for my own kitchen! I'm a little over the constant search for somewhere new to eat, albeit the food has all been fabulous an to date, no stomach upsets, or cuisine which has proven 'too hot to handle'. To be able to go grocery shopping and stock my kitchen with all these amazing ingredients would be perfect. To be able to just cook what we want, simple or extravagant, and relax at home. But we are just in a room, in a serviced flat, in Indiranagar. All that mentioned, it is a lovely leafy area, the room is kind of large enough and we have a large bathroom. The people working here are extremely hospitable and correct but it is still not 'ours'.
This morning, after several days off of work, we both returned. Re-energized and happy to again have something to really occupy our day, we both set off.
I was happy to come across a few other westerners at APSA today as I was kind of gagging to speak to another westerner. Do not know why, as everyone here is extremely friendly and have welcomed us warmly, but I guess it was just to feel connected to people from outside or India and compare stories, etc. We all had lunch together in the sun and had a lovely conversation. Nice, need fixed. Thanks guys. We have also exchanged details to perhaps plan a meet up outside of social working.
Too, Tuesday we had a meeting with a journalist from the Deccan Herald, one of the state papers here in Karnataka. She works within the 'Metro' section, which is a supplement of the complete paper, focusing on 'non-news' stories and the like. We met her at the BQFF when she openly asked to join our table. It was a pleasant surprise for someone to ask to join your table, and we had a pleasant conversation. She then contacted us to do a story on our marriage! Well, we thought we were getting used to this, so why not. ;-) No, it was a lovely surprise and we were happy to join in. The story may not even get published because people in India are still very traditional and stories like this may cause offence but we thought why not. I was a little nervous as I would not want the story to be held against us if perhaps we wanted to come back to India! You never know. We will keep you all posted when released.
Tonight Rein has gone to a 'gay' meeting. I say that as I am not sure on their title, but it is a group of Indians who get together every Thursday evening to discuss important gay issues and rights in Karnataka and India alike. Rein had made some contacts and was welcomed to join them. He was very happy. Me, I was not really interested, but I think it was the thought of just having the 'room' to myself for a few hours was too good to pass up. Mmm, lekker.
* These are the slightly annoying sounds of the car reversing alarms warning the car is backing up. This would have come in hand the other day when just near us, a 19 year old construction working was instantly killed when a truck backed up over him. He had finished his night shift and was sleeping on the pavement when the truck came early in the morning. Sad story to read.
 |
| Preparations for the Shiva day, public holiday. Not sure if Shiva is a God or Goddess. This is not Shiva in the pic. |
The past couple of days have been a mish mash of emotions between us both. As previously mentioned, we had a great weekend with the Bangalore Queer Film Festival, but 'came down' a little afterwards. We have just been on each other's laps these past couple of days and it has driven us mad. But, all is okay as we both talk about it and acknowledge that we both feel the same.
It is the emotion of being somewhere so foreign and unlike anything you have been exposed to before. I feel like I am just missing a home. A place where we can close off from the outside and be in our own cocoon. A kitchen! Oh for my own kitchen! I'm a little over the constant search for somewhere new to eat, albeit the food has all been fabulous an to date, no stomach upsets, or cuisine which has proven 'too hot to handle'. To be able to go grocery shopping and stock my kitchen with all these amazing ingredients would be perfect. To be able to just cook what we want, simple or extravagant, and relax at home. But we are just in a room, in a serviced flat, in Indiranagar. All that mentioned, it is a lovely leafy area, the room is kind of large enough and we have a large bathroom. The people working here are extremely hospitable and correct but it is still not 'ours'.
This morning, after several days off of work, we both returned. Re-energized and happy to again have something to really occupy our day, we both set off.
 |
| Cows here too also take Darshan, prayers and offerings to the preferred god fellow animal, Ganesh. ;-) |
I was happy to come across a few other westerners at APSA today as I was kind of gagging to speak to another westerner. Do not know why, as everyone here is extremely friendly and have welcomed us warmly, but I guess it was just to feel connected to people from outside or India and compare stories, etc. We all had lunch together in the sun and had a lovely conversation. Nice, need fixed. Thanks guys. We have also exchanged details to perhaps plan a meet up outside of social working.
Too, Tuesday we had a meeting with a journalist from the Deccan Herald, one of the state papers here in Karnataka. She works within the 'Metro' section, which is a supplement of the complete paper, focusing on 'non-news' stories and the like. We met her at the BQFF when she openly asked to join our table. It was a pleasant surprise for someone to ask to join your table, and we had a pleasant conversation. She then contacted us to do a story on our marriage! Well, we thought we were getting used to this, so why not. ;-) No, it was a lovely surprise and we were happy to join in. The story may not even get published because people in India are still very traditional and stories like this may cause offence but we thought why not. I was a little nervous as I would not want the story to be held against us if perhaps we wanted to come back to India! You never know. We will keep you all posted when released.
 |
| Meeting with Deccan Herald, in India's oldest running coffee house. |
Tonight Rein has gone to a 'gay' meeting. I say that as I am not sure on their title, but it is a group of Indians who get together every Thursday evening to discuss important gay issues and rights in Karnataka and India alike. Rein had made some contacts and was welcomed to join them. He was very happy. Me, I was not really interested, but I think it was the thought of just having the 'room' to myself for a few hours was too good to pass up. Mmm, lekker.
* These are the slightly annoying sounds of the car reversing alarms warning the car is backing up. This would have come in hand the other day when just near us, a 19 year old construction working was instantly killed when a truck backed up over him. He had finished his night shift and was sleeping on the pavement when the truck came early in the morning. Sad story to read.
Keep up the good work guys! Thinking of you often...just email me if you want a chat or if you have PingChat on your mobile add me.
ReplyDeleteLove always, Vicky & Matt.