Almora, Uttaranchal

It's really quite unbelievable. My breath in Delhi, thickened by dirt, dust, and grim, to this nourishing, pure mountain fresh wonder.


Happy T

Mumbai

constantly quietly freaking out about what to do with the rest of my life.
rubbing shoulders with Czech models and men involved with your favorite Hollywood flicks.
sun-burnt from arch to tattoo, minus white bum.


craving home.

There are three girls, and 1 bed, and temper, and misunderstandings, and sweet domestic beer, and bad internet connections, and worse local cigarettes rolled in itty-bitty leaves. There is clothing scattered and drying on racks, a lovely Indian vegetarian dinner waiting at home for us every night, and a generator to fuel our AC and offer a refuge from the heat when the electricity goes out. There are street children that sell fragrant strings of jasmine flowers and smile gently, and others that grab at your hands and wrists, invasive and unrelenting.

There are elephants weighted with what must be a field of greenery, tied to their backs, and new Mercedes Benz's parading the streets with hired drivers together.

It's all very confusing. Not to mention our project. We're scrambling to pull of the financial resources to produce our film. We just fired our director. And I'm freaking out. I've got faith, but none of us have worked with film before, save for the one time I dressed up as a man and danced with men dressed as women wearing neon and glow-lights in my friend's class project.

Tonight heading to Mumbai (Bombay) with Puneet and my friend/project partner Sara. We'll come back Thursday and promptly head off for the mountains: see panchachuli.com for more insight into the organization we'll be working with.

Needless to say, I'm learning. And I think, really, that's the point.

Another photo by Punnu. My friend Lainie and I are cracking up. It's so silly, but I am frequently asked to be in photos with strangers- this family must have been doing touristy things in Dharamshala (location of the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile as well as his monastery) and thought the white people were just another part of the scenery....


>big fatty resigned sigh<
T


ps. UNCLE BILL YOU'RE THE BEST EVER AND I THINK YOU MIGHT BE MY ONLY ACTIVE READER. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE MTARF :) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO. COME VISIT AND HIKE WITH ME IN THE HIMALAYAS SOON PLEASEEEEE. :) GIVE NELSON AND AUNT NIKKY A BIG SNUGGLE FOR ME AND SAVE ME A SPOT ON THE BOAT! :)

Anger Issues

I frequently find myself cursing lots of people (though mostly in English so who knows if anyone even gets it). The auto-rickshaw drivers are enough in themselves to evoke violence from a homeostatically peaceful person. And of course, then there’s me. Whether they are telling me their meter is broken and thus must charge me quadruple what normal Indians pay, pretending they don’t have change, or overtly staring at me in their mirror, they are not an easy bunch to get along with.

My white skin gets me out of trouble and into comfortable seats at most restaurants, but it also means I’m overcharged everywhere else. In addition to all over the other stereotypes, related to nationality, my skin signals money. And I guess that’s fair. In my worst moods I think YOU, Mr. Auto-rickshaw driver, should pay ME to deal with this dirty disgusting place.

I know I’m in a bad mood but the cows and the sewage and the heat and the smog and the gross men and the bad covers of my favorite oldies and the shady guy who sold me a magic wireless cards that doesn’t work and everything else are just getting to me.

with love, T

Boring Post

1. I am ok! No more sickness!
2. Went to the beautiful Taj Mahal last weekend, for the second time. (thanks Punnu for pics of Lainie and me!)
3. Going to Amritsar to see the Golden Temple this weekend
4. Meeting with documentary director tonight to make a plan
5. Am happy because my lovely friend Lainie from Michigan is here now too!
6. Trying to scheme more money because our budget is seriously tight - if anyone wants silk/cotton scarves - individual or bulk orders - let me know!
7. Feeling more confident in my ability to navigate Delhi
8. Am sad I missed my lovely sister Allix's birthday: >MUAH<>

love टी

YAY LOOK I CAN WRITE IN HINDI WOO HOO!

हिन्दी में :

में भारत में हूँ!

हर दिन में हिन्दी पृढ़ रही हूँ

आज कल हम दिरेक्टोर मिल रहे हैं