Friday, April 29, 2005 at 16:02
Went to Bogot�'s awesome
International Book Fair yesterday. One of the largest events of its kind in the region. The two week event attracts over 400,000 visitors... massive! Explored around for 3 hours and still didn't see everything. Quite cool...
Of course, I was hoping that I would find some English books (international fair, right?). We followed the 'habla ingles' sign only to find a small section of books meant for people who want to
learn english (of course, silly me, what was I thinking?). And besides all the english dictionaries, grammar workbooks and children's story books, the only english books I could find were some technical ones. So I ended up buying 'Natural Resources and Violent Conflict' and a choice selection of other World Bank/IMF publications (woo hoo?) Ah well, I guess falling asleep every night is going to be that much easier... : )
Monday, April 25, 2005 at 15:06
If Bogot� has been growing on me these past few days, then Saturday was the day of falling in love. Magical day, up at Monserrate and then later at Candelaria.
Monserrate is a beautiful mountain overlooking downtown Bogot� with a historic church located on top and a handful of other great ways to kill time (or line your stomach with some yum grease). It's located at about 500m above Bogot�, making it about 3100m above sea level. Well high, well wicked. 5 minute Teleferico (aka cable car) ride up watching the city breathtakingly unravel in front of you: 5600 pesos.
2 hour trek down in the rain, wobbly knees, dizzy from the heights, intoxicated by the smell of wet earth, stopping for cervezas at a little shack playing salsa music: pricless
Not the best day for photographs, thanks to the rain, but what a day! Muy bacano!
Friday, April 22, 2005 at 16:11
Somehow there just aren't enough convincing approaches or solutions to global poverty. I'm personally not a big fan of the development aid mentality. The supposed 'trickle down effect' of globalization mostly has me disillusioned. CSR-yada-yada is overrated. If you're looking for a fresh approach to the challenges of the developing world, you have gotta (and I repeat, gotta) read 'The Fortune at the Bottom of The Pyramid'. CK Prahlad, the author, builds capitalism's best case ever. Using a wealth of compelling case studies from countries like India, Brazil, Mexico etc Prahlad urges the private sector to serve the world's poor. He shows how there is profit to be had while tapping into entrepreneurial capabilities at the bottom of the economic pyramid, creating wealth, enabling dignity and choice for all and finding sustainable solutions to global challenges. Check out the review on
Amazon. Worth every rupee I paid for it, I recommend it highly. My pick for the book of the year.
at 09:01
... until I bought a copy of 'Plan B' mag, the guide to what's on in Bogota. I was nearly paralysed in shock when I found out that
John Digweed (yes him, arguably one of the most influential and brilliant DJs ever)was playing in Bogota on Apr 15. Notice how I say 'was'. As in past tense. As in a week ago. Noooooo!!!! Nahi!!!!. How could I be so stupid??? I missed seeing him play in Hong Kong, now I just missed seeing him play in Bogota... how am I going to live with myself.
Thursday, April 21, 2005 at 12:56
Learning a language in a foreign environment where most people dont speak your language is a fantastic experience. Being stripped of your ability to communicate (conventionally) can be quite humbling. Suddenly, the number of tools you're used to working with in human relationships has dropped drastically. Your personal style, humour, expression, creativity is challenged as you struggle to find new ways of letting it all come to the surface and connect with people. Makes for quite a bit of motivation though. Like being tossed in a swimming pool when you don't know how to swim. Best way to learn a language, they say (what say, Fuzzy?)
Another thing I love about the experience is the way it makes you look at the world. Suddenly, your perception comes alive and you soak in eveything around you with a hunger and fascination that is almost child like. Observing every little thing around you. Your mind working overtime - taking it all in, asking questions, making associations, finding patterns. Gotta enjoy it while it lasts.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at 15:27
On Saturday afternoon I had my first glimpse of Colombian countryside. Went to Chia, a small town about an hour out of North Bogota. We were in Chia to visit an NGO that runs a home for children, mostly orphans and victims of domestic violence/sexual abuse. While Javier had a lengthy chat with the director of the NGO to talk about how we (he rather) can help fundraise for them (Aakash Sethi, I hope you're smiling) I mostly daydreamed and took in the saturday afternoon countryside laziness. People playing 'tejo'... a popular rural game that involves lot of rowdiness, shouting and beers. Loud music from the local watering holes. Street food. Brilliant 'empanadas' in someone's frontyard, a guy who claimed to have the meanest chilli in all of Colombia (and he wasn't joking)...great afternoon...
