Hiroshima

And now a more ominous side of Japan. I woke up the morning I went to Hiroshima and pushed a button. The first button I pushed that day shut off my alarm clock. The subsequent buttons I pushed that morning sent messages to my friends and family, ordered a train ticket and purchased a coffee. Not so long ago, long about the time my grandparents were falling in love, another button was pushed. This innocuous little chit of plastic however vaporized a city, and most of the people who lived in it. Now I'm not in the business in saying who was right in war, but I am in the business of feeling for people whose skin fell of of their bodies and who witnessed the extinction of their entire families. Those that evaporated that day were the lucky ones, never having to deal with the hells of radiation, or the horror of always wondering whether their descendants would be born malformed. Hiroshima has of course moved on. It is today a vibrant cosmopolitan community. So I guess all things, no matter how awful, pass. We must not forget how these people suffered, and do whatever possible to ensure that this piece of contemptible history never fades in obscurity.

Japan

I just got back from Japan. It is quite an intriguing country, full of friendly people and beautiful history. I had a few problems eating though; all menus are exclusively written in Japanese. Thankfully through drawing pictures and the general fun-loving nature of the Japanese, I could communicate what I was hungry for. I took the Shinkansen bullet train on my journey. It is nothing short of an airplane on rails. Little villages raced by the window like they were frames of an old filmstrip, and other trains were merely a blur as they whooshed past. The old castles or (Jo) were also magnificent. They are a testament to the simplicity and quiet stateliness that was feudal Japan. Also noteworthy is the strange juxtaposition between the Jo and the ultra-modern eyesores that are the modern Japanese city. In Kitakyushu, there is a nouveau Art-Deco monstrosity across the street from the keep of the old city's Jo. The effect is off-putting, but yet symbolic of the encroachments of the new world upon the old. Gehry himself would probably be upset by the uneasiness that the space creates. Unavoidable I suppose, in a country pining for elbow room.

Bummin around the mall

Last year this time, I posted about Farah and I doing some shopping for Christmas, well looks like its Christmas number 2 in Korea. We are still jobhunting so that is a bit of a bummer, but the free time is always nice. Most of our friends are in Thailand for the holidays so we will probably just head to the Twon for some turkey on the 25th. Here are some more dorky shots.

Didn't think I would have missed Galbi so much

After you spend some time away from Korea, you realize the parts of it that really treasured. For me, there is nothing better than getting together with a few buddies and having a galbi dinner. Jesse and Mikey are leaving Korea after some years here and this was their farewell. Alas the tough part Korea; the constant turnover of friends. Oh well, I'm sure I will see these guys again somewhere.

798 Baby

There is fantastic art district in Beijing, the 798. It was formerly a big ugly communist era factory zone. Much of the manufacturing apparatus is still intact, giving the area a gothic industrial feel. There is a world class gallery called the Ullen's. Many people don't realize that China had its own artistic tradition that thrived alongside that of the West. There is abstract-expressionalism and post-modernism on par with anything produced by Kandinsky or Warhol. Anyway enjoy the pics.

China Redux

Wow has China changed in 3 short years. It is bigger, brassier and more confident in every imaginable way. The Olympics are going to do some magnificent things for this mighty country. I'm glad of the opportunity of being right next door when it all goes down.

Old Friends, (and some new ones too)

I also got the chance to reconnect with dear friends in China. I am happy to report that Glenn, Tyson and their significant others are all well, and happy. Nicole and Jeff, as well as Sunny and Jade and myself went for the obligatory Beijing duck dinner on the eve of my departure...bittersweet.

Kev

There really is nothing in the world like hanging out with an old bro. Kev and I have been friends since we were kids. Little has changed I guess, still ridiculously immature and lovin it. We spent most of our time partying in China. We did a couple of open mics (the theme from Rawhide) haha, and played lots of pool. Kev's new hottie is great too, her name is Marion, and she is from France. When I was accosted by the snake, Marion got up and did a belly dance with the dancer and thereby deflected the attention from a very freaked out and hyper-ventilating Chaddy, merci Marion.

My new hobby

So I've taken up snake-dancing. There I was, eating a casual, relaxed meal of mutton rou at a Xinjiang restaurant, when a snake lady began her act. Kevin (the prick) motioned her hither, and before I knew it I was dancing in front of 200 people festooned with a python about my neck. I still shudder to think of that night.....just look at the pics, in the immortal words of Rick McLennan, Keeeeeeerist!!!!

Qatar chillen' (well sweating actually)

Mom and I have been having a blast over here. So far we have dune-bashed, sand-boarded, swam in the inland sea, and ate DQ blizzards. She is awesomely set up here; it has been quite a shock from what I was used to in Goa. I have a huge ensuite bedroom, and a swimming pool across the street. Although I do miss the fleas, and being sick every week in India, Qatar is growing on me. Due to it being the Eid holiday here, Mom has lots of time off, so some days we just cruise in the car, dodging camels and 16 year old Sheikh millionaires doing 150 in their shiny new Bentleys haha.

Reliving my youth

Some of the countries I wind up in have big stockpiles of unused military ordinance. They are looking to make a living and I am looking to behave like an idiot. I loved G.I. Joe as a child so I thought hey wouldn't it be fun to squeeze off a few rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle. It was everything I imagined a machine gun could be; noisy, stinky and reminiscent of all that is stupid about humanity. Oh well at least I got to keep the paper target. One more for Grandma's fridge haha.

More Rajasthan

Rajasthan

This province is in the extreme west of India. It is dominated by the Thar desert, so it is very dry and hot. I went to Jaipur, Pushkar, Ajmer, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. Most cities have a huge fort dominating the skyline. Jodhpur's is breathtaking. Some are museums and some are in ruins. In Jaisalmer's case, the fort is still alive, with businesses and houses contained within. I stayed in the fort in Jaisalmer. I also went on a camel trek, which was incredible.

India, where to start, Delhi I guess

Sorry I have been neglecting th blog for so long, but there is just so much to tell about India. It have been life-changing for me here. The people are great and the sights are times ten more amazing than anywhere else in the world. Delhi is a strange city, the south is all ordered streets, and nice parks, the north is chaotic bazaars and lanes. There are of course many things to see. Humayun' tomb, and the Qutb Minar were my favourite.

Monkies

India is just crawling with critters. I was actually mugged by a monkey the other day. I was walking up to see a Laxshmi temple, totally minding my own affairs, when the cheeky little shit climbed my pants and removed a bag of peanuts form my pocket. They are intriguing little creatures, so humanistic. He was not the least bit threatening, he just figured that I was not using the peanuts, so he relieved me off them is the most civilized fashion. I kept walking up to the temple, but picked up a brick, the monkies understood this perfectly, and I was not acosted again.

Amritsar

This was a fascinating city. It is the centre of the Sikh religion. Like anyone in Calgary can tell you, Sikhs are amongst the friendliest and most hospitible people to be found anywhere. We weren't cheated once, and people even gave us freebies (turbans). The Golden Temple is stunning. It has gleaming white marble buildings set around a sacred artificial lake. In the centre of the lake is a square golden temple. The effect is breathtaking.

Agra

What can I say. I spent the entire day breathless. I wondered through a living fairytale of a city with the love of my life. It don't get much better for a good ole boy like me.