Today I enjoyed 3 coconuts. DRinking the water first then eating the 'jelly' texture coconut inside....20cents each.
bananas are EVERYWHERE here in south India...several types....Red ones, small yellow ones, medium yellow ones, big ones, Plantains.....the best ever....My favorite smaller ones are about the 1/2 the size of a normal sized banana in the states...2cents per banana!
Papaya is about 10cents per pound here....I devoured 2lbs of papaya then 8 bananas for breakfast...
Mangos are average here, since the season is later on (March, April)....so the ones that are scarcely available are most likely sprayed (how else do they provide mangos out of season?) They dont tast all that delicous....most mangos that I eat in season I find virtually impossible to stop eating until I am full. These mangos I can eat just one or two.
Havent found Durian yet here.,...I here it can be found if you look very hard, but I dont want to leave the beach areas at this time.
Monday, October 13, 2008
India FOOD LOVERS Show on National Geographic
I was laying in my hotel room today after my morning bodysurfing session (no boards in India, mental note: bring a damn surfboard next time for the waves!).....I was enjoying a show of Food lovers that travel the world to eat different foods. As I am currently eating a Cooked Vegan meal in the evenings, I was very interested. This show was about Southern INDIA, nearby where I am visiting currently! That is a the life, eh?.....watching tv in my beach front luxury hotel ($8/night), hearing and seeing the waves and nature and birds, seeing people eat all kinds of delicious Indian foods, waiting until I am hungry again so I can immediately go eat some of the foods they are showing on TV.....My mouth began to salivitate after 30minutes, so I had to go find some of the cooked vegan drug food to enjoy and comfort myself.
vegan dilema?
As I was doing a morning beach run here in this new place I am visiting called, KOVALAM. I was being waved down by a group of 20 Indian Men on the beach who needed extra help pushing a large fishing boat into the ocean. I excitedly went to assist them. AFter we pushed the fish killing boat into the ocean, I continued my run. Then I thought about the connection. Was I being a true vegan by helping people catch and kill more fish in our already 'fished out' ocean? I would love to here other Vegan opinions. And if they would not help the group of Indian Men who don't speak english, how would they explain?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
My First Beach in INDIA..."Arambol"
Walking through a village with many tourist shops selling clothes, books, food etc... and many backpackers from all around the world....down the paved road you see the waves and the sand and the miles of scenic views, The Beach!
After hours on a train and time in Delhi before this, the Beach is a breath of fresh air.....life is slower paced here of course....locals are very used to seeing "White" people, so they let you be. No hotels on this Hippie style beach, only beach huts, and rooms in homes, and 5room type buildings with high ceilings and wood....only the backpacker type of tourist seems to be at this village called Arambol.
After arriving i found a room which was more challenging then any were I have ever been in Central, South America or Asia....many places were 'full'...found one for 250Rupees($5), 50meters to the beach sand. I went for as sunset Jog and swim and breathed all the fresh air and realized once again I am most happy and complete when staying on a beach atmosphere with my shirt off and barefoot most of the time.
There are about 10 restaurants with chairs and tables in the deep sand. They serve anything you can imagine, due to many years of European, Western people visiting....Indian, Italian, Isrealean, mexican, thai, western food......I had fresh papaya juice, tomato./cucumber salad/ Isrealean hummous.
the next day I found the fruit sellers...I saw some Mangos (ate 3lbs of them, sweet n juicy), Pineapple(sweetest ever had!), papaya, watermelon, coconuts, bananas, plantains, asian kiwi (cinnamin flavor, brown color, blackseeds), tomatos, cucumbers, eggplants.
In the evenings they play movies at the Beach Cafe on a bigger screen...several backpackers relax and watch the movies for free and order some food or drinks....They were playing "Click", with Adam Sandeler one night...they have a pool table here too....most of the people I chatted with had been in INDIA for several months...some even live in INdia 6months of every year...I met a Russian Girl and had dinner with her and chatted...very easy to meet people here as the vibe is very relaxed and safe feeling. This place is like an break from traveling India in a way, no hassles whatsoever, no staring and constant curiousity by Indians..kind of a "recharge" if you will so I can go back out to the real world of India and be a smiling face of contribution.
Excercise today:
Run 30minutes with 'fartleks'
Walk 1hour
yoga/stretching/50handstands 30minutes
swimming 15minutes
After hours on a train and time in Delhi before this, the Beach is a breath of fresh air.....life is slower paced here of course....locals are very used to seeing "White" people, so they let you be. No hotels on this Hippie style beach, only beach huts, and rooms in homes, and 5room type buildings with high ceilings and wood....only the backpacker type of tourist seems to be at this village called Arambol.
After arriving i found a room which was more challenging then any were I have ever been in Central, South America or Asia....many places were 'full'...found one for 250Rupees($5), 50meters to the beach sand. I went for as sunset Jog and swim and breathed all the fresh air and realized once again I am most happy and complete when staying on a beach atmosphere with my shirt off and barefoot most of the time.
There are about 10 restaurants with chairs and tables in the deep sand. They serve anything you can imagine, due to many years of European, Western people visiting....Indian, Italian, Isrealean, mexican, thai, western food......I had fresh papaya juice, tomato./cucumber salad/ Isrealean hummous.
the next day I found the fruit sellers...I saw some Mangos (ate 3lbs of them, sweet n juicy), Pineapple(sweetest ever had!), papaya, watermelon, coconuts, bananas, plantains, asian kiwi (cinnamin flavor, brown color, blackseeds), tomatos, cucumbers, eggplants.
In the evenings they play movies at the Beach Cafe on a bigger screen...several backpackers relax and watch the movies for free and order some food or drinks....They were playing "Click", with Adam Sandeler one night...they have a pool table here too....most of the people I chatted with had been in INDIA for several months...some even live in INdia 6months of every year...I met a Russian Girl and had dinner with her and chatted...very easy to meet people here as the vibe is very relaxed and safe feeling. This place is like an break from traveling India in a way, no hassles whatsoever, no staring and constant curiousity by Indians..kind of a "recharge" if you will so I can go back out to the real world of India and be a smiling face of contribution.
Excercise today:
Run 30minutes with 'fartleks'
Walk 1hour
yoga/stretching/50handstands 30minutes
swimming 15minutes
Saturday, October 4, 2008
India: "Stare Hard Retard!", Eating Lots......