Monday, April 18, 2005 at 16:26
Billiards (billares) is pretty popular here. Lots of dodgy parlours around. Surprisingly everyone here prefers billiars over pool, even the younger kids. In India, billiards is more a 50-somethings club sport. Anyhow. After a warm-up with the cue playing pool last week with Dan and Javier, I had a go at billiards this Saturday. Definitely a lot more skill and patience involved when compared to pool. After the game, I contemplated changing my name to Naaz Casi. Casi means almost in Spanish. Because that's what I heard after most of my shots. 'Casi!' Always casi. I was always almost there but never quite. Naaz Casi. Why not. Not too far from Naaz Kazi. Btw, I also learnt recently that 'Kazi' means work in Swahili. Hmm.
Friday, April 15, 2005 at 17:13
Everyone here is so polite. Greetings are a big part of the culture it seems. I think I'm slowly getting in the groove now. Every time I leave home, there's a long exchange with the watchman. Buenos Dias (or Tardes or Noches depending on time of day, and you never ever mix it up!). Como estas. Blah Blah. Then he opens the door for you. Then you say muchas gracias, maybe throw in two bits about the weather, say have a nice day, hasta luego blah blah and you're finally on your way. A ritual that you would follow even if you're seeing him for the third time in the day...
Everyone's always wishing you a nice day and thanking you profusely and smiling a lot and nodding their heads and what not. Which for me is nice... but just different. And sometimes it just takes me by surprise. Like the other day, we were at the supermarket. A lady came up to us to promote some product. Javier patiently let her finish her sentence, then smiled, then did the customary 'no, muchas gracias' followed by a 'tu eres muy amable'. Which translates into 'you are very kind'. Now I was just standing there, a tad shellshocked. 'Javier, did you just say "tu eres amable" to that lady?'. Of course he did.
If I was in India, I probably would have just avoided eye contact with the sales lady and run off in the other direction. Which is a far cry from this patient and considerate "you are most kind" business : )
Ah, cultural differences I tell you, just lovely...
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 08:36
There are some things I always associate with the cities I've lived in. Places that I can count on to find in every other street corner in every other neighbourhood. In Chennai, it's the ubiquitous 'tea kadai' and 'PCO/STD/ISD'. In Bombay, it's 'vada pav' and sandwiches on the streets. In Hong Kong, I thought the easiest things to find were Hang Seng Bank/HSBC ATMs and the little fish balls & soup noodles joints. In Bogota, so far, it seems to be the 'peluqueria' (salon/hairdresser). Put high image consciousness/grooming together with relatively inexpensive labour and voila, you have not just a peluqueria on every street (sometimes several), but a national pastime! So the other day, I was at the peluqueria to get a manicure (very Colombian). Now, while I was sitting and waiting my turn, there was this shiny happy voluptous pharmacy blonde colombian girl bouncing around discussing her latest boob job with the (very gay) hairdressers at the peluqueria. Now for me, this is culture shock territory. I've been told by all my Colombian friends that plastic surgery is very very common here, but still, I cannot help feeling terribly amused and also terribly embarrased while this conversation (with some touching & feeling) unfolds in front of me. Can't laugh. Must not look embarrassed. I quickly reach for the magazine next to me and bury my face it it. Aaaaarrggghhhh... topless lady... next page, topless lady... ok, I am just going to have to get used to this..
Tuesday, April 05, 2005 at 16:45
On Sunday we were at a nice Foodcourt, one of those massive places with everything from Argentinian to Greek to Mongolian food. My spice hankering taste buds (which have been a bit starved in Colombia) spot the 'oriental' joint and I decide to give it a shot. Of course, the place is called 'Mister Lee' and unabashedly fuses Chinese and Japanese cuisine. What's more interesting is the fusion of Oriental with Mexican. For instance, I tried their 'Sushi Wraps' - little bits of crab meat and veggies wrapped in tortilla bits.. made to resemble sushi! Neat, huh! Who needs seaweed when you have tortillas right? Lovely...But my personal favourite on the fusion cuisine radar was this gem...
