Sortof forgot about this blog... Well, latest is that I've gone back to Norway, gotten a job in Oslo (Integracp.com), and have a great time. I think I'll be a tourist in my own country for a while, and I'll probably not update this blog a lot. I guess facebook has taken over more and more of my updating, so I might see you there!
Peace.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Thursday, 4 March 2010
More than a thousand words
The cow dung drying business by the Ganga, Varanasi.
Ganga, Varanasi, looking north.
Not seeing scandinavians for 3 weeks, suddenly there were 5 at the Varanasi train station.
Nice view near the Achanakmar tiger reserve. (We saw no tigers.)
Sunset from the same roadtrip.
Interesting fusion. Buddha, Jesus and Gandhi.
One of my friends chilling with the coolest drink ever.
Tibetan monastery, Bodhgaya.
Vietnamese monastery, Bodhgaya.
Some Japanese monks, temple caretakers and me chilling during the Holi festival.
Some culprits.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Little lost monk
I am walking back to the Bhutanese temple, where I have a mattress, as a young monk comes up to me with a flashing smile, with his hand outstretched.
"Hello my friend!" he almost cries, as he jumps into a hysterical hug.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" I reply, as I try to understand his reaction. He is not a local, and looks very much like a monk; i quickly assume he is not a thief or scam-artist and I allow him to get physical.
We exchange a few curtsies, as he asks:
"Have you got a girlfriend?"
"No, sadly not, and I am getting old," I laugh.
"No, do you have a girlfriend for me?"
I laugh nervously and say that I do not. I explain that I am tired, and that I am going back to my room. He follows me, and as we walk, he shouts out to people at the road, a blend of his native language, english, and grunts.
"Nice festival going on", I say as we see a lot of Indians covered in multicolored powder walk past us. "Holi is really special".
"Thank-you-very-much" he says quickly. At this stage I am quite sure that something, or rather he, is a little "half twelve", as we say in Norwegian.
He follows me into the compound, and I try to explain to him that I can't bring guests. He says that's no problem, and follows me further, in a very energetic way. I tell him off a bit more, and he want's to go to the office, which I know is closed. After some consideration I choose to lead him to the nearest monastery of which I think he belongs to.
"You have changed color," he says suddenly, and grabs my necklace.
"No, I am still the same me, I think," as I wonder if he'll go physically whacko with me, and if I can subdue him. "Like my necklace? It's sort of the same as you have."
He fingers it for a while, settles down, and we walk on.
At the first monastery we find the only monk that is awake, but he won't help us, as he has a visit from his father. He tells me which monastery the first monk belongs to, and leaves, to my protests. I see no alternative but to continue.
I notice that my new friend is very warm, so I buy him water, of which he drinks incessantly. As we pass a billboard, he reads some of it aloud, shouts to some locals in gibberish, and laughs. We get to his monastery, and before I can say "My friend here is a little confused," they have already taken a good hold of him.
"Well, take care of yourself, and drink plenty of water!" I get to say, before he is escorted further into the compound. A few of the monks nod their head in thanks, or perhaps wonderment, and I leave.
"Hello my friend!" he almost cries, as he jumps into a hysterical hug.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" I reply, as I try to understand his reaction. He is not a local, and looks very much like a monk; i quickly assume he is not a thief or scam-artist and I allow him to get physical.
We exchange a few curtsies, as he asks:
"Have you got a girlfriend?"
"No, sadly not, and I am getting old," I laugh.
"No, do you have a girlfriend for me?"
I laugh nervously and say that I do not. I explain that I am tired, and that I am going back to my room. He follows me, and as we walk, he shouts out to people at the road, a blend of his native language, english, and grunts.
"Nice festival going on", I say as we see a lot of Indians covered in multicolored powder walk past us. "Holi is really special".
"Thank-you-very-much" he says quickly. At this stage I am quite sure that something, or rather he, is a little "half twelve", as we say in Norwegian.
He follows me into the compound, and I try to explain to him that I can't bring guests. He says that's no problem, and follows me further, in a very energetic way. I tell him off a bit more, and he want's to go to the office, which I know is closed. After some consideration I choose to lead him to the nearest monastery of which I think he belongs to.
