View allAll Photos Tagged FullyLoaded
Stranger no. 28 | Doha, Qatar | November 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Music constitutes a universal language of the senses and emotions that is fundamental to the human experience"
----------------------------------------------------------------
This picture is #28 in my 100 strangers project. Thank you Rhesa for being a part of it. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group Page
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
© All rights reserved. Unauthorised use, duplication or distribution of these images is strictly prohibited.
Father Mattius Altrichter, a family friend of Christian's, took us in on arrival at Pune and showed us the Missionary's side of life. In 1965 (OK, I'll do the maths, that's 47 years ago to 2012), as a young Jesuit Priest fresh from the seminary, he was posted to India and has remained there ever since, contributing to various projects, mainly education based. He now runs a religious retreat for those wishing for some peace and serenity accompanied with spiritual guidance. When we asked "Do you ever get to go on holiday?", the response was "I'm on holiday 365 days a year" accompanied by a big smile. A small glance into his world revealed a passion for all things science, be it astronomical, natural or sports, which, being that he's practically Indian now, includes yoga. Never have we seen anyone flex and bend like he can, let alone a 78 year old!
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Two things to show and tell here: 1. The omnomnom story: This was often the standard of roadside shack we'd eat in. This one, no bigger than a garden shed, served the staple chai and appam for pittance. (If you really want to know, that's a floppy rice flour pancake which comes with sambar (a spicy curry sauce) and a scrummy coconut chutney). The chef deserved much much more for his efforts! 2. The sob story: After being in India for a month, Sammy's head started to itch. Yep, it was headlice. The old hairdo (i.e. his "last chance for long hair" effort) had to go, and go it went, with the only tool we had: leatherman scissors (in case you haven't got a clue to the size of them, imagine a swiss army knife's piddly scissors and extend them by, say, 3mm.).
Ok, so we did a bit more than sleep on the train to up north in India, but as our neighbours were grumpy old souls who wanted nothing more than to sleep day and night with the curtains SHUT (on a 2 day train? In the DAYTIME?! Great.) we were also confined to our beds. Here you see me, Thumper, preparing a fruit and nut snack (with some rather garish socks on). Take us back to the bikes... please!
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Here I am on a mini road trip with my new truck! I was all set on getting a Mustang, but decided to postpone that purchase a bit. This truck was needed more than the Mustang, and really- it has everything Nissan can possible put on a vehicle except for rear seat DVD consoles (totally not needed), and the navigation GPS system (cheaper to buy on your own… and better that way too!).
This Frontier will last me many, many years. My last one had over 300,000 miles on it before it was wrecked; in my old business we had many with 600 and 700 thousand miles on them!
P.S. Yes that is a Starbucks sign behind me- I of course HAD to stop in for a Pumpkin Spice Latte!!
Rebecca, (a resident Nun) and I went 'round to Rena & Kaitan's house for snacks and a chat. On discussing saris, Rebecca and Rena discovered that I had never worn one (well it isn't everyday dress for many back in Britain is it?), so there began a flurry of excitement, rummaging, pleating, pinning and primping around Rena's wardrobe. In 15 minutes flat, out had come the wedding sari & on it went to me. I didn't expect something so elegant (the sari, not me) and technical to don to be SO comfortable.
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Looking back, I can't see why though ;)
If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Here he is in upright form (not in a folded yoga formation as seen 4 photos back). Thank you Mattius for all of your help getting out!
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
The moment we entered Maharastra, everyone advised us to eat these, not in a pushy way, it was more that they were proud of them. Boy oh boy are we glad that they were, as it was great biking food. Simply put, it's a carb-rich Indian veggy burger, lightly spiced, normally served with a bun, some salted chillis and spice chutney. Yours for around 8 to 12 rupees a pop (that's around 10p!). Omnomnom!
This is a sight often found in India: cows in the street, and we're not just talking cows
down a country lane here, we mean cows in the middle of roads in busy city centres. This one didn't seem to want to move, she stood there for an age, a local thought it's because she were pregnant. Poor thing.
If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
I don't quite know where they'd been, but it was discovered that these weary pilgrims were on their way home from a religious meet. It seemed a whole village had upped sticks and set out across country on decorated wagons being towed by the family bulls.
If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Like India....
Politicians & Analysts says we are fully loaded with fresh and young Talented Indians,
but the fact is we are over loaded.....
The Love Bug - Alternative Movie Poster
Original illustration - posters, prints and many other products available at:
Drivers giving their cars a bath in a river was a common sight in India. Note that this rickshaw driver is washing his ride UPstream from the water wagon. Nice.
