Agra

I saw the Taj Mahal. What an amazing place. It is just spectacular. When I get home I will post my pictures. Well, not all of them I took well over 100 pictures of the place! The Taj has made this whole trip worth the effort and pain! :) Off to Varanasi tonight on the overnight train. 3 days there and then back to Delhi.
I am looking forward to being home...

Jaipur Day 2

We had a good day. We went to a paper factory, textile factory and a pottery factory. We met some local people and had tours of each place by the people that run them. We then went to see the Hawa Mahal. Interesting place, although, it too, is falling apart. It is sad really.

I am back feeling like I want to leave. I need fresh air! I need a good meal. When I buy groceries I want them to be clean! Oh well, when in Rome, as I keep saying.

Tomorrow we leave for the Taj Mahal. We are catching a train at 5am. I think the trip is about 5 hours. That should be a breeze! I am looking forward to the Taj and we all have agreed the 750 Rp fee to get in is worth it. How can you come all this way and not go in?

I am off now. I am only paying for 30 minutes of Internet time. I am going to go relax. Update again when I can.

Pushkar

We left this morning and not a moment too soon. This little town in the mountains is the Holy City. Interesting rules like, men and woman cannot embrace in public. You cannot take pictures of anyone in the lake. This is the holy city of India.

Right.

There are drugs on every corner and anything else you may want to get into it. Apparently it has the highest rate of HIV in the country. Lots of foreigners go there just for the drugs and sex. The dirty gypsy look is high fashion. It had an under tone that I happen is behind us.

We took our last bus trip. 4 hours. It was the express bus so it only stop 92 times! The roads are fun if you are into racing and playing chicken. We are now in Jaipur. It is another crazy city. I was a bit disappointed with the Hawa Mahal. It is not such a grand palace. It is right in the middle of the chaos!

Our time is drawing to a close and I am looking forward to heading home. However, there is still the Taj Mahal and Varanasi. I am looking forward to both. And with any luck Paris.



This picture was taken by Taren. It is us at the top on a mountain. There is a temple behind us and we climbed all 2000 steps to see the sunrise. We were worn out and wondered why the hell we did this. A 5am climb in the dark up the side of a mountain. In the end it was worth it. One good memory from Pushkar...

In the picture left to right... Tom; me; Krishna; Sarah; Shivani; Taren

Udaipur India

We are on day 9 of our journey. This city, Udaipur, is a beautiful place. The Lake Palace is amazing and is the home of the current Maharahan - I am not sure I have that term correct but it means he is the King of King's. His Palace is an oasis of peace in this very busy city. Having said that, I must say, that Udiapur is actually peaceful in comparison to the places we have been. Perhaps it is the lake, or the gardens, or simply that I am coming accustom to the many tuk tuk's and motorcycles.

Tomorrow morning our journey will continue. We all meet at 5am to catch the train to Pushkar. I believe it will be a 5 hour trip. We are all thrilled that, on this ride, we will have access to a washroom! It takes some planning to ride a bus for 10 hours with only one pee break!

Today, I am taking it easy. I am attempting to get rid of my cold. It has become a night time cough and I would like to shake it off. Everyday is so full of activity and rest, is really, not part of the agenda. I left Taren at the Palace and I headed back to the hotel. I met up with some others from our group and had lunch. I had a brownie with ice cream! Is that a lunch? It was a fortune at 250 RP's! Buying any kind of imported drink is very expensive (before you get on my back about having a brownie while I am suffering with a cold, that is the exception. We had a great breakfast at the home of our tour leader. And, for the most part, I am eating well).

But enough of my lunch choices, back to the adventure of India.

The strangeness of India is starting to change. The other day while shopping, one of the girls casually said to Taren, "watch out there is a cow coming". They both kept on shopping without giving that a thought! I laughed and thought, you know you have accepted it when warning someone of an approaching cow, while shopping, has become common place.

