tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60574477319388469792009-10-10T15:14:04.457+05:30There is nothing quite like it. Be it a mango-soaked tropical breeze or the rarefied bite of a mountaintop, the unique texture of it immediately exposes that you're far from home. It transmits to you the intimate sounds and smells of a place. It reminds of places been & it connects to places still to come. And by foot or by ski, by ship or by rickshaw, there is no better way to travel than with the wind on your face.McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-59474126625563086432009-10-06T23:56:00.002+05:302009-10-07T00:01:01.305+05:30

One of Chennai's lovely quirks of public space are these series of inspirational and motivational wall slogans in several areas of the city. This sequence is from along GN Chetty Road in Chennai as you approach Gemini Flyover and is one of the longest stretches. I find the concept of putting such words so dramatically in the public space fascinating. Because clearly some of the phrases are more

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com013.060416 80.249634tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-53239577740662164882009-05-14T02:11:00.005+05:302009-05-14T02:37:05.985+05:30

We are rapidly having to adjust to the new reality of our lives being in the public sphere and just how easy it is becoming to find information, and how integrated into our normal days it becomes. Where once, only the determined, the stalking (for good or bad) could find information, even online, it evolves into an everyday and we race to catch up. Even now, we joke (but only half) about Facebook

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-63293242514219095592008-12-01T01:38:00.004+05:302008-12-01T03:21:18.879+05:30

It is grey and dripping outside, like I feel. Or I don't know what I feel. The world is crazy this week and we struggle for normalcy and meaning.Bombay is under fire, on fire. We refresh our browsers compulsively, glued to the up-to-the-minute reports on the attacks of Shining India's most shining city. 195 dead when the shooting stopped and no more sense for 3 days of watching, reading and

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-75988132255910455652008-07-16T15:00:00.003+05:302008-07-16T15:49:42.992+05:30

Please hold and an operator will be with you shortly... You have been placed in priority sequence and this blog will be updated sooner if you stay on the line rather than hanging up and dialing again... So yeah, blogging kind of fell off just a wee bit. Can't believe it has been 10 months since I posted. Can’t believe my last post was on Pirates! My God! What have I been doing?My apologies for

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-60865894907866708382007-09-19T17:35:00.000+05:302008-12-10T15:14:13.943+05:30

Avast me hearties! Haul out th’ 10 pounders! Hoist the jolly roger! Shore the rigging and drop anchor! There be riches in this here exotic port, landlubbers ripe for the pillage. Smartly ya scalleywags and show em yer mettle!Arrr! T’is be Cap’n Morgan “Savage” Roberts to tell ye it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day.My pirate name is:Captain Morgan "Savage" Roberts Even though there's no

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-84670402971734734632007-09-19T14:09:00.000+05:302007-09-19T14:31:25.322+05:30

I am not sleeping well. My room is stuffy and thick, the heat of the afternoon still trapped in its walls, the fan just swirling warmth onto my face. I get up and do a pooja of sorts on my bed, vigorously shaking droplets of poured water out of my cupped hand onto my sheets, floor and pillow and lie back down. Momentarily cooled, I drift back to troubled dreams and sweat once more.But I have so

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-36600388108911042752007-09-13T15:51:00.000+05:302007-09-13T16:58:57.945+05:30

Justifying my laziness, my descriptions of life here in India would not be complete without a post on what I watch and catch on TV. Like anywhere, there are good programs and bad and plenty of commercials. Personally, I mostly watch movies and the Dicovery Channel.Here are some random things that have occured to me in those deadened hours.Movies:The old grunt-and-shoot action movie Predator

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-11302664462533007192007-09-12T14:09:00.000+05:302007-09-12T14:27:32.533+05:30

See my earlier post on learning the value of things at the wine shop the hard way. Here is an update on a recent purchase.I am buying 2 Kingfisher beer. I give him Rs 500.He gives me Rs 270 back. I look at it briefly, call him back over and point out it isn’t enough change.He tells me the price is Rs 220.Of course 500 minus 220 is not actually 270, but I let that one go and focus on the bigger

