Two months long, in fact. I’ve planned my entire sojourn around India and Nepal around food: in my twisted little head the North/South and East/West dichotomies in culture and tourism are really about the variations of regional cuisine I’m expecting. Instead of Chennai and Tamil Nadu, I think idli. Instead of Hyderabad, I can’t help myself from thinking about that excellent Andhra food, in that city of excellent briyani and dal palaak. Rather than restaurant reservations, I’ve reserved the cousins of my close Nepali friends to take me around to sample extreme Nepali cuisine: e.g. milk-soaked chambers of goats’ lungs. I’ll also be drinking too much Chindian (i.e. fake Chinese) hot and sour soup than I’d like to admit.
The point? There is no point, nor is there an obvious itinerary. There are two ‘commissioned’ stories I’m shooting and writing alone, one of which has great potential; additionally, also a handful of other related projects on hand which I’m not at liberty to divulge. Once every couple of months I convince myself I really want to go somewhere else… like, say, Turkey. Or China. After futile research about said alternative destinations, I become overwhelmed by a need to go back to Bharat Mata. Like this time. And the last, and before that, and the last, and…
I should apologise for the poor quality of content here of late — intense writing efforts elsewhere have admittedly taken a toll on me; regular programming should resume shortly upon the return to the motherland (I think).
Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Jomsom, Bombay (yay!), and then a wedding (not mine). Two months is much too short, especially since I will most definitely be pretty near those “I’m travelling for one year/two years/forever” types whose freedom I envy.
P.S. It’s just awesome how you can book everything online, from the air ticket to India, to my Chennai-Bhubaneswar train journey on the Shalimar Express (can even choose the berth! I finally got my side upper!), to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses.
P.P.S. This is what I’m expecting for S$4 a night. Why do I have a feeling that by the time Anil comes to Pokhara to poke around, I’ll still be there, just chilling?
14 Comments
Have a good trip and enjoy your stay in India and Nepal. I will most probably not be traveling to India in the next few years to come. Looking forward to reading your posts from there.
Hey dear! I’m so tempted to take a break with you in India before I commence my PhD, in 2 weeks time. I’m just so tempted to go buy a ticket now….Someone, stop me!!
Also, if you plan to go to China let me know. I will definately go with you. Just give me about 2 months notice. We can both work on the move. While you type up your articles, I can work on my PhD on the journey.
Take care and see you soon.
Have a good trip to India and Nepal. Looking forward to read your posts about your trip, awesome!
(:
Go, enjoy yourself and come home soon!
:)
beautiful picture!
Take Care!
hey there! it was great meeting you at tuckshop last fri night! here’s wishing you a great trip in india and remember to post photos every step of the way so that us poor folk stuck in sg will have a little taste of india! :P
o yah side upper should be good..i got the 3AC top bunk, freaking cannot even sit up
for $4 bucks a night, is the girl included?
Let me know when your in b’lore and wanna hang around mg’s
:)
that is one tasty looking thosai
CHINDIAN!!!! I always say Indian-Chinese or Chinese-Indianstyle cos no one knows what the hell I’m talking about. You shall have to be my new fav blogger…….
I just had some awesome Chindian (hot & sour soup infact; alas they had no naan to go with it – you MUST try this compbination) for my birthday-minus-1-day dinner treat. Only one bonfaide place that does it in London…..and alas it is a trek away, else I would drown myself in hakka noodles and chili chicken everyday!
Hey, I found you by chance, looking for Masala Dosa and Kathamndu in the internet… I guess I am just like you..always thinking about fodd rather than culture or people or whatever…
would be great to keep in ttouch.
Nat