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Yearly Archives: 2013
Jakarta I miss you!!
As they say “all good things come to an end” and alas my time in Indonesia was cut short as the project took a different direction. I get why and how it happened and have perspective enough to recognize these things just are what they are.
Random Jakarta Mall pic (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
I have zero regrets being involved in the project. It was fabulous working with a great bunch of guys and wish nothing but the best to our client too. We just finished the work remotely on the weekend and… as they say “It’s a wrap!”
The real loss is not being able to explore Indonesia more! During my trips to Jakarta from end July, I kept thinking “next time I’ll be sure to make more time to do XYZ.”
I had even made a commitment that the 3 week November trip would include activities OTHER than work! I had dreams of going “glamping” with a fabulous bunch of gals. I had dinners and various catch ups planned for the December trip. I even had high hopes my partner could join the January trip so we could explore outside of Jakarta together.
It all went puuufffttt! No November trip… no more trips at all… sigh… I’m left with scattered random photos of the few things I did do and…
A brilliant reminder – seize the moment when you can!
So, Jakarta, I do miss you! And would like to come back… I really really do! And next time I promise to take full advantage of the opportunity!!!
In the meantime, I have a few more Indonesia posts to come… yesterday’s “Sidewalk adventures… stumbling to work?” is an example of just how utterly random some of my pics are!
Ever have something cut short before you were ready? (more…)
Sidewalk adventures… stumbling to work?
Warning! This post has an utterly ordinary topic – the humble sidewalk. What could be simpler than walking on a sidewalk? After all, that is its purpose – correct? A foot path on the side of the main road… meant for walking… Right?
Growing up in Canada, sidewalks were a place to stroll, skip, walk the dog or jog in the summer. In winters, not only are the road plowed but the sidewalks are also. A good thing too! You try walking in -40’c completely bundled up with fogged-up frozen glasses tramping through unplowed sidewalks. You’d walk on the road and likely get accidentally shmucked by a car unable to stop, tire wheels screaming while sliding into the hapless road walker! Sidewalks are clearly the smart way to go. (more…)
Music Musings – Carlos Bica and Azur
Carlos Bica, Frank Moebus and Jim Black performed last week at St Andrew’s in Mumbai and are this week’s Music Musings feature!
Carlos Bica, Frank Moebus, Jim Black (Photo: Carlos Bica’s FB page)
There is something about seeing a trio perform that just do their thing – and have been doing it together for 20 years – it shows. Their sound is original and completely their own. Broadly falling under the music category of ‘jazz’, it is … (more…)
Glenlivet’s “The Guardians Chapter”
Warning! While whisky inspired and definitely fuelled the evening, this post is actually not about whisky tasting. Instead it was a gathering generously hosted by Glenlivet in the gorgeous old Camelot Bungalow at Kemps Corner in Mumbai last month.
Camelot by night (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
The evening’s main feature was the stories of fascinating authors’ and the convivial atmosphere engineered by the gorgeous and talented stage and film actress Lillete Dubey and others. (more…)
Gay for a day (or more!!)
Sex is personal yet becomes political when a nation decides to interfere in acts between consenting adults.
Today’s decision in India by the Supreme Court is such a step backwards… reinforcing a retrograde law from 1860.
Gay Parade (Photo: India Today)
A bit of background – in 2009 the Delhi High Court made a landmark ruling that took a step towards decriminalising sex between two consenting same gendered adults. However noted that this is ultimately a matter for the government decide through legislation. In the interim, the matter made it to the Supreme Court with the ruling out today… re-confirming that homosexuality is criminal in India?!
Wanna learn more? Just read Gay sex, homosexuality is an offence: Supreme Court upholds Section 377. Black day for LGBT community (more…)
Losing the right to vote?
While not always the case, for many of us that chose to embrace the world unfettered by the borders of our birth… we give up a few things along the way… like the right to vote.
Many Manitoba provincial and Canadian federal elections ago I lost the right to exercise my democratic ‘right.’ And while I may have lived a decade + in India, that alone would never bestow any rights to participate in elections here.
Yet if I COULD vote who WOULD I vote for?? (more…)
Music Musings – Sridhar/Thayil’s STD
This Music Musings feature is STD – a remarkable duo from Suman Sridhar and Jeet Thayil. Seems fitting as we’ve enjoyed listening to their CD with them at our recent dinner gathering – what fun!
ShridharThayil (Photo: STD MySpace)
Him – Jeet is an old friend of my partner – known for his edgy poetry, blistering guitar, funky offbeat and outrageous approach. His book Narcopolis was short-listed for the 2012 Man Booker prize and draws one into a different side of Bombay – its addictions, predilections and transformations in the 70s and early 80s.
Her – I first saw Suman on Boxing Day (26 Dec 2010) at an evening gathering of music and merriment in Bandra. Her quirky style and powerful talent blew everyone away – blues, jazz scatting, opera, Hindustani classical… she effortlessly slips between styles seducing and conquering them all.
Them – Together they are a combustible combination… flirting and bending musical styles, mocking and breeching boundaries of conventions, creating a sexy groovy sound that is uniquely theirs. (more…)
Jameson, Green Spot + Redbreast
Part of a series of tasting notes from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. This session was a special event focused on Irish whiskey.
Tasting Notes from 21 Nov 2013
We departed from our usual format in honour of a couple Irish lads from Jameson. Our evening included Irish whiskey history, making, trivia and tales – including a sniff of malted vs unmalted barley, new make spirit from pot vs column still.
The Jameson lads with their set-up for the eve
The whisk(e)y sampling began with a blind tasting of American, Irish and Scottish: (more…)
Time travel triggers – Hanif Kureishi
I was an 80’s punk rock teenager who sported spiked hair, delighted in the unconventional, read voraciously and snuck into bars to see bands way before I was legal drinking age. We weren’t the Nazi skinhead types – instead our agenda was “Ban the bomb” and an intolerance for intolerance – finding it absurd that anyone would have a problem with same- sex partnerships or different cultures, communities and traditions mixing, mingling and blending in new and fascinating ways.
Our Winnipeg “gang” mid-80s (Photo: ??)
There were a few films and books that not only had an impact, they spoke to us even across continents: (more…)
Music Musings – Fatoumata Diawara
Compared with Angelique Kidjo, Fatoumata Diawara from Mali was performing this week in Mumbai and is today’s Music Musings feature!
Fatoumata Diawara (Photo: Wikipedia)
Now living in Paris, Fatou’s singing, guitar, dancing and theatricality was mesmerizing. Her sound clearly reflects her Wassaoulou tradition in a folk pop way that deftly weaves a bit of funk, jazz and rock for good measure.
It’s been some time since we’ve seen such a brilliant performer – not just musically talented but also puts on a show. Warms up the audience, charms, beguiles, engages, captivating one and all completely. A born story-teller, she spoke of war, women’s rights, and embracing the world traveling by choice or forced by circumstance.
One of the most entertaining numbers was when she decided to teach everyone the different dance styles of Africa and proceeded to go region and country by country demonstrating each with such joy and abandon! (more…)
Everyday Asia 