Just A Guy Writing

On a beach in Jamaica!

2010-11-11T09:33:00.001-08:00

Well its been a long time since I wrote last. Its fall of 2010 and I have had quite a year. After returning from the trip to Africa I proposed to the love of my life Akta on August 28th at beacon grill where we met in August of 2007. After lots of drama and ups and downs...we had a magnificent wedding in Vieques Puerto Rico at the brand new W spa and retreat. In fact we were the first couple to ever get married there. It was on June 5th 2010. So why all this history...well it sets the stage for why we are in Jamaica...we are on our honeymoon! Specifically we are at the Sandals grande ohco rios. Its a great place. After some issues with our room, everything has been great. The service is great, drinks good, weather great (well very nice!) and food pretty good. Main issue is that the veggie food is not as good as it could be, but its ok. Funny last year I was at an orphanage but this year I'm as far from that as I could be...definately enjoying my good fortune in life. The people are very nice and do anything to help much like those we met in Africa.

I can't say that I have lots of deep thoughts here. It is all about relaxing and rejuvenation. Work has been quite tough with becoming a manager, running firedrills, a layoff, and now a new tech lead role. All the while doing the people engagement and product improvement that I took the job for in the first place! Its all been a great learning experience just tiring. I feel great being on the beach though and ready to get back to it next week.

Getting married has been great. Wouldn't trade it for anything but it has definately been trying between family issues, finances, making hopes and dreams reality (real fireworks at the wedding!). We now live in the elkridge condo and are enjoying married life. We will get into a groove once we get back. It will be nice!

So its been a great year...lots of changes and lots of learning. Akta and I are enjoying being together and look forward to a great future!
Sent from Blackberry, please excuse typos

Sunday Morning News

2009-07-05T00:19:00.001-07:00

7/5/09
I'm sitting out on the deck here at the hostel reading the sunday Washington Post on my phone...in Kikuyu, Kenya...what a world.

Last night, I had dinner with a Kenyan named Robin. He is a police officer and a nurse, and he was visitng a friend who works at the hospital here. We chatted a bit, watched the news...we he understood, and I looked at the pictures, since it was in Kiswahili. Then a show came on, that was "U Can Dance" which was a best kenyan dance duo competition. Interesting.

In the morning, I met some folks from San Diego who are here helping to finish a church they raised money for. There was also a group of students...civil engineers who were helping to build a school, and a teacher helping to establish primary education. They were from Northern Ireland. Its very interesting, Christianity is wide spread here, and there are many people coming to help through their churches. Inspiring.

So I'm just going hang out, read, and relax, until 230, when I'll go to the orphanage before heading back to the US. I'm excited to go home...I'm sure when I get to work on Tuesday, I'll think about being on Safari the week before!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

July 4th in Kenya

2009-07-04T08:21:00.001-07:00

7/4/09
J and B had told us of some missionary friends who where having a 4th party. They invited us along with the kids. It was so much fun, we had a bbq in Kenya! We played games with the kids and met lots of people there. Many were on missions with a variety of different activities in the area. Working to improve slums, setup rural businesses, agro co-op's, helping ease racial tensions. Quite a great variety of folks. Micheal and Rebecca are 23 year old missionaries from Missouri. They are working with the anglican chruch to develop the agro co-op's. They are lucky to be house sitting for the owners of a bueatiful house...which facilitated the bbq. I made some contacts with people who maybe I can work with in the future. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. One thing that I learned was that there is tension between south asians and africans. Its basically about how they view each other...indians seem to be all about $, and africans seem to be lazy. There was a few members of a group who is helping to ease this.

Sadly, Anna and Karen went off to Kisumu. We have had so much fun. I had never traveled with Anna and just met Karen last week, but we had nothing but fun together. It was a great experience, and I got to learn so much from them too.

So I've been sitting here for an hour getting the blogging up to date. Amazing my phone works here at the hostel. My view from the deck here is of greenery of all types. There are lawns, and trees, and a garden. Other buildings of the hospital are around too. Birds are chirping away. I can hear what I think are church services off in the distance....very peaceful here! Ok, getting chilly, so I will go in and read...have dinner and just chill out. I'm going to the orphanage tomorrow at 230pm, and then to J and B's for dinner...and then the airport! See you all soon!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Kikuyu and Nairobi

2009-07-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

7/3/09
We got up at the hostel and were stuffed still. They had laid out breakfast for us, so we ate, so as not to waste food.

Julias and Beatrice picked us up at 1030am and we went to see the nursery school. It was a small 2 room school with about 25 students in K and 1st grade. The rooms were colorful, and it seemed that they were doing what all kids that age would do in America. Beatrice runs the school, and there were 2 teachers. She feeds them 2 meals, to ensure they get something to eat, because its not clear whether the parents have enough to feed them properly.

From there we went to the David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage. They go into the wild and find baby elephants who's parents have been poached (and try to break the snares from poachers). There we're about 10 there, and it was quite interesting to see. They bring them out for the public to see for 1 hour a day. Also, the workers sleep with the elephants, so they can be fed every 3 hours, and kept covered, so they don't catch pnemonia. Pretty amazing. The caretakers are definately treated like mothers by the elephants.

They also had a baby rhino...crazy little guy, definately ran all oveer the place! He was 6 months old.

Also, there was a 6 year old rhino too. Whenever there are no people, they allow that rhino to roam back into the wild (the orphanage is in Niarobi national park). He always seems to come back after a while, since he was raised there (and gets food easily).

J and B had never been, so it was an experience that they enjoyed with us.

We went to the giraffe center after that where they are breeding Rothchild giraffes, which is one type. It was fun, we fed the giraffes...anna and karen did a giraffe kiss...I didn't...haha

We stopped at a gas station/fast food place to eat...pizza inn and galito's chicken. We had bean salad which had 5 beans in it, veggie pizza, and peri peri (hot hot) chips (fries)...quite good!

From there we went into NBO...lots of traffic, very vibrant...people all over...just like a busy city anywhere!

We passed through a lot of the city including the "embassy row"...a very nice area...both the buildings themselves, and the houses...very wealthy folks lived there. We went to the "village market"...in the parking lot they had a craft bazaar, very fun...we bargained a lot. J and B helped us, which was great. My best was 3500 to 1100 shillings!
Inside the "market" was a mall on par with anything in the US! Apparently, indians in kenya had invested a lot into this mall. It was filled with ex-pats, and the rich. There also seemed to be folks who probably shouldn't shop there...but as in the US...used credit cards to buy stuff...and rack up debt...

From here we went to the orphanage and Church, which are together (with the school). The church was a solid building, but nothing fancy of course. J told us of the plans for building it into a community center, with guest rooms. J told us that the best part of the church is that some people have used it to clean un their lives and be productive members of society. Also, they want to make a bigger facility for the children, so they could handle 50, and have some workshops, for them to learn trades. Plans are there, but they are looking for $ of course. The orphanage has a open center area with about 6 rooms around it. There is a dining/study area, 3-4 rooms with bunk beds/lockers for the kids, one room for Nancy (she works there full time), and a storage area. J told us that it costs about $1k/mo, but it wasn't clear where the funds come from. They manage, is what he told us.

J and B had us to their home to eat dinner. It was in a village across the main road, about 1km away. They live in a nice little ranch house...not rich, but not poor either. They have 4 kids, and have adopted another...pretty amazing, considering all else that they do! All the kids were very nice, that we met. The oldest is in Boston studying. Faith, the 3rd oldest has downs syndrome and is growing up well. Jane, the 2nd oldest is adopted and in school to be a teacher. Ester was very nice, and she's the 2nd youngest...we didn't get to talk to her much, but she's in the 8th grade. Baraka is the youngest, 8, and the most energetic. She's a sweet kid who spends a lot of her time with the orphange kids.

They gave us a regular meal for them...chappati's (like big roti/bakri), mashed potatoes/greens/corn, and a mixed veggies dish, highlited by spinach. The veggies were mostly gorwn in their garden! They also made a special fish dish for us. It was delicious food, and they were so nice to make it for us.
J and B are truly amazing people. They raise their kids and the kids in the orphange as the same. The run a church, and the nursery school, and share all that they have.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

On to Kikuyu!

2009-07-04T07:35:00.001-07:00

Got up/breakfast and off to Lake Naivasha, after short game drive. We saw lots of monkeys, and I finally got pictures. Lake Naivasha is known for hippos, so we did a hippo safari, which is a boat ride on the lake. We saw hippos (families) and birds swoop down and take fish from water. It was quite a sight. The hippos were funny, sometimes they seemed put their heads on each other and sleep! Interesting tidebit, the animals on Cresent island (in the lake) are not native. They were left there after the filming of Out of Africa. Crazy.

We got to Kikuyu, which is a suburb of Nairobi. It looks very silmilar to the outskirts of bombay. We met Julias and Beatrice who were so welcoming, it was very nice. They took us to the presbytarian guest house which is a rehab hostel for orthopedic patients. Its a part of a hospital campus which is very nice. They have nice gardens. Many medical personnel are around. The staff is very friendly, and the cost is around $30 a day with meals.

We rested and the J and B took us to a restaurant called Carnivore, which is similar to fago de chao in america. The food was great, and we ate way to much. Luckily, we didn't do the whole skewer thing, we just ordered from the menu. The chicken was good, as was the spinach that we got on the side. During dinner we learned about operation of the orphange and how J and B do it. They manage with what they have and the kids seem to be ok. They get three meals a day, and are able to go to school. We also learned about a carjacking that beatrice was involved in. Luckily she was not hurt, the police managed to find them and get her out unharmed. They got the car back too. They used the cell phone signal to find them! We shared stories about us too, and it was a very nice meal...we were stuffed!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Evening at Lake Nakuru and Random Thoughts

2009-07-04T07:27:00.001-07:00

7/1/09
So we got back to the camp and relaxed for a while before dinner...and
then there was a rain storm with huge drops!! It was neat to watch.
While this was happeneing, they came around with hot water bottles to
put in the bed. It was nice!

We had a nice dinner. We decided that the food/service/ambiance was
better here than at the sopa lodge. Still nothing particularly local,
but good food.

We had long conversation about business and technology controlling the
way we live. It boiled down to the fact that we need to balance needs
and wants, and we agreed in general that we Americans percieve many
wants as needs. In doing so the impact to the rest of the world is
tremendous. Its good and bad...sharing of ideas, increasing people's
education, improved quality of life, but also increased pollution,
increased desirements, losing of cultural values...

Night in the tent was neat. Lots of bugs around, but the off worked
well. Lots of animal noises at night...nothing very close to worry
about. The camp is separated from the part but a wire fence, not too
strong. It was odd hearing so many birds, then barking, rooster
crowing, and horns from the city all together!

I had a bad dream, and woke up to pitch black. I waited a few
minutes, but couldn't even see my hands in front my of face. I got a
bit scared and turned on the phone, and was relieved to be able to see
just fine. Odd situaiton, I can't remember it ever being that dark.

Ok, so here are some random thoughts, in no particular order:

1) I don't think I've ever had finer accomdations outside of people's
house than the past three nights. Dar was nice, but a regular hotel.
Amazing that I come to Africa for this.

2) Everything is similar to what I remember in India. Cities, towns,
rural area, landscape...

3) We haven't seen any castles or forts. Its a tribal/migrant
history, so there wouldn't be any...its different than all other
travels.

4) What an end to a crazy month for me...I needed this break...

5) I haven't seen any truly extreme poverty. Everyone so far would
fair ok on Yunas's 16 point scale...access to water, education,
sustaining income, home with a tin roof. Maybe not everyone, but a
large proportion. This comment is probably becuase I expected more,
and also because they don't take us to the extremely poor area. I
don't to visitors in the US.

6) I'm glad we chose this safari, we have seen everything we could
want. The big five, the migration, the masai...