When I was growing up, I was taught to never stare at others. Looking at someone for more than a couple seconds was considered rude in our society. In fact, many kids would say, "Stare Hard Retard", if you were caught looking at them for longer than one or two seconds. IN India, The culture is much different obviously. People stare and stare and that is just fine. They mean no harm, they are just curious and interested people. Why do I get uncomfortable and agry inside when I have 100 Indian people staring at me and surrounding me? I guess I am not meant to be a famous person, or I need a ton more self-development. I am getting better at Understanding and accepting this constant staring situation, but not fast as I would like. I purchased some sunglasses today (normally I dont wear them, since I feel it makes my eyes weak). My sunglasses are the 'mirror' type so my eyes are hidden....i love this tricky form of privacy.
DELHI is the capital of India....with very little room for movement and massive numbers of people around...It is absolutely Fascinating to stroll through the city and sidestreets and just absorb this culture. The food sellers are everywhere..vegan food is abundant!!!...It takes alot of work to eat meat here, to find it available (as opposite of USA, it seems to be in everything)..MY addictive personality and strong justification system have decided to eat a cooked vegan diet while traveling with a large amount of Raw fruits (knowing that I feel way less energetic and healthy with all the oils/salts/sugars/flavor enhancers/cooked rancidity)..But in my mind the cooked food addict is better than being a heroin/pot/drug/caffeine/alcohol/smoker addict.........It is dangerous for me to walk around the food when I am not hungry, because I soon talk myself into eating for pleasure, which means I eat until my tummy hurts sometimes..like just now...I already had two huge fresh papayas and 6 Custard apples, then I waited for one hour and walked around watching many many people eating at several foood stalls outside...eating things like fresh popcorn, boiled garbonzo beans with onions/spices/parcely/lemon juice, yellow Dahl, Chipatta breads and other types of wheat based baked and fried breads, popadom, orange slices, Chair tea, peanuts, curries, rice, sweets, samosas, fried potato cakes, spicy eggplant curries, ripe bananas, juices, masala teas, apples, salty homeade chips, It doesn't take long to talk yourself into eating much earlier than you should. I tried some Chai Tea being freeshly prepared on the street and had a group of little INdian boys around me smiling laughing, watching, staring....then I ate some fresh roasted peanuts and some spicy homeade chips...now my belly aches a little and I want it to be better asap so I can eat at a PURE Vegetarian restaurant I found.....most of my eating has been the street vendors..I roam around looking for the vendors that have many Indians eating their stuff, then I go watch the preparation until I began Salivatating....
I was on a sleeper train for 40 hours and it is soooo awesome..fully Air conditioned, comfy bed to stretch out on, nice window view of alll the action in India slums/city/country/ trainstations/......people come abord and walk the isles selling massive varieties of spicy yummy cooked vegan foods...... I had a potato/cabbage/tomato burger, several spicey curries with sooo much flavor you cant think of anything but the taste in your mouth (talk about being in the moment, and meditation its Powerfully addicting in many ways). Bannanas are selling everywhere..masive quantities about 5cents a pound, not the best tasting (Nepal had the best ever) but pretty darn good. Not a lot of variety of fruits available here in INdia so far..I'll keep looking....(Thailand was exceptional, Malaysia and INdonesia too).
Delhi has many tourist attractions to see....I dont seem motivated to see any of them....I just enjoy sitting on a corner and watching the India Chaos much more and meeting the people and chatting with the little kids. I actually have learned that I am not much for the sites: Temples, museums, etc... I am always craving an more natural environment (beach preferrably). I booked my 28hour train ticket to GOA for tomorrow! this is a Beach area and sounds wonderful..It is Southern INdia which means more coconut curries also......I love the train system..its fun to stop at different trainstations and search out the best INdian food (we usually have 15minutes to get some yummy foods and then get back on the train), bowl of currie and 5 chipati breads for 10cents!!!!!)...
..I met an Indian boy, 33 years of age last night on the train...we hung out for a few hours, then shared a hotel together...i learned some about their culture through him...he works for the Indian airforce and trades stocks..he si upperclass....there seems to be 4classes of people here and the lowest is the street sweepers and the women are low too. I am feeling the hunger coming back, maybe since I started doing some morning exercises again after one week of lazinesss due to too much fatty cooked foods. I like to start the day with yoga, pushups, lunges, stretching.....my metabolism is faster now, so I can eat more, ehehhehhhe.
Eating, sleeping, meeting new people, experiencing new culture and massive poverty (destitute women, cripples, and kids grabbing my clothes for money or foood), finding ways to contribute (giving away money to nonbeggars is my new way...I like to look for a poor person doing their own thing and suprise them with enough money to feed them for one month = $4 US dollars!).
DELHI is the capital of India....with very little room for movement and massive numbers of people around...It is absolutely Fascinating to stroll through the city and sidestreets and just absorb this culture. The food sellers are everywhere..vegan food is abundant!!!...It takes alot of work to eat meat here, to find it available (as opposite of USA, it seems to be in everything)..MY addictive personality and strong justification system have decided to eat a cooked vegan diet while traveling with a large amount of Raw fruits (knowing that I feel way less energetic and healthy with all the oils/salts/sugars/flavor enhancers/cooked rancidity)..But in my mind the cooked food addict is better than being a heroin/pot/drug/caffeine/alcohol/smoker addict.........It is dangerous for me to walk around the food when I am not hungry, because I soon talk myself into eating for pleasure, which means I eat until my tummy hurts sometimes..like just now...I already had two huge fresh papayas and 6 Custard apples, then I waited for one hour and walked around watching many many people eating at several foood stalls outside...eating things like fresh popcorn, boiled garbonzo beans with onions/spices/parcely/lemon juice, yellow Dahl, Chipatta breads and other types of wheat based baked and fried breads, popadom, orange slices, Chair tea, peanuts, curries, rice, sweets, samosas, fried potato cakes, spicy eggplant curries, ripe bananas, juices, masala teas, apples, salty homeade chips, It doesn't take long to talk yourself into eating much earlier than you should. I tried some Chai Tea being freeshly prepared on the street and had a group of little INdian boys around me smiling laughing, watching, staring....then I ate some fresh roasted peanuts and some spicy homeade chips...now my belly aches a little and I want it to be better asap so I can eat at a PURE Vegetarian restaurant I found.....most of my eating has been the street vendors..I roam around looking for the vendors that have many Indians eating their stuff, then I go watch the preparation until I began Salivatating....