"You have changed color," he says suddenly, and grabs my necklace.
"No, I am still the same me, I think," as I wonder if he'll go physically whacko with me, and if I can subdue him. "Like my necklace? It's sort of the same as you have."
He fingers it for a while, settles down, and we walk on.
At the first monastery we find the only monk that is awake, but he won't help us, as he has a visit from his father. He tells me which monastery the first monk belongs to, and leaves, to my protests. I see no alternative but to continue.
I notice that my new friend is very warm, so I buy him water, of which he drinks incessantly. As we pass a billboard, he reads some of it aloud, shouts to some locals in gibberish, and laughs. We get to his monastery, and before I can say "My friend here is a little confused," they have already taken a good hold of him.
"Well, take care of yourself, and drink plenty of water!" I get to say, before he is escorted further into the compound. A few of the monks nod their head in thanks, or perhaps wonderment, and I leave.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Two weeks equal 2 months
Time is moving very swiftly for me now. I finally got my ticket to India, and I sit in Varanasi writing this to you. Just prior of coming here, I heard that one of my friends died swimming in the Ganges, in this very city, 2 months ago. Life is indeed short and fragile, and in this place this is truly so. I've sat for hours watching the funeral fires, sending Hindus to the next world, at the shores of the river. Extreme poverty and extreme wealth are on top of each other in this holy city.
I came to India some 2 weeks ago, and it has been a true roller coaster ride. Starting in Kolkata, trying to adjust to the climate, I was invited to a wedding in Jamshedpur by an Indian friend I've been chatting with for a couple of years. I had no idea what I was going to as I accepted. 5 days of celebrations, with food, dancing and rituals almost going around the clock. The indian hospitality is truly astounding, they welcomed me as a revered and long lost family member. I have a new father and several brothers, and my new name is Sekvender Singh...
Coming to Varanasi has been a contrast, meeting a friend I met in the Pyrinees. I've caught a cold that has moved into my lungs, so I'm taking it easy. The food everywhere is great, but my body has not adjusted, so I have no appetite whatsoever. Nice way of losing weight. =)
I'll be moving on to Bilaspur to meet two friends I met at the monastery I stayed at in France. We'll celebrate our birthdays, and make chocolate cake for everyone. After that I will seek out a retreat center, taking some true time off the hustle and bustle.
What I left in Norway
Indian traffic rules
Outside the Kolkata Book Fair, getting interviewed live on radio
The happy couple cutting the wedding salad
Me and the other western guest invited for drinks
One of my friends, the couple and me
The nephew of one of my friends
I came to India some 2 weeks ago, and it has been a true roller coaster ride. Starting in Kolkata, trying to adjust to the climate, I was invited to a wedding in Jamshedpur by an Indian friend I've been chatting with for a couple of years. I had no idea what I was going to as I accepted. 5 days of celebrations, with food, dancing and rituals almost going around the clock. The indian hospitality is truly astounding, they welcomed me as a revered and long lost family member. I have a new father and several brothers, and my new name is Sekvender Singh...
Coming to Varanasi has been a contrast, meeting a friend I met in the Pyrinees. I've caught a cold that has moved into my lungs, so I'm taking it easy. The food everywhere is great, but my body has not adjusted, so I have no appetite whatsoever. Nice way of losing weight. =)
I'll be moving on to Bilaspur to meet two friends I met at the monastery I stayed at in France. We'll celebrate our birthdays, and make chocolate cake for everyone. After that I will seek out a retreat center, taking some true time off the hustle and bustle.
What I left in Norway
Indian traffic rules
Outside the Kolkata Book Fair, getting interviewed live on radio
The happy couple cutting the wedding salad
Me and the other western guest invited for drinks
One of my friends, the couple and me
The nephew of one of my friends
Monday, 5 October 2009
Summer is dying...
