namaskara, the eagle has landed!

blogging has been terribly difficult to do here. you'd think that the country famous for tech support, that the city nicknamed the silicon frikin valley of india would have unbeatable internet connection. it doesn't. i'm only paying 10 rupees/hour (~$0.25) but i'm sitting in a small stall... on a plastic chair... on a computer dirty with porn history. and it's hot! and breakfast is in less than an hour. so... some things so far:

we've been learning a great deal about the state of this city. not in terms of the state karnataka, but how the city runs (or limps...). the sidewalks are deadly, but as soon as you set foot on the paved road you risk your life. cars don't stop here, they just swerve. after crossing the street on the first day, i swore i would never come to this country again. i hated it. now i'm slightly used to it and have been having better luck with rickshaw drivers. anyway, this city, as bustling as it is seems like everything needs to be repaired. the environmental support group we're working with says that in 20 yrs 40% of the pop will have moved out because of the lack of drinking water. coca cola is more accessible than that! can you believe that?!

more memories: while waiting to enter a hindu cave temple i told this woman that she had a beautiful child, she didn't understand me so i mumbled that i wish i could just say that, then this girl next to me translated it to the woman and all three of us just... smiled (forgive the lack of eloquence but this "cafe" is super loud and not meant for the intent blogger). another baby moment, i was looking at postcards in this fantastic bookshop on mg road called gangarams when the owner came up to me with a child in his hands. i was cooing at the babe and so the owner faced him toward me and scooted him close until our foreheads touched :] yesterday we went to this place called city market (like pike place for locals x 1 crore). a vendor asked us to take a picture of him and his wife. he put his arms around her and dawwww i melted. it was gorgeous. couples here are so infuriating. there's no snogging or ass grabbing. there's straight up puppy love everywhere! every age.

also at city market. i was looking at shoes. the owner of the stall said, here let me, let me! and so i let him put the shoe on my calloused mosquito bitten foot. as i was admiring the pair i heard someone singing "baby, baby, baby ohhh" and it was mr. shoe man! i looked him straight in the eye and asked "is that justin beiber?!" he laughed, nodded and asked me, "are you brazillian?"

there's a bridge i have to cross under everyday to get anywhere from our hostel. it smells like piss and poo. why? because people piss and poo everytime they pass by. like they're making an offering to a piss poo spirit. they bulldozed through that area, but you can still smell the shit. ugh.

yesterday we went to a hardrock cafe esque, anglicized italian/tea shop called infinitea. the waiter was cracking up at everything we did (i.e. ordering a small two person pot of tea for five, staring at the check trying to figure out tip). as we were leaving my duputta (scarf) (spell check on eight before this) got stuck on a woman's chair, i got flung a little back and had to untangle myself. the waiters were dying of laughter.

i bought a pomegrante for ten rupees. apparently i looked like i was struggling so the vendor took it from me. opened it up more, pulled out a handful of seeds, said see? and gave the fruit back to me. i looked at the seeds, to his hand and then back at the seeds again.... then i ate them. hell, his hands can't be that dirty.

got icecream at a place called the cool joint. some flavors: madonna and black male.

got ripped off by buying a small wooden portable chess set for Rs 600. went to an expensive looking store. a bigger wooden portable chess set was there. the man who was so interested in me being filipino said he would give it to me for Rs 400. i told him that if he bought the other one from me i would buy it. he said no, but would give me a filipino discount on anything else.

was having a disastrous time trying to use my damn phone card. the receptionist saw me and tried to help me. another worker came over and offered his own phone to me. they must be great dads.

bought some cheese called happy cow.. then i realized the american version is laughing cow..

that's enough memories for now. i gotta brave the bridge of death to get to dinner. i miss home more than i ever did before. ayy yi. i hope i don't get burnt out so soon.

loveeeee