markhowartharcher's Guestbook

Thanks for your comment. I take your point that some of what I wrote was perhaps a little childish and ill informed. My rant against the 'Hampi hippies' was written tongue and cheek and not intended to offend, although I can see why some may take offence to it. I must say I do have an enormous amount of respect for the original pioneering hippies who traveled the Silk Road and beyond. While some of their views were very self indulgent and naive I respect their optimism, bravery and spirit of adventure. My problem is with modern day travelers who align themselves with these early pioneers but in reality share very little common. However in shunning what I view to be modern day faux hippies I probably do miss out on meeting genuine hippies which is a shame. My original usage of the word hippy perhaps came across as rather derogatory, I regret this as it is not hippies I have a problem with, rather those pretending to be them. On recent reflection I've also come to relax my view on the faux hippies. Many of them are fairly young and probably still looking for direction in life and trying to find out more about themselves through travel. While I may think they look a little silly, it's perfectly understandable why they do what they do. I've certainly go through periods of self exploration earlier on in my life which I would rather forget, let's just say there were big silver chains and Burberry caps. Point taken about learning more about a culture/view point before I poo poo it, I don't want to end up sounding like the right wing nuts whose ignorance and arrogance I despise. Thanks once again for your comment, I always enjoy a good debate to broaden the mind!

Thank you!

Sorry to hear about the owner of Sparks, that's sad news.

Thanks so much for the information and thanks for reading my blog. Had a fantastic time in Kerala it is a beautiful and very peaceful state, I'm sure I will be back again in the near future!

Haha thanks for the feedback Vicki! Your right about plastic chintz, I've never seen so much terrible, pointless crap in my life. People were trying to sell me and my other males companions really crap fake plastic pearl necklaces, sadly I didn't have the money to buy otherwise I would have got a lifetime supply! The fish stench was truly awful as were the doorless toilets, I guess you get to a point (as I'm sure you will remember) where things that would seem hideous in normal life become quite average and mundane, a cow sleeping in the middle of a dual carriageway seems normal as does a man taking a shit in the street! Your right though, as much as I moan I do really love crazy India, it's hard not to, there's no where else on earth quite like it and there are no other population of people quite like the Indians. The head bobble is both frustrating and fantastic at the same time for example. Glad you are enjoying the blog, just arrived into Darjeeling today and experienced a 35 degree temperature drop, was a bit of a shock to the system. Regarding the cheese yes I miss it very, very much alongside bacon, sausage and beef! Hope you continue enjoying reading, namaste ji xxx