7) Everything here has been amazing...I know its been the good life so
far, might not be the same with Julias at the orphanage.

8) Tasted 3 beers...Tusker, Pilsner, and White Cap. All are simlar.
Relatively light in color and taste...a bit sweet.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Going to Lake Nakuru

2009-07-04T01:24:00.001-07:00

7/1/09
Our adventure in the Masai Mara came to an end, and we went on our way
to Lake Nakuru national park. Overall, the impression that the Mara
left was that its an incredible space on Earth. Its an unforgettable
experience to be able to witness nature in action. While we see it in
our daily lives, the nature seen here is relatively unadulterated by
human beings. Yes, there are cars moving about with safari goers, but
compared to our lives in the urban US, its minimal impact.

We stopped at a gift shop, where I bought a rosewood bowl and a cloth
picture for $60...probably too much, but bargained down from $160, so
I felt I did ok!

On the way to lake nakuru, was passed through some wonderful
countryside, reached an altitude of 2784m (8000+ ft). The towns and
countryside reminded me of what I would saw in India as we drove
around. Lots of activity, even though the towns looked run down.
Cell phones galore.

Reminds me, we learned about cell phones have been revolutionary here
for commerce. People can get banking services via their phone.
Essentially the cell phone company has agents all over who act like
small banks. People can deposit and withdraw cash. More importanly,
using this account they can pay bills and each other via their phone!
Its so much more secure than cash transactions, and allow access to
many more markets!

Lake Nakuru (LN) is near the town of Nakuru which is a small city. I
definately felt like we were much closer to "civilization" as I am
used to. The national park is only about 5km outside of the town
centre. We drove in, and up to our "camp," which was more like a
resort. The "tents" were really just covers for a hotel room,
complete with 3 beds, and a full bathroom! the tents top had a tiki
roof top, which as quite nice. Definately not roughing it!

We rested a little, had a nice lunch, and then went off for the game
drive. LN is famous for the birds that can be seen there, most
importantly the sea of flamingos! It was amazing to see huge patches
of pink on the lake. We got out of the van and walked around (we
never get out around other animlas). The scene was truly amazing.
While walking, I managed to step in "it"...so that was uncomftable for
a while, given I only have flip flops on! remember, my shoes were
stolen, so I only have flip flops for the trip.

We also saw storks, baboons, zebras, rhinos (one sleep and others from
far), and a familty of giraffes, very close. It was awesome! We went
up to a place called baboon lookout point, where we got an aerial view
of the lake...truly magnificent!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Masai Mara Day 2

2009-07-03T05:20:00.001-07:00

June 30, 2009
Today we started the game drive at 630am...what a game drive it was!
We saw many lions, some just posing and relaxing, others devouring a
dead wildebeest. There was another killed wildebeest nearby, but the
lions were too full to eat it! At the same time, we saw part of the
wildebeest migration. Thousands of WB's come up from the Serengeti
after the rainy season there. This year the rains ended early, so
they were getting to Mara early. Its incredible to see all of the
animals moving along together in lines...similar to birds flying
south, but way more impressive!

Amazingly, the lions were eating the WB not far from where the
migration was happening, amazing!

So while it seems that it would be gross, it wasn't. I guess it just
seemed natural, and the lions were calmly eating...they weren't going
crazy. We did notice that Karen enjoyed seeing this by far the
most...hmmm.

So all this, and we were back for breakfast at 9. After breakfast
(good food, typical breakfast fare), we went to the masai village to
learn about them. They hold on to their way of life from thousands of
years ago, with some alterations, but not many. We were greeted by
the chief's soon, who brought his group of men out to meet us. He
told us some history, and led us in. The men did a simliar dance to
welcome us, as the night before. The area was quite dirty, and we
were struck by the number of flies around, mainly because there was
cow dung everywhere. That being the case, the children and adults did
not seem malnourished or sick. They showed us their huts (sticks,
strw roof, with cow dung cement). It was quite an experience to see.
The hut was more spacious than expected. It housed a section for
kids, adults, grandmom/dad, a kitchen, area for baby cows, and
kittens. Very dark, but we got used to it. Seemed much cleaner than
outside.

The men either go to school, or are trained to defend the village/take
care of animlas. The women cook, clean, take care of kids, and build
the houses. Didn't seem like the men did much, because there is not
immenent threat. The girls get educated too, and married of at 17 or
so. They are either bought for 7 cows, traded for a sister, or go to
the highest jumper, per the previous discussion, about the dance.
Interesting that men have to give dowry for the women, not the other
way. The men are married at 25.

Most of the children (girls, and boys who aren't farming) go to school
through the 8th grade at least. We saw a nice solidly built school
with lots of student (too few teachers). The students were excited to
see us, and well behaved.

We believe that most of the men now go work in the towns around their
village, but they didn't tell us this.

So by this time, we had seen/done a lot (walked back to the lodge from
village), so we ate, rested, and read by the pool.

After lunch, we went for another drive. We saw 4 cheetah's eating a
dead gazelle, with vultures all around. They were standing at
attention (or so it seemed) waiting their turn, it was amazing! We
saw more zebras, wildebeests, ostriches, and other small birds.

Then it started to rain...as we drove back, we found that the animals
stood perfectly still in the rain. It was very interesting, and
pretty universal, very few moved eveb a little. Also, the gutters
that were bone dry in the am, were now little fast moving streams!

We got back, had a nice dinner, and releaxed. I hag tried a tusker
beer in the afternoon, so I had pilsner this time. Both were good, a
little sweet.

Later, Karen and Anna did a great job of helping me learn about our
education system. We had some great discussion, and I got a chace to
learn about some of the problems. The biggest issue Karen had was
class size for her students, its hard to give individual attention to
younger students, who probably need it the most. Also, in poorer
communities, its needs to be a wider approach than just school.
Education/social support is needed for abuse, lack of health care,
basic food needs...its a bigger problem than just schools.

Anna was bothered by the amount of required classes that high school
students have. There is very little room for electives, and learning
something you want to learn. In the hunt to improve test scores, we
are making less well rounded students, or forcing them to get burnt
out.

We also discussed matrurity of students, and them learning to interact
with adults and the business world.

On 7/2/09, Mitesh Parikh <mmparikh79@gmail.com> wrote:
> June 29th
> We had a 530am flight to Nairobi, so we were up and out to the airport
> very early. We had some breakfast at the airport...notably Karen
> enjoyed roasted chicken and fries at 330am! The flight was nice, we
> actually had the former president of Tanzania aboard, kinda crazy. Of
> course, he had plenty of security getting on and off.
>
> Nairobi was beautiful driving in. Great landscape and clear air going
> into city. We did hit a big traffic jam, and sat in smog of cars as
> we got closer to the city. Evebtually we got to the safari office,
> and were on our way. Our guide, David, was quite nice, and we had a
> late, but promising start. As we drove, I was struck by how
> everything was similar to India. City, small towns, countryside, it
> all was how india was in 2000, last time I went.
>
> As we drove to the Mara, we saw many Masai people along the way. They
> were dressed in the bright red scarves of the pictures we seen. Many
> had their ears stretched and pierced. We later learned that those
> with the pierced ears helped with the herding and catlle raising,
> while boys who were to be educated head their two front teeth (lower)
> pulled out.
>
> Another thing, parts of the road were extremely rocky! We got used to
> being jostled around as soon as we got out of the city. If you have
> back problesm, be very careful on safari.
>
> We got to the park and lodge about 2pm. The Mara Sopa lodge was
> incredibly beautiful. The room, the view, the pool, dining area, main
> lodge, gardens...all were spectacular.
>
> I thought about the rapid change from relative poverty to the richness
> of the lodge we just experienced. As in the past, I'm always reminded
> that wealth does not equal happiness. So many of the people we passed
> were poor, but most seemed content. The balance between the need of
> "stuff" and being happy is difficult, but poor here seem to be ok with
> their basic needs being met. This doesn't mean we shouldn't share,
> only that we should think about what we are doing, and truly need.
>
> Also, along this trip, I've been reading Yunas's book, creating a
> world without poverty. He talks about the huge percentage of the
> world that lives on less than $1 a day. While the numbers are
> truthful, the meaning isn't quite clear. He doesn't account for the
> difference in standard of living. When you don't need much, money
> isn't important. Its not important, the poverty is still there, and
> help is needed. The only point is that we have to be careful of not
> ruining poeples happiness as we help.
>
> Ok...sorry for the digression, back to the safari...so after a very
> nice lunch, we got onto our first game ride...at 4pm. AMAZING! We
> saw impalas (with many wives!), topis, giraffes, a leopard in the
> bushes, cheetahs, elephants, wildebeests, water buffalos, ostriches,
> and other small animals. The scenary was great, and seeing the
> animals in their natural habitat was awesome! They did not bother us
> or the other safari goers, which was neat. Also, we had a very lucky
> start...some people, see no animals at all during a safari, we saw so
> many on our first game drive.
>
> We wnet back to the lodge a few hours later, and had a nice dinner.
> The food was buffet style, and they had a variety, with a lot of
> indian food. I had a drink called dawa, which was vodka, lemon, and
> honey, quite good!
>
> After dinner there was a masai cultural dance which was quite
> interesting. About 10 men chant and skipped around (similar to simple
> garba), and they lined up and jumped up and down, one at a time. They
> got really high! We later learned that this is a traditional dance,
> and the highest jumper gets a "free" wife (he doesn't have to trade a
> sister or cows...seriously).
>
> At night we walked around the grounds a bit and found ourselves a bit
> out of breath after stairs...we decided to" blame it on the
> ah..aaha..alta...altitude!". We were about 1 mile up.
>
> So ended our first day on safari!
>
> --
> Sent from my mobile device
>

--
Sent from my mobile device

Heading to NBO and Masai Mara

2009-07-02T11:22:00.001-07:00

June 29th
We had a 530am flight to Nairobi, so we were up and out to the airport
very early. We had some breakfast at the airport...notably Karen
enjoyed roasted chicken and fries at 330am! The flight was nice, we
actually had the former president of Tanzania aboard, kinda crazy. Of
course, he had plenty of security getting on and off.

Nairobi was beautiful driving in. Great landscape and clear air going
into city. We did hit a big traffic jam, and sat in smog of cars as
we got closer to the city. Evebtually we got to the safari office,
and were on our way. Our guide, David, was quite nice, and we had a
late, but promising start. As we drove, I was struck by how
everything was similar to India. City, small towns, countryside, it
all was how india was in 2000, last time I went.

As we drove to the Mara, we saw many Masai people along the way. They
were dressed in the bright red scarves of the pictures we seen. Many
had their ears stretched and pierced. We later learned that those
with the pierced ears helped with the herding and catlle raising,
while boys who were to be educated head their two front teeth (lower)
pulled out.

Another thing, parts of the road were extremely rocky! We got used to
being jostled around as soon as we got out of the city. If you have
back problesm, be very careful on safari.

We got to the park and lodge about 2pm. The Mara Sopa lodge was
incredibly beautiful. The room, the view, the pool, dining area, main
lodge, gardens...all were spectacular.

I thought about the rapid change from relative poverty to the richness
of the lodge we just experienced. As in the past, I'm always reminded
that wealth does not equal happiness. So many of the people we passed
were poor, but most seemed content. The balance between the need of
"stuff" and being happy is difficult, but poor here seem to be ok with
their basic needs being met. This doesn't mean we shouldn't share,
only that we should think about what we are doing, and truly need.

Also, along this trip, I've been reading Yunas's book, creating a
world without poverty. He talks about the huge percentage of the
world that lives on less than $1 a day. While the numbers are
truthful, the meaning isn't quite clear. He doesn't account for the
difference in standard of living. When you don't need much, money
isn't important. Its not important, the poverty is still there, and
help is needed. The only point is that we have to be careful of not
ruining poeples happiness as we help.

