Nick Piper's Blog

Earlier in the year, Austin and I went to Sri Lanka. We only had a few days, most of which I spent attempting to kite surf, but hopefully I will get a chance to see more of the country.

In my ignorance I didn’t know that Sri Lanka is predominantly a Buddhist country, but below are some photos of the Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple.

Buddha

Buddha

Buddha

Last week – with rather short notice – I was asked to go to the USA. After a few days in New York we headed to Milwaukee where we learned there was a Tornado warning.

I hadn’t really thought the implications of this through – and it was only in the morning when we saw the devastation of the storm that we realised leaving Milwaukee could be a problem.

The whole airport was deep in water and closed till late in the afternoon when they managed to drain the water.

Flood

Flood

Flood

I havent had any antimalarial drugs in the last 18 months, I do sleep under a net but still find myself being bitten a lot (probably because I dont put repellent on)

Unfortunately my house mate has caught Malaria – hopefully it wont be too severe and he will recover soon.

Waka waka eh eh - This times malaria. . .

There have been quite a few sunrises that I have woken up early to see (ahem) but this was by far the best over the last 18 months.

Everybody Loves the Sunshine !

There is a lot of litter in India – particularly plastic carrier bags and plastic bottles.

So, it was nice to see my local supermarket had got some eco friendly bags – especially as they look so similar to a UK supermarkets version.

Every Little Helps

World cup fever is gripping Chennai (ahem).

The problem we face is that bars in Chennai:

1. Close at 11pm
2. Are couples only
3. Probably wont show football anyway.

The solution:

Build a screen in the garden, run an 80m cable from the satellite dish and watch it at home.

All hail Jumbotron !

Build it .. and they will come.

The most senior politician, the Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi has created a cult of personality. The irony  that his sons name is ‘Stalin’ is probably lost on the masses.

Last week was The Great Leaders Birthday and a whopping £25,000 was spent on giant posters and flags throughout the city that wouldn’t look out of place in Pyongyang.

My favorite poster depicted his bald head as a pearl in an oyster shell. Fallon, Ogilvy, Saatchi – you’ve got nothing on this !

Oyster Catcher

Shopping Western style is fairly limited in Chennai – so I was pleased to spot “London Shopping Festival” was coming to town – with a replica of London bridge !

As we wandered around – clearly the only Londoners in a 4 mile radius -  I started to wonder what the London connection was exactly. And as nice as the replica “London Bridge” was – a quick search on google would have revealed it was in fact Tower Bridge.

London Shopping Festival

Austin Towers

Summer is here again – and its back to scorchio – 38 degrees and rising.

My new house mate Austin has moved in, so instead of me wasting the day on my own resuing insects from the pool – we decided to get sporty.

First event – Lilo race

Second event – Surf in the pool

Third event – Kite surf.

Now, bearing in mind that being Western we attract a lot of stares in the street from locals, we knew that taking a 19 foot kite onto the beach was going to be an Indian magnet – and so it proved to be.

Still, with a crowd of about 70 watching us we were able to launch the kite and Austin was able to skid along the beach. Unfortuntaley the wind dropped so we couldnt try it in the sea, but nevertheless, much fun.

If everybody had a ocean . .

Lets go fly a kite . .

something funny...

Simon and I were having Dinner so we sent my driver to pick up Dave from the airport with a sign . . .

Mooey

Sometimes I think about getting a moped – despite the safety of indian roads – at least it would give me a bit more freedom.  I’m used to being able to travel around a city easily, quickly and independently.

And then something always reminds me why i shouldn’t.

We are driving through Goa and a car overtakes us, 2 km later . . .

Independence or Life? Hmmnnn..

So, last week there was a power outage at the office.

It was such a serious power outage that it made the local TV and newspapers.

We need more power scotty !!

All the music you hear in Chennai (and probably India) is from a film. Not some of it – all of it. There’s not a Top 40, no TOTP, just music from films.

Every now and then there is a song that you will not be able to escape – it’s on peoples phones, in their cars or just blaring from houses. The latest one is from Slum Dog Millionaire Composer,  A.R. Rahman and its called Hosanna.

I would say I hear it at least twice a day, every day.

Groundhog Day.

A mail has been doing the rounds about a rickshaw driver called Samson, who has his own website and has become a bit of a celebrity in Chennai.

His site was made by a BA crew member who had been using him and a Norwegian subsequently donated Samson a laptop.

Now the media have picked up on this and there was an article in The Hindu this weekend, followed by an interview on the radio this morning.

However, I am not in a rush to get a lift as I rarely use rickshaws and have been told that my frivolity when paying raises the prices for other Westerners!

We are the . .

Peoples front of India - SPLITTERS !!

Well, he’s not in the kitchen – he’s in the garden.

I first became aware of him when I came home from work and felt the wind as he galloped past me – it’s not your average sized rat – he’s massive.

I’ve been approaching my porch with my laptop held above my head, ready to swing at him, but he seems to have gone into hiding.

Maybe I should arrange for the snake that fought and killed a cat in my garden last year, to fight the rat – and get Jose Luis Rodriguez to captue the moment!

Pongal is the Tamil new year, the biggest event of the Tamil calendar and therefore I was persuaded to wear traditional Indian clothes for the day.

We celebrated by having Pongal (sweet rice) a game of ‘smash the pot’ blindfolded and a Rangoli competition for the girls.

Dhoti look nice

Vetti Good Team

Bosh!

It hard to imagine in England, someone (let alone a group of men) whilst waiting for a train, taking advantage of the hoses which clean the trains to have a quick spruce up before their journey begins.

This isn’t a provincial station, its a big station in the city.

Shower - Alfresco !

Logo looks familiar

Winter has arrived and is dropped to a teeth chattering 25 degrees.

Appropriately, people are wrapping up. I have seen people with jackets, woolly hats and even balaclavas!

I am standing on the train platform, shorts and a t-shirt lapping up the sun, while the man next to me seems to think its scarf o’clock!

Bit chilly?

Photos from Mumbai on Flikr

It seems that everyone who comes to India reads Shantaram – the story of an armed robber who escapes an Australian prison and lives in the slums of Mumbai. The book was such a success that it is now being made into a film, with Johnny Depp as the lead roll.

As we ate in the restaurant which the book centers on, I spotted the author. Unable to resist the temptation, I approached him and got my picture.

Extra scene in the movie needed now I guess  . . .

Gregory David Roberts