A few picks of what I've been doing this summer. Mail me if you want some of them removed or incognito'ized. =)
A trip with friends to Reinsfjellet, south of Trondheim (Click to make it larger)
Stag party
New friends at Arvika music festival
BBQ with friends in Oslo
My cousin and her kid
An ugly amazon we found at a medieval market in Oslo
A kajak trip with friends near the family farm
Working on a storage tent at the family farm
My dad enjoying scenery
Friends on a summit
Blueberry extravaganza at a trip to Geitfjellet
My summer job, rowing fishermen on the river Namsen
A trip with friends to Reinsfjellet, south of Trondheim (Click to make it larger)
Stag party
New friends at Arvika music festival
BBQ with friends in Oslo
My cousin and her kid
An ugly amazon we found at a medieval market in Oslo
A kajak trip with friends near the family farm
Working on a storage tent at the family farm
My dad enjoying scenery
Friends on a summit
Blueberry extravaganza at a trip to Geitfjellet
My summer job, rowing fishermen on the river Namsen
Thursday, 11 June 2009
A man and his razor
Is anyone supposed to have so much fun with facial hair? Now: An exclusive (exhibitionistic) picture series, by special request. (Please, please don't judge me to harshly. I try to hide this side of me as much as I can. =) ((And please excuse the quality of some pictures. I was laughing quite hard...))
Lots of moustachic potential here...
My favourite
"Yes, Sherlock, I do believe indigenous species are capable of atrocities."
WOLVERINE? I ATE HIS SPLEEN!
"What do you mean, Bruno? Are we _out_ of lube?"
Finished result. Smile kept in check by aftershave. Sideburns are sadly gone at time of writing, they survived 2 weeks.
Yep, folks, that is one giant human hairball
Lots of moustachic potential here...
My favourite
"Yes, Sherlock, I do believe indigenous species are capable of atrocities."
WOLVERINE? I ATE HIS SPLEEN!
"What do you mean, Bruno? Are we _out_ of lube?"
Finished result. Smile kept in check by aftershave. Sideburns are sadly gone at time of writing, they survived 2 weeks.
Yep, folks, that is one giant human hairball
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Whoa!
Strange. It is much more fun actually experiencing things than writing about them. Well:
Murcia was nice. I was sherpa and caddie for my mum and her 3 friends for less than a week, in a ghost town golf resort. Much needed rest and restitution ensued. Not in the least because when I went there, there was a fiesta in the neighbouring town, Roldan! Acid-trippy costumes (pics for later), music to blow your head of, and an unforgetable evening with new friends. Oh, I miss you, guys! =D
Then I biked 300 km's in rain and headwind, before taking the train the last 100 to Madrid. On the way I searched for Dulcinea de Toboso in Toboso, but just as Don Quixote, I couldn't find her.
Easter was really great, I met up with an ex colleague, and we spent a lot of time running away from angry Ku Klux Klanners, carrying statues of dead people around in the streets of Madrid. Then we went to Salamanca and Avila for the same thing.
Then, zooming by train to Merida, the brand of my bike, I met up with another friend, and we did a punk festival for 3 days. My ears still hurt. Toy dolls rule!
And then... I went to Portugal. That's it. =)
Santiago de Compostela awaits!
(And sorry. Pics will come later, I'm not exactly working under prime conditions here... =)
Murcia was nice. I was sherpa and caddie for my mum and her 3 friends for less than a week, in a ghost town golf resort. Much needed rest and restitution ensued. Not in the least because when I went there, there was a fiesta in the neighbouring town, Roldan! Acid-trippy costumes (pics for later), music to blow your head of, and an unforgetable evening with new friends. Oh, I miss you, guys! =D
Then I biked 300 km's in rain and headwind, before taking the train the last 100 to Madrid. On the way I searched for Dulcinea de Toboso in Toboso, but just as Don Quixote, I couldn't find her.
Easter was really great, I met up with an ex colleague, and we spent a lot of time running away from angry Ku Klux Klanners, carrying statues of dead people around in the streets of Madrid. Then we went to Salamanca and Avila for the same thing.
Then, zooming by train to Merida, the brand of my bike, I met up with another friend, and we did a punk festival for 3 days. My ears still hurt. Toy dolls rule!
And then... I went to Portugal. That's it. =)
Santiago de Compostela awaits!
(And sorry. Pics will come later, I'm not exactly working under prime conditions here... =)
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