Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
I'm off to Bangalore
Greetings Fans! I'll be off-line from Wed. 14-Sun. 18, Dec. as I attend the wedding of my friend and ex-co-worker Deepa. Will be traveling to Bangalore to attend what she describes as:"A very typical South Indian wedding. A Hindu wedding simulates chaos theory; effusing excitement, enthusiasm, and energy, while spreading mirth, humor, and joy. Everyone tries to be at his/her best dress, decorum and dignity. All talking at the same time with background music or mantras are the mundane. But all with a central focus like nature’s chaos."
You know ther will be stories and pictures posted next week!!
Friday, December 09, 2005
The Sunderbans
The Sunderbans is a vast area covering 4264 square kms in India alone, with a larger portion in Bangladesh. 2585 sq. kms of the Indian Sunderbans forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India. It is a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal, it is also the world’s largest estuarine forest. The Sunderbans is inhospitable, dangerous and monotonous. 70% of the area is under saline water and the area is criss-crossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries.
These are pics from my day trip to the Sunderbans with the Kolkata Revolutionary Hash House Harriers. :-)
These are pics from my day trip to the Sunderbans with the Kolkata Revolutionary Hash House Harriers. :-)
Thursday, December 08, 2005
I'm SO not a hater
It has come to my attention lately that I have been a bit to harsh and negative about India. Though I started this blog as I way to vent (and venting by its nature is a bad the frustrations) I also want it to become a medium to share the good things. In my head I was doing that through my pictures, but I think I need to make a more clearly defined effort. I really do not want to be seen as a hater, because the reality is that I love being here. So far this has truly been a rewarding enriching experience and I do not want to take away from that. For those of you who know me and know that I revel in sarcasm and like to paint everything in bitterness, also know that underlying it all I would not be ranting about it if I really didn’t love it.
So all that being said I want to share something that has temporarily restored my faith in humanity, at least until man does something fucked up again.
As I push 30 (though I am still in the sunny side of it the shadow is looming ever closer – eek, only 7 more months to go!) I am trying to pay more attention about this new fangled theory about exercise. Apparently it is supposed to be good for you or something. In an attempt to retain my youthful good looks for as long as possible (and trust me this pollution is not helping any) I’ve been jogging every other morning around a tidal basin park 10 minutes walk from my house (I posted pictures earlier). To get to this park I have to cross the railroad tracks and not the slum neighborhood that resides along its edge.
For those of you who have never been to a developing country “slums” is used as a term for the areas where the economically disadvantage reside not as the violent ghettos of the west. These slums rarely have electricity let alone running water. Most of the residents struggle each day just to survive.
The other day as I was crossing the tracks to get to the park to go for my run I noticed a group of men gather around something along the edge. Curiosity being what it is I moved closer to see what I was missing. At the center of this group of 10-15 grow men was a female dog with her litter of puppies trying to nurse. The pups could not have been more than a week old, and the mother looked like she had seen better days. The men were ooh’ing and aah’ing at the doggy family which was adorable. But the most touching part was the fact that this men, the very men who tend to believe in keeping their wives barefoot and pregnant were taking care that all of the all the puppies were feeding well. When a pup got pushed out they would nudge the others and put it back on the teat. A few of the men were dispatched to fetch food for the mother. These men, who really do not have enough to spare after feeding their own families brought milk and bread and helped the mother dog eat. They put her snout to the bowl and one went as far as putting milk-soaked bread in her mouth.
After witnessing this, I walked away with a warm and tingly feeling (different from the one you get from the ointment). It truly was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. The tenderness that these men showed with the puppies was breath taking. It re-affirmed my belief that individuals are truly amazing, its people who suck. One-on-one a person does great things, it is when you group all these persons together that things turn to shit.
Ok that is enough mushy crap from my end. If I ever start to be too India bashing again I will plug in another lovey-dovey, puk-o-rama story to balance it out. But honestly, when you think I am being too mean just look at the pictures, that is where all the good stuff is.
So all that being said I want to share something that has temporarily restored my faith in humanity, at least until man does something fucked up again.