Still, I find myself in amazement of the history, the people and the activity. As I take in the country I have been struck by the two extreme opposites that exist here. The ancient history, traditions, temples, the monarchy and then there is the impact of the modern world. It is like these two parts have collided and the chaos was born from it. I think the Indian people are faced with a choice. Let go of the past and embrace the future or remain in this chaos. Or, perhaps they can find a way to merge the two and truly create a unique and vibrant lives for themselves.



This photo of me was taken the other day in Jodhpur. We were in the Vishnu community and these children took a liking to me. They had many questions for me. Where was I from? What was my name? What was my religion? I had easy answers for the first two questions, but they did not understand that I had "no religion".

As our journey continues, I find I am more and more open to the culture and this experience. I had my difficult moments with this, accepting that people live in such poverty and filth. I was warned, before I left, but it is something you simply have to experience and then work out for yourself.

I have lots of pictures. I do not, however, have a way to get them off my camera! The picture posted above is one I took off Taren's blog. She has the whole set up so she can upload pictures. Check it out as we often have similar shots and she has some pretty good ones of me and her and our India trek.


Taren's Wander Lust Blog

Until I can blog again...

7 hours

I am ready to go. I think. I still feel like I have a cold and my anxiety level is so high, I needed a kick in the ass to get out of bed! I am packed and I have all the things I believe I need. Now, if I can just calm my nerves.

I think part of the anxiety is that I am not in control of when I leave. That is why I love road trips. You can get ready, take your time, and then leave whenever you want. I am also all worked up about the unknown. Actually, the truth is, I am worked up about losing all my creature comforts. I like my bed and my safe zone here in Toronto. I know my way around and I know what I need to do and when. Why would I leave all this comfort, to travel in a foreign place, where I can get sick from drinking the water? Oh, right, because you only live once and having some adventure, is good for the soul.

Apparently, this is exactly what I need. No doubt, in 2 days, I will be having a great time and all this will seem ridiculous. I am looking forward to seeing Taren and I am looking forward to the adventure. I guess I just wish the adventure could happen from the comfort of my own bed!

India Images

This picture triggered an old familiar feeling inside of me. It is a tipping point of sorts that can take me onto the road of depression. I am saddened by this picture because I imagine this man’s life to be sad. One wasted in poverty and uselessness (I just reread this and I wanted to point out that my comment is not the he was or is wasted and useless just that sometimes our lives can be... or at least it can feel or appear that way). It makes me remember that I wanted my life to be fulfilling and worth something. I think that I am going to make the choice not to be dragged down by the feeling. I will feel it and nothing more.

Next week at this time I will be in Delhi with a great friend of mine. I will see first hand how the second largest population on Earth lives. I will get sick at some point and get over it. I will be tired and up but not down. I will not be down because I will be having an adventure. Something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will take pictures of old sad men and I will think of ways to improve the human condition. Who knows, maybe when I get home I'll start a website.


Check out Jennifer Wells's blog on India (photo taken by Jennifer Wells) and Taren's on Thailand. But come back to mine and comment and read more things.

At Home

I am at home today. I have a day off and I am not feeling that well. I woke up in full denial passing off the cough and stuffy nose as nothing more than a bad thought in my head. Then I recalled a phrase by Eckhart Tolle, which in part is “what you resists persists!” So I decided not to resist. I admit, I have a cold and I have to be in tip top shape not only for dose two of the Dukoral but to get on the plane.

Lucky for me I have great friends. I am taking Alli-max and I bought some good food. I bought some junk food too; I can’t go cold turkey! I am staying in and I am working out the financially details of my trip. I have no idea how much money to bring, which of course, is a moot point considering I have a limited budget in the first place.

I want Rupees (INR), USD and some Euros. I also want to pay off my PC Mastercard and make sure I can pay the rent when I get back. All doable.

I am not looking forward to the 16 to 18 hours of travel time but I am looking forward to riding an elephant in Jaipur. I am also looking forward to seeing Taren. I am also looking forward to seeing if the ride from the airport to the hotel is as harrowing as Justin made it out to be.