I was on a sleeper train for 40 hours and it is soooo awesome..fully Air conditioned, comfy bed to stretch out on, nice window view of alll the action in India slums/city/country/ trainstations/......people come abord and walk the isles selling massive varieties of spicy yummy cooked vegan foods...... I had a potato/cabbage/tomato burger, several spicey curries with sooo much flavor you cant think of anything but the taste in your mouth (talk about being in the moment, and meditation its Powerfully addicting in many ways). Bannanas are selling everywhere..masive quantities about 5cents a pound, not the best tasting (Nepal had the best ever) but pretty darn good. Not a lot of variety of fruits available here in INdia so far..I'll keep looking....(Thailand was exceptional, Malaysia and INdonesia too).
Delhi has many tourist attractions to see....I dont seem motivated to see any of them....I just enjoy sitting on a corner and watching the India Chaos much more and meeting the people and chatting with the little kids. I actually have learned that I am not much for the sites: Temples, museums, etc... I am always craving an more natural environment (beach preferrably). I booked my 28hour train ticket to GOA for tomorrow! this is a Beach area and sounds wonderful..It is Southern INdia which means more coconut curries also......I love the train system..its fun to stop at different trainstations and search out the best INdian food (we usually have 15minutes to get some yummy foods and then get back on the train), bowl of currie and 5 chipati breads for 10cents!!!!!)...
..I met an Indian boy, 33 years of age last night on the train...we hung out for a few hours, then shared a hotel together...i learned some about their culture through him...he works for the Indian airforce and trades stocks..he si upperclass....there seems to be 4classes of people here and the lowest is the street sweepers and the women are low too. I am feeling the hunger coming back, maybe since I started doing some morning exercises again after one week of lazinesss due to too much fatty cooked foods. I like to start the day with yoga, pushups, lunges, stretching.....my metabolism is faster now, so I can eat more, ehehhehhhe.
Eating, sleeping, meeting new people, experiencing new culture and massive poverty (destitute women, cripples, and kids grabbing my clothes for money or foood), finding ways to contribute (giving away money to nonbeggars is my new way...I like to look for a poor person doing their own thing and suprise them with enough money to feed them for one month = $4 US dollars!).
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Heading towards INDIA...
I may experience some life changing situations soon...have you ever seen 25,000 people living on a piece of land the size of a football field? Slums like this, and many more not so happy situations are what I am soon to witness, along with tons of love, warmth and compassion.
Leaving Kathmandu tonight on a 8hour night bus to the border of India, then a 3 hour bus ride from border to India's first train station, then a 8hour ride to Delhi, India. I don't know much what I am doing in India besides being there and beign present to the moments experiences, eating the fruit and vegan food, yoga, meditation, experiencing the day to day life in the crazy hug Cities and the smaller villages. I am very excited to get back to surfing, so my India visit may be short...I do have a 6month, multiple entry visa to India.
I have been chatting with many other backpackers recently about their Indian experiences. MOst all say it is a love/hate experience and a powerful culture shock. Very Dirty. Very overwhelming culture of people constantly touching, looking, asking you questions, staring, etc... No privacy, unless locked in your room. I got one referral on a Guest house in Delhi, so I'll go there for a couple days then head to Rishikesh area, apparently a more quiet place with lots of vegan food and yoga and meditation.
I was considering visiting Tibet and Bhutan while I am so close, but these countries seem to require that you travel in groups by tourist vans, and are much more expensive then other parts of Asia. As you may know about me, I prefer to be free from groups and vans if possible.
Nepal has been Extraordinary!!
The highlight was staying with a hospitibal local village family in their home at 11,000feet elevation, eating their fresh organic vegan fooods, absorbing the slow paced village lifestyle, experiencing the nature and the surrounding Himalayan massive mountains.
Leaving Kathmandu tonight on a 8hour night bus to the border of India, then a 3 hour bus ride from border to India's first train station, then a 8hour ride to Delhi, India. I don't know much what I am doing in India besides being there and beign present to the moments experiences, eating the fruit and vegan food, yoga, meditation, experiencing the day to day life in the crazy hug Cities and the smaller villages. I am very excited to get back to surfing, so my India visit may be short...I do have a 6month, multiple entry visa to India.
I have been chatting with many other backpackers recently about their Indian experiences. MOst all say it is a love/hate experience and a powerful culture shock. Very Dirty. Very overwhelming culture of people constantly touching, looking, asking you questions, staring, etc... No privacy, unless locked in your room. I got one referral on a Guest house in Delhi, so I'll go there for a couple days then head to Rishikesh area, apparently a more quiet place with lots of vegan food and yoga and meditation.
I was considering visiting Tibet and Bhutan while I am so close, but these countries seem to require that you travel in groups by tourist vans, and are much more expensive then other parts of Asia. As you may know about me, I prefer to be free from groups and vans if possible.
Nepal has been Extraordinary!!
The highlight was staying with a hospitibal local village family in their home at 11,000feet elevation, eating their fresh organic vegan fooods, absorbing the slow paced village lifestyle, experiencing the nature and the surrounding Himalayan massive mountains.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Nepal: I finished 13 days of Treking, Altitude sickness
Glad to be back to low elevation, but a life changing experience is what I just finished. The Annapurna HImalayans....very high mountains I passed about 7000meters high.
I experienced many things: treking for days in flip-flops because shoes hurt to much, traditional villages, diversity in landscapes, endless scenic views, strong Nepalese men that weigh 140lbs and Carry 200lbs on their backs for 8 hours/day up huge rocky hills, no fruit, no traffic, animals, birds, cows, Yak, sheep, goats, other wonderfulworld travelors to bond with, infected foot wounds, altitude sickness, cold relentless weather, snow/ice, sunshine, happy local people living off the land, children playing freely, dirty clothes worn by all, Seabuckthorn juice, Pumpkin soup, cooked Dal Baht twice a day (rice, curries, dahl, pickled veggies), cinnamin rolls, apple pie, chocolate, little boys carrying their sisters up massive hill climbs, negativity, doubt, hatred of treking in cold, love, compassion, understanding, rollercoasters of emotion, Endless endless endless breathtaking views for miles, hundreds of waterfalls, hundreds of plants and flowers, no internet, peace and serenity, etc....