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
This time high in the tea plantations with no one around...
As the sun set & the light waned on a tough day of climbing, Sammy set up the stove as I, Thumper, familiarised myself with the local area. My wanderings took me uphill. The higher position gave me a good view of the main road at the bottom and, to the right, Sammy's ambitious stove priming effort- he'd sent a petrol fuelled flame billowing high. Along said road came a motorbike, which started to pull into our side track. Not wanting to be discovered, as it would mean we'd either be moved or end up chatting until the wee hours. I alerted Sammy, who swiftly set about dousing the flames. As the water hissed on the cooling metal, the flames died & we assumed silence, not daring to make a move, right as the bike pulled up with glaring headlights. Amusingly, even though they pulled in under TWO METRES away from us, slightly to the right of the pic, the three lads astride the bike (yep, three on one bike isn't unusual in India) got off, did their toilet business (even closer to us), smoked a joint back at the bike, chatted for a while and got back on their way, all without spotting our bikes, our camp, nor ourselves, although we were within a stone's throw from them. Breathe aaaaaand sleep. Ahhh, the joys of wildcamping when you're knackered.
If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Two of the other residents at Father Mattius' place, Aubrey and Jacquie, loved nature. They called us up onto the rooftop one morning to show these to us. There were about ten of them nabbing sap from the flowering tree. Beautiful.
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Taken for the Demise of the High Street subject of Archive for the Future.
All the quality shops have dissapeared and we are left with a dirth of shops selling cheap rubbish in great volumes. This thirst for cheap goods is not good for the employment conditions in the east or the environment with so much that gets thrown away. What ever happened to quality?
This is, quite obviously, a skip. It's also in my driveway.
It holds the debris from the building work in the garage, and the great question is when it is going to be picked up.
I phoned it in for collection on Monday and feel that we're now fast friends. I'm hoping it will be gone this week, but that is likely to be a forlorn hope. Still, hope dies last. I'll keep you posted.
Fully-loaded touring on Wolber Gentleman rims (for those of you who remember them)...not a good idea. The rim came undone at the weld. Rode it into a little town called Sonora. While the local shop built up a new rim for me I had a few beers at the Sonora Saloon. Gambling and drinking are allowed in the bars in this town, BUT they have to be in separate rooms! To commemorate this episode of the tour I bought a t-shirt: Sonora Saloon-Liquor in the Front, Poker in the Rear. Damn I love the West.
After nearly two weeks of illness and fighting "the system", Pune police gave us the exit permits to leave India. Stupidly, they wouldn't let us leave the city until the 11th March (don't ask, it's a long & boring story) which meant we had to settle for a train ticket to Patna. This was a shortcut out of the country which wore our patience thin with bureaucratic poppycock. Thank bleep for that. Tired & frustrated we got on the train which would take nearly two days to get up north...... Assume the position aaaaaand sleep.
~*~ If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Strangely enough at tourist attractions in India, us "Westerners" (horrible word, sorry, that's just how we're perceived) become as much of an attraction as the attractions themselves. People here and there always ask to have their photos taken with foreigners. After having a dance with them, this schoolgroup of kids fought to get into shot after I consented to a photo.
Found this touring rig picture in my photo files. I can't remember too much about the guy that rode it. He was in the middle of a pretty long cross country tour when he stayed with us in the fall of '07. He was a cheerful dude, having a good time on his big adventure.
Panniers by Fresh Step.
... The Baby soon to be thrown at an unwilling recipient: Me.
If you'd like to read more of the "World cycle?" story behind the pictures, you can tootle over to www.2010tillwhen.com
Full load for this poor trishaw guy- here is another frail soul hauling a mean load of what appears to be grey material for blanket making,
a product Amritsar is famous for. Although the poor chap makes a living this way, I think it's inhuman to overload him so, considering the erratic traffic conditions, less than optimum road conditions and his wobbly wheels. The trishaw driver in the background is probably envying this tuk tuk driver over his good fortune- he has at leas got a load for today. It's a really a dog's life for these poor individuals. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Our Amritsar trip is now complete. There is little else left to do now than to return to our hotel, re-organize our packing and then head to the train station for our train ride to Chandigarh. So it's back to shooting out of the tuk tuk. That's the traveler in me for you- although I say the trip is over, I simply have to keep taking pictures of things that catch my fancy till the very last minute, wherever I go. And so back to the subject of local intra-city freight, we've seen trishaws and tractor-trailer combos. And now this- horse drawn wagon. Amritsar has scores of these too. I was amazed at the generous supply of horses available for menial tasks. Now that is one mean load for a single skinny horse! (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)