It has been 3 weeks since I came back from India but I miss it even more each day. Sigh..
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No. 3: Sit-or-squad toilet

This is one wicked toilet! You can sit or squat on it. Since our friend was “so kind” enough to demonstrate how you could use it, I must do him a favour in return to “blur” his face also.

To squat, just lift up the seat. Check out the widened and non-slip grip on the rim, man. If you prefer sitting, then bring down the toilet seat.

NO.2: The sway-and-shake toilet

This is found in the train. Of course, this is only for squatting. Note that the space between your legs is very narrow. You need a good control in aiming when the train sways and shakes. Swaying can cause you to lose balance while squatting.

So my advice to you is: Hold on to the pipe in front of you while you’re doing your business (you have to face the hole)

If you think the space between your legs is too small, you can place your feet outside the intended steps there but that also requires some skills to be able to keep our feet too-wide-apart.

No. 1..
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THE NATURE!

Nothing beats peeing in the bush.

Ya, and what’s the hut for you asked. I thought it was a toilet too but I didn’t see any “waste” inside. It was “too clean“. It was nothing there except sand.

I expected to see a big hole in the sand but NO! *OH wait! I just realised that it could be because people had buried their “waste” nicely.*

Anyway…

It was our first day working at the village. The villagers gathered since morning to get treatments from the medical team (us).

Queuing..and the curious kids on the left picture.

And I had to be the only one who had the “nature call”. So I conveniently asked the local for toilet. They gave me a blank face, followed by a long “er…….”. After 8 seconds of thinking real hard, he directed me to the wild.

So I called Stefie, my friend to walk me to the wild. The grass and branches were tall and I scratched myself a few times while walking through it. I must find a nice covered place right…

But because of the thorns and dry branches, I decided to look for a “clean” ground with no branches. I stood there for few minutes, and seriously doubt I could do it.

Still standing there deciding my faith, Stef shouted from far:“ARE YOU DONE YET???!!!”

“NO…I DON’T KNOW HOW!!!!” Then I walked back to her.

“WHAT?? What took you so long?”

“Sorry…I just can’t do it..there were goats behind me and the wind was blowing…just too ‘open’!” I felt so useless. *Man..it can’t be that hard right…*

I decided to hold my pee till we went back to our modern no.3 toilet. But 1 hour later, I decided to go back to the wild. I can’t hold it anymore. I brainwashed told myself to imagine that I was going to use a modern toilet, despite of goats “meh-ing” and wind blowing real hard.

Of course, mission accomplished. I know it is easy for guys. All my guy friends said it was nothing because YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IT SO MANY TIMES!

The subsequent “toilet visits” to different villages and slums were less frightening, though I still took a long time to “prep” myself. When I asked the local at the other village where she did her business, she conveniently pointed me to the river.

Guess what, it was the same river that Stef and I went for “fish spa“. -_-

Fish nibbling our feet – as recommended by the local’s must try.

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I wish I have 48 hours a day.

Have just started my master classes. For this semester, I am taking my subjects locally instead of doing it in Sydney due to many many commitments.

So, my classes are on Saturdays and Sundays, in super intensive mode. That means my weekends are burned. I am surrounded by designers from different design industries. Most of my classmates are interior designers who have been in the industries for at least 8 years. Being the youngest one in class, I felt that I have limited “life experiences” to share. But good thing is, I am absorbing like a sponge!

My lecturer flew in from Sydney for a weekend. Hearing her talking in full-blown Aussie accent really brought back good memories. I was so happy.

Have lots of readings to do for my first assignment. I am seriously thinking if I could juggle my work and studies at the same time.

In fact, I am also an ART STUDENT now! I came across this European artist’s profile once and was very interested in her practices. My colleague and I took up a drawing course from her twice a week.

This is where we draw.

The art studio

Our first and second lesson. It took us 3 hours to draw 2 cones and a sphere (left); and 4 hours for 3 cubes (right)

Though we were trained in drawing, this is a whole new experience for us. Each artist has his/her principles and practices. Ours believes in absolute technical and precise drawing which requires sharp observation.

“Squint your eyes, Cherry!!” That’s her catch phrase, and repeat X times in one class.

But I like that. She shared about “drawing on the right side of your brain” to us. (the theory was published by Betty Edwards in 1980). Instead of letting our creative brain goes wild, She trains us to draw lines in precise angles and dimensions. (Note: Left brain – analytical; Right – intuitive and visual)

Her way: Technical first, then abstract. Build the foundation first, then you go wild.

You see, our brains sometimes “trick” us with our existing images and perceptions in mind. For example, Our brains tells us how the cup would look like even before we are given a cup as reference to draw from; A gap may seem wider than it should be because our brain tell us to believe so and etc..

So most of the times, the object that we draw is either too fat or too thin compared to the reference. It requires 100% focus, patience and discipline which I think are very important for an artist/painter.

Each time we completed a drawing, she will paste our drawings above the reference. Then she measures each line and angle to make sure they are “precise” and a complete “replica” of the objects. This process also repeat X times until we get them right.

We are only drawing primitive shapes. I wonder how it would be when it comes to organic shapes.