Ok...sorry for the digression, back to the safari...so after a very
nice lunch, we got onto our first game ride...at 4pm. AMAZING! We
saw impalas (with many wives!), topis, giraffes, a leopard in the
bushes, cheetahs, elephants, wildebeests, water buffalos, ostriches,
and other small animals. The scenary was great, and seeing the
animals in their natural habitat was awesome! They did not bother us
or the other safari goers, which was neat. Also, we had a very lucky
start...some people, see no animals at all during a safari, we saw so
many on our first game drive.

We wnet back to the lodge a few hours later, and had a nice dinner.
The food was buffet style, and they had a variety, with a lot of
indian food. I had a drink called dawa, which was vodka, lemon, and
honey, quite good!

After dinner there was a masai cultural dance which was quite
interesting. About 10 men chant and skipped around (similar to simple
garba), and they lined up and jumped up and down, one at a time. They
got really high! We later learned that this is a traditional dance,
and the highest jumper gets a "free" wife (he doesn't have to trade a
sister or cows...seriously).

At night we walked around the grounds a bit and found ourselves a bit
out of breath after stairs...we decided to" blame it on the
ah..aaha..alta...altitude!". We were about 1 mile up.

So ended our first day on safari!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Heading to NBO and Masai Mara

2009-07-02T11:20:00.001-07:00

Another thing, parts of the road were extremely rocky! We got used to
being jostled around as soon as we got out of the city. If you have
back problesm, be very careful on safari.

We got to the park and lodge about 2pm. The Mara Sopa lodge was
incredibly beautiful. The room, the view, the pool, dining area, main
lodge, gardens...all were spectacular.

At night we walked around the grounds a bit and found ourselves a bit
out of breath after stairs...we decided to" blame it on the
ah..aaha..alta...altitude!". We were about 1 mile up.

So ended our first day on safari!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Flamingo Hill Camp

2009-07-01T21:47:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
Sorry for the delay, but the internet enabled phone wouldn't get
internet in the masai! Now I'm sitting in a large "tiki" tent like
structure which is the office/lobby area for the camp. There's a
waterfall off to the right and beautiful african art around. The
lodge in masai and the camp here have been magnificent, nicest
accomdations I've ever had. The lodge had a very nice main area, with
a great pool, dining area, and a large fireplace. The rooms were
essebtially these small cottages with very nice decorations. The
"camp" is quite luxurious...our "tent" is really a stone structure
that is covered with tent material with a large tiki roof on top of
that. There's a full bathroom in the "tent" too! Decorations, and
furniture are also quite beautiful! So roughing it we are not...well
Anna did have some trouble with the showers at the lodge, not getting
hot water (karen and I had no issues!)...and karen had the shower head
fall on her..."Its okay, its like showering under a fire hydrant with
hot water"...and I definately "stepped in it" when viewing the
flamingos...so we are roughing it a bit!

Ok, well I guess this doesn't make sense, because I have skipped so
many happenings, so here goes....rewind:

Sunday June 28th
In DAR, We had lunch at the rooftop restaurant, Swadasee, which was
thai. Both families came together again, this time on the Thakkar's.
The food was good, and we had fun...the best part was the "music".
Since we were on the ninth floop, the howlong wind could be heard
whistling by the windows. Many thought it was a thai cultural
soundtrack! The views of the city were quite nice from there.

We said our goodbyes to everyone as people were leaving at different
times. It was a nice way to end a great family affair.

From here we went off to slipway, which is a waterfront area with
restaurants/shops/local market. I got to see Oyster bay and the
families coming out for a relaxing sunday. We got some souvenoirs.
On the way back, we stopped by Rikeen's mom's childhood house in the
city, that was neat to see. There are many old buildings that the
Indians made, and some still live in. This one dated back to 1940 or
so.

So in the evening, Nirav's parents treated us to pizza by the pool.
It was very nice...funny thing was the large pizzas were like 12in
wide. We in America really do oversize everything!! :)

Ok, this is a long post, so I will start with the safari in the next
one! Cheers for now, its breakfast time!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Looking at the Ocean In The Morning

2009-06-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

Its 1130 am on Sunday June 27th here in Dar E Salaam. I'm sitting in my 4th floor hotel room looking out over the harbor, there's a church service going on across the street, and the backdrop is beautiful water, with palm trees blowing in the wind. There's a working harbor in the distance, so the ships come and go into the docking stations.

The last few days have been amazing. On Friday, we had religious ceremonies for Nirav and Niki. It was poolside in the hotel...it was hot! ;) The chairs shifted as the sun put more of the patio in it's view. Then we had a nice lunch, and it was time to relax for a while. Anna and I walked around the city some, and it very much reminded me of India. Lots of hustle and bustle in the streets, as vibrant life is all around. Unfortunately, I still didn't know where my bag was, but the agents at the airport were looking into it. At that point, I didn't terribly mind, since I had enough clothes for the night and the wedding. The biggest loss of the bag would be the stuff I brought for the orphanage.

As it got later in the day, we got ready and went to the Hawaii Party throw by Niki's brother in law's family...what an AMAZING sight! We pulled up to a house...no a compound, actually we went through the gates, down a long drive, and come up to a house...got out, walked around back to see a Magnificent backyard...Steps lead down to a huge pool theat curves and leads you down a path to the ocean! Palm trees lined the sides of the walkway, and tiki torches lit the way! There was a DJ booth up on stage above the pool, with the bar nearby, and speakers put everywhere, so all could hear the music. Tables setup around the pool, stretching all the way back to the end of the pool, where multiple stations were setup for food. Beyond that lay the path to the beachhouse, and the water, shimmering in the moonlite. A wonderful atmosphere for a wonderful occasion. We ate, chatted, drank, swayed to the music, and then were asked to sit down...the show was to begin! It started with a gong, and fire breathing man...drums beat, and men and women came running out for the african dance show. 3 shows, of dance, acrobatics, and sheer beauty!

We danced late into the night...and we'll never forget the drum getting knocked into the pool, the flower bouquet toss...times two, because the first one went into the pool...the michael jackson tribute, Nirav going up to sing snoop...then him and I singing coolio...the food, the drinks, the weather, the place...phenomenal...

So Saturday came...I got up early, went tot he airport, to find that my bag was going to be delivered that night...so we relaxed, woke up slowly (really, I went back to "sleep"), went to Emporio to eat some nice turkish/medditerian food...came back and got ready for the wedding! The wedding was set in the Patel Samaj, which was a big ground and mandir setup for events. The mandap was beautful...but paled compared to the bride. Amazingly, though the place was not the norm, the feelings were, the ceremonies were great. I did manage to get my jhubo messed up a little while hiding the shoes...We laughed, cried, ate (of course), and enjoyed the ceremony...

When I came home...low and behold, my bag was being delievered! I got it...opened the first zippered area...and my shoes had been stolen! I was mad, but of course, who could I be mad at...I may make the claim with KLM at some point, but for now, I'm happy that I got the stuff back. The shoes...well, I hope that someone who took them uses them, and needs them more than I...

Okay...well it's almost time for lunch, and...the trees are swaying, the water's moving gently...
TIA...This is Africa...

Day 2

2009-06-26T08:45:00.002-07:00

Hi everyone,
So I got here last night, and found that my bag apparently hasn't made it yet. Hoping that it will come tomorrow. Luckily, I did pack clothes in my handbag, so I have a few days worth, and stuff for the wedding. I got off the plane, dealt with folks at the airport, and was taken directly to the mendhi party, where I found a great outdoor party. looked like something out of an indian movie, with food, music, and dancing. everyone was having a great time, and welcomed me even though I looked terrible from all the flying. This morning was fun, the religious ceremony for nirav, pictures forth coming. we walked around the city a little, very remenicent of places in India. More later, hopefully I will get my bag back tomorrow!!

In Africa

2009-06-26T08:45:00.001-07:00

So the internet on my phone does work. I'm actually on the plane inkilamanjaro, waiting to go to Dar. Trip has been fine so far. I satnext to an older gentleman on the way to amsterdam, and she sharedmany stories of his upbringing and his life. While most stories andthoughts were of an average retiree in America, he told me some veryinteresting things. First, he was on his way to budapest, to see acousin, who he got in touch with within the last ten years or so.He's third generation American, yet he sought out his roots, and goesto visit the family every year. This year they will be going to theukraine by bus, and doing a tour. Also, in the early 60's, he wasstationed in Berlin. He shared stories of how life was there in thefour zone city.
Flight to KJO was less talkative, I sat next to a couple from Arusha.Nice people. I helped them use the entertainment system. The wifekept trying to look out the window, wanting to see the sea. I thoughtthis was odd, since water is the most boring scenary from a plane, butshe must never have seen it. Flying over the sahara desert wasinteresting...just vast tracks of sand, and what appeared to benothing else!

Off to Africa

2009-06-24T08:29:00.001-07:00

Well its been quite a month...DC bachelor party, refinance of my condo
after finding all the credit problems, "meeting" Akta's parents, the
two of us truly commiting oursleves to each other, and
getting/starting my new role as a manager. Now the vacation to Africa
is finally here. Nirav is going to getting married on
Saturday...crazy! I am finally excited about seeing Dar, the wedding,
the safari after, and most about going to the orphanage in NBO. I am
sad that Julie isn't going to be coming with, but hanging out with
Nirav and Anna will be great! I'm going to miss Akta, but knowing
that we'll be thinking about each other will make it easier. So I'm
sitting at the airport waiting to go...2 connections, and I will be
there! So this funny, I have 3 blackberries with me, each with a
unique purpose. One is the phone/email which will work in africa.
Another is for music/podcasts, because I couldn't transfer it. The
last is for work, not to be turned on until I come back. Left the
laptop at work, so I figured the bb to check email when I come back is
ok.

So keep coming back for updates and thoughts on the trip!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Test

2009-06-24T06:05:00.001-07:00

Test post to see if blogging via email off of smart phone works.

--
Sent from my mobile device

First Days as a Drifter!

2007-07-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

So many of you know that I'm in the process of moving to Washington DC. The actual move in date was in flux over the past couple of weeks, and I started the process of finding a tenant for my condo. So as of June 28th, I moved out of my condo, and won't be moving into a new place until July 28th. So my Month as a drifter has started! I'm at a friends place right now, where I will be staying for the next week or so...from here, I'll go to another friend's for a week, and then another after that...the last week will be spent in DC with my roommate to be, and his current roommate. So I've found out a few things...

first and most important...I have so many wonderful friends who are willing to put me up, and have me stay with them. As one of my friends said, I'm not a fish, so people don't mind if I stay. If you've never heard the saying...it goes like this, "Guests are like fish, they stink after 3 days." I think I do a reasonable job of keeping fragrant for longer than that! Anyway, my friends are great, and probably better to me than I deserve. It's funny, but I honestly don't have time to stay with all of them!

Next...I totally don't need all of the stuff I have...between the few things that I have inside of my friend's place (though 3 feet of closet space is not little!), and the stuff I have in my car, I could totally go for months. Of course, I need somewhere to sleep, eat, shower, and do laundry...which is probably what I use my place for the most!

I feel so free right now...I can stay wherever, do whatever, and have no real obligations! It's great. Of course, I need to make sure that my hosts aren't annoyed by me, but that's not hard, they are so nice! It's great...there's no reason not to stay over at someone else's place, or not head out to that extra place...

My car is awesome! I can put so much in there... I have a big bag of stuff, and my bike, and still room for a passenger...trusty Mazda 6....great!

So all is well out here, good times!! I'm looking forward to more fun coming up!

