bookchick

Actually consuming black tea last month during a cold snap contributed to a kidney stone I passed last week. (Black tea is rich in oxylates which bind with calcium to form a kidney stone.) It was very cold last month and I'd taken to have a cuppa (or two or three) in the evening.

BC

dogster

lol BC - well, that's good to know.

I'm not quite sure just HOW you pass a kidney stone, [no, I don't need the details], but if it's what I think, I very much hope it was a little one.

Pray tell - just what does this have to do with Kathmandu? lol lol lol. So funny.

Craig

Fortunately, Darjeeling is not on our itinerary which includes Varanasi, Udaipur, Aurangabad and Bangkok.

bookchick

Nothing, other than seeing "Darjeeling" made me think of tea instantly.

Actually, believe it or not, there was no pain whatsoever involved in passing this particular stone. Not so lucky in late 2004, when I passed my first kidney stone (due to taking calcium supplements) which sent me to the local hospital in tears due to physical discomfort. However, the whole ordeal is supposed to be much, much, much, much, much worse for men!

BC

indianapearl

Does anyone have any good info about the Maoists in eastern India?

gertie3751

Kidney stones: for intimate and excruciating detail on this, read Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self by Claire Tomalin.

Not quite sure where we are with Dogster's travels but...
I leave for India on 28th having digested all the dog's wisdom.

dogster

gertie - only 6 more sleeps! How great. There's not much of a meal in a Dog's wisdom. I think it's a matter of do as I say, NOT what I do.

Don't worry about that left hand and just pick up a plug with two round prongs. I've been checking your old posts - I was deep on the road by then so I lost you; where did you decide to stay in Goa? If it's the Panjim Inn, about a hundred yards down the side street heading into town, to the left, is a great little restaurant. Perfect for us singles. You'll see why.

Also within a block is a reputedly great Portugese [ish] restaurant. The owner's brother had died so it was shut for me. Maybe he died because he knew I was in town.

And remember, as this is your first trip to India, never exit an airport without making sure you have a pre-paid taxi or a pre-arranged airport pick-up. Just do this for me - O.K.?

Remember also that should things turn weird, a quick post in here will bring you all the reassurance and advice you'll need. I am an expert in Indian weirdness. Wow, how excited you must be.

indiana: Maoist is a big term. So is Eastern India. Everything is specific and local. I can't remotely follow the politics - but if you want to know who's killing each other this week, you'll need to be more specific.

BC - free association is fine by me. I could scarcely point the finger of scorn at that. My whole life these days is free association.

gertie3751

Dogster, you are SO sweet!
Yes, I will get myself a pre-paid taxi from the taxi stand in the airport when I arrive.
Yes, I have booked the Panjim Inn, the people there were very nice.
Yes, I will post if things go pearshaped
Yes I am very excited. I leave for London tonight!

dogster

Woo-hoo! Fabulous. Get Panjim to do your pick-up from the airport. The restaurant there is errr... adequate to fairly crappy, tho [food wise] - just go along the little street and look down [I think] the first alley to the left.

There, I bet you'll find a collection of the oddest, most interesting people in town. I sure did. Now get off the internet and begin the great adventure!

LAleslie

Dogster, I did actually think my Tamil Nadu comment was possibly to blame for the de-posting. But I like even crazy, even when it's crazier than normal. (Insert smiley face here.)
I'm a she, right the first time.
And I only give literary advice for a price since that was my profession. Maybe we can trade services and you can teach me something in return for my advice. But you don't need it. A natural you are, not only with words but perceptions about people, politics, life.
And it was a single clean clue way way back that did it. You probably know which one. As a devout fan, I parse your every word carefully.
Brilliant ending to this Kathmandu adventure tale, BTW. And brilliantly articulate insights into the do-gooders, my favorite part.

dogster

Thanks LA for those nice words.

I'm changing hotels today: now that Kathmandu is off my chest I'm feeling strangely attracted to revisiting the Fate and Tamil Nadu debacle - some of which is SO odd that, even though the whole story will make me seem like a witless, gibbering fool, even worse than usual, I might chuck myself back into it - if the new hotel has the right vibes for writing.

We'll see.

LAleslie

I'm curious. Is there something about hotels that brings out the creativity? Can't write at home?
Look forward to Tamil Nadu but even more to Pandaw!

Amy

I am athrill with anticipation for the next installment!
And it looks like I won't be bringing my logophilia to Australia this year after all; it's suddenly morphed into Chile. 2011 for Oz, maybe.

Life is really interesting.

Gpanda

It's our treat to see the Doggie chase his own tale. Our good fortune that he travels Asia so frequently. He could just as easily tromp around Africa or South America and we Asian Fodorites would be so much poorer.

dogster

Most of it is done at home - but, as I'm now never at home, I'm moving into a new work practice. The above piece was really just get me back into the zone. Once I'm there, as you well know, it's easier to continue than stop.

What I did learn in Tamil Nadu is not to try and blog on the road. It's incredibly time-consuming and prone, as I'll soon demonstratrate, to madness. Everything needs at least a week's reflection before posting. The more extreme moments need longer - hence the wait on Pandaw.

Because Pandaw WAS extreme - for me, anyway. Three months later and I'm still disturbed. I really don't know how I'll write that without burning some bridges. The Prince of Patna probably won't be too pleased either. Both these pieces will probably be written at home - if I ever get there.

MaryW

Roo-buster sends regards back, Dogster. He's doing great as he hasn't had the desire to tackle any more of the population lately or maybe they are just staying out of his way for a change - the place is full of tourists so the roos are spending their time jumping in front of them instead!

ekscrunchy

Hi Dogster: You are making me very nervous with your comments about the "ordeal by Pandaw." Please divulge all while I still have time to jump ship!

dogster

eks - I was talking about the Ganges. In Burma and along the Mekong the cruises are perfectly fine. I've spent, from memory, at least a month [combined] on Pandaws in Burma and done the Mekong trip 2 1/2 times. You're in good hands. If you were going to India I'd be worried for you [and sending you a personal E-mail to explain why] - but you're not. Relax on this one - you and your companions will find everything to your satisfaction. Luckily, you're traveling with pals - which means you can avoid the other passengers if they are vile.

Pandaw does have a client base of some of the most awful people in creation. Without exception, they come from the U.K. Sorry if that offends anyone here - but I don't care: it's 100% true. I'm not even gonna add the customary IMHO.

Really - rela-a-a-ax. You've made a good choice.

Becalm

Well....hahaha....I pop in for a quick peek after an extended absence and a bit of life on the road...and lordy look who has re-surfaced - full of vim and vigor. Good to "hear" you are back in the pink despite all the docs best efforts to lay you low. HNY mate.

Had to laugh at the Nepal Jimmy bit - flashed me back to August '69. An unassuming preppie from the burbs stumbled onto a thing called Woodstock and quite an education was had, HA! Anyway those stories are best left for another time/place....or maybe even better forgotten.

Say, lay off the talk about being old, huh ? We are VERY close in age, yet I still have the mental perception that I am twenty something - don't burst the bubble, haha - kinda enjoy that illusion/delusion/flashback.

ekscrunchy

Wait just a minute, Mr. Hound. Pandaw has the most abysmal client base but I should relax?

I am not sure that even my charm and personality can bring up the standards brought low by fellow cruisers such as the infamous Tent Lady...