Malaysia. A story mostly about food.

I didn't know before I went to Malaysia, that the entire country is crazy about food. Really and truly. I thought I ate a lot in India, however, I was wrong.


From giant jackfruit...

To giant strawberries...
To my liebling food, DOSAI...To blue rice (actually REALLY yum!)

To I have no idea what this was called, but doesn't Jas look happy? Too much happy?
Because Malaysia is quite in the "middle" of a whole bunch of other countries, there's a huge influence of lots of other culture's foods which is quite fun.
I feel like we spent the whole week eating. Is this possible? Cheers to jackfruit and dosai and waffles and bubble tea and murtabaks and blue rice and coffee and tea in the same drink!!

5 Reasons to GO[a] to India

(What happened after the Camp) (Mostly in Goa)

We arrived back from the camp in dire need of a shower or five and grateful for the warmer weather. While it was a massive effort to trek out of Avalanche, I would go 10x as far because it was simply so beautiful.

#1 - If you go to India, you can wear a saree. I would like to take this moment to tell you it's not as comfortable as it looks. It doesn't look comfortable, you say? That's cos IT'S NOT!
Much respect to the women who wear this every day, with all the day-to-day tasks. I guess you get used to it....but much respect anyway.
However, it was rather fun to wear it for a day (for the wedding).



#2 - If you go to India, you can meet an elephant. This one (Ellie) smiled at me. Not even kidding. Ellie also took me for a ride, and when I paid [the man sitting on top of Ellie] Ellie took the money in his trunk and passed it up. I hope they split it 50/50.



#3 - If you go to India, you can jump extra high. People will try and jump into your photo though, so beware.



#4 - If you go to India, you can stay in these amazing huts right on the beach! For as cheap as a cheap hut right on the beach in India. Not even kidding. The one of the left was ours. You might be surprised to know that the bright orange colour lulls you off to sleep at night.



#5 - If you go to India, you can take your friends. Probably, you won't have as fun friends as mine, but try anyway. They absolutely totally make it the best time ever!

Indgrish

Ah India.

You make me laugh. Your Indgrish (India English) is hilarious.

A few favourites from the last few weeks:

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia now....

with a few more stories from India still to come....

Too Much Happy

My new friend Arookooma is an elephant who became a lion and he lives inside a Bollywood musical. Life is too good not to sing.

During the last week, we've been camping at Avalanche.

It's this secret spot that took us 2 1/2 hours by car, 10 hours night train, 5 hours steam train, 1 hour crazy bus ride, 1 hour army truck-craziest-ride-of-my-life, and a 2 hour hike to reach. It's away from everything - from the crazy noise and pollution of the Indian cities and towns. It would have been quiet, peaceful and relaxing.

Except that we brought along a gypsy tribe. Mostly kids, 60 of them made the trek with us to reach this amazing camp.

There was no peace. No quiet. No relaxation. On the agenda was kayaking, abseilling, archery, and more....these kids had never done anything like this and the looks on their faces was priceless as they felt themselves 'balance' on water or be held by a rope on a cliff face for the first time.

I can't explain how big this new experience was for them. It was quite cold in Avalance - we were almost 3000 meters up and most of the tribe had never been in cold weather in their lives. Quite a shock to discover 0 degrees for the first time!

The change in the camp over the few days was amazing. The change of atmosphere was tangible, with much tension in this new place changing to a real joy among the tribe by the end, and a tangible peace.

Not just a crazy an experience for them - it's been quite a ride for me as well. My name to the Indians sounds like Kali - the indian goddess of darkness. I should have made up a new name from the beginning but at least they all remembered my name.

I now have excellent thigh muscles from all the squatting. My thighs will be huge by the end of this trip.

I now know that using your clothes for a pillow is not all it's cracked up to be. Especially when your clothes are dirty. Very dirty.

Washing your hair with a tiny bucket is ok. Washing alongside lots of Indian gypsy girls is quite the experience. Please nits, stay away. I like my nit-free hair!

Curry for breakfast lunch and dinner is ok. I'm quite converted. Actually I'm quite converted to Indian food. They had the audacity to give me eggs and toast for breakfast the other morning and I was surprised to find myself disappointed! Ah!

Life IS a musical. Arakooma joined my activity group (the Lions) because he'd lost track of his group (the Elephants). I was treated to his singing morning noon and night, as he found himself attached to me most of the time. At first I tried to lose him. He had way too much energy for me - but he was too sleuthy for me and we became friends.