College orientation

2007-06-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

So I decided to attend a college orientation today, just for the heck of it. Ok, not really, my cousin is starting college in the fall, and my aunt and uncle asked me to come up and hang out, maybe help ask some questions. Anyway, its definaltely odd being on the 5 years out of school side of this. There is lots of talk about resources for students...health, tutoring, career, student life....and the list goes on. I think all of these things were available at my school, but I can't remember really using them. I did use the health services, and I guess the career services to setup interviews. It does seem that they expect the students coming in to be relatively unable to take care of themselves. I suppose its better to assume that they don't know, as opposed to the other way. What I wonder is how capable these students really are? I ddefinatwly remember characters in college, and thinking back, it would have been good for some of them to use the services provided.

I would say though that it seems like even more coddling than in the past. The intro speaker said to give ourselves an applause for getting up and filling in seats all the way to the left. Clearly that's deserving of priase, since a typical monkey might have to be asked twice to do the same. Of course its important to tell a kid that they did good just for trying...really a kid goes to class, they really should be thanked for coming!

It is expensive...I do have to say, I can't imagine having to pay $35000 a year with very little grants. I definately would still ne paying loans. I've tried to explain to my cousins that they'll get a similar job regardless of the brand name school (most of the time)...but they aren't buying it...I guess that it does matter more than I think, since I went to a brand name school for engineering anyway...but it was state and cheap...well I guess whatever will happen with them, will happen!

Good luck class of 2011!

AHHH, forgot the MOST important part!

2007-06-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I forgot the most important thing in my "update"...crazy! I'm now a proud uncle of a beautiful niece, Miranda! I met her for the first time last week, and in between the sleeping, pooping, and eating, we had excellent bonding time...oh wait, that was the bonding time! ;)

Check out pictures of her:
http://parikh.phanfare.com

I know...I'm sure I'll pay for putting her pictures out to the "masses" of my blog readers...but what else is a uncle supposed to do by spoil his neice!!

Moving to DC and other random happenings

2007-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there person who reads my blog...ok, ok, I know there's at least 17000 of you who read my blog on a regular basis, and for you, the Mitesh Fans, I'm here...back again, to write about my thoughts on whatever it is that I think about! It's been a long absense...and the most notable change about me is me! Some of you have the pleasure, or displeasure depending on how you look at it, of seeing me on a regular basis, and you've started to notice that my clothes don't fit so well. No really, it's okay to comment, in fact, please keep the comments coming, there's nothing more motivating than having to hold up my pants at the airport, because I took my belt off! True story...in order to ensure that the folks around me didn't see my wonderful boxers (yes, I'm a boxer man!), I had a good hold on my jeans that are probably 2 sizes too big now! Yea man, boy, it's true!

So I've decided to make the jump and move into DC! Soon, I shall finally be a city dweller, in a nice building on the north end of the Chinatown area. Looking forward to it, a bit scary, because it's a change, but hey, it's a necessary change!

Putting my place up for rent...working out well so far, except for the minor annoyance of a flood the night before the first people were supposed to come see it! Stupid drainage pipe that was clogged with earth (it happens when they bury the end of it!!)...so today was spent with a wonderfully load blower drying off my carpet, and next week there'll be some carpet installation folks here...great!

SO, big news for those of who know me a bit...I labelled myself as "slightly liberal" on a questionaire about my political thoughts. How about that? Maybe it's time to admit that all these years, I really did like Slick Willie...okay, probably not, but I'm learning more and more about myself recently, and this is something new!! hmm...could it be that I'll vote democrat next year...wow...who'll I argue with...no longer being the stick in the mud, crumugen republican...ok, probably never was that!

Hmm...biking...up to about 260 miles for the year, going for 1000! Probably not going to get to 1000, but definately will eclipse my original goal of 500 by alot!

Alrighty, well now that you're up to date on my life...no, I am not married, yes, I am single, yes, girls have come and gone, and yes, there are possibilities out there, fear not, I haven't lost site of what's really "important" in life...my next posts will be back to thoughts on things, since I've expressed NO opinions here!

Brown people jumping around because the potatoes under their feet are hot!

Away with the Wisdom...with something Left over

2007-01-05T22:23:00.000-08:00

So I finally smartened up and got my wisdom teeth removed today. First time in my life that I've been knocked out, first time I've had "surgery" of any kind, 2nd time with stitches (hopefully these really are dissolvable ones!!!)...and tonight I'm writing you all, fully able to talk, only some swelling, and in general not too much pain. I took a couple of the vicaden's they gave me, but none in a while...that's a good thing, I think! So, don't I feel foolish for not bothering to take care of this sooner, hopefully it won't have reaked (sp?) havok on other of my teeth...wonderful thought, I know...hehe...they aren't falling out or crumbling yet, and some of my savings are going towards making sure they are all good!

Right before the holiday's I read a great book called "Left to Tell," by Immaculee Ilibigiza. She tells her story of survival through the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and what a story it is. She truly managed to be a stronger person with a kinder heart than I can hope to have...yet she tells her story in a way that made me think that there are certain things small things that we all can do to make things just a little better for everyone...It's a book I highly recommend...if nothing else take from it a sense of how good we all have it...

Back to work...so I'm going to go ahead and deem myself a "work-a-holic", though I work less hours than lots of my more professional (docs, lawyers) friends...staying late on the first day of a resolution to leave at a more reasonable time, just to top it off with a later day the next day...grinding through a day after where I should have been sitting in bed with cold medicine...scheduling dental surgery on a friday, so I can get back to work on monday, and taking a sick day for it only after 3 peopel told me that I was an idiot for not doing it...come back from the dentist and checking my blackberry...and even now thinking that I have a lot to do next week, so there's no chance of getting out a reasonable time all week...yep, I'll say it, help is needed by me!!!

Election -- I'm not voting

2006-11-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

That's right, the other party is getting my vote this year...right, that's what happens when you don't vote, it's a vote for the other party. Well this year they can have it, I'm not sure who they is...maybe it's the republicans, or it's the democrats, maybe I just don't care. I could have "wasted" my vote on the independent party, but instead, I decided to abstain. It's my written protest...well this is my written protest, the not voting is my silent protest, or something like that.

Anyway, why didn't I vote? I didn't vote, because the candidates don't seem that good. I'm tired of voting for mediocrity, but more importantly, I'm tired of voting for drama! Mudslingling seems to have been the wave of the elections in Maryland, or at least the 2 big ones (Senate and Governor)...There's a pretty boy in Baltimore, and a faked smiled toupee man in Annapolis.

Further, I'm tired of getting phone calls from the O'Malley Camp, and others from the Steele camp, and my mailbox is full of junk, and I think I'm missing the mail that's useful, because it's buried in all of the glossy 8x10 flyers that tell me why the other guy/gal stinks, and that they are going to Keep Elkridge, Elkridge. What does that mean? What is Elkridge, that it should stay that way???

And the "Greatest Senator in the History of America" Edward Kennedy has just been re-elected, as per John (Connelly) Kerry...and he's stumping for Senator Obama already...okay, so the cynicism is over the top...

So my hope is that voter turnout is low this year, but my knowledge is that it's probably not, because drama brings people to the polls...put out the glossy's cuz that buys votes, and if you buy the votes, you can help the people that need it once you get there...yep!

A year of hell, and a lifetime to remember it

2006-10-30T19:02:00.000-08:00

Answer the phone...where are you guys? It doesn't take this long to get to the airport...

Miraj, answer your phone, have you heard from mom and dad...

where are you guys, how come you aren't answering the phone???

Ankit, Jigar, Nirav, anyone around??? It's nice out, but I don't want to wait at the airport

Where are you guys, somethings up...where do I go, what do I do now...come one, answer the phone...

Hello? What? How? You saw the calls on the phone...where are they taking them, thank you thank you...oh god...hospital...

Hello..my mom, she's in the emergency room...yes Doctor, I'll understand, yes, I'm old enough...critical condition, what does that mean?? open fractures...oh god...

Miraj, finally...dad's at Loyola...mom's at Alexian brothers...you go to to Loyola, i'll get to mom...Ankit, finally...come pick me up...there's been an accident...I don't know, just come get me...

Morphine...can't you tell she's in pain, give her something, what's wrong with you people!! No mom, how did this happen...you're just lying here, it's like your body is crushed, so many bones broken...

Yes doctor, I agree, lets transfer her to Loyola, my dad is there, haven't talked to my brother yet...everyone you guys go home...it's late you have to work...thanks...I'll call you

you need to what? yes, we understand, do what you need to do, don't waste time...

dad's doing okay? when can we see him? mom's more serious...you saw dad, he's doing okay? I can't see him yet?? why not...

And so on went the worst night of my life...the night that my parents got into a car accident coming to pick up me up the airport...a freak accident...feeling lost in the leg, hit the wrong petal...a car and a light post get in the way, but the brick wall did all the damage...

2 broken ankles, crushed heels, and a broken arm for my mom...a broken leg, two broken wrists, a broken collarbone, and a possible vertebrae injury for my dad...that's a lot of freakin bones...but nothing internal...lucky...

What ensued was the worst time of my life, with trips to Chicago coming in wholesale chunks...arguements with hosptial people...god dammit, the man is asking for water...give him water!!! WHy can't you understand that if you give someone 10 pills, they are going to have side effects!!! Home?? Home?? how they hell are they even going to go to the bathroom!!! what are you talking about?

You can rent hospital beds? there are people who'll come in a stay at our house full time? saviors...wow, look at all the nurses and therepists coming and going...wonderful people...

Insurance coverage is going to end?? are you kidding!! yes, we'll pay whatever we have to, just keep it going!

airport delays...again...

friends...family...you're all so wonderful...Uncle please go see my dad, he's losing it, and I can't get home...please...thank you...

Life's getting back to normal, or as close as it'll ever be...but it could have been much worse...and we were lucky. Everyone isn't so lucky...many of you, like me, have known people who've passed away in traffic accidents, and hopefully it's a reminder...my parents are a reminder for me, and I need to think about them more often (yes, I know, I still do stupid things with my car)...

look what can happen...just look...
photos.yahoo.com/mmparikh79 (click on "accident")

A spiral of thoughts on the way back from the mall

2006-10-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

Often times I think that I'm cursed with an overactive mind. Normally that is helpful, as it helps me to go about my daily life in a fairly good manner. At work, I'm the guy who's got the ideas, with my friends, I'm the guy who's entertaining the crowd, with my family, I'm the one they count on to figure stuff out...

So the "curse" as I so immaturely call it (boohoo, poor Mitesh...) comes in when I find that I just can't not think about things for a while. Driving back the mall today...well actually from getting movies from DK...

it's dark out...oh it's 8pm...why do I work so late, why did I decide to do errands today, what am I'm going to eat...so why am I'm single, am I just passing up relationships, maybe that's why my parents seem to talk about it, maybe they know I'm just too stupid...there's the libary...(some time passes, as the library occupies me)...I wonder if I'm write about john's question...I think I could be a tech lead, but maybe not...what am I doing with my self...should I be aiming for a manager role, I think I'd like that, I like helping other people do stuff...why can't I be the doer...who should I call, why doesn't my phone ring much...guess that's the way it is, people don't really call me...what is it about me...how come I've never gotten past the allowing people to use me, the ones that treat me like crap, I seem to be nicer too, why am I like that...why are they fixing the road just to allow it to get messed up again, don't they get it...how am I going to get all my work done...I need to work less, but then again, I guess I do appreciate the overtime paychecks...of course, what's the point, I'll make a pile of money, and sleep on it...whatever...so wouldn't it be funny if I really did get hit by a bus, like I always say at work...amazing, things could change so fast, mom and dad are lucky...we had a good time at payalbhen's, I think, maybe I should spend longer at home this christmas, but what am I going to do...it was good to seem them dancing, it's been a long time...why do I think about so many different things...crazy..probably that's me...