I am back in the warmlands, Pocara.....looking for a yoga/meditation/cleansing place to go relax and let my scrapes and bruises heal.
My healthy clean diet went to a fried, greasy, lack of fruit diet for several days.....not feeling very happy about this. I do find that I am truly happy in anticipation of some cooked greasy salty food, and during the feasting I am very comforted and High from its effects. Soon to be back to what is best for me...I had several yummy bananas today, papaya, pomegranet juice......but feeling like some more cooked food tonight...its yelling my name...maybe some hummous/tahini/ ....indian food... or more Nepalese Dahl Baht.
no excercise today..
averaged 5hours/day of treking for two weeks...no running....some stretching/yoga/pushups some days.
I experienced many things: treking for days in flip-flops because shoes hurt to much, traditional villages, diversity in landscapes, endless scenic views, strong Nepalese men that weigh 140lbs and Carry 200lbs on their backs for 8 hours/day up huge rocky hills, no fruit, no traffic, animals, birds, cows, Yak, sheep, goats, other wonderfulworld travelors to bond with, infected foot wounds, altitude sickness, cold relentless weather, snow/ice, sunshine, happy local people living off the land, children playing freely, dirty clothes worn by all, Seabuckthorn juice, Pumpkin soup, cooked Dal Baht twice a day (rice, curries, dahl, pickled veggies), cinnamin rolls, apple pie, chocolate, little boys carrying their sisters up massive hill climbs, negativity, doubt, hatred of treking in cold, love, compassion, understanding, rollercoasters of emotion, Endless endless endless breathtaking views for miles, hundreds of waterfalls, hundreds of plants and flowers, no internet, peace and serenity, etc....
I am back in the warmlands, Pocara.....looking for a yoga/meditation/cleansing place to go relax and let my scrapes and bruises heal.
My healthy clean diet went to a fried, greasy, lack of fruit diet for several days.....not feeling very happy about this. I do find that I am truly happy in anticipation of some cooked greasy salty food, and during the feasting I am very comforted and High from its effects. Soon to be back to what is best for me...I had several yummy bananas today, papaya, pomegranet juice......but feeling like some more cooked food tonight...its yelling my name...maybe some hummous/tahini/ ....indian food... or more Nepalese Dahl Baht.
no excercise today..
averaged 5hours/day of treking for two weeks...no running....some stretching/yoga/pushups some days.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Treking the Annapurna, Nepal......cooked diet
Hello all,
I am leaving on a treking adventure in Nepal. I may go for a few days or much longer, I'll decide on the way. NO internet for 3weeks if I choose to go the whole Annapurna Circuit.
Over 100miles of steep treking at high elevations.
Lots of lodges and places to eat on the way. Very poplular trek. Many backpackers come from all around the world for this.
I will start Alone but may join other trekers on the route.
I am at the last city before I began my trek in a few minutes.
the complete Annapurna circuit takes between 15 to 22 days, depending on fitness, adaptability to altitude and desire to linger along the way. While the trail has gained a reputation for being overrun with tourists, it had quietened with the rise of a Maoist insurgency in Nepal, post 9/11 travel jitters and the massacre of Nepal's royal family in 2000.
I have a link below....................
My diet has been junkfood cooked vegan lately. I havent felt very good about my eating decisions lately. Most of the time bad eating decisions are due to emotional issues...maybe lonliness is something I must admit I have been feeling more lately. I do meet other travelors and hang out with them. A peer group of other Rawvegan/environmentalist friends is soooo powerful for, and makes it easier to succeed on 100%RAW vegan diet. Cooked Vegan Diet is soooo easy for me and I doubt anything could Ever sway me away from this. It is soooo simple to eat cooked vegan, now that I have been 100% raw vegan. Maybe that is a huge take away in itself? Even if my transition to 100% raw takes more weeks, months, years than i ever anticipated, at least I am learning how to be a lifetime success at not contributing to animal suffering and risking myself with heart diseases, cholesterol, diabtes, obesity, cancer, etc...
Yesterday diet:
2 asian pears snack
meal #1
India vegan food: Dahl, spicey cucumber salad, white rice, potato dish, chutney
Meal #2
1/4cup of pumpkin seeds and peanuts
Nepalis food: Dahl, corn flour noodles with tomato sauce, potato dish, cucumbers
1/2cup of dates
exercise yesterday:
NONE
our bus got held up by a 7HOUR Strike!! we were in the middle of nowhere waiting for some mediation...on the way from Kathmandu to Pocara.
here are some links:
http://www.virtourist.com/asia/annapurna/
I am leaving on a treking adventure in Nepal. I may go for a few days or much longer, I'll decide on the way. NO internet for 3weeks if I choose to go the whole Annapurna Circuit.
Over 100miles of steep treking at high elevations.
Lots of lodges and places to eat on the way. Very poplular trek. Many backpackers come from all around the world for this.
I will start Alone but may join other trekers on the route.
I am at the last city before I began my trek in a few minutes.
the complete Annapurna circuit takes between 15 to 22 days, depending on fitness, adaptability to altitude and desire to linger along the way. While the trail has gained a reputation for being overrun with tourists, it had quietened with the rise of a Maoist insurgency in Nepal, post 9/11 travel jitters and the massacre of Nepal's royal family in 2000.
I have a link below....................
My diet has been junkfood cooked vegan lately. I havent felt very good about my eating decisions lately. Most of the time bad eating decisions are due to emotional issues...maybe lonliness is something I must admit I have been feeling more lately. I do meet other travelors and hang out with them. A peer group of other Rawvegan/environmentalist friends is soooo powerful for, and makes it easier to succeed on 100%RAW vegan diet. Cooked Vegan Diet is soooo easy for me and I doubt anything could Ever sway me away from this. It is soooo simple to eat cooked vegan, now that I have been 100% raw vegan. Maybe that is a huge take away in itself? Even if my transition to 100% raw takes more weeks, months, years than i ever anticipated, at least I am learning how to be a lifetime success at not contributing to animal suffering and risking myself with heart diseases, cholesterol, diabtes, obesity, cancer, etc...