In the immediate future, I am looking forward to getting better fast. I am all ready to go with the exception of the INR’s. My plan is to get those tomorrow after work or maybe even later today.

I think I will go and start packing!

India

I have been planning on tripping off to India (click the picture but come back and read my blog). I am leaving on November 7 for 21 days. I have asked everyone in asking range about India and what I should expect. I have had lots of advice and some great tips from everyone from the employees at MEC to famous world travellers (well one famous world traveller). I have purchased a small pharmacy, a new digital camera, cargo pants and more tissue than I would use in a year. I also have a rolling piece of luggage I borrowed. I am going to purchase a pair of Keen Sandals and that should set me on my way.

Since my Wanderlust friend started me off on this journey I have come to learn that India is overwhelming; I will return a different person. I tell myself that I am okay with that, when I consider the past few years a different person inside me will be welcome. I am also telling myself that I can manage the poverty and the dirty water. I am telling myself that I can accept another culture and I will be okay seeing dead cows floating down the Ganges. I am telling myself that armed with this information I will be able to avoid the meltdowns that others have had. I will walk in eyes wide and take in India’s amazing and ancient culture. I will be okay.

I wonder. Spain and one day in Morocco years ago will not compare. As I sit here typing this I am thinking about seeing the amazing sights. I cannot begin to imagine poverty on that level or the other things I have heard about. It is simply not part of my life experience. One well-travelled friend told me not to be one of those people that comes back and gets pissed at people that complain about their lattes. I will endeavour not too but I am not sure I can make any promises. I hope she can forgive me.

With exactly two weeks to go I am coasting into the experience. I am ready to go. I need to take the Dukoral vaccine tomorrow and then again in 7 days. I have all my shots; the Typhoid vaccine knocked me down but I am back up and ready. I am not sure there is anything else I can do to prepare.

My pictures coming soon and my Departures in 14 days and counting…

Responsibility

That title makes me want to crawl under a rock. Who really wants responsibility? It is really annoying. The thought of blaming someone else or our government is so tempting. The truth is it's all my fault. Sometimes we just do things without thinking of the consequences. Sometimes we act on impulse and sometimes it's just a lack of planning. Regardless, when you decide to take responsibility for every aspect of your life it is somehow painful and liberating all at the same time.

Imagine that. It's not the governments fault or your parents or some random stranger. It is your fault, or better still your responsibility. You may want to argue the point with me and feel free, I'll listen, but it is futile. Just accept the fact that it is your responsibility. The upside to that is that you have the power. You can choose to change directions.

On a larger scale what I find frustrating is that we make things more difficult for those of us that do take responsibility. We create rules and laws with the mistaken idea that these laws make it more difficult for the less responsible. The reality is it just causes the responsible more time and energy. Here is a news flash, the irresponsible don't care about our rules, they are after all, irresponsible. So, we can create laws and rules and do all kinds of things but the bottom line is if we don't hold ourselves and others accountable the entire exercise is moot.

Geez, where is all this coming from? Well I'll tell you. Last night I called the Toronto Parking Authority and had a vehicle towed off the property of the complex where I live. This unknown person had decided that he could park his vehicle anytime for hours on end in our courtyard. The vehicle blocked the entrance to our laundry room and an emergency access route. The person had been ticketed once before and given a warning letter. Still they park. What really got my goat was that many of my neighbours complained bitterly about this. Why did this person think they could park there? The rest of us have to pay to park on the property! What makes this guy think he can just pull up here, park his car and walk away?

The short answer is we do. We have not enforced our own rules. There is no accountability. So, I decided to take action instead of just being part of the whine and complain patrol. Why are we so afraid to take action? In the end I did. I had enough. The rules - no parking you will be towed away - are posted very large and very clear. On top of that, they were given a warning letter and ticketed once. So, last night I watched as the vehicle was lifted up and towed away. I did not feel good about it and if I encountered the person I would probably feel even worse, I am Canadian after all. But, when I think about it with a clear mind I know that this is what responsibility is. The courage to not only accept the consequences of our own actions but to stand and take action when required.

