uncertainties

flooded with generosity

Upon landing at Oakland, I was already blessed with generosity, as a friend/mentor/inspiration of mine, Nipun, (and that’s by no means an exhaustive list) shot out some emails and had someone pick me up from the airport after midnight. I initially had plans of staying with a friend in San Francisco, but Aumatma – the selfless girl she is – offered another option: staying in Berkeley with a friend of hers and Nipun, Chris, which would be walking distance from where I’d be working every day (as opposed to driving 45-60 minutes every morning from SF to Berkeley [oh, did I mention that Nipun also was gracious enough to arrange for me to have a car to use during my time here? The generosity is endless]).

Chris was beyond cool with me making a home for myself in their pillow pit, which was super comfy for me to crash in before the next day of activity.

journey2: goin, goin, back, back, to cali, cali

I can only say that because I was in LA in July 2009. That trip was certainly enjoyable and taught me a lot about California love (cue Tupac beat). That was lovely, but I definitely didn’t have the inspiration that India gave me to view travel from the perspective I do now (which is more from a cultural, how-is-it-to-actually-live-here angle).

That said, I came to Berkeley primarily to work with this awesome, charismatic guy I was connected to via Twitter (interesting how social media creates opportunities like this). I didn’t want to lose an opp to learn about something I’m totally unfamiliar with, and when I have time off from school, that opportunity is more in-my-face than any other time.

My formal purpose here is to develop an online marketing campaign for Monsoon, but while I’m here, I’m trying my best to embrace the culture of the Bay, indulge in some service and inspiring community, and smile as much as I can.

I’d like to call this the “Pissing Off Camels Collection”

Context: I was making kissy sounds at the camel, indicating that I had food - being that that’s what camel owner’s do when they want to bring the camel in to eat. Except I was behind the camel’s head and it was sitting. Thus, it was trying to bend its neck to either get the food or punch whoever this annoying dude with bad hair was in the face to get him off its back.

Hence my stupid faces and funny camel neck positions. I was semi-hesitant that the camel would actually hit me. Those things are big.

Their faces make me so proud to not be THAT ugly.

But really they’re beautiful.

They just look ugly when they chew or try to smile in pictures.

I think these guys were racing because these camels were FLYING.

They run really fast when they try. Pretty weird to see because most of the time, they’re really…slow

My camel’s checking out the hotties to the right

The view from the camel’s hump.

I’m such a kid, but I really wanted to say that.

No really. They are pretty ugly when chewing.

How’s this for the last photo I post during the trip?

I think it’s a stellar ending.

Thank you for the support and love, guys.

I’ll post any reflections and progress on the village work here, so the blog isn’t 100% dead.

Possibly coming soon: a collection of B-sides (how clever?!) of photos that weren’t posted the first time around.

Basically, I know I’ll be bored when I’m back in the states so I’m hoping to squeeze every bit of entertainment out of this blog as possible.

Tired camel.

This would be pretty beautiful with another 20 megapixels and printed as a 20 foot wide mural.

Camel looking out at the sunset.

Chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’ all cool. Conserving some water outside of the pool…that doesn’t exist.

A mojari (traditional footwear) shop in Jaisalmer with the shopowner taking a break from the heat

Down the alleyway near the Kothari Haveli in Jaisalmer

In the front of a home in Jaisalmer