finding my way with words
matters of the heart, music, travel and photography.
About Me
Wow, it’s March…. it’s 2012…. time sure flies when you’re….. well living I guess.
I had fully intended to document my time in India while I was ‘on the road’, but when I came to sit down and type something, trying to describe what I was doing/seeing/experiencing, I mostly just get overwhelmed. But I did manage to keep a pretty regular stream of really wonderful photos coming so my friends and family could see what I was up to.
I’m not going to wax lyrical about how India was a ‘life-changing experience’, because it wasn’t. I’d say the culmination of the past 2.5 years were somewhat life changing, but isn’t that what life is about…. change. Either way, I had a really amazing time, I met some amazing people, new close friends, many new experiences and spent most of my time traveling alone, a really freeing feeling.
A quick recap of where I visited: Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Rishikesh, Khajuraho, Agonda (South Goa), Gokarna, Hampi and Mumbai. I also spent 10 days in silence at a Vipassana course just outside of Delhi in Gurgaon.
While in India, I was offered a position back with Crumpler in Brisbane, which was very hard to say no to. I’ve been back at work for about 6 weeks now, and I’m feeling really grateful that I have this job. The people are great, and… even after all this time working for Crumpler (about 7.5 years!) I’m still learning new things.
I have plans for more extensive travel in 2012, and I’m sure I’ll speak more about those plans soon, but currently, I’m just enjoying settling back into my ‘home town’ for a bit and catching up with things.
Hopefully I’ll be able to share some more specifica stories about my India adventure once I start processing the photos. Many GB of pictures to go through. Hopefully it won’t be as long as next time till I update again. Best wishes.
I’m currently sitting at Brussels airport waiting for my connecting flight to New Delhi. I just paid ten euro for internet access so I’m trying to update as many internet type things as possible. So firstly some thoughts on what has been happening up until now.
The past 6 weeks before I left Toronto were absolutely crazy. There were absolutely horrible moments, when I felt so stressed out and alone, but mostly I’ve felt like I really got to spend time with my closest friends and do a few ‘last chance’ things around Toronto (and a quick lil trip down to NYC).
You know how there’s a saying….. something like ‘things will come to you when you’re not even looking’. Well that kinda happened as well. I met someone in my last 2 months in Toronto, and it just really overwhelmed me how much I really began to like this person (considering I was leaving so soon). But the time spent together was really gorgeous, in fact, it was probably up there in my top favourite things about my time spent in Toronto. I was able to leave yesterday feeling really happy and positive about everything that had happened.
But for now, my Toronto chapter is closed. What a crazy time the past 2 years has been. I can honestly say I truly love that city, the friends I made there and the times we shared. I am going to miss it all a lot.
So next stop is Delhi. I’m a little nervous, but nowhere near as nervous as when I left Australia to go to China. How can you prepare for India? I’ve read as much as I can, but I really don’t know what quite to expect. An assault on the senses, some trying times physically (eeek! gastro?!?!) and emotionally, and well… as cheesy as it sounds… spiritually. I’m not going into this trip with any expectations, and I’m feeling really really fortunate I have a person as amazing as Jemima to share my time with.
Time for me to quit rambling, and go and freshen up before my next 8 hour flight. I’ve managed to watch Bridesmaids and Anchorman on the plane, so hopefully I can catch up on some more movies, and maybe have a bit of a nap. I doubt I’ll get any sleep, as I’m a terrible plane sleeper, but I’ll try. More to come soon.
Self portrait, Toronto, September 2011
To keep up to date with my travels in India commencing 13th October 2011, please follow me on this Tumblr.
2009
20th Oct - 8th Nov: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Xitang, Xian, Pingyao, Simatai)
8th Nov - 15th Nov: Vancouver
2010
20th Jan - 25th Jan: Vancouver
11th Feb - 15th Feb: New York City
28th Apr - 3rd May: Las Vegas
28th May - 1st Jun: Detroit - Movement Festival
6th June - 2nd July: Vancouver
25th June - 28th June: Los Angeles/Palm Springs
17th July - 19th July: New York City
29th Oct - 5th Nov: Cuba (Varadero, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Havana)
2011
14th February - 24th Feb: Vancouver
24th Feb - 28th Feb: Los Angeles
28th Feb - 2nd March: Mexcio City
2nd Mar - 15th Apr: All over Mexico (Oaxaca City, San Agustinillo, San Cristobel, Palenque, Tulum, Valladolid, Merida, Campeche, Calukmul, Bacalar, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Coba, Ek’Balam, Chitzen Itza)
23rd April - 26th April: Chicago
29th April - 2nd May: Montreal
28th May - 31st May: Detroit - Movement Festival
1st July - 2nd July: Philadelphia
2nd July - 5th July: New York
22nd July - 24th July: Montreal
25th Sept - 26th Sept: New York
13th Oct - Dec/Jan 2012: India
from today I’ll be on a plane to Delhi….
La Merced Market, Mexico City, March 2011
Our first day in Mexico City was spent wandering La Merced Market in Mexico City. We met another Aussie couple at the reception desk of the hostel, and before we knew it, we’d all decided to head to the markets.
Like a lot of food markets, the place was buzzing. Fresh produce, meat hanging on hooks everywhere, mountains of spices, mole and chilli peppers, it was intoxicating. It was easy to get lost in the many aisles and buildings of the marketplace, but we eventually found our way back to the subway after stopping for some tacos al pastor for a late lunch.
That night we all headed on a bar crawl, drank pulque at a traditional pulqueria, tequila and beer at a lively cantina, then headed to the Lucha Libre. All this within our first day of being in Mexico…. viva la vida!
I’m continually fascinated by population statistics of urban areas. Coming from Australia where there is scarcely more than two persons per square kilometre of total land area (a population of approximately 22 000 000 in the whole country) the concept of being in a city like Delhi soon (population also approximately 22 000 000) freaks me out and excites me.
I’ve already been to quite a few large cities: Shanghai, Mexico City, New York, LA, Beijing….. and I can’t quite describe what I feel when I’m there. It’s overwhelming and exciting, and I feed off the energy.
Unfortunately, being in cities with large urban populations brings to front many of the social and economic problems faced by the citizens in those areas. Homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution etc. Of course these problems are prevalent in all cities, it’s just magnified more in large ones. Makes me feel really lucky for what I have and where I come from. My mantra this week has been ‘Be thankful for what you got’, thank you Mr DeVaughn.
I love places that make you realize how tiny you and your problems are.