Is it cold?

I think my internal temperature gage is broken. This morning I noticed lots of people wearing coats. What's with that? I am walking around in a short sleeve polo style shirt and jeans wishing I had shorts on! I look to the men for cues on this as women are always freezing (my friend's wife used to crawl into my fire place to stay warm). The men are also all wrapped up! Coats on zipped to their throats some are even wearing woolly hats!

I must admit I packed a sweat shirt into my backpack just in case. But when I exited the subway at St. George I was glad I had not put it on. I found it quite warm on the subway. When I got to work the AC was off, why? I turned it on, although I will adjust it as the day goes on.

I have to say I wish I felt the cold. The AC is now off in my building at home and that makes for warm nights and uncomfortable days. I figure I wont be comfortable again until next May when the AC goes back on. It is far easier to warm up than cool down. Fans just blow hot air around and unless I want to buy and install an AC unit there is not much I can do.

So I sweat. Too bad that doesn't lead to weight loss!

Gay Marriage

I believe we are all equal. It's pretty simple. We are all human, therefore; we all have the same rights and freedoms. Of course my view is not shared across the board. I just read this article in The Toronto Star. I suppose you should be careful what you wish for. However, I do not really see what the issue is. They split all their assets and came to an amicable settlement. So move on. If you really want a divorce do what the Carnies do and ride the merry-go-round backwards.

In response to Andrea

Andrea, thank you so much for pointing out the other day at dinner that I have waffled on the Starbucks issue. Yes, about 4 months into my Chai free life I caved. When I went to Virginia in June I stopped into a Starbucks and that was fatal. The American Chai Latte was always a bit different in flavour and this small difference got me hooked all over again.

Therefore; Andrea, I have not saved any money. I have returned to my old ways; I am spending away my future on a 16oz steamed tea. Then, this morning, I dropped into the SB at Queen and Yonge. They were almost out of soy, however, the Barista said she had just enough....I was concerned. Then she pulled out SILK SOY! I was thrilled. They had to go out and buy soy to bridge the gap in their inventory and they bought the original Soy brand; Silk. Was I ever so excited to have my original drink!

Then I took a sip. It was a betrayal all over again Andrea, but in reverse! It just does not taste the same and same is what I am looking for. In this uncertain life I crave something that I can count on. I need to know that everyday I can get and enjoy the same drink I had enjoyed the day before. I don't want something new and different. New and different is for careers and cars. Same. I crave sameness and SB is messing with that.

So, Andrea, still I struggle. I would like to give it all up but I just can't. I toy with myself and say I will not have one until the weekend. But then something happens, like they ask me to work overtime. I say yes and then I need to the sameness of my Chai to work through the extra hours. Or, I get bored, which is fatal for me. I need to have or do something so I go get a Chai.

Today, I am already considering getting another Chai at lunch. I need to experience the sameness of the drink I love, or have come to love. Or is it the drink I have trained myself to love. I am not sure but regardless Andrea, I think we should leave that alone and accept and understand the need for sameness. Today at lunch I will set the world back on its axis, get the train back on track and set myself down the path of sameness by ordering a Chai with the new and different Soy.

Andrea, now that you understand my need for sameness I am sure you will refrain from pointing out the contradictions of my life. I realize I pour it all out here on my Blog but that does not mean you have to draw attention to my obvious flip flops. I am always up for close scrutiny and confrontation but not about me or my life. However, I understand why you would do what you did. If the tables were turned I would have done the same thing.

Pandas

I had to post these pictures. These Pandas are in China, safe and protected. The photgrapher is a friend of a friend, although I did meet him via Skype. Amazing pictures and more on his site.

Check out his site Adam Martin.

You know...

I just cannot seem to get interested in much these days. I look at The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail but most of the articles have no appeal. I read the article on Pranknet and most of the comments as well. I also read the entire write up on The Smoking Gun as well. I am not sure what appealed to me about that story. The odd behaviour of the so called pranksters or the array of comments from the readers. Either way, I think, like most things it is a case of cause and effect or more specifically action and consequence. If you are going to trick people, be prepared for the backlash.

