Analyzing India As an indian who have lived in western countries let me say this fwiw. One thing the westerners just can't grasp is the actual depth and breadth of human social environment that India is. No one who has lived in India for all their lives and travelled to its many parts are qualified to comment on India because India is an amalgam of an incredible array of social artefacts. Let alone a one time visitor. All you have said in your article is wrong in my personal experience, but I would not for a moment doubt your experience of India was exactly what you wrote. When discussing India its always better to state who you are and then say 'In my experience'. This is what we indians do. We attach one's opinions to the context of that person's religious, linguistic and other relevant background, without which it won't really make any sense. While there are broad ideas that bind indians together, in reality every indian is a minority.
officially unkitsch castles that was not a kitsch castle... you need to appreciate mosaics more.
we live in China, there is way more kitsch here than in portugal!!!!
btw, chas, have a haircut.
:)
NO! Ana had a bath before me and shaved her legs. The ONLY part of my body that I shave is my head excluding eyebrows, nose and eyes (although it may only be a matter of time...)
after a long time La Casa Balltó looks fab because its just so different. I've never seen anything like it in my life. There's something so unique and dramatic about its aesthetic appeal.
And oh I had to really ask this about your now-famous last journal entry (ha!): what caught my eye was the razor on the side (that's what the purple and white thingy is, right?)..what was it doing on the tub? Charles was going to shave his legs, is it? :P
Ok Hi, thanks for your answer. I apreciate your understanding of my comment. This is going to be a short comment (because I've a lot of other things to do (it's not a weekend day ;-) ). Anyway, your statement about the destruction of native languages in Australia makes me happy to find someone who positively sees the richness of linguistical diferences arround the world. In fact my first reaction about your title was quite angry because there's a lot of people who sees this rich cultural diversity as a problem (being the "problem" catalan, euskera, gaelic, or a thousand indian languages), and in Spain, a lot of castillian-only speakers think we speak catalan just for complicate things, and that speak only castillian is the "normal" thing (tell that to the swiss, who speak half french-half german and partly italian, there is no "swiss" language). In short, thanks being open to cultural diversity.
A complaint in disgust regarding the title I've read more or less all your text, and I supose that the title refears to the café in "Port Beau" (do you mean Port-Bou?). With only that, I think that your title is a bit disgusting, because seems to point that's a shame that catalan exists. I don't know your level of knowledge about Catalonia, catalan or some political problems about this, but catalan IS the language of Catalona, although about 50% speak usually castillian (spanish), which I and everyone fully respect. But the catalan language has been endangered for centuries, and still now has survived barely. It's the strongest (in number of speakers) language in Europe without a country behind it to suport it. And just last week has been the official invited culture in the Frankfurt book Fair.
So, please reconsider your title.
Many thanks,
Salvador
REPLY
Dear Salvador,
The title in no way criticises the existence of catalan. I am sorry that it came across that way. I am from Australia and very few things about our national heritage sadden me more than that British colonisation has destroyed over two hundred native languages there. The majority of our readers are from Australia and only speak English, so the title would mean little to them. I meant to add a paragraph explaining the title (which translates as "Pity that everyone speaks catalan") thus: after travelling for six months through countries where we did not speak the language (other than England), I was looking forward to coming to Spain as I am a fluent Spanish speaker and wanted to communicate to locals in their own language. So it was a bit of a surprise to not understand a lot of what was going on around me (naturally all Catalans speak Spanish so we could at least communicate).
I hope this satisfies you sense of outrage. Would it be possible for me to add this exchange on the comments section of the blog so that anyone else who misunderstands the intention of the title can be assured?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the blog and I hope that apart from the title, it was of interest to you. I am adding a rider to the title as I write this.
Yours faithfully
Chas Fisher
No assing around this time In your last blog you referred to Andy Warhol's 'ass produced' art. Just as well he didn't eat all the crepes that you've been eating, or he would have needed pretty big canvases. Chas, that's cleavage in your naked photo. Dude. Seriously.
xx Hey guys! Love the blog....so many fun memories! I returned home 2 days ago, and boy it feels a little strange, but slowly getting organised with stuff like........ work! Blaaaaaaaaa!!! ove you guys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Another comment emailed to us by a friend: A line of solidarity about the lovely UK welcome. Seriously depressing. How well I remember passing through this period myself. Horrendous. Mine was prolonged because despite polite reminder, they put the incorrect stamp in my passport on first entry. It being unthinkable to concede that this had occurred, there followed an eight year paper chase.
Oh, enjoyed the graphics. I thought the shot of The Cleft especially simpatico. Angle could possibly have been improved, but who knows what next times may be imminent.
ironic??? I fail to see the irony of a house being 4 times older than Australia. Unless you went to see an agent requesting a house to stay in that was much older than Australia, due to your keen interest in pre-european Australian history, but much to your disappointment there was no such house available. But you accepted because there were no other options. Then, upon arriving at the house, you found that it WAS in fact older than Australia, and much much older at that. THAT would be ironic. You doofus. Oh, and Sof says I should say something nice as well... the photos look nice.