As I push 30 (though I am still in the sunny side of it the shadow is looming ever closer – eek, only 7 more months to go!) I am trying to pay more attention about this new fangled theory about exercise. Apparently it is supposed to be good for you or something. In an attempt to retain my youthful good looks for as long as possible (and trust me this pollution is not helping any) I’ve been jogging every other morning around a tidal basin park 10 minutes walk from my house (I posted pictures earlier). To get to this park I have to cross the railroad tracks and not the slum neighborhood that resides along its edge.
For those of you who have never been to a developing country “slums” is used as a term for the areas where the economically disadvantage reside not as the violent ghettos of the west. These slums rarely have electricity let alone running water. Most of the residents struggle each day just to survive.
The other day as I was crossing the tracks to get to the park to go for my run I noticed a group of men gather around something along the edge. Curiosity being what it is I moved closer to see what I was missing. At the center of this group of 10-15 grow men was a female dog with her litter of puppies trying to nurse. The pups could not have been more than a week old, and the mother looked like she had seen better days. The men were ooh’ing and aah’ing at the doggy family which was adorable. But the most touching part was the fact that this men, the very men who tend to believe in keeping their wives barefoot and pregnant were taking care that all of the all the puppies were feeding well. When a pup got pushed out they would nudge the others and put it back on the teat. A few of the men were dispatched to fetch food for the mother. These men, who really do not have enough to spare after feeding their own families brought milk and bread and helped the mother dog eat. They put her snout to the bowl and one went as far as putting milk-soaked bread in her mouth.
After witnessing this, I walked away with a warm and tingly feeling (different from the one you get from the ointment). It truly was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. The tenderness that these men showed with the puppies was breath taking. It re-affirmed my belief that individuals are truly amazing, its people who suck. One-on-one a person does great things, it is when you group all these persons together that things turn to shit.
Ok that is enough mushy crap from my end. If I ever start to be too India bashing again I will plug in another lovey-dovey, puk-o-rama story to balance it out. But honestly, when you think I am being too mean just look at the pictures, that is where all the good stuff is.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Upon further consideration
Everyone knows that I am not a judgemental person. I am very accepting of everyone else’s many, many faults. That being said, I want to know why there are SO many ugly-ass (and I mean “ass” in a more generic term, because I don’t think Indian men are born with gluteal muscles) men in this country. Deeper analysis and greater discussion with the female Indian population has resulted in a realization that gay Indian men are not the only victims, but in reality it is Indian men overall that lack the ability to look good.
Most men look like they have been dressed by their mothers, and a Bengali friend of mine agrees. She said that Bengalis are the only Indians that she knows of where the mothers will actually wait for theirs sons outside of school until the come out, in case they need them. Apparently the umbilical cord is only cut if you are a girl, sons stay attached forever.
But seriously, I am tempted to just park myself on a spot and photograph the men that walk by for pure horrific value. In a country where the women bring it (I’m sorry but Indian women are hot, they totally have it going on) there is no reason for the men to be so deficient. Upon focus grouping a wide range of Indian women, I came to the conclusion that the only reason that arranged marriages still persist in
I work and socialize with several women who are in despair over their available options. They will either have to marry non-Indians (gasp!) or be settling for some big bellied, moustachioed Quasimodo. My heart goes out to them.
Alas, I am left with the biggest dry spell of my life. How long must one go without getting laid to officially be considered a virgin again? And you may ask, why don’t I try to woo one of the local female hotties? Because they don’t put out! End of story. If you read my friend Lauren’s rant in the comments section of my “Gay Drain” post you will learn how hard it is to get into an Indian girl pants. Woest me!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
The Gay Drain
My life in Kolkata is starting to get a groove. As I continue to socialize in this city I cannot help but make observations which make me ponder things that have absolutely no meaning in life. The thought of the moment is what I have labeled "The Gay Drain."
Everyone and their mother-in-law has heard something about the dreaded "brain drain" in developing countries. Where scientist, artist, and miscellaneous intelligentsia flee from their home countries to more allegedly tolerant and supportive environments (which apparently means the U.S. or Canada - who knew!?). Anyway, after befriending a fabulous assortment queers, faggots, and sexual deviants of South Asian heritage in the U.S., I had made the (turns out wrong) assumption that their motherland would yield an ever greater treasure trove of incredible people to meet. Ugh! Was I wrong!!