Fast Talking

2006-10-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Any of you that know me realize that I talk pretty fast...most of the time. What I've also realized is that I know lots of fast talkers, in fact it's sort of useful, because the intake and output of information is quite fast. Further, conversations that fast talkers have seem to be followed only by other fast talkers, which makes going to the car dealership sometimes useful, since the salesmen don't tend to be fast talkers...that is of course unless they are fast talkers themselves...

Anyway...so what's my point...my point is there's another characteristic of us fast talkers...we jump the gun, we assume that we know the whole situation in the span of a few seconds, because many times we do. I've noticed recently, though, that I find myself being exasperated more and more by the lack of understanding the whole picture. I've seen this at work, and outside of work, via interactions with my friends. Clearly, I'm guilty of this too, as I'm just as fast of a talker, walker, and even balker as anyone else. I see that its probably frustrating to others who are trying to get to a point that is far different than my conclusion. Aside from the times when this is done to be funny, I'm sure it's really annoying. So what's the point of this blog...the point is that while fast talkers like me might think faster than the non-fast talking crowd...we probably annoy at a higher rate too...so shift to a lower gear, slow down a bit...take in some more gas, and understanding everything will help you accelerate to the end alot faster!

Why a Spot on the Ground?

2006-09-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

Last week, I watched a movie called Encounter Point. It's excellent. It discusses the little seen viewpoint of peacemakers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film examines 5 stories of people who are working in their way to bring peace by communicating with each other. Instead of bombs and violence to separate people, the subjects of the film are getting Israeli's and Palestinians to talk to each other, and see that they both have the same hopes, dreams, shortcomings, stregnths, weaknesses, and desire to see an end to the conflict. Of course, these people don't agree on everything, but they do agree that nothing is worse than war. THere's nothing worse, and sons and daughters losing their lives over what amounts to a spot on the ground. Throughout history, wars have been faught over what I call spots on the ground. We believe someone was born here, or died here...this ground is sacred to us...no it's sacred to us...you can't have it, we have it...we want it...

So why do we care so much about a spot on the ground? What makes the ground so sacred? Hindus and Muslims kill each other over a spot in Ayhodhya, where it was said that Krishna was born. It's not the town that's disputed...it's a spot on the ground upon which a mosque was built. What's the difference? The essence is still the same, right, but we as human beings have an attachment to the ground. It's not the same as ownership of a piece of land, or the quality of the land...there are people who fight over spots in the most worthless parts of the world.

My thought is what if the importance of the ground could be considered to be in the air? I undersatnd that the air is transient, which might be precisly why we want to have sacred grounds...yet, what if it could be changed? What if people could believe that the essence of what they believe in is held in the air. The air spreads, and it reaches everywhere. So for us to breathe history, and breathe our beliefs, we just have to breathe the air around us.

Maybe it's silly...but what if...how much of a change would we see...

9/11...

2006-09-11T18:27:00.000-07:00

So earlier today I started a conversation amongst some of my friends about why there are no lesbian bars around...having gone to a gay bar as a part of the weekend...

After several amusing emails back and forth, I decided that it's time to reflect on one date of the year that most people in the world recognize simply by the month and day. As most American's, I remember where I was...my living room at college turning on the TV news while eating my cereal...running to the bathroom, banging on the door...yelling that the World Trade Center is on a fire...my roommate and I standing, dumbstuck and with tears in our eyes as the first of the buildings came down...trying to figure out what the hell was going.

That singular month and day that will be apart of history...lauching us into a different world...one where these eyes saw unity I never thought I would see on my college campus, one where these ears heard questions like "Are you Muslim?," and this mind struggled to say "No, but that doesn't matter," because it did, and this heart felt anger, sadness, hatred, and happiness all at once...

A world that is embroiled in war...war against terrorism, war against hatred, war for our way of life, war with guns, war with words...war for thoughts, war for minds, war for oil, war for money, war for God...war with love, war where anyone can be involved, war that has no honor...

It's a world that will take us to the future, one that may be better than those of days past... it's a world that we take for granted, so soon after it was changed...it's a world where one we try to understand all, yet there are some we never will.

So at the end of this month and day, these finger type out thoughts...easily, comfortably, kept safe for the night...this body knowing what tomorrow brings, and hoping to help keep it that way...

Home Again

2006-08-31T11:59:00.000-07:00

So after an up (got first class from Dublin) and down (missed my connection in chicago...extra 4 hours!) trip back to Baltimore, I'm back at work...yes, on my lunch break, I'm writing you all!

Being back at work is really not too bad...kinda nice actually...though not nearly as fun...haha...go figure.

Looking back on the 1400km that we drove, I think that the Cliffs of Moher were the best place that we visited, and the best part of the trip was that my friend Dan is very interested in traveling the world. It's awesome to be apart of showing someone all that there is too see, and helping them learn that this is so much more left to see!

Another thought, that I think I wrote about already...there is no better artist than Mother Nature...amazing...

The last day...Relaxation!

2006-08-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Woke up late...wondered onto the streets of Galway...entered the mall that's nearby and found a coffeeshop/cafe for breakfast...by the way, I never mentioned what a full irish breakfast is...sausage (yum), hashers (bacon), eggs, black and white pudding (tasted a little, didn't like it), tomato, bread, and coffee/tea. Good stuff. We didn't quite have a full breakfast, but it was good nonetheless.

Anyway, we happen to be staying next to Eyre Square which used to be called JFK square, not sure what happened, but it's nice. All we did today was wonder over tot eh college, then to the shopping center for souvenours (on one end of the city), see the cathedral, walk through the spanish arch area, and then walk to Claddaugh (the other side of the city..north to south anyway)...and sit there looking out of the Galway bay...reflecting on great trip. Just a slow day in Ireland. This is a great city. Awesome mix of culture (lots of music), people (lots of young people, but a good deal of older folks too), urbanity, and small town lvinging. It's big enough to be a city, but small enough not to be overbearing as a city. There are enough cars, but it's easy to walk around and relax, without being bothered by them. The restaurants and cafes seem to be full of cosmopolitan folks, but they don't seem stuffy or stuck up. It's been described as an up and coming city...and I would say that's exactly right. If you're looking for a place in Ireland to visit, you won't go wrong in Galway.

So in all of these posts so far, I've failed to mention how awesome the people are here. We haven't met a person who wasn't nice and wasn't willing to help us out. I have found that the people are not overly polite in the terms we'd expect, but it in no way is an indication of anything reflecting us or them. What I mean is that the people can be short with their small talk or cordialities, but are very nice if you ask them questions or need something. We read that the people will excuse an social faux paus, and I think it's true...they are just soo nice!

The normal day has light showers that last for 2 mins at a time, it's amazing!

okay, that's enough for now...hopefully the contents of these posts have inspired a visit to ireland...because it's wonderful!!

An uncomfortable bike and ripped pants

2006-08-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

After getting a wonderful history lesson on Doolin, the Cliffs, and the Burren, we were off to sleep, and soon to waking the next morning for our trip to the Aran Islands, which are 8km off the coast of Ireland. We were up early, so we decided to go look at the beach that our host mentioned...down the road, past an old cemetary...hike and scramble through the brush and rocks...and soon we see waves crashing against the rocks...as if we were at the base of the Cliffs of Moher. It was a wonderful show of power...as one swimming in those waves would have no chance against the fury of the water slamming into the rocks. This was quite a way to start the day at 8am...the spray of the water hit us in the face and woke us up. Soon after we got back to the car after a bit of wandering in the rock and brush...

Off to the Ferry for the Aran islands...wasn't such a great adventure for this poor chap. We got on the boat, which left about 1/2 hour after it was supposed too...then we decided to go up to the top of the ferry, which was okay for a while...in the choppy water moving us all over...but the ride too 2 hours...and once you got over the beautiful scenery it was kind of annoying...oh well. Getting to the island, we stepped off and headed to the bike rental...and off we went on the Ring of Aran trail...or so we thought. We actually headed a couple of miles in the wrong direction...which wasn't so bad, because the ride was nice, and we got back into town in time for lunch to be served at the restauarants. So we had a very nice meal, and headed off the other way...this time on the ring...as far as we could tell. Soon after this, I realized that my back was killing me on this bike...and after much anguish (cuz I like to bike!!), I got off and walked with it. I forgot to mention the ripped pants...so I being the stupid lad I am, forgot that my baggish cargo pants would get caught in the gears of the bike...which they did, and soon the pant leg was in shreds...good times...

Anyway, as we were riding (me ride/walking)...we got to a stone fort...which was really pretty awesome, and very old...couple thousand years old I believe. Hard to describe, but the pictures are pretty cool.

So at this point, I realized that the bike was too big for me, in that the handlebars were too far away for me to be comfortable, and I did I bad job of picking a bike...knowing this, and having torn pants...I decided I'd had enough, and we went back down towards the town...returned the bikes, hit the shops...and found a balcony to sit, drink hot chocolate, listen to music and read...while looking out of the sea...wonderful!

Soon the boat came for us...and we had a 2 hour journey back...this time in the cabin, sitting and sleeping...much better...

Off to Galway after that...good times to be had there!!

Castle, Cliffs, and the Burren, just another Day in Ireland!

2006-08-28T02:18:00.000-07:00

Leaving the Ring of Kerry was a relatively unwelcome change, as we'd seen some of the most beautiful scenary to date there...but the irish breakfast got us on a good start to the day, and we drove up and around Limerick and stopped at Bunratty Castle. Dan went in and checked it out, while I purused and purchased from the souvenoir shop there.

Onward we went, next stop the Cliffs of Moher. So if you were like me, you thought this was the place from the Lord of the Rings...stupid me, but man, it could have been. If you want to go to place that will take your breath away, and make you realize that no matter how much we has humans try, we cannot make anything nearly as beautiful as what Mother Nature can do...go to the Cliffs of Moher. You can walk out well beyond where it says to stop, and with each step you get closer to feeling like it's the most amazing place on Earth. I've seen many places with beautiful scenery, and this ranks up there as one of the best. The Cliffs are a sheer 250m or so, and you can walk right up to the edge and look down...you're thankful that such an amazing place exists. Hopefully the pictures we took will capture it...

From there, we caught our breath, and drove to a small town called Doolin, where we'd spend the night. It's on the western tip of ireland, and from there you can take ferries to the Aran Islands (tomorrow)...it's a quaint little town that's basically farms and tourism (3 hostels, 5-6 hotels, and a number of B&B's for a town of 300 people!)...anyway, we drove out to the Burren from here, which is basically mountains of rock that are flat, and stretch on forever! They were formed during the Ice Age, and uncovered as a function of farming that allowed the soil to errode over many thousands of years. You wouldn't think there would be much to rocks...but once again, I stood in awe of the diversity with which the Earth could amaze me. The other neat thing about this place was the fact that flowers grow between the rocks...because the soil is very rich under the rocks...crazy!

When we got back to the hostel, we found the host giving a slide show about the area, as he was a photographer, and rock collector. It was an awesome way to cap the evening!

okay, so next post will be about the Aran islands, and Mitesh ripping his pants!

Blarney and the Ring

2006-08-26T11:21:00.001-07:00

So now I'm a day behind on the blog, but it'll had to do...

after I last wrote, we met up with Anna's friend Connor in Cork...and he showed us some of the nightlife of cork...we were sitting at the bar at our hostel, listening to a couple of lads cover some english and irish songs...interesting crowd, 2 dirty old men, a bunch of travels, and acouple of local girls who looked like they should be in Baltimore! We went to a couple of other places after that...one that had people up to 80 years old, as well as other locals and tourists...it was an ecclectic crowd! The night ended after another bar, and a doner kebob to keep the hangover away!

okay, so the morning started by a quick drive up to blarney castle, and the kiss of the blarney stone...yes I did wash my face after...and now I have the gift of eloquence according to legend...the castle was nice, but a bit of a tourist trap...

and then a bit more driving brings us to Killarney, the city and the national forest...and the ring of Kerry...180km of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world...words really can't describe the beauty...but there were mountains and beaches, water hitting rocks...animals, lovely small towns...narrow roads...breathtaking...the pictures are amazing!!! once again, being away from everything I know is absolutely great when you're in a place like that...

okay...so I have go now, but the cliffs of moher and the burren are still left to write about...words just won't do them justice either!