Still, for the most part I cannot get into reading the news. The political stuff just seems like the same old same old. Or maybe I just don't understand it. I also get tired of the same old debates. When are people going to get that we either have equal rights for all human beings or we don't? Right now we don't. It is that simple. Until we do people are going to fight for it, as we should. Why we don't is a mystery to me and leads me to conclude that we have not learned from our history.

The other thing I review is TMZ's website. I think that is a combination of boredom and the fact that it has small articles with pictures! I do this at work and short stories and pictures work well. I noticed this today on MJ and my friends and I are stumped. Who decided to have a MJ tribute concert in Austria? It seems rather random.

So, as I surf the web I feel very superficial. I cannot engage in all the debates over the economy (I am left wondering why we still listen to or care what the "experts" have to say. None of them had any idea of the obvious pending doom. And it was obvious. The timing may not have been the inevitability of it was. My friend and I figured it out about 6 years ago when we discussed sub prime mortgages). I do not really want to read about murders and yet another misuse of public funds. The strike is over so no more interesting things to read on that topic and that has left me browsing headlines and not finding much. Ho hum.

100 World Wonders

This caught my eye - Carlsbad Caverns. My Father liked caves and we once went to Ruby Falls. Which was cool for the falls, the cave and the fact that Ruby was one of my Dad's nicknames.

I am still checking out the 100 wonders to see before you die list. I do not think I have seen any of them....I have some work to do!

Update: I have been to 2 of the 100 places. Niagara Falls and San Fransisco.

Sunday at Work

When I have time on my hands I tend to do very little. I have spent most of the day, today, doing quizzes on the "How Stuff Works" website. I have only scored over 80% on one quiz, the tattoo quiz, which came as a surprise to me seeing as I do not have any. On the dog quiz I got 50%.....things that make you go hmmmmmmm, given my background. I did, however, score 80% on the dog breeding quiz, so perhaps that redeems me somewhat.

I have also looked at the pictures on Time Magazines website. They have some great pictures. It inspired me to want to go travel the world and check it out. Odd, because most of the pictures reflect the war and conflict that is going on; all those poor displaced souls in Pakistan.

Other than that I have been sitting here not doing much of anything. I am staying on top of things but not doing any thing that would propel me forward. I have two books with me but I do not feel like reading. One is on CSS, DHTML and AJAX. Not really up for studying. The other is a novel that is a bit tough to read so I am avoiding it - The Order of Good Cheer; I truly hope it gets better.

While I have been here it has poured rain and been nice and sunny. Makes me wonder what the walk home will be like. I am craving some good junk food from Noah's on Bloor. Not sure if I will wander out or not....maybe I will.

On Thursday I had the pleasure of meeting George Hunter and his Wife Pat. George is one of Canada's leading photographers and at 87 still has an iron hand shake. It was a great morning. My friend Barb, who brought me along, and I had the honour of looking through some of George's work. The man goes beyond talent (I have no idea what that means....what I am sayinig is I loved his work, truly incredible). He told us the story about his fall from an airplane. Lucky for George the struts on the airplanes wing saved his life. Despite falling out of the plane and finding himself caught by the struts, he did not let go of his camera! Both George and his camera made it safely back into the plane. My Father would have loved that story!




Check out George's website.

Oh the drama! When a business starts bugging you to pay up on your installments before it is due, or within a day of the due date, a little flag should pop up. I feel for the people impacted by this unscrupulous business woman but really, "she felt sick to her stomach and cried every day for a week after her less-than-ideal wedding." I guess it is really about the flowers and food!

Having said that, based on the Star's article Anna Parisotto is less than honest. If she was being upfront she would have called the Brides not sent emails - the cowards way. And she still could have offered her time to assist in finding supplies and help with the set up. I understand the stress of going out of business and the fine line that it sometimes creates. But like many things in life, how one handles these situations speaks volumes of our character.

Mental Note

Stop driving over 200 KPH.....