Yesterday diet:
2 asian pears snack
meal #1
India vegan food: Dahl, spicey cucumber salad, white rice, potato dish, chutney
Meal #2
1/4cup of pumpkin seeds and peanuts
Nepalis food: Dahl, corn flour noodles with tomato sauce, potato dish, cucumbers
1/2cup of dates
exercise yesterday:
NONE
our bus got held up by a 7HOUR Strike!! we were in the middle of nowhere waiting for some mediation...on the way from Kathmandu to Pocara.
here are some links:
http://www.virtourist.com/asia/annapurna/
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Nepal is Fascinating!
Kathmandu is the capital city here and it is largely populated, but no KFC or Mcdonalds is here....still not a well developed city, which I absolutely LOVE. Lots of green grass and green plants here too....outside of the center you see all the Nepalese homes surrounded by lots of green grass and open fields, not many trees. Mountains surrounding Kathmandu.
The people are very kind hearted from what I have experienced....they are not shocked to see tourists here at all. I walked around the city for a couple hours and only had a couple people say anything to me. This is far different than INdonesia and Thailand Cities.
I am seeing different fruits for sale here too.
Lots of Apples, Pomegranates, Banannas, and papaya and pineaple mainly....also some oranges, jackfruit, Pomelos....
Many men on bicycles are selling fresh squeezed Pineapple or orange juice for 20 rupiahs (25cents approx).....fresh pressed Pomegranate juice is everywhere too... for about 70rupiahs($1)...sugar cane juice is easy to find for 20rupiahs(30cents)..
Yesterday I had two meals:
#1 meal was
30ounces of fresh squeezed pomogranite juice
#2meal was
6.5 lbs of ripe, juicy, sweet Papaya
(i found a papaya seller at a small market outside and sat by them for my meal. A mom and dad and one son. I bought one papaya and the man peeled if for me, I ate that and two more..they were shocked at how much fruit I ate...Most people eat fruit as a small snack here.....It was different for the Nepalese people to see a foreigner sitting on the dirty street by the sellers eating fruit...I got tons of looks...I think they may think i am a Mentally retarded person or some sort of mental problem to eat on the dirty street...Many times I like to sit down and absorb the market and busy culture of a place while eating my fruit..Other times I like to take my fruit in my Hemp Bag to a quite natural location to eat.)
Lots of homeless poverty here in Nepal....young boys in groups that are begging and stay together with each other and sleep on the dirty sidewalks....some defigured people begging for money..women with children begging for money...This is pretty intense to see and many people may not be able to emotionally handle it. I believe we are all here on the earth together, but many are less fortunate than others, but we cannot Save everybody. We have to find a way to help people and focus on this and not let other negative things get us down or make us dramatic....if we are helping and serving or contributing in some way we are most likely helping more then most of the world is helping.
I found a local Nepalese work out gym in the middle of a village away from city center...I stopped in for one hour work out...did some weights and enjoyed exercising with other Nepalese (cost was 50cents!).
Friday, September 5, 2008
Do you think about food too much??
I want people to share about their relations with food and eating. Sometimes it seems that I think about eating most of the day.
After I am done consciously eating a meal, I think about how long until I will be hungry again and what my next meal will be. From the time I just finished eating until I am eating my next meal, I catch myself planning, visualizing, and fantasizing about what it may be.
I really admire the people that are active/fit/healthy/lean and only think about the food when they are truly hungry and then they are done thinking about food all together until they are truly hungry again.....I would love advice on how I can change into this type of thinking.
I believe that most people who are truly living their passions and purposes in life are more likely to not think about food much....maybe I must be patient to this process more.
Currently, I am traveling SE Asia, surfing, treking, eating tropical fruits, exploring new cultures, and spreading the vegan message, But I still find time to obsess on food.
any thoughts on this subject and personal shares would be wonderful to read!
Darrick
After I am done consciously eating a meal, I think about how long until I will be hungry again and what my next meal will be. From the time I just finished eating until I am eating my next meal, I catch myself planning, visualizing, and fantasizing about what it may be.
I really admire the people that are active/fit/healthy/lean and only think about the food when they are truly hungry and then they are done thinking about food all together until they are truly hungry again.....I would love advice on how I can change into this type of thinking.
I believe that most people who are truly living their passions and purposes in life are more likely to not think about food much....maybe I must be patient to this process more.
Currently, I am traveling SE Asia, surfing, treking, eating tropical fruits, exploring new cultures, and spreading the vegan message, But I still find time to obsess on food.
any thoughts on this subject and personal shares would be wonderful to read!
Darrick
Leaving Malaysia
This has been a fun place for me, Penang in particular. I spent about 5weeks here, then left to Indo for about 4 weeks, then returned here to Penang for a few more days. Returning here was amazing after having so many Indonesian experiences. I really like how I can witness so much culture and not have many people approaching me with questions and comments all day long. Bless their hearts, as they all have loving intention......its just I need more practice with patience and unlimited smiling happy responses no matter what.
Heading to Katmandu, Nepal in the morning...flying from Penang to Bangkok to Katmandu....I plan to get my India visa there which may take one week. I suggest anybody that plans to come to India to plan ahead and get it early, I didnt.
While my visa is being prepared I will enjoy some Treking around Nepal...I believe they have 8 of the 10 Highest elevated Mountains in the World!
Mt. Everest is not on my list, but some safer distances are surely.
EATING
20 ounces of fresh pressed sugar cane juice
Vegan Laksa (noodle soup)
Vegan Tom Yum soup
1/2cup of rice
small salad
1cup of stirfryed veggies
(felt majorly dissatisfied and wanted more salt after this, so I went to the movie theater to eat popcorn and maybe see a movie, but they didnt have salty popcorn only sweet, so I left thankfully)
about to eat 2lbs of durian chunks
excercise today:
walked up penang hill briskly 5km, 2300feet elevation, 1hour
100 pushups
10minutes of muscle flexing
Heading to Katmandu, Nepal in the morning...flying from Penang to Bangkok to Katmandu....I plan to get my India visa there which may take one week. I suggest anybody that plans to come to India to plan ahead and get it early, I didnt.
While my visa is being prepared I will enjoy some Treking around Nepal...I believe they have 8 of the 10 Highest elevated Mountains in the World!
Mt. Everest is not on my list, but some safer distances are surely.