Blarney and the Ring

2006-08-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

A bottle of Killarney and the Copper Coast with a Cork on top

2006-08-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Only in country the size Ireland can one person see a Castle, beaches, emerald and sapphire water, sheer cliffs, rolling countryside, winding roads, sheep, cows, roads barely wide enough to pass 2 cars, city busses, factories, Cathedrals that have smog damage, all the stores you could want, an irish bar, and a chinese restaurant to end the day...well almost end the day, at least to the point that I'm writing this.

So I've noticed that there seems to be three types of restaurants here...the pub, the Indian restuarant, and the Chinese restaurant. You cannot get corned beef and cabbage in the Indian restuarant, but you can get beef vindaloo, which I've only seen on the the menu once before. The Chinese restaurant had Chicken Maryland on the menu, which I didn't actually ask about, but maybe I should have.

There's a town called Tragore, which has a great beach, a boardwalk, and an amusement park called Splashwater. Seems like a fun place to live, and definately a chance at a simplier life...actually we drive through what life really could be today...it boils down to having your health, beautiful nature, and living from one day to the next for the people on the southern coast of ireland. They definately have traditions, and much of them seem to revolve around simple pleasures...don't need a big screen TV to enjoy a fresh egg in the morning.

So the other day, we met a guy named Tim...he's from New Zealand and he's waiting for his paperwork to play rugby for the Dutch...crazy world...he's been in Ireland for the last 6 months just living off of savings and picking up a few bucks here and there...what a life...but he did have the BSM going...and he was into betting all the porn in the world...go figure.

okay, so maybe this post sounded like it was going to be philosophical, but as it turns out it's not...just to cap it with something to think about though...

when you are driving along, admiring the scenery, avoiding the brush on the side of the road, not entirely sure if you are on the right road or not...slowing down to see a town here or there as you drive through...swerving into the stopping area to get yet another picture...and everything that's 'normal' is a half a world away...

nothing...exactly nothing else is on your mind...and that is wonderful.

Lesson's Learned Today

2006-08-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Don't go on vacation without a watch...Dan.

Don't go on vacation without an alarm...Mitesh.

Bill Clinton owns 2 houses in Ireland...John Connelly.

JFK was the best thing to ever happen to America...John Connelly.

Divorce takes 4 years of separation in Ireland...JC.

okay, so the first 2 might be useful, the last three are interesting...

Nature...It's good for you

2006-08-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

SO I only have a few minutes today...we saw a beautiful place called Glenn Da Loch...mountains, valleys, trees, and an old monastery...wonderful!

Now we're in Kilkenny...drinking beer, walking around, and going drive some more tomorrow...

my thoughts for today...no matter how much nature you see, and how one place looks like another...there's never too much, and when you're in Ireland, eating chicken curry...well it's pretty darn awesome...Slainte!

These people drive on the LEFT!!!

2006-08-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

So we got the car today, and good times were had! We managed to put 150km or so on the car, not get honked at, screamed at, flicked off, and for the most part not hit anything...we hit a curb each with turns too tight! Overall the first day of driving on the left hand side seemed to go pretty well. We have a small Nissan Micra, which suits us just fine. Once you get used to looking everyway, even behind you, and turning tight to the right, and wide to the left...wait, got it backwards! :)

We went to a placed called Bru Bonne today...which is the Palace on the Bonne river, or something thereabouts...there are neolithic tombs that were made about 5000 years ago. They really are spectacular feats of engineering, as well as a beautiful spiritual place. I have some great pictures, and better postcards!

So funny thing happened...apparently my watched stopped sometime last night, but we didn't know it...basically we ran about 1.5 hours behind the entire day, but caught up when we stopped to eat lunch. The waitress kindly informed us that it was 3pm...to the chegrin of Dan and I who thought it was 1:30...and had tooled around in the car more to kill time than anything...we had to catch the buss to go to Knowth (once of the tomb sites) at 3:15...we hightailed the car, ran in, and walked on the bus just about 30 seconds before they were leaving...nice job! So we'll be checking time a little better from now on!

We got back to Dublin after some driving fun...contruction and traffic mess things up here pretty good too!! We ate an Indian restuaruant, and I might have gotten one of the best compliments ever...the Indian waiter said he'd never seen white people eat with their hands...I was so proud!! ;)

off to the forest tomorrow!

No...I did not fly Aer Lingus

2006-08-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

So we just got into Dublin this morning, and I thought I'd write a post, mainly because yahoo mail isn't working, and I was hoping I could kill some time, or actually just write something about what we've seen today...and then it would be back up, and I could still be within my one euro cost...yeah.

Trinity College, Stephen's Square, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Guiness Brewery, Temple Bar, doner kabob's, pints, chips, and a hostel visit...looking the wrong way down the street, wandering towards yet another spire in the sky, and not being able to find the castle...this has been the day so far...

yesterday I was watching F16's at the air and water show in Chicago...good times. Anna you'll be glad to know that I'm a little tired after all the walking yesterday and today...but ready for more tomorrow...the pints tonight should charge me up...

that's it for now, bye!

Wedding Bells

2006-08-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

NO!

In answer to question number one from all you all presumptious people...no, there are no wedding bells ringing for me...so really, just relax, have fun...and read on...

So there were wedding bells this weekend for my cousin, actually, she's "technically" a niece, since her grandmother and my father are first cousins...that means I'm her 2nd uncle...if that makes sense...if you're brown and reading this, yeah, it does...if not, it probably doesn't...and for the others...well, let's just say she's a cousin.

Anyway...a grand ceremony with a garba (an evening of dancing), the wedding itself, and the reception (PAR-TAAY) to cap it off, was order of the day. Everyone involved surely had a wonderful time, despite the "post-mortem" as some would call it...yes, yes, the rehashing of what went "wrong" and what could have been done better...it's like the "Sunday Morning Wedding Planner"...really, kind of funny...the unspoken part of it though, is the understanding that a wedding is hard work, and minor details always slip through the cracks!

Single guys are supposed to meet people at weddings...really, this is what I was told at the end of the wedding ceremony...it was supposed to be motivation to go ahead and get some wedding bells of my own...you know...the kind you wear on your ankles...hehe...kidding...I'm not a big fan of those...they are too loud when I take a step! ;)

Seriously though...the theme of the night beyond the actual wedding and reception was that me and another cousin (same deal, technically a nephew...) need to be looking to get married...when are we going to spring the good news on the world...you know...becausse that's the only useful good news around! Okay, okay, so it's not unreasonable for folks to give us a hard time...even suggest a girl or two...of course that's not really what happens...or something...

So...I being my charming self, definately made friends with a few of the girls involved...since my cousin was the bride (not the same cousin as they were saying to get married, because this cousin already got married...got it? good)...her friends seemed to be all female...so of course, who would I make friends with myself, than her friends...anyway...so back to the story about west philadelphia, born and raised...

wrong story...anyway, so what's up with girls thinking that you're hitting on them just because you're nice and kinda chatty...as you all know, that's clearly not me...chatty, never...oh well...

anyway, maybe the girls didn't think I was hitting on them..maybe its just me...or them...whatever...anyway...so I'd like to make the statement...JUST BECAUSE I'M NICE TO YOU DOESN'T MEAN I AM HITTING ON YOU!

okay...so there's probably some people out there who are like whoa...really...yes, I know I think alot of myself...anyway, there might be someone out there who's allowed to think I'm hitting on them...maybe, maybe not...point being, if I was interested...you'd know...it wouldn't just be me being me, which is nice, really...I'm nice to just about everyone...just not the girls and guys who really are just jerks...everyone else...yeah, I'll be nice, cuz being mean sucks!

yeah!

Getting High

2006-07-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

So I definately forgot to write about a beautiful trip that I took that my favorite company that I get a paycheck from helped send me on...a training class in Boulder, CO...preceeded by a weekend in Albuquerque, NM, and followed by weekend in Denver , CO...

My friend Jason was getting married, and it just so happened that they planned their wedding around my training schedule, so lucky for me...arriving in NM was definately not quite what I expected...for some reason I had this idea that it was very desolate and run down...definately not...the airport was very new, and getting out on to the highways just seemed like anywhere else, except the view was great! You see some city...and then mountains behind...not mountains hidden by the smog...but clearly visible...

Went for a hike the next day to a place called Tent Rocks National Park...highly recommend it...I've never been up at 7000 before, like I was there...it was a fairly easy hike, about 600 feet, with some scrambling...but what a view...you could see for miles...but not because it's so flat, but because you're above everything! The next day was Sandia Peak...clearly operated by the people who operate Sandia National Labs...clearlly...a tram ride up the mountain takes you past sheer rocks, and some trees on the mountain side. Get to the top, and hike around some more...and get out to a ledge that gives you a view of the entire valley...amazing!

On to Boulder CO, where the people are liberal, and the views are liberally beautiful...the mountains and the women...amazing...

The class was great...and the town better...the mountains breathtaking...a house on top of one of them was an evening well spent...views in the front, back, and the sides too...truly the life that I could get used to!

On to Denver, and to Mt. Evans...14200 feet up in the air...into the clouds, it feels holy up there...a place so pristine...except for the others around! It was a white knuckle drive up, but a fun ride down...postcard pictures all around...

Garden of the Gods...a place so wonderful that words can hardly describe...a natural place where worship seems natural...energy abound...yet peace and quite was plenty to be found...

So if you're looking for a new place to see...NM and CO definately won't disappoint!

B.S.M

2006-07-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone...so once again, it's been months since I've written anything. I really did start off the last post with a goal of writing every week...and I meant to keep it. Clearly, I didn't make it! So no such promises this time...but I will try to write more often...how's that for non-committal...

So the topic of this post is the BSM...BS Machine...

We see it all around...on the news, at work, in conversation with friends, acquantiances and enemies alike. Many of us are good at using it, and indeed it does come in useful...a good joke, or a little spice to a conversation ever so bland...we Indians call it "time pass"...

Sadly though, the BSM is usually used for the powers of no good...car dealers, real estate agents, politicians, holier than thou radio personalities, engineers, lawyers, the guy on the radio who tells you that you can make millions from home...okay, so maybe the guy on the radio doesn't really use the BSM...kidding...of course he doesn't, but us engineers never use it for anything but forces of pure goodness!

Okay, okay...seriously though, it's amazing how the truth is manipulated, distorted, twisted, and used to convince you, me, and the guy next door to buy a TV, house, car, and a war...nah...that can't be true, no one would use the BSM to justify a means to an end...nah...never happens.

I suppose that the BSM is just a part of life, we must all learn to use it...hopefully for good uses, and learn to understand when the powerful forces of the BSM are being directed towards us...put up your CSS (common sense shield...of course there's an acronym for everything!)...look the BSM right in the hole...the don't get shot in the face (cuz that'll smell bad!)...and let the forces of the BSM only be used for good...tell a joke, make someone crack up...start up a conversation that makes no sense when you have some extra tears to shed because you wanna laugh that hard...talk about something at the bar that you never have before, and never may again...get people thinking that there's more to life than just what they want to wrap their minds around...change someone's point of view, see a new one yourself...

Thoughts at 11pm

2006-04-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been a very long time since I've written something here. I'm going to try to make it a point to write something weekly, but I'll understand if it takes time for the masses to come back and read. Many of you have come to this page, and realized that yet again, there was nothing new. Probably not reality, but I'll choose to believe it anyway.