If you have been following my pointless whines since the beginning, you have read of the diminished quality of the queer scene in Kolkata. Not to say that I have met EVERY homo in the city, but after 3 months here I feel that I have met a fairly representative sample.
Which brings me back to the topic of the Gay Drain, I am proposing that all the good fairies have escaped from here. And I bet you that this is not isolated to India. The benefit of living in DC is that you get to mingle with a very international crowd. But it also deceives you because you get to meet the cool, attractive, articulate specimens. Then when you go to their homeland all you find are the gay dregs! Eeww!
On a superficial level I must start with the fact that they are ugly! I know tons of hot gay Indians in the U.S. (most of them are my friends! - kisses guys, miss you!) where the bloody hell are the ones in the actual country! And don't get me started on their clothing, with an over-reliance on synthetics, pants tight enough to incite communal riots, and shoes so big and clunky that it would make Frankenstein jealous, you have to wonder how the fuck they ever get laid! And for god's sake can we do a little man-scaping, no one likes body hair long enough that it can be braided.
On a deeper level there are issues of self acceptance, priorities, and sense worth. Concepts of gender are all shot to hell when being gay in this country means either being a sissy queen or overtly butch. I have no issues with these two ends, except when they are the only options you are given. No space for variance. I have been labeled the ice queen by the local chain smoking, alcoholic, sex-starved gay cohort because 1) I refuse to sleep with their skanky incestuous asses and 2) I have better things to do with my time and money than hang at the only local gay dive. Puh-leeze, it's not my fault that I am comfortable with who I am and have no need to pickle my liver in order to be ok with making out with a guy. Then there is the other side, where you have the über-queer activist. Which don't get me wrong are totally needed. But again, do we need to continue to perpetuate the gender stereotypes.
So, in all I have come to the conclusion that all the good pansies have left. Moved on to bigger, more colorful pastures where they can let their hair down and their mascara wont run. The problem is there is no one left in the country to gay-it forward. For Mary's sake they don't even know how to make a good martini here!
I send this message out to all my brethren out there that have enough since to color co-ordinate before they get out of the house. That know that we do not wear corduroys in summer. That are aware thathorizontall stripes make you look fat and that your belt and shoes should be the same color. I ask you to try to help your fellow country man. When you come back home bringmoisturizerr and hair wax (what the fuck is hair oil anyway!?), teach them that we do not wear polka-dotted shirts with striped pants. That we do not mix fabrics. That we actually should have TWO eye-brows. And that there is more to being gay than cosmos and getting laid. That it is possible for two men and two women to find long-lasting love. That a same-sex couple can form a happy home and be a family. That being gay does not mean being sterile. Let them know that in a gay relationship there is no such thing as one person being the man and the other the woman. Teach them that monogamy may be against human nature, but it IS the most precious gift you can give your partner.
And just to clarify, I did not contribute to the gay drain of Puerto Rico since we are the U.S.'s bitch (colony, commonwealth, territory, whatever they are calling us these days), I fall under their umbrella.
Everyone and their mother-in-law has heard something about the dreaded "brain drain" in developing countries. Where scientist, artist, and miscellaneous intelligentsia flee from their home countries to more allegedly tolerant and supportive environments (which apparently means the U.S. or Canada - who knew!?). Anyway, after befriending a fabulous assortment queers, faggots, and sexual deviants of South Asian heritage in the U.S., I had made the (turns out wrong) assumption that their motherland would yield an ever greater treasure trove of incredible people to meet. Ugh! Was I wrong!!
If you have been following my pointless whines since the beginning, you have read of the diminished quality of the queer scene in Kolkata. Not to say that I have met EVERY homo in the city, but after 3 months here I feel that I have met a fairly representative sample.
Which brings me back to the topic of the Gay Drain, I am proposing that all the good fairies have escaped from here. And I bet you that this is not isolated to India. The benefit of living in DC is that you get to mingle with a very international crowd. But it also deceives you because you get to meet the cool, attractive, articulate specimens. Then when you go to their homeland all you find are the gay dregs! Eeww!