EATING
20 ounces of fresh pressed sugar cane juice
Vegan Laksa (noodle soup)
Vegan Tom Yum soup
1/2cup of rice
small salad
1cup of stirfryed veggies
(felt majorly dissatisfied and wanted more salt after this, so I went to the movie theater to eat popcorn and maybe see a movie, but they didnt have salty popcorn only sweet, so I left thankfully)
about to eat 2lbs of durian chunks
excercise today:
walked up penang hill briskly 5km, 2300feet elevation, 1hour
100 pushups
10minutes of muscle flexing
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Sumatra Bus driver did not let me bring Durian on!
Several people were loading on a shuttle bus from Medan to the ferry port to head to Penang, Malaysia....I had my small backpack and my bicycle. I had a durian straped to the rack on my bicycle. The bus driver told me i could not bring my durian on cause of the smell, so I pulled out my 'trusty' fruit knife and opened the durian up, squatted on the street and devoured it while they waited, ehehehh...it was awesome......
We Can't bring durian on the bus, but we can bring a smelly bag of grilled dead cow burgers and potatoes fried in cancer oil that smells up the whole bus, supports deforestation, global warming, animal cruelty and death, human suffering, etc.......
I crave a world where the bus driver says, "If you don't have a durian, then you cannot come onto my bus!"....
Today I am loving the RAW life....come join anytime for the journey..currently in Malaysia..maybe India next.......
I rested yesterday, with very little body movement...lots of traveling....Bus, Ferry.
Today I got some movement in:
cycled slowly one hour
hiking barefoot one hour
100 pushups
100 lunges
10 pullups
I found delicous mangosteens here in Penang (way better in Malaysia than sumatra)
ate 4lbs for lunch.
snack
8ounce of sugar cane juice
snack 2
one coconut water
I plan to eat
2lbs of durian chunks soon then maybe some Rice and veggies(I hope not)
The durian is very good here in Malaysia....I would have to say that Sumatera and Malaysia are pretty similar in taste and quality. The price for Durian in Sumatera is about $1/2lbs....the price in Malaysia $2/2lbs (double the price!!).....HOWEVER, if you get to try some of the 'name brand' durians in Malaysia like "ang Hair", "D2", "D11", "D24", "Capri KING", "Horlor", etc.....these are all Exceptional and much tastier than Sumatera in my opinion....Even more than Thailand Durians like "monThong', "Chanee", "Pomanee".
We Can't bring durian on the bus, but we can bring a smelly bag of grilled dead cow burgers and potatoes fried in cancer oil that smells up the whole bus, supports deforestation, global warming, animal cruelty and death, human suffering, etc.......
I crave a world where the bus driver says, "If you don't have a durian, then you cannot come onto my bus!"....
Today I am loving the RAW life....come join anytime for the journey..currently in Malaysia..maybe India next.......
I rested yesterday, with very little body movement...lots of traveling....Bus, Ferry.
Today I got some movement in:
cycled slowly one hour
hiking barefoot one hour
100 pushups
100 lunges
10 pullups
I found delicous mangosteens here in Penang (way better in Malaysia than sumatra)
ate 4lbs for lunch.
snack
8ounce of sugar cane juice
snack 2
one coconut water
I plan to eat
2lbs of durian chunks soon then maybe some Rice and veggies(I hope not)
The durian is very good here in Malaysia....I would have to say that Sumatera and Malaysia are pretty similar in taste and quality. The price for Durian in Sumatera is about $1/2lbs....the price in Malaysia $2/2lbs (double the price!!).....HOWEVER, if you get to try some of the 'name brand' durians in Malaysia like "ang Hair", "D2", "D11", "D24", "Capri KING", "Horlor", etc.....these are all Exceptional and much tastier than Sumatera in my opinion....Even more than Thailand Durians like "monThong', "Chanee", "Pomanee".
Sunday, August 31, 2008
paying $$ to Indo children so they run with me
amaaaaaaaazing feeling I have now...wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the story goes like this...
I was walking back from purchasing my ferry boat ticket from Medan to Penang, Malaysia. It was this morning around 10am....I was debating whether to excercise today. I was feeling lazy with no good reason, since i had not excercised the last couple days besides some walking. So I decided to just go to the big open grass field and decide when i get there. Well this always leads to success for me because once I am in an environment good for running or doing something active i usually 'Just Do It'....i believe getting there is harder then starting...
Anyways, some indo children noticed me running some laps (1/6mile laps around a field). The kids where around 6-10years of age and asked me for money. I said run with me and showed them the money. 3 boys ran one lap with me so i gave them each 1000 rupiah (10cents). Then they ran again for 2000 rupiah (20cents). then I had about 8 kids running loops with me and I was paying them each about 4000 rupiah average (40cents)...4000 Rupiah purchase a Large Meal here in Sumatera of Rice, veggies, tofu, tempe, meat, hot sauce, drink. I kept paying the kids to run laps with me for one hour. They would substitute with their friends and rest every other lap or so. Many other parents and adults were watching us. IT was raining today too which felt very nice on my shirtless skin. I would even explain that if they ran faster they earned more money. It was soo fun, that i didnt even realize I was excercising at all!!! I must do this very often in my life....I must find ways to run and contribute all at the same time....maybe next time I can get a shirt made that says "LOVE animals, don't eat them", OR "vegetarian is cool", OR "Friend not Food", OR something wonderful in their Indonesian language....Maybe "NO Smoking please".....Then I can run, contribute with money, wear a wonderful meaningful message on my shirt...WOW that is called LEVERAGE...I used to only think about how I could leverage myself financially to make the most $$$$ possible..now I think about how to leverage HEALTH and Veganism! This is a wonderful LIFE...I am very fortunate....I am very HIGH on life now..its like a drug to excercise and contribute together...powerful...so easy..it takes no motivatin for me to run laps when I am helping little kids and inspiring them to run more and telling them I am vegetarian and American ........
Last night my motorbike taxi took me to a durian market....we ate together and I was sharing my durian with his family and others and he was asking questions about veganism, and he told me on the way back he has never met an American like me with a good heart and easy to be friends with...that most are snobby types. I told him that most may appear to be snobby but are most likely afraid of something..maybe the Muslim culture here.
today is the biggest most important MUSLIM holiday of the year....this country is mainly muslim.....all are FASTING all day today and celebrating with food after dark...it is a huge deal here..they are setting up all kinds of signs and food booths and concerts and MOSK praying opportunities..its amazing to happen to be here today on this famous day of the year.....I think its called Mantaramm or something close to that.
