Four walls and adobe slabs

The North Indian desert is harsh; mercilessly beating you down before slowly dragging you back as you inadvertently take on some of its own special brand of resilience. Once your appetite sheepishly begins to return, so does your boundless love for this strange, exotic place. So confused - the both of you - as you plunder through a land caught in a time warp, clumsily grappling with modern progression.

Title lyrics from Animal Collective - My Girls

Chatter

Sometimes I wonder what the English language would sound like to the foreign ear, how it would be to learn. Not quite as exotic on the palette but more difficult I assume, in spite of our words so short and precise.

Safari

My dreams have become vivid, of silk saris and camels and racing through the hot desert. Not as far removed from reality as perhaps I would like, welcome to Rajasthan.

Thunder

If another can gain greatness and it is of no harm to you, let it be. It is of no importance. Damage can be done only by the poorly thoughts you hold on to; nothing good can ever come of resentment.

Their song will not make yours any less beautiful.

Violins

She reaches out to touch my feet and motions make-believe food to her (maybe) baby sister's mouth. Two starving children before me and I feel nothing but apathy? I shout "challo!" as my rickshaw pulls away but I feel sick at my own sense of triumph for not giving in. The begging industry certainly owes a big Fuck You to Slumdog Millionaire.

Street Food

Some places are so wild, so intense, so richly fascinating that even if you've been there before you can never quite be prepared. Kind of like your own mind, in a way.

Bravery

Better to go it alone than not at all. You are stronger than you think.