Monday, April 04, 2005 at 16:17
The new pad. Home sweet home for the next year. Interesting little place. Extremely well furnished. Almost looks like a deluxe hotel suite. From the 19th century maybe : ) Quite lovely.
Even has a little fireplace (that we havent used yet). A good indicator that Bogota is perfect weather is the fact that most houses have no fans, air conditioning, heating, etc. Neat, huh.
Our landlandy is an interesting character. She has all these strange things around the house. From Indian artifacts to paintings and even this funny plant that we lovingly call the 'onion plant'...
Saturday, April 02, 2005 at 13:39
Been in Bogota for nearly a week now. The weather (esp after Norway) is positively Utopian! (check right hand corner of my blog for weather report if you dont believe me!) : ) Lots more tales of adventures to come soon. But let me do a quick recap of first impressions.
It's a lovely city....
The people are beautiful...
Everyone seems very image conscious... clothes make-up hair gel the whole deal...
Everyone speaks spanish, everything is in Spanish, so I need to learn quick...
Love how there's so much grass everywhere!
Transmilenio rocks (more on that later)...
What little I've seen of the city (mostly the North) so far is very neat, orderly and pretty!
My flatmate is loco and lots of fun! : )
My work mates for the next year..
Just signed up today for Spanish lessons. I start on Monday! Really looking forward to it... need to get this language figured out... the other day... I meant to say huevos (eggs) and I ended up saying huevas (testicles)...OOOOPS...tricky tricky : D
at 12:50
Feb/Mar 2005. 5 weeks in Europe. My first time. Great memories. Norway will always be close to my heart. Breathtaking wintery landscapes. Like chocolate drenched in vanilla icing. Mmmm. A week in Oslo and three crazy weeks in Kongsberg with people from 15 countries! Was sad to say goodbye to all these cool people, and I have to admit, sad to say goodbye to beautiful Norway.
Followed by a week of holidaying in Europe. After India and Indian Railways and what not, it's just way too easy to get around in Europe. Vive La Schengen! (But I have to admit, I miss not having more stamps in my passport ;) I love the concept of getting in a car and just driving across an international border (unimaginable for instance in India). Ah, and of course, Vive la Autobahn!!! Like for instance the other day, waking up in Stuttgart, getting in the car with Chris, Katarina and Twatty, driving to France (Strasbourg) for breakfast (of eclairs, croissants and cafe au lait of course!)...drive back to Germany (Karlsruhe) for a really heavy duty lunch... then hop on a train... and 10pm...coffee in Brussels... three countries in one day. Woohoo! I like Brussels, an interesting mix of grunge and romance. And it is easily one of the most multicultural cities I've seen for far. Was nice catching up with Volodja, Robin and of course Bhattu and his neat Belgian Beer Tour : )
And just look at that sky, perfect weather!
Quick stop in Rotterdam. AI office, the legendary Dudok cafe, and a game of chess. (I won, I won, I won!!! sorry, Twatty...) Finally, a night in Amsterdam with Makhi, Lon and Karan. An interesting combination of bumper cars and what not at a fair... followed by a walk through the red light district and : ) Back to Stuttgart the next day... and it's time again... to pack... and head to Colombia..
at 12:31
Chrissy and Katarina. You guys are best hosts. Muchas gracias for a brilliant time in Germany. That drive from Frankfurt to Stuttgart on the 18th night, it was one of those moments, those revelations on friendship. Having the two of you drive two hours to come and pick me up with your little 'Hilton' placard. Just when I thought it couldn't better, I see the 'sneaky' surprise waiting in the car! C�st la vie! 12 hours later, add Goddess Helena Bartoneski and Twat Features and voila, it's a recipe for Friendship Futon Heaven! Thanks so much for making it Helen, was so good to see you!
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