I watched chickens get their unlucky innocent throats slit at the meat market yesterday....then they are thrown in a big cage while they run around bleeding to death for 3 minutes!!! IT takes a while for them to die..then they are thrown into a heated element that whirls them around and burns the feathers off...its a bloody, dirty place to be and work...the workers are all bloody and looking unhappy as they slit throats and watch the chickens die (but I am sure they still have chicken fried rice for lunch).....one chicken got loose after its throat was slit and started running around bleeding until they caught it. We support those types of jobs....people may say..what about human rights? why worry about animals? Well I believe we create nasty death jobs in slaughter houses by purchasing dead animals to eat, so we contribute to many negative things for the taste of animals in our mouth.....its proven we dont NEED them to survive and Thrive......infact how can most people justify eating animals when they are Sedentary, heheeeheh I was thinking about how 90percent of the world is not excercising, but they most still eat animals....shouldn't we have to earn the right to eat animals by chasing them down and killing them....don't most carnivores have to work very hard physically before getting their dinner...?? something to think about...
Today:
Running 1 hour
walking 1hour
yesterday food intake ALL RAW BABBBBBBBBBYYY!!!
20 small bannanas for meal number ONE
snack--one coconut water
meal#2
1 cup of fresh pineaple (sooo sweet here in Medan!!)
2lbs of durian chunks
the story goes like this...
I was walking back from purchasing my ferry boat ticket from Medan to Penang, Malaysia. It was this morning around 10am....I was debating whether to excercise today. I was feeling lazy with no good reason, since i had not excercised the last couple days besides some walking. So I decided to just go to the big open grass field and decide when i get there. Well this always leads to success for me because once I am in an environment good for running or doing something active i usually 'Just Do It'....i believe getting there is harder then starting...
Anyways, some indo children noticed me running some laps (1/6mile laps around a field). The kids where around 6-10years of age and asked me for money. I said run with me and showed them the money. 3 boys ran one lap with me so i gave them each 1000 rupiah (10cents). Then they ran again for 2000 rupiah (20cents). then I had about 8 kids running loops with me and I was paying them each about 4000 rupiah average (40cents)...4000 Rupiah purchase a Large Meal here in Sumatera of Rice, veggies, tofu, tempe, meat, hot sauce, drink. I kept paying the kids to run laps with me for one hour. They would substitute with their friends and rest every other lap or so. Many other parents and adults were watching us. IT was raining today too which felt very nice on my shirtless skin. I would even explain that if they ran faster they earned more money. It was soo fun, that i didnt even realize I was excercising at all!!! I must do this very often in my life....I must find ways to run and contribute all at the same time....maybe next time I can get a shirt made that says "LOVE animals, don't eat them", OR "vegetarian is cool", OR "Friend not Food", OR something wonderful in their Indonesian language....Maybe "NO Smoking please".....Then I can run, contribute with money, wear a wonderful meaningful message on my shirt...WOW that is called LEVERAGE...I used to only think about how I could leverage myself financially to make the most $$$$ possible..now I think about how to leverage HEALTH and Veganism! This is a wonderful LIFE...I am very fortunate....I am very HIGH on life now..its like a drug to excercise and contribute together...powerful...so easy..it takes no motivatin for me to run laps when I am helping little kids and inspiring them to run more and telling them I am vegetarian and American ........
Last night my motorbike taxi took me to a durian market....we ate together and I was sharing my durian with his family and others and he was asking questions about veganism, and he told me on the way back he has never met an American like me with a good heart and easy to be friends with...that most are snobby types. I told him that most may appear to be snobby but are most likely afraid of something..maybe the Muslim culture here.
today is the biggest most important MUSLIM holiday of the year....this country is mainly muslim.....all are FASTING all day today and celebrating with food after dark...it is a huge deal here..they are setting up all kinds of signs and food booths and concerts and MOSK praying opportunities..its amazing to happen to be here today on this famous day of the year.....I think its called Mantaramm or something close to that.
I watched chickens get their unlucky innocent throats slit at the meat market yesterday....then they are thrown in a big cage while they run around bleeding to death for 3 minutes!!! IT takes a while for them to die..then they are thrown into a heated element that whirls them around and burns the feathers off...its a bloody, dirty place to be and work...the workers are all bloody and looking unhappy as they slit throats and watch the chickens die (but I am sure they still have chicken fried rice for lunch).....one chicken got loose after its throat was slit and started running around bleeding until they caught it. We support those types of jobs....people may say..what about human rights? why worry about animals? Well I believe we create nasty death jobs in slaughter houses by purchasing dead animals to eat, so we contribute to many negative things for the taste of animals in our mouth.....its proven we dont NEED them to survive and Thrive......infact how can most people justify eating animals when they are Sedentary, heheeeheh I was thinking about how 90percent of the world is not excercising, but they most still eat animals....shouldn't we have to earn the right to eat animals by chasing them down and killing them....don't most carnivores have to work very hard physically before getting their dinner...?? something to think about...
Today:
Running 1 hour
walking 1hour
yesterday food intake ALL RAW BABBBBBBBBBYYY!!!
20 small bannanas for meal number ONE
snack--one coconut water
meal#2
1 cup of fresh pineaple (sooo sweet here in Medan!!)
2lbs of durian chunks
Saturday, August 30, 2008
From NIAS to Medan 24 hours of travel
Wow, I am in Medan finally.....took a taxi for 3hours, then overnight ferry boat to Sibolga for 8hours, then waited for minivan to transport 8 of us to Medan. All indonesian men in the van smoked of course (90% of indomen smoke cigs). Cigarette companies market to kids at school events here and they are very successful in getting boys hooked. Men say that smoking makes you more of a MAN with more sex drive, Its fu____ing ridiculous to see huge cigarette billboards and banners around highschool soccer games here, and boys 10years old selling cigs. If we smoke cigs we are supporting this corruption.
Found delicious durian n MEDAN tonight....$1/kilo...creamy and more sweet than bitter.