How beautiful!!! I love the pics you have from St Just.... it truly looks magical. My favourite pic is also the black and white photo, and I also love the one of everyone posing on the dance floor. I'm so glad that Chas got to celebrate with close friends and family with you Ana in a place that means a lot too both of you.
Love and hugs always
Happy 2nd Wedding! Hi Chasanaski!!! I'm so happy for you guys- you seem to be having the best time overseas! How lucky you both are! Ana, you look amazing in that dress and my fave photo of you guys is that black and white shot at the end :) Chas, that photo of u dancing is a CLASSIC!!! haha St Just sounds fantastic! Have a ball and may you have safe travels ahead! (go Cadel Evans!) Love lots, Caroline
Sooooo Exciting!!! Wow....
We have spent the last half hour in the tourist office in Ljubljana laughing very loud at your latest blog!! So many great memories, and we to have been missing your company. We actually have achieved a week long drink-wise since we went our seperate ways tho!!! All the best for the following leg of your amazing journey.
Much love, Molly and Luke xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lovely It looks so lovely - glad you all had a wonderful time. Must have been awesome to see Luke and Celeste - hope thay are well. Ana - you're hair looks fantastic and the dress was an excellent decision! Yay Team Chasanaski!!! Much love to you both, happy second wedding. x x x
Chas, are you implying that the litre of beer was a struggle? Im disappointed. And where is the picture of Ana drinking a litre beer?? However, I am very excited about the cow exhibition!!! Keep partying on!!! I want photos of Ana eating chocolate croissants with nutella on top!
:)
Response to Zac 1. The bikes needed no repairs other than I was given a woman's bike (no comments allowed, I will not publish them if they are submitted). 2. Unoriginal though it may have been, it was no where near as unoriginal as the photo of the little mermaid and I will have you know that that litre of beer was a big struggle only for the posterity of said photo. 3. Only position interested in is the one on the pool table. Can you make it out?
Presents for a Friend So many thanks for the Daneblog. Just so you don’t worry instead of that large expensive gift you were planning for me, I want ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY the doll’s house WITH the movable figures, if you please.
If some rotten toadying creep has dished me in the line already, the golden scrotum may prove acceptable, if autographed.
Nice 1. You didn't mention the condition of the bikes you hired. I hope you had to visit a repair man at least 6 times over the day due to flat tyres, faulty brakes and pedals falling off.
2. A picture holding a litre beer is totally unoriginal.
3. Did you try to emulate a life size doll house erotica yourselves?
Yes, I'm definitevely the first to comment this one I never really thought of denmark as ever being an extremely hot country..... maybe thats just because I've never really been there..!!
Hey, did you plant yourself in front of the guards and make silly faces, hoping that they would not retaliate!!?? that's an experience nobody should skip....!!!
Anyway, Cheers to everybody..!!!
and cheers to the others that will be commenting this blog too..!!!
Animal Sex I'm sure Sri Lankan elephants know how to be raunchy, but I don't reckon they could outdo the duck sex that we saw in Bordeaux. Those French.
Come to think of it, I think the Polish peacocks need a lesson on kinkiness too.
Good Times It seems like you guys are having a magical time in Sri Lanka. Good for you. As promised, I've followed in your footsteps and started a blog. Here's the link:
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/AaronBourke/
Short Link: www.mytb.org/AaronBourke
Everything has gone to doo-doo (this is a G-rated blog site) since you left.
The last Indian Blog I loved reading about your experiences and want to assure you that you have only scratched the surface of what is India both good and not so good. Am so glad that you both fpund some respite after every frustrating contact with officialdom and beaurocracy! Now you know why I am a teacher !!! Hope the rest of your travels will be just as amazing! Margaret
So, the journey has come to an end finally! Looks like you guys had your share of good and bad moments, and well that happens with any place. Is the coughing fit that Ana is talking about the one at Asha Bhavan when I was present? :/
Ana looks really nice in the salwar. I wonder if Charles tried wearing a kurti?
If you liked the momos at Kodai, then you would love the quaint but authentic momos here in Calcutta. Well, next time in India perhaps? :)
Have fun in Sri Lanka and the other places!
abusive relationship i like that, the abusive relationship bit i am sure you could have guessed but that is exactly how i would describe Uganda. (i am very much looking forward to the Brittany wedding also!)
Chas and Ana have always been addicted to travel, going overseas at least once a year during their 5 year relationship. Now married they have decided to go on a 10 month adventure through India, Europe and South America.... full info
dov
non-member comment
Analyzing India
As an indian who have lived in western countries let me say this fwiw. One thing the westerners just can't grasp is the actual depth and breadth of human social environment that India is. No one who has lived in India for all their lives and travelled to its many parts are qualified to comment on India because India is an amalgam of an incredible array of social artefacts. Let alone a one time visitor. All you have said in your article is wrong in my personal experience, but I would not for a moment doubt your experience of India was exactly what you wrote. When discussing India its always better to state who you are and then say 'In my experience'. This is what we indians do. We attach one's opinions to the context of that person's religious, linguistic and other relevant background, without which it won't really make any sense. While there are broad ideas that bind indians together, in reality every indian is a minority.