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-64093529915404231652007-09-06T14:45:00.000+05:302008-12-10T15:14:14.566+05:30

A big shout-out to Rob Burke who made this all happen! I am deliriously giddy as I relive all the fun and memories of my university experience.So back in University, one of my good friends Rob decided it would be a great idea to make a video game based on one our orientation rituals, the Climbing of the Greasepole. I think we were drinking. But good idea or bad idea, the idea eventually came to

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-9897340393200939812007-08-28T18:10:00.000+05:302007-08-28T18:14:10.906+05:30

The vast industry of hair salons, products and marketing is the reverse here in Chennai than in North America in that it is all geared predominantly for men rather than women. Supply and demand of course. Here boys and men coif their hair, spent hours in the salon, strut about town with dramatic moustaches and, ala 1950’s Hollywood, carry combs in their back pocket. Women on the other hand wear

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-49465970217029785632007-08-27T15:49:00.000+05:302007-08-27T18:03:38.296+05:30

Telling stories of my adventures to a friend the other day I suddenly really missed my crew in Vancouver and just how much and how well we took advantage of Vancouver’s incredible recreation potential. So I thought I’d do a quick photo blog of some of my favourite memories and what fun looks like back home.But rather than the best shots, I thought I’d pull up some of my best and humorous memories

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-92124532030327272362007-08-07T12:41:00.000+05:302007-08-16T12:13:41.608+05:30

You just have to laugh. Good thing I can generally sleep through anything.I happen to live a couple buildings down from a temple. OK, rewind that. In Chennai, that is like saying you live a couple buildings down from a Starbucks on the West Coast (if you can throw a rock in Vancouver and not hit a coffee shop, a sushi joint and a yoga studio, then you’re inside). Here, as a function of the

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-26252265572735465922007-07-06T17:34:00.000+05:302007-07-06T18:42:13.194+05:30

I'm exited! I'm heading up to Rajasthan for 5 days to see my family who has just arrived in India (this time my father and step-mother), and I am joining them up North tonight. Way too short, but I couldn’t get any more time off work and they couldn’t make it down to Chennai, so it is a lot of flying in a short period, 4 hops, but worth it to see them. They’re in Delhi now. Hope they’re liking it

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-76005890306240687022007-06-22T14:27:00.000+05:302007-06-22T14:48:39.817+05:30

The strangest, oddest fucking thing happened to me last night. It was surreal. I’m still shaking my head about it, trying to resolve the details.So it’s 3am and I’m sleeping. I’m not sleeping that soundly actually. I was up late reading, my brain is still spinning and I can’t seem to get comfortable. So I’m rolling a lot. But I’m mostly asleep listening to the washing patter of rain through the

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-9872123552003922712007-06-21T15:15:00.000+05:302007-06-21T15:22:07.180+05:30

We’ve been having rain. Actual water falling from the sky (that isn’t coming from a bucket off someone’s balcony). I’m excited.Now my friends in Vancouver, who are en masse reporting giddiness on their Facebook profiles for their current sunny spell, are surely dumbstruck and sputtering about such a comment. It is raining. And you’re happy about it? Yup.It isn’t so weird really. We haven’t had

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-67017454772087393532007-06-20T18:09:00.000+05:302007-06-21T12:50:42.238+05:30

Prayer flags are one of my favourite religious observances and a sight I’ve come to cherish and love in the Tibetan and Nepali world. Strung from every place, structure or object of height or significance, their 5-coloured squares of fabric are always fluttering in the wind. Big, small, vertical poles (Darchor) or long, sweeping strands (Lung Ta), alone or by the hundred, no scene in the

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-46730190299636278892007-06-15T12:17:00.000+05:302007-06-15T12:28:36.222+05:30