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/678241

I was stressed when I had to go and deal with a speeding ticket. I was caught doing 28 over in an 80 zone. This guy is facing jail time!

CUPE Strike

I have to toss my 2 cents in regarding the Toronto CUPE Strike. Get back to work! I am not versed in all the issues but when it comes to sick days I do not support CUPE’s wish list. Sick days are there if you get sick. If you do not get sick, great you don’t need them. They are not yours to accumulate and then be paid out. Those are called vacation days. The following is from CUPE’s propaganda, which was given to me by a CUPE member:

Many of us have worked for decades on the understanding that we have a sick plan and would be paid for a portion of unused sick days when we retire. We believed the City’s promise.

I find it hard to believe that many of you were operating on a belief when you have a signed contract. Regardless, you do have a sick plan, if you are sick you are paid. Very few of us have that kind of plan!

The payout for accumulated sick days – which has stringent rules – is the only severance we receive when we retire from the City of Toronto, if we are eligible.

Again, I do not support the idea of accumulating sick days in order to have them “paid out” at a certain point. If you are sick those days are there, if you are not (sick) then move along they are not your days. When you retire you have a pension to live on. And although I am not sure, I imagine the CUPE pension is far better than the on I’ll be getting!

Local 416 and Local 79 members can only get paid sick time after six months of
employment.

So what’s your point? Most companies have wait times before benefits kick in. Why should the taxpayers of Toronto pay someone for sick days within the first 6 months of employment?

In Local 79, only full-time city workers have a payout provision. Members in the
city’s homes for the aged have paid sick days with no payout.

I am sure you have guessed my position on this one. The full-time city workers are lucky and two wrongs do not make a right!

About 10,000 part-time child care, public health, hostel and recreation workers
have no paid sick days at all. Local 79 has been trying for a decade to improve
this situation. Now we are fighting just to hold on to what is already there for
some members.

As a private sector employee I never had paid sick days. However, my employer used to manage sick days on a case-by-case basis. Having said that, I have no problem agreeing to a limited number of paid sick days, however no accumulation. Again these days are not earned by an employee they are a benefit. No one asks to accumulate other benefits like massage or dental coverage. Let’s just add up the benefits I did not use and then have them paid out to me!

You would have to work for 15 years without taking one sick day to earn the
maximum payout after 25 years of service. That means no illness, no having to
stay home to take care of a sick child or an ailing parent for 15 years.

Again, your point is? I think it is great that you can call in “sick” and then stay home and care for your child or parent. That is an amazing benefit that most of us do not share.

Full-time workers in Local 79 and Local 416 must work 10 years before they are
eligible for any payout. The percentage of banked sick days that will be paid
and the maximum to which they will be paid grows with the number of years of
service.

This is an awesome benefit that they should be grateful for. However, spreading this across CUPE is unrealistic and not something I am willing to pay for.

The proposal made by the city to replace our current provisions is a substandard
short-term disability plan.

Like most employees I think you should be offered a reasonable package either paid by your employer or a co-pay plan. If the STD plan is substandard then fight for a good one, which I am and I believe most Torontonians would get behind.

To wrap this up, if you want support then fight for something we can get behind. You have great jobs and you are paid well. The odds of you ever getting fired are slim. Your sick day requests are, simply, unacceptable.

I just watched this video on Global’s website. Ann Dembinski needs a wake up call. Her comments, referring to the Mayor, “if he has time to discuss the details of bargaining with 3 million Torontonians he should get himself to the bargaining table”. What was that Ann? The Mayor is obligated to inform us, the people who pay your salary and clearly he has been at the table. After hearing Ann I have even less support for CUPE.

When I walk past the CUPE workers with signs that say “We work for you Toronto”. I want to yell then get back to work! I do not want to pay you for accumulated days that you have not earned. I am willing to provide a fair and reasonable insurance plan that covers you if you get sick. But shake your collective head. No one gets accumulated sick days. You either use your insurance or you don’t and most of us hope we don’t! Now GET BACK TO WORK!