About this Blog

"We must stitch up what has been torn apart, render justice imaginable in the world which is so obviously unjust, make happiness meaningful for nations poisoned by the misery of this century. Naturally, it is a superhuman task. But tasks are called superhuman when men take a longtime to complete them, that is all." -- Albert Camus

This blog details my attempts to find Sophrosyne - the deep-sated happiness that comes from living a temperate life in accordance with one's philosophy.

This blog is here for family, friends, and strangers alike to provide a space for sharing the insights that I glean from my journey and to serve as an inspiration for everyone to recognize that at any moment they can change their lives and do something different, that it’s never too late to follow one’s dreams, and that learning is a life-long process.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

1/1/11 -- London


The first thing I want to say is that I definitely recommend a trip into London for people on the 8-hour layover. There seemed to be a difference of opinion on whether it was enough time to do anything but I found it quite sufficient. I got a daylong underground pass for 7 pounds which was handy. Due to the time crunch, I chose to spend most of my day in and around Westminister. I saw a bit of the New Years London Parada, Westminister Abbey, the House of Commons, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Victoria Monument, Hyde Park, and the Scotland Yard. As it was New Years, unfortnately, I was unable to go inside either Westminister Abbey or the House of Commons but I would have had time to choose one of those and spend a few hours there. I stopped at Alberts Taverns for some quintessential fish, chips, and ale for lunch and in the evening went to "Winter Wonderland" which is a christmas-themed temporary amusement and craft park in Hyde Park Corner where I had roasted chestnuts, peanuts, and the like. All this was fun and good, but I found myself thinking that I doubt I would go back to London as a tourist though I could see myself working in London fairly easily.

The best part of my stay in London was conversing with strangers. I met a Chicago college student who was meeting his online match girl from Russia midway in London. They were "very cute". I met a old couple of Leicester in town for the parade. Best of all I met a couple from Croyden (sp?), a suburb of London they tell me, who were on their way to Winter Wonderland and invite me. In the "It's a small world after all" theme of traveling. The man, was Hindu from Kerala, living in London, and has spent two years living in Concord, California for work a number of years back. Yes, Concord, Ca like...my home town. Hilarious. We talked about Hindu, English, and American life; the relationship of cities and suburbs, and just generally connected. It was sweet and I realized a few things about myself. Dont get me wrong, I totally loved seeing the architecture in the area but my favorite memories came from interacting with people. As I continue this journey -- keeping myself engaged in the hearing people's stories is going to be one of the key features in how I experience a country's culture.

Day 1: Mumbai

It was the easist first day and I give thanks to the soft transition I am being allowed in Mumbai. I spent the whole day in the temple. Palika, the temple mother, helped me get settled in, fed me, and made me feel warm and comfortable. I was outrageously tired so fell asleep early.

I saw the slums of Mumbai and was less shocked then I had expected given the reports. Though everything was piled several stories high

Everything screams life in glorious colors, smells, sounds, and sights.
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