Posted under Artsy-craftsy | [3] Comments 

I wanted to share so much about my trip but I just couldn’t find time to do it! Was buried in work immediately after I returned. Amidst my busy schedule, I long for the peace and simplicity in India.

When I first “announced” to my family that I wanted to go to India, a very expected response was:“Sure or not?? Don’t be crazy!! Make yourself suffer for what?”

My mom’s first concern was my safety. Then came the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. She was very worried. That was why I had to keep mum about where I was heading earlier. *In fact, for security reason, I will not reveal the places that we visited.*

Secondly, I can’t take hot food. Chili makes my lips swell like Angelina Jolie’s.

Thirdly, most warned me about having weak stomach. I was advised to brush my teeth and bathe with mineral water. Hahaha..

Perhaps, it would be less “frightening” if it was just a leisure trip by a travel agency.

Somehow, all these visuals didn’t come to mind. I left it blank intentionally. Eat whatever that is served and walk the path that is laid. No expectation, just go with an open-mind.

Though I have been the “minority” for most of my lives, it was more evident when we were there. We attracted attention wherever we went. The locals flocked around us, stood there and just watched our every move.

Waiting for our train. They watched us for as long as we were there.

Personally, the amazing experiences were countless! Let me start with the train rides.

When we arrived at a small town (4 hours car ride from the airport), we needed to take a 15-hour train ride to another even smaller town.

One thing about this train was that it only stopped for 2 mins max. So we carried our 20kg backpacks with us when we “felt” that the train was coming. When it came, the passengers ran like wild animals chasing after the train.*Not sure if there was an announcement, even if there was, don’t think we understand it either.

AC two tier – This is A class. Will explain what the “Two-tier” means later.

There was an AC (air-con) and non AC class (no bed). Of course we took the AC one!

NON AC.

This is 90-seater cabin. *no joke*

The non-AC one do not come with beds. So imagine having 90 people squeeze in a cabin with windows open for 15 hours. The mosquitoes are definitely your faithful companions.

And again, the locals will probably tell you – why not? It’s all about comfort zone and level of tolerance. I am sure if I take the train like this since I was born, it would be peanuts for me.

Before I enter the train, I had a very beautiful picture painted in my head – Nice beds in a personal room with a DOOR.

When I stepped into the train, I was dumbfounded. There was no room, only curtains. It took me 5 min to pull myself together. I even forgot to put down my 20kg backpack. The aisle was so narrow that it can only contain 1 person at a time.

Beds on both sides.

You see, having expectation is definitely not helpful here.

TWO-TIER

The passenger from lower tier actually expected the upper one to sit on his/her bed. It was weird for us because it seemed like we were intruding their private space by sitting on their “beds”.

The difference between TWO and THREE-TIER. TWO-TIER – you can comfortably SIT UP AND READ A BOOK. For the equal amount of height, now it is divided to 3 tiers. You do the maths.

The top 3 “coolest” toilet. *Will share the top 2 toilets in next post*

We were told that the train would reach our destination at 3.30am (after 15 hours). The attendant was asked to wake us up on time to “jump off” the train. *No announcement, just keep a lookout for the station*

At 3am in my half-sleeping mode, I felt the train was stopping. *my biological clock worked very well suddenly* I jumped out of my bed and woke everybody up. We were not sure if we missed the station. We (with messy hair and bad breaths) packed our bags frantically and squeezed our ways to the exit.

I know..my PINKY MINNIE MOUSE blanky. Mom bought it “specifically” for this trip.

In Singapore, no way you can open the door when the train is moving. But in India, you can stand at the entrance with the door wide open to admire the scenery – dark and peaceful.

Particles in the air reflected by camera flash

I can never forget the starry sky and the cool breeze brushed my hair against my face. We didn’t miss the station.
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Where was our attendant who was supposed to wake us up?

We took the three-tier one back but after the first one, everything just seemed nice. And oh! The 3-tier class doesn’t come with curtains.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the train rides very much because of good company and I had good sleep (may be the train was constantly shaking – felt like sleeping on a rocking bed).

Our acquaintance and “local delights”.

Up next – the top 3 toilets.

Posted under Travel | [5] Comments 

For the past 1 week, for the first time…

1) I had buffalo milk for breakfast. It’s a “diluted version” of cow milk as it carries lighter taste than cow’s.

2) Crossed a railway track.

3) Peed in the bush…several times.

*No, that was not the place I did my no.1. It was too “clean” inside the hut. I went to the bush instead (red arrow)

4) Being “blocked” by a herd of goats when traveling on car.

5) Parents offered to give me their babies. Not once, but thrice!

6) Had curry EVERYDAY! *And I can’t take chilli*

7) On a train for 15 hours, twice. Once the space was so limited that I was not able to sit up when the bed was up.

*Triple-decker*

Pumped water

9) Taken 100 patients’ blood pressure

10) Visited and had meals at slums

*Yes, I watched Slumdog Millionaire*

But most importantly, I have fallen in love with India, especially the children.

I fell in love with Indian food. I fell in love with the simplicity and joy these people have despite of poverty, how hospitable and generous they were when giving us what they did not have.

I have fallen in love again and again with India. I wish I could stay there longer. I wish the time passes slower.

*More updates coming soon*

Posted under Travel | [6] Comments