Saw how they treat the chickens for sale here..they tie 3 chickens together by their legs and leave them out on the road flapping around in the hot sun, starving of thirst and hunger. When you approach a chicken seller they grab up the bunch by whatever they hold onto (wing, throat, feet, holding them upside down)..they show you the chickens feathers and then throw the bunch of chickens back down on the pavement and grab another 'squawking' bunch. As the chickens lay there, they periodically peck each others eyes out due to frustration, heat stroke, pain, etc.... The people treat the chickens like they would a plant, veggie or fruit (actually they treat the fruit much nicer)....Our slaughter houses are most likely as bad and worse, but we dont see it. Anyways enjoy that chicken taste as much as you can if you really have to continue supporting this violence simply for Taste, OR try a Tofu or Tempeh Burger for the chickens sake.
I am eating mostly RAW fruits and veggies, but now I am eating some cooked food each day. I know this is not the best for me but it is my drug addictive behaviour kicking in when I eat salty coconut veggie curry, I get all HIGH i guess....my transistion to 100% raw is a journey and I forgive myself for taking longer then i planned.
Today I ate some unhealthy food:
stirfried rice noodles
one cup of white rice
one cup of boiled in salt cabbage
1/4cup of roasted peanuts
one fried cracker
Felt yucky after all this and didnt eat for 7hours, then I ate 3lbs of RAW Organic, sweet, carmel flavoured Durian!!!
excercise:
walking briskly 3miles
leaving INDO for a while to recover from a bruised RIB cage from Surfing......I decided to go explore some NONsurfing part of the world while i recover...not sure yet...I will go to the airport and decide at last minute...maybe INDIA!
MEDAN is a major busy cluster of unorganized Chaos and pollution that somehow seems to operate effectively, not sure how its all done...crazy place to walk all around...the people are more friendly than any other big city I have ever experienced by FAR.
Found delicious durian n MEDAN tonight....$1/kilo...creamy and more sweet than bitter.
Saw how they treat the chickens for sale here..they tie 3 chickens together by their legs and leave them out on the road flapping around in the hot sun, starving of thirst and hunger. When you approach a chicken seller they grab up the bunch by whatever they hold onto (wing, throat, feet, holding them upside down)..they show you the chickens feathers and then throw the bunch of chickens back down on the pavement and grab another 'squawking' bunch. As the chickens lay there, they periodically peck each others eyes out due to frustration, heat stroke, pain, etc.... The people treat the chickens like they would a plant, veggie or fruit (actually they treat the fruit much nicer)....Our slaughter houses are most likely as bad and worse, but we dont see it. Anyways enjoy that chicken taste as much as you can if you really have to continue supporting this violence simply for Taste, OR try a Tofu or Tempeh Burger for the chickens sake.
I am eating mostly RAW fruits and veggies, but now I am eating some cooked food each day. I know this is not the best for me but it is my drug addictive behaviour kicking in when I eat salty coconut veggie curry, I get all HIGH i guess....my transistion to 100% raw is a journey and I forgive myself for taking longer then i planned.
Today I ate some unhealthy food:
stirfried rice noodles
one cup of white rice
one cup of boiled in salt cabbage
1/4cup of roasted peanuts
one fried cracker
Felt yucky after all this and didnt eat for 7hours, then I ate 3lbs of RAW Organic, sweet, carmel flavoured Durian!!!
excercise:
walking briskly 3miles
leaving INDO for a while to recover from a bruised RIB cage from Surfing......I decided to go explore some NONsurfing part of the world while i recover...not sure yet...I will go to the airport and decide at last minute...maybe INDIA!
MEDAN is a major busy cluster of unorganized Chaos and pollution that somehow seems to operate effectively, not sure how its all done...crazy place to walk all around...the people are more friendly than any other big city I have ever experienced by FAR.
Friday, August 22, 2008
These kids are fruit deprived, salt sugar deathfood
In this small Village, Sorwaki Very little fruit is available. I do drink many coconuts here and find bananas and pineapples and papaya all fresh from local gardens and trees. The nearest fruit market is 12kilometers from here. I have two boys that I pay to go to the market for me each day by bus. It is very fun to create a fun job for the younger boys here. I always have them buy me enough fruit, so I can share with the local villagers here. I only share with all the kids to hopefully inspire the parents to buy their kids more fruit.
Today I walked down the street with my bag of "rambutans", which are like 'gold' around here. I was handing them out to all the kids I would come upon on my walk. Each kid gets a about 4 rambutans from me. They are very gracious and excited. Whenever the adults ask for some, I say, "this fruit is for the children". I can see they really want to eat some too and taste the wonderful taste of fruit. They all could find a way to eat more fruit, but they get into their RICE routine and keep eatin it because it is easier and cheaper. The kids are so young they don't have choices, so i like to give it ALL to them and turn down the adults.
Latest meal was:
2 large coconuts
one 8lb watermelon
last night dinner:
tomato and cucumber salad
2small boiled potatos
huge plate of slightly steamed cabbage, beans, carots, cucumbers, tomatos
peanut sauce to dip the veggies in made with salt, peanuts, msg, and sugar (death cancer condiments, the pleasure of eating it, overiding the health and environmental disasterous pain)
(High water content food, but not all raw, on the "transition back to raw " path for a while)
ACTIVITIES:
surfing twice 4hour total
reading book in hammock
1hour nap
1hour internet
strolling around village
meditation 30minutes
Today I walked down the street with my bag of "rambutans", which are like 'gold' around here. I was handing them out to all the kids I would come upon on my walk. Each kid gets a about 4 rambutans from me. They are very gracious and excited. Whenever the adults ask for some, I say, "this fruit is for the children". I can see they really want to eat some too and taste the wonderful taste of fruit. They all could find a way to eat more fruit, but they get into their RICE routine and keep eatin it because it is easier and cheaper. The kids are so young they don't have choices, so i like to give it ALL to them and turn down the adults.
Latest meal was:
2 large coconuts
one 8lb watermelon
last night dinner:
tomato and cucumber salad
2small boiled potatos
huge plate of slightly steamed cabbage, beans, carots, cucumbers, tomatos
peanut sauce to dip the veggies in made with salt, peanuts, msg, and sugar (death cancer condiments, the pleasure of eating it, overiding the health and environmental disasterous pain)
(High water content food, but not all raw, on the "transition back to raw " path for a while)
ACTIVITIES:
surfing twice 4hour total
reading book in hammock
1hour nap
1hour internet
strolling around village
meditation 30minutes
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