Some observations.
Typed this one yesterday, will get caught on on the old India blog!
So I’ve been here one day so far. Pretty much all we’ve seen thus far is the office and the residence where we’re living so I’m just going to make a few initial observations. Firstly, we’ve not tried any of the local food yet so my bowels have that to look forward to (update, I now have tried the local food and so far still solid and strong..if you get me..). This is because in the residence they try, wherever possible, to cook us western style food, though some of the combinations are extremely odd. For instance this morning I had cork flakes (which were rank) and chicken nuggets (which, in fairness, weren’t).
Secondly the driving is bloody mental. People just drive wherever they want but somehow manage to remain extremely calm despite almost being killed and average of almost 70 times a day (probably). Yesterday I saw a man and an elderly woman come off a moped and they just dusted themselves off, smiled and carried on. It’s like some sort of bizzare survival of the fittest, except no-one cares if they live or die as long as they don’t have to get stressed in the process. Today we’re seeing some of the local sights and such courtesy of our driver Gaulzar (I think it’s spelled like that…man I’m a horrible tourist).
Hoping to take a tonne of photos as the weeks progress but that’s all I have for now!
Looking down into the courtyard (Taken with Instagram at Bangalore Palace)
Wrote this yesterday…
…when I was literally and mentally high as a kite on the plane so bear with me!
So I don’t fly very often, and whenever I have it’s always been economy. Now I’m a big dude and so it’s cramped enough as it is, add that to a fear of flying and the experience is pretty unpleasant. So when I got offered this work trip and they said we’d be flying business class I was pretty stoked.
Well let me say this…
I’m so fucking comfortable it’s unreal. When I used to watch British Airways adverts as a child a dreamt of a flying experience that’s actually exciting as opposed to just stressful as hell, this is exactly what I pictured. Right now I’m sitting on my laptop, laid back with my legs stretched all the way out in front of my (and at 6’1” that’s no mean feat). I’ve already been brought two drinks and we’ve literally only just levelled off and the lady who took my food order actually knew my name. Talk about living the high life.
This is so far detached from all of my previous flying experiences it’s almost hard to image flying any other way. I’ll tell you exactly why this is the absolute key to my fear of flying because when I sat down I still had butterflies in my stomach, when we took off I still gripped my arm rests, however the next crippling stage never set in, claustrophobia. Claustrophobia is the killer for my on flights, that feeling of being in an enclosed space that you can’t escape from affects heart rate, fear and breathing, all of which trigger the bodies fight of flight mentality and trigger chemicals in the brain to be released causing that rush of adrenaline that induces pure panic. Now it’s been a bit bumpy so far but nothing too rough but so far my heart rate hasn’t even become elevated and my palms haven’t been sweaty and I’m actually excited to be experiencing flying in this way.
Now I’m sure the diazepam is playing it’s part in my zen like state but normally even the magic white pills don’t do an awful lot to quell the panic that ensues. Frankly I’m loving this so far and I’m pretty excited to see how the rest of this flight develops. In fact maybe on my next flight I’ll leave the pills alone…though probably not…shit…bumps…excuse me I have to go cry now…
So for those that don’t know.
I am now in India for 6 weeks with work training people which means after the last 20 or so live images I’ve taken start to work their way out of my queue I’ll have no more live stuff for a good while (boo). On the plus side should have some awesome travel photos from my time here in India (yaay). For those that follow me for the band stuff stick with me because I have big plans for July and onwards which hopefully include alot more band work, festivals and giveaways!
Big love
Charlie
I just thought i'd let you know that your photos are really good!
Thanks very much, always nice to hear that :)