He loved everything, and one day he asked me if I was happy. I said yes, very happy. I asked him the same. With fists clenched and the biggest smile on his face, he told me he was too much happy. Too much happy. What a wonderful place to be in!

I loved his joy and his singing and dancing made me laugh. He'd skip round trees and throw his arms out while he sang. I think he really thought he was in a musical. His and the gypsies' joy was beautifuly contagious.

Am loving India and am so thankful for the wonderful time in Avalanche. A few more days here in Mamallapurum (with a wedding included) and then we're on to Goa.

Too much happy.

Of MICE (actually rats) and MEN (naked) (stoned) (angry)

The rats I've seen here are the size of small dogs. If I was a small dog, I would not want to meet one of these in a dark alley.

The men I've seen here are not the size of small dogs. They live in a world of social graces far different to my own. A visit to a Jain temple in Kolkata yielded some interesting results. Sometimes cool unique stuff happens and I'm really happy to be in the right place at the right time. This was NOT one of those times. Too much nakedness and nowhere to hide. Other people taking their shoes off and bowing low on the ground before the NAKED man with the very large stomach. I was wearing hiking shoes. These babies don't just come off at a moment's notice. And so I stand there awkwardly. Bowing doesn't show off my best features anyway.

STONED foreign man sat next to me that evening doing the best he could to hammer his hash flat (to save 20 rupees on the postage) so that he could post it home. I could have done a much better job, however I wish to stay out of jail for the next 20 years.

ANGRY man was our taxi driver. We managed to haggle a good price for our trip home , however I feared for my life many times during that journey. So much anger. It seemed like a good idea at the time - to save 10 rupees (20 cents) but imagine if I died because of scrimping on 20 cents?!

India English makes me laugh all the time.

Favourite advertisement of the week?

www.matrimonyclassifieds.com

Kolkata: Seeti of Joy

The letters and numbers of the keyboard are painted on. I'm paying 10 cents for an hour of internet usage (the sign on the wall says 'not negotiable - no bargaining plz.'
I'm not sure about the chicken Jasmin ate for lunch, however the naans I had were so good I had two.
I don't think I'm quite as shocked as I was a few days ago. I can now walk the streets with less fear of being hit by any passing taxi, bus, rickshaw, bicycle, motorbike, auto rickshaw or cow.
My ears will never be the same after all constant ringing of horns, but I'm enjoying the 4am prayers that are sang across the city.
My nose and throat may take weeks to recover from the smog that hangs in the air, and I'm thus inhaling but the food is too good to even relate.
A motorbike tour around the city yesterday was the funnest thing yet. My rear is a little sore today. I'm sure we nearly died many times, thankfully all I had to do was close my eyes and hold on.
There is such a beautiful grace to be found amongst the sisters at the Motherhouse. I can't even put it into words. They let us join in with their prayers and mass and welcome us into their space. They are kind enough to include us in their tasks and to patiently show us how things are to be done in Shishu Bhaven, the home for children we have spent a couple of days in.
I was humbled by a visit to the Missionaries of Charity Leprosy Mission this morning - they keep such a pride in their center and home and it seems to be run self-sufficiently and they also make items that are needed and used at the other homes of the Missionaries of Charity.
I feel so blessed to be here - also not to have not fallen prey to the India stomach bug yet. May it stay that way.
2 more days in Kolkata - the Seeti (this means horn in Hindi - and it there are more than enough here!) of Joy.

Dear Sasha

Dear Sasha.

I know you remember my name. You asked me at least 10 times and we only sat together for 20 minutes at the most. It's just a little awkward for me and everyone in the vicinity to hear me repeat my name so much.

I know you're only 3 or so, but that's no excuse for telling me repeatedly about your broken truck (it only does one broooooom), all your holiday plans and giving away all your family secrets. Your parents were right there! It was just a little bit awkwardly strange.
(At what stage was I supposed to hush you and steer you away from private family details?)

And really, I think it's great that you're "going on an airplane yewwww!". Really, I do. However, it's not cool to hit the front of vending machines and throw a tantrum when your mother says no to the treats behind the glass.

If you're not careful, your parents might accidentally leave you behind at the airport next time. I didn't know how to politely refuse when they tried to give you away to me today. Please stop "being ever so trying *sigh*" as your mother put it.

Before I go, I'd like to give you a final piece of wisdom for life. It stretches before you like an open road and the world is your oyster.
However, life will not be kind to you if you ever, ever put the family flight boarding passes inside a vending machine again. This is neither good for a vending machine (surgical procedures do not do it kindly) nor for your parent's nerves.

Good luck, Sasha. Please pass my regards on to your parents.