"The World Is Flat" a book by Thomas Friedman...if you have not read it, read it! What's it called when a word can be said in two different ways to mean two different thing, yet it's spelled the same? Homonyms? Homophones is when they sound alike, right? Read and red? Hmm...

Anyway the book takes on the changing world, and talks about a confluence of 10 events, starting with the fall of the Berlin Wall has changed the world to a point that everyone is empowered to compete with each other. Well not everyone, but far more people than ever before. The global economy is now truly global, which in turn makes the world flat, which I guess means it's not global...Issues such as outsourcing are taken on, and in general shown to be good for our society. Now instead of 100 innovators, you have 200 or 300 innovators, because the intelligent populations of China, India, Eastern Europe and other places can participate in ways they could not before. Of course the downfall for Americans is that we cannot simply just be adequate at what we do, we have to do better. Interestingly the book definately instills the sense of urgency in the reader, but fails to recognize that not everyone in other countries are overachievers. It is true though, that if you take a group of 8th graders here and a group of 8th graders in China or India, the Chinese and Indians will smoke the Americans on any math and science exam. While that's a great ad for tutors, they fail to mention that Americans tend to be better at creative problem solving...which makes up for a lot. The point is that yes, Americans do have to work hard to stay ahead, but it's silly to think that our students cannot compete because others can do triple integrals better.

More on outsourcing and the variety of other influences that have come together will come in the future, as I finish this book! Something to look forward to!!

See you next week! And of course, feel free to tell me that I'm full of it...for now, my fingers hurt!

Missed oppurtunities

2006-02-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

The internet, the vast emptiness that is so full of knowledge, yet cannot be grasped, cannot be felt, only seen...yet it's still so empty. It's there, right in front of us, a medium...not transparent, but it's weight can't be measured, it's shape can't be described, it's just there. It's this great vast space, that doesn't take any up, it connects us together, but at the same time, it doesn't really connect us at all. For me, this blog...it's a place for me to put my thoughts. Maybe it's the only place that I can be honest with myself, or with others, for it's the one place that isn't really seen by anyone who I might have thoughts about. Maybe my friends do read it, but I'm sure they don't. Just like I don't read theres, or maybe I do.

So now, I want to write about missed oppurtunities...chances at happiness that just slip through my fingers...and others that I grab at, but just like the internet, it's not to be felt...only to be seen...and for the most part just passing me by. Maybe I should have said this, maybe I should have thought that, maybe I should have done it in another way...maybe, maybe, maybe...forever haunting me...or at least for now...

Everyone has their different takes, I suppose...my missed oppurtunities have left me here, successful and alone...I suppose they could have left me unsuccessful and alone, or not alone, just unsuccessful...though I would think they are intertwined...does one exist without the other for me...so does that make me unsuccessful and alone...that's a good reason to down the entire bottle of whatever's nearest...not really, but it seems like it is...so that's me, huh, unsuccessful and alone...

Have you ever thought, who'd care if you weren't there anymore. Sure it's right out of a movie, I know...but I've had the thought on my own, much longer than i've been allowed to watch movies...anyway, my first thought seems to go to work...what would happen tomorrow if I didn't show up...as much as I care, sadly nothing would happen. The half ripped up chaulk outline on my cube floor would become a sick joke...maybe my cube would stay the way it is forever...well they'd take my name down...take my computer out, but would it at least say unoccupied...probably not. Beyond that...I'd like to think that I'm important to some people...and surely I am...but life'll stop for no one...I guess I wouldn't want that...it'd be a momentary pause for those that I know...but just that...one moment, of millions in a lifetime...just a pause, a breath...and then moving on...

Just called a friend to talk...not sure about what...but as soon as that person answered the phone, I went within myself...how dare I keep that person up at night...there might have been a time...but now it's gone...so far so I couldn't even start to talk...mature, old Mitesh...no no, nothing important, just go to sleep...it's what I should do too...

So missed oppurtunities...taking the chance on something...while letting others pass you by...maybe its the story of everyone's life...for me though...it's not those other lives that matter right now....

Sitting in Room in Jersey

2006-02-05T05:49:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

So my "travels" have brought me to beautiful New Jersey, land of stuff...or whatever...anyway, sitting at my Uncle's out, just celebrated the 1st year of my cousin's kids (twins...Riya and Diya)...it was nice...

I would have to say that when there is no fighting going on, which for the most part there isn't in the Jersey family...yeah, it's like the mafia for us...we have the Chicago family, and the jersey family...there's a lotta laughter, there's laugh out load, keel over, tears coming out, stomach hurting laughter...it's of course at the expense of someeone, though the someone changes during the evening, which is nice...there was a great joke..."But they charge you 1/2 price for your haircut, don't they??"...to the bald guy, who tends to dish it out...I dish out my fair share, but for the most part it can only be to the younger ones, cuz that's the way it is...

Interesting, I tend to talk a lot less here, especially at family gatherings, because I'm not so good with gujarati...I could speak in english, and everyone would understand, but they tend to speak in gujarati. Also odd here, is that I'm still considered a guest, even though I've been at all most everyone of the family gatherings over the past 3.5 years that I've been in Baltimore. So basically, when they all get together, I'm here. I always stay with my Uncle, because everyone else is cousins.

The Super Bowl is on tonight...my Bear's lost their only playoff game, stinks. Will rout for Big Ben...though this is going against my gut of routing for the underdog, when I don't have a particular interest...for some reason I think of Pittsburgh as the underdog, though that 7 point spread suggests otherwise. Nightmare for the better, right...how are you supposed to lay 7 points if you think oyur team should be the underdog...crazy...oh well.

By the way, I think one of my earlier posts about happiness has been misunderstood, or at least, looking back, i think it could have been. My suggestions on things to cut out are soley based on my own thoughts. I think that making a list of what makes you happy is a great idea, but it's what makes YOU happy...not me or anyone else. My thought is that this should drive your use of resources...not my list, or my thoughts, but your thoughts. So if you wanna go out and splurg, by all means go do that, because if it brings you happiness, then hey, you should do it. Now, i'm not suggesting that you should forgo your obligations soley for your happiness, hopefully the obligations you have are a part of your happiness...okay, point made...

The Beach Is Nice

2006-01-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone...
So I got up really early this morning, quickly got ready for my long day ahead. Travel day...heading to LA to get to work on Monday. Instead of spending one half day in Baltimore, which inevitably would have been spent making sure that everything was ready to go, and maybe worse, spent trying to get work done...I decided to get here early. I drove a quick 40 miles from the airport (the flight was uneventful, thankfully, although I hit my head...oh well, it's thick) to Diamond Bar, CA. My friend Dan lives there with his fiance, in a beautiful home. The most amazing thing about the area is the prodominance of Asians, and specifically Chinese. It seems that every sign for miles around has a Chinese translation attached to it. I should clarify, the store signs, not the street signs or other traffic signs (like some areas do in Spanish). I knew that there were lots of Asians, but I thought it was awesome how there were entire shopping centerS (notice the S, that's why its capitalized) that were entirely Asian stores and restuarants. The great thing is that this commercial community extends to a social community. From what Dan told me there were many events going on related to Chinese and other Asian cultures in the area. I'd have to say that I was impressed with the affluence of it all too. Most ethnic enclaves (Asian and otherwise) are generally in very urban settings that do not exude success. Diamond Bar and the areas around it exude success, some of it an excess of success, other area more modest middle class success, but success nonetheless.

From there, a quick drive south put me just south of Redondo Beach, on the Pacific Coast Highway. So it wasn't much of a highway here, and nor could I see the Pacific Coast...but I went north, as my goal was to take a roundabout way back to LAX that would allow me to see the Ocean. Strip malls and burger joints passed me on the leff and right, just a regular part of the American landscape. Going north, and turning left as often as possible (that would be West, and that's where the ocean is!), put me near the water, and the endless stretch of moving water. The sun was on the downturn, inching closer to the horizon, but blissfully resisting to go too quickly. Beautiful homes on the right, sometimes buildings, sometimes sand on the left...all right on top of each other, clearly not worried about personal space. Homes turn into hot spots of clothing, bars, food, and the young, middle aged, and old all mill about inside and out. Moving north, ducking into alleys, and stopping to enjoy the view, I make make my way towards the airport. Sooner rather than later, I arrive, and realize, I've still got time...and hence Tanner Coffeehouse is where I sit, on Culver Blvd...just NORTH of the airport, because the Beach is nice, and I wanted to see some more!

The Bears Lose and an "I should write that down"

2006-01-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone...hope this post finds everyone in the best of health, mentally and physically. Yes, the Bears lost, so the mental health needs to be looked after! So I chose not to call any of the people who were seriously watching the game...because they probably would have gotten annoyed by my "Hey, we've got a good team for next year" attitude. So, now it's time to focus on the Illini...the Bulls aren't playing too well...and the Cubs don't ramp up for a bit...

Okay...so in talking to a friend, I came upon a thought..."Stress management is just a matter of perspective." Yes, I know it's quite a simplification...but in thinking about it, I think there's some truth to it. Stressors in our life are often about our state of being, and in general, most of those that I know (including me) have a good state of being. Its not likely that everything will change based on one thing, and our lives will be tremendously impacted by any one thing. I've been through a single thing turning life upside down...and that was stressful. If I hadn't forced myself to step back and survey the whole scene though, I probably would have been more of a mess than I was. So my point is, it might be helpful to try to step away from a stressor for a moment, and assess it's impact in the larger scope. That might help to gain a different frame of mind, and aid one in reducing the impact of the stressor.

Go Figure

2006-01-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

So over the past week, I've been working on sticking to my goals that I wrote about belong, and of course, the most interesting one to everyone is the not drinking. It's interesting to me too, because I really see it in action. I don't notice not buying stuff, because it's not like I do that every day. In the past week, though, I've gone out to watch the Illini game, gone to a Happy Hour with lots of friends, and gone out for a night on the town with Shital, Saumil, Ravi, and Reena. A full night of fun, and not one drop of alcohol for me. It wasn't a stretch or anything, though I did think that it would be nice to have a beer when I saw some of the commercials on TV...haha...interesting, now I notice the commercials. I look through pictures of fun tailgating of friends, and watched a movie that had a drunken night out...and a twinge of want went through me. I resisted though, a small victory for me over my desire, and a small victory for the path of working towards happiness.

So my money conciousness helped...going out to dinner became less expensive because of the $20 or so easily saved by not having a beer or sangria...Tapas were more affordable! We found a really nice restuarant (Amada's), and a great waitress (Emily)...hopefully it's somewhere we can go back to!

Saw a neat show last night, called SonicVision...a beautiful array of computerized artwork set to music by Moby. Imagine going on a ride through a fractal image infused with fluid, and lots of non mathmatical imagination, kick in some music, and you're on the right track to figuring out what it's about....

its tax time...next week is the advanced training for the Baltimore CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) campaign. I'm looking forward to it. It gives me a chance to ground myself, as I see folks coming in with W2's that amount to 3 months of my salary, and realize that these people need help in many ones. One of the ways that I can pitch in is to help them not waste money on expensive quick cash loans for their tax returns. The folks at the tax prep services, and have a right to charge for it...but it's freakin expensive! Fees upwards of 20% for a loan that essentially risk free to the giver, if you've prepared the tax return right. That's higher interest than most everything around, even credit cards are 25% a year, not percentages in the thousands, as 20% for a few days amounts to. Unfortunately, people view their tax returns as "extra" money, not their own...so they don't seek to maximize it all the time, they get what they get, and are happy. For me, it's okay to do that, I'm not feeding anyone else's mouth...but with kids, and rent to pay for a place that's too smal...well like I said, there's lots of help needed, and I can do my part...well at least something, my "part" is probably bigger than this...

