The Year It Was

Perhaps I’m selling out by doing the dreaded “Clip Post” on account of the one-year anniversary of my blog. I can’t believe it was one year ago today that I was introduced to this phenomenon known as blogging…definitely have to thank Dody and Adam for that.

Looking back, there have been quite a few memorable posts:

First ever trip on an Indian bus

“My question is this: what can't happen on a local Indian bus? The only thing I didn't see was farm animals...although they could've been on the roof. Having to stand for an extended period, or having to sit on a railing or having someone sit on your lap for 7 hours, in a hot bus is a true Indian experience.”

The Great Monsoon

“I get out on my bike and immediately start getting soaked...no problem, right? I get to this point where the puddles is covering the whole road and what do I hear? a motorbike engine revving up. I was like "don't even think about it," even though I feared the worst (as you can probably guess, my quote was the family version of what i really said). Wooosh! The guy drenches me with his bike.”

The Ascent to 13,000 ft

“The air was getting thinner, heads lighter, and breathing deeper as they made their way up to 13,000 feet. At the top, there was the usual bustle of activity that comes with a tourist spot in India - food and drink stands, horse rides, etc. Unimpressed, Kent took off to find what he was really looking for...the Himalayas.”

Riding the Toy Train

“I started by standing, then I found some room to sit down, then these two Indian guys that couldn't stop laughing told me to lay down in sort of a reclining position (will post a picture soon). So there I was, leaning against a bag with my head on some guys knees, with the entire population of the train laughing at me.”

The Indian Headshake

“I was on a bus in Delhi on Sunday and executed my first involuntary headshake while trying to understand his accent. I said, "theek hai?" and the headshake just followed. The best part was that the guy just laughed and said, "You are Indian."”

A Love Affair With Food

“Who really cares what it's made of? It's part of the reason why I like choosing items from menus I can't read. If I don't know what I'm getting, I have no expectations. Disasters, like the ones happening in the colons of new trainees, are bound to happen...like ending up with a plate full of chicken livers, however it adds to the risk of ordering food and, thus, increases the reward. Nothing feels better than getting a great meal from a menu you can't comprehend.”

The Day Party

“Imagine my confusion after finding myself in a club, under the influence, at 7 PM on a Sunday. It seemed out of the question after checking my cellphone clock that it could possibly only be 7:15. Hadn't I been out partying all night? Wasn't I about to find my way home to my woven bed, only to wake up the next morning with a ferocious hangover? Apparently not.”

Razor Ramblings

“His shaving kit consisted of a small metal bowl, a razor, a horsehair brush, healing stone, cream, and a bottle of what I can only assume to be Ganga water. I guess sometimes it not what you have, but how you use it.”

Saving a Horse

“As the cart began to tip in our direction, boards started sliding off, almost crushing Ryan.  All that cycling he does paid off because he used is cat-like agility to get out of the way.  Finally, the guy was able to get the horse out.  Luckily, the horse’s leg wasn’t broken, but it was extremely weak.”

New Years in Kolkata

“This "walk of death," so to speak, was like a hazing ritual. I had my balls grabbed, my face slapped, and numerous attempts were made on my pockets. I came out feeling like I just had the crap beat out of me...not a pleasant feeling.”

Back in Calgary

“I had a twenty dollar bill in my hand and went, "Is this worth anything?" It is, in fact, worth 740 rupees, but because it only has the number "20" on it, it seems almost worthless. Don't even get me started on the coins....”

The Beef Program

“Grilling steaks and kebabs on the BBQ was a favourite activity of mine, but it seems so far away. When asked if not eating beef in Alberta was illegal, my friend replied, "I don't think so." Has India left that big a mark on me that I won't even eat the main meat product this country has to offer (except Canadian bacon)?”

Hitchhiking

“So there I was out on the street waving someone down (alcohol was involved…I won’t lie).  I wouldn’t expect anyone to stop, even on a good day.  Then all of a sudden a car slows down and it turns out the driver is from Eritrea.”

The New Grill

“Here's the fine looking piece of grilling ecstacy. Some might say that it looks like it just survived a nuclear firestorm, others might deem it "rustic." Irregardless, this is one beast I didn't mind meeting in an alleyway.”

Dus

“What a great movie.  Never have I laughed so hard for a full 146 minutes.  If you are planning on watching this classic, do be prepared for a test of patience.  The plot moves slower than molasses and it’s really tough to decipher what’s going on…even with subtitles.”

One Year Ago, Today….

“365 days ago (or was it 364?) today, I left for India. I can still vividly remember the ride to the airport, the check-in person almost not letting me on my flight because my return flight date was after my visa expiry date, the feeling of “didn’t I just go through this 6 months earlier?,” the unagi (grilled eel) for lunch on my flight, the agonizing 8 hours in the not-yet-improved Taipei airport (of which 1 consisted of a less than delicious “free” meal), the pleasant feeling of being given a free International Herald-Tribune before boarding the plane (only to realize that reading it was going to be difficult due to my inability to keep my eyes open)….”