So Chennai finally decided to make wearing a helmet mandatory for all 2-wheelers (motorcycles and scooters). No, they weren’t before. Sorry mom and dad. On the plus side, traffic rarely goes more than 30 km an hour during the day. But despite a public disinterest, a court order prompted the government to finally decide to make it mandatory in the name of public safety. June 1, last Friday, was

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-27069097266064351332007-05-30T12:57:00.000+05:302007-05-30T13:24:35.011+05:30

Friends and family have all been asking me how I am doing with the heat, with the summer and the answer, very truthfully and surprisingly, is, “I’m doing fine with it”. I’m glad it’s summer, happy it is here and enjoying the days, not pining for cooler climes or a change of season. And that surprises me as much as anyone.I’ve got a few close friends here and talking this past weekend, we all

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-7075398840049591252007-05-30T12:43:00.000+05:302007-05-30T12:51:53.772+05:30

When I discovered that it was now impossible to get cold or even room-temperature water out of the taps (even the “cold” tap only gives very warm water) I realised that India’s summer, is an entirely unique animal. With temperatures rising weekly well into the 40’s, the summer heat, like everything in India, is not something to be fought and overcome; instead you adapt yourself to it, surrender

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-21540577088904967762007-05-25T11:38:00.000+05:302007-05-25T12:47:15.497+05:30

I am in Heaven. The fruit season has changed once again and it is now mango season. Mmmnn, mangos.Part of the streetscape here is fruit carts lining the roads with whatever is in season. First it was sweet, mini bananas on every corner. You can still get them, but their best days are past. In March it was watermelons, plump green piles and red wedges suddenly everywhere. Sadly, those have passed

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-51247729476614171412007-05-24T16:13:00.000+05:302008-12-10T15:14:15.564+05:30

“You know what, we haven’t seen a single wheel since we arrived,” comments my trekking partner Harsh one day.And as soon as he pointed that out, I knew he was totally right. In 10 days in the region, the last wheel we saw was on the airplane that dropped us of in Lukla – no wagons, bicycles, cars, trucks, carts or even a hula hoop. In a region dominated by sinuous, deep valleys and sharp peaks,

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-70923607182834440302007-05-17T18:16:00.000+05:302007-05-17T18:34:36.101+05:30

Harsh and I are sitting in the common room of our guesthouse poring over the trekking map in front of us. On it are strange and exotic names that are gaining comfort on our tongues and are becoming attached to real places and things on our journey. We revel in our new knowledge; discussing with fellow travellers of going to Loboche versus Dzongla or whether we can see Makalu from Kala Pattar

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-43530665495987976842007-05-15T17:17:00.000+05:302007-05-15T17:52:13.277+05:30

OK, so I've gotten my Nepal pics sorted, culled down and posted up on Flickr, so check them out. Links:Kathmandu pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/sets/72157600195488974/Trek pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/sets/72157600191376713/Island Peak mountaineering pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/sets/72157600213587148/For those who have trouble with Flickr due

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-70922381883824050612007-05-11T12:55:00.000+05:302007-05-11T14:19:51.806+05:30

As I was asked by someone the other day a recommendation of a place to go in Kathmandu, I thought I might as well post a list of my favourite spots and endorsements…My Favourite Spots in the Thamel district, Kathmandu(in no particular order…)- Helena's restaurant for it's 5th floor rooftop patio where you can order chai and look out over the city...- The New Orleans Cafe for its pretty courtyard

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057447731938846979.post-25589366990209145382007-05-09T11:33:00.000+05:302007-05-09T11:37:51.738+05:30

I’m home. And sweating.It is 38 degrees and 95% humidity. I think with the population of 7 million sweating, we must be pushing it up to 100. I shouldn’t whine though. Actually, outside, with a breeze, it isn’t too bad in the shade if you’re stationary. But I’m at work and the power is out, so no a/c, no fans and no breeze, where I’m sweating just thinking (with an obvious solution therefore

McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230019293929675659noreply@blogger.com0