The trip and arrival

The first leg of my trip after going through security in NYC was to Belgium where I had to transfer to another plane. Getting off of our plane, we went through a transfer gate to bring us into the main terminal to wait for our next plane. I don't know if they don't think that the US airport security is unreliable or if they think that now they sell drugs and weapons in the duty free magazine aboard planes because this transfer security was the strictest I've seen. Everyone got patted down after walking through the Xray machine. Many people had there carry ons searched after putting them through the Xray machine. Regardless, I made it through, stretched my legs and was on my second leg which brought me through to Chennai, India.


On arrival in India, I was met at the airport by a great friend, Veera (see above) and his cousin (not pictured). We went for chai (good to be back in India), and got home around 1am for a good nights sleep.


My first day and I just took in all the familiar things that I was so quickly reminded about. The fresh fruit everywhere, cars and bikes honking non-stop, chai at every corner, cows wandering around aimlessly and how white I really am (sidenote: I was at a kindergarten today in an international school and somehow color came up and the little 5 year old girl told me that we are beige and not white after I said something about being white.)

Veera and I went to a fishing village for a good part of one day because his company was donating gps's to fisherman to use on their boats to help them catch more fish, I wandered the beach and village and played with the kids a bit. (seen above)

I forgot how people don't drive in lanes and the driving in general is just chaotic (I've always said that I think of India as having the most organized chaos)
Veera was saying that people are independent here, they drive where they want and do what they want. "look, there is a red light. people will, just go through it because they want to. In the west, people pick their dogs shit up and throw it out. Here, noone picks it up because they don't own the dogs and don't care. Even the dogs are free to do what they want, they go where they want and shit where they want". In saying this, he wasn't necessarily proud of it, more making a joke out of my reaction to the whole thing.

After I left Veera in Chennai, I was heading further south. I was waiting for the bus and when it pulled up it said it was too full to take me and my bags the couple or hours while 6 indians piled in front of me onto the bus (I don't know if they don't want to deal with my bags or since I pay the same amount they don't want to deal with a tourists since maybe in the past some tourists have been a pain; either way, I was discriminated against) I also know that besides people trying to cheat me due to my beige color, it can also work for me, which proved to be the case 10 minutes after the bus denied me. This guy above in his car was whizzing by, but when he saw me amongst the Indians waiting for the next bus, he pulled over and waved me in. I ran to get in along with other Indians who knew this guy was going down the highway to the next big city where everyone was going. With a smile, he told me to get in and told the other Indians that he had to turn them down. I felt a little bad, but once I heard a couple of the old american songs on a cd he proudly had, I enjoyed my roomy, ac ride and let the guilt slip away.

On two lane roads, the cars and buses will pass other cars and completely come over to the other side of the road, as the oncoming cars have to pull off the road. Someone told me. Dont' get mad at them, just think of it as an elephant coming at you. You wouldn't argue with the elephant, you would just get out of its way. The same person also told me I was a good guy for an american.




I am down in Auroville; an international community in the middle of nowhere in India (actually near Pondicherry and they don't like to be thought as nowhere), visiting a friend here. While hear, I am staying in a place that makes me feel like Robinson Crusoe. A bamboo hut right near the beach.

This is the Matrimandir-the heart of Auroville. I got to go inside this today. It is massive, covered in golden plates, geometrically incredible, and has the feel of entering a spacecraft. It was built for meditation and too be honest I don't even know how to explain what it was like inside, but strange, unique, and great all at the same time.

As I am often on the move with my feet constantly going, I got a quote sent to me from a friend that says: "Those who keep both feet firmly on the ground have difficulty putting pants on"

About 5 months ago I befriended a guy in Arizona and we had a spirited discussion on the general happiness of people who I come across in India and such places that have very little, but their families and community and the overall happiness of people that live in the US (a wealthier country) I would like to share the email that I got from him after letting him know that I am back in India. I would love to hear your comments and thoughts either way on this.

"Could you tell me again that those folks like to be poorer than the dirt they shovel (or whatever that brown stuff is…). That they are “happier” than the families and children and elderly, etc., here. Go ahead, convince me that our progress, though flawed in its own way, does not ultimately strive to make everyone’s level of existence just a little better for each subsequent generation. Not just economically, but environmentally, educationally, interpersonally and entertainmentally (my new word for the day, made it up just now).

So keep on losing weight as you eat more, and we’ll keep gaining weight as we eat faster. Difference is we have the choice to eat and live better, any damn time we want. And drive less miles in our gas guzzlers, and watch less TV and conspicuously spend less money on frivolous consumtive crap. We have the choice, that is the key difference.

Gotta hop, all these choices to make. Feel free to post my ramblings as your own, or post them as an opposing view to yours (dare ya). Whatever works for your forehead works for me."

I also would like to recommend a great to book to those looking for something to read.

Tom Hodgkinson: The Freedom Manifesto

Be well, gotta go, it's chai time.