On a superficial level I must start with the fact that they are ugly! I know tons of hot gay Indians in the U.S. (most of them are my friends! - kisses guys, miss you!) where the bloody hell are the ones in the actual country! And don't get me started on their clothing, with an over-reliance on synthetics, pants tight enough to incite communal riots, and shoes so big and clunky that it would make Frankenstein jealous, you have to wonder how the fuck they ever get laid! And for god's sake can we do a little man-scaping, no one likes body hair long enough that it can be braided.
On a deeper level there are issues of self acceptance, priorities, and sense worth. Concepts of gender are all shot to hell when being gay in this country means either being a sissy queen or overtly butch. I have no issues with these two ends, except when they are the only options you are given. No space for variance. I have been labeled the ice queen by the local chain smoking, alcoholic, sex-starved gay cohort because 1) I refuse to sleep with their skanky incestuous asses and 2) I have better things to do with my time and money than hang at the only local gay dive. Puh-leeze, it's not my fault that I am comfortable with who I am and have no need to pickle my liver in order to be ok with making out with a guy. Then there is the other side, where you have the über-queer activist. Which don't get me wrong are totally needed. But again, do we need to continue to perpetuate the gender stereotypes.
So, in all I have come to the conclusion that all the good pansies have left. Moved on to bigger, more colorful pastures where they can let their hair down and their mascara wont run. The problem is there is no one left in the country to gay-it forward. For Mary's sake they don't even know how to make a good martini here!
I send this message out to all my brethren out there that have enough since to color co-ordinate before they get out of the house. That know that we do not wear corduroys in summer. That are aware thathorizontall stripes make you look fat and that your belt and shoes should be the same color. I ask you to try to help your fellow country man. When you come back home bringmoisturizerr and hair wax (what the fuck is hair oil anyway!?), teach them that we do not wear polka-dotted shirts with striped pants. That we do not mix fabrics. That we actually should have TWO eye-brows. And that there is more to being gay than cosmos and getting laid. That it is possible for two men and two women to find long-lasting love. That a same-sex couple can form a happy home and be a family. That being gay does not mean being sterile. Let them know that in a gay relationship there is no such thing as one person being the man and the other the woman. Teach them that monogamy may be against human nature, but it IS the most precious gift you can give your partner.
And just to clarify, I did not contribute to the gay drain of Puerto Rico since we are the U.S.'s bitch (colony, commonwealth, territory, whatever they are calling us these days), I fall under their umbrella.
December Birth Anniversaries
Many Happy Returns to all of those who were conceived in March:
Paloma Melendez Cardona (my baby sis)
Awilda Salgado Cardona (my dear aunt celebrating her 50th!!)
Sue Higgins
Neil Abell
Chris Kissler
Neela Majumdar
Andrew Pidgeon
and last but not least
My Dear Ravi Khubchandani
Love you all immensely.
Paloma Melendez Cardona (my baby sis)
Awilda Salgado Cardona (my dear aunt celebrating her 50th!!)
Sue Higgins
Neil Abell
Chris Kissler
Neela Majumdar
Andrew Pidgeon
and last but not least
My Dear Ravi Khubchandani
Love you all immensely.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Images of Kolkata
My vegetable lady. I make a conscious effort to support women run enterprises. In a country that there is still gender-based employment bias there is a reason for a women to be working. (aside from the upper-classes of course)
Even poor people need a place to hang out
Bridge crossing the Hoogly (Ganges)
Queen's way - Which queen I don't know, there are too many in this city.
Slums are a reality in many countries, however the mortality rates for people living along railroad tracks are higher than any other area.
Golpark at night (the neighborhood where my office is) - It gets dark by 5:00 pm!
Random factoid - Armenian immigrants came to India as traders, and established settlements in most major cities in India. Job Charnock allegedly invited the Armenians to Calcutta at the time of is founding in 1689 and created one of the largest Armenian communities in the country. This is one of the few buildings that still belong to their community.
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