Necessities for Happiness

2005-12-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

In the vein of minimization, I'm taking a crack at determining what's necessary for me to be happy. This of course is a vastly greater list than what's necessary for my survival, and while it's a noble goal, I don't see it happening. I'd call it a "stretch" goal, but even that's a stretch...

1) Love -- love of a companion, children, parents, and friends.
1a) Relationships -- Good social relationships with those that love me, and also those I come into contact with.
2) Health -- A big part of my outlook on life depends on how I feel each day. I need to do a better job on this.
3) Food -- I love to eat lots of different things, and lots of probably unhealthy things, which is contridictory to 2), I know.
4) Sports -- Yea, I know...but it's an honest list...the Illini, Cubs, Bears, and Bulls make me happy. I can probably be happy without other teams, but of course, I'm not sure who my teams would play...
5) Music, Literature, Arts -- I'm definately not the most cultured person, but I try to keep myself involved, and learning new things.
6) Productive work -- I can't possibly be happy without being able to do something to engage my mind. Right now, it's working as an electrical engineer, on something important (to me anyway). I think the work that will make me happy, will always be important to me, and when it ceases to be, it's time to move on.
7) Open eyes -- For me to be happy, I must feel that others around me, or important to me, understand that there is more to the world than just their own situation. I must understand this too. In my last post, I talked about this, if don't understand the what we have, and appreciate it, we'll never be able to help others.
8) Travel -- This goes with open eyes, but also it's my personal enjoyment to see new things, and experience other cultures (Boston and San Antonio are other cultures I tell you!)

As of now, it's a complete list, but of course, it could change.

Interesting, what I don't need to be happy:
1) Lots of money -- To sustain many of the things above, money is needed, but not in the amounts being earned now, and larger amounts to be earned in the future. Luckily, my companion to be is of the same nature. Hopefully we can fulfill the ideals of philanthropy that we talk about now.

2) Toys -- My MP3 player does make it easier to listen to music, but I don't have to have the big screen tv's, high end stereo's, super fast computers, sling box, digital cable, HD, that I'm always thinking I should get. I need a cellular phone, for safety and for 1), because it's how I keep in touch with friends. I don't need a cellular phone that stores my pictures, my music, plays videos, games, and tells me to tie my showlaces though. I need a digital camera, because I'm cheap (same for the cell phone, by the way), but I don't need a new one just because mine is too big to take to the bars. I've thought this, seriously...luckily someone helped me see it's ridiculous.

3) Clothes -- One area where I'm doing pretty good. I don't spend alot of money on clothes (relatively that is), but I think I maintain a resonable level of presentability. I think some level is necessary for attaining the items above.

4) Cars -- I do enjoy my car, but it's definately more than what's necessary for my happiness. I should keep this one until it dies, or at least be more practical in my next purchase. Reasonable comfort is a necessity as it aids in achieving some of the things above...230hp, 3.0liter, V6 engine that gets 22MPG, is not...

5) Big house -- Ahh, the goal of so many people, including me, that just isn't necessary. My parents are struggling to figure out how to downsize in a reasonable manner. Other family friends are upsizing, which is a problem within the confines of the social drama that is "samaj." In other words, "what will (insert favorite gossipy man or woman here) say?" I don't need a room just to watch movies in, or a room just to play pool in, or a room that is just used to sit (the sitting room, really, it's the biggest scam in real estate, who uses these??).

6) Alcohol -- Interestingly enough, it doesn't necessarily fit in with anything above. Some of you are reading this, and thinking, "what the f, what happened to Mitesh?" Nothing, really. I'm not denoucing alcohol, or anything of that nature, just realizing that it isn't necessary for my happiness. Sure, a part of food is having good things to taste, but my palate isn't that sensitive to fine wines, or great beers, or other spirits.

Hmm...its interesting what you realize when you stop to think. I really don't have a need for stores like best buy, and circuit city, yet I go to them all the time. Unfortunately, I need stores like Walmart, but for less than what I procure from there right now. I need to think about the time spent in coffeehouses, and places like that, as they don't necessarily fit in with any of the ideas above. You don't go to one to open your eyes to the world. They may promote arts, literature, and music, but I don't think the chain ones do. There are definately some shops that do. The hot chocolate that I seem to get at them would fit in with food, but the taste (to me) isn't much different than what's at home, so why not sit and drink it at home?

Feel free to comment, and point out areas in which I am being hypocritical, because thats the only way for me to change. Either the action or the list should be modified. Also put up your own list, you might learn something.

In A Coffeeshop in Philadelphia

2005-12-29T11:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone. Hopefully they are treating you well, and offering you a chance to reflect and hopefully feel good about those reflections. I'd imagine that given the time of year, those reflections are causing you to think about what could be better. Certainly, I've had thoughts such as these. For instance, the one that we all have, or maybe it's my perception, is that I could be more healthy. I could cut out the unnecessaries, and stick to basics. I'm sure that the fact that I'm reading Gandhi's autobiography ("The Story of My Experiements With Truth") has something to do with this idea. Going back to my 26 years of experience though, this isn't a realistic goal...but something in between is. Cutting back on the luxury items, be it consumable (FOOD) or non consumable (TOYS) isn't going to harm me one bit. One consumable that I'd like to cut out is alcohol. Looking around my life, I see that there are a good deal of negatives associated with it. I think over the past year, I've definately cut back from somewhat irresponsible consumption to responsible consumption, with a few slip ups here and there. Now, though, I'd like to continue this trend to non-consumption. Most of you who know me will probably think it's ludicris, and maybe it is, but it's a goal. Seeing that I'm not an alcoholic or anything, it's probably unlikely that I'll find the necessary will power to go completely alcohol free, but I'm sure that it can be largely cut out. Since I'm cheap, maybe I should take $50 a month and put it into my savings account, and keep track of it...haha. Another thought would be if one of you would like to offer me a bet...that would work...I hate losing bets.

So this holiday has gotten me thinking more than ever of the "negativity" I feel myself surrounded by. It seems that the first words out of people's mouths are some sort of complaint. Now I'm sure that I'm being fairly hyper sensitive to it, so I'll try to stop. I'm seeing though, that there seems to be a general lack of optimism around. There are "problems" and there are problems, and I think that my frustration has to do with the perception that "problems" really are problems. If that didn't confuse you, please read on. I feel that we (me included) have a hard time focusing on the positives in life, because we take then for granted. For instance, if you're hungry, when you eat, you forget about what it was like to be hungry. We have time to focus on the house being unclean instead of thinking, well I have a safe roof over my head, and others are sitting in the cold. I was hungry this morning, and it sucked, but now, I'm not hungry, how about those that are.

This might not make any sense, but I guess my point is that if we can focus on the positives around us, it'll leave us with the energy to make a positive impact on those that have true problems.

A friend of mine just reminded me of her friend who's got cancer. This person is 26 years old, and undergoing very difficult chemotherapy. Another friend's friend has had a stroke at 28, and is very severely disabled. My own parents were in a serious car accident 2.5 years ago, and the effects are still being seen. How can we help these people, when our energies, many times are focused on the petty things in life.

I know, I know, I'm on a soapbox, but hopefully theres someone out there who'll tell me I'm full of crap if I am.

Passing On

2005-12-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday I was woken up to my phone ringing at 7:15am. I looked at it, and saw it was my brother calling, and it didn't process that he was calling at 6:15am his time, only that it was really early, and I didn't understand why he'd be calling, so I didn't answer. Then it clicked that something was wrong, cuz he wouldn't call that early...and I called him right back...

My uncle had past away. Specifically, my Kiritphoa (Dad's sister's husband), had a heart attack on Saturday night, and died before getting to the hospital.

Of course, the family gathered at my aunt's house, an uncle flew in from Atlanta, and a cousin (daughter) flew in from New Jersey. One cousin in Atlanta and I were the only ones not to make it back, though it wasn't expected. I talked to my aunt, who obviously was very distraught, and didn't really converse with me.

Then the rest of the day came. I was in Philadelphia, and it didn't really hit me that my uncle had passed away. A cousin was in town, and we got together and went to watch the Bears game at a local bar, and then had dinner. The next morning, I went to work, and it was back to life as usual. As I think about it now though, I realize that it doesn't entirely make sense to go right back to life as usual. Its not life as usual, there's someone missing. I was not very close to my uncle, not much more than pleasantries when we met, which was a few times a year. Even so, though, when I go back to Chicago, he won't be there...no chance of running into him at the Indian store near his old house...no talking about what's going on with the banks in India...

I have 15 sets of aunts and uncles, and of those 30 people only 3 have passed away. The other 2, I really didn't know at all, only had met them a few times in my life. Both of my grandfathers have passed away in my life, and while I didn't have tremendouse contact with them, I did have attachment to them...

So this is different...my contact, less attachment, yet, its a change from normal...

Interesting thing is that since I'm so far away, there's a really easy sense of detachment...I'm not involved with the family on a daily basis, and it makes me a little immune from what's happening in Chicago.

Life goes on now. I think about my uncle's passing, and realize that he lived to see more than he ever could have imagined 15 years ago. He's seen his eldest daughter buy a beautiful new home, and see 2 of his grand-daughters grow up with him. He's seen his youngest 2 daughters overcome bad marriages, and become happy with their families. He was able to buy a home in India that wouldn't have been possible with American dollars.

So we'll all miss my uncle, but we can rest easy that he was able to live a great life...and he's now onto something better...

American Life -- From a lazyboy at 11pm

2005-11-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

I often wonder how many of us actually take the time to think about what we have in our lives. Americans in general have an extremely high quality of life. Of course, there are many people in need of help in America, but the vast majority of those that I encounter are truly privileged. My cohort of Americans are pretty well educated, come from families that have more than enough to eat, if not more than enough to live on. They generally have good jobs, and the big problem in their lives is what type of TV to buy...okay, so that was the big problem in my life, until I decided not to buy one now...anyway, none of us have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. It's simply amazing to think about the difference between our lives and that of someone equally educated living in Europe or Asia. Most of us are saving for retirement, while most of them probably aren't saving much as regular savings. The interesting thing is that most of us probably worry about money more than they do, even though we have so much more. Seems like it comes with the territory though, the more you have, the more you "need," and the more you want. At some point, is there a "that's enough." I'd like to think there is, but I wonder if there is.

This past weekend, I left town on Tuesday evening, did some work from Philadelphia on Wednesday morning, met up with a friend for lunch, went to Best Buy for a few hours, and then went out in the evening. On Thursday, I went to a friends out for dinner. On Friday, I drove to New Jersey and spent time with family. On Saturday I came back to Baltimore, and on Sunday I watched football. Sounds like an amazingly productive use of time, huh? I don't think I should feel guilty about it, because its not unreasonable to relax and enjoy life.

For most around the world, those 5 days probably entailed working through 3 of them, if not all 5. It might have entailed avoiding nasty people who are out to hurt you, or figuring out where to get some food, or simply sitting in the same spot, because you can't move. It might have entailed going to watch a game, cooking a turkey, or shopping till you dropped...especially if you're in America.

So what's the point you ask...or don't ask, maybe you don't care...it is: Stop, look around, take stock of your surroundings, and put your life into perspective of the world, not just those that you know. What you do from there is your choice...maybe it's nothing, maybe it's something...it doesn't matter, just be aware...that first step is harder than it seems...

Welcome

2005-11-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
So I've been reading the blogs of others, and thinking that I used to write a lot. 5 years of college, and 3 years of being out of college as an engineer has decreased the amount of non-technical and non-work related writing that I do. So to get myself back to the days of free writing in high school...some of you might know a high school teacher that encouraged this...I thought I'd start up this blog. I don't have a goal for the blog yet, but hopefully my postings will have some theme in commom as time goes on. Read, Comment, Enjoy, and check back often!

Mitesh