End of India, 6 months in the US and getting ready to leave again

I am going to attempt to write a blog that catches up on the last 6months+ of my life which to say the least has been a whirlwind. Due to how the pictures downloaded in here, I'm gonna do this posting from present time back to where I left off on the last blog...or there abouts.

Finishing up my 2 months of working at Bike and Roll in NYC, I had my parents come to visit for a few days and we did a lot of the NYC tours that I always hear about, but never bother doing. This is my rents on a financial district walking tour at stone st.

My mom and I were on a food walking tour of East Village/Lower East Side and went to a pizza place that had this classic lamp. "Fragile"-"must be italian"

We visited the Top of the Rock and the empire state building, both with incredible views.

Summers are a great time in NYC, with tons of free movies to see out on Piers, in parks and all over. This is one in Bryant Park on Monday nights. I managed to make it out to a couple different piers for movies too. One with family friend Andy and a friend Alyssa and the other with a friend Ana.
The invasion of the germans in NYC. Oliver, who I have known now for 9 years was in town with his two buddies. It was great spending some time and building up the international friends...even if they are German.

In my couple of months in the city I went to see live music about 6 nights, a couple of those were watching Robbie Gil and his new album release. If for no other reason to be in New York, I love watching live music at small venues. He's gonna make it big soon, check him out.
Back in NYC and back on bikes. Two months of bike tours, managing the shops, driving a 24ft truck around Manhattan with visitors in town more than half the weekends; and getting paid.

He's still got it. Back in Detroit, went to check out pops at the handball courts. That's my roomate in NYC and his number one fan next to him UNCLE LOU!!!

Our annual family reunion up north in Michigan. We would have daily volleyball matches, ping pong, dancing, swimming, cherry picking (and spitting) and just having a great time with a huge family that we are lucky to have!

These are a couple of new faces that we haven't seen in years and were thrilled to have with us finally again! Jud and Meghan and their kids and parents.

With my visitor (Loredana) from Spain for a few weeks, we ventured around the Midwest and into NYC. While traveling around Chicago we saw some different friends including John, Nicole and Andrew.

One of our many activities in Chicago (thanks for hooking it up Josh). We also did a boat architect tour, sat on a porch in wrigleyville while listening to a live Elton and Billy concert and our segway tour.

Good to be back home and see good friends. We had Courtney and Joe P over for a day, enough time to catch up. I happen to be sitting with Joe at this moment at his place in Chicago while I wait to go pick up my India visa.

I worked a basketball camp this summer in Detroit with Mr. Glasser. This was my overpowering team that dominated throughout the week. Don't get intimidated by the muscles.

One of the best reasons to come back to Michigan is to see some of my favorite people: Emmett and Lola. We got to hang out and have a sleepover. Recently Emmett, Andy and I recorded a hit song called "Emmett". If interested in hearing it, let me know.
On returning back to the US from India, I made a trip around the US for about 3 months visiting friends and family. This is towards the end in Frisco, CO with my "other parents" the Clines. My one round of golf for the year, which happened to be on one of the highest elevated courses in the country. I shot a 101 and was quite happy.

This is Mr. and Mrs. Cline and myself on a bike ride through the hills. We also spotted a black bear along our trail.

In Arizona visiting Sarah, who I had met a few years ago while traveling in Vietnam. It was good to see her after a very interesting day of hitchhiking from Albuquerque to Phoenix. I haven't taken as many pictures as I normally do while traveling, so I have to appologize to my sister Beth and Mark for not taking pictures while visiting them and therefore don't have any pictures of them on this blog. I did get to spend time with Mark in Bakersfield before driving north to visit Beth in northern Cali and then hanging with Mike and Steve in San Francisco.
Roadtripping in Southwest colorado with Rich, Christopher, and Bobbo. Stunning scenery.

This is my man Chris, reading in the front seat, we kept the music down so it wouldn't distract him...that was on his command actually.

Three days on my own at Jazz Fest in New Orleans!!! 7 hours of music daily, it doesn't get much better. This was on the side of visiting Andy and Morgan in Houston. Andy and I recorded 3 new songs and actually that is just as much fun as watching the live music.

In Dallas visting Austin and Zach (cousins). Seems like a long time ago, I'm sure for Aus too.

Hanging with Boss at Duke U on their last day of classes which meant free concerts all night. I'll see Boss while traveling around India, as he'll be doing research there.

Visiting Brian in DC. This is my first stop on my big trip. Since this visit, Brian's whole life has changed due to a new baby.

Getting to hang in Philly with cousins I haven't seen in a long time and some ever. Ron, Pam, Alice, Spencer, and Tommy (Tommy is not in the photograph, he was partaking in one of his many sports leagues, at this time I think it was T-ball). It was great to see them and look forward to seeing them more often.
Coming to the end of my India trip and the breakup with Bobbo. It was really incredible to be able to spend so much time with him and see him develop and experience such a different world with me.

Going home soon... damn, we are going to have to shave ourselves again. Can we train Christopher?

This was me after a morning celebrating Holi Festival in India. It took weeks to get all of the paint out of my hair and skin. I can't explain how much fun it was.